The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-08-29


and that he wants to be paid for it
on the basis Of its original valuation,
made in 1854, of some $4,000, plus
compound interest at the rate of 3
per cent a year for 146 years. And
that has set some of the mathemati-
clans to figuring just how colossal
sum would be principal of $4,000
plus compound interest for nearly a
century and q half.
The Richmond merchant says that
the state of Virginia can not produce
any records to prove that the land
condemned in 1884 for public square
was ever paid for and says he will
ask relief from the general assembly
at its next session if the state refuses
to consent to a suit alleging breach Of
contract.
Failing in that step, Mr.. Gum has
been advised by counsel that he can
go into the federal courts on the
grounds of the violation of consti-
tutional property rights and he affirms
he can prove his contention by exist
ing records.
Mr.. Gum points to letter sent to
Thomas Jefferson, then ambassador to
France, by members of legislative
commission, asking Mr.. Jefferson to
engage an architect in Paris to pre-
pare plans for a state capitol and as
surfing the author of the Declaration
of Independence that "the hill on
which Gums yellow house stands,
and which you favored as the best
situation (for a state capitol contin-
ues to be preferred by u.s."
The original Jefferson letter is in
the custody of the College of William
and Mary. The original condemnation
order has been placed on record in
the Henry County court, after re-
naming obscure for nearly 100 years.
Mr.. Gum has been working on his
claim since childhood, but made no
effective Roadway until the original
condemnation jury's report was I'M
earthed from dusty archives.
Thirty years ago, met a man
who was then ninety years DID," Mr..
Gum said recently. asking me if /
were descendant of the old Gum
family of Richmond, he told me that
his father, who worked for the state
government, had informed him that
the state of Virginia never paid for
the land condemned for use as
public square and the permanent seat
of the state government. The rea-
son, he said, was that the condemna-
ton proceedings records had been lost
and that no claim against the state
corld be proved in court
Il was told by my family as boy
that my family never had been CON-
pensated by the state. My efforts
were blocked until the original con-
demnatiOn order was found. The pa
pers by mistake were sent in 1884 to
the city clerks Office for recording,
instead of to the clerk of the Henry
County court. Those papers, plus
maps uncovered and the letter to
Thomas Jefferson, which shows Mr.
Jefferson had inspected the old Gum
plot while governor of Virginia and
favored it for a state capitol site
speak for themselves.
II have been informed by Auditor
c. Lee Moore he can find no record
of the state having paid for the prop
erty it condemned in 1854. l took the
matter up with Governor Byrd toward
the close of his administration.
'"The governor. after referring my
letter to the secretary of the COM
monwealth for investigation, informed
me that the facts were as 1 had stated
them to be. insofar as the existence
of any record of payment by the state
was concerned.
I'm the judgment Of legal advisers,
the mere condemnation proceedings
in the absence of payment did not
take the title to the property from my