The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-19
REPORT ON PUBLIC LANDS.


OLYMPIA Dec IS - PecisL - Stafs
Commissioner Of pnbIic Lands W I.
Forrest. in hiE report 20 TIRE governor
and legislature. recently submitted. shows
tsat no. fhstanainx the financial de-
preston tisc work os tie department has
been greater for the rsst two years than
sor any other period Of \ Ike time since
the creation Of tbs ofiice-
The extra amount c. business has been
due 10 the splectton % granted lands ard
the app9aizenent ans sale of oyster lands
eud tide iands % the first. second and
thlrd value. The lands collected. together
with the unxurveved townships reserved,
will b., sufficient 70 satisfy the several
grants except the one OF indemnity school
lanbe Nearly ali tire oyster land apriica-
tions have been disposed OF. and the H0st
dirieuit part Of ths work In connection
with the other classes Of tide lands has
been done so the much desired objects
OF completing the records and classifying
the once into departments can soon DC
successfully accomplished.
Township piats have been secured Tor
use OF the Office OF ali approved surveys
made prior 20 December. 1894. but small
appropriation viii Re necessary 20 bring
them up 70 date. The work OF the Once
has been directed toward the completion
OF = plat index Of all tide lands disposed
OF. but a lack OF help In the engineering
department has rendered Il impossiole 20
bring the work up 10 date.
The report says the act os the last legis-
lature creating the board OF state land
commissioners and defining their duties
Is muca more satisfactory than any pre-
yious Law on the subject. bat Ii is In many
respects susceptible OF Improvement The
work of the commission has consisted In
the establishing Of harbor lines, the
survey and appraiSsment Of oyster and
tide lands. the determination OF the prior
right to purchase tide lands In cases
where tive or more applicants seek to
purchase the Same land. and in the Sc
iss-slon or granted lands. a. much OF this
work has been completed the board could
now be dispensed with without jeopardiz-
ing the interests OF the state.
The law governing the school land leases
sh0ald be amended 10 avoid the present
vexatious and unnecessary delay after bids
are received and before leases are Issued.
The valuable timber belonging 10 the
state should be protected In some way. and
Il Is suggested that forest guards should
h. provided In localities adjacent 10 state
timber. TO receive compensation from con-
fincent fees in' cases Of arrests and oon-
yicticn OF trespassers.
There Is NJ the present time o balance
OF 500 GO IN the treasury belongin 10 the
tide land fund. This amount viii be great
III increased from the sale OF It'd. lands
a, Seattle and Tacoma. and soms pro-
vision should be made FOR the use az this
fund that It may not remain Idle and I'M
reuuneratlve 70 the state.
Mineral and non mineral lands granted
20 this state for the support OF common
schools are dealt with at length. The title
nt the state can be made perfect II the
necessary appropriations are made for
that purpose. and the state school land
commission Is authorized 20 act In the
matter
The fees collected In the Office OF the
commissioner OF pnhiic lands and paid 20
the state treasurer for the two years end
ing October - ises. were 81 fssTs