The Morning the Land Office Doors Nearly Came Off Their Hinges

Pandemonium reigned in front of the Olympia land office this morning when a new township, 17, 5 east, was thrown open for filing. The land office does not open for business until 9 o'clock, but as early as 7:30 the hallway began to swarm with men, all anxious to secure a place at the head of the line. In order to have an understanding, an informal meeting was held, and each man was given a number, which he placed in his hat, and then took his position in line. Notwithstanding this precaution, there was a rush when the doors were thrown open as the clock struck nine. One big surge sent a dozen men into the room in a twinkle, but before others could gain admittance the doors were closed and the balance of the line was compelled to remain without until the first squad had been disposed of. Nearly 60 filings were made in all.

The land in question is a township just south of Orting, and was inspected by Cruiser James McIntosh, of this city. He considers it one of the best and most valuable bodies of timber in the state, averaging 100,000 feet to the acre.

Notwithstanding the rush this morning, the filings made will amount to but little. Nearly all of them are squatters supposed to be in the employ of the St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company, and the filings were made as homesteads in order to give them a chance to contest. Much litigation is promised in the matter.

The township contains about 23,050 acres. Of this, two sections, 1,280 acres, are school lands; seventeen sections, or 10,880 acres, belong to the railroad; and the state filed on nearly 10,000 acres this morning. The state's filing was placed in the postoffice last night and received this morning, giving it the preference.