Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-15


| the coming enumeration will demonstrate
that during the past census period of ten
years the annual growth has passed be-
/ yOnd the former average, and may per-
haps be in the neighbOrhOod OF 5000.
Government in the Market.
AT the same time the general govern
ment has added to the number of the
! public buildings within the city and the
end is not yet for as the country grows
/ the National capital grows. The ab-
sorption of building sites for public uses.
especially in the central section of the
city tends to send business beyond its
former bounds There is no recourse but
to go elsewhere. for at the same time is
felt the increasing demand arising from
the Increase in the number OF people
1t may be said that much of what has
been done during the past few months
may be traced back to the causes emu
merated. and also that such movement
is by no means over. and that it will
make itself felt in the market for some
time to come.
Value Of Property.
The variation in the value of property
was illustrated in two transactions which
were announced during the week. What
was actually paid in these instances as
compared with what is the real or es-
timated value from the standpoint of
loaning. OF of taxation, CT from the gem
eral scale of prices in the neighbOrhOod,
showed considerable disparity. In neither
instance. however. was there anything
out of the usual run of transactions where
there Is pressure to buy and no special
desire to sell as experience shows the
market for realty is apt to be one thing
when a man wants to sell and quite an
other when he wants to buy.
In one instance referred to the WASH
insIon Railway Company wanted to buy
pre- perry at the southeast corner of p
street and Wisconsin avenue in Georgetown
in order to modify curve in the road at
that point. The owner was not in the
market. but, of course like all owners
good price. The result was that company
paid 81 per square foot for the ground.
which contains about 1000 square feet
and has dimensions of 4Ox5O feet AS will
be recognized. such price for property
In the locality is rather unusual, but I'M
der the circumstances it was looked upon
as current value.
District a Buyer.
The other instance is found in the pur-
chase by the District government Of "a
large block Of land at the southwest cor
ner of 10Th and L streets. where it is
the intention to erect school building
This property has an area of more than
1900 square feet, and the price agreed
on with the property holders was 800
OOO which Is at the rate of more than So
per square foot.
One Method Of Construction.
In the northwest section of the old
general post Office building, 9Th and
streets, the gallery or balcony is being
removed and an additional floor placed.
thereby making the present high story
into two stories. To make this floor GER
tain iron columns were required and
quite number of large structural iron
beams. Time was an essential element
In doing this work. and 1t is said to
speak we'll for the resources of Washing
ton that the cast-iron columns could be
manufactured and delivered at the build
ing within four days. and the structural
beams prepared with the necessary at
tachment riveted thereon and framed
also within four days. The spans be-
tweer the I-beams are II feet IN inches.
The method of reinforcing the concrete
Is Of interest. The reinforcement bars
are placed six inches on centers, and span
from beam to beam. and are shaped
somewhat like Il miniature stair rail- and
in the hollow or grooved part certain spe-
ciaI iron of fan or bat-wing shape Is
fastened at angle of A. degrees and
protrudes or projects above tho bars so ne
!, five or six inches. These bars resemble
somewhat the backbone of fish except
that the projection is upward instead of
Sidewise.
Heavy reinforcing steel i'm sections six
feet long. and OF what is known AS three
inch mesh is bent over the 1-beam and
projects into the slab of concrete about
one and half feet on each side No
ashes or cinders are used in this work,
but finely crushed stone and gravel with
substantial amount of coarse-grained
sand and Portland cement.
There were about sixty clerks working
! II hiS t,1t,,
placed. and as precaution. and prob
ably on account OF any seepage drain
ing going through the false work, the
chief of the division considered it prudent
OF the building while the work was being
| done. The work is being done under the
direction of Arthur Cowsill, contractor
A Business Building.
Plans and specifications have been pre-
1 pared by Speiden & Speiden from which
w. s. jerks has begun the remodeling of
building No. 723 9TH street northwest,
| which he expects to occupy when i'm
| prOvements are completed.
| There will he five-story and cellar
| addition in the rear extending to the
| alley. Provision will be made for offices,
| shop. shipping room. display room and
| all stories and cellar. All outside WIN
dows and doors will be of fireprOOf con-
struction and glazed with wire glass.
The new front will be of stucco. with
| copper show windows Oh first floor and
| large copper Oriel in display room sec
| Ond floor. thus affording means for show
! ing goods on two stories. The building
| will be heated by steam and will contain
! all the requirements of an up-to-date busi-
ness house.
Sales Of Realty.
Among the sales of real estate reported
/ Reinecke Company. incorporated real
| estate brokers. during the past few
months are the following:
| For A f I.nukei nremiSeS No Ia and