The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-14

That the tide lands situated in from. ~
and adtacen; TO the city CT Seattle are soon
ia see wonderful eassgs can no longer
he doubted. For many years the title 70
tETts vast area, comprising over S.e99 acres,
much OF IL practically Ia the heart or tue
city. has been SO uncertain, and invest
snents I'm that land have been 50 treachsr-
Gus. that only the most vensuresoue spec
,Iators or those who had unlimited faith
in tho ultimate victory OF their contention
az the outcome % the litigation. have pat
their money into this part OF the city. All
this fs changed now, and men with money
ere finding II out II Is a fact not gener-
ally known. but nevertheless true. that ne
value of the tide lands has Increased in the
last few months In a far greater degree
than any other class Of realty in the city
Not only has the land become enhanced
IN value. but there has been a great I'M
rctus In improvements In that district.
while even these, extensive as they have
faen, promise TO be ecipsed by others tn
he made In the near future. This state OF
affairs has come about through two sub
sfantiai causes. One Of these Is the better
times which have been experienced in eon-
mercial and industrial circles recently:
the other. and by far the most important.
Is that for tho first time In the history OF
the city these valuable lands can be sold
with a good title.
Visitors to Seattle and newcomers have
for years wondered why the tide lands.
with all their evident capabilities. have re-
mained almost useless. From nearly any
point In the city can be seen lying right at
the door OF the heart of the city this vast
nndegelepea area. When the tide & o'it
Thousands Of acres of mud. when the tide
Is In the same area covered with insight
" rows Of ragged piles driven nobody
knows why. Al least the ordinary citizen
4. al Ia ar hA try
recurring questions OF the newcomer for
information on that subject. The visitor
observes that the piles are too far apart TO
have been used 10 support whArNeS. white
there * no vestige of a fence beard about
them. TO Indicate that they arc the remains
Of pre- historic fences IN which the abor~
igtnes trapped and corrailed sea serpents
az fnermaids. here ard there are little cab
ina perchea on clusters of piles. inacces-
siIle 10 any one not possessed of small
tnaf and a ladder. The average citizen
viii tell the stranger that The tide lands
Save been In litigation. and that these i.lies
have something to do with that fact The
stranger has expressed regret 10 see the
iaad in the unsightly and unimproved con-
.litioft II Is. and he has always gone into
ire more elevated portions Of the city X
- ~0g locking for an investment OF a
snecllaiion. Saw he can bay Let any
wheys if he pays the price.
Mhea ButIets whissfcd.
Only the oid-fimeTs. as a rule. know the
Significance nj those rows OF piles. The
general public Is not aware of the stories
OF onslaught and resistance that surround
them. OF the times that fortunes were lost
In night driving these same piles; OF the
forces OF men who have fought TN hand
te-hsnd conflict "a drive of claim jumpers
or resist rival claimants. Even bullets
have whtstied acFoss tho tide fats. ard
armed vessels have fought for tho fanctea
rights OF claimants in territorial days
The value of the tide fats IN Seattle has
always been appreciated. hnt owing To
various catsce ard delays has not until
quite recently heeu separated from uDcer-
tainty Like the water which has COW
ersd and rcceded from them time and
again. so has the title been cloVdfd and
uncertain, with periodS when. @0der varl-
ous authorizations. Il appeared that II the
would be owner would assert his claim
In the latest discovered manner be- would
he perfectly secure. Riparian rights. im
provements. Valentine and Other var,eiicE
of scrip, act az the territorial Legislature
and little by rirht of possession. have been
relisd on ~ secure tjsJe Ia k1fcSe hands,
AS early as ls6s TIE few residents ef So
attic then mere village ou the shore 81
wu altp.>Sf UNEMPLOYED sea began 90 see
that If tle rlsre ever grew theSe tide
lands would he ghe natural Sits ~ sls.
manufacturing concerns, fer docks ant fer
warehouses.
rooL Up oyster Reds.
In 1851 the territorial legislature fa~sgd
aet known as the oyster act whlcn
permitted t0e taking up 81 tea 4tr.s az
tide land by any person q corporation
who would piaut oysters Several vlti-
zers awaited themselves Of she rights con