Evening star., 1936-03-08
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star
1.-TWO matters Of pressing interest to
the District" says The Star of March /,
1886, "are
more follce and Better pending be-
Paid T;raman N.ed.d fore Congress,
sNAN x,s., la. rsx,cx


1886, :are
More Police and Better pending be-
Paid Firemen Needed. lore congress,
the police force and the other increasing
the pay of firemen. Both these matters
directly affect the safety of the Federal
Capital and for that reason appeal to
the serious attention of Congress. At
present the police of this city have the
largest patrols of any force in the coun-
try, and while this fact is a gratifying
proof of the -law-abiding character of
our population. it does not follow that
still better order and greater security
would be afforded to property if the
police force were enlarged to meet the
geographical requirements of this city
of magnificent distances AS regards the
other matter, it needs no argument to
show that it is for the interest of prop
erty holders, including in that designa-
ton the Government. which is the largest
property owner in the District. that the
fire service be on the highest grade of
efficiency and actuated by the greatest
zeal in its labors. The present pay of the
f1remen is not adequate for the dan
gerous and intelligent service required"
X
When the Government undertook the
reclamation of the Potomac fats, Incl
dental to the inn
frlVate ClalmS 10 provement of the
po+omoo Tends river channels of
Washington, ques-
ton arose as to the title to the reclaimed
area. This was eventually settled by the
uyifh roioctipr1 t,f tho
claim for position of ownership based
upon an old patent" The Star OF
March 2. 1886. says:
In view of the fact that the Spring
work on the Potomac fats will soon COM
mence with increased activity and the
funds available for continuing the work
will consequently disappear rapidly, a
good deal of interest is manifested in the
question of what provision Congress will
make for carrying on the work as actively
as recommended. Intimation from the
House that no more money will be ap-
propriated for the improvement Of the
river front until the question as to the
validity of the title to the Kidwell bot
oms is definitely and satisfactorily set
tied lends an increased Importance to
the matter just now. The House COM
Illttec lldNlIlS IIlc IIldtteT III ClldISc SOIIic
time ago requested the Attorney General
to furnish it with information as to
what had been done by the Department
of Justice looking to a settlement of the
question of title to the river bottoms.
"A Star reporter called at the Depart
men of Justice this morning to learn
how the matter stood. He was informed
that an answer will be sent to the COM
mittee in a few days. This answer will
show that under the act of 1881, requir-
ing settlement of the title question of
the Kidwell lands, Attorney General
Brewster. shortly before he went out of
office, instructed the district attorney to
institute proceedings to tes' the validity
of the Kidwell title No provisions were
made in the law of 1881 for extinguishing
that title should it be found valid or
for settling any other claims to the land
to be improved. The district attorney
had taken no steps further than to COL
lect evidence when bill was presented
In the Senate before the close of the
session last year providing for settle
ment of title not only in the Kidwell
claim. but in number of other claims
to water lots which have been brought
forward by the Chesapeake Ohio Canal
Co. and Others This bill has passed the
Senate but has not yet passed the
House"