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Jefferson speaks at ceremony for state's 140th year By PETER WONG President Thomas Jefferson appeared before the Oregon Legislature last week to talk about how his administration contributed to the exploration of the "Oregon Country." Actually, it was historian Clay Jenkinson of Reno, Nev., who portrayed the third president of the United States during a joint session marking Oregon's 140th anniversary of statehood. Though he never set foot here, Jefferson is the "grandfather of Oregon" because he persuaded Congress to pay for the expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark into the vast area the United States acquired in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. That area excluded the "Oregon Country" -- today's Oregon, Washington and Idaho -- but the U.S. claim to the Pacific Northwest was strengthened when the expedition reached the coast near Astoria in November 1805. Lewis was Jefferson's secretary. "I must admit to you that he reported that they were the most miserable five months of the expedition," said Jefferson/Jenkinson. "Mr. Lewis had become habituated, as I was, to taking weather details every day. He reported later that during the five months the expedition spent here in Oregon, the sun shone only six times -- and it failed to rain on just 12 days. "By now the men were all dressed in animal skins, chiefly elk skins, literally rotted off their backs. Their diet consisted of pure water and boiled elk meat -- and they were at a low point in their morale." Another highlight of last week's celebration that Southern Oregonians will see soon was the 48-foot trailer that contains "AT&T Treasures of Oregon," an exhibition of objects from the collection of the Oregon Historical Society. Among the objects are a 10,000-year-old sagebrush bark sandal from Southern Oregon; Lewis's branding iron; the sea chest of Capt. Robert Gray, whose ship Columbia sailed in 1792 into the river that now bears its name; a draft of the Oregon Constitution, written by Judge Matthew Deady in 1857; and the typewriter of Abigail Scott Duniway, a leader of the Northwest right-to-vote movement a century ago. The trailer will be at the Rogue Valley Mall in Medford March 14-16, sponsored by the Southern Oregon Historical Society. Other stops include Grants Pass, March 11-12; Gold Beach, March 18-19; Ashland, Oct. 18-20; and Jacksonville, Oct. 22-24. "Many items in the exhibition were perhaps not much valued when first created or used," said Chet Orloff, executive director of the Oregon Historical Society. "All have taken on greater significance with the passing and perspective of time. The exhibition waiting for us offers each of us an individual encounter with the real stuff of history." Rep. Judy Uherbelau, D-Ashland, was mildly miffed last week during the delegation's weekly telephone conference call with the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County. It would have been the chamber's first video conference in the history of the 38-year-old hotline, but was put off because of technical difficulties. "I even wore a red jacket for the occasion so you can see me better," she said. They'll try again Tuesday. Some shufflings and retirements in state government: Paul Warner, the state economist since 1989, is the new legislative revenue officer, who advises the Legislature about the effects of proposed changes in tax laws and school finances. He replaces Jim Scherzinger, who left the position last fall after more than 14 years to become chief financial officer for the Portland public schools. Thomas Potiowsky, professor of economics at Portland State University, is the acting state economist. As a member of the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors, he has worked with the Office of Economic Analysis, which prepares quarterly forecasts of the state economy and demographics and projects income for the state's general and lottery funds. Kay Toran, the state's director of child protective services since May 1994, retires at the end of the month. She began her state government career as an assistant professor of social work at Portland State University. She was named administrator of the Children's Services Division in 1994 and director of its successor in 1995, the State Office for Services to Children and Families. Joil Southwell, a 24-year veteran of state government and administrator of the Vocational Rehabilitation Division for 18 years, also retires at the end of the month. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Peter Wong in the Salem bureau, (503) 588-8826. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA