Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-11
WITNESSES ARE HEARD
AGAINST ANNEXATION
Proceedings in the Matter of
Extending Boundary of
Alexandra City. ID

That the taxes would be greatly IN.
creased without any benefit being de-
rived was the statement OF witnesses to
day at the hearing before Judge Gordon
at the Ale- Andria county courthouse In
the annexation case OF Alexandria and
Fairfax counties against the city OF Alex
andria.
J. w. Roberts. president or the Mutual
Fire Insurance Company of Alexandria
city. but who resides in Mount Vernon
district. Fairfax county, declared he vas
opposed TO the annexation OF the pro-
posed territory TO the city OF Alexandra
Mr.. Roberts said he and his sisters owned
about 1870 acres OF land. part OF which Is
i'm territory proposed 10 be annexed. He
said he owns no property in Alexandria
city.
Grounds OF Opposition.
The witness declared the belief that
the annexation would raise taxes, and
that he did not believe any benefit would
be derived therefrom. Regarding the
granting OF liquor licenses in the ter
ritory. If ii is annexed, Mr.. Roberts
said il would be disastrous TO the COM
munity. judging from the past, when
liquor was sold in that section.
He declared that at that time there was
much more disorder than now. The wit
ness declared that order at the present
time is very good. He also stated that
he thought the property the Fairfax
county side was better than that inside
of the city of Alexandra.
J. l.. Loose. president Of the Washing
ton Florist Company of Washington.
was another witness for the counties cp-
posing the annexation. Mr.. Loose said
his company owns about ten acres OF
land and greenhouses in the proposed
territory. The witness was opposed 10
ha haaa ha A.
not see how any benefits could he de-
rived by the property owners. and Tor
the further reason that. i'm his opinion.
there would be an increase in the taxa
ton.
The witness contended that the section
In which his companys land is located
does not need any city Improvements
He went further and declared that the
improvements there are now even better
than Is the property within the Sty
limits.
c. s. Roberts a feed dealer who stat ed
his residence is in Fairfax county. but
that he has place of business in Alex
andria city. declared he could not see how
the portion OF Fairfax county within the
proposed territory would be benefited by
the annexation. He said there was
great deal of improvement to be done
within the city before II should be done
outside.
Health Conditions Above Average.
The health conditions I'm West End
Va, which is within the proposed terri
tory. the witness declared were above the
average. He testified also that the tax
assessments i'm his territory were lower
than those I'm the city. As to the depre-
citation OF property in the city of Alex
andria. Mr. Roberts said his property
there originally cost about 100000 but
that within the past twenty-five years il
had deprecated about 30 per cent in
value.
On cross examination the witness said
thtis depreciation was due principally to
the shipments by railroads instead OF
the water route
Former Gov. Montague. appearing FOR
Alexandria county, asked the witness II
he had made an examination as 10 the
depreciation Of the wharfage property
Of Alexandria city. The witness said II
was a matter of record.
Others who gave testimony today in
opposition TO the annexation were DAVID
Grillbartzer, Frank Nichols and Frank
Ballinger.
1t Is expected that the hearing will
close with the session tomorrow.