The Washington herald., 1907-05-26
YALUESAT VARIANCE
Prices AskedfOr Fairgrounds
Cause Inquiry.
DIFFER FROM ASSESSMENTS
Commissioner West Says He Finds
Amount Wanted for Property Far
by AssessOrs-Thoroug Investiga-
tIon Before Further Purchases.

because OF tlle disparity III llit dSScSSSu
value Of property offered for sale TO the
District as sites for Fairgrounds. school
buildings, station houses. &C, and the
prices asked therefor by the owners, Com
missioner West yesterday stated that
either the District is being asked ex
orbitant amounts for property for mu-
nicipal purposes. or else the assessment
is radically wrong.
In view Of the fact that the District is
now interested in the purchase Of consider
able property, Commissioner West, who has
immediate jurisdiction over the assessors S
Office, is making a comparison Of the
prices asked for the ground and the value
placed upon the property by the as
SCISSORS.
One Of the first cases concerning which
the inquiry was instituted was 2 propo-
sltion to sell 10 the District tract for
playground in South Washington. near
the James Greek Canal, for $4,000 The
assessed value Of the property, according
TO the books in the assessors office, was
$j,6j1. In addition to this. Commissioner
West secured the personal opinion Of
Assessor Griffin. who stated that, in his
opinion. 5000 would be a generous price
for the property. Under these Circum-
stances. Commissioner West refused TO
give his consent to the purchase at $4,000.
Prices Exceed Assessed Values.
Another instance where the price asked
the District is at variance with the as
sessed value is in the proposed purchase
Of six lots in Howard University subdi-
vision for $4,000, about 30 cents a foot. In
response TO Commissioner Vests request,
the assessor forwarded a memorandum
10 the effect that the total assessed valua-
ton of the property was S9.T4 or a prob
able true value upon two-thirds basis OF
S4.561. In view Of this large disparity be-
tween the amount asked for the property
and its assessed value. Commissioner West
brought the matter 10 the attention Of his
colleagues, and further investigation is be-
ing made.
\ third case which attracted COmmis-
sioner Vests attention was an offer 70
sell to the District at 80 cents per square
foot a part OF a lot in Howard University
subdivision for use as part of the site
for the water department stable. The re-
port Of the assessor shows that the prop
erty is assessed at 10 cents per square
foot. in addition 10 which, according 20
/ the assessor. the owner made a positive
statement before the board OF equaliza-
! ton and review that 10 cents per square
| foot was the value Of the property. The
/ assessor also stated that improved prop
erty IN the same section on paved streets
and paved footways was not valued at
more than 40 cents.
/ The fourth case is proposition 20 sell
l certain lots on Meridian Hill, Ia the
! reighborhood Of Seventeenth street and
| Messmore place. for $ioe0. an average Of
/ IS cents per square foot The assessed
value Of the property is &193l3. and the
| assessor reports that upon a basis Of a
! two-thirds valuation, the true value would
/ be SgSg70. or nearly &l7oo0 less than the
/ price az which the property is submitted
{ to the District The assessors books
/ show that the lots are assessed from - 70
( g. cents per square foot, and In regard 20
three Of the lots the records show that
! they were originally assessed at ~ cents,
/ but the assessment was reduced 70 g
/ cents on the sworn statement Of the adj
/ ministrator Of the estate owning the prop
erty that % cents "a foot was the best
/ offer that could be obtained for the prop
erty. Final action in this case has not
/ yet been taken.
/ Commissioner VIII Investigate.
/ L have had several conferences with
/ the assessor regarding the property sub
mitted to the District" said Commis-
| sioner West yesterday. "and have told
him very plainly that the disparity be
tween the prices asked and the assessed
value Of the property is one that seems
/ impossible Of reconciliation.
"The investigation shows continued
/ Mr.. West. that either the District is be.
/ ing asked to pay exCrbitant amounts FOR
/ property necessary for municipal pur-
/ poses. or else the assessment is radically
| wrong. In view Of the fact that the Com
missioneTs are responsible for the eX-
peuditure Of money. and especially be
cause so much has been said in Congress
regarding the amounts paid for property
/ shall give the matter very serious con
sideration before approving the PROPOSE.
tions which have been submitted