Evening star., 1926-10-10
TO AID
SCHOOL SITE BUYING
Richards knowledge May
Prove Valuable Under rs
Per Cent Restriction.

Tax Assessor William P. Richards
was detailed by the District Commits
sioners yesterday to assist Maj. Lay
son E. Atkins, assistant Engineer
Commissioner, in procuring sites for
proposed new public school buildings,
which has developed into an exceed
ingly difficult task because of the re-
striction on price to % per cent above
the assessed valuation.
The plan of having the tax assessor
cooperate with the Assistant Engineer
Commissioner in charge of the ac-
quisition Of property for municipal
use originated with Engineer Com
missioner J. Franklin Bell several
months ago. Mr. Richards objected
when the idea was first advanced~~He
said he did not want to be put in a
position of assisting in purchasing
property that he had assessed
The two other Commissioners. how
ever. approved Col. Bells plan, and
yesterday Mr.. Richards met with Maj
Atkins for the first time and arranged
to attempt to purchase land for some
of the school sites for which appro-
priations have been provided
Holds knowledge Valuable.
Commissioner Bell believes that Mr..
Richards knowledge of property
values and assessments will be Of de-
cided benefit to Maj. Atkins when he
starts on a site.f1nding expedition. AS
a result of the initial conference be.
tween the two, Maj. Atkins indicat ted
that he had gained considerable infor-
nation as to the value of land in
Brookland, where he is now looking
for a site for the proposed new Junior
high school to serve the Brookland-
Woodbridge communities.
Funds for the purchase of nine
school sites are carried in the appro-
priation act for the current fiscal
year, and thus far none has been ac-
quired. Diligent efforts have been
made to buy sites within the % per
cent limitation, Commissioners Bell
pointed out. but property holders
have been unwilling to sell to the
District at price considerably lower
than investors offer
Even If the property Is con-
demned," said Col. Bell, the condem-
nation Jury undoubtedly would award
price much higher than the District
can pay under the present restriction.
1t has been done aften in the past
and l have no reason to believe that
the juries will change. In one case
new lingering in my memory, con
demnation jury awarded a price 200
per cent higher than the assessed
valuation"
Delays Cost More.
While the 25 per cent restriction is
precluding the purchase of available
school sites, Col. Bell explained that
1t also undoubtedly would result in
the District paying a higher price
next year for the property now de
sired, providing Congress removes the
limitation, which it will be asked to
do at the forthcoming session. Land
in the sections where it is planned to
erect new schools, he said. is con
stantly increasing in value. A delay
in the purchase of property now will
mean that the District will. have to
pay higher for 1t later.
Besides the Brookland site, appro
priations are available for the pur-
chase of the following property to be
used for school purposes:
In the vicinity of Fourteenth and
Ogden streets for a 16-room elemen-
tary school; in the vicinity of Six.
teenth and Webster streets for a 1s-
room elementary school; in the vicinity
of the Morgan School for a play
ground; in Potomac Heights for an
s-room school building to replace the
1.room Conduit Road School: in the
vicinity of Alaska avenue and Holly
street for a 16-room elementary school:
in the vicinity Of the Wheatley School
for a playground; in the vicinity of
Dunbar High School for a drill ground
and athletic field. and in Brightwood
for new Junior high school,