Morning Oregonian
Portland, Oregon
July 18, 1871
A letter from Port Orford, Curry county states that times are good there at present. There are plenty of Government lands to take on rich river bottom. With little labor good farms can be made. Near, deer, elk and fish abound. Mails(?) in winter are rather tardy, but in summer go through in good time.
October 12, 1871
H.B. Burnoff, the keeper of the light house at Cape Blanco, near Port Orford, passed through Oakland to day, on his way to the State Fair. he informs me that there have been new mines discovered in Curry county that will soon be a great source of wealth for that portion of the State.
September 10, 1872
Will Start-Major H.M. Robert, accompanied by Capt. West will start for Port Orford next Thursday morning. As previously stated the object of the visit is to examine the harbor at that point with the view of ascertaining the feasibility of making it a port of refuge. If the results of the inspection and preliminary surveys are favorable an appropriation will be recommended at once.
September 18, 1872
Major Robert and Captain West left this city a few days ago bound for Port Orford to examine the harbor at that place with the view of creating it a port of refuge. They will probably be absent several weeks before completing the preliminary inspection.
October 3, 1872
Expected Soon.-Major Robert and Captain West, who went to Port Orford some weeks since to examine that port with a view of determining its feasibility as a harbor of refuge, are both expected to return in a few days.
October 5, 1872
Returned-Major Robert and Captain West returned a few days ago to this city, from an inspecting tour to Port Orford. As has been before stated, the object of the visit was to officially examine the character of the port, with a view to create it a harbor of refuge. The Major made a preliminary inspection of the port and then returned. The result of the examination will probably be embodied in a favorable report. Material necessary for the construction of a breakwater, can be obtained in abundance, and close at hand. From two and a half to three millions of dollars will probably suffice to make that port a harbor of refuge; and it will be the cheapest of all those points along the coast, hitherto spoken of, by reason of the proximity of excellent stone.
October 7, 1873
Postmasters appointed: Mrs. Mattie E. Huntley, Ellensburg, Curry County, Oregon.
January 16, 1875
B & J S Doe of San Francisco have sold the Ellensburg mill to Riley & Stewart on private terms.
June 10, 1875
A friend writing from Ellensburg, Curry county under date of May 24, sends the Times (?) the following: The body of an unknown man was found in the boom of the Mill company here on the 18th inst. The body was in a bad state of decomposition, evidently having been drowned some time ago. The person was a large man almost, if not fully six feet high with small hands and feet perfect but large teeth with very high, narrow forehead. He was buried on an island at the mouth of the Rogue river. his boots and portions of his shirts can be seen at the store of Riley & Sewart(?). We suppose it is the body of the man drowned at Galice creek in April.
September 21, 1875
Mr. W.R. Bullard, who lately returned from government surveying east of the mountains, has shown us a specimen of gold quartz, from the Peshastin mines, on Swauk, a branch of the upper Yakima, in which Messrs. Shoudy & Dennis, of Ellensburg, are interested. The gold shows itself all over the specimen and is certainly very rich. Work is still going on in the Discovery claim at Swauk, and good pay being taken out when they keep on the lead, which it seems somewhat difficult to do.
May 14, 1877
Who ever before heard of a Chinaman stealing a horse? A few days ago just this thing took place at Ellensburg. He started with the animal for Crescent City, but was captured. John is fast learning the arts of civilization.
June 26, 1877
R.D. Hume of Ellensburg has a large saw mill at the mouth of Rogue river. He has a line of steamers running between that place and San Francisco. He has contracted with parties to run one million feet of sugar pine logs down Rogue river from the mountains. His fishery at Ellensburg employs 130 hands. He now proposes a wagon road from the mouth of the river to Kerbyville and the main valley of Rogue river, which will afford a good and cheap outlet from Josephine and Jackson counties. An enterprising man will do a great deal for the locality that possesses him.
August 23, 1878
The trail leading from Ellensburg to Kerbyville is being built on a wagon road grade and it will only be necessary to widen it to make a good road to the coast. About $2400 was subscribed by the citizens of Curry county for building the same.
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©Shauna Williams