The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-16


shore lands by the commissioner OF
public lands. 70 apply for the purchase
OF all or any part OF the tide or
shore lands IN front OF the lands so
Sec. 50 Tide and shore lands which
have not been sold and for which ap-
plications to purchase have not been
heretofore filed. and are pending, may
be Ieaged in The same manner as pro-
vided for the lease OF schooi ana
granted lands.
Character of Lands Not Questioned.
That the shore lands OF Lake Union and
OF Green lake are shore lands OF the hrst
class IL not 70 be questioned. as Lake
Union lies wholly and Green lake for
the most part within the city limits.
That these shore lands have never been
surveyed. plated. examined and appraised
BY the harbor line commission, which Is
composed OF the state superintendent OF
education. the secretary OF state and the
commissioner OF public lands, under the
act mentioned, Is also not 70 be ques-
toned A dozen OF the most prominent
lawyers OF the city and one and ali of
the largest owners Of Lake Union and
Green lake water front win bear witness
70 that fact
Nevertheless state Land COMMISSIONER
Bridges. whether In ignorance OF tbs facts
or OF the law. publicly offered for lease
and would yesterday morning have leased.
had he not been prevented by the upland
owners and their attorneys, every foot
OF the shore lands mentioned, without
further or more particular notice. than
the following which Is a copy OF that
little more than a month ago posted
behind door In the office OF the county
auditor in this city:
Notice Of Leasing shore Lands.
80 All Whom II May Concern;
This ls to certify that the follow
Ing described shore lands situate IN
King county. wash. win be offered
for lease, on Saturday. the 18th day
OF September 1890. at 10 O'Clock n. m.
IN front OF the court house OF King
county, at public auction 70 me high
or Jess. Each bidder VIII be required
70 deposit a certified check or GER
tificate OF deposit. payable 10 the
amount 10 the first years rental Of
bid
Sc. rs. II. 49, 10, 20. % and 30, and In
front or lot .. section ts, and lot and
the west side OF lot /. section n. In
township % north. range 4 east, VIII
seisl chains measured along the Uni
ted States government meander line.
"Witness my hand and seal OF Of
fec affixed this 10th day OF August.
1900
ROBERT BRIDGES.
'fAnd Commissioner OF the State OF
Washington. per 7. y. M
But the auction OF shore land leases
notice TO come of Yesterday morning
never materiaifzed. Shortly before the hour
act for the sale II became apparent that
there wa. 20 he a hitch In the proceed
seen when a dozen prominent lawyers.
representing. among other owners OF lake
water front property, the Denny Blaine
Land Company, Henry Thurman and the
Seattle Electric Company, came TO
the front Ms ono man and demanded that
the leasing Of tho lands be postponed on
the ground that no proper notice OF the
auction hnd been given and that In no
respect had the law been complied with.
Opposition Was Too strong.
County Auditor Evenson, who acted
merely as the agent OF Land Commits
sioner Bridges took prompt action In the
matter. He decided that whore there
was so much opposition 10 tho step he
was about 20 take there must he Soma
good reason for It. and dropped the whole
matter, saying that II the applicants TO
lease the lands desired 10 they could make
II would no doubt have been Justified
IN going ahead with tho leasing Of the
lands." said MIR Evenson, In explaining
his action later. "and allowing the peo-
pie who protested 10 make their complaint
20 Commissioner BRIDGES. but | consid-
cred that II was eminently more lust and
fair 20 all parties TO stay proceedings
while there was yet no harm done and
before the titles 20 the shore lands were
hupelcssly tangled"
The fact that the Lake linton and Green
lake shore lands described In the fore
going notice are referred TO as being ga "a
chains in length and not as containing
any certain number 81 acres. IL taken
hy the friends OF Land Commissioner
enemies In this city 70 indicate that the
entire plan 20 lease the lake shore lands
was the result ~ a misrepresentation ~
thH law. Hts method Of advertising and
leasing the shore lands, had they been OF
ihs second class. would not have been
subject 20 criticism hut as has been
stated, thore ia not thr slightest doubt
that the lands are ~ the first class
Looks Like Attempted Deception.
The upland owners who so narrowly IS.
capped heing lninred ~ the elaniestine
effort cf the state land commissioner Ia
deprive them ~ their valuable riparian
rights practically withou, notice. and the
charitable, are Inclined 90 take o sterner
Wow % that officers action.
u IL pninied est THAT IN enc other
CASE, az least, the commissioner took
snap Judgment on persons whom he WAS
~ hgnor u not by law. bound 20 no.
tsfN of nlA intended action. IA relation "a
the extension q The contract for the M
ing ~ ~ the tide lands south ~ the city.
ana that The attempted leasing 81 me
Lake uai0n and Green lake shore lands
henFs tbs snF marks ~ an attempt ia
ktoasiy deceive ana aesraui TIE upland
owners 90 thwiF riNhis anH pat them al
the Wefry az the interruptions Persons
who through knowledge 81 the Intended
sction - tho lana commissioner Mere un.
anuatr8iy ready yesterday 10 carry ou,
tho acheme by purchasing the Leases. and
-culd have d0ne SO had u0t their plans
araama pnAiir.
Whe tho rcraNns were who apnited Pa
Saum'sstantf Rrl3ges to lease the shore
innda mentioned is nut known in this
city Fbeig identity O. sful shraiide{ IN
Hyftagy W thcS were present az She az.
tempted auction Yesterday they careful,
FeffAlrHd from making fhs Fses h,.'.-..'
Time alone viii tell whether there "a,
q conspiracy between these peraans ans
the land commissioner 90 AXE afvAptsrs
81 ttte up.lah1 owners and by risulIng TIE
Ntle 90 thetr holidays place them ur8e,
contribution The besg friends ~ 90,
missioner Bridges tn Seattle ear sri,
cay, BY way g apology for him. thas h.
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