United States v. 201.19 Acres of Land, More or Less, in Grays Harbor County, State of Washington, Simpson Timber Company, and Unknown Owners

Simpson Timber Company (“Simpson”) appeals from a condemnation award of $51,408.00. It vigorously asserts that this sum inadequately compensates for the taking by the United States of a “permanent and exclusive” easement through timber lands located adjacent to the Olympic National Forest in the State of Washington.

In support of its timbering activities conducted on the Olympic Peninsula, Simpson founded a company town in the Wynooehee Valley. Christened Camp Grisdale, the town provides repair yards and railroad reloading stations, as well as housing and other employee facilities. Connecting the town to the outside world as it winds through the Wynooehee Valley is the gravel-surfaced Grisdale Road, a portion of which Simpson holds in fee simple absolute. This road provides not only the most convenient access to Camp Grisdale, but also the target of the condemnation and the subject of this appeal.

Although prior to the condemnation there was some limited use of the road by the public and the Forest Service. Simpson has continually exercised control over the road and its use. When, for example, the Forest Service requested a public right-of-way over the road during the…