The Washington herald., 1908-07-19

The Secretary Of the Treasury has
abandoned the idea Of seeking 10 secure
possession Of the Eve squares designated
for three new department buildings. IN
squares rs 10 go. respectively. and has
requested the Department Of Justice 10
start condemnation proceedings 10 &C
quire title The Department Of Justice
has placed the matter IN the hands Of the
District authorities. and as soon as the
machinery OF the courts can be set in
motion proceedings Will be begun 70 take
the property
The squares in question are bounded by
Fifteenth street. the Mall. Fourteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue At the
last session Congress appropriated $2.5oo.-
O00 for the purchase Of this land. desig-
mated the Secretary Of the Treasury as its
agent OF purchase and authorized him 10
buy by private sale or condemnation pro
ceediugs. as might be best 70 the purpose
Several weeks ago Secretary CortelyOu
advertised for bid upon the property with
a view 10 buying IL directly from the
owners The replies 20 his request for
prices upon the property did not cover
more than o1e-third OF the tract. and he
has now taken action looking 10 the con-
demnation Of the property and the fore
ing of the title through the District
courts.
Description of Property.
Square - fronting on Pennsylvania
avenue is covered by large and substan-
tial building. including the Hotel Regent,
Chase's Theater. the Cornweu Building
and a four-story building, fronting on
Fourteenth street. now occupied by print
ing and engraving establishments
Square y is occupied on the Fifteenth
street front by Halls restaurant. the
Capital Bicycle Club and two OF three
residences OF ancient design Along E
street are also old residences. and on the
iFourteenth street front several cafes.
FRUIT stores. and business places
On the Fifteenth street front Of square
rs stands the Emergency Hospital, one
OF the most useful Institutions OF the city.
Back Of II. fronting on D street IS the
house Of Engine Company No. ,. Of the
city dre department. while on the Four
g1eenth street front are two OF three large
buildings. occupied by livery stables. &
carriage house, and automobile garages
On Fifteenth street. corner OF Ohio ave
iuue in square - is the Old OCtzEOnal
building erected many years ago to house
the cyclorama Of Gettysburg and now
used as the principal station OF the EIeC-
iIric Supply Company.
Square 80 is occupied on the street
side by residences. back Of which. on the
Fifteenth street side. ara the lumber
yard Of George A Shehan and he PARK
View Horse Exchange On the -Four
.teenth street front Of this square stands
The furniture factory Of w B. Noses &
Sons. the Pierce lumber yards. and two
livery stables. and an automobile gar
age.
Many Old Houses Standing.
Otherwise these squares are occupied
BY old houses, blacksmith shops. and
small places Of business. which need not
be enumerated The houses are old and
many of them in a more or less delapi
dated condition. some them carrying Iht
rent sign Judged blythe value Of the
improvements. some Of the property
would be appraised at small value. Will,
other parcels would be az valuable a.
any in the city for business purposes
These squares in the early days o
the city were occupied largely by resi-
dences. some OF which are still standing
IN time. business encroached upon tn
residences. and. first by rsrnodeIing tn
old houses. then by erecting new build
sngs the face OF the territory was com
pletely changed
The condition of square 22s was mucl
changed about 1870. when the grade o
pennsylvania avenue was raised six fee
1n front Of the square This put IN
property fronting on the Avenue 'In
hole" literally. as well as 6guratively
Some Of the buildings were remOdeled
AIr. Cornwall was then n business there
and his store was one OF the first TO b
brought up 10 date About this time ais
the Hotel Regent was erected and opene
TO the public Owing to its slightly loca
1ion Il was for several years one OF II
seading public houses Of Washington
Theater Built by John AIbaugh.
The theater now occupied by Mr.. Chas
was erected nearly thirty years ago b.
the late John Albaugh. who had a nUmbe
of capitalists associated with him Tn
entrance was on Fifteenth street, and 70
fifteen years OF more this house invite
the best theatrical talent TO its stage an
The best people Of the city 10 its patron
axe. The house was leased by Mr.. Chas
about twelve years ago. a new entranc
was cut through 10 the Avenue, and
has since that time been given over [
hieh-class vaudeville shows. Mr.. A
barsh- after disposing Of the Fifteent
street theater. built the Belasco Theate
at first known as the Lafayette
The new store Of Cornwell & Son. o
Hall. was erected by Nj CornweH twer
ty-six years ago, and IS one Of the mos
slightly buildings on Pennsylvania avenui
The sale OF the fOur-story building nel
TO the Cornwen building viii take frOl
that square the Washington Office OF th
Baltimore American, which has been
familiar feature for the past eightee
years
Plans Not Yet Prepared
-
government viii erect on the square
have not yet been prepared Indeed, Cor
gress has not yet authorized the building
other than to designate in a general wa
that the ground viii be occupied by II
Departments OF State, Justice, and Con
merce and Labor By the closing OF son
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