Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-12-03
HEAR EXPERTS
IN LAND CASE
Tell of Dock and Value of the
Land-Case to Take
Long Time

NEW BRUNSWICK, Dec. 3.-The
third day of the hearing on the ap-
peal of the state in the w. j. Dom
nell Lumber Company bridge ap-
proach condemnation decision open
ed this morning with no indications
of counsel for the defendant COM
pany completing his list of witnesses
today. Real estate men, dock build
ers and lumber authorities gave tes-
timony of varying length yesterday
afternoon and this morning telling
of the value of the property owned
by the Donnell concern along the
Raritan river in Perth Amboy before
and after part of it was condemned
by the state for use as a bridge ap-
proach.
Testimony of witnesses for the
lumber concern to date has been for
the purpose of showing the desir-
ability of the Donnell property as
originally purchased and of the det-
rimental effect upon the remaining
tracts as the direct result of the
state building its bridge approach
through the property. Frank r..
Wallace. an Elizabeth lumber dealer.
testified yesterday afternoon thai
condemnation of the land eliminated
the possibilities of carrying out the
developments planned. He also
spoke on water freight rates.
Gail G. Bennett. of Camden, an
other lumber dealer spoke particu-
larly on the freight rates by water
and by rail. Both rough and dress
ed lumber can be shipped from
North Carolina to Perth Amboy by
water for less than one-half the
railroad rate. he said, giving figures.
Joseph Massopust Perth Amboy re-
altor. said the property was worth
$4,000 an acre to, the concern until
1t was cut by the bridge approach
which reduced its value to $4,000 an
acre. An additional $4,000 should
be added for riparian rights. he said,
the locomotive house on the properly
being worth $3.50.
c. Douglas Fraser. another Perrin
Amboy real estate man. said ne es-
timated the property to be wortn
$4,000 an acre to the Donnell con-
cern at the time the state took part
Of It. Now, he said the tract on the
eastern side of he bridge Is worth
$500 an acre while the fronting on
Smith street is worth SIS a fronl
foot. Under cross examination ne
said there is a possibility OF the lum
Der company acquiring new trac'
from the National Fireproof1ng COM
pany for $4,000 an acre. The aver
are price paid for property in thai
locality four years ago and prior to
that was $4,000 an acre. Mr.. Fraser
said. When asked why he placed a
value of $4,000 an acre on the Don.
nell property in 1928 and only s5.Voo
on the Crossman property which ad-
Joins. the witness said the physical
condition of the two tracts maoe
this difference.
Max Gibian of Perth Amboy. testi-
fed as to property values in the pur-
chase of the Wonderland Park site
in that city. John N. Wester. OF Me-
tuchen. told of the depreciation In
value of the Donnell property as the
result of the bridge approach.
James e. Walsh, Staten lsiano
dockbuilder. estimated 1T would cost
$4,000 to replace the dock which
the Donnell concern quilt along their
waterfront. He made no allowance
for depreciation since the. structure
was built. He said the life of dock
ran be estimated at between twelve
and fifteen years. Arthur l.. wick
berg. another dockbuilder, of Perth
Amboy. said it would cost S14,0OO to
replace the dock. lie did not con-
slider the depreciation on the DOCK
either in his estimate.
Assistant Attorney General VIII
liam Newcorn told. curing his cross
examination of Mr.. Fraser, or tne
intention of the state to provide aho
maintain a thirty foot road undei
the bridge approach archway, con
Meeting the Donnell tracts In orosi
that the damage to their property
might be minimiZed.