Corvallis, Oregon - History

History

stood a few vards from where Mrs. Averv now resides, near the northern bank of Mary's river. It was a long building comprising one room, which was partitioned off by curtains on the arrival of his wife in 1847, and stood until the year 1853, when it was torn down, its uses having departed with the erection of a large frame dwelling in 1852.

With the immigration of 1845, there came to Oregon, William F. Dixon, who, in September, 1846, took up the six hundred and forty acre tract to the north of Mr. Avery, and on which is situated the northern half of the city of Corvallis. Mr. Dixon erected too a log cabin without delay, placing it on a site immediately in front of the present location of Mr. Friendly's steam saw mill, but on what is now the line of Second street. This was the second house within the present corporation limits.

Immediately upon his building his cabin Mr. Avery fenced off about twelve acres of land which is still known as the " little field ;" which, in the winter of 1847-48 he staked off a few town lots, the first measured off in the future town of Marysville and present city of Corvallis. These occupy a position at the top of the high ground that rises from Mary's river, at the southern extremity of Second street.

In the fall of 1848 Mr. Avery went to the California gold mines, returning in January following, but went back that same year, 1849, coming home again that fall. During his absence he entered into partnership with a Mr. Grigsby, purchased a small stock of merchandise at San Francisco and Portland, conveyed them to his house, his associate following a month later, and opened a storq in a small granary that stood a little to the front of the site now occupied by Mrs. Avery's residence. This building had been erected in 1848 for Mr. Avery by J. C. Alexander, and in it he stored, before leaving for California, seven hundred bushels of wheat, the produce of his first and only attempt at personal farming in the country. With the agumentation of population the space in the first store in the city soon proved inadequate, Mr. Avery, therefore, in 1850, erected a new building, on what is now the southwest corner of Second and Washington streets, but after three or four years the accommodation here proved insufficient, so he then constructed a larger structure, the first house in Benton county built of sawed lumber.

The fourth house to be erected in the city was the store of Hartless & St. Clair. It stood on the claim of William F. Dixon, a little to the south of the the west landing of the ferry accross the Willamette river. The fifth house was erected on the ground now occupied by the southeast corner of Second and Washington streets, being built for a hotel by Alfred Rinehart, and stood until the year 1882, when it was torn down.

During the summer of 1848 a school-house, the first in the town, was built in the vicinity of the grounds now occupied by the cluster of houses of which the Vincent House is the center, but it was not until 1850 that it was put to its proper uses, the first teacher being A. G. Hovey, now a banker of Eugene City, Lane county. Here a congregation under the Baptist church was organized in 1850 by Dr. R. C. Hill, of Albany, the first denomination to commence the good work of the redemption of souls in the town.

In 1846, Mr. Avery had a canoe on Mary's river, near his residence, which was used to ferry individuals to the opposite shore, the animals swimming, but for the use of which no charge was made, it being placed there simply as a neighborly convenience; while, the first ferry across the Willamette, was operated in 1848 by Mr. Dixon. This latter, however, was in 1850, officially established and conducted by Wayman St. Clair and Isaac Moore, who built regular ferry boats ; a like undertaking being made on Mary's river, about a quarter of a mile above Mr. Avery's house, by Charles Knowles.

The first female settler iu the town of Marysville, was Mrs. W. F. Dixon, where she was domiciled for upwards of one and twenty years. To their son Cyrus Dixon is the honor of being the first child born within the corporation limits, the date being June 21, 1847, while the first wedding, which occurred at the residence of John Stewart between Christmas Day of 1847 and New Year's Day 1848, was that of W. Prather to Mrs. Carter, whose relatives had located on Soap creek. As Mrs. Avery says - " all the country was there." The first death that occurred in the community is difficult to verify, but it is thought to have been either that of Mrs. J. C. Alexander or Mrs. Stemmermanu.

In the summer of 1851 Mr. Avery tendered to the county a tract of forty acres of land for county seat purposes ; the like quantity being also deeded by William F. Dixon, and on these cession? has the city of Corvallis since been built, that portion south of the Court-house being the original claim of the former gentleman, while that of the latter lies to the north and includes the block of land on which the county buildings stand.

The town of Marysville, in the fall of the year 1851, comprised the store of J. C. Avery, already mentioned, a grocery and saloon kept by Kendall & Wiles, a blacksmith's shop owned by George P. Wrenn situated about two hundred feet to the south of Mr. Avery's store, all on the Avery claim, while on that of Mr. Dixon were the store of Hartless & St. Clair, Mr. Dixon's own residence, the school-house, a blacksmith's shop owned by John Stewart and rented to a man named Dulap, and that fall the two new buildings of George Murch, adjoining that of Hartless & St. Clair, and the dwelling of Isaac Moore, since burnt down. >

In the fall of 1852 the first steamer made her appearance up the Willamette river and made fast to a warehouse that had been erected about the same time as the store, and stood on the bank of the stream but the site has since been washed away. This boat was named the Caneaiah, Captain Bennett, commander ; the second steamboat was the Gazelle, which was blown up near Oregon City, after making only two or three trips. These craft came up with general cargoes, all freight hitherto having been transported overland from Portland. Thenceforward, the regular trips of river steamers became an accepted fact, while companies sprang into existence for their management. For instance The People's Transportation Company in 1866 had some excellent vessels on the river afterwards, noticeably the Reliance and Fannie Patton, which left Corvallis every Tuesday and Friday at noon, while, that same year the Enterprise plied regularly between that city and Eugene.

The first mention we have of a road, that is a regularly recognized public highway, to tap Corvallis is that undertaken by the Territorial government under the provisions of an act passed Jauuary 14, 1853, the commissioners appointed being Isaac Moore, Meadows Vanderpool and Isaac Roberts, the location being between Corvallis and Winchester. Up to this time the roads traveled had been those that custom of travel had marked out, the last wagon following the first in the same beaten track.

On December 20, 1853, Marysville ceased to be, there being passed on that date the act which changed its name to Corvallis, with the provision " that said change of name shall not affect any right or titles to any lots or blocks of land sold and conveyed in said town." This change was deemed necessary on account of there being a town in California of the same name, on the same stage route, which was wont to produce confusion, therefore it was christened by the very appropriate cognomen of Corvallis - the heart of the valley.

On January 20, 1853, an act was passed by the Territorial Legislature appointing and constituting James A. Bennett, John Trapp and Lucius W. Phelps a board of commissioners for the construction of the Territorial University, at the town of Marysville, on such land as should be donated for that purpose by Joseph P. Friedly, but through some not now very clearly known arrangement, this concession was granted to some other county - although the bricks for the building had been commenced to be manufactured - and the newly-known city of Corvallis given the State Capitol as a sop to Cerberus. The Legislature duly met in that town, and as mysteriously as it had been named the seat of government, 80 it was as incomprehensibly robbed of its Capitolian crown, and thus was Benton County at one fell swoop robbed of the University and the Capitol, both, so remaining until the establishment of the State Agricultural College in Corvallis.

It has been our privilege to look at a copy of the " Oregon Statesman, Asahel Bush, editor, published in Corvallis, Oregon Territory, August 11, 1855" - thirty years ago ! Very, very few of the present citizens were here theu. What changes have been wrought in those years! How many family circles have been broken up or scattered like chaff before the wind ! The infants of those times are the business men of to-day, and the then dimpled babes and bright-eyed, sunny-faced lasses, who tripped in joyous glee across the common, or gathered daisies or blue-bells with which to weave garlands to twine around the hats of their juvenile lovers, are the wives and mothers of to-day - many of them clad in the habiliments of woe. But while the withering impress of the ploughshare of Time is visible, the evidences of progress and prosperity are everywhere apparent. The advertisements of the Statesman of that date were confined almost exclusively to Salem and Oregon City. Who can tell of the changes of the next thirty years ? We find notice of the Colville gold excitement ; a rumor that ten miners in Southern Oregon had been massacred by Indians, and fears were expressed that a general Indian war would be the result; the grasshopper scourge was sweeping over Umpqua and Rogue River valleys and portions of Lane county. One orchard .in the last, worth six thousand dollars, was completely ruined. A correspondent proposed to connect Salem and Astoria by military road, then being surveyed " within a distance of one hundred miles." The name of General Joseph Lane is at the mast-head of the paper for President in 1856. The editor had a "leader" on the " Convention Question," and favored the establishment of a State Government - [Corvallis being the seat of government at that time.] The following is a local item, which will be read with interest at this time ; and although Corvallis for several years seemed to stand still, she is now again marching forward in " substantial improvements." The editor says : - "A first-class court house is nearly completed at this place. There is but one better in the Territory - the one at Salem. Benton county is also free from debt and its people are in as prosperous a condition as any in the country. The work upon the Methodist Episcopal church here is well advanced; a couple of stores and quite a number of dwellings have also been erected here this summer, and Corvallis exhibits substantial improvements."

That Corvallis in the year 1854 must have been a place of considerable importance we assume, from the fact tlfet, January 28, 1854, the legislature passed an act establishing the " Corvallis Seminary," and naming John Stewart, Silas M. Stout, William F. Dixon, John W. York, Kobert B. Biddle, Wesley Graves, Perry G. Earle, A. L. Humphrey, Silas Belknap, Samuel F. Starr, Thomas H..Pearne, Alvan F.Waller, Hiram Bond, B. F. Chapman, and James Gingles and their associates and successors, a body corporate and politic in law by the style of the " Trustees of Corvallis Seminary," whose first meeting was directed should be held at the house of William F. Dixon. This institution, however, never took root upon the soil of the city, and four years later, January 20, 1858, we have the passage of the act establishing the " Corvallis College" with J. B. Congle, B. W. Wilson, J. A. Hanna, J. C. Avery, W. F. Dixon and W. L. Cardwell, as trustees, the difference between the provisions of these acts being that whereas in the first the " Methodist Episcopal Church, within the bounds of which said institution is situated " was given a kind of supervision, and in the latter the trustees should " manage the concerns of said institution as they shall consider most advantageous to the cause of education."

Perhaps this school had been to the city as a payment for taking from her both the Capitol and the University. The gift, so to speak, was accepted and in a short time the sura of three thousand dollars was subscribed towards a school building while the county gave a block of land on which to locate it. In due course of time an edifice was put up, but only the upper floor was fitted and finished, and for a time it was in the hands of the Presbyterian body. Subsequently the upper story was placed in a fit condition for receiving pupils, but the money donated had all vanished and the building and property brought to the hammer in order to defray the expenses of construction. These were purchased by Orcineth Fisher in 1860, for the sura of four thousand and fifty dollars and by him transferred to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, who about 1864, as mentioned elsewhere placed the Corvallis College upon a firm foundation and the sure road to the success it has since attained.

On January 27, 1857, an act to incorporate the town of Corvallis passed the House of Representatives, and on the following day was passed by the Territorial Council, the first section of which enacts: "That the inhabitants of Corvallis, and their successors within the limits of said town, and its additions as it appears and is recorded in the. records for the county of Benton, and residing upon lands adjoining the said town owned by T. H. Pearne, are hereby declared a body corporate and politic, by the name and style of the "City of Corvallis." The limit of the city being as indicated in the first section of the act, and extending on the east to the middle of the main channel of the Willamette river. In accordance with the provisions of the charter an election was duly held on the second Monday of May, 1857, the first mayor being J. B. Congle. The initial meeting of the Common Council took place on May 16, 1857, when the city was divided into wards, and an ordinance passed prohibiting the leading or riding of horses upon sidewalks. Thus the civic machinery of the city was started and has ever since continued to proceed in a harmonious manner giving general satisfaction to all. The street commissioner was directed under date September 5, 1857, to report a system of drainage of the city, the contract for which was awarded to A. J. Allison. While on the subject of streets we may mention that, January 1, 1858, E. E. Taylor was allowed the sum of twenty dollars for " ploughing up " the streets of the city. It was now determined to grade Second street, which being referred to a committee, they reported, " that the street be thrown up from each side at least one foot deep, forming a regular curve from one side to the other, harrowed smoothly and rolled if thought advantageous." E. E. Taylor being employed " to grade said street, to furnish four yoke of oxen, plow and scraper and two hands, at twelve dollars per day." For some reason which does not appear on the records, Alderman Hargrove moved the discharge of Mr. Taylor, March 12, 1858, from " any further service on the streets, ,, a motion that was lost, upon which Mr. Hargrove gave notice that he would take an appeal to some " higher authority," but the records do not mention if the vengeance of the gentleman was satisfied or not. In the year 1859 the first " lock-up" was erected by the city, and when completed it was found to have been constructed on the land of J. C. Avery, who at once gave a deed for the property under certain considerations. In 1860, not much of importance transpired to vary the life of the city of Corvallis: Under date October the eighth the Common Council ordered that books be opened to receive subscriptions to repair and build a road from Corvallis to Oakland upon the nearest and most eligible route, and as commissioners to receive these J, C. Avery, L. Clark and Nat. H. Lane, were appointed. In the month of January 1861, we find that precautions were directed to prevent the spread of smallpox. The first franchise to erect telegraph poles on the streets of Corvallis, was granted July 28, 1862, to J. E. Strong ; while, eighteen years later, in September, 1880, John Ray and son, established the first telephonic communication between Corvallis and the . i f outside world. A company was formed, at the time with the following directors: A » »* ' T. Egerton Hogg, Wallis Nash, James A. Yantis, Thomas Graham, G. R. Farra, T. E. Cauthorn, F. Cauthoru, Frank Butler, Herbert Symonds, C. H. Coote, Sol. King, Samuel McLane, A. M. Witham, J. R. Larner, Zepin Job.

The first mention we have of the Corvallis Fire Department is on March 23, 1863, but it was in existence for some time before then, as the following proceedings of the Council will explain. On the date just mentioned, on motion of E. L. Perham, it was ordered by the Council that the sum of fifty dollars be appropriated to the Fire Department, Mr. Holder subsequently moving the appointment of a committee to confer with the department, empowering such committee to offer to liquidate the indebtedness of the fire organization to an amount not exceeding fifty dollars, with the amount appropriated above, on condition that the company turn over to the city, for the sole use and benefit of the corporation, the Hook and Ladder, Engine, and the materials belonging thereunto, the city engaging to take care of and furnish all necessary material for the organizations until the fire companies be disbanded, when, in such event, the materials of these should revert to the city until the reorganization of the fire department of Corvallis. It was also directed that should such anticipated disorganization occur the Mayor should perform the duties of foreman, while those of his assistants should devolve upon the Recorder and Marshal. May 4, 1863, the impedimenta of the department were handed over to the city fathers, and the fire department ceased to be. It soon became apparent, however, that the city should not be without some system whereby property should be made more secure from fire. Nothing farther would appear to have been done until June 18, 1872, when Corvallis Engine Company No. 1, was organized with twenty-six members - the name was changed to Young America Engine Company, No. 1, September 21, 1872 - and a new engine purchased in San Francisco, which, however, turned out to be new only to Corvallis, for in the Bay City it had been almost a " forty-niner/' and afterwards did good work in Virginia City, Nevada, where it was known as " Young America, No. 2." Its arrival was the occasion for a grand parade at Corvallis, November 28, 1872, when a beautiful banner was presented to the company on the part of the ladies of the city by Miss Lizzie Butterfield, besides an American ensign, the gift of George Simmons, the whole finishing up with a grand ball in Fisher's brick building. In January, 1875, a Hook and Ladder Company was organized and the Corvallis Fire Department created. September 10, 1877, the hose tower was completed ; while, November 11, 1878, a petition was received from many citizens asking the Common Council to take charge of the funds deposited by the citizens of Corvallis aud vicinity for the purpose of purchasing an engine. At this session of the council the regular order of business was suspended and several speeches made for and against the reception and adoption of the petition, but, finally, a motion resulted in its passage. A resolution was then offered, and on motion adopted, authorizing the Chief Engineer to demand of Young America Engine Company, No. 1, immediately to pay over and deliver to the council all correspondence, moneys, subscriptions and all other matters pertaining to the purchase of an engine, and that the said company take no further steps in the matter. In the meantime another engine had arrived. On January 20, 1879, the Secretary of Young America Engine Company appeared before the council and reported the action of his company in relation to the new fire engine then lying on the wharf at Corvallis, which statement was embodied in a preamble and resolution as follows :

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 beeu contracted for, is now on the wharf in our city, and such citizens and fire company 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- 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 periodicals, among them those published in or about 1857, by Hall and Gillis, and in 1860, that by J ^. 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 building at the corner of Main (Second) and Jefferson streets, a much needed and substantial 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 beeuon 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-producing regions in Oregon. Her fertile valleys and perennial grass-covered hills, interspersed 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 astonishment 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 "clearing" costs. The large tracts of land should be divided and sub-divided, and thoroughly 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 considerable 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 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. McConnell's saloon, and is believed to have been the work of an incendiary. When first discovered it was almost ready to burst through the roof, and before anything like a general alarm could be given, the flames had gained uncontrollable headway. It swept the buildings occupied by McConnelPs, 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, eave 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 insu^nce 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 amount; and, September 4, 1875, the saw-mill of ft. 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 insurance upon any of the property.

Another disastrous conflagration occurred in Corvallis on the morning of September 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 occupied 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 incendiaries, 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 furniture, and three times had the owner incurred a serious loss, and through no carelessness 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 communicated with the unoccupied building on the northwest corner of the block, belonging to Joseph Gearhart, which atone 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 adrift and escaped but eight of the most valuable perished ; there being also destroyed a number of vehicles, a quantity ot harness, and one hundred and fifty tons of hay.

It is a pleasure to note that notwithstanding the disasters just mentioned the people 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 remarkable 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 December 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 aud strike the key-note to many an unfounded character. We sincerely trust that the public library of Corvallis is only iu 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 association were to purchase, hire or build a wharf ami warehouse for the purpose of storing 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 September, 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 poiut 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 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 channel 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. 8. McFadden were employed to codify the city ordinances, a duty which these gentlemen performed in a most thorough 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, Secretary ; 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 energetic 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 public spirit of the people, where one is kept down by the locatiou. 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, especially 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.

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,