The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-04
CLATSOP'S GREAT
LAND WEALTH
Thousands Of Acres Of Tide Lands
Soon 10 the Market.
A RAILROAD IN THEIR MIDST
Dlkes Can BE Easily and Cheaply Con
structed--Land VIII Produce Six
Tons Of Hay Per Acre.

structed--Land VIII Produce Six
Tons Of Hay Per Acre.
Knappton. December 3.--CTo the Ed
itor.)-Bu little is TO be added 10 whai
has already been reported concerning
railroad work at this point Thirty
eight men have been at work at thii
point. and at the bridge at BlinC
slough; but few days work remain tC
be done TO complete the grade from
Knappa out TO Big Greek. The grade
east from Warren slough to Knapps
hill cut is completed. and the right Of
way is cleared through to Blind slough
The sections OF the clamshell OF the
dredger have been often broken, and
80 much delay caused by sending them
to Portland for repair that the dredger
is now being taken out, and viii b.
put at work above the other two
dredgers.
With the building of the railroad to
Astoria and the prospective increase
OF population. agricultural development
becomes an important question. But
small percentage OF the timbered
upland Of the lower river. by reason
OF its hIlly and uneven surface ia
adapted to purposes Of agriculture
as consequence the limited area, that
can be devoted TO agricultural garden
ing, has a very great prospective value.
In this article shall confine myself
to a description Of overfiowed lands
lying below oak Point and above
Tongue Point.
This island is a part OF the state OF
Washington and is bounded on the
south by the main ship Channel II
lies between westport in Oregon and
Cathlamet in Washington. and is about
Ave miles in length and contains eleven
sections. or 700 acres. The reclamation
OF this island will be expensive. in con.
sequence Of the June overflow from the
river. 1t is believed. however tha
a heavy embankment. extending around
the island. six TO eight feet in height
would completely shut out the highest
water that has been known in the river
The island is principally prairie. GOV
cred with wild grass. and portions o.
II with willow and other kinds OF wild
brush. The border of the island has q
fringe Of timber, also the drainage Of
the sloughs. The reclamation OF th'
land will be a work Of time. ever
after the embankment has been made
1t cannot be said that this kind of land
is thoroughly subdued until the 500
is entirely rotted. and this part Of the
reclamation would require two years.
When you take into consideration the
fact that this soil is inexhaustible and
will produce five TO six tons Of hay
to the acre, and bear pasturage the
entire year. when the crop of hay is
not being grown, 1t requires but little
calculation to estimate the value Of
the reclaimed land; and in view of the
fact that the period of cheap beef on
this lower river is passing away, never
to return, $3.50 per acre is not an ex-
travagant estimate. Garden truck,
adapted to this climate, grows with
great luxuriance. The island is settled
principally by fishermen, who own for
ty-five to fifty claims. They have a
church Gutheran) on the lower part
of the island, on the Westport side; a
of this island means very much. for
the purposes of taxation, to Wah-
kiakum County Washington. The
settlers have already had meetings to
discuss the subject of reclamation. What
has been said with reference to the
reclamation of this island, excepting
as to the height and size OF the dixie,
or embankment is applicable to other
lands to be described.
From Westport to Tongue Point the
area of overhowed lands, commonly
called tide lands. lying in Oregon, is
10000 acres. From Westport to the
upper mouth Of the Blind slough, a
distance of about 15 miles, are patches
of tide land, adjoining the main land,
The Blind slough district is one Of
the most interesting, and in a short
time will become one Of the most i'm
portant and valuable portions of Clat-
sop county. An ineligible description
of this district. on account of its pc
cuilar topography, is difficult. Let any
person who feels an interest in the
subject examine the United States geo.
detic and coast survey chart No ., Of
the Columbia river, in connection with
a Clatsop county map, sectionized.
Blind slough leaves the prairie chan
mel one mile above Knappa, and ex-
tends nearly due east along a head
land for three miles. Two miles inland
the slough divides. The right arm, go
ing up, extends to the mouths Of Gnat
and Rock creeks. The left arm makes
a large bend skirting the mainland
and comes into the Prairie channel
a short distance below Aldrich Point,
and three miles above the lower mouth.
BY reason Of many short bends the
distance around is from seven to ten
miles. Steamboats,, on an ordinary
tide. can make the circuit without diff
ticulty, This slough and Prairie chan
mel enclose an island. named on the