FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 18, 1921
LAlYING OF THE CORNER STONE OF THE: OREGON CAPITOL
I - ' - ' ; . . - - 1
THE OREGd:STATifAN,;SALOI..bnE(iON
the fart that not a century ago.
about the lime When Lewis" and
Clarlt were making their celebrat
ed exploration of the. grand Co
lumbia river, the members of a
learned society In Europe were
sitting in judgment upon Ameri
t ca, and tbelr verdict was that seri
ously it wis a question whether,
on the whole, the discovery of
America bud been of advantage
to the world. Evidently they had
learned that China was in Vene
zuela and that Japan was in New
foundland,! Is it strange, then, that Oregon
is comparatively unknown
abroad? Her explorers, her trap
pers and her traders knew but lit
tle of her wonderful resources.
Before the settlement of Califor-.
nla, Oregon was the terminus of
western civilization. Today by
. many In distant : parts, and, per
haps by some in that state, he is
supposed to be a county in Cali
fornia. We were once asked 6ft
the coast of that state, by a pro
fessional j gentleman traveling
'round the world if Oregon was
not an uninhabited region near
the White Pine mines. Near the
' capital of , this nation, but a few
years ago, we were asked if wheat
could be, raised in Oregon, at a
time when. our flour was sell ng
at a premium In the markets of
the .east! 'Purchasers are usually
contented (with the article pur
chased; they never ask whence it
comes; and so it Is with those who
purchase Oregon flour in distant
markets t 'they! never inquire
where 14 Is obtained. They care
not whence It comes. Hence it Is
that those who nurchase the nrorf-
ucts of our! state, as well as those
of whom Oregon purchases, are
almost entirely ignorant of her re
sources and interests. The money
they make in the trade is all that
Is visible or valuable to them. Or
egon has exported without having j
the name of an; exporter.. Her j
products have gone Into the marts
of the woTld accredited to others
while " those whom ' she has en
riched have not respected her even
for what she has done. For the
take of policy it has been deemed
'sssentlal to success by jobbers and
nWdlemen to destroy all rivalry
in commerce, not only to put up
on their purchases a false name,
to-facilitate, as they claim, the
sale, of the article, but also to be
little the pretensions of Oregon.
Thus oqr state has stood a beg
gar, literally. In another market
even! with all her gold. When she
parted with that she did as a slave
parts. with his. last farthing. She
has passed; up and down the Bos
phorus, soj to speak, for over 30
years and -has paid dear tribute
tq , thousands, for things which
none could produce or manufac
ture better than herself. This
- tribute mopey i3 bald to those who
appreciate! her gold and nothing
. mye. , Shall we ask, when will
our state be free from the crush
ing exactions of our present policy
ot '.purchasing everything abroad?
'When will she tarn her attention
- to the development of ' her own
abundant resources T If to add to
the wealth of other states bv ex
'porting' our gold 'for -articles of
food and raiment, for the imple
ments of husbandry, la short, for
everything we use, almost; except
the air, we breathe,' is required of
a new" state like this, let us feel
now that the t.'me of our servi
tude Is up. and that capital shall
come to the relief of our people
and talse up all the aids needed
to make our state a manufactur
ing as well as a producing-one
This is demanded of us, not only
as being vital to our advancement
in population and wealth, but also
as being absolutely necessary for
the welfare cf oar young men who
need to be trained in a knowledge
of' the various branches of Indus
try, j
:Bt the continent of North
America has been explored, and
a- -trans-continental railroad has
brought the shores of the Atlantic
upon the east and the Pacific up
on the west quite together. Light
ning has annihilated space be
tween them. North America Is
not' only a part of the world, and
of great benefit to it. but is in
deed the central continent of it,
and ' Oregon holds some of the
most important-keys to her com
merces With . these commercial
advantages, with, the f nest of ag
ricultural r lands; abundantly -watered,
which not only insure never
failing crops, but are able to sus
tain a very dense population,; the
time will; come when our state
will-realize the fondest hopes of
her early friends, who predicted
. for her a future of so much great
ness and wealth. - -
Passing over that portion of the
history of Oregon - which com
mences with the discovery of the
Columbia river by Capt. Crav in
1792,' three hundred years from
the discovery of the eastern
Mnjres of this continent by Colum
bus, and ends with the permanent
' settlement by Americans in 1832
we proceed to enumerate some of
the events connected with our de
velopment since the last mention
, ed period J ,, ji-
'The first permanent American
.settlers came here in 1832. ' In
1863. -Dr.l Whitman -and Rev. Mr.
Rpaulding. both missionaries, ar-
r.ved In Oregon with their fami
4iei.--Their wivA were the first
American women that had crossed
Vheplarns. and their children were
the first Americans born in Ore-
g on: ' - .
-in 1840 there were about 250
- 'habitants in this
JvVot Indians. 140 of whom were
Americans. Among them wa s
II. Smith! of Clatsop county, the
niaesi American p oncer now liv
4nr4 He came here in 1832. "
ili' February. 1841. there was
a meeting of a few nioneers In
"habitants Of thm WIllameMtt .i
lev--at the American mission sta
tion for consultation concerning
'tens neeessarv in h tvn tnr tf
formation of laws and election of
wiK!rs. I several meetings were
held In 1841 for the purpose of
grafting constitution and code
.IJTv, ' Pat fed to accomplish
WVthing. In Phrnr A r-.-w
p.nu ,e wlnw were held
to adopt measures for carrying on
a "defensive and destructive war
against bears; wqtoea, panthers,
tic. At the latter date a corn
mitteewas appointed to take
measures for the civil and nilii
tar protection of the settlements.
In March, 1843. the Canadian
inhabitants of Oregon met at
Champoeg and nobly dcelarr.J a
unanimous expression of senti
ment of "cordiality, dettfre of
tin. on and inexhaustible peace
between all the people." and
also expressed a willingness to
submit to any lawful government
Ihat might be extended over them.
In 1844 the executive committee
presented a message to the legis
lative assembly that had been
chosen, recommending that the
executive power should be vested
in one person, end further , ex
pressed themselves as follows; "It
is a duty which devolves on you
and us to use as much discretion,
vigilance and caution in maturing
and adopting mo.uincH for pro-noting-the
interesu oi this little
colony as if we exr!ed our
names and acts woull he carolled
in the pages of history or in
scribed on pillars of stone when
our days and Reno at ion shall
have passed away.'
These steps- may be regarded as
the first that were !hken to found
a government fr those who. to
use .their own word, were "situ
ate In a portion of country remote
from the civilization among t h?
few remalnin ; savages .who are
the orig.nal proprietors of the soil,
in r. country Maimed by two po.v
titul clvill?o.l at.d enlightened ai
tiors, proul ot their national liV
et.iefc and jealous cf their respect
tive rights inJ i yiv.-eges."
In 1845 the executive commit
tee and legislature petitioned con
gress for relief, setting forth their
grievances at length. During the
same year Hon. Geo. Abernethy
was chosen governor, and his first
message, which was full of inter
est, was Bent to the legislature
then in session. "In February.
1846, the Oregon Spectator, a
semi-monthly newspaper, was
started at Oregon C.ty by the
Methodist mission.
In March, 1848. the Oregon
Free Press was issued at Oregon
City by Ceorge L. . Curry. The
press was made here, and also the
display type, which was wrought
out of wood. This was the first
weekly newspaper that wai pub
lished on this side of the continent
of America.
In February. 1849, the govern
ment of the colony was so op
pressed" by trading gold dust at
eleven dollars per ounce that the
legislature concluded to coin the
dust for circulation and fix the
value of coin, and at once passed
the necessary laws for that pur
pose. Messrs. James Taylor. T. Pa
PowersW. HI Willson and George
L. Curry were chosen officers of
the mint. But before this scheme
Was tint Intn ; un muse wuu prujrcieu ll uuu lai -
was pui tnio operation congress , s n.. . , . T,
hA MUn , "tried it through. Messrs. B. Gold
had taken action and given to Ore
gon a territorial form of govern-,
taent, and President Polk had ap
pointed a governor for the terri
tory. This fact becoming known
here, the coinage of gold dust fell
into other hands and became a
private enterprise, and the "beav
er money" made its appearance as
a circulating medium. On the sec
ond day of March, 1949. the gov
ernor. General Joseph Lane, ar
rived at Oregon City; on the third
he extended the laws of the United
States over Oregon by proclama
tion, and proceeded to organize
the territory of Oregon. He was
received with every mark of es
teem and confidence. At this time
there were ten counties Benton,
Champoeg, .Clackamas. Clatsop
Lewis, Linn. Polk. Tuality, Van
couver and YamhHI. h&ving a total
population of "citirens" of 8785
Tlere were M27 l.-males of all
ages, and 271 vtort.pnera. What
Is now Washington territory .was
then part of Oregon.', n June of
the same year Samuel R. Thurston
was elected a delegate to the con
gress of the United States, the
first member from Orecon. Mr
Thurston in Uhaf, capacity served
nis constituency well and faithful.
Iy. He was 'instrumental in giv
ing an impetus 'to the unsettled
condition of affairs In the terri
tory, which culminated in bringl
ing material aid -and prosperity to
our people. He was ambitious and
devoted, but all his concern was
for Oregon. He died on hl re
turn in 1851 and before tie could
receive the welcome of his famlly
or the applause of a gratefnl con
stituency.. The state has perpetu
ated his memory by a monumental
testimonial in the cemetery at the
capital ot this, state.
The first professional . teacher
who came to Oregon wa i!r. Silas
Shephard. lie crossed the Rocky
mountains in 1834 and settled at
Vancouver.
The first steam vessel that is
known to have entered the waters
of Oregon was the Heaver.-She
came to Vancouver .as a sailing
vessel, bring ng her machinery as
freight which was- set up at Van
couver after her arrival. After
making several trips for pleasure
and business on the Columbia riv
er, she was sent to sea and ran
between the Nesqually, Puget
Sound and the different ports of
the Hudson's Bay company north.
This was no doubt the first steam
ship to navigate the waters ef the
Pacific ocean. The Beaver, is stilf
to be seen at Victoria, V. 1., and
other porta in that vicinity. She
is a trim little side-wheel steam
ship, still sound and good for ser
vice, but looks a little peculiar,
the wheels being forward the cen
ter of the boat, instead of far aft
as they are now built. An esti
mable lady, now, the wife of one
of our most esteemed citizens, and
the granddaughter of tho late Dr.
John McLoughlin. one of the
warmest and, most honored friends
of our earls emigrants, was born
on board the Beaver at sea. north
ot Vancouver's Island.,
The first. American steamship
that came to Portland was the
Massachusetts in 1849. The first
ra?.M?,al that ran "Sn'arly on
the Willamette and the Columbia
rivers was the tittle side-wheeler.
Columbia. The first boat running
above the falls, and the first to
reach Salem was the little Hoos-
ier. J. S. Smith, captain. The first
regular boat sent to Salem And
Corvallis was the Multnomah iu
1851. She was built like a bar
rel, of staves and hoops, having
first run on the Chesapeake bay,
and having then been taken to
pieces and shipped round the
Horn. The Canemah followed the
Multnomah. She was an Oregon
enterprise, and may be regarded
as the pioneer In the regular
steamship business above the falls.
Her machinery was procured In
1850 at New Albany. Indiana. b
Captain Hedges or Oron CAf.
The Multnomah and Nwslihing
ton were taken afterwards below
the falls. The Multnomah rau in
the trade from Portland to As
toria. The Washington, which was
also built abroad, crossed the Co
lumb.a bar in 1853 under com
mand of the late Captain S. D.
Hinsdaie, an accomplished gentle
man and seaman, and went Into
the Umpqua river and engaged in
trade there. In February, 1870,
the steamboat Swan, under charge
of some gentlemen of Gardiner,
made a trip to Roseburg from the
mouth of the Uuraqua river, dem
onstrating the fact that that river
could, with necessary improve
ments, be made navigable to Rose
burg. Within a few years past,
the waters of Coos bay and Co
quille river have had small, pion
eer boats engaged in trade upon
them. The former by Capta'n
Luse. the latter by Captain Rack
liff. A regular line of steamers
are running from Coos bay to San
Francisco. The future promises a
breakwater at Port Orford. and
for this region generally a large
and useful field of commercial ac
tivity and greatness..
The Multnomah made several
trips to the Cascades, the little
Mary, Wasco and Col. Wright
were the pioneer boats above. But
the great enterprise of he lower
Willamette and lower and upper
Columbia rivers is accredited to
the Oregon Steam Navigation
company, which commenced a suc
ctffiful career of tteamboating In
1857, and is still engaged in the
seme trade. The principal men.
whose skill and energy Itsve ac
co-nplished this wa.k. at Messrs.
J. C". Ainsworth. 11. 11. Tluiupspu
and S. G. Reed.
A state agricultural rocicty wn.: j
organized at Oregon C.ty in .1861.
arid the first state fair was held
at that place. It wis removed to
Salem the following year where
the annual fairs have since been
held. . The society is a great suc
cess. The late Simeon Francis
was the first president ot it.
Since 1870 a canal and locks
have been built with state aid at
the falls ot the Villamette oppo
site Oregon City, thus throwrns
that river open to communication
with rivers below forever; an en
terprise reflecting great credit up-
- I. l. . I . 1 3. 1
smith and Joseph Teal are the
leading spirits of this enterprise.
Land transportation has re
ceived a marked attention also. In
1869 the Oregon and California
railroad fairly began its work at
East Portland and has now tra
versed the entire length of the
Willamette valley, upon the east
side, and at present terminates at
Roseburg in the Umpqua valley, a
distance 200 miles from its initial
point. Ben Holladay, Esq., is
president of this road. Since this
date a railroad has been com
menced at Portland on the west
side ot the Willamette river, and
has been: completed as far as St.
Joe; a distance of 45 miles. Wil
liam L. Halsey. Esq., is president
of this road. Both roads are un
finished as yet, and it is hoped
that they may soon be built their
entire distance; a consummation
imperatively demanded. The cred
it for this great work of building
these roads is due to the energy
and perseverance of Ben Holladay.
Esq.
The Portland; Dalles and Salt
Lake railroad is another enter
prise calculated to open up many
fortunes of our state not touched
by those before mentioned, and
which if successful will add much
to the wealth and importance of
the state at large and particularly
of the eastern portion. This de
sired object is fostered by that
energetic pioneer. Col. W. W.
Chapman.
The first telegraph in Oregon
was built in 1855: it extended
from Portland to Lafayette. The
main telegraph through the state
was the work of the California
State Telegraph company. The
construction partes commenced
work simultaneously at the two
extremities of the line, meeting
and completing -their labors at
Roseburg March 1. 1864. It was
regarded as an occasion of great
interest as the following corres
pondence would indicate.
"Roseburg, Or., March 1, 1864.
"To David Logan Esq.. Mayor of
tne City of Portland:
"Sir: The residents of Rose
burg send their compliments
through you to the citizens of
Portland, and congratulate you
and them upon the final comple
tion of the telegraph from Port
land to the eastern states. Fa
vored as we are by bright sunny
day as pleasant as May can pro
duce, and feeling exhilarated by
the occurrences of the hour, we
have as a testimonial of our
thanks, fired one hundred guns
and 'smiled generally.
"S. F. Chadwlck."
"Portland. March 1st, 1864.
"S. F. Chadwlck, Esq.. Rose
burg: The citizens of Portland
fully reciprocate the pleasure ex
pressed by you at the consumma
tion of the great work connecting
us with different parts bf the state
and our great union. David Lo
gan, Mayor."
In 1859, by virtue of an act of
congress establishing the first
daily mail service from Portland
Oregon, to San Francisco. Califor
nia, the California Stage company
placed daily stages upon the
route. This was quite an event
in our state, and one for which
we are indebted in a great meas
ure to the late Hon. Lansing
Stout, then a member of congress
from Oregon, whose valuable ser-
vice will be long remembered by
the state.
The Willamette university, lo
cated In Salem, was founded in
1844 and stands today among the
first of the educational Institu
tions of the state. It is now more
flourishing and popular, though
always successful, than at any for
mer period. This is the first In
stitution of learning organized in
Oiegon. Following this pioneer
in the cauaf of education, colleges
and hiv schools bavt? grown up
In almost every county iu the
state.
The f.rst executive officers of
Oregon were P, G. Stewart. O.
Russell and W. I. Bailey, compos
ing a "triumvirate," called the ex
ecutive committee, who governed
the - people until the executive
power was vested in one man. The !
governors who followed were
George Abernethy, Joseph Lane.
John P. Gaines. J. W. Davis.
George L. Curry. John Whltaker.
A. C. Gibbs, George L. Woods and
I,. F. Grover, all of whom are now
living except O. Russell, John P.
Gaines and W. J. Davis.
Perhaps an apology is due for
thus particularizing and referring
to a few Incidents connected with
our history, really more than our
lime will admit of, but our ex
cuse for it is this: A copy of this
address is placed in the box In the
corner stone of this capitol build
ing, to be read hereafter when we
all shall have emigrated across
the plains of death to that "coun
try from whose bourne no traveler
returns."
As we look back upon this col
ony, so young and promising, our
mind recurs to the place of "out
fit." It is from this point , that
we watch its progress. These pio-
(neers like the patriarch Jacob.
when he left the tents of his fa
thers receiving their blessing, and
promises of success in another
country where he intended to set
tle -.wandered from their homes
in the east to this hunting ground
of the savage, bringing with them
a tow to remain united as one
family and one people. A journey
of hope only, for they knew not
whither they were going. By day
realizing from sad experience that
the past had its charm, and that
memory was not a fiction or a
dreajn: at evening they lay down
io rest upon me Dare eartn for a
bed. there to pass the night, weary
and careworn, in the dreamy as
surance that their guardian angels
were descending and ascending in
beauty upon their ladder' of hope
that reached from earth to heav
en. With bodies refreshed, though
with pangs of regret tor an aban
doned childhood home, and its
treasures sacredly kept in remem
brance, they arose on the morrow
to take final leave of their resting
ptace, wbiclk they praised for its
security -4 and protection, and
moved on toward the land where
all their families were to be
blessed .
' : These , , fathers trrotght---wlth-them
the laws and customs of
their country, touching property
and government. They all stood
upon the same leval In regard to
the soil here, the title to which
was virtually in the Indian. They
brought with them their modes of
worship and systems by which
schools could be opened and edu
cation d If used. Family (ies, pa
rental love and filial obedience
were all strengthened by the ad
versity through which all bad-
passed. They possessed a knowl
edge of farming and mechanics;
they were self-reliant and con
scious of their ability to overcome
all obstacles. There was no turn
ing back. We admire their ener
gy. How much is accomplished
often through feeble efforts! Un
dertakings small in themselves
may and sometimes do so change
the current of affairs that their
influences and results . are felt
through many generations. This
is true of men as well as nations.
No pioneers by their achievements
ever reflected greater honor upon
themselves and their country than
our Oregon fathers.
The government of the 1nitwi
States does not follow the example
of nations of old by sending forth
from her territory colonies to
found new states and raise up the
standard of the American empire.
This is left to individual spirit and
enterprise. But those who found
governments in her name and ter
ritory receive her aid and protec
tion, and share in her greatness.
When the pioneers of Oregon ask
ed for the protection of the gov
ernment of the United States they
but. made known the true alleg
iance which they bore to their
country. They felt that they had
an imperishable property In that
government, which they could
transmit to the children. They
had an Interest in its preservation
and perpetuity which nothing
could destroy. Here the restless
Ameiacan round a lodgment and
planted the flag of his coun
try, and, In a few years moulded
this region, then wild and almost
uninhabitated by the white man.
into the form and proportion of as
organized terr.tory.
While the states east of the
Rocky mountains were celebrating
their victories in war and exult
ing over newly acquired territory,
the while Inhabitants of Oregon
were petitioning congress for aid
for a donation land law. desiring
one as much like that which they
had themselves framed as possi
ble, granting 640 acres to the set
tler and wife. Thev also asked
tr.at navv yards and marine de
pots should be established on the
Columbia river and Puget sound,
snd petii-ned also for a naval
'nnrsc fcr mliitarv protection and
Tor a pub'ic ma'l service to ar
rive and dnart monthlv. . More
than th's the little colony was
then considering in a serious light
the en-md :de of building a rail
road from the eastern states to
Oregon. If Is now nearly 20 years
str.ee h:s 'dea was entertained by
the Or-eon fathem. rtrtn m th
! !,m General Jesup wrote
i-i larnrnn letter to the resident
f the .T-imep Rver nnA Kanawha
I anal a., es to th Importance
or their work a military neces
sity; a work that cost nearly as
much as all the present railroads
In Oregon. He wrote this letter
while here in the wilds of Oregon,
the sturdy pioneer was asking for
congressional aid to build an In
ternational railroad from Lake
Michigan to the Pacific ocean. It
was here in the valley of the Co
lumbia that civilization in quest
of empire pitched her tents and
exclaimed Eureka! "I have found
it!" Halting In her noble strides
westward where the sun dips into
the sea, anu not up the tow path,
near the waters ol the Atlantic,
thousands of mites to the east.
Nothing to our pioneer fathers
could be a greater military neces
sity than that the shores of the
Atlantic should be connected with
those of the Pacific by that won
derful agent In our progress, the
railroad.
In Response to these appeals
congress began the work for the
aid of Oregon. In March. 1847,
provision was made for a mall ser
vice across the Isthmus of Pana
ma to Astoria, or the mouth of the
Columbia river, by steamer. The
expenditure for said service was
not to exceed one hundred thou
sand dollars per annum. ' Compen
sation on the contract was to com
mence from the time when the
steamships contracted for under
the agreement for the service were
kready for duty and placed at the
disposal of the United States. To
enable the contractors to finish
their steamships, the secretary of
the navy was authorized to ad
vance to them the sum of twenty
five thousand dollars per month
on each ship, after she would be
launched. But the money so ad
vanced was not to exceed one
year's compensation. The condi
tion. of this advance was that the
contractors should be required to
stop and deliver and take malls at
San Diego, San Francisco and
Monterey in California, if required
to do so hy the secretary of the
navy, with the concurrence of the
postmaster general. The secre
tary or war was authorized by law
to furnish arms and ammunition
to persons emigrating to Oregon
at the actual cost ot the articles
to the government.
This plan, together with the low
rates of fare on the steamships,
offered a great inducement, to
those who desired to come hither
and settle on the North Pacific
coast, to avail themselves of the
trade with Asia still glowingly de
picted by our statesmen and to
possess themselves of the unsur
passed agricultural lands of this
garden or the west. But 'before
this enterprise had passed to an
experiment, gold was discovered
in California, and the excitement
was so great and the demand for
transportation so persistent that
San Francisco really became the
terminus of this steamer route and
Oregon scarcely felt the benefit
of it for some time afterwards;
never, as it was first intended she
should. The agricultural,, me
fcbwnlcat and manufacturing facil
ities of Oregon that promised ao
much to the Immigrant, were now
absorbed In the golden idea that
California would bestow wealth
upon all who would ask it. Of
course, Oregon was lost sight of.
and our neighbor became the pow
er of the coast. We have some
times doubted whether Oregon
was really benefited by the dis
covery of gold in California, con
sidering the plans which were
then on foot for her rapid settle
ment, and which were partially
frustrated by that event. We are
constrained to believe that twen
ty-odd years or experience siow
that these gold excitements have
retarded rather than promoted the
development of our state. Her
foundation is upon the rock of ag
riculture, farming, manufactures.
which a rapid rush for hidden for
tunes, found oftener in the mis
fortunes that follow these excite
ments than otherwise, cannot
shake or disturb. The mining in
terest of our state is one of great
importance, notwithstanding, but
it is not paramount to all others
It Is in its infancy, and Is suscep-
tioie or becoming, with proper aid.
a leading interest, especially in
eastern and southern Oregon. And
it is to be hoped the day will come
when our mountains, gulches and
streams in the mining regions ef
Oregon will be profitably search
ed, through state aid, not only for
fossil remains, but for the denosits
of precious rnetals of every name
and description. This field Is large
ana inviting, and the state should
have its bureau or mining, as well
as agriculture, or any other that
may be brought into existence by
i uemanaa or science and Indus
try.
It was durinr this
that Col. Benton wrote to the peo
ple or uregon saying: "The same
Bpirit which led me to reveal the
grana aestiny or Oregon .In artl
n u m aoib. ana to sup
port every measure 'or her benefit
since, this same spirit animates me
and will continue to do so while
I lire, which I hope will be long
"-""us" ee an emporium of As!
toinmerce at the mouth ol
jour river, and a stream of Al
ic. trade pouring 'into the valley
of the Mississlnnl
channel of Oregon." But the dis
covery ot gold, as we have Inti
mated, paralyzed for a season this
great plan and diverted the auxil
iaries for the accomplishment of
the desire of this great man. who
passed away, mourned and be
loved by Oregon, and leaving his
object In the hands of those who
possess this fair land to be carried
out as wealth and enery will per
mit. The then projected route up
the Missouri river to the Colum
bia, thence down that river to its
mouth, is almost wholly lost In
contemplation of more direct
highways to the larger cities of
the world. It is a law of com
merce to have all her lines
straight. Nothing but the pecul
iar exigencies ot the case will ad
mit of a curve. Hence railroads
are more flavored In our day than
any other means for passenger
travel, and they also receive a due
proportion of freight.
That the Columbia river should
be a grand highway there is no
question. That the upper Colum
bia river should have canals and
locks upon-its banks to facilitate
transportation is a necessity tiat
Is demanded by every considera
tion of duty toward the inhabi
tants of that section of the state.
Make the Columbia river the out
let for the producer, and every
one who seeks to export, for all
time to come. And let the upper
Columbia share In this honor by
being tributary to It.
There is now a railroad work
ing its way westward from I.ake
Superior to the Pacific ocean,
demonstrating the importance of
a transcontinental railroad to
Portland, an undertaking whose
need and value our pioneer fa
thers saw and felt. Yes, today w
may welcome in the commence
ment of this enterprise. Railroads
aro so many arteries in the body
ot a commonwealth. We regret
to hear of mUlortunes in connec
tion with this scheme. Embar
rassments flourish in every under
taking, as If they were a conspicu
ous part of it. But after all they
dwell but a short time where
nothing but the terrible happen
ing of unforeseen incidents and
dreams of blue misfortune con
sume the hours. Great public
concerns and business require
ments will soon demand the com
pletion of the work. If one man
cannot do it another will. No rail
road Or a ay other enterprise once
begun, all things being equal as
to Its feasibility and its necessity,
can permanently stop on account
of. reveries. It may take time to
move it, stili It will finally go
ahead again and . throw off these
checks that for a moment threat
ened its destruction. Everything
that prospers in -therend is an "up
hill business." so to speak; it Is
necessarily so. To climb implies
energy, strength, determination to
succeed. To go down require but
indifference and lassitude. To a
certain extent, and for a short
time, the prosperity of the state
is affected by misfortunes nan-
pen Ing to large interests Immedi
ately concerned in its welfare. Na
ture. it Is said, has wisely provid
ed a remedy in every clime for
the diseases incident to It. In our
business relations and embarrass
ments the remedy we mostly rely
upon is population, which we so
much need to increase. Nature
with us has provided for the sus
tenance of millions.
The route of the North Pacific
railroad that which' was the Ideal
of our pioneers traverses rich
mineral lands, valleys of surpass
ing fertility and the rreat Colum
bia plains; a region well watered
and possessed of delightful cli
mate. Four hundred and fifty
miles of this road are now built
from the eastern terminus west
ward, connecting the Great Lakes
with the Missouri river.
The; pioneers of Oregon regard
ed railroads, and we regard them
ahf, as one of the evidences of
the greatness of a people. They
water and' nourish the roots of
commerce. They make their own
support by bringing without ex
change through transportation of
men and . means to open up the
earth and cultivate it. They are
qu'ck on time and punctual, and
Inspire corresponding action in the
propelling power of man: there is
written upon every locomotive as
I.1 "peds1 t8 way trough the land
There is no one so far from a
market as be who has nothing to
I k a.motl0 not altogether de
n? ,f.v ,ntere8t to economist.
Our fathers could not believe that
this essential anxiliamr t .i.m..
Hon rightfully used, could be oth
erwise than a blessing. Capital.
In any form, may become a ty
rant, still It Is the handmaid of
' na enterprise,, when
Pronerlv cnntmii
The plan upon which thm r-
recommended by our pioneers was
. umu. mough perhaps not
witn mem. was quite nov
el. A land grant was asked for.
t!Ja.1d 10 -f conTeyed no faster
man the road progressed. There
were to be 20.000.000 shares, and
er PPcant for a single share
was to be supplied before a great
er number could issue to any one
Person. All share holders were to
participate equally In the control
ii.fc.r.Rnd proU of tne T0 " The
right to purchase It was to be re
served Ato the United States. To
commence with an assessment of
25 cenU per share was expected to
produce, according to the popula
t on of the United States it that
iK -km "?m f f '5.000.000. while
the public lands granted would be
enhanced in value to an amount
iJn ?xceedIn,f th,t of whole
iredJ"Lm- w,th th, ess
ment and the land grant, made as
tne work progressed, the
road was to be built.-
Under the territorial organiza
tion Oregon prospered so rapidly
that in 1859 congress t,-
with I " . " w " "-.
wr present boundaries, a
state government, and she was ac
cordingly admitted Into the union.
The population and wealth of the
state were now far advanced; the
country had risen from a terri
torial pupilage to an Independent
government. Enough had been
done to establish confidence and
security. Education had received
i proper attention, and
nrlinnla
were founded all over the Inhalf-
i:aoie portion of the state under
iue mosi iavorable auspices. In
every house. In every cabin, there
was to be found a reading person
or family. Cultivation of the soil
tLZS1 . of.the m,nd- Kred
the attention of our neonle a h.
sire for the one begets a thirst
ur e omer. m looking back
from our present standpoint we
can see nothing in the past to dis
courage us, but everything around
gives ns new hope and a k
preciatlon of the fact that we live
ii a country unsurpassed in her
wonderful agricultural advantag
es, and In her efforts to promote
the, cause or science and litera
ture, and to develop all the means
and appliances of our civilization.
For a moment let us look at the
present: We are reported to have
a white population of 86.929. and
we have 95.468 square miles of
area. We have 19.558 while male
population.- Of this number 13,-
24 8 are engaged In agriculture
and farming; 8603 manufactur
ing, mining, mechanical Indus
tries; 5522 In, professional and
personal services, and 2611 in
trade.- In some parts of the state
the population is more dense than
In others. This is the case In the
Willamette valley. Let us com
pare some portions of this valley
with older states. For instance.
Lane and Linn' counties together
have about the same area as Mas
sachusetts; and yet they have but
two persons to the square mile,
while Massachusetts has 186.84
persons to the square mile. Lane
and Linn counties together have
376,265 acres ot improved land;
Massachusetts has 1.736.22J. acres
more Improved land than there
Is in the whole state of Oregon,
which Is a third larger than all
New England. The two counties
In Oregon just mentioned, have
the largest number of acres ot Im
proved land of any in the state.
The value of farms in Massachu
setts Is fll6.43t.784; the value
of farms In Lane and Linn coun
ties is 86.129.865. while the. value
of all the farms In Oregon is $22.
352.989 not one-fifth jt the val
ue of those In Massachusetts.
The state of Connecticut is not
quite so large as Douglas county
in this state. Yet Douglas county
has a population of only 6154, or
1.25 persons to the square-mile,
while Connecticut has 113.15 per
sons to the square mile and an
aggregate population of ,537,4 54.
Douglas county has but 132.657
acres of Improved land. Connect
icut has 1.646.752 acres more
than all Oregon. . The value ot
farms in Douglas county is $1,
791.723; the value of farms in
Connecticut is $124,241,382.
Take eastern Oregon with its
rich grasses and unsurpassed in
fluences so beneficial to mankind
and animals. It has an area larg
er than the state of Michigan or
nw igr& Dr uuu ur u ucbui
or Iowa. Eastern Oregon has 57,
461 square miles of area but not
.25 of a person to the square mile;
while New York has 93 persona to
the square mile; Michigan 20.97
and Ohio 66.99.
The Willamette valley contains
16,000 square miles and has the
benefit ot at least 60.000 inhabi
tants, but It Is CAPABLE OF
SUSTAINING SEVERAL MIL
LIONS. Southern Oregon contains 19.
59 5 square miles and a population
over 14,000. In thrift, wealth and
climate it Is not excelled by any
L other portion of the states.
It insuires hope in us to know
that our state Is in the first stages
of Infancy In almost everything.
We have nearly 62,000.000 acres
of land. Take an old country for
example: England proper Is not
as .large as eastern Oregon, and
she sustains a population of 20.
000,000. Ireland. Scotland and
Wales are about three-fourths as
large as Oregon, and their united
population is about 19,000.000. It
may be said that "we must wait
It requires tyne to build up a coun
try." -Very, true; but those who
offer outlets to overcrowded com
munities should not consider time
in filling them up. Transortatioa
is all that Is needed. There are
nearly 79.000.000 acres or land in
Great Britain and Ireland.
One hundred and fifty persons
own half -the land of England:
thirty-four own half the land of
Ireland, and twelve own half the
land of Scotland. With their
population ot over 30,000,000.
60.000 persons own all the land
or England, Ireland. Scotland and
Wales. In Oregon the land can
be owned by the settler as It Is
in almost every case. It Is pro
cured at a price within the means
of almost every able-bodied man.
Every inducement to labor is op
en to those who will avail them
selves ot it. The man who tills
the soil here Is generally the lord
and proprietor ot it. He Is more
secure and contented in his pos
session than the sovereign of any
dynasty in Europe. Inducements
to Immigration should be offered.
with proper safeguards, by our
state. Our history shows that for
the last ten years our increase in
population has not been augment
ed from this source.
The year now about to close has
been one of great plenty to our
people. We are informed that the
sales of fish for the year will
amount to upwards of-one mil
lion dollars. The wheat crop of
1873 is estimated at from five to
seven million bushels. This is a
larger crop than was ever before
raised In Oregon. But who is do
ing all this work?
There are about 39.000 "school
children" between the ages of 4
and 20 drawing school money in
this state. There are about 13.
248 persons engaged In agricul
ture in Oregon, or about one
fourth of the number similarly oc
cupied In Californ'a. Our neigh
bor has 6.218.133 acres or Im
proved land in farms; Oregon has
but 1.116.290 acres. The value
of farming Implements, machin
ery, etc, in California Is $5,316.
000; in Oregon. $1,292,717. The
value of farms In California is
$141,240,028 or $118,887,039
more than In Oregon, the value of
farms in Oregon being $22,352.-
989.
Take the statement of cereals
from the census report of 1870.
and we have this result: Califor
nia has 47.863 inhabitants en
gaged in agriculture, who raised
during that year 17.303.139 bush
els of cereals of all kinds, or 362
bushels to every person so en
gaged, at an outlay or $146. 556.
718 Invested In farms, farming Im
plements and machinery, or the
sum of $3062 for each agricultur
ist. Whereas, in the state or Ore
gon there were engaged in that
business, during the same year.
13.24 8 persons, who produced
4.673.564 bushels of all kinds of
cereals, or 353 bushels ror every
person so engaged, at an outlay
or $23,646,706, cons'stlng In price
or farms. Implements and machin
ery or $1785 for eah Individual.
hlch shows that every fanner In
Oregon at an outlay of $1785
raised almost as many bushels of
cereals as did each California
farmer at a cost of $3012, an ad
vantage of nearly 50 per eett la
favor or Oregon. There la, fr
from indebtedness, not les tha
$75,000,000 worth of taiaiu
property in the state of Oregoa.
Legitimate assessments would t
above this figure. At present ta
returns are below it. With thess
Increasing facilities-Tor advancing
the interest of our state now fall?
at work, with the confidence that
our prosperity Inspires In us.' cos-
stantly reminding us of the im
portant trust in our bands,; aaj
with the belief which we rBjoy
that we have, passed over all
quicksands and dangers of these
turbulent waters of our beglaoig.
we are apt to furl our sails, seek
our ease and say "Float on. skis
of state, the current Is with th -
Indeed, the current seems to be -with
us now, but what of the Uda
All currents sooner or later meet
a tide that checks their moment
um, and with a few strokes of re
sistance at its flood, plays wits
tbem as with toys. I .
We feel thankful for wht
now enjoy. We are moving aloa
pleasantly, and all are eoateate
and 'happy. An anpreeedenteih
large harvest Is at our door tad
a liberal demand is made for U.
It is moving out with the eurreBL
and we find a moment for reflec.
tlon as it passes by. In this suia
there .are but three interests tUt
are really leading at this xlmt
they are agriculture, wool asi
mining. The two latter are iuort
particularly confined to earn
and southern Oregon. The saian
(or fish) and lumber traffic art
not to be overlooked in this cos
nect.'on. although we refer aor
especially now to Industries la tis
Interior of the state. The tcrini-
tural. wool and mining latererj
are subject to great fluetntUe&i,
ana we aepena very muen tor oe
cess upon what we eall "gooc
luck." Markets for surplis cere-"
als are liable to periods of dtsrc.
sion and fluctuation, and art
therefore more or less unreliable
What. then. Is the effect of U"
ebb and flood of our commercs! .
Are we not prospering with tbt
flood Veslly against us? The Coos'
of our business flow brings late
our harbors everything known la
our commerce, and it sweeps over
our marts with all the freshness
and expansive power of a fa
spring tide. When the waters recede,-
we are reminded of what his
appeared and passed away with
out being of any great benefit la
the development of the state. The
tide bears upon its swell this Pai
dora'a box from abroad, as It
floods and surges up to masy
shores, where the contents are dis
tributed and scattered all over the
land at a heavy cost to the pir
chaser. If we will look for a mo
ment we shall find that agricsV
ture. with all its advantages aai.
assurances of successful competi
tion In the world, pays for all this.
It Is the farmer at first! It Is tit
farmer at last. When he thrives
all around him prosper; but wkei
he fails, we declare In our dlsi
pointment that we can see no fie
ture for our country. . j
But Just now we feel as If exr
fortune was fixed, and we are os
the Inviting road to affluence ail
power. This in some sense but
be true; we should remember thtl
agriculture-Is our faithful i bee
of burden, and we are roadlag I
down with weights, which it nui
not be able to carry. One braack
of industry will not support a
state. It may dazzle the eyes sal
swell the purse, but its ellare
ment will be ot short duration. It
will not Insure permanent !
comes and fixed profits. There Is
no branch ot industry that Is not
subject to embarrassment aii
bankruptcy. The causes of dis
aster may be hidden in the eater
prise itself, in Its province, or mu
be lurking in .foreign market. Tie
great question la, -Can we live
bread alone?" When we export
our surplus cereals, and good pric
es are obtained tor them, the pro
ducer and the state are both bene
fitted; but when there is bo mar
ket ror that which Is not oeedei
at home, the state suffers, as veil
as every branch of Industry. Let
us hold fast to that which
now have, and turn our attention
to building up or auxiliaries ta
aid the state and Insure .her l'-
against disaster. The world is
about the same as it has beea for
ages, but men are not stationary;
they possess the migratory spirit
that led most of us to this U&i
of our adoption. Men are con
stantly looking up nw grata
lands and rich valleys la differ
ent parts ot the globe, aad with
cheap rrelghts and steam trans
portation, they will soon be com'
petitors In your markets. So ir
prosperous farmers of today B7
take their chances la the Jjstsr
and battle with new rivals ht
trsde. To meet these eontlBr"
cies and to place our internal !
fairs upon an Immovable foaad
tion, the farmer and the iBteresti
of the( state demand that -we
should manufacture for oar
selves more than we do. There
Is nothing that we need that eas
not be raised or manufactured la
Oregon. It Is a lamentable sal
humiliating fact that all the im
plements of farming, nearly all
the art'cles that we wear. tl
much that we consume, come to
us over thousands ot miles, from
the shops where they are made or
places where produced, stoppla
on the way at convenient poists
to be again sold and resold, tit
profits of which sales cobUbbc t
erect magnificently large aid
commodious wholesale houses sad
aid those who occupy them to be
come wealthy and IndependeaC
When they arrive In our cities ssd
upon our farms they are loaded
down with profits, and the Pr
chasers must carry the welrlt
Laborers are consumers: and t
more we have of them the better.
They work not only for them
selves, but for the producer, is
this relation .there Is a mutuality
or Interest which Is advaatageotf
to both. Farming ntenslls, ma
chinery, etc. can be manufaetsred
here at reduced rates from wast
they sell for now. Even If UeT
could not. it would be better te
have the work done in Oregon 1
(Continued oa psge 4)
0
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