The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-03-02
BENTON COUNTY.
Description Of It's Appearance and Present
Condition by Voting Precincts.
Written Expressly for the Gazette by 9
Thirty Years Resident Of
the County.

Written Expressly for the Gazette by a
Thirty Years Resident Of
the County.
ELK CITY PRECINCT
extends from the north boundary of
the county near the Siletz river, south
to Tide Water and east and west from
line north and south from the mouth
of Mill creek to line extending north
and south from the point where Little
Elk creek joins the Yaquina river,
being bounded on the north by the
county line, east by Summit, south by
Tide Water and west by Toledo pre-.
cincts, being IS miles from north to
south and 8 miles from east to west.
A strip along the north portion Of
the precinct, some three miles in width,
is within the limits of the Siletz Indian
reservation. Rock creek enters near
the northwest corner, runs west about
two miles when it empties into the
Siletz river, which continues westerly
across the precinct, and soon bends to
the north and leaves the county.
Along these streams is some good bot
tom land, but are not subject to home
steads. About four miles further
south is the Yaquina river, the general
IL
on an air line, but much further by the
windings of the stream. 1t then bears
to the south for four or five miles to
where it unites with Elk river. whence
it is five or six miles to the north
boundary of the precinct. Some three
miles south from Yaquina river at the
mouth of Little Elk creek and over
prominent dividing ridge, is Bear creek,
and one and half miles further Beaver
creek, beth tributaries of Elk river and
one and one half miles further Elk
river is reached. Following down from
this point the river makes a large bend
to the south and then to the north, so
that the river after some ten miles of
meandering is near the starting point.
At the extreme northern point of this
bend Bear creek enters and Beaver
creek half mile further south. From
the mouth of Bear creek the river runs
nearly west for five miles to the juno
ton with Yaquina.
From Elk river south to the divide,
towards Alsea, the country is rough
and probably few places are worth at
tention. On Bear and Beaver creeks
are good bottom lands, suitable for cul-
tivation and much of the hill land ad-
Joining these creeks car be cultivated
and all will make the best of grazing
lands. On Elk river in this vicinity
are large cherry bottoms. From Bear
creek to where it unites with Yaquina
river are good bottom lands, the great
err portion being in cultivation. With
in the vicinity of these creeks is still an
opportunity for taking claims, and we
consider them amongst the best to be
taken, especially for cattle or sheep
ranching. Between Elk and Yaquina
rivers is high dividing ridge, which
gradually falls off towards Yaquina, cut
up by gulches, but below these is a
great deal of table land in many places
comparatively level and suitable for
cultivation, and nearly all suitable for
stock grazing. Along the Yaquina
river are narrow bottoms which have
been taken up and more or less in cul-
tivation for number of years past.
Between the Yaquina and the Siletz is
range of hills not high and every
where open and suitable for stock rails
ing; among these hills are a number of
creeks empyting into the Yaquina river,
along these are bottoms that yield
good grass and where cultivated very
productive.
/ The west and northwest portion OF
the precinct is rough but not SO much
so as to prevent stock grazing on the
hills, but there are but few level places
The am ount of green timber in the
PRECINCTS small, but there is sufficient te
supply the local demands. In many
places groves of fir timber are spring
ing up, these make very rapid growth
J trees that have sprung up within the