The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-10
NORTH TIDE LANDS.
The Governor Listens TO Argu-
ments on Both Sides.
HAYS REPLY TO DIRECTORS.
Railroads Want TO DO Their Own
Work-Sorth Canal Interfered With
Objection 90 the Price.

III AtkS matter OF FtAt CbA4AAA NNFE RHAEl~
way and the reclamation Of tide lands
along the north water front. in accordance
with the contract applied for by W. r.
Hays Of this city and Frank Shay Of San
: Francisco. Gov. John r. McGraw, at a
meeting In the Chamber OF Commerce
{ yesterday afternoon. listened 70 objections
By upland owners. Numerous promi-
nent citizens were in attendance. At the
close OF the meeting Gov. McGraw an
nouneed that he would reserve a decision
and meanwhile would allow Hays and
Shay reasonable time TO comply with
conditions similar 70 those imposed on the
Seattle & Lake Washington Waterway
Company. such as obtaining the tndorse-
ment Of upland owners.
After Gov. McGraw had stated the OBJ
1ect of the meeting, Thomas W. Prosch
suggested that, inasmuch as some OF tho
citizens were not familiar with the de-
tails of the proposed scheme. Mr.. Hays
be given the floor. Accordingly the latter
spoke for several minutes, outlining the
contract he had applied for. AS pre-
Iiminary step he gave history OF the leg
isiation and litigation leading up TO the
present time He assumed that Gov. Nc
Graw. in passing upon the application,
would be controlled rather by the interest
Of the state at large than by that OF any
Individual upland owner with prior right
Of purchase. The application had been ex-
tended so as TO take in the lands far
SHNA4A Ss ne street. Out IL tIaE EflCQlI De-
thought inadvisable he and Mr.. Shay ', ere
willing 10 eliminate from the contract the
southernmost lands. The maximum bond
OF 5000 had been furnished. and the pro-
meters Of the scheme were ready TO go
forward with Ii.
The %. /. Co.'s Objections.
Following Mr.. Hays. G. J. Smith on be-
half OF the Columbia & Puget Sound Rail
road Company, owner OF five lots north
q ira So 80
posed three objections TO the improve
ment. First. there was no reason 70 ex-
Pect that the bulkheading to be made IN
der the contract would be as substantial
as that which the company itself could
build, second, the bank along the shore
line was such as would afford material
Tor better and cheaper I'LL than could
possibly be made under the proposed con-
tract: third. the lands owned by the Co
lumbia * Puget Sound were not coutiSU-
Gus TO Smith cove and were in no wise
connected with il. Moreover, Mr.. Hays
had promised in making application for
the contract 10 have IL drafted so as not
10 embrace lands south of Mercer street.
but the promise had been overlooked. for
the application sought TO take in lands
far south as Pike street. The company
could MI its own lands and was emphati-
cally opposed to any one else doing the
work.
Mr.. Hays explained that Mr.. Smith had
not understood him, as the application had
been filed long before the promise was
said 10 have been made.
The Great Northern Protests.
Hon. Thomas Burke. representing tho
Seattle q Montana railway and certain
private owners, including VI. J. Carkeek.
was the next speaker. lie said:
The United States circuit court has
decided that part OF the proposed wa
terway Is private property, and that it
can in no way be disturbed by the water
way contemplated by the contract Tho
Seattle q Montana has purchased at an
expenditure OF $4,000 an extensive tract
OF land near Interplay, and it now intends
10 utilize that property for car shops.
From the excavation 10 be made the COM
pany Will use the earth for filling in the
right OF way along its tracks. on which
It has expended several hundreds Of thou
sands OF dollars.
Il undertake To say that such an i'm
proVcment could be made at an expense
OF about cents "a cubic yard Yet here
is a contract calling for Is cents "a cubic
yard. and on top Of that profit of Is per
cent. and st.ll on top Of that interest "A
per cent Ii would amount 10 a condsca-
ton OF the property. Il would he rob
berry"
Continuing Mr. Burke said that tho,
problem ~ lliinc along tho line OF the
railroad was a simple matter and VIXEN
the railroad company had made the inn
ployement the work would be practically
done. and the ctst reasonable Under the
propose contract it would be grossly tx-
cessivC- Mr.. Eurke taen shifted his re-
marks n thr bearing CT the improvement
Ga the North canal He said:
The Effect ou the North fauaI
Bat this waterway has another hear
ing Il is matter OF ruonc notorAty
that when the question of the North canal
was brought before the government Mai.
Hamburg. Col Nen3enuau and Cant.
SymoDs were sent out 10 report on Tho
canal ami they recommended the Smith
cove route because it was more sheltered
than salmon bay and Afforded protection
from hostile guns. Now. ] am one of
those who sincerely believe that the canal
VII he built, and that very soon. ] 90
not want - Soc 2a obstruction PLACED iu
is nav. Should TIE government conclude
70 adopt the Smith cove route, and this
contract should In the meantime 10
awarded. these men would have q claim
for dac'aSes. and - ~ obliged n nsy
them would be public outrage. You all
know that part az she canal between
tie lakes has already hecu built hv rri-
Vafe Farties. end their claim constitute;
an obstruction for whtca they ash, thirty.
forty or dftT thousand dollars v ho viii
have 20 ray itH The people % Seattle and
King county. 7 want no more otzi~l,.-
The waterway. t1e speaker continued
would he cut tn TWO ht- drv land that was
NOT within fhe score 81 TIDE lard at an. IN
ohiecunc for rac railroad company H.
also NoiEct the sentiment Of private own
ers. Tile HAYS Improvement. h~ declared.
could ho cf uo tenett 20 thc state. the
pat.c or I'D any ore.
For the Land Company
George pCuworta Objected an trha't ~
tae smith Neve larH C1wpar-.. When
owus TIE large isthras bounGea ~ ore
sta ty Sw.th cove sud ou the other tv
salmon hay. lie emphasized Tire chfo.-
tons made hy ar. Smth There vas a
thtrty-scFe tract located ora TIE hilis. le
which necessarily would have to d. le,-
sled II would 30 affect folly % diE uo
frcu the bottom ct the bay earth fa~ ..l-
irS when material could be obtained iron
the hillside AID deposited by ggayttstioa
az tae pcint desired There vas. he said.
no present necessity Tor the Improvement.
AMI n impose "a heavy FAX would be un-
tEst The waterway Wcll1 be- of Geo pres
e1t ala 90 commerce. thc needs o. wh.rh
we-e aUply provided Tor AR. p0nRorth
continued
But ehere IS q greater oatect .on. am
that is that 70 waterway can ever be sl.--
4-essfil.ts exczEate1. There is Saudsrit
coming ost IN the form oi Is carve. and "a
property az tAe land company IS Inclosef
bv r. IL has been decided thai SIS this sris
is connected with tae upland ID belongs %
the Seattle. Lake Shore & Eastern. New
there IS no law providing for condemnation
81 tf. property. and cannot see how ina
waterway under consideration could be