The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-03-04
THE Oregon PACIFIC.

A rumor ran through the town
few days ago, that waiting time was
over, and that Colonel Hogg had
succeeded in getting the whole issue
of bonds subscribed for. We have
tried to trace this rumor to an author
tive source, but have pot succeeded.
It seems as if the wish were father to
the thought, for there is no doubt how
devoutIY this consummation is pray
ed for by the farmers throughout the
Valley, one and all. This paper has
only too earnestly advocated the
cause of the enterprise; and that
day will he a proud one when We
chronicle the completion of all pre-
liminaries; we trust and believe that
day is near at hand.
Obviously every item of improve
ment at the Bay strengthened the
position of the railroad, and we are
glad to find that the works there are
in good hands, who, as We believe,
can be relied'on by the people to get
the fullest use out OF every dollar of
appropriation granted. 1t seems a
gleat pity that Congress should pc
nuriously reduce the s25, 600, recon-
mended by the engineers, down to a
poor $4,000, especially when we
learn that the $25,oOO would have
provided for nearly doubling the ac
tual work got of the whole 100000,
granted last year. 1t is but poor e.
economy to stint the current expendi-
lures on public improvement like
that in question, when the larger sum
w<u'd not increase the necessarily
heavy charges for oversight and ad
ministration, and would by SO much
hasten the stage of safety For it
must be borne in mind that the pc
riod of construction is the period of
danger in building jetties or sea walls,
and that almost all Instances of dam
age to such works occur whilst build
ing is going on.
Nature has largely assisted the
work SO far by restoring matters to
the state in which last winter showed
them-closing up thetemporary south
channel, and clearing out and
deepening the main or middle en-
trance. Thus the business of jetty
building will 60 on in very shallow
water, and whilst the sand heaping
itself on the mattresses as they are
laid strengthens, and facilitates the
work. 1t is no secret at Newport
that, in spite of occasional rough
weather, tie Bar has been smooth
enough, even during the past stormy
six weeks, to have allowed the men
to work on the bar quite half the
time. What a contrast to many
places in process OF Improvement
where continued weeks of idleness
during the winter season add so
largely to the cost and difficulty of
the works. This is, of course, largely
due to the protecting outer reef on
which the waves beat heavily in
storms, but which take all dangerous
force out of them as soon as ever the
stress of storm has passed.
We should have liked both friends
and foes of Yaquina Bay to have
seen for themselves last week to what
advantage the deep channel and the
protecting reef were shown: under
the influence of a subsiding gale and
rough ocean outside, and a calm
channel and quiet bay, and fast flow
ing tide within.
Whilst we have feard of the CO.
lumbia full of ice, and that bar mac
cessible from storm and fog, whilst
the tales are frequent of detention,
disaster ard danger there, at va
quina Bay they have not seen ice,
aud the weather hitherto has favor
ed them throughout.
In time these facts will become no
torious, aud it willnot be in the pow
er of any ring or combination to
frighten ships away, or arrange a
scale of fancy prices for freights, on
the score of danger to shipping in re-
sorting there.
Col. w. P. Miller, Warden of the
Penitentiary; rendered his resigna-