Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-14
Mr.. Presbrey's House Again.

To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
In the article appearing in Saturdays issue of
The STAR, under the caption, "Mr Presbreys
House." is an intimation that the Commission
ers of the District are furnished food for laugh
ter in the fact that / have threatened TO bring a
suit against them for deciding not to go ahead
with the condemnation proceedings in the case
of Connecticut avenue extension, when this ac-
ton on their part was taken because /, with
the other two property owners interested, Mrs.
Adelaide Tuttle and o. f. Presbrey, had pro-
tested formally against the condemnation. 1
am pleased to know that the honorable gentle
men have had an opportunity to laugh at the
actions OF citizen, as the laugh has generally
been on the other side, and the citizens have
had almost a complete monopoly in this regard
with the present board. There is, however. a
serious side to the matter which the honorable
gentlemen have seemed TO ignore.
The land which it is proposed to condemn
has been owned in our family since 1874 and
has been kept intact for the purpose Of build
ing upon it two houses, one Of which, my own,
/ commenced and had well under way, before
the proposed extension was thought Of 1t is
alleged in the protest to the Commissioners
action that the extension of Connecticut ave-
nue., as matter of fact, was no more extern
sion OF that avenue than Columbia road is. Ii
would not conform either in alignment, gen.
eral direction or width with Connecticut ave-
nue., and would not connect with il. II practi-
cally commences nowhere and ends nowhere
Early in November the notice of intent to con-
denim was published IN The STAR. and at the
stated time the only three persons whose prop
erty was affected Mrs. Adelaide futile, o. +.
Presbrey and myself ),appearedb by our attorneys
Messrs. A. 5. Worthlngton and Jere. Wilson. and
entered protest, which stated our objections
TO such proceedings. The Commissioners took
no further action on that day than to state that
the matter would be referred TO the attorney Of
the District, Mr.. Riddle. After a delay of sew
n.
tried Intellectually to ascertain what decision
the Commissioners had arrived at, my builder,
Mr.. Chas. +. Weadley, called at the Commits
sioners Office and was informed that as a pro-
test had been filed the board would do nothing
until the thirty days, limit had expired. but
that Mr.. Riddle had decided that the Commits
sioners had full power TO go ahead and that
the property would be condemned.
Upon this information. Mr.. Weadley dis
charged his workmen. and MIR. o. F. Presbrey
called at the District offices and was informed
by Major Raymond. the Engineer Commits
sioner, that the board nould condemn he property
On the 9th of this month. two months after the
first proceedings were instituted. l called at
the Commissioners Office personally, and was
informed that the board had not taken formal
action, but upon my urgent request that they
decide one way or the other, they agreed to
take the matter up, and the result was the
cleverly worded official order which appeared
in Saturdays STAR. to the effect that the board
had decided to take no further action in the
premises for the present. This simply means,
L suppose, that the matter is temporarily held
over. subject TO the future action of a whimsi-
cal board, for, to use Major Raymond's own
words, the extension will have TO be made
sometime" In the meantime the value of the
property has been greatly imp4red, if not de-
stroyed, either for occupancy or sale. No one
desires to either purchase or reside in house
which may at any time be condemned or de-
stroyed. / have been forced to lease resi-
dence elsewhere, while awaiting the long de-
layed decision of the great minds, which,
suppose, like great bodies. move slowly, and
am now left delightfully."- stranded upon the
rock. THAT no further action will be taken for
Ute present"
/ have an unfinished residence of (under
the crcumstances) doubtful value and lot
deprecated by the action of the board Their
course all through has been dilatory and preju-
dicial TO my interests. By notifying my builder.
and subsequently my father. that they should
condemn the property, they have delayed the
completion of my residence, and as the secre-
tary of the board Mr.. Tindall said to me in
presence of Mr.. Wheatley, KILLED the prop
erty," and now they think it laughable that 1
talk of bringing a suit for damages Well.
perhaps it is, but ''he laughs best who laughs
last" +. S. PREsBREY