Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-11

frequently requires several days search to
find 1t. 1t is believed by Mr.. Stewart that
there are many of these reverted lots still
unsold.
Mr.. Grecnlears Lots.
Another case of more Importance than the
above is mentioned by Mr.. Stewart In his
report. On July 0. 1874. James Greenleaf OF
the city of New York paid for 600 city lots,
for which he received deeds In fee, which
deeds were recorded in the Office for re-
cording deeds. On the same date Green
leaf entered into an agreement with the
Commissioners 10 secure a loan in Europe
for the city Of Washington. For that OBJ
Ject another 1000 city lots were decided to
him. The effort to obtain the loan failed,
however, and the latter l 900 lots were re-
conveyed TO the Commissioners. These
deeds were also recorded in the Office for re-
ccrding deeds Again on the l4th of Au-
gust, 1894, the same James Greenleaf for
himself. Robert Morris and John Nicholson
of the city Of Philadelphia, entered into a
new contract with the Commissioners for
the selection and purchase OF 5000 more
city lots. to which Greenleafs first pur-
chase was added. making In all 5000 lots
The l,oCV lots previously paid for by Green
leaf and decided to him were given as Sc
curity for the fulfillment of the latter con-
tract. The additional 5000 lots were placed
upon the records for recording deeds. and
not only that. but all the 1000 lots of the
three contracts mentioned were also enter
ed upon the records Of the Office of the COM
missioner of public buildings and grounds
In the name Of Greenleaf, Morris and
Nicholson, and so remain to this day not
withstanding the said contractors failed fin
the year 119S when their contract became a
suit In chancery, where II continued for
over twenty years. Trustees were appoint
ed by the courts, and the lots were sold at
different times. in different years, after adj
vertisement. at auction. Mr. Stewart ex-
presses the belief th4t many Of these lots
still remain unsold.
The COmn,issioner's Purchases
The commissioner of public buildings Csuc-
cessor in office Of original commisslonc-s)
purchased large numbers of lots at these
auctions, but failed to make A detailed rec
ord OF the transaction, recording only the
cash amount Of each purchase in gross.
The last effort to clear up title to unsold
United States lots I'm the city was made by
Mr.. Robert Mcclellan, Secretary of the In
terror. in May. 1853. when he appointed Mr.
Robert Ould as special agent to investi-
gate and report on the matter. 1t appears
that Mr.. Ould confined his report almost
exclusively to the deeds Of record in the
cf1lce OF the recorder OF ceeds and to docu-
ments in private Offices in the city. Mr.
Stewart says that while Mr.. Guilds report
Is the best record on file here upon the dis
posal CT city lots, there are very many en-
tire squares and lots wholly unaccounted
LOT particularly OF thoSe referred to in the
Grec1leaf, Morris and Nicholson contract
Mr.. Stewart says that the records in the
office for recording deeds are not consider
ed In themselves, good and sufficient for
the reason that any untruthful document
could have been placed on record there nv
paying the recorders fee. The records of
his office show, he says, that many lots
were sold az auction at different times from
1872 down TO and including 1867. the record
OF many of which sales are imperfect, only
Am0nnr ha % r.
auctioneer being given. The auctioneers
naturally object to showing their sale
BOOKS and the law does not compel them to
do so.
What Should lie Done.
Mr.. Stewart therefore recommends that
some measure be adopted for procuring
copies OF the sales of city lots from the
auctioneers' books. He SAYS that a proper
detailed record should be az once prepare
showing the disposal OF every lot i'm every
square in the city. Many of the documents
necessary to this work are widely scattered
Some are on file in the court house some
In the office of the recorder of deeds In
Annapolis. son;e are in Col. Wilson's office
some ire in the Congressional Library ana
others are in the hands of private parties
Many OF them have not been carefully pre-
served and are being rapidly defaced Mr.
stewart makes these statements as an ar
Gument for the employment OF a competent
person to devote his entire time 10 the
proper preparation OF the records He thinks
that this work will occupy the entire at
tention OF one person for three years at
least. He explains that he Is too much en-
crossed with his regular routine work To AT
tend to il himself. His recommenda tons on
this subject have been repeatedly indorsed
py the last two commissioners OF public
buildings and grounds. who have EXPRESSED
the opinion that the vast Importance OF the
interests involved amply justify the COM
parduVeiy small outlay contemplated.