Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-04
ROCK CREEK PARK.
The Lawyers Have Not Yet Released Mr.
Truesdell

The lawyer Have Not Vet Released Mr..
TruesdelL
CALLED AGAIN ~ Mr.. PERRY OK REDIRECT TX
AMrSAIIoS-HE STATES THE REASONS OF HIS
ESTIMATES AND MUCH OF ms ASswER As
WAS ARaUMKsrATIvE STRICKEN OUT.
Yesterday afternoo. ,Le Rock Greek Park
commission TO appraise values. Messrs- james
L. Norris. George J. Seuherle and \. W. Burch-
ell, continued the taking of testimony. Col
George Truesden being on the stand when the
| session closed.
Col. Truesdell Was cross-examined by Mr.. J.
A. Iruesdell for his wife. who owns a parcel OF
nineteen acres, and was asked a hypothetical
question in which an offer of 500 per acre was
noted, and IL was ruled out Another question
in which the land was described with its loca-
ton to railway. its purchase in 1885 and a sale
OF the poorest portion there afterward for
| three times the amount paid for the tract was
sci out. and he was asked If such land was not
now worth hve or six times more than the value
given. This was objected to- ruled out and an
| exception noted
HAD EXAMINED IT AGAIN.
Witness said he had been 20 the tract n second
time because he thought he could do better
Justice. Tor lie might see what would change his
| views lie went there on his own volition. lie
desired TO state in regard to the Marshall Brown
place thar the offcr of sl,l0o per acre Was for
the Who!e tract-gross-and not with the
| streets excluded.
by Judge Wilson-Witness had seen parks in
Europe ana IN America. but never in all has
travels mad he seen such a beautiful place for q
park LII grows upon one, and. although in ex-
aiming II nc had been put TO some hard work,
ne was In a measure compensated by seeing
such beautiful country. Roads could be con-
structed In some Of the rayines SO as to be made
available Tor two or more villa sites. Ii sys-
t ,em OF roadways could be built in the ravincs
MS valuation might he increased, but he
thought the plan iinpracticable.
| WATER PowER OF NO GREAT y.Irr
He did no. regard the water power on the
Shoemaker tract of any great value. That
there was water power in the creek goes with
out saying. but for operating il WIS of no great
| salue There was no population requiring il.
| ana the claiming of il up for utilization would
cost so much that the saving over the modern
| steam engine would diminish the value. The
| electric light plant was established TO get the
people to lexington.
Dir. Nilson-lhsts what we are going TO do
| wlth Rock creek and you and Brother Perry can
| come ont anu sec us.
| Col. lruesdell-I congratulate you judge.
| that you are going to do SO some thing 20 build
up the country.
| TopAY's TESTIMONY.
| The commission resumed its session at 10
O'Clock this morning and Col George Traes-
dell resumed the stand
| Coi. Iruesdell asked If the cross-examination
| was concluded
Mr.; Perry replied that il was for the present,
| but there may be some RECOMMENDATIONS
Col lruesdell said that he had In this matter
| gwen Ills best judgment and the value of his
| Judgment was Tor the commission to deter
mime His expression that if the park was
| not established there people would lose money
had reference TO those who had purchased in
anu abou. the park.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION.
| Mr. Perry proceeded with the redirect exam
ination OF Col Truesdell, who described the
lexington subdivision and said that he fur
nisheu the electric light INDEPENDENT of the
| Railroad although il was generated i'm the same
! power mouse. After describing a number OF
water powers and electric plants. Col Trues-
deu SAID that II seemed TO him that il would not
| pay to use the water Of Rock creek for he did
not think the power was sufficient for electric
| railway, and II would require steam supple
| mentary power. The stream was remote from
| any dense population and he could consider it
of utility only to electric light and water
supply, but of the latter he had his doubts. And.
as he said before, the cost would be too heavy
| TO justify the use for electricity. He would
| say that 1t would be better to do away with
dams and resort to steam for power on the
creek for electricity, &c.
As TO MALARIA
| Col Truesdell said that formerly the valley
was considered malarious, and it was subject to
overfows. People objected to living imme-
diately on the banks of the stream.
The distance from Fenwick station 70 the Dis
trict line is about 400 yards, and the railroad at
| that distance did not give auy value 70 the
lands. His judgment of the value of the park
lands was not affected by the sales in Brook
land ana other points to any considerable ex-