Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-18
PURCHASE OF SCHOOL SITES.
Commissioners Letter to Chairman
Hemphill of the District Committee.

Chairman Hemphill has received from the
District Commissioners, in response to his
verbal request, a communication concerning
the methods of purchasing District building
sites. The Commissioners say that they are
unable to find any laws authorizing the con-
demnation of private land for this purpose.
The statutes specifically authorizing the Com
missioners to condemn private property apply,
they say. only to alleys and to highways out
side of Washington and Georgetown. -
The act of Congress of August 1. 1888,
entitled "An act to authorize condemnation of
land for sites Of public buildings, and for
other purposes" related, it is claimed. only to
real estate acquired by officers of the general
government, and does not apply to the Com
missioners, for the reason that section one of
the act providing permanent form of govern
ment declares that the District of Columbia
shall remain and continue a municipal corpora
ton, as provided in section two of the Revised
Statutes relating to said District, and the Com
missioners herein provided for shall be deemed
and taken as officers of such corporation
Congress has in several cases provided by
special laws for the acquisition of private real
estate for the uses of the general government
but so far as the Commissioners have observed
the form of proceeding in each case has been
prescribed in the act authorizing the purchase,
They further state that 1.-The system followed
sites provided for in the annual District appro-
priation laws is that which the present Com
mssioners found in vogue when they came
into office, and which they supposed was the
way in which such sites had always been
bought. The Commissioners have since ascer-
tanned that in 1881, 1882 and 1888. the Commits
missioners then in Office advertised for offers
to sell school lots to them. but the practice of
SO advertising has been abandoned since the
latter date. 1t was not and j. not required by
law to so advertise. The Commissioners do
not know why the practice was discontinued but
presume that their predecessors encountered
the same difficulties met by them in obtaining
sites when publicity had been given to their in
tentions.
''It must be born in mind that the sites for
school buildings must necessarily be selected
within given localities to meet the require
ments of the school system. Nor is this the
only condition to be observed. To obtain site
of the size and dimension OF at least 100 feet
square becomes an important factor in the
case. The same conditions to some extent
station houses. Since the predecessors of the
present Commissioners ceased to advertise for
such sites, the rapid improvement of the city
has left few suitable vacant lots for school
building sites, aud there arises q necessity to
induce people to abandon at reasonable rates
profitable improved property and sometimes
their homes in order that sufficient ground
may be obtained
'sThe Commissioners have no preference for
this particular method of purchase, except that
in their judgment it is the most economical for
the District, Notwithstanding the apparent in
crease of compensation derived from the VEN
dor by the intermediary over the regular COM
mission exacted by regular authorized agents
who act in like cases. It is obvious that the
criticisms invoked by the application Of sys-
tenn which has been In vogue for the last six
years are due-frst, TO the employment with
ont compensation from the District Of An inter-
mediary to select desirable sites for the various
municipal buildings when needed, despite the
general prejudice Of owners Of properly in the
vicinity, and second, TO the absence Of an avail
able appropriation to enable the Commissioners
to employ an agent and compensate him q
legitimate rates.
1.-THE Commissioners would be relieved Of re-
sponsibility II recourse were had to condemna-
ton proceedings which could be effected by
simply amending the sct Of August /. 1855, en-
titled tan act TO authorixe condemnAtion Of
land for sites for public buildings and for other
purposes extending its pr0viSions 70 the Dis
trict; but this u considered the most expensive
Of al systsms and not altogether free hom
embarrsMments, - Tie Comminaione<s w6nld
stu be subjected 70 opportunities TO abondon
selections Whon thoie t11o01Se0o VWo uo(n =