Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-16

Current notions about the state or
business in the realty market to the
effect that the volume has been reason
ably large receive confirmation in the
sta tement made by e. Quincy Sp1th,
at the head of the F. H. Smith Com
| pany, relative to the operations of that
| company during the first half of the
| present year
| In looking over the reports of the bus1-
ness done, Mr.. Smith found that during
the present year the company had MADE
| sales aggregating in the value OF the
| property about 100000.
| A good part of 1t comprised holdings
located on 10th street, and for the most
part in the southern section of that
street The list also included the sale
made of the property, 1912 G street, be-
| longing to S. w. Woodward, and pur-
chased by F. A. Schmidt.
British Embassy Alterations.
Some changes are being made in the
British embassy building. Connecticut
avenue and N street, which will result
in practically completing the moderniza-
ton of the scheme of interior decoration
White is now the color of the woodwork
| in the ballroom and in the two recep-
ton rooms. Workmen are engaged in
making a similar change in the large
hall. In addition to a new color scheme
| the columns in the hall are to be re-
moved.
The only alteration in the exterior of
| the building will be the addition of a
| half story to the wing on the north,
where the Offices are located.
Acquisition by Government.
Three blocks of land, two Of which
lie within the original limits OF the city,
are designated by laws passed at the
session of Congress which has just closed
to pass from private ownership to that
of the public. as represented by the
United States government. This land COM
prises seven squares between the Cap
itol building and the Union station, the
tract at the northeast corner of 10th
| and Florida avenue, and that on the
north side of r street just east of
| Lovers Lane.
All these new holdings are to be de-
voted to park purposes. with possibly the
exception of the land lying in the vicin-
ity of the Union station. which may be
utilized for public buildings at some
time in the future, il Congress should
so decide There is no question about
one result of these great acquisitions Of
| realty, and that is the beauty and at
Effectiveness Of the city will be greatly
enhanced.
| The effectiveness of the scheme of con-
Meeting two such monumental structures
as the Capitol and the Union station by
| a wide sweep of park space. adorned
| with trees and shrubbery, goes without
saying, and certainly 1t will be an inn
provement over anything that might be
| expected from leaving the property in
private hands. 1t is also equally beyond
doubt that the proposed new parks Will
serve to adorn the city and will increase
the number of such delightful and at
tractive spots which add SO much to
| urban life.
| There is another phase of the situation
which is beyond that of merely the effect
on city revenues of taking away from the
| property on the tax list and adding to
the free list, and that is the further
| territorial expansion Of the city. AS ;the
| growth is mainly from the center, SO the
| taking of land near the center for public
uses will force the course of population
and of business farther and farther from