Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-07
Month May Be Required to De-
eide Upon Award for Rail-
road Property.
NEARLY SIX SQUARES
INVOLVED IN THE DEAL
Arthur Place School Holdings Will
Be Last Parcel to Engage Atten-
ton of Commission.

The commission of awards for the
proposed extension of Union Station
plaza has begun the last and most i'm
portant and difficult stage of its de-
liberia tlons-to determine the fair value
OF the property of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad. comprised in the area to
be acquired by the government. This
may be the work of a month, with
united ends of the business of the COM
mission. probably bringing it's activi-
ties and life to close before the end
of a year after about thirteen months
of work
The Baltimore and Ohio holdings con-
sist of three entire squares and the
greater part of three other squares.
and in value and area are about half
the entire property to be acquired. The
total awards for the Baltimore and
Ohio properties made by former COM
mission by condemnation proceedings
aggregated s1.729,417.
The award to be made by the present
commission NAV not exceed an amount
equal to the price at which the prop
crty was acquired by the present hold
err. with per cent per annum added
From debates in Congress and other
sources this maximum valuation
based on the cost and an increment OF
per cent Eeariy-apProAihiaee a.
14i 1000.
If this figure is correct. there will be
at least saving of s5S5,417 to the
government, under the former award
But this figure is not officiai or certain
and may be the subject of discussion
and adjustment at the hearing to be
held Friday.
The Baltimore and Ohio has in no way
signified its purpose. But there is eS-
pectancy that it will be represented D.
its counsel Hamilton, Yerkes & Hamil-
ton.
Doubt as to Railroads Plans.
Statements made in Congress have
neither been questioned nor accepted
by the railway as representative OF the
cost of the property. 1t is not known
whether a revision of the figures will
be demanded on the strength of testi-
nony to be submitted or whether
complete acquiescence will result.
Nor is it by any means sure the COM
m ssion of awards, in fixing the fair value
of the Baltimore and Ohio properties, Will
offer compensa ton for title to the max
inum amount allowed by the law. In
view of the fact that values of properties
;,pproximating Baltimore and Ohio hold
ings in location and Importance have
been fixed by the commission, it is ex-
pected that there will be a purpose to
arrive at actual values on the basis of
other awards. In this event the award
may be even less than the maximum val
uation possible. and result in greater
saving under the former condemnation
award.
The provision of the law under which
the commission is proceeding to value the
properties of the Baltimore and Ohio
reads:
provided however, That the purchase
price to be paid hereunder for any of said
real estate which Was owned by either
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany or the Real Estate and Improvement
Company of Baltimore City at the time
when said action numbered ten hundred
and forty-siX was instituted, shall not eX-
coed the bona fide. actual. original cost
thereof to either Of said companies. plus
six per centum interest thereon from the
date of purchase by either of said COM
court confirmed the awards made in the
aforesaid district court action numbered
ten hundred and forty-six."
Arthur Place School Award.
The commission has made awards for
all parcels of small properties, exclusive
of the Baltimore and Ohio properties and
the Arthur Place School, in the area to
be acquired The school property will be
acquired by condemnation the question
will arise as to the disposition of the
amount OF this award--whether 1t will
all he covered into the Treasury to the
credit of the United States or whether
half will be credited to the funds of the
District of Columbia, which contributed
half of the purchase price
The small properties have been valued
az an aggregate of s1.3s1,H15. against
the award of s1,42790 made under
the previous condemnation proceed
ings- This means a saving of S4s,492
mere are one or two acceptances of
awards still withheld and few titles
the remaining business before the
commission, other than the disposition
of the Baltimore and Ohio properties