The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-12-12
WEEKLY CORVALLIS GAZETTE
Corvallis, Dec. IL, 1879.
OUR TRIP TO YAoulNA.

saddle horse of Sol King, packed few
documents in a pair of borrowed saddle
bags, and on last Monday week-the first
day of winter-set out on our journey
which, to some, seemed somewhat perilou.
undertaking for one in our state of health
We find, however, that riding on horseback
agrees with us, and being thoroughly pro
tected from the mud ami rain, we expert
enced no inconvenience from the trip th,
greatest difficulty we had, being in getting
our wraps" on and off. At every point
however, we found kind friends to assist us
and got along nicely. We divided the dis
tance into short rides, SO that we were but
slightly fatigued on the entire trip.
Leaving home about ii A. M. on Monday.
we went to Philomath, miles, and took
dinner at Mr.. G. W. Kisor's. After dinner
we made Mr. Chas. Logsden's, 10 miles,
where we found cordial welcome, and ex.
cellent accommodations for the night. The
day was quite pleasant, but showery.
The next morning was not so pleasant
rain was coming down in regular webfoot
style. We were strongly urged to lay by
for the day-but having no assurance of bet
ter weather, we proceeded on our way, ar
irving at A. J. Porters, IA miles, for din
ner, where we found Mr. VIM. Grant and a
couple of young Englishmen, named Moore,
returning from the Bay, on foot. We spent
jolly hour together, while Mrs. Porter pre-
pared dinner for the hungry crowd, who
showed our appreciation of her culinary
skill bp the voracious manner in which we
partook of the sumptuous repast. With
Mr.. Grants assistance we were soon in full
rig, our horse was at the door, and we were
jogging along dreary rood, despite the in
creasing storm.
About P. NJ we arrived at Mr.. NJ. L.
Trapp's, IA miles. Here the traveller always
finds the best of accommodations and as
we surrounded the bright, blazing fire on
the hearth, with the happy family, after
tea, it brought vividly to mind scenes of our
childhood days. For real, solid comfort. so
far as this world can give the well-to-do
farmer is our beau-ideal. Mr.. Trapp has
one of the best locations on the road, and
seems to have every thing that heart coul,l
wish for except school and church privileges.
The former is supplied, this winter, by
securing the services of Miss Sophia Dohse,
an accomplished young lady of this city, as
governess for his children.
The next molning. Wednesday, we pro-
ceeded to Pioneer. 81 miles distant. left our
hor.e in charge of Mr.. W. w. Davis, and
sscnred the services of an Indian to take MS,
by small boat, to Mr.. E. A. Ahbey's. near
Elk City, some q miles distant After
transacting some business with Kit" and
partaking of hearty dinner, prepared by
Capt VIM White. we went up to Mr.. NJ.
w. Simpsons. (Elk City, where we re-
mained until about P. NJ. next day, when
we took the steam launch for Newport. No
person who stops once at Mr.. Simpsons, s,
will require urging to call again. 1t is a
"good place to stop. All travellers agree
in this.
Being somewhat detained, by towing a
scow, we arrived at Neport about 5 P. NJ. /,
and soon found ourself most comfortably
surrounded at the Bay View House. Mr..
and Mrs Abbey know how to make guests
feel at home-and we were especially fa-
vored, on this occasion-of which we are
not unmindful. Many thanks to the kind
hearted bost and hostess.
Unexpectedly, but very fortunately, meet
ing Hon. R. A. Bensell, we were enabled to
transact our business that evening, and de-
cided to start upon our return trip the next
day-having Mr.. Bensell as travelling COM
panion-and most pleasant one he is, too.
The Bay looked to us more inviting than
ever, the first time we ever visited it in
winter. The people, generally, on this side
of the coast mountains are greatly elated,
and well they may be, over the prospects of
"better times in the near future I'M
provements, of various kinds, are being in
augurated lan;ls are being cleared, fences
built, houses repaired. Lands are enhancing
in value, and everything seems to betoken
the " good time coming" The late survey
of the harbor gives new life and energy to
every settler, aed those who have been hold
ing on to their improvements almost in de-
spair, and seeminfng to hope against hope,
are now jubilant. The darkest hour has
passed, and brighter day is already dawn
ing for the Yaquinaites-and no people in
the world more Justly deserve it.
With the opening of spring, the tide OF
immigration will set baywards, and thou
sands of acres of land, now considered al
most worthless, will be found to be very val
liable. How can it be otherwisA when 1t is
positively demonstrated, by official survey,
that we have one of the best, if not THE
BEST, natural harbors between San Francisco
and Puget Sound ? Let congress make a
of this harbor, this winter, as it surely will,
and the railroad to Yaquina is secured, be-
yond all peradventure, in the near future
Benton county is now entering upon an era
of prosperity, little dreamed of by the old
smoss-backs," as some of the old fossils are
derisively termed. But this class of citi-
gems are few in number, and hard to find
now, in old Benton, and We are proud of it.
By next spring the last one will be buried
out of sight, and our citizens will be unit
for railroads and progress. $50 mote it
be"
But, enough of this, for the present.
We will close by saying that we started for
home Friday morning, by steam launch to
Pioneer. By horse to Traps, same even
ing. To Charlie Logsden's next day, and
home Sunday morning, accompanied by
Hon. r. A. Bensell, who was en- route to
Salem and Oregon City on business. We