The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-02-16
BENTON COUNTY.
Description Of It's Appearance and Present
Condition BY Voting Precincts.
Written Expressly for the Gazette by q
Thirty Years Resident of
the County.

bllO SOuAbJs
YAoUINA PRECINCT
Extends along the coast from the
north line of the county to Lower
Alsea precinct, at Beaver Creek, being
about IS miles from north to south and
four miles east and west, being bound
ed on the north by Til nook county,
on the east by Toledo and on the
outh by Lower Alsea precincts and
on the west by the Pacific ocean.
This precinct embraces the Yaquina
Bay, the entrance to which is about
equal distance from its north and south
boundaries. Entering the Bay from
the ocean the course is nearly north
east, which gradually changes to east
until at about four miles it turns sud
denly to the south for two miles, when
it again turns to the east, where the
Bay terminates.
The entrance is between an abrupt
sandy bluff on the north and low
sandy beach on the south, little less
than half mile. The Bay then grad
ually widens to one and a quarter
miles, to point where it turns to the
south when it narrows to less than
half a mile. A portion of the water is
shoal fat, but ample ship room re
mains with a depth of water nowhere
less than 80 and up to 50 feet, with
good holding ground for anchors.
There are two large tide sloughs that
empty into the Bay from the south.
The Bay is surrounded by low hills
which mostly rise almost from the
waters edges and these hills protect
the harbor both from the northwest
and southerly storms. The tide flats
surrounding the Bay are narrow, the
hills are mostly denuded of timber,
giving good range for stock with good
feed on all the hills. Between that
portion of the Bay that runs north and
south, and the ocean beach, is range
of low hills. About two miles east
and west and about the same north
and south, this tract is nearly free
from timber and brush, comparatively
level, sloping to the ocean, and having
good view seaward. Cattle on this
tract would find plenty of feed and no
obstruction to their range. This is all
taken up, but is almost entirely without
stock to eat the abundance of grass
that grows but to be wasted. Just
east of that portion Of the Bay above
referred to, and over a low range of
hills, half mile distant, is a level
open plane that surrounds the head of
Boon slough, which emptles into
Yaquina river, about ten miles from
the beach. This plane embraces coun-
try sufficient for five or six homsteads
and is all occupied and well stocked
with cattle which keep fat the year
around. North of the Bay for two
miles and extending inland about one
mile, is range of sandy hills 200 or
600 feet above the level of the ocean,
covered with scrub pine and af-
fording but scanty herbage. Four
miles north of the Bay is Cape Foul
weather, where is situated the light
house, this first class white light, un-
der the care of Captain Wass, whom
visitors will find to be genial and ac-
commodating gentleman. The outer
potion of the Cape is owned by the
government as a lighthouse reserva-
ton, the remainder, which is all clear
of timber is owned by Geo. Meggeson
and Thos. Briggs, who have it well
stocked with cattle and sheep. Sur
rounding the Cape the country is not
rough but covered with spruce timber
and almost impenetrable underbrush.
About seven miles south of Yaquina
is Beaver creek, on which is much
good level land, some of which is in
clined to be wet, but could net be
classed as swamp land.