The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-21
cHAssxs or coxnKKcE-
Seattle HarboP the subject OK Memo
rial 10 the Land Commtssfcn.

CHAMBBR OF COMAkRCk.
Seattle Harbor the subject OF Memo
rial 20 the Land Commissicn.
An important memorial 20 the state land
commissioners on the subject OF water
ways in Seattle harbor was adopted by the
trustees Of the Chamber Of Comnerce yes
serday. The whole subject OF waterways
in the harbor had been referred to q con-
faIttee consisting OF Andres Knox. ID E
Durie and Roger s. Greene. and the com
mittee submitted report in the form OF
memorial expressing the views OF the
chamber ON the subject.
The memorial begins by submitting the
question whether il would not ne bstter in
locating the harbor lines 10 make provis-
ions tor all public waterways through the
harbor rim. Laws are then quoted TO
show that the state land commissioners
have full authority for the location OF fiar-
Dor line and public waterways, and that
when once the preliminary work has been
done and the plat Fled in the proper oftiee,
the matter can never be reconsidered with
out an amendment to the conssitu-
ton. The memorial recites that
in case, before the location OF
proper waterways, such plat should
be filed and afterwards there should be the
final appraisal contemplated for the APP
praisement and disposal Of tide and shore
lands. and applications TO purchase by
abusting owners the property required for
waterways. very serious legal questions,
complications, embarrassment and litiga-
ton would result tending TO delay the
establishment of needed waterways, and
possibly TO compel the state to condemn at
afn
besides crar ping the commercial interests
Of the city. The memorial then continues:
''In the light of these considerations it
appears to the chamber to be of the most
urgent importance and necessity that the
proper waterways for the harbor of Seat
tie should be located and established by
your honorable board as part and parcel
of the work Of your honorable board in
locating and establishing the harbor lines
and harbor rim of that harbor, or that at
least, concurrentiy with the location and
establishment of such harbor lines and
harbor rim, the location and establish
fnent of such waterways shall DO
had before the location and establish
ment Of the harbor lines and haroor
rim are perfected or plat thereof
filed, and so that upon such plat the direc-
ton, dimensions and boundaries of such
waterways shall be indicated and laid of
as part of the work of location and estab-
lishment of such harbor lines and harbor
rim. 50 that when appraisal shall be made
of sucn tide or shore lands or applications
shall be made to purchase that the prior
and definite rights and claims of the state
regarding such waterways shall appear
upon such plat and the areas covered by
such state claims shall be excluded from
such appraisal and such applications.
The following general plan of water
II fod Nv
"First-One main waterway running in
straight course from deep water. COM
mencing at the point where the main por-
ton of the water of the Duwamish river
empsies into Elliott bay. thence running
southeriy to connect with the main chan.
mel OF said river 80 as to take in and dis
charge all the water Of the river; this
channel should be at least 800 feet wide.
"Second-To the eastward Of such main
waterway other and subsidiary waterways
parallel thereto Tor as nearly so as practic.
able in order to accomplish the desired
endl, and each not less than 400 feet in
width, about one-fourth to one-half mile
apart and running through tho tide lands
distance Of about one half mile from the
starting point of twenty feet depth of
water as required; such waterways to
have no connection with main waterway
or with each other by any waterway.
"Third-To the westward of such main
waterway but within the limits prescribed
in Section of Article XIV of the constitu.
ton, other like subsidiary waterways. and
at like distances apart, parallel to such
main waterway but not connected there
with"
The memorial asks for q hearing on the
subject of the memorial. and the president
was authorized to add others to the pres
ent committee to appear before the land
commissioners.
A letter was read from +. w. Vaille, as
sistant superintendent of the railway mail
service, acknowledging complaints Of de-
lay in registered mail from Alaska, and
stating his previous intention to make .
change on July /, when the new contracts
will go into effect He also states that he
will look into the matter and make the
change Immediately If found necessary.
During the meeting President Graves re-
ferred to the fact that Naval Paymaster K.
u. Webster had been authorized to receive
bids from Seattle merchants for 80, 900
pounds OF fresh meat and SO, 900 pounds of
vegetables and other supplies to be deiiv-
cred to the government az Dutch harbor,