The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1909-10-15
TO ATTACK THE TITLE.
Suit to be Instituted Against West
Tennessee Land Co

will, before the close of the pres
sent month, file bill in the chancery
court of Obion County attacking the
title of the West Tennessee Land Com
pany to the Reelfoot Lake property, !"
said Attorney General Chas. T, Gates,
Jr., at the Maxwell House this week.
Gen. Gates had just returned from
Memphis, where his efforts to effect a
compromise and settle the controversy
out of court had proven futile.
I suggested some time ago." con-
tinued the AttorneyGeneral that in
view of the Nightrider troubles at Reel
foot that the only possible way to bring
a peaceable solution of the problem was
for the State of Tennessee to purchase
the property through condemnation
proceedings and convert it into hunt
ing and fishing preserve.
TO ATTACK THE TITLE.
At the conference held at Memphis
on Friday it was decided to attack the
validity of the late Tennessee Land Com
pany's title This corporation obtained
their present rights through a grant
from the State, which the Supreme
Court held was valid on the ground that
the lake was not navigable. The last
General Assembly, however, thought to
the contrary, and the bill | shall file in
the near future will be based upon Leg
lslatlye authority. In case the action
contemplated fails, it is proposed to file
suit in the circuit court of Obion Coul4.
ty looking for the ultimate purchase Of
the property through condemnation
proceedings. No such proceedings.
however, will Of course be instituted un-
til the question of the title to the prop
erty has been settled in court. If the
State wins the suit to clear up the title
to the property further legal proceed
lngs will not be necessary.
ACT TO CLEAR UP TITLE.
The act of the last Legislature under
which the action will be instituted is
chapter 81, acts of 1909, entitled, "An
act to clear up the States title to Reel
foot Lake, and for that purpose to en-
power and direct the Attorney General
OF the State and District Attorney Of the
Fourteenth Judicial District to file bill
or bills IN equity against the West Ten
nessee Land Company and all other
claimants of any titles or interests
m SAID lake to annul and cancel all en-
.res and grants heretofore issued or
aid upon the bed or waters of said lake.
md to reclaim the same of and for the
Use of said State and its citizens. and to
provide for the necessary expense Of
uits. +"
COMPANION BILL PASSED.
lhe Legislature passed companion
ill to the above chapter 534 acts Of
9o9, which is an act to set apart and
stabllsh Reelfoot Lake and the shores
nd islands thereof, in the counties of
'blon and Lake, as common fishery
nd game preserve for the use of the
eople of the State, and for that pur-
ose to condemn and appropriate to the
ubllc use any and all private interests
nd rights which maybe found to exist
or upon said property under the law
eminent domain; and to authorize
nd direct the Attorney General of the
tate and the District Attorney of the
Judicial Circuit to institute
ld prosecute such suit or suits as NAV
necessary for said purpose under the
neral laws Of the State respecting the
inflammation of private property for
lvate use, and to provide for the as
ssment and payment ofsueh damages
may be necessary in order to acquire
ch private rights or interest for said
lblic use, and to provide for the nee
sary expenses of such suits. 2
GOVERNOR OPPOSES.
Gen, Gates was in hopes that he could
IKE compromise, and to that end
lde trip to Memphis to meet the
vernon, who was in that city Friday
ID the members of the State Board Of
ucation looking into site for the
'posed Normal School Others at the
lference were Maj. w. III. Holmes.
strict Attorney Caldwell and G. r.
Dade, joint representatives from
ion County. Gov. Patterson and
ne others opposed Gen. Gates COM
mise plan, holding that it was best
proceed in the matter under the
hority of chapter 81, acts of 1909.
d above. Messrs. Barr, of Dresden.
D. B. Puryear, of Gallatin. who
q aDrointad bxy t1,a Co.. -,