Oregon, one of the Pacific states of the American Union, is in 42°—46° N. lat. and 116° 40'—124° 45' W. long, and is bounded N. by Washington, E. by Idaho, and S. by California and Nevada. Area, 96,030 sq. m., or almost twice that of England. Oregon on the west is literally rock-bound by the Coast Range of mountains, having, however, numerous indentations which furnish good harbours for sea-going vessels. The Columbia River affords the largest and deepest entrance. Seventy miles east of the Coast Range is the Cascade Range, rising to a height of 6000 to 8000 feet, and at almost regular intervals surmounted by snow-capped peaks of nearly double that altitude. From the Cascade Range eastward to the Blue Mountains, about 70 miles, and farther on to the eastern boundary of the state, the surface is diversified by mountains and valleys, rolling plains, and table-lands. Here the soil and climate are suitable for agriculture and grazing. In Western Oregon is the Willamette valley, 130 miles long and 60 miles
Copyright 1891 in U.S.
by J. B. Lippincott
Company. wide, every foot of which is arable and fertile—adapted by soil and climate to grain and fruit. The valley is situated between the Coast Range and the Cascade Range of mountains. South of this are the Umpqua and Rogue River valleys, both of which produce large quantities of fruit.
The climate of Oregon is mild, in spite of its northerly situation, owing first to the oceanic current from Japan, which, starting with a temperature of 90°, is from 49° to 54° off the coast here. Moreover, the cold Arctic winds are warded off by the Cascade Range, and no blizzard can cross the Rocky Mountains. The range of temperature from summer to winter is small. On the coast the climate is mild and varies little, but there is fog in summer and excessive rain in winter; in the Willamette valley the summers are pleasant, the winters wet, and spring and autumn foggy in the mornings; the Umpqua valley has a delightful climate, with some snow in winter; and the same, with greater heat and cold, is true of the Rogue River valley, the lake region in the south-east, and Eastern Oregon, where there is a good deal of snow in winter. The average mean temperature is 50° F., the rainfall 36 inches—17 at Linkville, in the interior, and 59 at Astoria, on the coast.
The grain-crops of Oregon are wheat, oats, barley, rye, and maize, in this order. Flax-seed, hay, potatoes, tobacco, and hops (principally along the rivers Willamette and Mackenzie) are also raised. From three to four million pounds of butter and cheese are produced annually. Great quantities of fruit, both green and dried, are annually shipped from the state, especially from the western districts; but in Eastern Oregon, too, excellent fruit is produced, and, as the bunch-grass is fast disappearing, and the herds of cattle are diminishing, agricultural and horticultural pursuits are receiving more attention. The lands best suited for fruit-farming are mainly limited to the valleys and foot-hills; but these are of vast extent, and the extreme richness of the soil and the mildness of the climate make the state's productive powers almost inconceivably great. The demand abroad for Oregon fruits more than doubled annually from 1885 to 1890. The most successful fruits are the Italian prune, apples (Oregon is called 'the land of red apples'), pears, peaches, grapes, and cherries (the Royal Ann cherries grow too large for one bite). The wealth of Oregon in timber is remarkable. The Oregon Pacific Railroad, in crossing the Cascade Range, passes through a great timber belt extending for 90 continuous miles; and it is stated that careful examination shows in one locality enough timber on one square mile to supply for twenty years a mill cutting 150,000 feet a day.
Among the other industries of Oregon may be mentioned the catching and tinning of salmon (430,000 cases were shipped from the Columbia River in 1890), the rearing of sheep (Eastern Oregon produces large quantities of wool of good quality), and mining. The minerals of the state comprise coal (29,600 tons in 1885), iron ore, gold (14,965 ounces), copper, nickel, quicksilver, fire-clay, chrome, silver, manganese, zinc, lead, and platinum. Trade is facilitated by numerous lines of railway, and the navigable rivers have steamers running all the year. In 1891 there were three through lines connecting Oregon with the east and south, and another was in construction.
Under the title of Oregon was formerly included all the land between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean north of 42° N. lat. John Jacob Astor established Astoria (q.v.) in 1811; in 1813 it was sold to the North-western Fur Company, and it afterwards passed into the possession of the Hudson Bay Company. Great Britain's claim to the territory was based on Drake's discovery of the coast in 1579, Cook's visit to Juan de Fuca Strait in 1778, the explorations of Captain John Meares in 1788-89, and Vancouver's survey of the entire coast from 30° to 60° N. lat., and discovery and ascent of the Columbia River, in 1792. A treaty of joint occupation was agreed to between Britain and the United States in 1818, and endured until 1846. Settlement by the New Englanders began in 1832, and an Indian mission was planted at Salem by the Methodists in 1834. The Oregon question was a prominent feature of the presidential contest in 1844. In 1846 the dispute was compromised, the boundary line with British America being fixed at 49° N. lat. Oregon became a territory in 1848, and, with reduced limits, a state in 1859. It has thirty-one counties, and sends one representative to congress. The judges of the supreme court are elected by popular vote. The total value of property in 1890 was $115,000,000. The public school system consists of district schools (1693 organised districts in 1890, with 1499 school-houses and 2566 teachers) free to all between the ages of four and twenty, the state university at Eugene, the state agricultural college at Corvallis, and four normal schools, besides institutions for the blind, deaf and dumb, and orphans. There are also thirty-three private and denominational institutions. The principal cities are Portland (population, with its various suburbs, 75,000), Salem, the capital (4515), Astoria and Albany (7000), and Eugene (4000). Pop. of the state (1860) 52,464; (1880) 174,768; (1890) 313,767.