Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-28
The Reclamation Of the Flats.
THE EIDwELL CLAIMS-THEY WILL NOT INTERPRET
WITH THE WORK.

WITH THE WORK.
Major Hams was in his Office Saturday study
ing maps AMI other details of the work OF improving
the Potomac fats. When a STAR reporter called
he was In consultation with Col. Albert
"1ou see." said the major, 81 am only beginning
10 study the work. The plan of the improvement
viii OF course be in accordance with the report of
the engineer commission. Indeed, the act of
congress directs this to be the plan. just now l
am settling prelimiEaries The law directs the At
oorney General TO protect the interests OF the gov
efnment In the work. / have submitted letter
TO the Attorney General, which will be in the na-
ture or advisement touching the claims OF private
parties"
Stdr.-"Do you apprehend that the claims of
private Interests viii delay the work9''
MVor H.-"Not at all. or course, much will de-
pend upon what the Attorney General will have
TO say. l cannot anticipate what that will be-
But have my own opinion, and feel confident
way very sOOn."
sa,;..Have you formulated your own plan OF
Major H.-"NO, not In detail. shall very soon.
however, submit to the chief Of engineers letter,
accompanied by a statement showing how the ap-
Col. Albert, who has given the subject OF the re-
clamation OF the flats careful study, who was in
the room at the time, said he had no doubt but
Lnat congress would from year to year, after the
work was begun, appropriate literally for contin-
uing the Improvement to completion. Touching
the kldWell claim, he said he had given it much
study, and 1t was partly covered in letter which
theCOmmIssioner of the General Land Office wrote
10 senator ransom or which the annexed Is an
extract:
On September 10. 1867, Mr. Kidwel1 applied for a
warrant Of survey for the tract known ''Kdwells
island in the Potomac river between washington
ey opee and the wash ann
point where street north strikes the canal or river
The order OF survey was issued sepem R 1861 and
that tina the land to be sgrveyed should be firm land and
turned BY the county surveyor October 49, iSS7 An
e efsati9n on OF TINS survey was deemed necessary and
eral Land office. DESIGNATED as examiner general
aoG aoF tn this Ms S Dallas made the examination
er Of the General Land office that he found the premises
appesrance Of land but submerged and subject dal
overfow, and "of course not fit for vacant cultva
ISL found that the Survey had been a.! re e.
nnS ~ t9tad OF the law and Of the nstruc
was accordingly rejected
request Of Mr. John wilson. atsorney Tor for
k1dwe, and upon this re-exalnination the examiner
plat q survey In this examination made Under
thin h the in the
he from f1 three & aad half to four feet above low water
aud gorous growth Of wild rice and other weeds which
hk u ens ns
but susceptible Ct producing fodder and
Upon ithe Reorganization. and the approval of the
he aount int
paid for this tract s23 &C. fifty cents per acre
IN reference to this patent. and to similar appca
mons, MI. Comm1seioner Dranmond. in letter to Mr.
A. H. Shepherd dated January %, 1873, said; Ian ap-
pllcat'ons made since assumed charge of the Land
ONCE III February, 1871, haye been refused the
lowing reasons:
Il Because the land subject to every days over
fow by hdewater and therefore not in condition to
be surveyed.
- Because thought that the disposition of the land
was net clearly authorized by law.
50. Because did not deem it proper to DISPOSE of
lands situated in the immediate vicinity of Washington
at nominal sum, to private parties who could hold and
use them so as to impede and Obstruct harbor i'm
proyeinents unless the law clearly aud mperatively
made it my duty to do so."
The statement comprises the facts of record
in this office relative to the patent issued John L. Kid
well for the ''Kidwell Meadows =" so called.
The brief time have the consideration of the sub
ect does not permit to express opinion upon the
legal points involved in the case."