Is that our photographer's bike and camera case in the lower right corner of the image? I would suspect a tripod was also involved unless the camera was supported by some physical object like a wall etc.

[The case is for the photographer's glass negatives. - Dave]

it looks like the trees are wrapped in chain link fencing.
Can anyone explain?

[Curbed horses tend to nibble. - Dave]

There are signs and portents here of the Han Wah Laundry's future: a disembodied foot and the faint ghostly images of passers-by; the blurred image of the woman hurrying away with a baby buggy; the abandoned bicycle; the shadow pattern on the pavement that calls to mind a devilish face. A century later the quieter pace of a quieter age is gone.

For a moment I thought stanton_square was back. (Note to new Shorpsters: this informative commenter, not seen for a few years now, provided relevant news items contemporaneous with the posted photo, in a distinctive format very similar to Dave’s comment.) I wonder where he / she got to.

This may be the first time that the D.C. Street Survey buildings shown are still here.

The Washington Post -- Aug. 14, 1903