The Oyster Bed Tug-of-War

Tacoma, Feb. 25.—The oyster bed claimants in the vicinity of Shelton are to mandamus the state land commissioner, W. F. Forrest, for a certificate of purchase of the oyster beds claimed by them. The matter will be taken before the supreme court this week by ex-Judge Wickersham. This case shows, upon investigation, a laughable incident in connection with the local boodle organ, which imagines the present state administration so wicked that it must do battle every time it imagines something wrong. Recently the paper told about the state land commissioner letting valuable oyster lands go for a song, $12 per acre. The argument for a writ to issue from the supreme court shows that A. J. Smith, J. A. Gels and G. K. Taylor, of Oyster Bay, scraped the tide flats clean, secured oysters, and planted the lands which they now claim. They have complied with all requirements of the law and are entitled to the lands at the price appraised by county officials. The state board of land commissioners, instead of assisting them, has actually declared the beds to be not artificial. The claimants hold that there are 1,000 acres of tide lands adjacent that can be made into oyster beds by the same process, and they demand that the state sell them the lands in accordance with law.