The Surveyor's Chain Reaches Metaline—and Its Squatters
A Portland firm wins the contract to survey the township containing Metaline, opening the west side of the river to settlement while fine timber already occupied by squatters awaits formal title.
A contract has been let to George and Clyde W. Riddell, of Portland, for the survey of township 39, range 43, which includes the townsite of Metaline. This will mean the settlement of that part of the township west of the river; that part east of it, which is much the larger, is in the Kaniksu forest. Some very fine timber is included in that township, much of which has been squatted on for some time.
“Some very fine timber is included in that township, much of which has been squatted on for some time.”
Federal surveys converted squatting into ownership—or displacement—across the West. The tension between formal land title and people already living on the land remains a live issue in rural Washington.
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