, 1890-11-20


ploy OF the harbor commission of that
state, In connection with It's works In
the hnrbor OF San Francisco. They
had before them Colonel William T.
Craighill. of tho United States
engineer corps, who Is now con
nected with several harhor line boards
IN the Eastern states, and who was said
ny Adm raj Drown, OF the Unitel Seatcs
steamer Charleston, when here few
weeks ago. to be the best authority on
the subject of harbors and har5or i'm.
provements not only in tho United
states, but in world. They had be-
fore them II. II. Tnco,t, chief engin Ger
81 the Seattle, Lake shore IL Eastern
Halfway Company, who was for some
Time associated with General John New
ton, one OF the most distinguished Of
United States engineers, In the work of
improving the harbors of the city Of
New York. They obtained copies of the
reports for many years Of the harbor and
land com mission of the state of Massa-
chusetts, which has had the control and
mnnauement of Boston hnrbor for many
years. They procured copies of the log
islative enactment of the state of Vir-
glnia, with the rules and regulations
governing the harbors of Norfolk and
Portsmouth of that state.
Ihcy'hstened with patience and at
tentton, all reports to the contrary not
withstanding to the statements, sug-
gestions aud opinions of every man VINO
came before them, with anything OF the
KIND to offer, between the 22nd day of
July, when they began their work In
Seattle, whilst they were In session, un-
al the 2sth day of October, when in.
functions aud writs of prohibition pre-
vented them from completing their
work inlthat city. They Intentionally
kept the matter of final decision. upon
both harbor lines and water ways in
Elliotts bay, an opon question until the
last moment, because they wished to
hear every suggestion or argument
which might be offered or presented and
which might lead them to u different
conclusion from that which they were
unanimously inclined to reach. After
al exhaustive examination of the whole
subject, they arrived, among others, at
the following conclusions:
First-Ihat the land lying be-
tween the line of high water and of
deep water is the absolute property, in
fec simple, OF tho state, and Is under
its direct control and management.
Second-That the nayigable waters of
the state, beyond the line OF deep water
are under tho joint control and juris-
diction of the state and tho United
States. In the harbor of San Francisco
this joint jurisdiction extends over all
waters beyond the depth OF eighteen us)
feet at low water.
the right TO wharf and to deep water,
but this right may be taken away at
any time by the state,
Fourth--That all parties having i'm
provements upon the tide lands OF the
state only occupy those lands at the
discretion of the state, and are tres
passers thcreupon, except in the case of
those owning certain improvements or
riparian rights, who are authorized to
purchase the lands on which these i'm
provcments are located, or abutting
lands, within sixty days after appraisal,
etc, by the act of March 20, 1890
Fifth--That the commerce of tho city
of Seattle promises to grow into ex-
traordinary dimensions before many
years; that the number of coast wise
and foreign vessels arriving at and dc.
parting from its wharves will be very
great, and that therefore the commerci al
facilities required III the near future
will tax the Seattle harbor to its utmost
capacity.
sixtli--rhat in order to provide the
necessary facilities ''for landings,
wharves, streets and other conveniencos
of navigation aud commerce. as pro-
vidcd for in and required by the con-
stitution of the state, the maximum
the commission, as far as possible. upon
the water front of the Seattle harbor
Seventh-That the state being the
owner of all the water front of the
Seattle harbor below high water mark,
and needing the full width oi 800 feet
for purposes of commerce and naviga.
ton" that area should be reserved
where Landings, wharves, streets and
other conveniences, therefor may best
be cOnstruCtel and secured
Eighth-Ihat no harm can result
either to the commerce of the city or to
the interests of private individuals, be-
cause the first right to lease any inn
provements now existing on property of
ihe state, will, without doubt, bo granted
to the owners of such Improvements, or
compensation will be made therefor by
the Legislature, The constitution of the
state expressly provides that no prop
erty shall be taken for either public or
private use without compensation to the
owner thereof.
Niuth-That as all legislation hereto
fore enacted on this subject is based
upon the principle of making commerce
cheap convenient and accessible to all
tho people OF the state, the legislature
may be depended upon to make the
terms of lease for the property on harbor
lines of an easy and nominal character
in order that there may Ue no excuse for
ievying excessive tolls or charges upon
the commerce of the state.
Tenth--As a majority of the legisla-
ture OF the state OF Washington repre-
sents maritime interests, that body may
be depended upon to protect and pro-
mote all interests either directly or in
directly connected with tho commercial
growth and prosperity of the state.
All the information obtained, and the
testimony taken by the commission,
expert and otherwise, were to the effect
that for the accommodation OF tho larger
sea. going ships OF commerce, present and
prospective, slips alone should be 600
feet in length. If slips of this length
were made in the Seattle harbor they
would exhaust, or occupy. the maximum
area of 900 feet reserved by the constitu-
ton, leaving nothing for landings,
streets and other conveniences of navi-
CATION and commerce" In San Fran
cisco 600 feet are used in the construc-
ton of slips, and in addition thereto
there is IA sea wall of 200 feet in width,
which also constitutes u street for the
general use of the public, making an
aren 800 feet in width which is controlled
by the state. In tho city OF Boston an
area is reserved for slips $50 feet in
the latter being of irregular width, but
both controlled by the state, In the
city of New York slips are constructed
600 feet in length.
From all the expert testimony intro
duced before the commission, strongly
corroborated by that of Colonel William
Crnighill, it was manifest that, If the
purpose OF the constitution was to be
carried into effect, and space for "land-
ings, wharyes. streets and other conven,-
fences of navigation and commerce,
,,,a, In roseryaI by the state the n A.