ALSEA BAY AND RIVER
EDITOR GAZETTE: – By hard work a small appropriation was made by the last Congress to survey the Alsea Bay. Nothing was accomplished except a hurried survey of the river, and a report urging further appropriation to make a thorough survey of the bay and to buoy the same. There are few places indeed, on this coast, where there is as much undeveloped wealth as there is on the Alsea river. The land is rich, fertile and productive; the stream abounds in the finest fish, and the hills, on either side, and along the numerous tributaries of the river, are covered with a dense growth of pine or fir, spruce and cedar. Millions of this valuable timber can be floated to suitable points on the bay, sawed into lumber, and shipped with profits to San Fransisco. A business of this kind will at once open a road to the Upper Alsea Valley – a valley containing a population of several hundred, and almost isolated from a market by reason of a dangerous mountain road leading to Corvallis, which becomes impassable early in the season, or as soon as the fall rains commence. But survey the Alsea bar, and establish the fact that shipping can come and go in safety, and a trade will spring up immediately. The road in course of construction down the Alsea river will connect the Upper Alsea valley with tide water, and a market is made, which, in a few years will increase by the rapid settlement of every available spot along that beautiful stream, and grow into proportions little anticipated by most visionary. We expect the report made will receive favorable consideration from the Board of Engineers, and that Congress will promptly recognize the necessity of complying with the recommendation, and that early next spring a survey will be made. This will give stability to enterprise, and encouragement to the pioneers of that section who have so nobly waited, feeling assured that the time would come when they could say that they had not waited in vain. Every dollar expended by the Government in surveys of this character is judicious and wise, and Oregon has many places too long neglected. Congress is now in session, and we hope this appeal, coupled with the memorials and reports of surveyor will meet with favor, and that our members, always ready to listen to suggestions, will urge and assist in giving the Oregon coast another harbor, another outlet to commerce, another channel of trade and wealth.
R.A. BENSELL.