The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-08
4 NEW HARBOR LINE.
Chamber Of Commerce OAers Z
Compromise.
LEAVING OUT THE ELEVATOR.

VsNpA Vssssx2Os
LEAVING OUT THE ELEVATOR.
a Cenfsrenes Win the Cennisslsa-
Proposed Li.s Running Up ~
Rlyer-skasit Tide Lands.
The harbor line comminiou ana IL cpunit-
mittee Of the Chamber Of Commsrco met again
yesterday afternoon and made another EFFORT 70
settle the haxbor line controversy BY consider
ing new plan for line submitted By the
Chamber Of Commerce COMMITTEES. There were
present Colonel W. F. Prussey, chairman, ex-
Governor Eugene Semplc and Colonel A. II. Gar
retsOn, of the harbof line commission; and Judge
4. 8. Greene, Jacob Furfh, Major J. r Hayden
and Robert Moran. of the Chamber Of Conn
merce
The committee from the chamber submitted .
proposal for . compromise harbor line, with .
map showing it, effect and location. Il takes -
starting point line where there II eleven feet
Of water ct low tide, and from this point makes
the harbor strip run in landwardD for 200 feet
and run out seawards 400 feet. It II proposed to
use The 200 feet for street purposes and ap-
the 900 feet to whayves and slips, seawall to Be
built on the inner edge Of this 400foot strip and
the space behind It to Be fliedin and msds solid
ground
But the most important part about the COM
mittees proposal IL the fact that instead Of car
rying the harbor strip across the edge Of the
tide fats westward one mile beyond the city
iimtts, and thus taking in the Terminal railway
and the grain elevator, IL runs the strip out
southwark Tor one mile beyond the southern
city limits. A waterway 1000 feet wide 10 made
to correspond with the channel Of the Duwam-
ish river, which flows to the east Of Edwards
island and cuts through part Of that island in
order to connect with the river channel ct the
point where 1t splits into delta q IT. out
let into the bay. The channel Is laid out along
the river for one mile beyond the southern city
limits. On the eastern side Of this waterway the
hsrbof strip Is continued, with 90 feet OF streets
and Land approaches and 100 feet for wharves
and slips. The western city boundary r. held to
be the western edge of the waterway, . the
committee consider this channel 70 b the main
channel OF the river, and therefore to Be the
center Of the bay, which the law defines - the
city boundary. The apparent object Of the COM
mittee In thus running the limo Il to prevent the
western half Of the bay from being included in
the legal boundaries of Seattle harbor and thus
prevent the Terminal railway and the grain ele-
vator from coming within the strip. The har-
westward. holding the main channel of the
river 70 b the one which dehouches Into deep
water ct the Terminal railway drawbridge, and
therefore to be the city boundary. 4OOfoot
waterway was made to follow this channel, and
the harbor strip was extended mile further
west, taking in nearly the whole length Of the
Terminal road, - well - the elevator. The
inner line Of the committees proposed harbor
strip Il from 100 to $50 feet further ont than that
of the commissions sffiD.
The theory on which the chambers commit
tee made the line turn southward along its pro-
posed 0foot waterway Is that, o. IN estuary
is supposed to extend - far up river a. the
tide rises the bay and thu river for considers
BILE distance up It's course constitute an estuary.
The Law establishing the harbor line commis-
sion having eequired that body to locate char
Dor lines IN the nsvigable waters OF ill harbors.
estuaries, bays aud inlets of this state" the
chambers committee holds that line should
turn southwark along the main channel of the
river instead OF continuing westward.
general discussion followed the submission
Of this plan. Mr. Furth argued in favor Of q
conservative and careful course, that Whatever
was done in this case would be precedent for
other harbors. Colonel Prosser replied that the
commission had been particular for the very
reason that this case would be precedent and
for the same reason it was anxious TO have the
pending suits decided in the supreme court
1AI. URN 1IBueO tudt lucy UuOulO pIOcoco 10
establish the line without awaiting the out
come Of litigation, and pointed ont that owing
to the uncertainty Of the status Of occupants of
tide lands Mr.. Moran's business was % tied ND
that he could not raise the $4,000 necessary to
complete the shipbuilding works. Judge Greene
urged, In favor of the compromise harbor line,
that 1t was not probable that the present litiga-
ton would be final. 1t might 80 to the United
States supreme court, and while the state
supreme court might raise the writs of prohibit
ton and the line might be located a. laid down
by the commission, the ntigants might continue
the fight and their lawyers might ferret out new
points of law on which to do 20. When the
matter once reached the United States supreme
court 1t might drag on interminably, although
1t might be set forward on the docket
In regard to the proposal not to run the line
westward beyond the mouth of the river, he did
not see why they should locate 1t ON the west
size Of the harbor at present They might locate
the rest of the line and leave tails line on the
west side until they obtained the advice OF the
locate 1t In accordance with the opinions of
those officers. He argued In favor OF running
the line up the river, holding that It would be in
accordance with the law.
The waterway a. laid down by the commits
sion and the committee was then discussed. and
Mr.. Moran pointed out the advantage OF having
wide waterway. As IL was doubtful what was
legislation should be procured to establish the
city limits by metes and bounds.
Colonel Prosser complained Of the delay in
bringing the harbor line suits to trial In the
supreme court, saying that it was already Ave
months since they had been decided by Judge
Lchtenberg. Judge Greene said what they
needed was a practical solution of the question,
such 40 they could get without the courts.
Colonies Prosser and Garretson contended that
II was necessary in the interest Of the state to
have q legal decision on these points and settle
them once for all, or the same questions might
arise and litigation be renewed at every place
where the harbor line was laid down
Judge Greene replied: "What we desire il to
get settlement here, for the whole water front
OF the city Ia tied up and the DEVELOPMENT of
the harbor is prevented. What we want is a
settlement without delay. If the commission
can arrange the matter amicably with the
Chamber OF Commerce commission all the pres.
sure of the people will be against the continu-
ance OF litigation"
Colonel Peosser asked: "Why has not some
OF 1t been brought to bear the litigants in the
pending cases?"
Judge Greene replied: at has been, but
without success"
The Chamber of Commerce committee with
drew and left the commission 10 consider the
plan submitted. 1t was agreed to meet at 10
o'clock this morning for that purpose
The following letter from W. c. Jones. attor
ney general, to A. A. Lindsey, state treasurer
dated April IS. was read:
am in receipt of your favor ENCLOSING = cor,
munication from Paul Schulze REQUESTING yo,
II "A A..I a ia nd B..