The War of the Waterfront: Port Angeles' Battle for Its Soul

PORT ANGELES, Feb. 23.—The town of Port Angeles, the leading business community of Clallam county, is having a lively contest over the matter of incorporation as a municipality. There are two factions, each wanting control, viz., the east-enders and the west-enders. The west end is the old government town, founded in 1863, and a part of Smith's addition, and the east end is owned and inhabited by the Puget Sound colony.

Application was made to Chief Justice Burke about two weeks ago to have the whole surveyed portion of the town incorporated, about 40 acres in all. Notice was published for a meeting to select three trustees who should be appointed to serve until the first regular election should take place. The meeting was held, and it was voted that three trustees were selected (two from the east end and two from the west). Dissatisfied with the result, [the] west-enders set up a new petition to Judge Burke, asking that Port Angeles be incorporated in this petition they cut off the east end, which is one half of the town geographically and about three fourths of the residents. The east-enders immediately held a meeting and adopted a protest, asking that the town be incorporated as a whole, according to the survey, or have no incorporation at all.

Within the past three days efforts have been made looking toward a compromise on this basis: East enders to have two trustees and the fifth to be chosen from central ground. The east-enders, who have a majority of votes, are willing to accede to this, but the west-enders say: "We want three trustees, or no incorporation. We were here first and ought to have the say."

A few days ago several residents of the old town "jumped" a section of waterfront which the colony claimed under riparian rights. The "jumpers" put up a row of buildings and the colony applied to Judge Burke for an injunction. A decision is expected within a few days.

Some more west-end men started to pile in the whole waterfront of the government town. Last Friday F. S. Lewis filed an oyster claim in front of the government townsite. On Monday more claims were filed on top of his, some of the claims being telegraphed at considerable expense. Monday afternoon George Bush of Seattle and W. E. Smith of Port Angeles filed on the remainder of the waterfront from the end of the government townsite to the head of the bay, including the lagoon. Every "jumper" has put up notices, and by mutual consent further work on driving stakes has been stopped until Judge Burke's decision shall have been made.