The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-19

The state Land Commission Adherss &
and Advocates Its Plan.

and Advocates Its Plan.
+. ID. Cowen, secretary of the state land
commission, on behalf of the commission
and Gov. McGraw has addressed a letter
to Senator Squire and Representatives
Wilson and Doolittle relative to the neces-
sity and means of expeditng the selection
OF lands granted the state for the estab-
lishment and maintenance of its public
institutions. Following is q summary of
the letter.
"Both the governor and tho commission
hold TO the view originally expressed that
the state should be accorded q right of se-
lection equal TO the squa:teF's sover-
eighty prior 10 the date of filing
the survey of townships. The Rev
10 the whole problem lies in the
legal affirmation of this claim. The
sixty-day preference right allowed the
state to lilo on selections before the nlsts
OF survey are filed in the local land Offices
is of immAterial benefit, since all lands
the state may cruise tor selections are
Invaded by settlers or timber claim.
ants between the time survey is
applied for and completed, such
settlers successfully asserting their
rights OF possession as against the state in
every instance. Tor nearly three years the
state LANDS have been cTuIsed by agents
whose services are paid for hY a commits
sion Of 10 cents an acre for timber aud ~
cen;s an acre for prairie land @ the 400 0ssi
acres flied upon Tor selection in the local Of
ices only -, Geo acres have Keen returned "a
approved ey tue secretary OF The interior
n little less than per cent 81 this to- al
selections made and little more than 4 per
cent OF the sum Of the grants. Even
most Of these approved selections are of
recent cestihcation. Not ga acre mas h,.en
available for che purposes prescribed IN
the grants, aud the institutions TO-
whose construction and support they
and sustained hy direct TAXATION.
In some instances the legislature
has appropriated the moneys needed
without recourse. ia Others the approuria-
tons have been made charge against the
indelermiaa's revenue 20 accrue from the
sale Of the lands nos yet secured
'ln Eastern Washington lands are
chiefly vsigahle Tor agriculture and graz.
iugs In Western Washington for timber
Settlers seeking homes DO not take
10 timber land as RUE
Yet for immediate investment the
tlmber lands el Western Washington a~a
the mos, available and the most valuable.
Companies. representing vast eauital. are
secretly absorbing &he timber lands. aud
tie natior. state and settler are suffer-
Ing In consequence. Under the tim
Der clam act # IS-> millions oY
acres ~ the Puget Sound and PAeifc
timber lands have passed into tie ros-
session Of speculative associations. Those
companies are represented bv agents WIN
are expert m procuring fyaudUleni elal M
ants and Vegiuregs. as well IS skilled and
INSCRIPTIONS III coyruptlng those pe~snns
o. ctficisls "a nom they may reed as accrs-
series. The state would prefer - secure
timber lands, and u aided in dong so sv
fhe adoption 81 reservation policy. the
exemption tFom settlement allowed unsfl
selections could be tled upon would he
detrimental 70 che Interests OF no one save
the companies IN question:. AGAIN. timber
laaaS would &c uloge quickly convertible
- tae benefit 81 the stale than any other
class ct puajc lands
The attempt voa sre about 20 make Ia
seeure tAe residue 81 thc granted lands
thfSngh the Eesegvlag process Goabt.
less WlA - resisted Nith The
ArsUm"as that you are disregard
4ag tAe terms %! The eGab.fp-
&C.. without she consent al the state legs
iature. such 4 contention Is 10 BE con
itcn5e8 Sish tae pvoof that the terms 4
Tie enabling act. Nltb respect O. thls sue
-. hsye Been contradictory in effect; for
II eonSTtsS gives 20 she state. ~ p.cti o
al tee compact shAt a subsequent me-
scsapi.en makes Is nexG 81 lmposspl los