The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-16
COUNT z OFFICIALsPAPER.
The Tile Ian is.


One of the most interesting, and
certainly, one Of the most impor-
tant subjects for equitable adjust
,nent and disposition, is the mat
ter of the thousands of acres of
tide lands within the boundary OF
the territory. So long as the terri
torial statutes exist no great en-
barrassment could ensue but when
statehood comes along, the act of
admission, ipso facto, vests the IT,
tie to these valuable lands in the
new state subject to sale, lease or
other disposal as may be provided
by the fundamental law or by leg.
islative enactment. How far the
constitutional convention may seek
to 60 in the way of legislative dis
position is up to this time entirely
problematical.
So much has been written and
talked upon the subject, that the
legal status OF this class of lands
is pretty generally understood by
the people of the territory. The
general government holds the title
as trustee for the future state, with
out power Of disposal, either by
the land department or by legisla-
tive enactment.
Embracing nearly all of Puget
Sound, the Pacific ocean on the
western boundary and the Column
bia river in it's tortuous course,
these lands exist in quantities un-
paralleled in any other state or
territory in the Union. While
many of them are of comparative
ly small value those portions with
in and contiguous to the CONNER
cial points in the territory are and
will always be the most valuable
of any others. Indeed, it is quite
impossible to estimate their great
value, either for purposes of COM
merce or revenue. Some confus-
ion has arisen in the minds OF
many by confounding. any sappos-
ed right of the adjoining land ow-
ner, with the rights of those who
own lands upon navigable rivers
or streams, and are designated and
known in the law as riparian ow-
ners. The owners of property
abutting upon a tide that GIBBS and
flows are known as littoral or shore
owners. These last named persons
can by no possible means known to
the law acquire any legal rights in
the soil between high and low
water mark, except grant from
the state--not even by a federal
grant. While such is unquestion-
ably the law 1t cannot and will
rot be denied but that persons or
corporations that have in good
faith and for commercial or bust
ness purposes expended money and
made valuable improvements upon
this class OF property, shonld be
protected, and that in case of sale,
lease or other disposition of the
lands, preference should be given
to such person or corporation. and
at prices lower than to strangers
o: spectators, who have made no
investment or improvement. The
former should be favored and pro-
tected by ,aw-the latter are en-
titled to but little consideration.
The revenue derivabla from
either sale or lease of these lands
adjusted and collected upon any
equitable basis would undoubtedly
pay every dollar Of the expenses
Of the state government, besides
aiding largely in maintaining its
eleemosnary and reformatory insti-
tutions.
Whatever power shall be dele
gated by convention to the legis-
lature should be surrounded with
such limitations and conditions as
shall not Jeopardlze the rights and
revenues Of the state. and at the
same time do no wrong to litoral
owners Who have, in good faith
mazda valuable improvements.
Permission might be given to
the legislature, and perhaps make
it it's duty to create a commission
of competent persons to- sell or
lease, OF adjust any equities exist
ing between the state and the lit
oral owners. In any event a SUBJ
ject of such magnitude requires de-
liberate consideration, and as it
has been so much discussed its
disposition will be vigilantly
watched.-Globc.
Our experiment stations now
employ over $40 experts in agri-
cultural science and practice, and
are supported by national appro-
priation of 100000, to which the