The Washington times., 1908-11-28
ACTIVITY CONTINUES
IN REALTY MARKET
Values Slowly Increasing in
the District and Dealers
Delighted.
BIG AUDITORIUM
AMONG THE PLANS
New Postofice, for Which Site Has
Already Been Purchased, and
Office Building.

Activity has prevailed throughout the
week I'm the local realty field. There has
been the usual gOodly number % trans
fers recorded, and the situation has been
eulivened bv the addition of a few fea-
lures Of interest in the way of large
deals either announced as consummate-
Os as in process Of completion.
This state OF affairs is satisfactory
10 the real estate dealers, and IL IS en-
HANGED by the outlook. During the past
few days inquiries have been renewed
by investors In different parts OF the
country. It is a weII-kuown fact that
ownership Of real property IN Washing
ton is more diversified than In almost
any other city in the Union. There Is.
therefore. local buying for homes and
investment. buying by outsiders for in
Nestment, and, occasionally, a purchase
of a lot or tract for speculation In real
estate. Values are slowly but steadily
Increasing throughout the District.
The Largest Deals
The largest deals now under way
II Clude the proposition TO incorporate
a company that will purchase a site
and erect thereon a national auditor
ium:s the movement for a new Post
Office, for which the site has already
been purchased; project to build a
$4,000 hotel near the Union Station;
the condemnation proceedings invOlv-
ing the I'VE squares bounded by Four
teenth street, Pennsylvania avenue,
Fifteenth street, and the Mall; the
work OF erecting an eight-stOry Of
fee building for the Evans estate, "a
New York avenue.
Added 10 these are numerous private
enterprises looking to the construction
of costly residences, such as the sew
eTal handsome ones now nearing COM
pietiOn In Sheridan circle SnalleT
building projects are TO be seen de-
VelOping IN all parts Of the city b lid
ing activities are moving forward rap
idly. work being pushed so lLal as
much as possible may be done before
winter nuts intermittent checks on prog
ress. Vacant land Is being Improved
in several outlying sections. adding 70
the wealth of the city Such is the
present situation.
Marred by Collapse.
The effect of the thriving condition OF
the realty field during the week was
uarred by the collapse Of a steel build
ing frame at North Capitol and NJ
streets. This was the second within a
few months. both disasters being fatal
That there is inadequacy somewhere IN
the building inspection work Of the Dis
trict is now regarded by builGmg eX-
perts and architects and others as a
fact established. Where the fault there
lies does not matter. Lney say except
I'm so far as IL would point 10 where
some Of the needed remedy could be ap-
piled.
Money IS said TO be one Of the chief
things needed. il has been suggested
that If Congress viii make appropria-
tions then A larger force of building
inspectors can be employed and keener
attention given to maintaining the high
est possible standard of efficiency,
Experts on such matters believe also
that the need of a law requiring buil
ers to pass an examination and secure
license is now beyond debate as vital.y
necessary. The majority of them SO be-
UcVed after the collapse Of an apart
ment house last spring few said
that Il was not necessary, and that such
an accident could not occur more than
once IN years. Now comes another col
lapse. Another life has been lost, and
that more people We're not killed is ur-
doubtedly due TO the fact that the bu-il-
Ing was not more nearly completed, Vith
n thrOng of wOrkmen on the floors.
Trained, even scientific, men are en-
gagged 10 build bridge on which peo-
ple must depend for safety. Why should
Incapable men be allowed to build
houses in which we have our very
hcmes2