The Washington times., 1908-05-24
REALTY AUCTIONS
GET GOOD PRICES
Sale of Convention Hall for
$4,000 Feature of
the Week.
TWO N STREET HOMES
BOUGHT FOR $4,000
Largest Cash Deal for Some Time.
Twenty New Houses Planned
on $4,000 Plot.


year in real estate matters. There have
not been many sales, but those that
have been made at auction form the
most interesting and encouraging fea-
ture
Thomas J. owen & Son have made
most OF these. Thomas J. Owen, senior
member OF the firm. said yesterday that
not IN many months has he Witnessed
such great interest among investors at
auctions of realty. and that bidding has
been so spirited that satisfactory prices
have been obtained in nearly every case.
The sales demonstrated to him. he said,
that there is plenty Of money seek
ing good real estate investment and
that property values are so well sus-
taired that only an enhancement can
be expected.
The week opened with the largest auc-
ton sale of real estate held in the Dis
trict in years, that Of the old Northern
Liberty Market ana Convention Hall.
The company owning It having failed to
raise S125.OO0 with which TO retire ma
tured bonds for that sum, even afJer
determined efforts in New York. Phila-
delphia. Boston, and at home. was
forced to allow the property 10 go at
auction, 10 satisfy the bOndhOlders.
Bought by Stakeholder.
It was BID in by w. J. Dante, repre-
senting Stilson Hutchins, a majority
stockholder. for $4,000. While a valua-
ton of $4,000 was placed on this large
block Of ground. and the price obtained
seems low, there were obstacles con-
nected with the property that rendered
IL difficult OF disposal TO an investor who
might have in mind another building
project upon il.
Back in 1893, leases for eighteen OF the
market stalls were made TOR ninety-nine
year terms. renewable forever, and the
building stands over a public alley, title
of which is claimed by the District gov
eminent, but peaceful possession of
when has been permitted. The price,
therefore. in the light OF these circum-
stances, and the fact that the property
was sold at all, argue rather satisfac-
torily for local real estate conditions.
4 number OF smaller auction sales
furnish a still better view Of the sitUa-
ton, as indicated by Mr.. Owen The
following were conducted by him.
A One-stOry brick store on a lot 2OxSO.
at 1906 Seventh street northwest, was
sold 10 G. p. McGlue for S4,750. The
same purchaser secured a two-story
brick dwelling on lot 2lx56, at 1855
Fourth street northwest. for s., $50. Mr..
McGlue also paid sS,975 for a similar
dwelling at 80 Q street. lot 16x97. This
is renting for $3.50 a month.
Five Homes Sold.
Jesse L. HeiskeH secured FIVE two
story brick dwellings on lots 15x56. at
q bid Of 5000 each. These houses are
1545-47-49-5l-53 Fourth street northwest,
and are under rental of $325 each.
Gus Lansburgh paid S7.525 for a two
story brick store and dwelling. on a lot
2Ox1O5. at y 9 street northwest. This
building is bringing in 80 a month.
After an otherwise quiet week among
the brokers. several large sales were
announced Friday afternoon. Some Of
these included good-sized building
projects.
The largest cash deal for some time
was the sale of the two houses. 1872
and 1914 n street northwest. belonging
to F. T. Sanner for more than $4,000.
The combined frontage IS sixty feet,
with a depth of 100 and the houses are
handsome, four-stOry, modern resi-
dences. located opposite the British en-
bassy. at y street and Connecticut ave
nue.. The purchaser IS an out-of-town
man, who will occupy one and hold the
other as an investment. The sale was
made by the Harrison Realty Company.
This company also sold. on Friday, the
Fairfax apartment house, in Fourteenth
street southwest, opposite the Bureau
OF Engraving, and occupied by the De-
partment Of Agriculture. II Is four
story building. and brought more than
S35, 600. T. H. Pickford and James B. FL
lerson transferred II TO Joseph Schih-
mann.
Plan to Build.
The James J. hampton Company an
nounced two sales of unimproved prop