The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-03-23
BENTON COUNTY.
Description Of It's Appearance and Present
Cenl;t;ca ty Vst;ag Precincts.
Written Expressly for the Gazette by a
Thirty Years Resident of
the County.
KINGS VALLEY PRECINCT

KINGS VALLEY PRECINCT
Extends from the county line on the
north to Marys river on the south a
distance Of about eight miles and from
what is known as the Norton hill on
the Yaquina road, the divide between
the Willamette waters and the Lucki-
amute, an average width of about
eight miles. Being bounded on the
north by the county line, on the east by
Soap Creek, on the South by Phil
omath and On the west by Summit
precincts.
Rising to the northwest, near the
source Of the Siletz river, in an al
most unexplored and inpenetrable
portion Of the Coast Range Of noun
tains, the Luckiamute flows in south
easterly direction, entering near the
northwest corner of the precinct to
part near the center Of the precinct
where it turn S abruptly to the north,
forming the famed Kings Valley, and
leaves the precinct near the middle on
the north.
This valley is about six miles long
and two miles in width. In the early
days Of the settlement it was consider
ed one of the best grass producing
valleys in the county, and in later
years, equally good for the production
of the cereals.
In the northwest, in the bend of
Luckiamute, is a chain of moderately
high hills, the general course of which
is nearly north and south, these are
more or less open, mostly covered with
fern and yield good feed for cattle Or
sheep. A good portion of this hill
land can be cultivated and yield good
winter wheat to the highest points
To the east Of the valley is high
ridge, forming the divide between the
Luckiamute and Willamette waters,
which runs north and south. This
divide extends to a point within three
miles OF the north fork of Marys river,
where spur runs off to the southeast,
and the main divide turns suddenly to
the west and joins the divide between
the north fork and Luckiamute thus
completely closing in the Kings Val
ley with the exception of the outlet to
north. Along the fork of Mays river
is some excellent valley land, the
arabic land extending we'll uP ON the
foot hills and also up all the small
streams putting into the river.
A short distance to the southwest
from Kiug's Valley and laying consid-
erably higher is Blodget's Valley,
where William Blodger located his
claim more than thirty years ago, his
$40 acres of land embracing the
greater portion. It would take the
eye Of an artist to take in ali the beau
ties of this valley and his pencil to
portray it. But for the practical man,
it would probably be sufficient to know
that in all probability no other section
Of land in the county has yielded
greater remuneration for the labor be-
slowed than has this. North from
Blodget's Valley the hills are low,
mostly covered with good quantity Of
green timber. Between the head of
Mary's river and the Luckiamate the
hills are low and open giving good cat
tie and sheep runs.
Kings Valley when first settled was
devoted almost entirely to grazing, but
as the native grasses gradually yielded
the over-feeding to which it was sub
iect, and as the demand for grains,
vegetables and fruits increased, the
husbandmen naturally yielded to the
demand and for a number of years it
has been a grain producing section,
although stock raising has not been
entirely neglected.
The road from Corvallis to Newport
passes through the southern portion Of
the precinct through Blodget's Valley.
A road passes through Kings Valley