Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-01-25
LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS
REVERT TO JOHN BoLLEs' HEIRS
If Government Abandons Navy Yard on
the Thames-This is Fully Under
stood BY Committee.
Especial to The Rulletin.)

washington, Jan. 24-The chief
clerk OF the bureau Of yards and docks
OF tne navy department was asked to-
day II 1t were true that in case the
department abandoned the navy ward
at New London. the land and ali the
pulldlngs on it would revert to the
original owners, and the reply was:
Without doubt, if the department
apAnaohs :. the New London naval sta
tlon. 1t Will revert to the original
owner or his heirs. Some years ago
When the yard was first used for a
coailng station, suit was brought by
the heirs of John r. Bolles to recover
tie land from the government This
SUIT was brought before the U. s. dis
trIct court of Connecticut. The navy
department won the suit, and the court
decided that as long as the property
was USED by the navy department for
any purpose it could hold the property,
but 1t could not be transferred or sold"
The department officials looked into
the question before it was recommend
ed to abandon the yard, and notified
the naval committee of the house that
there was a string" to the title of the
government. The committee today,
however, acknowledged that they knew
the property would revert to the state
OF Connecticut for distribution to the
heirs of Mr. Bolles, but nevertheless
the committee would recommend in
the appropriation bill the discontinue
ance of the station. The vote has been
taken on this proposition in the COM
mittee. and five yards are to be dis
continued, New London among the
number.
Unless this item in the bill is
changed on the floor of the house or
in the senate, the heirs of John r.
Bolles will get the land back with all
improvements. 1t is estimated that
the property is now worth a great deal
of nnnnaV h1Jt unless IA ~ ,,-t-
ment has use for the station, it is
worth nothing to the government.
Stonington Park Proposition.
Representative Higgins today ap--
peared before the house committee on
Interstate commerce, in behalf of the
bill introduced by him June 10, 1910
authorizing the transfer of govern
ment land known as Stonington Point
to the borough OF Stonington, provid-
ed the borough maintain the property
as park. Originally the lighthouse
board favored this proposition, as the
board had no further use for the land
in question, but the department of
commerce and labor is now opposing
the bill.
Mr.. Higgins explained to the COM
mittee that if the department wanted
to keep the land. he had no objection,
but if it was to be sold or disposed
Of in any other way, Stonington
wanted the land for a park. The peo-
pie of Stonington, Mr.. Higgins ex-
planned. did not want manufacturers
to get hold OF this property. Just why
the lighthouse board have reversed
themselves is not known, but if the
government will continue to use the
land, congress will take no further ac-
ton in the matter.
Washington Notes.
Mrs. Edwin w. Higgins arrived in
Washington today, and will remain
for the rest of the session. Mr. and
Mrs. Higgins have returned to their
former apartments at the Portland.
Frederick DePeyster and Oliver Gill
dersleeve, of Portland, are in Wash
ington looking after the interests of
the Connecticut river, and Incidentally
attending the meetings of the Nation
al Merchant Marine congress.
Representative Hill returned from
Norwaik last night after q brief visit
to Connecticut on private business.