Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-10

What was few years ago a section or
commons and farm land Is today a COM
pactly built up portion of the city. Be-
ginning at the northern junction OF Flor
ida and Georgia avenues, or the old 1th
street road and stretching east to Lin
coin avenue. the streets for the most
part are closely built up with houses
There are intervals of vacant space here
and there, but speaking generally the
city in the locality in question Is bound
ed on the north by the grounds OF How
ard University and Freedmen's Hospital,
and farther to the east the park-like do
man Of the filtration plant and the Sol
diers' Home.
From west to east the section extends
from Georgia avenue to 4th street east.
1t Is a great stretch. and. as stated. 1t Is
only within comparatively recent years
direction SO strongly that the vacant
places have been filled up and homes
have sprung up almost like magic AS
the BIoomingdale district the locality
has become widely known as one OF the
newest residence localities In the devel-
opment OF the Greater Washington.
Advance of the City.
The western approach to the section
may be reached from eth street. and by
of street it will be possible to obtain
an idea Ct what LIE Droit Park looked
like when it was a suburb of the city and
noted for its detached houses set In the
midst of lawns. Some of the houses are
still standing and the lawns remain, but
for the most part lie Droit Park mas been
overwhelmed in the advance Of the city,
and it's shaded streets are bordered by
houses in rows, and there are city pave
ments and all the features of city life.
The only other entrance from the east
Is some distance to the north of Florida
avenue. along the line Of w street. which
was opened SO that what is known as
the eth street line of cars could get to
its terminus at Georgia avenue. On both
sides Of w street tor some distance a
large proportion OF the property is not
used for dwelling purposes. On the ave-
nue. frontage, short distance above
Florida avenue, Is the entrance to the
base ball park, and then come the hotel
property, lumber yard and so forth.
Buildings Are Fine.
East of Georgia avenue on w street are
the buildings and grounds of How
ard University Medical School and on
the opposite side of the street the
Tfeedmen's Hospital. while at the
northeast corner Of 4th and w streets
is a school building of attractive and
pleasing design. In fact. these and other
examples of modern architecture rather
cast into the shade the older models of
that art which have been preserved In
the original buildings of what was for
merly known as Howardtown The char
acteristic features of the latter have not
all disappeared but the city Is fast sur
rounding 1t and 1t Is beginning to show
the signs of gradual adaptation to better
things. at least in the way of more COM
Portable and. from outside appearances,
more sanitary dwellings.
East of Freedmens Hospital and far
ther along to the north Is the extensive
property of the city water works. known
the Howard reservoir and filtration
plant. The building that contains t"e
machinery for pumping the water is an
other excellent example of the skill in
proportion attained by modern designers
of ,arge buildings. and while its imrne-
date surroundings are not in keeping
with the general style yet there is d
prospect there will be Improvement
in that respect IN the coming years.
Bloomingdale Section.
The vicinity of "a and w streets or
Fia;sler street is new section for
there begins the field OF modern house
building, the development of which has
been such an astonishing feature of the
recent Years OF the city. At this point
BIoomin gdaie properly begins. although
| the progress OF modern dwellings from
( The south IIaS come up through the lie
Droit Park region and spread 10 the
east
From " street the change in street
nomenclature names first Adams street
/: and Bryant street and then Charming
j.. street. the beginning of tie Few system
I OF street names. Bryant street foile~ q
along the line Of the property of the
filtration plant and passes in front OF
the bui ding. This strSet is pretty well
built up now east from No! TN Capitol
street and II. r. IIowenstein is still add
! ing TO the line of houses. bringing them
! nearer 10 I'd street.
One Street About Finished. -.
North Capitol street is now entirely
built UP on bo,h sides all the way from
tie old limits of the city to just beyond
the southern limit OF the litigation plan,
.rounds To the. west of that thor
oughfare the houses on Bryant street
are being added To just now by Mid
daush * Shannon. Francis \. Blundon
and Wiilige, Gibbs & Daniel.
The south limit OF the filtration plant Is
bordered by Claiming street. where build
lag is still in progress. To the north is
Michigan avenue, which forms the south