tering of four railroad companies, only one of which took any steps toward carrying out the declared intentions of the company. In the case of the Willamette Valley Railroad Company, the commissioners held one meeting at Thorp's mills, in Polk county, and appointed days for receiving subscriptions in each of the counties. But the time was not yet ripe for railroads, and this temporary enthusiasm seems to have been aroused by the Pacific railroad survey, then in progress in the north-west territory of the United States.[1]
The success of the Oregon delegates in securing appropriations led the assembly to ask for money from the general government for "every conceivable purpose," as their mentor, the Statesman, reminded them, and for which it reproved them. Yet the greater part of these applications found favor with congress, either through their own merits or the address of the dele-
- ↑ The Willamette Valley railroad was to have been built on the west side of the valley. The commissioners were Fred. Waymire, John Thorp, and Martin L. Barber. Or. Statesman, April 25, 1854. The first railroad projected in Oregon was from St Helen, on the Columbia, to Lafayette, the idea being put forth by H. M. Knighton, original owner of the former place, and Crosby and Smith, owners of Milton town site. See Or. Spectator, April 17, 1851.
the name of Gold River back to Rogue River. The methodists incorporated Santiam Academy at Lebanon, in Linn county, Portland Academy and Female Seminary at Portland, and Corvallis Academy at Corvallis. The presbyterians incorporated Union Academy at Union Point. The congregationalists incorporated Tualatin Academy and Pacific University at Forest Grove; and the citizens of Polk county the Rickreal Academy, on the land claim of one Lovelady—Rickreal being the corruption of La Creolé, in common use with the early settlers. Albany had its name changed to Tekanah, but it was changed back again next session. Thirty wagon roads were petitioned for, and many granted, and the Umpqua Navigation and Manufacturing Company was incorporated at this session, the object of which was to improve the navigation of the river at the head of tide-water, and utilize the water-power at the falls for mills and manufactories. The company consisted of Robert J. Ladd, J. W. Drew, R. E. Stratton, Benjamin Brattan, and F. W. Merritt; but nothing came of it, the navigation of the river being impracticable. None of the plans for making Scottsburg a manufacturing town at this time, or down to the present, succeeded. An appropriation for the improvement of the river above that place was indeed secured from congress and applied to that purpose a few years later, so far that a small steamer built for a low stage of water made one trip to Winchester. The Umpqua above the falls at Scottsburg is a succession of rapids over rocky ledges which form the bottom of the stream. The water in summer is shallow, and in winter often a rushing torrent. In the winter of 1861–2 it carried away the mills and most of the valuable improvements at the lower town, which were not rebuilt.
