The Washington herald., 1908-03-15


Washington city OF homes owned by
the people who live in them, gratifying
that thirst for the possession of Iand
which has followed the Anglo-SaxoD from
the days when he stalked the Elk and
boar In the forests Of Germany 10 the
present day.
Outlook Is Very Hopeful.
The outlook for real estate is now par
ticularly hopeful Washington is passing
through period OF great expansion. II
has recently had added to it list Of pub
lie and semi-public buildings unprecedent-
ed In its history. In the wake OF this has
followed the practical rebuilding Of the
business district and its extension into
new streets and along thoroughfares
which until low have been residence sec
tons. These changes generally involve
the sale of the property to a new pur-
chaser who desires to improve buildings
for business purposes.
Many Of the older houses OF the city
are passing through a repair period 10
bring them up TO a higher rental value
while the facts noted with reference to
/ the occupation Of ground in the suburbs
M into the scheme OF proof that the real
estate business for the foture holds bet
ter inducements than it has at any time
n the past history Of the city.
Capitals Building Boom.
Washington is passing through a Pc
riod IN building unprecedented in its his
tory, which began about five years ago
and still continues. Within this period
the Union Station. the House OF Repre-
sentatives Office building, a similar struc-
I fa
ing the new wings OF the Agricultural
building, the permanent home for the Ma
/ ttonal Museum, the War College build
inEs, and the new mess hail for the Sol
diers Home have been added 70 the large
structures OF the city by the government
Other structures OF the same kind in
prospect are the home Of the Bureau Of
American Republics. the Hall OF Records.
new buildings for the State Department
! and the Department OF Justice. a home
for the Department OF Commerce ami
Labor. new post-ofice for the city OF
Washington, and others not yet fully de-
termined upon.
The new buildings recently completed
or now under construction for the gov
eminent. including the Union Station
and its approaches, aggregate IN cost
about So. Oo0 90 which has beeen expend-
L
the next five years perhaps ss.o00 900 mere
will be laid out in public buildings before
the period inaugurated may be said to
| have passed.
Private Structures Built.
Contemporary with THIS expansion in
public building has been the erection OF
a great number Of buildings by private
companies. firms. and persons which.
apart from the larger output, would have
been noteworthy in the growth Of the
city. Within the period mentioned large
additions have been made to the New
Willard and Raleigh hotels while Con
gress Han on Capitol Hill. has
| been completely rebuilt and made into
one OF the most attractive hostelries OF
lis kind in the city. Many large and
smaller apartment houses have been
! erected within this period. Stoneleigh
Court, the Highlands and the Rocham-
beau serve as Illustrations. The Times
Building, the National Metropolitan
Bank Builing, the Union Trust Building.
and the Hibbs Building are examples Of
the new office structures which nave
/ passed under construction within the past
FIVE years.
Such buildings as the new Metropolitan
Club. the home Of the Elks. and the Ma
sonic Temple indicate the progress being
made by organizations Of this class Pri-
vate mansions cosune from $4,000 20
I half a million have ueen built. and a
countless number Of boUses whose value
/ does not seem much IN comparison with
/ the greater architectural achievements
mentioned.