Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-17
UNION STATION GRADE DAMA6E
APPEAL JURY REPORTS ITS
FINDINGS TO COURT,
Declares Damages Claimed Are On
set by Benefits and Advantages.
Other Cases.

The Union station grade-damage 'ap-
peal jury composed Of William 7. Gal
liner. foreman: William +. GUIDE. John
H. Nolan, Richard w. Henderson, Frank
c. Henry. Oscar j. Ricketts, and Charles
Werner has reported to the District SUI
preme Court its finding as to the dam
ages alleged to have resulted to certain
real estate on Massachusetts avenue and
street between North Capitol street
and New Jersey avenue northwest. owing
to changes made by the District Com
missioners in the grades OF streets In
the neighborhood in connection with the
Union station and railroad terminal
work
The properties involved in the proceed
ings before the appeal jury were part
of lot in square 625. improved by No.
2 Massachusetts avenue, Thomas Nc
Mahon owner: lot in the same square,
improved by premises numbered 35 and
33le Massachusetts avenue. jeremiah
O'Leary owner. and lot 36 In square 626.
improved by premises No 800 North
Capitol street. and premises Nos. ] and
3 F street northwest. John J. Costinett
and Joseph r. Costinett owners.
The finding of the jury as to each Of
the properties is that the owners are
entitled to no damages on account of
the alterations made in the street grades.
Awards by Commission.
The cases We're considered by the jury
on appeals taken by the property owners
and the District Commissioners from ap-
praisements made by the Union station
grade-damage commission some time ago.
1t is stated that the commission awarded
Mr.. Mcmahon Ss1J as damages and
MIR. O'Leary 5000 and returned an ap-
praisement of nothing as to the Cos
tinett property
The appeal jury" found that the dam
ages which had resulted to the property
of the claimants had been offset by the
benefits and advantages which accrued
TO the property from the establishment Of
the Union station and the abolition of the
grade crossings in the vicinity. as claimed
by the District Commissioners.
The cases occupied the attention OF the
appeal jury several weeks, during
which time large number of realty ex-
perts and builders gave testimony before
the jury relative to the value Of the prop
erty under consideration, before and after
the grade changes. The taking Of testi-
mony was followed by summing up" ar
guments by the attorneys in the case.
Attorneys Philip Buettner, Leon ToDri-
ner and II. l.. B. Atkisson appeared for
the property owners mentioned.
More Appeal Cases.
A. Leftwch Sinclair. special attorney
for the District, who represented the gov
eminent before the appeal jury stated
today that there are a number Of other
cases pending where appeals have been
taken from appraisements made by the
grade-damage commission. but that the
appeal jury will probably not be asked
to take up these cases before the opening
of the courts in October
The Union station grade-damage COM
mission. composed of Charles A. Baker,
George W. Moss and George Spransy, has
adjourned until the middle of September.
and the members of the commission are
now off on their vacation.
Upon converting in September the COM
mission will hear evidence regarding the
damages alleged to have resulted to the
realty on the south side of e street be-
tween 1st and Cd streets northeast from
changes of grade the commission now
has under consideration the claims for
damages presented by the owners Of
property on the north side of Massachu-
sets avenue between LIST and I'd streets
northeast. and it is understood that their
appraisements as to this property will be
announced about September 10.