The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-07-14
PoRTLANDss CITY 'FRONT.'.

The attempt Of . railrosd company
In Portland 10 steal the public leves
arouses considerable local opposition
aud indignation. and fierce contest 10
likely to ensue. That oil may under
stand the situAtion, One of the city
papers gives the following statement:
A brief review Of this lsvee Business
will be read with interest, now that
the subject has become public proper
~. The whole river front from Wash
ington strest south wss origipslly in.
tended for public levse BY the origi
nal owners. who, We believe, were
Messrs Coffin, Lowusdals and Chap
man. These gentlamen never supposed
quarter If . century ago that costly
structures would cumber tbsir gift on
the river side ssd Tie city b disfgured
BY the unsightiy appearance it presents
from the water. Ii wss their idea that
. broad and we'll graded Ievss. frea to
eli, would rise IN honor and ornament
10 the town they founded. The owss
srs Of propsrty on the vest side Of
Frsns street. forssssing The iopostsoes
Of possessing the watsr front, end 81
great vslas in The years 10 come. When
the city bscaas ajtovn OF large oem-
@srcisl importspce. concluded 70 pos
sess II. q " Vsughn. nor deceased.
was the hrst TO make the attempt He
erected . small shanty on the south.
east corner Of Morrison street and the
river front. claiming that - be owned
land ON the west side Of Front street
bis property BY right extended 70 the
river. This wss 10 1883. prsvious 20
which dsts met . house Vas built en
the levee from Washington street south.
Mr. 8 j McCoemick wAs d that time
Mayor Of the city. aod lsoisd che sis II
Of any person to jump public property
He called the Hook and IAddsr .OoG.
psny to his assistance, and they uncere-
moniously resed the usurping deeicils.
considering 1t trespass on the public
demsin. For this protection Of the
city be was locked In. jail BY Ad. Starr.
the then. Sheriff of Aultnosnsh cesanty,
~ an unruly citizen. Others, among
whom were George II williams. w 8
Ladd. Gsv Gibbs and NJ Carter, Soc
ing Vaughn 20 suecssful sspeaasd the
grab. end thereby got possession Of
much yslushls pgcprrtys encouraged
by ths citi5s,.s, ~ho imsginsd u would
bs better for the town 10 see its front
sgs injured aud ships disshare ing 1t Ito
wharvss. Tbs oanse came up Or trial,
bus Portland. having but limited cou,,.
sel-the city attorney alops-.was beat
On. North Of Wsshington street NO
one disputed the right Of the owoers Of
the property to build on tho levee, be.
cause it was so intended by the original
propristors Nov the questisn arises,
LAve those parties who hold the river
front from Washington street, south, .
perfect legal title to the same? And
has not William Reid. Of the Orsgonisn
Railway Company. Limited. "a coed .
right to claim the levee. without pay
Or With it. since be Intends using il tor
railroad purposes, ~ those whose
rapacity was rewarded % years ago
We uffer no opinion 10 the premises,
merely giving the facts 10 nut for the
public TO crack. The miiiicnsires whc
claim the city front for their individual
benefit. may have Punctured hornets
nest before this issue 10 decided. and II
is Lot impossible thst The PROPERTY
worth considersbic more than million
dollars. msy revert 70 the city. its orig.
insl owner. unless fair oompsns. tion
DO turned into the city tresSpry to ~
cure good title.