Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-30
WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS SAY.
Mr.. Cox Employed to Buy school Sites
Because They Had Confidence I'm Him.

Mr.. Cox Employed to Buy School Sites
Because They Had Confidence I'm Him.
TIE METHODS OF BUYING REAL ESTATE FOR THE
DISTRICT As EXPLAINED BY THE COMMISSION
ERs-THEY CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE MADE GOOD
BARoAINA
The Post yesterday published the following
interview with Commissioner Webb:
rs cannot be charged" said Commissioner
Webb latter reading The STAR articlel that
the Commissioners we're wrong in employing
an agent TO make the purchases in question, be-
cause purchases of real estate are always made
in that way; but the difficulty seems to arise
from the fact that the agents employed have
received in such purchases more compensation
for their services than ought to have been paid
This is the whole charge. for there is no init
nation that the Commissioners have profited in
any way by the transaction.
Il viii say at the outset that the Commits
sioners nave had to purchase large number of
sites during the period of their official exist
ence, and have always made their purchases
through agents, because experience has taught
them that this is the safest and most economi-
cal method OF making such purchases. I will
say further that 1 have generally employed
Mr.. Cox because he is a gentleman in whom
have the most unbounded confidence, and be-
cause the purchases made by him have always
been made at very fair and economical prices"
The purchase of the r street site is particu-
larly referred to-" said the reporter
That site" said Mr. Webb, was purchased
upon the statement of the school authorities
that il was. altogether. the best site that could
be had III the school division in which it is stu
ated, and because the price was considered by
all the judges consulted very fair one AS
soon it was known that the property had
been purchased for a school site very vigorous
protests were made against the erection of a
schoolhouse in that locality. and an adjoining
property-owner offered a lot for a lower figure
per foot than that for which the purchase of
the school property was made because of the
depreciation which he thought would be in
iicted by the erection of the school, and his
offer was accepted. The Commissioners have
no authority to pay an agent for making pur-
chase and cannot use a dollar of the money
appropriated for school sites for that purpose.
Whatever compensation such agent receives
must be paid by the seller, and what that is
and how it is paid the Commissioners have no
way of knowing"
What about the Arthur place site?"
1t Is a most valuable one for school pur-
poses and was purchased at q price far below
what was asked for any other property in the
neighborhood. The Commissioners despaired
OF procuring site IN this location. where
every person having any knowledge of school
matters urged the erection of a building. II
was procured for at least $4,000 less than any
",
will relieve large and very necessitous school
population. The purchase of the lots on 5th
street southeast illustrates the wisdom of the
method pursued by the Commissioners in max
ing this purchase.
I'm this locality. If not in the same square.
lots were offered of equal dimensions and equally
advantageous i'll every way. one by the owner
for $1,000 and one by an agent for $4,000. The
Commissioners accepted the latter. Ii is said
that the agent, Gen. West made a large sum
hNyf hi fr,.a L
the Commissioners know nothing. They saved
$1,000 in the price by the transaction, and
obtained a very valuable site for a school
house.
The purchase of the police station-house
site was made by Mr.. Wheatley, through the
agency Of MIR. Cox, simply because il has al
ways been deemed best to make such purchases
through an agent. 1t was made for a fair
price. in an excellent location, and If there
was anything about the matter deserving criti-
clsm the Commissioners are not afraid OF any
responsibility properly chargeable to them"
What is the law on the subject 2"
The act OF Congress. under authority of
which the sites in question have been pur-
chased, after specifying the districts where
buildings shall be located, appropriated a sum
IN ful for the purchase of sites and erection of
buildings. 1t has required considerable care
and attention to accomplish both these objects
within the limits of the appropriations and
the commissioners are able to say with some
pride that they have effected this in such a
manner that the buildings erected will be pro-
vided with all the appliances needed for their
safety and convenience. For the details Of the
records and the safety Of the titles to the vari-
Gus lots OF ground purchased they look to those
TO whom such matters are intrusted, and they
are happy to be able to say. with entire conf
dence in the wisdom of their advisors. The
suggestion that 1t would be better to advertise
for proposals for the purchase of sites the
Comml sloners beg leave to say, is,
In their opinion, absolutely impracticable
1t often happens that there are very few eligi-
bic sites, well situated and of sufficient dimen-
sions for the purpose of school building
within school division and it would happen
always that the owners of such sites would in
view OF the purchase by the public authorities
OF such sites, hold them at the very highest
prices that would be demanded for them. This
Is always the experience when purchases for
pubic purposes are made. BY the use Of an
agent this Is avoided. When he offers to
purchase he does not disclose that his pur-
chase. &c, is for any particular purpose and
he makes it at the usual market price. This
would not be the case under other circum-
stances. at least SO the Commissioners are adj
vised by those who have had experience
MR.. WEBB SAYS IT Is CORRECT
Mr.. Webb said to-day, when asked by STAR
reporter about the matter, that the interview
published by the Post correctly quoted him.
He reiterated his statements about the neces-
slty o. the commissioners purchasing property
through agents in the way described. When
asked about the sums made by the persons rem
reserted by the District, Mr. Webb said that
was something he knew nothing about.
THE ways of real estate agents." he re-
marked, lis something know but little about
and don't care TO know more"
Mr.. Webb said that whatever commission was
made by the agents, the Commissioners got the
property much cheaper than they could have
purchased 1t If they had done it openly.
WHAT COMMISSIONER wHEArLEY SAYS.
Commissioner Wheatley said to a STAR re-
porter to-day, when asked in reference to the
publication in The STAR of Wednesday, that
the interview with Mr.. Webb covered the
ground, and he did not think any statement
from him was necessary. There is a decided
feeling in any neighborhood," said Mr.. Wheat
ley; against school-houses or police stations,
and 1t would be utterly impossible for the Com
missloners to buy property if they went them
selves to do it. They would have to pay three
prices for II" They could not, Mr.. wheatley
said, invite proposals or adopt any methods of
open purchase, not on account of indisposition
TO sell 10 the District, but the strong objections
or other property-owners in the same neiRhbor-
hood. MIR. Wheatley said that by the methods
they had used they had been enabled this wear
10 purchase all the sites they needed far within
the appropriation. When STAR reporter sug-
gested that the agents employed WERE in the
cases referred to in The STAR. making a very
handsome thing of it, Mr.. Wheatley replied:
well, we did not suppose they were work.
ing for nothing"