Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-07
VALUES ON ROCK CREEK.
Col. Truesiell and Mr.. L. NJ. Saunders Give
Testimony Today.

The Rock Creek Park appraisement commits
sion, Messrs. James L. Norris, George ].
Seufferle and n. W. Burchell. resumed its work
this morning in the Circuit Court room.
Henry Crutchtield Of tract No. 10 (3.049
acres) testified that he had worked the place az
a market garden and made living for himself
and family, and he valued it at 81, 900 per acre.
Albert Crutchfield, father of Henry, cor
roborated him as to his valuation.
Col. Truesdell resumed the stand, and was
asked what lands his estimate Of the rise of
100 to 500 per cent within four or five years in
the northwest included. Col. Truesdeil said
the greatest rise was on the line of railroads or
projected railways. He did not know of any,
thing which had tended to advance values in
Rock Creek valley as to the parts he had testi-
fed to other than the projected park outside
the Connecticut avenue line and the extension
OF the railroad out l4th street.
To Judge Wilson Oh recrOss examination, Col
Truesdell said he did not mean to say that
there were no other causes for increase of value
for threre was the reflective element from the
general upward tendency. The building OF resi-
dences by people of wealth here and the steady
growing disposition tending to make this a
literary and social center were elements affect
ing values in the District. 1t was without say
ing that the making Of Washington great 20
litical literary and social center in the near
future As to how far this affected the value
of Rock creek land he could not say for the
tastes of some might attract them TO the widest
portion Of the valley and others would be led
elsewhere. During the past four or five years
several thousand buildings, aggregating several
millions of dollars, have been erected beyond
the city limits and not one Of them in the limits
of the park, and judging from this fact people
have not been looking for sites in the park
Along the railroads there had been numbers of
Trnas1elI fL,s
although the California syndicate property was
not in the market u valuation could be put ON
it. He had contrasted lexington and other
places with ROsemont and other places When
lexington was projected there was no great
demand for electric light, but they put in the
light and attracted people there. There was
no population at the terminus Of Connecticut
avenue to Justify the construction of railroad
but its establishment would make a demand for
sites, &c. Col. Truesdell was then examined as
to the use of water power and steam power ap-
piled to electric lighting.
Col. Truesdell was recross-examined by Mr.
Mckinney and Mr.. J. A. Truesdell. Col.
Truesdell said that some conversations
had taken place as to extending the
lexington railroad, but nothing was
land for it. Speaking for himself, he was not
in favor Of extending the road to Takoma,
for when four miles had been travelled for 1s
cents additional distance increased the ex-
pense.
In answer to q question as to whether he had
not made overtures for the purchase Of the
7th street (Judson) pneumatic railroad Col.
Truesdell replied in the negative and stated
that a rumor to that effect may have originated
from suggestions to extend the lexington road
to Rock creek.
Col Truesdell referred to certain criticisms
made as to his testimony and the use Of q map,
and he spoke of the great service the topo-
graphical map had been to him. He had given
IN his testimony much attention to the map,
and said that the information from the
map was absolutely indispensable to form o
judgment as to grading, road making, &c.
Much Of the land was OF such character that
he would shrink from investing his money in
it, and from the map he could get u good idea
where such lands were.
Judge Wilson then cross-examined Col.
Truesdell as to his knowledge Of the map.
Mr.. sAuSDER's TESTIMONY
Mr.. Lorin N. Saunders testified that he was
engaged in real estate and was acquainted with
much of the park land. On tract "a, Pages. he
placed q valuation of "a, 900 per acre, So Rose
mont Park, $500 per acre, as o whole
c. Browns, $1,000 per acre; Shoemakers,
g., 600 per acre; BealL u 500 per acre; T. D.
Shoemaker, 1880 per acre; Thomas Blag-
den, $4,000 per acre; Shoemaker's Pur-
pie Beech tract, $500 per acre; Shoe
makers Mil tract, $500; Is Shoemaker
$3.50; 73. Blagdens. $3.50; 40, Mrs. Matthewson,
s45O' II, Mrs Ragden, $500; 81. b H. warder,
When the witness was asked a. to Shoe
makers large tract $50, Judge Wilson said he
deserved to question witness as to his knowl-
edge a. to his competency and value.
This question was discussed by My. Perry for
the government Judge Wilson, M. Lambert