Evening star., 1908-01-24

I
of Hepburn Bill.
PROMPT ACTION ADVISABLE
Effect on Prices of Adjoining Land
by the Government Acquisition
of Single Squares.
The wisdom OF the proposition Il pnr-
chase outright the twcnty-siN squares
lying south of Pennsylvania avenue ana
between I'd and lith streets, as outlined
in Senator IIcyhurns bill. and tho uawis-
dom OF simply making provision for the
purchase OF single squares now and then
as urgent public requirements demand.
for the erection Of much-neci"d public
buildings. are clearly perceived when the
character Of the property located in those
squares and the effect of the single square
purchases are taken into consideration.
While these squares unquestionably
contain many very valuable business and
some valuable residential properties. Yet.
tire district will show that tic so-callcd
improvements in the squares aontem-
plated in the Hepburn bill arc mainly
dilapdated. timc-worn buildings and
shacks of little OF no value. when have
been allowed 10 sink into decay without
repairs or improvements for years. This
is due. il is claimed. because for more
than quarter of century II has bcfn
recognized that the ultimate fate Of all
the holdings in that section was u be
gathered into the possession of the gov
ernmcnt some day for the very purpose -
which the Hepburn bill proposes 10 apply
it. Consequently for years the owners
have been afraid 10 erect new buildings
or to repair the old ones lest the seal 81
condemnation Of the property for GOV Verh-
meEta use be put upon their efforts Be-
fore they could be consummat"d.
Advance in Values.
In some quarters, as. for instance. tbs
property lying adjacent TO the Center
market and occupied by commission mcr-
chants and for similar purposes. business
demands have greatly and legitimatcly
enhanced values. But in many instances
the increases have been due to the manip-
ulation OF spectators. OF. In a more ef-
fcctive manner, to the purchase of "A sin
gle square here and there and the erec-
ton Of a public building thereon. as In
the case OF the Post Office Department
and the new municipal building.
There has already been published in
The Star brief description OF square
.26 bounded by Pennsylvania avenue and
street and 1ith ard 18th streets. lt
was very clearly shown that the property
in that square has CRAFTY appreciated in
value since the 1W3-6 assessment. and
that. too. without any material improve
mcnt in the class of buildings in the
sut.are.
Immediately next to square 40. facing
18th street on the west. the new munc-
pal building on the east. and between
ID and l. streets. lies square ool. the next
in the tier of five squares on 18th street.
Beginning at the corner Of 18th and II
streets. with the business building recent
ly erected by Andrew g. Graham at con-
siderable cost and along l. street toward
18th street. there one good three
story brick dwelling. one small brick
house seven frame structures and a low
one-story brick edifice at the corner oc
18th street used as storeholse by \
liquor company. with saloon on the
corner.
on 18th street are the I-ke residence.
now vacant: the Capital Bicycle Clubs
homo. the old Police Court building AMI
the nurses home Of the Emergency Hos
pital. The ID street side of the square
contains no pretentious buildings either OF
business or residential character.
willie the 1ith street frontage. facing til,
new municipal building. shows. besides
the Graham building. only the old famil-
lar yellow structure owned by the NailorS
and now occupied by tine Speedway sta
bles and an automobile concern.
A Sympathetic Rise
Except or the march of progress on the
north side of the avenue and the location
just opposite of the Municipal building,
nothing has occurred in recent years in or
adjoining square 221 To increase its value.
Yet within the past three years the prop
er;y on 18th street has taken a big rise
and the other property. by sympathy. has
gone up by leaps and bounds to nearly
double what il could have been bought for
al private sale five years ago Ii IS caim-
ed by some Of the owners that the loca-
ton OF the new Municipal building has
completely changed the character Of the
property from poor class of residential
property 10 valuable business sites. and
this claim is supported with strong arSu-
ments for. it is said. just across tile
street ground has recently been sold aE
nearly $40 a foot which could have been
bought Il short time asc-and there Nai
sales of it--at less than 81 foot.
one owner 'es, imateS tae value OF 4 small
piece OF ground which h has i'm the ~
terror o. the square. alley property. as
easily worth $40 a foot. The Graham
property. which. before thc erection .. I'll.
structure which now occupies ii. might
nave bttn DOIeII. Ii - tAd diill'u t't us
than Slg 4 foot is now estimated To ~,
worth SIS IA foot. .Nnotliar lot which cpsE
$1,000 three years ago is held at SlI.ot-
Still another. which was freely oF"t tnb
years ago at 5000 is now held At SN..''-
Mr. Nailor feels that his property has -
enhanced in value that he Will not even
set value upon II.
The total number OF square feet III ths
square is approXima tely 1o,i:H At the last
general assessment ii was valued al MIL
40 for the ground. and $500 for tie
improvements. This makes S1S?, ,1l1. or an
average per foot of about $50, including
improvements. for tax purposes. or a real
value Of Ssh, $3.50. OF about Si."., a foot.
If the owners are correct III their eSi-
mate of the value Of their property. and
there seems To he some support Ia Their
claims evidenced by recent sales this
sauare has nearly. il not quite. doubled
in value in the last few years One ..
the large contributing forces to this re-
suit II not the chief one, is freely ad-
mitted to be the purchase Of the square
south of the Post Office Department and
the one ror the Municipal! building now
about completed.
The Taxable Values.
The following table from the tax assess
ors' records shows the lots. the squar,
feet contained in each and the assessed
value OF tile ground and improvements.