Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-17


the Value Of the Ground.
The post Office site commission - Nsssrs
Lehman, Hamilton and Thompson-rssumed
morning.
| Allison Nailor, IT,, testified that the lots in
square 323 on the north front were worth s2s
per foot outside Of improvements, and Harvey'l
corner ESQ per foot. The north side of the
avenue was Is per cent more valuable. II wat
true that F street property was selling for
nearly double as much as the avenue property,
but he thought the avenue property would
come up, for it was the finest street in the
world.
In answer to Mr. Taggart Mr.. Nailor said the
square between 18th and 14th streets was con-
templated once for the post Office, but he had
got more from private individual than he
would have received from the government.
His attention was called to sale in March. 1890,
and he said he knew of case where $50 per
foot was paid for + street property then which
would now bring eco.
AN UPWARD TENDENCY.
He said all property on the avenue near 14th
street had an upward tendency. He had offered
a price for piece of property which was three
times as much as he would have given year
ago This section he regarded as the heart OF
the CITY,
He did not think the power house would de-
teriorate values. for there would be little or no
the liability to overflow had affected the values.
but these overfows were so seldom they had
not much effect.
He thought that some Of the large buildings
on F street did not pay more than % to per
cent He would give s2S per foot for the
avenue part OF the square adjoining the post
Office site. He declined to state for what bust
ness he would buy it, but was satisfied il would
pay per cent.
MR.. wALKER's PROPERTY.
John n. Walker, owner of parcel sixteen
feet front on street, adjoining the alley on
the east-was next examined. He valued ii at
$4,000 and 1t had been rented to Miss Burke
for 500 per month. In consequence of the
post Office agitation he had lost some rent. He
had been offered S125 for the rent of IL BY
letter OF Mary Turner. 1t is three-story
press brick of twelve rooms and would cost to
build today from IS. 500 to sc, 600.
BY Mr.. Taggart-Bought the property In
NAV. 1887. at the rate of sl.64 and the
building then cost $4,000 or s5.1OO He had
offered to sell to the Secretary of the Treasury,
he said. for $4,000.
Mr.. srEPHENsoN's VIEWS
Mr.. ". J. Stephenson testified as to parcels
nine and ten, at the corner of 12th and G
streets the first being 40 feet inch by 100 feet
and the other 90 by IFS feet. He considered
property on 18th street more yalu-
able than on AZ, It'll or 14th streets.
They could not use 9Th street because
of the Pennsylvania railroad. Square s2s in
his opinion, was more valuable than the
Nailor square 255), for the reason that 18th
street was more of o business street than 14th
street, and Majors square had a reservation
before it.whereas this opens on the avenue.
BY Mr.. Garnett-The location of the station
house improved the street, for it cleaned out
disreputable people and 10Th street property
was much more valuable than 18th street. for
it was thoroughfare to South Washington.
Mr.. coHEN's GROUND.
Mr.. ]. ". Cohen testified that he owned
parcel five. seventeen feet onc-half inch by
one hundred feet. on c between 18th and 18th
streets, occupied by three-story building used
by blacksmith. Last July he was offered
Secretary of the Treasury at S11, 900.
He had not, he said, heard then of the sale Of
the Nailor square and now withdrew the Offer
Mr.. Hammond had lease for three years from
July 10. 1Ss9.at $50 per month.
To Mr.. Taggeyt witness said that Mr.. Dun
canson offered him &c, 900 and $40, 900. but he
never authorized him to offer it to the govern
ment.
MR.. BAKERS TESTIMONY.
John A. Baker testified that south Of the
avenue was the place for heavy business 9th
to 18th and B to Pennsylvania avenue; that for
his business and the produce dealers
it was worth double stand on F
street He said he owned the prop
erty occupied by Douglas and McShane
and had leased those pieces for ten years. He
also owned rights OF way in parts and IA. On
lot 3 WAS a twO-story ware house and on lot 4,
at the corner. four-story ware house, so de-
signed as to form four stores.
He looked on the corners on the north side
of Pennsylvania avenue, 9th, 10th and 18th, az
the most valuable in Washington, excepting
the 18th street property. The Nailo- square
was about two feet higher than square 32S.