East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-12-05
RURAL POPULATION
OF OREGON GROWING
MAKES POSSIBLE ANOTHER
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
Wasco and Lane Counties Show Great
est Increase--JaclSson County Also
Makes Big Gain-Eastern Oregon
Growing.

With a total population April Is,
1910, OF 672,765, Oregon will have
shown a remarkable growth, and when
the bill is introduced in Congress as
a result of the announcement of the
population of the United States, will
provide for another representative in
congress. Representation in the pres
ent House is upon basis of one Rep
resentative for each 225, 900 popula-
ton or major fraction thereof. 1t Is
probable that the ratio will be in
creased somewhat by the bill, but in
no case is 1t believed that Oregon wgl
be deprived of additional representa-
ton.
Comparison of the figures yesterday
announced indicate that Wasco and
Lane counties have approximately
tied in the number of new settlers
added during the decade, more than
5000 of the people once Of Wasco
county having been segregated in the
formation of Hood River county. Both
counties are in the heart of the belt
where the rosy-cheeked apple is su-
preme, and where farming has been
brought to a high state of develop
ment. Jackson county, with an in
crease of 1900, is in the same class,
the magic of Medford and its hust-
ling commercial organization having
played an important part in the grand
total which is credited to the county.
Coos Conqucrs Difficulties.
Among those old timers who are
familiar with the geography OF the
OF 10 W ha n a
ships which have been imposed by
the development of isolated regions,
the greatest award for progress was
freely offered last night to Coos coun-
ty.
Virtually isolated under the present
arrangement of the oregon map, her
territory not reached by trunk lines
and her people wholly dependent up
on the Port of Marshfield and Coos
Bay, 1900 have been induced to be-
come pioneers and to aid in the de-
velopment of the timber and dairying
industries of the coast.
While the western half of the state
as divided by the Cascades, is con-
ceded to have made the greatest pro-
gress numerically, the figures given
out by Census Director Durand, un-
erringly point TO the rush for homes
that has begun east of the mountains
Crook county is still without a rail-
road but the fact that the Deschutes
road and the oregon Trunk are head
ed for the great dry-farming and
stock districts of the state, in area
larger than Ohio, have turned the tide
OF immigration that way. In the last
two years Crook county has not only
made up what 1t had lost by the NOV
ing out OF disheartened settlers, but
shows balance of 5400 on the right
side of the account.
Klamath county goes Cook a little
better in numerical increase, largely
due to the fact that the railroad i:
now at the county seat, and to the
reclamation project which the govern
ment has undertaken.
Malhcur Still Growing.
Malheur county shows an increase
of 4400 during the past ten years, but
it is safe to say, according to Dennis
Brogan, that the entire gain has been
made in the past two years. With the
opening of the Willow creek irriga-
ton project, the establishment of the
town of Brogan, and the purchase of
the Willamette Valley and Cascade
Mountain Wagon road and land grant
by friends of the Hill railroad inter-
ests. settlers have begun to flock in
to the country. Perhaps no other one
circumstance has given greater impet-
US to the settlement of Central and
Southeastern oregon than the organi-
zation of the oregon & Western Col
onization company.
In Eastern oregon n substantial gain
Is shown. Baker county shows n
gain of $500 farmers and stockgrow-
ers. In Umatilla county the tendency
of the past five years has been to
consolidate wheat ranches and today
1t is possible to drive 80 miles with
out seeing more than one inhabited
house Former tenants of the land
went to Alberta, Canada but have re-
turned in such numbers and have been
accompanied by so many friends that
Umatilla shows a gain of 2250.
Grant county, despite the large in
crease of livestock and farming in
dustries, is credited with deficit, the
loss being charged because of lack
OF interest in mining in the vicinity OF
Canyon City. The placers of that dis
trict have been gold producers since
1850 but like those of the klondike
they have been worsted by the nozzle
of the giant hydraulics of late years