The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-05-07
rAorINA nan.
Eiitor Democrat.


| I. Hawley, Esq, on the subject Of an
outlet at Yaquina Bay with very much
interest. His tribute to the late Mr..
Carter is deserved and handsome The
comments on that dispatch are conelu
sive, and every friend TO haibor inn
proyement who has read them will be
more hopeful of the outcome Of the va.
quina entrance to the Bay.
Yaqnina is better natural bar har.
Dor today than several on the Atlantic
coast, especially those found in the
South, OF these we hear but little.
They arc understood and managed.
With the Improvement asked for va.
quina would become one of the best en-
frances on this coast. These facts may
all receive favor and DO admitted to be
true, but there is another view of the
case, or rather one of two conclusions
to be considered. One is that the coun.
try is small and would not warrant the
expenditure required for the improve
ment Of tho Bar. Ie who makes this
objection knows nothing Of the subject.
The other is that this section Of country
may by this improvement be brought
into competition with other established
points, to their detriment. This is the
apparent objection. II the facts are
presented at Washington fully, there
will he no question Of the final success,
fnl outcome Of this whole matter. We
offer few reasons for our faith
The only entrance by water to this
portion of the Willamette Valley is by
the Willamette river. This is from the
north by wsy of the Columbia and vii
lamette rivers, and is about two hun.
dred miles from the ocean, and one hun.
dred and seventy-fve miles by water
and rail. This Valley may be entered
in two hours run from the ocean by
railroad from Yaquina Bay. This rail
road would sustain moro territory in
this Valley than lies in the northern
portion. For instance, if we add to-
gether the square miles of Benton,
Lane, Linn and Polk counties, the sec
tion to be benefited by this road 10
Yaquina, we have 9,520 square miles.
The counties remaining, Multnomah,
Clackamas, Washington, Yamhill and
Marion, have together but 7,4lG square
miles. This gives the odds to the Va
quina section Of the Valley. If tho
railroad is built TO the Bay We should
then add Douglas county, which Is
larger than the State Of Connecticut,
and which when added will give to the
Yaquina computation 1870 square
miles.
We refer to these counties as frac.
tional parts of whole body. Bnt ifl
we compare them with some of the
States of the Union We will find that
Benton county lacks less than 200
square miles of being as large as Rhode
Island. Lane and Linn counties taken
together are a little larger than AIassa-
chusetts. The population Of Rhode Isl. |
and and Massachusetts, is quite 2,o0O,-
600. We do not wish to be understood
to say that this harbor improvement
will bring 100000 people here at
once, but we do cav that it will give us
five per cent. Of that number in a very
short time, with Il rapid increase. |
These counties that would be directly
benefited by this Improvement now
contain upwards Of 10000 population
and all look for the coming census to
show up $4,000. Linn county has FIVE.
Lane two, and Benton five persons to
the square mile. Massachusetts has
two hundred persons to the square mile.
Ten persons to the square mile in Ben
con, Polk, Linn and Lane would give
over $4,000 population in those coun-
ties.
Here is territory capable of sus-
tanning a million of people, and only
two hours run by rail from the Pacific
Ocean. There is no better climate, soil,
or more varied and extensive resources
in the world. This is entirely indie
pendent of the Columbia river. The
commerce of that river and Of this val
ley through the Yaquina are in no sense
conflicting. II there are narrow and
selfish views entertained on this point
we ask for general and philosophical
examination Of the subject. Nothing
could be more beneficial to the State
than to open out this highway to the
ocean through Benton county. And in
considering the subject We should not
think for moment that this is for the
benefit of Benton county only. 1t is
for all the counties joining Benton.
And these counties should be heard,
and loudly, too, on this subject. Open
that bar harbor. Then will follow the
railroad. Had we time we would show
by this improvement once made how
rapidly property would improve in value
and our towns build up.