The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-30
Double Prices Paid.

Government buyers. when Congress
dropped the hint that the war was over,
moved with a CELEBRITY quite astonishing
within the realm of officialdom. Their
offers were In some cases doubled over
night. A plantation for which they were
willing 10 pay 100000 the week before
was quickly .aker over for S437, 600
Before Congress could officially declare
tho camp abandoned the United States
was holding property for which 1t paid
s3,10S,661
While the Chamber OF Commerce of
Columbus. Ga. few miles from the
proposed camp, and the Georgia delega-
ton in Congress were banqueting and
entertaining army officers on the one
hand and pulling every wire that led
to Washington. they were busy putting
down the protests OF Chattahoochee
county citizens who did not wish to be
dispossessed. of their homes and who
feared so much land would be taken
that they would not be able to maintain
their identity as a political subdivision.
These citizens held mass meetings OF
protest at which they chose n commit
tee to go to Washington md lay the
matter before Congr6rs. DR.. c. y.
Howard. Jr.. of Cusseta. Ca. chairman
OF the committee. told his story to the
committee investigating War Depart
ment expenditures, denying the claim
advanced by those who were urging the
completion OF the camp on the ground
that so many of the farmers had sold
and left that Il was now waste country
and the Government was under moral
obligation to go ahead with the project
Relative to the prices paid by the Gov
eminent for the lands comprised within
the boundaries OF the Camp, DR.. Howard
and other witnesses testified they We're
very reasonable UP to the time Con-
gress first expressed It's disapproval OF
the completion OF the project after
which 1t Seemed TO be the purpose to
get possession of Just as much land as
possible in as short a time az possible.
and exorbitant prices we're paid"
DR.. Howard. who did not pose as a
real estate expert but as one we'll nc
quainted with current land values in the
community, having practised medicine
there for more than twenty years, placed
valuation OF 100000 on one planta-
ton that was purchased for s437 900 by
the Government. This was the same
piece of land for which about week
before. under different circumstances. as
hitherto explained, the Government had
offered $500 900.
c A. Rheuark. chairman of the board
of Chattahoochee County Commissioners,
also came TO Washington to urge the
abandonment OF the camp and the re-
| opening Of the lands for settlement. In
IA. - as,l.t Nn1 a oto
ment In part as follows:
There remains unsold several thou
sand acres Of land. and the county prop
erty. public school buildings. churches.
roads. &c. arc still III the hands of the
county authorities. Nearly all tho farms
are stu occupied by the original owners,
who are cultivating their years crop by
permission of agents of the War De-
! partment.
! "If the camp Is abandoned and the
lands opened for sale they will be bought
! by tho original owners and other farm
ers and kept in cultivation. II the War
| Department should refuse TO salvage the
| lands but should insist on holding them
indefinitely. waiting for Congress to
change it's mind and pass legislation al
| lowing the completion OF the camp, our
| county will suffer great loss.
1.-THE school buildings. churches and
I public roads will suffer from neglect
/ The lands in the county outside the res.
ervation will decline In value on account
OF increased taxation. We feel that the
building OF this camp and the taking OF
half our county was without sanction
Of law and precedent and in defiance OF
| the wishes OF Congress"