TIIE MORNING OltEGONIAN, MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1917.
OREGON'S MINING INDUSTRY IS ESTABLISHED ON SOUND BASIS
'
Metal Production for 1916 Is in Excess of $4,000,000 Output Increases 600 Per Cent in Six Years Gold Totals $2,500,000 and Copper Makes Big Gain Great Future Is Seen
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By H. N. Idiwrte, Chairman OreKoa
Bareaa of Mines ana Gtolosr . .
Commliiion. satisfactory to know that this produc-
. . , tion Is a profitable one to the producers
f HH metal production of Oregon for themselves.
1 th
the year 1916 will he In excess of
000.000. This represents an ln-
Eastern Oregon Leada.
crease of 100 per cent over the pro- or tne 16 Eastern Oregron counties
ductlon of 1915. The following: table a11 Dut 'our have ore deposits, and have
will serve to show how consistently produced, but the counties which are
and rapidly the metal production of the generally known as mining; counties
state has increased since 1911: are Baker, Grant, Malheur, Harney,
1911 67s 398 1914 Wallowa, Union, Umatilla, Lake, Wheel-
z.ui:.v3 er, jeiierson, took ana uescnutes. or
these counties Baker every year leads
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850.S90 1915
4.000,000
in the list of producers, but the Kold
. It will be seen from this table that
thn Tnntnl nutnnt ( n .i . i
nastTlx vr .rrC '""'" l lu" belt of the Blue Mountains is a wide
?o . .J? average rate of one and extenda north lnto WalIowa,
", P!' ! ' ySV,' r f 600 Un,on and Umatilla Counties, south into
f ... These figures may seem Malheur and Harney Counties and west-
startling and to the layman who has ward through - Grant, Wheeler into
not been in close touch with the de- Crook, Jefferson and Deschutes Coun
Telopment might indicate a reflection 'es while scattered mineral districts
from the general boom in metals with are 'ound as far south as the Nevada
the attendant enormous demand ere- California line. Of the SO-odd produc
ated by the war. Of this $4,000 000 tlve metal mines of Eastern Oregon,
about $2,500,000 is gold with a small about half are placer and half quartz
percentage of silver which is recovered mines-
with the gold in the treatment of base Tho chlef mining counties of South
ores. The remaining $1,500,000 covers ern Oregon, from the production stand
copper, about $1,300,000, and $200,000 Pint are Josephine, Jackson, Coos and
includes chromite, quicksilver, tun'gs- Curry. Here again, however, as we
ten, manganese, platinum and all other travel north along the Coast and Cas
inetals. cade Ranges are many mining districts
It is true that war conditions en- of promise, in which development work
eouraged the production of chromite is Eoing n- Transportation facilities
quicksilver, tungsten, manganese and are being extended as rfipidly as ton
platinum but the outputs so far have nage demands, which will encourage
not been large, as the figures show. more rapid development of the mines
r. , ' continguous to them.
Copper Increase Big. There are two cement compaT1le in
It may be anticipated, however, with Oregon, one in the southern part of
it Prlces for these minor metals that fne state and the other at Oswego, close
tne result of development work this to Portland. Since these plants are
past year will be reflected in much in- just being broken in to production
creased productions for this coming their outputs have not reached their
year. The copper development which maximum as yet. Next year, however,
I'on an aggregate production of with an anticipated increase in the
11. 300000, approximately, for this year, building rate over last year, the value
was begun before the boom in copper of these payrolls will be felt and all
prices. Further than this the produc- or the advantages of being supplied
tion of copper in Oregon so far as de- Wjth a local and high-grade product
velopment has gone is not dependent a3 well
upon high prices -for the metal to in- . . . . .
sure success for the operator. Since , Coal Mining to Expand,
there is an abundance of gold in this The Coos Bay coal measures have
country and since it has a fixed price, taken on a new activity on account of
JUT5,,,? PJIV?S fv,110 espfcia' 'ncen- the great-r accessibility of the Willam
tlve on account of the war to stimulate ... ,, . . .
gold production. One is forced to co" ette Valley a3 a market, due to the
elude, therefore, that the rapid rise in opening for transportation of the Wil
the meta production of Oregon is not lamette-Pacif ic Railroad, from Eugene
due to temporary war conditions, but to Powers, Or. This will have the ef
rather is resting on a permanent basis feet of supplying the Willamette Val
to be projected into the future along ley with cheaper fuel than anything
normal lines. they have used heretofore and will de
While this total production for 1916 velop a substantial payroll at the mines
is an excellent showing for so short a around Marshfleld and alnno th Mil-
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units in Western Oregon begin con- for the present, may be classified as
structlon. From reports of prog-ess in follows:
drainage it is expected that some of First To supply tho prospector with
these projects will be launched this accurate information concerning his
coming year. prospect and how best to develop it.
It became known a little over a year Annually much money and labor is
ago that potassium nitrate existed in wasted for a lack of correct information
the southeastern part of the state on concerning a prospect. Some prospects
the Idaho line.- The deposit is most are not worthy the work which is be
unusual from a geological as well as ing expended upon them. Others should
from a chemical separation standpoint, receive added assistance in advancing
New problems are offered which must development because of a most favor
be solved before success can be as- able condition. Loner cross-cut tunnels
cured. Investigations of a far-reach- are being driven with small prospect of
ing nature have been in progress dur- hitting ore. This work is usually
ing the year and it is reported by the wasted and the prospector should be
management of the company that re- advised to keep as much of his develop
sults are becoming more satisfactory ment work as pbosible in ore. Give
as their work continues. A commercial the prospector access to- free and reli
enterprise producing nitrate of potash able information and a vast amount of
would not only be of the highest im- capital and labor, otherwise wasted,
portance to Oregon's agricultural de- will be directed into productive chan
velopment, but would be the only nels and will mark a most decided
source of supply of this mineral in benefit to the mineral production of
North America. Every effort should be Oregon
made In research to prove the work- Kroad Publicity VrBed.
ability of such a deposit. Second Detailed geological work
From Alkali Lake, of Lake County, must be done in the producing districts
in South Central Oregon, the soda and as a guide to intelligent development,
borax Industry has been started by This work logically follows the recon
California interests. Shipments of soda naissance survey of these districts,
ash were made this past year, but until which has been made in the past four
the problem of chemical separation has years.
been fully worked out as a basis for a Third Continue the geological recon
large plant, the output will no doubt naissance survey to cover areas not yet
be limited. The possibilities for a sub- reached, to determine their economic
stantlal industry producing soda and importance.
borax with other byproducts seem Fourth To co-operate with the
very ound. United States Bureau of Mines in per-
On the whole, Oregon opens the new fecting milling and metallurgical sys
year with excellent prospects for an terns for the most efficient treatment
increased mineral production of a very of the complex ores of the state,
diversified character. In order to in- Fifth To giv broad publicity to
sure the desired acceleration in mineral essential facts so that capital may be
production for this year and the years intelligently directed from foreign cen-
iim! rho. t-.iH tf t in connection road. Experiments will soon be under tern of briquetting. which will give sat- ply of clays for the manufacture of tile veniently to transportation and fueL, to come, the state must assume the re- ters to the mining industry of the state
lnrt..tr, in rh .t.t i. i me mining way to produce a higher grade fuel isfactory results. and building brick there is no doubt. The tile industry will receive an im- sponsibility of continuing to render a and thoroughly safeguarded in every
y state, n is still more from these mines by perfecting a sys- That Oregon has an excellent sup- Further, these clays are located con- petus when the several large drainage constructive aid to the industry, which, reasonable way from loss.
OREGON'S FARM OUTPUT WORTH $155,000,000
Gain in Valuation Over 1915 Total Production Is $25,000.000 Increase in Prices for Wheat and Potatoes Is Factor.
Increase in Cattle Is Notable. '
THE past year has been an un
usually prosperous one for the
Oregon farmer. While there were
only slight gains in yields in some of
the staple products, prices in some cases
reached unprecedented proportions. The
total value of Oregon crops is esti
mated at $155,000,000, as compared with
$130,000,000 for 1915. the gain for 1916
being $25,000,000.
The wheat yield, which amounted to
about 18.000,000 nusneis for each of
the last two years, was worth about
$7,000,000 more to Oregon farmers in
1916 than in -1915. There was an in
crease of about 1,000,000 bushels in po
tatoes, the yield last year being 5,250,
000 bushels. The returns from potatoes
amounted to more than $2,000,000 over
1915. The increase in the value of hay
was in excess of $1,000,000. Nearly all
other products made substantial in
creases in value.
Figures Are Conservative.
The figures given above, as well as
others appearing in this article, are
compiled from reports of the United
States Bureau of Crop Estimates, the
Oregon Labor Commission, State Tax
Commission, and. other state sources.
The 1916 growing season was un
usual in many respects. To begin with,
the Fall of 1915 was exceedingly dry.
In the wheat belt Fall seeding of Summer-fallow
land in many cases was
postponed -until early Spring. In the
western portion of the state the dry
season prevented Fall plowing and
seeding, for when the rains did come,
the weather continued so wet that
seeding was impossible. As a result Df
the unfavorable Fall seeding condi
tions, the total Spring-sown acreage for
1916 was considerably above the usual
amount. Fortunately, occasional rains,
and practically no hot winds during
the growing period, brought about a
season of unusually favorable condi
tions for Spring-planted crops. Even
in the Fall wheat districts the 1916
Spring-sown crop frequently out
yielded Fall-sown acreage.
Crop Season Unusual.
The Summer rains, however, did some
damage to matured grain, hay and
fruit. The cherry crop in particular
was badly damased in some sections
by rains occurring at picking time, but
these same rains helped to produce a
bumper potato crop, as well as being
of great benefit to all crops during the
growing season.
The 1916 Fall season was out of the
ordinary also on account of early kill
ing frosts, and hard freezing weather
about the middle of November. Late
vegetables and corn were considerably
injured by the first frosts, and the No
vember freeze did considerable damage
to apples and potatoes. So all in all
the 1916 crop season was quite out of
the ordinary.
Estimates of the production and
value of the various general farm
crops of the state for the year 1916
are as follows:
Crop
Wheat (bushels)
Oats (bushels)
Barley (bushels) ...
Potatoes (bushels) ..
Cora (bushels) .....
Hay (tons)
Clover seed (pounds)
Hops (pounds) .....
Miscellaneous ......
Value.
$22,500,000
7.245.000
3.600.000
S.250,000
H00.0O0
19,750.000
875. 0O0
2.000,000
8.380.O00
Total $70,000,000
In the foregoing table the corn'es-
Amount.
.18.000,000
.17,250.000
. 5.000.000
. 7,000.000
. 1,200,000
. 1.975,000
. 2. 500.000
. 1,900.000
timate includes the acreage grown for
silage. The greater part of the corn
grown in Oregon is used as silage.
"Miscellaneous" includes -seeds other
than clover, vegetables, etc
Reports from all of the County As
sessors to the State Tax Commission
show a decrease for 1916, as compared
with 1915, in the enumeration of all
classes of livestock except cattle, "the
comparison being as foslows:
Percent
of 1915.
Horses and mules 95.8
All cattle 101.8
Sheep and goats , J
Swine 74.8
By using the foregoing percentages
as a basis in connection with the 1915
estimate of numbers of the various
classes of livestock, an estimate for
1916 is arrived at follows:
Kind of stock "ub"r-
Horses 2B3.000
Mules -"'
Dairy cattle 22" 0"0.
Other cattle
Sheep and coats 2,i-,:-J 2
Swine 297.000
Livestock values show some marked
changes as compared with a year ago.
Sheep are much higher, while dairy
cows are much lower. Some sales of
first-class ewes have been made dur
ing recent months at close to $10 a
head. Good grade dairy cows recently
have sold at $40 to $50 a head' Horses
and mules appear to .have about the
same values as a year ago. while hogs
are somewhat higher. Beef cattle
values also are higher than the pre
vailing values one year ago.
OREGON'S DAIRY OUTPUT WORTH $20,000,000
Increase in Production of Butter. Cheese and Condensed Milk in Oregon Is Marked
Oregon Quality of Output Is of High Rank.
-Dairying Has Big Future in
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OREGON FARM PRODUCTS IN 1916.
Grand total $155,000,000 '
General farming- 70,000,000
General livestock 39,000,000 ss-.u--mm-.mmms
Dairy products 22,000,000
Poultry and eggs 10,000,000
Fruit 10,000,000
Wool and mohair. 4,000,000
By J. D. MIc-kle. Dairy -nd Food Com
mlHHioner. ALTHOUGH the output of some of
the productive industries of Ore
gon have been somewhat on
the decrease during the. past year,
dairying still remains, one of the most
attractive, stable and profitable oc
cupations. Figures lately compiled by the
Dairy and Food Commissioner for the
year 1916 show an Increased produc
tion, over the year of 1915 in all
branches of the industry, verifying the
I AJIM'AL EXPEXDIT1RES FOR
STRUCT PAVEMKVTS AND
i SKWEItS I-N PORTLAND.
1905.. ,
1906.. ,
1907.. ,
1908.. ,
1909..
1910..
$ 540.000
510.000
807,000
1.031,000
2,432.000
4.400.000
1911..
1912..
1913..
1914..
1915..
191C
.$7,398,505
. 4.300.449
: 4. 662, SSI
, 1,600.596
92S.0H6
781.035
branches of agriculture where in
creased production has been brought
about and where worn-out grain farms
have been brought back into profitable
condition.
During the period covered by the
records In the Dairy and Food Com
missioner's office there has been a
marked increase in the amount of but
ter, cheese and coirdensed milk manu
factured in Oregon. There was a time
when we imported carload after car
load of butter, but such is not the case
at the present time. In fact, consid
erable butter is now being exported.
The following tables show the in
crease" In the number of creameries,
cheese factories and condenseries, and
the amount of butter, cheese and con
densed milk manufactured:
Butter
Vumber of
Creameries.
old adage that "prosperity follows the
cow."
While the receipts for some products
grown or manufactured within the
state seem to indicate a falling tide,
the meek, patient and persistent dairy
cow has been quietly working every
day of the 365 that have gone into that
cycle of time which we term the past
year, and when we figure up the re
sults of her labor we find that' she has
added to our wealth about $20,000,000,
an Increase of nearly $2,000,000 for the
year.
More and more the dairy cow Is
proving herself to be not only the
faithful and abiding friend and serv
ant of man as a producer of some of
his most desirable foodstuffs, but she
is also his friend and servant as a
revenue ' producer' - through other
Tear.
1 UO 1
iixa...- 70
1!05 0
IW7 OO
1!M Id6
llt its
li'O
1916 105
.. Cheese
No. Cheese
Tear.
Pounds of
Butter M'fd
l.tiSO.O.iS
4.oO.UOO
No record
No record
No record
I.n:i.-S7
13.,4.1.7S
1o.2ms.30iJ
Pounds of
Factories Cheene MT(I
101 20 l.ls.".7--3
1903 40 2.5OO.0O0
l;t.. 58 No record
H'7 :l No record
1!HJ! s:t No record
1!14 02 7.4.13.27.S
ll!5 6S .!i.S7
ltflrt 74 8.U51.IHJ8
Condensed milk
No. Con- Lb. Cond'd
Tear. demerits Mlk M'fd
1 !." . S No record
1!! No record
1!H4 7 Hl.S-iO.7KH
inl 7 21.370.JHJO
1916 .' 7 27.110,002
Testlaa Associations Formed.
Every possible agency in being used
at the present time to develop and
build up the dairy industry, of which
one of the most active is the Co-Operative
Cow-Testing Association. Our
first association was organized early
in 1911, and in 1912 we had one in op
eration, in 1918, one: 1914. 7; 1915. 11.
and in 1916. IE. These are located as
follows: Coos County. 5: Tillamook
County. 1: Clatsop County. 1; Wash
ington County, -1; Yamhill County, 1;
Polk County, 1; Marion County, 1;
Clackamas County, 1; Multnomah
County, 1: Umatilla County. 1; Mal
ueur County. 1.
We feel that we have reason to be
proud of our dairy record for the year
Just ended, at the same time as we
look into the future we find that we
stil! lack much that is to be desired
before we shall have reached that place
in the rank of. the foremost dairy
states, to which we should aspire
The greatest factor that we can
name in achieving such place and re
sults Is the exercise of greater care
upon the part of Oregon dairymen and
creamerymen in the production of good,
clean-flavored cream and a higher
quality of butter.
Oregon Dairy las: ll Bis; Fatare,
If every dairyman in Oregon would
pay particular attention to this point,
inside of one year we could outrank
any state in America for quality in
butter, and having done that the mar
kets of the country would come to us
with money in hand, asking for our
dairy products, and willing to pay our
price.
Denmark and New Zealand have tak
en up the subject in that way and are
reaping the results of their enaVavor.
Why should Oregon be behind either of
them? Ours is a state unexcelled for
dairy advantages, climate, range of
feed stuffs, fertility of soil, unused
area, abundance of cold mountain wa
ter, transportation; in fact, we have
everything that goes to make up a
great dairy country. All that we lack
is the putting forth of the effort to do
the very best that we can with tho
advantages at hand. "