The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1882-03-22
Examination Of Young's, Lewis and
Clarke's, and SkipanOn Rivers,
Entering Into YOung's Bay, Near
Mouth of Columbia River. Ore
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animation Of the -Young's, Lewis
and Clarke's, and Skipauon rivers,
Oregon, with estimate of cost OF
Improvements proper. |
The examination was made in
August last by Mr.. r. A. Haber-
sham, assistant engineer. A chart
of the rivers, prepared by him, is
transmitted herewith.
The three rivers under consid-
Grafton are in Clatsop county, in
the northwest part of Oregon;
they rise in the coast range, flow in
a northerly direction, and empty
into Young's bay, an arm of the
Columbia river, near its mouth.
The rivers have the same charac-
teristics; the upper sections are
mountain streams not adapted to
improvements proper for naviga-
ton; the lower sections are tidal
sloughs already navigable, and
subject to extension of navigation
by improvement; the usual rise
of the tide is little over 6 feet;
tides of s and 9 feet frequently
occur.
Young's river is the largest; its
two sections are separated by
fall, nearly vertical, of So feet.
Above the fall the stream is from
to 5 feet deep and from 80 to 40
feet wide, with rough, rocky bed
of considerable slope.
The tidal section Of Young's
river is 10 miles in navigable
length, inclusive Of 3 miles on its
tributary, the Klaskanine. Below
the Klaskanine the length is 2
miles. The width at the head of
this part is about 300 feet, and at
the mouth one-fourth of mile.
The available depths are from 6 to
Is feet at tide. An occasional
suag exists. E
Above the Klaskanine the
streams are more narrow and tortu-
Gus, with depths from 5 to 10 feet
at low-tide, which are reduced in
availability to 2 and 5 feet, and the
navigation rendered dangerous by
drift, snags and sunlSen logs.
The valley of the tidal section
of Young's river is from one-fourtt
to one mile wide. 1t consists oi
excellent bottom lands, partly sub
iect to overflow, but easily re
claimable by diking. The. foot
hills are generally well timbered
No extensive attempt has beer
made to clear them for agricultu
raj purposes. There are thirt.
farms. along the river, where ma.
and small farm products are grown
Fire-wood and saw-logs are als'
shipped out of the valley by tn
river. A river steamer occasion
ally ascends to the head of tide Oh
the Klaskanine for business.
Three miles to the westward c
the Young's river is the Lewis an
Clarke's. 1t has a navigable lengt
of S miles. The least depth {
low channel is feet at low-tid'
and is found at 81 miles from i
mouth; above, the depths are
feet greater; and below, they al
from s to 20 feet at low-tide. Gu
side of the mouth there is b;
with Ct feet of water at low.tid
For two miles below the head
the channel there are many sns
obstructions. The lower 6 mil
are comparatively clear. The Ian
ing of the o. r. & N. Co. is
miles above the mouth. The
regular boats on the Portlan
: Astoria route extend trips in SUI
mer to this landing once, and som
times twice, week, to carry pa
sengers to and from Clatsop Beac
The valley contains TWEEN
farms. 1t is fanked by low hi
covered with fir and spruce; t
average width is half mile. T
productions are similar to those
the Young's river country.
The Skipanon, some three mil
to the west of the Lewis a
Clarke's, has tidal section
miles long, 1000 feet wide at