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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1907)
THE MORNING OREGONIAX, MONDAY, AritIL 29, 1907. PROSPEROUS PORTLAND PRESENT AND FUTURE Rosy Prophecy as to the Great Popu lation of the City in 1917 if the Present Rate of Increase Is Maintained During: the Next Ten Years No City in World More Happily Sit uated Than This, Is Belief of Mayor Lane Excels All Others in Its Avail able Resources By E. I- Thompson. IF Portland continues to grow as rap idly in tho next ten years as it has in the past seven, its population in 1317 w.il lie over STo.OOO. Start ling as these figures seem to be, this is not a prediction, but an estimate based upon actual farts and figures showing our increase in population, in the past seven years. Our school cen us, city directoiics, stamp sales, pos tal reports and other means ot statistical calculation show our population to be very nearly 20O.OM at present. Tet tho mora conservative judges place it at 1S0.0OO. Taking this latter conservative figure as a basis of calculation, it shows a compound increase per annum since tlie census ot 1900. giving SK).i0 population, to the present estimate of 385,000, or 12 per Thompson. cent per annum. Continuing this same percentage of Increase for the next ten years, our population in 1917 will be over 575.000. If this estimate strikes you at first as high, take your pencil and you can prove It for yourself. If a 12 per cent increase- annually has been shown in the past seven years, what, can we not expect in the future, with the deepening of the chan nel to Hi o sea, bringing us In closer touch with the great development of the Orient, South America and Pacific ports, the building of additional rail roads, the development of large irri gating projects In the interior tribu tary to our city, increased lumber and wheat exports, and the development of the many other resources of our state? Even at present, Portland's manufacturing plants are producing more revenue and paying larger wages in their respective lines than those of any other city on the Coast. This may also surprise some of our native Orcgonlans. If you are in doubt, in vestigate a little and you will find the proof. Why are we reasonably sure of this continued Increase? Sixty-five years ago the entire Pacific Coast, north of Mexico, was practically uninhabited except by roving bands of Indians. About that time gold was discovered in California and set the Nation aflame with a dcslru to go AVest. Thousands of brave men crossed the plains with, ox teams, taking rom four to six months to make thu journey, while others came by water around the Horn, or across tho Isthmus. While many remained in California, a few of these daring Immigrants finally drifted north to the Oregon country. others re turned to the Kast. This was tho awakening of the West. Ten years later the Government sta tistics show the population of the en tire Pacific Coast to have been 100, 000. while 20 years later the popula tion had increased tremendously. The Union Pacific, the first railroad across the continent, was completed to San Francisco in 187::, yet Oregon was without rail connection. The only means of reaching Portland from San Francisco was either by ocean steam er or by stage over the Siskiyou Moun tains. But look what followed in the 17 years from 1S75 to 1892. The population of the Coast Jumped from X6'.,000 to 3.275.000. During this porlod the Oregon & California Kail road, now known as the Southern Pa ct! ir, was completed south to San Francisco, the O. H. & N. was joined with the Oregon Short Line and Union I'acific to the Kast, while the Northern 1'iirlflc offered an outlet to the North. Then came the panic of 1S93, when It seemed that the entire world, es pecially the United States, was going to rack and ruin. Vet, severe as was the shock, with financial wrecks strewn broadcast, the Pacific Coast was the tlrst to recover, while Portland had fewur failures than other Coast cities, in face of the fact that the products of our state had been marked at. such a low figure for several years previous to lSS.t. The products of the Oregon farm were selling the lowest in our history, while our vast forest resources were going begging, ranches were mortgaged for their full value, wages were low, the loggiug and saw mill industries stagnant and undevel oped. It was. therefore, no great won der that even Oregon had to feel the panic. The entire West was heav ily in debt, struggling to meet the constant drain of interest due to the tattein and foreign loan companies, and yet dining this period Portland continued to grow. But look again ten years later. The tste and Portland proclaim to the world the great Lewis and Clark Fair. In the two years that followed Port land seemed to jump from a large town of about 115,000 to a city of 155,000 happy, busy people. Throughout the state farmers now are out of debt, banks filled with deposits, and mer chants doing tho largest cash husiness in their history. The recent financial panic, or money stringency, in New York served to demonstrate to the world that the West was not only out of debt, but had money to loan to the 1-Uist and was not endangered by the manipulations of the Wall-street stock jobbers. Why this eliange? With this great development of the Pacific Coast, thousands are looking to the West as the laud of opportuni ties, with its boundless forests, great irrigating projects, unfailing crops and splendid climate. Who can accurately gauge tho growth of a favored city thus surrounded, possessing the only fresh-water harbor on the Coast, the terminus of more transconttnental'rail rcaris than any other city on the Pa cific Slope. Is it unreasonable to presume that Portland's population will continue to grow at least in the same ratio If not more rapidly, than in the past? If this is to be a city of over 600- 000 In ten years, what are our needs'? 1 would say two and one-half to three times aa many schools, churches, dwell ings, store and office buildings, larg er and better parks, paved streets, tun nels under the river for rapid transit boulevards, drives, additional and im proved docks along our waterfront and tho many other improvements worthy t.f our beautiful city. Let us. therefore, build substantially tuday, with, tho future 600,000 city 'i V 1 1 ' V'fl i:. I.. rff' ff- i-t fffiP flfifj ' 111" tefi 1 C HTlS flflll fiflG 1 ill !?! Sh f ' I -"" rD YM.C.A - V.W.C.A hcSZDZVG. TO&r 1 illtll-ffi iB;-.:illi - III ' vT 111 HI pI' ISI S ip 'Ittlll I ; " fc1! I t : -;1ftKv i S& l 3 n mm-:- M : ippiii v. :-Jl lA " I feiStwr4 trir- LZLDMG T'-H"!"" 5r H!?OfJ y y V UTKTi $mm ' I : ' - -kdLfiL - A,hW?7 Vlrr WRU m i In mind, so that we shall not be con fronted in, the next few years, -as we e today, with bridRos. Courthouse, City Hall, Postoffice building;, srhool- houses, offtre buildinps. Jrire and 1 o- CITYS BUILDING PROGRESS More Fine Business Blocks Now Under Construc tion Than Ever Before in Portland's History "T-HBKE are at present more large busi- I ness blocks under construction Portland than at any other time since the city tlrst began discarding the low frame buildings of pioneer days and replacing them with solid brick blocks. On Fifth street alone, buildings are now under way, aggregating in value more than $1,000,000, and the movement is general thrpughout the central portion of the city. The Wells-Fargo building, now nearmg completion at the southwest eorner of Sixth and Oak streets, is one or the most modern office buildings in the West. It was designed by a leading New York ar chitect and combines every good feature of the latest type of office structure. This buildins is 13 stories in height. It will be occupied almost exclusively by transpor tation companies, and wilt be the Lome in lice leparUnents. even the City" Jail I . n ' I ''i&1jS.ii Ml-Lg 3?' If.-. -r&A iP '.. - T ,. i all I too small for present needs. .- . F ' ' ikUSlf fl M III 1 ?V 11 P'TlFl W ten years can -reasonab.y be expected C - J WiWfJr Portland of the Harrlman railroad lines. Another fine reinforced concrete build ing is nearly complete on the west side of Fourth street, between Washington and Stark. It Is being erected by the Lewis estate and is known as the Couch build ing. It is eight stories high. Adjoining this building, some of the old est frames in Fortlaud were recently de molished to make way for a modern busi ness block. It Is to be seven stories in height and is being erected by Rothehlld Brothers. The excavation is . now com plete. Work is well along on a nine-story steel and brick building for the Portland Com mercial Club at the northwest corner of Fifth and Oak streets. Workmen are now putting up the steel skeleton for this structure. Portland, is leading the entire country; "4f S M--il iH' IIQI't iacf 'iasng; 3ns sis ' i .Ci,ra te of lncrease in building permits A construction, lne steel framewora .a R"a ,ne many new blocks are completely now in place. When completed, this build changing the appearance of the city. j ing will be occupied bv a banking Arm on The Corbett building, at the s southeast treets, will is of class 1 corner of Fifth and Morrison streets, be ten stories in heiilat, and COJZBZTT BlSZLDAfG the lo The is ere wer nwr, wiin onices aooe. Board of Trade Building Association erecting an 11-story structure at the southeast corner of i'ourth and Oak streets. The excavation is now nearly completed. This is the third reinforced concrele building to be erected In Port land. It will contain the headquarters of the Portland Board of Trade. By Harry Lane, Mayor of Portland. PERHAPS no city In . the world Is more happily situated than Port land, Or. Whether It was a mere matter of chance In the first plsce that Its "lines" were cast as they were, or was due to the farsighted wisdom of the founders of the city, I hazard no opin ion. That It was located entirely upon the west bank of the Willamette River, however, whereas the city of today occu pies both banks of that river. Is pushing its way across the peninsula which sep arates the rivers and is rapidly approach ing the Columbia River with its nu merous homes and industries. Indicates that the full signifi cance of its location was not appreciated by its founders. Portland today em braces the highlands on both banks of a river which drains a Mayor Lane. beautiful and fertile valley, 150 miles in length, the wealth of which must forever seek an outlet through the portals of this city, and the Interests of the city are intimately connected by the strongest ties with those of the great Willamette Valley. Lying to a great extent upon the peninsula which separates the Willamette from the Columbia River, Portland's Interests are quite as intimately connected with those of the great Columbia River basin, an empire In extent. At this time the position of Portland as the strategic point in relation to the won derful resources which lie contiguous and tributary to it Is fully appreciated and understood, and In consequence the city is undergoing the greatest growth in its history. Without any "booming' I may say that the city has crossed the thresh old which separates it from Its past and has entered upon a period of the larger growth which is to be, and stands forth the most solidly prosperous city, with larger available and untouched resources than any other city in the United States. The resources upon which the city does now, and is to depend for future growtit and prosperity, have not been discounted, but remain an asset almost untouched a condition that does not prevail In many Western cities, and speaks volumes for the wisdom and conservative dispositon of the people of this city. Another fact worthy of note is this: There are In course of construction, at this time, more buildings involving the outlay of a large sum of money for such work than has ever before been undertaken at any like period in the history of the city.' Not only in its geographical situation, its resources and its present prosperity is the city to be congratulated, but in many other equally important respeots It stands without a peer. Owing to the even mildness of its climate, its natural advan tages for drainage, and the purity of Its water supply, which is owned and suc cessfully operated by the municipality, it has the lowest death rate of any city in the United States. in Its public affairs the city is governed by a charter which was submitted to the popular vote, and adopted by the elector ate of the city Itself, acting under which any or all changes must be submitted to a vote of the people.. Upon the other hand, under petitions the people may initiate any measure which they desire to become a part of the organic law of the city, such measure being submitted at the next sub sequent election. In these Important re spects this city is a pioneer, far in ad vance of the vast majority of American cities. in the matter of the administration of its public affairs the sense of civic obli gation upon the part of the residents is that of a high type of citizenship. It demands of its officials that its affairs be conducted in the interests of the people, and in consequence if any "graft" exists. It does so by stealth and with due fear of discovery. The moral tone of the city is upon a high plane and is strong enough to keep the vicious element out of control of the affairs of the city. All In all it may be truthfully said of the city at this time that tt offers bet ter inducements, founded upon indlsput p.ble advantages, for a steady and perma nent growth along right lines than does any other city in the United States. Educational Fa cilities of State ORKGON otters the best of education al' advantages for both elementary und advanced study. Its public school system compares very favorably with that of any State in the Union. Besides the Grammar and High schools, the State maintains a university of recognized standing at Kugene, and a splendidly r.u'pped agricultural college at Corval i ' V- - T.3 religious denominations are repre sented by the following institutions: Pa cific University and Tualatin Academy, at Forest Grove, Congregational; Wil lamette University, at Salem, Method ist; Albany College, at Albany, Presbyte rian; McMinnville College, at McMtnn vtlle. Baptist; Pacific College, at .New berg, Friends; Columbia University, at Portland Catholic; Mount Angel College, at Mount Angel, Catholic; Philomath Col lege, at Philomath. United Brethren; Portland Academy,, at Portland, Presby terian. There are. also State normal schools at Weston. Ashland, Drain and Monmouth. Throughout the State there are also many private and parochial schools. Oregon Not. a "Wcbfoot" .State. The climate of Oregon is apparently the one thing which the peoplo of the East find It difficult to understand. Oregon is often referred to as "the place where it rains all the time." A more erroneous idea of the rainfall of the state Is im possible. Albany, in the center of the Willamette Valley, has an annual rain fall of 42 inches. Chicago has 34 Inches, St. Louis 41. New Orleans 60. Galveston 48. Nashville 50. Vlcksburg 53. Jackson ville 54.- ChattanoogR 54, Cincinnati .42. Washington City 43, New York and Bos ton 44 inches. Do Xot Fall lo Sec Portland. Your excursion ticket to the Christian Endeavor and all other Pacific Coast con ventions includes Portland without extra cost and can be bought at any station in the United States or Canada. 2a
