Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-06


GIVE THrIR OPINIONS.
The board to assess the value OF property in
the Rock Creek Park limits CMessrs Norris,
seunerle and BurchelD continued the hearing
In the Circuit Court room yesterday. Mr.. J.
ID. Ealston testified that when the electric rail-
road is completed the California syndicate will
have expended in improvements no. far from
a million dollars. The purchases had been
made from January to May. 1890. and the
prices paid in some instances were too high
the Barstow property being worth about
s2,cOo per acre and $4,000 being paid for it.
. c. s. Pardoe, electrical engineer. testified
that electricity for lighting can be transmitted
1--WE or ak miles and Tor power much farther,
losing, perhaps, one-tenth Of the power in a
distance OF i've to ten miles The available
horse power from the water of the creek was
s32. sufficient for 5000 sixteen-csnCle power
incandescent lights or 225 arc lights. and cluld
supply them in a circuit from the creek 20 the
navy yard and back.
DR.. W. p. Young testified that he sold the
tract to the Catholic University in 1856. s5s.
acres, for s29 500
THE HORSE POWER OF THE SHOEMAKER TRACT
Hermann Rassbach, mechanical engineer,
testified that the net horse power Of the Shoe
maker tract, deducting for friction, was ls6.
and there were a number of springs whose
could be made.
Mr.. Perry to Mr.. wilson-what sort Of
business are you going in out there, Judge?
Mr.. Wilson-We propose to show every le-
gitimate business for which the place is adapted
or can be used.
Mr. Rassbach continued, stating that with the
power and the spring water they could make
elghty tons OF ice per day at cost of 50 to IS
cents per ton The output OF ice in this CITY is
from 600 to 700 tons daily, and he could put up
an apparatus on the creek sufficient to supplv
forty per cent of the demand, and he explained
now he would plan the works. The Pierce mill
building can be built for "A 500 to 5000.
PROPERTIES SOLD BY MIR. DYER
Mr. j. L. Dyer gave a list of properties sold
by him before the passage OF the park act. some
OF 1t bringing from $1,000 to g, 500 per acre,
and said, with the exception of one piece they
were now worth double what he had sold them
for.
Mr.. Horace s. Jones was called to testify to a
sale OF property on the Broad Branch road. hut
as the Transaction was after the passage Of the
PARK Dali the offer was withdrawn.
ToDAY's TESTIMONY.
The commission met this morning and An
drew Gleason was called in behalf of the own
ers. He testified that he had examined the
quarry in the Shoemaker tract. and it was of a
good quality of blue stone suitable for build
ing, some having been used in front walls in
the northwest, and it was particularly suitable
ior foundations He had offered $4,000 for
two acres, and If the stone run 1t did on the
front the whole would be worth 5000 per
acre.
MR.. DARTS OPINION.
James f. Dartt testified as 10 the 2i5 acre
Shoemaker tract and it was worth 80 cents per
foot, over 81, 500 per acre The other tract he
valued at cents per foot, over 81, 500 per acre.
The tracts could be readily subdivided and sold
at profit. He did not take the commercial
value OF the stream, but did consider its beauty
He considered the advantages Of the railroads
and its proximity to Lanier Heights. where
property had doubled within a year He had
bought the Cummings tract in Maryland di-
rectly north of The park at $40 per acre in
1889 for Prof. Fay.
On cross-examination witness said he
had had but limited dealings in county prop-
erty, his operations being mostly in the city
About two years ago he bought two acres for
$3.50 per acre.
Mr.. Perry said that this was the Mclaughlin
parcel Of the park.
Mr.. Dart continued, saving he sold II at
LOCO per acre few months before the pass
age OF the park act. He had bought four acres
adjoining the Cummings tract.
WHAT WAS AGEEED TO.
1t was agreed that it should appear that the
| Shoemaker property had been in the family q
century and in the possession of Pierce Shoe
maker half century. 1t was also agreed that
testimony as to the value of the timber could
| be given hereafter.
MR.. JONES PARcEL-
Several parcels were called but no response
| till parcel 81, in the name Of Samuel NJ. Jones
was reached, and Mr.. interchangeable for him.
This is piece of four acres on the east line of
the park between Pierce mill and the Military
| road, the line passing through the house.
Mr.. Jones testified that the park took about
one half his land and the utility of his house
would be practically destroyed by the park
On cross-examination witness said he bought
| the house in 1889 at 5000 per acre and this in
cluded the house Of six rooms He bought the
property because he thought that it was a snap
| 1t had been in the market but one day.
Mr.. Perry remarked that the government
| had no objection to the barn and house being
moved from the line of the park.
Redirect-When the purchase was made the
| improvements were not considered much of a
| feature. The improvements were worth $500
to $500.
He did not regard the price as the full value
| when he purchased il, for he had paid for
property northward at sS25 per acre and he
| sold at $500 per acre to Mr.. Z. w. Jones' who
| transferred it to his wife
| Mr.. Jones was also examined as to his wife's
parcel, No. SO, little corner, a third of an
acre, cut off piece of 2.44 acres. and said il
| cut off access from one road.
j. q. Meyers testified that he lives at Bright
wood and owns property; that there are but
| two trees on his land. He thought Mr.. Jones'
| land worth cents per foot ana Mrs
| Jones 10 cents per foot
On discrimination Mr.. Meyers said he had
sold about fifteen lots at z. s, 10 to l6 cents
| per foot in the neighborhood. He paid 50. 600
for six acres when he bought
CAPT. BRIDGES OPERATIONS
Cant w l.. Bridges testified that he ,~as Il,