Editing Corvallis, Oregon (section)

===19th-century growth===

Corvallis had a three-year boom beginning in 1889, which began with the establishment of a privately owned electrical plant by L.L. Hurd.<ref name=Martin>Bruce Martin, "Bushrod Washington Wilson," ''Oregon Historical Quarterly,'' vol. 39, no. 3 (Sept. 1938), pp. 283-284.</ref> A flurry of publicity and public and private investment followed, including construction of a grand county courthouse, planning and first construction of a new street railway, construction of a new flour mill along the river between Monroe and Jackson Avenues, and construction of the [[Julian Hotel|Hotel Corvallis]], today known as the Julian Hotel.<ref name=Martin />

In addition, a carriage factory was launched in the city and the town's streets were improved, while the size of the city was twice enlarged through annexation.<ref name=Martin /> Bonds were issued for a city-owned water works, a sewer system, and for public ownership of the electric plant.<ref name=Martin /> A publicity campaign was launched to attempt to expand the tax base through new construction for new arrivals.<ref name=Martin /> This effort proved mostly unsuccessful, however, and in 1892, normality returned, with the city saddled with about $150,000 in bonded debt.<ref name=Martin />