New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-19
QUEER REAL ESTATE TITLES.
EMBARRASSMENT TO OWNERS OF LAND
~ NETWORK
OLD LANES AND COwPATHs ~ TIE NoRTHEHS
sor'ATrrRs ~ PossEssIoN-A PRf-
vATE sTREBT down. TOWN

OLD LANES AND COWPATHs ~ TIE NoRTHEhS
rARr-sorArrrRs ~ PossEssIoN-A PR
vATE sTaEBT down. TOWN.
TIL. ownership OF real estate In this city prs
sents some curious features. interesting not only
legally but also often valuable object lessons n
manners In early local history OF New-fork' Inc
system OF real estate transfers In this city ~ not
by any simple. nor sometimes very iogicai'
/ and when such glaring example or tnls fact AZ
ownership by squatter sovereignty u preseheo' "
H. rather a wonder that such ienurfs are the sx'
cept,on But they do exist, and In some cases un-
der peculiar circl rnstarcea.
IN the IA Did growth OF the metropolis nowhere
were the conditions favorable 10 this form OF
tenure than In the upper West Side. where deve'-
opment advan ed upon regular rectangular lines.
leaving many lanes and public paths In the centre
OF blocks sodly built. The ownership OF these
lanes and paths IL not, and ~ not kety 20 oe ior
years clear and perfect TO the present occu-
pants. In walking along 'olumbus-ayc an op-
server is Immediately struck 10y the character OF
some OF the buildings on this busy thoroughfare'
He will notice one-story buildings interrupting he's
and there the uniformity OF the high structures,
closely wedged I'm between their taller neighoors
and looking decidedly out OF place In their amb'-
tious surroundings
Most OF these buildings stand upon land that
at time formed public road or lane. many OF
which crossed what Is now CoUn.bus-ave. and con-
tnued down 10 the Boomingdale Road, now re-
constructed into the Boulevard The entire West
Side in fact entirely criss-crossed with
these lanes OF more less importance and extent
some mere cowpaths. but nevertheless public.
When this part OF the city laid out In rectan-
gular blocks little attention was paid TO these old
| roads and paths. but the rapid growth contin.
ued venturesome builders put up these one-story
buildings and took the chances OF election, nntu-
rally enough rsking no capital than was act
ually necessary with the hope OF occupying the
mil lime he
lions would give them clear title
One case In point is that OF the old Clendennin6
Lane extending from the Park TO the river. be-
tween Ninety third and Ninety fourth SITS. on the
West Side which off the OF all the yards In
these streets. A little further south, IN the same
nsighborhood, an old lane line cuts of strip
eight inches wide along entire block between
the Park and Columbus-ave, thereby deprvins the
owners Of these lots to legal exit 10 the street
The claims from which these defective titles suf-
fer are on the part OF the heirs OF the original
grantor OF the land for IS lanes or public
roads The titles OF these were vested in the coun-
ty and when the land no longer used for such
purpose they reverted 10 the original grantors or
their heirs. When the property adjoining these
lanes sold the county could give no title 70
the public ground used for paths in fact. had abso-
utely no right the property except for the orig
nal use Intended
These facts are OF course. well known IN real e.
tate lawyers in this city and In some instances un-
scrupulous individuals among them have made .
business OF hunting these claims and the heirs II
the original grantors TO whom the title would
! legally revert. not for the purpose OF benehting
the heirs. but in order to backmail the innocent
owner who IN most ca accepts the long uncon-
tested OF the property surety OF undis-
/ puted possession.
Such "A claim was successfully worked upon .
| wel-known builder some few years who. hav-
/ ing at that time just completed the building -
| han Lar d-th
between Columbus and Ans erdam AYES. was visited
by attorney who presented claim for client ilv
Ing in Kansas, purporng 10 be one o. the heirs OF
the original grantor OF the lane, consisting OF
six-foot strip running obliquely through one house
and into the back yard OF the secord. The attor-
ney praented plausible evidence OF his clients
claim and the builder rather than take any
chances In a court OF law cornpr omised for $500.
Many portions OF the old Bloomin gdale Road can
still be found intact In the centre OF the blocks
now bounded by Amsterdam-aye. and tho Boule-
ward. with wooden buildings still lining both sides
OF old This long disused road has led 10
endless complications with the owners OF the abut-
ting properties who. though claiming TO the centre
Of the old highway still can SHOW no legal claim or
right thereto.
In several neighborhoods in the city where the
ownership of property has been contested By so-
has DOLLY squatted on the land, and while the adj
joining owners squabbled for what they considered
contested ground and pay taxes. In this manner
an enterprisng negro bootback 81 me years ago
/ presented n claim to a five-foot strip the east
side OF Ninth-ave. between Fifty-eiehh and Fifty
t nntn and With excellent chances Of Obtaining
/ clear title in few years.
/ one OF the Oldest ana best known statIoners In
the lower part city is said 10 have obtained
his store on Nassau-st which ne has occupied for
many years. in the same manner, and for this rei-
son has never erected more than a one-story frame
shed on hts valuable lot. although possession must
have given him a clear title many years ago
The spirit OF pure cussedness' in the breast OF
the average property;own has also been Tho
pllcations. Careful scrutiny Of the back yards OF
the city will disclose many high 9.rcK iron tencss
owners private dwellings. in order to cut or the
nst an an neoper m their Exclusive neirhborhood
on the other hand a certain class OF builders have
properties in exclusive but unrestricted ncghbor
hoods and then TO announce with great flourish ~
order 10 show their good faith they al once begin
excayatg and s plans Tn ins tse ndrbbo
hood is p in arms snl thoroughly convinced or ths
6aSsr to Ssred by Sess,on Of adonnr
ers who induce him much against ms VIII app1r,
advance upon his purchase price. which is what ne
In The humorous lie. a which attracted
. considerable attention In the building fraternity
,ome years ago re'arr .ec 9I Snder found
after erecting his houses lha' his wall encroached
TWO inches upon his neighbor's property. Upon
making tins discovery he Immediately opened nego-
tiations for the purchase OF the strip ana after
with The owner. A suit for ejectment followed. and
the north wall OF the house had to be pulled
was completely finished. But a sweet revenge was
in store for the injured man, for when he rebuilt.
H. order TO be NOR. than safe he built two inches
back from his line and awaited Developments. In
course % time his obnoxious neighbor built and TO
IN. first mans inexpressibie delight placed his wall
Immediately adjoining his own, thus putting him
s os u,r hing until the house masnin
cent structure was finished. Their he calmly in
formed his neighhor ~ the fact and now these two
houses stand with four inches % clear space be-
tween them from front To back
Naw-York Is peculiarly free. how ever, from one
abOunus
namely the private street There is only one thor
ough'are Of any prominence which IL private prop
erty In this city. and that IL Thomas-st.. which 10
part o. the old \ewYork Hospital site. Private
ownership in Il 81 still legally retained by stretch
ing chains across the two entrances TWO or three