Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-05
GARRISON MUST DECIDE
HOW TO ACQUIRE LAND
Shores of Anacostia River
Wanted by Government
for Public Park.

Secretary Garrison has been called
on to decide whether certain lands on
the shores of the Anacostia river re-
CURED by the government for the i'm
provement of that river shall be pur-
chased at the owners figures or
whether they shall be acquired by con-
domination proceedings. The property
in question is located between 10th and
23d streets and H and 1 streets SOUTH
east, and is more or less submerged.
1t consists Of part of square 1117,
square 1924, square 1871, square 1147
and the square south of square has
These five squares of ground belong to
Sidney Bieber, who bought them from
the United States government in 1904
and 1906 by congressional authorize.
ton for the total sum of $4,000. valu.
alton fixed at the time by special
board of army officers and approved
by the War Department.
They are included within the limits
of the area of the park to be estsb-
lished along both banks of the Ana
costa river from the Anacostia bridge
to the District line near the boys in
dustrial school.
Congress has approved plans prepar ed
by board of army engineers for the
reclamation and development of the
Anacostia river between the points
named and has. made annual appropria-
lions IOC lEelT eAeCNtlDn. Inc blStIlcl
Of Columbia appropriation act of
March ). 1913, making appropria tions
for that project, authorized the Secre-
tary of War to acquire, by purchase or
condemnation for highway purposes.
the fee simple and absolute title to the
lands along both sides of the river.
Wants SIS 900 for Land.
Col. Langftt, the engineer officer N
charge of the project. has arranged to
begin the work of Improvement at the
southern end of the line, and to that
end opened negotiations with Mr..
Bieber for the sale of the five squares
of land in his name. Mr.. Bieber of
fered to convey the lands to the United
States for $4,000. and Col. Langfitt re-
ported to the War Department that. I'M
der all the circumstances of the case.
he considered it reasonable offer.
He found on inquiry at the District
building that the property is now asses
sed for taxes in the sum of SS.1s5. which.
he said, would make its true value about
S12,11S and possibly more. He added
that the District assessor had expressed
the opinion that the title to the property
could not be acquired by condemnation
for any less sum than that now fixed by
the owner for its sale to the government
Col. Langfitt accordingly recommended
the acceptance of Mr.. Bieber's offer.
Assistant Secretary Breckenridge of the
War Department. to whom the matter
was referred did not agree altogether
with the conclusions of the engineers. He
returned the papers to Gen. Bixby, chief
Of engineers, with the following indorse-
ment:
Objects to Price for Land.
although this land costs more to OBJ
tain by condemnation. / think the de-
partment's record is made more secure
thereby 1t is unfortunate that We
should be required to buy back land for
thrice the price paid for it when it was
sold by some years ago.
On reconsideration of all the circum-
stances, Gen. Bixby agreed with Mr..
Breckenridge and returned the papers
to him with a recommendation that the
District Commissioners be requested to
institute condemnation proceedings for
the requirement of the land. Owing to
the delay in the requirement of the land
likely to follow legal proceedings and
the desire to prosecute the work of river
Improvement at once. II was decided to
leave the final settlement of the question
to Secretary Garrison. who accordingly.
has arranged TO have conference with
Mr. Bieber about IL Monday.