THE SUNDAY nKFOOXIAX. TORTLAXP. XOTE3IBER "23, I9Qg.
PORTLAND
Two Handsome New Residences
Old-Timers Become Enthusi
asts Over Future Pros
pects of City.
Cream of Irvington
Highest Part of Irvington
Best Improved Section of Irvington
Ten Minutes' Ride From Down Town
Only One Block From Streetcar Line
MEW BUILDINGS IN GROUPS
BEGINS
JTSlFik
Prospect
TOHDTI
CE GROWTH
Investors From Outside Acquire
Holdings In This City, Which Is
Expected to Have Good Ef
fect on local Men.
BT JOHN J. HARBISON.
"Rah. rah. rah; whafs the matter
with Portland T'
Catchlns the spirit of enthusiasm
that pervades the country at this sea
son, the question may. without over-
xuberance. be put to the world, conn
dent the answer will be yelled back
"She's all right!"
With twenty-odd new buildings ol
large dimensions under way. on both
sides of the river, and with dwellings,
flats and apartment-houses rising like
mushrooms after a shower. Prtlan
has every reason to t proud of its
advancing position among the cit es
of the country along the lines of build
ing operations.
Not only Is the present activity a
matter of surprised comment by other
lesa-favored communities, but from re
ports made by leading architects It is
reasonably certain that the next year
will even exceed the present one In
the number and cost of big buildings.
On of these architects said yesterday
that his firm alone had commissions
for preliminary estimates on three
buildings one for a full block, one
for half block and the other a quar
ter block all of over nine stories In
height. He said he had Information that
other ilrms had similar orders and
made the prediction that the coming
year would see more large buildings
started than any time in the history
of the city.
Large Transfers Pending.
A leading realty broker is authority
for the statement that between now
and the tlrst of the year some of the
largest deals yet made in Inside realty
are to be closed and that in nearly
every Instance an important building
Is to ba erected on the sites trans
ferred. During the week record was made
of the investment of $200,000 In Port
land real estate by a concern operat
ing on the Sound. This company is
the Gregory Investment Company and
Is reported to have been In the real
estate business for a long time and
made a success in Spokane before co
lng to Seattle and Tacoma. Their
present Intention Is to plat the tract
acquired In the Rose City Park dis
trict and In all probability will con
tinue to operate In this city. Healers
to a msn say this bringing of out
side capital into Portland will act in
two favorable ways will attract at
tention of other Investors in different
parts of the country and will stimulate
local men of means to step In and take
advantage of the undoubted oppor
tunities Portland offers in real estate
Investments.
One of the notable changes that Is
taking place In Portland Is the rec
ognition its residents have had forced
upon them that the old town has as
sumed proportions of a great city.
Only a few months ago any reference
made to the growth of the city was
received with equanimity and In some
cases with Incredulity. There Is so
much evidence In sight of the meta
morphosis going on that former in
difference has developed into enthus
iasm for the future of the city. The
old Inhabitants rub their eyes, scarcely
able to believe their senses when they
reallie that landmarks of their early
days have passed away and that In
stead high, modern buildings rise to
prove a long-deferred awakening to a
progressive spirit.
One Improvement Starts Another.
It has been remarked that the start
ing of one big building in a locality
Is followed by others in a remark
ably short time. For Instance, the
Ewetland and Buchanan buildings had
hardly been completed before the
Couch. Rothchlld. Falling and Corbett
followed along, with other structures
In the vicinity projected. The new
Board of Trade brought the Commer
cial Club, the proposed Henry and
Lewis buildings, and the Corbett es
tate building, at Fifth and Ankeny. Is
followed by the Pacific Paper Company.
Crawford, and the syndicate building
adjoining will start in the Spring. One
of the most notable examples is that
of the wholesale district in the termi
nal quarter, and this applies also to
the Kast Side warehouse district along
the railroad lines. All that seems to
he needed is for some one to make a
start and others, seeing the wisdom
of the choice, fall into line.
Some regret Is expressed now and
then that a wholesale demolition of
old "shacks" in the principal streets
rannot be required of nonprogressive
owners. That Is a matter that Is not
confined to Portland. There is not a
big city In theountry whose appear
ance is not marred by the presence
of Inferior buildings wedged in be
tween modern Improvements. In New
Tork. for example, the largest bank
In that city, the Chemical National,
for years and years occupied a three
or four-story building of ancient con
" struction on lower Broadway, which
Hetty Green and the other owners of
the bank seemed to take pride In
rather than being ashamed of the
contrast with the huge marble piles
that surrounded it. Another example
Is found In Chicago, where State street,
the main business street in the loop,
after ten blocks of Imposing buildings,
suddenly emerges Into a district of
squalor where two and three-story
frames line that street on both sides.
Question Not Solved.
The matter of having enforced im
provement of , city lots has not yet been
solved, even In the "ancient" cities
of the Atlantic Coast. Probably one
day some one will suggest an amend
ment to the Henry George theory that
may bring results, but In the mean
time nothing save civic pride can
bring about the desired reform.
The month is forging ahead steadily
In the record of new buildings, though
the big structures under way In sev
eral localities yet remain to have their
cost- figure In tlie totals. .For the
month to date there have been 16
permits Issued by Inspector Dobson.
with J35S.840 given as estimated cost.
For the last week there were 75 per
mits issued with llol.IRO total cost.
The week's record of real estate
transfers brought the average con
siderably higher than for several pre
ceding weeks. For some time the
average was held at about $i.000
a day. Last week the average reached
over S 7 5,000.
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LOWER PENINSULA GBDWS
FIRST SETTLEMENTS DATE ONLY
FROM 1890.
Dozens of Platted Tracts Now Offer
Inducements to Buyers for
Homes and Factories.
Development of what ie now known as
the lower Peninsula district had its ac
tual start when the railroad waa opened
to St. John. The O. R. & N. line was
completed to that point in ISM. and from
that date until the present time there
has been remarkable building up of the
district, extending from the Willamette
eastward to Columbia slouah.
Francis I. Mi-Kenna. one of the pioneer
investor; in that part of the Peninsula,
furnishes some data regarding the early
bWtory of the district, and from his rec
ords the following la compiled:
As far back as IM0 Portsmouth was se
lected by a man named Kelly as the stte
of what he believed would be eventually
a town of great importance. Tills was
before Portland had an existence. Sir.
Kelly was correct in his opinion to the
extent that Portsmouth today is one of
the prosperous diKtrli-ts in that part of the
Peninsula and contains a population of
home-owning citizens who are happy and
contented with the selections made for
the place of their residence.
Only as far back aa the thriving
town of St. John was merely & postoffice
station, but in the following year town
sites began to assume considerable Im
portance. In 1K0-91 these townsitea were
platted: University Park. Point View.
Arbor Lodge. University Park Addition.
Peninsula Addition, Northern Hill. Bur
rage tract. Willamette. Graybrook (now
Kenton); and In the years following such
altes as McKenna Junction, Maegley
Junction, Loveleigh, Wilhurton, Sainton.
Fairport and many others of almost
weekly record bring the settlements of
the lower Peninsula south to the older
sites of Piedmont. Woodlawn, the Irving
ton strips and the Albinas.
Crossing this district above ground is
the line of the Spokane. Portland A Seat
tle railroad, and under ground the tunnel
of the Oregon & Washington. These two
lines, with the projected extensions of
the streetcar system, will furnish trans
portation facilities for that pan of the
Peninsula down toward Its toe. and from
every indication the manufacturing dis
trict started by the Swifts will be built
up within less time than the residential
portions have been.
There is a reat amount of vacant land
In that district of the city, but from the
way it is being acquired by syndicates of
capitalists the time is not far distant
when the whole of It will be disposed of.
or at leaet platted into building lots and
placed on the market.
OVERTON STREET STEPS CP
Street Improvement Attracts Exper
ienced Buyer to Building Lots.
El J. Daly has purchased from Louis
Goldsmith two lots on ths north side of
Overton street, between Twenty-fifth
and Twenty-sixth streets. The consid
eration was in the neighborhood of
$7000. Overton street Is soon to be im
proved with bitulithlc from the Cornell
road to about Sixteenth street, and
from there to the river with Belgian
blocks. This will make Overton street
one of the finest thoroughfares in the
city. The lower end will be used for
wholesale houses and factory sites, and
the westerly end for high-grade resi
dences. Next week E. J. Daly, Dan J. Malas
key and Roger B Slnnott will com
mence tearing down the old frame
buildings on the southwest corner of
Sixteenth and Washington streets. They
intend to erect temporary frame build
ings for stores, to be superseded by a
fine brick and concrete building, which
they will erect on their'entlre holding,
running from Washington to Alder, as
soon as the ground lease on the Alder
street corner expires.
Dr William L. Wood has purchased
from G. A. Cobb a two-story brick
building on Williams avenue, between
Sellwood and Stanton streets. The size
of the lot Is 45x93 feet. Consideration,
$12,500. The sale was made by E. J.
Daly.
TKOITDALE MOVES FORWARD
Welnhard Estate Builds $30,006
Brick Other Improvements. ,
At Troutdale a JSO.OOO-brlck building is
being completed by the Welnhard
Brewery Company. A new state bank,
recently incorporated for $10,000, will oc
cupy a corner room. Directors of this
bank are Fred E. Harlow, Lew Harlow,
Carl Larson and J. H. Short. ' Fred E.
Harlow is president and Lew Harlow Is
vice-president. There will be a general
merchandise store on the lower floor.
This building is one of the best in the
county outside of Portland.
Establishment of a bank Is considered a
distinct gain for the town and com
munity, owing to the large business done
by the Union Meat Company and the
large dairy district. The building will
he completed by December 1.
RESULTS OF MNEUTIOl
MOUNT SCOTT DISTRICT REAL.
TY IN DEMAND.
Manufacturing Sites Taken Over and
Other Sales Will Come
With Water.
Sales of realty in the annexed territory
in the Mount Scott district have increased
since the favorable vote on that ques
tion. A two-acre tract on the Foster road
at Kern Park, .near the gravel pit, was
sold the past week for manufacturing
purposes, but the name of the purchaser
has not yet been announced. It Is said
that the two acres brought $5000. Other
emaller sales, at Arlcta, and at other
points out to Lents, are reported mostly
for residence purposes.
O. N. Ford, who keeps in close touch
with the realty conditions in this suburo,
says there has been a decided Improve
ment recently. This Improvement, he
considers, is due to the certainty that
Bull Run water will eventually be fur
nished that district, and possibly tem
porary arrangement may be made so
water may be had from the Mount Tabor
reservoir, before the shortage 'of next
Summer, by laying a 24-inch water main
to Foster road and there connecting with
the ten-inch main of the Woodmen)
Water ComDany.
Committees have been appointed by
the four pueh clubs of the section to
take up the matter of having the main
laid. If laid at all it will have to be done
through a petition, and the property of
the whole district will be assessed to pay
for the pipeline. It Is realized that the
future prosperity of the district is largely
dependent on getting Bull Kun water,
and car' service that Is adequate to the
needs of the people.
Will Build Public Hall.
At the last meeting of the Harmony
'TIS OF THE HOME
WE SPEAR
It should be well lighted and heated.
We have the latest improved designs
in lighting fixtures, mantels, grates,
dogirons and andirons. Yon should
investigate our line and prices before
buying.
M. J.WALSH CO.
Electric and Gas Work in All Its
Branches Promptly Attended to.
King Either Phone.
311 Stark, Between Fifth and Sixth.
Open Saturday Evenings.
Crea
P
m of Irvington
Prospect Park Is the highest part of Irvington, being 190 feet
above First and Washington streets. Prospect Park qyerlooks Hol
laday Addition and commands a magnificent view of the mountains
and surrounding hills.
Public improvements have been installed at an expense of $250,
000, This work has been done in the most scientific manner and with
uniformity throughout the entire tract
A ten-minute ride from down town by the Woodlawn or Alberta
cars, leaving Fifth and Washington and Second and Washington ev
ery five minutes during the day and every three minutes during the
rush hours. .
Prospect Park is one mile from the Steel bridge and is reached
by hard surface pavement all the way from the city.
rospec
in the
Making
t Park
A thorough and complete description of Prospect Park, "the
Cream of Irvington," is given in a novel folder entitled "PROSPECT
PARK IN THE MAKING."
Illustrations and engineer's diagrams of the improvements that
have been installed in Prospect Park, showing exact manner of con
struction, make this folder interesting reading to him who is in search
of high-class residence property.
This folder clearly shows the reader the tremendous scope of the
improvements in Prospect Park..
OUlltree & 241 Stark St. EastsideOff
Diamond prt,andr- E-7th and Knott
ice
Improvement Society, near Mount Scott.
It was decided to begin work on the new
public hall, and Mesdames Kllton. Clark,
Avery and Fortner were appointed a
building- committee. Plans are being
drawn and will be ready tor acceptance
at the next meeting of the society.
Ground for the hall waa donated by a
resident, ana the concrete foundation
was completed some time ago. The Har
mony Improvement Society is composed
entirely of women, with Mrs. E. J.
Spooner as president. Willis C. Peck, of
Portland, has volunteered to give a con
cert next 'Wednesday night In Darts"
Hall, at Lienta, for benefit of the Har
mony Hall project.
Vocal and Instrumental entertainment
from 5 to 9 P. M. and a fine Thanka-
g-lvln? dinner at the Perkins Grin.
ACRE
Many New Streets Are Being Opened and Improved
METZGER ACRES have met with such great favor since they were platted and
placed on the market last Spring that it has become necessary for us to open
and improve many more new streets. This improvement will make some of our
' most desirable ACRES accessible and will also add greatly to the appearance and
value of each and every acre in our large tract We are still offering these choice
tracts at the original prices and terms, so those desiring one or more of these
acres will have to act quickly, as prices are sure to advance in the near future.
METZGER ACRES
Are located just south of Portland, on the Salem electric line, one of the best
equipped interurban systems on the Coast. Several cars have been added to the
daily schedule, which makes a very frequent service. Take car at Front and
Jefferson streets, get off at Metzger Station, and investigate this proposition
from every standpoint. You are making no mistake.
PRICE $200 AND UPWARD, ACCORDING TO LOCATION
TERMS 10 per cent cash and 3 per cent of the pur
chase price per month.
INTEREST 6 per cent per annum on deferred pay
ments. . .
ON CASH PAYMENTS a discount will be allowed.
For particulars and beautiful descriptive plat call at our Portland office, 226-228
Front street, or at Metzger Station. All cars stop at Metzger 's.
HERMAN METZGER, OWNER
Office Phones Main 474, A 1374. Agents and Phones at Station Main 6409.