The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-30
From the Dallas Itemizer
THE WEST SIDE COUNTIES.

Mr.. EDITOR: The rapid strides in
the march of Improvement now be.
ing made by the Westside counties
of the Upper Willamette valley au-
CUR we'll for the future of that section
of our State. The great steal that
took the land grant which had been
generously donated by Congress 10
aid in the construction of the Oregon
Central railroad and diverted it to-
the East Side road wholly crippled
our resources and left our people al
most isolated from the marts of COM
merce. While the producing classes
of Marion, Linn and Lane counties
for years have had railroad commu-
nication with Portland and a ready
way of marketing their products, we
of Yamhill, Polk and Benton, with a
country far more productive, almost
wholly devoid of means of transport
tation, have patiently awaited the
dawning of better day. The past
two years, however, have in a meas
ure supplied our needed wants, yet
the interests Of our country demand
that our resources be fully developed.
The construction Of the narrow
gauge railroad from Dayton to Sheri-
dan and Smithfeld and the compile
ton of the Westside to Corvallis
have opened up to commerce the best
farming country in the State and will
be the means of aiding materially in
enhancing tie value of the property
contiguous to their lines. While this
railroad communication is a great
boon to our people, yet if we be true
to ourselves and utilize the means
which nature has furnished, our pros
perity will be assured beyond a pei
adventure. The resources of this
portion of the valley are immense /;
our products find ready market in
the marts of the world and the inn
portance of the question. How are
we best to get them to market ? is
one that deserves the serious atten-
tion of our people. Shall we continue
as now to send them by way OF Port
land and Astoria to the seaboard, CT
can we find cheaper and safer way?
1t is a fact pa.eit to the most casual
observer of the topography of the
country that Yaqaina Bay in Benten
county presents all the desired adVan.
tages aud is destined ere mafly years
to become the grand entrepot of tn
valley trade. The line of railrehd
now being constructed from CORVALLIS
to the bay will ere long be the direct
road from Central Oregon tM San
Franciscosand the capitalists, tie ar
tisan and the farmer, alike, seeing Houl
availability, will settle in our midst
4 OF the practicability of this route
there can be no question and all that
is required to bring about the desired
result is vigorous, active work on the
part of the people of Benton anc
adjoining counties. The board o
Harbor of Refuge Commissioners
should be persistently urged to locate
the Harbor at Yaquina Bay, as from
many surveys it has been demonstrat
ed to be the most suitable place OF
the North Pacific seaboard. Let The
citizens of the three sister counties
: labor as one man to achieve the de
sired result, let petitions be presented
setting forth its many advantage
and urging its selection, and soon W.
. will see the country lying between
the valley and the bay thickly settled
7 with class of citizens, who, lik'
those now located there, will hell
) build up country that is now in ;
! great measure isolated.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN J DAILY.