The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-20
THE PRICE TOO HIGH
Hoboken Citizens Attack the
Purchase of the New
School House Site.
COMMON COUNCIL PAID 22,5oo
Real Estate Experts Testify That
the Property Was Not Worth
More Than SIG. 500.

Senator William D. Daily, on behaif OF
George Wright, Julius Schlatter, VIM.
j.. Winges and others of Hoboken ap-
piled to Judge Lippincott last April lor
a, writ of certiorari to review IN Inc
Supreme Court the action of the HOBO
ken Council in regard to the school site
purchased by that body for S22,500. les
timony was taken yesterday in the Coun-
ell Chamber, City Hall, before ex-Judge
William E. Skinner. for the purpose OF
learning the real value of the properly.
The property in question is located at
the southwest corner of Newark street
and Park VENUE, and belonged to the
Peter Kerrigan estate and Reese =.
Francis. The property is said to be
worth no more than S14.0ao, while many
property owners say that if a purchaser,
other than the city, wanted it they could
in all probability get it for $4,000.
VALUED TOO HIGH.
The first witness called was Real Es-
tate Dealer John c.. Crevier. He testl-
fed that the property, in his opinion,
was not valued at more than Sl6,5oo. For
the corner lot, he said, he would pay
s4.5Oo. and s., 900 each for the three other
lots. When Corporation Attorney Min-
turn asked him if he would not nave
raised The price if it was his property
and the city wanted to buy it, he said
yes he would. but he'd never have the
nerve to ask s22, 800 for it.
Not by $1,000" he added.
Assessor James E.. Dollard said he as
sessed the property at 5000, about one
half its value. He thought the property
not worth more than sl6,5e0.
Real Estate Dealer George w. Wright
said $50, 500 was an outrage upon the
citizens. He valued the property at
s14, o90-not a penny more.
On request of Senator DAILY the hear
ing was postponed until this morning.
The Senator said he had any number
of citizens who would testify that the
property was unfit for school purposes,
and ought not to lave been purchased
at any price.
When the hearing was continued this
morning Mr.. Wright was recalled and
testified that the sewerage was very
bad and that there were two factories
in the neighborhood, from one of which
continually arose a sickening odor. He
considered the property to be unhealthy.
Julius Schlaetter testified that a few
years ago the corner lot was sold for
1000, and the others for $1,000 each.
he OlQ not lnlHh the property Ado IN
creased any in value since.
NOTHING TO INCREASE ITS VALUE.
John R. Virgins testified that when
he was assessor The property was val
ued at from $4,000 to $15. 900.
mo improvements of any note have
been made since to increase it's value"
continued Mr.. Virgins, land ! think the
price paid was at least $1,000 in excess
of its real value"
Cooperation Attorney Miatur- then
tried to impress upon the minds of the
witnesses that the City Hall, the Hobo
ken Bank, Bank for Savings and the
principal street in the city were only
three blocks away. But he had to smile
himself when the others laughingly told
him that the swamps were only a couple
of blocks further off, and if they went
much further back from the City Hall
they would have to build IN the mead
ows.
An adjournment was then taken until
eleven O'Clock.