The Street That Vanished into the Tide
A Seattle citizen recalls his lonely fight against a railroad company's takeover of Columbia Street, a legal battle that exposed the city's early history of corporate land giveaways.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
I read an article in your paper on the disturbing topic of the Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad company's track on Columbia Street. A brief statement is necessary: the company had a track down on this street at an elevation between seven and nine inches below the actual grade of the street. The track, or what was left of it after the fire, was covered up by this actual grade. Late in the summer of 1891, the company commenced the rebuilding or replacement of its track on the old way. The work proceeded without obstruction until Columbia street was reached. The company attempted to cross Columbia street on the surface line of the former track. The city intervened and stopped the company by injunction. This is the cause which has been tried and lately decided by the superior court. It must be remembered that while the surface of the actual grade on Columbia street was only from seven to nine inches above the surface of the former railroad track, the established grade was over two feet above it. The railroad could overcome the actual grade but it could not surmount the established grade. It must also be remembered that, so far as the city plats were concerned, Columbia street stopped at the mark of ordinary high tide and was never extended seaward until the adoption of the freeholders' charter. It must also be remembered that years ago, when the city was ready to give away the most valuable rights and franchises to friendly railroad companies, the city council granted this right-of-way by ordinance. When this right-of-way was asked for, a public meeting was called in the old Yesler pavilion, and after the railroad attorney had finished, I arose to oppose the grant; I was howled down and was the only man in the vast assemblage who voted no. Conscious of the rectitude of my intentions and the correctness of my judgment, I could afford to await the calm and deliberate judgment not only of the courts but of my fellow citizens. That time has come. No man could ask for a more complete vindication than the judgment of the superior court in this case.
“When this right-of-way was asked for, a public meeting was called in the old Yesler pavilion, and after the railroad attorney had finished, I arose to oppose the grant and I was howled down and was the only man in the vast assemblage who voted no.”
This 1892 dispute over Columbia Street and railroad access highlights a recurring theme in Seattle’s history: the tension between private corporate infrastructure and public land control. Today, the street-level battleground has shifted to light rail and bike lanes, but the fundamental struggle for 'sober second thought' regarding urban planning remains a constant.
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