Evening journal., 1919-09-09
PROPERTY OWNERS
SEEK DAMAGES
Say Philadelphia Turnpike
Improvement Has Re.
duced Ground Values
HEARINGS co OVER
UNTIL SEPTEMBER IL

Hearing Of the committee on the COM
demnatlon Of properties along the Phil
adelphia turnpike in Court Room No. 2
city building yesterday was long and
strenuous.
Perspiring witnesses, barristers, ana
property owners were in session from
9.3O o'clock in the morning until 6io
O'Clock last night, and then an adjourn
ment was made until Wednesday. Sep
tember ~. for further hearings on the
cases not yet settled
Yesterday afternoons session was
taken up in examining witnesses pro
duced by the property-owners in the
cases Of Albert C. and Willard g.
Ryan, Walter j. Scott. Harry Hurn,
Clarence II. Gamble, Ann Parish ana
George Lodge, and Ella Malin. Ihe
cases OF Milliard +. Seeley, William IL
Kramer. Margaret J. Wier, Harry A.
Sedgewick. and Bessie +. Nlullin were
settled at the hearing in the morning
the property owners and mortgages
agreeing that the increased value OF the
land. due to the improved thorough
fare would offset any damage 10 their
respective properties. provided suitable
compensating arrangements were made
by the county. as has been planned by
the State Highway engineer.
The testimony on the other cases In
the afternoon session was very conflict
ing. Witnesses on the stand at the
afternoons hearing included William B,
Smith. Jr.. county assessor, Marshall p.
Tindall, excayating and building expert
Carroll W. Griflth. land valuation ap-
praiser, Alfred H. Moore. Thomas Malin,
husband OF property owner, Albert c.
Ryan, co-property owner and Harry
Hurff, property owner.
Thomas Malin said that his business
at Shelipot Park had been practically
ruined, and that four acres OF his wife 5
land had been inundated and rendered
practically valueless by the raising OF
the road nine feet above the level OF
that part OF his land fronting along the
pike. He also said that a hedge which
he valued at $500, was lost by him as
a result OF the new road being put
through
Testimony in the case OF the Malin
and Lodge properties differed so much
'as TO present an aspect OF the ludic-
rOus. Marshall p Tindall said that Il
would cost Sis.OO7 TO MI the land in,
TO bring IL up TO the levels Of the new
pike and Of Shipley Road Mr.. Tlndall
also stated that the cost Of placing the
wooden houses. which are located on
the property, mp on the level OF the
terrain outside Of this property would
be S120. Carroll w. Grihlth testified
that in his opinion this property had
been worth $4,000 prior 10 the build
ing Of the new road, that 70 had now
lost - per cent. OF its value. and could
not be worth more, at present, thar
s6.25O
Colonel Weller T. Slower had testinet
In the morning that the total deprecia
ton Of this property was S2Osi due tC
the construction Of the pike. and thai
the four acres near the new road yver,
now worth about $500 per acre. a.
compared with $500 per acre before IN,
improvement
Fully as much confliction IN the evi-
dence was encountered I'm the case OF
the property Of George Lodge and Ann
Parish, which is a farm Of rs acres
assessed at S6O.4OO
Mr.. Moore, a witness for the owners
testified IN his opinion the property had
Deen worth S25SOOO before the inn.
proyement had been started. which sum
Is si9L6OO more than the assessed
value and that the present value Of the
property is $4,000, depreciation OF
$4,000
IN the same case Marshall p. Tindall
stated that in his opinion the Lodge
property had suffered 10 the extent OF
S52'2'S In that IL would require that
amount to make the land suitable for
building purposes.
When asked by Robert II. Richards.
attorney for the commission, what