Evening journal., 1914-02-12
CITY BALKS
ON PRICE FOR
PROPERTIES
Council Thinks Figures Too
High on Nine Houses on
Proposed Park Land
AGREE TO PURCHASE
SEVEN AT PRICE FIXED

Ownc of properties in the Tenth
ward. ne site at Third and Adams
STREETS. ahere the city has planned
to locate a public playground, we're
given hearing last night by City
Council Sitting as a committee of
the whole. Sixteen properties are
involved in the deal and the city mas
agreed 10 purchase seven OF them.
The prices asked for the other nine
are considered excessive by Council,
and the hearing was held last night
in an effort TO reach an agreement.
/ The owners of the nine remaining
properties appeared, and each claim
/ ed that the price asked Is equitable
and just, and gave their reasons for
this belief Following the confer
ence the committee held an executive
session, at which John ]. Monaghan,
the city's agent In the matter, was
authorized to make an offer TO each
owner Of a price considered by the
city to be fair.
The first owner to speak was Al
fred b. Moore, of the firm of Gibbons
and Moore. He did not favor a dis
cussion Of the subject in public,
I especially If the case had to be taken
TO court for settlement later, but he
gave a history OF the property. and
claimed the price of $4,000 and carry
ing charges for ive years to be a
just one.
Mr.. Moore mentioned that there
had been some criticism of the fact
that the building on the property was
not in first-class condition, AMI he
declared the property had been kept
in its present condition that the city
would not be put to more expense IN
tearing down a better structure.
Mr.. Moore said he knew the city
wanted the property several years
ago and ior that reason his firm had
not expended any money on II for
improvements. He quoted the case
OF a building AZ Eleventh and Mar
ket streets which had to be torn
down almost before the mortar be-
tween the bricks was dry. 10 make
way for a larger building.
Mr.. Moore intinated that it had
been the intention of Gibbons and
Moore TO erect an apartment house
On the site which would yiela about
% per nsnt.
Il think I'll become a real estate
man." exclaimed Colonel Stover at
this juncture.
Mr.. Moore pointed out the fact that
Gibbons and Moore always kept their
properties In dlst-ciass condition to
disproye the assertions that they
maintained sbacK on the site.
He declared that considering the
fact that they had let the property
lie idle for several years, holding
IL for the city's use. that the price
they asked was just one.
He mentioned that II the firm had
carried out the improvements con-
templated the city would have had
10 expend about $4,000 or $4,000
for the site instead of $4,000.
Park Commissioner y. II. BaynarJ
substantiated Mr.. Moore's statements
Colonel Slower. chairman OF the I'm.
ance committee. then explained ths
position OF Council In the matter. H'
declared that Council had no inten-
ton OF lighting" any Jody. or takinl
land away from them in an unfair
manner. He stated they had simpl,
considered some OF the prices asked
Tather excessive and as representa-.
tives OF the city II was their duty L
Investigate the facts. He said tina
the difference between what they con
sidered the property worth and tn
price asked by the ners might b
J very small IN some instances, bu
Council thought Il best 70 try TO ge
together With the ovnc~s FOR the pur