Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-31
ROCK CREEK PARK.
The Appraisers Resume the Taking of Tes-
timony This Morning.
MR.. GEORGE TRUEsDELL OCCUPIES THE TIME
AND Is EXAMINED AT LENGTH As TO THE
VALUES OF THE SEVERAL PARCELS OF GROUND
PROPOSED TO BE TAKEN.

AND Is EXAMINED AT LENGTH AS TO THE
VALUES OF THE SEVERAL PARCELS OF GROUND
PROPOSED TO BE TAKEN.
The Rock Creek Park commission to appraise
the property-Messrs. James L. Norris, George
J. Seufferle and N. W. Burchell-resumed the
work in the Circuit Court room this morning
Mr.. Perry stated that the solicitor general and
public printer had an appointment with him
for tomorrow morning in reference to the
printing of the record, and he thought it could
be arranged.
MR.. GEORGE TRUEsDELI-
Mr.. George Truesdell testified that he was
president of the lexington and Soldiers Home
Railroad Company and dealer in real estate,
and was acquainted with the most of the land
taken for the park. Pages land (s4) he valued
at $500 per acre; tract 49, Rosemont Park,
was worth $500 per acre-some lots were
worth cents per foot and others as high as
cents per foot; tract 50 Qngleside) sl,OOO and
u. 500 per acre; the triangular piece 81 (Shoe-
maker 81 $1,000 per acre.
QUESTION THAT ExcITEs ARGUMENT.
MIR. Perry asked if witness had had any con-
sultation with him on the subject of values.
Witness answered that the only connection
he had with Mr.. Perry on the subject was to 20
with him over the lands.
MI wilson remarked that it an extra
ordinary question.
Mr.. Perry replied that it had been several
times lnsinuated that he had gone outside of
bis duties as counsel. He claimed that he had
acted professionally and had not yet trans
gressed the rules of propriety. On the other
side witness-blr. kirk-had made q sug
Gesnon to show his personal strength with him.
Nr Lambert asked Mr.. Perry for what pur-
pose he had handed the list of offers made by
the commission to the owners.
Mr. Perry answered that the question a
perfectly proper one and the paper was given
witness, first, that they might have the number
OF the tract, size, &C.; second, that they might
know the value placed on the land by the COM
mission. and, third, that they might have the
advantage OF comparison OF values.
hr. Wilson said he was unconscious of
offending and thought his brother. Perry, mis-
understood him. for he was not aware of
OFFENDING. He had simply said it was unusual
Mr.. TRUEsDELL CONTINUES
Col Truesdell continued: The Baell tract
80, is worth S1,s00; Shoemaker, 7S, S2.O0O
Blagden, "a, $4,000; IS, $500; n (the purple
beech tract) WAS by high water subject to over
flow and worth 5000; rs. a long narrow tract
(both steep and level land), is worth $500 per
acre. Tract % was worth about the same; ~,
MfsI MiI;. sagdens sa0 900 ger acre; H. $500 70
e5OO; 69, Shoemakers, 5000; 6s. S4OO; Ga. $500.
Col Iruesdell described hungry-looking dog
and asked what became of them.
Mr.. Lambert-Ran from the dog.
Judge Wilson-Climbed O tree.
MIR. Perry-We would have climbed it if close
enough, but the woman shut the dog in the
house.
Col. Truesdell continued his valuations as
follows: No. 63, $500 per acre; 65 and &c, $500:
81, Zepp, S400; 3S, Dos Passos, south, $3.50; 81,
NJ Green, 900; so, Swami. trustee, $500: 29.
becks, $500; 2s, Mrs. Henderson, S200; ~, Mrs.
Mead, 5000; 26, Burgdorf, 1925; %, ID. F. For
rest. s225; "a, Eaton, S175; II, Brown. $50;
q, Riley, Gigs and S17O: AZ, Mrs. Truesdell,
$500; tract Al, $500; 48, s4OO "A, 500; As, J.
B. Colt, 500; AZ, Mrs. Cowperthwait, 500.
ALMOST A FALL.
Col. Truesdell's chair at this point slipped
from the stand and he came near falling, when
chair Is as precipitous any of the lands
Col. Truesdell said No. 81, Mclaughlin g land,
was worth q, 400 to 81 500: 5S Jones, $1,000 to
81 200 per acre; so, Mrs. Barton, S6O6;
81, D: NJ. Davis, 500 to $500; 50,
Ann Hay, $4,000; AZ, Lawrence, 500; As,
Clark, 81 600; St, Watson 81 200; 81. 81 200 SO,
go and 81, race track and Malvern Park 81 200;
tract SO. both sides of the creek, S40O; 34 Cow
den, $500 to $500 per acre. He mad expert
ence especially in the lexington and Washing
ton Heights subdivisions.
hAc AOAiS0IoS E4PEhlENCk
The part was bought in the fall of 1887 at .
little less than $500 per acre. 1t abuts
Boundary street and was quite rough. having
cost $780, to grade it. That part of the
park north Of Military road and west of the
creek was fit for limited agricultural purposes
and villas. 1t requires from 40 to so per cent
for Streets &c. in following the plan of the city.
At lexington there was extensive system
OF sewerage, pavements, gas water, &c. The
r.,,fx fn, 1ifvlt aud =.
by steam. He did not think the quarry on the
Shoemaker tract was very valuable. He had
given the present values. He had also taken in
Consideration number of sales of which he had
had general knowledge from the court records
and papers and talk of operators.
CRoss-ExAMINED.
On cross-examination Col. Truesdell said that
he was owner Of perhaps three-ffths Of the
land in lexington. There were eighty-seven
acres in the tract and the price paid $50 600.
The sales had not paid the cost and for the i'm
provements by S100, 900.
If he sold all that he held at the same rates
their would be large profit, from s7OO, 600 to
$1,000, 900, but if the whole was improved the
profits would probably not exceed $500. 900.
The prices had been from IS to 60 cents per
foot and the unsold pieces are held at As to GO
cents per foot and was on the paved and i'm,
proved streets. A portion is low ground and
he had intended keeping it for some future
use, ouu Wao WI VA Aioiu ~ W 10 Ceute per
foot This portion is on the Metropolitan rail-
road from Boundary to or T street.
The value is given by the proximity to the
city, accessibility by the Electric railroad and
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
AFTER RECESS.
After recess Col. Truesdell under cross-ex-
animation said that the bulk of suburban opera
tions in tho last few years was west of 7th
street, the larger part between that road
and the Tenleytown road. The ratio
of increase from 1885 to the present
he did not believe any man living could tell, but
it might be given as to sections East of 10th
street there had been in some places little and
in others great advances, but 18th and 10th
streets, perhaps 200 to 800 per cent; along
7th, slight; along some portions of Tenley-
town road above Cleveland Heights there had
been considerable advance along Conn. avenue
extended; he knew Of no sales excepting to the
California syndicate. In estimating the ex-
penditure at lexington the railroad was not
included.
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS.
The Washington Heights property was on
Columbia road and he owned seven acres Of it,
four being his residence.
1t was purchased by Presbrey and .others
about fifteen years ago. He had three acres
subdivided then and valued the land at IS
cents to S1.25 per foot. He purchased five or
six years ago ut 81 900 per acre. Presbrey ct
al. laid it out on paper, about twenty acres.
About an acre Of his land is in q hole almost
worthless, and is worth Is cents per foot. and