Evening star., 1909-06-26

Influenced not only by the prospect of
being taken back into the District of
Columbia, but by the growing apprecia-
ton of the convenience of its country sec
tions to the seekers after suburban homes.
Alexandra county has been growing dur
ing the past year almost literally by
leaps and bounds. Where a few short
months ago were only open fields and
grazing lands, there are now scores of
busy workmen engaged in the erection OF
houses and bungalows and dwellings are
springing up as If by magic
Alexandria county as whole is greatly
interested in the determination of the
constitutionality of its recession to Vir-
ginia by the Congress of the United
States, and if a referendum were neces-
sary to aid in securing the remuneration
of its precincts to the District Of Co.
lumbia it is believed an overwhelming
majority of votes would be cast in favor
of the proposition. In Alexandria city
the question might find many foes as
we'll as many friends, but the suburban
dwellers, facing the prospect of sharing
In the government appropriations for
their roads and other municipal improve
ments, are said to be practically a unit
in hailing the possibility of the change
as a boon fully compensating for dis
franchisement.
Opening Of Subdivisions.
Within the very brief period of few
months Alexandria county has seen the
opening Of several important subdvi-
sions. the Rosemont and Mount Ida town
sites being the largest in the southern,
section of the county, while Del Ray. St
Asaph and ST. Elmo, in the same vicinity
have Joined fortunes under the corporate
name of Potomac. and Potomac now has
full-fedged city government with its
mayor and other necessary officers. The
change In name probably has had little
effect in either increasing or diminishing
the popularity of Potomac, because 1t
has been growing at a steady late Tor
some years past-and at a rate which is
certain in the not very distant future to
make 1t one of the largest suburbs in the
Immediate vicinity of the Capital city.
Seven or eight houses are now in course
of construction In Potomac and this ra-
ito of new building has been practically
continuous for many months. not only
in 1909, but in 1903, 1907 and other years
which went before. Besides the lots on
which dwellings stand there are still
large blocks of unimproved property in
Potomac, though large numbers OF the
lots are held by prospective home build
ers, and 1T is likely that the organization
of at least one new building company,
IOTIH6Q WlIn the dTliGulaT OBJECT VI
operating in and about the ecently in
corporated town. Will materially assist
in Its upbuilding Heretofore the pur-
chaser of lots In the country districts of
Alexandria county has been much ham,
pered in his intended building operations
by the difficulty of borrowing money to
finance the construction work, by the high
interest rates required by the financial
institutions in Alexandria city and by the
decided unwillineness OF Washington
ls,tr alx hAt,- dc
upon Virginia soil. But all of this will
be greatly changed in the not very dis
tant future, because Potomac and all of
the southern end of Alexandria county are
to have construction company which
will build houses for lot owners and ac-
cept settlement on easy terms, and also
build houses upon it's own land and sell
them on the monthly payment basis.
which has been so successfully adopted
by real estate operators in Washington
New Construction Company Formed.
David n Rust, jr., one of the most ac-
tive of the realty men operating In Al
exandria county, will head the new com
pany. which will be known IS the .tust
Construction Company. Mr.. Rust has al
ready. done considerable building on his
own account in the county, having con-
structed several blocks of houses within
the boundaries Of Potomac. all of which
have either been rented o. sold, besides
a number of more pretentious houses
along the Old Braddock road on the
heights At the present time he Is en-
gagged in building bungalows at the top OF
the hill near the subdivision of Braddock
Heights.
In addition to the population which has
been attracted naturally to Potomac
by its convenience to the city, the new
town and Its environs are likely to receive
nf
the not very distant future. most of them
from the ranks of the railroa,. men who
are employed in the Potomac freight
yards. Ever since the great yard was
built by the various railroads concen
trating in Washington, SO that freight en-
route to and from the south might be
conveniently handled. a majority of the
"shifter' crews have resided in Wa;h-
ington. going to and from their work at
the hours required on special one-car
train maintained by the railroads and
known as the annex" Now, it is under
and it is expected the move will cause
quite a number of the railroad men to
seek new homes convenient to their place
Of employment
A very material Improvement to Alex
andria county was secured a short time
ago when the supervisors caused a new
road to be cut. connecting the old Brad
dock road and the Leesburg turnpike.
This new highway Is on the high plateau,
about one-half mile south of the Theo-
logical Seminary, and. because of it's
very desirable location and because much
of It's length Is bordered by fine groves
of oak and pine trees. IL Is already being
sought for home sites. d. N. Rust. sr..
built two houses on his property on the
road. and both are now occupied by Harry
bankers, OF Alexandria. Mr.. Burke also