The Squatters of Port Angeles

Commissioner Lamoreux, of the general land office, is just now awaiting the report of the special commissioner sent to Port Angeles to investigate the matter of the recent appraisement of lots and tracts into which the government reservation adjoining that city has been divided. This is a matter in which not only the actual residents of Port Angeles and the 'squatters' upon the reservation are interested, but also many residents of other cities on the Coast, if one may judge from the number of letters which come pouring into the commissioner’s office. The history of this government townsite is now one of the most remarkable in the annals of the land department. Many years ago, when the government first noticed the value of this little land-locked harbor, it selected 3,500 acres of land and withdrew it from settlement. In 1863 about one-fifth of this reservation was surveyed, the lots appraised and sold to homeseekers. The subsequent growth of Port Angeles found itself limited by the boundaries of that part of the reservation which the government still retained. An appropriation of $5,000 was made by the last congress to cover the expenses of this appraisement and a commission was appointed. They went to work at once, although it was in the dead of winter, and tramped through rain and snow and mud to make the required appraisement. As usual, some half-dozen obstructionists notified the land department that it was unjust, discriminating and excessive. This put a stop to everything. In the meantime there was a change of administration. The new land department appointees were surprised to discover that the previous commission had finished their work and returned over $2,000 of the appropriation—a rarity in departmental history. The complaints of the 'soreheads' at Port Angeles furnished an immediate solution: appoint a new commission and let them spend the balance of that $5,000 reviewing the work of their predecessors.