Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHORE. 231 a distance of 2,600 feet directly, west to deep water outside of the bar. This closes up the south channel completely, and by forcing all the water through the middle one tends to clear it of sand and deepen it Work was begun in 1881, under an appropriation of $10,000 made the year before. The next year an allowance of $10,000 was made, and $00,000 in 1882. In 1883 no appropriation was made, but the present year $50,000 were given by Congress to carry on this work. The work is now well progressed and its effects are already noticeable in an increased depth on the bar at low tide. Another jetty will probably be constructed from the north point, protecting the channel from sands from that direction, and confining the water in one single channel. It is expected that by these means the current will strip the rocks bare of sand, when by blasting the ledge along the channel the proper depth will be attained. The re sults already accomplished are great, assuring the complete success of the engineers' plans. The bny itself is roughly Bhaped like an L, with the lower right hand extremity towards the sea, and covers an area of fifteen square miles. The ship channel, which is no where less than 1,200 feet wide, follows the north sido of the bay, cuts across the corner and strikes the east sido, which it follows to the mouth of the Yaquina, thirteen miles from the ocean. The' depth is generally over thirty foot, only in one place being as shallow as twenty-five feet, and the bottom affords secure holding for an anchor. Vessels lying on the inside are protected by the low hills from ocean winds, and are seoure in the stormiest weather. At present the chief town of Yaquina Bay is Newport, lying just within the entrance to the harbor, on the north side. It contains three general stores, three hotels, four saloons, a brewery, two drug stores, a tin shop, barber shop, etc The railroad company has located its terminus at the northeast corner of the bay, where the ship chan nel touches the bank. They have car shops, warehouses and large docks there of sufficient size to accommodate several ships at once, with a depth of over twonty foot alongside the wharf, and the custom house of that district and several other buildings stand on the site of the future town, which has been named " Yaquina City." Tlio ter minal improvements of the company are extensive and substantial, such as the magnitude of the enterprise of which they are a part requires. All the land bordering the water at this point belongs to the company, and has not been platted, nor is it on the market for Bale. The company announces that when it is ready for business it will lay out the town site and encourage the sale of land to actual occupants rather than to goculators. 13uck of this property there lies considerable belonging to private individuals, some of which has been surveyed and is for sale. Other tracts within a milo or two of the terminus are for salo in quantity. Just below the company's proparty has boon laid out the town of Ales andria, while other tracts, large ami small, have Imwii subdivided and are held for sale, lying on both sides of the bay and on the ocean beach outside. Preparation is thus made for the demand for property which is con fidently expected to follow the completion of the railroad projoot and harbor improvements. A milo south of Yaquina City is Onoatta, a Bawmill town. Toledo and Oystervillo are also small communities on tho shoro of the bay, and Elk City at tho head of navigation on the river. As a summer resort Yaquina Bay possesses many advantages and grows more in favor every year. Both inside tho entrance and along tho oooan beach on tho extorior coast are many attractive sjKts. Tho climate is superb and the opixrtunities for sea bathing numerous. From Juno to Soptember tho hotelB are crowded with visitors, while many tents may be observed in tho shol tered nooks on both sides of tho entrance. At points tho coast is extremely rocky and picturesque Ten miles south of tho bay are tho famous Seal Rocks, whoro thousands of seals may be seen sporting in the water or sunning tliomselvos on tho rocks. A magnificent drive on the hard wet sand of the bench lies between these Kints. There is no hotel nt tho Seal Hocks, but splendid camping places may bo found. Four miles north of the bay is the rwiky promontory known as "Ciijm Foul weather," whore the government maintains a light houso station. The Bcenory alnmt tho cajo is worthy tho deepost admiration. When tho railroad is completed between Corvaliis and the bay there will be such an easy route to this attractive spot that it will booome one of tho favorite resorts of tho Coast The seat of justice of Benton County is Corvaliis, situated on a beautiful plateau on tho west bank of tho Willametto River and approachable by steamer from Portland. This is one of tho oldest and Istst towns of Oregon, and was for years the head of navigation on tho river, which, in viow of the immense trade of Southern Oregon, gave it a commanding jsmition. Of late years this element of its prosperity has Iwon wanting, but the development of tho magnificent agricultural resources of the surrounding country has served to continue it in tho front rank of tho commercial towns of Oregon. It lias now a imputation of l.fiOO, and has its business cstah. lishod on a firm and prmauont basis. Excellent schools and churches, two well condueUl weekly paor - Qnxrttii and Lewler; a monthly, Ori'yon Colon in t, devoted to the development of the resources of that region, and tho TcmjMrnnre Ncttg, a tomoranee papr, ero features of tho town. The dwellings are neat ami tasty, and tho whole city presents a pleasing apxiarance, as will xt olmorvod by reference to the engraving on another rmgn. Corvaliis will in a few weeks become tho int of junc tion ls-twcen tho railroad now Iming built from Yaquina Bay and the West Hide lino of tho Oregon & California road, of which it has been tho terminal jsiiut for a num ber of years. Tho leiicfit to bo derived are many, and will considerably increase the imputation, business and value of protorty. When, as is confidently expected, tho Yaquina Bay route become tho outlet for a largo (tortioii of tho products of tho Willamette Valley, Corvaliis will occupy i still more iinjrUmt jxwitiou and enjoy a still greater nieasuro of projerity. Other towns in tho