The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-03-17

APPRAISERS AT WORK.
Trying to Ascertain the Value of the
POstOffice Site.

POstOfhce Site.
The commission to appraise the value of
the site for the new city postofiice re-
sumed its sessions in the old Circuit Court
room tins morning. Land owners and
the lattcrs attorneys made up the au-
dience.
General West and Mr.. Taggart appeared
for the Government
Mr. Allison Nailor was the first witness
called. Mr.. Nailor was examined by Mr..
John Albert, who appeared for himself
and Mrs. Stone. Mr. Nailor said he had
owned about 1900 feet Of property in
square 255, the site of the new power
house of the Washington and Georgetown
Railroad. He received 100000 for his
share. He is well acquainted with the
value Of property between Market Square
and Fifteenth street. He considered the
E-street front of square 255 three times as
valuable as the rear OF C-street portion.
The E-street front brought him about
slS foot, while for the rear he received
about So foot.
The witness thought that the prop
erty in square 1928, the postoiIice
site, was worth So square foot more
than in square 255, by reason of the fact
that the location is moro central. Mr.
Major said IL he owned the Harvey
property ON the Avenue corner east Of
square 323, he would not take $50 q square
loot for it. Improvements in recent
years had greatly enhanced the value of
property in the vicinity of squares 1923
and 255. Less than three years ago he
would have taken less than half of
100000 for his property. Mr.. Nailor said
he had reason to believe that his square
would have been selected as site for the
postofiice, if 1t had not been for one
man, whom lie did.not name.
He continued: II am glad for two
reasons that such thing did not
happen, glad because ! received more
money for my property than
would have got from the Government,
and glad because the Government is not
at all times q good paymaster. would
rather deal with individuals any time
than with Uncle Sam.n
Mr.. Major was cross-examined by Mr..
Taggart. He insisted that property in
tendency because it is in the heart of
washington. almost under the shadow of
The White House, the Capitol the great
Departments, and by the further fact
that large business houses close by are
either now In course of construction or
else in contemplation. Mr.. 1aggart asked
Mr.. Nailor II the liability to overflow did
not tend to depreciatc the value of square
323. he replied by saying. that floods
known Of two in his lifetime.
John NJ. Walker testified that he owned
parcel No. Z, in square 1923, located on G
street. lie valued it at $4,000.
Mr., Walker said he received yearly
rental OF 81, 200 for his property, and con-
sidered that it was well worth $4,000.
Mr., William ]. Stephenson, the we'll
known wood and coal merchant, was the
next ne, a witness :, called allied He was examined
A., Baker. He said his uptown
office was located at Twelfth street
the property at Twelfth and the Avenue as
far more valuable than either the Tenth
or Eleventh street properties. He based
his opinion upon the fact that Twelfth
street offered a direct line Of communion
ton between North and South Washing
ton, il was the outlet for the wharf bust
ness in South Washington, even more so
than either Sixth or Seventh street,
and was also more centrally located.
Mr. William j. Cohen, who described
himself as q gentleman of leisure, owns
lot in square 1913. 1t is occupied as q
blacksmith shop. He receives $50 a
month rent. Before tho sale of the Nailor
square the witness offered his property
FOR III goo. but withdraw that offer
now,n he said
Mr.. Cohen said that Mr.. G. C. Duncan
SON at one. time offered him $4,000 for his
property, but that was before the matter
was agitated in Congress AT the conclu-
sion OF Mr.. Cohen's testimony a recess
was taken.
Mr.. John A. Baker was the first wit
ness examined after recess. In answer To
his counsel, Mr.. Maddox, he said he was
A ~ Lotto n.,I A t.l A.
Twelfth and q streets, also part of lots .
and IA. The witness did not pretend TO be
an expert in real estate matters.
He owned considerable property south
of the Avenue, between Ninth and
Twelfth streets, and knew the relative
value of property in that section. Asked
what he considered embraced the bust
ness section Of the city, he said between
Seventh and Fifteenth, and j and New
York avenue.
Most Of the heavy, or wholesale bust
ness is done south OF the Avenue, be-
tween Ninth and Twelfth streets, and
rents in that section are very high and
the property constantly growing in
value.
Speaking of lots 3 and I, at Twelfth
and streets, Mr.. Baker said the former
was occupied by warehouse of two
stories and a stable, and was constructed
with view of adding two additional
stories.
The building at the corner Of Twelfth is
q four-story one and was designed with
view TO converting it into four four-story
stores with front on Twelfth street.
The first building he rented until re-
Gently for Sl,400 year. His tenant
failed and IL is now unoccupied. The
building ut the corner is now under u
rental Of s., 200 year.
The witness was convinced that square
1913 was worth from forty to fifty per
cent more than 255.
what do you consider the value of
your property per square foot, exclusive
Of improvements ~ asked Mr.. Maddox.
From sl2 to 81 FOOT was Mr..
Bakers reply.
what arc the improvements worth?'
NErnm SAn nNn 10 SAn nnn y