The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-24
the rolSr ROBERTS TIDE LANDS.
Kaor, Of a Fishing Company 20 Acquire
Valuable Rights az Law Price.


whatcom. Dcc. eS.-Speciai -Thcrc was
a little tempest ia tho R0ard az Trade
tea pot Friday night when President
Black preached thc subicct - The Pclat
Roberts tide lands, ana expressed What
ia undoubtedly the general opinion that
the aqpra.semcnt Is mnch too lew. AIR.
Black Is mayor-clect aud senior member
Of the LAW firm % Biacia a feafning.
whieh he said had been retained by a
number OF fishermen anxious 20 secure
the enactment 81 q law by the next
legislature protecting their interests and
the interests OF all citixeaS In the fish,
cries. IL was rather broadly animated
that Mr.. Blacks interest in tho matter
arose not alone fFunl the professional
saga cement or his firm, burt also from
the fact that C. ". Dorr. state senator
elect. Is the senior member Of another
leading law irm and attorney Tor tho
Alaska Packing Association. which by
common report is trying TO gebhle up
all the tide lands At Point Roberts. with
a view Of securing a PRACTICAL monopoly
az the great fishing privileges there.
The implied reflection Is altogether uH-
just TO both gentlemen. bat the fact
remains that the packing association -
eadeavoring TO secure at nominal cost
vested rights az Point Roberts. which
would be of incaiealable value to that
corporation, and would enable IL 70
virtually exclude from tho figheries there
al smaller companies or Individual fish,
ermen not In their employ. They made
application under tbs law TO have the
tide lands surveyed and appraised for
sale. This was done several months ago.
the appraisement ranging from sL2s 20
rttg..
pcaleI from the appralsement on tho
grofud that IL was too low and turned
tbs matter over 10 the attorney general.
Tho survey and appraisal covered all the
tide lands along the east. west aud south
shores. Including those abuttlng tho
lighthouse reserve and the application
To purchase covers everything surveyed.
Black 4 Leaning say that apparently
10 official notice whatever has hoca Ia
ken OF the act or March %. 1890 granting
the tiae lands abatiing tracts reserved
By tho government - the government out
to four fathonis 81 water at low tide.
This act, Mr.. Leaning says. was bcld
~ Judge 4anfog4 in the Port Angeles
case. - be a grant in Zee to Tho govern
ment. and cxcmpts such fan3s from sale.
4 high SANDY binn extends al along
the south shore 81 the point and tho
tide land strip Is narrow AMI ~ llitlo
value for any purpose, but along the
east and a portion or tho west shores
there 'are good sites for cauRcrles and
wharvrs conyeHacpt o. the tfaps, and
thesr exclusive control would be or inn
Inense value % the bis fishing octopus
that Is cndeavorlng 90 ct them Within
SIS grasp And set the appTasacmcDt AZ
these places. abntting tho Waller and
Brewster henesteaaE, Is only SIS per
acre. while here on Eelllngaam bay tide
lands having only speculative value
were appraised AT huHdresis of dollars
per acre To an unparalleled observer
il would appear that Il the state conn
mission confirms tbs appraisal tho state
wslI he selling ats valuable birlhftght
there Tor mere song.
t'Esiee the law SIS IL now reads the
packing association can pat in all shs
trans ii pleaars there without ifeenae
for that regulation applies only to thu
waters % Puget sgnnd." whereas Point
Roberts Is IN the Gulf of Georgia. The
point 10 gnqnoatl1mahsy orc ~ th@ finest
locations Tor salmon trans ang canner-
iea on the Pacific coast, for inymenas
shnafs 81 salmon sweep past there every
year o. tlsesF way 70 the Fraser river.
The net profits % the Waghams cam
nery alone In asas we're sald 70 be s1sao0
ARD the urys3aie eannery aeFaas on
ssmlahrnoo spit. 81 said % have paid
aigeut ~ nstch 10th cannertes ars now
IA the trust ard Drysdaie Is the local
manager