National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-02

"a ", Il
want TO reflect upon the gentlemen connected
with the District government. thinkit is tbs
result of the form of government We have. II
Is dangerous LIDO not know but what If
was at the head of the government with the
general Generalization of humanity, witt
power, might have done Just the same thing
By the Chairman: O. Yoa think it Is a LITTLE
too complex-this government A. Yes, sir;
think If we could get It aNered In some shapt
to protect US inthe future 1t would be better
1t seems to be an easy matter when there Is SC
much power toget the, vote Of the gentlemen
who want easy subsidies to put in men In the
Legislature that can be nodded to suit thos,
who are in power.
Q. You have stated all you know about this
matterl : = -
The Witness. In regard to this seweri
The Chairman. Yes, sir.
A. Well, in regard to this bill itself, in case
you should decide to have 1t pass think the
question of inequality of taxes IS a very i'm
portant one to us citizens. It is a matter that
am very familiar with in regard to the prop
erty in Washington.
BY Mr.. Merrick: Q. Do those points appear
on the journal that you have adverted to, SO
that you can point them out and give the com,
mittee a reference to themi A. Yes, sir;
have them all turned down.
Mr.. Christy. Let me hand you this, just as
marked by yourself.
The Chairman, II you have any reference
to the journal, just name the page and the ref.
erence, and the committee will examine them.
The Witness. Suppose give you my brief
The Chairman. Wewould rather have that
You seem to be perfectly familiar with this
subject. Does It cover what you regard as the
inequalities and injustice Of this matteri
The Witness. Yes, sir. The page, laws,
rules, and everything else connected with this
matter, are set forth therein.
Mr.. Jewett. And your conclusionsl A. And
my humble judgment; yes, sir.
Mr.. Merrick. desire to ask him some
practical questions as to the operations of the
sewer law. ITO the witness.J Passing from
the faculties of the legislator, what is your
regular business here in this cityl A. l am
attending to the real estate business now, just
to keep occupied. =
o. You are q real estate broker and agent?
A. Yes, sir.
@. In that capacity you are acquainted with
the value of real estate in the city of Washing
toni A. think ] know great deal about the
value of 1t. ~
Q. Be good enough TO tell us, IN the first
place, in regard to the watershed of this sur.
face on Capitol hill; what portion Of this Capt.
toll hill territory has natural watershed to-
ward the Mber creek basin, so as to make the
Tiber creek sewer o proper place Of drainage
for that territory A. Well, that Is quite a
nice question to answer in o typographical
point of view, but think, from my knowledge
of that country, that there is no water that
enters the Tiber creek proper that lays south
of East Capitol street. -T
@. South or west of East Capitol street, A.
South of East Capitol street, or west Of about,
should say from recollection, Ninth street
east. You take Maryland avenue, diverging
from the Capitol in a northeast direction, and
it forms basin with about Fl street north.
That watershed comes down into Tiber creek
by a sewer now; at least q sewer that is in pro-
gress or being buiit--what they call F street
sewer. All to the right Of that, especially
south Of East Capitol street, which forms the
backbone, as It were, all is drained, 1 should
judge, south and east of Ninth street east, with
the exceptionSof a very small-however the
water cannot reach Tiber creek.
Mr.. Stewart. A re there any surveys that
show the water-coursesl -...-
Mr.. Harrington. Yes, sir. 800.
Mr.. Stewart. If there is no dispute about the
surveys, we can take those and determine these
matters much quicker.
Mr.. Merrick. That was preliminary ques-
tion TO another question.
o. want to ask you now to state the
general rate of market value of these I'M
improved lots down in the valley from be-
tween this and the mouth of the James creek,
and also the general value of unimproYed lots
Oyer in this regionl A. If you will take the
property that lies east of Four-and-a-half
street, the street that leads down TO the peni-
.entiary, you may say that all south and south
,ast of that, including within some three
squares Of the Capitol, ranging round by the
Eastern Branch to the nayy-yard, that property
do not think would average to sell five cents
l foot.
Q. All the unimproYed property in that dis
;rictl A. Yes, sir. Of course there are spots
about that would bring twenty cents.
Q. Occasional spots, but not on the average.
You say the value of that property is about five
cents foot? A. Yes, sir. Taking property
hat lies east of the Capitol, northwest of Penn
;ylYania avenue, including that, whole area
around and going down TO North Capitol street
taking that street right Immediately near the
Capitol; here along East Capitol street.-the
property, should Judge, would range from one
lollar, down to what they call Lincoln square
we will putit at twenty-five cents; the aver.
age would be, probably, about fifty cents. The
TEST would state-take IL all, water-lots and
others, making a general average, the whole
street, around North Capitol street again, ex-
eepting spots-I do not think would average
over eight cents. =
Q. That property that is called the property
wing out on the commons! A. Yes, SIR. OF
course there are spots around; but taking
general average is what mean.
Q. Do you know anything about the assessed
value of that property in that district that you
peak of; the general rate of assessment of that
property that you have spoken of down east of
Four and-a-half street, A. have the control
If some property; some Of It is assessed from
bout three to five cents.
Q. How much property have you control of
hat is assessed in and about from three to FIVE
,ents q footl A. There is a lot of properly
inIvn fhara halOnCin0 n
When said control did not exactly mean to
infer that. have had several parties who have
Ieen complaining of this tax, and have come to
ne and blamed me for passing that bill, which
want to get out of.
By the Chairman: Q. You have made very
rood record on that A. They gave me a
title estimate showing the assessed value and
he sewer tax. In some cases-well, Twill
ID regard to one case, the case of
dr. Townley. He owns a square right opposite
% old poor's house. There was q pavement
,ut down there.
Q. Do you know the number Of that square?
l. think it is Ills.
@. What is the assessed value of that square?
/. do not know what It is assessed at, but
lie offered it to me at five cents. thought it
vas too high.
sewerage assessment upon that property A.
Four hundred dollars. There Is %, 900 feet.
q. Two cents foot? A. Two cents foot.
q. Upon that property Of which you say the
market value Is I'VE cents o foot? A. That is
THAT it was offered to me for. thought 1t was
90 high.
q. Do you know what Is the sewerage assess
nent as compared with the market value Of much
4 this property that You have spoken Of down
lere between Four and s-half street and down
his valley? A. have the statement from A. N.
!. Richards, owning three squares. The assessed
alue Is about al, ooo and the sewer tax Is shout
Z, 900.
3. State to the committee, as nearly as posi-
lie, how much property you have knowledge Of
fifth regard to which this relation exists, or any
approximate relation to that between the as
essed value and the sewerage taxi A. ! did
tart to prepare and will have q List in fewdayS
( a number Of parties who did not know hoWto
Tould take that matter into consideration, and |
hey Will prepare their individual property with |
statement showing the numbers Of lots add
luares, giving what II IL assessed at, and what
he sewerage tax is on IL. You can get pile OF
bout that high. (lndieating.l IL
II. In many cases It Is contiscation.
Mr.. Merriek. My object is to eall the atten- |
The Chairman. We understand and consider 1t
erfectly legitimate.
The Witness. was in favor Of the general I
ever tax, but thought It ought to be made o |
eneral tax. advocated in the Legislature that |
this sewerage was TO be done, We should have |
ome estimates; we had nothing in the Legisla. |
ure. We had no estimates nor anything OF the
ind.
BY the Chairman: Q. You thought It ought to
e placed on the property Of the whole city2 A..
les, sir and should suggest now, n II 10 In the
0 make suggestion. think know something |
bout this case-that the Board of Public Works