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and Curry counties. The population, according to the late census, is 1,024, viz: males, 637: females, 387. Number of voters, 313. Acres of land under cultivation, 950. Value of assessable property in the county, $200,000. County seat, Empire City.

DOUGLAS COUNTY contains a population of about 4,000, viz: males, 2,250; females, 1,750. Number of voters, 1,139. Number of acres of land under cultivation, 21,404. Value of assessable property, $1,331,208. County seat, Roseburg.

GRANT COUNTY contains a population of 2,250, viz: males, 2,000; females, 250. Number of voters, 1,300. Acres of land under cultivation, 5,000. Value of assessable property, $295,000. County seat, Canyon City.

JACKSON COUNTY is situate in the southern portion of the State, and contains within its boundaries rich gold mines, which give employment to a large number of its citizens. The population of the county is 2,955, viz: males, 1,755; females, 1,200. Number of voters, 1,253. Acres of land under cultivation, 13,901. Value of assessable property, $1,298,465. County seat, Jacksonville.

JOSEPHINE COUNTY is situate in the southern portion of Oregon, between Jackson and Curry counties, and contains a population of about 2,000. The assessable property in the county is estimated at $300,000. County seat, Kerbyville.

LANE COUNTY is situate in the central portion of the State, extending from the Pacific ocean to the Cascade range. The population of this county is 5,527, viz: males, 3,077; females, 2,450. Number of legal voters, 1,318. Acres of land under cultivation, 30,683. Value of assessable property, $3,000,000. County seat, Eugene City.

LINN COUNTY is situate north of Lane, and contains a population of 7,709, being an increase of 937 since 1866. In 1850 the population of this county was only 994. Linn county contains an area of 877 square miles, or 561,200 acres. females, 3,474. Voters, 2,250. Acres of land under cultivation, 49,405. Value of assessable property, $2,500,000. During 1865 a splendid brick court-house was erected at Albany, Number of males in the county, 4,235; the county seat, at a cost of $31,000. The post offices in this county are Albany, Peoria, Lebanon, Scio, Brownsville, Pine, and Harrisburg.

MARION COUNTY contains a population of about 9,000. County seat, Salem. MULTNOMAH COUNTY is situate on the banks of the Willamette river, in the northern portion of the State, and is the wealthiest county in Oregon. It contains a population of 7,000, viz: males, 4,020; females, 2,980. Number of voters, 1,723. Males under 21, 1,540. Acres of land under cultivation, 4,051. The total value of assessable property is $1,517,291. Since 1865 the population has increased 1,086. Portland, the county seat, is the principal city in the State. During the past year a new court-house has been erected at a cost of $100,000. Numerous brick buildings and dwelling-houses have also been constructed, and the city wears an aspect of general prosperity.

POLK COUNTY contains a population of 4,993, viz: males, 2,788; females, 2,205. Number of voters, 1,125. Acres of land under cultivation, 90,127. Value of assessable property in the county, $1,033,179. County seat, Dallas.

TILIAMOOK COUNTY contains a population of about 300.

UNION COUNTY is situate east of the Cascade range of mountains, and contains a population of about 2,000. Number of voters, 705. County seat, Le Grande.

UMATILLA COUNTY contains a population of 1,805, viz: males, 1,049: females, 756. Number of voters, 797. Acres of land under cultivation, 5,770. Value of assessable property, $887,148.

WASCO COUNTY contains a population of 1,898, viz: males, ber of voters, 604. Value of assessable property, $1,771,420. WASHINGTON COUNTY contains a population of 3,491, viz: Number of voters, 824, being an increase of 120 since 1865. tion, 14,224. County seat, Hillsboro'.

YAMHILL COUNTY contains a population of 4,018, viz:

1,092: females, 806. Num-
County seat, Dalles.
males, 1,903; females, 1,578.
Acres of land under cultiva-

males, 2,200; females, 1,818.

Number of voters, 1,082. Acres of land under cultivation, 26,343. Value of assessable property, $1,000,000. County seat, Lafayette.

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NAVIGABLE RIVERS.*-The Columbia, Willamette, Snake river, and Pen d'Oreille or Clark's Fork are the four principal navigable rivers, to which may be added the names of rivers navigated for short distances during the season of high water, as follows: Cowlitz river, emptying into the Columbia; Yamhill, Tualitin, and Santiam, emptying into the Willamette; and Clearwater, emptying into the Snake river. All these rivers have been, and are now being, successfully navigated by steamers.

The Columbia is the principal river, and is obstructed at different points by falls and rapids of such a character as to prevent its continued navigation. This great river is divided into four navigable sections. The first is from its mouth

to the Cascades, a distance of 160 miles. As far up as the mouth of the Willamette it is a broad, deep river, navigable at all seasons by the largest vessels that cross the bar at its mouth. The obstruction to navigation at the Cascades is of such a character as to make a portage of six miles necessary. This portage is now made by means of a railroad stocked with excellent locomotives and cars. The second section of the Columbia is from Cascades to Dalles, a distance of 50 miles, through the Cascade range of mountains. Here is another obstruction to navigation, known as the Great Dalles of the Columbia. This makes a second portage necessary, and is at present accomplished by means of 14 miles of railway, equal in character to the road at the Cascades. The third section of the Columbia reaches from the Dalles (or Celilo) to Priest's rapids, a distance of 185 miles. From Priest's rapids to Fort Colville, a distance of about 100 miles, the river is so frequently obstructed with rapids that the navigation has never been attempted. Beyond Fort Colville, for a distance of 250 miles into British Columbia, this great river is navigable, and is now being navigated by an American steamer of about 100 tons capacity.

Snake river empties into the Columbia about 12 miles north of old Fort Walla

I am indebted to Mr. J. C. Ainsworth, president of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, for the data furnished on this subject. It was prepared by Mr. Ainsworth in answer to questions in writing submitted by me during a visit to Portland in August, 1867.-J. R. B.

Females 18 and
upward.

Females under 18

and over 10.

Females under 10.

Total population.

Walla, and is navigable as high up as Lewiston, in Idaho, a distance of 160 miles. From this point, in ascending Snake river, you go almost due south, and for an additional distance of 150 miles little or nothing is known of the river, except that it passes through a chain of high mountains, and is so obstructed with rapids and falls as to make navigation impossible; but from above this chain of mountains, continuing in a southerly direction, the river is navigable a distance of 150 miles. A fine steamer of 200 tons capacity is now on this section of the river, and has succeeded in reaching a point within 30 miles of the Great Salmon Falls. By the use of this boat and the navigation of Salt Lake (which is said to be practicable) the land travel from Great Salt Lake City to Portland in Oregon would be reduced to about 400 miles.

Pen d'Oreille river, or Clark's Fork of the Columbia, is navigable from foot of Pen d'Oreille lake to mouth of Jako, a distance of about 225 miles. Three fine steamers are now running from foot of the lake to Thompson's Falls, a distance of about 150 miles. Two short portages, of less than seven miles in all, are made to connect these boats. One more boat, above Thompson's Falls, will enable the traveller to reach a point within 125 miles of Fort Benton, on the Missouri.

The distance from the main Columbia to Pen d'Oreille lake is 160 miles, over a good wagon road. Thus the navigable waters of the Columbia and Missouri rivers are only separated by 360 miles of land travel, which can be reduced, by adding a fourth boat on Clark's Fork, to 285 miles.

The Willamette river is navigable from its mouth to Eugene city, a distance of about 200 miles. The only obstruction to the navigation of this river is a forty-foot fall at Oregon City, making a portage of one mile necessary.

There are, in all, some 30 river steamers navigating the waters above named, with an average carrying capacity of about 125 tons each, and employed as follows, to wit: semi-weekly from Portland to Astoria; tri-weekly from Portland to Monticello; daily from Portland to Dalles; tri-weekly from Dalles to Wallula; semi-weekly from Wallula to Lewiston; once a week from Fort Colville to La Porte, in British Columbia; daily from foot of Pen d'Oreille lake to Cabinett, on Clark's Fork; once a week from Cabinett to Thompson's Falls; daily from Portland to Fort Vancouver; daily from Portland to Oregon City; semiweekly from Oregon City to Corvallis; once a week from Oregon City to Eugene; tri-weekly from Oregon City to Yamhill river. In addition to these regular routes there are several small steamers and propellers that run as business offers. The amount of freight and number of passengers carried on the different routes named is very difficult to ascertain, but from the secretary of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company I have obtained a statement of freight and passengers transported on the Columbia river from 1861 to 1864, inclusive:

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The freight thus shipped was all up freight, and intended as supplies for military posts east of the Cascades and the different mining camps of Idaho, Washington, and eastern Oregon. As late as 1860 the principal business on the Columbia river was the transportation of troops and supplies for the then Indian country cast of the Cascades.

The mineral developments made at a subsequent date in that vast section of country, extending from latitude 42° to 56° north, and from the Cascade range to the Bitter Root and Rocky mountains, have been the means of inducing permanent settlements in several of the rich agricultural districts that lie in different parts of this country; the result of which is that the military are now supplied with grain, flour, bacon, &c., at a less cost, than was formerly paid for

transportation alone, and the miner is supplied at rates that encourage him to prospect the country and thus develop its treasures.

During the last two years the down freight on the Columbia has largely increased. During the month of June of the present year Walla-Walla valley alone shipped over 500 tons of flour for San Francisco and New York markets, retaining a surplus estimated at 20,000 barrels. To this must be added the new crop now being harvested, and variously estimated at from 200,000 to 300,000 bushels. Grande Ronde valley, situated at the foot of the Blue mountains on the east, has a large surplus-perhaps as much as Walla-Walla. Powder river and Boise valleys are producing large supplies. There are many other valleys in this section, rich in agricultural wealth, that only await the enterprising emigrant, to offer him a luxuriant and happy home.

The banks of the Columbia river, from its mouth as far up as the Dalles, are thickly wooded, principally with fir, oak, cottonwood, and pine, and maple and ash are not uncommon and can be had in limited quantities. From Dalles to Priest's rapids, and from the mouth of Snake river to Lewiston, the banks and adjacent country are entirely destitute of timber. The vast and sparsely populated country through which these rivers flow, east of the Cascade range, is covered with a luxuriant "bunch grass." Stock raisers are appropriating a portion of this immense pasture, and are yearly accumulating fortunes by raising cattle and sheep, for which they find a ready and profitable market in the different mining camps of Idaho, Montana, Washington, eastern Oregon, and British Columbia.

From the 1st of March to the 15th of July, of this year, there were shipped on steamboats from Portland to Dalles 12,191 head of cattle and horses, 6,283 head of sheep, and 1,594 head of hogs. There has doubtless been an equal number driven across the Cascade mountains during the months of July and August, all intended for feeding, accumulating, and marketing as indicated.

The whole country may be said to be mineral. Gold in paying quantities is annually taken from the banks of the Columbia river as low down as Umatilla. On Snake river the banks for miles below Lewiston are profitably worked by Chinamen. This extensive mineral section, embraced within the limits beforenamed, though adding considerable amounts annually to the treasure of the world, has scarcely been prospected. The work done to develop the mineral wealth amounts to little more than surface explorations.

The Pen d'Oreille river runs through a magnificent grazing, agricultural, and timbered country, almost entirely uninhabited.

The Willamette river drains the beautiful valley of that name. This valley is about 200 miles long and from 20 to 30 miles wide, and sustains a population of about 60,000, with ample room and resources for a million. It is rich in grain-growing and grazing lands, and contains extensive deposits of iron ore.* Coal and copper are also found, but as yet little developed.

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PORTLAND. The principal town on the Willamette river is Portland, situate on the west bank about 12 miles from its mouth. The location is excellent, and the city presents an appearance of thrift and prosperity indicative of the steady progress of the State. Many of the public buildings would be creditable to the best cities of the east of equal population. The new court-house, completed in 1866, the buildings of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, and other public and private edifices, are among the neatest and most substantial specimens of architecture on the Pacific slope.

Population.-Another evidence of the prosperity of Portland, says Mr. McCormick in his valuable directory, may be found in the annually increasing population of the city, which has increased in a ratio almost equal to any city in the Union. In 1863 the population of Portland was 4,057. In 1864 it amounted

* See article on miscellaneous minerals of Pacific coast.

to 5,819; in 1865 it was estimated at 6,068. In 1866 it increased to 6,508, according to a census taken especially by canvassers for this work. The following table shows the population according to the several classifications:

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Floating population, estimated from hotel registers, &c., &c....

Total......

2,017

1, 104

1,330

1, 108

82

43

208

116

500

6,508

Being an increase of 440 inhabitants during the year just closed. These figures do not exhibit a very rapid growth, but they denote a steady progress, which must prove not only interesting but even satisfactory to the well-wishers

of Portland.

The present population of Portland is estimated at 8,000, and a rapid increase is expected during the ensuing year, owing to the reduced rates of passage from the east, and the recent gratifying progress in the development of the iron, coal, and agricultural interests of the State.

Assessable property.—Mr. McCormick says:

The assessable property in Portland is valued at $4,200,000. Taxes levied and collected during 1866, $400,000. Of this amount $91,000 was collected for State, county, school, and road purposes; $150,000 was collected by the officers of the United States for federal purposes, and $159,000 (including licenses and fines) was collected by the city of Portland. Of this amount $75,000 was expended for street improvements, and $84,000 for general and special purposes. The salaries and fees of city officers during 1866 amounted to $15,000. The expense of city surveys, $3.700. The cost of boarding city prisoners, $950. Salary of the city attorney, $1,000. Expense of the recorder's court and city police, $6,000. The amount expended in the improvement of the Willamette river last year exceeded $30,000. Of this amount $20,000 was raised by loan, and $10,862 obtained by special tax. The expense of lighting the city with gas was $3,000, and for furnishing the engine house and city offices with water, $600. The city printing during the year just closed cost $700. From the foregoing figures a crude idea may be gathered of the approximate expenses of the sev eral departments of the municipal government of Portland.

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Onions, 1,325 sacks, at $1 per sack

Sirup, 185 barrels, at $8 per barrel

Wool, 1,671 bales, at $40 per bale

Pitch, 292 barrels, at $6 per barrel..

Varnish, 124 packages, at $10 per package

Dried apples, 2,603 packages, at $10 per package

Flour, 29,815 barrels, at $5 per barrel..

Salmon, 2,564 packages, at $3 50 per package

Staves and headings, 59,203, average

Shooks, 14,972, at 40 cents per shook

Value of specified merchandise, produce, &c...

Value of gold dust, bars, &c

$1,440 68, 260

17,630

70,016

7,011

5,300

1,480

66,840

1,752

1,240

26,030

149,075

21,794

15,000

1,989

455, 457

8,070, 600

The foregoing tables, although necessarily very incomplete, exhibit the gratifying fact that the export trade of Portland is greatly on the increase, the above amount being $1,120,533 in excess of 1865.

The next place of interest, ascending the Willamette, is Oswego, eight miles from Portland. Here is located the first iron furnace on the Pacific coast.

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