Washington Wins Its Tide Lands—and Willapa Oystermen May Finally Get Title

Attorney-General Jones says he has authentic advices from Washington City that the Yesler harbor line appeal was not dismissed on a technical objection to the pleadings as published, but because the court decided there was no Federal question in the case, and that the decision is therefore decisive of all the tide land cases except that of the Northern Pacific Company, involving the Tacoma water front, in which the company's land grant cuts a figure.

If this be true, the state has exclusive ownership and control of its tide lands, which means an early settlement of a much vexed question. On Willapa Harbor it means that the harbor lines will be established and the oystermen and others can secure titles to tide lands and oyster lands which they have been holding on no stronger claim than a squatter's right.

In many respects the Yesler harbor line appeal and the appeal made by the Northwestern Lumber Co., asking for a permanent injunction against the establishment of harbor lines on Willapa Harbor, are similar. In the latter case, however, the plaintiffs have still recourse in a court of equity against what would amount to confiscation of the South Bend Mill Co.'s wharf, warehouses and mill, besides valuable boom privileges. Such a loss would work serious injury to South Bend without a corresponding benefit by the establishment of said harbor lines.