Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/13

Rh Climate and abundance of resource have rendered the population of Oregon free from much of that conflict with nature which the settlers of less favored regions have been obliged to experience. Variety of resource has rendered possible that social balance which comes from the constant interplay of a population engaged in different occupations and the compensating action of a city and a country population. A population composed of the sturdy stock of New England and the vigorous frontier settlers of the Middle West has brought to the social life elements of strength.

Location, abundance, and variety of resource have also brought their problems. The elimination of the foreign classes from Europe has deprived the population of a factor very valuable in the development of a new country because of the ability to do work of a burdensome kind that the American shuns. The abundance of resource and the ease of gaining a mere livelihood leads to the problem of a population too easily satisfied and lacking in ambition. Variety has tempted a superficial development of many rather than a thorough development of a few resources; and, lastly, the conditions that bring a population of the sturdiest kind bring also a class of adventurers who injure rather than aid in the social evolution.

The largest place in this paper must naturally be given to the industrial development, since that lies at the foundation of all social evolution. The industrial life of Oregon began with the discovery of its resources. Up to the time that the American colonies began to aspire to separate existence the resources of the whole Northwest were practically unknown. It is true, the explorers of different European nations had passed the coast at intervals for centuries; but they were interested only in looking for that indenture in the shore line which