The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-03-30
BENTON COUNTY,
Description Of 1ss appearance azG 2rsssat
Co2dit!sn by Voting Fgs:is:tss.
Writer. Expressly +oT she Gazette by 6
Thirty Years Resident sf
the County.
PHILCMATH PRECINCT.

The north fork of Mary's river from
where it leaves the coast range to 2
point near the residence Of Jerry Lilly
and u line produced east from that
point, forms the north boundary of
the precinct, from there it extends
south to the south boundary Of town
ship I2 south distance of 9 miles.
From Muddy and line produced
north from the mouth Of the same it
extends west to the summit of the
coast range a distance of about II
miles, being bounded on the north by
Kings valley and a part of Soap Creek
On the east by Corvallis, on the south
by Willamette and west by Tum Tum
precincts. -
The north fork of Mary's river runs
along the north boundary of the pre-
cinct, and while the general course is
east it makes long bends to the north
and south and when within , or 3
miles of east boundary turns abruptly
to the south, to point near the mid
die ofthe precinct, where it is joined
By the south fork from the southwest,
and Fl ows east towards the Willamette.
The south fork rises in the Coast
range little south of Mary's Peak,
the course being northeast. Hinkle
creek rises on and around the east side
of Mary's Peak and runs east into the
south fork.
The northeast corner of the pre-
cinct, the portion lying east Of the
river where it turns to the south, con
sists Of high bold hills with a few
patches of timber and brush, but prin-
cipslly grass lands, that furnish great
deal of feed. There is = similar tract
of land on the west embraced in the
bend of the river as 1t makes = long
sweep,to the south; this embraces what
is known as the Keys. place now
owned by John Rickard. South Of the
river and east of the south fork is q
long high ridge the course Of which
corresponds with the south fork. The
west side of this ridge is steep almost
down to the water and heavily timber
ed. Cn the east it falls off gradually
to Muddy, on this tract are good foot
hill farms. Along Mary's river are
some excellent bottom lands. On the
south fork the bottoms are narrow, a
goodly portion Of the cultivating land
being en- the foct hills. A large por
ton of the soil in this fork being sticky
land giving rise to the name "Greasy'
by which the south fork is known
Extending south from the north fork
and west OF the south fork, is portion
of broken land laying on the side o.
the Coast range and extending up the
side of Mary's Peak. In places along
this stretch are comparatively. leve
spots suitable for cultivation, but the
greater portion being heavily timbered
The greater portion of this timber /;
of the smaller class suitable for rails
or farm ttrabers, still there is a grca
deal OF saw timber in this belt.
There is saw mill on the soutf
fork where it emerges from the noun
| tains, known as the old Huffman mill
Ichabod Hinkle has one at his place OF
Hinkle creek, and Chas. Logsdon ha.
one near the junction of the north ane
south fork. These are all water mills
the logs for which are brought dow
the river. The o. P. R. R. Co. hav
a portable steam saw mill in the hill
near Ichabod Hinkles.