National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-24
NEW LIBRARY SITE.
Values OF Property Adjacent to That It
Is Proposed To Condemn.

Is Proposed to Condemn.
The jury 10 condemn the three squares Of
ground for a site for the new congressional
library held another open session yesterday,
and listened TO statements as TO the valua-
ton Of ground In the immediate vicinity Of
that which the governmentproposes 10 take.
Mr.. Samuel was examined generally rs 10
the values Of Capitol Hill property, and
stated that ground has appreciated there In
the last few months. He had offered for q
lot on b street, between First and Second
streets, 81 per foot. He regarded property
On Pennsylvania avenue between First and
Second streets, worth $1.50 per foot, and
that on a street at 81 to Sl25 The ground
on the alley in square 40 he would value
at 60 to 20 cents per foot. He regarded
the south side Of q square as the most val
liable.
He stated that some three years since
Geo. X. Wilson purchased house on A
street, near Second, for 5000, and Mr..
Cragln, interrupting, said Mr.. Wilson
would not now take $4,000 for II. Mr..
A. X. SpofTord, on being examined, stated
that property on north b street,
was valued at $1.S0 per foot. In 1884 Mr.
Seymour purchased q lot on First, be.
tween North A street and Maryland avenue,
atS1.S0. In 1885 a lot at Maryland ave.
nue. and A street sold for $1.25, and in the
same year r. II. Smith was offered the two
lots adjoining Judge Fields for $l.s0 per
foot. This year a lot ON South street, be-
tween First and New Jersey avenue, with
the improvements, was sold for 5000. A
lot on First street, half square from the
park, sold for 20 cents. No. 214 South A
street, with ten rooms, was sold for $1,000
TO Congressman Swope. James L. Barbour
owns lots on First, between y and 9 streets,
which are offered at a per foot. Thomas
j. Fisher asks 81 per foot for lots on Della.
ware avenue. NJ. NJ. Rohrer has lots on
Second street for which he wants 80 cents.
Hufty q Dyer offer lot on B street, be-
tween First and Second streets, at 81.
Mrs. Barry's property on Pennsylvania
avenue, between First and Second streets,
for which SO Is now wanted, was on the
books Of a real estate agent year ago for
$3.50 per foot. The highest price he knew
OF being asked was for lot on Delaware
avenue and b street, for which Mr.. Dun
canson wanted 81 IS per foot.
In answer to an Inquiry of District At
torney Worthington Mr.. Spofford said that
citizens, through attorneys, had endeav
ored to secure the location Of the library
on Capitol Hill, instead OF some other
place, but did not know Of such move.
ment having been made within the past two
years.
Mr.. Robert o. Hoffman said that nearly
two years ago he sold lot on First street,
between Maryland avenue and B street, at
| $3.50 or $1.S5 per foot, and about fifteen
months ago lots ON Maryland avenue and A
street sold at S1.25 to $l.30. Thought the
corresponding property pennsylvania ave.
nue. and street, would be worth probably
| % cents more. The sale on First street was
made by calling for bids. Several attempts
were made to sell It at public auction. and
SO cents was the highest bid. He sold the
| property at Delaware avenue and Q street
about three weeks ago at $l,25 per foot.
Mr.. +. w. Hackett said, as to the sale Of
lot lG In square 100, he received from Mr..
| Ordway Sg,G42. 50-$G, 900 In note.
James A. TAFT said that he sold house
and lot this month on b, between First
street and Delaware avenue, at $3.50 per
foot, and that ground on b street south
/ recently sold Mt an average OF $3.50 per
| foot. The First street sale was made by
calling for bids. Several attempts were
made TO sell II at public sale, but 55 cents
was the largest bid that could be obtained
| About three weeks ago he sold ground at
Delaware avenue and g street for $l,25 per
foot. lie had the sale OF Mrs. Barry's lots
on Pennsylvania avenue, between First and
Second streets, and sold one at 81. so pei
| foot; she declined to execute the deed
She authorized him to sell the ground on
Second street at 81, and he sold 1t for $l.25
but she would not execute deed because
she thought that the government would
take It, and that she would get more. The
property was on his books for year and 9
half. There was slight depression IL
prices when Congress two years ago failed
to act on the library bill. He knew of {
sale on Pennsylvania avenue, near Thirt
street, at $3.50, and another near 1t at s,
per foot. Hewould sell his lot on Third
between A and d streets, at S1.50. IL,
thought that the Washington Hall prop
erty, being good business property, would
bring $4,000.
This closed the hearing for the day.