The Washington times., 1909-08-07

The investor who looks over the real
estate field in southwest Washington
( invariably is impressed with this fact:
that no other section affords safer re-
turns on money employed IN realty ven
lures. A number Of minor reasons con-
tribute 10 this situation. Two general
causes, However. are responsible for 1t,
and promise to maintain IL indefinitely.
These are the limited amount of land
available for building purposes and the
( tendency OF the section toward CONNER
cialization. The first has reached an
acute stage; the latter constantly ac-
centuates Il, since with the building up
! of commercial institutions n correspond
ing demand for homes is created, which
IF met with difficulty.
With such conditions prevailing, the
investor is fortunate IN the first place
TO find ground upon which TO erect the
class OF houses that are If demand IN
this section AZ 20 the risk employed
q may be said to have been reduced to
q nullity There isn't enough Of It to
figure in the investor calculations.
Is Oldest Section.
Taken as a whole, southwest Wash
lngton is the oldest section of the Cap
itsL Until a few years ago SITS i'm
provements were inferior to those Of
the other sections. But, recently. IL
has been acquiring quite as much in
this respect as the other localities OF
the city, and. at the same time. has
been taking on a decided commercial
complexion.
Along with this. shrewd spectators
have been subtly acquiring vacant
ground. so that, as q section for realty
investments, its limits have been rapidly
narrowing AT its present rate OF
growth there viii shortly be no avail
able land anywaere for building opera
lions Of any magnitude.
The commercial feature IS beginning TO
characterize the southwest section 10
an unprecedented degree. Whatever
force in The form Of sentiment may
have combated its rise IN the past. is
rapidly losing ground. What effect this
feature may be expected 10 have upon
the section Is generally thus summar-
lied:
Mechanics Homes.
It VIII create a demand for homes for
the employees of TIE manufacturing
concerns until its resources for supply
ing this demand have befn exhausted.
Other sections of Washsogson, eventual
j.. may have 10 care for this over
demand. but it win have the effect OF
making firm, unchangiug values on
southwest property. And. in ST. prob
ability, 1t viii make this section the
best from the standpoint Of rental prop
erty OF any In the city.
improvements OF a civic nature, as
lines have also contributed toward
Bringing about the general condition
now existing in the southwest which
tends 10 make that section a safe one
for the investor A number of such i'm
prOvements have been made during the
past few years. and, with the gradual
rounding out Of the sections limits, ii
may be reasonably expected that more
or them VIII be made lu the future
The adjustment Of grade crossings
IS doing for the southwest section what
the establishment OF the ciosstoWn ear
northeast and southeast sections. Nc
other Improvement, probably, has con
rr1buted so much toward stimulating
values in the section as the removal
OF the old-style crossings.
Removal of Grade Crossings.
A striking example OF the benefits o,
the removal Of grade crossings is 10 be
found In the appearance Of sixth street
Formerly, the railway tracks centerec
on this street, from Maryland aveuu,
and Virginia avenue 20 tie Sixth stree,
depot. Following their removal, IN,
street has been graded and concerted
The old bridge has followed the pass
ing OF the depot and the parking hai
been leveled 10 harmonic with the sur
rounding paris Of the Mall
September first will witness the com
pletion OF the latest Improvement the
southwest has gained with respect u
its railway facilities This is the build
Ing Of a small depot at Seventh and
q street, with a subterranean passage
leading 10 the railway tracks above
Prom standpoint Of architectural de
sign, the building is a decided credit q
the section. From the standpoint Ot
convenience Il viii afford Government
clerks VINO live outside the District II.
Dement'S almost immeasurable.
The advantages of this station vii
become more and more apparent. as the
Government pushes its operations ID
the southwest. Interest has centereC
this year IN the building Of the seven
story structure on the east side Of
Thirteenth street. between 3 and {