Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-02
THE PURCHASE OF COAX VIEW" ("
A PLAIN, STRAIGHTFORWAR HIS.
TORY OF THE WHOLE TRANSAC.
TION.

PLAIN, STRAIGHTFORWAR HIS
TORY OF THE WHOLE TRANSAC.
TION.
The Presidents Search for a Quiet, FL
evated and Inexpensive Country
Place-Oak View Meets the Require.
ments-ThOrOugh Refutation of the
ISLANDERS Connecting the President
and the District Commissioners with
ssSyndicate', Interests.
CITIZENS OF washington who are familiar with
the real estate transactions along the line of the
proposed extension OF Massachusetts, avenue, and
with the circumstances attending the purchase by
the President of coax View," his suburban home,
at the junction OF the TenleytOwn and the WOodley
Lane roads, say that the efforts made to involve
the District Commissioners and through them the
President in alleged schemes to benefit specula-
tors, are absurd. A gentleman who was well ac-
qua1nted at the time with what was being done in
way OF purchasing place for the President said
that the selection of coax View" was made after
the PRESIDENT had looked at several other places.
The President, or the friends acting for him. had
made inquiries concerning the prices OF several
places in other localities which had suited his
fancy, especially "Whitney Close" near the Sol
diers' Home; the Weaver property, on Broad
| street, West Washington; place on 10th street
places, but the prices did not suit. Then the at
tention OF the friend who acting for the Presi-
dent was called to coax View" by the brother OF
the owner OF that property, and the President was
pay the price asked-S25, 900. Subsequently an
oner OF $21 800 cash was made and accepted
THE SO-CALLED SYNDICATES
that own the ground some distance south of soak
View, on the line of the proposed extension of
Massachusetts avenue, purchased their property
Mr. nd hQo Drocf dor r,
present District Commissioners entered Office.
THE HISTORY OF THE PURCHASE.
Mr.. O. c. Green, who in behalf OF his brother,
Geo. F. Green, conducted the sale OF Oak View to
the President last May when asked by STAR re-
porter regarding the circumstances Of the sale
that party he represented wanted to buy a nice
place, and he asked me to see what could get the
ury apd told ID 6 Tha b lo MADE the IN
500 600 for the whole 4OOOO for the north half
Mr. Wilson then said that that was out Of the
question. as the price was too high and the party
would not take the place. Then suggested to
him to take the person out and show him my
brothers place: Mark you, did not know then
for whom Mr.. Wilson wanted TO buy a place. Ha
did not tell me. Afterwards he told me that the
reason why he kept the name concealed was,
have bought place for the President at fair
figure, II 1t were known for whom he was dealing,
@ Mond have M been Put up right away
asked him $4,000. Mr.. Wilson said that the
party party ne represented would give $4,000, and
asked my brother to name his lowest price and
my brother fixed it at $22, 800 Mr.. Wilson then
said he would give only s21 ,OoO. 1t was finally
Mr. Wilson should pay so1 800 cash for the
property, which was s., 500 less than my brother
had first asked. Mr.. Wilson did not even then
divulge the name OF his principal and l did not
ask.
THE AGREEMENT WITH ARMEs.
MY brother had previously given written
agreement to George A. Armes, as agent for the
sale Of the property, and told him to go to Armes
and see If he would give up his right to sell the
property, and offer to pay him If necessary. My
brother returning, said that Armes would do it ii
he gave him 800, and, by my advice, my brother
gave him $780, and Armes gave bacl; the written
contract. then, as agent OF my brother, gave to
Mr.. Wilson an agreement to sell the property free
OF all encumbrance, for S21,50O MI. Wilson had
these preiiminaries had been settled MI Wilson
brought me down @ 81, 800, out OF which mortgage
p held By my s55e T S @
bide, for $4,000, We're paid OF. My brother, or
rather, my sister-in-law, got the balance Mr.
made out in his name. He said he would have it
In his name only day or two: He did not tell me
even - then, and did not then know, for whom he
mad purchased the property. But he said that
would soon know it all That very day q deed was
made out by Mr.. Wilson to Grover Cleveland.
IhaL Is all there Is to that transaction"
LAS TO THESE SYNDICATEs,"
continued Mr.. Green, "nearly all OF this property
at the south Of the WOodley Lane road that has
been sold has been sold through me. That be-
tween the new Naval observatory grounds and the
oa IenieytoWn M osh road owned by MI John W. Thomp
extension OF Massachusetts avenue would pass
was bought about 1882 think before Mr. Cleve-
the kalorama property was sold to what is known
as the Bull1tt syndicate. was Instrumental in
or Knew tae Of all these sales and
sioners has dollars interest In any OF the prop
erty there: In In the attacks made upon the Com
much Is made out of what is called
THE CLAGETT SYNDICATE,
that purchased tract OF one hundred and eight
acres OF ground near the Presidents place This
does not adJoin the Presidents twenty-six acres
as has been represented. Between it and the Presi
dents land is fifty-four acre farm owned by NV
sisters. This one hundred and eight acres was
purchased from the Misses NOurse in July Com
ment is made upon the alleged fact that while the
PRESIDENT was required to pay about 500 an acre
for his purchase this syndicate paid only about
$500 an acre for their ground. Now the fact is
that the the President did not buy his ground by the
purchase including house that cost $4,000 to
build M stable & and n other the Improvements the value
corner of the Woodley lane and Tenleytown road,
and Is one OF the most delightful and accessible
sites in the District The one hundred and eight
only six hundred feet On the Tenleytown road and
runs back SIX thousand feet, the greater portion
NOurSe 01ered TO sell tract OF fifteen acres 'front.'
ing on the road, for $500 an acre. They were
offered $500 an acre for the whole tract and
finally, after consulting with their brother and
others, agreed to take it. This purchase Of the
Nourse property was made
TWO MONTHS AFTER
the purchase by the President Of Oak View and 1t
had been in the market for ten years
KLINGLE BRIDGE AND ROAD
Now to open that tract, did what had a right
to do. and that was endeavOred tO secure new
road. Some years ago Mr.. Gardiner Hubbard
Mr.. ]. P. Knngle and myself, gave the ground for
road through property owned by us leading
from what Is known as Klingle ford to the Wood.
ley Lane road. Mr.. Hubbard and myself gave
$500 towards making the road, besides giving our
land. That was before the present District Com
| misstoners were in office. At that time Captain
Greene promised that bridge should be built at
klingle ford, SO as to give access TO large area
practically cut of from communication with the
| city except by very roundabout ways. 1t was
necessary In order to make road through the los
acres bought by this syndicate from the Tenley-
town road to Knge ford, to carry the road through
Mr.. Knngle'S property, and in q manner that was
not advantageous to him. as the two roads cut up
| his land In somewhat undesirable way Mr
K1ngle, however, finally consented ON condition
that the bridge should be built. He made this a
sine q.td non. l then urged the matter before
Commissioner Ludlow, reminded him OF the prom
se made by Capt. Greene, and he agreed to respect
that promise and to put the bridge there. un-
derStand that the whole cost OF the bridge tncud-
| fprrt t10 ohltv m uyfI ka lrc. 0p