The Fight Over Everett’s Land Grab
A legal battle erupts in Olympia over accusations of fraud and collusion in the original sale of Everett real estate.
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.
At Olympia, the state land commission heard arguments in the matter of the sale of land at Everett described as Section 1, Township 28. The sale was made in December last but was not approved by the old board for the reason that evidence was filed tending to show fraud and collusion in the matter of appraisement and sale. Mr. Seymour of Tacoma argued that the commission had no jurisdiction because the law of 1893, under which the sale was made, was repealed by the act of 1893 creating the new board of land commissioners. The view that the board has jurisdiction was argued by B.A. Grosscup of Everett and Mr. Wood of Seattle. The board decided that they had full jurisdiction to hear and determine all questions touching the validity of the sale.
“The sale in question was made in December last, but was not approved by the old board for the reason that evidence was filed tending to show fraud and collusion.”
Everett was a boomtown in the 1890s, attracting speculators and power brokers eager to capitalize on its potential as a rail hub. This dispute over early land sales echoes Seattle's own history of grappling with 'tide land' grabs and corrupt property deals during the same era of rapid growth.
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