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I PORTLAND AND THE I
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PORTLAIsD OHEGOIST TTJES DA&gTAlxTj AJTZ 1. 1895.
PRICE FIVE CE3JTTS .
ved by The Oregocian from a photograph takes by JIcAlpm & Lamb.) POHTIiRJlD BUSINESS, BflfHIG RfiD HIIiHOHD CE JiTHS Op TflE PACIFIC flOHTJiiyEST SECOJiD CITY Of! TjfiE COHST. (Looking east from tower, Oregoalan building;)
t
IE STATE OF OREGON)
. Ing influences, the thermometer's greatest f the divers currents of air mingling with
je Resources of .Ajq. Empire iri'tlie.
Pacific ISTortlrwest.
-TfcA
ETCH OF 1IS-'P'R0GRESS AND DEVELOPMENT
V
IT
lf.3
bultuf.3 the 3?rirrie Factor in' Its Steady and.
Remarkable Prosperity.
IT EXTENT OF LUMBER AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES
omc of Stoclc-Eaislncr and "Wool-G row Ine Fisheries Hops
"-"Unrivaled Climate-and Fertile Soil Elvers,
Harbors and Water Courses.
ItEGON is the
most northwester
ly state of the
Union, except
Washington, and is
inarcaOiOTKauattJWen-ed.wijsllio-st'lswnorecor
i.Tin"orto.iM'JO j'ftiS TLi1 tbS- Western. Orson, with
acres, its dimen
sions are 330 miles
from east to west,
und 275 miles from
north to south. It
lies south of
Washington, west
of Idaho, north of
California, and
east -of the Pa
cific coast. Its
population is 352,
(62,000. and in na
tional resources it
bears favorable
comparison to any
of the older com
mons ealtlis. The
early history of Or
egon is full of ro
mance. Its set-
Iiy Americans began before the
of gold in California and be
merican conquest of that state,
nal boundaries of Oregon em
ver 300,000 square miles, and In
11 the area above the 42d par
west of the Rocky mountains a
jjfrom which have since been
ftie present Oregon, Idaho, Wash-
nu part, oi -uuiiuiuu. xue urai
of the Northwest territory
532, when Spanish explorers vis-
passed up the coast as far as
parallel. These adventurers ap-
taave overlooked the open estuary
nouth of the great river of the
t, for the Columbia was not
od until 1792, when Robert Gray,
bn, entered Its mouth and named
'am after his vessel, the Columbia.
the Lewis & Clark expedition
and reported to President Jef
frie vast virgin resources of the
fjtry, populated only by Indians.
A Captain Winbhip, of New Eng
eoted the first house on the Co
in 1SU John Jacob Astor founded
(ttradlng station of Astoria, The
cnt 3 years were partly a his
conflict between English and
n sottlers which was allayed by
of "joint occupation" in ISIS. In
. Jason Lee and Daniel Lee and
tssiOHarles came to the Northwest,
Je the first permanent settlement,
tied, the iir?t genuine civilization
country. They established the
Manual Labor School," near
fir the education of Indians. In
ier protection of the American
r-ipany. Dr. and Mrs. Whitman.
1L and Mrs. Spaulding and V.
established a mission among the
of Eastern Oregon. These set-
s attracted immigrants, and se
cJlict for possession between the
and the Americans began. In
Ovisional government was formed.
fc treaty was concluded between
W States and Great Britain, fix
northern boundary at the 48th
n ISIS congress established a
l government, and Gencial Jo
Jse was nominated for governor.
settlements thrived and grew,
landing their remoteness; but
Sginal inhabitants dhl not gie
it a. struggle. Fights with lu
re frequent. On November 28,
ind Mrs. Whitman and 12 others
Ordered by Cayuse Indians near
pnt site of Walla Walla, then In
Tho settlers organized, and sub
f savages. Again the Indian trou
fe renewed in 1S55. and again as
S77 and 1S7S. The tribes are now
. conllned to reservations. The
? was admitted as a state Febru
tSM. and a constitution adopted,
tbove are meagerly and briefly
- c vests of the early history of
It abounds in deeds nf n.
of civilisation "which prevail In the coun
try today.
There are three natural subdivisions to
the state Eastern, Western and Southern
Oregon, The two first are distinct and
,lJiolastls.jiioreicorrect-
two
counties from east of the Cascades. These
three portions of the state have by usage
come to be considered its geographical
units, and it is well enough to adopt
the common classification. Eastern Oregon
is divided from Western by the Cascade
range of mountains, extending north and
south through the state at an average
altitude of 300Q fet. At intervals snow
clad peaks rear their heads far above the
usual height. Mount Hood, In the north,
near the Columbia river, is the most
lofty, being 11,223 feet. ML Pitt, in South
ern Oregon, is 0S1S feet. The principal
productive portion of Western Oregon is
the Willamette valley, extending from the
Columbia river north about 130 miles to
the California range of mountains. The
Coast range, parallel to the Cascades, oc
cupies much of the territory of this di
vision, and the narrow strip between
these mountains and the sea is arable
In part. The Umpqua valley, drained by
the Umpqua river, south of the Califor
nia range, Is very rich for agriculture,
and the Rogue river valley in extreme
Southern Oregon, is famous for fruit
growing. These two valleys are the gar
dens of Southern Oregon. The uplands
are fertile and cultivated in part. The
bottom lands along the lesser streams in
various parts of this section of the state
are exceedingly productive.
Eastern Oregon is all that area east of
the Cascade mountains. It is in the form
of a parallelogram, 273 miles long and 240
miles wide. Its plains are broken up in
mountains, the chief range being the
Bluetnountains in the north and the Stein
mountains in the south. Intermediate
spaces are devoted to agriculture, and to
stockralsing and woolgrowing. Precious
minerals are found in the mountains, and
the Industry has attained considerable
development.
On the coast of Oregon are nine inlets
from the sea including the Columbia
river. Three of these are navigable to
deep-sea vessels. Others can be entered
by vessels of lighter draught. The entire
state Is traversed by a multitude of water
courses. The Columbia river forms the
northern boundary of the state. All the
valleys and lowlands are drained by
streams of greater or less magnitude
some of them navigable for steamers.
The mountains are covered with timber
of great commercial value; the lowlands,
in their natural condition, with light
growth vine maple and alder, with only
occasional firs and pines.
These in outline are the principal topo
graphical features of Oregon, breaking
the state up into valleys, hills, table
lands, and mountains. -There Is no part
of Oregon from which a range of lulls
I or mountains cannot be seen, and the
country everywhere is picturesque. There
Is no valley which Is t.ot productive, and
there Is no upland or table-land or even
hill land which does not offer excellent
opportunities for cultivation either for
agriculture or horticulture, or for a pro
ductive industry of some kind.
range is from zero in winter to 100 de
groes above zero in summer. The great
primary climatic Influence of this region
is the Japan current of the Pacific oean.
Warm winds laden with moisture, sweep
the ocean, and precipitate their contents
first on the coast, where the downfall is
greatest, varying from 5S to 75 inches per
annum. The moisture still contained In
clouds after they cross the coast range
is deposited in the Willamette valley, the
average at Portland being 49 inches an
nually. At Ashland, in the south, where
the elevation is much greater than in
Portland, the average is only 21 Inches.
When the winds have passed the Cas
cades to Eastern Oregon, but little mois
ture remains for that section, the ex
treme fall for a year being less than 20
inches.
Along the Oregon coast the average
temperature in winter is from SO to 53 de
grees, and in summer from 50 to SO de
grees. The average between the coast
and Cascade ranges during winter are
from 15 to 60 degrees, and in summer from
DO to SO degrees. It is only on rare oc
casions that the thermometer passes out
of these limits. In the Willamette valley
the lowest recorded temperature was in
January. 1SSS, -when the themomeler
was from 2 degrees to C degrees below
zero, depending upon) locality. In the
Umpqua valley, at the same time, It was
6 degrees below and in the Rogue River
valley 3 degrees below. In July, 1S31, the
highest temperature prevailed, at 102 de
grees, at points in the Willamette val
ley It was from 100 degrees to 105 degrees;
in the Umpqua valley, 102 degrees; in the
Rogue River valley 103 degrees to 103 de
grees. The duration of extreme weather,
either hot or cold, is ordinarily very
short, never over three days. During the
past -summer the average warm weather
was higher than usual; but the extreme
;was OH degrees, On -the whole, physical
discomfort from stre&j'of Weather of any
kind in Oregon is exceptional. A typical
rainy day in Oregon is not to be com
plained of. It 1- not a storm. It is a
drizzle or mist. There Is little or no
wind. Travel in public- streets is not in
terrupted. It is not necessary to keep
indoors. Outdoor work Is seldom se
riously interrupted, and never for a pro
tracted time. The condition of the coun
try roads is no better and no worse than
the average winter road in the Eastern
states. Killing frosts seldom occur.
Thunder storms are rare. November,
1S94, may be taken as a sample of winter
month, though, as a rule, there are not
so many severe storms as in December
and January. November bears about the
same meteorological relation to Decem
ber as in the Eastern states. The record
of the weather bureau at Portland shows
the following:
Mean temperature, 40; highest tempera
ture, C7, on the 7th; lowest temperature,
32 on the 16th; greatest dally range of
temperature, 20 on the 10th; least daily
range of temperature, 3 on the 23th.
breezes from the Pacific, contagldus and
epidemic diseases are easily .controlled,
while such diseases as typhus And chol
era are wholly unknown. Evenftyphold
forms of malaria are easily regulated. The
climate west of the Cascades is generally
too damp for consumption, butn the
plateaus of Eastern Oregon, conditions
are mo3t favorable to the improvement
and even cure of this class of Invalids.
The common valley soil of Oregon Is
a rich loam, with a subsoil of clayt Along
the streams it is alluvial. The "beaver
dam lands" of this class are. wonder
fully fertile. This soil Is made , through
the work of beavers who dammed up
streams and created lakes. When the
displacing old methods, and will be the
rule in the future.
Eastern Oregon in extent takes up
about two-thirds of the superficial area
of the state, and comprises all that region
cast of the Cascade mountains, except the
important counties of Klamath and Lake,
which are commonly assigned to Southern
Oregon. Its average altitude above the
sea level is 2500 feet. Its surface presents
a variety of topography and of climate.
The territory in the northern part of this
great region is pretty much taken up with
the Blue mountains and spurs with their
accompanying valleys. These latter are
very productive, having ample rainfall
and a climate without great extremes
either in winter or summer. The south-
water was drained away.
the detritus ' western portion of the section, notably
covered the ground. The soil of the up
lands is less fertile than that of tlie bot
toms and valleys, and Is a red, brown and
black loam. It produces an excellent
quality of natural grass, and under care
ful cultivation produces good crops of
grain, fruits and vegetables. Eastjof the
Cascade mountains the soil is a dark
loam of great depth, composed of alluvial
deposits and decomposed lava, overlying
a clay subsoil. The constituents olt this
soil adapt the land peculiarly to the pro
duction of -wheat. All the mineral salts
which are necessary to the perfect devel
opment of this cereal are abundant, repro
ducing themselves constantly as the grad
ual processes of decomposition In this
soil of volcanic origin proceeds. The
clods are easily broken by the plow, and
the ground quickly crumbles on expos
ure to the atmosphere.
In Northeastern Oregon, adjacent to
the Columbia river, although the dry sea
son continues for months, this light por
ous land retains and absorbs Enough
moisture from the atmosphere, after the
particles have been partially disinte
grated,, to insure perfect developnTSKaid
-full harvests. - - 1
In Southeastern Oregon, especially in
the vast areas of fertile lands in Mal
heur and Snake River valleys, the soils
are much like those of the Northeastern
Oregon region, but there Is less moisture.
Except In a very small portion of this re
gion irrigation is necessary to successful
agriculture. The water supply is abun
dant and easily applied.
MEAN TEMPERATURE.
..00 I 1S77 4S 1SS3 47 I 18S9 4S
..42 J 1S7S 47 1SS4 48 1S90 47
..4S 1S79 41 J 1SS3 43 I 1891 49
..43 J 1SS0 42 1SS6 42 1S92 46
..43 j 1SS1 44 J 1887 45 j 1S93 46
..47 I 1SS2 44 l 18SS 44 I 1SS4 49
THE STATE'S LEADIXG DIVISIONS.
ijiijwwli,
yt7flfjia
CLIMATE AND SOIL.
A Combination That Insures Health
and Abundant Crops.
LIMATIC conditions in Oregon
present great -variety within
an( area comparatively limit
ed; The typical features of
thfc climate of Western Oregon
arb the rains of winter and. a
protracted rainless reason in
satximer. In other words
there are two distinct seasons
Inj Oregon wet and dry.
Snows In winter and rains in
siimmer are exceptional. In
EUstem Oregon the climate
more nearly! approaches condition fn
Vpsv
to'riEJSL: statK There are not the same
i -7-... ;," 7. . .aiure ! extremes, butj there are the same features
1 -nd Ja foratt; of incredible hard
fcrtittUte liy early missionaries
, lers whose patriotic purpose was
i m the great territory from the
kss, sad eatablisfe and build a
jpoalth which would be a source
, ---- . xiuvn. iwar
OHPHMOMWXBK u tftpd in
m prosperity ana high degree
of winter snenv and, in places, of summer
heat. Southern Oregon Is more like
Eastern thau Western Oregon.
The distinguishing characteristics of
Western Orison are its Miuntnt- i
haalthnilnes-i. The state is in the same
latitude as 2
ttiftljMjaoe of tht
in me x'ine
aine, but thece is entire ab-
rigors of weather suffered
ee state. Owing to rcodlfy-
1S71.
1S72.
1S73.
1S74.
1875.
1S76.
Mean temperature for this month for 23
years, 46.
Accumulated excess of dally mean tem
perature during the month, S3 degrees;
average dally excess, 2.1 degrees; accumu
lated deficiency of daily mean tempera
ture since January 1, 1S34, 477 degrees;
average daily deficiency, 1.4.
Total deficiency in precipitation during
month, 3.29 inches.
Total precipitation from September 1,
1S94, to date, 7.46 Inches.
Average precipitation from September
1, 1834, to date, 12.10 inches.
Total deficiency from September 1, 1S9I,
to date, 4.46 inches.
Average rainfall for 24 seasons, 43.51
inches.
Prevailing direction of wind northwest,
2S degrees; total movements of wind, 5712
miles; maximum velocity of wind, direc
tion and date, 37 miles from southwest,
on 2Sth; total precipitation, 2.76 inches;
number of days on which .01 inch or
more of precipitation fell, 16.
TOTAL PRECIPITATION.
1871.. 2.77 j 1S77. .12.45 1SS3.. 8.26 1SS9.. 3.97
1872.. 4.76 1878.. 5.61 18S4.. 3.24 1S90.. 0.50
1S73.. 4.38 1879.. 4.56 1SS5.. 8.52 1S91.. 5.74
1S74..10.22 1SS0.. 3.17 1 1SS6.. 1.00 I 1S92.. 4.34
1S75.. 15.77 j 1SS1.. 5.91 1SS7.. 3.48 i 1893.. 7.74
1876. .10.03 j 1SS2.. 5.93 j 1SSS.. 4.47 1S91.. 2.76
Average precipitation for this month
for 23 years, 6.05; number of cloudless
days, 6; partly cloudy days, 11; cloudy
days, 13; dates of frost, light on the 3d,
5th and 21st; killing on the 16th.
The springs in Oregon are delightful;
the summers very pleasant. They are
practically rainless, and almost always
without great extremes of heat. The sky
is usually cloudless. Sunstrokes are un
known. It is a common practice of farm
ers to thresh in the field and stack grain
outdoors for week at a time awaiting the
opportunity to haul to market. The roof
of the farmer's warehouse Is the sky, and
it seldom leaks. Fall rains usually begin
m October. It Is a noteworthy feature of
Oregon summers that nights are always
cool and refreshing. No matter what tem
perature was recorded during the day, re
lief comes with sunset.
In Eastern Oregon the temperature Is
lower. In winter, and higher in summer,
than in Western. The annual rainfall
varies from 7 to 20 Inches. About
one-third occurs In the form of snow,
whereas in the west the snowfall does not
comprise over 5 per cent of the total, and
In years is not 1 per cent. The area over
which there Is less than 10 Inches of rain
fall is smalL Extremes the year round
are of minor range.
The influence of the mild climate of
Oregon on health is very important.
There is complete absence of those at
mospheric conditions favorable to the de
velopment of bacteria and all crypto
ganie and sporadic germs. Because of
The "Willamette Valley n. Great Gnr
den Fertility of Entern Orcpron.
HE two leading divisions of
the state are the Willamette
valley and Eastern Oregon.
The Willamette valley, the
principal agricultural region
of the state, extends from the
Calipooia mountains on the
south to the Columbia river
on the north. It is inclosed
by the Cascade range of
mountains on the east, and
the Coast range on the west. Its length is
about 130 miles, and its average width CO
miles, and it contains about 7800 square
miles of very productive land. It is drained
principally by the Willamette river, which
rises in the Calipooia mountains, and
flows midway through the valley to the
Columbia river. Into the Willamette on
the east pour the Clackamas, Molalla,
Pudden. Santlam, Calipooia and McKenzie
rivers. Besides the Coast fork of the river
from the west, flow the Tualatin, Cheha-
lem, Yamhill, La Creole, Lucklamute,
Mary's and Long Tom rivers. Each of
these streams flows through a great ex
tent of territory especially fit for agri
culture, fruit, stock and timber.
The elevatiori of the valley above the
sea level ranges from 70 feet at Oregon
City to 400 feet at the southern extremity.
The level prairies are well populated;
but farms are too large and the tendency
Is to divide them and invite further set
tlement and more thorough cultivation.
The principal staple of production has
been wheat, but crops are now more di
versified than in the past. Horticulture is
receiving great attention. Some of the
lands show a special adaptability to hop
culture. Oats, rye, barley and all the
common cereals are grown in abundance.
The country is especially adapted to the
production of vegetables of all kinds.,
The rolling lands which Inclose the level
prairies are a very valuable portion of the
Willamette valley. The soil is mainly
basaltic and sandstone, and of great fer
tility. In their virgin state these lands
are usually covered with brush, and re
quire to be cleared. The conspicuous ad
vantages of these tracts are good soil,
natural drainage, excellent water, a cli
mate beyond the reach of malaria, ample
supplies of wood, and comparative free
dom from early frosts. There is abundant
opportunity to secure at reasonable cost
large areas of foothill lands. Consider
able tracts, mostly wooded, lie upon the
upper courses of nearly every one of the
tributaries of the Willamette. The foot
hill lands lie at an elevation of from 500
to 2000 feet. Much good agricultural land
Is as high as 2500 feet.
The conditions of dally life in the Wil
lamette valley are most satisfactory. Rail
road facilities are excellent. Settlements
and postofllces are very numerous. Roads
are In the main well maintained, though
In many Instances there is opportunity
for very great improvement in this direc
tion for winter travel. In the country the
educational advantages are very good,
and schools liberally maintained. There is
a great variety of academies and colleges
throughout the state. Churches are fre
quent, more in number, probably, than
can usually be found in regions of equal
population. Taxes are low. Table neces
sities are cheap. Wearing apparel Is as
low priced as anywhere in the United
States. As a rule, farmers of the Willam
ette valley live better and more comfort
ably than in most other parts of the
United States. They are more prosperous
than the average. They seldom emigrate
to another state. A main drawback to the
development of the country In the past
has been the entire reliance .on one crop
wheat placed by farmers. JDlversIflcatioa
all that lying south of Malheur river, is
dry and requires irrigation. It is ex
pected that the government will shortly
reserve 1,000,000 acres of this land for the
uses of the state under conditions that
offer inducement for settlement and culti
vation. The northern central portion is
much broken by mountains, which afford
good pasturage, and which have beside
small valleys of great agricultural rich
ness. The southern central section is the
Harney lake region, a leading grazing
portion of the state. It is a vast rolling
table-land, interspersed with valleys of
considerable extent, which are naturally
meadows of luxuriant and nutritious
grasses. Mining for precious metals Is an
important industry of this immense re
gion. Southern Oregon takes up about one
fifth of the state. That part near the
ocean has tho same characteristics of
topography and climate as Western Ore
gon. Other parts, compassed about with
mountains, are drier in summer and cold
er in winter than Western Oregon. The
two principal valleys of this section are i
Rogue river "and-Umpqua. The Rogue
5K rivQivalleyJsbnyt 33165 lQBij-Sad.,20
imica muc uii uu uvtrage. -lis sou is
especially adapted to diversified farming.
The chief industry Is horticulture. All
kinds of temperate-zone and semi-tropical
fruits are produced in abundance, peaches
and melons predominating. The bottom
lands grow timothy, clover and blue
grass. Near Jacksonville there are vine
yards that rival those of California.
The Umpqua valley, lying between
Rogue river and the Willamette valleys,
is adapted to fruit culture. Cereals thrive
well, but their culture Is not so generally
engaged In as in the larger valley to the
north. Stock and poultry-raising and
woolgrowing are leading Industries.
RIVERS AND IIAItllOUS.
the
The Great Waier-ConrseK of
StattgyThe Fine Harbors.
ITERS and water-courses
abound in Oregon, ranging
from the smallest streamlet
to the mighty Columbia. The
state ha3 no rival in the va
riety, volume and economical
distribution of its water
courses. The Columbia is one
of the great rivers of the
world, and, except perhaps the Yukon,
the largest in North America emptying
into the Pacific ocean. Its average width
for 300 miles inland is over two miles, and
in volume of water It is exceeded in the
United States only by the Mississippi. Its
rise is In the picturesque mountains of
Yellowstone Park, and In Its majestic
sweep of 2300 miles to the sea it is a high
way of wealth and wonder. It has been
stated that, in times of flood, its dally
Increase exceeds the entire Increase of the
Hudson. With its tributaries it drains
nearly 400,000 square miles, and, in its
western course, it forms for nearly 300
miles the northern boundary of Oregon.
The Columbia is the only river in the
United States navigable to deep sea ves
sels for 120 miles inland. Ocean craft of
all kinds find their way easily up the Co
lumbia and to Portland on the Willam
ette, a distance of 112 miles. For the pur
pose of maintaining uninterrupted naviga
tion, a Port of Portland commission was
established by a recent act of legislature,
and through the enterprise and public
spirit of the citizens of Portland, the
channel to the sea is kept clear of ob
structions. Five hundred thousand dollars
have already been expended In this work.
At no point from Portland to the sea is
to be found less than 23 feet of extreme
low water.
At several places along the Columbia
the freedom of its flow is interfered with
by great natural obstructions, which pre
vent continuous navigation by river
steamers. The first of these impediments
is found about 160 miles from Its mouth,
at the cascades of the Columbia. The bed
of the river at this point is filled with im
mense boulders, presenting an absolutely
impassable barrier. It has always been
necessary to transfer freight and passen
gers at this point, and to that end portage
railroads were built on both sides of the
stream. It had always been contem
plated that seme time a canal and locks
would be built to avoid the cascades, and,
favorable congressional action having
been secured as long ago as 1S77, the work
was started. It has suffered many delays
since that time, but it is now being vigor
ously pushed, and the prospect is that
it will be completed before the end of the
present year. The vastness of the under
taking may be appreciated when It is
stated that It has required congressional
appropriations of over $3,500,000. The gen
eral scope of the Improvements embraces
a complete system of locks and canal and
improvements to the 'stream, extending
over a distance of 4 miles. The actual
length of the canal and locks with ap
proaches Is about three-fourths of a mile.
The second obstruction is about 210
miles from the ocean, above the town of
The Dalles. At Celilo commences a series
of rapids 14 miles long. A gorge of the
Columbia at this point, about 2 miles in
length, is "the dalles" proper. The ave
rage width of the stream through the
rapids is 2000 to 2500 feet, except in the
gorge, where the entire volume is con
fined to a. space of 130 feet. An appropria
tion for a boat railway around this point
congress. An initial appropriation of
$25,000 for the survey has already been
made, and there seems little reason to
doubt that in five years the project will
be fully consummated. It will be the
function of the railway to transport river
craft and cargoes bodily around the ob
struction, When It is completed, and when
the locks at the Cascades are finished, it
will be possible for steamers to load at
Lewiston on the Snake river and go
through to Astoria without breaking
bulk. The enormous value of these im
provements will be readily recognized.
Railroads now traverse the entire region
east of the Cascades, and carry their
products to Portland and Puget sound.
The effect of an open river will be to
cheapen transportation and to place the
whole inland empire within easier and
cheaper reach of the seaboard. The great
est benefit will be to the producer.
The mouth of the Columbia is the scene
of a very important improvement. It is
really an estuary of the ocean, eight miles
wide. Sand and silt carried in suspension,
by the waters of the Columbia, and
washed in from the ocean, were precip
itated at the entrance, and formed a- bar.
It interfered with navigation, and in
times gone by vessels could cross only at
high tide. A jetty four miles long has
been built out from the south point of
land at the entrance. It has had the effect
of confining the current and deepening
the channel, so that there is now SO feet
at low tide, sufficient for the largest ves
sels in the world. This work, costing less
than $2,000,000, is a triumph of engineering
skill. It is permanent, and of the very
greatest value. It will be wholly com
pleted this year.
The Columbia, river is the leading Ore
gon harbor. Other important harbors are
i Coos bay and Yaquina bay. The govern
ment has expended very large suras in
their improvement, and the work is not
ypt complete. The. r"au3 at Cooi bay con-
ituiipiaie mu expenuuure oi auoui 34,uu,
000, of which about $500,000 has already
been appropriated and expended. The de
sign here 13 to construct jetties so as to
confine the water and increase the depth
on the bar. At this time there are aboxit
20 feet at low tide on Coos bay bar, suf
ficient for ordinary vessels. Coos bay
abounds in timber lesources and has rich
adjacent bottom lands. Besides it has
important working coal mines. The ne
cessity of the improvement of the harbor
is apparent. A railroad is now in course
of construction from Coos bay to Rose
burg, a distance of less than 100 miles.
About 60 miles south of the Columbia
river is Yaquina bay. Government works
are in course of completion at this point.
The plan includes construction of two
jetties, one on the north and the other on
the south of the harbor. Great progress
has been made. The depth of the channel
on the bar has been raised from seven to
16 feet at low tide. The immediate re
sources of Yaquina bay are mainly agri
culture and timber. Yaquina City is the'
terminus of the Oregon Pacific railroad,
which extends eastward across the Wil
lamette valley and to the summit of the
Cascade mountains. It Is designed ulti
mately to complete the railroad to an
Eastern connection.
Between Yaquina bay and the Columbia
is Tillamook bay. It is eight miles wide
and 12 long. It is an excellent harbor,
with a safe channel across the bar. The
resources of Tillamook are its timber,
agriculture and fisheries. Dairying is ex
tensively engaged in.
Other harbors are Netarts bay, AJsea
bay, and Port Orford. Besides these, Rogue
and Umpqua rivers, which empty into the
ocean in Southern Oregon, are navigable.
The Willamette river is next in import
ance to the Columbia. It is navigable to
deep-sea vessels as far up as Portland, 10
miles from the Columbia, and for river
craft at favorable stages as far up as
Eugene, 136 miles. It drains the entire ex
tent of the productive Willamette valley,
and gathers up in its course 42 streams,
large and small.
The Snake river forms a part of the
eastern boundary of the state, and Is a
main fork of the Columbia. It has been
navigated by light-draft steamers to a
point within 123 miles of Salt Lake City.
Important streams In Eastern Oregon are
the John Day and Deschutes, flowing
north and emptying Into the Columbia.
Each with its windings is about 200 miles
long. In Northeastern Oregon are the
Powder, Grand Ronde and Umatilla
rivers, all clear and swift streams, water
ing large areas of fertile valley lands. The
Owyhee and Malheur rivers traverse
Southeastern Oregon. The former rises
300 miles southward in Nevada, and emp
ties into the Snake where that river be
comes the Eastern Oregon line.
The rivers and their multitude of tribu
taries of Oregon, and an Infinity of
springs, cover the entire state so com
pletely that scarcely a square mile (ex
cept in the limited arid region) escapes
their touch. Their scenic attractions are
very great. There is a very large number
of waterfalls, affording unlimited water
power and in many cases spectacles of
rare beauty. The mountain streams are
amazing in the variety of their charm.
They abound in trout and other fish, and
are a source of unfailing delight to the
fisherman and the sojourner, as well as
to the permanent residents. These
streams and rivers have been a highly
useful factor in the development of the
state.
AGRICULTURE AND ITS EXTENT.
It Has Reached Hiprli Development
and. Bronslii Rich Returns.
HE Industries and prosperity of
Oregon are based on its agri
culture. The various valleys,
table-lands and foothill dis
tricts present opportunities for
cultivation of the soil excelled
by no other state in the Un
ion. The mild and beneficent
climate, allowing engagement
in outdoor occupation of some kind every
month In the year, is anidvantage to the
husbandman, and, besides, It aids in the
highest degree the growth of abundant
of crops and small farms, vrjeU tilled arc Is confidently expected from the coaainz:' cropsand their easy and complete har-I acre. The average price per acre is gen-
vesting. The favorable conjunction of soil
and climate have insured successful culti
vation every year since the first settle
ment, and a failure through drouth, pest
or any other cause has never been record
ed. The arable area of the state is very
large, and there is little land, outside the
mountains, that will not yield some kind
of a crop wheat, barley, hops. rye. oats,
hay, pasture, fruit, or vegetables, or tim
ber, or mines. There is little waste land.
Seeding time in Oregon is a protracted'
season, continuing even to Christmas,
and in the spring from February to May.
.The harvest may last several months.
Threshing is invariably done in the field
and grain is stacked in the open air.
Oregon is best known throughout the
world for its wheat. But it Is not a single-crop
state, though perhaps some years
ago it deserved that appellation. Wheat
cultivation has grown steadily, though "it
has lost its relative importance. The pro
portionate amount of wheat raised for ex
port in Oregon exceeds, perhaps, the out
put of any other state. For years Oregon
has produced over one ton per year for
every man, woman and child within its
borders. Horticulture has during the past
few years assumed special importance,
and the state Is taking rank as a producer
of fine fruits, in some particular varieties
being superior to California, Oregon prunes
are rapidly acquiring the name of being
the largest, most delicious and toothsome
grown. The large number of premiums
awarded to Oregon fruits at the world's
fair attests their superior merit. Horti
culture, its history, condition and pros
pects are discussed fully in another part
of this paper. The sugar beet has during
the past year attracted attention, and the
early establishment of refineries Is antic
ipated. Experiment has shown that the
Oregon beet has commercial value and is
especially adapted to sugar-making pur
poses, possessing a large proportion of,
I sacclu rlne mutter. Th soil of the state,
especially1 of the bottom lands, is partic
ularly fitted for root vegetables of all--common
descriptions. The natural grasses
are perhaps without equals anywhere.
Alfalfa produces three or four crops annu
ally, and In places reaches a height of
three or four feet. Red clover yields two
or three crops a season. White clover
produces excellent crops. The bean crop
is something very line. Pumpkins and
squashes have no superiors.
Wheat As in most other Northern
states, wheat is the chief product of Ore
gon. Farmers during the past two years
have suffered from low prices, but less
than their fellows in most other states.
There have been enormous crops, with no
profitable market. The trouble is of course
not common to the state, but to the world.
The average bushel of Oregon wheat ex
ceeds the 60-pound-to-the-bushel measure
ment, running from five to nine pounds in
excess. The berry is plump and heavy. r
Valley wheat commends a special price in "
the European markets, being used largely
for pastry purposes. The yield averages
from 20 to SO bushels per acre. An average
of 40 bushels and higher is very common.
The state produced in 1894 14,000,000 bushels
on 700,000 acres the heaviest crop ever
known.
Two-thirds of Oregon's wheat Is raised
east of the Cascades. The early opening
of the Columbia river means much for the
farmers of that great region. It is certain
to enhance the value of their products.
Other Grains Oats are a staple product
of Oregon. For feed it largely supplants
the use of corn, so commonly fed In the
Middle West. The production per acre is
from 40 to 73 bushels. The average weight
per bushel Is above the 34-pound standard.
Rye and barley are also common crops,
and buckwheat is raised in limited quan
tities. Corn thrives well throughout the
state, but its cultivation Is not generally
engaged in, except in Southern Oregon.
Flax is grown in many places for export,
producing from 400 to 00 pounds of clean
fiber per acre. It is an excellent crop to
rotate with wheat.
Hops Within a very few years hops
have taken rank as a leading industry'.
The area of land fit for general hop cul
ture in the United States is limited, and it
has developed that the Pacific coast offers
peculiar advantages for profitable pro
duction. Parts of Clackamas, Marlon,
Linn, Lane, Benton, Polk, Yamhill and
Washington counties, in the Willamette
valley, are now largely surrendered to
this product, with most satisfactory re
sults. It Is claimed that there are at
tached to the industry in this district the
advantages of a certain crop, early bear
ing of vines, large yield, low cost of pro
duction, freedom from disease, facilities
for securing cheap poles, as well as fuel for
drying, and cheap picking. The crop In
Oregon averages from 1100 to 2000 pounds
per acre. The hop louse has recently ap
peared, but is kept under thorough con
trol by scientific spraying. The price paid
for hops covers a very great range. The
average cost of production Is not -more
than 10 cents per pound, and some grow
ers, it Is claimed, have reduced this figure
to 8 and even 7 cents. The last year the
price has been low, due to exceptionally
heavy yields throughout the world. It is
probable that in the last 10 years the aver
age price to Oregon growers has been at
least 20 cents per pound. In 1834 Oregon
produced 53,000 bales of hops, against 33,000
bales for 1S93.
Vegetables Thf variety of vegetables
grown is very wide. The list includes po
tatoes, cabbages, onions, parsnips, cucum
bers, celery, peas, beans, pieplant, aspara
gus, beets, cauliflower, tomatoes, carrots,
radishes and many others. Garden prod
ucts likewise include watermelons, canta
loupes, muskmelons, citrons, and so forth.
The quality of all these table products is
unexceptionable. The quantity produced
In a given space is remarkable.
It Is difficult to give a stated price for
land in Oregon. Average farming land,
under cultivation, brings $15 to $50 per
acre. There are farms for less and for
more, depending upon quality, location
and other conditions. Railroad and other
uncultivated land is to be had at a very
low figure. Good fruit lands in Southern
Oregon will average from $30 to $100 per
f
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