The morning times., 1895-12-11
TRYING TO FIX VALUES
Highway Act Witnesses Baked
the Attorneys.
WOULD STATE NO PRICES
Mr.. Barr Assured the Commission
That HIS Company's Holdings Were
Not for Sale-Ob.jection Raised to
the Multiplicity of Counsel In the
Hearing In Street Extension Gases.

The condemnation proceedings under tue
highway act, before Judge Cox in the Dis
trict court. opened yesterda : with the ex-
animation of the government witness.
Thcre were three witnesses on the stand
during the day--Mcssrs. Joseph Paul, Aus
tin L. Brown. and Lester A. Barr.
The last of these was Mr.. Barr. He was
examined py Mr. Thomas at the beginning,
with the view of instituting comparison
between Columbia Heights subdivision ana
the one under consideration. He was
questioned as to prices paid by his firm
for lots in the Columbia Heights suhdivi-
sion, and stated that three months ago ne
maid 10 and so cents for good building
lots.
For lois and &c, cornering on Fifteenth
street and Columbia road. he paid Sllo
per foot Lots II 10 go In the same sub
division were purchased at tue rate OF
80 cents per foot.
When questioned as to the relative value
of lots in the TWO sectiuus Mr.. Barr said
he regarded Columbia Heights as far
superior FOR building purposes. and the
valuations OF property therefore higher
Mr. Thomas elected tue desired infor-
nation. aud then jocoscly observed;
Nov at least two attorneys ou the
other side should cross-eXaninc the Wit
ness"
TOO MANY LAWYERS.
There had been several objections 10y
Mr.. Thomas to the multiplicity of counsel.
who multiplied questiors' aud he at one
period protested against every property
holder having an attorney to represent him
in the croSS-cXamination.
Upon rross-cxamination, Mr.. Barr was
asked by Attorney Nathaniel Wilson
whether or not he WAS familiar with the
subdivis ions; how ne came Ia examine the
property and at whose suggestion; whether
the man then in the possession OF tie " It
ness had been furnished him and II so, by
whom, and whether there were any marks
upon ii that would ind cate where II
came from.
In reply TO these intcrrCgations. Mr. Barr
said he had gone Monday TO examine the
property: lie did not recall who, If any
body, had suggested il, but lie understood
thai court hau adjourned for the purpose of
permitting tie " illnesses TO know why
they Were here, and at this point an at
torney suggested that II would lie wen 10
take another adjournment"
Continuing. Nr. Barr Sd i'd The map, n blue
print. had been handed TO BIN by Attorney
Thomas. He was. he said. familiar with
the sul,iivisiO under consideration, and
went over i'll merely to note late improve
ments there.
Mr.. Barr was asked as to the lots owned
by his :iriu in Columbia Heights, as TO how
he yalIed them, and he repeatedly stated
that there was no price upon them because
they are not for sale. He regarded lots
east of Al as much more valuable than those
west--nlorc valuable relatively, tban any
lots in the Dennison and Leighton sub
diyis ion.
DECLINED TO VALUE THEM.
Mr.. Wilson persistently sought to have
the witncsS 10 place a value on certain lots
he would designate, and particularly upon
his own, but Mr.. Barr said he could not do
Naming certain lots, the attorney asked
Tim:
what do you ask for that property
1t is not for sale"
what viii you take for it?'
I'VE won't sell it,
What do you consider is a fair valuation
Tor it,"
"we bought the lots to build on
Not to seIf?''
Not to sell"
Again asksd as TO the valuation OF certain
lots, Mr.. Barr said they had paid 80 cents
per foot for them. They are on the south
side of Columbia road, are 1873 feet in
depth, ami he would agree To sell them at
S1.l5 per foot They are within l 600
feet OF the Dennison subdivision.
At another point Mr.. Barr'S attention was
called to property owned by Mr.. Theodore
Harding. and he was asked what price he
would place upon it. The lots referred to
are Ncs. / 23 to 1875, and Mr.. Barr said the
conditions surrounding governed the value.
He thought 81 per foot is ample for lot
122 OF Mr.. Hariing's holdings. This is
true, he said, OF lots 1 "a to 1876
Ibid you ever have any conversation
with Mr.. Harding concerning this prop
erty?''
Yes; 1 talked with him yesterday"
"Did you ever Express an opinion as to
the value of the lcts?''
No
''Did you place a higher price than 81
upon thcm?"
''No. sir. In the conversation some
thing was said about Mr.. Harding's own
price. j think he named Sl-5O.'
The testimony will be resumed this morn
ing.