The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-10-31
FRCM THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY TO
The SEA,

From an article in the Oregonian
of the oath inst, head "From Port
land to the sea-" We make the follow.
ing extract
"The value of free open channel from
Portland to the sea cannot be estimated. 1t
is not second, even, in urgency and import
ance to direct connection by railroad with
the eastern states. Upon the broad bosom
of the Columbia must be borne the prime pal
products of an area of 100000 square miles
of rich territory-an empire equal to the
combined areas of New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Illinois-or those products are less
valuable by half To open this channel and
afford to full. .freighted vessels of the largest
class safe and easy passage at all seasons
bstween the ocean and Portland has been an
object well worthy the efforts of the highest
engineering skill.
Plans for this improvement, estimated to
cost $500, 600, from Portland to the ocean
were adopted sornc time ago by the q. s.
board of engineers for the Pacific coast, and
the practical work of carrying them into ef-
feet has Just commenced"
II "the value of free, open ship
channel from Portland to the sea can
not be estimated" what shall he said
of free, open ship channel, connect
ed with about fifty miles of railroad,
from the very center of the grea,
Willamette valley, the garden spot
of the Pacific coast, to the sea?
We rejoice to learn " that the prac-
tical work. of opening the ship chan-
mel referred TO has commenced. II
will be a grand thing for Portland
and the State in general, and should
have been inaugurated long ago.
But while this is all true, it does not
argue that the entire commerce OF
this rapidly growing and prosperous
State should be circumscribed 10 ONE
ocean outlet, or that all appropria-
tions of Congress should be cxpend-
ed upon that outlet, when Nature
has done So much for a second one.
1t is believed, by competent engi-
neers, that an expenditure of $780,
900 would remove the rock Mt the en-
trance OF Yaqnina Bay, SO as to adj
nit vessels drawing from 20 TO 25
feet of water, or even greater depth.
Far he it from us to say one word
against the Improvement of the Co.
lumbia river bar. We rejoice to note
these improvements, and trust they
will be pushed, with energy, until
every impediment TO the free naviga
tion of that noble stream is removed,
and its carrying capacity he increased
hundred fold. But, while this
good work is going forward nobly,
Portland should not become proud
and selfish. and attempt to monopo-
liZe the commerce Of the entire State,
and demand that it shall all pass
through her hands, when other out
let's have reasonable claims.
Facts are stubborn things, and it is
now an acknowledged " "tact," that
the Yaquina Bay is the most direct,
cheapest and best outlet for the com
merce of Central Oregon. Situated
abreast of the center of the William
cite valley, and within sixty miles of
Corvallis, with a railroad in process
of construction from the latter place
to the Bay, it offers inducements for
the immediate improvement Of the
harbor, which should not. and, we
believe, will not, be mnch longer ig-
nored by the government. Senator
Slater and Congressman Whitcakcr,
having recently visited Yaquina, and
seen. it's wonderful advantages, we
doubt not they will do their utmost
to secure an appropriation for its inn
provement at an early day. II ONE
outlet to the sea is good, will not
Jwo be better
The grand jury of Marion county,