National Republican., 1874-05-16
Ti.28
15I.S5
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w,.u, Yoro2, =. c. Pecsmber Al,

NOTION,
I -. snn James - Ms-Tuier, treasurer
Ssesetyed 80 from SblIc Works Of he District OF
CoIrrsi,o S,9r bu Ndred dollars an sxty-nve
csnts for the within. ssid board. IN IN TssSScs to
which the claim ied Nsto1Ofs SoSs Tite Snsn
seFred 70. NEoHss e IoAUHD :
Insatishaction Of that etitiCn and discharge
of that demand for damae sSSI .Si- ~ .nss ,tst
they call the amount of 3. W ING moiA SuS"
had been done in front OF my properly, WHICH,
If done upon just principle, 'ouia nave , cos'
under my OWE superVistOn-I Why oee.e'
but, as say, l do not wish to do them Any IN
justice or speak as an expert-Iy sny peiie1e
would not have cost half the sum; Nnse Il, my
one sixth oft. And I accordingly we eta tne@ en-
that quittauce and took from them q ScnSsso
of all claims for assessments upon me Inis
was done, IS It respects the neighbors, were
equally interested with their knowledge, ous L
told, particularly Commodore Almy's sister III III
law, Miss Gardner, who has charge of vs.
affairs In hIs absence, and who, being lady q
+ felt more especially bound to speak with, as
the Admiral was not present to take care Of
his own rights-precisely. what the board had .
proposed to do-oFI proposed to do in respect
to adjusting this controversy, II 1t were one, or
getting rid Of being what considered unjustly
dealt by in their undertaking to collect any
assessment from any Of us. told Miss Gard
ner precisely what / proposed to do, and what
the board proposed to do, In order that she
might have the benefit, and anybody else who
might be interested in the same settlement, If
they could arrange it, or they chose to go On
they would ges-a great deal more. That, be-
lieyc, isthe substance Of all know about this
affair, which has been most unfortunate to me
in point of comfort, convenience, and value OF
the little property that possess there.
For repeat to this committee that, having
some little knowledge Of cities and towns,
street-making, and beauty Of landscape undu-
lations in a city designed foF pleasure rather
than business, that | can now conceive Of no
possible excuse, either IN point OF taste or pub
lie necessity,or convenience of travel Or any
other thing for that performance. II there is
any gentleman present representing either
side
The Chairman. There is 10 gentleman repre-
senting either side present.; we are all Of the
committee, here:
The Witness. perhaps ought to add that in
all have said, do not wish, as IL is not my
business witness; to make any reflection
upon anybody's motives. have nothing to
say about that at all. only speak ofthe facts
as they have occurred.
By Mr.. Wilson: o., Was there q bYfck-waIk
in front of your housei A.. There was one
that had been laid down and. paid for bythe
property, with fine stone curbing, and in per-
feet ORDER
Q. What became of thzt7 A. knowis-wss.
taken up and carried of.
Mr.. Thomas T. Bayard. The statement made
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen, by MF. Ed
munds, will necessarily shorten mine. So far
as he has stated the facts relating to his own
property they are nearly precisely applicable
TO miIe. bought this los few mouths after
he had bought his, and bulk up next to his, g.
part being wall between US. He has
stated the inducement to buy this property.
was looking for convenient and healthful
location for my family. The elevation of this
property, the slope-ground all around 1.-THE
grand sloping in every direction from the pro-
posed site OF his and my house-msde it, as
thought, very desirable property. There- WAS,
as was stated by Mr.. Edmunds, everything !
there In the way. Of convenience afforded by the
public sewer, gas and water. Massachusetts,
avenue was not paved as to its bed, but as
remember il was guttered, curbed, and paved
between Massachusetts, avenue and the line OF
my property. By covenant with the vendor
OF my lot who is the same as Judge Edmund's,
Mr.. Thomas B. Bryan, we bound ourselves not
to build forwa of a certain line, which was,
about fifty feet away from Massachusetts, ave-
nne. So went and built my house in 1871,
moved into and occupied it in the winter
of 1871 and 1879 and 1873, and live there
now. 1 had an intimation that
they ss Intended led to park ttn in some some
of Public Works, which was some time
subsequent to my becoming the owner Of this
property and building my house. l was in
| formed that they intended TO improve 1t and
park It after the manner of X street, which
W bnt luJeEcsG VI
the property, throwing little lots, which have
not inappropriately been called private grave
yards in front of your door, and keeping you
back from the thoroughfare Of the street, Civ
ing longer distance to walk In bad weather
from the curbstone before you reach your
house. wrote letter to Mr.. Shepherd, vice
president of the Board of PublI3 Works. l had
never seen him in my life. 1 wrote letter to
him telling him that trusted before anything
Of this kind was done that the plan of improve O.
ment would be submitted to the property hold
ers all along the street. To that received an
answer that should have notice, but never
did get notice, and in 1872 this excavation re-
ferred to by Mr.. Edmunds was made. Before
its commencement 1 had left the city. be-
lieve that summer had gone to Europe. My
family moved back to my residence in Della :
ware, and when came back to the session, in
December, 1872, I found the great gulf that he
has spoken of.
ITO be concluded on IouClaul