Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-30

REAL. ESTATE MATTERs-lIR NJ l. WELLER
THROWS SOME LIGHT UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF The COMMISSIONERS PURCHASES.
The Scholastic inquiry was resumed by Mr.
Taulbee's committee at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. District Commissioners Webb and Wheat
ley were prompt in attendance. Auditor Petty
was also on hand with his bundle of papers.
Commissioner Raymond was not present in the
morning. but he stepped into the committee
room for time after the noon recess.
MIR. WARNER AS WITNESS.
MIR. Taulbee called as the first witness Mr..
b. ii. Warner, the well-known real estate
dealer. The list of the purchases, together
with the prices paid, was under investigation.
He was asked concerning each of the school
sites purchased to give his opinion as to the
fairness or unfairness of the price.
MIR. Taulbee said that the committee thought
Mr.. Warmers opinion would be of value to the
committee in determining
THE REAsoSABLENEss OF THE PRICES
paid for this property.
Mr.. Baker remarked that he thought Mr..
Warmers opinion was worth dollar foot.
Mr.. Warner spoke of the prices paid for the
first three sites as fair and reasonable As to
the Maury site, b street, between 18th and 18th
northeast. he thought the price paid-lS cts
was not high price for public use at that
time, July, 1885. 1t was not an exorbitant
price, but there was other property in the
neighborhood that might have been bought
cheaper in small lots. He spoke of other sites
as having been ought at a cheap price.
Coming to the Weightman site, 23d and NJ
streets, Mr.. Warner said he thought the price,
80 cents, good price for speculative purposes.
He would have wanted it
FOR LITTLE LESS
il he had been buying it for speculative pur
poses. For one who wanted to improve the
property he did not think the price unreasona
Bile. Mr.. Warner said he wanted to qualify his
testimony in all by the understanding that In
buying for speculation one would pay fir ON IL
to 20 per cent less than when buying to INN rove
As to the Phelps site, ON Vermont avenue. he
thought the price paid was REASONABLE e, when
purchased for use, though rather high for one
who bought as a speculation.
d, Respecting the Arthur place site, he said he
thought the price paid 81 a foot, was cheap
he said he owned a lot at the corner of Ii and
Arthur place now. He bought his lot about
June, 1856, for S1.50 or Sl75 foot. He
thought 1t was worth $3.50 foot now. 1t did
not, however, afford a fair criterion of the
value Oh the school site, as his lot was a corner
loI ne said he owned property on the other
side OF Arthur place from the school house.
HE COULD NOT TELL
what he paid for it. 1t would not. he said form
any basis for judging the price of the property
now, for 1t, when purchased, was 80 to 40 feet
below grade, and there was no street there. He
had been interested as a citizen and as mem
Der OF the school board in the location and con.
struction OF school buildings He thought the
location OF the Arthur school was a wise one
for the District but not for tine property owners
there. Speaking of the school site corner oil
New Hampshire avenue and street. he sale
| he thought the price paid, 81 AZ 40 per foot
was cheap, especially cheap for public pur.
poses.
KEEP SCHOOLS OFF THE AVENUES.
III you would pass an act to keep school
buildings of the avenues you would do the
city favor" said Mr.. Warner. "If you will
look at the school building on Massachusett,
avenue, between 18th and 18th streets, YOU will
see how it has kept the adjacent property from
| Improvement" Mr.. Warner having remarked
that he was considered a bear, that his yalua.
tons IN many parts of the city were lower thar
others, MIR. Taulbee asked:
I'm selling, are you low?' asked Mr.. Taulbee
| Certainly; always" said Mr. Warner smiling
| II hope you viii put that in the papers"
| In reference to the sale of the Montgomer,
street site he said he did not regard the price
| paid as unreasonable. He would have asked
more if he had had it, as the District was in q