National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-16
THE FLATS IMPROVEMENTS.
Some Facts About tho Claims Against
the Property.

the Property.
In his speech last Mondly In opposition to
the bill to determine the title OF tn, Potoma,
fats Mr.. Blount blsed his objection to the
continued improvement of the flats on the
claim that there were 'claim lnts-iun nbor3 of
thom'-to the property. Mr., Blolnt wanted
work stopped until II could b. dlsermin ed as
TO how many people had claims agalnS. the
property. "lfwc should" said he, "wlthout
inquiry go on with this work, a1d arerwari
when the public treasure had been expended,
1t should turn out that that there arJ not only
Kidwcll claims but canal claims ani various
others, what can we dn but hang oar hoa Is In
shame that we have deliberately gone forward
and brought this scandal upon the lI)u3e aud
upon the government ltrust that this House,
in the interest Of is own integrity, will not
incur the possibility of having this scandal
come upon u, even though IL may bosu x ,stel
that by taking proper pcec lutioni We may
necCsIlatc the stoppagC Of th9 WORK. II Is
possible that, with such wrong threatening
US, we can not stay the contractors cam Vt
take time to inquire into this matterl trust
not"
In a letter to Mr.. Willis, Solicitor General
GoCdc says "The act Of Aug. 2, 1881, chapter
$50, 10y which an appropriation wai made for
improving the Potomac river In the vicinity
of Washington with reference to the improve
mcnt of navigation, the establishment OF har.
Dor lines, and the raising Of the illts dc.
volvcd upon tue Attorney General the duty of
examining all claims of title to the premises
to be improved under that appropriation, and
provided that, If he deems Il necessary, he is
authorized TO cause suit or suits in law or in
equity 10 be instituted In the name of tho
United states in the supreme court OF the
District Of Columbia against any and all
claimants Of title under amy patent which, in
his opinion, was by mistake or was improperly
orillegally issued for any part of the marshes
or Hats within the limits Of the proposed i'm
attorney General Brewster having received
from the Secretary of War sundry papers by
which II appeared that In the ycar 1859 n pat.
ent from the United States was issued to one
John l.. Kidwell, grantinga part Of the marshes
or ilatsswithln the limits of the Aforesaid i'm
provement., and being of opinion that such
patent was BY mistake and improperly aud IL
legally issued, and also deeming It necessary
United States that n judicial pro.
be Instituted, on the 2sth OF January, 1885, IN.
structed the United States attorney for the Dis.
triCt of Columbia TO bring suit In equity In
the name Of the United States In the supreme
said John l.. Kidwell, and any and all other
persons claiming title under the patent issued
as above, to have the said patent set aside or
annulled,' Accordingly the District attorney,
has am informed, done dcrdblc amount
Of work In the way of preparation.
"Thc patent to Kidwell rcferredto above en-
braces an area Of l70l acres. 10 appears to be
the only one which has been issued by the land
department covering any part OF the Potomac
fats In front OF Washington. and the claim
based thereon presents the only claim Of title
to the flats of which this department has re-
ceved any definite information. However, 1t
seems from n letter addressed TO the chairman
Of the judiciary committee Of the Senate by the
attorney of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company that that company claims riparian
rights along the river shore between Easily S
point and seventeenth street, and | am in
formed that the owners of certain lots called
water lots, which are located between the same
points, also claim riparian rights; but none of
the claimants OF such rights have submitted
TO tins department any statement of their
claims AS already intimated, the act of 1882
does not authorize the Attorney General to
bring suit against these aforementioned claim.
ants.
"In regard to the point whether It would be
safe and prudent to make any appropriation
for the filling up of sld flats nj the present
time, submit that, in the light of the in
formation which possess, am unable 10 par
Ceive wherein the government would incnr
any risk, or lose any advantages II now has,
should such appropriation be made, especially
If its expenditure be limited to those parts OF
the improvement In respect of which there is
no claim adverse to the right aud title of the
United States. | remark in this connection,
that the Senate bill, as II passed that body.
contains provision which thus limits the ex.
penditure of moneys appropriated for the inn
prOvement until the final decision of the mat.
teTs therein mentioned"