The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-13
PORT ANGELES RESERVE BILL.
Senator Allen Explains the Provisions
of the Measure.

Of the Measure.
Congressional Record, December
The senate, as In committee of the whole, pro-
ceeded to consider the bill granting 70 the coun-
II Of ClaIiarn, state Of Washington, certain pub
Lie lands in trust, and for other purposes
The bill was reported from the committee on
public lands with an amendment 70 strike out
all after the enacting clause and insert.
That upon the survey, appraisement and sale
by the United States pursuant 20 section 81 OF
the revised statutes Of the United states OF all
the unsurveyed portion Of the townsite reserya-
ton OF Port Angeles, In townships % and 81
north, OF ranges and west OF the Willamette
meridian. In Clallam county, IN the state OF
Washington, the proceeds Of such sales, after de-
ducting the cost OF making survey, apprstse-
ment and sales be given and paid over to said
county o! CIaIlam for the purpose OF erecting
and maintaining suitable public buildings for
the use OF said county; and that such net pro-
ceecs OF sale be paid over TO the proper authori-
ties Of said county, under regulations to be pre-
scrlbed By the secretary OF the interior.
&r. Alicn-foy the information OF the senator
from Missouri, and Of other senators, will say
this body Of land is the remnant OF a reservation
nsde in claIlara county. In the state OF Wash-
ington. IN the year 1867 The reservation orig
inaIiy was made for '.pubiie purposes at time
before the lands had been surveyed. The orig
inal reservation was by an executive order OF
the president OF the United States in the year
ISL subsequently, IN the year 1858, certain
snail portion OF IL was reserved for Lighthouse
purposes. after which the original order was
OF land was reserved for townsite purposes I'M
der the statute Of 1863 beiag sections 500 3si,
Revised Statutes; authorizing the president of
the United states TO reserve rom either the sur
OF land as he might deem 10 be advantageous
Tor prospective towns OF eeDters OF population.
An appropriation OF 900 was made for the sur
veg OF these lands. Tie appropriation was ex-
hausfed by the survey OF 90 or 900 acres which
were sold pursuant TO the act OF 1863. The seDa-
tor viii remember that that act provided for the
nj sfzTr int
lots AID an appraiseuept OF their yalue and the
Offering Of the lots at public sale, none Of which
should be sold at lower price than the ap-
praiseE.enf. This was the condition OF this
property from 1c63 The remainder Of this land
has been ordered surveyed through en- appro-
pTiation made for that purpose q. the last ses-
sion o. congress; AMI now the question as. after
the LANDS are surveyed, whether the proceeds of
the remainder OF these sales shall 20 into the
treasury OF the United States or be given TO this
county 81 Giallsrn.
I think there is strong equity for giving the
proceeds o. these sales 20 the county OF CallaE,
for this reason: This strip Of Land was In one OF
withheld from settlement This withdrawal OBJ
siTaeted the settlement OF that county in a most
serious manner. The county OF Ciallam has an
area OF 2y0sU square miles. Its present popuia-
ticn IS bHt 2.757 The county is largely mount
aino1s, very heavily grown with timber and TN
dergTo.th, difficult OF improvement in its pub
hc roads aud bridges and other improvements
Then this land has been reserved for a great
many years At the time OF reservation it was
OF no more value than the body OF the public do
main Of which il formed part. II mas greater
value than that at this time, just how much
do not know, but senators can very readily form
some idea when say that II Is part Of a county
of 1900 square miles, the entire population OF
which is 2.557.
This bill provides that all of the expenses to
the government in the survey, appraiseInent
sale aud disposal Of these lands shall be made
ont OF the sale, and then only the net balance
shalt go to this county Tor the purpose OF public
buildings.
do not think such net balance can be very
large-certaialy not excessive for the purposes
to which it is to be dedicated.
The United States, so far as ! know, has rarely
gone into the business of engaging in the spec
ulation OF selling town lots. such practice Is
entirely exceptional in the state of Washington.
EyeTy town site OF our State has grown up ON
lands that the government has parted with at
the price IL disposes OF the public lands 20
settlers who may seek 10 obtain them. If this
land has any additional yalue above the lands
that have thus been disposed OF, constituting
the sites and vicinities OF other towns, 1t has
been given By the settlers who have gone there
in advance OF Development, and By their enter
prise impaired such value. For this reason IL
II, and on the urgent petition OF the people of
that community, that this bill has been intro
dueed and tayorably reported from the commit
tee on public lands.
This bill is quite analogous to the old pre-.
emption act that granted lands to counties and
parishes by way of presumption for the purpose
of constructing public buildings. There have
to be sold and disposed OF and the proceeds used
in the construction of public buildings. In
stead Of doing that in this case, as this land had
been reserved under the townsite act to which
have called attention, il was thought more Just
to those who have gone these lands with
view OF taking them under the act OF lss3 that
they should be sold, and that there should be no
interruption in the method OF acquiring title 10
the land under that act, and that the proceeds
should 90 70 the county rather than that the grant
of the land should be made to the county in
trust.
The hill was passed