The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-02

IAned cnannel varying from ABOUT 3UD
20 100 feet, and reserved 10 the state, as
required by the constitution, q rim OF
100 feet wide along each side. The saw
mills and other lndustrie. al that point
are on the upland and along the edge Of
the river. Ii Is quite probable that their
yards, docks and general shipping ia
ci.ities extend out 10 the channel and
occupy this narrow reserved rim along
the front. If they do not now IL Is in
tended and expected that they will, and
the constitution and statutes contemplate
its leasing for those very purposes. Tn
der this decision of the supreme court Ii is
simply made clear that q mill structure
cannot be erected upon the reserved rim,
and the most enlightened and modern au-
thorities on commercial and Industrial
development are agreed that the deep
water rim Of a harbor frontage Ii no place
for such 4 structure.
Third-Tacoma-The saw mills and 9TH
er industrial structures of Tacoma are. as
elsewhere on the upland or on acquired
tide land. entirely free from any state
reservation. As in Seattle and the other
places referred to, IL is altogether likely
that their yards, warehouses, wharves and
slips extend out into the state reserve
along the harbor rim: IL they do
not now. such progress and development
OF commercial facilities is desirable and
Is provided for by the constitution and
statute.
With a fair knowledge of the relation
OF harbor areas. tide lands and upland in
the various cities of Washing on. i know
OF no Improvement or enterprise in the
state which Is affected by the supreme
court decision. except the Ainsworth q
Dunn plant in Seattle, and their proposed
plant at Blaine, II 1t is located as stated
by Mr. Blaine.
Returning TO the local situation ! de-
sire 10 state in conclusion that the harbor
lines OF Seattle were established only af-
ter years OF litigation. Local interests
brought such pressure as forced the lines
westward outside almost every existing
Improvement. For Instance. the Yesler
wharf and the Ocean dock. even includ-
ing their recent extensions. have hardly
reached the eastern limit of the state
reserve. Going northward the lines are
closer inshore as no improvem ynts then
existing were affected. In the establish
ment OF these lines and the defining Of
the rim reserved by the state. not a sin
gle manufacturing interest was deprived
OF the opportunity 20 purchase the site
upon which II was then located, and 10
construct End control all necessary ship
ping facilities. That right still exists and
IS In no way affected by this supreme
court decision. The only reason why the
Ainsworth g. Dunn Company come under
It's ban is directly traceable 10 their lack
81 ordinary business foresight After
the harbor lines had been definitely es-
tahlishsd beyond all recall except by
constitutional amendment after the states
reserve had been clearly defined they
deliberately purchased a strip OF tide
land only about forty feet wide, between
the state reserve and the Great Northern
railway track. With this limited site as
basis OF operation they planned and
constructed a manufacturing plant extend
ing weSt ward fully 200 feet into the harbor
rim reserved by the state for purposes OF
commerce and navigation. Commendable
a. their enterprise was aud Is. from an
Industrial standpoint. its location was
nevertheless plain. inexcusa bic act ~
'reSpaSs. To secure sorre color Of coun-
fenance the city council was recently
asked 10 give q ten years consent 10 its
maintenance in s;Atu quo This demand
was made a. the price for conforming
eventually 10 the replar secured hy the
city from the last legislature ard 50 no
cessary 20 any comm srcial deveiornnen.s
Being turned down by the city council
they have awaited the result of the ,es,
case brought In 'her interest IN which 3,
was sought 20 have the entire corsfftu-
f'onai reservation O. the harbor frontage
broken down tn order that they might
secure the results o. their act 81 tresnass
TIE supreme court has simply affirmed tha
constitution and left them wiil,out ~.
course. This Is the extent % the calan,.
Ivy which my friend Mr. Blaine 81
loudly bewans
Private enterprise must give WV n
public benefit when they come IN CON
Tot While The harbors ~ the state ~
Washington are open - the hfgsest and
f7lirst commercial development revfrthe-
less wise constitute mai Limitation has pra-
served thrlr es0trol and benefit 20 tha
public forever. Respect fully
GEO =. C0TTERTII.