Council Moves to Vacate the Tide-Land Streets

An important step was taken by the council last evening toward arriving at a settlement of the conflict arising out of the non-conformity of the streets and alleys adopted by the tide land appraisers with those already established by the city. A committee of the Chamber of Commerce appeared before the joint session and asked that the city vacate all streets and alleys on the tide flats. The members of the committee expressed themselves as desirous of having the trouble settled as soon as possible, and gave the council to understand that resolutions with that object in view would be favored. Mr. Clise actually framed the proposed resolutions, which were favorably received by the committee. They were that twenty days be given in which to file objections to the proposed vacating. In both houses the number of days was changed to ten, counting from the first publication in the official newspaper. After the joint session had disposed of the Masel matter, President Dunning stated that there was a committee present from the Chamber of Commerce who had something to say about the tide flats. This committee consisted of Andrew P. Curry, C. J. Smith, A. B. Stewart and Andrew Knox. Mr. Knox presented a resolution, which had been adopted unanimously by his committee, as follows: "The city council of the city of Seattle is requested to vacate all streets and alleys existing prior to March 13, 1895, in the area between the patent line of the United States government and the outer harbor line in front of the city of Seattle; also to adopt and confirm the streets, alleys and boulevards as laid out by the board of tide land appraisers for King county, as the same appear on the plat of Seattle tide lands filed in the office of the auditor of King county on March 14, 1895." Mr. Knox, of the committee, stated that at a meeting of the chamber yesterday afternoon the members were in favor of the vacation of streets and thought it better to act in accord with the law recently passed by the legislature. Andrew P. Curry stated the position as it appeared to him. The plat was made a public record on March 14 by an act of the legislature, signed by the governor on March 23. He thought that the non-vacation of the streets was a detriment to the city, and said the city council should act in the matter as soon as possible. Clise said he desired to have the matter closed as soon as possible, but there were some obstacles in the way. In view of his desire to have a settlement, he had prepared a set of resolutions, which he intended to present to the aldermen. He then read the resolutions, which called for the filing of protests with the city clerk within twenty days by all people who objected to the vacating of streets. When the aldermen reassembled, Mr. Clise introduced the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted: "Whereas, There is great uncertainty at the present time as to the condition of the streets on the tide lands fronting on the city of Seattle, there being a conflict between the streets adopted by the city and those adopted by the tide land commissioners; and Whereas, This renders such confusion in the streets on the tide flats that intending purchasers are unable to satisfactorily locate the streets adjacent to their property, and causes great confusion and hardship to such intending purchasers; and Whereas, Certain persons have protested against the vacation of the streets as laid out by the city, but it is the opinion of the city council that the matter should be settled in some manner at the earliest possible moment; therefore, be it Resolved, By the board of aldermen, the house of delegates concurring, that the city clerk of the city of Seattle be instructed to at once give notice in the official newspaper of the city, calling upon all persons who have any objections to the vacation of any street now laid out, over or across such tide lands, to file the same with the said city clerk within ten days from the date of the first publication and that at the expiration of such time all such objections be submitted to the council for their action, such notice to be published for ten consecutive days." The same resolution was brought up in the house and passed. It was vigorously opposed by Voigt, who stated that it would deceive the public. Chapman endorsed the remarks of Voigt, and said the Chamber of Commerce and appraisers want the council to indorse what they were delinquent in, throwing the city into endless litigation through the changing of streets. Kurd and James spoke in favor of the resolution, because it would bring all classes together and the matter would receive thorough investigation.