History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 64

Author: David D. Fagan
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Oregon > Benton County > History of Benton County, Oregon > Part 64

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WHEREAS, The citizens of Corvallis and Young America Engine Company have raised a certain sum of money amounting to one thousand five hundred and five dollars with which to purchase a fire engine for the use of the city, and such engine having been contracted for, is now on the wharf in our city, and such citizens and fire com- pany have tendered to this city said money and subscriptions to the amount of one hundred dollars still unpaid, requesting the Council to take immediate steps to put said engine in order, and have it tested in accordance with the warranty of the maker, be it

Resolved, By the Common Council of the city of Corvallis : That we do hereby accept said tender and hereby order that sum of money, together with subscriptions hereafter collected for the purpose aforesaid be set apart as a special fund to be known as " The New Fire Engine Fund."

Resolved, That there be appropriated from said fund the amount of two hundred and seventy-four dollars and eighty-four cents on an order in favor of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, for the payment of the freight due on said engine.

Resolved, That the Chief Engineer be and he is hereby instructed to take charge of said engine and in connection with the foreman of Young America Engine Com-

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pany, have the same put in good order and condition at once and that the same be tested by the Young America Engine Company with a view of ascertaining if it fulfills the warranty of the manufacturers and that special report be made of said test to this council as soon after the same is made as practicable.

Resolved, That the treasurer be requested to collect all subscriptions turned over to this council and now unpaid in accordance with the terms of said subscriptions and make report of the same to this council when called for.

This last acquisition, the fire department of Corvallis, was put in a very efficient state, as it still remains. Special histories of the companies forming that arm of public utility will be found elsewhere.

We have in another place noticed the establishment of the Corvallis Gazette in the year 1864, but previous to its appearance the city had boasted of several periodi- cals, among them those published in or about 1857, by Hall and Gillis, and in 1860, that by J. S. Slater. On January 20, 1866, the Masonic order adopted the name of Crystal Lake Cemetery for their burial ground; while in the month of March of that year, E. A. Harris and Louis Horning commenced the erection of the brick build- ing at the corner of Main (Second) and Jefferson streets, a much needed and substan- tial improvement; indeed, such a spirit of enterprise was much needed in Corvallis at this time in order to bring her up to the point of prosperity enjoyed by other towns, with not half her natural advantages. Notwithstanding this, we have been informed on reliable authority, that to form a correct idea of the amount of shipping business done in Corvallis during the summer of 1866, one should have been on the wharf upon the arrival and departure of the People's Transportation Company's boats. It even now can truly be said, as a shipping point Corvallis is not to be equalled on the upper Willamette, while it is surrounded by one of the finest agricultural and stock-pro- ducing regions in Oregon. Her fertile valleys and perennial grass-covered hills, inter- spersed with clear, cold, sparkling mountain streams, stand inviting thousands to homes of comparative affluence, happiness, ease and luxury. To us it is a matter of astonish- ment that so many persons are content to spend a lifetime in opening " forest homes," while hundreds of acres of open land may be purchased at a tithe of what the "clear- ing" costs. The large tracts of land should be divided and sub-divided, and thor- oughly cultivated. To do this it is necessary to have bone and sinew-men and women who are neither afraid nor ashamed to work. The spiritless cry of "no market " is obsolete-"they are farthest from market who have nothing to sell ;" to be up and doing is the only true slogan of success.

In the month of January, 1867, the waters of the Willamette rose to a considera- ble height, withing six feet of the high water mark of 1862, the inundated track extending over the bottom lands on the eastern side of the river for nearly four miles, while in the ferry-house it was six inches deep on the floor. Fortunately the city of Corvallis lies on a high plateau and, except in a flood of exceptional proportions, is free from the discomforts of streets turned into rivers, and cruising dwellings.

Corvallis has suffered considerably from the fire fiend; we have space only to mention a few of these catastrophes, however: On June' 19, 1868, the sawmill of R. Y. McCune was totally destroyed by fire, most of the lumber, however, being saved, as well as a portion of the machinery. There was no insurance; but over a thousand

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dollars was almost instantly subscribed for the relief of Mr. McCune, which he gratefully refused to accept. The next conflagration was of a very serious nature.

At two o'clock on the morning of July 21, 1869, the city was visited by a most destructive fire, causing a total loss of over thirty thousand dollars worth of valuable property. The blaze originated in the west end, or near the rear of A. R. McCon- nell's saloon, and is believed to have been the work of an incendiary. When first dis- covered it was almost ready to burst through the roof, and before anything like a gen- eral alarm could be given, the flames had gained uncontrollable headway. It swept the buildings occupied by McConnell's, Stewart & Gaunsky's saloons, and all those south to the City Hotel, and north to Fisher's fire-proof brick, on the west side of Main street, and the entire block on the east side, including Holder's blacksmith shop, W. A. Wells' and Simmons & Kiger's livery stables, Duncan's saddler shop, Hunt's lager beer saloon and Gerhart's blacksmith shop and dwelling, the City hotel, Masonic building, stage stable, Graves and Robinson's furniture store, Fisher's brick building (occupied by L. G. Cline and Souther & Allen's drug store), D. G. Clark & Co.'s store, and the residences of J. F. Hamilton, A. R. McConnell and William McLagan were saved by almost superhuman exertions. Had the fire crossed the street, north or south, in all probability the whole business, or thickly settled portion of the town would have been laid in ashes. As it was, the best business section was in ruins.

On Wednesday, April 4, 1870, the citizens of Corvallis were aroused from their slumbers by the cry of fire and it was soon discovered that the Corvallis brewery was in a mass of flame, the light from which was already thrown over the city. Every effort was made by those present, with the limited resources at hand, to subdue the flames, but to no avail. Fortunately the building occupied an isolated position on the bank of the river and the night being calm, no damage of consequence was done, save to the brewery. The building, which was a total loss, belonged to the Bauerlin heirs, as well as the distillery apparatus, were insured but not sufficient to cover the amount of damage sustained.

At half past one o'clock, on the morning of March 29, 1873, the City hotel in Corvallis was reduced to ashes. So rapidly did the fire spread that nearly all of the inmates barely escaped in their night clothes, one, John Murray, father-in-law of Mr. McConnell, the proprietor, being undoubtedly burned alive. Such a wild scene was never before witnessed in Corvallis. Men, women and children escaped from the burning pile and rushed out into a cold rain storm with nothing on but their sleeping garments. A few articles of furniture were saved and wearing apparel carried out; several persons saved their lives by slipping down a lamp post, while others gained the street, yet unable to tell how. The entire building, furniture and fixtures, including the wood-shed and outbuildings were a total loss, but these paled into insignificance when it became known that human life had been sacrificed. John Murray was an Irishman, aged sixty years, and was on a visit to his son-in-law. He left a family of five children. The hotel was owned by Dr. J. R. Bayley and valued at five thousand dollars, but bore an insurance of only fifteen hundred dollars, barely sufficient to cover the loss on furniture.

On June 9, 1873, the flouring mill on Mary's river, owned by F. W. May, was destroyed by fire, the loss being ten thousand dollars, but insured for only half that

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amount ; and, September 4, 1875, the saw-mill of R. Y. McCune once more became a prey to the devouring element-evidently the deed of an incendiary-the loss being estimated at about twelve thousand dollars, thus making the third saw-mill Mr. McCune had the misfortune to lose; one upon the same site, one across the river, and no insur- ance upon any of the property.

Another disastrous conflagration occurred in Corvallis on the morning of Septem- ber 17, 1875, when damage was sustained to the amount of between twenty and thirty thousand dollars. The fire originated in the store of A. Cauthorn & Co., which stood on the corner adjoining Fisher's brick block, and burned with such rapidity that it communicated through the walls and roof to the interior of the brick structure occu- pied by Allen & Woodward, Max Friendly, S. H. Thompson, Dr. Caldwell, W. S. McFadden and B. R. Biddle. This was also supposed to have been the act of incen- diaries, for three men had been seen prowling about the building early in the night. For the third time in its history had the house of Mr. McLagan been jeopardized by fire through the burning of business houses. Twice had it been denuded of its furni- ture, and three times had the owner incurred a serious loss, and through no careless- ness of his.

On February 25, 1882, the warehouse of W. A. Wells, at the railroad depot, was destroyed, the building with its machinery, elevators, scales and other conveniences, said to have cost about twelve thousand dollars, as well as fifteen thousand bushels of grain, being entirely consumed. At this conflagration occurred the melancholy death of George P. Wrenn, already mentioned, while working hard to save property.

On the night of October 23, 1883, Corvallis was once more visited by the fire fiend, that knows neither friend nor foe. Flames were discovered to be issuing from Professor Arnold's stable, in the southwest quarter of the town, and while the firemen were strenuously doing their utmost to save property, the fire bell again commenced its rapid sounds of alarm, when it was easily discernible that another fire, which was blazing at a great height, had broken out in the central portion of the city. All who could be spared immediately started for the scene of this fresh conflagration, and found the north livery stable on Main street, belonging to Sol. King, enveloped in flames. It was only a few moments when the forked tongues of fire spread to his south barn, situated only a few feet from that mentioned and connected by a long shed used for the storing of vehicles, and in the front, with a high wood frame on which was a water tank. The flames quickly spread to the saloon building of Cyrus Powers, which adjoined the south livery stable on the southern side, and from thence to the saloon building on the corner north of the Occidental hotel, and occupied by Mr. Davidson. Northward from the stable the flames spread to the building owned by Philip Phile, which had of late years been known as the Hudson saloon ; from thence it communi- cated with the unoccupied building on the northwest corner of the block, belonging to Joseph Gearhart, which at one time had been occupied by him as a blacksmith's shop. The latter building was saved with but slight damage; all the others, including those on the west side of the block, and a Chinese wash-house, were reduced to ashes. In King's south stable nearly everything of value was removed except the hay. In the north barn, however, there was quite a different result ; a few of the horses were cut

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adrift and escaped but eight of the most valuable perished ; there being also destroyed a number of vehicles, a quantity of harness, and one hundred and fifty tons of hay.

It is a pleasure to note that notwithstanding the disasters just mentioned the peo- ple of Corvallis were fully alive to building substantial structures. Early in August the new brick edifice of Mr. Fisher was commenced, while a warehouse for Messrs. Avery and Davis was in course of construction. Indeed, at this time, the music of the saw and hammer was incessantly heard, and the magic touches of the paint brush convinced the most skeptical observer that Corvallis was growing steadily and surely. In the beginning of January, 1869, repressive measures were taken by the authorities against the spread of smallpox ; while, in July of that year, the city was visited by George Francis Train, who is described by the Gazette as " this eccentric and remarka- ble individual," lectured to a large audience in the court house, and gave play to "an inexhaustible fund of wit and humor, excentricity and originality ; and in September Schuyler Colfax, Vice President of the United States, visited Corvallis, with his party, who expressed themselves as delighted with the country its vast grain fields, rolling prairies and magnificent scenery.

Articles of incorporation of the Corvallis Library Association were filed Decem- ber 24, 1872, by J. R. Bayley, Emery Allen, J. H. Babcock, John Burnett, D. K. Nesbit, W. T. Johnson, J. S. Palmer, B. W. Wilson, M. Jacobs. This institution we learn had a very fair start, and it is a thousand pities it was allowed to die. There is . no association that can be started in a town, especially one where attractions are reduced to a minimum, which is prone to do so much good as a public library and reading room. Its books enlighten the mind, its papers keep the people informed of the march of events, its lectures sharpen the intelligence, while such accessions may be introduced that will be certain to improve the status of all in society and strike the key-note to many an unfounded character. We sincerely trust that the public library of Corvallis is only in abeyance, and that it will, ere long, arise from its ashes to shine brightly, and become the center of a circle of brilliant debaters and intelligent reunions.

Another incorporation that sprang into existence in 1873, May the 3d, was the Corvallis Warehouse Company, the incorporators being H. C. Lewis, G. G. Newton, E. Hartless, C. E. Moore, W. H. Elliott and N. P. Newton. The objects of the asso- ciation were to purchase, hire or build a wharf and warehouse for the purpose of stor- ing and forwarding grain and other freight. That the farmers of Benton county needed a commodious and convenient warehouse in which to store their grain, was apparent to all there; this step was one in the right direction. In August and Sep- tember, 1874, tanks and windmills were constructed by order of the Common Council at the intersections of Fourth and Madison and Adams streets, while September 23d, certain proposed amendments to the city charter, which rectified and determined the the southern boundary of the town, among other things, were accepted by the council from the committee appointed to effect these. It may be mentioned here, that since the passage of the original charter in 1857, the act has been several times amended, leaving the boundaries of the city of Corvallis in 1885 to be as follows:

Commencing at a point in the middle of the main channel of the Willamette river, where the present north boundary of said city intersects the same; thence north seventy degrees west, to a point forty rods north seventy degrees west of the public

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highway that leads from said city of Corvallis to the town of Dallas, in Polk county, Oregon ; thence south twenty degrees west along the west line of the county addition to said city of Corvallis, up to Jefferson street ; thence south seventy degrees east along Jefferson street to Eighth street; thence south twenty degrees west along Eighth street, and extending on a line with said street to a point parallel with the south line of the depot grounds belonging to the Oregon Western Railroad Company ; thence south seventy degrees east, to the south-east corner of said depot grounds; thence south seventy degrees east along the south line of said depot grounds to the southeast corner of the same; thence south twenty degrees west to the middle of the channel of Mary's river ; thence easterly down the middle of Mary's river to the middle of the main chan- nel of the Willamette river ; thence northerly along the middle of said channel of the Willamette river to the place of beginning.

On February 8, 1875, a re-survey of the city was directed to be made by George Mercer; on the 12th of April, John Kelsay and W. S. McFadden were employed to codify the city ordinances, a duty which these gentlemen performed in a most thor- ough and efficient manner. Under date of May 10, 1875, we find the first allotment of terms of service by ballot of the Common Council, which was decided as follows: First Ward, J. S. Palmer ; Second Ward, W. B. Hamilton ; Third Ward, Emery Allen; each three years. For the term of two years, J. T. Phillips, B. T. Taylor and J. M. Osburn ; and for one year, F. A. Chenoweth, L. F. Wilson and M. Jacobs, respectively. March 3, 1876, fractional river lot, No. 2, in fractional block, No. 2, of the (original town) city of Corvallis, on which stood the calaboose, was sold to William M. Pitman for one hundred and fifty dollars. May 2, 1876, the Corvallis City Hall Association was incorporated with J. R. Bayley, Chairman, and J. W. Rayburn, Secre- tary ; while May 18, 1876, the Mayor, Recorder and City Attorney, were authorized by the council to enter into a contract with William M. Pitman for supplying the Fire Department with water from a tank, which was duly erected and by the terms of which Mr. Pitman agreed to keep the cistern filled for fifty dollars per year. On October 14, 1878, appropriate remarks were made at a session of the Council upon the death of Alderman Grubbs, and suitable resolutions of condolence were ordered drafted. In January, 1879, a bank was established in Corvallis by W. B. Hamilton ; June the 9th of the same year, the Willamette Valley and Coast Railroad Company were granted the right of way along First or Water street ; and on the twenty-ninth of October, like privileges were granted to the Western Oregon Railroad Company on Sixth street, which produced the usual growl from property owners on that thoroughfare; while the last item of interest is the passage of an ordinance under date March 10, 1884, granting to John L. Stewart, William W. Gibbs, Henry J. Jackson and Robert W. Hill the right to operate gas works in the city of Corvallis, the construction thereof to commence within one year from the date of the passage of the ordinance, and the whole to be completed within two years.

Ere closing this chapter we would wish to observe that we are among those who believe that Corvallis has a good future before it. It is a well established principle that the people make the place; not its facilities for business. It is true that an ener- getic and prosperous people may be kept back by a lack of natural advantages, but this is not often the case. A thousand towns are kept in check by the greed and lack of 56+

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public spirit of the people, where one is kept down by the location. Push and energy overcome all obstacles ; greed and want of energy will kill the most promising locality. So a village is to be what its citizens make it. If its land owners hold its lots so high that manufactories are kept out, this will act as a weight to keep it down. If the citizens prefer to patronize the merchants and mechanics of other places, that helps to keep the place down. What is wanted is for the people to be united as far as public good is concerned. Patronize each other, as far as possible; any new enterprise, especi- ally manufactories, give a warm greeting to any new settler and give aid, so far as may be, in everything that shall tend to the public good. If this policy is pursued, a village will rapidly grow and become a thrifty and prosperous town. If, on the contrary, the people refuse aid to every enterprise, unless they are to get a big slice of the profit, look upon every new arrival as a pigeon to be plucked, and patronize their neighbors only when they cannot do as well, or better, somewhere else, then a place will grow slowly, if at all, its natural advantages will go to waste and count as nothing in the question of prosperity.

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CHAPTER XLVII.

CORVALLIS PRECINCT.

Descriptive-Secret Societies-Fire Companies -- Newspapers -- Industries-Bank-Warehouses.

Corvallis is the county seat of Benton county and has a present population of eighteen hundred souls. Situated at the head of navigation on the Willamette, this town at once became the head quarters of the miners of Southern Oregon and a portion of California, who came down to this point in the fall, left their teams and pack mules there, went to Portland for supplies and after spending the winter here returned to the mines in the spring.

Corvallis is situated in the heart of the Willamette valley at a point where the river makes a sharp bend to meet the waters of Mary's river, a stream furnishing a considerable water power already utilized to turn the machinery of a large flouring mill. It is sixty miles east of Yaquina bay and within the sound of the angry breakers of the Pacific ocean, as they are dashed in wild fury against a pitiless and rock-bound coast, yet just far enough removed to hush their turbulent noises to a low, sweet cadence, soft and gentle as a mother's lullaby. It is ninety miles from Portland with which it is connected by the West side division of the Oregon and California Railroad. The town is regularly laid out with wide streets flanked by sidewalks. Fine thrifty shade trees adorn the thoroughfares; and neat dwellings, set in fairly well kept grounds,

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are the rule, though some old buildings (relics of old times) yet remain. Its location for health and beauty is equaled by few and surpassed by no place in the Willamette valley. An opening in the Coast Range of mountains opposite the city admits the ocean breeze, giving the place a warm temperature in winter and cool evenings in sum- mer. The fir-crowned Coast Range to the westward and the snow-clad Cascade peaks to the east, cut the low sky with lines of nature's grandest beauty. A clear atmosphere brings out with remarkable distinctness the lights and shades of the hills and hollows, till an artist might dwell, study and paint there, and leave the landscape unfinished when old age called him to rest. The steady sweep of the strong river hurrying past the city's eastern door down to tell the sea of the mountain springs whence its waters came, unrolls as a scroll, whereon poets might muse and feed the fire of genius, phil- osophers read of time's endless changes, and lovers, of life's treacherous surface. Health walks the streets in the limbs of stalwart youth and smiles at you from blooming faces of fair young girls. Health is whispered in your ear by every breeze and peers at you from mischievous urchins' eyes at every corner. Business, though not of the crowded city sort, is apparent in the busy clerks, full warehouses, farm wagons on the streets, etc. A flouring mill flanks the town on the south and a steam saw mill closes the northern end, while numerous workshops of various trades manufacture their specialties between and add their portion to the aggregate business of the whole. Wheat raised in the county, furnishes the staple for its greatest annual income.

Churches are numerous and fairly well supported ; the public schools are under good management and show a large attendance to the population ; the State Agricul- tural College, located here, supplies the means for a thorough education of its youth at home. Two weekly newspapers shed the light of current events on the town and country through their respective Republican and Democratic Lenses, and three fire organizations guard the property of its inhabitants. The orders of Masons, Odd Fel- lows, Knights of Pythias, United Workmen, and Good Templars keep alive and incul- cate the teaching of the Great Master in labor, benevolence and sobriety.

The future of Corvallis must be prosperous, as its natural position will always command the trade of a very rich agricultural country. With the completion of the Oregon Pacific Railroad, she will have three separate channels of communication with good markets, while there is no better point for the immigrant to seek settlement. The people are sociably inclined and extend a warm welcome and liberal assistance to whoever comes to help in developing the resources of their county.

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History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 64

Author: David D. Fagan Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: David D. Fagan
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages: