Broadcasting Telecasting (Jan-Mar 1956)

KOIN-TV OREGON SPOTLIGHT POPULATION— 1,680,000 (Jan. 1, 1956 estimate). Rate of 1940-56 increase, 55%, compared to 23% for U. S. Area — 96,981 sq. mi. (666 sq. mi. water). Capital — Salem. Highest peak— Mt. Hood, 11,245 feet. Geography — Cascade mountain range splits state into eastern and western sections. Western part of state is green 12 months a year, with Coast Range dividing Pacific plain from Cascades. Between are Willamette, Rogue and Umpqua valleys. Central plains are desert in character. Blue and Wallowa mountains are marked by thriving valleys in northeastern part of state; Klamath Valley in south central part is marked by lakes and streams. Columbia River Gorge, northern boundary, is scenic and has important dams. Snake River Gorge marks eastern boundary. The climate west of the Cascades is humid, with heavy rainfall, and mild except in summer. East of the Cascades it is dry with much greater extremes of temperature. Despite its reputation for rains, the populous Willamette Valley has less rain than eastern states. Oregon tops the nation in its stand of virgin timber, estimated 360 billion ft. Douglas Fir — the most important single lumber species — dominates, with pine east of the Cascades and some redwood in the southwest. The state has 30 million acres of standing forest. Commercial fisheries are important, led by Columbia River salmon pack. Recreational facilities provide sports fishing. Crater Lake, Mt. Hood, rocky upheavals along the Pacific Coast and wilderness retreats provide the basis for an important tourist industry. One-third of the state's land area, 20.3 million acres, is devoted to 60,000 farms, with 5 million acres of cropland. With all kinds of soil and weather, Oregon has a diversified agriculture and can raise nearly all of the non-tropical crops. Large grain and stock ranches are found east of the Cascades. In the 18 western counties the farms are smaller, averaging 125 acres. Irrigation prevails in eastern and southern Oregon, with row crops, seeds, alfalfa and fruits grown in abundance. Specialty crops and pastures are grown in the western part. Practically all farms are electrified. Total farm income in 1955 (estimated) —$380 million; $384 million in 1954. Wheat— 21.9 million bu. in 1955; 25.8 million bu. in 1954. Hops — 4.6 million lbs. in 1955; 7 million lbs. in 1954. Sugar Beets — 372,000 tons in 1955; 389,000 tons in 1954. Apples — 2.9 million bu. in 1955; 2.7 million bu. in 1954. Pears — 6 million bu. in 1955; 4 million bu. in 1954. Prunes— 53,700 tons in 1955; 42,500 tons in 1954. Milk— 1.1 billion lbs. in 1955; 1.28 billion lbs in 1954. Filberts— 6,900 tons in 1955; 8,000 tons in 1954. Walnuts— 5,400 tons in 1955; 8,400 tons in 1954. Cranberries— 30,000 bbl. in 1955; 30,000 bbl. in 1954. Potatoes — 13.8 million bu. in 1955; 13.2 million bu. in 1954. Lumber production — 8.2 billion board ft. in 1955; 7.88 billion board ft. in 1954. Primary paper production, conversion — $70 million (estimated) added by manufacture in 1955; $65 million in 1954. Retail sales— $2.04 billion (estimated) in 1955; $1.92 billion in 1954 (U. S. Census) . Value of taxable property — $1.95 billion in 1955; $1.93 billion in 1954. Average earnings in manufacturing industries— $86 per week in 1955. Per capita income — $1,897 (estimated) in 1955; $1,757 in 1954. Oregon exports, principally from Portland, total 1.5 million tons annually. Imports run about 1 /10th that amount. Coastwise receipts exceed 6 million tons a year and coastwise shipments average 1.5 million tons. Some 6,000 manufacturing plants employ around 150,000 persons and their output exceeds $1.5 billion, according to state sources. Cheap power, growing population and approaching arrival of natural gas are stimulating industrial development. Main products are lumber and lumber products (employing 60% of state's factory workers), foods (17%), machinery, aluminum, textiles, clothing and fertilizer. Mineral production is rated at $22 million a year, including gold, silver, mercury, copper, lead and zinc. Rocky coastline extends over 400 miles. Eastward are coastal ranges, valleys, the Cascades, and vast plains. East-west distance is 395 miles. he added, "Why there's a dogwood tree at Waverly Country Club that blooms three times a year." James A. Mount, KGW, commented, "What happens this side of Grand Coulee Dam in Washington will be phenomenal." KGW and KTVL (TV), ch. 8 permittee, are to be merged under KING-AM-TV Seattle and local ownership, according to an FCC application, with James L. Middlebrooks, KING-AM-TV engineering director, becoming KTVL general manager. Francis Riordan, who moved to the city at year-end as manager of KPTV (TV), Storer station, has joined the list of Portland enthusiasts. About the Portland weather! First, it is responsible for the greenery, and the roses that endow the weeklong June Rose Festival, one of the nation's major promotions. Second the rains are light but frequent between November and April. Third, the total rainfall adds up to less than 40 inches a year, below New York's average, and the winters are mild. Much of the rain is a sort of mist and the Highest Tower -\ 1 y Maximum Power KOIN-TV CHANNEL 6 Represented CBS T V Spot Sales Broadcasting • Telecasting January 9, 1956 • Page 91