New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-30
GENERAL BU1LEa WoULD USE DYNAMITE.
THREATENING TO BLOW UP TIE POTOMAC DAM IF
HIS CLAIMS ARR NOT PAID.
Try TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE

THREATENING TO BLOW UP TIE POTOMAC DAM IF
his CLAIMS ARE NOT PAID.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE.
BALTIMORE, May 29.-The suit of the Great
Fails Manufacturing Company for an injunction stopping
the erection Of the water works OF Washington upon
their property continued before Judges Bond and
Morris in the United States Circuit Court this morning
General Butler the principal counsel for the com
plalnants was absent Ex-Secrcary Robson acted In
his place The discussion the word tide which occu-
pied SO much time yesterday, settled by the cotl
plalnants acknowledging that high tide must have been
meant. for the dam is already l45 feet
above mean tide and Congress has
authorized it to lie made fifteen inches higher the differ
ence between mean and high tide Mr.. Robcson argued
that OF Congress In authorizing the Court Oh
Claims settle the amount OF award for the property
OF the company in constructing the dam was unco-
stitutiona of Claims is but committee OF
Congress- and the very work the companans object to
was authorized by Congress II thus placed the entire
matter OF award and It's time OF payment at the
pleasure OF Congress- and this they considered uncon
stitutional. They demanded that the matter OF award
for damages be decided by jury and that an injunction
be issued hang the Of the work until the case
be decided on its merits The Acoinpany claimed
that placing them in the hands OF the Conrt OF Claims
was a scheme defraud them The company also asked,
in case the built to be allowed to have sulce
gates from which TO obtain their watcI-pOwer but TINS
was not to be allowed unless the company
agreed pay half the cost of the construction OF the
ernted until they could have the matter or award ana
the right the suce gates settled by twelve citizens of
the United States
Moore the part of tho Government, contended
the Supreme Court OF the United states had on three
established the authority OF the Court OF Cloms IN
this The opposing counsel here rested their
cases and the Court held the under adysemeut.
The correspondent of The TRIBUNE
eaw Assistant Attorney General Blair IN Barnums Hotel
and made inquiries Of him regarding me position OF
eriy OF the Great Falls Manufacturing Company was
Twelve miles away from any railroad ana was long
attempted any works there and having several
unsuccessfuy attempted 10 dispose OF lhen 10
capitalists abroad with plans and so fOrth
being TO Europe for that purpose, they now at
tenited TO bleed the Government The amount awarded
the company $l5,692 In 1887 bat the cOn-
pany wanted nearly 100000. Although q com
OF Maryland and Virginia had some years ago decided
that the Potomac lay entirely In Maryland tne company
claimed the whole river while the Government
elamed only one half 49,. -.
which was instigated by General Butler Why, said
MIR. Blair time General Butter threatened
that the construction OF the dam was continued without
his cOmpanys claims being settled nc would nave the
dam blown up with dynamite
" What did you say e
Told him TO 20 ahesd aud blow her up"
what would have been the consequencesP
Somebody would have been promptly arrested for
maliciously destroying Government properly -
why won't you let the company have sulce gates T.
We viii do SO II they will hep pay ior tne dan; an
that and II costs them $4,000 year 10 Keep
IN repair dam which OF use only to private corpora
non Mr. Buffers company can get all the wafer power
they want by building dam just below ours"
In conclusion Mr. Blair admitted that the Government
did not want the matter Of award be settled by jury
fer 1t was afraid OF the popular idea that the United
ever got before jury he make Il particularly ex
pensIye for the Governments