East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-05-23
OREGON'S POPULATION
INCREASES 262,343
PEOPLE OF STATE
WILL NUMBER e7o,a4s
State Has Made Great Advances, Ac-
cording to Census-Figures Assure
Another Congressman-Cities Grow
ing Rapidly-Unatilla Has Gained
1000.

The census enumeration of the state
of Oregon, so far as it can be con-
firmed by officers of the census bu-
reau, will show population of 675,-
S79, says the Sunday Oregonian. The
net gain to the state will be 262,S43.
While official figures are not OBJ
tainable. comparison of the totals
for each county, as gathered during
the progress of the work, the votes
cast for judges of the supreme court
since the census of 1900, and the vote
on congressman, warrants the belief
that the Oregonian's figures are ap-
proximately correct.
An interesting feature of the result
pertains to the total number of con-
gressmen which will be awarded to
the state, and the possibility that
Multnomah county will be declared a
separate congressional district.
One Congressman to Be Gained.
Representation in the present con-
gress is on a basis of one member
for each $4,000. Congress is likely
to be increased by the addition of 20
members on total population Of co.
100000 in the United States. On that
ratio representation would be on a
basis of one for each 215,000 people
oregon would hen gain at least one
member.
In both congressional districts the
work of the field enumerators is still
In progress and will probably not be
concluded prior to June 1. At that
time all Of the remaining records will
be boxed and shipped to Washington
for tabulation. Estimates furnished
from Director Durand Of the census
bureau, indicate that official figures
as the result of the contest will not be
available before October.
Drifts Still to Cities.
immigration to Oregon appears to
have held close to the lines of rail-
ways and water routes, as it did prior
to 1890. During the 10 years preced-
ing that date. 95.s32 people came to
make their homes In Oregon, and Of
the total population 1S3,642 lived in
the ia incorporated towns. Census
supervisors have found their work
in the cities and towns during the
present enumeration.
Wtuciy SCdttcTcQ SelllelneI1tS In the
interior counties of central, eastern
and southern Oregon have consumed
much time in efforts to reach each
homesteader, but the net results to
the total population have been rela-
lively small.
Since 1905 Oregon has steadily
gained on the total of homebuilders
seeking locations in Malheur, Harvey,
Lake, klamath, Crook Wheeler,
Grant and Wallowa counties following
the old trails and stage roads into the
fertile valleys which are soon to be-
come intense rivals of Willamette
productiveness. Without railroad
transportation and unable to market
the grains and hoof products of their
farms, the pioneers Of that section
have remained without neighbors un-
til within short period Of time.
With an east and west line Of rail-
road under construction by the Hills,
and running from Ontario to a juno
ton with the Deschutes road at Bend,
an exodus from the east to the unde-
pire is in full tide.
Some Counties Double.
Union, Umatilla and wallowa coun-
ty wheat lands have steadily merged
into imense tracts, owned by sin
gle individual or corporation and
while the production Of cereals and
livestock has steadily climbed, the
number of emigrants have steadily
balanced the total Of immigration ex-
In, tha YriOoina1 citiac
La Grande. in Union county. has
more than doubled the 2991 popula-
ton allowed on the count of 1890.
Baker City. the chief city Of Baker
county will probably show a small
gain, while the county will not more
than hold its own, Ten years ago
Baker county was booming because
of the new mineral fields then at
tracing attention, her mining camps
carrying a large fluctuation popula-
ton. Today the mining camps are on
a steady producing basis. where they
are working at all, and the "drifters"
of the boom days are gone. Baker
county has conteracted that shortage
with a substantial growth among the
ranchers and in the farming country
Taken entirely from the territory OF
wasco county. Hood River will show
a large population. but without pos
sibility Of comparison. Wasco coun-
! ty, deprived of the 5000 gobbled uI
| by the new county, will show clear
gain over the figures Of ten years
ago had it's territory remained intact
Gain Made in Four Years.
Practically the entire gain made Sy
| the state has been secured within the
past four years Beginning at Ash
land on the south. Jackson county
Josephine Douglas, Lane, Benton
Linn and Marion located in the ricf
valleys Of the Umpqua, Rogue and
Willamette rivers have awakened
large interest in horticulture and
| farming
| West coast counties have waited II
a large measure the railroad devel
opment necessary for reaching thei
harbors and handling dairy products
but clear gain in population has beei
| experienced. Clatsop. Tillamook, Lin
coin, Curry and Coos show an increas
-