Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-18
THE KIDWELL GRAB.
The Other ShadOWy Claims Upon
the River Front.

congress as to the nature Of the claims of priv
ATE parties to the ownership OF the Potomac
mats needed to be reclaimed for sanitary pur-
poses and for the Improvement of the river
channel. 1t may be worth while to recapitu.
late the facts as regards these claims brought
out by the inquiry In 1873. On January 20 of
that year the House committee OF the District
OF columbia held special meeting to consider
the two bills introduced by General Chapman
I0r the Improvement OF the river and harbor at
Washington.
THE "KIDwELL MEADOWS"
Mr.. John Wilson appeared on behalf OF the
owners OF the "ktdWell meadows" He claimed
tnat Maryland formerly owned the bed OF the
shore; that Maryland ceded to the United States
oil that portion OF the river lying Within the for
me ef nits OF the District OF Columbia and that
s unGr nGw he se eS q Dr. Kawe G
The first patent taken out by KIdwell, Mr..
wilson stated, was In 1869, and was for Al. go
acres, acres OF the flats lying off the foot OF 18th
iand as ls above water adjoining this and be-
low the Long bridge DR.. KtdwelIs general
a,n1 Claim was to all land which may be formed by
hhasalal ha accreuon adjoining the land which he
mas already patented.
MIR. WILSON EXPLAINS
Mr. Wilson said that DR.. Kidwell wanted him
10 take up this matter when he (W) was Third
auditor. but he refused to do SO. When he LEFT
the position named he did take the matter In
hand, and had pa,ent issued.
QueSti0n:-"WD0 was Commissioner OF the
General Land Office when this patent was Is
A,. Wilson," My brother, Joseph S. VII.
son.
On being asked by Mr.. Starkweather how
much he received in consideration Of his efforts
IN Cenal1 or I)r. k1dWell, Mr. Wilson said three
elghths OF all the land patented. and that of
THIS amount he gave Mr.. Wells one half for
furnishing him With certain information which
he could not get very well himself In 1871 DR..
certain for
nearly Six hundred acres of land above and
below the Long bridge, but had never received
patents therefor. These patents were intended
COVER THE WHOLE SHORE LINE
1rom EaSby's Point to the Arsenal.
Gen Chipman said he would like to know the
Mr. wilson thought that was immaterial.
Mr.. Roosevelt said that in New York land
patents run down to, and 1ncluoed the wharves,
but beyond them new land could be made
Wnlch the courts have frequently decided belong
to the state.
Mr.. Wilson went on to say that he was born
OF improving that river; but in such way as
not TO interfere With the rights Of any man.
NJ. Eld1tdge:-"Do you agree with Governor
we MelIs That II tilng up The flats would improve
WI A: Wi!son:-"I don't see how the health OF
Washington could be improved. Laughter
1t is certainly admitted that it is one Of the
healthlest cities in the UniOn.'
M Chdnd'e,':-"I5 your land down In the
river healthy?'
Mr.. Wiisoa:-"I don't know. 1 never lived
there lLaughter.l
SOME MORE CLAIMANTS.
On Lne 22Q OF January another bearing was
gwen Dy the committee to the claimants.
Judge VIM. NJ. Merrick appeared before the
committee In behalf OF the claims of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal company upon the river
front. and Mr.. A. p. German, president of that
company, followed In the same line.
ANOTHER GRAB AT THE KIDwELL GRAB
IN the course OF his argument, Mr.. German
SAID his company claims the KtdWell meadows
OF, ID other words, all the land formed by ac-
cret1on from 18th street to Georgetown, and
from the line OF the Old canal to the river chan
Del. In reply to question why the canal this
slde OF ROCK creek had not been used, Mr.. Cor
up, and could not be used, and because of a
controversy between Washington and George.
town.
ANOTHER GRAB AT THE CANAL GRAB AT THE KID
WELL GRAB.
Mr. Green next appeared before the commit
zee ana represented that he owns five acres @.
iano located near the foot of 18th street tthe old
Van Ness property, and claims by riparian
river channel If he chooses.
G,n. Cttpmdn:-" Does your claim coaf1lcs
With the other clalms?"
~ 1r sTeen;-'It does by virtue Of an old claim
MY son, under law OF Virginia, took the neces>
sary steps TO enter this land
Gen. Chipn.an:-.. Was this prior Or subse
quent to DIR. ktdWellS patenl?"
Mr.. GTeen:-" IL was prior"
Nj. Rooseren:-"Dr. K:dWell, what Is the date
OF your patent?" N"''
Or. acknowledgements, 1862"
-, Gsn. M.p'nan:-'Mr. Green. what is the date
M. G,Ieen:-"September, 1sss.' General
laughterl
MIR. T. j. Miller and Mr.. Fendall made state
ments IN favor OF certain lot owners on the
Itver front.
ANSWER TO THE CLAMANTs.
January % the committee had another session
and Gen. r. d. Mussey made legal argument
In favor OF the improvement. He proceeded to
show that there could be no claim to the Poto-
mac from the state OF Virginia. The next Oh.
posing interest Is that OF the Chesapeake aud
ONO Canal Company. which claims peculiar
the goth section OF the act OF February. 1921
the charter OF that canal ratified by Maryland
and the United S:ateS-it is provided that .If
aIder ,nces t1e ne completion OF the said canal and
fall to keep the same In repair for twelve
months at any time, then In like manner the
interest l Of the company in the navigation and
tOlls snail cease and their charter shall be for
feited." Now it is clear that pro tdato this
penalty attaches to that portion within this
DistIicf, and the United States may at any time
by sc're lactas take advantage Of this ssction.
The canal company admits that they have not
Kept this In repair, and in fact we all anoW #.
Gen. Mussey proceeded to deal With all the
CthCA CldAIilo dG l6nStn, ana In CONCLUSION said
tnat no matter what was the right OF kidWeil
or the canal company, or wharf claimants 1t is
clear that the United States, In its exercise Of
emf, eminent domain can take that property and
ext1Dgulsh those rights The United States. as
exclusive legislator for the District, had the
right and was bound TO protect the health aud
improve the harbor OF the District; and If In
SO doing IL became necessary to take privata
properly 10 improve 1t, 1t could assess the cost
on t1e property or sell 1t to pay the cost Why
the old board OF health In this city used 60
declare lot below grade nuisance. and then
II the owner neglected TO fin it up itself abate
sell it. '-AN
Mr.. E7driSge:-"Better turn the matter over
to the board OF health then" ILaughter]
Gen. AnSSey:-"Fery well. That board might
declare kidwell's meadows nuisance, and re-
quire BIN to I'LL, and in default sell him Out.
They already had declared the Chesapeake and
ohic canal nuisance" [Laughter.]
Mr.. SHEPHERDS REMARKS.
MI. A. X shepherd was next heard In behalf
OF the plan OF Improvement. He set forth the
great needs OF Washington and GEORGETOWN In
the matter OF new harbor, and that owing to
the lack OF larbor facilities the commerce OF
the District Is materially restricted. The fats
and emit an odor, and give rise to malaria
which physicians concur In believing Injurious
TO health. In regard to the Canal com paay
Claim, he said they had had unpleasant expert
eBceS with that corporation, for as every one
KNOWS, fOr twenty years past they have al ow.
that portion OF their line between 18th streeC
ana ROCK creek to remain shame and q nuts
apce 10 the community. In regard to the claim
known as the KtdWeu Meadows " he {Mr q,