The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-11
PORT ANGELES LOTS.
Tribulations of the Reservation
Squatters Not Ended.
A NEW ADVERTISEMENT. MAYss.
The Land Once People Say They Done
Intend to Give Lots Away-seme
Politics In 10.

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OF the special commissioner sent TO Port
Angeles TO investigate the matter of the
recent appraisement of lots and tracts into
which the government reservation adi,in-
ing that city has been divided. Tnis IL a
matter in which not only the actual resi-
dents OF Port Angeles and the ..sauatters''
upon the reservation are interested, but
also many residents of other cities on the
Coast a. far south as San Francisco, if one
may judge from the number of letters
which come pouring into the commission
er's office upon this subject The delay in
the opening of this reservation, il is
claimed. produces stagnation in business
at Port Angeles. and there 10 no hope of
the city going ahead or of new enterprises
being started. unless titles can he had to
the land in the reservation and passed
freely from one to another.
The history of this government townsite
at Fort Angeles is now one Of the most re-
markable in the annals of the land depart
ment. Many years ago. when the govern
ment first noticed the value Of this little
iand-locked harbor at the very entrance of
the Straits of Juan de Fuca and opposite
Victoria and the British Notifications. il
selected $500 acres Of land. possessing all
the valuable water front of the bay, and
withdrew it from settlement. In 1853
about one-ffth of this reservation was sur
veyed, the lots appraised and sold to home
seekers. The subsequent growth of Port
Angeles Is we'll known on Puget sound.
This growth not many years ago found
itself limited by the boundaries of that
part Of the reservation which the govern
ment still retained. The consent Of con-
gress was asked and finally obtained to its
survey and appraisement
An appropriation Of s.. 900 was made by
the last congress to cover the expenses of
this appraisement and q commission was
appointed consisting Of NJ. J. Carrigan,
secretary of the board OF trade of Port
Angeles; Harry Wilson. of Spokane,
brother of Congressman Wilson, and Mr..
Wilmington, of Seattle. All being resi-
dents of Washington and familiar with
the desires OF the people of Port Angeles
to have the matter disposed of in the
shortest possible time, they went to work
at once. although it was in the dead Of
winter, and tramped through rain and
snow and mud and made the required APP
praisement. As usual in every case where
the entire community wants some one
thing there are always few obstruction
lists. Some half dozen of this class of peo-
pie at Port Angeles Immediately notified
the land department, when the result OF
the appraisement had been made public,
that it was unjust, discriminating and
excessive. This, of course. put n stop to
everything. In the meantime there was
change Of administration. When the new
brooms began to take hold of the business
of the land department they were arrested
in amazement by the discovery Of wholly
unprecedented thing, rara avis in depart
mental history. Although the Port An
geles appraisers had been given 5000 for
their expenses during the time of making
the appraisement, they had actually fin
ished their work. sent in their report and
with it over $1,000 of the sum appropri-
ated. Here was an unexpected find. Never
before had q compassion of the land de-
partment done such thing. The COM
plants Of the half dozen soreheads at
Port Angeles furnished an immediate solu-
ton. OF course there was but one thing
to do, appoint good Democratic COM
mission and let them spend the balance of
that 5000 reviewing the work of their
predecessors.
Thus another delay has been brought
and the length of this delay cannot now
be foretold. II may be an expensive one,
too, to the ''squatters" on the reservation.
who are anxious to purchase the lots and
acres on which they have made their
homes. When the original appraisement
was made, in 1868. the prices of lots then
ranged from $40 To $75. the highest price,
OF course. being for water front lots. There
was no trouble even at that time In selling
those lots at these prices. When the Sec
ond appraisement was made. thirty years
later, although the appraisers were all
residents of Washington state and were
actuated by desire to give the poor peo-
ple who had made homes on the reserva-
ton the land at tho lowest prices possible,
IL was manifestly impossible for them to
make an sppraisement upon lower basis
than that of 1863. Had they done 30 there
ii not the least question that the depart
ment here would have refused to accept
the apprasement. and have ordered an
other. But considering the fact that in
the meantime city had grown up along
aide this reservation, the new appraise-
ment, which valued only the finest water
front lot at 500, ought 10 have been low
enough to suit almost any one. Some lots
were appraised at only dollar or two. In
fact the average appraisement OF the lots
on the whole reservation was only ta50.
One OF the specific complaints flied here is
that one lot is appraised at so. while an
other only just across the street IL only
SIT. The former lot Is level and part Of
the water front. while the latter stands on
edge. climbing up the bluff. and would
cost considerable sum 10 make IL avail
able for any purpose.
Had there been no complaints OF any
sort concerning the sppraisemsnt IL would
undoubtedly have been accepted. and by
this time the people OF Port Angeles would
have been enjoying all the benefits which
they expect 10 derive from the reservation
being thrown open to settlement So that
for the present condition of things. and for
what may still happen, they have only
certain members of their own community
TO blame In tact the people Of Port An
reles. and even the kiekers themselves. do
not realise what 10 quite likely to be the
result of this investigation which 10 now
going on. IL - generally believed that
the commissioner recently sent there Was
sent for the purpose of examining into
those specific complaints. The department.
here does not so understand IT, Its in
structions 10 the commissioner are 10 in
vestigate and report whether the present
/ W0NlNV ElM