The herald., 1894-03-28
SQUATTER SOVEREIGNTY
The Land Committee Pays a
Visit to City Tenants.
They Must Take Out Leases to Avoid
Litigation.
A Number of Good Dwellings and I'm
prOvemsnts Put on Lands of the
MunicipAlity-Real Estate
Lying Around Loose.

The city land committee OF the coun-
Gil, composed OF Messrs. Munson,
Strohm and Pessell, together with
Deputy City Attorney Dunn. yesterday
commenced the work of looking up the
souatters on the city property in differ
ent sections of the municipality.
They found quite number of squat
ters on city lots, in many instances
quite extensive improvements having
been made. The fret piece of property
visited was three acres OF land on Ninth
street down by the river. This piece,
and tract of three and one-half acres at
the corner OF Brooklyn avenue and
LorenR street, wele found to be occu-
pied. At the eastern end of the Macy
street bridge they found four cottages
occupied by Jared A. Montejo, Fran
cisco Arcia, Juan Villabobes and Jesus
Caldonen, whose domiciles are on the
city land. These parties were notified
that they would have to secure leases at
once from the city. No squatters we're
found on q half acre tract on Buena
Vista street, or on two lots at Castelar,
and Rock streets, or on four lots at Cas-
telar and Sand streets.
Two long irregular tracts on Buena
Vista street, near the bridge, were
found to be occupied, and the same was
true of five lots on Walnut street, near
the Chicago Planning Mill property.
On the opposite side OF the street they
found six unauthorized tenants on the
city lands who had built houses. Their
names are A. Kyle, A. Kyle, jr., Mrs.
Hill, Mrs. Osvanaugh and Mary Flee.
A tract of eight acres there is unoccu-
pied, as we'll as a piece near the stock
yards, 100000 feet.
On Humboldt street the house of
George Crooms Was found on city land;
also the chicken ranch and Junk yard OF
W. Howells, and the house and poultry
yard of Mrs. Birney, the latter paying
rental of 81 per annum.
l.. M. Sifford, who owns an extensive
chicken ranch, extending from Hays to
Walnut street, was found to have fenced
in q piece of city land 150x350 feet.
He made claim to have secured
title from DR.. Griffin, but finally con-
cluded to call up and see the city attor-
ney as to a rental charge.
The next squatter found was Mrs.
Benton, who has house built on city
land on Walnut street. In company
with her next door neighbor, Mrs. Smith,
she agreed to take out lease.
fine cottage occupied by NJ. M.
Brouthers on Walnut street was found
to be on city land. An alley had been
fenced off here that is not ON the map.
In the rear on Chestnut street Mrs. Nor
ton has erected two houses, one of which
she has sub-lessed. both being on city
land.
Thomas Burns has house and gar
den with a frontage of 100 feet, while
M. Johnston has house on the adjoin-
ing 30 feet on Chestnut street.
All OF these parties agreed to go to the
city attorneys Office next Saturday and
take out leases for one year.
Altogether the committee made an
examination OF city lands occupied and
unoccupied that would be cheap at a
valuation OF $4,000 and they are not
one-half through with their work.
Chairman Munson says that the com
mlttee intends TO open ledger account
covering every piece OF property owned
by the city and likewise have an sccur-
ate map made giving full description
OF all the city lands. tits proposed that
leases for all the lands which NAV be
desired shall be made out on April lat of
each year in order that they may
all expire at the same time, and thus
avoid confusion in leasing hereafter.
There is no intention on the part of the
committee to evict any of the squatters
who acknowledge the city's ownership
of the lands in question, but they will
instruct the city attorney to at once be-
gin proceedings against all tenants who
will not acknowledge the city's pro-
prietorship and have them elected from
the premises. The lands in the major
ity of cases will be leased for a nominal
consideration, the purpose being to
protect the city's interest in the future
and avoid legal complica.iona.