Seattle Claimants Fight Waterfront Land Monopoly

There can be no doubt that the business interests of Alaska and the whole coast would be better served by removing the bulkhead from and line in Seattle for twenty years. Our government has practically enforced a theory of absolute ownership and control of these shores, which has been in effect until now, when the government attempted to contest the claims, and the result has been to create something like despair in the hearts of any claimant of the land in this vicinity. Land, as required in building, has been held up by this company. If we are to have a monopoly of all the sides of the city, as established in the case of American land, it is bad, and it is in danger of being even worse. The bargain that the city is to spend a large amount of rental at the review is one that should be sound, as it would involve anything but the truth. The true position is the one which the city can take with the State and the people, to appeal to the courts on the rights of holding. It is a crying shame to protest the city in a city and be assured that the company has a hold upon the coast. We create our own port and have a city that is growing to be a great port. We are creating a business, and it is important to maintain this position, as it is a port of entry to the whole country. And it is the agricultural and other interests that suffer. Until that, the city for all time must support the national the assembly, and the people should be less than they are. The result of the policy is to hinder the growth of the country and the prosperity of the coast. If the city is to be a great commercial center, the court cases will test the matter of the city's rights to its own harbor.