Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-23

against all Corners " liberal use OF hot
water from Maria's tea kettle.
Once settled on the land Streeter
romptly filed a homestead claim with the
Washington authorities. He was politely
informed that he was squatting In the
water, being a quarter OF a mile OUTSIDE
the shore line surveyed by Wall. Nothing
daunted, and satisfied that he could stand
the water during the summer months ne
secured some unused Mexican war script
and fled that on the land. Again he re-
ceived the reply that he was obstructing
navigation with his house. So he wrote 10
the Washington authorities that he was
convinced that this was land, and dry land
at that, and as they had apparently over
looked it, and as all claims In this country
date from the government, he therefore
claimed this as its discoverer.
Hoity, toityl There was a terrible TO do'
to be sure! The shore owners began to cry
loudly riparian rights" and ordered the
police to run Streeter off. They began
steps to get the land surveyed and placed
on the county map so they could pay taxes
on 1t and establish a claim. They sue
ceeded in ousting streeter temporarily.
made a deal with the Lincoln Park board
and the state legislature, built a boulevard
half a mile out in the lake and gave 1t to
the state, filled in the pond back OF It,
dedicated the continued streets, and were
given by the state title to the reclaimed
lands.
But Streeter was before and after them,
claiming that the state never had the title
to give, in this twenty-mile strip surveyed
by Wall. Then Streeter sold and gave away
enough Of the lots to interest capitalists
and workers. and shortly organized the
independent District Of Lake Michigan
That is how we come to have one more
sovereign body than most Of US know about,
and a civil war that has upset the peace OF
at least half a dozen millionaire land own
ers. For the filled lands of the "Deestric'
are already worth at least $25, 100000
II was on May s, 1889, that war was de-
clared by the District against Chicago. 1t
was a quiet day to begin with, but along
toward noon sounds Of war were heard
growing loud In the distance. Over Rush
street bridge in martial array came an
army Of forty men. Streeter at their head
with banner and drum, marching to seize
their country. Streeter's red Whiskers
wagged, and his shiny silk hat NODDED TO
acquaintances along the way-for ne Is
Gap" to half C~hicago-and the sunlight
gllnted from enormous nickel plated staes
on the bosoms Of the army. They were
self-constituted United States marshals
for the "Deestric." and the bosoms behind
the stars were filled with war sentiment.
They went up Rush street to Ontario and
out on to the filling, stuck a tagstan in
the ground, pasted a sign on a shanty to
serve as a courthouse" George Wellington
Streeter, Clerk" labeled another shanty
Capital" and so completed the occupa-
tton.
Now, b-gosh, let them fellers come,
said Streeter. "We1l show 'em now.
b'gosh. We got tn United States on our
side, an they amt a-goin' to buck up agin
tn govament. This amt nliny here, an
them fellers amt got no rights in this
Deestric'. II IN army Of cops comes over
here I'll arrest 'em, b'gosh."
Crowds OF north side citizens gathered