The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-08

The Claim of the city sustained o' !"
United states Court.

u-,-tta>-croy u. c., oct. THE
..,-,,,',,it a,,i,i cialn of the United states
To- tho harbor oil the city OF "S.,'''ssV ,.7,,.r,
in the Potomac ilFet nm, am e-'rr,r,c
Brgnch was maintained by the 'o'i ln ,',,, 80
Da,,r, Of fno District of Columbia To-Day
o,Ser tbose oil all other claimants, oI
whatever nature. $1,000. trt,.o,.d
IVA. decision OF the court Vas urn' 49,,
bv Mr.. Justice Hagnei, ana ANylc ma a..
throe hours being required 70 ieau '"e
TGe decision worked an important step
i'm the case. the origin OF Niiicii ""o 40
the efforts TO reclaim US pas .79'D' ". ".
tho pofofnac The reclaimed hats LOW
,.t,,d over an area Oi so acres ana u
,.;-'a+ief, rights attached 90 the lots iiohl-
ir,, an he water Finally, IN August,
f.sc CONGRESS passed am act ulfccuis
~ Affornev-Cieneral To- enter SUIT in
the District supreme on, or ,S, ,,c,its
several claimants 20 determine lie ,'.',,,,i.,
20 ,re claims This was done shOruy
a. ftef the massage of the act, SUITS bclnS
entered against hfty-foqr claimants. f..
Until last winter nothing was dQhe III
',he matter. the time being spent ~ at
s.,r,.-'',e IN, nsrfectfng their eases. They
were. then consolidated ana lhe tildi or
fhc several claims pressed lhes We
divided into seven classes ana t..ii Si1''
nut forward its testimony "hith tiV
Government antagonlzel,
The claims ranged from that made By
the heirs of James Marshall 10 the Whoie
he'd of the Potomac river undtf gram.
from the Crown OF England 10 l-oiu
Culpeper 90 the Northern Neck OF IT.
,,infa and under "a deed from the htliS
ef Henry Hartford. the Inst opfltiafy
of thc province Of England, 10 thoae ol
The persons holding possession OF uie
one nf The claims was for about 80
acres of the reclaimed lands conilSuons
fo "a nlot known az "hllweil Meadows,
Tor which patent was issued TO Julu
I.iIu.u i'm 1869. This claim, the evidence
declared was speculative o"r, Oh, -
quarter interest had been soid lot ftV'vNv'
and at the time the suit was begun
syndicate had been IOintl 10 puy IL 'oi
million dollars. .,...-.... g..
Nu of the claims were overthrown by
the decision of Judge Hasner
The decision vas cNN iustltt' trNifN w.
fhe history OF the PotDmac river from the
date If original charters 10 lands OF VIZ
riria and Maryland. lis CONCLUSION, IN
brief. was that the right utle. ana ln-
terest ia the lands and water Ii ne river
within the District vested in CONGRESS
for the benefit OF the public. ana 10
rfivate right or ownership dntag0nishc
thereto could be- established.
IL was dee iiel that the owners or Ger
tain lois which had been reclaimed py
the Government were entitled % remun-
Grafton no the extent of .he value OF the
lots before reclaimed. The decision also
I'm express terms declared the patent
ISSUED 10 Dr. Kidwell in 1859 for a tract
living I'm the river. about io acres In cN-
tent. of no effect and null ana void.
Bv the terms OF the act authorizing
the bringing of the Suits an appeal from
the Judgment from the District supreme
court direct 10 the United States SUI
preme Court is permitted to any Of the
parties. and 10 is probable that the case
viii fnl it's way 10 the highest judicial
tribunal I'm the land. although no steps
were taken that direction to-day.