The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-12
THE M'BRIDE CASE.
Full Text of Decision in the
School Land Contest.
NO GOLD "sALTIne" WAS DONE.
The Property Was More Valuable for
City Lots Than for Mining
Mcbride Loses.

Below is the full text OF the decision by
the register of the Olympia land office in
the Mcbride land contest in one of the
most famous contests of recent years.
John G. Mcbride, of Tacoma filed min
ora claim on land in school section is,
just south of that city. There was bitter
tight III the summer of 1890 before the
land office here over the title. Mcbride
was charged with Sailing" the property
in question, but Register George G. Mills.
of Olympia, has decided that that accusa-
ton was unfounded. The Tacoma Ledger
made several attacks on Mr.. Mcbride, and
in consequence he brought suit for libel
against that publication.
When the land district was divided the
case went TO the Olympia office, from
which the decision-which is against Nc
Bride-was rendered. There will be an
appeal. The decision is as follows:
UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE,
AT OLYMPIA. Wash, Feb. 3, 1892.
State of Washington VS.. John g. Mcbride, in
volving M NWl4 and NJ OF 81 OF NW1i, sec
ton &c, Up 20 n, east.
OPINION OF REGISTER AND RECEIVER.
On September a. 1859, the following notices OF
location and claims by right of discovery Of
placer mining ground were flied in the Office of
the auditor of Pierce county Wash. viz:
n Toplif-E1s of Ma OF Ma OF NWl4, section
IG, township % north, range east: date OF loca-
ton, September %, 1889; claim designated as
claim No. ].
C. p Topliff and g. NJ. Toplif-sIk of NJ of
NWi4, same section, township and range; date
of location, September %, 1889; designated as
claim No. 2.
Reed A. McLean-NIS of So of NJ of Nwl4,
same section, township and range; date of loca-
ton, September %, 1889; designated claim
No. 3.
+ T. Crowe-s1a Of So of NJ of Nwl4 same
section, township and range; date of location
September %, 1889; designated as claim No. f.
H. r. De Lapiain--Nla of NJ Of So of NWi I,
same section, township and range: date OF loca-
ton, September %, 1859; designated claim
No. s.
H. o. Geiger-s]a of Nj of 81 of NWI<<, same
section, township and range date of location,
September %, 1889; claim designated as claim
No &.
On November 4, 1889. John &. Mcbride fled
notice Of location and claim to NJ OF 81 OF NJ.
OF NW1f, same section, township and range;
said claim being designated as claim No. 3; date
of location, November a. 1859.
All OF these iocators subsequently assigned
their interests to John g. Mcbride, who, on Feb
ruary 25 1890 fled in the Seattle Office (the land
in question then being IL the Seattle district
an application Go Isl FOR patent for the i20
acres, thus consOlluatcu INTO one cIaitn as afOre
said, being the NJ. of NW14, and the NJ of the
So OF the Nwl4, section l6, township 20 north,
range East, Willamette meridian.
On March z, 1890, the state OF Washington, by
its attorney general, filed protest against the
allowance of said application, alleging:
First-That said tract was the property of the
state of Washington.
Gecond-That said tract contains no valuable
deposit OF gold or other mineral.
Third-That said land is situated adjoining
the city of Tacoma and is OF great value to it, of
the value OF more than 81 600 an acre, by reason
OF Its proximity to said city, and that said appl-
cation is not made in good faith for the purpose
of securing said land as placer mining claim
but for the purpose of fraudulently acquiring
title thereto on account of its great vaae as city
property.
ON May IS, 1890, the register and receiver
ordered n hearing to determine the truth of
protestants allegations and fixed July the 10th.