The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1888-11-09
GorOalIt5, 0a5ttte.
ABOUT THE ALSEA COUNTRY.

The following article, headed
"Alsea Valley" is taken from the
Lebanon Express of Lebanon,
Linn county, dated Oct. 18th, and
it is concerning valley in Benton
county:
"This valley is about twenty
miles west of this place. The first
settlements were made in the year
1854; and the emigrants entered
the valley on pack mules, and for
several years this was the only
means OF ingress or egress; now
they have a real good wagon road
from Philomath that crosses the
Coast range mountains just south
of Mary's peak. The denizens of
this valley are kind, hospitable
people, and considering their iso1a-
tion from the outside world, they
are we'll informed and take a lively
interest in all matters of public
interest both in church and state.
They speak of all the world as s'on
the Cutside," and regard them
selves as the very center of civil
ization.
The valley proper begins about
six miles from the summit of the
Coast range, at the confluence of
the Alsea proper and Rugels creek,
at which place there is saw mill,
planning mill and grist mill. Four
miles below and directly west of
these mills is the postofice and a
general merchandise store con-
Quoted by Moses Brothers. These
are enrerprising, reliable and
courteous young men who we'll de-
serve to succeed. One mile still
further west of the store is the saw
mill and Touring mills of the
Chandler Brothers, who also run a
blacksmith and wood shop. These
constitute all the public enterprises
in the valley, and the settlements
only extend some five miles below
this, from which point there is no
other way but trail to tide water,
which is not less than twenty
miles. The county of Benton is
aiding the citizens to open a good
wagon road to the coast, and they
hope to have it completed next
summer. This will then be the
best route for health and pleasure
seekers of Linn county going to
the coast.
Opposite the postoffice, and run
ming direct north, IS the South
Alsea river. that unites here with
the main river. The valley on
this stream for some three miles
back south is much wider than the
main valley. This entire valley is
about one mile wide OH an aver
age, with gradual sloping hills that
afford fine grazing land. The en-
tire population of all this section
is about seventy families. There
are yet a good many quarter Sec
tions of land, some of it very fine,
still open for actual settlers, and
emigrants Or anyone else wanting
desirable home would do we'll to |
visit this section. .-.-
Last June Rev. B. Ell. Baker held |
protracted meeting here, which
resulted in organizing a Cumber-
land Presbyterian church of forty
seven members. This church is
now building an elegant house of
worship near the postoffice. There
are three good schools in this val
ley, two of which are open SIX
months in the year and the other
nine months. These schools are
under the management of compe- |
tent teachers, and so far as we
could learn, are giving entire sat
isfaction.
After the fall rains, the salmon
sport and spawn in the A sea and |
all its little Tributaries. The ma
tives and many otl ers kill and
catch a great many anu salt and
pack them up in barrels and boxes
for winter use. If any of our
friends have leisure time and are
fond of this kind of sport, we
would recommend this favorite re-
sort. u