15 Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon | www.plso.org In a letter addressed to superiors, October 20, 1851, Preston states that little was known about the topography of the Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the summit of the Cascades. He continues to say that after exploring the country north of the Columbia he determined to commence his survey of the meridian at the “upper mouth” of the Willamette and the base line 7 3⁄4 miles south in order to avoid the Columbia River. Preston contracted with William Ives to survey the base lines and Willamette meridian north of the base line. A contract for surveying south of the base line to the Umpqua Country was awarded to James E. Freeman. West of Tuality plains the country became so exceedingly rough and heavily forested that Ives was able to carry his survey but 37 miles west of the meridian post. He then abandoned the Westward line toward the Pacific as impractical. Considerable local attraction was found to exist throughout the country, so much so that the magnetic needle could not be depended upon in making surveys. This deficiency necessitated the use of “Burt’s” improved solar compass. Contract price for these surveys ranged from $10 to $24 a mile for a crew of eight men: two chain-men, two axemen and four assistants. Preston’s map of the Willamette valley is dated October 21, 1852. It is the earliest official survey of the region known to exist. Salem occupies nearly twice as much black area on this map of 102 years ago as does Cincinnati, later to become Eola. Then Cincinnati was on Rickreall creek and the stream debouched into Willamette near the western boundary of what is now West Salem. The Willamette in those times flowed to the south of Brown’s island, then in Polk County. Later the river usurped the channel of the Rickreall near Eola and Brown’s island, or what remains of it, is now in Marion county. Also shown on Preston’s map are the hamlets of Santiam and Syracuse, ferry landings on opposite sides of the Santiam river in the 1850s. Both of these pioneer villages disappeared decades ago due to floods and channel changes in the Santiam river. Ronnie Jacko ronnie@llmpubs.com | 503-445-2234 Surveyors in the News
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