THE OREGON STATESMAN, SAIJtt!, OREGON.
FRIDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 18, 1921
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY
OF THE STATE OF. OREGON GIVEN BELOW
a boundary between the British! now spread Into new district like
and American territory west oflth valleys of nouthern Oregon.
Tracing I&ck the Beginnings Over a Hundred Years Ago The Louisiana Purchase, Lewis
and Clark Expedition, the Oregon Ques-tion, Settlement of Conflicting Claims, Hud
oVg Bay Company, American Pioneers, Saving at Old Champoeg of Oregon to the
Union, Provisional and Territorial Governments, Political Summary, Etc.
9
(The following- matter is re
flated from the OTegon Blue
Book of 191 7-1 I, prepared lin
ger the direction V of : Governor
Ba W. Olcott, then secretary of
tite Credit to the . authors is
given In the body of the matter) :
i Oreiton
Oregon, central ttate of Pa
cific group. Ilea between 42 and
44 degrees, 13 minutea. north
latitude.' and 116 degrees. 43
minutes, and 124 degrees. 30
minutes, west longitude.
Oregon Is bounded on the south
by California and Nevada, on the
east by Idaho, on the north by
Washington, and on the west by
the Pacific ocean.
The present area of Oregon is
16(99 suture miles, consider
ably more than 1000 square miles
being water sunace. jhb
bat 300 miles of coaet line, ex
clusive of indentations. The
width cast and west is about 350
miles, the length north and south
averaging approximately 275
'Oregon originally included
Washington and Idaho and parts
of Montana and Wyoming, having
an area of, 292.000 square miles.
Oregon was admitted into the
i:nian February 14, 1859. and
had at that time a population of
.hmit 3.000. For act of con
gress admitting , Oregon to the
jlnion. see Lord'a Oregon Laws.
r . '. . i ........ r. to. if (thla
volume i'"
volume, page 30). For act of the
legislative jassembly of Oregon ac
cepting proposals of congress In
set of adpaission to the Union,
see Lord's! Oregon Laws, volume
1, pages 128, 29, (this volume,
! 31).
For law of the United States
relating td Oregon, see Lord's
Oregon Laws, volume 1, pages
41 to 72. j .-.
significant sum of about $15,000,
000.00. The Lent and Clark Expedition
Thomas Jefferson was president
ot the United States when this
purchase was made, and to him
more than to any other man, ex
cept Napoleon, is due the fact that
Louisiana was added to the Unit
ed States. Jefferson bad long
been - interested in the country
wet ot the Allegheny mountains,
and as early as 1783, before the
treaty with Great Britain was rati
fied, he suggested to George Rog
ers Clark an exploring expedition
from the Mississippi river to the
Facific ocean. Jefferson had also
entered upon other plans which
promised to afford information
concerning the western half of
North' America. All of these
proved fruitless. Shortly before
the purchase of Louisiana, bow-
ever, he proposed to the United
States congress the fitting out. of
an expedition headed by army of
ficers who should traverse the line
of the Missouri river, find their
way to the heads of other rivers
flowing westward or southward.
and by exploring these discover
the most practicable route for
commerce to the Pacific ocean.
Captain Meriweather Lewis and
Captain William Clark were to be
at the head of this party when it
was organized in accordance with
Jefferson's suggestion. They set
out inthe spring of 1804, passed
ud the Missouri river to its
source, and crossing over to the
bead of the Columbia river, ex
plored it to its mouth, which they
reached on the 7th of Novem
ber, 1805. Louisiana had come
into the American union be
fore the expedition set out. and
the Lewis and Clark party were
able to bring back much valuable
Information about our new posses
sion.
The Oregon Question
Lewis and Clark's exploration
I of the Columbia aroused a
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF' interest In the Pacific northwest
Americana and Englishmen. This
was known as the Joint occupa
tlon agreement, and It waa to run
for a period of 10 years. At "that
time no one-thought seriously of
occupying the Oregon country ex
cept for the fur trade. But this
trade was so profitable that the
great fur companies, both English
and American, tried to get control
of It. Mr. Astor was first on the
ground with a plan for connecting
ithe trade of the Columbia valley
with the Mississippi by means of
a chain of posts. All furs secured
west of the Rockies were to be
carried to Astoria, also the furs
secured by traders along the coast
to the north and to the south of
the Columbia were to be as
sembled there. Thence his ships.!
would carry them to China and
the far east to be exchanged for
silks and tea and other valuable
goods for the markets of the At
lantic coast. Astor made a good
beginning, but his losses incident
to the war were very great and
when In 1818 Astoria was formal
ly restored to the United States.
he did not see fit to revive his
trade there.
The Northwest and Hudson Bay
'Companies
The Northwest company of Can
ada was on the ground when As-
tor's party retreated from the Co
lumbia, and in fact that company
had bought the furs and other
property of the Astor company
prior to the coming of the' English
warship which formally took pos
session of the post in the name
of the British king. The trade
which Astor had begun was there
fore carried on and extended by
the Northwest company. After a
few years, this company was ab
sorbed by or united with the old
er Hudson's Bay company, and in
1824, Doctor John McLoughlin.
the company's agent for the
entire trans-Rocky mountain coun-
itry, built Fort Vancouver on the
d-en Columbia nearly opposite the
month of the Willamette river as
OREGOX
"By Joseph Schafer, Department
of History,; university ui
gon. . j
Oregon Xdt a Part of the Original
: United States
The treaty outpace with Great
Britain, 1783J at the close of
tW Revolutionary war, secured
to the United j; States as their
western boundary the Mississippi
river, which was supposed to rise
at least as far north as the Lake
of the Woods, to which the north
ern I boundary was drawn from
Lake Superior. At that time an
west of the Aliegneme was a
wilderness, roamed over ty who
hearts, And occupied In part by
native Indians. Oniy two smau
district between the mountains
and the Great River were in pos
ion ot white people. These
were In what is now Kentucky,
Kr nanlel Boone. ana ms iej,-
low frontiersmen settled just De
fore the outbreak of the war, and
among the commercial people of
the United States. It also
strengthened the claim ot our na
tion to the territory drained by
the Columbia. But the beginning
of that claim lies farther back. for.
on the eleventh day of May. 1792,
Captain Robert Gray of Boston,
who was trading with the Indians
along the Pacific coast for furs,
sailed across the bar Into a great
river In about latitude 46 degrees,
and passed 30 miles up the
at ream. Gray's vessel was nameu
The Columbia." This name he
bestowed upon the beautiful river
which he was the first among
white men , to enter, so far as .is
known. Gray's discovery was first
published to the world by captain
Rnrr Vancouver, an English
navigator who had Deen Bern
to explore the coast, but who had
failed in his researches to find the
great river. A good many years
later It was made the basis ot a
claim to the Oregon territory on
the part of the United States.
Several European nations also
..Urt.i richts in this territory.
The claim of Spain was the oldest
nd
in-
is j
iot
ind
rbe f
on
ort
j
ded'
rell
Let
we
Lion
to
life-
IS
for
iry:
!rit
and
fer
rith ans
:om" our
mar
tttTO
i Is
af-nda-resl
we
our
here ,
can- 1
d In
and
i im
r all
and
le to
from ,
de or
pplng
olnta .
; tn
ue to
and
s and
:o be
i dent,
s and
oaded
i pur
elgbt. d the
letter,
tbera-
r. IB
nallty ;
.geous
stared
what I
I they
ter to
son t
in eastern1 Tennessee, where otn- for when Balboa, in Sep-
Tk V. Ca rnlin la and V 1 T- 1 .... 1 i J "Ttari.
guila bad made their homes about r ,a Pealt.- the waters of the south
tie same i time.: iinmat cl. r ciaimea pus-
vere lew settlers in tn unio f ... ... coa8ts in behalf
mint nr. but there were somei , enanuh sovereign. This
' . I SJ1. tU w ------ .
plans among New tngiana pe- gbadowy cialm was later strengtn-
pie to oceupiy ianu ened by the spanisn occupuu
Ohio river. The vast regions v America, Mexico, Lower
Mt f the Mississippi to me I iTnner California, ana
Rocky mountains and beyond to . sexplo"ring expeditions sent
iM.Pacuic, were prc !. - northward irom tamutui.
known except tor the tales of an I tbe nfty-eighth decree of north
tmiinnii i tranner or iraaer l j- nHnr to tne expiorawuu
whose wanderings led him rar De- of the nortn pacific coast ny ine
yond- the borders 01 civimawou TritlBh, Then came urei
.. I . j, 1.11... I " . i,m. Pun.
aaong tu remoter inaian "- ain. whose umou.
Tke-country Irom me l,,J- tain James cook, m .
...t.. 1 in. Vi ROCKY I ..nlnnt nni OI maUT uut-
is-
wootttilns- had once belonged to t, 8 ot tbe northwest coast, ai
v o.rlr . 1682 I w,..v- h. rPRultS of his d
ths treati French explorer. La c0veries. Cook was followed by
o,n. v.j' j -tttA Am.n h Vim-1 .!... VOinr xnlorers. who am
MlMipjIfrom the Illinois In small muCB to clear Pvthf.ff0I'Mm-
r ooats. and had taken tormai pos- ot tiie region buhu v. rr.v.
Uu Missississlppi and U Lastly. Russia, wnose
kp.-.v. i- nf Uuii r.i..r. had already passed
i c 1 .t. ! r.rh . t-..Tiatka to Alaska, was
tlaim, of ! course, extenaea "" inclined to ciaim . ,
m oi ise Missississiiipi 1 10 me "iu " .
crent of thm AiUirhonv mountains. c-..i:- th Confllctlnff Claim.
The Seven Years' war. which . ,.a Aar igi9. the United
broke nut htiwun Pnpland and I j c.in niird into a
' m-m n I r Skfl a mi kLSBaU
8 la 1754. and was conclud- . n aa t)
the headquarters for the western
trade.
Vancouver was thus, the me
tropolis ot a vast woodland em
pire. From its wharves went lorin
each soring the companies ot trad
ers and trappers, whose duty it
was to ascend the great river and
its branches in search of beaver
skins and Indian trade. The fleets
of batteaux returned to Vancouver
in the fall laden deep with furs
destined tor the oriental market,
Doctor McLoughlin was a type
ot benevolent despot who ruled
kindly but firmly over traders,
trappers, rivermen, Indians, and
settlers alike. His Influence over
the red men was slurprisingly
comnlete. Rival traders found
themselves wholly unable to dis
oute his sway. In trade matters
he was inflexible. Bnt as a man
In his dealings with strangers oi
every description, whether tracer
missionary, or colonist, ne was ai
wava kind, thoughtful and gener
ous. In fact, the early American
settlers In the Oregon country
long ago agreed to call him jtne
Father ot Oregon."
American Pioneers
The fur company rnled over!
Oregon tor about the space ot one
generation. Their business is at
best temporary; for when a coun
try is wanted for the maamg oi
farms and homes, the Indian trad
er and the trapper tlnd their oc
cupation gone. In Oregon, as
everywhere else in America, in-
real development or tne counu-7
began when the lur traaer was
famred to rive way to the farmer.
And though the Indian trade
nioneered the way for emula
tion." it was the frontier farmers
who now began to cross tne piains
and mountains year after year
with their trains ot wagons and
rattle, who were to be the real
bnildera ot our state, we mui
not forget, however, that these
pioneer farmers were in turn pre
MkApA or euided by missionaries
who were striving to carry the
light of Christianity to the be
nighted Indians of Oregon. Both
Protestants and Catholics planted
their missions in the Oregon coun
m and about some of these mis
sions, like the one established In
the Willamette valley in 1834 by
the Methodists under Reverend
the Rocky mountains the forty
ninth parallel of latitude. Tbe
British were not satisfied with
that boundary and later, on sev
eral occasions, dejnanded that tbe
Columbia river Itself be made tbe
Upundary from the ocean .o the
point where the forty-ninth paral
lel. , extended westward from tbe
crest of tbe Rocky mountains.
would touch the river. So firmly
rooted were the British govern
ment and people in this demand
tor the Columbia river boundary,
that it required the evidence ot an
unmistakable tendency among
Americans to take adverse posses
g.on of the country to convince the
British parliament and the pnblic
of the necessity of abandoning It.
The British cabinet, under Sir
Robert Peel, finally decided to of
fer the forty-ninth parallel ot lati
tude drawn to the sea, but run
ning south and west around the
south end ot Vancouver'a island
and through De Fuca's strait to
the ocean. On this basis the boun
dary question was settled in June.
1846, and Oregon became defi
nitely a part ot the United States
The Oregon Provisional Govern
ment
For many years there was no
civil government In Oregon other
than that exercised by tbe Hud
son's Bay company; some of these
men had the power ot justices un
der the laws ot Canada. When
Americans began coming to the
country, a different government
was soon demanded. In 1841. on
the death of a settler. Ewlng
Young, a first attempt at a pro
visional government was made by
tbe American settlers. Tbe chief
need felt was for a probate court
which could take care of the prop
erty ot the deceased. So these
American frontiersmen, schooled
to self-government in the western
states, met together and appoint
ed a "suDreme Judge with probate
powers." Two years later, on the
second day ot May. 1843, a more
complete government was organ
ised by the American part or tne
settlers In the Willamette valley.
The meeting at which this govern
ment was framed was held 'at
Chamnoeg. a place near the Wil
lamette river a few miles below
Salem. A full set of ofticers was
elected at this meeting and tbe
business of government set in op
eration under a constitution or
compact agreed to by the settlers
But the vote In favor oi an organ
lzatlon was extremely close. Fit
ty-two : persons, it Is said, were
counted In favor, while amy
French Canadian settlers opposea
It. The latter were under tne in
fluence of the Hudson's Bay com
ninr which was unwilling to tos
ter any movement that might tend
to tlx the hold oi tne Americana
nnnn the country,
Th miiowine year me atuasuu
Ry eomoany. seeing the need of
abme sort ot eliective government
withdrew its opposition ana now
tbe Canadian settlers jotnea xne
Americans in the Willamette val
ley In reorganizing their provl
sional government. A further re
organization occurred in the year
1S4S. At this time the officers
and members ot the Hudson-Bay
company themselves, headed by
Doctor John McLougnun. agreea
to come under the jurisdiction of
the government set up by the
American settlers to abide by
the laws, to pay taxes toward Its
support, and to seek the protec
tion of the courts established un
der the new constitution. To Mr.
Mr. Jesse Applegate. a pioneer ot
1843 and a man ot great personal
energy, intelligence and worth, be
longs the credit or eiiecimg uu
new organization ana oi cringing
the English company's leaders in
to it.
The Territory or Oregon
When in June. 1846, the treaty
with Great Britain gave Oregon
definitely to the United States, it
was supposed that a territorial
rnvernment would be at once
formed by congress, inis. now
r. waa not done for more than
two years. Meantime, tne provi
sional government established-by
the settlers themselves maintain
ed peace and order within the set
tlements, and finally was com
noiied to carry on a bloody war
ralnst the Cavuse Indians, who.
in November, 1847, perpetrated
the Whitman massacre.
The provisional government, in
short, remained In effect and "an
swered all the ends of a good gov
ernment" until March 3. 1849. A
bill creating the territory of Ore
gon was passed by congress on the
fourteenth of August. 1848. But
General Joseph Lane, who was ap
pointed by President Polk to be
the coast country both of Oregon
ana Washington. and to a
slight extent even the great in
terior country east of the Cas
cades. The Puet Sound country
became noted for lumbering.
niilli end shipping, also In time
for coal. Southern Oregon fur
nished rattle and other supplies
to the gold region.
Tito Indian Wars
The only serious rneck of the
general prosperity of the north
west, after the eold discovery.
arose from a series of bitter and
rriuie jnuian wars wnicn oc
curred between 1X53 and 1859.
The government, looking to the
prospective settlement of large
portions of the country, began
about 1K.',3. to extinguish the In
dian title by purchase from tbe
iriber. ho were induced to con-
THE MARION COUNTY COURT HOUSE
A FINE AND MONUMENTAL STRUCTURE
'It Reflects Great Credit Upon the Men Who Made up the County Court of that Day. Who
uenevea in liuiiaing lor me ruiure ana in joining ciauiy iu uiu.iy. w im
Wasting the People's Money on a Flimsy Structure The First Court House Paid for
Partly by Private Subscription. " .
The beautiful and magnificent'
structure that Is now the Marlon
couuty court house and has been
since the early seventies is not
tbe first Marlon county court
house. There was a wooden
court house on the rame site that
was moved away, just as there
was a wooden capitol that was
burned on the site of the present
capitol and the two present
The contractors were to have the
building moved by January 1.
MlZ. and the offices of the sher
iff and clerk re to be undis
turbed, and they were to have the
i-.se ot tbeir offices for two years
in a railroad accident la the east.
Tbe leader among the contract
ors and builders of the court
house was W. F. Bootbby. ably
assifted by Harry Stapleton. fath
er of Mrs. Jos. Baumgartner or
centrate their people upon limited buildings are nearly the same
areas called reservations. age.
The change of habitat, of mode
of life, the restriction of huntinz
and grating privileges In short,
the new conditions generally
caused th Indians much real suf
fering and called out a vast deal
of bitterness and revengeful hat
red. Occasions of nilsunderstand
standing with government agents
were abundant and real griev
ances were not rare. The result
was the formation of new Indian
confederacies, the pillaging and
murder of white men. and finally
war. From Rogue river to Pueet
Sound, and eastward to the
Rocky mountains, these struggles
ragea from year to year. The
government sent troops who in
the end performed valuable serv-
ce. but from beginning to end of
this sanguinary conflict the pio
neer rettlers and their stalwart
sons Do re the brunt in both at
tack and defense. And there were
many deeds of heroism, also, on
the part ot wives and mothers at
borne. In short, the Indian wars
of tbe Pacific northwest have all
tbe characteristics of the Indian
wars of New England, the middle
western states, or the south. They
constitute. , with tbe pioneering
epitopes, the heroic age of Ore
gon.
Opening of the Inland Empire.
Xo sooner were the Indian
troubles settled than a new ex
citement began in -the shape of
gold discoveries east of the Cas
cade ranee in the rerion over
which companies and battalions
had recently marched lne-t on
blood and victory. Miners return
ing from the Fraser river mines
found "color" In the sands of
Various streams and these signs
teing followed up it soon devel
oped that most of the streams
The Ok! Court House
A search of the county records,
assisted by County Clerk U. G.
Hover, disclo-es that Marion
county, on January 10. 18S2, bor
rowed $1100 from David Presley,
at the rate of 20 per cent per an
num interest, and that it borrow
ed $700 from Paul Darst. at 15
per cent interest on Jan. 6. 1853,
the money being used in tbe'eon
structlon of the first court house.
and that, in 1852. A. W. Fergu
son was authorized to collect cer
tain sums of money that bad
been subscribed by Individuals to
help pay for the building of tbe
first court house. Alto, that Fer
guson tc. Montgomery were the
contractors for the building of
that court house, and they gave
a bond to the county In the sum
of $18,000; though the amount
of the contract price does not
seem to be stated.
J. W. Grim, Jacob Conser and
Benjamin Walden were tbe coun
ty commissioners at that time.
and there was no county judge,
the commissioners attending to
probate and all other matters. E.
J. Harding was county clerk.
The building ot tbe old court
bouse bad been carried near
enough to completion on tbe 10th
of January, 1834. so that a con
tract was awarded to Wilie Chap
man to lath and plaster Its rooms,
st $1.4t a. square yard; other
bidders having failed to qualify.
There was then a new county
court, consisting of Robert Chll-
ders. John W Harrison and WII
liam Harpole. commissioners.
This old court house, accord
Ing to George P. Litchfield, who
lived in Salem during its dsys of
usefulness and is still a young..
hale and hearty resident here.
tbreafter. If necessary. There ap- Salem. The first large vnder-
pears no consideration, excepting I taking of Mr. uootboy naa oeen
the fcse of tbe building. C. X the construction of what Is now
Terry was then county Judge, and Waller hall at Willamette Unl-
A. It. Cosper and J. X. Matneny venlty. Alterwaras ne was one
were witnees to the contract. of the builders ot tbe capitol.
The old court bouse building then of the main building ot the
became a livery and feed stable, asylum for the Insane. Mr. Booth
occupied by A. J. Basey. still a by wss long a leading resident of
hale and active resident; tor that Salem, until his death few years
purpose, part of tbe time; aid ago. He owned the old States
It was used for other busine man building, occupied by this.,
purposes. and stood there paper for 40 years up to a few
throughout the seventies and the years ago; up to tbe time of re-
eighties, and. the writer believes. I moral to its own buildings, op
inio the late nineties, when it
was torn down to make room for
tetter buildings.
posits Hotel Maria.
When tbe eourt house was ded
icated. B. F. Bonham was circuit
judge. He had been a candidate
nlnit Tt P. Tint mA faa re-
On February C. 1872. bids wre I ,, ,,. ..... .. . ti-
received for the constn etion of Mr BolM gteppi atJd.. a' t
ihe present "urt bouse, and what
was called the bid of D. A. Miller.
W. F. Boothby and H. Myers, for
193.000, was accepted
was making more in private prac
tice than the salary then paid cir
cuit Judgea In Oregon. At the
next election, Mr. Boise waa eleet-
Wnen the contract came up to I . ... ... ' !, v.i.
. Ue1vwOWre K ? t? m thereafter nearly all the rest ot
wlih Booth k Stple;on. DaviJ I . ,,r-
A. Miller and H :. Myers, and
i ho following men signed the
his long life.
A. Bush, of the Ladd A Bush
$40,000 bond that was require: bank, largely financed the opera-.
David MeCul'y. J. . Moorcs
R. M. Wsde, A A. McCully. T.
McK Tatton. E. X. Cooke and
F. Waller.
"w aiuui cue J-VUC&irs I M AAIn. tt1lvf 1 .swla1 tli
had during the agest left their
golden deposits In bar and sand
Dank at many points In their
lower courses.
Svon-hundreds, then thousands.
outfitted with shovel, pan and
"pack" ot supplies, made their
way to the valleys of eastern Ore
gon, eastern Washington and Ida-
tin. T? irJl mlnaa wafa AfiAtiAil a1A
within th. nrH.ni kam... f court house to lot 4 in block 22
Montana, Wyoming, and hiCh Salem. the next block north and
np in British Columbia. Pack ww; jua wci ' -trains
from the Willamette valley. Clough undertaking parlors of
accustomed to go south to Call- th present day, and on the north
fornia. now turned east to supply 01 vouri aireei near ihsh
tne new trade. Steamboats were
gious and otherwise. Nearly
every function 1 was held at the
old court house by the. people
who then lived in Salem and the
country surrounding.
The Xevr Court Horn
In 1871. a contract was let to
John S. Hawkins and G. W. Law-
son for the removsl of the old
tlons of tbe court house construe-,
tion. It is related that at one .
time Mr. Boothby - became
alarmed over the finances, and
. . ... . . , . 1 .v.l lull ae IUIU ai. UUIU urn -m mm
At that time, and during the . v.. vr. n.v.
construction of the present court ' :"Vln 7
Judge, and Ai Coolidge and John tn ... ,v.ot fc
Glesv were the commissioners. 1 :"'V V. 7..Z 7Z
..f A n rVin waa rlark and I -
t , 11.11 .V.l
in tbos? dVysTnd. were not Jl"' 1?"
old in Oregon, and a direct 'ax " "v "l. V
was levied running through two - -
or three years, and there was a
cre-t deal of fault found on ac-1 The court bouse has IbeeU'
count of tbe high rate ot taxes for I crowded from time to time, aad
rach a fine building. I there have been various proposl-
A Monumental Work J lions tor extending the walls.
.1 .u..-- -.. . f ! But the conclusion has always "
fowdersol the bsnk of Coolidge been that this would mar ti. '
i Mcmalne at Silverton. John 7 wwrw.
Sleay wss one of the trust-es of improvements have beeninadw
ihe Aurora colony, and Judge C. from Urn. to time to Cfotor
X. Terry was an able and far see- room, without changing tha out- .
Ing man. They believed In build- ! p now-
& w 1 a mm wmmm S ai w wm Mm mt mtmmmm Va mm ar m - m m W
ing for the future and not wast- 1 : VV.
ill the money of the people un a lb- b a lid in g is . 1 - cro wd ed . No
temporary structure; ana tncy " " .
werrwlse enough, too. t Join when there will have .to be aa
beauty with utility. elevator system provided. In or-
The architects were Piper A r to use the upper floor U bet
Purton. of Portland. Mr. Piper ter advantage, and also a better
had been tbe architect of the heating system will eomsu- Aad.
Chemeketa hotel, now Hotel Mar- la due- time. too. no doubt tho
ion. In the building of which Jail will be taken from the .base
John a Wright, then a leading ment floor and ia these (way
Salem grocer and now eommis- tho present .hulldlnr will likely,
sary at the state hospital tor the serve for a great toaay years fot .
insane, was a moving spirit- Mr., the official homo cf Marios.
Piper was soon thereafter killed county.
placed on successive natural sec- 0f which Oregon had 6 7 2.7 5.
tlons of the Columbia rover, wag- Washington 1. HI. 990, and Ida
on roads were opened and wagon ho 325 59 4.
irmns tmpiojea 10 cneapen ue c-mw,a f rrtllilral HIutt
cost of transportation. Fine vel- Snmnr oFoma! HIMory
Icya near the mines were used for Tne territory 01 sningiou
farming and stock-raisin r. and was set oil from tne original ure-
soon with mining villages, trad- son In 1853. while Idaho terrl-
ing towns, wheat and cattle-rais- tory was creaieo irom irmr,
ing, dUtricts the so-called Inland formerly embraced in Oregon and
empire was wrested from savagery Washington In 1863. Oregon be-
and brought within tbe pale of came a state in tne union in 1 eo-
civlllzed life. Of course, great ruary. 1859. under a constltu-
areas were still unsettled, as they tlon adopted by a convention held
are today, but a firm beelnnine at Salem In August and Septem-
bad been made. ber. 1857. This constitution re-
Th An of rtailwav mained unchanged in any way un-
til the adoption in 1901 of th
.w ! . Arao"p. .J""' Initiative and referendum amend
win vast auu nrsi V i i u c v
cades, was railways to transport
aerliMiltnral nrvrnta In aaVuart
to connect the scattered settle- T
ment. Since then msny changes
have been adopted by popular
" ... tMM .tta.tia. A til
.1 .v.l uirii iuicic .
"""."""-mB development, within little more
wnoie region a n 01 . a.a r th. awalled
with the rest of the United State. I.TT" " f rftf.rnmit
.v- k.4'i- r uregon system 01 SuuBitui,
France
0
the Florida treaty
d by tbe treaty of Paris in 1 7 63. "Jt, ch Spain ceded to the unu
made vast changes In the owner- et-tes all her claims to the Pa
governor 01 me urejoa wiwwi
was unable to reach Oregon until
t- (.ii.in. tnrinr H arrived
- . ..... I LUIS ivuu"i"6 If o- -
Jason Lee. were gatnereo Bru-ljn8t in ume to proclaim the new
aiiv tmall settlements 01 Amen- ,..t.ii ,nrnmrn( the day be-
hip of tbe North American con
tinent. England was completely
treaty known
ed biaies aPUel
"5e roast norm 01 "
.4ie coav ,vi ime the
A9 Heerees. BY :
uccessfuU practically driving the ,tUed states was actively ciaim-
rench from. North America. ne - tne Oregon regon.
tecured possession of Canada and onnih - cession was thought to
fio ot the region once ciaimea tnen tne claim. nu. .
by Prance east of the Misslssls- ! a 24 abandoned all claim to the
.i , .i..i i B . . .. r j ABVTm&m. and
iV - f T . V .:" : territory Thls
" Hint ume ceaea tneir in- , minutes nonu
torv.tlf i.s.j.inni to w. nf coast more than
uuain. 1 nis mm rm m a ai v n as Kfiniii 1 . . . a a a an fiirua
-1. :r.,'," ,vir-rr. iz rr except
now cicar 01 the
those of oreai -".-" nH.i,
tlon ot thinea nntll the Revolu
tloniry wr closed. Then the ter
ritory east nf tli HflaeUaisftinoi
became the United States, as we
nave seen;
The Louisiana IurrIiaHO
-" t ana soaiu
as were those 01 --- -
let vefc dTscu'sslon of the con-
After the treaty of 1763. the tlictlng claims oi as
lame LouUlana. once applied to and the n,ieu the close of
territory between the Alle- eariy f"-V. j i. which the
rheiilaa ..4 n 1,1. t the war Ot la. uu ,. , the
applied exclusively to the ter- post at Astoria, e s uk
HtAaa. , .a. - ... . a J a a. AS araTTl UttD 1 . . 1
-r"i wesi oi tne Mississippi u of by a Brltisn naT
J 'west of the Rocky mountains, en P088""1??-he T treaty of peace
wrruory was nominally m iore. vxrrikumd States ciaimea
"nands of Spain, but it was lit- ot .wV reatoratlon ot As-
""iaa h tha inni. of that na- tne nsi l" . n.nr that
.. During the time that sa" j J?ll-viied Oregon question, des-
';,"J controlled tne government i iuc -- - w. the two countnea
Of Frinp- , tA a ei .ltlned to trOUDie v" . .
ort Uuisianna to France, for he Tor an entire ienerr aty 'was en
at iv.i f . .. . . ..it.A in 1819 ;
- -ii ume naa tome mouroi wi . tendon by
jolonitlng: the country. The trans- tered into at uon bottndary of
r was mad. in nLo. unn nr first, the normcm .
Aa a W mmr, m m . - .mm V Or IM I rJ a, w m
openlog of the year 1803 Na- Louisla na wa . Wooda west
"""OB. havlnr ahnnrinneA hia no-1 Irom ine mm . ,h. rtnclCI
"on ot planting colonies in Lonisi- ward to the ere forty.ninth
. andi becoming hard pressed mountains ins nd $ee0nd,
iuna! with which to carry on paraiiaiw---"- f .e RocKy
t.I.Wm' Prepared to sell tho the country fl was de
?rr and m April, 1803. the I mountains to the lac
-is van region passed to the iciarea.w eBt. 0t -botn
can farmers,
How Oregon Was Saved to the
United States
Tho, immigration of the pioneers
hrame important in 1842 when
one hundred and twenty Pns
came to Oregon witn
TirH.it a hn waa annointea oj uc
United States government sub-
agent for Indian auairswcaj
um. TTu-kv mountains. The ursi
buv . w V .
great immigration pernP
v. .oi nfnin came in 1843
under leaders like Jesse Apple-
gate, Peter H. uurneu. j. v.. v
mlth and others. This company
was followed in r
pany of nearly twice as large, and
this one by a still larger company
In 1845, so that the Willamette
valley, "the pioneer, land of
promise." was ny me iaai
nied by the American
w- . , ..tlM
settleiS. Some American
had even penetrated the forests
tha. Columbia as far as
IIV1IU . .
ruget Pound. This was me-
atlon when, atter a long Pr.fa'
discussion between Great Britain
and the Unltea &ias c -
govtnrment in the spring of 184
decided to investigate the condi
tions existing in the Oregon coun
try Itself. Their agents found the
Willamette valley already well
planted and also found beginnings
of rettlements near the present
site ot Olympia. In Washington.
The government became convinced
that tbe boundary question, whose
....inm.nt hait been deferred from
DCIllQUiVU a 0
time to time since the year 1818,
nar hfl mettled.
muii "
The United States was prepared
aa far back as 1818 to accept as
of Pacific railway history here
Bnt after a quarter century ot dis
cussion, the first transcontinental
one of the most completely dem
ocratic systems In vogue any
where In tbe world. Some of Its
CHUIUO, IBB HI l lltUKUBUUCIIWI ... , . v . l-lll. , 1 .
railway the Union. Pacific and feiu.r'8' 8,de f,rom n Lnl.li. LT
Central Pacific, was completed in nd !ef"'n.d"m: Ji 'J?
Petu's U Vhe dUlfoVmrScaTi- date, for office a strict corrupt
fornia but was of far less service practices taw. the recall, and the
tA tha northweat Railroad build- Virtual autonomy oi cuies.
THE CONSTITUTION-OF :
: OREGON. STANDS: UNIQUE
The 14th of February Marked tha -Aruurrsary of the Adop
tion of thl Compact Girfnjr the-People of this Coiamoa
weallh Their Code of Fun(lamenuriw.; --
terirtorial govemment the day be
fore Polk's administration ciosea
Kffects of the California Gold
Hush
Whn news of tho gold discov
ery in California reached Oregon.
In August. 1848. there were in
that territory about 13.000 peo
ple, mostly on farms In the Wil
lamette valley. A few were liv
ing along the shores of Puget
Sound, a tew otners aiong iur
Cowlitt and about Vancouver.
Several villages had started into
existence; among them ws ron
land at the head of navigation
on the lower Willamette, and Ore
gon City, the-oldest and. also the
largest place in Oregon, which
had a population ot perhaps 800
and was ttre capital ot the terri
tory. There was little trade or
business of any kind sate prim
itive farming and stock-raising.
Times were growing dull for tbe
want of markets. No one knew
exactly what destiny was In store
for the new community on tne
Pacific.
The rapid rise of California
cteated markets for grain, meat
and other food-stuffs, also tor
lumber. Oregonlans were among
the first to visit the gold fislds
and to bring home a supply of the
precious metal. Thus production
and ceneral commerce increased
hand in hand, farms were extend
ed and Improved, mills and saw
mills built; a spirit of hopeful
ness, enterprise and progress took
hold of the people.
Joseph Schafer.
University of Oregon, Eugene,
May, 1917.
Organization of Oregon Provi
sional Government
Br George H. Hlmes, Assistant
Secretary of the Oregon His
torical Society.
The genesis ot American politi
cal rorernment In the "Oregon
ern Pacific railway 1 begun some . trom MtrcQ 16
tew years before. The two road. w memorial, prepared
WIV.XleJd.!i.5w ! by J. L. Whlteomb and 35 others,
and Joined together In September. w f forwarded to Washington.
ivt .v presented to congress by Senator
t. th. ...t. but f.nuh.4 .U. tk. 'fUI. .Uned k,
scattered setlements of the wide- J V Iin A 1 8 40
;,.. mmA by Senator Linn In June. imu.
tliicauiun - mrtMraA ,. .m fate.
;th the Willamette valley a ' 'V..:. ' . r , . r...
r.A.. r-llfrtrnla roaita com-1 ri-oruirj
ing began in Oregon in 1868. but
under many handicaps. The Ore
gon Steam Navigation company
had portage roads at the Cascades
and Toe Dalles, and a short lino
was soon to be built from Walla
Walla to the boat landing at Wal
lulah. Ultimately a company or
ganised at Portland, but joined by
Mr. Henry Villard. completed the
road on the south side of the
Columbia river, and Mr. Villard
also gained control ot tbe North-
By Judge Peter II D'Arcy
Tbe 14th of February. 18S9.
marks an Important epoch in tho
annals of the history ot Oregon.
It was on thst date tha act of
congress admitting Oregon into
the Union was approved and rat
ified. From that time the con
stitution of our state went into
effect. .
On the third Monday la June.
1857. 60 delegate, were selected
by tbe voter, ot the state ot Ore
gon who constituted tha constl
tutional convention ot our state.
This body of men met at Salem
on the third Monday In August.
1857. It was not until the 18th
of September. 1857. that the con
stitutlon was adopted by those
delegates after careful considera
tion and debate
On tbe second Monday in No
vember. 1857. the action of tt
constitutional convention was rat
itied by a majority vote of the
voters of Oregon.
The constitutional convention
was composed of tha brainy and
intellectual person., ot pioneer
days. They were actuated by a
high and exalted Idea of doing
what was for tha best interest. u,Bed k-fela haTt Utn u, kefl.
OI tne people. oi .ine vregon r- u ,T,a.t0.u. which has as
rltory. They, vere ot exemplary k., onr. MOu m obtainlne- a
pleted fou? yean" UUrV.de the . lll'a
U IUI U. ! In rkvasyy Thaw s4aflth ftf
The ew Age thU American, leaving an estate.
The year 1883 may be taken as raised a new Question a serious
the beginning of the new age in nn no law existing under the
the Pacific northwest. In 1880 pr0Tlslons of which It could be
the old Oregon country occupied administered.
already at that time by tbe state n tu9 emergency, immediate
of Oregon, the territories of Wash- action was Imperative. Hence a
ington and Idaho, and a portion meeting was held on February 17.
of Montana bad a total popula- ign 4ni committee appointed
tion of only 2S2.500. In the next to suggeft the necessary officers
decade.lt gained an addition of who were chosen tbe following
465.000. From 1S90 to 1900. In a.v Amonr these waa a supreme
spite ot the bard times, the gsin jujge with probate powers. His
was 230.000. while betwe-n 1900 (ir,t official act was the appolnt
and 1910 it amounted to 1.146.- ment of an : administrator of
938 for tbe three states of Ore- vOUngs estate on April 15.
gon, Wellington and Idaho, leav- Four subsequent meetings were
icg out. of account western Mon- nel(j Dy the settlers during the
tana, which al?o belongs to the next tw0 years for the purpose ot
region.' The total population of perfecting the organization. Tha
the three states namea was. in MaBt 0f these meeting, was held
u.nitn iwinntatinn increased 1 1 ai o- in round numbers, two
more rapidly than before, and tt million, one hundred thousand.
(Continued on page 4)
standing In. . tbe community.
Looked upon a. the best selec
tion which could be made to place
before tbe voter, for their appro
val a document which would
mean much for the future ot our
state.
The task accomplished by them
speak, for Itself. It was a splen
did constitution and bore the Im
print of honest and sincere per
sons who were filled with an in
spiration to place before tbe peo
ple of Oregon for their approval
a constitution that would tend
to make our state second to none
ic the constellation of state
which composed our Union
When the galaxy ot states op
ened wide their queenly circle to
admit Oregon Into their midst it
a as not realized what wonderful
resources were to become a par)
of the United States.
. At the time of our admission
Into the Union the slavery ques
tion was one ot tha discordant
elements tn our body ponue. Tne
question aa to whether Oregon
should be a free or slave state
waa one of tho vital features
which was considered by our emi
nent men prior to our civil war.
Tho taking slogan ot Senator
Douglas, that of squatter-sover
elrnty or tbe right of each terri
tory or state to determine for It
self whetner'lt should be . freo
Territory -or atatt. was quit, pop
alar; Through- tho tar atghted
thought of the people ot Oregon
It came- Into tho Ualoa as a trea
state. Subsequent aventa Justi
fied tb broad view of tha matur
advocated by -ear citliena. . Pres-ktoot-
Liaceto had already stated
la bis-great debate with Senator
Douglas that this country could
aot exist half- .lava aad halt
free - Tke member, of our coa
stitutleaal convention aad a largo
majority ot- our voter, took tha
same-view. So our state came la
ta tha Ualoa free aad antram-
moled. Free from tho blighting
lafluf ate of tha .lava traffic
Of th. 14th of February of this
year It -waa- C2 year, alace the
ratification of our constitution by
can grass. -Not -one ot the 'dale-
gates who took part la the delib
eration, that led ap to its adop
tion, by the convention la living.
All Jiave passed away 'all ot hoa
or - The member, did a great
work for oar .tate. Outside ot
tha ratification ot the constitu
tion of the United State, nothing
equal to It has been handed dowst
to a free' aad Independent people.
For Cz y.ara the blessing, con-
permanent standing la the many
state composing our republic
I had a youthful acquaintance
Ith a part ot the members el
the constitutional convention. The
high estimate I formed In tay
boyhood days of their Intellectual
qualities and exalted character
has been strengthened aad con
firmed by observation of i hni
and tbeir work la later years.. .
There was a romance and.
spirit ot chivalry about the set
tlement of the Oregon country
which appealed to the people ot
the United States. So Oregon
was admitted to the Union with
the .Incere and hearty approval
of the Inhabitants ot different
parts-of our country. The Star
of Empire had. tn faet. by. the
large number of pioneer, who
emigrated to Oregon, -con p acted
tbe eaat with the -west. The east.
north, south and middle west
welcomed the new botn state .to .
their arm. aad Oregon waa made
a part ot the Union with best
wlsbe. of the different sections.
The straggle of the pioneers of
Oregon had it. real beginning at
the public meeting at Champoeg
on the second of May. 1143. to
secure the Oregon country for the
United Ststes and prevent Eog
laad from acquiring it. , Its cul-
.( Continued oa pare-4) -
i
I
Muvncaa: government for the in-ltr "v