The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-09
THE COLUMBIA'S
DIKED LANDS
Future Source Of Wealth to the State
and the City Of Astoria.
TEST OF THE RECENT STORMS
No Breaks Made by High Tides or
heavy Rainfall-Fertile Lands OF
the State.

The reclamation Of tide lands on the
lower Columbia is an assured success.
Experiments have been made IN the
past few years both In the vicinity Of
KnRppa and on the mainland on the
west side OF Y0ungs Bay. which In
cludes warrenton and Flavel The
hardest test that the dikes were ever
subjected 20 occurred during the storm
OF Sunday and Monday The rainfall In
the twenty-four hours ending Monday
afternoon was LSl inches. the larg-
est since the establishment Of the gov
ernmcnt bureau at Astoria. with the
exception OF the record OF January %.
1895. which was I.93 inches. Joined
with this excessive rainfall. and which
on ciatsop Plains reached nearly six
inches. was the highest tide known on
this coast In many years With II all.
however. there was not break made
In the dlkes on the west side OF the
bay. The question OF dlked lands on
the Columbia having been brought into
prominence by the article published In
the Astorian OF December Ith over
the signature Of Resident" a reporter
yesterday investigated the situation on
the west side OF the bay. In view OF
the recent heavy storms. Col. John
Adair. one OF the pioneers OF that Sec
ton. volunteered TO act as guide and
In driving over the land yesterday gave
out much valuable information. He
said
In 1871 myself and brother occupied
a piece of land at the foothills here.
both OF US being bachelors at that time.
and In order 70 reclaim forty acres OF
low land We built a small dixie across
from one hin 10 another, perhaps
Of n quarter OF mile. This
forty acre tract. which cost us forty
dollars an acre 90 have plowed. and put |
into timothy. produced us a net pu oft |
N $1,000 per annum for about ten years. I
The main dixie on this peninsula, I
which was b uilt In 1855. at cost OF I
Twelve to Afteen dollars per acre for
he two thousand acres reclaimed. ex-
ended from the southwest corner OF
sberman's donation land claim north
ward along the east bank OF Skipanon
Creek 20 its mouth, thence easterly
.long the shore line TO the mouth OF
he Lewis and Clarke river, and thence
'outherly up the Lewis and Clarke
Ilong the west bank to the northeast
orner Of Truman p. Powers donation
and claim, a distance OF seven miles.
hence westerly on the north line of
aid claim about one mile. and then
outh half mile to the foothills, on the
Inc OF my present property. This
liked district covers little over 1000
cres and includes IIill creek, Holbrook
reek. Adair's creek. and Branlier's
reek, which are the main natural wa
er courses. These water courses arc
resh water having their springs In
he hills to the south, and in the upper :
'aters the finest trout can be obtained.
he lands IN this district are owned
by ID, X. and p. c. War
IN. ]. c. Trullinger NJ. J. Kinney, and
ohm and $. D. Adair
During last Sunday and Mondays
eavy storm and exceptionally high =
des was out personally, carefully in
pectlng the dikes, Not single break
as made anywhere on the line. and I u
m more than ever convinced that 9
,ese rich lands both here and on the "
pper river will prove the greatest
lckers of the future Astoria. The II
'st OF diking is insignificant compared
ith the results obtained. The land y
lch year viii produce anything and .
enriched by natures own fertilizers.
am successfully raising sugar beets
r one thing, and believe that for this y
dustry alone there Is q great future.
n the railroad front where town lots :
I'VE been laid out, In the Sunnymead. ~
erriwether Downs, Warrenton Park, :"
Id New Astoria additions, there will ~
provided cheap residence places for "
Orkmen who win be enabled to raise VI
even a small lot their own vegeta- ~
es. l certainly most heartily agree &C
th Resident" of Knappa, on the "
ked land proposition" ~