The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-02-22

day evening Ibuis Sohns, president of the
Northwestern Railroad and Improvement
Company snd others, appeared before the
city council and made request of the city
for so yea lease of the public levee of the
city of Vacouver, whereon to locate the
proposed lumber mill and railroad depot.
There is noauestion that the building and
maintainane of lumber mill in Vancouver,
with capcity for cutting fifty to sixty
thousand fet per day, would be grand
thing for ourcity, and its successful estab-
lishment Is Nry much to be desired. Such
an enterpriselocated upon the public levee
would be pu where it would do the most
good. Therdis ample room for it there, and
the location 5 near the business center of
the town. A present the levee is a useless
piece of properly. All it now affords is an
unobstructedview of few houses fronting
the river, an free landing place for boats.
Ii 1000 feet 4 it were given to the mill COM
pany the 30' feet remaining will be all that
Vancouver Will ever want for free landing
place for steamboats, Many people in Van
couver dislls to lease the leves for two rea-
sons:
First, ditrust OF some of the members
of the COMPANY, who are deep in speeulations
of venture3me character, who started in
with nothingto lose and everything to make;
while others ear there is some game behind
this scheme = get possession of the levee for
real estate SPECULATION purposes. The prop
osition made 20 the council disposes of these
objections, a. it was stated by representa-
tives of the company that the city should
not make owe to the company its lease until
the mill was completed and in operation. In
that way the city would be protected from
all supposedspeculatve schemes.
Second, tie question of title. Some 81
our best authorities claim that the moment
the city leasts this property, or devotes ii
to any private use, the title will revert back
to the heirs Of Hester Short. who gave the
levee and pub ic square to the city. This
reversion WILDE by virtue of the operation
of the principles of common law, as held by
numerous court decisions, on trials in simi
lar cases. Tbs being admitted, the title
will then be supposed to rest in the Shor
Claim Commttee, who purchased all claims
OF the Short heirs. The Improvement Co.
to heal off any such loss OF title, agree t.
purchase of the Short Claim Committee al
their supposed interest in the levee, and pre-
sent it to the city, thus disposing OF al
question as to the title OF the levee
But there arises another question in con
ncction with this revsrsion which must no
be lost sight of. The public levee and tn
public square were given to the city by tn
one act of pls.sir-s5 record the origiua
plat Of the city OF Vancouver Would tn
revcrsion of the levee carry with it the Re
version of the public square? This question
is of such Importance that it must be care
fully considered. Vancouver can well affor
TO give away the greater part OF the publ
levee for the sake of securing the establish
Inent of manufacturing interests which wi
rebound largely to the prosperity of the city
but Vancouver can hardly afford to delivc
up its magnificent park into the hands @
those who can be reimbursed in other way
for outlays on the Short claim business with
out compelling of the city such sacrifice
If the levee can be given away without los
of this park, by all means let it 60, but if tn
public square has to 60 too the sacrifice de
manded of the city is too great, and came
be permitted.
On Monday evening next this whole sub
jeet will be further considered by the cit.
couaoil, and some defaite conclusion as t
the action on the part OF the icity will prob
ably be made The interests OF the cit,
will be closely looked after by the council
the members Of which realize that they ar
acting for all the citizens Of Vancouver .
we'll as for themselves.