Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-27

THE ASSESSMENT INQUIRY.
Mr.. c. Q. Glover Gives His views - to the
Value Of Property.
sRvHRAL QuEsrIoNs Asked BIT REPRESENTATIVE
5oHNsoN-MEssRs. c. n. cRAorx AND rRuHs-
DELL ALSO STATE THEIR oPrxIoxs-vAlIArloys
IN VALUES IN DIFFERENT SECTIONS.
The investigation into assessment of prop
orty in the District still goes on merrily. Mr..
Warner in his testimony yesterday gave
his estimates on the value Of square
377, on which is situated the Loan and Trust
Company building and Mr.. Warmers own Office
Mr.. Warmers values were a. follows:
East half Of lot 10 at s25 to $50 per foot,
west half IS at $40, east half IS at S10 west half
Is at IS. east half II at SO, west half II at els
to S15. east half Is at SIS to Sl5 west half is
at So east half Is at S6 west half Is at SlO east
half IA at sl0, lot IS at $40, IL at Sc 10 and IL
at go. at &c. at sl2, west half z at Is, east
half at S350. east half of 6 at $3.50, west half
Of 6 at %, lot 8 at sS, 4 at %, at %, 2 at
$3.50, at els. "a at el0 % at s10, 20 at sra so,
part of 20 and 81 at $50 to sS5; balance lot, s35
NOT FAIR SAMPLES
The committee, so far as can be seen from
The SrAR's report, has confined its efforts to
F street properly between 9th and
10th streets, although some few other
squares, mainly in East Washington, have been
touched on. 1t has been suggested to tho
committee that the values Of F street property
are not fair samples, as many people are
of opinion that property on that street has
reached fictitious value. The committee las
accepted this suggestion and will before the in
vestigation is over take up squares on 7th
street, Pennsylvania avenue and the north west
ern portion Of the city.
Mr.. aLovER's TESTIMONY.
At the investigation this morning Mr.. B. H.
Warner did considerable crosse uestioning of
Witnessed Mr.. c. C. Glover was the first
witness and his testimony related largely
to general matters. Cross-questioned by
MIR. johnson. Mr. Glover thought there
were inequalities i'll tho assessment. He had
known Of some extremely low assessments.
Property has improved SO lately that the old
assessments bear no relation to the present
values. The main benefits, he thought, were
on Capitol Hill and in Georgetown. Some
favoritism was shown, he believed, on F street
In answer to questions from Mr.. johnson
MIR. Glover said he considered three years
none too long to take assessments.
PROPERTY on STREET.
Reference was made to the property on
northeas. corner of l4th and F streets and Mr.
Glover though. if put up at auction it
would bring SIS per foot, and
F street property he thought had reached
the highest price it would reach for many
years: Further questions brought out the
fact that Mr.. Glover did not consider that one
customer and his offer would make o value for
ton he thought constituted its market value.
THE RIGGS BANK PROPERTY.
The Riggs Bank property was worth about
NOT he H..
opposite property about the same
for what purpose it was used. Property Just
above had been recently offered for els. Mr..
Glover said he thought the assessment should
DO equal all over tho city. Mr.. Warner
asked If he knew Of anybody who did not have
that wish. The answer was no and Mr.. John
lowed the remark by asking Mr.. Glover if he
knew of any way to attain an equitable assess
ment
Mr.. GLovER's PLAN.
I'm a general way" said MIR. Glover, "by
having a permanent board of assessors who
shall have adequate time to do their work, and
by having the best men possible on this board. :"
If the assessors worked with open doors Mr..
Glover thought they would never be able to
complete their work.
In answer to Mr. Warmers question, the
WitneSs salu tnat lneQuailtcS OF assessments
were largely brought about by especial advan-
tages IN especial localities. The low rates had
brought much capital TO the city and he knew
two OF the present assessors and considered them
thoroughly correct, honest men. Property in
the city was assessed at more than one third of
its value.
MIR. cHAs. II. cRAeIS's TESTIMONY.
The next witness was Mr.. Chas. H. Cragin
who testified that he was a lawyer and had had
considerable experience in various court sales
Of property. He had also himself made a
number of sales lately, acting as trustee.
In answer to questions he expressed it
as his opinion that in the poorer sections of
the city the proportion of assessment was
larger than on F street and in other localities
He considered that East Washington values
had increased in the last few years to a
very considerable extent. Referring to the
sale of the property at the northwest corner of
18th and F streets he said that he considered
s65 foot entirely too high price. In answer
to Mr.. johnson as to what he considered should
be the Interpretation of the law in re-
gard to values he replied that he thought ii
meant what property would bring at any time
under adverse circumstances. Mr.. Warner
asked the witness if he knew the present as
SCISSORS and what his opinion of them was Mr.
Cragin replied that he knew them and consid-
cred them eminently qualified and honorable
men.
MR.. TRUEsDELL's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. George Truesdell was the next witness
and in answer to Mr.. Warmers questions testi-
fed that he had had considerable experience
in suburban property. There had been
a great rise lately in suburban prices.
Mr.. Truesdell testified that he paid e6OO
an acre for the lexington property, and that
the highest price per acre for which it had been
sold was about S21.000 1t was assessed, he
thought at about 10 cents foot.
The increase in the prices of the
property. he thought, was almost en-.
tirely due to the improvements which had
been made in the way Of paving. rapid transit,
sewers. &c. About S50O, 600 had been spent in
this way. In answer to other questions he
said that he thought there were some in
CAPABILITIES in the assessment which were due
largely to rapid increases in value in par
ticular sections. II property we're uniformly
assessed he thought equalization would come
when unnatural vibrations in prices ceased.
The assessments heretofore had been made at
times by incompetent men. Mr.. Warner asked
II Mr. Truesdell was acquainted with the pres
ent board of assessors MIR. Truesdell replied
that he knew two of them and that he consid-
cred them men of high character and we'll
qualified for their positions.
MR.. DowLINGs OPINION.