Evening journal., 1913-06-04
HIGH COST
OF SITE FOR
new BUILDING
continned rrom rIrst Page.

TO defray cost Of the big building,
and it was said today that some OF
the members of both bodies are
anxious to learn what Is to be paid
for properties for a building site be-
fore they vote for a bond issue.
The afternoon session Of the con-
domination commission convened In
the offices Ct william S. Hilles,
counse for the BUILDING Commission,
at ? o'clock and the attendance was
greater than that OF the morning
session John r. Healy. contractor,
was the first witness called and said
that In his opinion the building OF
the knights OF Columbus Hall Com
pany At Tenth and King streets, was
worth at least $4,000.
Joseph l.. Carpenter who WAS call
ed in the morning TO testify as 10
land values in that neighborhood,
said the land on which tho building
stood was worth $1,000 a foo, while
William j. Fisher said he placed the
value between 5000 and 1000 foot
and the land and building at $4,000.
Mr. Hilles called Charles G. kurtz
who said he placed a value on the
land and building OF S23.5o0.
The Hnies property adjoining was
then taken up. William S. Hilles was
excused from serving as attorney for
the con mission. his place being fll-
ed by Andrew @. Gray. Thomas S.
Hlles. who lives in the house. said
his usines was in Philadelphia and
the location was ideal for his home,
there being ample trolley facilities 10
and from the railroads He also spoke
OF the fact that his grandfather h d
planted trees In the garden, which
he claimed vas the flneet garden OF
it's kind IN the city. Mr.. Hilles spoke
Of his aged mother. saying that to
dispose Of the property and remove
her would be like signing her death
warrant. 1t having been her home
and her fathers before her. Mr..
Hillee said his property had 'front.'
age OF SO feet on King street, and he
valued II at $1,000 foot
J. Franklin Mehan, a member Of a
seed arm In Philadelphia. was called
as an expert In 5hTubb=Ty. He said
he had examined the garden Of MIR.
Hiliee and valued the trees at 1920
IN all
Leonard Morse. a landscape artist
Of Philadelphia. placed a value on the
ehubbery OF S3075. II was learned
during the examination OF the seeds
men and gardeners that there was one
tree OF tho Salisvuria yarity on the
Hilles property at least as years old.
This tree Il was said is the oldest
known variety Of tree today, speci-
mems having been found in the old
est fossils.
p. James Dallett. an architect, was
called and said he valued the Hilles
house at $4,000. Wallace r. Hance.
OF the engineering department Of the
dupont Powder Company. said he
tree OF the Salisvuria variety on the
building at $4,000 to 100000. Mr..
Hance was questioned by Attorney
Gray az 10 his knowledge Of architec-
ture. The witness said he graduated
from the University OF Pennsylvania
had worked for the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad Company and. also
for himself
Frank N. Overdeer. OF the Arm OF
" D. Haddcck Company. placed a re-
placement value on the property at
s16.366.SO Lewis 7. Grub placed n
replacement value at $4,000. while
William J. Fisher gave as his opinion
$4,000 for replacement and said the
ground we worth az least $500 a foot.
Mr. Fister in reply to a question by
Mr. Cray said that land values had
Increased in the neighborhood since
the subject Of the joint building was
first announced.
o. G. Gooden and John j Monaghan.
real estate brokers. placed the value
OF the land at $1,000 a foot. Cornelius
Mundy said It was $3.50 a foot on King
street and $3.50 a foot on French
street During the hearing of MT
Mundys opinion. he said he purchased
the property No SEQ Market street
twenty feet front four years ago for
$4,000 and has refused an offer of
$4,000 for H. He is asking $1,000 a
foot for It.
Joseph l.. Carpenter placed a
value on the Hilles land at $500
foot J. J. PIERCE, called by Mr..
Gray. said he placed a value on the
ground az $500 a foot William r.
Kurtz said he valued the property at
$4,000. AT this point Mr.. Dallett
was recalled and said In his opinion
he had not placed a value on two
tenant houses on the French street
side Of the Hillee property. These.
he said. amounted to $4,000 addi-
tional.
The property Of DR.. S. C. Ebert
was taken up and Robert n. Rich
ards. his attorney. questioned the
owner. who said his property had a
frontage Of 50 feet on King street,
and Is PIG feet deep. He purchased
it ten years ago. paying S9,625 for
the King street end, and $4,000 for
the French street end Il required
on expenditure OF s35560 to I'll in
the lower end. which had been used
ae a gravel pit More than $500 had
l. n spent in grading and terracina
the. lawns. DR.. Ebert told OF the
work done in finishing the interior
saying that in order to place electric
light wires in the building. the par
tition walls had to be tunneled and
the wires laid. These walls, he said
we're of brick. twelve inches thick
This work. with the electrical fix
lures, cost Sl.59S.40. DR.. Ebert told
Of other Improvements made to IN,
property amounting to more thar
$4,000. He said that the French anC
King street properties we're mort
gagged for $780, and he placed a re
placement value on the buildings a
$4,000
Dir. Ebert told Of securing tn
place for a home. it being near hi
Office and drug store at Tenth an,
French streets and OF his acting a
night clerk This he said saved hin
at least $25 week as he could no
secure clerk under that price VIII
would be competent He said it wa
difficult for him to secure a suitabl
homo for raaeonc for which H. cof