Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-09-01
SENATOR FULTON
ON COOS BAY
Great Object of Willamette Development League Is to
Secure the Opening of Competitors Deep Sea Har
bor the West Coast of Oregon Having
Transcontinenta1 Railroad Connection

Coos Bay:
Coos Bay is the natural and con
venient seaport for a large part oi
the Willamette valley and southern
Oregon. with suitable railroad con.
nections, IL Is not only the natural
outlet for said section, but will com
pete on equal footing with the Co
iumbia river and Puget sound ports
for much Of the trade of the north.
west. The day is not far distant, in
my Judgment, when the harbor OF
Coos Bay will have transcontinental
railway connections. While that
greatly-to-be-desired contamination
will vastly increase the commerce OF
the bay, II will not lessen the COM
merce and trade of the entire north
west, and hence, a more rapid and q
wider Industrial and commercial de-
velopment, producing a great volume
OF trade.
But in order that Coos Bay may
become first class port, capable OF
handling the commerce that is natur-
ally tributary thereto, II is necessary
that certain improvements Of the en-
trance and the inner harbor shall be
made. The inner harbor should be
dredged TO a minimum depth OF not
less than 81 feet nj low tide. II has
now depth OF not less than 22 feet
az low tide. with the exception of
narrow bar I'm the lower harbor,
which can be removed at nominal
cost. Indeed. the greater and re
duired depth mentioned. can be Sc
cured by very moderate expendi-
ture. The entrance to the harbor
from the ocean must be improved by
the extension OF the existing north |
1etty, and possibly II Will be neces- |
sary 10 construct a short south jetty |
Thereby depth OF from 80 90 40
feet az low tide can be secured and |
maintained, making Coos Bay one of
th' "h'eN hoih'lo WI AHN uNluN
coast.
The expense OF the suggested i'm
proyement Will not be great. as such
matters are reckoned. There is at
present time a minimum depth OF 90
feet at low water at the entrance OF
Coos Bay, the channel IL straight and
the bar Is very narrow.
The history OF the work Of improv-
ing the entrance to the harhor. 30
far as Il has been prosecuted by the
government. ls both interesting and
Instructive. In August, 1878. Major
John NJ. Wilson. engineer In charge
of the district, pursuant TO resolution
of congress. caused TO be made n
survey OF the .harbor and entrance,
md reported plans and estimates OF
'ost OF proposed project OF improve
nent. In his report. under date OF
September 80. 1873, he said: "The
,ay ls completely land-locked. pre- ,
'enting fine harbor after getting
inside"
'peaking OF the entrance. he said I
The condition OF afiairs today Ia G
ipe for the opening OF new chan I
lel. the line OF deepest water has
'een forced down toward Coos head; '
he outer sandbar has grown toward b
he north; there IL a depth OF only a
bout nine feet at low water ON the c
utter bar. although fourteen feet can
9 carried up along the west face o, O
he north sand spit. and thence To r
eep water" a
He recommended construction OF =,
jetty on the north side OF the en-
rance, aud short jetty ON the south :,
de. and estimated the cost az ssTs..
90. II vas proposed by the i'm.
rovements recommended 10 secure
minimum depth OF 20 feet OF water
low tide. But ONE jetty was con
= "ef"'a anu Anat Nh AhN hNltn sue, -
I'D before the estimated coat had
zen reached, minimum depth OF
feet OF water at low tide had been y
cared That depth has been malu- - :,
insd, although no additions or i'm. -
dement's have been made 90 the ict. -
originally constructed ID thus ap. -
ars that any improvements mace
that point viii be stable and per. 81
lnent IN
Early In the present session OF ~
nEress ] introduced IA the senate
iolnt resolution directing the sec IN
AIRY Of war 20 make a survey. and he
'ort plan OF improvement that Ian
| Insure a minimum depth OF 40 In
az low tide at the entrance of OR
" Ray, secured the adoption of thl
J resolution by the senate. and q be
" 10 the house for concurrence. tn,
- = ..afarwnl Al tka h.,uaa s.s..,.s..4s Ia.