Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-05-14
George Paddock, Memhl
OF Old Highway Board
Is Witness TODAY
LANDPURcHASE HEARIN

Considerable questioning then tod
place concerning the purchase of Il
lands and the conversations that tod
place in the various regular and q
eeutive sessions of the commissioU
Mr.. Paddock stated that the opinioIX
Of Engineer Meeker were usualI
read.
Asked what was the price plae4
on the fifty foot right of way for fiI
bridge. Ms. Paddock said il ri
$4,000. Mr.. McCran asked il fbi
figure was not fixed for the entid
property and Mr.. Paddock said ths
he asked Mr.. Burton this questiaI
and he said: No" He deciareI
that he did not know the figure MAJ
ed on the Donnell property u,
based on $12. 900 per acre. and aga
declared in answer to a. ouesfiaI
from the attorney general that
never saw the appraisals.
Mr.. Mccran then read from n
minutes OF the commission showif,I
that Engineer Meeker had s.a.aI
that the Donnell's were asking &
excessive price for the properf
Asked il he was present at fh3}
meeting. Mr.. Paddock replied
I es. Asked what the figure VsI
ne declared that he did not remef,I
Der. Would you say it might ii
$4,000 p asked Mr.. McCran. M
Paddock aswered yes
Asked why he did not insist 81
the condemnation of the uropertj
Mr.. Paddock stated he was leavin|
the entire matter in e hands n
Mr.. Burton and the engineer an
expected them to use their bes
Judgment. He declared that Il
could not pay much attention !
that part Of work as he was bas
engaging an engineer for the brida
work.
A section of the minutes wss = 2
showing that a motion had bee
made to condemn the properf:
Asked why this had not been carrie'
out Mr.. Paddock declared that 81:
Burton advised the Commission (.
negotiate for the lsnd He said III
had the opinion that the commits
sion could only condemn what land
wes needed for the bridge, but 4
they purchased the whole tract fhe|
would use what was necessary and
then sell the rest.
Asked again why he did not al
wise the commission TO condemn tn
property. he said that Burton
Judgment was that the land could IL
purchased at a better price than tn,
commission could buy it for und y
condemnation proceedings. He sal.
that he voted for the purchase .
the property because Burton an.
Meeker said it was alright Mr
Paddock also declared that the pur
chase price Included the good vii
of the Donnel company. why lis
you as a commissioner vote for goos
viii 90 asked the attorney general
Mr.. Paddock replied. Because
thought they deserved some dam
ages.
Mr.. McCran then recalled that III
day before the purchase was mad
the commission had assembled i
the Packer House here and ais
looked at the property. Mr. Pad
dock admitted this to be true
Asked If he saw any good viii o.
the property Mr.. Paddock stated
thl he went there mainly to Sc
the location of the bridge. but a.
also remember seeing some lumhe
and imagined that there We're build
ings further up the site. He sal
that he did not vote on the propertl
as 2 result Of the investigation. bn
because Burton. Meeker and W5s
ser recommended that it be par
chased.
The hearing adjourned for n re
cess when Mr.. McCran said: .-Thef
is no doubt in your mind that VOL
aske him CBurton) If the apprafs
was for the commission ~ Nj
Paddock declared there was no
and that he did not know the,
were DouuelIs figures
The hearing was adjourned at
o clock.