The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-04
WANT GOVERNMENT MONEY.
HUTcHINsoN's ISLAND DAMAGE
CLAIMS TO he INVESTIGATED.

CLAIMS TO ne INVESTIGA TED.
Dir. r. VI. oliver Appointed Commits
sioner 10 Hear EvIdeBee-An As
sfstant 10 the Attorney General
Here to Represent the Govern
ment-The Claimants Are Henry +.
WfIIfnk. the PARROT Estate and Z.
A. smith-Thefr Claims Aggregate
Nearly 100000.
Mr.. F. NJ. oliver has been appointed
commissioner, by agreement of both par
ties at interest, TO take evidence in the
claims against the government for dam
ages done to properly on Hutchinson
island by the establishment of the harbor
lire by the war department, which cut on
considerable valuable frontage opposite
the heart of the city.
While the harbor lines have recently
been altered so as not to affect any of the
property on Hutchinson's island, the OWL
ers were debarred from the use of It for
several years The claims now aggregate
slgS, 259. They were originally much larger
but on account Of the action of the war
department restoring<the original lines the
claimants can no longer demand to be re-
compensed for land taken, but can only
demand compensation for injuries to bus
mess and for a reasonable rental of the
properties during the time they have lain
idle.
The claimants are Henry f. Willink.
the Parrott estate and E. A. Smith. Mr..
over $4,000. He was operating a marine
railway on the island, and the harbor line
being run across the property his business
was greatly inlerfered with. and he was
prevented from erecting any buildings or
making any Improvements to the property.
As a result of the action of the war depart
ment in restoring the land lines, Mr.. Will
links claim has been reduced to $4,000. He
is represented by Barrow & Osborne, and
by W S. King Of Washington, D. c.
The claim of the Parrot estate is for
s7i,250. Of which amount $4,000 is claimed
for the actual value of the land included
within the harbor lines. A large saw mill
plant, known as Kinsey's mill, was located
on the PARROT property. and for the
wharves. bulkheads, buildings and struct-
ures comprising the saw mill plant. $50 =
900 is asked. For rental, $21. $50 Is asked.
being at the rate OF 5000 a year, from
April 7, 1893, when the occupants were no
tilted not TO place any further structures
or Improvements upon their property. The
Parrott estate is controlled by Gouveneur
Paulding and James ". Paulding, surviv-
ing executors of Robert p. Parrott of
Cold Spring. n. Y. Mercer & Mercer are
Savannah counsel for the estate.
Mr.. Il. A. Smith also has a large claim
against the government on account Of the
harbor lines. He is represented by
O'Connor OByrne and Hartridge
Mr.. George II. Walker, an assistant to
Attorney General Griggs, will represent
the government In the taking of evidence
which viii begin this morning.
The harbor lines affecting Hutchinson ISL
land were established by order of the Sec
rotary Of War. May 8. 1889. on recommen-
dalton of board of engineer officers ap-
pointed to consider the matter at the sug-
gestion of Lieut.. o. VI. Carter The board
met in Savannah, April /. 1889 and decided
in favor of establishing a minimum width
OF 800 feet between opposite pier head lines
along the river front in the city of Sa-
vannah, and submitted a may showing
the lines decided upont The report was
approved by the Secretary of War on rec-
ornmendation Of the chief of engineers,
Col. w. p. Craghill In his estimate of the
cost Of The revised project of improvements
for the Savannah harbor. submitted June
50, 1880, Capt. Carter included an estimate
of $4,000 for possible land damages to
Hutchson Island. a,,g.
The PARROT estate was submitted To ar
bitration In 1898 and a decision awarding
the estate $4,000 made, which decision the
government declined to accept Several
days Will probably be occupied in taking
evidence. which will afterwards be sub
mItted to the Court ofaclaims In Washing
ton.