Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/7



Volume XI

When I agreed to write an address on Oregon Counties—their creations and the origins of their names—I was not aware of the time and trouble it involved. Few of the early books on Oregon have indices. And this is true of the "Oregon Archives," which contain the Journals of the Provisional Legislature, and of several of the compilations of early laws. In consequence I was compelled to go over several thousand pages of books, page by page, and, in some cases, to do this several times. Some of the early laws of Oregon have not been printed, one on the creation of Clatsop County cannot be found. Excepting some of the compilations of early laws and the manuscripts expressly noted herein, I have in my library all the books, pamphlets, and reports cited in this address. I have endeavored to go to original sources, as far as possible, and not to rely on statements or impressions at second hand.

In an appendix to this address I set forth the descriptions of the boundaries of the respective counties as originally