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REAL ESTAH GOSSIP Location in This City of Large Residences. Aimkioi-o r?r rue Mru# VCAD UrmiMUCO ur i nt i?i_?t i l.piii Outlook for the Coming Building Season Here. LARGELY A QUESTION OF MONEY Views as to Present Condition and Whether Market is Now Overstocked. The s.-etions of the city where large residences are built cover an extensive area. Thire is no one locality which can claim, a monopoly of such Improvements. As this is a city of homes, it Is natural there should be a pretty wide distribution of them over the territory that is within the urban limits and contiguous to them. By reason, it Is supposed, of convenience to one another, people who have use for large houses have of late years sought to bring them within one general locality. But It Is by no means a restricted section. In fact what is known as the northweit section is a large stretch of territory extending to the District line, Just as is the case with the ? u .1.. t i,o tt.l n nnrtlnn of the southeast. On account of the extent of the subdivi ions of the ground on which the city is located, it has been attempted to select and assign what is called a fashionable residence locality. Such efforts have not been very successful, for the reason that changes have bet-n going on which have added to the number of houses, and in the exercise of Individual judgment as to the locations it has frequently happened that in this way what might be called new centers have been developed. Older Residence Sections. But the curious thing about this movement is that the older places have not been abandoned. For example, K street, as far ast as Franklin Park, still retains Its place as one of the residence sections, although it lias now been a good many years since It tH'K.m to nave wnat are luuneu upun as fine residences. I street is another similar Instance of this same permanence in the character of a particular section. There are other sections which are regarded as having this character and if the past is any Indication of the future it may be expected there will be other localities which will be added to the number. Perhaps. however. It may he a case of expansion rather than addition. Tt Is evident that It is more or less misleading to speak of any street or even one restricted locality In any section as the fashionable residence quarter, for whatever claim It may have to such a title it must share It with others which have equal rights to such a distinction If such It be. Appeal to All Classes. At any rate U is evident from the num oer OI uwrutuga III me Ullj ui un: i?i ftvri class and from the increase In late years that Washington as a place of residence appeals to the rich as well as to those in moderate circumstances. There is 110 doubt that, as in many other respects relating to the growth of the city In late years, things are done in a larger way and so there is a decided tendency to build bigger and more expensive dwellings than was the habit of the rich several years ago and to have such establishments on a more elaborate scale. The houses are bigger and so are the grounds which surround them, althoutrh in this latter particular some of th<> builders of large homes are not as careful as they might be, and in consequence have the misfortune to builii a house that was designed to look its best when it ha<l some sitting of lawn space about it and which it is entirely lacking. Enlarging- the Force. An addition to the corps of the Moore & Hill Keal Estate Company has been made by the following entering its service: Mr. Theo. A. Mayer, son of Mr. Theo. J. Mayer of Win. M. Cmlt & Co.. and Mr. Percy Pickford. son of Mr Thomas H. Pickford, will be connected with the sales department, Hnd Mr William J. Fentress, for the past five years with the B. F. Saul Company, has ac< i-'?ted a position in the rent department of the company. An Anniversary Celebration. The firm of Heiskell & McLeran is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of itf appearance in the realty field as brokers and real estate agents. The original members of this firm, Jesse L. Heiskell and John K. McLeran, still constitute that business partnership as they did from the start. There has been no ch in the personnel ot th>- firm, and it is also remarked thai they opt-ru-d twenty years ago in the officc where they now do business, and where they have been without a break from tin beginning. In these two particulars, namely, nc change in the firm and none in the location it is probably true that this firm is the old est In the business in this city. 0 Record of Sales. The Harrison Realty Company report c most active and prosperous year ending with the sales in December of eighi Louisiana avenue and B street northwesi properties to Joseph S. Justh, eleven In vestment houses In square 515 to Jbsepl Schtffman, five houses In square li'5.r> to Mr3 C. E Lent and No. 1030 4th street north west to Nathan Sickle. -viuv. t; lilt; ui me >r*xi n f j e ii1c iui lowing properties: One row of fight house: jn 1st strict southwest to Howard E. Be! anil Joseph Schiltman, the exchange of thi corner of 11th and P streets northwest fo Mr. Wolfe, 17113 7th street northwest fo Mrs W'enzel, corner of Mh and A street! northeast for Mr. Au, two lots on ISt 1 street, Washington Heights, to M. O'Con nor; !?.'! M street northwest for Mr. Keegin attorney; 1717 7th street northwest for Mrs Prelnkert. 7t?> North Columbus street, Alex aridrla, Va., for Mr Julius EglofT, a rov of eight houses In Navy place southeast fo tlue Perpetual Building Association, 17 \ street northwest to Miss Annie Murphy 124.T K street southeast to Dr. H. E. Ryan northwess corner of 7th and N street northwest and adjoining property to Mi Harry Kaufman. five and eighty-five hun dredihs .i r.-s at i'ranby for Presley Dorse et al.. 7ih> H street northeast, a buslnes propert>. to Mr. Korman, 223 F stree li 'Mnwisi i1 r .*ir. r. i.annaii, <iirard street northwest to Max Michael son. 7!."i (Jreshain street northwest to Mrs Jennie Thumits. ?<1."> 1> street northwest to Mi- Louise Scott anil s-.-ter. Hi:; I.oulslan avenue northwest to Mr .)< .-'-ph S Jti.Uli. The Coining Building Season. At this time of the year. In the rea estate market ut least, plans are being i on ldertd for the coming season. Th< se wh have money to Invest will come to a con elusion pi tty soon us to what they intern to do in tii.- way of improvements and no? buildings during the season that will ope with tii*! approach of mild weather. There are two <iuestions which have a Important bearing In this conne tion am that 1? the probability of securing the necea Bary money and then the kind of bulldin which Is most In demand. In this lattc Connection it Is of course understood tha UIUJ i; ' laooro ^ vo u'c vu??o?u ered?dwellings and apartment houses. I is to eut-h classes of property that th speculative movement Is mainly confine and which constitutes what may be calle the general arul the most act.ve feature c the market. Question of Loans. I.nrge sums of money arc Invested eac year In undertakings of these description! and the question of continuing such opers tions during the coming year and the ej tent to which they are to be carried on 1 what is occupying the attention of cat italiats a:.U builders at this time of th _ . d '^HgBm^z 'Mm year. It may be said that no definite conclusion has as yet been reached. In the first place It is still early in the season and it will be some weeks yet before the usual building operations will be started. It may also be said that Independent of the condition of the market here and whether there is need for more houses and apartments or not. it is still an unsettled matter as to whether or not It will be possible to get loans. At the present time, as has been the case for some months past. It has been practically Impossible to get money for building purposes. There has been no change in the rate, which remains at 5 per cent, but money is scarce. The condition is effected by the state of the general market where the money stringency is marked. Difference of Opinion. It is supposed there will be a change in the money market some time early In the present year and that money wIH be easier. If that turns out to be the case then one of the questions relating to the local real estate market will be answered. In the event it will be possible to secure money and plenty of it. then the next consideration is, can a profitable use be made of it in the way of adding to the number of houses and apartments? It is only stating what is the actual situation to say that about this latter proposition there is a difference of opinion and one that Is entirely honest. There are men whose Interests are such as to lead one to think that their knowledge of the market is as thorough as It Is possible to have it and yet who shake their heads when some one approaches them on the subject of some building enterprise in order to find out what is their opinion. The Line of Argument. Men of tills class say that they would not advise any one to go on with undertakings involving the erection of houses or apartments for the reason that there 1s already a plentiful supply of such buildings. Until all such accommodations are taken up, is the argument oif those who hold this view, then It would be wise to hold off from adding to their number. On the other hand it is asserted that the town is not overbuilt and that as the result of the past rental' season this condition has been demonstrated. There are but few vacancies In either class of living places. It Is asserted, and with the usual increase In tn<> population inert; win ue a ucru ih-.vl fall for additional quarters. The situation in this respect has perhaps been gone over more carefully and is still being given greater consideration than has been the case in a similar matter for years past. Investors in the Market. Or.e reason for the keen interest which the realty market and its outlook arouses at the present time is because of the presence here of men of means from other parts of the country who are thinking about investing their money here or at least a portion of it. Their attention has been attracted to the city by its great growth and development In the last year or so and naturally they see the possibilities of such a situation. A man of the latter type has made a rather close study of the apartment house , situation here and how it has taken as | a commenrcial venture, and also whether j there are now here more buildings of the j ' kind than the market can absorb. He has | taken the number of apartment houses in j the city, which now amount to over 100? i that is. buildings of the larger kind?and he has estimated the number of suites of rooms in each. In this way he has arrived at a sort of rough guess of the tot&l amount of accommodations in this city of this character. Result of a Calculation. He finds bv this method that as com1 pared with cities such as New York and i Boston and other places with which he is acquainted the supply of living rooms I of this kind is not in the same proportion as is the case in these cities. In other words, the ratio of suites in apartment I houses to the population is less here than t I in the towns of which he has statistics. | His conclusion from these data is that the s | town is not over-supplied with apartment ; houses i It is a suggestive thought in this connec> tion that the man referred to is not the , only one who has money and who at this - time is looking over the chances In this city for finding a good investment. The large sutiks of money that are available for that purpose form one of the sources for an i encouraging outlook for the coming season. r It Ls Ol course UOSSiuie iuai uuLmug Will [ come of this interest, which at this time is- manifested on the part of prospective Investors in the local market, but it Is en couraglntf to know bow some outsiders 1 look upon local conditions. Expressions of Good Will. Some of the real estate brokers send to - their friends and customers at this season 3 of the year calendars which are found to be ' useful as well as serving as reminders of p those with whom pleasant business relar tions are sustained. s The calendar sent out this year by the 3 Swartzell. Rheem & Hensey Company Is - adorned by a bright and attractive face which Is guaranteed to have a smiling welcome that will last throughout the twelve " mouths. v Mr. Joseph I. "Weller has provided as a r heading for the record of the days of the I coming year a reproduction of an Interesting oil painting which is decorative and, therefore, tiie more welcome on that acs count. The F. H. Smith Company has had prepared a useful sketch map showing the i' roads and the bridle paths in Rock Creek 8 Park. As there is nothing of the sort In [5 separate form such a map serves a good purpose in bringing to the attention of many who are not aware of the facilities > ofTered by this great public pleasure resort. r The distribution of such a map will place a at the disposal of all who care to have information on the subject what Mr. E. Quincy Smith and others who ride and drive have found out about the resources of the ' ' p.irk. Mrs. Shaler's Residence. ? Plans are being prepared by Mr. G. O. Tot ten. architect, for a house which is to v bbe built by Mrs. Shaler, the widow of n Nathaniel S. Shaler, dean of the Lawrence Scientific School and professor of geology II of Harvard University. The house is to be located on a large building site which was g purchased during the past week and fronts ,r on Sheridan circle to the northeast. While the lot Is a large one, with broad frontages both on the circle and on R street, the t house is to be rather small, thus allowing e space on the sides and rear for light and j air. Such an arrangement will benefit the ? j ?<a.icd orhinh hoinc hllilt bv d OUJUllilllS ? C ,( Mr. Hennen Jennings and which belongs to the class of large residences. In design the two houses will harmonize, and as they will occupy the entire frontage h of the square between R street and Massa3 chusetts avenue the group effect will be an attractive one. iInvestment Properties. is The transaction which was closed during i- the week by P. J. Walshe, real estate e broke:, representing Frank J. Burke and ELEVENTH AND E S' N. L. Sansbury on behalf of L. A. Barr. Is of Interest, for the reason that independent of the value of the properties in the transaction it involved the exchange of an apartment house for property In the business section ot the city. Mr. Barr exchanged the Cumberland apartment house, adjoining the southeast corner of Massachusetts avenue and 14th street, for various properties owned by Mr. Burke In the business section of the city. Both were Investments and yielding annual revenues of good proportions and showing a satisfactory percentage of net Income. Plans of Mr. Walsh. It is stated that Mr. Thomas r. nana has practically abandoned his purpose of Improving his large holding at the northwest corner of New York avenue and 14th street. When he acquired the property It was his plan to erect there either an office building or a hotel, and he finally decided upon the former. Since then, owing to obstacles met with in bringing about a change In a private -11 1- : -V. .1 ..1 ,V.R K.,^innjn<r ? f hitilH mie/, W iiiv u una.Ycu ilie ucein>?t?s v?. uuwu ln^ operations, and other considerations which have arisen since, it is said now that Mr. Waleh is not njuch Inclined to carry out plans for a great office building that would occupy the broad frontages of the site on three streets. It is understood he has expressed a willingness to sell the western portion of his holdings, and in that event he will merely make such improvements in the building at the corner as will Increase the income from rentals. SALES OF REALTY. Transactions Made Through Office of Early ? Lampton. The following are the sales made in recent days through the office of Early & Lampton, real estate dealers: For Robert S. Simpson, to Clarence P. Norment, lot 21, in square 110, $6,250; for Robert H. Simpson, to Geo. P. Sacks, lots 25 and 12, in square 382. 020 Louisiana avenue and 913 B street northwest, $48,000; for Emelie S. Lawton, to Samuel W. Pickford, 1708 WiHard street. $?.375; for Sanford Edie, to Mrs. Emelie S. Lawton. house in North Laurel, Md., $2,170; for the National Safe Deposit, Savings una i nisi company ei hi., 10 rcoderi n. Simpson, lots 20, 21, 22, square 151, $0,000; for Robert H. Simpson, to Frank W. Hopkins, lots 20, 21. 22, in square 151, $10,000; for S. W. Plckford. to Fred C. S. Hunter. 138 D street southeast, $4,550; for Fred C. S. Hunter, to S. W. Pickford, lot 0. in block 9. Todd & Brown's subdivision, $2,500; for Franklin T. Sanner. to I>r. Harrison G. Dyar, sublot 2, part lot 1. In square, 67, $12,000; for Dr. Chas. R. Collin.*', to Clinton M. Moore, 1125 14th street northwest, $1(1,500; for the Gait lielrs, to Elias Heklenheimer. 525 l.'ith street northwest, $32,500; for Ralph Hall, to John McGregor. 174o P street northwest, $13,500; for John McGregor, to Ralph Hall, lot 49 in square !M5, Jti.oOO; for Fred C. S. Hunter, to P. II. Christman, lot 4 in square R11, $1,100; for Edward Flather, to John D. BardrofT. 1731-33 7th street northwest. 101 v larcnte r . i^ornreni, 10 i^aura. F. Olnej. Kulorama road. $0,250; for Harry Wardman, to H. VV. VanSenden, 12442 Colombia road, $27,500; for H. W. VanSenden. to Harry Wardimun. 1744 K street northwest. $17,500; for Harry Wardman, to Robert H. Simpson, 24MS Columbia road, $18,500; for Robert H. Slmpeon, to. Abby H. Phelps, 1407 I, street northwest, $15,800; for Abby H. Phelps, to Robert H. Simpson, lots 78 and 7!) in Denison and Leighton's sub, $13,500. ....i ? ~ nu UU11UU3 U1U UlttVCSLUUCft. From Tit-Bita. There Is a curious old gravestone in Prestbury church yard wlilch records the fact that one woman at least in this country died a bachelor. Her name was Sarah Pickford, and the stone gravely informs the reader she was there interred "August ye 17. Anno Dom., 1703, and died a bachelour in the 4Kth year of her age.'' A stone in Westminster Abbey records the interment there of George Graham, who was the only workman that received the I honor of being buried in Westminister Ab| bey. He was a scientific instrument maker, who, in 17<>0, invented the dead-beat es capement In clocks. His funeral was attended by the royal society in a body. In East Ham church yard there is a tombstone placed crossways. The woman interred is said to have been born oross, lived cross, married a Mr. Cross and u.ed cross, Her dying request was to be burled cross, and this was tarried out. As to more ancient graves, that of Noah is reported to be In the small town of Nakhitohevan, near the foot of Mount Ararat, and Is sixty feet In length. Another tradition says that the grave is merely a niche In the wall of an abandoned fortress. The supposed grave of Eve can be seen at Jeddah In a cemetery situated outside the city walls. More than -10,000 pilgrims visit the place yearly. According to the Arabs Eve was the tallest woman that ever died. IH ^^HBaBH^H^BBB.SHHHmtsSS'aHa M i mw^^KgKjaUU^ V Cincinna rREETS NORTHEAST, I (Photo bj Staff Photocrtpher.) THE SIGNS ON OARS NEW YORK PEOPLE HAD THEIB TROUBLES, TOO. Satisfactory Device Adopted by the Companies Whose Lines Use Broadway. "I observe that the car-riding public Is having its troubles in the capital." said a visitor from New i'ork to a Star reporter in an uptown hotel, "and we had the same difficulty with the many lines of different destinatloned cars which run up and down Broadway until the companies yielded to public protest and properly placarded thorn. "Cars bound up '7th avenue,' 'Broadway.' 'Columbus avenue' and to 'Central Park' all go up and follow in a practically continuous Jtre the 'Great White Way' until their respective points of divergence are reached. They are nearly all painted and look alike, and but for + V?/? nmnll Kut nrAnA?>1?r nlanaJ BAnn ?n*a lilt) ouiuil uui |/i ij cmv ou oo|/cn aio designation letterings there would be a continuous performance of wrangling between conductors and riders. I "There are four separate destination designations upon these cars, as there should be upon the cars in this city, and those in the metropolis are marked thus: A block of wood, about two feet long by four inches in thickness, with four surfaces, and In the shape of an extended parallelogram, is placed upon both ends of the car on the top of the roof, and a similarly surfaced parallelor gram Is attached directly over the steps and at the front and rear entrances to the car. These blocks turn easily upon ratchets, and are moved according to the car's destination when the car starts on its run by the conductor. "I can readily understand why there is so much complaint in this city, and I am at a loes to understand why such a simple pirnedlent as thLs is not adooted in the can ltal. With the new large cars, the front and rear destination designations are already In place and are of glass on the car tops "It Is my understanding, however, that the main cause of complaint In this city comes from the patrons of the old-style cars with the out-of-date trailers. It Is not surprising, as It Is practically Impossible, especially at night, to tell where you are going when you enter these cars, until the conductor comes through with the transfers. as I discovered to my annoyance the other night in going up 14th street. The patrons of the street car lines in the capital have been educated by long usage and practice mat tne yeiiow cars go to one destination and the green cars to another, but when there Is a diversion of destination, as ha-i recently been the case, without ample and full explanatory lettering, that confusion results is a natural consequence of a change in established practices without adequate notification. The Lack of Straps. "And there Is another thing that I have noticed aJoout the new side-seated cars on the 14th street line. These cars are fine ones, but when they are crowded they are much more uncomfortable than the oldstvle. lone, slncle-seatod cars, and the rpa son Is simple?the lark of the good, old standby, the familiar flanging straps. "But most of the crowd congregates not In the center of the aisle, but in the widened spaces In either end of the car, in which the seats are placed parallel to the car sides, forming a standing room capable of holding about twelve passengers. Here are two small strap racks of about three feet in length and each holding four straps, or eight in all. These strap racks should be made just twice as long again, with double the number of straps, extending to and over the first side sweats on either side. "Under the present conditions the stopping. jolting and swaying of the cars at all points and turns of the line throw the standing passengers In these spaces, and especially the ladies, on the feet and Into the laps of those who may be seated in the two parallel seats, as well as upon those seated in the two side seats. Many are the injured or savage looks and sharp words, sometimes not unaccompanied by expletives, given by those seated to the swaying and luckless standing passengers, who are endeavoring to preserve their equilibrium and look pleasant at the same time, but who cannot do so for the lack of the straps. It would seem to me that additional straps are quite necessary in these cars." Hollow Glass Bricks. From the Building Management. The demand for hollow bricks ami building blocks for house construction has In> duced grlass manufacturers to put hollow k \ ti Street, Looking West From 18th Sti (Photo by Staff Photographer.) ? XXDKING SOUTHEAST. glass bricks on the market, and they promise to be used extensively for novel and artistic effects. The first glass bricks, being, solid, proved & failure on account of their cost, but the hollow glass bricks can be made at a much less expense. They are lighter and stronger than clay bricks and are such excellent non-conductors that walls built of them are proof against dampness, sound, heat and cold. The bricks are sealed hermetically when hot and are placed In walls with a colorless ? J. i. 1 n1nnM iuui iai ui?uo ui 04jquku giasa. xuo uuuunig strength of the glass mortar is almost as great as the brioks themselves. P&OPEBTT TRANSACTIONS. Some of the Sales Hade by Stone & Fairfax. Stone A Fairfax, real estate corporation, tate that they have found their business this year has greatly exceeded that of any like period during their career, which they regard as a strong Indication of the enormous real estate business conducted In this city. The large number of non-residents who have been Investing money In Washington real estate has more than doubled this year, which will no doubt, they think, have an Influence In attracting purchasers of that character coming here. Of the several hundred sales consummated by this corporation the largest are as follows: The Le E>rolt building, southwest corner of 8th and F streets, for John J. Albright, Buffalo, N. T. "lli For D. S. McFarland, No. 1340 New York avenue, which has been thoroughly remodeled and leased. For Harry Wardman, the Ilkley apartment house, on U street near l*th. For the McKelvey estate, the brick and stone residence iso. Massacnuseus avenue northwest. For D. S. Burt>ank, No. 732 13th street northwest. For E. A. Dick, No. 730 13th street northwest. For E. L. Roam, No. 1763 Q street northwest. For C. P. Stone, No. 720 11th street, opposite the Palais Royal. For the Valiant estate of Baltimore, No. 716 11th street northwest, opposite the Palais Royal. For George S. Cooper, seven three-story houses. Brown and Newton streets. For Col. George Truesdell, seventy-five lots fronting on R street, Ecklngton place and Qulncy street. For J. Robbins, No. 1450 Irving street, Mt. Pleasant, with surrounding grounds. For A. W. Hughes. No. 3339 17th street, Mt. Pleasant, with surrounding grounds. For W. J. Rhees, twenty lots fronting on 14th street northwest beyond Whitney avenue. For Harry Wardman, eight houses on Ontario place, Lanier Heights. For J. T. Meany, No. 1020 Rhode Island avenue. For the Canfield estate of New Jersey, southeast corner of 11th street and New Vnrlr u vonnp For the Evans estate, three houses on Q street near 14th. For J. M. Carmody, twelve houses on 23d and N streets. For the Gaither estate of Chicago, store property northwest corner of i)th and H streets. For Gen. George M. Sternberg, No. 2019 Kalorama avenu*. For Col. George F. Schayer, No. 3447 Holmead avenue. For Charle? W. King, jr., ten houses in Mt. Pleasant. For Harry VVgrdman, No. 2440 Columbia road. Fo-r J. Sprlgg Poole, an office building, No. 006 F street. For J. M. Carmody, the Prince George apartment house on 30th street near Q. f or 1'. r. ?cnneiuer, iwesuij-mree nouses on Heckman etreet southeast. For Harry B. "Wilson, four apartment houses on Wlllard street. For C. P. Stone, No. 2010 Massachusetts avenue northwest. For W. W. Finley, president of the Southern railroad, No. 1700 15th street northwest. For ex-Gov. William P. Kellogg, No. 1859 California avenue northwest. For Representative John M. Griggs, No. 1870 California avenue northwest. For William E. Speir, northwest corner of 13th and Vale street, Columbia Heights. For Lewis E. Breuninger, No. 1224-20 Irving street northwest. The above sales, together with hundreds of small properties sold by this corporation during the present year, will aggregate several million dollars. DESK HABITS. Business Men Who Surround Themselves With Order. From the New l'ork Sun. "Curious about men's desk habits," said a man whose business takes him about more or less into various sorts of offices. "I was in an office yesterday where I had occasion to write something. " 'Here, sit down at my desk,' says the man. 'I guess you can find a place there. "And I did find a place there after mov . " " " ' " i i eet Northwest. lng one or two things.'but that was alt I found?a place Just big fHOUEh to write In, and that square In the middle of the desk. "This was a flat-top desk and. except for that small, bare spot In the middle. It was just covered with papers and things of every description, and these not folded or stacftwt t>r set up about In any orderly manner, but all apparently In the utmost confusion. "The desk looked as though Its owner when he had got through with a document or bill had Just pushed It back from the bare spot on the desk. And so he had stuff piled up on his desk overlapping and lying around any way all around the top of his desk,, and actually sloping down from all around to that bare spot like a little flat valley, where he wrote In the center at the front. "And this was a business man, too, and moreover, as I was told, a man who has accumulated a comfortable property In the pursuit of his business. And I found him in the dealings I bad with him not only personally amiable In all things, as indicated by his cheery call to use his desk, but fair and exact in his business ways. "How he ever did business with his desk littered up in that way, how he ever found anything there that he wanted, or how he ever remembered anything I don't see; but as far as I know he never forgot anything that was Important. "It made me think of something a minister said to me once. I was saying to this minister, talking about preaching extemporaneously, that I should think when a man got up in the pulpit to preach without any notes that he'd be apt to forgot some of the things he wanted to say. and the minister said that sometimes you might forget things In that way, but then he recalled what an experienced old clergyman had said to him. in reply to the same suggestion from himself, which was to the effect that the things the preacher forgot to say were usually the things not worth remembering. "And maybe it was so about the forgotten things in the pile of papers on that desk. "But he wasn't the only man I have met who kept his desk apparently In the greatest disorder, but was nevertheless successful; and then I have known plenty of men -who went as tar the other way, and who would have a lit unless they could "keep everything on their desks Just so. "The inkstand must be here and tho stamp box here, and the pen rack here; all just so, and kept so^ and no litter anywhere, wjtli everything free and clear and in ordor. And X have known men who couldn't write unless they had their paper i squared Just right, and all that; precise men, who must have everything Just so before they could get to work; all the very opposite ?f the man with the littered desk, who lias at least in his favor the fact that he doeso't worry himself over trirtes, but keeps on serene through It all. "And while I have known men who must have everything just so neat about their desks, fresh blotters and clean inkstands and all that, 1 have known other men who didn't care if tholr desks were a foot thick with dust, and who only asked that their things should not be moved or Bhifted about; Just simply and only that | their desfta should be let alone. "As a matter of fact there is In these days less and less disorder In business methods and more and more system; this la an age of system." GREATEST CROW ROOST. Bounty to Be Offered to Wipe Birds Out of Existence. Parsons Cor. Topeka State Journal. The'tame-of the crows' roost on Timber Hill may soon be history of the past. The county commissioners of Labette county are considering thv plttn of giving a bounty of five cents on crows" heads, and if such a scheme is carried through the slaughter will'-be- grettt-in wesK-rn part of the county. Hunters and sportsmen would be attracted in droves to that place, because the most conservatieas estimates place the number of crows that nightly roost there at a figure not less'Oian two or three hundred thousand- *> . > -, , Crows' Roost is a vicinity about thirteen miles- south and a iiuie west of Parsons, near Dennis. The land there us very rough i and covered with st:?i>!i. *mK. Timber Hill i is located there, and the place is known i best by that -name; It ts only a few miles to the Montgomery county line. Evfefy evening about Sunset the sky around that place is black with the dense throngs of crows'"fhaf Hdvt1 cOfn^'Tbr miles to roost in the hills. In every part of Labette and j Montgomery counties these birds have been j feeding the crops of the farmers, and i when night comes they wish to visit the ; others and gossip over t)ie day's events. | The noise in the evening that they make | can be heard for miles. When morning comes the birds fly away to their daylight j haunts again with more cawing, also mak- j ing the sky black with their numbers. It is a mystery how the farmers living In j the vicinity can raise any crops. Fiocks of j birds have been secn'to settle on the fields -- - ' ' ~~ I until the earm was uiacn. ?o wmj*v um mrj i cover it. Several visits like this to a growing field would be worse than the blights of grasshopper days. The commissioners desire to help the farmers In getting rid of the nuisance. They are now conferring with the county commissioners of Montgomery county in the matteri because at least half of the crows belong to that county. Both counties may offer the bounties if they find It expedient and too great a drain on the county treasury. -- - -Owning a Wife. From the New York Mall. That Russian In a Pennsylvania town who killed his wife and justified It In this sentence, "I have a right to kill my wife; It's nobody's business but my own," carried to an extreme length a still surviving and by rib means uncommon theory of the marriage relation. The Ten Commandments place in the same category "thy neighbor*^ wife" and "his ox," "his ass," "anything that Is thy neighbor's." A good many well-meaning people look upon their own wife as In tjje s^me category with onTmolfi the rpsn^ot that she, too, Is their personal property. Has not title passed In the marriage contract? Is she aot "mjr" wife? This idea of one's wife as his chattel is not inconsistent with the reality of an indulgent and affectionate nature in the man In the case. But it is inconsistent witii the rights of the woman In the case?an adult, responsible human being and a free moral agent. It is the basis of the so-called "unwritten law*'?the' assumption by a man that a woman is not the proper or competent guar8l&n' of hefr own honor, and that he has a right, on proof or upon suspicion, to slay 'Her arid some?body "else, as he would slay an ailing sheep of his flock and a aV.QO.n.Hll-Tno' HAO" Not all men and women are yet able to realize that the so-called possessive pronoun "my" sometimes denotes relation Instead of possession. The phrase "my couotry,'- for Instance, means a different thing when uttered by an American citizen than when uttered by the Bourbon who held that he was the state. "My wife" is a phraae Hke "my friend." The pronoun Implies obligation and privilege, not the "right" to kill?or even to nag. i ' " J ' I IT IS NOTOVERBUILT Such Seems to Be the Judgment About This City. CONDITION OF THE MARKET Apartments and Dwellings Are All Well Occupied. KEEP PACE WITH THE GROWTH The Outlook for the Coming Building Season in Respect to Various Living Accommodations. There Is no phase of the realty market that Is of more Interest at this time of tint year than the prospects for the coming season. People who have money to Invest as well as those who use money are alike alive to know what the exact situation Is, and what are the probabilities of the near future. There Is on? consideration which la looked upon as affording very favorable ground for taking a hopeful view of the outlook. Those who are familiar with one class of buildings In this city, namely, apartment houses, are aware that from the standpoint of the Incomes which these properties are now yielding It Is evident that the market has not as yet been overstocked. Are Well Rented. One of the men who Is largely Interested in this class of property, and who has made careful examinations of the present condltons. finds that in case of a number a Inm.vnt ??oitn?nr/>a rt f tKl a VI ml KJk IUO lai V 9tlU< lutco U1 vilta taken at random snd yielding an annual Income of nearly $700,000, the loss front vacancies amounts to less than one-half of 1 per cent of the gross Income In other words, the buildings Included in this estimate are practically aH rented. It * believed that this represents a general condition of the market, mid In view of. such facts the conclusion Is reached that at the present time the supply of apart ment houses is noi in excaas ui uie u^mand. While there has been great activity In the erection of these buildings during the past few years, the entire movement has been characterized by great conservatism. There has been no reckless anticipation of the future, and It may be said this Is In a great measure to the credit of the men who have engaged In such undertakings, and that they examined with great rarn the condition of the market, regulating the supply of such buildings in accordance with what they found to be the actual facts in the sttuatlon. In this way the overstocking of the market has been prevented. A Spirit of Conservatism. The same cautious spirit regulates the market at the present time, and as an evidence of this It Is only necessary to cite the building records of the city, which will demonstrate that there has been a decrease In the number of permits Issued for this class of construction during the past six months. In fact, the addition to the number of apartment houses Is much less for the entire year than was the case In the preceding year, owing to this policy of keeping the supply within reasonable limits of the demand. Buildings of this character at the present time are not only profitable ' * ' ? Kilfr hatfu a fllflirn which is 1II\ CMUiriiia, uuv . v ? looked upon very favorably by those win; are at all posted in property of this kind. The conservative tendency In apartment house building has. of course. been strengthened by the policy of the flnuncl.il Institutions, which have aimed to supply money for such enterprises in amounts proportioned to what Is looked upon as the needs of the market. In other words, builders as well as those who have money to lend have acted In harmony In this part!' ular. and as a result the market has tin staple character of today, and one wh:e!i promises well for the future. Owing to the fact that these structures, generally speaking, have proved to be sir i excellent earners of good dividends on t! > money invested, those who have loaned money naturally feel a confidence In thU class of investments, which, under other conditions, might not be felt. Attention of Capitalists. The situation is such that it has naturally attracted the attention of outside capital ists, and consideration Is being given ti? undertakings which, if carrl>-d out. will result In the uouition of large and expensivo buildings to the number in this eltjr. Tha bringing of money of this sort to the city Is an advantage not only for the present, but for the future, as It serves to Identify with local Interests men of large means. The attitude of men who are connected with financial institutions and others who in a nosition to be supposed to have a knowledge of the loeal market is an important one in that particular, as frequently their advice and counsel are sought by pr<>speetive investors. It Is. therefore, of mu.Tl consequence that there should l?e a thorough knowledge of the market condition* at this time in order that the pro?;]" < ts i truthfully and fairly described. As to Houses. A similar policy has been pursued in regard to the erection of houses, and in this class of buildings, as well as that of apartment houses, the experience of the rental departments oif real estate offices demonstrates that the results have been equally satisfactory. It Is not the experience that the market for houses is overstocked, and whatever new work of this sort is attempted during the coming season It Is thn belief that it will be carried on along rim same conservative Mncs that have chara terized building operations In the past. It is a sufficient explanation of the fad' itles with which the market has rbsorb 1 both classes of buildings to say that Wasl lnglion has enjoyed. In common witli tt.. rest of the country, great prosperity during the past few years, and in addition to that factor It Is also noted that the population of the city has grown to an extent that believed to be without parallel In any other similar period in the history of the nation's capital. MISSOURI'S HIDDEN LAKE. Remarkable Body of Water in the ?iean 01 lae yjz.ain.oFrom the Southwe?t. In Oregon county. Mo, and Fulton county, Ark., are grouped Grand gulf, Mammoth spring and Spring river. Grand gulf is tha crowning wonder of the group. The shal-. low streams, atwut one-fourth of a ml!a distant from each other, flowing In the same direction over an elevated plateau, suddenly drop Into (Canons W?> feet il > p. These two canons form a Junction half t mile below, where they strike a mountain lying directly across their path. This mountain has been tunneled by the action of tli water, and the natural bridge thuo formed i? no less a curiosity and almost e<iual In size to the famous natural bridge of Virginia. After passing through this mountain the united stream strikes another mountain and tunnels It for several hundred feet and then spreads out into an Immense undergroui>4 lake, the area of which lias never been ascertained. Many parties have entered tl.tunnel and picnics have been held by torchlight on the margin of the lake, but still it remains a mystery. No light can exist Iogx over the bosom of the lake and nothing can be heard save the far-uway rumble of tin waters as they rush on. This underground lake is a reserve! which supplies Mammoth spring, the targes spring In the world, with Its GO.<jiO cuhi feet of water a minute. The most surprls ing feature In connection with this extra ordinary natural curiosity Is the fact thw wnen these great canons are filled will: water even iv uie mh-ii *ii wie nniui. h bridge, hundred;" of feet deep, the volum H of water in Mammoth spring la not U. V creased. M.iminutti sprint? covers eightie: H acres of ground J") feel deep wiib crystal water. I