Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-03-18
Reply to News- Reporter.
Newport, Or, March |

VI Iie NeWS-hep0rter In relation to a
shipment OF potatoes made from
Elk City in an early day, would say
the shipment was made in the Fall
OF 1872 instead of 1892 as appeared
IN the LEADER. The number ci
sacks was 500 instead of 5000.
The mistake, no doubt was a mis-
PRINT. The name of the schooner
that took the potatoes was the Liz
zie, built at Alsea by Mr.. Titus and
named after his wife. The editor
>of the News Reporter don't seem to
he very well posted in the early his
tory OF Yaquina bay or he would
have known this.
From the report of the committee
appointed to take soundings of the
river at low water from Toledo TO
Oysterville it was found that the
channel was much deeper and better
than a good many men, who pre-
tended to know, said it was.
At an early day the ranchers at
Elk City raised more potatoes than
they do now. The soil was new
and rich and produced most luxur-
lahtly all kinds of vegetables. The
purpose of the article published in
the LEADER was to show that the
channel OF Taquina was much deep
or IN an early day than it is now
after being filled with mud and sand
washed in from the rock quarries
located along the river and from the
brush and trees cut from the banks
OF tho upper river washing down
sinking and forming bars in the
channel. Before this was done
vessels Drawing from 8 to 10 feet of
water could go easily to Elk CITY the
head OF navigation. The. r. NJ
Richardson, drawing 6 or 7 feet of
water, frequently went to Elk City,
the General Wright, government
vessel, went to Elk City once or
49,,
Twice. She drew 8 to 10 feet of
water. The Volanta, a fast runn-
ing little steamer, built on the Bay.
made a number Of trips to Elk CITY.
She drew S1a or 8 feet of water
The tug Tcnquin, Capt. Loll, took
from the rock quarries at Elk CITY
IN one summer sixteen thousand
tons OF rock to be used in the iettv
work at the mouth of the Bay.
She never had any trouble going up
nor down the river towing two large
HrSes.
The logging on Depot slough also
had much to do in breaking down
the banks of the slough, the mud
and sand washing into the river
forming shoals and sand bars thus
oostructlng navigation. Then again
there is a number of snags and sub
merged logs in the channel that
should be removed.
Tho cost of improving the river in
tins way so that vessels drawing
from 10 to II feet of water would
be $4,000 or $4,000. This would
permit vessels of the above draft to
go to Elk City and Toledo without
any trouble.
1t is proper thing for the people
OF Toledo to take the initiative in
this matter and demonstrate to the
world by actual work that Yaouina
river can be made deep enough by
small outlay of money to do a
large business in the line of shipp-
u G lumber from Toledo and Elk
City to the markets of the world.
The Editor of the News-Reporter
don't believe this but | am sure it
can and will be done.
The Great Spirit has placed this
beautiful river and harbor here for
the purpose of navigation and we
should use it.
A boat now drawing twelve feet
Oh vater can go to Toledo.
A NEwPopTFR.
Tho TnlaHn Nau,,>ort T,ll Z