davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
LIST PREPARED OF BEST
BUILDINGS IN AMERICA
Five Notable Structures in Capital
Prominently Mentioned
by Architects.

The American Federation of Arts re-
Gently undertook to ascertain what were
the most satisfactory examples of archi-
lecture in the United States and to this
end invited an expression Of opinion from
a selected list Of persons. including mem
bers OF the federation. prominent super
visors and artists, sculptors and others
having reputation for taste. The result
of the canvass showed the following
twenty public buildings to lead the list,
and Of this list 1t will be observed that
five are in Washington: Boston Public
Library, Capitol at Washington, New
York Public Library, Pennsylvania rail-
road station, New York: Trinity Church,
Boston; Columbia University Library,
Congressional Library, Washington; J. p.
Morgans Art Museum, New York; Min
nesota state house. Madison Square Gar
den, st. Patrick's Cathedral, New York /;
Cathedral OF st. John the Divine, New
York; West Point Military Academy,
White House. Washington; New York city
hall. University of Virginia, Toledo Art
Museum. Union station, Washington; w.
X. Vanderbilt's house, New York, and
Pan American building, Washington.
Following the initial twenty is placed
the Metropolitan tower. University Club
and Trinity Church In New York city
and the Museum Of Fine Arts In Boston.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
CITY BUILDING ACTIVITY
EQUALS COUNTRY'S. AVERAGE
National Capital Shows Normal Healthy
Growth in Month of
July.

may be overbuilt, but there are not
many, and a quiet period will do no
harm, but will be beneficial to a large
degree in clearing up the situation and
giving owners, material dealers and
builders a knowledge Of where and
how they stand. A dull period in con-
struction, if it should come about, and
there is now no likelihood of 1t, would
absorb all the vacant space and quickly
emphasize the necessity of the renewal
of activity"
Decrease in Capital.
In Washington in July, 1912, permits
were issued for a total of 400 new build
ings of an aggregate estimated cost of
SS79,941, while in the same month this
year there were issued AT permits for
buildings to cost sos, 100. Ordinary proc
ess of subtraction and division shows
that these figures actually mean that
there was a decrease of ID per cent in
building activity in the National city in
the month just passed, as compared with
the same period in 1912, but if the view
Of Construction News, which has oppor-
tunity to view conditions the country
over should be given particular applica-
ton to Washington 1t would indicate that
this city is growing at a thoroughly nor
NAL healthy rate.
The tabulated statistics for the whole
country are contained In the following
ia BILE.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23

Building statistics for the months Of
July last year and this year show that
the National Capital Is almost exactly
on the average as established by COM
parison of the figures submitted by the
building departments of all of the
principal cities of the country. Con-
struction News, a trade publication,
has assembled and tabulated the re-
ports covering building operations in
seventy-eight cities, and in comment
ing upon conditions this year the editors
of this paper say:
Moderate reaction In building con-
struction was sure to follow the high
totals Of the past few years. Permits
were taken out in seventy-eight cities
in July, according to official reports to
Construction News for the erection Of
Is, las buildings, involving a total cost
of $66,S12, 093, as against 19,413 build
ings at q total cost of $SO,866,633 for
the corresponding month a year ago, a
decrease Of 1865 buildings and $14,054,-
$40, or II per cent. This decrease is
for a breathing spell. 1t will take
more activity in construction in this
country to keep up with the remark
able growth in population than we
have had before there are any serious
signs of overbuildins. few cities
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
INCREASES SALE OF PAINTS.
Census Bureau Notes Effect of De.
tached House Construction.

The growth of the detached house
idea has evidently had some effect on
the paint and varnish industry, for re-
ports from the census bureau just made
public show that during the decade
lS99-l9O3 there was an increase of 1876
per cent in the products.
The value of the products increased
Soo,327,lS7 during this decade, being
almost six times as great in 1909 as in
1863. Although the largest relative in
crease in value of products during any
decade was that during the period
1s79-1SS9, S6.3 per cent, according to
the statement of the census bureau, In
absolute amount the increase for the
decade 1S99-1909 was more than twice
that for the former period.
During the period 1S99-1909 the value
of all products of the industry in
creased from s69.562,235 to S124.SS9,422,
or 1875 per cent, the rate of increase
for the first half of the decade being
30.6 per cent and that for the last half
37.5 per cent.
The cost of materials used in the
combined industry was S79,016,0O0 in
1909. S59,827,00 in 1904 and $44,739, 900
in 1899.
New York state leads in this industry
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
BUILDING OF GLASS
TWELVE STORIES HIGH
Latest Freak in Skyscraper
Construction in New
York City.

Something Of decided novelty in the
way of commercial building has Just
been commenced at the corner of 10th
avenue and Beth street. New York city
The architects. Goodwin, Starrett & Van
Week, have provided the plans for a
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in which the en-
tire front of the building and its interior
sides are to be entirely Of glass. In fact
Is per cent Of the walls will be of this
material. There will be no openings in
the glass facade except those in the
front of the building for emergency pur-
poses, but which will not be visible from
the street
Ventilation will be accomplished through
specially devised system of ducts,
through which will be forced cooled and
washed air, let into the offices at
whatever temperature the tenants may
desire. Humidity will be an unknown
quantity, as it will all be washed out OF
the air, which will be cool, dry and free
of all dust In the winter season this
same system will furnish heated air.
Vibration usually noted in buildings
where heavy machinery is operated has
practically been eliminated and anti
noise has also received attention in other
directions. All floors are to be rubber
tiled.
1t Is estimated that the structure will
cost approximately 100000. Of which
amount $4,000 will cover the cost Of the
glass. On the interior the glass will be
specially polished plate, and for the
exterior surface will be specially treated
plate that will not transmit heat waves
into the interior.
In the basement will be a power plant
which will be one of the most complete
of it's kind in the world. There will be
express and local elevators of the plunger
type and special elevators for various
fioors The structure will be known as
the Hill engineering building: and the
first four floors will be occupied by the
Hill Publishing Company. In its quarters
there will be electric machines for OPEN
ing and sealing mail matter, dictaphones
and noiseless typewriters.- Another fea-
ture of this section of the building will
be a contrivance for carrying copy be-
tween two floors, which is said to do the
work of twenty-five. copy" boys The
mail chutes will be sufficiently large to
mail whole sacks of matter instead of
one or two letters, which is the average
capacity.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
PROPERTY PURCHASED
FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES
Mrs. w. M. SomerviIIe Sells
Residence at 2OO7 Co.
Iumbia Road.

Announcement was made this week by
l.. w. Groomes. real estate broker, lab
II street northwest, Of the sale for Mrs.
William NJ Somerville of the large three
story brick and stone residence at FOOT
Columbia road northwest. The house,
which is semi-detached, has frontage
Of thirty-seven feet on Columbia road
and an average depth of over 100 feet.
1t was purchased for the use Of the Lucia
Gale Barber School of Rhythm and Cor
related Arts, and the school will have
its administrative offices in the building.
While consideration was not mentioned
in the deed, 1t is understood that the
owner was holding the property at
$4,000
The house was built originally from
plans prepared by Appleton P. Clark,
architect, and it is stated that In con-
nection with preparations for the open
ing of the next school term the new
owners will have extensive alterations
and improvements made.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
Largest Stone Ever Quarried.

What is said to be the largest stone
ever quarried is a great monolith in the
ruins of Baalbec, III Syria. 1t Is sixty
nine feet long, fourteen feet broad and
seventeen feet deep, and is estimated to
weigh 1900 tons. 1t is thought by arch
geological scholars that this huge stone
was intended by the ancient builders to
adorn the Temple of the Sun nearby
now, of course in ruins.
Here. in one of the walls, which still
stand, are to be seen huge slabs of stone
which careful measurements show to be
sixty-three feet long and thirteen feet
high. And, more remarkable still, they
are placed in position nineteen feet above
the ground level. Moreover, although no
sign of any cementing mixture is to be
found in these ancient buildings, the
stones have been squared and polished so
evenly that only after the most minute
search can the joints be found, and when
traced it is imp ossible to thrust the blade
Of a pocket knife between them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
Fighting a Modern Monster.
the Chicago Record : Herald.

From the Chicago Record Herald
A reader writes in to say that by build
ing a chicken coop In his rear yard he
has cut the cost Of chickens. He had been
paying from 60 to 80 cents each for young
fowl. He stocked his coop at a first cost
of 80 cents a chicken. He does not say
what it costs him to feed the FOWL, and
so his exact saving Is not clear. though
1t is apparent he thinks it is considerable.
He has simply utilized an idle bit of
ground. turning 1t into money by raising
chickens as others do by keeping gar
den.
We are glad to see that our readers
are contributing their part to the discus
sion of how to beat the high cost Of
living. Somehow such personal con-
fessions have q convincing ring to them.
The cost of living is a monster of fright
full mien that will take q heap of STAY
ing; therefore the more weapons we can
lay hands on the better.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
MANY COUNTRIES HAVE
EMBASSY BUILDING PLANS
Foreign Powers to Have Permanent Homes
for Representatives in Wash
ington.

ed by the reichstag, and IL is not Inn
probable that work will begin in the
early spring. The ambassador and all
of his assistants and attaches have been
out of the city during the summer, and
nothing official has been learned with
regard to the developments in the prof.
ect since their departure.
French Embassy in Same Block.
The site of the new French embassy
is in the same block with the German.
on the south side of street. Plans for
this building have not progressed as far
as have those for the German struc-
ture. but it is understood several hum
dred thousand dollars will be expended
by the French in the next few years,
and that the building will rank as one
of the finest in the city
Inc Russians have been negotiating
for the purchase of building for some
time Their Washington embassy made
tentative offer for the residence of
John Hays Hammond on the Avenue
OF the Presidents before the capitalist
purchased il from Mrs. Pullman of Chi
cago. who built it. Before the offer
could be ratified by the government.
however, Mr.. Hammond had purchased
it for his residence.
Since then the Russians have been con-
sidering the purchase of one of the
houses Mrs. John B. Henderson built for
Embassy purposes DeyoHu own MAN.
sion in the Avenue of the Presidents.
Just how far the negotiations for this
purchase have progressed could not be
learned. The house is built especially for
embassy purposes, however, and is sit
uated in section near several other en-
bassies and legations.
There has been a persistent rumor that
the Austria-Hungary government Is
gotiating for the purchase of the resi-
dence of George Howard in the Avenue
of the Presidents, but this report was
emphaticaIly denied yesterday by an Of
fetal in the embassy.
In addition to the plans of the large
European governments and of Brazil,
coupled with the completed project OF
the Argentine. it is expected that sew
eral other South American countries
soon will follow suit in either building
or buying permanent quarters for their
representatives in Washington.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
RESTAURANT BUILDING
READY FOR OPENING
. New "ChiIds" Establishment
on Pennsylvania Avenue
Now Nearly Finished.

Construction work is now about fin
ished on the new "Childs" restaurant
building on Pennsylvania avenue near
18th street northwest. and the restau-
rant probably viii be opened for bust
ness early next week. The new struc-
ture, which has a frontage Of fifty-four
feet on the avenue and a depth of
ninety-three feet. is constructed on
part OF the property Of the Willard es-
tate, and 1t will be held on long
term lease by the restaurant company.
The building was constructed after
plans prepared by j. c. Westerveit,
architect, and the structural work and
all interior fittings were done by the
W. u. Lewis Company. Tables and
seating space have been provided Tor
about 200 persons. Exclusive OF the
value Of the ground the improvement
represents an investment OF $4,000. II
is stated that this restaurant increases
the number Of "Childs'' establishments
10 ninety, located in nearly all of the
principal cities Of the country.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23

Louis, 50; Milwaukee. 40: Cincinnati, 40;
Louisville, So: Los Angeles. z; San Fran
cisco. 43: Indianapolis, IL; Omaha, II
Kansas City, 3: Washington. D. G.. 10;
San Diego, 90: Atlanta, IS; Baltimore, 30:
Worcester. Al: Albany. q; Memphis, %;
town. 55: Peoria. 10, and Sioux City, 63.
Gratifying increases are shown in Troy.
n. Y. 1913 per cent; Cleveland. so; Detroit,
%; Minneapolis. 10: st. Paul. 16; Fort
Wayne. IS: Wilkes Barre, 1877: Rochester,
40; Harrisburg, 153; Hartford. 81; New
Haven, 8, and Paterson. 10. Some of the
north Pacific coast cities make a remark
able showing. Tacoma leading. 267;
Seattle. 10, and Oakland, 53 Dallas,
Tex, had gain Of 163."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
Ugly Buckingham Palace.
From the London Chronicle.


Buckingham Palace has been de-
scribed as the ugliest royal residences
In Europe. and 1t will be curious 10 see
how far the new front will remove not
only that reproach. but also the archl-
tectural unluckiness which has always
been associated with the site the nrst
building erected on the land was the
home built for the Duke Of Shefheld In
1903. 1t was SO hideous that he never
completed 1t. When the crown acquired
it in 1926 the building was pulled down
and the present palace erected. But
William w 40 hated it that he refused
to live there. Queen Victoria gave 1t
new front at a cost Of f150.0O0 soon
after her coronation. but avoided 1t ex-
cenr on rare official occasions. Despite
altera tions in 1851 and 1908 the ouiider
has still been puzzled.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
Constantine and Sofia.

FrUm the LOnuOn LhrOflcIt.
Sofia, It is curious to recall, might
have been Constantinople IL Constan-
tine had adhered to the preference he
felt at one time for it. Several places
were thought of as the site of the new
Rome before the unrivaled natural ad.
yantages Of Byzantium secured the
honor-among them Troy and Serdica
in Moesia, which we now know as
Sofia. 'Serdica is my Rome" was an
actual saying of Constantine who was
almost certainly born not far on, at
Nish-for the claim Of York to be his
birthplace is generally abandoned. But
would not have meant
what II has If it had been fixed any.
where but on the Bosphorus.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
ARGYLE APARTMENTS
TO Be FINISHED SOON
Kennedy Bros, Builders, Ex-
peCt to Have Park Road
Structure Ready Oct. /.

The Argyle apartment house. located
at the corner of 18th street and Park
| road, and easily one of the most i'm
portant improvements of the present
building season in the Mount Pleasant
section is now rapidly nearing compile
ton, and Kennedy Brothers. the owners
ana builders. have announced that the
structure will be ready to receive it's first
tenants not later than October 1. Cover
Ing an unusually large lot. the new
apartment is four stories in height and it
contains total of forty-three apart
ments. On the first floor i'll the corner
facing the intersection of the streets
space also Is provided for a modern drug
store
Advantage has been taken by the
builders of the attractive features of
the location. The size of the lot per-
united the making of every room an out
side room, and since the property lies
on the very crest of the ridge many
or the windows afford excellent view of
the geological Park and Rock Creek val
ley several apartments each floor
also have been provided with large sleep
ing porches, and nearly every apartment
also has an open fireplace.
Will Incinerate All Waste.
A feature of the construction lies in
the arrangement for disposition of gar
bage and trash-the object being that no
garbage or trash wagons ever need stop
In the street to receive the usual assort-
ment of waste. Each apartment will
be provided with a double-door closet
and tightly closed receptace-the inner
door opening into the apartment and
permitting the occupant to readily dis
pose of waste, while the outer closet
door enables the janitor to reach and
carry away the filled containers without
annoyance to tenants. All such gar
bage and trash is to be incinerated in
the big furnace in the basement. which
furnishes hot water to the building.
Interior finishings of the Argyle in
clude an all-marble lobby of Colorado
yule marble, while the same stone effect is
carried through all the halls and stair
ways. All floors are of polished hard
wood. The apartment will have an inter-
communicating telephone system The
convenience of open freplaces in the
apartments will not be counterbalanced
by the Inconvenience of removing ashes.
since the bottom of each fireplace will
open directly into wide tube, which will
permit ashes to be dropped as desired
all the way to the basement A serv-
ants bath is provided on each floor,
while in the basement there will be COM
modlous sleeping rooms for servants.
Fireproof lockers also have been built
into the basement.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
Americas First Safety Exposition.

The first international exposition of
safety and sanitation to be held in Amer
lea will take place in New York city De-
cember IL to 20 of the current year under
the auspices Of the American Museum Of
Safety. 1t is expected that at this expo
sition safety and health in every branch
of American industrial life, manufacture
ing, trade, transportation on land and
sea, and engineering in all Of their SUBJ
divisions will be represented. The main
object of the exposition will be to point
the way to the conservation of human
resources.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
When Women Knew Nothing Of Golf

FROM the westminster Gazette.
Now that ladies have their own golf
championships, their own clubs, and even
a journal devoted to their doings ON the
links. 1t is little difficult to believe that
less than twenty years ago the majority
OF womankind knew nothing about the
game. except that it took their husbands
and brothers away from home a good
deal. A correspondent sends the Glas-
cow Herald some anecdotes Of that
period One lady, making sympathetic
conversation at dinner. said to a keen
golfer: Il often see you in your red
coat. Do you need many dogs to play
go1! A younger lady said she knew
exactly how the game was played. 'They
get what they call caddies to hunt about
IN the grass till they find a round stone.
ana tnen they hit it into a rabbit hole"
tnlrd lady, who had evidently enjoyed
nearer view Of the game, said: "It
Is prayed by two men. One Is a gentle
man and the other is common man.
Inc common man sticks ball on Q
it off,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23
Comparison of Percentages.

Placing the percentages of increase ana
decrease in the different cities in closer
position for comparison. the editors OF
the trade paper say:
"Of the total of seventy-eight cities.
there were losses In forty-eight and gains
in twenty-nine. Losses and gains are in
termingled in all sections Of the country.
The nrincipal losses are in the larger
cities and in a group Of enterprising small
er cities that have been growing fast.
There was a loss in New York city OF 3
per cent; Brooklyn, q: Chicago, Al: Bos-
ton, IS; Buffalo, 81: Pittsburgh. 80; St.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-23

Second In Importance only to the de-
velopment Of Washington by new and
elaborate buildings for the United States
government is the increasing attention
which Is being given to Washington en-
bassy and legation homes by foreign
powers.
The most recent embassy purchase Is
that of the Argentine Republic, which
paid about $4,000 for the splendid build
ing at New Hampshire avenue and Q
street northwest.
Up to this time only five foreign powers
have owned the homes Of their represent
atives to the United States. Great
Britain owns its embassy building, at N
street and Connecticut avenue; China
owns the home Of its representatives. at
10th and U streets; Germany owns its
embassy building. on Massachusetts, ave-
nue. Just off Thomas Circle; Japan owns
its embassy office. at 1910 N street north
west, and Mexico has for many years
owned the embassy building at lab l
street northwest
None of these buildings Is as hand
some, 1t is conceded, as that just pur-
chased by the Argentine, and as the
world powers continue to PROVIDE on IN
crea sing liberal scale for their emissarieS
to the United States it Is safe to con-
clude that Washington VIII be adorned
with many handsome ne" embassy
buildings.
AT least four foreign countries have
plans we'll under way for new homes for
their Washington REPRESENTATIVES iheS
are Russia, Germany, France ana brazu.
The Germans and freRcn nave already
nurcbased sites and the Russians have
received instructions, 1t is understood, 10
negotiate for the purchase OF suitapIe
site or building with the assurance that
their negotiations will be ratined by the
cars government. braLi > pidhS arc
not known further than tnat II IS IN
tended to buy home here.
GERMANY Has Elaborate Project.
of oil tba nlans now under considera-
.tion. Germany's is perhaps the most pre-
tentious The kaiser's government mas
for several years owned large piece OF
nroperty on the north side of 5 street
between 22d and sd streets northwest
and actual building has been delayed only
because of the extensive embassy puiio-
ing Germany is doing in Russia ana other
foreign countries.
Several years ago the reichstag aaopl-
ed a measure providing for the Duiidlng
of homes for it's embassies in all the iarg-
est countries in which they are represent
ed. A number of these have ALREADY
been constructed, Russia being the latest
country in which a new German embassy
has been put up. and it is understood the
United States is next on the puiioins
list.
Three architects from the kaiser's coun-
try were here for several days last WIN
ter comforting with Count ]. II. Won Bern
storff. German ambassador. and viewing
the site on which the new structure Is to
be erected.
It is understood that the report OF
these architects and the plans they SUD-
NIT for the new building viii be APPROX