, 1890-02-27
FROM OLYMPIA.
A Compromise on the
Tide Lands.
DEFEAT OF DIVISION.
The Adjournment Question
a Bone Of Contention.
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT SYSTEM.
The Soldiers Homo E.l. .ssod
BY the House--The Weeks
Work.

OLYMPIA, Wash, Fob. 20.-A COM
promise has been Effected upon the tide
land question. Last night there was n
meeting OF the representatives Of the
Northern Pacific land owners and the
equatters upon the tide lands who have
built permanent improvements, and Il
was decided TO favor the committees
lii, with an amendment similar TO the
provisions in MIR. Clarks bill, giving the
owner of Improvements prior pre-
emptiye right of purchase. Where an
upland owner has permitted another
man to squat upon the tide lands In
front of him and'buid improvements Of
a substantia, character it WAS decided to
consider his silence as acquiescnce, and
In such cases the upland owner has for
feiiod his pro cmpuvc right OF purchase.
This is satisfactory TO the Seattle men
WHO recently protested against the pass
age OF the joint committees bill.
None OF the bills now pending rccog-
nize the rights Of the squaticrs who
claim title to the tide lands because they
have driven a few pilngs, nor does the
legislature seem disposed to give them u
chance,
SEw uiLi
Mr.. Moultray af,erward introduced q
now bill as n substitute for all the tide
land bills now pending. The bill ere
ntcs u public land commissioner. con-
sisting of the secretary of state, the siptc
land commissioner and the state auditor,
who are also made board of cquaiiZa-
tion. The shore lands arc divided into
three classes as follows; First, lands
contiguous to incorporated cities, which
have been plated. aud which contain
valuable improvements; second lands
similarly situated, which have been
plated hut which DO not contain val
uable improvements; third, all other
shore lands. Valuable Improvements
are defined as "wharycs, mills etc,
The reputed owners Of lands of the first
class are given prior rights of purchase
ut the appraised value OF tile lands,
THOSE OF the second class are to be sold
ut auction on the first Monday in Feb.
ninry, May, August aud November.
The commissioner OF public lands must
have the lands OF the third class lying
contiguous TO incorporated cities plated,
when tho lands shall go into
the second class and bo sold at auction,
but the owners of valuable improve
mcnts OH such lands shall have the
same prior right of purchase as the own
ers OF lands Of the first class, Shore
lands not contiguous TO cities. on which
there arc whnryes, mills aud booms,
shall be appraised by the acfo and the
reputed owners shall have the prior
right OF purchase. All the lands to
which prior right of purchase Is given
must be purchased within three months.
IL not, they fall into class two, and shall
be subject to sale at public auction. Ap.
plications to purchase must be filed with
The state land commissioner. Onc.fourth
cash must be paid down and four ycarl
are given to pay the residue. ltis made
the duty of the county commissioners to
prepare plast OF lands of the first and
second classes and all the shore lands
not within two miles OF city ON which
there are sawmill>. An appeal may be
taken by ding u notice within twenty
days with the state land commissioner
whose decision as to the value of the
land shall be final. Appeals on qucs.
tons of law and in regard TO the prices
nnd the right of purchase may be taken
to tho supreme court.