The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-14
HOUSES MULTIPLY
AT A RAPID RATE
Cost of Building Increases
S6,00O,0O0 in Year.
LARGE ADVANCE IN COUNTY
Construction in older City About
Half the TotaI-New Structures Sup
plant Old Ones or RemOdeNnS
Operations Change Appearance Of
ThinEs-New Code VIII Aid.

Washington being less Of a commercial
and Industrial city than II is a political
and social center. It has little TO 90 but
grow along residential lines The hguTes
presented in the last annual report Of the
inspector Of buildings TO the District
Commissioners show that this growth
has been OF considerable volume,
Within the fiscal year covered by the
report the estimated cost Of buildings
erected or repaired was Sl45S5.O59. This
was more than 100000 greater than tho
amount similarly spent in the preceding
fiscal year. and this increase has moth
ing TO do with the expenditures on pub
lie buildings, which are not included IN
the report As further proof Of the
actual growth Of the city along the lines
indicated. the number Of permits issued
In the fiscal year closed IN 1908 Was 60
brick dwellings. costing S2.S7S.sIo. while
in the fiscal year OK 1903 the number OF
permits was LOIS. and the cost S4,697,455-
In other words, the increase in the con-
struction Of houses increased about 81
per cent. and the cost advanced 100 per
cent.
Materials Cost More.
While these figures might indicate tho
erection Of a better class OF buildings
on the surface, It IS probably true that
a large part Of the increased cost is
due 10 the advance In the price Of build
ing materials and In wages and other
elements entering into the expenses OF
construction.
II Is probable that the rapid growth OF
the CITY Will continue during the present
fiscal year and possibly for several years,
due TO the activity Of real estate sy1loi-
Gates and builders in the suburban por-
lions Of the District. Probably at no
time in the history Of Washington have
so many subdivisions been formed ana
lots sold as IN the past eighteen months.
/ On many OF these lots building opera
tons have begun, and the city is ex-
handing very fast beyond the old city
boundaries.
! some Of the figures OF the Inspectors
report are eloquent in this particular.
More than 90 per cent Of all the build
ing permits issued during the fiscal year
were for new buildings in the county.
To be more specific, the estimated value
4 Of this kind Of construction was $7.57S.2S1
lOf this amount about One-haf was spent
/ IN the northwest section, and the rest in
varying amounts in the other parts Of
\ the District.
Building Code VIII Ala.
II may be assumed that the new code
Of building regulations, which VIII 90
/ into effect tomorrow. win aid this rapid
development Of house construction. While
the new regulations do not make for bet
ter construction IN that the thickness Of
party walls viii be reduced nearly four
! inches. and the rules are a distinct let
I'D IN what has been considered sub
IstantiaI construction in the past. the re-
/ suit viii be the use Of less material and
] some less cost 10 the contractor. rela-
lively speaking. This VIII have a ter
| dency 10 impeI more buildings and assist
/ in covering tho suburbs we'll with houses.
/ While some little vacant land is sim
4 left within the old city boundaries, far
! the greater portion Of il IS improved. AS
la result, such building operations as are
/ attempted are IN the nature OF the re-
/ placement Of older structures or their re-
modelling and repair to bring them up TO
J the modern standards Much Of this worlz
/ is going on.
One-haIf in Old City.
The figures Of the inspector show that
nearly half Of the expenditure in building
operations was in the old city limits, and.
the bulk OF It, possibly, is OF the char
acter described. In the business district
much OF this building-Over process has
been going on, and is still in progress.
II helps the better appearance Of the
I city quite as much as the multiplication
! Of dwellings in the suburbs. II increases
| the growing business facilities and adds
/ greatly 10 the permanent Improvement OF
/ Washington. Along Pennsylvania ave
nue.. + street. Seventh. Ninth. Eleventh.
and Fourteenth streets. and IN G and II
I streets and New York avenue this class
Of building has been particularly notice
able during the past two years. greatly
/ changing the appearance OF the city in
| those streets.
This movement has a widening ten
dency. and IL may be said that IN the
next few years many OF the old ram
I shaCkle buildings which now dishgIrs
| the older parts Of the city VIII give way
I TO new structures or remodeled ones that
viii have much better and more up-to-
/ date appearance. This viii be brought
/ about through the increasing value o.
! business property, and the possibility OF
more profitable rentals in the improved
buildings
From these facts Il viii be seen that
I Washington is abreast with the rapid ex-
pansio2 OF cities in all parts Of the
! country. proof Of which IS found every
where