J. W. Hawes

“ The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, circuit courts, county courts, and justices of the peace. The supreme court, which has appellate jurisdiction only of final decisions of the circuit courts, and holds one session annually at Salem, consists of five justices elected by districts for a term of six years, one or more retiring every two years. The number of justices and districts may be increased, but cannot exceed seven. A circuit court is held in each county at least twice a year by a justice of the supreme court. ”

“ On the plains, in the latitude of Denver, the fall of snow never exceeds 10 or 12 inches, and seldom remains longer than 24 hours. In the S. portion of the plains there is little snow, and the winters are very mild. There is no rainy season in Colorado. On the plains the rains generally fall in the spring and early summer, scarcely any falling in autumn or winter. In the mountains, rains are frequent in the summer and autumn, but rain storms of long duration are unknown. Heavy wind storms are common in all parts of the territory. ”

“ Considerable rain falls in spring, but in summer there is little rain and not much dew, though crops do not suffer from drought. In the Klamath valley, owing to its elevation (4,200 ft.) , frosts occur every night of the year, and snow lies from three to five months. Thunder, lightning, hail, and heavy winds are rare in Oregon. In most parts of the state cattle are wintered without shelter or prepared food, but loss is suffered in seasons of unusual severity. In western Oregon the most careful farmers erect sheds to protect their stock from cold rains, and furnish fodder for five or six weeks. ”

“ The Northwest and the Hudson Bay companies, both British associations, for a while separate and afterward united, engaged in trapping and trading, kept many trappers and traders in Oregon until a recent period, for it was only in 1860 that their trading post at Fort Vancouver on the Columbia, a little above the mouth of the Willamette, was abandoned. The Hudson Bay company employed many Canadians among its trappers, and these formed for a long time the main body of the white population. Most of them took Indian wives and were the fathers of numerous half-breed children. ”

“ The Great Basin extends into eastern Oregon from Nevada, stretching N. W. to the head waters of the Des Chutes river.—Oregon has a coast line on the Pacific of more than 300 m. Numerous capes and promontories are formed by spurs of the Coast mountains, the principal of which, commencing at the south, are Cape Orford or Blanco (the westernmost point of the state) , Cape Arago, Umpqua head, Cape Perpetua, Cape Foulweather, Cape Lookout, Tillamook head, and Point Adams, at the mouth of the Columbia. The harbors are neither large nor numerous, but are generally safe. ”

“ The supreme court is composed of a chief justice and two associates, one of whom holds a district court in each of the three judicial districts into which the territory is divided. The supreme and district courts have general jurisdiction in law and equity. The salary of each judge is $4,500. The principal executive and judicial officers are appointed for four years by the president of the United States. The territory is entitled to one delegate in congress. There is no territorial debt. In 1870 the county debts amounted to $678,829, for which bonds had been issued to the amount of $620,000 ”

“ The arid sands of the plains have been proved to be merely surface deposits, covering a soil of remarkable fertility when moistened. The necessary moisture is supplied by irrigating canals, which have already been constructed to a great extent. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats, and rye. The average yield of wheat is 25 bushels per acre. Except in the S. districts, the nights are rather cold for corn; but in the valleys of the Arkansas and tributaries 30 bushels per acre may be raised. Large crops of buckwheat and hay are produced ”

“ In the N. part of Colorado, near the E. base of the mountains, beds of tertiary coal have been found. The main range of mountains, particularly the gold and silver lodes, is composed of gneissic and granitic rocks. In the mountain valleys are immense deposits of modern drift. Bowlder drift is conspicuous in the mountains that wall in South park on the N. and N. W., while along the W. and N. sides appear lofty eruptive peaks, which seem to be old volcanoes. The mountains E. of the park have a gneissic and granitic nucleus. ”

“ S. of Middle park, on the E. side of the Park range, is South park, embracing within its rocky barriers about 2,200 sq. m., the greater portion of which is adapted to agriculture, and nearly all of which affords excellent pasture lands. The maximum elevation above the sea is 10,000 ft., while the average elevation is about 9,000 ft. The streams, which are supplied by melting snows from the surrounding mountains, are tributaries of the South Platte, and flow E. through the park to the plains. ”

“ Its highest elevation does not exceed 7,000 ft., which, with its southern location and mild climate, makes it well adapted to agriculture. The park is watered by the Rio Grande and its numerous tributaries, which flow in a southerly direction, and afford abundant water power. Other smaller parks, presenting similar features, are scattered through the mountains W. of the main range. Of this vast region little is known.—The river system of Colorado embraces the principal tributaries of the Rio Colorado, Rio Grande, Arkansas, Platte, and Smoky Hill and Republican forks of the Kansas. ”

“ The principal northern tributaries of the Arkansas are Fontaine qui Bout, which flows in a S. direction from the N. base of Pike's peak, near the foot of South park, joining the main river at Pueblo; Squirrel creek, the Little Sandy, and Big Sandy, flowing S. E. from the divide to the Arkansas. ”

“ The climate is believed to be beneficial to consumptives, particularly in eastern Oregon. The number of deaths according to the census of 1870 was 622, viz.: from general diseases, 304, including 85 from fevers, 34 from diphtheria, and 112 from consumption; diseases of the nervous system, 54; circulatory system, 19; respiratory system, 61, including 23 from croup and 30 from pneumonia; digestive system, 63; accidents and injuries, 55; the rest from various causes.—The soil in the valleys of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue rivers is very fertile. ”

“ There are also a few Indians roaming in the E. part of the territory. Colorado ranks fourth among the territories in point of population. The number of male citizens of the United States in 1870, 21 years old and over, was 15,515. Of the total population, 24,820 were males and 15,044 females; and 33,265 were native and 6,599 foreign born. Of the natives, 6,344 were born in the territory, 8,378 in New Mexico, 1,812 in Illinois, 809 in Indiana, 1,310 in Iowa, 1,704 in Missouri, 621 in Massachusetts, 2,778 in New York, 2,057 in Ohio, and 1,552 in Pennsylvania ”

“ With increasing depth the amount of galena and zinc blende gradually increases, until at a depth not exceeding 100 ft. they decidedly predominate. The principal silver-producing county is Clear Creek. The actual development of the prominent silver lodes was begun in 1867; the whole amount of ore mined up to April 1, 1869, is estimated at 1,100 tons, which yielded $250,000 in coin. The production of silver ore in Clear Creek county amounts to about 2,000 tons per annum. The estimated yield of silver, including shipments of ore, during 1870, was about $400,000. ”

“ The first person to organize a party to explore the mining district was W. G. Russell, a Georgian, who in 1858 found gold on Dry creek, about 7 m. S. of Denver. These discoveries were speedily known throughout the country, and about 400 persons had reached the mining region in the winter of 1858-'9. The first discovery of a gold-bearing lode was made by John H. Gregory, May 6, 1859, in what is now Gregory mining district, Gilpin county. The first act of the miners toward organizing a government was the erection of Arapahoe county, with Auraria as its county seat ”

“ In eastern Oregon timber is scarce, except along the streams and on the mountains. The Blue mountains are well wooded. The principal varieties here are poplar, cottonwood, aspen, birch, willow, &c., on the watercourses, and the larch, pine, fir, cedar, maple, &c., on the mountains. ”

“ Senators and representatives must be citizens of the United States, 21 years of age, and for one year residents of their respective districts or counties. A quorum consists of two thirds of each house, and a two-thirds vote is necessary to set aside the governor's veto. ”

“ All these rise into the region of perpetual snow, and all of them are extinct volcanoes. How long they have been extinct is not known, but the Indians have traditions of a time when Mt. Hood was an active volcano. Western Oregon, extending from the Cascade range to the Pacific ocean, embraces about a third of the state, and is divided by mountain chains into four districts differing somewhat from each other in soil, climate, and topography. The Coast mountains, running N. and S. at an average distance of 25 m. from the coast, vary from 1,000 to 4,000 ft. ”

“ The iron ore occurs, scattered over the surface, all the way from South Boulder to Coal creek. At a depth not exceeding 5 ft. masses of 1,000 lbs. have been found in the sand; and though no defined bed has yet been discovered, the great quantity of superficial bowlders indicates that such a deposit exists. The ore yields from 50 to 60 per cent. of iron. Salt springs occur in South park, where extensive works have been erected. Valuable soda springs exist near the base of Pike's peak, and in other portions of Colorado. ”

“ Vegetables grow to an enormous size. Apples, pears, plums, cherries, and grapes have been cultivated with great success; while it is not doubted that peaches, apricots, quinces, nectarines, &c., may be successfully raised. ”

“ The sides of the mountains below the timber lines and the foot hills are covered with forests of pine, larch, and aspen, which afford valuable timber and fuel.—The wild animals are the bear, couguar, wolf, buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, lynx, wildcat, badger, hare, fox, mink, pine marten, beaver, and prairie dog, the last resembling the fox squirrel. ”

“ A warm S. E. wind is not uncommon, before which the snow speedily disappears. In summer the heat occasionally reaches 100°, but owing to the dryness and rarity of the atmosphere it is not severely felt. ”

“ These valleys are clothed with luxuriant grasses and flowering plants of various species, and possess an extremely fertile soil. The hills are covered with dense forests of pine, abounding in game, such as the bear, elk, and deer. ”

“ The annual rainfall at Astoria is stated at 60 inches, and in eastern Oregon at from 15 to 20 inches. The climate is generally healthy, and there is no prevailing type of disease. A species of intermittent fever occurs in the low bottoms along some of the watercourses in western Oregon, but it is mild and readily yields to treatment. ”

“ Besides copper and iron pyrites, almost every lode contains a little zinc blende and galena; in some districts these minerals form a considerable part of the ore. Large beds of lignite, pronounced superior to any other found in the west, occur on the E. declivity of the mountains, in Boulder and Jefferson counties. The coal obtained resembles anthracite in appearance, but burns with a strong yellowish white flame, gives little soot, and from 2 to 3 per cent. of ashes of a reddish yellow color. It has been found in veins 14 ft. thick, of which 13 ft. are workable coal. ”

“ These grasses are not destroyed by frosts, but, becoming cured during the winter months, retain their nutritious qualities, and afford excellent pasturage at all seasons. Except the parks and valleys, the vast region W. of the central mountain range is not suitable for cultivation, but pine forests and excellent pasturage abound. ”

“ The university of Oregon was established by the legislature in 1872, and is under the control of a board of nine directors, six of whom are appointed by the governor. It receives from the state as an endowment the “university fund,” amounting to more than $50,000. Grounds have been selected and buildings erected near Eugene City, but the institution has not yet (1875) been opened.—According to the census of 1870, the number of libraries was 2,361, with 344,959 volumes, of which 2,195, with 273,427 volumes, were private. Those not private were classified as follows: 1 state, 3,578 volumes ”

“ Snow frequently falls to the depth of 12 inches in the valleys, but 6 inches is the usual depth. In the high mountainous region of Grant co. a much greater quantity falls. Ice is formed every winter, but commonly it does not exceed a few inches in thickness. ”

“ Of the 30,651 persons 10 years old and upward returned as engaged in all occupations, 13,248 were employed in agriculture, including 3,126 agricultural laborers and 9,758 farmers and planters; 6,090 in professional and personal services, including 162 clergymen, 830 domestic servants, 2,962 laborers, 194 lawyers, 206 physicians and surgeons, and 410 teachers ”

“ It is bounded N. by Washington territory, from which it is partly separated by the Columbia river; E. by Idaho, from which it is partly separated by the Snake river; S. by Nevada and California; and W. by the Pacific ocean. The state is divided into 23 counties, viz.: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coös, Curry, Douglas, Grant, Jackson, Josephine, Lake, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wasco, Washington, and Yamhill. The chief city and commercial metropolis is Portland (pop. in 1870, 8,295) , on the Willamette river, 12 m. ”