Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-22
jn24,tu, thurs,tfx
TESTIMONY COMPLETED
ON VALUE OF CONDEMNED
FORT WESTERN PROPERTY

Testimony was completed Wednes-
day afternoon at the court house in
the hearing before the commission
ers appointed by the supreme judic-
ial court to determine the value OF
the Fort Western property taken by
the City of Augusta by condemna-
ton for park purposes, the commits
| sioners being Hon. Josiah S. Maxcy
and Hon. George w. Heselton of
Gardiner and Hon. William j. Ian
nigan of Waterville. BY agreement
of the commissioners and counsel, il
| was decided that the matter will be
argued orally on Thursday morning,
August II, at the court house, which
will allow the commissioners time to
make up their report for October
term of the supreme judicial court.
The case of the owners of the
property which was opened Tuesday
afternoon, was resumed yesterday
morning. Henry F. Hill, civil engi-
neer. testified as to plans he had
made and measurements he had TAX
en- of the land in question which in
cludes the lot on which Fort West
ern lies. and lot of land on the op-
posite side Of Bowman street, on
which a stable and building for
merly used as a lunch room sets.
G. w. Bowie, superintendent of the
Augusta division of the A. e. X.
Street Railway, testified as to the
availability of one of the lots of land
for a freight shed for the railway.
1t appeared. according to his testi-
mony, that the railroad had. made a
partial agreement to lease the land
for a freight she'd contingent on the
| company being able to run a spur
track to that location. and that the
railway company had paid for four
months rent, but could not get the
permit for the spur track.
The land in question has value as
future site for commercial or other
buildings according to evidence Of
fered yesterday by witnesses for the
| owners Of the property. the Titcomb
Real Estate Association and Mary
II. Davies. DR.. o. C. S. Davies and
Samuel Utcomb testified as to the
value of the land. DR.. Davies stated
that the Fort Western land is worth
SIS front foot and contained 1874
side of Bowman street contained 37S
front feet. and that its value is $50
per foo.
Samuel Titcomb testified that five
years ago the owners of the property
had been offered 5000 for the Fort
Western building and land, but that
they then considered it worth $500.
He set the value of the land on
which Fort Western lies, at 60 cents
square foot with an area of 1000
square feet The lot on the oppo-
site side of Bowman street he esti-
mated at To cents a square foot for
$500 feet. and 80 cents a foot for
about 1900 feet.
Cross-examined by City Solicitor VI.
E. Sawtelle, Mr.. Titcomb testified that
George A. Bryant had paid a rental of
81 per month for the stable until he
was notified that it would be increased
to $40 per month. This latter rental
sum Mr.. Bryant did not pay. He ties
titled as to the time that the lunch
room building was occupied. Regard
ing the lot Of land with frontage on
the river. he testified that il could be
used for a coal shed and that it was a
natural coal pocket. And he testified
concerning plans made some five years
ago for a business block on the land
at the corner Of Willow and Cony
streets, or on the lot where the River
side hotel now lies Cues toned by
Commissioner Maxcy, Mr.. Titcomb tes-
titled concerning insurance on the prop
erty in question, and also regarding
the taxes.
In Rebuttal. Elmer E. ,Newbert Of
Augusta testified. He corrected an err
ror made regarding the value of the
land on the west side of Bowman
street, stating that with tho increased
footass Of which he had been informed.
at Is cents q foot IL would be worth
$5ess.so.
Charles A. Brooks and Frank e.
Tracy, contractors and builders. tes-
tined that they had made an examina
ton al to the condition Of the build
ings on the property. They had found