The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-08
CAPTAIN STREETER HERE
Chicago's Noted Squatter Clamor-
ing for Recognition.
with His Credentials ms the
Duly Accredited Delegate From
the .'Territory of Lake Michigano
The History of an Unique Case.

| Capt George W. Streeter father. found
| err and citizen of narrow strip of terra
| firma which mas been named the Terri
| tory of Lake Michigan" IS in Washing
! ton. Captain Streeter, whose domain lies
! adjacent to the city of Chicago, and Dor
ders on the great lake whose name it
( bears, is here as the duly accredited rep
resentative of his territory seeking admis-
sion to membership in Congress as a
| delegate from the LAKE Michigan terri
| tory. The territory of Lake Michigan Is
| no Joke. II is no myth, or mirage. as
some people might suppose.
| The city police of Chicago, the judi
! cial authorities, and large number of
wealthy real estate owners have found
out this fact to their sorrow and cost
/ The question is undecided as to whom
the territory belongs. and what govern
ment. if any. has jurisdiction over IT.
| Captain Streeter claims it, and the dis-
pute over the title has caused much ar
( gument in Chicago. and is still undecided.
| However, the territory has population
of about III souls, about one-fifth oil
whom are voters. and these, maintaining
| that they have set up form OF govern
ment and selected officers. last fall elected
!
, delegate in Congress. As stated, Captain
! Streeter is here ready to do the represent
! ing
| The story of the territory of Lake Mich
| igan is an interesting one. although 1t
| is not recorded i'm the school histories
Briefly il is this: Captain Streeter In his
Younger days was a bold navigator who
crossed the trackless waters of Lake
Michigan in bark called the Reutan
one day in June 1856. while the Reutan
was making for a Chicago dock, there
came great storm, and the little craft
was tossed upon the foaming pillows ana
finally stranded in the sand short as
lance north of where the Chicago River
empties its odorous waters into the lake
Then the rains descended and the floods
came and cast up from the depths OF
lake Michigan the sand which soon sur
rounded Captain Streeterfs vessel, and in
the course Of a few years where there had
been water there is now dry, solid earth
There Captain Street claimed his habitat,
as the laws gave him the right to do, and
all the wealth of many millionaire land
owners has npt yet been able to entirely
dispossess him The district which he
surveyed embraces 1S6 acres. 1t is all
made land" and with the growth of pop
a busy centre of trade and commerce. it
has become very valuable. probably worth
500 100. 1t lies on the lake front, and
extends from the Chicago River north
ward to Oak Street. Those who own the
contiguous property. that which at the
time Captain Streeter was stranded. ran
to the waters edge, now claim ownership
and title in this made land, the land
tossed up by the never ending action of
the waters of the lake.
According to Captain Streeter's chart
the territory of Lake Michigan embraces
AL that part or parcel of land east of
fractional sections I and TO- township 80.
north range II deg. east of the third
principal meridian, containing 1s6 acres"
AS the city of Chicago and the State of
Illinois according to the claim of Captain
Streeter and his supporters, extend only
to the waters edge at the time the sur
vey was made and recurGed the land now
constituting what is called the territory
of Lake Michigan is not a part of either
the city or the State Thus very singu-
lar and delicate question has arisen, and
the opinion OF the nited States Supreme
Court is needed to decide the matter
year ago Captain Streeter. seeing the
encroaehments of the landowners adjoin-
iilE' posse anu set up "A mill
tary government, which he defended with
Calling gun. Then came a clash with
the police. great excitement on the lake
front, in which mule was killed and
man shot. The arrest of Captain Str eter
and his followers resulted, but in his trial.
which was made a sort of test case, Cap
tain Streeter was victorious. in that he
was released because the courts had no
Jurisdiction. Captain Streeter has the
backing of considerable number of
wealthy men. who are willing to purchase
the land from him soon as his l.tle can
be established beyond question. and who
are aiding him In his fight
Last fall the several citizens of the ter
ritory OF Lake Michigan held an election
under their government. which had been
organized a year before. and elected
themselves to office. They also chose
Roosevelt rolled UP the tremendous ma
1ority of five votes out OF total of fif-
teen cast, Bryan and Stevenson receiving
but five ballots. Captain Streeter was
however. even more popular than the Re
publican Presidential candidate, and re-
ceiVed larger vote, defeating his Demo-
cratic rival. Gen. William II. Niles. the
Military Governor Of the, Territory in the
race for Delegate to Congress The re
naming citizens elected themselves TO
various minor offices.
credentials signed by himself as clerk of
the election and figUratiyely speaking he
is knocking at the halls vi Congress for
admission. Captain Streeter is not very
particular in which house of the National
Legislature he is accorded a seat He
anticipated an extra session and so came
on here prepared, bringing a copy Of the |
constitution Of his Territory and Mrs.
Streeter with him. He Is willing to serve
without salary. which is a more magnanf-
nous offer than any other statesman has |
ever made. He simply insists that his |
Territory shall have the representation
to which II is entitled. He believes In |
government.
Yesterday Captain Streeter called at the |
General Land Office and asked to be |
sworn in as a delegate. and apologized |
when informed that that duty die not de- |
volye upon the Interior Department Then |
he went up to the Capitol 10 see Vice |
President Roosevelt. but that official WAS |
busy and unable to attend to the case of |
the gentleman from the Territory Of |
Lake Michigan. Consequently Captain
Streeter will call again He is a modest
man. but insists upon having his rights
Captain Streeter is an Interesting per
son and pleasant and affable gentleman
o know personally. He Invariably wears
silk hat with the sickness brushed the
wrong way and iuxuriant growth of red
)eard which is so accustomed to the |
rOiic OF the gentle breezes of the Windy |
city that it is totally undisturbed by the |
.ephyrS which were waftec through IL as |
lie passed down Pennsylvania Avenue
- st erClay.
Mrs. Streeter is likewise interesting and
he stanch supporter of her husbands
;laims to the ownership of the Territory |
II Lake Michigan and to public office |
rhe story has been told that Clara Ward |
he Detroit adventures. who forsook her
tiled French husband for a gypsy Hun |
sarian fiddler Is Ler daughter by a
ormer husband and that she Was stolen