The Washington herald., 1911-12-31

announcement has yet been made, it Is
now generally understood here in the
best-informed circles that the MetropoH-
tan Opera House. long the most famous
center of music in this country, and one
of the most famous in the world, is to be
abandoned, so far as grand opera Is
concerned. Official confirmation of what
will be one of the most important events
in the musical history of the country Is
expected before the end of the year. For
twenty-eight years, that is, since its
construction in 1883, the Metropolitan has
been the country's operatic cradle and
renter At the time of its erection II
was looked upon as an epoch-marklnS
undertaking, costing for the ground and
buildings more than $1.7C0,OOO The first per-
formanCe of grand opera took place IN IL
on October -, 1888. and since then prac-
rically every famous artist during the last
quarter of A century has been heard there
at one time or another. Now, however,
MANY conditions unforeseen at the time
the opera house was built have brought
about the need Of a more convenient
structure which will probably be located
somewhat farther uptown. One great
difficulty which the architects of the
now building must solve has to do with
the handling of the arriving and depart
ing carriages and automobiles. This was
simple enough twenty-five years ago.
Now. however on 4 big night there are
more than 100 carriage calls, necesSltat-
ing long and irritating waits. While the
rassing of the Metropolitan will undoubt-
edly cause Widespread regret. 1t will re-
suit in giving New York the Greatesr
and most complete opera in the world
when the new structure is completed
New Record Price.
Real estate selling a SS66.55 a square
foot is the new record price which has
lust been established here by the sale of
q corner lot less than thirty-five feet
square The exact area of this small
lit of property : but I.l54 square feet,
but the total price is $I,Ooo,OOO. Curiously
enough. the owner who will pocket this
neat sum for the highest-priced piece of
real estate in the city arrived IN this
country thirty-One years ago With JUST
81 to his name. Ten years ago ne
bought The property, which Is located at
the corner of Broadway and Thirty
fourth street in the heart Of the retail
shopping. hote.. and thoater district, for
$1,000 Two years later he sold il, at
a price which has never been made pub
Iic and later bought it back again for
EAHOO0: so that the latest transaction
will net a profit of 100000 for the youth
who thirty-Une years ago was living on
81 week. Previous record prices for
New York real estate have been con-
1fnod /" the downtown financial dis
tricts When. in 1866 the property On
the corner Of Wall street and Broadway
brought E,5> a square foot, it was be-
'ievcd that the record would stand for
many years. As a matter of fact, II
stood less than four. for in 1909 near
10y piece Of real estate boosted the rec
rrd with a price of $50 square foot
\py rprnr1-hTra3 uDtOWn
sal. al $>Gf a square foot
While Santa Claus pack is not likely
t" he 50 large this year as in some OF
tho bumper times before 1907, there is
every Indication that its proportions will
hc Of rcspcctable dimensions, according
10 tn" opinion of persons here best quail
ifod tn prophcsy. that is. the heads of
department stores, express companies,
III" POst-ofice Department. and the rail-
'ouds That more than SJOOo0,O0O will be
expended in this city to fill Christmas
stockings. not only here. but through
"ut the country. is now accepted as a
conservative estimate Already an in
crease ur moro than one hundred clerks
ErS been necessary in the pOst-oftice de
partmCnt to handle the Christmas busi-
ness in this city alone, a large part of
viii n is made up of post-offlce money
"rdcr. for outside and foreign parts. De
l,artmcnt stores report increased sales
over the sam" time a year ago, while
the express companies and railroads
End business greater than in 1910 But
V nil" tho department stores, the express
companies. and even the post-OffiCe see
an Increased revenue in a prosperous
christmas. the railroads. so far as the
carrying Of ;he increase in Christmas
mail is concerned find no cause for re-
ioicinE. as they receive no added remu-
neratiOn for the additional service which
they are called upon TO perform during
tn" rush season. because of the fact
hat the lasis of railway mail pay is
1 .t"rmined in the late spring only once
very -four years, when the amount of
mail to he transported is relatively
small But as a heavy Christmas trade
taken as one of the chief indications
"f general prosperity the prophecy of a
NuletidP expenditure in this city OF
&0t0o"0 is looked upon as one of the
most significant indications OF business
expansion during the coming year