Federal Ruling Kills Tide Land Speculation
The Secretary of the Interior rejects the use of 'Valentine Scrip' for public tide lands, dealing a blow to speculators in Seattle and Tacoma.
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In the case of Frank Burns and others who made application to locate Valentine scrip upon tide lands near Seattle, the Secretary of the Interior has decided that such land is not within the intent of the Act of Congress authorizing the issue of Valentine scrip on public lands. He holds that until such location is adjusted by public surveys, the United States has authority to dispose of the lands. Furthermore, the rights of the state of Washington are superior to those of scrip applicants. These tide lands, together with improvements, are valued at several million dollars. This decision follows years of conflict where harbors in Seattle, Tacoma, Port Townsend, Whatcom, and Grays Harbor were plastered with scrip filings, effectively freezing development. With the state's admission to the Union, the scrip men's claims have been effectively voided, delighting local business interests.
The 'tide land' struggles of 1890 defined the boundaries between private speculation and public access to the waterfront. Today's Fairhaven and Bellingham waterfronts still grapple with the legacy of these early land battles and the tension between public recreational access and private development.
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