The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-18
TWO HARBOR LINES.
Comparison Between Them By
Their Advocates.
ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.
The state Commission and the Chamber
OF Commerce Committee Meet and
Discuss the Subject.


There was discussion of the strip laid
down by the commission and that pro-
posed by the committee. and the views and
positions of both bodies were clearly
brought out. The commission through its
chairman, Colonel w. +. Prosser, promised
TO consider the proposition and act as soon
as the court allowed.
Of the commission, Colonel w. +. Pros
ser, Ex-Governor Eugene semple, and Mr..
Frank III. Richards were present.
OF the Chamber of Commerce committee,
Mr.. Jacob Furth, Mr.. j. X. Hayden and
Mr. George B. Adair were present. There
were in attendance beside Mr.. Thomas w.
Prosch, Colonel George NJ. Lyon, Mr.. John
i. Aver, Mr.. Richard Nevins, ir., Mr.. +.
S. Musseter, Mr.. G.. l.. Manning, and At
torney-General w. C. Jones, of Spokane
Colonel w. i. Prosser opened the meet
ing by saying that the conference had been
agreed upon to enable the commission to
receive the suggestions of the committee.
The commission could not act, however,
ill the dourts had given a decision in the
suits now pending, but meantime the pro-
posals would be under advisement.
Mr. Jacob Furth then explained the lines
laid down by the Chamber of Commerce
committee.
Colonel I'rosser suggested that possible
objection to them was that the inner line
was at too great depth TO allow for sea-
wall and street beyond.
Mr. Jacob Furth said the line laid out by
the Chamber of Commerce would save the
improvements already built by citizens,
and would save the state from paying for
these improv ements. 1t would be long
time before the sea-wall would be built,
and by that time the state could afford to
build it in deeper water. Engineers had
said that building sea-wall in water of
the depth of the inner line laid down by
the Chamber OF Commerce committee, was
practicable.
Colonel Prosser said in regard to water
way LOCO feet wide. the trouble was that it
would be constantly shoaling, as the tide
fats were shoaling; but in narrower
waterway the current would keep the
channel clean. A way 1000 feet wide
would require constant dredging.
Major ]. X. Hayden, of the Chamber of
Commerce committee. replied that the
whole 1000 feet need not be dredged out,
but as much as was needed. Reserving
the 1000 feet which the state now owns,
would save the stai.e from buying the land
back later by the state.
Mr.. Furth explained that the wide water
way with the docks on each side would
give unexampled advantages for commerce.
Colonel Prosser said that the running of
harbor lines down each side of the Duwam-
ish channel involved the legal question
whether that channel was part of the navi-
gable waters of the state.
Ex-Governor Eugene Semple of the COM
mission said the commission had gone on
the principle that the tide flats did not in
clude part of the nayigable waters of the
state. while the Chamber of Commerce
committee had gone on the principle that
the tide flats were included in the nayiga-
BILE waters of the state. The idea of a way
400 feet wide was to have a channel SO that
the broadest boats could tie up on either
side, and still have enough room in the
channel for the broadest vessels to pass
each other. However, the purpose of the
1000 foot way would he served by a way
400 feet wide with a harbor strip on each
side into which slips could be cut. The
only additional advantage of the wider
waterway was to give anchorage room.
The question whether the commission
could run its strip along the Duwamish
channel was an open one, but 1T could be
settled by the Legislature. So IL might be
good idea to have the legislature asked to
give definitely to the commission the right
TO run such strips.
One point to be remembered, Mr.. Semple
kalu, was Inat the oDytcl Ot the commas
sion was to give the state control of the
water front. Should the commission
draw the lines so as to leave the wharves
in the hands of private individuals, then
the commission would defeat the object
for which the commission was estab-
lished.
Mr. Furth said that he believed the
strip laid down by the Chamber of Com
merce committee would give the state con-
troll of the water front Even if the wharf
were the property of an individual, still
the fact that the state owned the space
beyond would enable the state to regulate
docks and wharves.
Mr.. Semple urged that il was better to
take the wharyes now than To take them
later, when the property would be much
more valuable. Even now there are COM
plants that the wharf owners are charg
Ing too much. If the harbor strip did not
include wharf the state could not regulate
charges on that wharf
Mr.. George b. Adair, of the Chamber of
Commerce committee, replied that as the
right-of-way 10 the wharf would be through
the state property, the state could thus re-
lain control.
Mr.. Semple answered that under present
laws the state could not prevent access
through the strip TO a private wharf.-the
yond. and so would find it difficult 10 reg
hlate the wharf.
Mr.. Adair said the legislature could very
Easily pass n law to give the desired effect,
Dr. could build sea-wall in its strip.
Mr.. Semple held that the policy of the
state III building a sea-wali was not yet de-
tcrmlned. and at any rate the wall could
not be built for years vet.
Colonel ProSser wound up the discussion
by saying that the propositions would be
considered, and as soon as the courts al
lowed, the commission would go on and
hniSh its work rs rapidly as possible.
MAYOR HARRY WHITES VIEWS.
Colonel Prosser had the following letter
from Mayor Harry White on the subject :
SEATTLE, Wash. Dec. L. 1870.
Hon. W. F. ProSSer. Chairman of State Harbor
line COMM Ssion, Yakima, NaSh.-,hV Reur SIR.
AS did not have the pleasure OF attending the
advisory meeting held az the Chamber of Com
merce, ewing 10 business engagements, as a
member of the Chamber OF Commerce. a citizen
Dt seattle aud of the state Of Washington. take
ne liberty o. addressing YOU regarding my views
concerning the matter of establishing q harbar
ane within and IN front Of the city OF Seattle,
ogether with the proposed waterway from the
accp water 0i Elliott bay to the navigablc por-
lion of the nuwamish river.
II was eCrtaiuly the intention OF the trainers
The constitution that the contemplated COM
mission. of which YOU have the honor IN h..
chairman, should have the sole and exclusive
power of locating harh0r lines within the nav
gable waters Of this state. and il was certainly
tAe intention 81 the people of the stste Of Wash
nSJou, expressed through the agency OF the
stLlotr 10 delegate TO you and 10 Yea alone, that
power
The motive that prompted the trainers of the
constitution 70 submit il 70 the peopie. and
shlch leu the people 70 ratlfy the action 81 the
fonsutaucnSl convention, was the protection Oi
ne commerce Of The state from rnonopolstic
tontrol and corporate grsed
IL proyiains Tor the JCauou o; these lines the
snly limitations plsCH upon your power are: