The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-27


eesws*n these Two haroov ii,aes Il known
rs the harfscr area. These aarhar lines
"a thus attempted to be laia ey the state
aafoant To a SERIOUS obstruction Ia COM
nasrce and navigation. bssassSe the outer
hsrhor kna and the harhor AREA thus erss-
ase.i arr laid TOO FAR ont where tae water
Is teo deep ~ admit nf the building af
NharFes or oshsr Necessary improvements
III aid Of CoxnmsRce and naeigstion. Fer
eNamp.e: TIE average depth ~ water ri
mean low It'd. aleng he inner haraor line
IS thirty fee: sfsssg tho outer haraor lire
and within a large gSsrs OF the harbar area
Tie average depth az water at rneau low
tide - FORTY feet. and ia some places SIN
deeper. In wster Of this latter depth the
ptlsns required for wharses or other I'M
proSemenis must be at least eighsy~six
feet long. because the tide rises ordinarily
TO height OF Eftcea feet. the psss~ aust
ne driven twenty feet into the ground and
they must prejec, Ave feet above the sur
or six feet msst ne made to guard against
extreme high sss-es IL is not safe or
economical IA hsiild large wharyeS or ware.
houses upon a pile foundation in water os
such great depth. Hsrbor lines thus laid
become an obstruction, not an aid. to
commerce and navigation.
bat besides thIs the state authorities
propose 20 lease the harhor area. that 10,
the space between the inner and outer
harhor tines. an area which as we have
seen. has. in many parts. a depth ~ forty
feet of water at mean low tide and which
lies almost ensirviy outside thu present
wasrves aud improvements. All our sea-
going commerce, whether domestic or for
esgn. Ia carried over these wnaryes.
The state authorities are now proposing
"a ieaxe this harsscr area for q period OK
thirty wars thereby allowing distractions
To "a placed in the harhnT OF Seattle in
front OF the present wharves rad in,prcye-
ments> This would result In serious inter-
ference with naviga ton. and In placing
needless burdens upon commerce. II. there
fore. the hsrhor OF Seattle II 10 he kept
free from needless Instructions. ard
proper facilities are TO he afforded 70
handing the ssa-gosng conmerce OF this
city. II Will be necessary TO locate hair
Dor Hue In Seattle haroor IN water OF less
depth. and we respectfully submit that
under the authority conferred upon YOU
by eansresss the harbor lines should he es'-
iaalsshed in Seattle with reference 10 tho
fepth of water In the harsor. the facilities
now IN existence for conducting that com
nierce. and the facilities that will he re-
I'VE therefore Respectfully ask tia, you
Will at AIS eariy time ~ may he cnnNsn-
OF Seattle lawful harlsor line"
signal for u Otscussiom.
The reading of the petition WAS the
signal for the beginning Of an ami
mated discussion. Mr.. Smith and
Mr.. Donworth each addressed the board.
After a running conversation. Land Conn
missioner Bridges was asked TO state hio
position. lie replied by saying In effect
that the board did not see that Ii WAS
called upon 10 participate in the meeting.
The harhor lines had ben established reg
ularly. he said. ana had been approved
by the secretary of war.
II Mr.. Bridges followed this by attacking
the petition and declaring that he was cp-
posed 10 any change In the harbor lines.
lie cited various provisions OF the stata
constitution and the laws passed by tho
legislature as authority for the position
taken by himself and his associates. In
particular. Mr.. Bridges referred TO Arti-
Gle XIV. OF the constitution. headed "Har-
bors and Tide Waters" a. comforting
power upon the legislature to enact gem
erai laws. governing the harbor area and
docks. wharves. etc, erected thereon.
Sections ] and 9 relating TO this conten-
ton are az follows.
Section /. The legislature shall pro-
vide for the appointment OF q comxna-
sion. whose duty 1t shall he to locate and
establish harbor lines In the navsgab.e
waters OF al harhors. estnaries, bays and
| inlets of this state. wherever such nayig-
| able waters lie within or in front 81 the
| corporate limits of any city or within enc
mile thereof upon either side. The state
shall never give, sell or lease 10 any prf-
vate person. corporation or association,
any rights whatever in the waters be-
yond such harbor lines. nor shall any OF
the area lying between any harbor line
and the Inc of ordinary high tide ana
within not less than nifty feet nor more
than coo feet OF such harbor i.ne las the
commissioners shall determine} be sold
or granted BY the state. nor It's right 70
area shall be forever reserved for land
ings, wharves. streets and other convc-
niences of navigation and commerce.
Sec. 2 Tire legislature shall provide
genera. laws for the leasing OF the right
10 build and maintain wharyes. docks and
other structures upon the areas mentioned
In section I of this article, but no lease
shall be made for any term longer than
thirty years. or the legislature may pro-
vide by general laws for the building and
maintaining. upon such area. wnafves,
docks and other structures
Following Is the text OF the sections OF
the act OF 1897. comforting upon the land
commission power 30 regulate the charges
for wharfage OH docks located on the har-
Dor strip:
Section 81. The harbor line commission
shall have the power 10 Tease the riEnt to
build and maintain wharses, docks ana
other structures upon or within any hsr-
Dor line area shustsng upon tide or shore
lands which have been sold, or whieh may
hersn ffcr De gold or leased as provided In
this %act for a term not exesedlng thirty
years upon such covenants ana eondi-
lions az the commission shall. prescribe
cas- ases.~han reserve 10 the state OF Wash
inrfos the right 10 regulate. either nnder
rules of the commission or LEGISLATIVE en-
aetment. or by both methods. the rates o.
Wharfage iaekage and tolls TO he impoS-
ed nv The iessees upon commerce for any
Of The purposes for which ssd leased area
NAV 10 used and the right as anova
mentioned. 10 prevent sxtortfon. a.scrim-
Irafiou and exclusive privilege
The state board is asso empowered 10
cancel any lease upon payment 10 the
,.~s4e of the value OF his improvements.
I, IL also provided that II the person or
eornorst.oa having. by reason OF owner
ship OF abutting property the preferences
T,gh, TO lease the harhor strip. shall fan
20 take advantage OF bis rights and erect
n lease within one year. or II the parties
named shall fail TO tsy2In the erection or
docks and wharves within the same Pc
Rod. then the board may lease the area
10 the highest bidder.
state Comptssiom Withdrsws.
After having announced that they would
oppose any change in the harbsr area,
the Numbers Of the state commission
listened TO other remarks made hy
tie property owners pssserss. Finally.
finding themselves opposed = the
spirit and purpose of The meeiisx.
TIE members of the stale COM
mission Withdrew. Mr. Bridges arBoinc-
ing that ne would refuse 20 recognize the