The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-08-26
The Olga Wharf,

EDITOR IsLANDER:-Theo only wharf
at this place, built blythe people of Olga
and vicinity for free public use ano
completed about a year and a half ago
is about to pass into the hands of Mr.
James Mcdonald, the merchant here
by the simple process of purchasing the
| tide land on which the wharf stands
and fronting the street which is also
| the outlet for the county road between
East Sound and Olga.
Ii the men who were most interested
and active in having this wharf built
had not been absent prospecting, fish
ing or otherwise engaged in securing
means OF subsistence for their families,
probably some steps would have been
taken to secure the tide land in front
of the county road before July 1st, and
In some way have provided for public
outlet to the outside world for which
the law makes no provision. AS it is,
there seems to be no relief or remedy
for the loss of this wharf by the people
who built it at cost in labor and ma
terial of about 5000, except by purchase
from Mr.. Mcdonald at his own figure.
Petition was made to the county
commissioners, signed by all the people
now at home, to take some action to
protect this blocking of the county
road before the thirty days allowed for
protest to the state land commissioner
should expire. The county attorney,
Mr.. King, however, advised us that
the county was not an interested party
and had no authority to take any
action or to protest against this block
ing of the outlet of this or any of it's
roads.
So this seems to be prominent legal
illustration of the old saw that what
is everybody's business is nobody's.
Should there not be some provision
made, by further legislation if neces-
sary, by which the outlet of these roads
to tide water can be acquired
and controlled in their corporate
capacity by the several counties located
on the Sound?
Mr.. McDonald's application to pur-
chase the fifty feet in front of this street,
or more properly road, lit having been
accepted and worked by the county
for seven years. also includes the front
age of his upland property adjoining
the street, and he of course has per-
feet right to buy this tide land. He
states that his reason for including the
tide land in front of the street in his
application was simply to prevent any
outsider or nonresident from doing so.
That is all right of course, but how
long can we rely on Mr.. McDonald's
fatherly protection of our interests in
this wharf and road? He might pos
sibly be induced to sell out to some less
| benevolent party!
In Justice to Mr.. Mcdonald it should
be stated that he put money into this
wharf, I think he claims about 500
but other individuals put up as much
or more in labor or money and Mr.
| Mcdonald has used the wharf more
| than any ono else.
do not agree with those who joking.
ly class Mr.. Mcdonald with the man
who stole a redhot cook stove, or the
other fellow who took locomotive, OF
the Yankee who packed offa meeting
house, he does not belong in that class
If 1 were going to classify him, in q
joking way, [ should say he ranks
with able financiers like the late Jay
Gould, or the present G. P. Hunting
ton, only his ambition has not yet
aspired to railroads but is confined to
deep water docks that are left out on
the beach over night without lock and
chain or the owners name to identify
them. F. r. WALKER,
Olga, Wash, Aug. 20, 1897.