50 ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL, BOTANIC GARDEN. 



Mr. Wood. I think they did; yes, sir. I know Mr. Ernest did; 

 yes, sir. I do not think Mr. Eustis did ; I think he was out of the city. 



The Chairman. To which Mr. Eustis do you refer? 



Mr. Wood. William C. Eustis. 



Mr. Wilson. Mr. Corcoran owns some of that land. 



The Chairman. I did not know whether you meant Mr. William 

 Eustis or Mr. George Eustis. 



If those dedications were made for highway purposes only and 

 the land was not used for that, then it would revert to the owners, 

 However, maybe, we can not decide that here. 



Mr. Wood. In talking with the engineer member of the Fine Arts 

 Commission it was suggested that they could divert it along the 

 lines of R Street, which is already a public street; it would then be 

 used for highway purposes, you see. 



The Chairman. But should that site be taken for botanical garden 

 purposes and, for instance, greenhouses put on this land — dedicated 

 land — it would be using it for a purpose different from that for 

 which it was dedicated. 



Mr. Wood. I think so, undoubtedly. 



The Chairman. A gentleman is here who says he is attorney or 

 representative of the power company of which you spoke. He de- 

 sires to make a statement in relation to the matter and if you have 

 finished I will let him. 



Mr. Johnson. Just a moment. Senator. I would like to ask a few 

 questions. Have you any information as to whether or not the own- 

 ers who dedicated for highway purposes would also dedicate for 

 garden purposes \ 



Mr. Wood. Well. I have been asked that question and on account 

 of the high taxes and on account of the fact that it is practically 

 all nonproductive land. I do not believe there is a soul in there who 

 would dedicate for this purpose. 



Mr. Johnson. For garden purposes? 



Mr. Wood. No. sir. There is only one owner in there in a position 

 to dedicate to the public use for such a purpose — that is, dedicate his 

 whole holdings — and that would be the owner of this tract 1 [indi- 

 cating]. 



The Chairman. I suppose the chances are that the owners who 

 dedicated the land for highway purposes did it with a view to im- 

 proving the rest of the tract and making it accessible? 



Mr. Wood. Yes, sir. 



The Chairman. And if their property were to be taken from them 

 they might not be willing to make that dedication? 



Mr. Wood. T think not. but there is no expensive land in there at 

 all. 



The Chairman. Are you acquainted with the value of land over 

 there ? 



Mr. Wood. Well. I do not think I would qualify as an expert. It 

 would depend entirely upon how the land is taken. When the land 

 was taken for the Pennsylvania Railroad, the jury, of course, looking 

 upon the railroad as a very rich corporation allowed, I think, more 

 for the land than it was worth. 



The Chairman. Would you be content to rely on your own judg- 

 ment if you were purchasing land in that section? 



1 See map 38. end of vol. 2. 



