The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-12-26
YkQuINA BAY.
THE snAronr FOR CENTRAL oEraoM.

MR EpIroR The recent survey of va,
quina bar was ordered by the Board of U.
5. Engineers having the duty of locating the
Harbor Of Refuge AMI though the va
quila may not be selected as the future site
of that irnportant work, the survey itself is
of the greatest consequence TO Central Or
egon. The bar, or obstruction, was found
to consist Of reef, some $50 yards across,
sun winch there is now. at low tide, FIGHT
feet Of water, with a tidal rise of NINE feet.
The water up to this reel, as approached from
the sea, is from FIVE to EIGHT fathoms as
soon as the reef is passed, from THREE AND
A HALF to FIVE fathoms is found, and this
depth is maintained for distance of seven
miles up the Yaquina bay, with a width of
from one-haH to three-fourths of mile.
By confning the water, that at present
spreads over this reef, and removing the
reef or obstruction, which is soft and shelly
rock, an average depth of at least THIRTY
feet can be obtained, at Low TIDE. This,
on a rock bar, without shifting sand spit
Va VI oooti1 ttAS iAuhSS
constant substantial, and reliable outlet
for all the incoming and outgoing freight
and produce of Central Oregon. The adj
vantages Of such route, saving TWO HUN
DRIED and TwENrY-oxE MILES of distance
over the present route between San Fran
cisco and Portland, is SO plain that argument
is unnecessary.
For awhile the Willamette valley was all
ablaze with enthusiasm regarding the posi-
lbility of Foulweather being selected as a
Harbor of Refuge This desire came from
the urgent necessity of the valley having an
outlet on the coast-not one hundred and
ten miles inland but a genuine seaport,
where the cars from the interior, and ships
fresh from the ocean could meet, and where
a transfer of freight could be made with one
handling, and only one, saving all the un-
necessary and expensive handling of grain,
to say nothing of the towage, pilotage, &C.,
| footing up a tax SO large and burdensome
upon the farmer as to seriously affect the
general prosperity of the State. For, be it
remembered, the farming community pay all
expenses of transportation, of whatever
nature.
The 40c per ton paid the Oregon Transfer
Company, to take your wheat, or other pro-
duce, froa the east side of the Willamette
to the wharves in Portland the pilotage
and towage across the Columbia bar, in and
out; pilotage and towage up and down the
/
incidental expenses, comes out of the hard
earnings of the farmers Of Central Oregon.
And SO, is added proportionate tax on all
imports, of whatever kind, thus aggregat.
ing an immense sum-an undisguised tax
upon the enorgy an6 industry of the people.
| If we can have another port to which ships
can come, composition in freights is possible,
even probable-one thing that has been
greatly needed this year. A scarcity of ves-
sells seeking charter, places the shipper in a
false position, as freights advance, prices OF
wheat decline, &c.
With an appropriation to improve Yaqui-
ma entrance, a railroad will soon connect
Central Oregon with nearer and better
market seaport, the route to which never
freezes up a port only FOUR HUNDRED AND
EIGHTY MILES from the queen city of the
Pacific. Thirty-six hours will be saved
over the present circuitous line of travel
via the Columbia river, and the disagreea-
Bile effects, always dreaded, of long and
usually rough bar, win be avoided, an item
the travelling public would appreciate.
All these advantages can be realized. by
urging our claims on the present Congress
Every man of influence every paper; eve-
ry person having a thing to buy or sell,
should add his mite, by letter or word, of
encouragement, to our Senators and Repre-
sentatives Remember that the determined
efforts of the people of Coos Bay secured
an appropriation TO improve harbor bene-
fitting the commerce of only half of one
county, and that in the face of no positive
recommendation OF the engineer who survey
ed the bar and reported on the necessities
of the improvement. Our report cannot be
adverse. The surroundings are most favor
able to all minds understanding the subject
We have only to unite, and make strong
determined demand for this important work
which so deeply interests the central part
of Oregon Polk, Benton. Marion, Linn
and Lane counties, and that portion of
Oregon lying east of us, through which the
Willamette Valley and Coast Railroad Com
pany propose to finally carry their road
/ now come to the question, shall wehave
another route TO the sea? A route, short,
cheap, and certain. A line, by reason of
its economy in operating, that will tend
even to lower the rates Of present lines of
transportation, and afford effective, perma-
nent competition sure to produce the re-
suits, desired and add immensely to the
wealth of the entire State. RIALTo.