Evening star., 1909-05-22

A building lot that lies for the most
part in the air, or, if projected on level
with the front portion. would extend out
on the atmosphere. does not appeal 10
the average builder of houses, or, in fact,
to the average occupant Of houses. a
house lot needs a more substantial foun-
dation than air even II a portion OF 1t 10
to be used only as a place for hanging
clothes or for the family dog to roam
about.
However, holding such views relative
to foundations, Kennedy Brothers bought
some time ago tier Of lots on the east
side of Woodiey place, the latter being
the first street to the north after pass
ing the street railway bridge from the
city over Rock creek. They also bought
the lots on the west side of the street.
and have about completed the erection
there of eighteen three-story houses
Some of them have already been sold
and are occupied.
Picturesque, But Not Practical.
Woodley place is parallel to Connecticut
avenue until 1t reaches Cathedral avenue
on the north-that is. at least, its course
on the plat books. But in fact it stops
short Just north Of the last house built
on the west side. Beyond is ravine
about forty feet deep and extending near
ly to Cathedral avenue. The ravtne winds
to the east as the railway bridge IS
reached, and the consequence Is that the
lots on the east side OF Woodley place
are mainly in the air, or rather pass
down the steep banks of the ravtne at
grade of about so per cent
However, the bank Is covered with
shrubbery and trees and looks pic
turesaue, SO that everybody but extremely
practical persons are apt 70 excialm In
looking down the foliage -bedecked steep:
What lovely place" However, Ken
nedy Brothers thought It would be more
lovely if the back yards were larger and
there was less embowered bank, and so
they have filled in to the limits or Their
holdings, and in order that the earth
would not follow it's natural impulse and
slip off to the lower levels they have built
up against the bank Of earth and above
the level OF their land q stone WALL:
How the Wall Is Built.
This wall is of rip-rap construction.
which means dry wall with stones laid
with some regard to regularity. bur. of
course with no uniform line Of joints.
The stones are laid with the slope of the
bank, and in consequence rest against
the bank. having width O. ABOUT tnree
feet at the bottom.
The thrust of the bank Is resisted by
the weight Of the wall, which rests on II,
and In addition the danger of seepage OF
the surface drainage has been averted
by providing for proper drain along the
top of the wall. Iron rods are also drawn
along the face of the wall at intervals,
and besides there is at the base foot
ing of concrete, and the same material In
the form Of grouting has peen lorcea De-
tween the interstices OF the stone for
distance of several feet from the base OF
the wall.
More Lots in the Air.
There is coping. or balustrade, at the
top Of the wall. and where 1t rounds to
the west there is curved seat OF con-
crete, from which view can be had OF
the ravine and the wooded slopes beyond.
The bottom Of the wall, resting on the
sloping sides Of the ravine, is still some
twenty feet above the level Of the road
way Of Cathedral avenue, which passes
along the border of the Zoo.
1t does not SO appear as tho land now
lies but the plat book shows tier of
lots along the west side OF Cathedra,
avenue and fronting on the Zoo. No
doubt some day the building sites on
that level, which at that part Is fully
forty feet below that of the next parallel
street on the west, Woodley place. VIII
be occupied with residences thus contin-
UlnR the line OI dwellings, NiIti dIS
now being built by Middaugl! and Shan
non on the north end of Cathedral ave-
nue., just before 1t turns from the boun-
dary line of the Zoo toward the west.
Problem Of Grades.
At present the southern section of the
theroughfare does not suggest a place for
homes. and neither does that portion OF
1t to the south of the railway bridge.
In this latter locality there is not the
same width of land. but the upper tier
Of lots has already, been built on, or.
rather, two houses are up and he third
is being finished and now faces the
northern approach to the new Cennecti-
cut avenue bridge.
There is another section of lots 'front.'
ing to the east, but the depth Of them is
for the most part lost in the steep de-
scent of the ground to the level of Rock
creek. The adaptation of ground to
meet the requirements of the uniform
level of city streets has thus far in the
of the city as a rule been
neither difficult nor expensive. But as
the city's advance passes beyond the