The Washington times., 1918-12-28
REAL ESTATE
AND BUILDING
BOOM IN D. c.
IS PREDICTED
ny BILL PRICE.


The future OF building construction
in the District is. according to build
ers and real estate men today. more
unsettled than any other phase of the
readjustment brought by The close OF
the war.
Washington men in large number,
optimistic as to the country's<g general
prosperity in a short time, stand ready
to begin new construction in this city
when conditions justify, but declare
that they cannot AFFORD to take the
risks involved in building. with labor
an6 materials both exceedingly high
in cost.
It is admitted that there Is a good
demand for houses, and the almost
unanimous opinion among builders
and real estate men Is that this de-
mand viii increase rapidly from now
on. Hundreds OF S1-a-year men who
came to Washington to serve the Gov
eminent in war have concluded TO
make this city their permanent home.
Many OF them bought homes during
the war at war prices, but q large
number have been occupying rented
houses or apartments not satisfactory
10 their families. They have begun
to look around for houses more suit |
able 10 their desires. Being men OF |
wealth they can afford what they |
want
Others win Stay Here.
There are also large numbers Of |
rell-to-do men who came here to ac-
cept places under the Government |
who expect their positions to be per-
snanent. They, too, want homes, and
viii begin buying.
Then there are thousands, many
thousands, of new Government clerks
who will retain their positions per-
manently, becoming citizens OF Wash
ington. They are mostly young men
and women who have been rooom-
ing and boarding. They will not be
satisfied with that sort OF life. The
inevitable tendency is to bring from
the States their fathers, mothers,
brothers and sisters who are not
tied down back home. To unite their
families they will buy homes.
Houses viii be in demand. The
only thing In the way OF actual pur-
chase will be the prices to be asked.
viii builders be able to sell new
houses at the prices which must be
asked II they do the building with
conditions as at present?
Little Decrease in PopuIatioa.
Real estate men and builders gen
orally have no fear of the city's popu-
lation materially decreasing. They
have sized up the situation carefully
and are looking for a big boom
ahead.
Herbert shannon, of Shannon q
Luchs, was one day talking with a
man somewhat pessimistically in
ciined about the departure OF many
people from Washington and the
growth of this city. "Did you ever
tbini< OF the fact that every time Con-
eress passes q new law 1t means
more clerks to enforce It and more :
people for WashingtonF shannon
asked. 'sThiB town will never grow {
backward so long as it is the Capital
Of the Nation" I
Every new law brings here not
enly new clerks but lawyers and
eEhers to look after the interests OF !
the people who are affected by It &
washington builders attribute their
nesitation to the attitude Of labor.
They say that mechanics are holding {
out for war wages. There Is promise ]
Of q slight fail in building material.
but the decrease will rot be large in
ehs face Of the great demands in Eu-
raxzges Of the German invasion.
To Encourage COnstruetIoa.
The Department Of Labor and the
American Federation Of Labor are
bo1h wide-awzke to what It may mean
building operations are halted all
oser the country. A special division
has been created IN the department TO
encourage construction work. Unless
here II cooperation between builders 4
Ind mechanics there will be thousands
u Idle carpenters. brickIayers, plas-
Ierers, painters. and others. The Fed Z
sgzt1on Of Labor does not want to see Y
EhiA 4
Apropos the admittedly good field in :
for building operations
here is said to be another favorable
slement in the probability Of free rams
bGs over the street car lines that will s
beneAt suburban and city sections Of c
he District in bringing residents Of n
Instant communities more quickly into D
De center of the city. The belief Is n
oppressed that free transfers will mean
nuch for the upbuilding OF portions S
" the District now somewhat retarded b
~ lack Of quick car service. Pros b
,ecttve investors in suburban proper u
les frequently hesitated in the past e
,ecanse OF street car conditions. .