The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-27
REPORT Of PUBLIC LANDS.
BRIDGES MAKES 4
<c~pREHExsIyE STATEMENT.
-.,n. Of the Legislature II
r.s,ed 70 the Extension Of streets
nxer Tide Lands, and To Many
other Questions OF Importance.

~x.; psspa,cs 70 ire Po&t-Izte.lsgsneer.
nrYnprA. Nov 2s.-Ghe fifth biennial
o~r Of the commissioners Or public lands
- az legislature has been prepared by
g.. Commissioner Eohert Bridges
r. IN. report Commissioner Bridges calls
-.n.~ssI a:tention 20 the leasing CT public
s.nsx which, il "a MS opinion. is rapidly
s.crins the MOST important branch OF the
80 eonsr7I.s ssoEer's department. Taau-
,.s<d stasenaenss are given showing the
80 of ,nese !esses from comparative
srsssrseca.ce 30 vast proportions. Mr.
1s,sgrss recommends d more liberal policy
- IL way OF peFmaaency OF tenure. with
-. actually disposlng ~ the public lands.
800 hs claims would have soon aIiena3ed
80 lah.s-1fanee Of unborn generations II
- uo,.cy Of selling the Lands to the high
- h.lder heretofore pursued. had been
seg,oxess The lands heretofore sold have
49, TIE most valuable that the s.ata poe-
..~rs tyy reason cf their proximity 10 cen
~ Of population, bat with the general in
sr-sss Of population :; is hoped that these
hnds still retained by the state will become
sogaay valuable.
Within the corporate limits OF some OF
se- larger cities the state now posz-ses ex-
,.ra.e areas u schcCi lands. mos. OF which
have bser plated iato small tracts. One
A. .hs greatest drs w3acka TO the es.ab-
fxhrent Of valuable and permanent i'm
agreements upon thts class Of leased lands
T. the fact thar there is 10 statutory pro-
,suan providing sor the ievying and paySng
q. Tie cos. OF grading streets and laying
sxvsrsre and water systegps.' The recon-
nrSassor IL made that Law he enacted
extending water systems. street grading
ans sewerage 20 that liens may attach for
cat Of nesded Improvements, as Is the case
VIII private property.
In the matter OF leasing public lands Il
n recommended that section DO, chapter 81.
a re Session Laws for 1897. be amended TO
orcyide that the owner Of improvements
pasced or lands LEASED from the state shall
have q preference right under certain con-
4;lcns 20 release these lands for period
q. :sirsy days after the expiration OF his
lesse The section should be further
amended tina, IL these lands are not re-
lsased tn the manner provided. they may
Be- lease. or sold in the same manner pro-
We'd for the sale or lease OF other school
srd granted lands u the state The aD-
enlistment Of sacn LANDS to be made every
ese years or ofteuer, II deemed necessary.
kr. Bridges claims that If this amend
sent Ia adopted II will secure 70 tte lessee
I psr1nanency ~ tenure. and as n result
no,s substantial improvements will lie
made and the lands will he brought 10 the
Mhsss point OF productiveness. and ultl-
rs.siy yls,d ths highest revenue TO the
ehool funds.
lAnd chiefly valuable for It's timber
thouIt be leased only after the timber has
b>en disposed of. as difficulties are always
arising over the remcva! OF timber by
lsssees, and provision providing against
the leasing 81 heavily ttnbered state lands
Il recommended The sale Of rights-of-
vay over state lands 10 railroad companies
b suggested for the reason given that In
uas, Instances the railroad companies pass
Ggough these lands without making the
Statutory compensation.
TIE report shows a statement Of moneys
received from all sources through the of!lce
Of tie commissioner OF public lands from