4
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE, FRIDAY, EBllUARY 7, 1S0O.
THE WATER TO HIGH!
The Flood of 'Gl Completely
Outdone. '
THE DAMAGE IS OllEAT.
At Oregon' City the Rive" Rose to a
Poirit Three Feet Above That of
1861. .Corvallis 0 K.
The winter of 1861-62 has always
been referred t& as the' "great flood"
time in Oregon. . If you begunNjues
tioning any old-settler about high
water, etc., he would' always give yon
n answer, with "but not up to 61 and
2" tacked on to the ending of his
answer. -
But what can he say nov ?
The first week in February, 1890,
has .done him up, and the valley in
general.
With the foothills well covered with
snow, the mountains, still more so, and
the ravines chock full, then nearly a
constant downpour of rain for ten
days, and the temperature moderately
warm, how could anything else but a
deluged country be looked for.
Such has been the cas9 this time.
The Willamette river and all its trib--ntaries
began to tear loose on Saturday
last and at midnight on Tuesday the
highest notch at this city was reached
28 feet and some inches. Corvallis
18 "THE HEART OF THE VALLEY;
she
has escaped with but. a scratch. For
three and four miles across the river
east of here it was and yet is nothing
. but a vast expanse of water, with a
few bunches of timber sticking their
tops above the dirty liquid, and the
roofs of the houses and barns looking
as though wondering what they were
there for. A portion of the govern
ment works has gone and the princi
pal current of the river is cutting
across probably a mile from this city
very little driftwood has been seen to
go by here on this account. Mary's
river kept up with the "prosesh" and
raised until she couldn't get any higher
overflowing the banks in all directions.
The bridge lias stood the strain, only
the south end moving down stream a
foot or two and both approaches swept
wy. The, principal curren"; cut
across the flat, and it was water, water
everywhere, from Homing's wagon
shop, at south end of Main street,
cross 'to. the flour mill of H. F.. Fisher,
and around to and in the residence of
Mrs. Arch Johnson, a few hundred
yards south of Mary's river bridge.
In the northern portion of the city
the water ' backed into the sawmill
covering the boiler and engine, flooding
everything along the river road, and
extending across the fields and pas
tures almost to the road leading oufc
from 9th street, covering the S. P.
-track for several hundred yards to the
depth of three feet. V
Lucky enough for all was it that the
steamer Wni. M. Hoag was above the
Salem and Albany, bridges for she ar
rived here Saturday afternoon and
since that time has been kept feusy re
lieving the warehouses above here,
which were liable to be flooded, of
their grain. Sunday she went up as
far as Peoria and returned with 200
tons of grain from Tyra Smith's place.
Tuesday she went to Finley's ware
house, over 14 miles from here, and
returned with 3,000 sacks of grain and
Mr. Finley's family; the water was just
at the floor of the building when she
arrived. It was also 18 inches deep in
Mr. F.'s house and the family had
been cempelled to remain up stairs
since Sunday.
Telegraph communication ,with Al
bany has been cut off since Monday
morning, and the . U.'line to Port-
. land worked only by spells during the
week. : No report from 'Salem and east
side places could be had only by' Inde
pendence, and that very meagre.
. . The three-span bridge across the
Willamette at Salem gave way caused
by the undermining of a pier and now
the greater part of that structure is
, lodged a few miles below that city on
an island. Great damage l is reported
in other parts of the city. - "
At Independence the city was flood
ed to their main street) several build
iugs were washed away. , ' " -" '"' '.'.
" -Wheatland, a town 16 miles below
Salem on the Polk county side, was
. covered and every one left the place.
A lot of wheat was badly damaged.
-All the river points suffered great
damage, anil, it is supposed, Oregon
City has fared the worst. . . - .j
At Albany a 31-foot rise wes report
ed on Tuesday morning. The river
front was completely submerged but
the Oregon Pacific bridge is safe.
Between here and Albany several
yards of the Oregon Pacific track was
badly damaged, and workmen and
bridge carpenters are how rushing the
reconstruction. The passenger train
for Yaquina on Saturday .did not get
to the latter place, until Wednesday
morning - owing to the condition of the
track. A work train passed through
here on Sunday and attended to the
repairs) arriving .back Wednesday af
ternoon, being at work now on road
to Albany. ' The west side S.-P. track
is all unsafe bridges and culverts
gone, and no train from Portland since
Saturday last. The first Oregon Pa
cific passenger from Yaquina for five
days came over yesterday morning,
but went no further east. .
V The greatest loss to Corvallis during
the storm has been the non-appearance
of mail from the "outside world."
This'writer would have given his best
hat for an Oregonian or Salem States
man on Tuesday forenoon he has the
hat yet but no paper; how much longer
will this be?
'.;." "' . NOTES. " ' - '
The water climbed over the banks
near tfle ferry landing andon Tuesday
evening was about 10 inches deep in
the boiler room of the electric light
building, but it did not interfere with
the furnace and ever thing moved
along as though it was a usual thing. .
Water was about six iuches deep in
the yard of A. Hodes' on First street.
Reports of loss of stock are beginning
to come in now.
At different times on Monday and
Tuesday gun shots could be heard as
though parties were calling for aid
Tuesday the blowing of a horn could
beJieard as though coming from up the
river. It was thought to be some of
the residents on the island above here.
While tied up atFiuley's landing on
Tuesday afternoon the captain and
second engineer cf the steamer Hoag
took one of the small boats and rowed
across 'the lowlands- for three miles
back. A twelve-loot oar was stuck
down aud the depth of the water was
beyond it.
THURSDAY.
Vith a very fair day on Wednesday
the water began to recede slowly and
from 11:30 a. m. to 3 p. to. the mark
showed a decrease of 3 inches. A'ong
about . 4 o'clock (Wednesday) the
clouds began to break away and by
night it was "clear a3 a belli" all over
and the moon shining brightly.: The
river still kept up a slow pace in falling
but between midnight and 8 "o'clock
this (Thursday) morning it got right
down to quick work and showed over a
3-foot fall. The buildings across from
here began to look more like their
former selves and everybody was re
joicing.
3 p. m. The Mary's river bridge
gave in to the flood at this hour and
now lies on its right side lengthwise of
the stream along the - north bank
This is the greatest loss to Corvallis
and Benton county yet heard of. G o
Waggoner, Mr. Wilk-ins, and another
gentleman, were ?n the bridge at -the
time, but as soon as the i structure be
gan to go they .scrambled '.for. terra
firma. Mr. Wilkins fell, in so doing,
and, with the exception of getting wet
got out all right. In a few hours after
wards nien were at work tearing the
bank-connector to pieces,
PHIDAY.
Reports are beginning to come in from
oyer the county now. A gentleman from
the Alsea country says no one can. imagine
the terrible amount of . damage done along
that stream. Before the rains began there
was from 4 to-6 feet of' snow . ou the low
lands ami 10 feet on the mountains. ' This
furnished a terrible amount of water' and
raised every stream higher than was ever
before known in the country's history..
land slide started on the A. Wood place and
tons upon tons of dirt was carried; down,
Barns, u.ills, and other buildings are swept
away. The road from Philomath to Alsea
is no where to be found,plainly speaking,
Correct reports of the amount of damage
done cannot be. secured this week.
Marion Ruble's fine mill, and all bis other
buildings are entirely 'gone. ' His loss is
great,
On the John Ray tarm, in King's Valley,
a land slide ruined a portion of hie wheat
field and filled up. the road to a great depth.
Fencing was carried away. It also took
Chas. Franz's logging camp into, the creek.
On the Luckiamu te two bridges are reported
oat .- John Wells, - Jr., reports that the
water came up within two feet of his house,
but no particular damage was doue. Roy
Price and family were compelled to abandon
their home as water was about a. foot deep
in the building, Xhree million feet of logs
were held on the Luckiamute above the
valley? which will be a great savine.fand
prevented further damage. Everybody
was pretty badly scared. There are numer
ous other slides in the county but it will
take time to get full reports concerning the
oss caused by them. .
Up to 10 o'clock this (Friday) morning
the water has gone down about 9 feet-
falling about 3 iuches an hour.
RELIEF COMMITTEE.
At their meeting last uight the board of
trade, among other business, passed the fol
lowing resolution, and it will be acted upon
right away: - -
Whereas." the overflowing of the Wil
lamette and Mary's - river has caused more
or less damage to property owners along
said .rivers in our county, tneretore, De it
Resolved, that a committee of three be
aoBointed bv the chair to investigate who
may have sustained damage by reason of
sail flood in enr county and report if an)
person need assistance. . .
The chair appointed the following com
mittee: 8. N. Wilkins, E. Allen, and D.
C. Rose. Any person requiring assistance
should apply to this committee, who will do
all possible in the matter.' - -.:
VERY LATEST.
Special to Uie Gazette. .
Oregon City; Feb. 7. The river
thi3 place fell three feet yesterday.
By actual measurement the river
on . Wednesday registered three
feet higher than during ; the flood
of '61. Terrible damage done.
The breakwater known" as th4
ubasin" gave way and washed off
down the stream. In order to
save the steamer Three' Sisters,
which is here, she was pulled just as
far in next to the bank as possible,
and when the water began to fall
it came so sudden 'that it left the
boat on the roadway, between here
and Canemah .where she now is
high and dry. - The locks are com
pletely locked.
In '61 the water wasflowing all
over the south end of Main street
in Oregon City, and, with three
feet more than at that- time, the
whole citv must have been flooded
- FROM EUGENE.
E. JY McClanahan, real estate
broker,bf Eugene, M. Herrington,
and two other gentlemen, arrived
in Corvallis in a small boat this
(Friday) afternoon at 3 o'clock,
having left there yesterday after
noon. The water at Eugene was
14 inches above the '81 rise only,
no damage was done An t her city
limits. The Springfield bridge
was swept away and: all but the
main span-of the Eugene bridge,
Ihe coast fork structure is a total
loss, and to save the McKenzie
bridge the : approaches were cut
away, liiese gentlemen report
the Harrisburg railroad " bridge
as all o. k. They were bound for
Portland and expect to go as far-
as New Era, only, in the skiff as it
would be a dangerous undertaking j
to attempt to go through the Rock ;
Island rapids.
ABOUT SALEM.
On Thursday afternoon the
"Gazette telegraphed to parties at
Salem for a flood report from that
city. No answer was received up
to 2 o'clock to-day, when another
'call" was sent. .,; Again no answer.
It is safe t i say. 3 that the insane
asylum, penitentiary, and - state
house did not float away, and that
the. state treasurer is" saying as
usual "not : paid for want - of
lunds." -. .
There were no trains running into
Corvallis diuin the flood of '61 be
cause there were no railroads in Ore
gon. This time no trains are running,
not because there are no railroads but
because: they are all In" a badly . (de
moralized condition. .-- T - ' ,
Mose L. Kline, who has been acting
as book-keeper for the past' three years
for Goldsmith fc Loewen&erg, hard
ware and "stove ' dealers, Portland,
is now their traveling fgent. Last re
ports he was stormbound at Roseburg.
- There waara session of the , county
court this- week, it being the time for
the February : term." Commissioner
Logan and Judge Holgate constituted
the quorum.
I A case of "scarlet fever is reported
in ,Corvallis. The little son of James
Taylor is so afflicted. Dr. Farra is at
tending him. V t
Some cases of la grippe are still
noted in this city. The latest to be
attacked is F. M. Tohnson. - '
- u T Tavlor. the barber, now shaves for
Jl5 cents, - -.-'-' - --rrr..,:
WATER DITCH TALK!
Three Ways of Construction
-. Presented.
FIGURES WILL TELLv
It will Require Plenty of "Digging'
no Matter how Short the Dis
tance may be.
The question of a water ditch' has
been disenssed so much during the
past year that it may not be amias to
present some figures in regard to it.
The proposition is, we believe, to tap
the Will am ntte river somewhere south
of the city of Corvallis; bring the wa-
toi out onto the prairie through a race;
over Mary's river in a flume, and dis
charge it onto turbine water wheels
along Corvallis' river front.
We will suppose the distance be
tween the surface of water in the race
on First street and tail water on the
surface of the river is twenty feet; it
would be more than that during Jhe
summer and less during the high water
season, but, for our'calculntion, we will
take twenty feet. -In ordt-r thafthe
enterprise may be of practical benefit,
we ought to have water enough flow
ing through the best form of turbine
wheels to develop" between five and
six hundred horse power, say 560.
This will require, , if the fall is twenty
feet, 16,700 cubic feet of water per
minute which would be enougn for ten
Small factories. To get this amount of
water, will require a ditch of certain
size depending on what is called grade
in railroads but slope in hydraulics.
Suppose we try a slope of three feet
per mile. A ditch on this slope, 19.7
feet wide on the bottom, 27.7 feet
wide on top and four "feet deep, will
deliver 16,779 cubic feet per minute,
if running full and no loss by seapage;
this is the amount we require, and if
all the conditions : cau be complied
with, is a cheap ditch. It is believed,
by many, that there is a point about
twelve miles south of Corvallis where
the water can be taken out of the
river. Twelve miles at three feet per
mile is 36 feet, and with the 20 feet
to start with we have 20 plus 36 or 56
feet, which is the fitll the river must
have in coming from the 12 mile point
to Corvallis; and if it has not this fail,
it must- be raised by a dam at the
12-milepoint in order to 'fulfill the con
ditions. As it is probable that the river has
not this fall, and as the benefits to be
derived would not be worth a dam of
this -magnitude, let us try a ditch on a
lighter slope, say one itnd a half feet
per mile.' A ditch 23 feet wide on the
bottom, 36 feet wide on top and 4 feet
deep, if running full and no loss by
seapage, would deliver 16,550, cubic
teet per minute, about the amount we
want, and the elevation of the river
at the 12-mile point must be 18 plus
20 or 38 - feet; if it is not so, a dam
must be built as in the former case.
Let us try a ditch on a slope of three
fourths of a foot per :Tmile. A ditch
39.'2 feet wide on the bottom, 47.2 feet
wide on top and 4 feet deep, running
full and no loss, would deliver 16,970
cubic leet of water peir minute; this
again is about the amount of water
we want. The rise of the river must
be 20 plus 9 or 29 feet from Corvallis
to the 12-mile point If the total rise
of the river, in getting to any given
point, does not carry it up to the eleva
tion required by the canal at the same
point, ws'ter cannot be taken out with
out the construction of a dam, which
is the way the. neces:.ary head is
usually obtained. ' v j
If we get water out of the Willam
ette, .12 . miles south of Corvallis or
any other distance, it will be by a very
flat slope and a very wide ditch for the
first three or four miles. . C.
Corvallis, Feb. 4, 1890.
PUBLIC SCHOOL NOTES.
Robert Wilson was a welcome visitor
on Wednesday. He made very ulens
ant and pertinent remarks to the pu
pils in Mr. Yates' and Mrs. Callahan's
rooms. - '
The-literature class in Hamlet are
highly interested in the subject.
; "The duke yet lives that Henry
shall depose, and him outlive, and die
a violent, death." Query subject" of
die? - - -
. The class in book-keeping are doing
excellent work, - vrry. thorough and
systematic. - . -v
The attendance is somewhat de
creased on account of bad colds. ,"
Since the new boiler has been put
in the rooms can be kept at an even
temperature.
Fku it Gho wees' Association. I
Hon. Geo. A. Waggoner, of. Cor
vallis. is trying to receive the
operation of the , citizens here and
throughout Penton county in or
ganizing a fruit growers'- associa
tion. After examining several of
the prune orchards in this state,
he thinks. the rolling uplands of
Benton county especially adapted
to the production, of this kind.of
fruit as well- as apples, pear?,
plums, and others for which the
country has a famous reputation.
Mr. ,W., in his enterprise, contem
plates a joint stock company with a
capital of $30,000, which, should
he succeed, and there are very
favorable prospects of -so doing,
would give Benton county the
name of having the largest prune
orchard in the state. It has not
been until recently that the cul
ture' of prunes has attracted the
attention which . the demand for
them and the high price they bear
would seem to justify, but their
production on uplands and river
bottom lands in the Willamette
valley has several years ago passed
the experimental stage, and many
farmers engaged in their culture
have already gathered rich har
vests as a reward for their foresight
and industry. This enterprise has
an honest claim for the support of
every person interested in the pros
perity of this state. Competition
with the low wage earners of India
and Russia in the production of
wheat has so far reduced its price
in the world's markets that the
people of Oregon cannot expect to
prosper while breadstuffs is their
principal staple. Europe is n
longer compelled to depend on
this country lor her bread, but will
buy all the fruit and pay for it,
largely, and it has been demon
strated that the very best varieties
that Oregon raises can be grown
n
iit here in greater abundance
and at less expenditure than an3r
where else. .
A Dandy Polick Force. If the
ordinance regulating - the po'ice
; force is signed by the maj or, Ba
ker City can boast of the dandy
police force not only of the Pacific
coast but of the whole world. The
ordinance provides that no regu
lar policeman of this city, while
on duty, shall enter or remain in
any saloon, house, loom or build
ing, whatsoever, excepting , on
business connected with his duties
as such . policeman, . nor shall he
while upon duty, drink or partake
of any spirituous, malt, vinous or
Other intoxicating liquors what
ever. Neither shall he -be the
owner or in any manner interested,
either directly or indirectly, in any
saloon, barroom, drinking shop,
billiard-room or ball alley. No
officer shall, While upon duty, be
guilty of using any profane or
abusive language to or concerning
any person or persons, or of con
ducting himself in a violent or dis
orderly manner. Blade.
Public Park for Oregon. The
senate has passed a bill granting
to the state of Oregon townships
27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 south, in
ranges 5 and 6, east of the Wil
lamette meridian, for a public
park. This location of a proposed
public park takes in part of both
Douglas and Klamath counties, in
cluding the wonderful Crater lake.
The center of the park will be
fifty miles east of Roseburg and
the same distance north of Link
ville, and . will - be thirty miles
north and south by twelve, miles
east and west. ' ' "
One Only. One r solitary mar
riage license was issued in County
Clerk Wilson's office : during Jan
uary, and that t was on the. i 6th.
Grove Albert, Peterson and Clara
E. Starr re granted the right to
become one. .
It is thought a train will reach her from
Portland about Monday next, ; .
Struck bv ' a ; Falling T bee.
While . at Peoria on Sunday night
the steamer Hoag .met with an
accident which came near being a
costly one for her. She was tied
to the wharf and " a cottonwood
tree, about fifty feet high and two
feet in diameter came crashing
down striking the hurricane deck
co-ijust in the rear of the smoke stack,
lodging on the .hog chains which
support the pipe. As fast -as the
men could work it was cut to
pieces and removed. Had it not
been; for these chains the tree
would have crashed clear through
the boat to the top of the boiler, -and
she would - thei have been
rendered perfectly useless.
G. A. R. Encampment. The
ninth annual encampment of the
Oregon department, G. A. R., will
meet at Eugene on Wednesday,
February 12th. The annual con
vention of the Woman's Relief
Corps will be held at the same
time. All railroads have made .
special rates to those attending the
encampment of one and one-fifth,
fare the round trip.
Greatly Benefited. At Ya
quina City on Wednesday night,
Jan. 29th, a portion V the bluff
between the hotel and the docks"
caved down; several thousand tons
of earth and rock was moved to a
level, and it is said that it did for
the Oregon Pacific company what'
$2,000 .worth of powder could only .
have done. In this case it was a
profitable slide.
To Contractors. Bids will be -open
for the construction of the
gallery of the eity hall until Mon
day, February ,10i h, 1S90. Plans
and specifications can be seen at
the office of 2L 0. Ewart, in this
city. The owiieis reserve the
right to reject any and all bids.
Job Bros. -
A 3ang up Time. Chas. Ilouck
and Geo. Bigham participated in a
BsticufTon Main street on Monday
night.. The trouble was caused by
a little promise-oils talk on the for
mer's part.
Letters. Advertised for Feb.
7, 1S90: Mr. and ijrs. F. C. Baker,
Mrs. Catherine H4ird, Mrs. Lanias
A. Johnson, L6yd &, Burton 2,
William Peersoa. F. A. IIel m
P. M.
At the Congregational church next .
Sunday morning the pastor will speak
on "Proper Thinking," and in the
evening will antwer thivj more ques
tions that have bean handed him.
Question answering will be a feature
in the evening services for awhile, tind
any one is invited to Sisnd him a ques
tion on a moral subject; which, i hon
estly propounded, will be candidly
treated.
-The material and paper stock that
was used in the new ollice of the land
company, came from the supply house
of S. N. Wilkins;
BORN.
Ill Corvallis, on .-Wednesday, February
5th, 1800, to the wife cf Air. (Eii) Perkins,
a girt. . . .
The father is the owner of the truck and
dray btuinesa formerly conducted by L. J.
Kemp. , -. -
In Corvallis. ou "Wednesd-iv, February
5th, 1890, to the wife of Mr. Pernot, a
hoy. ' - .. . . -'- .- -
This is doing well, considering the flood.
Who said uo Oregonian8 arrived this week?
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