The Washington herald., 1915-01-24
BOOM IS COMING,
WARDMAN SAYS
Builder and Realty Expert
Declares Calamity Howl
ers Failed.
PREDICTION WAS WRONG
Never Have Been Hard Times and
Biggest Business Expansion
Still to Come"

Harry Wardman. magician builder and
master realty operator of the National
Capital, who always keeps his index
finger on the business pulse of Wash
ington, yesterday predicted that business
in the District is on the eve of a boom
that will eclipse any in the memory of
the oldest inhabitants. The boom will
not be rapid or sensational, but a steady
healthy, and wholesome expansion OF
business that will be based on sound eco
nomic principles. he said, and long be-
fore it reaches its zenith all the people
will be deriving the benefits of goou
times.
There really have been no hard
times" said Mr. Wardman, except in
the active imagination of the people
Business has been all right uniformly in
Washington. but the fright of the peo-
ple-the Coyote-like walls of calamity
howlers-has scared business a little, but
did not hurt it one tiny iota. This fright
was antecedent to the war Change of
administration. inauguration Of a new
banking system. what some call anti-big
business legislation. the cry Of the rail-
roads that they couldn't live without
higher freight rates-all gave pessimists
food for argument
Calamity HOwlers Lose.
But their arguments, though they
made business a wee bit timid. haven't
hurt business at all, and the things they
predicted would put business in a rut
haven't materialized. The war came,
and then the hard-luCk criers said, Now
were up against it for fair. but the
whole United States has shown such
wonderful resistance to the shock of
the greatest war of all times that we
cannot but admit that business was in
excellent condition before war declara-
tiOns were begun.
Il haven't slowed up at all in my
work. l have been building buying, sell
ing. trading, and renting just as though
there had been no administration change,
no new bank system, no legislation, no
war, and no calamity howlers. And I'm
going to keep right ahead. Standing here
in th~ middle of things, l can see down
vista of prosperity and glimpse the
road OF extraordinary good times along
which everybody can travel to restored
confidence"
Mr.. Wardman is recognized in Wash
iEGtOn for his business judgment lie
was born but a little over forty years
ago and started business in this city
about fifteen years ago. In that fifteen
years Mr.. Wardman has built about 400
houses and Is apartment houses, repre-
senting an aggregate Of about 800, OO1, 600
The houses he has erected range from the
modest dwelling worth $500 up 10 the
mansion that costs $4,000. He has built
apartments that cost IS. .OOO and others
that are worth $4,000.
First Venture for $4,000.
Mr.. Wardman's first venture was in
building two houses at the northwest
corner of Ninth and Longfellow streets,
Brightwood. He sold them for 500 each.
Probably his biggest venture was the
purchase of the large Belmont tract in
Fourteenth street northwest above Flori-
da avenue. where he has completed two
apartments and is building a third. an
operation representing an outlay of over
81 10000. When completed the trio OF
buildings will contain 264 apartments.
When Mr. Wardman started business
here he opened an office at 1921 G street
northwest Then he occupied offices at
flG Thirteenth street. 725 Twelfth street
III Fourteenth street, 1888 G street, and
1882 New York avenue northwest, each
office being little more pretentions than
its pr deccSsor. In April, 1918, Mr..
Wardman moved into his present office
at 1910 street northwest, which has
been called a model realty Office by real
estate men.
Entering by the classic Greek front
Mr.. Wardman walks over the latest thing
in parquetry flooring through a main CEN
ter aisle. lined with mahogany partitions
to a winding stairway. which takes him
to his private office on the front of the
second floor. This office represents about
the last word in business luxury.
Works While at Rest.
On one side Of the office is about the
most inviting bath that can be found in
Washington. Its cost represents a
young fortune. On the other side of
the office is a rest room. When Mr..
Wardman enters the rest room it is not
wise to disturb him. Upon a broad
leather divan with shades lowered to
keep out the light, he plans some of
the biggest realty operations that are
put through in the National Capital.
Il think better when alone" says
Mr.. Wardman to his friends. I'm fact
find ! can concentrate best at night
when / am in bed. i can get every
thing out of my mind, all the little.
petty, annoying details and fix my
thoughts on one point and settle it"
In the Wardman building are ar
ranged all the departments for an up
tO-the-minute realty office, from the
sales and building departments on the
first floor to the arChitects's department
on the second floor. One department is
devoted entirely to parquetry flooring.
1t is stated that Mr.. Wardman was the
first man in this city to introduce par
quetry flooring into the small dwell
ings. That was about FIVE yeaers ago
when there were hardly more than a
dozen men in the city who could lay
parquetry floors. Now. Mr.. Wardman
alone employs sixty men for this work.
Thomas P. Bones is general manager
for Mr.. WardmRn. Joseph H. Hines
manages the sales department.: Frank
White heads the architects; John G..
Chestnut manages the parquetry floor