Banking.—On Oct. 31, 1919, there were reported 87 National banks in oper ation, having $10,661,000 capital, $6,371, 000 in outstanding circulation, and $25, 793,000 in United States bonds. There were also 171 State banks, with $8,155, 000 capital, and $2,980,000 surplus. The exchanges at the United States Clearing House at Seattle, during the year end ing Sept. 30, 1919, amounted to $2,013, 736,000, an increase over those of the preceding year of $11,686,829.
Education.—The school population in 1918 was 207,158, with a total enrollment of 106,546. The average daily attend ance was 111,832. There were in the elementary schools 5,913 teachers. The total expenditures for public education is about $10,000,000 annually, The col leges include the University of Oregon, at Eugene; Pacific University at Forest Grove; Willamette University, at Salem; and Portland University at University Park.
Churches.—The strongest denomina tions in the State are the Roman Cath olic; Methodist Episcopal; Regular Baptist; Disciples of Christ; Presbyter ian; Congregational; Methodist Episco pal, South; Protestant Episcopal; and United Brethren Finances.—The receipts for the fiscal year 1919 was $17,784,693; and the dis bursements $17,604,604. The balance on Jan. 1, 1919 was $3,128,790, and on Dec. 31, 1919, $3,308,879. The State indebtedness amounted to $10,665,750. The assessed value of taxable property was $990,435,472.
Railways.—The total length of main line track in 1919 was 2,937 miles. The roads having the longest mileage were the Oregon and Washington Railroad and Navigation Company, and the Oregon and California.
State Government.—The governor is
elected for a term of four years. Leg islative sessions are held biennially, and are limited to 40 days each. The Legis lature has 30 members in the Senate, and 60 in the House. There are 3 Rep resentatives in Congress.
History.—The name Oregon was long applied to all the territory claimed by the United States on the Pacific coast, extending from lat. to 54° 40' N. By the treaty of 1846, a boundary line was fixed between Great Britain and the United States at lat. 49°. The discov ery of the Columbia river, in 1792, was succeeded by an exploration under Cap tains Lewis and Clark, 1804-1805. In 1808 the Missouri Fur Company estab lished trading-posts in the country; and, in 1811, the American Fur Company founded a settlement at the mouth of the Columbia, and named it Astoria. In 1839, the emigration of Americans com menced overland by way of the South Pass, and the territory continued to re ceive settlers yearly till 1848, when the California "gold-fever" attracted a large quota of her citizens away. In 1850, however, the land-donation law, passed by Congress, had the effect of register ing 8,000 citizens in Oregon, which was formally organized as a Territory, Aug. 14, 1848. On March 2, 1853, Washington Territory was formed out of the N. half of Oregon; Nov. 5, 1857, a State constitution was adopted; and Feb. 14, 1859, the State was admitted into the Union by Act of Congress under the constitution previously ratified. From 1845 till 1855, a desultory warfare was kept up with the Indian aborigines, and a resumption of the same occurred in 1858, and again in 1872-1873.