Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-10
POTOMAC WAITER POWER.
Gen. Butler and Ex-secretary Robson
Seeking an mi junction.

Gen. Butler and Ex-Secretary Robson
Seeking an Inj auction.
From the B ,nfmoyo Sun, N7yc.
Hon George NJ. Robson, eX-Secretary
of the Navy, and Gen. Benjamin f. Butler,
late cand date for Pr.sid MT Of the United
States, accompan by M. o. d. Barrett,
of Washington, appeared IN the United
States Circuit Court at Baltimore yester-
day, asking an injunction on behalf of the
Great Fails Nj lnufacturing Company Of
Virginia against Augustus IL. Garland,
Acknowledgement OF the United States,
VIM G. End colt, Secretary of War, Gar
rett j. Lydecker, major Of engineers Of
the United States army, and George b.
Chittenden and Samuel ii. Chittenden,
contractors for the building of dam
across Conn's Island and across the Vlr-
ginia channel of the Potomac river TO the
Virginia shore, and other structures in
fenced TO supply the City OF Washington
with water.
The bill of complaint, which covers
twenty printed pages, alleges in sub
stance that the Great Falls Manufacture
ing Company is possessed of Conn's Is
land, in tae Potomac river. and of certain
lands and water rights pertaining thereto,
extending about half mile UP and down
the river from the Great Falls of the
Potomac, and OF the ToulsOn tract, con-
tanning about on thousand acr- IS, with
all the easements, rIgHt~ Of warler, use,
navigation, fisheries and privileges per-
tainng thereto. This land, il is alleged,
would nave long since been taken up and
used by the company for manufacturing
purposes TO the great income, profit aud
advantage OF TIE company, had it not been
for the Unauthorized, unlawful and op-
pressive act OF the officers, or persons
claiming to be officers, of the United
States, aud claiming 20 act under its
authority, who intruded themselves upon
the nds of the company and diverted
large guam tiles of the waters away from
the company's lands for the purpose of
sup lying the city Of Washington with
water, 80 that the company aud all other
p rsUns were prevented from improving
and using water power BE- cause OF the
uncerl aiuty as to how much water
would be diverted, and because of the
doubts threwn on the title ofthe company
by the intrusion. A dam Is now beng
built 14S feet above mean tide, which will
cause back " alter TO flow upon the lands
of the company, and if built any higher
will entirely cover with water large pOr-
tiOns Of the company's lands, without any
sanctions OF law or right whatever SO to
the Defendants from further occupying
the land Of the company, or building any
structure tht renn. or hindering the
natural flow Il water between COnn's
Island and the Viz mia shore, aud COM
polling them 70 remove the embankment
heretofore erected, and to submit the
matter to legal process of determination.
The b.ll is signed by Gen. Benjamin +.
Butler as Presid MT.
Gen. Butler read the bill to the court
snd followed il up with an argument In
favor Of the application. He is larger and
has more lOuse flesh than when last in
Baltimore. and moves about with some
DIFF eulty. Ia reading be holds a book or
paper within an inch OF his nose. and
seems 70 close bis eyes. AT short in
ieryals be looks quickly up 10 the bench
10 see ii the judge are listening.
"Will yOu have a lass Of water, Gen
eralY' asked Mr.. Biliti Ross.
mo. WincmiIls cannot be run by
water" replied Geo. Butler.
Judge BOnd-''We are willing to issue
an order 10 show cause, but cannot issue
an injunction until the other side is heard
except in urgent cases.
Gen. Butler then argued the urgency Of
the case, asking the court TO stop the
trespass Of that most abominable Of all
Institutions, the Government of the
United States, which cannot be sued
50 hen IL takes private property. "Why,
your Honor" he sal !, ''the people Of the
District have more good water than they
can drink now"
EX-Secretary Robson added n word to
the argument. lie began speaking slowly
and in mild voice. IL is a man OF
ample proportions, and bis large, ruddy
face Is lit up by a good-humOred smile.
The court adhered 10 its position, and
passed an order for the defendants TO
show cause by May - why an Injunction
should not issue. Gen. Batter said he
would try and be presD Mt, tut 30 he could
not, Mr.. Robson would take his place.
"Oh, no, ] would lot fit IN your place"
said Mr.. Robeson. The party lett for
Washington at once.