The Punta Gorda herald., 1919-05-01
OUR RIPARIAN RIGHTS
ARE IN CONTROVERSY
Council Deliberating on Agree
ment With g. A. Skipper.
THE LEGISLATURE MAY ACT

Title by Letter Printed Below
Matters of Much Importance to
Citizens and Posterity at Stake.
The following letter from AT,
torney John w. Burton, Of Area
dia, to the Punta Gorda City
Council is self-explanatory. The
matters involved in the question
of riparian rights are of much inn
portance to our city and its inn
habitants and the Council have
taken this letter under considera-
tion and will thresh the matter
out. 1t may be, however, impos-
| sible for them to arrive at a dec
ision and take action in time for
this session OF the legislature to
act. The letter follows:
Arcadia, Fla, April 28th, 1919.
City Council, Punta Gorda, Fla.
Attention MIR. Whitten:
Gentlemen;
After Mr.. G. A. Skipper had
conferred with Mr.. Whitten ON
Thursday, oath inst, he returned
to my office and asked me to write
you a statement Of the conditions
and terms OF the arrangement
which he will undertake to per-
form in the part which he is to
perform upon your compliance
with these things, or that part OF
the arrangement which are essen
tial or necessary for you to per-
form. ! can probably state this
more clearly by first enumerating
the things which you are to do,
and follow them with the things
that Mr.. Skipper will undertake
to perform and will perform.
You are to have prepared and
passed at the present session Of
the Legislature an Act vesting
title to the filled in lands in your
town; and riparian rights OF all
lands, in your town, either lin Che
City, or the riparian proprietor,
as you as a Council may prefer.
You are to amend your Charter
to give you authority to abandon
parks, and abandon or alter
streets, avenues and alleys; and
giving you authority to convey
your title in the abandoned parks,
streets, avenues and alleys; and
other lands. This amendment
should provide that Ordinances
giving such authority shall be-
come effective only upon approval
BY a majority, or more if you
prefer, of the electors of your
town in any election held for that
purpose. You are then, upon Mr..
compliance with the
terms (or furnishing you evidence
of readiness and ability to comply
with the tcrms,) assumed on his
part, to convey to him, his associ-
ates or assigns, your title and
right in that portion of the parks
which shall be abandoned, and in
The filled in lands and in the
streets, alleys and avenues, or
such portion Of same as shall not
De in a park or street when the
streets, ETC., shall be altered.
Mr.. Skipper, for himself, his as
iociates or assigns, agrees to pay
IF and discharge, or otherwise
id the title of the lands in ques-
ion fromN the several ? liens,
.harges and money claims against
anne, and against the city on ac-
ount of the filing in of said lands
nd the building Of the sea wall;
le will replat the filled in tract
nd that part Of the parks aban-
oned, making streets at such
ocations and of such widths as
as been agreed upon between
i'm and Mr.. Whitten, and dedi-'
ate said streets and ayenues to
le city, including in them
rect along the sea wall. All
improvements to streets shall be
.ade by the City under the pro-
Isions of its Charter for such inn
Mr.. Skipper further agrees to