Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-27
UNION STATION SITE
Sale of Buildings Today for
Terminal Company.
THE BIDDING LIVELY
NAMES OF PURCHASERS AND THE
PRICES PAID.
:.
Property Located on Massachusetts,
Avenue, First Street, I'd
Street and K Street.


street ana Il SCIeeC.
: Promptly at 10 O'Clock Auctioneer James
". Radcliffe began the sale by auction OF
the brick and frame house on the site OF
the proposed Union depot to make room
for improvements by the Washington Ter
minaI Company. and within two hours ana
a half had completed the contract He
had his first stand at North Capitol,
streets and Massachusetts avenue north
east. The prices paid ranged from $50 to
$500 per house, according TO size, characlei
and condition of buildings.
After naming each piece OF property TO De
placed on the block and reading the condl-
lions of the sale, Auctioneer Ratcliffe turn
ed and pointing to the vacant coal once
Immediately behind him, inquired: Boys
what will you give for it?"
At this time the assemblage of prospec-
tive purchasers was small Some one VINO
evidently did not wish to buy "a cat IN the
bag" inquired as to the dimensions OF the
property Mr.. Radcliffe was not acqualnteu
with the dimensions, and said: GU VIII
have to use your eyes, everything Is pehoio
YOU. - ,x,,
The bidding for the property was begun
by some one who piped out: Ten ooiiars.
The auctioneer was WIS., billy perturbed ana
spoke as if he regarded the bid as joke.
His remarks quickly enhanced the value OF
the brick and mortar, and some one ven
t,lred bid of $40. This met with approval
The price quickly increased to $50 and was
Knocked down at that figure to Mr.. Charles
King, jr.
Again the auctioneer explained that the
purchaser or purchasers of each parcel
would be compelled to give bond or deposit
cash in the sum of $500 to insure the re-
moval Of the building or buildings and the
clearing of the ground occupied within
date cases
where possession has not yet been obtained
within thirty days after vacation Of present
tenants. All purchasers were required to
deposit 25 per cent of the price of the
buildings in the hand of the auctioneer on
the spot. The remainder Is to be paid at the
office of the auctioneer some time today.
The auctioneer then moved up MaSSachu-
sets avenue to No. 10, a dilapidated two
story frame dwelling. By this time the
crowd Of spectators had greatly increased,
and 1t Immediately became apparent that
the bidding would become lively and inter-
esting. A bid Of $25 was placed on the
property named. The figures went up, and
Mr.. j. L. Lacy was awarded the prize for
the sum of $40
A.. The procession. with Auctioneer Ratcliffe
IN the lead, wendell its way on up Massa-
-chusetts avenue and across the tracks OF
the Baltimore and Ohio railway to several
houses on E street near LIST street. The auc
tioneer retraced his steps down e street
and up list street to California street, stop
ping now and then to sell family dwellings,
weather-beaten huts shanties offices and
stables, at the same time remarking that
all must go and that 'all stood on their
merits"
From LIST and California streets the crowd
went north to F street, thence to Chicago
street, to G street, to ST Ann court. In the
latter thoroughfare Mr.. Radcliffe and the
bidders were rendered reception by the
-'sunshines' of the alleys. About six of
these bellies seated themselves on the steps
of a house, which was to be auctioned and
some one inquired whether or not the girls
a fnnlndQd in, tha Ia rha
ladies took offense and Immediately sought
refuge in their nearby houses.
Leaving ST. Ann court, Mr.. Radcliffe led
the way through narrow alley, and after
scaling a small fence and climbing over
several huge rocks. announced that Cab
bage alley had been reached. This court is
lined by shanties of the oldest type which
are occupied .by colored people. Most of
these people have lived in the alley many
years, and expressed regret at the necessity
of seeking new homes. With but little de-
lay the crowd found its way out of the al |
ley to Delaware avenue. and an attack was
made on one Of the huge warehouses for
merly occupied by the National Dairy Com
pany. This warehouse is about forty feet
wide and 14O feet in depth. Bids on the
building opened at $50 and closed at $500
AIR. I. Edward Clark being the highest
bidder. The crowd. which by this time
numbered at least 500, followed down Del
aware avenue to G street and into Jack
sons alley, back to 1st street, to H street
to LIST street, to K street, to Delaware ave-
L
came to close.
The buildings sold, the names of pur-
ehasers and the prices paid follow:
Coal office, North Capitol and F streets.
Charles King, jr., $50; IS Massachusetts,
avenue. J. l.. Lacey. $40; % Massachusetts
avenue, Charles King, Jr. $40; 1O2 Massa-
chusetts avenue, ]. F. Mccormick; 1O4 Mas
sSachusetts avenue, Frank Higdon $50:
400 and 1O2 street. T. E Clark, S145 each:
-JO1 and 500 list street, T E. Clark, $50:
dwo brick stables and fence; list and Cali.
.fornial streets, Michael Raedy, $50; t23 F
street T. II. Pickford, 1850; frame shed.
chicago street near LIST street William
Peters Sl.5O: 124 g street Wa Carter.
lSlOo; 126 G street, T. E. Clark, $50; l32 G
street. Pat Gleason, $40; lbs ST. Ann court
u. T. Clark, 81; lib Cabbage alley. c. P.
Purefoy, So; 121 Cabbage alley, T. E. Clark,
y: 121 Cabbage alley, Michael Raedy, S45;
~ and 131 Cabbage alley, T E. Clark. 81
each: LII Cabbage alley H. J. Mofrutt $l9;
warehouse Delaware avenue. formerly oc-
cupaed by National Dairy Company T. f.
clark. $50; coal Office and shed, Delaware
aAvenue and G street, T. E Clerk $50: IA
-ackson alley, Michael Raedy. $40; 80 Jack
son alley. Mrs X. Brown, So; 724. 7241s and
20 lst street, Frank Hgdon $50 each: on
I'd street. Charles King ST. $50: as n street
Charles King. ST., S75; 100 H street. Michael
Raedy. SIS: IA H street. u. F. Knott, S37:
oio lst street. r. NJ Parker. $40: eli LIST
street Frank Higdohse SIS: ,a13 1st street
w II. Dawes. $50: 931 1st street. Michael
Raedy. $24s y33 lstestreet. T: Il. Clark. $40:
1u9 street. H. o. Emmons, 81; 9IS Della.
ware avenue. Frank Higdon. $47.
= Conference Held.
= The plans for terminals. the necessary
buildings and the. proposed. improvements
5eoahected ~ieh-the mammoth project are
commanding the attention of the officials
sof the railroads interested. party. of
the officials of the Baltimore and Ohio
sRaiiroad Company from, Baltimore, Md.
ana number of contractors from New
York visited Washington day or two
ago The party Included General Manager
Sims. General Superintendent of Transpor-
st.ation Arthur Hale. Mr. Thomas Fitzgerald.
river. and Engineer Graham and Contract
,.ors F. G. ,Gebelman. George w. Young
and John r. O'Rourke
-. The party Inspected the work that has
mus far been accomplished and viewed
the ground TO, be used by the terminals,
the storehouse and freight yards. The con-
tractors 80 whom 1t is likely the con-
tracts not already let will be awarded.