The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-20
CITY AFFAIRS.
INTERVIEW WIrH MRS. GAINES.

Her Willingness to Compromise anu PC
termination Not to Eject Pr0prietors.
No little uneasiness and panic having
been excited among great number OF
long possessors OF property In this
city. affected by the recent Judgment OF
Judge Billings in favor OF Mrs. Gaines
we have made 1t duty to seek an inter-
view with the lady plaintiff, with view
OF ascertaining her inclinations and in
terests In the execution OF the ludg'
ments she has obtained.
The interview proved a gratifying
and encouraging one. The lady was
entirely free from any OF the pride OF
victory, or of that earnest zeal and per-
sistency approaching to belligerency,
which characterized her course and
speech during the prosecution OF her
suit. To the poor and innocent pur-
chasers Of tho property bequeathed to
her by her father, she processes the
most liberal Intentions. No poor per-
son, she says, shall be disturbed In
old who has not been q party to the
. fraud" of which she complains.
Liberal and just compromises will be
offered to ali such. To the city she
chiefly looks for reimbursement OF the
money paid by these parties for the
largest portion of the valuable and I'M
proved property for which she has judg-
ment. This is known as the Blanc tract
on Bayou St. John, which the city bought
In 1884, she alleges. with full notice OF
the claim OF Daniel Clark's heir. In this
tract there were liza acres. The resolu-
ton to purchase this property was
Denis Prieur, whose loss this city and
State have had great reason to lament.
The property was bought by the city
for only $45, 900. Afterwards 1t was sold
out in lots by the city, with warranty OF
title, at high prices, the sales aggre-
eating some $s75, 598.
: This is what the city got for the prop
erty at auction sales in 1916. Now,
under the decision Of Judge Billings, II
it should become final, the city will be
held liable to quiet the titles OF her
vendees for, it is claimed, this amount,
with interest for nineteen years at 9
per cent up to 1853, and for interest at
s per cent for fifteen years, from 1853 to
1868.
This liability Of the city In 1868 would
reach the sum Of $2,530.3 91. It was In
that year Mrs. Gaines made her propo-
sition to make q full settlement with
the city and give quit claim and clear
title to all her vendees Of this tract for
81, soc, 900.
This proposition, after being favor.
ably reported on by a committee OF
the City Council and by two lawyers
selected by the city to examine and
report upon the case, was finally re-
jected, and a prolongation OF the
litigation was determined on. Nearly
ten years have elapsed, increasing
largely the interest on this amount, and
adding considerable sum for law ex-
penses, and now the lady, we believe, Is
disposed to renew her proposition.
We do not know how far such a propo-
sition would suit the city authorities
and the owners Of property so immi-
nently threatened by the decree OF the
Federal Court, but we have been in
formed that the counsel for the
defendants is not opposed to a
satisfactory solution by compromise.
It would seem prudent, however,
for our city administrators and citizens
to look the difficulties and embarrass-
ments squarely in the face and call into
all the wisdom, prudence and
good sense, which are demanded for
the solution OF 80 vexatious and embar-
RAISING an embroglio.