The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-16
Special Committee to Re-
port Monday Night.
FlOwage Rights Have Been
Secured at Small Cost.
Rival Claimants Hold Back One Small
Tract of Land.

After nearly Ave years OF hard work the
| joint special committee Of the City Council on
the purchase Of land adjoining Roger Williams
Parh Of which Mr.. Barney Is chairman, have
pract cally cleared up all the difficult ques-
tions Of land and water rights. and they will
make their report to the Common Council
next Monday evening.
llowage rights have been acquired for the
city over 32 acres OF land, the title OF which
had already been acquired, prescriptive right
for 90 acres. and for six or seven acres which
have been used for good many years for
the old part of the park. and which could
have been controlled by the Elmville syndi-
cate. The right Ia use Spectacle and Masha-
paug ponds for reservoir purposes Involving
10 acres. the land at the mouth Of Masha-
psug. where the dam is located, ard one-balf
Of No.Botiom pond have also been secured.
And the total cost to the city has been SO. 800.
The only thing now left OF the old coudem-
nation which mas not been settled is tract
Of abont OF, coo square feet on the east shore OF
Cunlio pond. for whi"n there are two claim.
ants, Willard B. Tanner. as the assignee Of
the Babcock Land Company, and Samuel X.
Honey, attorney for jeanette Murray. This
property was originally owned by the Bah
NpNs sSdbu NOibphhbs 'uN WV piN0iNNhN VI WV
syndicate borrowed money from Jeanette
Murray's father In order to secure another
tract. In this venture he was unsuccessful. ana
50 TO make good his debt he mortgaged TN"
area OF 50, ,0CO feet in question to Mr.. Murray
Now Attorney Tanner, TO whom the Bahcock
Company has since assigned, claims that tho
mortgage IL not valid, because IL was made by
the president without authority. Mr. Honey
makes the counter claim that the mortgage
was given by the president with the consent
and authority Of the company. A second
complication arises from tho fact that while
MT. Tanner filed his petition within the time
REQUIRED by law. Mr.. Honey failed 10 do 70
The Newport attorneys plea now is that his
client was not OF age when she became heir to
the property, and that, furthermore, she was
married before she became OF age, 40 that she
has never held the land in her own right.
There is nothing in the statutes relative to
the special rights of married women and
minors To support Mr.. Honey's claim, and it
has already been denied by Judge Rogers. II
win next go before the full bench, and IN the
meantime the city will await the Ultimate de-
cision OF the court before taking this last
piece OF the area originally provided for.
There are also five lots. four OF them being
owned by George l.. Tucker. at the corner Of
Anthony and Youlden streets, which do not
come under the old condemnation. but IL has
since become necessary To secure them for
the purpose Of Strengthening one of the drive
ways. his matter il still pending.
Tho settlement Of the almost innumerable
claims set up since IL was decided to extend
Roger Williams Park has required an immense
amount of work but. the results are most
satisfactory. In tho beginning, To- entire
movement was denounced as n piece Of extra
vasnrce and the probable cost TO the city was
estimated at anywhere from 10000 20
sl.0OoG0 The actual cost OF $50 800 is 70 low
that the mcmbers II the committee them.
selves are surprised. Including the cost OF
buildings and tho amount OF interest. the
average cost OF the entire extension is 4 cents
per foot.
Boston has raid sl.sOO.00 for Howage rights
alone IN order 90 ge: the water supply for
the lakes of the new Franklin Park.