Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-04-08
Correspondence Gallipolis journal.
From Oregon.

SALEM, oREGoN, MARCH lS, 1880.
In pursuance of my promise | will
write you again on current topics IA
this once far-of land. The winter still
hangs his white mantle upon all our
hills, and vegetation has net put forth.
Such q winter has never been known
on this coast. Much stock has perish
ed from cold and hunger, especially in
| Eastern Oregon, Idaho and ". IT. When
! prepared feed was on hand from former
winters, and not needed, it kept stock
alive. s4 4asN Is tRs#s sk@A
- - r. ROADS. "a - -
I 1t seems that we shall have as many
railroads In this State and W. Il. accord
ing to population, as any other State
In the Union. Long trans-continental
lines are reaching our coast, with numer-
oas feeders along and through fine ara
bic districts. ak &NEA G
The vast prairie countries in Eastern
Oregon, w. Il. and Idaho can be sup
piled with timber from the Cascade and
Blue Mountains by rail. referred, in
my last letter TO you, concerning the
millions of acres of rich wheat lands
on the Columbia River and It's tributa-
ries. All these roads are intended to
pass the vast tonnage of wheat, wool,
-four, coal stock and dairy products to
and beyond the mouth of the Columbia
River, 20 the worlds markets.. @F
Portland is at present the metropolis
of Oregon, and nearly all the products
Of the Columbia Valley center there,
and are shipped in smaller ocean yes
sells to Astoria, and the loading is made
full for foreign ports. But there Is
great drawback at the mouth of the Co
lumbia River, on account, of shoaling
with sand the main or south channel
| from Fort Stevens at Clatsop Point TO the
bar Is miles distant. There are currents
and counter currents at this point that
are rapidly wearing away the land,
which Is an old formation Of sand, with
a growth Of timber and grass upon It.
Two and half square miles OF this
land have been swept into the ocean in
twenty years past, and ships run over
where farms once were. The great
hurricane OF the 9th of January last
prostrated about all the timber at and
IN the rear of Fort Stevens, to the
amount of about 20 square miles. The
roots being detached from the earth,
the violent abrasions of the ocean and
the tides and currents are sweeping ont
hundreds of, tons of sand daily into the
sea. All the Government fence is gone,
and the barracks and lighthouse must
soon be removed or lost. The south
channel from Fort Stevens to the bar 10
miles, Is shoaled, SO that anything like
large sea vessels cannot pass out along
il. Speaking Of currents and counter
currents, | would state that the Gulf
Stream passes along this point north
ward, and the great body of the Colum-
bia River passes it westward, while the
tide sweeps up and down each twelve
hours. The Bay here is to l5 miles
wide and 25 miles long. An Island Is
rapidly forming near the north shore
on the W. L. side. There Is yet the
north channel open about Is feet deep,
from Astoria and north of Sand Island,
rounding to Fort Candy and out over
the bar to deep ocean water. Near Sand
Island on the shoaling, the Great Re-
public was wrecked last April, and now,
near the place of the wreck, a British
ship Is going to pieces.
Enough money can keep the north
channel open TO Bakers Bay, and thence
ship canal of easy construction for
half mile, between North Head and
Mckenzie Head, will pass ships out into
deep sea water in safety. Piling and
rock-work must be had to stay the sand
from blocking up the north channel to
Bakers Bay, which is a natural harbor
of refuge, well protected from storms,
and affording deep and safe anchorage
of 20 square miles for large ocean YES
sells. AS the commerce Of almost an
empire must pass out of the Columbia
River, the Government and capitalists
are interested in the navigation of the
Columbia Bay.