The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-07-04
THE LIBRARY SITE.
Property Owners Appe., to corsr,. 70, Family.


as site for the National Library building, have
caused great disappointment. Tho owners OF prop.
| erty In those squares, to the number OF forty or
more, met at 900 Pennsylvania avenue east. Friday
evening" and II was found that all felt aggrlcyed ut
tue decision OF the Jury. After clccing Mr.. w. II.
Iiockc chairman and IT, w Odds secretary tho sense
OF the meeting was taken and found 10 he unanimous
In protest against tho Government taking their
homes and Investments ut the prices fixed.
Ex-senator CragIn was called upon to explain tho
methods which II would be necessary TO pursue in
the manner in which the squares mad been con.
dcmncd, which he said was entirely novel; 30 far a.
any past action OF the Government is concerned,
anu then stated the course heretofore observed
but In this bill passed by Congress he said that
somebody had Invented new method In this ease
bring tie Total a%S' wi, 'nS esSpSS,
whereas the purchase OF the property was not re-.
authorizing the purchase. ny the notice thew had
received they were TO appear In court by 10 o'clock
on Tuesday TO say whether or not they were satls.
their property. not, then another Jury Of twelve
men instead Of seven would be appointed by the
over again. From this second jury'a decision there
would DO no appeal There were some OF them who
believed the law was unconstitutional, because the
liberty or property without due process Of law, and
,nst this trial should be BY . Jury and before a
be built right away. There were some of them VINO
the lnht sentiment called forth some applause
viii explanations OF approval.
Inc no following committee was appointed to ex
Ex-senator A. H. Cragin, II. W. Siis, A. RothweIl.
z. Tobrlner. and q. W. dlst.
Ing what he considered the injustice which had been
done ne owners Of property In squares l9s, $780, and
prcsentedt0 both Houses OF Congress- which was
adopted: W."
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.
Nhn pvx.ln
represent that they are owners AMI interested in ihe
houses and lots In squares 49, 1a0 and Ta fronting
!he eastern park OF the Capitol that by reason OF
Inconvenience. and are now liable to be spossessei
OF or, their properly without adequate compensation
,hS ,Srm o. Jaw IN violation, as they believe OF
10 1873 First street east, between street north
anu street SOUTH and the connecting streets east
ward were cut down AMI the grade changed, under
an act OF Congress-, from TO feet, leaving large
portion Of the property on high entertainments, with
reaching their dwellings, from the sliewaEs. '''
In 1874 the eastern Capitol park was also reduced
to the Capitol on the east for nearly TIVE Years in mn
unsettled and portion Of the time IN an Impassa-
nle condition, entang great loss In rents AMI PROFITS
~ business upon the occupants OF squares facing
the eastern Capitol park.
In 1915, notwithstanding the injury sustained by
were levied by the Dlstrlct government agalrst the
property In the squares referred tn, many OF which
remain AZ unjust liens against the property.
Subsequently to thia arbitrary change Of grade IN
accommodate the reduction Of the eastern psrk' hs
were ,ntrouuced 10 both Houses Of Congress propos
ing az extension OF the park to second street cast
with the view OF securing accommodations for me
Congressional Library. wv
10 Congress, coupled with the fear Of an arbitrary
condemnation Of their property, has prevented the
costly residences, which would have been erected
upon them after the eastern park was Improved ana
neautined thus working further serious injury 10
tue properly owners In the squares fronting the |
eastern park.
~, An act was passed BY Congress and approved by
inissoners to negntIate with the property holders
Tor either OF the three squares north Of East Capitol
street OF inc three south OF East Capitol street,
$4,000, sum which had been fixed AMI placed In |
OH several years previous. since which time vana
and, by reason Of the largely Increased population
east OF the Capitol, all property adj .cent TO the
Increased from 25 to- 100 per cent, rendering the
sum named totally Inadequate TO reimburse the |
pToperiy holders for their property and the losses
their property for public uses
TINS act further provided that, It the commission
up0n the basis prescribed, they shOnd make anplloa-
,lon t9 ne supreme Court Of the nisric Of Couni-
provided for taking land for highways In the District
o. Columbia. Under thta unusual proceeding which |
was designed Tor securing the right OF way or an |
easement Jury OF seven citizens, all OF whom ex-
cept one resided more than seven squares west OF |
t u, property TO be appraised, and whose business
personal knowledge OF the value and adyance in |
prlres OF the property which they would be called
United States oificer to appraise and condemn Inc
property IN the squares named for the use OF the
Quilted States 49,
The Jury were instructed that they might receive
evidence az to the value OF the properly from inc
owners. bnt no insrYclans were given the Jury that
ence showing lie damages that Woud hs sns,a, ss,
ny them by reason OF taking the feessmpie OF their
properly without their consent or asto lis cash value
Several Of the largest properly owners AMI their
attorneys appeared before the jury thus selected,
jecions to the form Of law under which il WAS pro-
posed 70 deprive them of their property, and the |
summary manner In which the Jury excluded the
n record snd evidence showing the awards To the
pesv m"ses 49, an and n
PARK. the evidences of values which lisinleresed
anu Tue testimony OF persons thoroughly familiar
win tlo market value OF the valuable lois and i'm.
proyements in immediate proximity to the finest
Capitol building and park In the world
The award OF the Jury selected as before stated.
and nled with the court on tho sQth of ,une. fssS
e eosss w n,s S within the
squares when the lots and improvements were
mnch Less valuable than at the present Time is In.
property holders, aud 10 many instances below the
actual cost OF the improvements, and il sanctioned
Lutte confscation OF some Of the land taken
ln three fourths Of the awaras TNade IN this ,urv
af Ss IN 1o a e ,ns shwsys
IS 70 30 per cent less In proportion to i6e pronepiy
taken s1n than were the awards made by tho comns-
Capitol park oshsandInE that al p sns eass
part Of the city from s pes sea s|ac ss ss
GO ens1sas were Instituted
In view o. these facts and the great loss AMI in.
Jury which tho underslgned are liable to suffer nv
ma aena OF their constitutional right to have the
mined by Jury drawn In the usual wav AMI s"S;ec
70 objection by either party, before whom their rSt
10 submit proper evidence can only 10 dened Ly Tie
memora ana arSs pe 70 peS SSw
your honorable bodies to pass Joint Revolution au
dlsinterested referee, aud allowing ine pronerlv
owners yonr memorlalIsis, to select one Other dis
BY ths eeeary wn s M The referee appointed
Ice the three referees thus appoiass 70 Into
SsvS sssSss Ky S1 a es' s sas
s Ss o. daWages satalae. by them by change Of
eyled on account OF said change OF Grades. al"
cnlvs s ~ o, money any they are entitled to re-
be inss o1 vIsus, neyon ne amount awarded
gress providing for the construction OF buiidlne
roy d me National Library.
l.e view af securing obnpeie aud fair a1st,neni
o. AZ claims against the Government aud accepted
The resolution authorizing admiration sba .nis,n
pr0vso nat no claims shall be considered until
ne claimant shall execute and deliver to tho proper
,ineer o! the United States u full aud coinp!eta
release OF hia or her right OF tito to ali land ma i'm
provements IN squares 72v, 100, aud 1871: alao IN
AZ damagea W reason OF the change OF Grade. |
speclai assessments, l0ss OF rents, ar OILer i61ry
except SUCH ~ the proposed ayl,iratnrs NAV aTaAi
i"s rsS" ss e s E. iSs
Your me,hjrasNs ID not desire to hlu,o, q, as,sy
We PROPOSED pubic lppr0veIehl, hui Inc appraisal
ecen'y male, ~ hef0fe stated, IN NJ Inanifesv mn
'qlal, unjust, aud cruel In many lasianoes thar
wen nospollc government could moi anfori 10
'rhltrary manner. :" ""'" -"
We therefore urge immediate relief, and for which
" Nv, ~ daly bound, We Will ever pray. '
. ine following committee was appointed 10 preaent
I9Gongreaa yesterday TX Senator A. H. Cragin b.
,. McMenniman. '''"'''' a'"
ollowing, which was adopted: '"'
whereas tue prices named by the Jury selected NV
ne marshal OF the District OF Columbia 10 annrass
he value OF squares 49, 1850, and T3i are whcliy In
nereiore hs Il tue ownesn Ms pfdtsfty;
e Es Z, s. G"a, we earnestly protest asans, the
The memorial % Congress was sigued by the fol.
oWinR' w. III. Hoeke, j. q. IOfz j. r. Bilcller Z |
iennel Miller Tor George N. Miller, A. Iehmann IL
A.,I ~