1939: Oregon

Area and Population.

The central state of the Pacific group, Oregon has an area of 95,607 sq. mi. The census of 1930 gives a population of 953,786, ranking it 34th among the states. The population density is 9.8 persons per sq. mi., as compared with 40.5 for the United States. The native-born white population comprises 87.2 per cent, and all whites (native and foreign born) 98.2 per cent of the whole population. Foreign-born whites make up 11.1 per cent of the population. Those of foreign or mixed parentage number 211,580 or 21.1 per cent of the total. The leading foreign countries represented in order of numbers are Canada, Germany, Sweden, England, Norway, Russia, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Scotland and Denmark. Other races include Japanese, 4,958; Indians, 4,776; Negroes, 2,234; Chinese, 2,075; Filipinos, 1,066.

Oregon is peculiar in that its one large city, Portland (301,815), with its metropolitan area, holds more than one third of the people of the state. Next in rank come the capital city, Salem (26,266); Eugene (18,901); Klamath Falls (16,093); Medford (11,007); Astoria (10,349). The census of 1940 will doubtless show increases in all cases, and may change the order of rank.

Education.

The public school census of October, 1938, showed a total of 270,396 persons of school age in the state. The enrollment in June, 1939, was 137,156 in elementary schools, and 60,261 in high schools. The total enrollment in the institutions comprising the Oregon State System of Higher Education (the University of Oregon at Eugene, the Oregon State College at Corvallis, and the three Teachers' Colleges at Monmouth, Ashland and LaGrande) increased from 10,192 during the academic year 1937-38, to 11,022 during the academic year 1938-39.

Mineral Products.

The total value of Oregon's leading metals, which include chiefly gold, with smaller amounts of silver, copper, lead, and zinc, rose in 1938 from the 1937 figure of $2,005,218 to $2,935,053. The increase was almost wholly due to developments in gold mining where production was expanded by 55 per cent to 81,729 oz. with a value of $2,860,515, compared with 52,662 oz. valued at $1,843,170 in the preceding year.

Preliminary figures for the total value of Oregon's metals in 1939 point to an all-time high since mining was first started there in 1852, the sum being $3,268,134, an increase of 11 per cent over 1938. This included production of 91,100 oz. of gold (value, $2,860,515), more than in any year since 1916.

Economic Conditions.

Reliable surveys of economic conditions throughout the state reveal progress in recovery, in Oregon, either actually or relatively, during the year 1939. As compared with other far western states, and with the national average, Oregon showed greater progress in volume of manufacture, agricultural and other production, wholesale and retail sales, and in amount of gross and net earnings of the people. For instance, there was a continuance of encouraging conditions in the lumber industry, which during 1938 for the first time led all the states with a production of 3,790,896,000 board feet. The peak figure for lumber production in Oregon was 4,784,009,000 board feet in 1929, and the low point during the depression was 1,603,892,000 board feet in 1932. Farm land values showed a 13.9 per cent recovery from the 1933 low, or a 77.4 per cent approach to the 1929 high. The spring salmon output on the Columbia River enjoyed an increase of 26 per cent the preceding year.

Finance.

State and local revenues for 1938 showed a slight decrease, as compared with the year 1937. On the other hand, the bonded indebtedness of the state on July 1, 1939, was $40,418,085, whereas it stood at $44,394,935 on the corresponding date in 1938. The debt of Oregon cities was likewise decreased from $54,683,324 in 1938 to $51,240,270 in 1939.

Legislative Matters.

During its sixty-six-day session the fortieth Oregon Legislative Assembly made biennial appropriations from the general fund totalling $17,278,989.46, as compared, with $17,845,135.60 in 1937. These figures do not include amounts available for governmental activities maintained by fees or contributions or sums appropriated from liquor revenues for relief purposes. The total amount appropriated by the state for relief from all sources, from the creation of the state relief committee in 1933 to May 10, 1939, was $16,466,036.45. Important social legislation enacted included the creation of a Public Welfare Commission to supervise all relief and assistance agencies; the revision of the unemployment compensation law to conform with Federal standards; the reorganization of the parole system and the expansion of the functions of the Parole Board; the repeal of the so-called 'pauper's oath' for applicants for old-age assistance; and amendments to the laws relating to the regulation of liquor sales. Minor changes were made in the income tax laws. Legislation affecting education included a non-compulsory school district reorganization law facilitating the consolidation of school districts; an amendment permitting the local adoption of text-books under certain conditions; an increase of the legal minimum for teachers' salaries from $75.00 to $85.00 a month; the change of the official names of the three Oregon Normal Schools to Oregon Colleges of Education; and provision for the election of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction on a non-partisan ballot.

Events of the Year.

The utilization of the power generated by the Bonneville Dam was a topic of widespread general interest in Oregon during 1939. Mr. J. D. Ross, the first administrator of the Bonneville project died in February. After an interval Mr. Paul J. Raver was appointed to fill the vacancy, and assumed his duties in September. The creation of public utility districts for the purpose of securing and using Bonneville power was a hotly debated topic in several localities preceding special elections on the subject. A few districts were established in consequence of favorable votes, although in Lane County the proposal was defeated. Several additional elections were in prospect at the close of the year.

A new building to house the Oregon State Library at Salem was dedicated and occupied in February, 1939. The building is of marble and harmonizes with the new state Capitol which was completed in 1938.

State Officers.

Governor, Charles A. Sprague; Secretary of State, Earl Snell; Treasurer, Walter E. Pearson; Attorney General, J. H. Van Winkle; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Rex Putnam; Labor Commissioner, C. H. Gram.

United States Senators.

Charles L. McNary, Rufus J. Holman.