Page:Report of the Oregon Conservation Commission to the Governor (1908 - 1914).djvu/246

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10
REPORT OF CONSERVATION COMMISSION.

Oregon streams, now unused, are capable of producing 3,300,000 electrical horsepower. Steam engines would consume 36,000,000 tons of coal annually to produce the amount of power going to waste in Oregon's streams.

The total amount of power used in New York State at the present time does not exceed 1,000,000 horsepower, exclusive of locomotive engines.


$43,863,200 is the estimated cost of works to be constructed under permits issued under the new water code in a little over three and one half years.

961,000 acres will be added to the irrigated area of the State if these works are constmcted and 176,000 additional horse-power developed. The payment to the State of $47,600 by the promoters is substantial evidence of good faith.

1068 early rights to water have been completely defined and recorded under the new water code aftectii^ 106,686 acres of irrigated land on fifteen different streams at a cost to the water nsers of only $11,176, all without a single appeal to the supreme court. Adjudications are well nnder way on eight additional stream systems, affecting in all 275,000 acres of irrigated land.


During 1610. less than $4,000,000 worth of geological products were produced in Oregon, and during the same year Washington produced about $17,000,000 and California $86,000,000. Over $12,000,000 worth of such products were brought in from other states, three-fourths of which, according to the State Bureau of Uines, could have been produced in Oregon.

Oregon is one of four states which have taken no decided steps to determine the amount of their mineral resources.

Oregon's commercial fishing interests as compared with the other industries of the State, are third in magnitude.