New-York tribune., 1901-02-08
MERRY WAR AT OYSTER BAY.
ROOSEvELT'S NEIGHBORS IN 4 CON
TEST WITH AN ENTERPRISING
SAND DREDGER
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

Washington. Feb. 7.-Brigadier- General John
NJ Wilson, Chief Of Army Engineers. has or
dered Major E. II. Ruffner. OF the Engineer
Corps in charge of river and harbor improve
ments in the neighborhood OF the eastern ap-
proach 10 New-York City to cause the immedi-
ate suspension Of the sand dredging operations
OF Walter B. Starr at Oyster Bay. Long Island
Sound. until an opportunity is had for further
inspection and report on Starr's work Ihls Is
only one Of the preliminary steps In what prom
ises 10 be an exceedingly spirited battle between
the Vice President t-elect's neighbors on the one
hand and the enterprising sand man and the
United States statutes on the other. 1t involves
at the outset a grave question as TO the right
OF the War Department TO extend its jurtsdic-
tfon over navigable waters and their unrestrtct-
ed use for maritime purposes for the protection
of placid scenery against the encroachmehts Oh
the sordid venders of sand. II appears that
some time ago Walter b Starr submitted to the
War Department a project for an extensive
plant. involving the establishment OF wharf
and dredge in front of his property at oyster
Bay. in order that he might profit by the dis
posal Of large quantities Of sand which serves
purpose that point save TO impede navt-
cation and perhaps provide tempting resting
place for the vicious oyster shell 10 lie in wait
for the unwary and unshod bather. In the
course of the red tape of the Engineer Bureau.
the proposition was found unobjectionable as a
menace 10 commerce; in fact. the removal of
the dredged material TO New-York for building
purposes would probably curtail in an appre-
ciable degree the biennial log rolling River and
Harbor bill. and after numerous initials and in
dorsements a permit finally issued 20 Mr
Starr 10 go ahead
The Starr property adjoins that Of Mr.. Roose-
Welt, and or all sides except seaward the pict-
uresque homes OF aristocratic residents abound.
The neighbors were naturally scandalized by
the prospect OF decidedly ugly wharf. 10 be-
come a rendezvous for scows and putting tugs.
making out from their lovely shore, and or un-
couth dredges destroying the landscape and
their sleep. as we'll perhaps stirring up NIL
asma from the shadows OF the bay, and they
delegated one OF their number Charles ". Wet
more TO lay the facts before Secretary Root
Mr.. Wetmore's visit to Washington yesterday
was promptly productive of the suspending or
der 10 Major Ruffner, but IT now appears that
Mr. Starr may defy Major Ruffner. Mr. Starr
possesses the formal declaration or the highest
authority that of Secretary Root himself.
backed by the Chief OF Engineers and the whole
Bureau OF Engineers that this work does not in
terfere with navigation and there, he asserts, on
the advice OF eminent counsel, the authority or
the National Government ends. He has appealed
20 Representative Scudder. who visited the War
Department to-day in the hope OF pleasing his
contending constituents without taking inextrt-
cable sides against either party to the con-
troversy He found that the War Department
could do nothing more than IL has done without
stultifying itself. II has gone 20 the extreme OF
demonstrating Mr.. Stars enterprise 10 be sure
that he will not obstruct navigation. and the
officials say that II he keeps within his plans as
originally approved they cannot interfere. II
he maintains a nuisance II must be abated by
the State authorities.
Mr. Roosevelt 1t Is said. has had nothing 10
DO with the controversy up 20 the present time
but the Starr plant would be likely 70 cause
more annoyance 70 him than 20 any ~ the other
villagers