Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-12-02
LUMBER FIRM
HEARD ON STAND
Bought by Company in 1916
for S37,500, He Says
in Testifying
WAS ALLOWED S105,000
Jury in Appeal Case Comes
Here to Inspect Property
at Bridge Approach
WAS ALLOWED s105,ooo

NEW BRUNSWICK. Dec. 2.
William ]. Donnell, of South Amboy.
founder of the w. J. Donnell Ls11a-
ber Company of Perth Amboy, testi-
flying on the witness stand here this
morning in the appeal taken by the
state on the award made by the con-
demnation commission in the Perth
Amboy-South Amboy state bridge
approach matter, declared that the
property bought by his company for
$37.500 in 1916 is today worth $780,
600 to the company.
The Donnell concern was allowed
100000 by the condemnation COM
mission for 3.S2 acres, which Is less
than one half of the entire tract OF
8.75 acres purchased by the Donneu
concern from the National Fire
proofing Company in 1916. The state
offered the lumber company about
$4,000 for its property, which was
refused and condemnation resulted
When the condemnation commissions
ers made the $105.OOo award. the
state at once appealed and the trial
now under way Is to determine d.
fair price for the property whicli.stas
been used by the state in mak<ee,
LAc HOILHeIA dRkHJdIu ~ the new
bridge across the Raritan river.
The jury which will decide a fair
price for the property was selected
yesterday morning before Circuit
Court Judge Peter T. DAILY Only
eleven names appeared in the panel
of jurors published yesterday. the
name of Robert II. Wilmont OF Me-
tuehen, being inadvertently omitted
Following the selection of the jury
and summaries of the case by Con
over English for the Donnell concern
and Assistant Attorney General VIII
liam Newcorn for the state, Judge
DAILY instructed the jury to make an
inspection of the property. This
was arranged by Sheriff Gowen and
occupied the remainder of the day.
This morning the trial was resuns-
ed. Attorney English producing the
deed for the property covering It's
sale on July "a, 1916, from the fire.
proofing company to the Donneil
concern. Large maps showing fha
entire Donnell tract and the portion
taken by the state were on exhibition
for reference during the trail
Oliver +. Mitchell. the surveyor
who was engaged to do the survey fIsg
work on the property when first pur-
chased. testified that the amount
originally purchased consisted of SIS
acres of which 3.S2 acres were taken
by the state. He told of making
soundings at the end of the dock and
finding twenty feet of water at mean
high water on the eastern side. Tho
water was considerably shallower on
the western side of the dock. no
said. He also told of making mana
at the request of the Donnell Conn
pany showing possible railroad sid
ings.
Donnell Takes stand
Mr.. Donnell was the next witness
called. He said the waterfront prop
erty had been purchased because thS
Fayette street site was not sufIis
ciently large to permit Of EXPANSION
necessary to a growing business. Tbs
property along the river. he said,
gave the company water rates fne
shipping and lower railroad rates a
well as the PENNSYLVANIA railroad ais
lowed his concern competitivs rates
because Of the fact that facilities for
shipping by water were also availa-
BILE. A site for a mill was also made
possible at the waterfront properly.
he said. The property was graded
a dock built and foundations for
the piling OF lumber laid. he said;
shortly after the purchase.
The new location made It possible
for his company to handle other
building materials. no matter how
bulky the witness said. and the
frontage on Smith street made an
excellent outlet for truck deliveries.
The action of the state in taking part
of the property did great damage,
Continued on page 40
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