Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-10-07

encouraging whsrves and a s,ntp ward with
rights, or the rights .,ested in the public: tina,
Lamberts ship yard occupied nearly the
whole OF Water street and nearly closed no
the end of II street; that between 1925 and
1895 wharves had greatly increased I'm num-
Der, and were known as Bradley's, Kings,
LOckie's, Brents, Riley's, Dow's, and others;
nine tenths Of the business being done by Mr..
Bradley, who was man of great activity
and intelligence. Up TO 1885 wharf rights as
appurtenant to the lots north OF Water street.
bad never been recognized either by the COM
missiOners OF Washington or their successors
or by any statute of the United States, or
ordinance of the corporation of Warrington;
that on the 14th OF November, 1877, William
A. Bradley fought four lots In square sos,
and in December, 1892 two lots in square 500,
also some lots I'm squares $50 and 39l without
any wharf privileges; but Bradley combin-
ing R Rlsh others, and particularly with Jos
law, for the purpose of getting some recoguf-
tion ola newly conceived doctriue Of riparian
IlghIs as appurtenant to his lots, which doc
trine was born Ofhis property interests alone
procured himself to be elected MAYOR OF
Washington In 1894; that he and the said Jos.
ID; Bradley influenced the then surveyor, one
EllIott. TO prepare and send to the said VIM.
A. Bradley, as mayor, for presentation to the
councils, plan of Water street, with
whalves and docks appurtenant, from the
bridge TO the arsenal grounds, with the re
commendation that such plan be used for the
pui poe OF securing by ordinance wharf
rights, by definite lines, to the owners of
that the said Elliott held his Office of sur
Veyor under the appointment and was re-
movable therefrom at the will and pleasure
OF VIM. A. Bradley; that Elliott in April
1885, sent communication to the mayor
favOrirg the new doctrine of appurtenant
riparian rights and citing pretended legal
authority; In May, 1885. submitted plan
which he considered the best "fOr securing
these privileges In the most equitable man
ner amongst those who own property facing
Oh Water street as we'll as securing the public
n INN foil fEavf pnr
said VIM. A. Bradley, as mayor, sent a mes
sage to the councils calling attention and
asking consideration of a Uniform wharf
Ian, To cause Water street "tO be laid ont
AID the water rights OF indi viduals to be
accurately defined" That this ATTEMPT of
owners OF property on Water street TO seize
upon pubtlc franchises worth MANY million
caused considerable discussion among the
Ieople and in the press; that on the 81 JdIy.
Ie35, communication signed 3D. and sup
ptsed 10 De written by the then attorney of
the corporation, Joseph III. Bradley. esq or
Dy The mayor, his cousin, appeared in the
tNdfolldt Intettge1lceT: that on the eth July,
ISS0 Mr. Sweeny offered two reSolu lions in
The board Of aldermen favOring the Bradley
idea were ordered to lie on the table by q
vote OF 5to :, were July 18th, 1885, taken up
and referred to n committee, but were never
again reported for action; that the most dis
tlnguished opponent Of the Bradleys Oh this
question was the late Peter Force, a man
well informed In the history of the city and
OF great pubic spirit; that the controversy
extended To the pubic press and that TIE
subject was ably and exhaustiyeIy discussei
In July in the National IYtteVi1,ucey between
the Bradleys on one side and Peter Force on
the other that the mayer failed to have the
appreciation of councils, and a board resolu-
uon offered by Peter Force denying the
existence of any "wafer rights to ndiyiiuals
between the Potomac bridge and the Ana-
costa was also defeated by the casting vote
3I Jrhn w. Maury, the owner of lots on
Water street; that
THE Controversy BECAME HEATED.
ana AT the next election for mayor in 1886
refer orce came out as candidate against
VIM. A. Bradley, and was elected. That i'm
FEBRUARY, 1899, Peter Force being mayor an
ordinance approving the Elliott plan was
adopted, containing, however, no provision
iOr securing any rights to lot owners, its
leading features being that the ends of the
streets, DETECTED southwark at UNEQUAL an
giles are dedicated TO docks, and the Intervals
10 whaTves, its effect being to wholly DESTROY
the pretended riparian and wharf privileges
about that time claimed. After the signal
defeat in 1895 and 1889 claimants appear to
nave made no further movement until 1876
WREN the subject was referred to the com
day, j. T. Towers, B. B. French, John Van
Riswick, James Gull and Geo w Harkness
who adopted the views of Peter Force. and
Induced him to prepare report, which was
signed by every one of the committee or
HoTed TO be printed and to accompany the
laws It's conclusions are -" Every owner
OF a lot In the city can tell by the description
of ii in his deed what are its bounds on All
slnes; II III has water boundary the deed
says so, and he has right TO wharf out into
The river; IL IL is bounded on all sides BY the
land he has no such rights"
subsequent legislation upon this subject
Whlch Is FAMILIAR To the public, is rehearsed
all tending TO show that occupants of whar
property alone, who hold licenses from the
general or District government, and who
pay an annual rental to the District, have a
shadow OF claim TO such occupancy.
THE OLDEST lsHABITANTs AND THE CEN
TENNIAL-Jhe October meeting of the Old
est Inhabitants was held yesterday after
noOn-Dr. Blake president and Mr.. j. Carroll
Breht secretary. Messrs. Robert Mahoney
ara William Boron, both of Washington
were elected members of the association
Mr. Nicholas Callan, from the committee
appointed To examine iuto the delinquency
OF certain members OF the association, re-
ported that they had ascertained that MANY
OF the members were in the departments
ana many could attend only on the festival
al all, and quite q number were Oh the rolls
without their own consent, who did not call
themselves members of the association and
evidently did not wish TO be so considered
On motion of Mr. Jenkin Thomas the re.
port was referred to the committee, with in
structlons TO report the names OF those who
were on the rolls and did not consider Them
selves members of the association.
Dr. Blake, from the committee TO whom |
the matter OF the representa- ton of the assoc
ciatlon at the Centennial was referred, re-
ported resolutions which were unanimonsIv
adopted: "That they consider the Centennial
celebration as the hartinger OF general recon |
ti-IotIOu the DatlOE, the ODlltPra- /
ton OF sectional jealousiesa and prejudices and |
OF cordial devotion to the Union; that thew
nope the Commissioners of the District Of /
Columbia may find 1t compatible with their |
authority TO adopt some measure that will |
be expressive of the interest felt by our peo- |
pie generally in the Centennial celebration. |
and secure for the District of Columbia a DO, |
sltion among the states and territories that
may participate In the proceedings" &c &c. |
The committee-Messrs. l.. A Gobripht
George Hill, j. Carroll Brent N. Callan and |
EDWARD Owen-was continued.
On motion of Mr.. Nicholas CaIlan. Mr.
Horatio n. Easily was invited TO read an es-
say before the association.
Inc secretary read paper prepared by Mr. |
Lewis Clephane, entitled How Congress-
rem Travelled" con flaming many interesting
details OF the manner of travelling In old |
times. ~
The ALEXANDRIA LOTTERY SWINDIE
The Alexandria Sentinel of last evening saws:
ne excitement over the matter of the late
montpelier drawing has abated considerable |
Detachments OF the committee of inyestiga-
non are continually at work examining the
tickets now in the wheel. The COMMITTEES
announce ofiicially that they hope to have a
statement prepared for submissiOnto the on H.
1c by Friday or Saturday.
The Alexandria Gazette of last evening
says; They (the committee) have, il Is |
stated, become con WINGED that the wheel was
with after the dra WI no No, -.