Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
ENYc e. IN
NODAEl\o a. w. "Reiable Goods Only"
IN THE DAYS WORK OF
THE DISTRICT APPRAISERS

In touch with the values OF practically
everything bought and sold outside OF
houses and real estate.
-.
From the fact that the articles ap-
praised constantly are SO varied In char
acter and that an accurate valuation must
be set the responsibility resting on the
appraisers shoulders is, as Mr. Peterson
says. rather nerve trying. Neither OF
the two appraisers Is under bond. For
merly they were paid out OF the estate
that they happened to be appraising. This
was called the fee system" At present
they are paid a straight salary by the
court.
A few days ago the writer attended an
auction sale with Mr.. Peterson. AS the
different articles were put up. for sale
the appraiser estimated at once what they
would bring. Mr.. Peterson remained at
the sale for an hour and during that
time he did not vary three dollars in his
estimates from the actual price that the
articles brought. At that sale also pew
at St. Johns Church was sold for 81. 900
and a seat in the Washington Stock Elk
change for 5000.
Although 1t is somewhat trying" said
Mr.. Peterson. ''appraising never loses in
terest or pals on US. We appraise the
personal property of a millionaire. includ-
ing articles and furniture gathered per-
haps from the four quarters OF the earth.
one day. and that of a moderately well off
citizen the next: a mansion of art col
lect,ons and curios and then the ordinary
home. so TO speak. of an everyday pie
beian.
washington contains the finest houses.
the greatest amount OF antique furniture
and more genuine and wildcat mining
stock than any city in the country" Mr..
Pr terSon said.
Some Of the finest houses in the
United States are in Washington, not only
from the viewpoint of architectural beauty
but with regard to the splendor OF the in
side furnishings. which latter are of
especial interest to the appraiser
Finished houses have ever en-
tered. and have set set foot inside a
great many. was on Connecticut avenue,
a year or SO ago. The array of antique
and modern furniture, the pictures. tap
estries. bric-a-brac and general setting
was superb. We appraised these furnish
ngs at $4,000. Owing to the fact that
most of 1t was distinctly out of the ordi-
nary the appraisement work was very diff
e -uit. Antiques and specially made furni-
ture are liable to bring any price in the
open market and there was nothing to
base our calculations upon.
-
LAS one of the rare instances where we
went wrong in the value estimation. a
picture by Van Beethoven, which we APP
praised at $4,000. brought only 5000 at
the auction sale. A picture which was
insured for $4,000 and was appraised at
500 brought only $3.50 Among the per-
sonaI property was a diamond weighing Is
carats. an imperfect stone. which We ap-
praised at 5000. and two OF eight carats
each appraised at ST. 500. 1t is unusual for
us to go wrong in estimating. however.
and we always come close to the price
that the appraised articles bring at the
auction sale.
Speaking Of the sale Of the estates
at auction Of the 300 or more estimates OF
property that we make in year, the
majority OF executors and heirs OF the
property prefer IL to be sold at auction
rather than at the price set by the ap-
praiser. This is so because usually the
things bring little more than the esti-
mated value Of the appraisers. Needless
to say IL we have to err sometimes we
would rather estimate lower than the
market value than higher.
About the hardest things for us to ap-
praise properly are pictures. Walter
Paris. the well-known artist. who lived
In the city, had nine hundred water cOlorS
among his personal property. OF course
the basis of all our appraisements is the
actual present market value, regardless
of former cost.
while the appraising is not particu-
larry exciting. the attendant circum-
stances are usually anything but monot-
onous. Almost invariably when We an
nounce ourselves as the appraisers, we
are met with the following quer".
well, If all these things ar left to
me and are mine, / can't see any use In
finding out what they are worth
Following which We have to explain
at length that the appraisement Is for
the benefit OF the court, to prevent the
executor from unobtrusively making off
with anything and also because personal
property is always sold first in order to
pay of the debts of the estate and 1t can
be decided from the appraisers report
whether the real estate or house Will be
sold in addition to settle the obligations.
THE heirs always make 1t a point to
hold a convention at the house where the
appraisers are working and the scenes are
sometimes stormy. They question invari-
ably the estimates Of the appraisers and
they disagree as to who shall have GER
tain articles. Factions are formed and
.irst one side and then the other pours
it's tale of woe into the appraisers ears.
We rarely see any of the male benefici-
aries. incidentally, we are expected AL