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VOL. XXXIX.
PART ONE .
PORTLAND, OREGON, MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1900.
PAGES 1 TO 12.
NO. 12,1ST.
v mwmYyffy EST
THIS
OREGON OF OUR
Year Just Closed Was the Most Prosperous in the
History of the State.
GREAT ACTIVITY IN EVERY LINE OF INDUSTRY
No Inflation in Values and Newcomers Find It Easy to Get Homes
at Reasonable PricesSatisfactory Increase in Popula
tion Since 1890 Good Outlook for 1900.
It Is a story of progress and prosperity
of unparalleled progress and prosperity
which The Oregonlan presents this morn
ing for the state of Oregon. It has been
the purpose, in reviewing economic con
ditions throughout the state, to avoid, as
far as possible, mere recitals of resources.
It is "well for the world at large to know
that Oregon has resources, vast and va
ried; indeed, that fact is well estDlished,
for it has been heralded year after year.
It is still better for the world to know
What Oregon is doing with its forests; its
mines of gold, copper, coal, nickel and
Quicksilver; its productive soils. The pic
ture "which The Oregonlan presents today
is not one of dormant resources awaiting
the sawmill, the stamp mill or the plow,
but a picture of the people of Oregon at
work.
Never since the pioneers crossed the
plains have the people of Oregon been so
genuinely prosperous as they are today.
Never in their history have they Jiad so
much money In bank; never have they I
been so busily employed; never have their
proaucts, generally speamng, Deen so
eagerly sought nor bo -well paid for; never
has opportunity for profitable lnyest
ment been so good; never have expendi
tures, private and public, been so closely
.guarded; never has the prosperity of the
commonwealth rested upon so substantial
a basis. The one unsatisfactory condi
tion is the slow growth of manufactures.
It must be admitted in all candor that
Oregon Imports many articles even ar
ticles of food which could be manufac-
tured out of the jast supply of raw ma- j
, . V. Z T . i
case forcibly when he says. In this annual !
number: "We need more factories and ,
more people to patronize them. Lack of
these form? whatever is unsatisfactory In
Sur conditions." However, manufacturing
isxmakmg progress, but it is slow progress.
eutrks -whioh languished In the hard
'mea .vre being revived, some on a scale
larger than In the earlier '90s, some on a
smaller scale. Then, new ilnes, notably
fruit canning and preserving and sugar
making, have been -established. Still, there
ts room for vast improvement.
All the staple industries are thriving,
and producers are in better financial con
dition than fiver, as is evidenced by their
ability to hold their crops for higher
prices without borrowing money to
tide them over. Diversified farming
is coming Into favor throughout
the state, as farmers liave found it profit
able to raise a little of everything, either
for home use or for market, instead of de
voting all the land to a single crop. In
Ion county, always a great agricul-
county, wheat has yielded first place
rto hops, and in a few more years will have
to surrender second place to fruit. There
Is a tendency, more noticeable In Eastern
Oregon than in Western Oregon, to di
vide the large farms. ThIs policy in
creases the number of producers, pro
motes diversified farming and reduces
debt It is a hopeful sign.
All divisions of animal husbandry are
active. There is demand, at the very best
prices, for every head of .stock which
growers are willing to sell. Buyers can
not get all the stock they want, and they
frequently have to travel through several
counties to make up a consignment Grow
ers, who in the first flush of good times
sent their foundation slock to market
have Renewed their herds with the best
thoroughbred animals to be had. The ac
tive demand for stock has not only put
money in the pockets of the growers, but
has resulted in improvement of breed.
This is especially noticeable In dairy cat
tle. Goat breeding has advanced so rap
Idly that it has become an Important fac
tor in animal husbandry. Sales of stock
in Oregon last year were, in round figures,
about $9,500,000.
Mining Is out of its swaddling clothes.
No more experiments are necessary to
prove the presence of vast bodies of ore,
nor the profit of working them. The cru
cible has done its work, and the stamp
mill, the cj'anide plant and the reduction
works have been called into play to fur
ther development and increase the produc
tion of precious metals. All the Oregon
districts have won the confidence of In
vestors. The Eastern Oregon belt, first
in extent first in richness and first in
amount of capital Invested, Is about to
lead the way in deep mining. In that dis
trict the proper processes for the treat
ment of the rock have Teen determined,
and nothing stands in the way of largo
production. In Southern Oregon the
"pocket" myth has been exploded, and
quartz mining has begun.
The demand for government land In
creases. Total disposals for the year end
ed June 30, 1S99, were 540 42S.C3 acres, com
pared with 49L514 42 acres In 1898 and 389,
94698 acres In 1S97. Oregon has just be
gun to Tecelve Its share of the west-bound
immigration, and there promises to be
more call for government land this year
than last year, or in 1897 or 1S9S The rea
sonable prices at which private lands may
be had in Oregon keeps many newcomers
away from the public domain. Even the
best lands In the most favored farming
localities are not when offered for sale,
held for more than their actual worth. In
the cities, building sites may be had at
prices which leave the newcomer enough
of his means to build a home, and thus
etart life in the West free from debt
Development of foreign commerce
means much to the Pacific states to the
producer the earnings of his toll, to the
laborer wages, to the exporter commis
sions, to the banker the profits on the
cexchange to be drawn against both Im
ports and exports. The great essential
is the establishment of a single gold
aSSadard, which alone Is available in for-
ejen commerce, on a basis so firm that
there need be no question, either at home
or abroad, of what is an American dol-
lar. War and the dissolution of China
nave opened a vast field in the Orient
and created demand among millions of
people for the products of the Pacific
states. A still larger field will be opened
by the completion of the trans-Siberian
railway, for it will then be possible to
ship the products of the Pacific states
to St. Petersburg and Moscow by way of
Port Arthur and Lake Baikal. Imports
and exports of Oregon amounted In the
16 years ended June 20, 1B99, to 5125,982,623,
and those of Washington to $131,301,857;
tbtal for the two states, $257,284,510.
A new Industry which gives promise
of attaining large proportions Is the cul
ture of the silk worm. Experiments con
ducted at Coqullle City prove that the
Industry Is adapted to Oregon. When the
mulberry trees, upon the leaves of which
the worms feed, come into full bearing
and Drovide food for th wnm, nmfltn.
We employment will bo furnished to a
number of women and cnlidrea.
Horticulture is in a state of transi
tion. Nearly all the failures reported in
this business have been directly braced to
the mistakes of orchardlsts. Trees
planted -where trees never grew before
and In localities where soil, climate and
exposure "were unpropltious, tell the story
of failure. Orchardlsts have profited by
J these disastrous experiences and the per
centage or iaimres will hereafter be de.
creased. The orchards of Oregon are rap
IdIy passlns mto tne handg of men whQ
are wfllmS to elve them scientific atten
tinn t h .nj,,,, ,, ,
trusted t0 them UntdVorable weather at
the beginning of, the blooming season
last year caused the value of the crop to
decrease from $818,250 in 1898 to $272,050 In
1899. If Indications hold good the fruit .
crop of 1900 will be the largest ever gath
ered in Oregon.
Dairying and poultry-raising have be
come considerable Industries. A satis
factory feature of their development Is
the vast improvement In the stock. Poor
grades are .passing and thoroughbreds
coming. The value of. the poultry lntexc
est last year was $512,719. The dairy "in
terest, including buildings and ground,
was valued at $9,523,875 in 1899. In 1893 it
was valued at $7,383,395, and in 1897 at
$5,735,478. The value of butter, cheese
and milk, aside from buildings and
lands, was $3,790,436 in 1897, and $4,132,070
In 1893, and $5,459,469 In 1899. Oregon now
manufactures nearly enough butter and
cheese to supply homo demands. This Is
part compensation for1 the enormous im
portation of pork products from Eastern I
states.
This year's census will show an in
crease of about 35 per cent in Oregon's
population since 1890. The population of
the state at the time the school census
was taken last year was about 407,283.
The census this year ought to be not far
from 425,000.
Prosperity has not been confined to
Oregon. Washington and Idaho have had
their share, as is shown by bank depos
its, which are larger than ever. A con
servative estimate places the individual
deposits in all the banks of Oregon,
Washington and Idaho at $50,000,000. There
has been enormous Increase in the indi
vidual deposits of the national banks of
the three states. These amounted on
December 9, 1892, to $25,770,710 0L By Oc
tober 5, 1896, they had fallen, because of
the financial depression, to $15,663,033 64.
Between October 5, 1S96, and September
7, 1899, they rose to $33,996,364 72, the high
est total ever known.
Lumbering has shared in the general
prosperity. In some parts of the state the
mills have not been able to cut fast
enough to supply demands, and building
has been delayed on account of the scar
city of material.
This Is, In brief, the cecord. for 1899, the
most prosperous year Oregon has ever
known. The new year has even better
things in store.
a m
FACTORIES NEEDED.
Industrial Situation In Oregon ns
Vlcived ly Governor Geer.
Whether the Industrial condition of a
state is satisfactory or not as The Ore-
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elgn commerce, on a basis so firm that
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DENSITY OF POPULATION IN OREGON,
In 1850, Oregon, Including the present state of Washington, had a
population of 13.291, or .05 per square mile The number per square mile
has gradually Increased, and is now 4.24, based upon a population of 407,283
and an area of 96,030 square miles. Only 10 states and territories had a
smaller population than 4.24 per square mile In 1890. These were Ari
zona, Colorado, North Dakota, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming. The average for the United States in 1890
was 21.31. Statistics for Oregon since 1850 follow:
No. per
sq. mile.
.05
.55
.68
.96
1.09
Tear. Population.
1E50 13,294 ,
I860 a... 52.4C5
1865 65,090
1870 30923
1875 104.903
Oregon Is still one of the most sparsely settled states of the Union.
o
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gonlan asks, depends on the point of view,
The condition of some of our Middle
Western state's is at this time nearly ideal,
that is, there is probably as much "busi
ness activity among all classes of their
people and as little just ground for com-
plaint as can be reasonably expected to
prevail in any country at any one time,
i This does not mean that there are not
some who are the victims of misfortune
and are suffering from different degrees
of poverty, for that kind of an ideal con
dition will never be realized; but, taken
generally, those usually termed the "mid
dle classes" have as little to complain of
at this time as can ever be rationally
hoped for under the imperfections of man's
environments as we find them.
The difficulty of considering this ques
tion without running counter to the polit
ical opinions of some of our very good
people, Is recognized, because they seem to
have permanently imbibed the habit of be
lieving that the "party in power" is re
sponsible for conditions which most peo
ple know prevailed before parties were
thought of, and which will be a source of
annoyance after parties are forgotten.
Some of our very best Oregon newspa
pers have gone so far, this very year, In
yielding to the habit of giving everything
-"- -t --
tne PrPriety of holding Thanksgiving
a political cast, as to impliedly question
seJVXCe3 Because tne prices oi some ainas
'
The wheat yield of Oregon In 1S50 was '211,943 bushels; in 1860 It was 826,766 bushels; in 1870 It wa3 2,340,746
bushels; and In 1880 It was 7,480,010 bushels. The subjoined diagram shows, comparatively, the yield, year by year,
6lnce 18S5. It has been the aim to use the highest of availably estimates, partly to make the best possible show
ing for the state, and partly to preserve the harmony of the statement, as a whole The estimates for 18S5 to 1895,
inclusive, and for 1898, were furnished by the United States department of agriculture; those for 1896 and 1897 were
prepared In The Oregonlan's commercial department; and that for 1899 was made by Dr. James WIthycombe, of the
Oregon agricultural college. In view of the damage that was reported as the result of untimely rains during har
vest last fall,' it is remarkable that the yield of 1899 shows so small a decrease compared with that of 1898. Dr.
WIthycombe explains that his estimate for 1899 is based upon the government reports for 1898. He figures that the
acreage sown to wheat was the same in 1899 as in 1898, and that the decrease In 1899 was due to a decrease In
the average yield per acre.
hum.
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of farm produce are not up to the stand
ard. Some of them have even attacked
the consistency of certain Thanksgiving
proclamations by specifically pointing out
that the causes for thanksgiving are
greatly diminished by the fact that hops
are plentiful and cheap, and apples scarce
and dear. This Is a plain but Indirect
way of saying that we are In favor of
withholding our thanks to the Most High
until the "party In power" enacts such
legislation as will Insure at all times an
abundant crop of all kinds of produce that
shall be guaranteed to bring the very
highest price. And there must not be a
shortage of even one kind of produce, for
that would be sufficient ground for with
holding praise, as Is shown by the criti
cism referred to.
Of course, this petty style of criticism
is not conducive to the best methods of
state development, and overlooks the most
important feature of It. It is assumed
that every citizen of the state earnestly
desires Its speedy development, and is in
favor of any measure that will hasten its
realization. While It Is certainly true that
our condition Is. In many ways, more sat
isfactory than for many years, It Is also
true that there Is room for great improve
ment. It is doubtful If any state in the
Union manufactures so small a per cent
of the articles It uses, which has at the
same time such a wealth of raw materials
for manufacturing purposes as Oregon,
and but for the fact that It Is one of the
No. per
sq. mile.
1.85
1.94
3.32
3.77
4.24
Tear. Population.
1880 174,768
1885 187,096
1890 313,767
1895: 362 513
1899 407.2S3
rlchest states In natural resources, It
would, for the reason mentioned, be prac
tically bankrupt Instead of out of debt
And we not only Import manufactured ar
ticles by the millions of dollars worth
every year, but we do more. We Import
an average of one carload of food prod-
i ucts for every day in. the year, according
to the state food commissioner, such prod
ucts as can be produced ,pn Oregon farms
as easily as on any farm in Iowa ox Ne
braska. While in Eugene, a few weeks
ago, a merchant told me that he had that
day paid out quite a sum of money for a
lot of Eastern lard. The following para
graph appeared In the Wallowa Chieftain
not lorn? since, and there is not a better
country on earth in which to raise hogs
than Eastern Oregon: "There is a short
age of bacon and lard all over Eastern
Oregon. We guess that sufficient time has
not elapsed to enable the Eastern buyers
of the 500 head of hogs, shipped out of this
country .a short time ago, to render the
lard, cure the bacon and ship it back here
for us to use. However, some older stock
from-Eastern packing-houses Js for sale in
the county."
The state veterinary surgeon, during the
month of October, found a carload of hogs
In Portland suffering from cholera and had
a large number of them killed. They had
t - - -
been shipped from Nebraska to a firm In
i jroruana, ior siaugnienng purposes, jnqw.
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WHEAT YIELD OF OREGON
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no fault can be found with any individual
nor with any community for this abnor
mal state of affairs, but since the profits
of a farm are derived from the sale of
farm products, Is It not a little singular
that this leak, at least, Is not stopped?
And for a dozen years wo have had our
attention called to It, and yet the evil
seems to grow.
To speak plainly, the great business ac
tivity prevailing in the Eastern and .Mid-
die Western states Is felt here only to a
slight extent. An analysis, that goes
straight to the mark, will find as a rea
son for that activity the manufacturing
industries that are springing up every
where and furnishing weekly payrolls that
buy the farmer's produce. This not only
creates a market for the results of tho
farmers' labor, but keeps the money in
the country. A man told me, while In
Chicago recently, that there Is now as
much money Invested in manufacturing
enterprises within a radius of 60 miles
from that city as there Is In all the New
England states. This might have been
flavored with a degree of Chicago enthu
siasm, but Illinois has become one of our
great manufacturing states, and It would
be difficult to block out a section of that
state, anywhere, the size of the Willam
ette valley that does not support more '
people than the whole state o Oregon.
That state Is not nearly so well supplied I
with the raw material for manufacturing
articles for home consumption as is our
own, and1 It Is only a question 6f time, of
course when this deplorable condition,
which Is undoubtedly the cause of what
ever stagnant features attend our Indus
trial situation, will be removed.
Capitalists lo'oking for a location for the
inauguration of manufacturing enterprises
are not pleased with the prospect because
of our population being Insufficient to give
a promise of local consumption, and full
handed farmers looking through the coun
try are not encouraged to Invest because
there are not factories enough to furnish
a good and profitable home market for
farm produce the kind of market that
pays best in all countries. So we are In
that unfortunate transition statp where
we not only do not "catch" Immigrants,
"coming and going," but lose them both
wajs.
There can be no question as to the duty
of the state as a state taking more active
measures to Invite Immigration as the best
means of assisting in an emergency from
this condition. We need more factories
and more people to patronize them. The
lack of these, in my judgment, forms the
Dasls of whatever is unsatisfactory in our I
present industrial condition. If local con
ditions are the same, or nearly so, In two
localities, the, Industrial and financial, con-
ditlon will not be far unlike. Every day
' we read in some paper of the voluntary
f increase of wages in some factory of the
Eastern states. This means additional
prosperity to every man in that com
munity. Inasmuch as we have a "better
climate, equally fertile soli, a greater cer
tainty of crops and an Infinitely greater
variety of natural resources than any of
the states that are enjoying the fruits of
the wonderful business activity prevailing
in the Eastern states, it would seem to be
' an unnatural condition that confronts the
people of Oregon.
The prospect, however, for a much larg
er Immigration In the immediate future Is
very flattering, and thte will largely re
move the obstacles that hamper us at
present. The prospect for next year is al
ready encouraging. Oregon stands first
of the states of the Union in the extent of
Its wool clip, and the present price in
Salem is above 20 cents per pound a high
er price than has prevailed before since
the business slump in 1893, and buyers ex
press a willingness to engage next year's
crop at that figure. All kinds of stock, as
well as butter, eggs, and chickens have
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been In exceptionally good demand for
the past year, at high prices, and that con
dition promises to extend over the year to
come. Wheat and hops are unfortunately
low. but we should not foreet other nrod-
ucts are bringing good prices, and some of
them exceptionally good one3. Above all
things, we should forever discard the ten
dency to magnify the few conditions that
are unsatisfactory, to the exclusion of
I others, and appear to get actual comfort
from their contemplation.
The future of our state seems to be
bright We have an Intelligent, Indus-
trlous, conservative population supporting
a state government that Is simple in form
and with perhaps fewer state officers than
any other one in the United States. When
we have a population of 1,000000 our con
dition will be such as to make us the best
state west of the Bocky mountains.
r
Salem, December 15, 1899.
BAKER COUNTY.
Year- of Great Activity In
Branches of Industry.
All
The year just ended witnessed great ac
tivity and development in all branches of
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SCHOOL POPULATION
The following table shows the
twenty years of age In the state,
superintendents :
School
Tear. population.
1873 38,670
1874 40,803
1875 44.5S7
1876 48.473
1877 i 50.379
1878 53 462
1879 55,464
1880 59,615
1881 61,641
1882 65,216
1883 69,076
1SS4 73,867
18S5 80,018
1886 82,860
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business and Industry In Baker county.
The Drevalllng high prices for cattle.
sneep and wool, the good crops and ready
sale for farm products, the Increased
price and great demand for lumber and
tne enlarged field for labor In mining and
other Industries, resulted In a very gen
erally distributed prosperity for this
county.
At least 3000 men, many of whom have
families, have formed new homes and
found new fields for action with us during
the past year. The Immigration has large
ly settled at Baker City, at Sumpter and
In the adjoining mining districts, and to
some extent In the agricultural districts
surrounding Baker City.
Many Productive "Valley.
The valley having the lowest altitude
lies along Snake river, and Is wonderfully
productive of fruit, vegetables and hay.
The fruit Is of excellent quality and of
numerous varieties, and finds a ready and
profitable market at home.
Powder river valley has an altitude of
about 3400 feet It Is about 20 mile3 long
and about seven wide. It Is well watered
on the west by streams coming from the
Elkhorn mountains, and on the north
from Powder river. By the development
and Intelligent management of lt3 water
systems, the entire valley can be brought
under cultivation.
Burnt river valley consists of a strip of
land about 50 miles In length and of vary
ing width, but averaging In many places
from a mile to a mile and a half In width.
There 13 sufficient water for Irrigating
most of this farming land, and the crop3
produced consist largelj- of hay, which la
used for stockralslng purposes. Much fruit
Is produced along the streams running
Into the lower part of Burnt river.
Sumpter valley, which Is about 12 mlles
In length, and has an average width of
about two miles, Is devoted exclusively to
the raising of hay. The valley being lo
cated In the vicinity of tho most active
mining operations, the hay commands at
times extremely high prlce3.
Eagle valley, located partially In Union
and partially In Baker county. Is situated
about 42 mlles from Baker City, and com
prises about 13.500 acres of land, nearly all
of which has been brought Into a high
state of cultivation, there being an abund
ance of water to be secured for all irri
gating purposes out of Eagle creek at all
times of the year.
Pine valley 13 situated in Union county,
about 10 miles from Eagle valley, v and
comprises about 22,000 acres of excellent
farming land, about two-thirds of which i3
now under cultivation, and the remainder
of which can easily be brought Into culti
vation. The price of land In Eagle valley la from
$50 to $75 per acre, and In Pine valley
from $25 to $30 per acre. Both of theso
valleys are naturally tributary to Baker
City.
Baker county is In the center of the
mining district of Eastern Oregon, and
contains within its boundaries a large pro
portion of the producing mines of East
ern 'Oregon, and along its borders in all
directions it is surrounded by mineral
sections which are tributary lo Baker
City. The mountains furnish an excellent
range for stock purposes for from eight
to nine months of the year, and the val
leys produce sufficient hay to winter the
stock raised In the county.
Baker City's Commercial Position.
Baker City is located at the head of
Powder river valley, and Is nearly in the
'center of the county. It Is the business
and financial center of the entire mining
country of Eastern Oregon. It 13 the termi
nus of the Sumpter Valley Hallway Com
pany, and Is the supply point for and the
distributing point of the mining, farming
and stockralslng Interests of this section
of the state. It has a population of about
7000 people, and is prepared to hold and
maintain Its financial and business inter
ests. Sumpter, a town which two years ago
did not exist, and which one year ago had
a population of about 300. now has a pop
ulation of more than 1S00. It Is In the
Immediate neighborhood bf what Is con
sidered the richest mineral section ot
Eastern Oregon. Cracker creek Is about
seven miles from Sumpter. Granite Is
located about 14 miles from Sumpter, and
the Bonanza mining section Is about 12
' mlles from Sumpter.
Sumpter 13 a live,
enterprising, growing and prosperous
place. Granite, to Grant county, but
which Is tributary to Baker City, Is lo
cated about 14 mil from Sumpter, and
Is in the center of a rich, prosperous min
ing section.
Huntington, In Baker county, Is located
near the raouth of Burnt rlver ana aD0Ut
'tis? ralles from Snake river, and Is the
end of the O. R. & N. and of the Short
Line railroads. It has a population of
about 1000, and Is a supply point for farm
ers and stockmen for a distance of about
150 miles westerly, and also Is a supply
point for the 'mines lying up and down
Snake river and a portion of Its farming
Interests.
Haines, North Powder, Bridgeport,
Lower Powder, Express and Weatherby
are other principal points In the county.
In Baker county and the country trib
utary to Baker City, about 150,000 head
of cattle are raised, about 100,000 head of
sheep, and about 600,000 pounds of wool
are produced annually.
Timber Resources.
The principal and most prosperous lum
ber company Is the Oregon Lumber Com
pany, a corporation organized under the
ioooooooooooooooooooooooo
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OF OREGON SINCE 1873
number of persons between four and
according to reports of state school
Schoof
Tear. population.
18S7 87,217
1SSS 6.574
18S9 93,093
1S90 59,543
1891 106,172
1892 111.770
1893 120.645
1894 123.7S6
1895 126,926
1896 129.620
1897 129.956
1893 130.750
1899 132,403
laws of Utah, which employs about 300
men. Its principal lumber mills are lo
cated at Baker City, and it has a capacity
of about 200,000 feet of lumber In every 24
hours, dther mills are located at and
near Baker City, which employ a consia-
erable number of men and manufacture &
large quantity of lumber.
To the west of Baker City, commencing
at a distance of about 10 miles therafrom,
and extending through the mountains into
Grant county, and for a long distance
therein. Is one of the finest timber belt3
In the Inland Empire. The timber con
sists largely of pine, and Is of excellent
merchantable quality. The Sumpter Val-
f ley railway, which 13 built from Baker
City to Sumpter, was originally intended
as an outlet for bringing this lumber to
market by mean3 of a railroad. The tim
ber adjoining Sumpter valley has largely
been brought Into use. This railway com
pany, which has done much to develop the
resources of Baker county, has had In
contemplation for some time an extension
of their lino so as to Intersect the timber
belt on Burnt river, and now it Is gener
ally understood that their plans contem
plate In 1900 to extend tneir rood to Burnt
river to a point near the Bonanza mine.
By so doing they will make accessible for
market purposes a belt of timber about
25 miles In length and about eight miles
In width, which Is covered to almost its
entire extent by timber In every way
suitable for market purposes. This, In
Itself, will give employment to a vast
number of men, and will assist In the ma
terial advancement of Baker county. It
13 also generally understood that it Is the
Intention of the Sumpter Valley Railway
Company to extend their line still farther
and to make tributary to Baker City the
Immense cattle, mining and farming re
sources of Grant county, which at pres
ent are situated at a distance of more
than 75 miles from railroad, and by so do
ing a large section of country of numer
ous and varied resources will become
thoroughly developed and made to add to
the wealth of the state.
Five Mineral Zones.
The mineral country tributary to Baker
City extends from the Seven Devils, on
the Idaho side side of Snafco river, to
Canyon City, In Grant county, a length
of about 120 mlle3, and from tho head of
the Grand Rondo river, on the northwest,
to Huntington on the southeast, a distance
of about 00 mlles, covering, in fact on
area of about 4500 square miles. The
principal product of the mines 13 gold,
which is shipped In tho form of bullion
from Baker City, and In the form of ore
and concentrates from the mlne3 and
mills. The output of gold In Eastern Ore
gon Is generally believed to be about $2,000,
000 annually, but no one can say what the
true amount Is, as the mining companies
are largely reticent about disclosing their
receipts, but this year tho Flrat National
bank of Baker City shipped $200,000 In
bullion more than during the year 1898.
There la a largo copper belt now being
developed tributary to Baker City, and
there are sliver iSmaa "which ha ttqae KrM
become productive. , v
The mineral district cart bo divided into
five zones:
First The Snaka river district, mainly
copper, Including the Seven Devils and
Snake river copper mines, the most im
portant of which Is the Iron Dyke mine,
near tho mouth of Pino creek. In Union
county, tho Peacock and Blue Jacket
groups, the Ruthburg and Mineral sliver
and copper claims, and tho Snake rive?
placers.
Second The Cornucopia mhiea, extend
ing from Snake river to Union, withthe
well-known Union-Companion mlnee. tho
Sparta and Sanger districts, the GUklson
and Copper Queen mlne3.
Third The Lookout district, extending
from Lower Powder river to Huntington,
with the Virtue, Flagstaff. Conner Creek,
Gold Hill, Gold Ridge, Weatherby-Bonan-za
and other mines.
Fourth The Elkhorn district, extending
from the mouth of Powder river to the
Grand Ronde river, Including the Cracker
creek vein, which has upon It the well
known producing mines, Columbia, Gol
conda. North Pole. Eureka & Excelsior.
Within this belt are the Baisley-Elktaorn.
In full production, and the Maxwell,
Chloride, Appomattox, Mountain Bell,
Bunker Hill. Mammoth, Ibex, Imperial,
California and other mines.
Fifth The Greenhorn district, including
Granite and Susan.ille districts, contains
the celebrated Red Boy and Bonanza
mines, tho Last Loaf, the Little Giant,
May Queen, Magnolia, Cougar, La Belle
vue. Don Juan, Phoenix, Pyx, Bairaette,
Badger and other properties.
Unparalleled Pronperlty.
The present condition of Baker county
Is moro prosperous than ever before. The
First National bank of Baker City, on the
1st day of December, 1S93. had on deposit
a little less than $700,000. At that time
there were but two banks in Baker coun
ty. At present there are five, and the
amount of deposits In the First National
bank of Baker City on the 2d day of
December of this year exceeded $l.W.00O.
The latest, largest sale of mining proper
ty was the sale In December, 1390, of the
Ibex group of mlne3 for 323O.00O.
A large amount of Canadian, English,
French and Eastern capital has sought
and Is seeking Investment here.
Baker City is Increasing very rapidly,
and built a large number of business
blocks last year. Baker county has a
population at tho present time of about
15,000. The resources of the county out
side of "timber, farming and stockralslng,
consist largely of mining, which Is the
main Industry of the county, and tho
county affords an ample opportunity for
conservative men of capital and business
ability to find profitable and remunera
tive Investment within Us borders.
JOES' :L. RAND.
Baker City, Or.
i o
' CLACKAMAS COUNTY.
Proximity to Portlnnd an Important
Factor In Development.
Clackamas county contains an area of
1500 square miles. Its northern limit
touches the boundary line of the city of
Portland. Pudding river and Butte creek
practically mack lt3 southern boundary.
East and west it extends from the east
ern hne3 of TamhIH and Washington
counties to the crest of the Cascade moun
tains. In. extent It Is approximately 30
miles north and south, and 50 miles east
and west
About one-third of the county Is sus
ceptible of cultivation, the remainder be
ing timbered and mountain regions, val-
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