Page:Quarterlyoforego10oreg 1.djvu/203

Rh much attention was given to the raising of cereals, fruits, vegetables and miscellaneous products. But the figures for 1900 mark a direct departure from these tendencies during the last decade. During this time the area of improved land has actually become less, the per cent of improved land has fallen 16 per cent, the average value per farm and average value per acre of farm land is much less, while the average area per farm is greater. The census reports, however, are not comparable on these points, because the last were made accord- ing to a different rule from those in the former decades; nevertheless, they are more marked for Oregon than for the other Western States, and show a tendency peculiar to Oregon.

A census of all the different classes of production was not taken before 1900, and our historical study will be confined to live stock and cereals. The figures for the total value of live stock on farms and the number of cattle, horses, sheep, and swine on farms and ranges at the end of each decade from 1850 to 1900 will give some idea of the increase in live stock during this period.

TABLE 24. TOTAL VALUE OP ALL LIVE STOCK AND NUMBER OF CATTLE, HORSES, SHEEP, AND SWINE > ON FARMS AND RANGES IN OREGON, BY DECADES, FROM 1850 TO 1900. Items. 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 Total value of all live stock. . $1,876,189 5,946,255 6,828,675 13,808,392 22,648,830 33,917,048 41,729 154,131 120,197 598,015 520,648 531,980 8,046 36,772 51,702 124,107 224,962 261,794 15,382 86,052 318,123 1,368,162 1,780,312 1,961,355 No. of swine 30,235 81,615 119,455 179,195 208,259 281,406 The total value of all live stock on farms in Oregon in 1850 was approximately $2,000,000. The increase from 1850 to i860 was nearly $4,000,000; from i860 to 1870, $1,000,000; from 1870 to 1880, $7,000,000; from 1880 to 1890, $9,000,- 000; from 1890 to 1900, $11,000,000. The growth has been