Samuel Blatchford

“ We must not be understood as implying that if an island in the Mississippi river remains stable in position, while the main channel of the river changes from one side of the island to the other, the title to the island would change because it might be at one time on one side and at another time on the other side of the boundary between two states. The right of accretion to an island in the river cannot be so extended length wise of the river as to exclude riparian proprietors above or below such island from access to the river, as such riparian proprietors. ”

“ The title to land acquired by accretion is a title acquired under the operation of the law of the state, which each state determines for itself. Barney v. Keokuk, 94 U.S. 324. As the law of Illinois confers upon the owner of land in that state which is bounded by, or fronts on, the Mississippi river, the title in fee to the bed of the river to the middle thereof, or so far as the boundary of the state extends, such riparian owner is entitled to all islands in the river which are formed on the bed of the river east of the middle of its width. ”

“ We cannot review the action of the circuit court in finding the facts which it did find, and refusing to find the facts which it was asked to find and did not find. We can only inquire whether the facts found are sufficient to support the judgment. ”