Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1886-12-24
CURRY COUNTY.
[BY J. d. rIcIIENoR.l

VI 6 E6 4 CDU II 4 n
BY J. B. rICIiENoR.
Curry county is situated in the southwest
corner of the State. Its extent from north 10
south is about y miles, and It's average width
is about "a miles. 1t has an area Of about
2,44S square miles, being larger than the state
OF Delaware andtwicc the size OF Rhode Island
The climate is remarkably healthlul and nvig-
Grating. 1t is subject TO no extremes: The
average temperature Of winter is AZ, and of
summer, GO.
The natural resources OF Curry county can
be surpassed by no county in the state in
many respects. The land in this county is
destined in time to be extremely valuable, not
only on account Of its contiguity to the sea
port of Oregon, but on account OF its exceed
ing fertility. The farming lands is not so ex-
tensive as it is in some counties in the state,
but the quality of the soil where it is cult
vated, can not ne excelled. It is admirable
for vegetables, root crops, and above all for
stock raising and DAIRY products. The for
ests constitute great source ofwcalth. They
embrace cedar, yellow and red fir, spruce,
hemlock, myrtle, ash, oak, and maple IN mex
haustable quantities. The cedar Is of the
choicest quality, free from knots and rot.
The fir has no equal on the coast. The
myrtle, ash, and maple can be found on all
the creeks and river bottoms. The minerals
are gold, copper and coal. Placer and beach
mining is carried on extensively IN different
portions Of the county. The streams abound
with fish, and the forests are filled with game.
Ellensburg, the county seat, and the most
important town in the county, situated on the
south bank of Rogue river half mile above
its mouth, was named after Ellen, the young
est of Capt. Tichenor's two daughters, who
were the first two white girls in the county
Ellensburg is quite noted seaport town.
Rogue river is rapid and turbulent stream.
Tide water extends only four miles from It's
mouth, at which point it reaches and is
stopped by the first rapids.
The entrance is good for light-draft vessels
say not TO exceed 100 tons-vessels drawing
not oyer eight feet Of water A reef two
miles north Of the main land forms shelter
to the entrance. The bar is short, seldom be-
ing more than one breaker, and there are no
rocks in the way. In southern gales the seas
do not set in as heavy as they do at the CO.
qullle, Coos bay or Umpqua.
Among the industries Of this place is the
unsurpassed salmon fishery, Mr.. Il. D. Humes
canning and packing establishment The
present year Mr.. Hume paid $o65.25 taxes
on his property in Ellensburg. A great por
ton Of the land in the vicinity of Ellensburg
sonsists of rolling prairies adapted to both
agricultural and grazing purposes. Wool
growing is a branch of industry which meets
with gratifying success in this region, and the
quality of fine wool raised for Shipment in
creases yearly.
Port Oxford, the oldest town in the county,
and the second in importance, is lo miles north
of Elensburg. Port Oriord was founded in
1851 by Capt. Wm. Tichenor. The site is
salubrious, and affords fine view ofthe oc can
and the surrounding country, which enlivened
by variety of evergreens, presents even in
winter lovely landscape. Port Oxford har-
Dor is situated in latitude AZ 45' north,
longitude ia go west. 1t is the most
westerly port on the American coast, south of
Alaska. 1t is the best and most capacious
roadstead or summer harbor between San
Francisco and Puget Sound. 1t is just mid
way between the two places, and is 22o miles
south OF the Columbia river. 1t IS deep,
broad bay, having on the west and north
$50 feet altitude. The bottom is sand and
mud, clear and free, and gives good'anchorage.
A quarter Of mile outside of the extreme
south point of the heads the water decpens
rapidly, and soon attains a great depth, the
effect Of which is TO prevent heavy ground
swells setting in Il! the roadstcad. The har
Dor is three miles broad; there is no sunken
rocks; all the dangers are above water The
bay is efectualy protracted on three sides by
high and prominent land The heads are for
med of most durable rock, with bold water
from four 10 seven fathoms Immediately against
them. Northwest fogs seldom enter the road
stead of Port Oxford, peculiarity which dis
tinguishes il from all other harborS south of the
Columbia. \ ma ority of the board of the
Pacific Coast Engineers decided that this was
the proper place to construct the harbor OF
refuge-that it possessed more natural advan-
tages than any other place between San Fran
cisco AMI the Straits of Fuca. The location
for building brcakwater north of San Fran
cisco has been permanently settled, and Port
Oxford is the point. A wall constructed in
line east by south from the extreme southerly
point of the heads, four hundred yards in
length, would at any and every season OF the
year protect fifty vessels of the largest size, and
would answer the demands of commerce for
many years. The cost Of building the wall is
estimated at. 5000, 900. II greater accom-
mediation should be required in the future, the
the wall could be extended mile and half,
leaving then sufficient space for vessels of the
largest burden ''to round to-, take in sail and
come to anchor in any gale, with no fear Of
lee shore. Congress has already appropriated
$4,000 for the commencement OF the con-
struction of port Of refuge at this place, and
it is to be hoped that the work will soon be-
gin, and pushed to its early completion.
No point on the coast would become one OF
such local importance as Port Oxford If the
asylum was built there, owing to its surround
ings and natural resources. There should be
a railroad from the valley to that point for the
purpose Of shipping grain In large bottoms to
any mart in the world, and save transhippinp
in San Francisco, which is the case when
shipped from any port on the Oregon coast ex-
cept from the Columbia river.
The population of Curry county is 1870,
Inhabitants about one 10 every two square
miles. Owing to the want of wagon road into
the interior OF the state, she pays tribute al.
most exclusively TO California. In the hands
OF Californians she is much like an orange:
they are squeezing out the juice and leaving
Oregon the rind. This would be overcome in
a great measure If there were roads through
the country. Her population would be much
larger to-day If she had wagon roads. The
few inhabitants cannot afford to devote all their
time to road labor. Curry has done well IN
regard to road matters being as sparsely se.-
tied as she is. Her citizens deserve much
credit for constructing bridges across her turb-
ulent streams, which has been attended with
much difficult work and great expense. There
is no wagon road from Port Orford TO Chetco.
a distance of sixty. FIVE miles. A petition to
the legislature IS being extensively circulated
at this time, and numerously signed by her
people asking Tor $4,000 to construct a wa
! al.