The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-03-16
BENTON COUNTY.
Description Of It's Appearance aad Present
Condition By Voting Precincts.
Written Expressly for the Gazatts by q
Thirty Years Eeaident Of
tina CounJv.

Extends from the divide between
Little Elkcre and the Yaquina on
the north to the divide between Big
Elk and the Alsea on the south, and
from the mouth of Little Elk to a
point little west of Blodget's valley,
being about 10 miles from north to
south, and aboat IL twelve miles from
east to west, bounded by Summit on
north, by Kings Valley and Philomath
on the east, and by Elk city precinct
on the west. Little Elk creek rises
near the center portion of the precinct
and passes out at the northeast cor
ner, Big Elk rises in the southeast
corner of the west and southwest
slopes of Mary's Peak and runs west
passes into Elk city precinct. Then
again fork of Mary's river known as
Shot Pouch rises on the northwest
slope of Mary's Peak. runs north some
distant when it turns suddenly to the
southeast. At the extreme northern
point the Tum Tum enters from the
west. Bordering this is very pretty
little mountain valley laying high and
extending to the Summit toward Lit
tie Elk, the valley of which lays much
lower and has some wide fertile bot
toms, that have been in cultivation for
a number of years. The bottom land
on Big Elk river is the widest of any
of the coast streams. On Deer creek
Wolf creek and up the spout on the
north and several streams on the
south of the rivers is a great deal of
fertile bottom and the surrounding
hills have an open yield a great deal
of feed for stock. Along the Big Elk
and some of the tributaries are settlers
that are making good farms, and there
is room for more. This valley is to
some extent isolated as there is but
one road into the upper end of the
valley, although there is nothing in the
way of a good road down the river to
Elk City; shot pouch where lower
down is known as a fork of Mary's
river has some wide bottoms mostly
covered wsth cherry brush, most of
this is in cultivation but laws high and
is subject to biting frosts. Mary's
Peak is situated at the southeast cor
ner of the precinct and also marks
northeast corner of Alsea precinct,
rises to height of 1000 feet, and
mostly snow covered until August
The summit of the Peak is bald and
covered with the finest native grass
found any where, the top is crescent
shaped and contains about 800 to 400
acres of open land which is owned by
William Wyatt and is used by him for
a horse pasture during the summer
| months. The timber like other por-
tions of the mountain country has been
| burned. There was formerly a great
deal of cedar timber Of the better quail
ity which has been largely used for
shingle making. This has been the
chief dependence of many of the early
settlers for supplying the. wants oftheir
families until their land could be
brought into cultivation, their table
being supplied with venison formerly
plentiful on all the hills, while their
groceries and necessary clothing was
procured in exchange for load of ce-
dar shingles.
| Stock raising is from year to year
growing in importance the people
having to depend upon the increase of
| their focks to stock their ranches
which is naturally slow at the start.
Many small fields of the tame grasses
are seen; from these the seed is procur-
ed to extend their pastures. But lit
tie grain is produced as yet except for
home use. Beef and mutton have
been to considerable extent furnished
to the Corvallis and other markets and
of late much wood has been disposed
of. The capabilities of the precinct
especially for stock raising is fully
equal to any other portion of the noun
tain country.
The population is about 25o, The
opportunity for taking farmes are fully
as good as any other portions of the
country. The people are greatly in
need of a postoffice, as there is not one
in the precinct, most of the people re
eceiving their mail at PhilomaUh 20 te
80 miles distance by the route travel
| There three school houses back