9(3 HISTORY OF THE 



property in their verdict at 11 cents a foot, which is an 

 extremely low one, you may rest assured that I shall 

 never take any less. 



11" the citizens of Boston crave my chaiming estates 

 for their jesthetic indulgence, without paying for them, 

 you will pardon me if I should respectfully decline, pre- 

 ferring greatly to be my own almoner, and to bestow 

 my charities where they are deserved, and where they 

 would be better appreciated. 



You can not expect me to part with this property at 

 one-fifih of the real value, when contiguous lands or 

 others similarly situated could not be bought to replace 

 mine at five times the value placed upon them by some 

 of your Avitnesses, even it* such could be found, nor have 

 I the power to seize desirable lands under that odious 

 right of eminent domain, a pretext for doing very great 

 injustice to the owners of real pi'operty. 



The long strip of land with a short frontage on Blue 

 Hill avenue, which you settled for at 9 or 10 cents a 

 foot, will not compare in value to the charming ridge 

 of land called Kewstead, nor is it worth one-half as 

 much for building purposes. 



Many other lots that were seized and paid for at 

 forced bankrupt prices, are low boggy sloughs, only fit 

 for the I'aising of cabbages and other farm produce; 

 besides being a long distance from railroad facilities, 

 while my estates are all conveniently situated and ad- 

 mirably ada[)ted for the building of elegant mansions. 



Auction sales or bankrupt prices are no criterion for 

 the values of my estates, knowing as 1 do that, if the 

 city would let my private property alone, I feel sure of 

 realizing the full amounts of my several claims, as ren- 



