Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-10
MR.. SAUNDERS STILL UNDER FIRE

70 W. 41AonAoDh IL OGx 4 II.
MIR. SAUNDERS STILL UNDER FIRE
Lawyers stin Questioning Him About His
Valuation OF Rock Creek Lands.
The commission to appraise the Rock Greek
Park lands continued its session yesterday till
o'clock.
The cross-examination Of Mr.. L. NJ. Saun-
ders was continued by Mr.. Mckinney. The
witness road from list of sales in and about
the District and said that 1t was prepared
partly during the hearing.
Mr.. McKenney asked in whose handwriting
certain parts were and the witness answered
Mr.. Pauls. He had asked Mr.. Paul to make
memoranda and Mr.. Paul had saved him
great deal Of writing The "extravagant
prices" he alluded to were those paid by the
California syndicate, and were not as to all the
properties. He would no. indiyidualize and
say which were sales at fair prices.
At the conclusion of Mr. L. III. Saunders
oross-exnmination by Mr.. McKenney the latter
moved to strike out the formers testimony az
to parcel II on the ground that he had not
shown himself sufficiently acquainted with the
land: The motion was overruled and an ex-
ception noted.
MIR. Perry offered in evidence executive doc
ument 4S, 1hrty-second Congress, Senate. con-
tanning the report of Gen. Meigs (then lisuten-
| ant OF engineers) on the water power of Rock
creek, showing the flow to DO $4,000 900 gallons
daily, and 1t was agreed that any admissions ho
may have made should not 20 beyond the fig
uros in the report.
Judge Wilson further cross-examined Mr..
Saunders. who said that some portions Of his
memor"ndum OF saios we're given him by Mr..
Paul and 1t had been added to and revised. He
knew nothing of Mr.. Paul giving O memoran-
dun to Col. Truesdell.
Judge Wilson closely questioned Mr.. Saun-
ders as to how he was aided in making his val
uation and he stated he had read Mr.. Louis
snoemakers testimony. He asked by
whom he had been directed to do it, but wit
ness con!d not remember Then he spoke Of
finding the volume in the court room and read
ing Mr.. Shoemakor's testimony with much in
terest.
Judge Wilson-By whom2
Witness--Mr. Paul lLaughter.l What he
had heard around the court room, the witness
said, had aided him in making his estimates.
Being pressed by Mr.. Wilson for his reasons
FOR liking the valuations Mr.. Saunders was pro-
ceedlng to go over his reasons and said he had
given them several times. Judge Wilson said
he had supposed the commission was composed
OF three instead of four.
Mr.. Saunders said he had no intention Of
offending Mr.. Wilson.
Mr.. Wilson said that on the contrary he had
afforded him much qualification.
Mr.. Saunders said he had no feeling in
the matter. He wanted each owner to get as
much as he could for his property. This matter
had been the source of much annoyance to
him; he had dreamed of it and had nightmares
over it.
Mr.. Wilson--You seem to have one now
MIR. Saunders-I wish to be understood as de-
string to deal fairly with every one.
Dir. Wilson-Well, you need not irritate your
seit over this matter, but there Is such q thing
as protesting too much.
ToDAY's SESSION.
This morning on the reassembling of the
commission Mr.. Wilson said he had received
telegram from Mr.. Coleman stating that lie
could not reach here till Monday. and he asked
that the testimony as to the gold-bearing quartz
be postponed till that date. After some dis
cussion the request was granted.
Mr. Ferry suggested, while waiting for Mr..
Saunders, that there should be some limit to
cross-eSamination, and some discussion fol-
lowed, III which 1t was said that the length Of
the cross-examination was chargeabfe to the
manner in which the witness answered, to his
desire to argue his reasons. &c. 1t was also
stated that after the examination in chief as to
eghty-fve parcels it was impossible to obtain
the reasons for the valuation in each OF the
cases In a few hours.
Mr.. Perry called Mr.. Enoch C. Moreland,
who testified that with his brother he owned q
seventy-acre tract ON the Daniels road above
the Swart property, which was sold through
Mr. Shoemaker in 1888 or 1889 for 1926 per
acre. He some months afterward bought ten
acres near by for $3.50 per acre. 1t was part
Of forty-acre tract.
Mr.. SAUNDERS AGAIN.
Mr.. L. NJ. Saunders resumed the stand end
was further cross-examined by Mr.. Wilson.
In arriving at the market value, he said, he
regarded sales at public auctions as coming
nearer the true value, but not always.
r GR hnp ha hao al n
estimate on sales by Mr.. Wilson and asked
what sales he alluded to. the list he had pro-
duced?
Mr.. Wilson-You need answer no further,
III leave the answer as 1t is. Mr.. Maddox, you
can proceed.
Mr.. Maddox cross-examined Mr.. Saunders
and he said he had had consultations at Mr.
Paufs, Mr.. Truesdelrs and his own house.
There had been six or eight consultations be-
tween them. He had testified in the T street
extension. but did not know that Col. Trues-
dell was the party in interest. As to the Rose
mont and Page property he thought they were
too low down to be regarded as sites. He had
given his best judgment and had compared the
property with Mt. Pleasant He had in his
mind q sale to Capt. Hazard on Sheridan
avenue and an auction sale on 14th street road
for rs or so cents last fall. 1t was about half
way between Mt. Pleasant street end Judge Har-
lan's residence. He owned property on Prince
ton and 18th streets. He then described his
would raise his valuation $500 per acre.
MIR. Maddox-Thank you; won't you 60 out
again? $500 trip is pretty we'll.
Mr.. Saunders then spoke of the building
sites and described the land. The lots in
Rosemont, he thought, were worth as much as
in 1887, and there had been q reflected value
since then. There had been quite an increase
in Mount Pleasant and along 10th street in
the past few years. There had been a
large increase west of the creek
in the past few years about 400
per cent There had been an increase in the
same time in the Eslin tract of 10 cents to rs
cents per foot; but he could not 60 to Rosemont
with that figure.
Mr.. Maddox called attention to sales in
RosemoIt at 8, 10, IA and 80 cents per foot and
asked how they affected him.
Mr.. Saunders said he conceded with the views
of the first purchasers, but not with the last.
1t not worth thirty cents now. Actual
sales, he said. affected his judgment up to the
point when he thought he should stop. He
found that the Rosemont lots had some table
lands. Lots 2. 3, A. 5 and were not worth as
much as the others. He valued the lots as follows:
No. l, IL cents per foot (double); IL, Is cents;
II, II cents; -, IL cents; IA, 70 cents; 10, 10
cents; 0, cents; =, cents; Z, cents; 6, 8
cents; s, S cents; 4, 8 cents; 3, cents; 2. 10
cents, He lowered some because of rnyjnes