the state aa well, is some thorough geophysical
prospecting. Such a survey might reveal mineral
riches now little dreamed ot.
-
As exploration for oil has been carried on in
Z— ■ county, particularly in recent years, it be-
Coos
1—/es us
to _________________
discuss this briefly.
If __
one q*n locate
hooves
____
_ _
a suitable structure, anticline or dome, with a con
Three climatic areas prevail in Oregon, each siderable body nt organic shales below and with a
with its charm. Along the coast on the western suitable porous sandstone or sands above to trap
■ide of the low-lying Coast Range, rainfall is the" the oil we might have some reasonable hope of suc
heaviest and temperatures least variable. Seldom
cess. If these conditions are not found, there is little
is jt cold enough to «now along the Oregon coast hope and persons who cannot afford to lose their
line.
money should not take the risks. With our present
Inland from the Coast Range lies the great val- amount of knowledge we cannot be too sanguine ot
T region where rainfall is just sufficiently heavy success. On the other hand, certainly, we are not
keep the country green and productive. The an
justified in being too sure that there is no oil in that
nual rainfall usually runs between 30 and 45 inches. region.
Winters are moderate with infrequent snows and
After much travel up and down your coast,
but a few days of freezing weather. Seldom is it
with some trips into the back-country, I believe
that the fisherman or snow sport enthusiast finds it that one of the greatest assets of the southwestern
too wet or stormy to seek out his stream or moun
Oregon, country is scenery. Scenery primarily de
tain snow field.
'
~~ ’— pends upon rocks, water and forests and in all these
Eastward, across the Cascade Range, are the you have ample variety. What with your magni
vast plateau regions with wider variations in di-< ficent beaches, dunes, headlands and forest-clad
mate. Spring and fall in this section are enchanting mountains so close to th* *•*. von he^e
Climate
You may choose your climate. Within a two-
hour drive you may travel from one climatic region
to another. The climate of Oregon and its inex
haustible supplies of pure water are factors making
of the most healthful regions of all the world.
Geology-Geography
C*as and Carry Counties
By Warren D. Smith
University of Oregon
At the request of the editor I am making a little
contribution to the Progress Number of the Coquille
Valley Sentinel. Lack of time prevents a more
substantial statement. Before I get off onto the
subject of geology, let me offer my congratulations
to the people of your community, who in the face
of sore affliction in certain quarters, are facing the
future with courage and determination. Your part
of the state has wonderful potentialities and I hope
you will realize the full measure of your dreams.
Coos and Curry Counties have been studied
nologically by three geologists particularly — Coos
County by the late J. S. Diller of the U. S. Geologic
Survey, the chief results of which are embodied in
Folio 73, and Curry County by the same man with
his findings in Folio 89 on the Port Orford Quad
rangle. The lower part of Curry County has been
covered in a reconnoissance way in the state report
by Butler and Mitchell in the Mineral Resources of
Oregon (1916).
Of course many other investigators have spent
some time in these two counties working on special
problems but we cannot stop to enumerate them
now. Interested persons may consult th* new Bib
liography ot Oregon Geology prepared under the
auspices of the State Planning Board
Coos and Curry Counties differ very consider
ably as geologists view them.
In the former the
formations are dominantly Tertiary sedimentaries,
sandstones and shales with coal beds, and this coun
ty is just at the southern terminus of the Coast
Range province; while Curry, made up <rf
some sediments (generally Mesozoic) and much
more of igneous rocks, is a part of the Klamath
Mountains province which extends down into
northern California.
This major fact makes a
fundamental difference between the two counties
in physiography (topogr
phy, climate,
etc.) and
neral.
Aa I have
__________
__
_ and have
the earlier reports
foUowed
--
——
these
---------------------------
with some first-hand
i.
studies of ...J
my
own it appears that in Coos County the mineral pos
sibilities relate to coal and elay deposits and other
non-metallic minerals while Curry offers more
promise in gold, copper, chromite and platinum.
In the absence of more exhaustive studies which
I have not had time as yet to make, though some
one else may have done so, I am venturing a few
suggestions for development In Coos county and
Curry county.
•oalsVhavV studiecf'Y believe^h^iXst^iL
???“. 1 J“ve
* believe the best use to be
made of Coos county coal la in gas producers.
A thorough study of Coos county clays ought to
be made. If we had a State department of geology
and mineral industries, this would seem to merit
early attention from that organization—not only in
Coos county but in the state at large.
We know pretty well the extent and value of
Coos county black sands—it now depends upon the
ingenuity of someone to devise an economical treat
ment of these sands. I have not yet seen or heard
of any adequate method of doing this, though such
may have been perfected without my knowing
about it., ,
In Curry County the best bet for early develop
ment seems to be in the chromite deposits, for which
the demand ia becoming greater all the time
While there will always be some activity in the
recovery of platinum and iridosmine, I do not ex-
Sct any extensive development here. Nevertheless
is region will probably continue to be a leading
producer of these rare metals.
I hope for the discovery of a commercial body
of iron ore in this county, but as yet the reliable re
ports regarding this have not been rosy.
Substantial gold and copper properties may be
developed though at present we have no reason to
become excited about them. What we need, not
only in this part of Oregon but in other parts of
efts and your coast line and do not let commer
cialism despoil this great natural heritage.
The
Oregon coast line is one of the finest in the world—
don't spoil it with hot dog stands and hideous
cut-over areas.
' In this state we have a law making it a mis-
________ r__________________________
___
demeanor
to pluck wild flowers within
500 feet ot
the highway and yet we let people cut down noble
forests right beside the highway. This is sheer
vandalism and must be stopped if we don’t want to
lose our precious heritage of natural beauty. Begin
cutting trees well back from the roads, but wher
ever and whenever you cut, do it on a sustained
yield basis.
Don’t let this country become like
China. For the sake of uur unborn children, in the
name of beauty, even in the interests of just good
business let’s take heed before it is too late. Al
ready ruthless exploitation has almost ruined beau
tiful Sunset Bay. If we want the tourist to con
tinue to come and spend his dollars with us, give
earnest thought while yet there is time.
—
■■■—.
Canary Grass Growing
Is Important Industry
i !!■■■,■ ■!■»■■■»»»«»■ ■ ■
WWW—
Reed Canary Grass, (Phalaris Arundinaces), is
a perennial, producing an everlasting sod, which
makes a very rapid growth of broad leafy succulent
foliage, yielding an immense amount of luscious
green pasture, having a carrying capacity of two
and often three cows per acre.
The above statement may seem unbelievable to
anyone who has never seen the grass growing, but
it can be verified by many dairymen of the Co
quille Valley, who have splendid yields of this
wonderful grass, which has been pastured continu
ously for many years.
This Reed Canary, or Canary Grass, as it is
commonly called, was first started in the Coquille
Valley over 40 years ago. The acreage gradually
increased, and soon the seed was in great demand
from many parts of the United States, so that for
the past ten or more years this section has become
noted for thli imPorUnt
and ,or the hl6h
quaIlty of purity and germination of the seed, which
has developed quite an Industry for the growers
in this section, the seed finding, a ready market
throughout the country at a reasonable price.
Canary Grass is especially aoapted to low wet
bottom land, also swamps, marshes or old lake beds.
It is not affected in the least by overflow, neither
by the cold winters in the northern and eastern
states, where it is now grown with splendid suc-
The Experiment stations of many states have
also fully demonstrated this remarkable high yield
ing grass, and strongly recommend its use. It may
be seeded either in spring or fall at rate 10 pounds
per acre in same manner as any other grass
The extremely fresh and green appearance of
Reed Canary Grass, even in the driest part of the
season always attracts much attention of everyone
who sees it, and it certainly appeals especially to
all dairy and stock men. who appreciate its great
value for heavy pasturing and immense yields of
hay.
---------------------------
Coos county’s property valuation in 1936 totaled
»24,271.600.00, with a total tax of »1404,61128
Seed raising is an important industry of the
Coquille Valter.
Coos County Developing
Oyster Growing Industry
By O. W. Briggs
Japanese, rapid-growing oysters were intro
duced first on the Pacific coast five or six year*
ago, and Willipa Harbor was the locality which
pioneered in their growing.
Firms there hav*
brought the industry to perfection, by arrangement*
to produce spat for sale.
More than ten years ago, agents were on Coo*
Bay to interest people in the oyster culture, but n*
real movement was made toward grasping the pos
sibilities the industry promised until wthin the past
thro*y*an.
The eastern oyster will not breed on the Paci
fic coast, and so persons who believed oyster pro
duction had great promise, turned to the Japanese
bivalve whi
in 18 months after
is ready
**qk.asM
com
mon.
Although the Willipa growers have made »
huge success in marketing the oyster, and spat, the
industries there cannot meet the demand for spat,
and so shipments are still coming from Japan, dis
charged somewhere on Puget Sound, and, properly
protected against spoiling, in ice, trucked to Coos
Bay and the various other ports where investors
are planting.
Spat is shipped in boxes and it requires about
IS boxes, or 30 bushels, to plant one acre.
Land
for oyster planting is usually bought outright,
rather than leased, for the succession of crops would
naturally have to be lowered each year if one were
leasing. This procedure on Coos Bay is being fol
lowed and planters buy their lands.
Planters must use judgment in selection of their
tidelands, for there may be sewage washing over
it that would lose to them their entire Investment if
health boards condemned. Another item must be
considered as well; the oysters are distributed at
first on tideflats whan the tide is out, and in the
24 hours of each day, there must be 16 hours when
they are covered with water. That is the necessity
which applies to their living and, growth. Oyster*
can be planted where there is no open ground at
low tide, but the owner cannot see his product, nor
know its progress.
Frank Muscus and Ira Padrick, partners, were
the first to market Coos Bay-grown oysters, from
their establishment in North Bend. This firm had
oysters to offer the public first in March, 1937,
and took them from their plantings at the juncture
of Haynes and North inlets, about north of the Coo*
Bay bridge of the Oregon Coast highway, where th*
ebb and flow tides do not bring sewage. This is an
advantageous condition, but there is more to be said
of the locality, for it is largely of sand formation,
rather than pure mudflat. Being almost clear of
mud, the condition of the oysters on being opened,
and marketed, is a clear product, instead of a black,
uninviting product which comes from some coast
districts. The oyster is fat, has no offensive look-
ing^black bulges in the body, and is therefore, pala-
Muscus and Padrick, pioneering, have been on
alow bell since marketing and though at first they
planned for outside shipments and sent samples to
outside dealers, were unable to more than satisfy
the demand in the home area, which includes only
Coos county. Their dredging crew goes out daily
and returns with a boat load of cluster oysters,
when they are opened b* their force of employes,
canned ..ip gallons, and the same day distributed to
their retail customers This concern has been abl*
to this date to supply net above 50 gallons a day,
but they are ready sellers.
Within two years, Coos Bay will be known a*
the oyster center of the Pacific coast, for by that
time mare than 200 acres will be marketing in big
volume‘s After first plantings the producer or
breeder.’bas no occasion to buy more spat, for th*
oysters breed where they grow, and the crop is
heavy.
‘
Muscus and Padrick, at the close of this season,
will have 60 acres in oysters; R. C. Dunham has 40
acres, planted last fall; a company fromAda ho is
now planting a 40-acre tract, and on South Slough
there are several small growers who have various
sized areas, while in the vicinity of Empire there
are others who have plantings.
It is confidently believed that by 1939 th*
oyster industry on Coos Bay will be among th*
leading industries of Coos county.
A word of the Japanese oyster’s taste and
growth. The oyster has no flavor like the eastern
oysters, but are very tender, more so than the
eastern oyster.
Production to this time shows
them as grown here, as clear meat, of a taste which
cannot be described, yet considered good eating.
When people of the Middle West and East ata
suffering from the summer heat, here in the Co
quille Valley the residents are enjoying cool ocean
breezes, for at least three to four months, June,
July, August and most of September, there is no
rainfall, and it is possible for people to live outdoors
as much as they wish. Then, too, when winter
blizzards are raging and the thermometer is trying
to burst out the bottom, residents of the Coquille
Valley may be found wearing clothing no heavier
than that of summer. So mild are the winters that,
almost without exception, flowers bloom and rsgr
tables grow outside all winter. While it may sound
like a fairy tale, still you are invited to visit the
Oregon coast country and see for yourself. You’ll
enjoy the change.
r