606 



OLDENBURG. 



OREGON. 



The administration of the penitentiary during 

 the year shows an efficiency quite equal, if not 

 superior, to any that has been witnessed in 

 many years, and in one respect that of econ- 

 omy the result is a peculiarly gratifying one. 

 The receipts for the labor of prisoners have ex- 

 ceeded the expenses of the prison by the sum 

 of $13,000. 



During the year ending October 31st, 425 

 convicts were received, and 290 discharged, 

 leaving 1,000 still in confinement, which is the 

 average number in the penitentiary. The aver- 

 age cost per convict for clothing, food, bedding 

 and hospital, has been $51.37, against $87 for 

 three years before. The State is not very 

 largely interested in internal improvement. 

 Its canals and other works are leased to re- 

 sponsible parties, and on satisfactory terms, 

 until 1881. 



OLDENBURG, a grand-duchy of the North- 

 German Confederation. Grand-duke, Peter I., 

 born July 8, 1827; succeeded his father, Feb- 

 ruary 27, 1853. Area, 2,417 square miles; pop- 

 ulation, in 1864, 314,416 (exclusive of 12,604 

 in the district of Ahrensbi3k, which formerly 

 belonged to Holstein, was ceded by Prussia to 

 Oldenburg on September 27, 1866, and taken 

 possession of by Oldenburg on June 7, 1867). 

 The pubjic debt, in 1866, amounted to 6,090,300 

 thalers. According to a military convention 

 concluded with Prussia, on July 15, 1867, the 

 troops of Oldenburg are incorporated with the 

 army of Prussia, which takes upon itself the 

 military obligations of Oldenburg with regard 

 to the North-German Confederation. The mer- 

 chant navy, in 1866, consisted of 621 vessels, 

 together of 32,507 lasts. 



OREGON. Oregon is situated between 42 

 and 46 20' north latitude and between 116 

 31' and 124 30' west longitude, being about 

 395 miles in length, and 295 miles in width. 

 Its area is estimated at 101,400 square miles, 

 containing 120,000,000 acres of land, and not 

 less than 30,000,000 susceptible of cultivation ; 

 its prairie-lands being finely watered, and inter- 

 spersed with timber for fencing and building 

 purposes. The State is usually divided into 

 three portions, severally styled the Lower, 

 Middle, and Upper Countries : the first is that 

 portion next the ocean; the second lies be- 

 tween the Cascade Range and the Blue Moun- 

 tains ; the third being situated between the 

 latter and the Rocky Mountains. The first is 

 from 75 to 120 miles in breadth, and includes 

 the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue River Val- 

 leys ; the former running parallel with, and 

 the latter at right angles to the sea. The val- 

 leys vary from 40 to 200 miles in length, and 

 are from 10 to 80 miles wide. The middle por- 

 tion, which consists mainly of an elevated pla- 

 teau, is about 100 miles broad, while the Upper 

 Country is mostly a desolate and sterile region, 

 occupying the western slope of the Rocky 

 Mountains. The area of the State is diversified 

 with valleys of the richest agricultural and 

 grazing lands, alternating with abrupt moun- 



tain-ranges whose peaks rise to the height of 

 16,000 feet above the level of the sea, and are 

 covered with perpetual snow. The resources 

 of this region are extensive, rich, and varied, 

 embracing agricultural and mineral wealth, 

 combined with vast forests of the finest tim- 

 ber, fitted for every purpose, and inexhausti- 

 ble water-power for manufacturing purposes. 

 There is probably no portion of the Union that 

 combines within the same space, to a similar 

 extent, all the varied elements of wealth and 

 a steadily increasing prosperity. 



Placer gold-diggings have been worked for a 

 number of years ; and extensive lodes of gold 

 and silver bearing quartz exist in various por- 

 tions of the State. Coal-mines have been 

 opened and profitably worked at various points ; 

 and large deposits of copper, lead, and iron, are 

 distributed throughout the State. Salt-springs 

 of large capacity and strength are also abundant. 



The climate and soil of the agricultural por- 

 tions of the State are highly favorable to the 

 growth of every variety of produce common 

 to the Western and Northern States all the 

 grains, fruits, and vegetables flourishing here in 

 the highest perfection with ordinary cultiva- 

 tion. Wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, and ap- 

 ples, are staple products ; though peaches, 

 pear,-!, plums, cherries, and all the smaller 

 fruits, flourish finely, and vegetables of all 

 kinds grow luxuriantly. Experiments in the 

 culture of tobacco, flax, hemp, hops, and other 

 products, have proved highly satisfactory. 

 Wild flowers bloom throughout the valleys 

 in great profusion, and the winters are so mild 

 that blossoms may be gathered at any time. 

 Fruit-trees grow thriftily, and require but 

 little cultivation. They bear earlier and in 

 greater abundance than in any other portion 

 of the Union, and some new varieties have 

 been produced of superior excellence. The an- 

 nual export of apples reaches some 250,000 

 bushels. 



The State is admirably adapted to sheep- 

 raising, the diseases which are so fatal in other 

 portions of the country being almost unknown, 

 and the increase proving greater. Woollen 

 factories have been started, manufacturing 

 cloths, blankets, etc., in large quantities. 



Oregon has some of the finest flouring-mills 

 in the land, which t.urn out large quantities 

 of flour unrivalled in quality, and which very 

 soon will become an important article of ex- 

 port. 



The following is regarded as a fair and relia- 

 ble estimate of products and stock for the year : 

 Acres in cultivation, 360,000 ; wheat, bushels, 

 3,500,000 ; barley, bushels, 100,000 ; oats, bush- 

 els, 2,000,000 ; corn, bushels, 80,000 ; rye, bush- 

 els, 5,000; tobacco, Ibs., 90,000; tons of hay, 

 60,000; potatoes, bis., 300,000; onions, bushels, 

 100,000; wool, Ibs., 1,600,000; cattle, 200,000; 

 horses, 90,000; hogs, 150,000; mules, 3,000; 

 sheep, 375,000; butter, 2,000,000 Ibs.; cheese, 

 75,000 Ibs. ; precious metals, $5,000,000. 



The waters of the State abound in fish, and 



