New-York tribune., 1907-10-30
PRAISE FOR EXPERTS.
THEIR METHODS SHOWN
Charles Griffin Noses Says Most
appraisers 1frc Capable Hen.

Those present last night at the real estate
school of the West Side branch of the Young
Mems Christian Association, in 9th street
had facts. figures and other data laid before
them to show that the life of the man who IS IN
demand expert appraiser of real estate Is
indeed a strenuous one This interesting and
important revelation made by Charles Crit
fifth Moses one of the leading real estate
brokers and appraisers Of this city who
spoke on "Appraisers Expert Testimony
About every time a piece Of real estate
is TO be acquired by the city tn carry out some
proposed improvement, commissioners in CON
demnation appointed to hear evidence 1e-
garding damages sustained by property owners
and what assessments should be placed on par
cells to be benefited directly by the prop'sei
Improvement. The findings of the commission
ers are not final until approved by the court.
In such proceedings expert appraisers are usu-
ally pitted against another, ana should the
awards be considered too high or too low 10y
property owners the expert real estate apprais
ers are vehemently denounced by property own
ers Sometimes these experts are called a gang
OF novces." men who get large sums OF money
for poor services" and worse names. occasion
ally they are praised. but such occasions come
about once or twice IN the life OF most expert
real estate appraisers.
In his address Mr.. Moses did not mince his
words III submitting NtIbdl anu '''''
TO prove to his hearers that the majority Of
expert appraisers employed by the city or in
cases against the city are unquesttonably honest
men, and, moreover. with the necessary qualih-
cations for the work.
''In practically all kinds OF condemnation pro
ceedlngs the city and the property owners re-
Ccved equitable treatment at the hands of such
experts" SAID Mr.. Moses with emphasis. And
1 want TO take this opportunity to praise the
great work done in such cases By the employees
of the Corporation Counsers office, especially
by John T. Dunn and his assistants. l recently
read a letter published in newspaper in which
the writer said that there were many young
lawyers employed i'm the Corporation Counsel's
office at from $500 TO $1,000 a year. who could
not earn that money year At private practice.
Now, I hold just the opposite view. though I
have always appeared in cases against the Cor
poration Counsers office, being expert I'm the
employ of the person bringing the action, What
surprises me is that the city IS able to get so
many good lawyers for a sum so small for the
services rendered.
Mr.. Moses added The late Thomas c. Smith
was one of the abest expert appraisers. A short
time after l had appeared in several cases,
which was about seventeen or eighteen years
ago, Mr.. Smith called on me to give me some
advice Tn giving this advice he said be
cause don't want you to break down physically
or go crazy. My panacea for preserving your
health and continuing as an expert appraiser IS
to first evolve your theories as 10 the value OF
the property to bc appraised and then reduce
10 writing your theories and your figures show
ing the values you have arrived at. and then.
If YOU satisfied that your conclusions are
right, you must dismiss the subject from your
mind and keep ii out Of your mind until about
a day before you arc TO testify. Then look over
what you have written about the matter and.
if necessary, revise your figures. DO not try
70 carry figures in your head. When testifying
read carefully what you have put on paper.
Then again after you have testified, once more
dismiss the matter from your mind
Good real estate experts" continued NJ
Moses, ARE always in demand both by the city
and property owners To use a slang express
sion, the expert must be able TO deliver the
goods Lawyers who make a speciality Of the
work are always willing to pay an expert large
sum for his services. As lawyers who make a
specially Of condemnation proceedings are few.
it does not take an expert appraiser long TO be
come acquainted with all OF them"
The highest grade Of real estate work IS OK
pert apnraising and the expert in that work
does more TO raise the real estate calling 10 the
dignity Of profession than any one else The
expert In testifying must not only be sure of
his values, but be able to prove those values
The best experts confne their activity to one
section because no man can accurately appraIse
property in every district between the Battery
and Hunts Point The simplest way Of proving
values Is quoting values established by recent
sales in a section. An expert testlfying In CON
demnation proceedings should base his testl-
mony on an appraisal Of the property under
most favorable circumstances. An expert should
never allow lawyer TO make him change his
figures regarding the value Of property. More
over, expert should avoid glttering generali-
ties IN testifying."
Mr.. Moses then illustrated on the blackboard
the methods he used in appraising certain
parcels.