The subsequent decennial censuses show population as follows: 1850, 13,294; 1860, 52,465; 1870, 90,923; 1880, 174,767. The proportion of males to females in 1850 was about two to one, and since that time as 3 to 2. The proportion of native to foreign population in 1870 was as 7 to 1, and nearly one-half of all the population even at that time had been born in the state. Oregon received emigrants from every state of the union, but in largest porportion from the northern states between the lakes and the Missouri river. Of the foreign-born population one-third were natives of the British isles, one-sixth of Germany, and about one-tenth from British North America. In 1870 there were 18,504 families, averaging 4.91 persons in each; 19,372 dwellings, averaging 4.69 persons in each. There were 3,003 natives above 10 years old unable to read and write, and 1424 foreigners; of whom 808 were Chinese and 118 Indians. The Indians of Oregon in 1875 living on reservations number about 8,000, located at five reserves, as follows: the coast Indians, at Siletz river, on the Pacific coast, 75 m. s. of the month of the Columbia; the Quinault tri be, on the coast, 80 m. n. of the Columbia; the Klamath Indians, just e. of the coast range, near the California line the Warm Springs Indians, in a small reservation 40 in. s. of the Dalles; the Malheurs in the e. part of the state near the 44th parallel; and the Umatillas aboht 30 m. s.e. of Walla Walla. A small part of the Indians rove along the banks of the Columbia to fish, and a still smaller number have taken to farming among the settlers. In the reservations there are 6,000 sq.m., making :150 acres to each Indian. Of roving Indians the number is greater and more uncertain. The Modoc war of 1872 in the lava plains of the s. border of Oregon showed the power of a few Indians'and white outlaws to make much trouble. 'In 1878 a more serious attack on white settlements was made in e. Oregon. A band of Bannacks, joined by Shoshones, Plates, Snakes, and Mathes, ravaged a large district, killing stock and murdering settlers; hut were followed so closely by the U. S. forces under gen. Howard that the panic caused by their unexpected show of strength and destructiveness rapidly subsided. It was the most matured and united movement by the Indians against the settlers ever made in the state, and resulted in widespread destruction to property, and considerable loss of life. Their'quick defeat and the measures taken to force the Indians into reservations near military stations have since effected the clearance of the whole country from the same dangers.
Three ranges of mountains—or, rather, two ranges and one broad upheaval, with many, ranges ramifying front it—divide the state into four widely different parts. Next to the' sea is the Coast range, of an average height of 2,500 ft., maximum 5,000 ft.,, drained by deeply fissured streams running directly to the sea on the w., and into the 'Willamette valley eastward. Parallel with the coast, and from 40 to 70 in. e. of it, is the great Cas cade range—the northerly continuation of the Sierras of California, and the loftiest mountains of the state. Between these two ranges flows the Willamette n. to the Columbia, and makes the most fertile and beautiful region of the state. The strip on the coast slope, and the narrow valley of the Willamette, are but small parts of the state, but the richest by nature and by far the most settled. The Blue mountain:rare the third of the great divisions of Oregon, a vast irregular plateau, with spurs in every direction, and draining by streams n. to the Columbia, s. to the Humboldt and the Klamath rivers, and e. to the Snake. Their n.e. spurs are called Eagle mountains. These mountains have not so lofty peaks as those of the Cascade range, but, springing from a much more elevated and extensive upheaval, they form a more elevated mountain system than is generally supposed, ranging from 4,000 to 9,000 ft. above the sea. The peaks of the Cascade range, on the other hand, Asia.. front the low level of the Wiliam rising cite and Columbia river valleys, are seen in all their majesty. Mount Hood, the most
,iortherly, is 11,225 ft. high, 30 m. from the Columbia, and 110 m. from the Pacific. mount Jefferson, 50 m. further s., is 10,200 ft. high, and mounts Thielson, Scott, Pitt, and the Three Sisters are of about equal elevation. This great range is broken through in its southern part by the Willamette and Klamath rivers, which rise e. of It, but flow w. through great gaps, the former to the Columbia by a n, course after it gets through the mountains, and the latter south-westerly through California to the Pacific. The Cascade mountains are volcanic, and indicate that eruptions have taken place from them at no very remote period. The Indians have traditions that mount Hood has been seen in an active state. The valley of the Columbia, where it forms a part of middle Oregon, receives as tributaries from the Blue mountain range John Day's river, down the valley of which it is expected the Union Pacific railroad connection with Oregon will be made; and the Des Chutes river, which drains a great basin between the Cascade and the Blue mountains. The s. part of middle Oregon has many small lakes, :ome of them salt, tome basins without outlets, and others which drain s. to the Humboldt and Klamath rivers. The principal lakes are the Klamath, Goose, Warner, and Harney, East Ore "-on is drained by short streams flowing n. into the Columbia, and by the following rivers flowing easterly into Snake river, viz.: Grande Ronde, Powder, Burnt, Malheur, and Owyhee rivers. The last two, in • the s.c. part of the state, drain considerable val leys, mainly valuable for grazing.
The sea-shore of Oregon is 300 in. in length, and has many fine bays and good harbors. The most southerly is the month of Rogue river at Ellenburg. At Port Oxford, a few miles n., is a small bay furnishing partial protection from storms. The mouth of Coquille river is accessible to vessels of light draught. Coos bay, in Iat. 43°'20, is 10 m. long, 2 m. wide, with 18 to 24 ft. of water, and a changeable bar at its mouth that occasionally impedes entrance. Empire City and Marshallton are located upon it. The Umpqua mouth can be entered by vessels of light draught, and the river is navi gated by small steamers to Roseburg.90 miles. Yaquina bay at the mouth of Yaquina river, in lat. 44° 40', is a wide estuary with 10 to 12 ft. of water on its bar. Tillamook hay, in lat. .4.5° 34', has an area of upwards of 6 sq.m., with 24 to 50 ft. of water at the entrance and in the bay. Tillamook is its port. Nehalem river, in lat. 45° 41' 20", forms a hay 4 in. long, 8 In. wide, with an entrance 200 to 400 ft. wide, and 18 ft. at high tide. False Tillamook bay. a few miles n., is a small, round, secure harbor. Next comes the mouth of the Columbia river. All the harbors named have a light-house or lighthouses at their entrances. The Columbia river is the great harbor of that coast. It is 5 m. wide at its mouth, has 2 channels—the s. 2 m. wide with 24 ft. of water at low tide, and the n. 600 yds. wide with 21 ft. depth. Fogs and a shifting bar make some difficulties at its' entrance at times. Cape Hancock, on the u. of the entrance, has a light-house, and ou cape or point Adams, on the s., is fort Stevens and a light-house. There are many har bors on both sides of the Columbia, and ships ascend it 115 m. to the Cascades. Tim Willamette joins it 110 m. from the mouth, and is navigable by light steamers 126 m. above Portland, which is located on the w. bank 7 m. above the Columbia. Ships can ascend to Oregon City, 11 m. above Portland. A ship canal has been constructed around the falls of the Willamette at the former city at a cost of $480,000, which provides for the steamboat navigation before mentioned. The .U. S. government commenced the con struction of a ship canal around Cascade falls on the Columbia in 1877, to be 7,200 ft. long, with two locks 300 ft. long, by 50 ft. wide each, overcoming a fall of 26 feet. Above the Cascades there are 296 m. of steamboat navigation on the Columbia, inter rupted only by the rapids of the Danes.