The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-16

VIGOROUS opposition Is to Be made to
the Carrying oof of the governments
policy Of mailing tie olympic forest re-
serve svffhin the announced Boundaries.
II is bed that the plan of the reserve
aDosks = great injury on not only hundreds
of settlers. but on GallAm and Jefferson
counties. xObicb are deeply IN debt. and
suA Be deprrved of that much resource as
security and revenue 10 pay their obliaa-
lions.
r C. Wilson, formerly IN tie state fegis-
lafu,e from GAAan county. ana now =
resident of this city. has sfpen the matter
his attention. and IN response TO his appeals
the Chamber of Commerce yesterday passed
4 resolution. to be senf to the secretary of
the interior. expressing its sentiment that
= change should be made IN the boundaries,
so as to afford tie desired relief.
I'm presenting the topic. Mr.. Wilson
called attention TO the fact that under
the given boundaries Of the reserve.
GO acres OF valuable agricultural land, and
as there are only $4,000 acres OF such
lands In that county, will therefore leave
only third as a means 10 paying the
public debt.
But this .s held TO not be the only great
injustice. Under the law people who have
patents TO their land are permitted to deed
1t back TO the government and locate again
on other government lands that are va
ha ali As of
people TO dispose of their holdings. Some
have decided their property TO Uncle Sam.
and still others have sold outright to tim
Der spectators, who have used the deeds
for the purpose Of getting more valuable
lands in other localities. making the ex-
change with the government.
The people that are left are therefore
rapidly becoming the residents OF a de-
serted section finding themselves confront
ed with the decadence OF improved roads.
vanishing schools and churches and even
with markets gone. The situation is con-
s!dered an intoierahle enc 10 be borne by
men who have lived In the county for ten
years. as many have, BUILDING up homes
and intending to remain there always.
The Indebtedness of Claliam county Is
500 0ae. but with this great share OF re-
are left with an unbearahle burden, and
with the probability OF having to repudtate
the debt. Jefferson county Is held 10 be
In much the same condition.
passed the following resolutions, which the
secretary viii transmit to the secretary Of
the interior:
Whereas. The Olympic forest reserve
includes within it's boundaries many
thousands OF acres Of agricultural
lands, a great portion OF which have
been surveyed, entered by bona fide
settlers under the homestead law and
patented TO these settlers: and
Whereas. To continue said reserve
with these boundaries Is TO work i'm
measurable injury TO these settlers by
arfes;ing the development Of their COM
munities and denying 20 them the ai-
vantages Of improved roads, OF schools,
OF markets and of society; to the tax
pares and creditors Oh the counties az
fected by taking from the tax rolls
vast quantities OF reserve lands re-
conveyed 10 the government through
timber land spectators, and which
otherwise would be taxable for the pay
ment OF the county obligations: and
Whereas. II Is important that the
development of the agricultural re-
sources OF the counties affected should
not be checked and that Jefferson and
..allam counties should be unhampered
in their endeavors To discharge the
large Indebtedness incurred by them
for public improvements. be Il
Resolved. That this body respect
fully urges upon the national admin