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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 1911)
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, arEDFORP, OREGON, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1911. PAGE FIVE J. W. Maddox Writes East Medford, Oregon, D -- 1910. l)car Jolin It is rnininjj today, tho eominenuu incnt of the rainy bcnson, which gen erally begins about the middle of November, nltcruntinjr with sunshine and showers until about the middle of February each year, giving us in all from 1220 to 30 inches of rainfall dur ing the entire period. The remainder of the year is made up of almost per petual sunshine, except now and then a gentle shower during the months of April and May, as a reminder that ,thc planting season is at hand. We only know of winter by the falling of the leaves, an occasional fall of snow following a cool rain that disappears almost as suddenly as it came. An icicle is as rare in this climate as an honest politician in New York, Keithbburg or Aledo. Madam nature was surely in her best mood when she put on the finishing touch and passed her gentle hand over this beautiful valley. Why, John, it seems to me that Old Sol turns his bright est side toward us as he climbs tla zenith, casting a happy glance back ward as he descends the western skies, into the deep blue sea; the man in the moon seems to wink hit other eye as he passes over. The very air we breath seems ladened with health giving ozone, so rarifiet' and etherolized that one's vision cai. penetrate and measure distance u. the tallest of snow capped mountains from 80 'to 100 miles in the distance. You remember 1 snid in my last thai I was getting my second eye sight. Well I was out the oilier day with a friend, lie called my attention to a snow capped mountain in the dis tance (called Mt. Pill.) I asked him the distance as the crow flies. He said "eighty miles." Why it seemed as near (o me as the late bungalow jail does to the Mercer county court house. Now, John. T must tell you a lit tle more of Medford and it environ ments. First: It's a beautiful little city, full of thrift and business enterprise. The surrounding territory with its hundreds of square miles of the fin est fruit, stock, vcgetublo and alfalfa lands in the world to draw from, bids fair tp become one of the lending and most prosporoun cities on the western const. Its banks are run ning over with good money. Idle capital from tho principal money centers of this, ns well as foreign countries, is seeking investment here. Now, don't take on an air of Aledo enterprise, pucker up your mouth and holler Ananins when I tell you of an orchard sale made here a few days ago to a merchant prince of Seattle, aggregating in total three hundred thousand dollars. The orchard proper' contained something like 280 acres of fourteen year old apple and pear trees. There arc sale3 of loss amount made nearly every day. Orchards near the city often sell for .f.")00 to $1,000 per acre, making it a Mecca for tho rich man, while a little way out, and not too far away, lies the paradise for the man of jess means; where unimproved lands are selling at from $35 and $40 to $100 per acre. Just think of it, John what you and n lot more of them Klizn township fellows are losing by mov ing to Aledo, hunting county offices, etc. Now I am in communication with a number of good men in old Mercer, who are asking for the facts in relation to land values and cli mate. To all I have answered truth fully, and Mn conclusion will state that I have spent considerable time looking over the vnlley and studying values here, and will willingly an swer all inquiries. Yours truly, J. W. MADDOX. P. S. Oh, yes, John, I forgot io tell you we can't hardlv keep hoiibc at all without tho Democrat. J. W. M. GOLD MINING IN SOUTHERN OREGON (Continued from Paco 1.) their mines would pay wages, and in their slow but suro way amassed what was to them a fortune and left for their native country. Grad ually Yellow "John" has quit this field of enterprise, and few Chinese are seen today in the Rogue Rivci Valley. Placer mining in Southern Oregon has gone through much the same stages as in Calofirnia. First the Mexican bates, or an ordinary cone shaped pun, was used by the miners. Then the rocker or cradle came into use. After this came the torn, an appartus with cross riffles which permitted the play of a continual stream of water. Then sluice boxes were built across (he claims where there was sufficient water. By this method miners could shovel gold bcariinr gravel into running water from both sides. The gold in the gravel was caught on the quicksilver ..l..i... ..i ii. ..:t'ci..r. i imiii'K iii i lit; nines, , After tho sluice-box, the hydraulic method was inaugurated. Water was conveyed through pipes to tho work Inns at a high pressure and played upon tho Kold-hearing gravels. A I whole hillside can be washed into suico-boxes and tho gold saved by j tills method. j Tho greatest handicap to hydraulic I mining in southern Oregon lias boon I tho scarcity of water. Most of tho! mines can only bo worked during tho Tho initio includes 700 deoj) red clay gravol de- tlio year, acres of posit. There aro many signs of awaken ing Interest In mining throughout tho coast. California for tho first time since 1897, has gained first place from Colorado ns the foremost gold producing state in tho Union. Tho Increased production of gold in Cali fornia has been duo to the develop ment of dredgo mining. Operations of this character aro being started on Fool's creek in tho northern part of Jackson county. Tho possibilities of dredgo mining In southern Oregon whoro many streams with rich channels abound aro just now beginning to bo Inves tigated. As a reaction from concentration of energy upon thu exploitation of Oregon's horticulture possibilities groat effort Is now being mado to ward the advertisement and develop ment of Oregon's mineral wealth. Similiter, this year held its first min ing congress representative mining men coming from all parts of tho dls- City Property First class business proporty, Im proved or unimproved, at tho lowest figures. Dwolllngs of all kinds in all parts of tho city at prices ranging from ?500 to $1G,000. A good platting proposition of sov- rainy season, as tho majority of tho I on acros within city limits, on good smaller streams dry up in tho sum- 8treot $6000. mer. Projects have been proposed Best resldenco lots on West Main several times to bilng water 50 or j street; south fronts; 70x140; corner 70 miles to tho mines from ono or or Jnsido lots, $15.75. other of tho largo streams, but as yot nono of them has materialized. The Jacksonville Sentinel, In 1859, referred to tho possibilities of hy draulic power contained in tho open- Lots on paved street, with all Im provements, $050. Lots on Second street, with water and sowor, $350. Call on us for anything in city ing of artesian wells. Tho paper wont ' property and you will find wo have on tho show that tho Roguo river I it at prices and terms thut aro always mado the propor bend at a high nl-1 right. tltudo and that the lower stratas of v. T. YORK & CO. ground wore of tho proper gravelly 102 West Main. nature to insure the presenco of these Bell phono 3301. Home phono 31. artesian wells. However, only two "r - . artesian wolls havo been found. These nro In the Talent orchard, whore j their limited flow of sparkling aqua Is used In stimulating tho growth of tho celebrated Roguo River valley I bring a harvest as truly golden as placer mining. I At present tho Roguo River Canal i company is preparing to build 200 1 miles of ditches from tho hoadwaters! of nig Butto croek. Tho wator Is fori lrrigatlonal pruposos, but there is no cause to prevent somo of tho flow being used In mining, as tho highest ditch will run well back Into the hills whore tho placers are situated. The hoavlost producor of tho hy draulic placers of southern Oregon has boon tho Storllng or Ankony nilno, on Sterling crook, a fow miles from Jacksonville. This mine is said to luvo producod from $25,000 to $00,000 every yoar for tho last quar-l ter century. The equipment consists; of a 26-mlle ditch, oarrylng 2500 min-l ors" inches, and supplying water for two and three giunu nine months liii Offutt Rornes Auto Co. Automobiles I 0ENKRAL OVERHAULING & MACHINE REPAIRING. First-Class Workmanship Guaranteed. PHONE MAIN 023L Corner Central Ave, and 8th St Medford. Or. trict, which extends Into Idaho. A meeting of miners of the southern Oregon and northern California dis tricts has been called at Ashland for January 17. This gotting together of mining men will mean much for the development of tho mines of Ore gon. Tho State Minors' association, with L. D. Mahono as secretary, is showing unexpected llfo and is bo comlng a strong factor In putting mining upon a practical business ba sis. Gold Is by no means tho only min eral to bo found In southern Oregon. Quicksilver, coal and silver as well as copper mines are being developed. W. H. Jackson Is doveloping tho Mammoth quicksilver mlno on the Roguo rlvor, and cinnabar properties are also bolng oponod on Evans creek. A largo body of coal has been found within five miles of Medford nnd Is being sold for fuel. Tho coal will bo of special value as fuel for tho smelters of tho Blue Ledgo cop per mines when railroad communica tions nro built. Undeveloped depos its of lead, salt, coal and limestone exist in this region. Limestone for years was burned in kilns situated on Jackson creek. Marblo and granlto quarries aro being operated at Tolo and near Med ford. The crushers at Tolo aro ablo to turn out CO carloads of crushed granlto for use on roads every day whon In full operation. This plant Is equipped with air compressors, air drills and grinding nnd polishing ma chinery to furnish granlto for build ing purposes nnd monumental work. Electric power generated at Gold Ray dam, on the Roguo rlvor, is used in thiB quarry. The tremendous wator power now running unharnessed In tho Rogue river, Dig Butte creek nnd other smaller streams will furnish all tho power needed for the development of mining nnd quarrying for centuries to come. Tho mineral springs which nro found scattered through southern Oregon nro another nntural resource furnished by nature. Extensive bot tling works are being operated at Wagner, Colestln and Shasta springs. Thnt tho mining Industry of south ern Oregon will soon camo Into Its own, not oven a pessimist enn deny. Tho mineral wealth which has here tofore lain secluded In the mountains revolutionized mining will be given will soon be reached by railroads. 'a chance. Then tho capitalistic machinery and I Thero Is no rational ground for advanced mining methods which Imvo, believing that the miners of the '50s could have uncovered so much treas ure as they did nnd not leave untold wealth which their primitive methods and tools could not reach. I rrt i i ilisu'"i 1 uu iuu inuvy r Pure Clear Sparkling You cnu't afford to do without this splondid, refreshing drink. Call up and order a enso sent to tho house. Tho purest, most hoalthful drink known is SISKIYOU MINERAL WATER P. C. BIGHAM, Arjcnt. That NOW is thetimo to replace your old fence with a new one. Thnt it will improvo the appcar nnco of your properly fully VIVTY PER CENT if tho fcuco is riht nnd properly constructed. 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The Sale Has Tripled Our Fondest Dreams Why You Should Look We invite vou to look, whether vou are ready to purchase goods or not. & The stock is in excellent shape i'or choosing; the assortments are large. The prices are the lowest ever made in Southern Oregon and sure to please you. f ICvory thing is stylish, up-to-date and worthy in every respect. , .If you don't know us by reputation for honest dealing, just ask your friends who have bought of us wo will stand by their judgment. W13 DO NOT JitiLIKVti TJ1AT Y10 WILL .MOV 10 A IMKCti OF FURNITUKIO TO Til III NICW STORM Medford Furniture & Hardware Co, Inc. 230 E. Main St. Medford, Ore. ri