Barrington v. Commercial Dock Co.

Citations

• 15 Wash. 170
• 33 L.R.A. 116
• 45 P. 748
• 1896 Wash. LEXIS 158

Syllabus

<p>WHARVES — PRIVATE OWNERSHIP — RIGHT OP PUBLIC TO USE.</p> <p>A wharf belonging to an individual may from its use become in its-nature a public wharf.</p> <p>While Gen. Stat., §2136, recognizes the right of private ownership in wharves, the section, as a whole cannot be construed to mean that such private property may not be devoted to such use as will, in contemplation of law, make it partake of the nature of a public wharf.</p> <p>Every vessel has a license to use, for her safety or convenience, any public wharf, on navigable waters, or any private wharf, which by the nature of its use, becomes affected with a public interest, upon the payment of reasonable wharfage charges.</p>