C.-Statement of special deposits for the survey of public lands in Washington Territory, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. D.-Statement of descriptive lists sent to local land office for the fiscal year ending June 30, E.-Statement of appropriation for incidental expenses of office of surveyor general of Washington Territory for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. F.-Statement of the appropriation for salary of the surveyor general of Washington Territory and clerks in his office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. G.-Estimated amount required for the surveying service in Washington Territory for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879. For salary of three copying clerks. $480 180 10,584 4,740 45, 840 26,880 $88,704 $2,500 1,600 1,500 1,200 3,600 2,000 12, 400 101, 104 W. McMICKEN, For rent of office, fuel, lights, pay of messenger, and other incidental expenses. Total estimate SURVEYOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Olympia, Wash. T., August 7, 1877. Surveyor General of Washington Territory. O.-Report of the surveyor general of Oregon. OFFICE UNITED STATES SURVEYOR GENERAL, SIR: I have the honor herewith to submit in duplicate my annual report of this surveyng district for the year ending June 30, 1876, accompanied by tabular statements as ollows: A.-Statement showing the condition of contracts which were not closed at date of ast annual report. B.-Statement of contracts made for the survey of public lands in the district in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. C.-Statement of original plats of public surveys and copies transmitted since June 30, 1876, showing areas of public lands surveyed, &c. D.-Statement of original plats of mining claims and copies transmitted since June 30, 1876. E.-Statement of salaries paid surveyor general and the clerks of his office in fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. F.-Statement of condition of special deposits for survey of public lands in fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. G.-Statement of condition of the appropriation for incidental expense, &c., for fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. H.-Estimate of funds required for the surveying service in Oregon for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879. In Oregon, agriculture is and will continue to be the chief pursuit of her people. It is the dominant interest, favored by every natural condition. A fresh and prolific soil; a soft and genial climate, shading from season to season by mild gradations of temperature; the unfailing supply and even distribution of moisture, and the admirable diversity of woods, rivers, and plains, combine to distinguish this young State as the Acadia of the thrifty husbandman-a land rich in all the good gifts of the garden and field. Beautiful and industrious homes, civilization's first temples, will cluster thickly here, and the golden sheaf of Ceres, not inaptly quartered as a symbol on the shield of the State, will lie at every door. Wheat is the principal crop grown, the yield being enormous and the grain plump and heavy, often weighing from 65 to 69 pounds to the measured bushel. Good soil produces from 25 to 45 bushels per acre, and no failure of the wheat crop has been known since the settlement of the country. Chinch-bugs, grasshoppers, rust, and mildews have never yet ravaged the fields of the Oregon farmer, or clouded the prospects of a bounteons harvest. In the year 1870-'71, there were shipped from Portland and Astoria, Oreg., to Europe, 189,892 centals of wheat, of the value of $379,688. In the year 1875-76, there were shipped from these ports to the same destination sixty-four cargoes, embracing 1,739,231 centals of wheat and 89,529 barrels of flour; value, $3,606.129. From August, 1876, to January, 1877, there were exported to Europe 59 cargoes, being 1,275,303 centals of wheat aud 103,437 barrels of flour; value, $2,817,720. Large amounts were shipped to other ports, as follows: To China, in 1875-'76, 11,573 barrels of flour; valne, $45,351. To British Columbia, in 1875-76, 16,841 barrels of flour; value, $83,845. To Sandwich Islands, 03 barrels of flour; value, $5,876. To San Francisco, from July 1, 1875, to June 30, 1976, 59,870 barrels of flour and 239,075 centals of wheat.. To Puget Sound and Alaska, in 1875-76, 62,152 barrels of flour and 13,112 centals of wheat. The figures representing the wheat and flour shipped directly to Europe for the period from August, 1876, to January, 1877, do not, it must be remembered, include the entire products of that year; as large quantities were shipped to China, the islands, San Francisco, and northern ports; besides considerable quantities were housed in view of an expected rise in prices. These flattering results were attained with little exertion and a very limited assistance of the scientific method of farming. In concluding this branch of the subject, it may be well to state that the magnificent specimens of Oregon wheat at the Centennial Exposition attracted universal attention, and secured to the State the award of several important medals and diplomas. Oats rank next in importance to wheat. They yield prolifically, and of the finest quality. The standard weight is 36 pounds per bushel, and from fifty to eighty bushels are produced to the acre. Besides supplying the home demand, large quantities are shipped abroad. Barley and rye produce abundantly, as indeed do all the cereals. The grasses, both wild and cultivated, grow abundantly. Timothy grass is the staple for hay; and on suitable ground an average of three tons is cut to the acre. Flax is destined to become one of the most important products of Western Oregon; the soil and climate of this section of the State being eminently suitable to the growth of the valuable plant. It was formerly cultivated entirely for the seed, some of which was manufactured into oil and cake, and the remainder exported. The peculiar excellence of the fiber having attracted the attention of enterprising persons, shipments of the same were made to New York and the United Kingdom, as an ex eriment, with the happiest result. The lint is of superior strength, fineness, length, color, and gloss. Large orders have already been received from the East and from Europe; and the culture of the higher qualities of fibrous flax will hereafter be pursued in Oregon with every prospect of a generous reward. Hops do finely here, and are being extensively cultivated. Superior tonic properties are attributed to the local article. The yield is from 1,300 to 2,900 pounds to the acre. Vegetables, the finest in the world, are produced abundantly in the rich, loamy soil of Western Oregon. Potatoes, onions, and cabbage, and, in fact, all the staple products of the garden, thrive equally well; and for size, texture, and flavor are not anywhere excelled. From one hundred and fifty to three hundred bushels of potatoes are gathered from one acre of land, and some beaver dam farms along the Columbia and Lower Willamette Rivers have produced 1,200 bushels of onions to the acre. Neither potato bugs nor potato disease have ever appeared. Fruits, great and small, are grown in magnificent profusion in the valleys and along the foot hills of the mountains. For apples, pears, plums, prunes, and cherries, this State will contest the palm with any State in the Union. Oregon fruits are everywhere at a premium, on account of size, delicacy of pulp, and richness of flavor. The trees are healthy, grow vigorously, and bear early and most profusely. Plums and prunes are being cultivated for drying purposes, under the Plummer and Aldon processes, and the business has proven to be highly remunerative. A farm near Portland sold from one orchard of 34 acres $2,200 worth of plums and prunes to one of the local fruit drying establishments; and this case is but a sample of many. The smaller fruits, strawberries, raspberries, currants, and gooseberries, of a delicious quality, are abundantly produced. Wild fruits are also plentiful. Oregon dried fruits are extensively shipped to San Francisco, New York, China, Japan, South America, Australia, and other ports. HERDS AND FLOCKS. The mild, moist climate and almost continually green pasturage of Oregon favor the business of stock raising in a high degree. Vast herds of cattle and sheep graze upon bunch grass plains of the great region east of the Cascade Mountains, the winters ordinarily being so warm that it is unnecessary to feed. It is a very profitable business now, and when proper railroad connections with the great cattle markets East shall be secured, cattle raising will be a source of great wealth to the State. No State in the Union excels Oregon for natural adaptation to sheep raising. The wool from here has a high reputation in Eastern markets, and is noted for the length, fineness, and silky softness of its fiber. The breed of sheep are being rapidly improved by importation of the best blood. The wool clip of Oregon in 1876 was 3,150,000 pounds. Dairies, as might be expected from the pastoral advantages of the country, are successfully carried on. Oregon butter and cheese have gained an enviable reputation wherever they have become known, and as yet but little attention has been given to their manufacture. The everliving pasturage of the river vales and mountain ranges give an assurance of success to dairymen. There is a constant home demand, and the surplus products of the dairy are exported to various Pacific ports. COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. The commercial independence of Oregon is an achievement of the recent past. For long years this State served a bitter and harassing vassalage to California, drawing its supplies from San Francisco, and shipped thither all its products, which were exported either to the Eastern States or foreign countries under the label of the Golden State. This is all changed now, and Oregon is be coming favorably known in the commercial ports of the world. We ship wheat, flour, dried fruits, salmon, and beef directly to England; flour and salmon to China and Sandwich Islands; lumber to South America and Australia, and get in return mercantile wares from those countries. In 1871-'72 only twelve vessels were loaded for England; in 1875-76, sixty-five vessels. The number of foreign charters is, therefore, rapidly augmenting. But our commercial relations with the world will not be fully established until the waters of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers become connected by transcontinental railroads with the great ports of the Atlantic side. With reference to the subject of railroad connection, I will say it is generally supposed that the languid pulse of rivalry is quickening for conclusive action, and that some action will be taken at the meeting of next Congress which will insure the speedy attainment of a result so long desired. Passing from the purely commercial to the industrial interests of Oregon, a rapid and most encouraging progress is to be noted. The salmon fisheries on the Columbia River, though of recent establishment, employ a large capital and return heavy profits. same as all corporations or individuals would do if owning such property. I can see no propriety or wisdom in selling such lands at uniform rates, nor of allowing the choice portions to be selected under the pre-emption act for the benefit of a third party. COAL. Since my last report much has been done toward developing this important commodity in this Territory, and to bring it into market. Railroads have been built to all three of the mines east and south of Seattle; and about thirty miles of railroad is nearly completed to the Puyallup mines east of Tacoma. Coal of a very superior quality is being discovered all along the foot-hills of the Cascade Mountains, and in great abundance, which will soon add much to the wealth of our Territory. IMMIGRATION. Since my last annual report, and up to the time of the breaking out of the late Nez Percé war in Western Idaho, the number of immigrants which were coming into the eastern portion of this Territory was unprecedented, exceeding by far any former period in the history of this Territory. The slight check which this panic produced is already about overcome, as there are but few who fear any trouble from the Indians within our own borders, and most of the settlers are already returning to their homes. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. J. A. WILLIAMSON, W. MCMICKEN, Surveyor General Washington Territory Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C. |