Evening star., 1927-04-17
PARK FUNDS READY,
BUT Project LAGS.
Acquisition of Land Still
Waits Despite $3.50, 900
Appropriations.
BY WILLIAM j. wHEATLEY.

BY WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY.
Although there are now ample funds
for the purchase OF all the lands neces-
sary to complete Rock Greek and Po-
tonac Parkway as lad OUT some years
ago, very little or no Roadway Is being
made in the acquisition of the land,
estimated to total a little more thah
u acres. There is now available ap.
proximately $3.50 600, and S5O,O0o Oh
this was left from an appropriation Oh
four years ago and which has not Eet
been expended. About four years ago
the Department Of Justice was re-
ouested to institute condemnation pro
ceedings TO acquire land included IN
the project as directed by Congress IN
1916 but il was said at the ONCE Oh
public buildings and public parks tnat
the cases have been allowed 10 ay
dormant.
About three years ago strong repre-
sentations were made to Congress Tor
the provision Of SB00,0OO Tor the ac-
uuisition OF the remaining land IN
Guided within the original taking lines
of the parkway. and the legislative
body assigned 10 the office of public
buildings and public parks $500 coo OF
the surplus money OF the District OF
Columbia then in the United States
Treasury.
Plan to Tie Up Fund.
Although this money was made avail
able a year ago and is only available
for two wears, no move has been made
tn have the land condemned to close
the proiect. 1t was said that 1t was
the opinion OF officials that 1t would
be useless to ask for condemnation
under this appropriation with those
under the former appropriation not
vet acted upon. However, IL no steps
Ire taken in the near future, re-
quest will be made within year 10
start condemnations in order TO opH'
gate the money and prevent It's reNeF'
sion to the Treasury.
Condemnation proceedings are be-
ing resorted to, it was said, by Lieut..
Col. L. S. Grant, Sd, director OF the
Office Of public buildings and pubic
marks, for the purpose Of getting the
value of land fixed by jury, and To
preclude any charges In Congress or
elsewhere that exorbitant prices had
been paid for the land.
In many cases the land is valued
at several times the assessed value OF
the property, and although this APP
propriation is not subject to the legis-
lative restriction that the Govern
ment, in land purchases here, may
not pay more than % per cent above
the assessed value of the land, never
theless the officials believe that the
price should be fixed under formal
court proceedings.
Instance of Increase Cited,
AS an instance OF the great Increase
in value OF some of the land, there.
was cited apiece Of property in the
vicinity of the Pennsylvania avenue
bridge over Rock Creek. This land
is assessed, Ii was said, at approx
mately S27,50o. Experts have APP.
praised the building on the premises,
considering 1t from the standpoint
OF the salvage value, as worth $4,000.
The land, of course, has increased in
value proportionateIy, The officials
believe that they can justify a pay.
ment so great above the assessed
value only by submitting the whole
question TO condemnation proceedings
in the local courts. T@. 81 zE
There are approximately IL acres
of land yet to be purchased, with the
money available. In the area on the
east bank Of Rock Greek. from /
street to Pennsylvania avenue, there
are IL parcels of land which the De-
partment of Justice was asked in
1922 to condemn. Practically all Of
these cases are still pending, aad 1t
is because of this fact that officials
directing the work hesitate to ask
the department to start the con.
demnation of the other land.
District Acted Quickly.
In contrast with these Federal con.
demnations it was pointed out that the
District of Columbia needed a por-
ton OF land in the same area for
station to be used In connection with
the sewer system. Condemnation
proceedings were started or 1t since
the department was asked to make
the Federal condemnations, and the
land was acquired and has been in
use for some time. The same quick
action was obtained for land needed
for a school bordering the parkway.
There are contests over some Of the
land to clear titles, but 1t was said
that for the most part the titles are
clear and all that is needed is to
push the cases to a final conclusion
and get the land prices fixed by a
condemnation jury to be appointed Dy
the courts.
The cases have been in the hands
OF several different attorneys in the
Department of Justice, but have
never been decided. The case, how
ever, were recently assigned to II. II.
Classic for action, and there is
hope now that that official will push
them TO q final decision, in order
that the project may be completed.
Another complication which makes
II necessary to have the prices fixed
by jury under the direction Of the
court It il said is the fact that the
grounds included within the parkway
have not been reassessed for num-
ber of years. Because of this, il was
explained, any present-day fair price
for the land would be out of proper
tion to the assessed value.
Star Puzzles Astronomers.