The Waterfront Right-of-Way Battle
The Supreme Court rules in favor of the railroads, allowing them to rebuild the controversial 'Ram's Horn' track along the waterfront.
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The long legal controversy in regard to the 'Ram's Horn' right-of-way along the waterfront is at last settled, the supreme court having affirmed the decision of the superior court in favor of the Oregon Improvement Company and the Northern Pacific railroad. The line, which follows the high tide line north of Yesler Avenue, had been a significant barrier to city street development. C.J. Smith, general manager of the Oregon Improvement Company, indicated plans to rebuild the line, viewing it as a beneficial path for providing access to the warehouses on West Street. The track was originally designed to cut through private property and warehouses to connect rail access directly to the water, a move that prompted years of litigation from the city and affected property owners.
“I consider the ram's horn the ideal location for a railroad along the water front of the city.”
This battle over the 'Ram's Horn' right-of-way highlights the early struggle between industrial rail expansion and the development of the city's street grid. The waterfront is now the site of major modern infrastructure projects, but the tension between rail monopolies and public accessibility remains a key theme in Seattle's urban development.
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