Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/320

 cure an appropriation, and Congrew after Congress rejected the propoaition. Success, however, finally followed permsten^ in the matter, and in 1 904 a contract was let for the beginning of the much-desired improvement Even after its beginning there were many delays, and before the Locks were completed the State constructed a portage railroad to assist the people in an effort to lower the freight rates ui the railroads.

The Canal and Locks Were Completed in the early summer of 1915, eleven years after the Brst work was done; and the event was celebrated in Portland by sending a steamboat on a trip to Lewiston and back, thus actually realizing the benefit of an "open river.*' The canal cost a trifle less than $5,000,000 and is approximately ^even miles long. There are four locks, each 65 feet wide at the bottom, which have a depth of 8 feet at low water. The fall from Celilo to the lower end of the canal is about 1 00 feet. This marks a great improvement in the transportation condition in Oregon,, and while most of the freight is still handled by the railroads the existence of the canal and locks will always inBuence the adjustment of traffic rates.

Oregon Gold Output IncreasiBg. For a number of years the gold output of Oregon has been steadily increasing. Of the thirteen counties that yield gold. Baker County, in 1915, took the lead with $1,700,000. The same year the three counties in the order of their promi-. nence as mercury producers, were Josephine, $85,000; Malheur. $33,700; and Jackson $30,200.

Improved Poultry industry. In the year 1913, Oregon surpassed the world's record in poultry husbandry. An Oregon Agricultural College hen, by name Lady Mo* Duff, and by No. C52 1, was the first hen in the world to lay 300 eggs in a year by actual trap-nest count* Her record