[22] From the Oregonian.
“Treasure.—There has been shipped from this city during the past year, the sum of $8,070,600 in treasure. The amount passing through private hands may be safely estimated at $3,000,000.”[23]
[23] From the Portland Herald.
We take the following from an official report to the Secretary of the Treasury, a copy of which has been sent to Congress:—
“From the best information available, the following is a near approximation to our total gold and silver product for the year ending January 7, 1867:—
California $25,000,000 Nevada 20,000,000 Montana 12,000,000 Idaho 6,500,000 Washington 1,000,000 Oregon 2,000,000 Colorado 2,500,000 New Mexico 500,000 Arizona 500,000 Add for bullion derived from unknown sources within the States and Territories, unaccounted for by assessors and express companies, etc. 5,000,000 ————— Total product of the United States $75,000,000 “The bullion product of Washington is estimated by the surveyor-general at $1,500,000. That of Oregon is estimated at $2,500,000. Intelligent residents of Idaho and Montana represent that the figures given in the above estimate, so far as these Territories are concerned, are entirely too low, and might be doubled without exceeding the truth. The product of Idaho alone, for this year, is said to be $15,000,000 to $18,000,000. That of Montana is estimated by the surveyor-general at $20,000,000. Similar exceptions are taken to the estimates of Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.”
| California | $25,000,000 |
| Nevada | 20,000,000 |
| Montana | 12,000,000 |
| Idaho | 6,500,000 |
| Washington | 1,000,000 |
| Oregon | 2,000,000 |
| Colorado | 2,500,000 |
| New Mexico | 500,000 |
| Arizona | 500,000 |
| Add for bullion derived from unknown sources within the States | |
| and Territories, unaccounted for by assessors and express | |
| companies, etc. | 5,000,000 |
| ————— | |
| Total product of the United States | $75,000,000 |
The climate varies in the three sections of country we have described, exactly in the ratio of soil and timber. On the coast, contiguous to the ocean, we have more rain than we require. Like our superabundance of the tallest and best of fir-timber, there is so much of it that we would be glad if we could divide with the second and third places we have described. We have enough rain and timber to supply all the country; and perhaps, when we can cut down our tall trees, that filter the rain out of the clouds, they may get more and we less. Be that as it may, our winters are mild and rainy, our summers cool and pleasant, with sufficient rain and ocean mist to supply the vegetable creation with abundant moisture.
In middle Oregon the winters are mild and frosty, with a small amount of snow—seldom severe; farmers should feed stock a month or six weeks; summers warm, and sometimes sultry in July and August; rains in the spring and late in the fall, scarcely enough for the farmers’ use.
In the eastern plain or great mountain basin, the winters are cold and dry, snow and frost severe. Snow seldom falls to exceed two feet in depth,—average winters, eighteen inches,—but it falls deep upon the mountains and remains till it is melted by the warm winds and sun of early summer, causing the summer floods. The principal rise in the rivers is during the mouths of June and July. Less rain, spring and fall, than in middle Oregon; summers dry and hot. In the northern part, the country is better supplied with rain. This may arise from the ranges of the mountain currents of air and the winds from the South Pacific Ocean along the inland plains, and the cool atmosphere around our snow-clad mountains. We will leave further speculation on this point to those who have had more experience in such matters than ourselves.
Taking the country as a whole, with our inexhaustible gold, silver, and other minerals; our extensive farming valleys; our vast forests of timber upon the borders of an ocean comparatively destitute of this essential element of civilization; there is no plausible reason why this western portion of the United States may not in a few years become the abode of industrious and thriving millions.