Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-12

Over Eleven Dollars Foot-various Opin-
ions of the Valuation.

ions of the Valuation.
The report of the city post Office site COM
mission, as printed in yesterdays STAR, was
| read with great interest, not only by the
owners of the property, but by others. The
prices fixed by the commission for the various
parcels in square 1913 were variously commented
upon.
1t was found that the total award of $3.50, 1862
for the 5S,50S square feet comprised in the
square was an average of S11.11 per square foot.
For Dowlings corner, Mt 18th and Pennsylvania
avenue, about 50x125 feet, including an allow
ance for Mr.. Dowling's lease S15.60 per square
foot was paid S14,79 per foot was
allowed for the corner at 12th street
and d street and Pennsylvania avenue,
4Ox75 feet, while for the corner at 18th and C
streets, 1892 feet, S12.22 per foot allowed. For
the property at the corner of 18th and C streets,
about 75xl00 feet, over s11 per foot was the
price agreed upon. The prices for the inside lots
we're in proportion to the awards made for
the corner properties. In judging the merits
Of the award comparison il generally made
with the price paid by the Washington and
Georgetown Railroad Company in January for
square 255, opposite the National Theater, where
the power house will be located. That square
contains 46 900 square feet, and the price paid
by the company was 1855, CSC. 81. which il at the
rate OF Sl2 per square foot
The members OF the commission, John T.
Lehman, w. s. Thompson and John A. Hamil-
ton, feel relieved that their task is ended. It
has been an undertaking involving great deal
Of toll and much anxiety. The members of the
commission desired to do justice toward all
parties interested. 1t is understood that the
principle adopted by them in making the
awards was to ascertain the real value
OF the property and then to add a
| certain percentage as a compensation to the
owners for parting with their holdings by such
a process rather than by the ordinary one Of a
voluntary sale.
The law authorizing the condemnation of the
square did not specify a fixed sum which should
be paid. 1t simply directed the purchase to be
made and the awards to be paid out Of any
moneys in the treasury. In the first BILL how
ever, an appropriation Of about s660,000 was
made and the award of the commission is near
this figure.
WHAT THE LAWYERS SAY.
Today the report of the commission fled
with the clerk of the court by Messrs
Lehman and Hamilton late yesterday after-
noon was . popular paper for the la
years and the property holders had u
continually in use. Among the members Of
the bar the impression IL that the award could
not have been more close to the real value and
the aggregate price 10 fair one.
hides OF the square think that the north side has
got too much It Is likely that the most Of them
viii Be satis6ed with the agures
TO ELs AN xxcEPTIox.
On parcel No. !, Mr.. Msntz. Mr.. A. B.
Williams thinks that the price u too low. some
of the lessehold owners think, too, that the
values should have been higher. and in the case
OF Menekheim, Messrs. Cook and Sutherland
viii hle exceptions at once. Mr.. Duhamel who
represented the Aiken property and some other
parties, had not seen his clients this morning.
but was OF the opinion that they would accent
the award without murniur, although one Of
them, he thought, was objecting now.
Mn. PERRY THINKS THE VALUATION FAIR.
Mr.. R. Ross Perry today said: 1.-The commits
sion has made fair and just valuation. not at
all extravagant, and 1 think my clients, repre-
senting property on 18th street below the CEN
ter OF the square, are satisfied with 50. 80 ner
foot. do not see what can be gained by anv
appeal.
''The law as to this site is different from other
acts. II the President approves the findinos
the District court will affirm them, and think
that those interested had better take what has
been awarded. On the whole the owners
should feel thankful for the figures given"
THINKS NO INJUSTICE DONE.
In speaking about the work Of the commits
sion Mr.. G. b. Church, the president Of the In
dependent Ice Company, owning the property
rat the corner of 18th and d streets, said that
while the property owners did not get
as much as they expected, yet he believed
that the commission had done the best thew
could and he regarded the prices awarded a.
not unjust. He thought that the balance in
the prices paid for the different pieces had
been fairly maintained.