Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-29

nov general pointed out that these
fgI,rss appeared in the commission s
minutes, a copy of which was sent
70 each commissioner for his REFER
ence. so that even if the commas
sjoner had not heard the sum men,
toned at the meeting he would nave
road it in the minutes. The witness
said he was a busy man n not
always able to read all of the lengthy
aThe question discussed by the
hoard was How much land would
be needed for the approach! n
not What will be the price OF the
land?'", the witness said, explain
ing that no mention of prices was
made to his knowledge. .,
The witness was not able to tell
why the commission, after ordering
the land condemned, had decided 10
buv without condemnation proceed
inrs. Collins also said he was not
aware of any sums being used TO
influence the commissioners TO vote
favorably on this question.
Charles T. S~eabrook, of Bridgeton'
the third commissioner to testify,
said he considered the $230,000 fair
at the time he voted for the pur-
chase of the land. He could not re-
call Engineer Meeker having report
ed the ~appraisals of $4,000 an acre.
"Why did the board not con-
DENIM" Seabrook was asked. Il n
other members of the board Snder-
stood that we could acquire lands by
purchase which we could not pro-
cure by condemnation. l understood
that we could not condemn over a
certain width"
THE board never received an
opinion from my office saying that
you could purchase what you could
not condemn" McCran said.
Seabrook said he never saw the
property in question as he was sick
at the time the inspection trip IVES
made. He denied knowing anything
about the $25, 000 present" which
Evans said vas given Cannon. The
witness said he bought that the ac-
tual work on the bridge would be
speeded up if the property were
bought at once, but he said he would
not have voted for the urchase had
he known the ~appraisals Burton sub
mitted were the going concern values
procured by the Donnell company.
Seabrook said he had a slight rec
objection of Burton having mention
ed the appraisals of Boynton Bros.
and Steuerwald and believed Burton
had given him the impression that
these two valuations were not to be
seriously considered as the apprais-
ers were not responsible real estate
men. Burton further explained that
the Donnell firm had bought the land
for $150,000 in 1916, Seabrook testi-
fed.
Did you know that that state
ment Was absolutely false" asked
McCran. mo, 1 did not" was the
reply.
John Ferris was the fourth and
last commissioner called during the
afternoon. He told of resigning last
July following two years on the
board. Ferris said he never say
Engineer Meeker's report of the ap-
praisals but had heard Burton read
the figures $245.000 and $227,000.
why did you not condemn ?" 81
understood it would be a slow pro
ceeding and as the bridge was in bad
condition and the people were ask.
ing for action l, upon recommends.
ton of Mr.. Burton, voted to buy the
property rather than condemn"
Ferris said he had not seen Bur
ton since the day he resigned as 6
member of the board. He denied
that anyone had spoken to him with
regard to his voting in favor of the
purchase of the land, and declared
that if he had been approached he
would have refused to vote for the
purchase of the site. The witnes.
said he knew nothing of the $4,000
mentioned SO prominently in thu
Drobe-