The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-26
MIrLroNAIRns ~ 4 ROW.
As.ors and vanderbnts in Dispute Over
Fence.


workmen employed by John Jacob Astc
at Newport recently forcibly moved fence
and changed walks which tho employees Of "
x Vanderbilt had put in position but few
DAYS before This act Is the elimination OF 3
Misunderstanding which has existed tor some
time between the millionaire cottage owners
of bellevue avenue. The trouble arose wher
Mr. Vanderbilt began building ms white
marble cottage between bellevue avenue and
the ellis. MS promises being bounded Oh the
north and south by the estates Of William
and John Jacob Aston. II originated. 1t is
charitable 20 suppose. from the attempts OF
oficious employees to shrOud the construction
OF the cot age ID mystery.
Asst 10 prevent spying from the windows
OF the neighborng cOttsgers high ana IN
slightly fences were built about the wander.
bit structure. greatly marriug the beauty %
tbe vide and well-kept lawns. which had
hitherto been merged into each other, sna
hedges alone marking the boundaries.
These lofty barriers were continued block
ACROSS the front Of tho anderblt lot in tail
wall of stone. hanked on either side by huge
iron gates. backed by corrugated sheet iron.
The unsightliness of these structures were an
moving. but the Astor gorge did not rise TIL
Mr.. (auderbiits men attempted 20 change
tho ASPECT OF the beautiful Gins and alter the
neigbbOrs' paths without so much as saying
by your lehVe.
lfuch 10 Mr. Astor's surprise tho other day
the Vanderbilt men tore up the fence. moving
il inland So a. to permit the replacing OF the
path along the verge OF the clin, the turf be-
ing again shifted and beaten down over the
AstOT path.
Alr. Astor's employees were instructed to
change the path back 20 the line, move the
fence out 10 the chn again, and SEQ that II
STAYED there. This was done, tho turf being
moved out % the cliffs and stamped down
SO that the Astor path now ends abruptly
against the Vanderbilt border line aud wire
fence. the bank between the upper and lower
paths being sodded while watchful garden
ers urowl about in the vicinity on either side
of the boundary.
All this is particularly unpleasant 20 the
public. The State law declares that land
within thirty feet OF high water mark - Tree
10 every one The clifi-dwellers purchased
their estates under this limitation, knowing
that the courts years ago established the
right Of the public 10 free and unObstructed
passage along the cliffs. W. n. Vanderbilt
has. however. usurpod this public domain
with his artificial works and placed placards
in every direction threatening the direst pun
ishment OF the law for trespassers on his ter
rtOry.
He has also increased the danger Of the
path 10y carrying It out of the straight line de-
sired by tho Astors and seward along the
face of the cliff His conduct Is in contrast
with that Of his brothers and other cliff cot
tagers. who keep the gravelled path and
lawns in the best condition and place no OBJ
structions in the path OF view of pedestrians.
The walk is a fayorite promenade for sum
mer residents, some of whom give free ex-
preston 20 their disgust. They applaud the
Astors in their fight 20 keep tho path at its
former level.