Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-09-14
THE CONFLICTING sURyEYs.~
OLYMPIA, w. T., Sept.

Ed. STANDARD, sir: 10 response to
the quite frequent request that is made of
me by my Swantowu neighbors to explain
to them the great difference in the locality
Of their property, rs ascertainod by ny
survey Of 1869 and that Of Mr. White Of
the present season, l beg the privilege Of
making public through your columns my
answer to these queries. In Swans Ad.
dition, the corner of Mr.. Holmes property
on Fourth and Pear streets, as fixed by
myself in 1869, fell some ten feet West Of
the line as shown by his fence. and claimed
by him to be in accordance with the origi-
nal stakes. The line was not satisfactory
to Mr.. Holmes, and he has ever since
maintained that it was not right. If he
had any reason for this claim other than
the fact that the line as fixed by myself
bisectcd his woodshcd aud barn, l have
not heard it; but however that may be,
he has finally succeeded in obtaining q
new survey by the Town, with results that
have afforded quite fund of amusement
at bis expense. He now finds that, &C.
cordiDg to the last authority, his improve
ments are some twenty. three feet East of
his lots instead Of ten feet as had made
them, and as the papers have it, that he
has been living in the streets Of Olympia
for the last twelve or fourteen years. It
is due to Mr.. Holmes to say that notwiths
standing the fearful manner in which his
property has been carved up aud mangled
his kind heart has overlooked with excuses,
and his imagination has been pregnant
with theories ingeniously accounting and
apologizing for the errors Of his persecu-
tors. Swans chain stretched and carried
his town twenty-threc or four feet farther
East than it ought to be, and my pole
swelled at the ends aud bent in the mid
de-. Swans instrument was an old frying
pan and mine pack saddle, whilst Mr..
White used telescope, plum.bob, spirit
level with screw -ometer, and all the latest
improvements. But to continue and CON-
plete the historical statement of the facts,
it is now necessary to give q portion Of
Mr.. Whites report Of his survey, and the
action Of the Board of Trustees thereon.
Here is what he has to say about Fourtb
street:
"On Fourth Street, have found a differ
ence in the old survey increasing Eastward, at
VI
Holmes corner about 90 feet, and ut Mr.. Abb
bolts corner Of about 20 feet, said corners
being that much in the street. As rertifca-
ton in this case woull seem impossible with
out great expense, and as no auth ntic or re-
liable plat has been filed of said Swans
Addition to Olympia, ! would suggest, If con-
sistent with the duty Of your Honorable body,
to SO alter the said plat as TO cause the differ
ence to be thrown in u street on the West side
Oc eaiA Swan Addition ey tendinu 2onfh Inward
rs far as Eighth street, making II SO much
wider and allowing the improvem ents to re-
main as near rs may he where tLcy arc, adopt
ing some point for initial point in Fourth
street in said Swans Addition before the cor
ners to streets are finally established"
1.-THE corners referred to in the above
report as Mr.. IIcury's, Mr.. Holmes, and
Mr.. Abbott's corners, are the fence cor
ners supposed to be in accordance with
Swans original survey.]
The Board of Trustees rivallcd Mr..
Holmes in the ease and readiness with
which it yielded to facts, unpleasant though
they were Mr.. Whites suggestion
seemed to offer so convenient and satfsfac.
tory method of settling this very difficult
matter, that the Board fastened to adopt
his report at once. Thus friend Holmes
was made happy--,hc problem was solved.
These twenty odd feet of errors were dis
posed of, as the people Of Swantown hare
for tho last fifteen years disposed Of their
surplus kittens and puppies, by throwing
them into the mud flats under the bridge.
Whether the official plat Of Swans Add
ton is to be got rid Of in the same way or
not, the proceedings do not go on to state,
though the adoption of the report would
seem to justify such an inference. Tho
authenticity or reliability Of the original
Town plats, on file in the Auditors Office,
the competency Of the Town Board to
change those plats, arc questions which it
is not necessary to discuss at this time.
Indeed, were disposed to venture the
opinion, that the plats are good authority,
and that they cannot be changed except
in the manner provided by law, would
be overwhelmed with the reply that not
withstanding all this they haze been
changed, as easy as changing shirt.
find by very rough measurement that
there is some ten feet, or such a matter,
missing in the neghborhood Of the Swan
town bridge. therefore take it that MIR,
White 10 passing this kubicon to Survey
ers, hos lost an alley aud assumed the tier
of blocks between Jefferson and Cherry
streets where the two plats unite to be but
24O feet in depth when in fact they are
$50 feet deep. An inspection Of the two
plats it seems to me can leave no reason
able doubts upon this pint, as every con-
sidcration points to such a conclusion. It
is unnecessary to prove that Swans Addi-
ton was intended to be continuation and
extension of the streets of Olympia upon
parallel lines. Mr.. Whites survey aud
report and the action Of the Board all pro-
coed upon this theory. The numbers OF
the fractional tier Of blocks on the East
side of the Sylvester plat, from 81 to 81
inclusive. are adopted on the SWantoWn