Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-04
BENEFITS DISCUSSED
ASSESSMENT JURY HEARS EVE
DENcE IN 18th STREET CASE.

The 18th street extension assessment Jury
met at the city hall yesterday afternoon
and resumed the hearing OF evidence for
the District regarding the benefits which
have resulted to adjacent real estate owing
to the opening of 18th street from Florida
averue northward to Lydecker avenue.
Two realty experts were heard by the jury
yesterday.
The first witness placed ON the stand by
the attorneys for the government was Mr..
Aaron E. Mclaughlin, who stated that he
had been engaged in the real estate busi-
ness for eight years in the District and
had testified frequently before street-open-
ing juries regarding damage and benefits
due to the establishment of streets. Mr..
Mclaughlin explained TO the jury that he
was familiar with the property through
which 18th street has been extended and
that he has been considering for several
weeks the effect the extension has had
upon real estate in the neighborhood. The
witness testified that the property fronting
on the new street has been improved T5
per cent to 100 per cert by the extension Of
18th street, and that the enhancement in
the value of the property Is traeeable alone
to the extension; that in arriving at his
opinion he had left out of consideration
the extension of the car line and the
buildings that had been erected In the
neigiiborhood since the street was opened
a thoroughfare.
Mr. Mclaughlin thought the property In
the entire neighborhod had been helped by
the extension of 18th street. Mr.. McLaugh-
lin was cross-examlned by Attorneys Leo
Simmons Charles II. Merillat, Eugene A.
Jones, Charles w. Clagett, III. Prescott Cat
ley and William ID. Sullivan, who repre-
sent certain landowners concerned. The
witness did not change his testimony under
croSs-examination.
Mr.. Dodge Testifies.'
he
for the District was Mr.. T. Conrad Dodge
Mr.. Dodge stated that he has carried on
the real estate business in the District for
fifteen years: that he was connected with
the B. II. Warner Real Estate Company for
several years during that time and after
ward was associated in business with the
the real estate business.
Mr. Dodge informed the jury that he was
acquainted with the property along the line
OF eleventh street, as extended, and that
he had studied the question of whether Co
lumbia Heights property had been benefited
by the opening Of the new street The wit
ness stated that property In the nesghbor-
hood has been greatly benefited by the ex-
tension and that the ground Auditing on
the extension has increased in value about
70 per cent. as a result of the opening OF
the street. Mr.. Dodge thought the property
on Esilp avenue, between Lydecl1er avenue
and Spring road, had been benefited about
so per cent by the extension.
William E. Sims and Walter l. Hopkins,
local real estate brokers, were in attend
ance at the hearing this afternoon, and 1T
is understood that they will give evidence
for the District after the cross-examination
of Mr.. Dodge is concluded. Mr.. Dodge did
not finish testifying yesterday. 1t is stated
that the introduction of the government S
testimony will probably occupy the atten-
ton of the Jury for two or three days more.