The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-01-17
ON, THE SANDS.
BRITISH SHIP ALLEGIANCE ON THE SANDS
AT COLUMBIA River BAR,

| tU' 1nE SANUcs
BRITISH SHIP ALLEGIANCE ON THE SANDS
AT COLUMBIA RIVER BAR.
| And again it becomes our duty to chroni-
Gle misfortune on the Columbia River bar,
however much we regret it. Within the
| past IL months disaster on the bar has IN
creased alarmingly. and all because ship
masters deem their knowledge of navigation
sufficient to sail them in over it without the
aid of a tug They often take pilots, and,
| if fortune favors, they come in all right, and
give example for those bound in to follow
until just such an event as we will relate
| takes place to remind them that the safest
way is always the cheapest and best. We
deem it the duty of agents IN this city to
| inform ship owners that to protect Them
| selves they issue strict orders to the captains
of vessels not to make the attempt to crosg
either way without the assistance of tug
boat.-POrtland Standard, llth inst. ~
We "regret," as much as our CO.
temporaries in Portland, TO chronicle
the fact that disasters on the Col
umbia river bar have increased alarm
ingly." There are various reasons
why we "regret" these disasters,
aside from the great detriment to the
commerce Of the State by prevent
ing ship-owners from coming to the
Columbia bar. In winter, the storms
are fearful, the bar is rough, and con-
sequently the danger is great. In
summer the Hogs Backs, above AS
toria, are very promiRent, sand bars
are too near the surface, fol deep sea
vessels, and disasters, from these
causes, frequently occur. The cost
Of towage, lighterage, pilotage, and
various other expenses, unavoidbly
attaching to every foreign vessel that
reaches Portland, are alarming, and
burdensome, hence shIp-owners, as
a matter of necessity, are compelled
to endeavor to cut off every expense
possible.
Now, for few practical thoughts,
as suggested by the above facts. 1t
is acknowledged that the Willamette
valley is the great grain producing
section of Oregon, and that the
farmers of the Willamette valley are,
and have been, for years, footing
enormous shipping bills. Every dol
lar of expense in carrying their pro
duce to market is paid by the pro.
ducers. This proposition needs 20
argument, and hence the farmers of
the Willamette valley are toiling,
year after year, to make good the
losses caused by the "alarming in
crease" of shipping disasters on the
Columbia bar.
Is it not high time that the farm
ers Of Oregon-especially of the
Willamette val!ey-were taking. this
matter under serious consideration,
for the purpose of solving the prob
lem as to whether or not there is
remedy for these evils? We contend
there is an effectual remedy within
easy grasp.
Last summer preliminary survey
was made, by Col. Habersham, of
Cape Foulweather, for the purpose of
ascertaining its practicability as
harber of refuge. We have not seen
an official report OF that surveys. but
are credibly informed, by gentlemen
who had the ear of the Civil Engineer,
that it is most favorable location
for harbor of refuge or breakwater,
and that its cost would be very small,
in comparison to the benefits to be
derived. Such being the case, and it
being the most eligible location for
such an important work, every citi-
zen, as we'll as every newspaper in the
State, should be unit for its con-
struction.
If the people of this State were
properly aroused on this subject our
Senators and Representatives in Con-
Sfess would be thronged with peti
tions, from every part of the State,
asking for appropriations for Har.
Dor of Refuge at Cape Foulweather.
With such a breakwater, the largest
vessels could enter, or depart, in all
weather, without the aid of either
pilot or tug. The Corvallis ani va
quina railroad terminus would be a.
Cape Foulweather, instead of va
quina Bay, and a new era would
dawn upon the commerce Of our State,
and ice blockades and marine disas-
ters would be most effectually done
away with. The sooner the leading
papers of the State see these facts,
the better it will be for them and
their patrons. Facts are stubborn
things.