The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-10-17
The UNIVERSITY LANDS.
Careless Commissioners EsDtEO Record Of Sales.
Ills Not Known To-day Whether the
University Owns Land Or Not.

Under the terms Of the enabling act
enough land, in addition to that already
supplied to the territorial university, to
make up " section is granted to the state
for university purposes. The matter has
been investigated by the Press, and Il
looks as though the state university will
be entirely without land.
Congress granted Washington territory
two townships or 72 sections Of land for
the purpose Of establishing university.
In 1861 the Legislature Of the territory Gre
ated board Of university commissioners,
gave them the authority to select the
lands granted for university purposes and
to sell them for not less than $l.20 per
acre. The best authorities allege that the
legislature had no more right TO do this
than the evil one had to give the Savior
authority over all the Kingdoms Of the
world so that all might fall down and
worship him. The fact Of the business
was that the evil one did not own a foot
Of land, neither had the legislature any
right, legal or otherwise to dispose Of q
foot Of the land.
Alarge number Of sales were made at
$50 per acre, and out Of the proceeds 80
obtained, the present university was built.
The commissioners, looking up the law,
found that they had no authority what
ever to make such sales. That without
the sanction Of congress was obtained,
the sales were null and void. In order to
obtain this sanction they proceeded to the
city Of Washington and induced congress
to pass q law legaliEing the sales. They
succeeded in havingR law passed confirm
ing and ratifying the sales made before
the passage Of the law, provided they
were made in good faith. The evidence
thereof had 10 be submitted to the secre-
tary Of the interior, and II the showing
was satisfactory to him he approved Of
the same and 30 legAllEed the title.
How much land was sold by said COM
missioners prior TO the passage Of the act
has never been definitely ascertained.
Judge Orange Jacobs, who for ten years
was regent Of the state univerity, and who
gave the matter special attention while
serving in that capacity was seen to-day
and asked: "How much Of the territorial
university lands have been selected?"
81 am utterly unable to state the guam
tityof University lands that has been dis
posed Of" replied the judge. "nor am l
able to state what quantity Of the two
townships granted to the university is
now owned by that Institution. When
I was regent Of the university Il was my
desire that Mr.. Brown, formerly register
Of the land Office at Olympia, be sent TO
Washington City TO straighten the tan
gled matter out and to ascertain definite
ly the following points: First, the guam
tity Of university lands that had been Sc
lected; second, the quantity Of university
lands sold; third, the quantity still owned
by the university. There were no funds
with which TO pay Mr.. Brown for this
mission, and he never was sent upon it.
$50 far as I know, the university lands
are in state Of hopeless uncertainty at
the present time. Men are constantly
presenting deeds that are dated prior to
the confirmation act Of congress Of March
IA, 1867. No record is kept, 20 far as l
know, by the board Of university COM
missioners Of these sales. The whole
matter is in such fearful tangle that Il
will require the work Of experts to
straighten Il out. 1t Is my opinion that
but little, II any, Of the university lands
are left.-SeaHIe Press.