The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-06
TITLE TO LAKE FRONT.
A Suit That Involves Chicago Land
Worth Millions.

WASHINGTON Nov. 6.-The Tenarka Die
land case Involving the title to l63 acres
of land on the lake front in Chicago will
come UP for a hearing beIore the Cum
missioner Of the general lana once IN
this city November %.
on one side are two residents OF IN
cagO who claim that the property IS
public land. and are seeking TO locate
there 4 portion of a grant of 4eO acres
under acts OF congress OF 900 anu 1oSS'
and on the other side are large num-
Der of claimants under a patent issued
in 1887.
Among the latter are such prominent
men al Potter Palmer, Millionaire Falr-
banks, Senator Proctor, the Chicago
Dock and Canal company, and many
others who own valuable property 10
Gated on the property in dispute, con
sisting of Wharves, warehouses and
many magnificent private residences
Prominent counsel, both of this city and
Chicago, have been engaged on elIher
side and the fight is likely to be long
and bitter one.
The men seeking a patent to the land
are H. NJ. La Toilette and Matthias Ben
ner. who claim to be the purchasers OF
the scrip issued to the heirs OF capt W.
II Mckee by acts Of congress. Their
opponents claim title under a patent is
sued to Robert A. KinZie.
It seems that Capt Mckee, Ken
lucky colonel in the Mexican war, was
killed in the battle of Buena Vista An
act of congress Jan Is, 1888, granted to
the heirs Of Mckee, consisting OF
daughter ana TWO sons, lou acres OF 1ctlAl
each as compensation for the expense
incurred by Capt. Mckee in equipplng
his regiment. No particular tract was
specified, the act applying to any pubic
land. The grant was reahlrmed in 1889
Both of Capt. MCkee's sons followed in
their fathers footsteps, one OF them be
ing major in the regular army during
the civil war, while the other, Lleuten-
ant Hugh Mckee was killed while lead
ing a charge Of American sailors and
marines at the capture of Seoul, Korea,
when it was captured by the United
States in 1871.
Fort Mckee was named in his honor.
Tt is the scrip issued by the land office
under these acts of congress that La
Toilette and Benner claim to have pur-
chased and are now seeking to locate on
the lake front in Chicago.
A portion of the land involved is
claimed by the state of Illinois through
it's park commission, under the act OF
the legislature, and there IS also an
other claimant to another portion of it
in the person of Capt. Streeter of Chi
cagO Capt Streeter states that many
years ago he was the owner OF a barge
or other vessel, which was either ground
ed or anchored, or was disabled in the
Chicago river near the lake.
Capt Streeter lived on the vessel with
his family. and by reason of the vessel
being located at that place, there was
gradual accUmula ton of sand earth and
other matter about the craft so that in
course of time small island was form
ed. on which the Streeter family plant
ed a potato patch. This island, it is al
legged. slowly increased in size until it
assumed considerable proportions, and
in the course Of time it became connect
ed with the mainland. Streeter's claim
is laughed at by the attorneys, but he
is intensely in earnest about it, and was
in the city last week with an attorney
looking after his interests.
The property in dispute is worth mill
lions Of dollars and is located on 1ndi-
ana. Illinois, Ohio, Erie, Ontario, Su-
perior Huron and Water streets, east
of St Clair street.
AIessrs. Dudley and Kitchener of this
city represent the would-be lOcaters,
AIcssrs. La Toilette and Benner, in con-
junction with several Chicago lawyers,
while 8fessrs. Needham and Cotton are
the representatives here of Mr.. Fair
banks and several of the parties claim
ing under the kinzie patent. Hon Jere
Wilson and James X. Redington Of this
city and r. o. Brown are also connected
with the case. which is one of the most
important the land Office has ever been
called upon to deal with.