Seattle’s Yesler Donation Claim Goes on the Auction Block

Yesterday James D., administrator of the estate of Sarah B. Yesler, deceased, filed a petition in court. In substance the petition states that the total amount of assets which have come into his hands, including twenty-five shares of stock, is $6,900, all of which has long been exhausted. The sole real estate amounts to $8,410, and it is now incumbered by county taxes. Up to date the taxes paid by the administrator are $1,000.25, and the total debt and liabilities, including further expenses, amount to $52,594.23.

In view of the fact that the administrator will have to meet the consummation of sales recently made, the sum realized therefore is insufficient, and a deficiency will exist. In view of this fact, it is deemed necessary to sell a further portion of Sarah B. Yesler's donation claim, which lies entirely within the corporate limits of the city. It is slightly platted, although the streets extend to a slight extent to the land. In order to make a good sale at fair prices the administrator deems it advisable that the sales be made in such a manner as to give purchasers frontage on streets to the land purchased. Inasmuch as the administrator has no power to dedicate streets on behalf of the public, it is deemed best that all tracts sold should be so divided that each tract will contain about one and one-half of what would be taken by streets in case the streets are extended. With this end in view he has employed a surveyor to map out eighty-six tracts, averaging in size two fair-sized city lots, numbered from 27 to 112. From the sale, as ordered by the court, the administrator expects to pay off the debts, expenses and incumbrances.

To sell these tracts by metes and bounds would involve great expense, which would be disadvantageous to the amount to be realized, and with a view of avoiding that expense the administrator has prepared a map of the donation claim, showing all the tracts and all the twenty-six previously sold, indicating the exact location of each with reference to the streets supposed to be extended. Prior to the hearing of the petition he will file this map for record with the county auditor, under the title of 'A map of a portion of the Sarah B. Yesler donation claim.' The administrator asks that the map be taken formal notice of by the court, in order that sales may be legally made by reference thereto. He asks for an order directing the sale to take place, and also for the appointment of a guardian ad litem to protect the interest of minor heirs.

The Sarah B. Yesler donation claim is a part of the H. L. Yesler donation claim, and is bounded on the north by a line 130 feet north of the north water line of Willow street, on the east by Rainier street, on the south by a line 300 feet south of the south line of Jackson avenue, and on the west by Lewis street. The tracts to be sold, according to the map accompanying the petition, form a continuous row along the inside edge of the donation claim. The petition contains a description of each of the tracts, and covers eighty typewritten pages.