The entire area of the Wallamet Valley has almost no waste land in it, and most of it is under improvement, although not by any means all well cultivated. The old donation law, which gave so much land to actual settlers, operated to prevent close neighborhood and consequent improvement, with good farming, school privileges, and roads kept in repair. The influx of population within a few years has changed the old order of things to a considerable extent, but not yet thoroughly.
People are beginning to understand that a few acres well tilled are better than many left in neglect. Fruit-farming on from five to forty acres is coming into fashion, to the benefit of all concerned. It is said that five acres of cleared timber-land will support a family in comfort. Until recently Oregon made no attempt to raise fruit for export, except apples to California. This year choice apples were shipped to England, and pears, plums, and peaches to Chicago. Many prune orchards are being set out, this fruit being most profitable for export in a dried state.
Before closing my remarks on the western portion of Oregon I will subdue my dread of tables sufficiently to present one giving the comparative condition of the several counties at the commencement of 1890, including also Southern Oregon.
| Acres of Improved Land. | Value of Land. | Value of Town Lots. | Value of Farm Animals. | Gross Valuation of all Property. | Indebtedness. | Exemption. | Tax Equalized by County Board. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dollars. | Dollars. | Dollars. | Dollars. | Dollars. | Dollars. | Dollars. | ||
| Benton | 323,997 | 2,188,749 | 551,492 | 303,097 | 4,894,000 | 877,864 | 234,826 | 3,765,200 |
| Clackamas | 361,556 | 2,241,418 | 500,970 | 309,913 | 4,544,258 | 1,375,011 | 354,777 | 2,842,469 |
| Clatsop | 123,967 | 1,995,777 | 2,591,047 | 217,209 | 7,002,483 | 1,040,580 | 74,928 | 4,101,328 |
| Columbia | 219,567 | 627,360 | 37,580 | 179,915 | 1,249,837 | 168,046 | 131,137 | 850,654 |
| Coos | 291,903 | 1,292,892 | 335,633 | 243,884 | 2,615,875 | 389,001 | 249,549 | 1,976,705 |
| Curry | 93,350 | 331,270 | 12,155 | 125,543 | 663,777 | 107,653 | 64,775 | 489,949 |
| Douglas | 479,317 | 179,445 | 242,185 | 489,205 | 4,208,975 | 1,128,655 | 298,610 | 2,781,710 |
| Jackson | 192,374 | 1,152,693 | 222,441 | 318,761 | 3,235,347 | 686,971 | 271,768 | 2,254,557 |
| Josephine | 76,819 | 393,130 | 139,620 | 112,231 | 1,238,665 | 216,840 | 105,574 | 916,251 |
| Lane | 466,266 | 2,783,981 | 926,867 | 606,943 | 6,609,577 | 1,292,192 | 515,062 | 4,802,323 |
| Linn | 463,056 | 4,756,421 | 908,463 | 600,132 | 7,897,211 | 1,794,357 | 465,349 | 5,629,813 |
| Marion | 397,637 | 4,413,380 | 1,488,948 | 570,058 | 9,209,269 | 2,370,529 | 521,311 | 6,317,429 |
| Multnomah | 158,402 | 6,571,840 | 16,638,970 | 178,185 | 40,099,000 | 10,170,500 | 243,770 | 29,684,670 |
| Polk | 233,275 | 1,874,000 | 50,790 | 321,700 | 3,937,689 | 1,017,250 | 253,925 | 2,666,514 |
| Tillamook | 99,011 | 485,094 | 30,845 | 112,153 | 840,351 | 163,167 | 93,501 | 583,593 |
| Washington | 259,562 | 2,934,615 | 236,955 | 366,595 | 4,890,130 | 1,217,025 | 382,535 | 3,290,570 |
| Yamhill | 1,841,121 | 2,640,285 | 99,845 | 431,277 | 6,122,014 | 1,719,937 | 357,206 | 3,972,871 |
