The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-08-29
AlsEA RIVER AND BAY.

ALSEA RIVER AND BAY.
REPORTS OF ENGINEERS WILSON AND HAB-
ERsHAM THEREON.
U. S. ENGINEER OFFICE,
PORTLAND, Greg, Sept. %, 1878.
General: l have the honor to transmit
herewith chart of the Alsea River and
Bay, Oregon, together with the report of
Assistant Engineer r. A. Habersham, and
to submit the following report of an exam
ination made under my direction in accord
ance with act of Congress approved June
Is, 1878.
THE ALSEA RIVER.
The Alsea River rises in the Coast Range
of mountains in Benton County, Oregon,
about 80 miles in direct line from the sea,
and flowing first south and then west,
empties into the Pacific Ocean about IL miles
south of Yaquina Bay.
From its source to point about Is miles
from its mouth it is described as mountain
stream full of rapids and bowlders, with
abrupt falls at various points of from 3 to 5
feet, obstructed by rocks and with very
little water. At this point the stream Is
80 feet wide and from to 6 feet deep at
low tide, and gradually widens and deepens
low, is reached, where it is 300 feet wide;
the depth in this section varies from to ~
feet, with an uneaven and occasionally rocky
bottom; the river is inclosed on both sides
by hills ranging from 300 to 600 feet high,
covered with grass, fern, and young thickets.
On the left bank the hills slope to the wa
ter's edge; on the right bank strip of lev
ell bottom, several feet above high tide and
from 200 to GOO feet wide, extends along the
river, broken occasionally by projecting
spurs along the ridge.
ALsEA BAY.
About 81 miles from its mouth the river
spreads out into Alsea Bay. which is from
8, 600 to 1000 feet wide at high tide, cover
ed with mud flats bare at low-water, and
through which are numerous shallow chan.
nels.
For mile inside the mouth there is a
channel and a perfectly protected anchorage
with depth of from IL to 20-feet; imme-
diately inside the bar is hole 2,00O feet
long and 300 feet wide to which no bottom
was found AT six fathoms. Near it's mouth
the bay is separated from the ocean by a
sand-spit about 3 of mile long and of a
mile wide; this spit narrows at its outer end,
the outer 100 feet being covered at high tide;
the channelat the mouth of the bay is about
300 feet wide, with the depth as indicated
in the deep hole described above.
THE BAR.
Immediately in front of the month of the
river, extending about 1000 feet into the
ocean, is a sand bar, over which the least
depth found at low water was s feet. The
law did not call for an examination of this
bar, but it nevertheless would have been
carefully made could it have been done
without danger to life; but heavy fogs rough
seas, and bad weather, and the absence ol
any tug or safe boat at the time the survey
party was there, prevented the examination.
A line of soundings was afterward run on
calm day by some citizens, who reported
that the distance across the bar was l,60(
feet. and the channel l,20O feet wide, with
feet as the least depth.
TIDE.
The tide rises about feet at the mouth,
and there is rise of about feet s miles
above, the tidal influence being felt mp to
the foot of liie of rapids Is miles from the
mouth.
THE ALsEA VALLEY.
The valley of the Upper Alsea is situated
about 40 miles from the mouth. measured
via the river, and covers an area of about
300 square miles; it is considered one of the
finest portions of Oregon for agriculture, the
flax and wheat being excellent. The wheat
crop for the present year is estimated at 60
experienced in getting these products to
market. In case the bar at the mouth e1
the river is found to be such as to admit
vessels, it is proposed to build a good road
from the settlement to the head of naviga
tion.
just south of the Alsea River IS the Alsea
Indian Reservation.
OBJECT OF THE EXAMINATION.
In the summer of 1875 survey of this
river and bay was made under the direction
of Maj. N. Michler, Corps of Engineers
caused careful examination of the rivel
and bay to be made in August, 1878, by
Assistant Engineer r. A. Habersham,
whose report is transmitted herewith.
The act of June Is, 1878, directed an ex.
animation to be made of the 'tAlsea River
and Bay, Oregon" and an estimate of the
cost of improvements ''proper to be made. :
The result of the examination and Of
conversation with residents at the bay de.
monstrated the fact that no improvement Of
this river and bay was expected, and none
deemed proper to be made
What the people of the Alsea Valley
want and what respectfully recommend is
that an accurate survey may be made Of
their harbor and the bar in front of it, prop
er charts prepared for distribution to marin
ers, and the bar properly buoyed.
There is no port of entry at the Alsea
River; as far as / can learn, only one vessel
has ever crossed the bar, and that was
built in the bay.
The nearest port of entry is at Newport,
Yaquina Bay, Oregon. II miles north Of
the Alsea. No revenue was collected at
Newport during the last fiscal year; there
were no foreign imports or exports. There
are sailing vessels of about 100 tons burden
engaged in coastwise trade, which brings
in about 800 tons of assorted merchandise
annually. The exports coastwise are lumber
and oysters.
The nearest lighthouse is on Cape Foul.
weather, about Is miles distant, and the
nearest works of defense are at the mouth oi
the Columbia River, about l25 miles dis.
tant.
I am, general, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
JOHN NJ. WILSON,
Major of Engineers, Brevet Col, u. S. A.
Brig. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS,
Chief of Engineers, U. s. A.