The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-02-09
BENTON COUNTY.
Description Of It's Appearance and Present
Condition by Voting Precincts.
Written Expressly for the Gazette by a
Thirty Years Resident Of
the County.

Extends from the divide between
the waters of Big Elk and Alsea rivers
to the south boundary of the county
and from the divide between the Will
annette valley and the Alsea on the
east to Tide Water precinct on the
west, being about 5 miles from north
to south and some miles from east
20 west. This embraces what is
known as the Alsea valley. This is a
beautiful valley some eight miles in
length, and about one mile wide.
Near the upper end of the valley the
north and south forks of the river
unite, causing widening of the vail
ley to near four miles. This is 1eve-
prairie thickly settled, surrounded by
timbered covered hills. The valley
was settled some thirty years ago, there
being about thirty claims taken under
the donation law. This embraced ali
the lands not covered with brush, and
as no one thought of clearing off the
brush at that time, it was supposed
that every thing was occupied that
Was worth having, but of late, many
are going into the brush and demon
strating the fact that such lands can
be proftably improved and are thus
making themselves good homes. On
the low rich hills surrounding the val
ley the soil is of the very best quality
yielding excellent crops of grain and
vegetables. The best crops of fax
ever produced in the country were
grown in this valley. The people
practice mixed husbandry consisting
of grain and fruit growing and cattle
sheep and hog raising, which they find
more profitable than wheat growing
alone.
The Alsea valley ever since it's set
tlement has been noted for the guam
tity and quality of the butter produced,
the climate and herbage being particu-
larly favorable for dairying. Former.
ly much wheat was hauled over the
mountains to- the Corvallis market,
but of late the farmers are adopting
the more lucrative practice Of feeding
their grain to hogs, and the valley is
rapidly assuming the position of the
chief pork producing precinct Of the
county. .--..
Surrounding the Alsea valley is a
great deal of good country and par
TALLY settled. South of the valley for
some eight or ten miles is a rolling
country more or less open, with pro-
ductive soil, at that distance the Lob
ster creek is reached, partly in Benton
and partly in Lane county. This val
ley has been attracting settlers for a
few years past, qnite number have
located there but there is still room
for more. East of the valley along
the line of the south road is also a
good open country. Also on the north
fork of the Alsea river. Communi-
cation is had with the Willamette
valley by two roads. One up the
north fork of the Alsea and down the
south fork of Mary's river, distance
of about twenty-five miles to Corvallis,
the county seat, has been the only
road out of the valley for a good many
years, but recently the citizens have
succeeded in opening new and what
is claimed a better road farther south
in the direction of Monroe in the south
part of the county. For years it has
been very tedious operation to haul
the produce of the valley over the
mountainous road to Corvallis, but
within few years trade has sprung
up by way of the river with the lower