Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-06
BIG PURCHASE OF PROPERTY
MEANS ADDITIONAL HOUSES
Acouirenent of Three Hundred Acres of Land in
the District of Columbia Expected to Result
in the Erection of Many Homes.

Announcement was made this week or
the purchase of nearly 800 acres or lana
within the limits of the District for the
purpose of opening streets and providing
building lots. This purchase of acreage,
property, while large one, considering
that 1t all lies within the limits of the
District, has another and perhaps more
marked characteristic, as 1t is the idea
of some fthos who are backing the en-
terprise that all building lots will be
wanted by individual builders of homes.
The land purchased lies for the most
part between 18th street and Georgia
avenue or Brightwood avenue and ex-
tends to the northern limits Of the DIS
trict Sales are to be made, with the
restriction of one house to lot and no
lot less than thirty-fve feet front. VIII
liam S. Minnix, the broker making the
sale says the purchasers will form
building company of large capitalization
to construct dwellings.
At any rate, whatever the method that
will be followed, whether the purchaser
of a lot builds a house for himself or
some one buys up tier of lots and puts
up houses for SALE there appears to be
no question but that there Will be a
market for the property. The money for
carrying on this special operation comes
for the most part from Virginia, but the
investment or speculation, whichever may
be the correct term, owes It's origin. IN
part at least, to the interest which the
people of the whole country take In this
city and the growing tendency on the
part of large numbers of them TO come
here not merely TO make visit, but to
establish their permanent homes
Kind of Leisure Glass.
There Is another feature about the
modern development of the city which
is also recognized by men who come
here and look over the opportunities for
making money in really and that Is the
number of such people is by no means
small The addition TO the population
OF the city of the so-called leisure class
does not convey to all minds the real
meaning of what is actually happening.
In general It would be thought that what
was being described was the coming
here of the wealthy class who build fine
houses and have elaborate establish
ments.
1t is but natural that such additions
to the residents of any city would at
tract attention, and certainly that is the
case with what Is going on in that par
ticular here. An elegant home looms
large In the public eye. 1t is perhaps
not distinctively American trait that
the public is much interested in the
what they wear, and the elegance of
their equipages. and all the details of
their gold-edged lives, especially if the
gold be applied rather lavishly possess
beyond question a fascination for those
who don't have money.
Not Alone the Rich.
It is unnecessary to add that while this
class is represented in the community
called Washington, and very largely. yet
it is not made UP entirely of the rich.
There are many persons who have their
homes here who are not actively engaged
in any line of business. They have re-
tired and with their modest means they
have brought tlIeir household goods and
their families TO this city and purcha sed
homes and settled down TO spend the
balance of their lives.
II is from this source that a large por-
ton OF the demand that has constituted
the market for the past few years has
come. They have taken the houses and
suites in apartment buildings until it
seemed there was no end. The financial
depression was only powerful enough 10
check, but not TO destroy. this demand.
OF course this is only one source of the
City's growth. There are others, but
emphasis is laid on this particular one
for the reason that ii is unusual, boil,
in character and in volume. 1t Is not
likely that the same thing-certainly not
In equal extent is true of the popu-
lation Of any other city-at least in this
country. In this respect. as well as in
others. Washington retains a distinctive
character.
influence an Educative One.
Every year adds to the number OF peo-
pie who become interested In this city
and the influence which goes out from
here along many lines. but especially
along those of civic Improvement anc
beauty, is of such a character that II
cannot be questioned. The inaugura
crowds are largely collection of able
advertisers of the city.
The style Of decoration of the street:
and the attention paid to the appearance.
of the stands and the attainment o.
something pleasing to the eye, AS well a!
useful. serve wider purpose than mere
~ the temporary use. They act as
school of education and when we'll done
as Is the case this year and in othel
years, they serve models and as sug