Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-02-01

The trees 10 that locality were aue large
ones; there are mono there now. Witness
did not know what The new grade had cost
him, had made no estimate. The pavement
the contract for the job. The sidewalk In
trout Of witness house was taken up two
months since at least. The grade in the
street had been changed while the work was
In progress. Never heard anything from the
protest against tho work filed with the Board
Of Public Works. After hearing nothing from
the Board OF Public Works, sent the protest
NOT so VERY RAD.
By Mr.. Chandler Under the old city gov
eTnmeu, the street was In bad condition on
account Of the sewer being put down, witness
did not know II any Of the property-holders
on Y street took part In the Injunction pro
Board Of Public Works stopped work. Before
any work was commenced upon street u
needed trimming and grayellng. There was
no pavement upon Il. Property upon this
street was dull. II was quite a retired street.
The improvements when completed might
ness did not know He preferred the street
By Mr.. Roosevelt, Thought Mr.. Shepherds
houses were benefited by the Improvement
more than other property. Those nearest
Seventeenth street were not so much beno-
utp0 as InOHt nthFtE FalkuNttnhn
BY Mr.. Crebs; Some OF the property hold
ers did not sign the protest. Thought Mr.
Shepherds houses were built with the view Of
q change In the grade. Thought they would
have been more Improved u the cut towards
Seventeenth street had been less. This was
matter Of opinion, however The property
on the whole street might sell for more.
Property there had already advanced 10 value.
Witness come time ago offered q lot Tor
q, so; had lately sold u for 5000.
BY Mr.. Eldridgei The reputation OF the
street for healthfnlncss prior TO the improve
ments was not good. The drainage would
make the collars on the street less damp.
aENERAL 0ooD HEsULTs.
BY Mr. Roosevelti Property throughout
the city had increased In value. Witness had
no objection TO improving the city. Did oh.
jet TO tho street Improvement; owned
property In other portions Of the city.
Thought the improvements generally had
tendency TO appreciate the value OF prop
erty.
By NJ. Eldrldgci Witness knew nothing OF
any fraud or corruption on the part Of OIL
Gals 10 making the improvements.
By Mr.. ChIpmani Thought the property
holders on + street would rather have the
street back to lts original condition, The
property below v street which was filed up
by the dirt from Y street was improved.
ASoTnEH VICTIM.
Columbus Alexander, sworni Witness
owned property upon Il street between Sew
enteenth and Eighteenth streets, about 40 or
$50 front feet. Thought his property had
been materially injured. New York avenue
10 the rear Of his property was now being
cut down 80 he could not get In the back way
with his coal and wood. The brick wall put
| down on u street was worthless the mortar
was cnlmbling out In many places. Thought
| the improvements would cost witness from
/ $500 to 900. On Twentieth street, where
witness owned property, he had pavement
| put down two years ago At cost OF e0OO
| which had all been taken up by the Board
| Of Public Works. The board OF Public
| Works had never answered one OF the letters
! Of witness TO them. ...
By Mr.. Chandler; Witness did not think
his property on y street had Increased In
value. Had sold some Of his vacant lots on
y street condlt'onally, at Of por foot. OF.
fcred them at the same price ave years ago.
Witness was anxious 10 sell all his property,
because be thought Il would DO injured by
the improvements contemplated. Paid last
year between six and seven thousand dollars
general aud special taxes. Owned over
$4,000 worth Of property In this city.
IHEI ARE NOT DISHONEST.
By Mr.. Riddle: Llmo-kllns owned by wit.
ness would be ruined by certain improve
ments, as the section where they were located
would be Allied up.
By Mr.. Eldridge: Did not know Il Ii wa,
the purpose Of the Board OF Public Works u
restore the sidewalks which they had taket
up; knew Of some cases where the board hai
J restored the sidewalks; paid special aud gen
eral taxes amounting 10 four or i've thousand
dollars the year previous. Witness knew Of
no dishonesty on the part OF any member Of
the Board OF Public Works, although had
made inquiry about them. Mr.. Vanderburgl
told witness that the change Of grade was
being made by the. authority Of Mr.. Emery
did not intend TO pay the taxes for the change
Of grade on y street; would resist them
through the courts.
By Mr.. Harmer; The sale which witness
made Of bis lots on y street was upon the con
Witness did not know what his proportion o.
the taxes were; could not ind out.
Mr.. Eldridgei generally nud out what my
taNes are.
SHEPHERD HAD THE BEsr or IT.
Witness thought his property was not I'm
proved as much rs Mr.. Shepherds, becaus'
thai of tho latter was on the desirable side o
the street. Did not think the property OF
street would sell for any more on accOun
OF the improvements Witness lived on thl
street twenty years aud was never sick.
: Question by Mr.. Eldhdge: Mr.. Alexan
der, has not the sentiment OF tho peopl,
changed since they have seen the improve
mentsi"
Answer Among the non-tnx.payers /
has"
Q. Suppose you had no taxes to pay, whai
would be your sentlments7"
A. II think | should Join that ring.
7 Laughter,
Of tho cost OF Improvement.
Mr. Chapman One sixth Of the cost onll
Is TO be paid for by the property on each sid
Of the street.
Witness went TO Magruder TO see the con
tract Tor the work on street. Did not asl