Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-12-17
Spring OF 1916
TO BREAK RECORD
IN REAL ESTATE
Realty Men Predict Unusual
Season of Activity at Close
of Winter
NEW IDEA IN HOMES
Purchaser Today Seeks Indivi-
duality-Awaiting Hard
scrabble" Schedule
NEW IDEA IN HOMES

Comparative quiet in realty circles
more than ordinary activity. accord
ing to prominent real estate men of
the city.
The present lull is due, of course, to
the usual preholiday, midwinter slump
and the fact that the building op-
eratonS for the year are pretty we'll
out of the way. The approach of cold
weather naturally means a closing
down of outdoor work.
But the inquiries of contractors, of
individual builders, of developing COM
panies. both in this city and from sur
rounding cities, all indicate what con-
tractors and builders figure will be the
biggest Spring in years in the real
estate and building world.
The New Homes
I'VE have scores of inquiries most
every day." said President Herman p.
Miller, of the now Harrisburg Real
Estate Board, and senior member of
one of the city's leading real estate
firms. "As a rule these are queries
relative to development projects In
and around the city. Some of the re-
quests may be from purely speculative
reasons: others may be from firms or
individuals who mean to go in for
bona fide building or development
project. At any rate, this sort of thing
Is naturally DOunQ TO mean dCIlNlIy III
the realty world.
Harrisburg is just about finishing
up an unusually active season of little
home building" went on President
Miller. do you realize that hundreds
of comfortable little dwellings were
built this year and that they were of a
type that is far more improved than
the houses that were erected some
years ago?
Wants Something Little Better"
THAT in itself is significant. 1t
shows that Harrisburg's home builder
wants something a little better than
his neighbor had a few years ago. In
certain sections, especially up town
and out on the Hill, this change is
more than ordinarily noticeable. Take
some sections of North Sixth, Fourth.
Susquehanna and Green streets, for
instance.
Several years ago the houses were
built in rows. They were modernly
fitted up, of course, but there was
sameness, perhaps, that was perfectly
comfortable and cosy, but which
lacked the individual honey sort of
an atmosphere that is demanded now
adays.
what is the plan that is being
adopted now, as a rule? Houses are
being erected more in pairs-in such
way as to allow touch of indi-
viduality. The home buyer is de-
manding it. And this speaks mighty
well for Harrisburg.
Await "Hardscrabblc" Schedule
Real estate men are waiting with
more than ordinary interest the ap-
pearance of the schedule of the Hard
scrabble" board of viewers on Monday,
December 20. Notices to the affected
property owners were sent out a week
or so ago and 10 o'clock Monday
morning was fixed as the time of post
ing the schedule. A certain time VIII
be allowed for appeals and then the
report will be presented to court. The
week of January quarter sessions mas
been fixed as the return day for the
Dauphin County Court.
Rumors as to what the viewers
would suggest were rife during the
week. City commissioners were just
as much at sea as to actual hgures as
anyone, as the viewers steadfastly re-
fused to let out anything about their
figures pending the appearance of the
schedule But somehow the rumor
got about that the damages for the
properties condemned on the vest SIDE
of Front street from Herr to Calder
would top the 100000 mark and
might reach even $1O5, 900 or s110 900.
Sixty per cent. of this, it is understood,
will probably be borne by the city, as
the remaining 40 per cent. Will be.
made up in the benefits assessed on
properties on the east SIDE OF the
street.
To Cite Denny Case
Report had it that the old decision
on the John @. Denny case will be
cited as authority for the viewers
opinion relative to claims for improve
ments. Under an act of 1863, build
ings constructed on the land In ques-
tion since 1871 cannot be considered
in computing the market value. The
land to low water mark is considered
as part of the highway. In the John
O. Denny case-the question grew out
of a similar condition in South Cam
eron street.-the court held that the
owner built his improvements at his
own risk.
For a brief spell during the past
week realty men were all wrought up
over the report that the Du Pont Pow
der Company contemplated the con-
struction of a powder plant on the old
Flickinger tract, north of the city and
west of Wildwood Park. The rumor
got going when the Du Points filed with
the Dauphin county recorder the deed
g, 1I,o ground originally