OREGON. 



of lands already made, now amounts to $16,- 



The State penitentiary on the 1st of Septem- 

 ber contained 104 inmates, a decrease of nine 

 in two years. The total cost of maintenance 

 durini; that period was $49,308.95, and the 

 earnings of the convicts amounted to $37,521.- 

 s i. Tin- number of patients in the Hospital 

 for the Insane and Idiotic was 218, an increase 

 of twenty-three in two years. 



The now State Capitol, though not finished, 

 has been occupied by the government offices 

 and the Legislature. The cost of the building 

 thus far is $225,555.70, and it is estimated that 

 $100,000 more will be required to complete it. 

 It is 264 feet in length, with wings 80 feet in 

 width, and transverse sections 160 feet in depth. 

 It is three stories high above a heavy base- 

 in -lit, and has a tower rising 180 feet. 



The Board of Commissioners of Immigra- 

 tion, created by the act of the Legislature of 

 October, 1874, was organized at the beginning 

 of 1875, and expended about $20,000 in twenty 

 months for the promotion of immigration to 

 the State. Circulars and pamphlets, relating 

 to the advantages and resources of Oregon, 

 were distributed in large numbers, and agencies 

 were established in different parts of the Union 

 and in Europe. The number of immigrants 

 arriving in the State during the same period 

 was 11,213. 



The work of constructing a canal and locks 

 around Cascade Rapids on the Columbia River 

 has begun under the auspices of the United 

 States Government, $90,000 having been ap- 

 propriated by Congress for the purpose. The 

 total cost of constructing the canal, 2,600 feet 

 long with three locks, and the removal of rocks, 

 is estimated at $700,000. A matter of great 

 importance, and one occupying a large share of 

 attention in the State, is the establishment of 

 railroad connection with the States east of the 

 Rocky Mountains, but no actual progress has 

 been made in it during the year. 



The ninth biennial session of the Legislature 

 began at Salem on the 9th of September, and 

 closed on the 21st of October. After several 

 ballots for United States Senator, for the term 

 of six years beginning March 4, 1877, Lafayette 

 Grover was elected, receiving in joint conven- 

 tion 48 votes to 33 for Jesse Applegate, five 

 for J. W. Nesmith, and four for T. F. Camp- 

 bell. There was very little legislation of im- 

 portance, two-thirds of the bills introduced 

 bein<r defeated, and those passed being for the 

 most part such as were absolutely required to 

 carry on the government, or relating to corpo- 

 rations and local interests. An amendment of 

 the constitution granting the right of sutlVairi- 

 to women, and a compulsory education act, 

 were among the defeated measures. Among 

 those adopted was the following amendment 

 to the criminal code: 



That if any person shall sell, give, or cause to bo 

 sold or <*iven, any intoxicating liquor to any minor 

 lu this State, without first obtaining the consent of 



one of such minor's parents or guardian, in writing, 

 or if any keeper of any saloon, bar-room, or .th.-r 

 vender of spirituous or intoxicating liquor*, within 

 this State, shall harbor, permit, or sutler any minor 

 to loiter or remain in or about such saloon, bar room, 

 or other place where such spirituous or intoxicating 

 liquor* tire sold or kept for sale, or to engage in any 

 game of cards, billiards, bagatelle, or other game, in 

 such saloon, bar-room, or place aforesaid, either for 

 amusement or otherwise, such person shall be 

 deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon convic- 

 tion thereof shall be punched by a fine not exceed- 

 ing $100, or by imprisonment in the county jail not 

 exceeding MIX months, or by both, at the discretion 

 of the court, tmd shall also forfeit any license such 

 person may have to sell spirituous or intoxicating 

 liquors in quantities less than one quart, or to keep 

 such saloon, bar-room, or other place for the sale of 

 such liquor. A j ustice's court shall have j urisdiction 

 of tho crime herein defined. 



Committees were sent to visit the State Uni- 

 versity at Eugene City, and the Agricultural 

 College at Corvallis, and report their condition. 

 At the former a substantial brick structure was 

 found, well built of good material, 114 feet 

 long, 56 feet wide, two stories high, with base- 

 ment and Mansard roof. The lower story was 

 completed and ready for the furniture. The 

 university had been organized, with Prof. J. 

 W. Johnson for president, and a competent 

 corps of teachers; and the 18th of October 

 had been designated as the commencement of 

 the first academic year. The location and 

 grounds were pronounced beautiful, and the 

 prospects of the new institution quite promis- 

 ing. At Corvallis a substantial frame building 

 was found, situated on a farm of 85 acres, 

 valued at $10,000. The Agricultural College 

 has been in operation for some years, and an 

 annual appropriation of $5,000 is made for its 

 support. The State is entitled to have 60 pu- 

 pils educated free of charge, but the number 

 for the last two years has been only 47. 



The Democrats of the State held a conven- 

 tion at Salem, on the 26th of April, for the 

 purpose of selecting delegates to the National 

 Convention, nominating candidates for district 

 judges, prosecuting attorneys, presidential elec- 

 tors, and a member of Congress, and choosing 

 an Executive Committee to manage the canvass 

 for the party. There was to be no election of 

 State officers. Lafayette Lane was nominated 

 as the candidate for member of Congress, and 

 II. Klippel, W. B. Lnswell, and E. A. Cronin, 

 as candidates for presidential electors. The 

 platform of 1875 was reaffirmed at length, 

 preceded by resolutions declaring that the 

 common schools were the special charge of the 

 Democratic party, favoring religions freedom, 

 deprecating sectarian influence in public af- 

 fairs, and commending the national House of 

 Representatives for its work in effecting re- 

 forms. An additional resolution was adopted 

 calling upon Congress to indemnify the suffer- 

 ers by the Modoo War. 



The Republican State Convention was held 

 on the 3d of May, at Portland. Richard Wil- 

 liams was nominated for Congressman, and 

 W. II. Odoll, J. W. Watte, and J. C. Cartwright, 



