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

BY mcrcst accident the owners OF water
front property on Lake Union and Greer,
lake were yesterday. at the eleventh hour,
saved from the loss OF valuable riparian
rights for years, and perhaps forever. and
at the very brink rescued from pltfan
OF interininable litigation.
But for this accident Robert Bridges.
commissioner OF public lands for the state
OF Washington. whose name is remem.
hered In connection with al least one other
bold infraction OF the rights OF property
holders Of this city. would yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock have offered for
lease TO the highest bidder for term Of
flve years or loss. every foot OF this shore
lands OF the lakes mentioned. without the
slightest actual notice 20 the upland own.
ers. who number leo or more. and " no have
long xealonsly guarded their rights To pur~
chase from tho state tho privilege OF en-
joyins the full benefits OF their shrewaneSs
ana business foresight in the purchase or
real estate.
Value Too Great 10 Estimate.
The value of the rights Commissioner
Bridges all but coniiscated yesterday
morning. under alleged pretended process
OF law ia practically too great TO be eati-
mated In ngurea.' Hal the plan II Mr.
Brfdges been carried out 1t would havs
meant that today, as ono Of tho upland
owners apuy expressed II: "a man could
not have drivan cow 10 water on Lake
linton without buying permission OF tho
man who leased the water frunf.- Every
manufacturing plant on the shore of that
lake would have been placed In tho posl-
ton % either paying tribute 70 the lease
holder or moving out and not one OF the
fleet of steamboats, plying on it's waters
would have been able to land at any wharf
without submitting 60 the exactioas OF ths
same parsonage.
Tho bold attempt OF tho state through
It's land commissioner 20 deprive the up-
land owners Of their faneied securely
protected rights 70 riparian privileges on
the lakss mentioned. came to thos. own
ers almost as thunderboIt from clear
sky. Many az them were hllssgliIiy ig-
nofant OF the fact that the state had
any claim to tho water front. and thone
who were bctier Informed relied supineiy
upon the wisdom and honesty az n. of
neerr 81 the state 20 protect them. Ths
result was that all narrowly escapea
what Is openly asserted TO have been
clevcrly laid sohams fer their robbery
tion OF tho law.
Provisions of the law.
Tho fact of which the upland owner.
mentioned were ignorant. and which few
~ the general puhiie understand. IA shat
al lands lying between high aud low
I water mark on All nayieahle irerh wasar
| lakes in this state are the property of
the state and are subject 20 exactly the
Same provisions of the Law as Tho tide
| lands on the shores ~ saIt water.
/ These lands. e. distinguish them from
7 tide lands. are called shore lands and ars
I defined BY the session laws ~ lsg7 10 be-
/ Lands bordering on tbs shores ~ navi.
4 Falslo lakeH ana rivers below ihe line uf
E ordinary niE Hish water and not subject q
Z tidal flow"
The same iaw further provides that the
I state shan have the right 20 seii or leaNa
3 these shore lands. hut prescribes minute
I " the manner IN which such saias or
leases shall be raao ens disfincfiY states
I that N each and every csse fhe own.r
I of isnas abutfinv aF fronflng apan haea
( shore ianes shall bav~ che preferences
( right fs Tease nF utrehaas.
In anife ~ these fi1a provisions ~
( fse law. hawever. state Lard Commits.
ssoHer DuaEes yesterday attempted
I through his representatives ip shis etfy.
J caaatF AWHitqs Eptuean. 20 iease every
i faot ~ the a3iase lanaa ~ rnks t.nsan
( and Green lske siih 70 further notice
/ "a tho owuess - ne uplsnds than an
I ershlenous ana scarcely ns9fs Than gem
( ryai natier rpetFg hahtGa ds,sr % thc
I eeapty hufiters of.es whert . ia prob
4 alse aat or0 nst af every ipg visitors 20
ths eace sFeg saw is. ~ seeing b cssm-
I prehfHieB ihe maaniaE ~ s fanfeag.
{ Fortunately fQr the naiao1 ownefs. ths
nogise aHa sefa ara SIS iennofisaes reai-
i3gd b. a fcw lawyers. ard fhas u Vas
Z faaf ths plABa af on6 ~ more bsgnefs
~ gsas ,he ssuna lake front msailoasd
waa fane5
gtands Owners Rsahfs
( la rser ta alee isss sF reader . correct
Z aaVreciagtan ~ the ssfuatian * tae agsanfa
Z awarFs' Fissta unaer tae gaN. & viii se
Z necessary 70 refer 20 ,he sct os the lsEis-
latafe relating 70 ;he putaie ianas os the
/ ssass contained IN the session laws of
/ isI which after aeaniBg tids aaG shore
+ i4Eds says.
& sec. e. Taa fiia saa sEofe lands ~
tho state ~ Waahirxian aaiaa are nat
reaarvsd frem sale W iae constitution
aaa iags ~ the aga4o abatl be 5igidea