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