The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-07-04
The Harbor of Refuge,
Farther Inquiry Of the Beard Of
Engineers,
YAgUlNA AND fOyLWEATHERHiGHsY
FAVORED

10 tho ncot site luI tHo iftNttoeeh htttHut
of refuge. He thought the Bay OF va
auina as by far the most eligible loea-
tion for the harbor intended, as the
waters were smooth, the winds subdued,
and the force of the waves broken by
the rocks along the entrance to the bay.
Captain JohnG. Allen, of the schooner
Alice Kimball, thought Cape Yaquina
would be the best place on the coast for
a harbor of refuge, and would DO pre-
ferable to harbor further south, in
consequence of its being sheltered from
the gales. There were two points, one
little south of the cape and one lit
tie north. either of which would be
suitable for harbor He had once
anchored his schooner just north OF
the cape, and thought that at that time
there was abundant room for five
schoouers. The depth of the water
south of the cape he estimated at about
eleven fathoms, and considered it good
holding ground. Near the beach it was
rOckier, but he had never found any
rocks near the edge Of the cape. He
had never been around Cape Foul.
weather. There was one lighthouse
near the entrance of Naquina, and Just
south of the cape. There was also
good holding ground ON the north side
OF the point. Ia southerly weather
there was very little fog there. lie
found the cape to be very good land
mark, especially in thick weather.
Captain Hillyer, ON being questioned
again, testified further in reference TO
the merits of Bay of Yaquina as a site
for the designed harbor, and said that
vessels could ascend the Yaquina river
for twenty-four miles, finding ten feet
of water The bay in question was
very easy to find, and all that the mar
iner had to do was To follow along the
line of breakers until lac reached it.
Colonel Williamson entertained the
opinion that very few sea captains
would wish to hug close to line Of
breakers, but on the contrary would
naturally endeavor to give them as wide
berth as possible.
Captain Hillyer thought there would
always be bar ut the mouth Of the
Columbia river, as il was eight miles
wide and full of qnicksand. AS the
mouth of the Yaquina was much mar
rover, he felt positive that bar would
never be formed there. There was
plenty Of sand there as well as
az the Columbia, but it lay on forma-
tion of Il solid rock. The rock ,aIons
the shore was a species Of sofg sand
stone, intermixed with ckI<. The
coast in the regiol4ef IThs Yaquina
formed straight line, aud was conse
9lsseessstfS favorable for the purposes OF
navigation. In the event of vessels
not being able to enter the bay,
the cape could be cleared aud the
ships course maintained without any
difficulty. The Yaquina bar could be
crossed ut times when it would be i'm
possible to pass over any other bar ON
the coast. In spring tides there
was about twelve feet OF water on the
bar, in ebb tide about eight feet, or
eight and one-half Three or four YES
sells traded there at time, aud were
principally engaged IN the transporta-
ton of oysters, lumber, etc. The re
gion around the bay was almost entire
ly arabic land and well fitted for agri
culture. Shoalwater Bay was no bet
ter than the Columbia, ON account oi
the vast quantity Of sand which had
gathered there.
Captain Thomas j. Foster said he
had not been to sea for the last ten
years, but previous 10 that time he had
been at sea about twelve years. He
liked Yaquina Bay as site for har
Dor of refuge, and said it was almost q
harbor ofrefuge already for small craft
as they put in there for security during
gales. He had been in the bay twics
himself during the winter season. He
thought there were fewer fogs between
Cape Blanco and the Columbia rive
along this portion Of the coast. From
his experience with Cape Foulweathe
it was justly entitled to its name
Shoalwater Bay and Gray's harbor ar,
not 50 well prOtectedfrOmthe windsanr
waves as was Yaquina. He though
an entrance at the latter point woul'
be great comfort to Columbia rive
commerce. The remainder of Captain
Fosters testimony was merely re
iteration Of that Of the preceding ger
tleman.
Captain J. j. Wynant said that tn
point where the lighthouse was bull
was the only one known to coasters a
Cape Foulweatherr. It's name bad sut
sequently been changed to Cape Va
quina by Professor Davidson. Five o
six miles from the Cape was Otto Rock
large, fat rock. He was pilot Of th
lszsz1brick previous to the survey, and a
the steamer entered the channel tn
rocks were plainly visible, closely alon.
side. The bottom of the channel wa
rocky, covered with slight cottage c
sand. The deep water extended clos
up TO the shore. At the Columbia ri1
er and shoalwater Bay there we're thre
or four miles of breakers in storm
weather.
Few more facts we're elected fror
Captain Charles G. Hageman, his test
mony beirg mostly corroborative {
that of the other Captains examined
He thought all that would be necessar
to make Yaquina Bay firstclass hal
Dor would be the deepening of th
channel. He had found the heavies
storms on the coast to be between Cap
Foulweather and the Columbia river.
This concluded the testimony, an
the Board adjourned subject to the CA