The Washington herald., 1910-07-10
Commission Asks Appraise-
ment of the Property.
OWNERS MAY MAKE PRICES
Congress Starts Improvement of the
Space Between Union Station and
Present Parl-win Lay Ont Two
Wide Avenues-Fits Into Burn
ham Park Project.

Station. This interest centers not only In
the manner in which property values
viii be affected IN tho vicinity, but IN
the additional beauty which will be given
to the avenues and streets south OF the
station.
The plans of Congress with reference
to this region were set forth in clause
OF the sundry eivR bill enacted at the
last session. 1t was thge declared to be
the purpose OF Congress to acquire
twelve squares OF ground lying between
Union Station and the Capitol for the
purpose Of laying down new avenues and
enlarging the Capitol grounds. The bill
appropriated $4,000 to begin the aeauI-
sition OF the property. and continuing
feature of $4,000 annually for seven
years until the sum needed 10 secure the
property should be reached.
/ Bill Names Commission
A commission composed of the Vice
President, the Speaker OF the House,
and superintendent OF the Capitol was
named to carry out the behests OF the
bill. This commission met last week and
took preliminary steps toward the pur-
chase OF the property. Advertisement
was inserted in the daily papers request
ing offers from the owners OF the land
and buildings contained in the twelve
squares proposed TO buy
According TO usual procedure, these Of
/ -.
and will be opened on the afternoon OF
August 10. In case the offers are &C
ceptable to the commission they may he
accepted and the land purchased.
Generally II occurs that several parcels
Of land are appraised too high by the
owners. and the commission then resorts
10 the appointment OF a committee OF
experts TO appraise the property and re-
port thereon. In the case of the five
squares recently purchased by the gov
eminent between Fourteenth and FIT
teenth streets, Pennsylvania avenue, and
the Mall. this committee was enabled to
make terms with the owners and theiT
appraisement was accepted by the COM
mission authorized by Congress. AS 9
final resort, Of course. the commission
can take the land by condemnation pro-
ceedings in the courts.
VIII Lay Out Avenues.
One purpose OF Congress in enlarging
the Capitol grounds is to establish a new
avenue on line from the front Of the
station TO the Peace Monument. This
will be wider than Pennsylvania avenue
/ I'LL Fns. nv 81
curve at First street near the monument
It VIII connect the station with Pennsyi
vanla avenue by means of wide and
imposing thoroughfare fanked by park.
ed spaces, similar to those which sur
round the Capitol.
Delaware avenue VIII be widened and
its line slightly changed so as TO Great,
thoroughfare similar to the one de
scribed between the station and the Cap
! kitol. This will be fanked on the cas-
! side by some parked spaces and the Sen
ate Office building. All the space be
: tween the two avenues, not taken up b.
: the alphabetical streets. viii be given u
to parking purposes.
The Improvement thus projected vii
completely alter the territory between
/ the station and the Capitol and will malS'
It in time the most attractive place IL
D Washington. It viii give the strange
3 upon his arrival in the city a wide ant
] magnificent view toward the south ant
present q picture to him not excelled Fl
any American city.
Value of the Property.
The ground involved in the propose,
government purchase contains 1,167,5s
! square feet. The assessed vssae of tn
5 land is S1,711,207. and OF the improve
g ments, $66s.s7S. a total of $2.s75,1so.
Congress in estimating for the sppro
priation Of $4,000 a year for seven year
s for the purchase OF this property con
: sidered $s,5Oo.O00 a fair price for tn
: whole. being an increase OF about one
: third over the assessed valuation.
: IN its EFFORT to secure information bear
e ing on the reasonable value OF the prop
: erty the commission has secured from til
assessors office the three prior assess
T ments Of this property and the assesses
\ value since the first of the presen
n month. The greater portion of the Ian
is unlmproved or only slightly improves
with buildings originally of moderat
cost that have been deprecated by tn
I change Of grade resulting from the i'm
: provement in the Union Station plaza
: OF the total assessment value OF tho i'm
provements-s663. 97S-over two-thirds. o
: sac. 200, is assessed against the building
: in the three squares MOTH Of and ad
joining the Capitol grounds.
: VIII Produce Fine Result.
: Ten years hence, when this improve
ment shall have come near completion
= Union station will be hanked on tn
west by the new city post-off1ce. and jus
. beyond aIdeady stands the Government
Printing Office. one Of the largest an
in many respects one of the most show,
buildings in the city The Senate off1c
: building is now about finished and Wi
be one Of the architectural features Q
: the vicinity. It Is likely by that tim
, that about the plaza will stand severa
!, hotels. apartment houses. and dwelling
: OF ornate design.
Gradually the proposed approaches I
: Union Station and the accompanyin
parked squares, with the identifying O
the plaza viii take shspe, and the ne,
: park viii readily be one OF the beaut
. spots of the National Capital giving (
the visitor grand view upon his arriva
pleasing and resting his eye upon his &c
parture. Probably nothing now projecte
4 will minister to Washington's sense c
; largeness more than the working cut G
these plans for the extension OF the Car