Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-01
PRICES ARE TOO HIGH
- --:4 +
Wanted by 0wers for Hall
of Records Site.
8
EXCEEDAPPR0PRIATION
ACTION WAITS oN THE RETURN
OF SECRETARY SHAW.
Some Property Holders Do Not Want
to Give Up Their Homes-Proposed
Location Opposed by Many.

Offers to sell 20 the government the land
in square 143, bounded by and F and
18th and 10th streets northwest, as site
for hall Of records have been submitted to
the Secretary Of the Treasury. This is in
accordance with legislation enacted by Con-
gress at Its last session authorizing and di-
recting the Secretary in his discretion to
procure by purchase or by condemnation
proceedings all Of that square for hall Of
records.
Much of the land in this square has been
included In what is known as the Hazel
ton syndicate. Mr.. George C. Hazelton ap-
pearing to act in behalf of number Of the
property owners. The aggregate price of
the land embraced in the square according
to the offers that have been made to the
Secretary to sell Is $+33 ,41O5O. The appro-
praton for this purpose by Congress Is
$Fp.WO, the Secretary of the Treasury
being Authorized to pay not more than that
amount
II the prices are regarded as excessive
the secretary can bring condemnation pro-
ceedfngs to secure the land The matter
has not yet been acted on by the depart
ment and 1t Is likely that nothing will be
done about 1t until the Secretary returns
10 this city. AS the case now stands the
bids have been received by the department
and are now on the files for future consid-
Grafton 1t is quite certain that unles the
aggregate of the bids is reduced so that
II VIII come within the'amount of the appro-
priation the offers cannot receive special
cOnSidera ton
Unless there Is such a reduction no course
will be left open for the Secretary except
to enter condemnation proceedings, which,
1t Is believed, will be the course to be pur-
sued
There are fifteen or twenty owners of
property In the square. Several of them
have Joined in making their offers for the
purpose, 1t Is understood. Of securing uni
form1ty In the prices asked and in order to
act together in the event of any further
negotiation that might be entered into be-
fore the transaction is completed.
Some Assessed Valuations.
The Treasury Department has obtained
from the office of the assessor of the Dis
trict Of Columbia List of the property on
square 143, the land In question This
shows that 1t has been assessed at 1921 821
and the improvements at s22. 100, making
the valuation of the square for the pur-
poses Of taxation ,S144,521. The law re-
quires the assessment OF property for the
purpose Of taxation to be two-thirds of its
actual value. sc /
Among the owners of square 143 are Mr.
John Hay, Secretary of State. and Senator
Stewart. Secretary Hay owns eight Of
the lots. These eight lots have been Of
fered to the Secretary Of the Treasury by
Mr. Hazelton for $133, 1850
The assessed value Of the sameI lots is
So, SOC, which, under the terms of me law,
should be two-t thirds of. its actual value.
Mr. Hazelton's entire negotiation in relation
to the property owned by Secretary Hay
has been with the, firm of Fitch, Fox &
Brown. which has acted as Mr.. Hays agent
for this and other property for a long time.
1t Is understood that sthe price given for
Mr. Hays property represents the original
cost to him with interest and taxes since
the date of purchase.
Mr.. HaZelton is understood to be the own
er of four lots that have been assessed for
taxation at $27. 404. The price for these four
lots submit ted by Mr.. HaZelton is $S4, 800.
He includes in his offer the north half of
lot 8. which at the last assessment was in
the name Of William ]. Wilson and valued
at 81, $50.
Mr.. Hazelton also submits offers for s4O-
46S. covering lots l, and 90 w. g. Met
zerott and Samuel Cross as trustees were
assessed $S,156 on lot 1 and improv ements,
and $2O8 for a portion of lot 2. Francis
Miller was assessed 1855 for the remainder
in the name Of the same trustees as lot l
and was assessed for $4,4s6. The total as
sessed value Of those three lots is accord
ingly $19.497.
was for $50, 451, covering lot Is, valued at
$40, $50; part of lot IA, valued at 81, 231;
part Of lot 10, valued at $129; part of lot
II. valued at $2l8. and part Of lot 1s,
Ndlueu Ut $7Uo. LIE HISt tWO pdTCSlS Stdn Is
assessed in the names OF Augustus v. H.
and Julia l.. Ellis, and the last three par
GELS in the name of Kate A. Waterbury.
All the other bids submitted are Of COM
paratively small sums, except that sub
mitted by Senator Stewart, covering six
parcels, for which he asks $4,000 These
are all assessed In the name Of Annie E.
F.. Stewart. and the valuation put by the
District assessors upon the land and i'm
provements is 9,497 One of these parcels
is lot Is, with 4,7O8 square feet. valued at
1897. with improvements valued at $500
more.
Opposed to the Site.
Some Of the property owners in the
square do not wish to surrender their
homes for government purposes, and many
citizens think that the hall Of records is
inconveniently and improperly located on
this square. These two classes Of people
express the hope that the Secretary Of the
Treasury will. in the exercise Of the discre-
ton given him by the law, decide against
the use Of this square rs the site Of the
hall of records.