The Coquille Valley sentinel., September 10, 2002, Page 3, Image 3

September 2002 ~ Sentinel’s 120th anniversary issue - Page 3
The promise o f the early years... 1897-1904
1897
In 1897, the Coos Bay Coal Field was
the most important in the state and a
new bed was opened in the Riverton
area. The mouth of the Coquille River
was producing some coal as well. The
best quality coal was being mined at
the Beaver Hill Mine and the best
operating mine was in Newport. The
Newport mine was the longest run­
ning, in operation at that time for 40
years. The Coastal Range coal mines
were developed quite rapidly and
some were very successful. Two small
steamers and six schooners were mak­
ing regular trips from San Francisco
to the Coquille River.
1898
The Beaver Hill Coal Mine shut down
in 1898. Workers from the mine were
soon recruited by the E.B. Dean &
Co. Mill, which was under new own­
ership when the mine shut down. Mr.
Graham, purchaser of the mill, stated
that he wanted to hire workers from
the mines as well hire more workers
to have a larger work force than ever
before in the area. The big gripe for
local citizens was that the workers
would inevitably be immigrants; most
of the workers in this area at that time
were Chinese, Italian, and African.
1899
In the late 1800s, Coquille City boasted
a rich economy lull of resources. The
Coos and Coquille Valleys were the
most productive areas of the county.
The county, with its population of
8,000, cultivated 30,000 acres of land
and exported 275 vessels of coal in
1899. There were crops of every sort,
exports of 500,000 pounds of butter
and cheese, and animals as well. Coos
County’s biggest claim to fame? The
crops of the area were grown without
irrigation and yielded far higher profit
than those of other areas of the state.
1900
Coquille population hits 728, Myrtle
Point now 530, County totals 10,324.
MUSIC was enjoyed in Coquille’s early days, as shown in this 1906 photo of a marching band in
front of the Coquille Hotel.
The Standard Oil Trust raised the price
of kerosene. Less than a year earlier,
the price had been eight cents a gallon.
Prices rose 62.5 percent within a year,
leaving them at 13 cents a gallon, a
price unheard of to the residents of
Coquille City.
1901
During 1901, residents of Coquille City
were more concerned with foreign
affairs than local news. The English
and Boer War was a popular news topic
of that time. Reports of 1061 grown
white people, 4902 children, and 1308
colored people who had died over a
two month period in British concentra­
tion camps covered the front pages.
1902
ed on the scow, causing it to sink.
Construction began on a Montana & That left workers only one scow to
Oregon Lumber Co. Sawmill in transport rocks from the quarry to the
January. The eight acres of land along jetty. To further complicate matters, a
the waterfront was leased to the com­ 61-foot dead sperm whale washed
pany for 20 years. On leasing the ashore just south of the jetty soon
land, the company made no delays in after.
getting things started. They didn’t
even bother to wait for spring to start
1904
work on the construction.
While out on a hunting trip, an
unsuspecting young hunter came
1903
across a large ledge of gold at an
In April o f 1903, an accident occurred unpublished location in southern
at the Government Rock Quarry near Oregon. The discovery caused quite a
Bandon. A large scow loaded with stir as southern Oregon residents
rock was moored at the quarry’s dock began to once again believe that there
where there were blasters at work. A were more undiscovered gold ledges
rock blew up from the blast and land­ in the area.
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