Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-08-09
HERALD or THE TINES.


love wnARk This wharf hss been the
topic Of mach csuvsrsstion Of late In our
community. Il appears ,hat the Trus'ses
of tho western extension Of the wharf Pc
tItioned the General Assembly Tor liberty 10
widen the head thereof both on the north
and on the south, some sixty feet, or more,
at their discretion. Thi. petition was op.
posed by the Rev. DR.. Jackson. 40 far ~
the northern extension Is concerned. The
facts in the case, as We have lear ned them
from DR.. j., are simply these.
Some five yeaas since DR.. j purchased
lot on Thames Street, upon which had
stood an old ruin for a number of years,
and which was exceedingly obnoxious TO
our citizens. This ruin he caused to be
removed, and in is place he erected large
and costly edifce for his own residence.
Soon after h. began the foundation, he
learned that the property on the Csuseway
on Washington Stree, opposite to his 10, on
Thames Street, was private property. He
Immediately contracted for every vacant
water lot thereon situated, save one, and
having secured these, he obtained thereby
beautiful prospect Of the bay and ex-
pended much money which he would not
have otherwise done, which prospeci he has
ever since enjoyed without any moles.ation
from any one; and upon the properly thus
acquired he pays taxes as he does upon that
whereon he built his house, and has in
every instance refused every applicant for
= lease or sale Of any portion Of his proper.
ty on Washington Street.
The Ward lot on tho north, and adjacent
to the Long.wharf, in a western direction,
would BE- cut off from Narsgansett Bay,
by the extension Of the wharf as has been
proposed rorthward; when therefore the
petition as above referred to was presented,
Dr. j., offered a remonst1nce. To the
Southern extension, as proposed, he did not
OBJECT, and If the authorities see Cause, it
can, as il could have been done in May, be
granted. The chairman Of the Committee
of the repairs on the Wharf has recently
said, and also tho Treasurer of the Trus-
tees,that they did not wish to 20 northward;
and that Mr.. j. Borden, on la,s visit To-
Newport, united with them in this desire.
But still the popular feeling, so far aswe
can l,arn, is adverse. DR.. Jackson being
aware of the existencs of this feeling, a nd
willing to sacrifice HE private to the public .
interest. voluntarily made, tender of all 7,
his right west Of Washington street, COW
ering an interest in some three acres Of
water ground to'the: Oily Council, and has
offered to deed it in Zee simple, SO that the
City can lease the entire line on Washing.
ton street of more than two hundred feet in
length, and running westward; which will
put tho City in possession Of this length of
the deepest water in our harbo ur q tract,
Of all others the most valuable for q Rail
Road Depot, or public Improvement, that the
City furnishes besides removing every
objection from heirs at law of more than an
hundred and fifty years descent. The con.
sideration that he proposes is, that the City
allow him an annual interest OF FIVE per
cenium, on thousand dollars nominal val
uaton, during his natural life. In the
mean time the City can enter upon posses
sion Of the premises for purposes of revs.
nue., which prospectivey must be in few
years, as is believed, large.
DR.. Jackson we learn has gathered al
the legal acts Of public interest touching
thia Wharf and its environs, embracing q
pcrioI of more than century and q halt,
which he will, at our request, furnish Tor
our columns, and which we shall publish as
fast as our convenience will possibly allow.
And to these he will append the ancient
deeds Of his estates, which he has now
rendered to the City, and intersperse his
torical illusions, such as the periods of the
French wars in America, the Revolutionary
and late war with England in these States
present touching this great thouroughtare
OF Newport, and also incidental occur.
rences of fires and floods, by which the
Wharf has been a. various times greatly
Injured.