Evening star., 1900-09-29
OUTLOOK IN OREGON
Democrats Concede the States Vote
to Mckinley.
ORIENTAL TRADE HAS BEEN GOOD
People impatient of Talk Against
Expansion.
WELCOMED PROSPERITY
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

The democrats admit the loss of the state.
and the republicans are expecting heavier
vote for President Mckinley than was given
him in 1896. Having held her state and
congressional elections the only question of
interest in the political field is that of the
senatorship. Senator McBride's term ex-
pires the 4th of next March. and when the
legislature meets next winter 1t will either
re-elect Mcbride or else choose some one
else for the position Senator Mcbride is a
candidate for reelection. but is not the
strongest candidate in the field. Fl. w.
Corbett appears to be in the lead. though
ex-senator John Mitchell also desires to re-
turn to Washington.
Out of the total of the %. 600 votes given
the national tickets in 1896 President Nc
Kinley received plurality of 2.111. This
would make sit appear that Oregon was a
close state but the republicans have very
good ground for the belief that the republi-
can majority will be very much larger this
year in the generally prosperous condition
of the state and the apparent widespread
satisfaction which prevails under the pres
ent foreign policy of the national admins
tration There is general lack of interest
in politics. but this seems due more to a
belief that the results of the November cleo
ton are a foregone conclusion than to any
real Indifference to the issues at stake.
Industries That Are PrOsperinE.
The agricultural live stock and lumber
interests of Oregon are most prosperous.
and this is believed to be due more to ma
tional policies than to any chance of the
seasons. The people of Oregon are expan-
sionists and if the issue were in their
opinion in danger of being closely contested
they would soon become thoroughly aroused
and make a strong fight for what they con-
slider national policy of great benefit to
the entire Pacific coast.
The protection issue is very much alive
in Oregon on account of a heavy wool and
lumber industries. The sheep men four
years ago We're getting from TO gents
pound for their wool, and a very slow
market at that. they now getting ii
to Il cents. with ready sale, and The
price of sheep has risen proportionately
Situated close to the great forests of the
British-American coast the duty of -
thousand feet on lumber enables the Puget
SC und lumbermen to do business on bet
ter margin of profit than he would were
he not thus protected
The wheat crop this year has been excep-
tlonally good, and prices have advanced
over those which have prevailed for some
time past Eighteen hundred and nine-nine
wheat is selling for G3 cents bushel and
the wheat of the new crop is bringing 50
cents which is considered very good
price.
This increase in price is due to the greater
demands for export, which demand is be-
present aggressive foreign policy of the re-
publican party.
Cost of Raising Oregon Wheat.
There has been considerable discussion
among the Oregon farmers recently as to
the cost of raising a bushel of wheat in
this state. While all such estimates can
be only approximate, owing to varying
soils and conditions, they are interesting
as showing the difference in the cost of
operating farm on the Pacific coast as
compared with the cost of such operation
in the middle west. 1t may be said also
that this comparison will apply to nearly
every other industry, as well as that of
farming.
II has been estimated that an average
yield of wheat in Kansas costs the farmer
from - to 20 cents bushel to put it
the market The Oregon farmers estimate
that it costs them very little less than 40
cents a bushel to raise their wheat, and
that at the prices which prevail there Is
little or profit in the business. The
Oregon wheat raiser cannot send his pro-
duct east of the Rockies, for he meets
there the competition of the great wheat
fields of the middle west. after having paid
the heavy transit charges across the noun
tain divisions Of the transcontinental
roads. His only market is that afforded
by the export trade from the Pacific ports.
in addition to such local consumption
there is. AS consequence the price of
wheat on the Pacific coast Is never so high
as it is east of the mountains. and accord
ing to the statement of the Oregon farm
ers, it costs more to produce it.
In speaking of the necessities of the grain
interests of the Pacific coast s. Osborne,
one of the largest wheat raisers of the Pa
louse country. said today:
When the interstate commerce commits
sion met to inquire into the farmers com
plant against an eastern freight rate of $14
Il ton on wheat it was proved that grain.
even under the most favorable conditions
I'm for thap
Al cents bushel. The wheat raisers of va
rious districts having no chance to make a
comparison. gave these figures to the MEM
bers Of the commission and convinced them
that the farmers could not ship east so long
as the freight rate was $f4 ton.
With rate of 20 cents a bushel to Chi
cago or Duluth, which the Walla Walla
chamber of commerce asked of the North
Pacific. the farmers could sell at a
pront by receiving 10 cents per bushel in
either of those markets. With the present
rate of 80 cents per bushel to those points
and the cost of A. cents for raising the
grain 1t means 81 per bushel before a profit
can be realized
The Coast Is for Expansion.
The farmers as well as the merchants
who have profited by the increased business
with the orient during the past two years
are SLOW to stampede at the dangers of i'm
perialism as set forth by the democrats
Every city in Oregon has shown most re-
markable and satisfactory growth during
the past ten years. Portland has increased
her population over 80 per cent. and the
city mas since the last census changed
from crude settlement into a well-buiIt
ana substantial metropolis. Other princi-
pal cities in the state have prospered and
grown In almost equal proportion.
III would be difficult to imagine a more
Unpopular political program for the neonIe
OF the Puget Sound country than the ono
which Is being advocated by the democrats
1T, In their campaign In the eastern states.
The politicians are very chary of LAYING too
much stress upon the anti-expansion pIank
when they are campaigning in Washington
and Oregon. Regardless of whether a nolicv
of expansion and foreign assimila ton Is
mora. or not, IL has at least the Temporary
effect of stimulating every branch of trade
upon the Pacific coast of the United States
the natural point of debarkation for All the
oriental countries.
The coming and going of troops. the mr.
chasing of supplies, the absorption of ALI
surplus transport vessels, the furnishing of
outfits for hundreds of private adventures
and a general increase in the consumntion