Evening Star Newspaper, May 26, 1883, Page 2

2 THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1883—DUUBLE SHEET. f * CITY AND DISTRICT. ALL ABOUT THE SOLDIERS’ HOME ENTERESTING INFORMATION CON- CERNING THIS PoruU- LAR RESORT. Mow tt Origmated—Now Much Ground ‘There is om it— w Mach Cost—How it is ported, &c. THe LATE UNPLEASAS S AT THE HOME—ALL WORKING SMOOTHLY NOW—VARIOUS IMPROVE- MENTS FOR THE BENKFIT OF THE SOLDIERS AND THE ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC ~ ING THE NDS ON SUNDAY—A NEI ES TRANCE TO THE PLACE. To a citizen of Washington nothing can bea source of greater pride and pleasure than our beautiful Soldiers’ Home. It is much more than ® home for veteran soldlers—it 1a a beautiful pleasure ground for the city, and one which can be enjoyed by everybody. It will compare favor- ably with the parks of our larger sister cities. It resembles Druid Hill park in Baltimore in its Sppearance of natural beauty, cultivated to the utmost, rather than artificial adorn- ments planned by the landscape gar- dener. Ita lovely undulattons, tts little forest delis, its perfect roadways, its velvet lawns Drocaded with gay flowers, its imposing Home building and the cheerfal and appropriate cot- tages for the officers of the Home, all go to make up the sum of its attractions. Then, too, its easy accessibility from the city places the enjoyment that comes from the contemplation of the beautiful things of nature within the Teach ofall. The recent order OPENING THE GROUNDS ON SUNDAY is greatly to be commended. Many of our citi- vens canfloé spare an hour for enjoyment or recreation during the week, and the privilege of enjoying the beauties of the Home on Sunday, which Is now accorded them, is particularly gratitying. The inmates of the Home are greatly ) saps with the new rule. They have nothing in commoa with the ocenpants of stylish car- riages which roll through the grounds on pleas- ant evenings. On Sundays, however, many People of their own station in lite drive out to the grounds, and with them the old soldiers delight to chat. These veterans, who are so well cared for, as they should be, surely have a lovely spot in’ whieh to spend the closing days of their lives. The Home was established for the benefit of the men worn out or disabled Ste mi of their country, and, al-! autiful grounds surrounding’ th rded as a public park, 5 | Home itself has pr been diverted from its | a! object. s the same relation to | list does to the officer. At should not be consiiered in any way @ chari- able institution, tor those who occupy it have in every inst: endered an equivalent for the €are and protection which they now receive. TO GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT We are mainly indebted for the suggestion and the endowment of the Soldiers’ Home. At the time of the entry of the American army Into the city of Mexico the soldiers were much harassed by the firing of the citizens, who took refuge upon the housetops. After the capture of the eity atax of over ahundred thousand dollars ‘was levied upon them as a punisiinent. In 1848 | General Scott transmitted to the Secretary of War a dratt for $100,000, the greater part of the tribute so exacted. for the benefit of the army, With the expressed hope that it might be al- Towed to go tothe credit of an army asylum. The funds were first turned into the public | treasury, but were shortly afterwards appropri- | ated, together witha balance of $18,791.19 remain- ing from the same levy, for the support of a § diers’ Home, the object of which was to provide A COMFORTABLE Hoste for old soldiers of 20 or more years service, and for | Invalid and disabled or discharzed soldiers who | Jad served honestly and faithfully in the army. | Commissioners were appointed to take charge of the matter under the ‘direction of Congress. ‘They were the general In chief of the arm: the generals commanding the east and west divi- sions, the chiefs of the quartermaster’s, commls- gary, pay and medical departments and the adjutant general. In 1859 the commissioners | ‘Were reduced to the commissary general, sur- m general and adjutant general. In’ 1851 he first provision made was a rented house in the city, bat soon afterwards the commis- sioners were authorized to secure a suitable site | for the proposed institation and to have build- | Ings erected if they could not be purchased with Bhe site. It LOOKING FOR A SITE. More than sixty sites were offered within five | miles of Washington, ranging from twenty-five to five hundred acres, and valued at from €50 to | $850 per acre. One liundred and fifty acres of | Mowat Vernon were also offered, at 2333.33 per mcre. The choice fell upon two sites, one con- taining two hundred acres, belonging to George W- Riggs, and an adjoining tract of about sixty acres, belonging to Charles Scrivener. Negotia- tions resulted in Riggs taking title to the Seriv- ener tract and transferring the whole to the Home. The number of acres was found to be two hundred and fifty-six, and the price pald 000. nd, together with the rms the present beautl- junds. On the Rigus’ and substantial brick dwelling nd tin roof. bath, furnace, water to any © cottazes, a brick stable | In 1358 three acres of | 1 from B. Ogle Tayloe } three acres trom James » pure were made ary line unbroken along tract containing nine yi hwest ot the from Mr. Whitney for e only m for com- to that part or the | ntroliing a right of way, | possession of the Home. small strip afterwards | -known Whitney avenue, | grougds juost have the the highw and three-fourths a xrounds, was pur BY.860. grounds, as well hecessary to be i This, together wit pught, forms the the entrance to t used by the public. THE HAREWOOD PrReHasE. In 1872 a very valuable addition to the grounds was made by purchasing of Mr. W. W. Corcoran his weil-known country seat, called larewood.” The property consisted of 191 acres, which had teen greatly Improved. The natural growth of timber upon it had been shaped In groves and avenues, and additions of foreign and native evergreen and dediduous ‘Urges had been made many years before. The moc paid was 2225,000, but nearly the whole Pa ment was made with- Virginia state bonds, wld by the Hom ice the first year of ita ex- Astence, and which were unproductive. In 1873 # small strip of land. containing 14,543 square feet, lying between Whitney gate and 7thstreet, Was bought for $1.854.75. In 1876 the tract of Jand lying on the east side of the Home | rounds, belonging to Mra. Emily Woods, and | Containing forty acres, was purchased for $30,000. This was the last purchase of land for | which therefore now con- | the Home groun tain ry 502 ACRES, @osting in all $325,827.50. On the Woods land the farming operations are principally carried on. Upon firty-five acres of the land vegetables are raised for the use of the inmates of the ‘Home, and grass is cut from two hundred and fifty acres. The buildings on the Riggs Propert, ‘were occupied at first, but in 1852 three buil ings were erected, at a cost of nearly two hun- Gred thousand doliars. These buildings are now known as the main building and the governor's and deputy governor's quarters. In 1869 to 1873 improvements to the main bali educated to a fullest extent the lite a the Home of having of the men, who ® good clear voice and wie reads well, read | the government to squander there. The officers | month of the Virgin on the Potomac cannot the daily papers to the others every morning THE CHOICE OF OCCUPATION. He takes up his station In a summer house in front of the main building, and with an audl- ence of old soldiers seated around, smoking thelr plpes, he reads the news of the day. For this service he receives about sevea dollars a month extra pay. The old soldiers would greatly enjoy a bowling alley or a billiard room, and it'is the intention of the commissioners to erect at no distant day a suitable building for the purpose of affording them these pleasures. HOW THE HOME IS SUPPORTED. The following are the revenues of the Home: A tax of 12!¢ cents per month upon all | of the soldiers of the army, collected every two months; all the unclalmed effects of deceased | soldiers, and also whatever is due deserters at the time of desertion; forteitures and the finesim- posed by courts-martlal. The whole, with the interest on the acerued bonds belonging to the me, which are $800,000, amounts to about 150,000 or $160,000 per annum. There are now four hundred and ninety inmates at the Home, and, in addition, there are one hundred and thirty or forty old soldiers, who reside elsewhere, who are entitled to the cost of thelr keeping, provided it does not amount to More than $8 8 month. The inmates are re- quired, at the discretion of the governor, to perform such duties in and about the buildings and grounds as thelr age and physical condition willallow. In consideration of good conduct and the faithful performance of the duties as- signed, each inmateisallowed $1 andone pound Good Advice to the High School Stu- dents. At the Wednesday exercises General Birney, being called upon for remarks, said among other things: I need not remind you that the public school {s-not a substitute for the family, the church and social surroundings. It is to these broader arid more constant influences you must owe your habits of strict trathfulness, your sense of Justice, your considerate kindness to the feeble, your unselfishness and courtesy. While the school promotes all these, its more especiat fanction 1s to enable you to achieve a menial training, which shall fit you to master dimf- culties and to be usetul to tne community in which you may live. This mental training does not come merely from reading many books or learning many facts. It implies habits of observation, ac- curacy of perception and statement, the amen of thinking closely and without bias. think the youth gets it most easily who has a strong purpose in the pursuit of his studies. I have noticed that when a boy intends and desires strongly to be a chemist or a bullder, ora farmer, or a girl to be a teacher, the eyes are open to see and the ears to hear, and all facts learned fall into their proper places and are Classified for use. Without a purpose reading is oftobacco(or its equivalent inmoney)per month. | desultory and the person sees carelessly, hears Of late years those receiving pensions have not | conft lly and remembers Poorly. There are been compelled to transfer them to the Home. | many who think youth should be passed in PROTECTING THE OLD SOLDIEBS FROM THE SHARPERS. This was found to be inadvisable. It often happened that the whole quarterly payment to @ pensioner was wasted in drink, or lost to sharpers about as soon as received. Thenew law now in force, however, requires the pen- sioners to transfer their pensions to the institu- tion during the time they remain there and con- tinue to receive its benefits. The enforcement of this law will, it is expected, be most advan- tageous. The pensioners, when. they recelved their pension money, clothed themselves, and their dress did not conform to the suitable uni- utter thoughtlessness of future duties, and that twenty-one is early enough to decide what the occupation for lite shall be. . For my part, I think the sooner after fourteen a young 2 chooses the life pursuit, the better—reserving of course the right to change as time, better knowledge and opportunity may dictate. WHAT NOT TO cHoosE. “But what,” you ask me, “shall I choose?” T can easily tell you what not to choose. Cer-» talnly It is folly to look forward to occupations which are already crowded. In most ot the states a year or two's study or pretended study in an office, withthe addition, perhaps, of a form of the ore ad oa aa, Bove course of lectures, entitles a young man toa ever, every mate Wi Fr | 91 si ished ‘with py feat endl. cane license as a lawyer or doctor, and the profes sional equipment ofa preacher is quite as su- perficial *in most of the sects. The result is that these occupations are crowded. Thousands fall by the roadside for ten who press on to auc- cess. The man who should go around in Wash- ington and gather up the signboards of lawrers who have been forced into other business by starvation, would get enough to shingle the high school building. There are in the United States four times as many lawyer, in propor- tion to the population, as in Engl: nd, a8 well as I oan Judge, at least four times as many as are needed for the business to be done. It Is not likely that medicine and theology are less crowded than law. Nor ts it wise to choose occupations which will probably be abolished by labor-saying in- ventions. The manufacturer of stage coaches lost his business when rallroads were intro- duced; the hand-weaver lost his when the power-loom was invented; Jacquard’s loom threw 10,000 silk weavers ovt of employment in the city of Lyons alone. Many products of industry, now slowly and expensively wrought out by hand, will soon turned out rapidly by wheels and bands and cutting piaaes moved by steam power. Within the last fifty years the fleld of manual labor has been greatly narrowed. Our gar- ments, shoes and furniture have been mostly taken from the operative. Most heavy labor is done by machinery. We digreservoira, dredge river channels, reclaim flats, transport merchan- dize, convey news and print newspapers by ma- chinery. There is no telling how far labor-say- ing inventions will go. Keen and able men are looking closely into all forms of rude labor with ® view to doing it eby machinery; and Into all machinery, with aview to substituting better. It even appears probable that the cheap motive power of electricity will take the place, for light traction at least, of steam power, which is de- vastating our forests and exhausting our coal elds. It is but prudent, then, when you choose @ pursuit to consider whether ft may not be superseded by some labor saving invention. You will always be safe if you choose some- thing which requires a deft, skilful hand and well-trained faculties; forthe machine cannot compete with you in that. ONE GREAT WANT of the world at present is men toinvent machines, to make them and run them. If you have brains to Invent, skill to manufacture or judgment to Operate, there is need of you. The foundries, machine shops, iron and steel works are every- where. Manufactories haye so multiplied the traveler cannot get out of sight of their chim- neys. These centers of industry develop into fortable uniform, which must be worn. The uniforms have been ordered and are expected ing few days. The battle-scarred veterans, all dressed tn light blue pants, dark blue blouses and straw hats, will present a very creditable ap- pearance. A much greatér evil will, it is thought, be measurably prevented. The rum shops and low dens in the vicinity of the Home | will not receive the encouragement that they | did when the pensioners had their stipend from = ot the Home have no authority to break up these dangerous resorts, but hope, as stated, that the evil will be partly overcome by the scarcity of money In the possession of the in- mates. THE DISAGREEMENT, WHICH EXISTED Not long ago, between the commlsstoners of the Home and the governor, and which rendered a satisfactory administration of the affairs of the i Home almost an impossibility, have been smoothed over. The increased board of com- missioners, appointed at the last session of Con- gress, consisting of the general of the army, the commissary, adjutant, judge adyocate,quar- termaster and surgeon generals and the gov- ernor of the Home, seem to work together sat- isfactorily, and an efficient and progressive ad- ministration Is anticipated. PRESIDENTIAL RETREAT. The fact that several of our Presidents have taken up their summer residence in one of the cottages of the Home is one of particular inter- est. Presid@@t Buchanan was the first who sum- mered there, but the cottage occupied by him isthe one now known as the governor's quar- ters. President Lincoln also enjoyed a stay there In the summer, and the cottage which was fitted up for him was the most southern one of the row. General Grant preferred a stay at the | Sea shore to the qniet of a residence at the Home. President Navee however, was accus- tomed to reside at the cottage adjoining the main building, and in it President Arthur passed a greater part of the heated term last year. This was the Riggs dwelling- house, which was purchased with the first site selected for the Home. President Arthur was greatly pleased with his stay there last year, as the rest and comfort afforded him after the continual pressure brought to bear upon him by politicians and office-seekers at the White House, was very grateful. He is anxious to return this year, and the cottage has been thoroughly reno- vated and is now ready for his occupancy. He will take up his summnier residence there imme- diately after his return from New York, which will be about the first of June. The large, | towns, alive with the hum of spindles, the clang cool rooms of this cottage, fitted up | of the trip-hammer and the scream of the steam- to the good taste of the Prestdeat | whistle. The heavy rumble of machinery is like ttractive. He was unwilling that any | the roll of the ocean. Smiles tells us, in his expenditure should be made by the officers of the Home for hie comtort or conyentence, and all of the handsome ornaments, which were par- ticularly pleasing to the eye of the visitor last year, were brought out from the White House. LET THE OLD SOLDIERS HAVE .SOME MUSIC. A strong effort is being made to have a band of music attached to the Home, and it will probably be successtul before a great while. it is argued that it would be a small matter torthe government to supply a band for the entertain- ment of the inmates and visitors, as is done at the West Point militaryacademy. One ot the re- cent commendable actions of the commissioners is the opening of the gate at the southern ex- tremity of the grounds, which had remained plosed for many years. This gives an entrance o the grounds from 7th-street road through the lane just south of the Schuetzen park. General Sturgis, governor of the Home, has requested the District Commissioners to improve this latie for the convenience of the public. Dlography ot {John Nasmith, Engineer,” that by hia skill, sclence and tact he built up a town ofable, ingenious and prosperous engine-makers. Such @ man reminds us of that olden-time cun- ning worker in metals to whom a king gave up his throne as more worthy to sit in it than he, it would be an honor to enroll yourselves worthlly in that grand army of inventors, me- chanical engineers, machinists and operators. ANOTHER WANT OF OUR COUNTRY is man to develop its mineral resources. The mining Industry ts in its tufancy. The copper mines of the upper lakes; the coal regions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia; the iron moun- tain of Missouri, and the lead veins of Colorado are butafew of the great sources of natlonal wealth. Ina few years, the population depen- dent upon the mines will be numbered by hun- | dreds of thousands The demand forcompetent mining engineers will increase. To respond to it, hundreds of young men are now busily pur- suing study at the technical schools of thecoun- try. And with then ‘e.many who devote them- selves to the chemis 1 the metals, We want, too, larzé numbers to preserve, ex- tend and improve our railroad system. This binds together the nation. It covers the United States, is branching into Mexico, aud will soon | push its shoots through South Ameriéa. Can tropics in the zones. The May of old England, | YOU count all the different Sane es ad depen- vith 2 tone e {| dents of the railroad system? ‘They live on the | with all its traditional charms, and that of yet | knowledge of civil engineering possessod by more inhospitable New England, with no tra- |, dy; on the knowledge of that class which ditional charms at all, cannot be that of South pur coasts and the wildernesses of the Italy or the Land of Flowers, certainly. The | west, dykes our rivers, builds our harbors, and May of the Potomac seems, as latitude indicates, | devises protection for our large seaport cities. a sort of compromise. Yet, if the beantitui MEN OF SCIENCE WANTED. But why should I go into detail? ere want of theage fs tor men of actence; not Only those Thave mentioned, but for chemists, microscop- ists, electricians, botanists; for men who under- stand how to care for forests or produce fruits; in @ word, for all men of accurate knowledge and close thinking power. Fifty yeara ago there were only three pursuits in this country recognized as professions; now there are more than a dozen, and some of them specialized into branches: The engineer, civil, mining, electrical or mechanical; the chemist, the physicist, the geologist, the astronomer, jhe botanist and the architect—each Is recogni: as belonging to a liberal profession, one requir- ing as long preparation and as exact studies as any of its older rivals. The leading colleges have established special courses, some of four, others of five years preparatory to each of the professions I have named. The world heaps its honors upon the sclent- ists. Earaday, ate eae ena physi- ologist, Herschel, Agassiz, Lyell, Ro; Morse, ‘Newoomb and J. Graham Bell are famous through all civilized countries. And ifriches are desired the road to them leads through mastery of the great forces of na- ture. The richest man in Washington is prob- ably the inventor of the telephone, and the na- eee “The Month of Mary.’ To the Editor of Tue EvENiNo Star: Somebody has had the harditood to stigma- tize this Catholic “ Month of Mary” as a fraud! Well, that depends a good deal on latitude and longitude. We can’t expect the May of the fairly be denounced a fraud, she must, surely, take one year with another, and her’ ending with her beginning every year, be viewed, like some other beauties, as very capricious, if not an absolute coquette. For illustration, on the day of this igi | (234), the mercury did not rise above 54°, and the only glimpse of sunshine was near Its close, whereas the same day in '82 was sunny, with temperature 72°, and that in "81 sunny, with 76°, and for several years imme- diately previous quite the same. And yet, strange as it mayseem to most persons, the May of’88, thus tar, has not averaged as low tempera- ture as that of 82. The mercury of the current May has never but once fallen below 44°, and that once was on the morning of the Ist, when it stood at 38°; whilst in ’82 it repeatedly fell to | 40°, 42°, and once, on the night of the 6th, to | 38%, and once, on the morning of the 3d, to 86°, and then there was ice. There has been no ice this May thus far, certainly, and but one frost. And. then, as to sun, and wind, and moisture, the May of '82 Is indicated by my record to have been “misty and moisty,” as well as cloudy and windy, quite as much, perhaps, as that of °83. For ail this, however, the last ten days have been cloudy, and chilly, and clammy enough, as compared with the first ten days, to character- ize the month ber elyynier, a9 coquettish. Is it not a little eingular that Vennor, or Wigzins, or Tice, or, indeed, one and all of the weather | THE GROWTH OF THE CITY, The Present Aspect of the Real Estate + Market. VIEWS OF REAL EsvaTR BUILDERS—A HEALTHT MOVEMENT O§ CaPrTOL HILL—NEW HOUSES TO BE ERECTED—REMINISCENCES OF PROPERTY 18 OLD TIMES, &9. 3 — : The expressions of opinion given by leading real estate dealers th interviews with STAR reporters are all of the most encouraging char- | acterto those who hold or intend to purchase real estate in thiscitys; Even the more cautious and conservative convur in the general opinion that the market is ina most healthy and prom- Ising state. While there appears to be no halt in the almost unparalleled growth of the north- west which has broken over the municipal bounds of the city, attention ts now being di- rected to the other portions of the olty, and the present movement is not confined altogether to one locality. SHE VIEWS OF MR. FOX. Mr. Fox, ef the firm of Fitch, Fox & Brown, was asked bya Star reporter: ‘What is the present condition of the real estate market?” “We think,” said Mr. Fox, ‘that confidence in real estate investments Is growing steadily.” “Can you name the peculiar features of the market?” queried the reporter. : “With us,” he observed, “the investments have been in unimproved land mainly. At the same time we have dis; d of several valuable residences, and have inquiries for others.” “‘How does it compare with previous years in your business experience?” continued the re- ter. “It 1s decidedly better than it has been at any time since 1873,” replied Mr. Fox. “Will prices for land continue to advance?” asked the reporter. “‘By the term land, we suppose you refer to suburban property particularly,” was the reply; “and we answer that for the present we see nothing caloulated to check the advance. The authorities should adopt without delay a ER eral system for subdivisions of land beyond the boundary, and If the facilities of as, water and street cara are goon afforded, as they doubtless will be, we are satisfied that present prices will not only be maintained but continue steadily to advance.” “In your opinion, is the movement in real es- tate likely to continue?” asked the listener. “We think go. The fact is that Washington possesses unusual advantages for real estate In- vestments over any other city. Its salubrity of climate, the low rate ot taxation, the evenness of its streets, and the beautiful system of parke and public reservations combine to make It a most desirable place of abode. In addition to thig, the public school system Is unusually fine. The goveriment contributes annually a sum equal to the amount paid in by the citizens for taxes, and by the preseng law the debt of Wash- ington can never be increased, except by con- sent of Congress.” “Is the demand for small houses and cheap rents supplied?” continued the reporter. “The demand far small houses,” was the reply, “has been unusually great the past sea- son. But we notice a great many smai! and moderate-sized houses in process of erection in various parts of the city. We believe, there- fore, that the supply, will keep phce with the demand.” CAYITOL HILL PROPERTY. Mr. Samuel H. Walker when asked as to the condition of the real estate on Capitol Hill, where he resides, said: ‘‘There is a general look- ing up inthat section—a healthy advance— averaging about 20 per cent over last season in prices, A number of improvements are being made, particularly in what we call ‘The Dia- mond’—that portion, of the hill bounded by Maryland, Massachusetts, North Caro- lina and Pennsylvania avenues, extending from the Capitol grounds to Lincoln park. {n the square bounded by Massachusetts avenue, B, 6th and 7th | streetsthere are elghteen me- dium sized houses under way, nine of them by Mr. R. I. King, and acattered in the space named there will be before the season closes perhaps a hundred new buildings.” “Then, the boom 3s not confined to the north- west?” suggested the reporter. “No, not by any means,” sald Mr. Walker. “I don’t think, however, that the word boom should be applied to Capitol Hill, for the in- crease has been gradual, and is not a spasmodic OR but 850 Ithy one. I think thatmany who have des! o Invest in the northwest have been driv Way by the high prices asked, saa ome of them are putting their money on he hill.” Mr. Walker further said that he knew of some quite large sales made recently, and others in progress, but the parties did not desire the facts known at this time. There had been go little done for'East Washington by the District goy- ernment that the wonder to im was that there was 30 active a movement. the Commission- ers would open some of the streets from 2d street eastward, the property would boom right along. North A street, beyond 4th, bas not, even been gravelled, and but little sewerage haa been done except by private parties. In the last ee bill certain streets were specified to be Improved, with the proviso that those in East Washington should be completed the pres- ent year, but excepting the expenditure on North Capitol street not a dollar has beenspent. Many of those building or about to build are filling in lots and putting in sewers, instead of walting for the District to do so. OPPOSED TO BOOMING THE BOOM. “Tam afrald that the newspapers are injuring the real estate market,” said Mr. Wm. E. Bur- ford, the real estate dealer, toa Stan reporter. “The rouble fs that the publications are now calculated to do injury, because they convey false impressions as to the values of property. Property owners who haye been away from the city, or those who are not capable of forming a just opinion, conclude from what they see in the papers that their property is greatly appre- eiated. You find that people who happen to own a house worth €3.000 think that they ought to get ».000 for it.” The difficulty is,” Mr. Burford continued, “that this impression will tend to change a healthy condition of affairs, as now existing, into one that is feverish and unsettled. I have always gone on the principle that when I could turn over my money and make a fair profit I would be willing to let some one else have a chance to make something.” “There is no difficulty about making sales,” he observed, ‘‘and for cash. ‘There is a great change in this respect during the past tew years. Five years ago I suppose that not more than a quarter of the sales were for cash. The great majority paid part cash and gave a mortgage at ten per cent. Such a rate of inter- est Is hard on investors. Now, the rate is down to five per cent, but even then the majority of sales are cash. The purchasers are not all strangers either. ae number of citizens are Investing. I advertised some property in Tae Star the other day, and a gentleman came in and offered me within $100 of the price for the entire lot.” “are prices likely to go higher?” asked the 4 A reporter. “T do not think cal there will be any sudden advance,” was the reply, ‘‘orsuch a condition of affairs as existed here 1n 1871, unlegs this boom- ing degenerates into a mania. Prices have about reached their ey , All the land in the north- west as far joundary 1s now held by People who are wi for & rise in order to sell. This occasions a Movement in the property on the other side of Boundary. People who want. houses would rather go out as far as that than to any other part of the city.” C “Washington,” Mr: Burford continued, “1s just in its infancy, IfT had a million of doliars I would invest: jt in Teal estate here, and that shows how mueh confidence I have in the fature of the city. People who wish to make small in- vestments will go.to Capito! Hill in preference | seers, shouid not have foreseen and forewarned us of this disagreeable “spell?” Perhaps they have. Fairrax, bobs of New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore are to be found among the miners and railroad men, wine et aah amin? Th tee S— make up min of own times The Ball Nuisance. and country; to use books not for mental dissl- ‘To the Editor of Taz Evawrme Stan: Phontity in as aids Sra moieties to “A Sufferer” in Tux Staz of the 23d instant | ident working classes, on aske if there is any law allowing boys to play | Which society relies ita comfort and ball in the streets of the city. There is none; I/ it should be my fortune to remain in con- on the contrary, the law, with suitable pen-| nestinn itn eho ee tof the Ei forbids the ot care fo place, if I ‘at practical edi siles in the st he factitties for a thorough Y Hon the = wi students; to give more repeated perso: ro rigs Oo tas echemens than ve erudition: to Engits! an speech {hus pertons game buried nations; rt, to prepare young in ple to live, in the active present, the lives of en- sanee. ergetic and usetul citizens. I ‘would not take suburbs, my model of the School from monas- fo mopar nia edna gen ray and annex of the Middle Ages, but vor to strictl make it a school to fit to in the work thorough suppression, by many Of the elosing years of the ni century. the she socal! to any other locality. But, in my opinion, it will soon be necessary to advance the munic! pants in order to:dccommodate the fiers growth.” , SOME REAL ESTATE REMINISCENCES, Mr. James H. Marr, the veteran chief clerk of the first assistant’s office of the Post Office de- partment, in speaking of the unusual weather i 13 : 3 az E i B i i 3 Hi Hy [ 2 IT was a young man, and that property was con- <a sppreciating, and I could do it easily.” “Why didn’t you accept his offer?” asked the eporter. ‘porter, “Well, if had I could have obtained lots in most any part of the city, for the General owned the greater part, but I told him that I could never make anything out of such investments ‘unless I could give'my time toit. 1 could not do fe for my time belonged to the govern- ment.” “Land sold very cheap then,” resumed the old gentleman after this personal digression. ‘‘I re- member that Sanders and Caden bought the jand which Mr. Kendall afterwards purchased, and erected upon It the fine house at the corner of 6th and M streets, fora few mills a foot. This was, however, about 1834, I think. I remember that Dr. J. C. Hall told mea snort time before he died that he sold the land on the opposite side of the street for ten cents afoot. But this was some years afterwards. There was Mr. Kingman,” he continued, “‘who bought some Jand up on 14th for three or four thousand dol- lars. me time ago he sold the northern por- tion of it for $45,000, and I see that recently the remainder has been sold for a large sum.” AN ELEGANT STONE MANSION. The architects, Messrs. Gray & Page. have completed the plans, and the work of erection will soon begin, for an elegant private residence for the use of Mr. C. E. Hawley, a gentleman of means from Binghamton, N. Y. This house will form an exception both In the style of arch- itecture that prevails here and in the materal used. Instead of the red brick or the green stone, the building will present a front of neu- tral color, being composed of Indiana limestone, which is of a light gray color. The style of architecture will harmonize with this material, and the residence will present a pleasing and al lve appearance. It will be situated on tl ‘side of Connecticut avegue, Just south of Dupont Circle, and will be three,stories and a basement high. ‘The front will be of @ yery elaborate design and one of the handsomest ia the city. Its most striking feature is a hand- some oriole window in the second story su) Ported on a corbel of one stone 14x6 feet. It’ will have a frontage of 26 feet and depth of 54. The roof will be of slate, high pitched. In the interior there will be a large and elegant hall, segarated from the staircase by a screen, and the parlor and dining room opening trom it. The wood work on the first floor will be of ma- hogany and oak, the sideboard and mantels being Sule in the house. These latter will be elegant specimens of the wood-carver's art. The ‘upper stories will be finished in poplar, and all through the house there will be the latest mod- ern improvements and conventences. The cost will be $15,000. This is the first house built of this material in the city. 4 ROW. OF SIX NEW HOUSES, Three new houses have been just begun by Mr. J.C, Hillyer, on Hillyer avenue, between 21st and 22d and Q and R streets. Thesehouses are to be three stories high, with a basement, and will have a press-brick ornamestal front, and will present a very elegant appearance. The trimming will be of brick, and the houses will be finished with ornamental gables and with iron balconies on the second story of one and the third story of another. Each house has a frontage of 20teet. The one on the west end will have a tower and a depth of 65 feet, the others being 40 feet deep. The windows will have leaded cathedral glass. The interiors will be handsomely finished. On the first floor will be a parlor, library and dining rgoms. The interior finish will be natural woods, with hard wood mantels, open fire places, and a platform staircase of oak. The cost will be $17,000. The architects are Gray & Page. The builders are Langley & Gettinger. Plans have also been prepared for three houses Just east of this row which will be erected by Mr. Hillyer, making arow of six houses. These houses are to be of a different style ot architeo- ture. They-will have press-brick fronts, the mid- dle house having 8 tower, one a pediment and another a French roof. The trimmings will be ot stone, with ornamental brick belts and bay windows one story high. The interior fini will be in natural woods, and the houses will be completed in first-class style. They are each 20 feet front. The cost will be @16.900. Messrs, Cluss & Schultze are the architects, and Langley & Gettinger the builders. 4 NEW WAREHOUSE TO BE BUILT. Mr. George W. Knox, the enterprising express- man, has concluded to erect on the corner of his Square, at 2dand B streets northwest, a large four-story warehouse for the storage of turni- ture and other goods. This isto be 54 by 120 feet, and 56 feet high, with high rooms sultable for the business. THE MASTER BUILDERS AND JOURNEYMEN. Some of the master builders are positively averse to belng interviewed on the building and wage question. They admit that there has never before been such a boom in the building business, but say that if they advertise the fact that they are overrun with work the journey- men and employesgenerally will take advantage of it to demand more wages. These builders say the wage question Is unsettled, and they do not care to encourage the agitation; that any admission on their part that they are doing a better business than in the past would farnish employes with another reason, to their minds, for insisting upon better wages. The master butlders do not consider it good policy to openly declare that journeymen do not deserve any better pay, as that would render them unpop- ular with the class upon whom they must de- pend for ald. In short, the masters prefer, or at least some of them do, to say as little about their business as possible. In talking among the Journeymen carpenters of several shops a Star reporter ascertained that they are not sat- isfled with their present wages. They get now $3 per day, and are required to furnish them- Selves with tools. The carpenters contend that they ought to receive higher wages than jour- neymen bricklayers and painters, and as they have the sympathy of some of the master build- ers, it 1s probable they will make a demand tor Bs. r ———_—_-+e. A Good Word for Brick Sidewalks. To the Editor of Tae Eventsa Star: In a recent article in Tue Star praising the parks, the smoothly-paved tree-lined streets and other features of our beautiful city, there is by way of an offset, aloud growl because most of our sidewelks are paved with brick. Similar grumbies have appeared from time to time in your popularsheet, and I have wondered why some of your wide awake readers didn’t take up the cudgels in defense of the abused brick footways, for it seems to me hundreds of others must see thelr good points as well as I. They quicker after rain than stone or con- crete walks do. After storms people are giad to avoid the deluged stone andasphalt walke when there 1s a chance to reach the quickly drying bricks. Persons often walk on the asphalt car- riageways instead of the sidewalks to avoid stepping up and down at the crossings, and because they finda better shade. Not one of the least considerations in favor of the briok is that moisture and air can get between them to the roots of our thriving trees. With carriage- ways of asphalt sidewalks of con- crete or closely aa stone, they would soon dwindle and die. Well-laid, smooth, brick sidewalks are good enough for any city. The material is cheap, and is easily replaced when worn. Better let well enough alone, and leave us to enjoy our clean, dry, brick sidewalks in peace. We have as good reason to be proud of them as of our parkings, smooth Leiretbside) fine trees, and other features of the Doblest city of the land. Vixpex. ———— He Loved His Horse. From the Arkansas Traveller, . The Kentucklan’s admiration for fine horses is the strongest feeling in his nature. He cares very little whether or not the public entertains a favorable opinion of him, but he wants every one to think well of his horse. Some time ago the editor of the iggenlimerpactey ao lished at Newport, Ky., a ag iS munity. office with a ro alr and sald: THE WINTRY WEATHER, March Milder Than May. SUN SPOTS AND SUN STORMS—CTCLONES, CUR- RENTS AND CLOUD3—WHAT ARE THE CAUSES? The wintry weather which has prevailed over most of the North American continent for the Past few days, and which was preceded by cy- clones, tornadoes, storms and floods, is almost unprecedented in the history of weather-wise prebabllities, possibilities and “indications.” In fact, for a long time, the climatic changes have puzzled the scientific men of this and other countries not a little, for the record of the past eight months has been as remarkable in Europe as America, and has developed much important inquiry as to the causes of the terrible upheaval ofthe elements. Prof. Garrett P. Serviss has anarticle in the Popular Science Monthly for June, in which he shows, quite clearly, that re- cent magnetic storms and spots on the had much, if not everyting, to do with THE AURORAL DISPLAYS. “No one,” he says, “who beheld the great auroral displays of last year can ever forget the impression that they made. They’ were among the most glorious ce- lestial spectacles that have been wit- nessefl in our latitudes. The first one occurred on the night of Sunday, April 16. On ti afternoon of that day (he continues) I was watching with @ telescope two complicated sun- spots, or groups of one of enormous size, whet had made th ce on the solar disk several days before. My attention had been particularly attracted to these spots, both on account of their great size and because I thought I could perceive changes going on tn them under my eyes. After watching them through the afternoon I beoame satisfied, about an hour before sun-down, that the smaller spot, which was ereerinndeey ee of pores mal and was rapidly ay ing the sun's m lan, had visibly increased in size while I had been watching it, and that perceptible changes had taken place in the complicated cluster of nuclei constituting the black center of the greater spot. It was evident thata tremendous outburst of solar forces was occurring; but, although I Knew of the well-established connection be- tween such convulsions in the sun and the con- dition of the earth’s magnetic elementa, I was not prepared for the spectacle that followed. “The sun had been below the horizon only long enough for the lengthening spring twilight to fade trom view, when a pale-green arch of light ‘was seen spanning a broad aro of the northera horizon, while above it the mysterious streamers and curtains of the aurora were waving and coruscating in the sky. So quickly had the earth responded to the magnetic impulse from the storm on the sun. The popular excitemeat caused by this aurora was remarkable, especially ‘among those who were not aware of the nature of the stran, gathered In Knots at the street-corners, and in little parks of the city, and gazed wonderingly at the flaming heavens. Many seamed to be selzed with a mingled feeling of admiration and dread. Icrossed the Fulton ferry after mid- night, when the aurora streamers were yet shooting from horizon to zenith, and Arcturus was shining brilliantly in the center of a com- plete crown of greenish-yellow light near the venith. A throng gathered at the bow of the boat to watch the display, which was much more brilliant when seen from the center of the stream, away from the glare of the street-lamps. A decently- dressed and not uninteliigent-looking man asked me, with a troubled look, and puinting to the heavens: “«<What is that?’ “It's the aurora borealis,” I replied. He seemed relieved to find some one who could give it a name, and who did not appear to bealarmed. ““T thought it might be the comet the papers are talking about,’ he said, ‘and I did't know what was going to happen.’ “I know that this man’s vague fears were shared by others. “Everybody who bad anything to do with telegraphs willremember the effects of the au- rora. The wires played strange freaks. {n some places they were disconnected from the bat- teres and worked by means of the current fur- nished by the magnetic storm; in other places they refused to work at The Atlantic cable was crippled, and at intervals, for several days ‘ther ‘er, there was considerable delay of all telegraphic business. Subsequently was learned that the auroral storm had raged Simul- taneously, not only in the United States and Canada, but in Great Britain, on the continent of Europe, and in Asia, extending clear across to the shores of China. THE SUN SPOTS. “The next day, when I turned my telescope upon the sun, I was astonished at the changes that had taken place. The smailer spot, which I had seen increasing in magnitude on the previous day, had swollen to between five and six times its former size, 80 that now It was about halfas large as the larger spot, and both were clearly visible to the unassisted eye, shaded withadark glass. I find by reference to the exact measurements of these spots, made at the Greenwich Observatory, that, whereas on the 16th the area of the smaller spot was to that of the larger about as 1to 13.6, onthe 17th the relative magnitudes were about as1to2.2. For three or four days afterward there were magnetic disturbances and occasional auroral displays at night, and during this time the activity of the solar forces continued. On the 19th there was another magnetic storm, and colncldently with it the smaller spot suddenly increased {n size again, until tt was nearly as large as the other, and on the 2ist it actually surpassed its neighbor in magnitude. After that both groups rapidly waned. the one which had undergone the re- markable development I have described fading much faster than the other one. Thenext great display of sun-spots accompanied by auroras and magnetic disturbances—if we except one or two of Talnor importance and a somewhat re- markable one seen in Europe, which will be de- scribed hereafter—occurred in November last, culminating on the 17th of that month in one of the greatest magnetic storms on record, which crippled the telegraphs almost all over the civll- ized world. In Europe fine auroras were ob- served on the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and 19th, accompanied by ‘more or lesq magnetic disturbance. During that time a tre- mendous sun-spot, exceeding in size the largest of the April spots, was advancing from the edge of the disk to the center. In this country the principal auroral displays were on the nights of the 17th and 19th, and the chief force of the magnetic sterm was felt on the 17th. Onthat daya storm of rain and snow similar tp those witnessed during the April storm, but more intense. As in April, some wires were worked without batteries, while others could not be worked at all. Cable com- munication was interrupted. Some startlin; henomena occurred. Sparks of fire leap m the wires and instruments. In the west, switoh-t were burned and keys melted. Operators received severe shocks. Practical DRAWINGS OF THE SPOTS. “at the April meeting of the American Astro- nomical Society I exhibited some magic-lantern representing the took place in the great i principal eunepot during the magnetic storm of November. These views represent the spot as tt appeared on the 16th of Sosa Jilumination in the sky. People | rington and Hodgeon, darting across the spot of 1859, and which seemed to bee signal tor the outbreak of the magnectic storm that followed. “Another drawing ts the as it appeared on the 28th, day after the te stort magnet! dences of cyclonic motion are still, visible, though they are rather suggested by comparison of the appearance of the that shown in the first figure than by any clear indications In the figure itself unconnected with the other one. The roundish, nuclear mass near the center suggested by its form awhirlpoole like motion, but it Is diMcuit on that hypothesis to account for # long, straight channel connect- ing it with an oblong figure on the right. The peculiar crooked figure seen in the lower part of the first picture has, ap) tly broken up into several fragments,but this by itself is not incon. ‘nt with the theory of an eddying wotion. third drawing its the ay ance of the spot on November 19th, auroras and magnetic disturbances having in the mean time continued. Still further changes had taken ee and the lower portion of the spot showed a tendency to separate from the iarger mass above—a phenomenon that is of not un- ent occurrence. 8 = find, by reference to my note-book, that other changes were visible on the 20th, but un- fortunately I was prevented from sketoht them. After that, unfavorable weather, ani other peek omer Prevented me fror sketch- ing the spot, but the sketohes that were made cover the period during which the most remarke able changes occurred, as well as that of the greatest magnetic disturbances. 4 “spor” 60,000 uILes Loxo. “In order to obtain a clear notion of the tre- mendous forces Involved in the changes repre- sented in the drawings, It is necessary to con- sider the enormous size of the spot as measured in square miles. Counting the whole area coy- ered by the various nuclel and the penambral depression surrounding them, the spot was not less than 60,000 miles long and 40,000 miles wide. In other words, It covered 2,400,000,000 Square miles of the solar surface. The area of the whole surface of the earth, iand and sea, 18 Jess than 200,000,000 square miles, so that if the crust of the earth had been peeled off like the skin of an orange, apread ont flat and plastered against the sun, it would have looked likes mere outlying patch beside the great congeries of en chasms constituting this gigantic spot. Masse8 of gaseous matter, many times greater than the e@arth in volume, must have been hurled and whirled about there with tremend- ous velocity in order to prodnee the changes which the telescope revealed. Milton's deacrip- tion of the batthng elements of chaos, through which Satan fought his way, will apply, though inadequately, to the scenes of chaotic fury of which a sun spot is the theater. THE BLACK EYS TAR COMET Gave “THE sv. “A very remarkable spot which, because it made Its appearance at about the time the great comet was in perihelion, in September ast, and broke ont on the portion of the solar globe which was nearest to the comet at that time, has been fancifully called the ‘black eye that the comet gave the sun.’ There were other spots visible at the same time and they also were ascribed by some to the Inflaence of the comet. Some plausible reasons have been shown In favor of this view, and Prof. Kirk- wood's opinion that the, sun-spots of June, 843, were cansed by ‘ge comet of that year has been freely guoted In support of It. Of course, the question whether this particular spot and its companions originated in rome dis- ‘turbance caused by the comet, whether by the fall of meteoric masses following in the comet's track or otherwise, can not be settled elther way by positive evidence at present. But, wile there are improbabilities in the way of the hypothesis, it may, at least, be sald that, If any comet could produce a sun-apot without acta- ally tumbling into the sun itself, the comet of last year ought to have been able to do it, for, asis known, tt almost brushed the sun in its 4 perihelion swing. THIS GREAT sPoT, however, 1s interesting on another account. On October Ist it had reached about its greatest de- velopment. On October 24 there was mag- netic storm which was felt principally in Eu- rope. The storm waswery much less severe in its effects uponthe telegraphs than those of April and November, but !t was accompanied by the appearance throughout England, Scotland and western Europe of a most beautiful aurora. In conclusion. it may be sald, while the evidence turnished by the great magnetic storms of last year was hardly needed to eomplete the chain of proof of the latimate connection tetween solar outbursts and the magnetle conditions prevailing upon our globe, yet this evidence was of such a striking character that it must rank among the most iateresting ot all that bears upon this question. It is, perhaps, worthy of remark that the perlod of sun-spot maximum through which we have just been passing has also furnished a good deal of evidence tn favor of the views of those who think a connection can be traced between sun-spots and the weather. It is only nm to point tothe facts that 1881 and 1882, as weil asthe beginning of 1883, have been remarkable tor cyclones, tor- nadoes, storms and floods, and that, coincl- dently with these meteorological disturbances, huge spots and other evidences of commotion have appeared inthe sun. Here is a splendid field for investigation.” +e. ____ Horees Better Unshod. The Bath (Me.) Times says: “ A gentleman at the South End has a horse which he has owned nine years and never had a shoe on his foot. He thinks the advantages are viz: that in damp snow the horse's hoof will not ball up and he is sure of his footing; second, that the horse never calks himself in deep snows, never wears out floors by stamping, and is never lame from hav- ing shoes that pinch the feet. He says that it usually costs $40 a year to shoe a family horse like his, so that In afinancial point of view he saves $40 a year. The horse was seen this morning, and was in good order; the hoofs were sharp and tough and smooth. He says that, aithough having been in usenine years, henever yet met with an accident, not even so much @3 a stumble.” Saturday Smites. Mamie having been helped twice to every- thing on the table slid down, when the coffee came in, from her chair, with a sigh. now,” said hermamma, “I suppose you have eaten so much that you feel uncomfortable.” “Don't,” replied Matnie, quickly, with a toss of her little head. “1 only just feel nice and smooth.”—Harper's Bazar. While more boys are born than girls tt isa singular fact that there is @ surplus of female population. It is easily accounted for. Fool- Ing with toy pistols, playing baseball, and fall- ing off cherry trees, all boyish pastimes, are six corsets and Norristown President Arthur has been invited to review the Sunday school children of Brooklyn. An irreverent individual insinuates that after the parade he will doubtless make a few remarks to the little ones on the fishermen of the Scrip- tures.—W. ¥. Commercial. The collegian’s passport: “No,” said the college man, “I Gon'tcare a copper whether I get a degree or not; I've got my skull-and- that's a passport into any “No, they've not done— ‘hem next week.”—Boot-