City council surrenders waterfront to railroad mogul
Tacoma officials vote to abandon a legal battle to reclaim public tidelands from the Northern Pacific Railroad.
The city council has decided not to attempt to recover the large area of waterfront known as Railroad Avenue, which was granted to the Northern Pacific Railroad several years ago. Although Judge Stallcup offered to prosecute the case and attempt to recover the property for the city free of charge, the council rejected the proposal, ensuring that Jim Hill’s interests retain possession of the land.
“The council last night turned down the proposition and Jim Hill will be allowed to rest secure in the possession of the land.”
This reflects a classic era struggle in Tacoma where civic leaders and railroad barons clashed over ownership of the 'tide lands.' The tension between public access to the waterfront and private commercial development remains a core element of Tacoma’s urban development discourse today.
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