The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-10-16
Wednesday, Oct. 16. 1873.
SWAMP LANDS.

SWAMP LANDS.
The swamp lands acquired by Oregon
when il became State, are estimated
at 1000, 900 acres of the most valuable
lands 10 the State. ell Of which could
have been sold to settlers. in limited
quantities, ct Government price,
which would have aggregated the mag
ni6cent sum of &2,5oo.0oo. At the
Legislative session OF 1870 law was
enacted for the sale of these lands, al
lowing purchasers 20 file upon them and
acquire title on payment OF 20 per cent.
of the purchase money, the balance on
time. An investigation now in pro-
gress by the Legislature, diseloses the
fact that these lands were nearly ell fled
upon BY spectators. and have been
held by them for speculation for nearly
eight years without making the first
payment required by law and that not
enough has yet been received from the
sales to pay the expenses Of the Land
Office. A California ring acquired
possessory right to $50, 900 acres. H. G.
Owen. Of Lane county, filed on 100000
acres, and immediate and confidential
friends Of the State Administration
mainly gobbled up the bal Ince. the only
payments made being by small holders
who entered the land for their own use.
The Oregonian says: "On Friday
last. q bill relating to swamp lands was
under discussion in the House. The
bill contains . provision which forfeits
to the State tho lsnd on which claim
ants have filed and yet have not paid
the twenty per cent. required BY law.
It 10 amazing that bill of this kind
should b opposed in the Legislature.
That it should be Is . striking indics.
ton Of the power the lobby still exerts
In behalf Of schemes Of jobbery and
spoiistion, notwithstanding recent dis.
closures. Hon. d. p. Thompson. who
has taken leading part in recent in
vcstl1s:ious. declared that the money
paid into the treasury had been by
small claimsnts. with one exception,
and he was . man who did not live in
the State; that the grabbers have not
paid but have only fled; that he was
member Of the Legislature Of 1870. by
which the original and infamous swamp
land law was passed. and had warned
the assembly against it, and he now
observed that the same men who lob
bied that bill through are again on
hand to oppose any legislation for the
recovery or protection Of what may be
loft Of the property Of the State"
It will he observed that all these
lands were filed upon-not paid for
by spectators, solely for speculative
purposes to levy contributions upon
the honest toiler who sought to subject
them to cultivation, that legislation
favored, and was pronounced to favor,
the interests Of Spectators at tho ex~
pense Of labor. Has Washington Ter.
ritory done any better? Where arc the
46.OS0 acres Of land conceded by the
government for the establishment Of .
University. with the pick and choice
from al the public lands in the Terri
tory. worth to-day q million of dollarss
All that il left Of it would not COM
mand $4,000. and the public good il
has accomplished ID scarcely percepti-
b'e. In establishing > University be-
fore there Was child in this Territory
entitled to schooling prepared 10 enter
upon = Univsrsity course. II has bee.
the rule here to charge the squandsrine
OF this muni6cent subsidy to the com
missioner who sold the lands; but he
simply complied with tho Law. 1t was
the Legislature which authorized the
'sls at the minimum price and apprs-
priated the proceeds. II there were
psoulations upon the fund it could not
have materially affected tho result.
The lands mainly passed into the hands
OF capitalists who have never improved
them. and only held them for their
valuable timber. They are lost to the
University.
We refer to these matters now. not
only - illustrations Of the curse Of land
speculatioos but - warning for the
future. When Warrington becomes .
State il viii have probably not les that
1000. 900 acres OF tide and swamp
lands. which shoald b guarded 10 the
interest Of the settler which 10 idsnti.
ned with the interest Of the STATE. The
State may realize q. 25o. 900 upon these
lands without opposing tho settlers or
allowing an acre Of them TO pass into
the hands or spectators; and that il
more than the Territory will receive
FROM the General Government for the
sext hfessn years If II renains in ,ts
present Territorial condition.