Page:Report of the Oregon Conservation Commission to the Governor (1908 - 1914).djvu/163

Rh Umatilla River and all its tributaries, Crooked River, Squaw Creek and Tunialo Creek in Crook County, Willow Creek in Morrow County, Willow Creek in Malheur County, and Little Butte Creek in Jackson County.

LACK OF PHYSICAL DATA IN OREGON.

There is perhaps no state in the west more deficient in reliable information as to the physical features of its natural resources than Oregon. The development of irrigation Institutions, of water powers, the construction of good roads, studies of municipal water supplies, the development of inland waterways and of interstate and interurban railways depends more upon a proper classification and inventory of the several resources of the State than upon any other single factor. If these developments are to be encouraged the State mimt begin at once a systematic investigation of these resources. This information can be gathered at a comparatively small cost to the State. The Federal Government is engaged in studying the natural resources of the entire country, and since the states in which they work are the chief beneficiaries it would seem that any state would quickly sei, the opportunity to facilitate the gathering of these data. The United States has repeatedly offered toax,end dollar fordollar in these invest gattone.#dth the states, but as the congressional appropriation for this work lB limited the Federal Government cannot make them unaided as rapidly as their uses demand. Oregon has received her fair share of the congressional appropriations for this work but the State is so large and the resources go manifold that the work accomplished to date makes a very small showing indeed.

The resources in which we are chiefly concerned are those of lands, water, forests, and minerals. Of these perhaps the resources of land and water are the most vital. The development of water powers, of forests, and of minerals and the attendant growth of manufacturing and other industries of the State depend for their success upon a continually increasing agricultural population. But agricultural communities cannot grow unless the development of land and water resources are encouraged. The highest type of agricultural development is found in irrigated sections. Here intensified farming make agricultural pursuits so profitable that three to ten acres of land can be made to support a single family in comfort, and it is this almost unlimited subdivision of land into small units that forms the basis of our national prosperity. The prudent and far-seeing commonwealths will therefore add every inducement to further the up-building of its agricultural pursuits.