Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-25
THE PUBLIC RESERVATIONS.
The Commissioners Claim No Jurisdic-
tiOn Over Them.

A short time ago Col. John M. Wilson, who has
charge OF the public buildings and grounds wrote
to the Commissioners requesting Information as to
what extent they claimed Jurisdiction over the
smaller United States reservations This action
was brought about by Col. Wilson from the fact
that In great many instances where United
states property adjoined private lots the fences Of
the former were thrown down, the owners Of the
lots claiming that they had the authority OF the
building inspector.
The Commissioners. in answer to Colonel Wilson,
say that the technical term reservation" as used
with reference to property embraced in the plan
OF the city OF Washington, refers only to certain
squares ana spaces reserved in the original plat OF
the city for purposes OF public buildings or public
health and convenience. The spaces made by the
intersection OF streets and avenues were not,
strictly speaking, reservations. or the two desg.
nations OF property, the former reservations,
strictly speaking, were not numerous; the latter,
or spaces and intersections, the number Is very
great.
he Commissioners say further, that in the div!-
sion OF the property upon which the city stands
between the original proprietor and the commits
S.OnerS appointed TO make the division, made
March 80, 1901, 1t Is distinctly provided shat the
lots only which shall be laid or shall be joint
property between the trustees on behalf OF the
publc, and each present proprietor, and shall be
fiirly and equally divided between the public and
the individual" ami 1t Is further provided that
''the President may retain any number OF squares
he may think proper Tor pubic improvements or
OtntT puUlC ludt lOT Iuc tue pfOpTle-
tors shall receive no compensation but for the
squares or lands In any form which shall be taken
for puolic buildings or any kind OF public improve
ments or uses, the proprietors whose lands shall
be taken shall receive at the rate OF EOS pounds
per acre TO be paid by the public. The Commis-
sioners say that the conclusion seems IN
evitable, that over the reservations and
spaces or intersections referred to the
Commissioners have no jurisdiction except
so far as the same has been given to them by acts
OF Congress extending tEeir police authority over
the same The city was originally divided into
squares lots and streets, and the streets were SO
arranged as to make at these In ersectIons open
spaces or the squares certain ones were reserved
Tor public and 1t would seem were paid for at
a rate agreed upon. The streets were ded by the
original propretOrs to the United States absolutely
and without compensation. The lots were
divided equally between the prOprietOrs and
the public. upon plan recognized and
agreed upon. All titles, the Commissioners
say, to real estate In TINS city depend upon
this subdivision. These alternate lots were all
the property taken by the prOprietors In the div-
SION and everything else-the streets, spaces, In
tersectiOnS and reservations belong TO the United
States. The Commissioners say In conclusion that
they claim no jurisdiction over the property to
which Col. Wilson refers and that hereafter they
viii be governed In their action by such conclusion.