The Oregon state employee., January 01, 1947, Page 10, Image 10

8
Oregon's Future — Unlimited
By ELIZABETH DOTSON
Looking around these days, Oregon­ according to per capita income, advanc­
ians cannot fail to see the stirring of ing to 10 th place h h 1944 during
something new and stimulating in the the shipbuilding era. Per capita income
state. New homes are being constructed Tor Oregon was just under the national
and the need'fhr many more is becom­ average in 19^9 and in 1933 and ex­
ing increasingly urgent-ijlnviting new ceeded that average from 1939 to 1944.
glass-windowed ¡-.food markets, farm Among the 11 Western states, Oregon
equipment and automobile sales rooms, ranked 5 th in per capita income until
new business houses, new motels and 1940 and 4th since that date. "These
roadside cafes for tourists are appearing, data show,•’’ the report says, "that Ore­
everywhere. Some question whether this gon is subject to the same economic
is a momentary flash in the pan before factors as the rest of the nation but
settling back to "normal” , or whether has shown an accelerated growth in
excess.of the average for the Country
this is the new normaLfor Oregon.
Those interested in evaluating this and has shown- a remarkable ^increase
'
trend will be anxious tor give theif since 1940 . •
attention to the revealing reports of S.
Such facts would have little value
J. Barrick, Director of Research for the for interpretation pf the present and
Oregon Tax Study Commission, which future if they resulted entirely from
was created during the 1945 legislative our war economy. It should be noted
session. These reports discuss various that Oregon’s per capita income ex­
aspects of Oregon’s tax structure, in ­ ceeded the national average in 1939
cluding the implications and effects and 1940 when. Only l i . f '^ . o f the
of the six percent tax limitation, com­ total income payments of individuals
munity property taxes, the cost, of state in Oregon came from selected war-
and local government, the economic' de­ manufacturing. Selected war-manufac­
velopment and fiscal capacity of .The turing means those industries not re­
state of Oregon and, the major types of lated to ordinary enterprise in a given
taxes levied, in Oregon.* The final re­ area. The dumber industry and; agricul­
port, and recommendations to the gov- ture are' not included as war industries
ernor and legislature will be completed although their products were directed
in December.
to the war effort. They are normal in­
In the third report, entitled Economic dustries which produce in peacetime
Development and Fiscal Capacity of for civilian consumption. In 1944 se­
the State of Oregon, Mr. Barriekipoints lected war-manufacturing accounted
out that Oregon is in the high per cap­ for i H l l of the total income payments
ita income group of "Industrial Diver-, to individuals^ W ith 60% of the in­
sified” states. In this group, Oregon is come from other than selected war­
associated with California and Wash­ manufacturing even,-in such a peak
ington on the West 'Coast and has war year, it becomes apparent that
economic characteristics similar to Illi­ Oregon’s war production was largely
nois, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. from her peacetime industries.
"We thus find,” he- concludes, "that
The report goes on to state that at
Oregon may be compared with Wash­
ington and Calif ornia economically- as the outbreak of the war approximately
well as geographically.” Until T940, 7 5 % of all industrial output in Oregon
Oregon wasMkth' among the 48 states was dependent upon timber and agri­
cultural resources, closely allied with
* Reports may be' consulted at the Oie - minerals?: arid cheap electrical power.
gon State Library'.
The impetus of immediate war needs