Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-08-07
Forty Thousand Dollars Awarded
For Land In Sligo Valley.

After almost IL hours deliberation the
petit jury brought in awards totaline $4O..
900 to the owners of three tracts of land
condemned on the request of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning Com
mission in connection with the Sligo Valley
park project. A total of $2l. 900 had been
offered by the commission for the IL 1-2
acres of land and buildings involved. while
the owners asked that a valuation Of $751;
600 be placed on their property.
On the basis of the land involved the
IL l-2 acres brought price Of $S.333 an
acre, including buildings. to the owners.
The Park and Planning Commissions offer
was figured at approximately $1,000 per
acre, with the remaining $500 for build
ings, while the jury is believed to have put
the land in at about $4,000 per acre. with
the remaining $4,000 for the buildings.
The suits are the first brought by the
Park and Planning Commission under the
authority granted it by the last session of
the Maryland Legislature to condemn land
needed for the development of the Mont
eomery County parkway system. Much in
terest was manifested in the proceedings.
because of the effect of the case on the
future acquisition of land for the parkway
project.
The cases. which were tried jointly under
agreement reached by both sides. opened
Monday and lasted until Thursday after
noon of last week. when the jury was given
instructions by Judge Robert B. Peter.
The awards in the three cases were as
follows: Property of Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph
N. Rowland. consisting Of home. seven
outbuildings and 5185 acres Of land. $751;
500: property of L. S. Braggett. home.
several outbuildings and Asp acres of
land, SIP 500; property of F. M. Heath.
home, two outbuildines and 1893 acres.
$1,000. The Park and Planning Commits
sion had offered $4,000 for the Rowland
property. Sc. 500 for the Baeeett property
and $4,000 for the Heath property.
Attorney John S. White. of Hyattsville
Nd represented all three owners in the
proceedings, and contended that the owners
of the property were content with them,
had made them their homes and did not
desire to move.
]. Bond Smith. general counsel to the
Park and Planning Commission. with At
torney Lucius Q. C. Lamar. specially ap-
pointed for these cases. represented the
commission.
Witnesses who appeared for the commits
sion included Col. T. Hampton. secretary
treasurer of the commission; Rowland W
ROGERS landscape architect for the com
mission Oliver R. Hatch. surveyor for thu
commission; N. R. Robinson OF Indiar
Spring Park, R. D. Lille of Takoma Park
James H. Cissel, owner Of the subdivision
where the property is located Harvey A
Morrison, Takoma Park. and Harold Haynes
of North Woodside. Each Of the propert!
owners took the stand.
When the proceedings opened the mem
bers of the jury were taken on a touf to thu
three parcels Of property in the custody o.
Sheriff Richard H. Landslide.
The jury which tried the cases was pane
from the March Term. having been recon
yened by Judge Peter for the purpose Q
the hearings. Members of the jury were
Charles E. West, Rockville John A. Jones
Dickerson Gideon L. Bussard. Gathers
burg; French Hobbs, Colesville Frederic
W. Kruhm. Spencerville Joshua T. AustiI
Bethesda Thomas Hickman. Poolesvillt
$ Walter r. Baker. GAINESVILLE; Lawrenc
q Thompson, Colesville; Lester Watkin
e Lewisdale William W. Embry. Potomac
: and William F. Humphrey. Rockville.