Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-10
CITIZENS IN PROTEST
Attack Assessments for Sprinu
Road Boulevard.
CLAIM RATES INACCURATE
Senate District Committee Hears OBJ
jections to Valuations of
Property.
CLAIM RATES INACCURATE

Attacks on assessments Of property in
the District were the feature of a hear
ing before the Senate District committee
this morning on the bill for the extension
and widening of Spring road to provide
a boulevard from the Soldiers Home to
Rock Creek Park.
I'VE believe the assessment books are
not only unreliable as to the real value
of property, but absolutely useless as
guide in estimating what jury will allow
for ground to be taken for public improve
ments." said E. 8. Kenny. George H.
Russell and William r. Loney of the
Park View Citizens Association In the
course Of a protest against the bill in
question laid before the committee.
Hundreds Of cases can be cited where
the assessment is far too low; others
where 1t Is, perhaps. too high; and we
know OF no condemnation case where the
jury has been Influenced in the slightest
degree by the assessed value.
True Value Not Determined.
I'VE believe the Commissioners have
not in this case carefully considered the
true value of the ground to be taken; that
they have not obtained any expert opin-
ions on the subject, but have been guided
solely by the assessments. which may be
and probably are out of date or incorrect
THE result is that they have valued
some of the land to be taken at less than
3 cents per foot for which jury will
probably allow 10 cents: some at less
than cents which will no doubt be val
ued at 20 cents. and some at Is cents for
which 90 cents per foot probably will have
to be paid.
AT 18th street and sprins road they
have valued piece of ground on one SIDE
at 50 cents per foot, while on the opposite
side for ground equally valuable their
valuation is Is cents.
I'VE believe that practically every foot
of land to be condemned under this bill
is assessed and valued too low, and that
the cost will far exceed the Commission
ers' estimate and the ability Of many of
the local property owners to pay"
Judson Explains Bill.
Throughout the course OF the hearing
members Of the Senate committee made
references to this attack on the assess
ments.
"One case, that OF property on opposite
sides of the same street." remarked SEN
ator Gallinger, lis almost incredible
'Is that the way you run assessments
here?" Senator Works asked.
Engineer Commissioner Judson, saying
that he knew nothing in detail of these
assessments, replied:
when they are taxed they. say they
are overassessed But when we come to
take their property they say it is under
assessed"
The bill under consideration was ex-
planned in detail by Engineer Commits
sioner Judson with the aid of a large
blueprint map prepared by the Commits
sioners, and he explained the necessity
for opening and developing streets in ad-
vance Of building development.
William H. Saunders. president of the Co.
lumbia Heights Citizens Association;
James s. Easily Smith, its vice president,
and w. B. Todd, its secretary.
Three Appeared to Protest.
1t was the contention of those opposed
to the bill that the cost of the improve
ments, or at least q part, should be paid
out of the general funds of the District
and not all assessed against nearby prop
erty holders. 1t was held that the bill
aimed to provide fine boulevard to con-
meet two big parks and that 1t would be
a benefit to the people of the whole Dis
trict
The case of 18th street was cited, and 1t
was recalled that for that improvement
there was a general appropriation and
only about one-seventh of the cost was
assessed against the nearby property.
Engineer Commissioner Judson answer
ed the argument. The extension was
made about ten years ago, he said and
property along 18th street extended be-
yond the Piney Branch bridge that sold
for ahouts4 cents a square foot before
the extension now sold for 81 or more a
foot.
I To Consider New Route.
"Hindsight is better than foresight" re-
marked Commissioner Judson. 1T would
seem that the increment to that property
would indicate that more might well have
been assessed against the benefited prop
erty owners. for 1t seems the increment is
greater than the cost of the land taken
for the extension
II remember I was earnestly solicited
to make fortune in land out that way
when the Improvement was made" re-
marked Senator Gallinger. Mr.. Easily
Smith suggested new route for Spring
road. other than that suggested under the
BILL and 1t appealed so much to Maj.
Judson that he said it would be given
careful study.
At the conclusion Of the hearing the
committee decided to refer the bill to
subcommittee consisting OF Senator Jones,
Works and Johnston, and that subcom-
mittee will make an inspection Of the
land proposed for the extension.
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