1941: Oregon

Area and Population.

The central state of the Pacific group, Oregon has an area of 96,981 sq. mi., including 631 sq. mi. of inland water surface, according to remeasurements of the United States undertaken for the 16th census in 1940. It ranks ninth in size in the United States. The census of 1940 gave the state a population of 1,089,684, an increase of 14.2 per cent over the figure for 1930. The population density is slightly less than 11.3 persons per square mile. The native-born white population makes up nearly 90 per cent of the total, and the whites (native and foreign-born) are more than 98 per cent of the whole population. The small proportion of 'other races' include Japanese, Indians, Negroes, Chinese, and Filipinos. The leading foreign countries represented, in order of numbers, are Canada, Germany, Sweden, England, Norway, Russia, and Italy.

Oregon has only one large city, Portland (305,394), in which, with its metropolitan area, dwell more than one third of the people of the state. Next in order come: the capital city, Salem (30,908), Eugene (20,838), Klamath Falls (16,497), Medford (11,281), Astoria (10,389), and Bend (10,021).

Education.

Public education in Oregon held its own and made some advance during 1941, in spite of, and possibly because of, the expansion of defense industries, with a corresponding increase of workers and their families. The school census showed a total of 265,500 persons of school age in the state. The enrollment in June 1941, was 144,792 in elementary schools, or an increase of 9,500 over the previous year; and 61,923 in standard high schools, or a decrease of about 800. The total number of standard high schools was 258, and the average per capita cost of maintaining standard high schools for the year ending June 1941, was $124.75, an increase of nearly $11.00, due in part to increases in the salaries of teachers. The total number of public-school teachers was approximately 8,000.

The total enrollment in the 6 institutions comprising the Oregon State System of Higher Education, for the academic year 1940-41, was 11,478, or a decrease of only 35 as compared with the previous year. Near the close of the year the State Board of Higher Education took action restoring to the University of Oregon the right to offer advanced undergraduate and graduate work in science, instruction which was discontinued after the reorganization of the educational system in 1932.

Industry and Business.

In general, business and industry in Oregon showed a marked improvement during the year 1941. Retail sales in nearly all lines showed increased volume during the year. River cargo passing the locks of the Bonneville Dam increased by nearly 50,000 tons during the first six months of the year. Oregon exports for the first quarter of the year were 47 per cent greater than for the corresponding period in 1940, and for the entire year foreign exports out of Portland amounted to $26,877,032, as compared with $20,758,608 in 1940. New construction in Portland was $14,029,640 in 1941, or an increase of nearly 37 per cent over 1940, and there was a corresponding upward trend in other cities. Portland banks ended the year with an all-time high in bank clearings — $2,508,723,490.13, well ahead of the previous high record in 1926. Lumber production was greatly stimulated by the requirements of national defense and the industry enjoyed increased profits, although thrown into confusion for a time by priority rules.

Agriculture.

Agricultural crops were the most abundant in years, and farm mortgage indebtedness showed a steady decrease. Farm values per acre were indexed at 85, as compared with 72 in 1933.

Mineral Products.

The year 1940 brought increases in the state's production of precious metals, amounting to 21 per cent in the case of gold, with a total of 113,402 oz. valued at $3,969,070, and to 108 per cent for silver, with 219,112 oz. valued at $155,813. Mercury production was well ahead of the previous year. With the addition of small quantities of copper, lead, and zinc, the total wealth from Oregon mines equalled $4,148,271.

Defense Activities.

National defense made its impress on the industrial and economic life of Oregon in real earnest during the year 1941. Shipbuilding, both for the Navy and for the Merchant Marine, was perhaps the most notable development. The Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation of Portland received large government contracts, and in May launched the first of a rapidly accumulating number of vessels, in a plant said to be one of the best in the United States. Several other Portland firms received contracts for a large variety of naval craft, as did also shipbuilding companies at Astoria, North Bend, and Marshfield. Two huge new aluminum plants were located during the year near Portland to utilize power developed by the Bonneville Dam. Several large chemical plants were also launched in the Portland area. Throughout the state there was much airport construction and improvement.

By midsummer, state and local councils of national defense were organized and in operation. Drives for funds, such as those for the USO and the American Red Cross, exceeded their goals. Weeks before the outbreak of war, air-raid warning systems were set up and operated in western Oregon, and there were practice black-outs. In short, civilian defense measures were well established, with personnel and preliminary training, before war actually came.

Legislative Matters.

The Legislative Assembly of Oregon began its forty-first regular session on Jan. 13, and adjourned on March 15, 1941. Among the most important measures enacted were those relating to national defense. These included the reorganization of the military general staff and the National Guard; the authorization of a new military organization to be known as the Oregon State Guard, to function within the state during the absence of the National Guard; the granting of leaves of absence to public officials and employees in military service; the setting up of housing authorities to cope with problems arising out of defense concentrations; and authorization for airports and emergency landing fields. Otherwise, legislative activities were confined largely to routine matters and the amendment of existing laws. Among measures which aroused special interest were the creation of a fourth Congressional district, in which an additional Representative will be elected in 1942, and a law imposing a tax on cigarettes, the income from which would be devoted to relief. The referendum was invoked on this law, and at the close of 1941 the outcome was still in some doubt.

State Officers.

Governor, Charles A. Sprague; Secretary of State, Earl Snell; Treasurer, Leslie M. Scott; Attorney General, I. H. Van Winkle, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Rex Putnam.

United States Senators:

Charles L. McNary, Rufus C. Holman.