Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-24
AWARD Of BOARD
RATED Amazing"
Continued from First Page.)

lots appealed from an assessment on
the basis OF a l0-cent valuation. swear
ing that he bought the lots in 1912 for
less than cents a foot and that their
true value was not more than or
cents square foot. For the corner
lot Immediately acros the street this
condemnation board awarded 50 cents.
Many such instances might be cited.
1t is true that the valuation placed
upon this land by the assessor was not
commissioners. We believe. however.
that the present assessment OF real es-
tate in the District Of Columbia is
just and equitable one. in spite of the
fore this condemnation commission in
dicated that the assessors figures were
far too low. We feel ourselves justified
in taking the assessors valuation into
consideration in this connection. The
assessments OF property in this par
ticular portion of the District have
stood for many years without substan-
tial change. and the only complaint re-
ceived by the District government is
that they have been too high. No prop
planned that he was underassessed.
Had such complaints been found in the
hles Of the assessors ONCE they would
have had some weight in supporting
some of the testimony adduced before
this condemnation board.
Record OF Property Sales.
I'VE are further persuaded to believe
that the assessors figures represent,
approximately, the fair market value in
the eastern section Of the city from the
fact that the record OF all the sales of
real estate in three selected portions
Of the eastern section of the city bear
out the accuracy of the assessments.
In these portions of the city during
four years past there were 40 sales of
volved in these transactions was ST.
sS4S19. The assessors valuation OF
this same property was $1.s43.So7
These figures show that apparently
the property in the eastern section of
the city is assessed at valuation
higher than the market value, but
when it is taken into consideration
that some Of these sales were forced
sales. for which the property was
transferred at a sacrifice, it will be
seen that the assessors valuation rep
resents practically the actual market
value
There is nothing whatever that we
can fnd to indicate that property IN the
eastern section of the city is assessed
at much less than half the correct ng-
ure, as this condemnation board ap-
pears to have found.
However, the fact stands out that
although the average square foot valu-
alton Of the assessor is IL cents; al
though the property owners have paid
taxes on only s cents: although even
the most pessimistic government wit
ness places it at 10 cents and the most
optimistic property owners witness
places it at 90 cents, this condemnation
board leaps far beyond and places the
price at 80 cents.
Only Question for Consideration.
Much as the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia regret any delay
in the provision of additional and more
modern high school facilities for the
eastern section Of the city. they feel
that the only question now before them
is the reasonableness of this award.
Their analysis Of the report of the
condemnation board convinces them
that the award is not only too high, but
that it is SO much too high that they
are constrained to dismiss the proceed
ings summarily, without having re-
course to their right Of appeal to
jury as provided by the code. The
award is of such character that the
Commissioners Of the District Of CO.
lumbia cannot consent to it's serving
ae even the basis of an appeal.
THE corporation counsel, therefore,
is instructed to take the necessary
steps to dismiss the whole proceed
ings.