The Washington times., 1912-06-15
Pneumatic Hammer Is Busy
in Downtown Section
hr.- of City.
MONTH OF MAY
SHOWS INCREASE
Reports Indicate There Is Marked
Improvement In Operation of
Contractors In This City.
BY GEORGE H. GALL.

The clatter of the pneumatic hammer
driving rivets into steel columns and
beams In heard In the downtown busl-
ness section of Washington. and the
litter of the builder strews the streets
where many new business structures
are rising. Evidence of the increased
amount of building for which permits
were issued In May, as compared with
May, 1911, Is at hand in a dozen differ
ent places downtown
r street presents the busiest aspect
The new building for Woodward &
Lpthrop at 1908 F street Is taking on
form It's steel frame is up eight stories
and most of the f1reproofing is COM
aleted. 1t rises five stories above its
adjoining structures, and shows now
how be skyline of that section Of the
street will be altered by the new addi-
Farther west the steel skeleton of the
new home for the Interstate Commerce
Commission. the Interstate Building, is
up to the sixth floor. 1t will be slightly
higher than the adjoining American
National Bank building when compIet-
ed and will be connected with that
structure upon each of the upper floors
lease was recorded yesterday for the
first floor. 1t will be occupied by Chas.
Kaufman & Sons.
Still farther west, In the square be-
tween Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets,
on the north side, two modern struc-
lures are appearing where once the
familiar Cruit residences. the last to
remain in F street. stood. Both are
to be modern store and office buildings
Of attractive design. The builders are
the one at 1407 for Jordan & Co, and
the one at 1409 Is nearing completion
and will be occupied by William Ball
antyne & Sons. The Jordan building Is
an investment proposition.
At 13n2 r street an attractive mod arm
store building Of two stories is now
practically completed in place Of the
old building which stood upon the site.
The building activity is not all limit
ed to F street. Over on G the new
Riggs building, at the corner of Fiji
tcenth street, Is almost completed. Op-
posite 1t the builders are at work upon
the new home Of the Citizens Savings
a new store, office and apartment
structure. a remodeled building has
been completed. 1t is three stories
hikh. and is located at 1929 G street.
Another new three story building has
street, between q street and New York
avenue. This square mas been largely
improved in the past year. and other
improvements are Immediately ahead
for It. notably the new five-story build
ing for the r. p. Andrews Paper Com
rany, on the east side, near the COR
ner Of H street,
The improvements are extending also
into New York avenue and II street. in
this vicinity. Just around the south
west corner the builders are at work
upon the new fve-story building for
another paper and stationery house.
Charles &. stett & Company, which
will adjoin the Halls of the Ancients.
To the east of Thirteenth street on H.
a new three-story building is being
completed. at 1920 II street. adjoining,
a new two-story business building at
1918 H, and at 1914 II, excavation is be-
Ing made for another business struc-
ture.
Passing down to Ninth street, at the
southw est corner of G street, Mrs. We
lati is building a modern three-story
building A square and a half to the
south Henry T. Offterdinger is having
a new fve-story store and factory built
at sos Ninth street, which he will oc-
cupy when completed.