The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-26
Gist Of Governors Message
Vetoing the Riparian
Rights Bill.
CURB TO SPECULATORS
In Opinion Of Executive Title to Lands
Should Remain With State While
They Are Under Water.

In returning to the house of repre-
sentatives without his approval the bill
to enable owners of land bordering on
Lake Michigan to acquire title to
submerged lands belonging to Indi-
ana, Governor Hanly explains that he
does not desire to hamper the growth
of industries in this section or to put
any obstacles in the way of the steel
corporation or other concerns.
While not questioning the right Of
/ the owners of shore property to avail
themselves Of the submerged lands he
thinks that they should. while they are
under water. remained vested in the
state, to be disposed of later by legis-
lative enactment.
The gist of hts message is that the
land should be filled first and claimed
as they are filled.
In this he says spectators, who
might act as dogs in the manger, would
be thwarted and the claims of future
industries protected from the rapac-
ity Of such spectators.
In his message the governor says:
THE lands affected by this measure
vary in width from a few rods to three
fourths OF a mile The only require
ments exacted Of the owners of the
lands described to obtain title to the
submerged lands In question are, that
they shall cause a survey and plat Of
such lands to be made by the county
surveyor, showing the number OF
acres thereof and the location of the
dock line, which survey and plat shall
be filed with the secretary of state,
and that they pay to the state treas
urer $s5 per acre for the acres shown
IN such plat.s~No other eond4t4en>ss Inn
posed. The survey made, plat fled and
S25 per acre paid the state through the
| governor and secretary OF state must
execute a patent to the lands therein
described, conveying to such owners
the fee simple title thereto.
Merit in Contention.
THE legislation proposed is said to
be necessary to the operation of a large
number Of industries either now re-
moved or to be removed from the city
Of Chicago to the Indiana boundary
Of the lake There is much merit in
this contention These industries are
desirable. If established they will add
millions of dollars to the taxable prop
erty Of the state and furnish employ
I
section of the state is destined to be
vast Industrial center and to be
peopled by a great population. Here
industries can be established by the
side of navigable waters with immedi-
ate access to water carriers of all
draughts, lengths and breadths, without
obstruction from bridges or other
i structures. I am heartily in accord
with the suggestion that the state
should treat these industries with kind
ly consideration The present meas
: ure however, I belie~e TO be unfair to
the state and calculated to ultimately
defeat the very purpose it seeks to
eRectuate. Under its provisions any per-
son owning lands abutting upon the lake
may obtain title to the submerged
Q lands lying in front of his lands and
between the lake shore and the harbOr
line by merely causing a survey to be
made and paying s25 per acre to the
Q state for the lands described in such
/ survey. He is not required TO fill in
e these lands nor to improve them in any
a way. He simply causes the survey to
Q be made pays the stipulated price and
$ takes his title.
Might Use as Club.
t This puts 1t In the power Of specu-
|
on the most advantageous points OF
the lake front. cause the submerged
! lands in front to be surveyed and get
title thereto by the payment of s25 pei
I acre, and hold them indefinitely. or ia
r compel those who seek to establish in
J dustries upon the lake front to paw
! extortionate prices therefor. Such an
' opportunity ought not to be given bv
q legislation 1t is said that the United
States steel company and other persons
4 desiring to establish industries up0n
= the lake shore desire to FIJI these sub
S merged lands out TO the dock line that
? vast furnaces and other manufactur-
ing establishments may be established
thereon and in such proximity to the
dock as TO permit the unloading OF
: ores and other cargoes at the furnace
o or factory doors. This can be obtained
q with safety to the state and with like
: convenience to such persons withou,
making these lands the toy OF specu-
T lators.
Substitute Suggested.
!. 1T should be provided that anv per.
son owning lands abutting unon tht
= lake shore may have the submerged
lands in front thereof lying between
the shore line and the harbor line s,,r.
veyed and upon the fling Of the sur.
vey and plat OF sucn lands with III,
secretary Of state, he may receive au.
e thority from the state, issued by tht
9 governor and secretary, to I'LL and i'm
prove the same, and upon the compile
ton of such filling and improvement
? and the fling Of satisfactory evidenc,
e that the same has been done. he ma,
I receive from the state a patent vestin.
in him the title to so much thereof a