The San Francisco call., 1909-03-07
CLAIMS STATE
OWNS TIDE LANDS
Senator Wright May Force Suit
to Test Validity OF Pri-
vate Titles
If Successful, Holders of Props
erty of Enormous Value
Will Be Ousted
Especial Dispatch 10 The CALI

l lOFSSiAt A%tsf'0t\U 10 4 ne 1du
CALL HEADQUARTERS, CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE BUILDING. SACRA-
MENTO, March 6.-Insistent in his con-
tention that private claimants to some
of the submerged lands included in
the proposed Islais creek improve
ment have no valid title to those lands,
Senator Leroy a. Wright is behind a
resolution directing the attorney gen
eral TO bring test suit, which. IL sue
cessfuI. will result in the custer of
holdeks of tide lands Of enormous
value in the bays OF San Francisco,
Vallejo, Eureka. San Pedro and San
Diego.
Wright's resolution, which will be
introduced in the seante Monday or
Tuesday, is the immediate result OF
the unpleasant charges and counter
charges incident to the lumber inter-
ests fight against the Islais creek bills
presented by Senator welca and In
dorsed by vote of 4 to 1 by the
people Of San Francisco.
ATTACKS PRIVATE TITLES
Senator Wright has contended for
months that private title to tide lands
in this stateA except those covered by
ne Pueblo grants, were illegal and
that under the terms of the act ad-
mitting California to the union the
state had no authority or power to
ALLEVIATE tide lands As chairman of
the joint legislative harbor, commits
sion Senator Wright became interested
In the subject of title to water front
lands in several ports, especially in
Eureka. The Eureka water frort was
granted to the city by the legislature
many years ago, and subsequently sold
by the city government to private con-
Germs and individuals at nominal
prices.
Wright's investigation convinced him
that under the terms of the act ad-
mftting the state to the union the state
held all nayigable water tide lands in
trust for the people of the United
States and the people of California. and
consequently could not ALLEVIATE them.
He had believed that the Islais creek
lands were held under the Pueblo
grants until the examination of some
Of the San Franciscans ELECTED the
statement that they were held under
tide land grants.
MAY MEAN BIG REVENUE
Wright laid his contention before the
governor. who agreed that his premise
was correct. The city of Vallejo found
itself in position similar to that of
Eureka and sent a delegation repre-
senting its government to Sacramento
to request Wright's assistance. He
had previously stated that If the state
would not test the titles he would be-
gin action as a citizen immediately
upon the adjournment of the legisla-
ture. The resolution which Wright
viii introduce next week is designed
to open the way for the attorney gen.
eral to act on behalf of the state
Wright's resolution will direct the
attorney general to press his suit to
final termination. The grants which
Wright contends are illegal include
all of the. water front of
Eureka, Vallejo, San Pedro, and tide
lands of great value in the bays OF
San Francisco and San Diego Their
reversion to the state would mean a
tremendous revenue in rentals, and in
the Islais creek basin might result in
saving a large portion of the purchase
price which it is proposed to pay after