Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-09

MI. Saunders Cross Examined BY Attorneys
for the Owners.

TEE PLANTATION CONTINUED ALL rHRouoH TO
DAY-MR. SAUNDERS CLOSELY QUESTIONED AZ
TO THE BASIS OF HIS vALuATIoNs-AaRIcUL-
TuRAL LANDS AND VILLA SITES.
The cross-examination of Mr.. L. NJ. Saunders
by Mr.. Wilson was continued before the Rock
Greek Park commission yesterday afternoon
after The Stars report closed.
Mr.. Saunders explained as to the Shoe
makers tracts. why he gave his valuation and
why he would not raise them.
After recess Mr.. Saunders, in answer to Mr..
Wilson, compared the warder with other tracts
ss to their capability Of subdivision, &c.
Mr.. WILSON'S BIBLICAL ALLUsIoNs.
After the witness had described view Mr..
Wilson said: "You get q glimpse of the prom
another who viewed the promised land and
didn't get there till forty years after"
Mr.. Perry-Didn't get there at all, judge.
You should brush up on your Bible studies.
Mr.. Wilson--Some Of his people did, but he
got left.
Mr.. Saunders said he would sooner pay $500
per acre than S400 for the Shoemaker land.
The Jones land, near Brightwood CD. he
valued at 81 200 per acre.
Judge Wilson asked If it had increased $500
since yesterday.
Mr.. Saunders said If he had said 81 900 yes
terday he intended to say 81, 200. His reccl-
lection was that on one of the Jones tracts he
put 81 900 and on the other 81 200
Judge Wilson asked after calling attention to
parcels SO, 60 and 81 what would land Of the
same size in the rear Of tracts be worth. Wit
ness said it would be 33 per cent less valuable
because a road would have to be provided for. A
tract adjoining 81, with front on the Blagden
Mill road, would be worth $500, and additional
lots he would place at 800, $500 and SO on
lower down.
The rear table land he estimated generally at
81, 1000 per acre. He had divided tract 80
into three grand divisions. the table lands at
S225.
Judge Wilson remarked: "And yet you put
the highest at $780,
Mr.. Saunders said that it was piece Of abb
surdity for him to segregate prices without roads
and ask him to put on it the value of 81 900
which he had placed on that division of the
tract.
Mr.. L. M. Saunders said that he GIr. Wilson,
had made the subdivision, and if he insisted on
cutting 1t into pieces he would insist on cut
forty or forty-hve acres at 81 900 per acre.
VILLA SITES AND PARK LANDS.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Lambert Mr..
Saunders said in his valuation he had in view
the best purposes to which the land was
adapted-that for which the government pro-
posed to use it. 1t was well known that 80 per
cent OF the land in the park was of no value for
agricultural purposes. While it was not proper
to be actuated by sympathy, it was impossible
not to have some sympathy for the owners. who
were having the land taken from them by force
as it were. The Freas tract he valued at 1915
an acre, and he considered it as good farming
land in connection with the purpose for which
1t Is intended. The Freas tract could not be
judiciously subdivided into small lots at pres
ent, but the time may come. 1t could be di-
vided into four sites. In making his estimates
he had recital Of sales made within the limits
OF the park, some of which he had picked up in
this room. He had been qhite diligent, and
made up his estimates from what he had heard
and from observation.
By MIR. VIM. Stone Abert-Witness did not
go upon the Blagden tract (73). He appraised it
Tor park uses and had given relative value
II there was any considerable portion of top
land it was worth more, bu. there was much
that was of little use
At this point Mr.. Albert proposed to accom-
modate Mr.. Maddox by turning witness over to
him.
Mr.. Saunders said he had not examined Rose
mont as to its subdivisions but might testify as
to Mr.. Pages property.
DID NOT WANT ANY MORE CUTTING.
Mr.. Maddox suggested that he had had
enough of Mr.. Pages land. Each succeeding
day witness cut his valuation down and he
feared II two or three witnesses more testified
he would have to give it away, for it would take
but few $500 cuts to reach that figure.
ME. oduuueFs arranged WIN MI MaQQOX TO
make a further examination of Rosemont.
Mr. Saunders was further examined by Mr..
Albert and said that parcels divided into villa
sites easily reached by road were worth 800 to
$500 more per acre, and except in rare in
stances cleared land was preferable for villa
sites.
TopAys SESSION.
The commission resumed its sessions this
morning and Mr.. Lorin NJ Saunders resumed
the stand for further cross-examin alton by Mr..
William Stone Albert. Eight acres in the north
west corner of the Dos Passos tract on the
military road (No. 3S) he valued at $3.50 per
acre. The whole he had valued at $3.50. but
would have to reduce his valuation on the rest
to S43S or S439 per acre if the eight acres we're
taken off,
Mr.. Albert moved to strike out that part de-
preciating the valuation as not responsive, but
was overruled.
Mr.. Saunders did not consider the availa-
bility Of tract 38 for country homes. He had
considered the subdivision Of tract 81 (Dos
Passos north tract into villa sites, but it would
increase the taxation to cut it up, and the time
had not come for SO doing.
He had considered it as a whole as so much
land and in conjunction with the park project
and contiguous lands He hardly knew what
it could be used for. He did not believe that
it would yield corn, rye or wheat. but it could
be made available for agricultural purposes ut
the expense of manure, subsoiling, &c.
The PRICES OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. Albert asked il he had not put the valua.
tons in the lower part Of the park at from
S1,5O0 to o., 800 per acre less than the prices
offered by the government.
Mr.. Perry objected, and arguments followed
by Messrs. Albert Wilson and Lee for the
owners and Mr.. Perry for the government
The commission excluded tine question, re-
marking that they had not seen the list of offers
nor did they want anything to do with the
prices therein stated, and they were not to be
guided by it nor should they know anything of
it inferentially.
Judge Wilson said the trouble was that when
the lists in their pockets and when they are
under cross-examination they find the paper.
He asked that it be noted that the witness pro-
duced the paper on cross-examination.
Mr.. Perry said he was getting tired of ref
erence to this paper. He submitted that the
criticism OF HIM was as to what he should have
been criticised for ifhe had not done as he had
The owners and their witnesses had been
walked over the land and coached, and there
seemed to be a concert of action on their part
Judge Wilson said that Mr.. Perry seemed
sensitive and he desired to have it put down in
capital letters that he had not criticised Mr.
Perry, but on the other hand he had always
commended his zeal in the case and if words
could be found to more strongly express a dis
claimer he asked that they be used.
Mr.. Lambert Endorsed what Judge Wilson
had said, and he said that there was not the
slightest disrespect used or intended
Mr.. Albert said that he had understood that
Mr.. Perry did not furnish the paper and there