The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-04

United states geOdetic chart LONG
Island" In general outline II is Z
right-angied triangle. the hypothenuss
extending from the lower mouth oi
Blind slough In northeasteriy direc-
tiOn to the upper mouth; the base run
ming easterly from the lower mouth
There Is In the island 2400 acres. The
railroad embankment, crossing the Isl.
and. divides II into two nearly equal
parts. II Is high tide land. Ordinary
tides do not back the water on to It.
but extremely high tides at Astoria,
say nine TO ten feet. coming in with a
heavy southeriy blow, carry the water
onto the island three or four feet deep.
The island IL about fourteen miles
above Astoria. On account OF the great
breadth OF the Columbia at this point,
the June rise in the river has but little
effect here, not increasing the height
Of the tide more than three or four
inches. This island has some timber,
mainly along the outer bank and firing
Ing the sloughs. Most OF the sloughs
extending into the island are small,
and are dry at low tide. They are
natures drainage bitches. The water
here is entirely fresh. the island being
twenty-three TO twenty-five miles above
the mouth Of the river The incoming
salt tide does not render the water
brackish more than four or five miles
above Tongue Point, and that mainly
at the bottom OF the river. The outer
boundary banks Of the island are high
and firm. there being no wear from
the swash Of the steamers. The island
diked as whole would enclose a mag
nificent and valuable body Of land.
The railroad company viii allow dIlkes
to be connected with their grade under
certain restrictions having reference to
drainage.
A dixie or embankment laid up on
these tide lands rapidly solidifies by
reason Of the uuobstructed drainage
through bitches made along the base
OF the emhankment. This fact gather
from my own experience in diklng tide
land. and from an inspection Of the
railroad grade laid upon the tide land.
Adjoining the mainland bordering
this great Blind slough loop, from the
upper to the lower mouth, including the
Gnat slough region. are fne bodies of
tide lands, ranging in area from ten
to 200 acres. One mile up the slough
from Aldrich Point several parties have
small bodies diked. with pleasant
homes on the upland. Three parties
have reclaimed 70 acres with 100 yards
of dixie. The tract is a veritable valley
surrounded by beautiful evergreen tim
bered hills. and the owners are making
this small valley garden. A mile fur
ther on. two other parties have reclaim
ed 125 acres by 400 yards Of dixie. con-
Meeting two headlands.
The whole circuit abounds in the most
magnificent building sites lying but
few feet above the tide land; the purest
OF water from springs and small
streams. Further around. bordering
Gnat Slough, is an area OF 200 acres Of
tide land that can be reclaimed by a
dixie 500 or 900 yards long. connecting
two headlands. This tract lies in front
of what is commonly called the Davis.
or Big Bottom.
Here viii state that in former ar
ticle gave my estimate Of the amount
Of merchantable timber in the valleys of
Gnat and Rock creeks. at five hundred
million feet. Since then parties, prob
ably better informed than myself. have
claimed that my estimate was too low.
In these valleys are many tracts of
level bottoms and bench land. that will,
after timber has been removed, be set
tied, and on them will be made splendid
ranches. There are some ravines, can
yons and hills that will be of more value
for a second growth Of timber than for
any other purpose.
1t is claimed that on the tide lands at
and above Knappa, cranberries can be
probably cultivated.
On Big Creek above the railroad
grade are 20 acres Of tide land. In re-
gard to the amount of tide lands below
Eddy Point, at Minaker's, above and
below Svenson's Landing, and up John
Days river, am not prepared to speak.
Small bodies of tide land are in each
of these localities.
There are four important islands in
the Columbia river. lying below Puget
Island on the Oregon side. First is an
island opposite Clifton. which, for pur-
poses OF designation. name Island No.
1. 1t contains 100 acres, can be fully
protected by dixie 16 feet base, 6 feet
high. 1t has no timber and some brush.
Island No. 2 below and lying south of
Woody Island. contains 600 acres, and
can be diked the same as Island No. l.
Island No. 3, opposite Long Island, one
Blind Slough, contains 1850 acres. There
is considerable brush on the island, and
on the margin a few very beautiful cot
tonwood trees
This island can be reclaimed by a
dixie with 16 feet base and feet high.
The railroad company owns 100 acres
on the front of the island.
Island No. 4, on the southwest, sep
arated from Island No. by Chadwick
Slough, contains $50 acres. The island
Continued on Fourth Page.)