The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-22
STATE TIDE LANDS.
Evidence Before the Joint Com
mittee.
TESTIMONY TAKEN At TACOMA.
A Number % Interested Genuemen Ex.
press Their vfews-Ths Cosn-
mitaee start for Seattle.

E%&-N - 80 A12A - - 49, -
Chairman Brown had q list of names
which be called OF. and were responded 70
promptly.
Mr.. Alien c. Mason was the first 10 give
his opinion. He believes that the owners
Of land abutting on the tide lands had a
right OF easements over the tide lands, and
that the territory Of Washington had al
ready recognized their right By accepting
increased IKE on lands aDE4ting on the
tide lands. because such lands had been
assessed higher for that reason.
Il have paid. " Mr.. Mason said, three
nj IS much taxes on a piece Of land
with & frontage Of fifty feet on the tide
lands as On the sane sized piece OF prop
erty a little further back from the shore.
The right OF ingress and egress over the
tide lands has a value. and the territory of
Washington has recognized that value in
collecting taxes / think that the owner of
the solid land abutting On the tide lands
should have the right 10 purchase the tide
lands in front OF his other property, and
should get q deed in fee for the same.
II am not in favor of the state leasing
the tide lands. II they are leased the inn
provements on them viii not be so valtla-
bic as il the land can be owned in fee.
The tide lands should be disposed of as 10
ailow of the greatest possible improvement
OF them and a consequent increase of taxa
bic property, and taxes that viii accrue TO
the state. The owners OF ahutting property
should be able 70 purchase the tide lands at
a fair appraised valuation.
Il think a year is sufficient time for
them 20 nake the purchase. The matter
Of appraisement should. in my opinion. be
left with the county commissioners Of each
county, and thus save the expense of q
commission or state board of appraisers.
The tide lands should be appraiser at their
present value. without taking into con-
sideration the improvements made upon
them. II the improvements made on the
tide lands are taken into consideration In
determining their value, undue advantage
would be taken of the persons who have
improved them in good faith"
Attorney Louis u. Campbell said 81
consider the fee Of the tide lands to belong
20 the state of Washington. The right TO
easement over them Is of greater value
than the fee Of the tide lands itself. The
highest value of the tide lands to the state
Is not in the actual amount received from
their sale. bnt rather in the increased yaIu-
alton of property which will result from
their ownership and improvement by
citizens. As q result OF the in
creased valuation of the property the
state will receive a greater amount
OF money from taxes, which viii be a per-
manent benefit. ] think that this COM
mittee should drop the matter OF the price
10 be put on tide lands and look rather 10
the increased returns from taxation which
Ill -I.,ff F~a~~ ri
owners Of the upland property sheuIS have
the iirst right al purchase Of tide land ON
which his property ahnts.
Mr.. Nelson hennett could not under
stand how the state had a right to the tide
lands II the upiand owner has the right of
easement over them.
ihdlylagals have, V he said. purchased
uae Iaaas with the idea that they were en-
uued 70 water front privileges. OF the
sasiu 50 held at least 50 per cent. of il was
purchased by virtue OF that supposed prfv-
ilege. II . person is doing business in
good faith on the tide flats. ] 10 not see
why he hasn't as good a right 10 the first
purchase of them as the man who owns
the upland adjoining the tide lands. am
in accord with Mr.. Mason's idea. that the
state should not try 20 make much out OF
the sale OF the tide fat lands. The benefit
20 the state viii accrue By making a Judi
cious distribution OF them. which will in-
sure their improvement and a CONSEQUENT
increase Ia the yearly taxes which the state
will receive. / believe in ~disposing OF the
tide lands 20 the real occupants of them at
a minimum price.
In answer 20 a question, Mr.. Bennett
said that there are over SI.900.O9o worth Of
improvements on the tide lands in the
vicinity Of Tacoma,
Engineer II. s. Huson, of the Northern
Pacific rallroad. gave his views on the tide
land question TO the COMMITTEES a Joiiows.
Il take il for granted that the tide lands
belong 80 the state. I think that the ur~
land owner should have the right 10 get 10
deep water over the tide lands. and that he
should have the first chance TO purchase
them. In : majority Of cases where men
have settled on and improved tide lands
it has been with the consent Of the
upland owners The upland owners
should have the first right 10
purchase such improvements on the tide
lands and the lands thus improved. Men
who kave settlea on the tide lands should
have the second right Of purchase. The
owners Of the uplands and the tide fats
should be gwen an opportunity 20 e
tate the matter between themselves. /
think the county commissioners should
decide the Fslae Of the tide lands A COM
mission 10 sell them would be a verY great
expense. The vaiue Of the lands should
he determined By appraisement and not by
competitive bids.
~ piand owners should Mr. Huson
.eeHsMean4 s#Na gfwaA a waaN Tw amteaA -.
purchase she tide lands IN front Of their
property. II 'hsy 10 no purchase within q
year TIE tide tat settlers should he given =
chance 10 purchase Tacoma Is further
advanced IN regard Sc terminal facilities
than any other city o. the Sound. ard Ia
fsct no other e8t1 has any permanently
established terminal faesstt3s
Mr.. Kiusoa was very hitter II d-enounrsns
The slnza 5ausp@s and r0under. as be
termed them. and that tnesF oaiy
ehjeet was TO chta3a blood mon
sy from the rightguI owners
oil ths land. ThIs clsSs Ct men. continued
Nj, Huson. wHl assays ba an o~lstaege d.
the improvement And settlement Il the
tass fAas. Al the iutersss the r3flsnv
company bal in tide a&ss wAs Co set .
right q way fcs - tracks acToss taeuA.
This sea& of @Ag could only be ohsainea
fsom the actsal settler ard rot from TIE
jumper saa FcaAaer.
Mr. J. IL AsSehea. al attorney fer ths
NortAern EsEE Impressed uroa the com.
nalttee THE imwvsAaee Of ks<pSRe the mai
Ter cal o. the co8gfs.
Litigation fa regard % fhe tide lands
shaaht he zvoE1es, Il possible. sle tie &c.
Iay ta he sesae@epi & the disputes ~.
praTeks . sstAzsk ia TIE rTawta and &c.