The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-10-13
Fences and Buildings of the
Squatters on City Prop
erty Removed By
Authorities.
Property East of Alcaniz
and South of Main is
Claimed by City.
WORK WAS CARRIED ON WITH
OUT THE SLIGHTEST DIsTUR-
BANcE-LAND SWEPT CLEAR OF
BUILDINGS BY HURRICANE
MAYOR STATES HIS POSITION
IN THE MATTER.

certain property along the eastern
waterfront that is claimed by the city,
Mayor Bliss yesterday gave orders to
the city street department to visit the
places and remove all buildings and
fences Not only did he give the or
ders for this work to be done, but the
mayor accompanied the force of work
men, and to prevent any disturbance
that might occur, he instructed the
marshal to have four or five police
officers on the scene.
There was no disturbance of any ma
ture. A large number of persons gath
cred about the point where the men
were engaged and watched opera
tions, but the street force soon had
all fences and a portion of one build
ing which had been erected, clear Of
the lots in controversy, even to the
foundations, and fifteen minutes after
their arrival there was not. a vestige
of the property left.
The property in dispute lies just
east of Alcaniz street, running along
the beach for considerable distance.
and even the lower portion of AL
caniz street, which the city found had
been fenced up during the previous
night by some parties is claimed Be
fore the hurricane all IF this land
was settled upon. buildings having
been erected from time to time, but
these were all washed away during
the storm, and as the mayor claims
that the title to the property is vest
ed in the city, and that the parties
who have been Occupying it have only
squatter's rights, he issued orders
shortly after the storm that the city
claim its own and refuse permits for
buildings to be erected thereon and to
stop those attempting to rebuild.
At the meeting of the city council
last Wednesday night he presented
the case to that body, and the matter
was referred to the city attorney and
harbor and sanitary committee with
instructions to look after the city's
rights in the matter.
Piece of House Destroyed.
Yesterday morning. however. when
the mayor came to his office he found
that during the night fences had been
built around some Of the property, and
that one lady, Mrs Pate, was rebuild
ing her home. He Immediately head
ed the party of street workers and
police officers and decided to sap
further proceedings in an effectual
manner. This he did by having the
force remove from the ground every
piece OF building that had been placed
there, even to the foundation Of the
cottage. This vas only partly rebuilt,
the frame work and portion of the
weather boarding having been COM
pleted The fences about other lots,
some of which, the mayor states, had
been enclosed during the night, es-
pecially that crossing lower Alcaniz
street. were then attacked and re-
moved.
Within fifteen minutes the work had
been completed, and the workmen re-
turned to their other duties.
The Mayors Position.
The mayors position in the prem
ises is that the property is owned by
the city. and as mayor he should look
after the interests of the city and pre-
vent parties from attempting to claim
that which he says does not belong to
them.
my position is that this is city
said the mayer yesterday
afternoon. Ell has now been swept
clean of all buildings by the storm,
and now is the time to act by pre-
venting any rebuilding. If we allow
any parties to rebuild they can carry
the case into the courts and in these
days of smart lawyers it can be kept
there fore ten years. This property
should be reserved for the people as a
beach, as 1t is a very nice place and
could be beautified.
''Now as to rebuilding. No one Is
going to rebuild on any of this prop
erty unless then can show a clear
title to it. If the property belongs to
them they should have It and they
have recourse to the courts for any
damages incurred in removing fences
and buildings, which amounts to very
little. If the property does not belong
to them then they should not be al
lowed to build upon it and force the
city into litigation.
"As the matter stands at present no
one has been really badly injured with
the possible except m of one or two
wealthy land jumpers. Some Of the
poorer families cannot rebuild, and |
that one party is even
willing to dispose Of his claim very
re homavor ouv ~ m no~~