Evening star. [volume], April 08, 1906, Page 8, Image 76

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
CHEMICAL ENGINE No
RAPID GROWTH NOTED
Southeast Washington Keeping
Pace With City's Progress.
BUILDING ACTIVITY NOTED
The Improvements Already Made and
Those in Prospect.
BANNER YEAR FOR DEALERS
Need of Sewers, Water Mains and
Paving to Accommodate an In
creasing Population.
XV h the wonderful and rapid growth and
<! ??! iiment of the city within the past few
us. and (specially in the past year, the
? ? thrust section has kept pace. In its
i it il advantages, it is claimed, the south
? ?st lead all other sections. These advan
tage - were recognized by the projectors of
Trie at>nal a hundred years ago, and those
i : < i ? s- 1 i v they are just as apparent
tinw then Southeast Washington occu
pies gh mind, much of it higher than
Is anv ot section in the city. Its thor
c>.irirate.- are broad, its parks and park
waj - hi;: r.jus, its streets lined with shade
v.- and these features have been appre
i 1 it 1 1>> those seeking homes.
K- il i ?: ue ir. the southeast section has
been p< it demand for the past two
. not abnormally, it is declared, but
i- st id. adva ice. The building of the
anion ftatioa and the almost whole
sale condemnation or purchose of ground
i'. that vicinity to give the necessary room
f ?; that vast Improvement, to say nothing
of purchases in the southern part of the
? it J for the railroads, have forced many
people to fceek n.-w homes, and a majority
i>' tiiis.' displaced horse owners sought
habitations in the southeast section and in
\ested their money there. In the case of
the purchase of land for the new office
b nldings of the .Senate and House more
people were forced to go elsewhere, and
they purchased ground in the same sec
tioi.. This has led to aa Increased demand
for real wtlN m Southeast Washington.
Increase in Population.
i !>e ntinuous advance In tTie facilities
< ? t navy yard has had its consequent
effe, t on the surrounding section. It has
made v. ;i stree t southeast, from Pennsyl
vania avenue to the navy yard Kate, one of
the leading business streets, and easily tv.o
!? . !i;;g ?'ummen lal boulevard of the sejth
e t The increased number of employes
a he yard most of whom receive the high
? iir, j i>f skilled mechanics, help to build
' ''e section. As the contemplated Im
prorementa and enlargemens of the navy
yard go on, this effect on the demand for
-.least property wli' be more and more
n anlfest.
Probably the greatest progress in the
s ? itheast can be seen in that part between
Pennsylvania avenue southeast and Kast
5, CONGBESS HEIGHTS.
t'apital street, beyond 11th street south
east During the past year that section has
been the scene of extensive building ope
rations and the frequent visitor notes a
new house started at every visit he makes,
besides several new ones completed and oc
rupi'd. The houses which have been put
up ;.re substantial and Include modern im
provements. The cost of a home in that
locality varies from 12.500 to $5.00fi and it
Is the characteristic that the dwellings are
built for homes, not for invesment. The
demand for lots in this vicinity, the real
estate dealers say, is continuing unabated
and the sales are keeping up, although this
Is generally regarded as the dull season In
the city While the nuraber of new houses
in this locality cannot be tixed accurately.
It is estimated that between 130 and 200
have been erected or started within the past
year.
Improvements Made and Projected.
Municipal improvements started during
the past year will add much to the attract
iveness of the southeast s etion of the city.
The old marine barracks are to be repli ed
by new ones of modern construction, to be
located on Rth street between G and X
streets southeast. The new House of Rep
resentatives office building is another ed- !
ifice that will grace the southeast. A new
Are engine house erected on Oth street be
tween K street and Virginia avenue and the
new house for truck G, on 8th street be
tween D and E streets, are a guarantee
that the Are protection of the locality is
keeping pace with the growth.
Among the newest of the improvements
may be mentioned a number of handsome
apartment houses and several rows of
houses constructed by people who believe
firmly in southeast real estate. Among the
latter, begun the past year, are those on
Massachusetts avenue between l.'ith and
14th streets; near the corner of 17th and E
streets; on Georgia avenue beyond 12th I
street; on South Carolina avenue betwee.n
! 2d and ;td streets, and those near the cor
j ner of fith and I) streets.
With all the building of new houses and
1 flats in this section, "For Rent" signs are
I seldom seen in the southeast section of the
i city. During the past year there has been
| a great demand for houses, and very few
:ire Mle One dealer, in speaking of this
; phase of the situation, said that out of slx
ty-five houses which he handled for one
man, he had obtained full rents on all dur
ing the past year.
The people who live in the southeast seo
: tion of the city are largely?perhaps to the
! extent >>f s.~> per cent?house owners, who
i take pride in their homes and in keeping
j them in the best repair. Eighty-five per
cent of the property bought in this section
i passes into the hands of the homesaeker.
The Banner Year.
Dealers in real estate in the southeast
s.v ion of the city are agreed that the year
\ lMtHi will be the banner year. While in the
past two years there have been more Im
provements than !n the previous ten years,
i tfiis year is expected to equal the past year
? in tho sale of lots for homes in the bulld
: ng of new houses. The demand for lots
i and inquiries indicate that the prophecy
will be fulfilled. This general prosperity is
also expected to provide plenty of work for
the builders and their employes for many
months to come.
Municipal Improvements contemplated
will take the form of pavements, sewers
and water mains. There are many popu
lous streets which have no pavements. As
soon as these street improvements can be
,iade the growth of the city In that section
b -yond 11th street will be rapid, and many
nt'ir and attractive blocks of residences will
be added to those already there. It is the
confident hope of homo owneis that the
j Commissioners and Congress v-111 provide
| for more paving and for the e.ctentlon of
the sewer and water mains into that newly
opened territory.
The building of a sea wall near the pres
ent Navy Yard bridge and the reclamation
or filling In of the flats along the Eastern
branch from 11th street to Bennlng Is urged
East Washington Savings Bank, 3d and Ptana. Avenue Southeast.
by the residents. While this improvement
has long been agitated, ft is ?till untna'-hed,
and should the rate of bulkiing on East
Capitol street and Pennsylvania avenue
southeast in the past two years keep up
for the next five years, as Is confidently ex
pected. the limit of expansion In that direc
tion will have been reached. For the
proper growth of the city, therefore, ac
cording to many, it is necessary that the
flats along the Eastern branch should te re
claimed.
While there is a difference of opinion
among the real estate men as to the volume
of sales and the building of homes in the
southeast during the current year, it Is gen
erally agreed that the year has started
with the brightest prospects. Inquiries as
to prices and the sales for the first three
months of the year show up well with those
for the same months last year, and prices
have advanced materially.
In speaking of these prospects, one deal
er remarked: "We look for the present sea
son to be the best we have ever had, and.
Judging from the number of sales made and
in prospect, we can safely say that 1906 will
be our banner year."
HOME SITES IN DEMAND
GBEAT HEAL ESTATE BOOM IN
SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.
The people of Washington have suddenly
awakened- to the rapid rise of real estate
values in the southeast section. The de
mand for home sites during the past year
has far surpassed the expectations of the
most enthusiastic property owners, and
the locating here of the Firth-Sterling steel
plant of Pennsylvania has started a boom
which. It is claimed, was never before wit
nessed in any suburb of this city. The
buying of lots for home and business sites
seems to have centered a. Washington
Highlands, it being the cheapest property
and nearest subdivision to the stel plant.
Washington Highlands, adjoining land
purchased for this plant, is the largest
subdivision In the District of Columbia, and
the investing public are rapidly taking ad
vantage of the tremendous boom the com
ing of this plant predicts.
Great Interest has been aroused by the
announcement of the establishment here of
one of the most extensive manufacturing
plants in the world, the possibilities of
which cannot be estimated at this time.
Beginning of Expansion.
It Is confidently believed that the trans
fer of the great Klrth-Sterling Steel Com
pany's projectile plant to Washington Is
the beginning of a remarkable expansion
of the industrial growth of the city, and
is only the preliminary to a series of In
dustrial developments which are said to be
in contemplation, and which If they take
place will bring to the District several
great establishments.
The plant alone will employ hundreds of
men, skilled workmen of the highest class,
and it is natural to suppose they will make
their homes in the immediate neighborhood.
The best paid men receive higher salaries
than those working In the navy yard, and
the mechanics get about the same.
It Is predicted that during the coming
year at least one huttdred houses will be
erected in the vicinity of the steel plant to
accommodate the fast-growing population
of this section. The Washington High
lands Company have donated four of their
best lots for a church site, which will be
erected In a few months.
Property Subdivided.
The Hungerford property, adjoining
Washington Highlands on the south, has
been subdivided and put on the market
with prices rangiug from J150 to $300 per
lot.
The coming of this plant Is the first step
toward the development of the southeast
section, greatly enhancing the value of
surounding property, and It is reasonable
to look for the establishment at Wash
ington from time to time of great indus
Seward Apartment House, 4th and
| tries that will eventually Impart to the
capital city the Important Industrial charac
ter dreamed oif by Its founder.
BEAUTIFUL LAWNS OF
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK
To eyes tired of red clay the beautiful
green sloping lawns of American Univer
sity Park are peculiarly attractive. With
its wide areas and gently undulating surface
the leveling work of the "land surgeon"
has not been necessary, so that In this
beautiful suburb the landscape Is not
marred toy the usual unsightly scars.
Here are wide street*;, lined with spread
ing maples, giving assurance for the fu
ture of ample air spaces and cool shade.
W.th streets of macadam, electric light
an J telephone service and other comforts
and conveniences men and women, tired
out by the day's business cares and wor
ries. find here In the pleasures of subur
ban life the real tonlc--the elixir of life.
Situated on a slope facing two great edu
cational Institutions, of two mighty church
bodies, whose great power Is being exerted
In their establishment and upbuilding, the
Influence of such environment upon the
character of development and citizenship
In this fortunate suburb must ever give
to It a peculiar charm for residence and
an especial attraction for Investment. Lo
cated on the high ground In the northwest,
on the line of Massachusetts avenue, the
great boulevard of the city, the enviatola
future of American University Park In the
history of the new Washington Is assured.
The property has been developed under
the management of Talt, Omwake & Co.
of this city, who are its i/ole agents.
FUTTJBE POSSIBILITIES.
Views of Mr. David Moore on Be&l
Estate Conditions.
In an Interview with David Moore, form
erly president of Moore & Hill, Inc., re
garding the real estate situation, he stated
that during the past month there has been a
demonstration of the future possibilities of
real estate In this city showing not only
by the local men but by people from various
section of the country the great utility of
business property as an investment. There
have been more Inquiries for Investment
properties than ever known before and the
sales consummated fully demonstrates
that property continues enhancement
In value. In the growth of the city and
all sections enhance the value of the prop
erty centrally located for business pur
poses.
The prices of three months ago cannot
toe figured on today. I have had four of
fers on property ranging from CT&.OOO to
HS0.0W), that could have been delivered at
the price offered three months ago, hot
now th? owners advanced, the whole
situation showing a healthy condition, aad
I predict that the spring will show a great
er number of sales than we hare ever ex
perienced before*
SUBURBS OF SOUTHEAST
ATTRACTIONS PROVIDED BY NA
TURE AND ENGINEER S SKILL.
Money Invested in the Hope of Fu
ture Profits?Industries and
Enhanced Values.
In the endeavor of the people of the cap
ital city of the nation for a greater and
more beautiful Washington the south
eastern suburban section has well per
formed its part, and today, by rea
son of the attractions provided by the
skill of the engineer, some of the largest
Investors of real estate (in the country have
placed their money there. It is claimed
that owners of capital realise tiiat even
tually the section is to become one of the
prettiest residence localities of the national
capital, and that real estate will rise in
value by the natural trend of events.
The greater part of the property in the
southeast suburbs Is beautifully located and
of bi,Th elevation, and it is the belief of
those "ho have looked the section over that
It has a great future.
It is said that the plans of the great
French landscape architect, 1,'Enfaiit. in
his work of carrying out the plans of Gen.
Washington for a national capital, were to
have the beautiful highlands of the sec
tion, with their line wooded sections here
and there, adorned with beautiful resi
dences, and even In those days, when spec
ulation was In its infancy, tradition has it
that the speculators, believing that the sec.
tion whs the coming residence portion of
the newly born city, bought up the land
a id held it; and the dream of 1/Enfant
vas not r- aiized, the tide of the population
taking its way to other sections of the city,
owing to the prices asked for ground south
east of the city. The section through all
the years that have elapsed since the great
French landscape architect laid the plans
1 for Washington the southeast has grown
steadily, but not with the rapidity that has
marked the progress of other sections of
the city.
View of the Conservatives.
The improvements have not been many,
aside from the beautiful St. Elizabeth
Asylum property, but there la talk of pos
sibilities, and conservative real estate
men of the city, when approached for ln
i formation regarding investments, do not
Ignore the southeast suburbs, with Its com
manding heights and superb views. The
! realty companies which have operated in
this section In the last few years have
learned that the growth of the section Is
most healthy and that there is material arj
substantial growth.
Among the Inquirers who write for infor
mation regarding Investments in real es
tate, the southeast section has Its quota,
and the replies upon the part of those in
quired of always go to show that confi
dence would not be misplaced by Invest
ment there. The city Is very near to the
property, and this stands out as a safe
guard to the buyers, as the streets of the
city are extended through the subdivisions,
and the engine houses, schools and other
institutions are under the control of the
general government, and therefore bound
to be permanent. Piercing the heart of the
sction are the two trolley lines, the East
Washington Heights Traction Company
railroad and the Anacostla and Potomac
River branch of the Washington Traction
Company. The former runs from the end
of Pennsylvania avenue southeast, and the
latter is a continuation of the Anacostla
line, running from the city. It has been
declared that the development of the sec
tion Is a national enterprise on account of
the fact that much of the eastern portion
Is situated upon the extension of Pennsyl
vania avernie southeast within sight of the
dome of the National Capitol.
The United States Realty Company, which
has large possessions In the section, Is com
P ennsylvania Avenue Southeast.
posed of some of the leading residents,
who have been prominent In the business
life of the city for years, and whose Judg
ment is regarded as sound. They are great
believers In the growth of the southeast
sections. They have also worked hard for
Its development, and at the present time
are Influencing much capital to be invested
there, with the hope of making It one of
the best of the city In the matter of real
estate Investment.
The East Washington Heights Traction
Company line passes right through a most
valuable part of the section. This is the
road leading directly out Pennsylvania
avenue southeast extended. Mr. O. C.
Urothers, jr., Is the president of this road.
He believes the section traversed has a
great future. The greater part of the sub
urbs is about the same distance from the
Congressional I library and the Capitol as
Is the White House. It has all along been
argued that sales of property there have
been somewhat tardy because the electric
railway connections had not been developed
to the point that the future of the property
would be assured, but now that the rail
ways have bern introduced those who have
heretofore held off are putting their money
there to be in on the ground floor when the
rise in values comes.
It Is gratifying to those who have selected
building sites in the section that they have
an unusually high elevation. In the focus
of the eye Is the great city of Washington,
spread out in a beautiful panorama, seem
ingly more magnificent than Its founder
ever hoped for, and having in the hundreds
of years gathered within its confines build
ings that are the admiration of the world.
Historic Arlington looms up In the dis
tance. Washington monument Is outlined
against the sky, and from the highlands
the pillars of the Capitol can easily be
counted. Randle Park, one of the sub
urban tracts, has an ares, of over three
million square feet, and has many giant
oaks that have taken centuries to grow,
spreading their great branches and wel
come shade. The electric railway comes up
Nichols avenue, the principal thoroughfare
to the Potomac river.
Provision for -New Bridge.
Congress has appropriated money for a
survey to provide for a fine bridge to con
nect the section with the capital city. When
the brtdge Is finished the time for a trip
to the hftart of the city will be reduced.
It Is said, to about fifteen minutes. Con
gress Heights, of which Mr. Arthur E.
Randle was the founder. Is within thirty
minutes' ride of the business section, has
a school house, a fire department, electric
lights, churches and electric railway con
nections, with one fare to the center of the
city. In the different tracts In this imme
diate section there is estimated to be nearly
ten million square feet of ground suited
for residence purposes.
In the different subdivisions on the south
east heights there are no taxes or assess
ments for improvements against those who
invest, the realty companies bearing all
of these expenses.
Among the Investors there are the Have
myen of New York; R. T. Wilson of New
York, whs Is allied with the Vanderblks,
Aston, Ooelets and other leading families
at New York; and Senator William A. Clark
Of ICOQtftfML
An industry that will Increase the values
of the reai estate of the section Is the busi
ness of the Firth-Sterling Steel Company
whioh has lately bougui a large tract of
land In tlie vicinity of Glestwro Point. The
plot for the constfuctlon of the plant, which
ts adjoining the land of the Washington
Highlands Company, brought in the neigh
borhood of |200,00?>. On it will be construct
ed a huge steel plant in whioh over eight
hundred skilled mechanics will be employ
ed. It can thus reasonably be expected
that over five hundred families will settle
in the neighborhood.
Tt? Improvements that are at present
c?mtemplae:d are of a substantia! charac
ter as very lltt'.e speculative building is
being done The section is being occupied
perhaps more largely than is any other
section of the District by genuine home
seekers and home owners They can se
cure homes on paved streets with water,
sewerage and rapid transit facilities at a
nru<'h lower price. It la claimed, than In
m?ny other sections of the Dlstrlce. Tho
monthly report of Building Inspector Ash
ford for March shows that the amount of
Improvements In tihis section of the Dis
trict was two-thirds of that in the north
west and six times as much as that in the
northeast. One of the facts that were de
veloped by the last police census was that
the largest percentage In the Increase of
population was found in the southeastern
section of the city and District.
IN EASTERN SECTION.
Growth in the Business of Capitol
Hill.
Mr. J. C. Weedon says that since the
passage of an act of Congress locating the
new union station on Capitol Hill there has
been a steadj increase In the demand for
both investment and residence properties
in the eastern section of the city. This is
proved by the growth In our business from
year to year, resulting In last \ ear's busi
ness being the most prosperous of our ex
istence. This year has opened up well, for
we have done twice the business during the
past three months that we did in the corre
sponding months of 1905. We have this
; week closed contracts with several builders
I for furnishing money for their different
j building enterprises, and have other appli
cations under consideration. On the whole,
the outlook this year is very promising to
us.
Mr. Robert X. Harper, president of the
American National Bank, will soon begin
the erection of a modern four-story apart
ment house at the corner of <Kh and K
streets northeast, which will contain six
teen apartments of four or five rooms and
bath each. He has also purchased
through us the adjoining property on E
street, with a view of enlarging his build
ing in the future.
Mr. John A. Wynkoop has purchased the.
ground and has plans prepared for a sys
tem of flat buildings on F street northeast,
near 0th. These buildings will accommo
date fourteen families, and be fitted with
his system of individual hot-water heating,
upon which he has recently obtained a pat
ent. Several other original conveniences
will be Installed for the tenants.
It is a recognized fact that in no part of
the city is there such a strong demand for
Investment and moderate priced residences.
MOUNT PLEASANT HEIGHTS.
No Longer a Deer Park, but a Beauti
ful Addition to Northwest.
Mount Pleasant Heights subdivision has
been placed under the management of Rob
ert E. Heater to conform to the permanent
plan of the city. In talking to a Star re
porter Mr. Heater says that the streets
aavo been graded, granolithic sidewalks
laid, shade trees planted, etc. It has been
the policy, he says, to preserve as near as
practicable the natural lay of the ground,
as well as to retain the stately forest shade
trees, which makes the subdivtson one of
the beauty spots of the city.
The location la declared to be high and
healthful. The subdivision lies on a hlgrh
plateau about two squares north of
"old Mount Pleasant," overlooking 16th
street, Rock Creek Park and the city. Its
great elevation guarantees pure air, cool
nights in the summer as well as a most
healthful location for a home.
While this property was placed on the
market only a short time ago, the record
er of deeds office shows that nearly all the
lots have been sold. This illustrates more
than words the confidence the public have
in this growing section of the northwest.
This Is one of the Fulton R. Gordon prop
erties. Mr. Gordon purchased this tratct
from Mr. Charles C. Glover, president of
the Riggs National Bank. It was the
largest suburban -deal recorded during the
year.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
FARMERS' DUTIES DURING THE
MONTH OF APRIL.
Put the garden In the best possible condi
tion for planting as soon as it can be
worked. Remember that It ought to be
harrowed as many times as is necessary
to break up the lumps and pulverize the
soil, thus forming a dust mulch which will
do much to retain the moisture In the
ground.
Several vegetables may be started out
of doors this month, even In the north
ern states. They include peas, both early
smooth and early wrinkled; cress, dande
lion, mustard, parsnips, radishes, salsify
(vegetable oyster), eplnach for summer, car
rots, kohlrabi and po.atoea.
To prevent scab on seed potatoes, sus
pend them for one and one-half hours In
a coarse sack or basket In a solution made
toy dissolving two ounces of corrosive sub
limate in two gallons of hot water, with
enough cold water added after tthe mixture
Is cooled to make fifteen gallons. After
removing the seed potatoes spread them
out to dry.
The hotbed may be used to start bush
Lima beans. Brussels sprouts, celery, cu
cumbers, eggplants, lettuce, muskmelons,
parsley, peppers, radishes, tomatoes, cauli
flower and beets.
Bow outi-of-drors seeds of sweet peas,
mignonette, corn-flower candytuft and
alyssum.
8tart scarlt salvia, zinnia, marigold, cal
endula, cosmos, salplglossls and phlox In
the house.
Dig around the rhubarb plants, and spade
In h liberal quantity of well-rotted manure.
Give the raspberries, currants and goose
berries thorough cultivation as early as
Fork over the asparagus bed and dress
lightly with salt. If It was not fertilizer!
last season spade in a liberal amount of
manure; It Is too early to apply nitrate
of soda.
If spraying is to be done begin It now.
If you want to try your hand at graft
ing now Is the time. Try an experiment by
grafting on to some well-known tree the
twigs which you trim from the new trees
you a'e setting out this spring.
It Is well to get the nursery stock which
arrives this month lr.to the ground as soon
as possible. If the weather Is not fa
vorable, "heel it In" by piaclng the roots
in a trench and burying them.
Examine the bees and see if they are well
supplied with stores; if not feed t.-em.
Hatch out this month or ef^rly ,'n May
the chickens which are to meke next sea
son's layers. It Is best, if pcsslble, to set
several hens at the same tim< , so that the
chicks may be raised In a broader or given
to fewer hens than otherwise would be re
quired.
The House and Grounds.
The house that endures Is the house that
Is annually looked over and cured for. This
statement means that we may sxpect at
any time, not only decay of Bhlr gles and
clapboards, but the decay of timbers and
the crumbling of foundations. Tt.ese may
be caused by a leak, or by the work of ants
or rats, or be brought about by dry rot.
Bear In mind that rot Is a fungous disease,
and spreads In seasoned wood Just as
It does In green wood or In rrult.
It is cheaper to keep a. lookout for these
diseases and anticipate costly repairs. I
have found every spring that red squirrels
have succeeded in boring boles through my
roofs or sideboard* at some point. These
little rodents must be shut out from our
lists of pets. It Is not a pleasant decision
that they must be shot, but their pestifer
ous habits about our houses In winter, MJ-'
among the birds' nests and young birds a
summer, make It neeeasary to debar then
from our grounds.?Suburban Ufa,
Correspond to the Materia! De
velopment of City.
ADVANCE IN POPULATION
Strong Motives for People to Choose
Country Homes.
MANY POPULAB NEAR-BY TOWNS
Farm Sections Improved Under Vital
izing Touch of Humanity?Erec
tion of Modern Residences.
Corresponding- to the remarkable material
development of the capital city In the past
decade ami the relative advance In property
\ alues here, the worth of suburban realty
la Maryland, Virginia and the District of
olumbia has steadily increased. Without
abatement the development of real estate
Interests In the country districts has ke>t
pace with the constant appreciation o' el'y
Property. In fact, the rate of the advance
property has been. If anything
iTtheruaS- f .thHt of tl,e ' ^ e.state
ju pas*, rt.'w years.
bi" PrJCconaVy re7 dlrection 'here has
a constant advance in papulation
Handsome modern resldence-s have been
?v(n2 | rapid succession in al. of the out
co mtrteKliOIK UntiI ,he ^ho:,> face Of the
stu,ldeti w'th comfortable
tial hoinas. a"d a 8reat man>' ?<?
u^4ilKlrbar'?sett'emenf3 have been d?velooe.|
fnto mtnf ? umil thej' have
iL . ? 1 the extension of the oouul-i
lion that scarcely any considerable
Washi0 f0UntJT '-"Hedlatelv surrounding
^rgffside ofhthe
glected tkL e river- has ne
fara. tlio Par,s niost favored by na
pleasant vaT^,'"8 *mi?e?ees and ;he
pieasant % alleys, have naturally -ece
first attention, but the leas .wir.!, . .
tlons have also been utilized and gr- tc'y7rr~
proved, t-nder the transformir/V.ta lz'^
of humanity even "The desert hits
blossomed as a rose." *laa
Iifehifffl"" ?f the rM>r>f)le th'3 city for
life at leait a part of the vear In Me conn
,r> has been stimulated rather than duUe 1
by the Increase of wealth and luxury A
growing appreciation of the pleasures a,H
such c^n^ ^latA?"? '? the countrv, wher!
such can be had without Interference with
business pursuits I.: the city, has been ? n
mlstaJcably manifested in the put few
Invoked Great Human Law.
In its expression it lias invoked the great
human law of demand and supply, for in
order to satisfy the desires of a very con
siderable number of the city's population
country towns nave been laid out along- the
lines followed by the most modei n and pro
gressive cities. These towns have b^,
ShPi? jW'th Police and fire departments
j . a" other municipal ad van tagea
tont^lnitv6^ condition* is the all impor
tant ijclllty for rapid transportation Bv
the many suburban railway lines
,!hn if ???ea?e ,the outlying country and
Ht, i tilrou?h almost every suburban <=ec
Uon the people having homes there have
I ea. j and rapid access to the city It 'a
, Sdeerain mre,ru'y a matter o? a few minutes'
! "U1 of,these conditions have been pro
vided in order to make possible the natural
and normal craving for pure air, plenty of
sunsnine, plenty of room in the home ani'
Plenty of room around it.
A strong 'motive leading '..any jeonle to
Htt '? ? COf"ntr> n-r this 1
city is the desire to rear their children
fnT^^r advantageous surround
ings. People love not only to live in the
country themselves, but to affo.d Me pleas ,
and benefits of country life to their
children. It Is often the desire of supplying
H Kar<!e" wher* ^ growing boys
and p. Is may play that moves residents to
gUKhu* suburban homes. These Masons
mant 0XPla,n the existence today of the
many charming and beautiful towns and
smaller settlements by which Washington
is surrounded, not only In the District but
flf^s al? ylfl|d a?d Vlrginla' an<l these
fn eXfr the remarkable advance
Llrh thJ^"1 f estate values coincident
wttii the development of the city.
In a .Beautiful Country.
One of the mist popular suburban towns
lying to the north of the city Is Chevy
Chase, situated in a l>eautlful country con
slsUBg in the main c.f a rolling plateau but
h!ll?r*1nHd .here. ar,d t!lere with pleasant
thi X v,UI?ys- The whole of
the town, a larje part of which lies in
K?eTar? ineJh?yii th? privUe?e of the sin
f fare on thG electric line. Chevy Chase
cuftnr^n^1? a flc<vnmunlty of unmistakable
culture and refinement. The policies gov
erning the development of the place have
not encouraged its settlement by persons
desiring cheap suburban residences. In
most Instances the newcomers who have 1
purchased property in Chevy Chase with a
lew of making their permanent home thero
ar? ,P?rs?^8 of elther moderate means or
wealth. The place has gradually acquired
an aristocratic, distinctive air. which has
made it highly desirable as a select locality
t J?eal estate In Chevy Chase is considered
twice as valuable today as its was ten years
ago. The average price of land there now
foot?"! tWenty,.to thirty cents per square
9 , Among those who have recently ac
quired homes in Chevy Chase are Mrs. H.
M. Drum Ollphant. whose house and lot
is considered to be worth J2<>,<?><>; Mrs. Anna
M Kingen, formerly of Pittsburg Pa
wiuse property is estimated at Mrs'
H. C. Taylor, widow of Admiral Taylor tV
?. whose property is valued at S17??:
Mrs. Worthington C. Ford, whose home is
'1 estimated at the same figure; Mrs
thi?a pICe" , Ctier' formerly of Phlladel
ll-lfim nniWMSe l)roperty 18 estimated at
JIj.OW, and Mr. Eugene E. Steven whose
property Is estimated at $20 000.
lakoma Park, another town through
which the District line runs is raoldlv
lorging ahead in real estate value., Ti e
^?alue Of realty in Takoma Park will be
greatly enhanced by the extensive improve
ments in the shar>e of buildings devoted to
religious purposes, which the Seventh Dav
$100 000 fn M1" ere<;t at a ?osf of at ?St
in the center of the town Thi?
frfrf1 a *1 80lli by Messrs. John Paul Earnest
n? L1Psoor?'b, who, as trustees
of the old Thornton tract, control]^ t-h'??
principal part of the sul>divlsion. Heal Es
tate in lakoma Park has greatly Increase 1
in value in the past ten ymtm "
awavtewhearS ae? COUl(1 scarcely be ?Tven
bringing 'tS beSt P?rt'ons are
ii?= i ?,and seven cents a foot while
less desirable sections are being sold for
flee' and ff Cent8' The tow" has po
lice and Are protection, a telephone ex
change. a new public school and good street
car and steam railway service tot I ,ec^
West of Georgetown.
Relative to the section of the District
suburbs to the west of Georgetown and
the Georgetown University, comprised in
the various subdivisions along the Conduit
^ ;l?ne,has onl>r to go back to the early
nineties to see a practically rural com
?l'nity. dotted with farms, with here and
sv?rfl <? orlg!r,al homestead Then the
av2?S? Came al,"K and bought up all the
^ ? ac^?Ke -rom Georgetown Univer
slty to the Government Reservoir Park of
m acrej at the Llstrict line, paralleling
the Conduit road ani the Potomac "tve?
Various subdivisions were immediately lal<i
off in accordance with the n.eet extension
?f "i? ?Utrlct- and 'he ere^ton of
H?nt ^ f *one "teadily and substan
o ??rW^L ?*r?r since, save, probabfy,
ffen i from '83 to '95, where the
general District Advancement suffered from
toe depressed conditions of the whole coun
Formerly, in orOcr to reach Cabin John. It
waa necessary to drive the full seven miles
op the Conduit road.- This drive In itself
**** **" worth taking, a* the scenery of
the Potomac from Georgetown up u not
f?fPafr<J bv to the United States,
of the famed
Niagara gorge. Then the electric railway
-1. th.*MMMa??rarajas
i diilt road. Sine*1 thi? railway has b?<n a
part of the Washington Railway ami Kle.?
trie Company system' It his been douhlr
tracked and furnt.-thed with nc? equipment
throughout and seven steel bridges hull'
Now one can take the cars on F street arid
go through to the?? properties and Cabin
John without change.
Comparison of Prices.
It comparing prices today with those ot
a decade'ago It Is natural that such Im
provements as have been steadily Insti
tuted from yoar to year must have er
hanced values proportionately Price* hav
advanced from three cents per foot up to
anywhere front ten to twenty-live cent.-*.
Those tjavlng the*e properties In charge
make the stitement that In comparison with
other sections, considering the facilities
avr lable, the present asking prices nr? <.o~
low. but the Intention of the owners I* to
keep them comparatively |-iw until the num
ber of dwellings will insure a well-dotted
landscape. This Is about at hand, as In
the last five years more than KM houses
have been erected, and with the tntroduc
l tlon of municipal Improvements .1 mors
rapid advance tn prices is predicted for the
immediate futuie.
A cltisens' assoclat on fo- the section '?
now in existence, with ?'re. .1 M Fulton ???
president, and next Til- i ay the ?' unniL
sloners of the Dlstri* t wl-1 l>e the ac
tion's guests. Mr. ,\. J. I.constrI of tie
White 11 ouse staff. wlo l is t ? ? ?-titI\ 1 "in
pleted a new home near \\ ^tre.-t ail the
Condult'road. stales that he ! i? pt icl ? il'y
completed arrangements with the iu : "ti
tles for the lighting of the Conduit road
Mr. Edwin C. Clark "f the Arm o* t'i.itk
Brothers lias had Immediate chnrg. of tie
subdivisions and from year to year hu?
l>een Instrumental in Inducing Investors .rd
Itonae-seekersi to get In while prices wre
low. In talking with a reporter f r I'he
Star he said It was ea-y to no!e the re
markable advance In realty values in that
section by comparing the p.isf with the
present development, and particularly 'n
considering the fact thai the customary up
hill work In getting homes established has
now rt ached the point so l.>ng desired
where the market Is seeking the proper!>.
Near Chevy Chase Circle.
In the vicinity "f Chevy Chase Circle are
several new subdivisions whl. h are l>e rg
opened up and which will !>e put on the
market within a few weeks Some of tli> se
tracts are divided in small lots, while others
are in half and acre plots
At Kethesda 1'ark, adjoining the home of
Mr. Clarence F. Norment. president "f th?
Central National Bank, there is a sub
dlVsion containing fr>m two to ten-acre
tracts which will l>e offered for sale at very
reasonable prices. There are some very
hat?dsome homes in this community, whlcn
lias, a high and healthful location and a
good car service, and when these tracts ar?
placed on the market they will be doubt
leas sold In a very short time. There liav<>
been several sales recently of very hand
some farms between Bethesda Park and
Rockvllle ami in that vicinity.
A subdivision at Silver Spring has re
cently been put on the market and the lots
have met with ready sale. Two miles north
of Silver Spr ng and near Four Corners
Mr. Edward T. Abner has purchased a
large farm of between and 300 acres
and will erect a very handsome residence,
costing from to ft&.OUO. There have
been several rtifeer small places sold recent
ly In this vicinity, tfee price ranging aoout
$150 per acre. ? ?
Taking Mie Pity and S?*i-t-bsn car line,
one Is conveyed through a rapid!;. Improv
ing section which is being bought by a sub
stantial class of people. They are building
comrortalde homes. At the District Hue on
this car route there is a village which has
been built within the last six or eight
months. I-ot? in any part of that sertiou,
which Is subd;vlded. are sold, it Is declared,
.almost before the subdivision Is completed
and houses at once erected thereon.
Growth of Hyattsville.
Hyattsville is lu the height of Its growth.
The thrifty and enterprising people of that
little town have recently completed a sew
erage system. For some time they have
had a well-equipped water supply from a
magnificent artesian well. There are many
houses N> ng built in and around Hyatts
ville and everything shows an air of gen
eral prosperity. The Hyattsville lismk was
recently organized and the cltiwns of tho
?own have erected a hank building which is
conveniently arranged and is an ornament
as veil as a great convenh n e to the wliol.
community.
Kl>erda e, the adjoining town. h?s had
many good buildings erected within the last
year, and a grbat many more are under
construction. One of the notable pahs in
RiverdaJe of recent date was t lie transfer
of Lord Baltimore mansion, which was pur
chased by a patriotic society.
Berwyn Is putting on new life ar.has
great prospects In the near future of < on
siderable and extensive improvements. The
Berwyn Land and Manufacturing Company
bought several hundred acres on Charlton
Heights and will erect there a very hand
some hotel, as well as a large s-and-lime
brick factory. The company contemplates,
it Is said, spending about $2<H). 'OG in that
Immediate vicinity There was a subdivi
sion adjoining Berwyn, called Aored;ile.
which was put on the market in the shape
of two-acre tracts. This property was sold
within six weeks' time and several louses
are now under construction.
Adjoining Acreda.l? Is a subdivision, railed
Crystal Springs, divided into lb JUL V<l lots.
50W of which are still on ih-j market at
reasonable prices.
At 63d Street Northeast.
Maryland Park, which Is sltuited at fvld
street northeast, at the District line, con
tains 200 lots, which have been sold within
the last two months, and tha owner of this
subdivision Is having a tract cmtainin*
about 000 lots subdivided, which will be
offered for sale about April 15.
Mr. Joseph R. Atkinson, who makes a
specialty of suburban propel ty. stared to a
Star reporter that never in ali his experi
ence had he known so great a demand to
obtain suburban homes and farms. He
said he had noticed a marked tenth- icy
among the people of Washington to acquire
permanent homes in the northwestern sec
tion of the District and In Montgoine-y
county. Md. Mr. Atkinson lias recently
negotiated the transfer of seveial valuable
tracts In these sections. He also managed
the sale of "Hayfteld," a handsome and his
toric farm situated about live miles *ou fe
west of Alexandria, Va. This farm con
tains 1,000 acres of very tine and highly im
proved land. The brick mansion, which was
built by George Washington, contains twen
ty rooms, and all modern improvements.
Besides the mansion there are : hree large
farm houses, with complete sets of out
buildings. The barn at the manor house is
one of the finest, best and tno?t con
veniently equipped In Virgitda. This build
is-g alone cost $20,000. The imv.orty has
been sold to Mrs. Cora B. Chouteau >f St.
Louis, Mo., for $50,000.
SUBURBAN SUBDIVISION.
Advantages Offered by ??Hillbrook"
Regarded as Superior.
Among this spring's suburban subdlv sions
H'.llbrook offers preeminent advantages to
the seeker of a "home site'' or to the real
estate investor. For the employed In the
city desiring comfortable, residence in the
suburbs its advantages sse-m unsurpassed.
Its sloping topography affords numberless
scenic views of the distant Virginia wooded
hills and the meandering Potomac to give
beauty to the dweller's ab.tde; but, whHo
his home U so verdantly environed, his
employment in the city is only a few min
utes' ride.
Two electric lines give frequent and rapid
service for one fare to all parts of the city.
There is also steam car service, public
school, churches, free mall delivery and
adjacent, many beautiful cottages; thus
Hillbrook claims twofold attractions and
inducements In the possession of city con
veniences in the midst of rustic surround
ings. The management offer such liberal
terms for the purchase of lots and the erec
tion of dwellings that almost any one. how
ever limited his income, can become a
"home owner" instead of a "renter."
Its location, shown on the opposite page,
!s at Destnwood Station, formerly Bennlngs,
D. C.. opposite the Washington Jockey
Club's course. Office. Suburban Homes
Company, 201-204 Colorado building, 14th
and G streets northwest.
SHADY NOOK
LAWN GRASS SEED
For Shady Places.
The only grass sni on the Battel that wli. (floor
?in ?oath sue of tte aunet.
25c. Per Pound.
5 Pounds for $1.00.
F. W. BOLGIANO ~ CO
935 B St. N.W.
'Phase Mala ?1. . M