Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-02
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Modern Features of Living in
the Suburbs.
LAWNS, ROSES, FOLIAGE
Unusual Rate of Increase in Popula-
ton Shown.
MORE PEOPLE, MORE BUILDING
Progress in Various Sections of the
District in the Way of
Improvements.

Suburban life about Washington is ex-
panding. not only in area occupied and in
the number of people who make their
homes in the country, but in the charac-
ter of the improvements made and in the
mode of life. 1t is no longer the place
only for those who are willing to put up
with deprivations and even hardships
All that is of the past. 1t is quite as
easy to live near the city in these days
as to have ones home within a short
range of the center.
What are known as the conveniences of
life are within the reach of those who
live beyond the municipal bounds. and
they have also ease and rapidity of COM
munication. This change is perhaps the
most significant that has taken place in
recent years and as a result. at least one
of the results. may be noted better houses
and handsomer surroundings than one
was accustomed to see several years ago.
Attractive Lawns and Flowers.
The beauty of the country about this
aity has long been recognized, and now
that people are coming in and adding
to this attractive setting of nature the
charm of we'll ordered and we'll designed
homes, the suburbs of the city are taking
IL
only the houses. as will be recalled by
any one who drives through the country
adjacent to the city, that call for admi-
ration. but the lawns and shrubbery and
trees and the graceful form of vine and
the color of flowers that appeal to the eve
and live in the memory.
Some attractive homes are to be found
in Chevy Chase. where the adornment of
the grounds stands out a prime factor
To the east of the circle is to be found
the country home OF Gen. Corbin, which
has just been completed and the sur
roundings of which are going to be more
and more striking each season.
For Modern Uses.
Almost at the opposite end of the wide
segment of the swing of the circle of
suburban influence. out near Laurel and
At Contee is the country home of Dr.
James O'Donnell. He bought the proper
~ recently. and Edgehilf IL is to be
known as his country home. In addition
TO the house, which is large and conven-
lent, there are about II twenty-five acres
Of land used for lawns and gardens and
other purposes.
To the west is to be found the old resi-
dence which Is known as Stotts located
north of the Soldiers Home 1t is the
purpose of the syndicate which recently
acquired large blocks of land in this vi
entity TO remove the old house in order
which include modern streets where up
to-date houses may be built
Mr.. Wardman's Plans.
Harry Wardman has returned from a
three months trip abroad, where he went
on a wedding Journey as far as Luxor.
Egypt. ard toured through Italy, France
and other countries.
Be ore he went away he bought a cou-
pie of squares of land on 18TH street be-
You'd Park road. where he is now erecting
about hundred houses. He is negotia-
tlne Tor the purchase of a large block of
land in another locality and intends II
he gets 1t. to improve the entire area
during the present season by the erection
of houses.
State of the Market.
The market for real estate is said to be
not as satisfactory as some brokers-in
fact. most brOkers-would like it to be.
This estimate is also shared to some ex-
tent by The owners of property and while
both OF the classes mentioned may be re-
garded as being somewhat biased still
their view must be recognized 1t is
not claimed even by the brokers and the
owners That there is no market. but only
that the. demand is slight and unsteady.
Ii might be said that the same criticism
could be applied to most any branch of
activity, and that therefore the realty
market is not an exception. only such a
line of argument does not help matters
very much. What can be said with truth
I'm regard to the condition of the real es-
tate business at this time is it's main feat
ure-the need for houses of moderate
size and price and the efforts being made
TO supply that need.
Houses of Large Size.
In this way the building in progress and
planned for the present season can be
accounted for. There is also another
feature. the number of houses of a larger
type or. more properly speaking, of the
large type. to be started this year or al
ready begun. The latter are enterprises
= undertaken by people of large means and
shows the class IL not entirely out of the
market. which Is also a matter of COM
p amt on the part of brokers.
They find that the market for high
priced and large building sites is not very
good and they are apt to say that the
rich people are out OF the market. owing
to diminution in income due to shrinkage