The evening times., 1895-12-10
EXPERT STATES VALUES
Joseph Paul Examined at Length
id tie Court.
STREET EXTENSION CASE
Beginning Of the Proceedings Before
aJury-Tif, Witness Gives Il Minute
Statement 6f Market Prices of Prop
erty In the Subdivisions Affecir+A
Special Attorney for Government.

The proceedings under the motion for con-
deninatiOns for street extensions un,<r The
highway act finally got a starr before
Justice Cox in District Court this snorniIig.
There were twenty-five lawyers present 10
see that the details of the launch were prop
erly attended to.
Joseph Paul, a dealer, who testified to
having handled real estate since 1869, and
is familiar with subdivisions, was put on the
stand by the government. He was ques-
toned as to the value OF lots designa ted. not
only at present average, but with respect
to the effect upon the remainder by cutting
off the space required for widening streets.
The subdivision is that known as the
Dennison and Leighton, md Mr. Paul valued
the lots as at present, and when they shall
be Gu, up as folio ws, without improvements:
Lot "a at 81 per foot; value viii he de-
preciated about % per cent; lots At, 4o and
40, 220 feet deep, valued at 80 cents, will
dc enhanced, nobody caring for lot more
than 100 feet in depth: lots 1 As and AZ.
west OF Al, with houses built thereon, 81
per f0ot, and no effect VIII be produced by
deductions: lot 81, CORNER OF kenesaw
avenue and Fifteenth street, value 80 or
60 cents, effect or street opening Will be To
benefit it, the lot being "a deep one; lot 53,
with house off, Sl.50.
The effect of the lrss of ground VIII
decrease the niOney+naking power or that
remaining. Lot "a. un Columbia road and
Fifteentb street, 81 lots 122 t. 121, same.
Certain lots enumerated. he sad, would
be Increased in yaiuc from being placed
with a south fruBt on ninety-fuo street
Another he mentioned would, lIe thought,
be greatly bencfited, because IL would
hem in The lot in the rear. and the owner
OF the lot hemned In would be glad To
bay it. Lots 90 and G2 hegvalued at so
cents; lot 90. ais" 80 cents. Lots 6S TO
Z he valued at 20 cents per foot, 5nd The
effect OF the extension world be to nearly
double the value. Lot 122 he valued al
81. and lot l23. ut ! D cents.
EFFECT WOULD BE SMALL.
These are on Kenesaw avenue, and the
effect OF the extension would 5e small. Lot
l24, he said. is worth 90 cents, effect small:
lot I1s, 10 cents, and effect small Lot
liz aud some hair q dozen adjoining lie
valued at 60 cents.
The foregoing are given US samples Of
valuations in one neishborhood. Lots on
the Sixtcenti-street extension he valued
at 10. Is, 80, and SO cents, and some as
nigh as 40 cents per loot. Most OF the lots
enumerated, he thought, would b. benefited.
the depth being sufficient TO leave them OF
good size. Several lots, 70, 50 and : 1, he
valued at 35 TO soceuts.
The effect on property on old Fifteenth
street would te dependent upon " hat
would be done with the street. Lot l3i.
q corner property. might be benefited, but
the result is problematicai-
All the lots on old Sixteenth street,
If the street is abandoned and not Used
as ihoroushfare, will be benefited in
case the abapdoDed street reverts to
abutting pro perty. Other lots will be
greatly deprecated by the abandonment,
some OF them aisastrously.
The examination and cross-examination
OF Mr.. Paul lasted until ten minutes psst
12 O'Clock, most OF the lawyers registered
for the respondents having shy at his
testimony in Chief. He was asked when
and by what means he formed his con-
c.usions. and if. in the estimate of val
ues, he relied upon the Judgment OF 9TH
ers OF upon his own nowledge of the facts.
The prices fixed by Mr.. Paul upon tie
several lots in the subdivision were attacked.
He was asked if he did not know that re-
cent sales had been made at 4 high figure
in the localities where he had estimated
values at sixty TO seventy cents per foot
aud even lower. Cash purchases OF prop
erty at a rate of S1.20 per foot were sug-
gested. and Mr.. Paul was asked If knowl-
edge of that fact would have had any in
fluence upon his Judgment.
STUCK TO HIS ESTIMATES.
The witness was also asked to reiterate
the statements concerning property which
he had estimated to be worth 81 per foot
with improvements on ii ard at 30 per
foot in case the houses should be removed.
He stuck to his original estimate and
figures; whereupon Mr.. Andrew Lips
comb rema ked that it was the first time
lie had ever heard that proposition ad-
vanced.
1t was stated this morning that these
proceedings are consuming so much of the
time OF the attorney for the District, to
the exclusion uf all other important mat
ters now requiring his attention, that the
Commissioners are renewing their efforts
to procure 4 special attorney who will
! devote his time exclusively 10 the condein-
nation proceedings.
The attorney who does so will have to
depend upon future legislation for his pay,
| but the Commissioners have an item in
their estimates for such compensation. and
| will use their influence to secure the 6p-
preparation.
The next witness called was Mr.. Oliver
p Brown. It will not probably require
! so much time ta receive his testimony, as
| the Judge very strongly intinlated that seine
| agreement should be reached as tn the
| cross-examinations, in order that greater