Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-07
DAILY T.INTEluGENCER.


xOT LOCAL MsTTvR.
The impression seems t. prevail TO
osrtajn extent. among people Of neigh
boring towns, that the contest now
beipp made by citizens Of this county
To prevent the purchase Of certain
lands within the limits Of the CANT IN
aid of public schools, uLd-r the az
sumption that they contain VEINS OK
.aa, ia matter of merely local inter
est to this city and county. Nhch HI
nrsss;ons are certainly based upon
instrumentation of the real sltnaiIon-
Tho only cause therefor lies IN the inci-
d.nt that. Is the lands IN contest are
situate in this county and contiguous 10
this city, it became the duty OF our
county officials to look after The mat
ter.
The lands in controversy are situate
within the limits of the grant by ION
press in aid of the public schools oi
this Territory. This grant, II We IN
derstand il, does not include mineral
lands. which remain the property OF
tho Government. Tie contested lands
have become valuable by reason OF
proximity to this city, the rapid growth
and prosperity of which have largely
appreciated the value OF contiguous
oroperty. They are estimated to be
worth in market at this time not less than
100000 The attempt il being made
70 porch ase them from the Government
ascoal lands, for which the price II go
usr acre. The amount involved ~ IN
no sense q matter of concern to Seattle
in any greater degree than TO every city
or school district in the Territory. save
that our school population is larger.
This city has no more proportionate
interest in the preservation of school
lands from being grasped by spectators
under false pretenses, nor In the niti-
mate and honest application of the
proceeds Of such Ian ds to the benefit
of public schools, than any citizen OF
this Territory who has or may have
children TO be educated.
On the contrary. from limited and
selfish point Of view, it can easily be
shown that if in reality good coal, in
workable and paying veins, does exist
in the contested lands, it would be far
more to the benefit of Seattle were they
purchased by the appli 1ants and made
to yield up their hidden wealth. The
existence of a valuable coal mine with
in three or four miles of this city would
obviously be- of great benefit thereto
Certainly if coal of good quality and in
paying quantities il proven to exist In
these lands, no one here would be 81
foolish and short sighted AZ to resist AN
honest attempt to purchase them and
mine the coal.
The belief prevails, however, among
our citizens-and it is this which has in
dueed the employment of counsel to
contest this claim-that the lands in
question are not coal bearing, but that
the attempt TO purchase them AZ ssch is
but a shrewd-no to say dishonest-at-
tempt to procure the forfeiture of very
valuable property belonging to our pub
lie schools, and purchase them of the
government for a sum merely nominal
AZ compared with their real value. This
il not at all loo Al matter, nor should
for an instant DO 30 considered. If these
are not coal bearing lands, they proper
" belong to the school system, and the
proceeds of their sale will go into tn,
fund for support Of coumon schools
Ii they are, as claimed, coal lands, nei
Their the city of Seattle, King county
nor the public schools of this Territor,
have any claim upon them. They be-
long to the United States and were oper
to purchase when applied for by those
who filed thereon. The fact that pro
oeedines were instituted by this count,
to investigate the matter does not in
any sense localize it, nor render it any
less matter Of public concern. Tn.
same question under precisely simila
circumstances may arise elsewhere in
the Territory. In that event. il is tn be
hoped that those oonversant with ths
facts and contiguous to the lands will
be- AS sincerely disinterested in attempt
ing to protect and preserve for their uss
the property Of tho school CT ildren OF
this Territory as citizens Of King coan.
ty and Seattle have been and are in this
particular instance.