The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1889-04-12
THE B. O. I. REPORT

Secretary Wallace Strdble; of
the board of immigration at Port
land made his annual report, and
lit shows good work done by this
Body for Oregon in the matter of
distributing and giving intorma-
ton to immigrants arriving in this
state. During the past two
months the number of visiting i'm
migrants at the board room was
l27, 7,450; of letters received, II, ,525;
of reduced rates of certificates is
sued. ,494; of pieces of literature
distributed, 1885 ,S20. He says
Portland has added not less than
$4,000 TO her resident population
during this time. and throughout
the Willamette valley the increase
has been very marked. A prom
inent citizen of Eugene City, S. p.
Sladden, states that not less than
100 new people have located in
that city and vicinity during the
year, and newcomers are constant
ly arriving. B. S. Cook, of the
Oregon Land Company, Salem,
states that fully $500 people have
been added to the permanent pop
ulation of the capital city during
ing the year. In Oregon City
there has been very large in
crease, so much so that groups of
two OF three families are living in
the same houses all over the town.
Not a vacant house is to be seen
in either Oregon City OF Canemah
som ,thing which has not been
known for years. Albany has in
creased her population over 1900,
and is predicting large increase
for the current year. In Ashland
an increase of over 500 is reported
and the city has made substantial
progress. Grants Pass and Rose
burg have had very healthy
growth. They are both, at this
time, preparing to make special
effort to advertise their advan-
tages. In Tillamook county the
increase has been phenomenal.
The vast undeveloped resources of
that section of our state embraced
in Clatsup, Columbia and Tllla-
nook counties are attracting much
attention from newcomers, and
new settlers are daily making 10
cations in those counties. On the
west side Of the Willamette there
has been a marked growth. notably
in the Chehalem valley, which has
made special effort to advertise
its resources. The citizens of In
dependence and Corvallis are pre-
pairing to set forth their advan-
tages in practical shape. and will
undoubtedly reap valuable results
in consequence.
From Eastern Oregon we have
hattering reports of substantial
progress. Many new towns have
been established and all the old
ones have felt the stimulus of inn
migration. Throughout all por-
tions of Washington territory very
marked advance has been made
all directions, and the activity at
present is very noticeable.
Until within the past few months
Washington has undoubtedly led
the state of Oregon in actual ar
rivals. The tide Of immigration
for 1889, however, has set in
strongly for this state. and we are
now decidedly in advance of our
prosperous neighbor in the num-
Der of new comers. Nor is this
advance merely "spurt." Con-
versation with shrewd observers
from all sections of the Union
elicits the information that Oregon
is now the section uppermost in
the minds of people thinking OF
moving. Railroad officials state
that the volume of inquiry regard
ing Oregon is very marked, and
indicates a vast tide of immigra-
Ition to our borners in the near flu
ture. Our own correspondence is
equally promising telling Of whole
communities who are preparing to
remove to this the most productive
and healthful of states.
| For the month of March, 1889,
the number of visiting immigrants
|calling at his board rooms was
'f2.74S representing including FAM
lilies 5,496. He claims that this
months word is the largest in the
history of the organization.