State Government.—The governor is elected for a term of four years. Legislative sessions are held biennially, and are limited to 40 days each. The Legislature has 30 members in the Senate, and 60 in the House. There are 3 Representatives in Congress.
History.—The name Oregon was long applied to all the territory claimed by the United States on the Pacific coast, extending from lat. 42° to 54° 40′ N. By the treaty of 1846, a boundary line was fixed between Great Britain and the United States at lat. 49°. The discovery of the Columbia river, in 1792, was succeeded by an exploration under Captains Lewis and Clark, 1804–1805. In 1808 the Missouri Fur Company established trading-posts in the country; and, in 1811, the American Fur Company founded a settlement at the mouth of the Columbia, and named it Astoria. In 1839, the emigration of Americans commenced overland by way of the South Pass, and the territory continued to receive settlers yearly till 1848, when the California “gold-fever” attracted a large quota of her citizens away. In 1850, however, the land-donation law, passed by Congress, had the effect of registering 8,000 citizens in Oregon, which was formally organized as a Territory, Aug. 14, 1848. On March 2, 1853, Washington Territory was formed out of the N. half of Oregon; Nov. 5, 1857, a State constitution was adopted; and Feb. 14, 1859, the State was admitted into the Union by Act of Congress under the constitution previously ratified. From 1845 till 1855, a desultory warfare was kept up with the Indian aborigines, and a resumption of the same occurred in 1858, and again in 1872–1873.
OREGON AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. An institution supported by the state, situated at Corvallis, Ore. It was founded in 1885 and now includes fifteen large buildings and has an enrollment in all courses of 4,158. Instruction is given in forestry, agriculture, engineering, mining, commerce, and home economics. Like other western state universities its income is largely derived from the proceeds of the sale of lands ceded to it by the State. This source of income plus the State appropriation yields about $800,000 annually. The college possesses a library of about 30,000 volumes.
OREGON, UNIVERSITY OF, a coeducational non-sectarian institution in Eugene, Ore.; founded in 1872; reported at the close of 1919: Professors and instructors, 118; students, 1,960; president, P. L. Campbell.
O'REILLY, CHARLES J., an American bishop born in St. John, New Brunswick, in 1860. He was educated at St. Joseph's College and at the Grand Seminary, Montreal. He was ordained priest of the Roman Catholic Church in 1890 and for several years was in charge of missions at Oswego. He served as rector in Portland, Ore., in 1894 to 1903. In the latter year he was consecrated first bishop of Baker City. He was for several years editor of the “Catholic Sentinel.”
O'REILLY, JAMES, an American Roman Catholic bishop, born in Ireland in 1856. Educated in All Hallows College in Ireland and was ordained priest and served as pastor in Stillwater and Lake City, Minn., and in Padua, Minn. In 1909 he was consecrated bishop of Fargo.
O'REILLY, JOHN BOYLE, an Irish American poet; born at Dowth Castle, County Meath, Ireland, June 28, 1844; became a reporter for English and Irish papers, and Fenianism. In 1863 he enlisted in the 10th Hussars, in Ireland, for the avowed purpose of spreading revolutionary doctrines among the soldiers. For this he was arrested, tried for treason and sent for 20 years penal servitude in Australia. The following year (1869) he escaped to America. In Boston he found work on “The Pilot” (subsequently became editor and principal owner). In 1870 he went to Canada for “The Pilot” during the second Fenian raid and commanded Irish forces. His works include: “Songs of the Southern Seas” (1873); “Songs, Legends and Ballads” (1878); “Moondyne, a Novel” (1879); “Statues in the Block” (1881); “In Bohemia” (1886); and “Stories and Sketches” (1888). He died in Hull, Mass., Aug. 10, 1890.
O'REILLY, PETER J., an American Roman Catholic bishop, born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1853. He was educated in Ireland and was ordained priest in 1877. In the same year he came to America. In 1901 he was consecrated Bishop of Lebedos, Diocese of Peoria.
OREL, a government of Russia, containing 12 districts. It has an area of 18,042 square miles. In the eastern part there is a large area of agricultural land. In the west the soil is sandy and ill adapted for agriculture. Stock raising is the most important industry. There are immense forests which produce timber, tar, and pitch. There are manufactories of iron rails, glass, flour, and hemp products. Pop. about 900,000. Capital Orel.
