SHOULD PLANT
GRAPES HERE
An Interesting Letter from A. H.
Carson. Oregonian's Story
of Peter Britt.
Following is a very interesting letter
iron A. H. Carson, a msmbarof the
State Board of Horticulture, and one of
the most expert fruit and horticulture
raisers in southern Oregon.
Murphy, Or., Sept. 27th, 1907.
“Editor Jacksonville Post,
“Jacksonville, Or.
“Dear Sir:
“I noted the correction you
made wherein the Sherman Realty Co.
of Grants Pass named me as the
“Father of the Grape Industry of the
Rogue River Valley.” There is no
question in my mind but what the late
Peter Britt of Jacksonville deserves
that distinction, and I for one, would
not for a moment wish to take that
honor from such a grand, old pioneer
horticulturist as I knew Peter Britt to
have been.
“Perhaps had the Sherman Realty
Co. said I was the “Father of Com
mercial Grape Growing in the Rogue
River Valley” it would have come near
er stating the facts as they are, as I
think I was the first one that put the
Rogue river grapes on the market in
attractive packages and pushed their
merits in competition with California
grown grapes in the Portland markets,
that to-day they sell for more money
per crate ihan the California grape.
“I am in hopes Jacksonville will
awaken to the possibilities of grape
growing on commercial lines, as the
foot hills adjoining Jacks .nville I know
to be especially adapted to the growing
of the choicest Tokays and Malaga
grapes. Jackson and Rich gulches have
already given up their great wealth.
The pioneers of Jacksonville enjoyed
the same. Their descendents can if
they will create greater wealth more
lasting wealth, by planting their foot
hills to Tokay and Malaga grapes. Mar
ket demands will always be greater
than their ability to produce.
“A. H. C arson ,
“Murphy, Or., R. F. D. No. 1.”
The question as to who is father of
the grape industry in Rogue River
valley has been raised as the outcome
of a banquet recently given by a real
estate firm at Grants Pass in honor of
A. H. Carson, a grapegrower of that
section of the valley, who is credited
with being the originator of the grape
industry in Southern Oregon. It is an
unearned an unfair honor to credit Mr.
Carson or any other present vineyard-
ista of Jackson or Josephine county
with being the father of the Rogue
river valley grape industry. The true
facts are herewith given:
To the late Peter Britt of Jackson
ville belongs the honor of introducing
tame grapes into Rogue river valley,
and of having the first commercial
vineyard. This vinyard consists of 15
acres and is one of several in this
vicinity that have demonstrated that
Rogue river valley can produce a grape
and a wine equal to the best of the
famous grape districts of Europe. Mr.
Britt was reared in the grape district
of Switzerland, and having traveled in
France, he thoroughly understood the
growing of grapes and the making of
wine. He arrived in Jacksonville in
the fall of 1852, being one of the pion
eers of this old mining town, and noted
the vigor of the wild grapevines about
here, and he determined to give tame
grapes a trial. He got his first vines
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from California in 1854 or 1855. These
were the Old Mission grapes, and they
grew so well that he later got in other
varieties and for the 50 years to the
time of his death in October, 1905, Mr.
Britt carried on the work of demons
trating what were the best grapes for
this soil and climate, and in that period
he grew over 200 varieties of American
and European grapes.
Vines were had from Mr. Britt for
every vineyard in Rogue river valley,
including Mr. Carson’s, that were
planted prior to the last ten years.
The Britt grapes and the Britt wine
were famous while yet Mr. Carson was
a struggling lawyer in Arkansas, and
the fine quality of both were known to
al! pioneers of the Pacific coast who
had occasion to pass through Jackson
ville on the stage line in early days or
the railroad in recent time.
Mr. Britt was a lover of nature as
well as a scientific horticulturist, and
the park about his residence in this
place has been for years one of the
leading attractions of Southern Oregon.
Jacksonville correspondence to the
Morning Oregonian.
Cnn lie About that 28-acre ranch.
$150 per acre.
LzvV Cz O Between Jacksonville and Central Point.
In
fine fruit section.
Good fence.
Dunford & Overholt
The Criterion Saloon
Dunningfon & Deneff
.. Proprietors ..
Jacksonville,
Jacksonville
Commercial Club
Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Kenney.
Though fools spurn Hymen’s gentle
power,
We, who improve his golden hours,
By sweet experience know.
That marriage, right understood,
Gives to the tender and the good
A paradise below.
—Cotton.
Telegrams were received last Friday
evening by T. J. Kenney and family and
John Lyden, signed by Mr. and Mrs. C.
J. Kenney, in which it was stated that
Chris J. Kenney and Anna Lyden were
married in Detroit, Mich., at 4 o’clock,
Wednesday, September 25.
Both young people are well and fav
orably known in Jacksonville, and each
has a host of friends who are congrat
ulating them on their choice of a life
partner.
Probably in all southern Oregon there
is not another young man as steady in
his habits nor with the same business
ability as has Chris J. Kenney. For
years he has been the excellent book
keeper in T. J. Kenney s store, and
has mastered all the workings of his
father’s large business. His friends
are everywhere. It has been said of
him that he has not an enemy or an un
true friend.
Miss Lyden is a young lady of ster
ling worth and character and her friends
are without number.
The Post is among those who extends
its hearty good wishes to the happy
pair.
The Peter Boschey residence on Third
street is being remodeled and fitted up
for Mr. and Mrs. Kenney, who are ex
pected to arrive home within a few
days.
NOTICE
OF
MEETING OF
EQUALIZATION.
BOARD
OF
N otice is hereby given that the
Board of Equalization of the County of
Jackson, S ate of Oregon will, on the
third Monday in October, to-wit, Octo
ber 21st, 1907, attended, at the Court
house in said county, and publicly ex
amine the assessment rolls, and correct
all errors in valuation, description or
qualities of lands, lots or other property
assessed by the assessor; and it shall
be the duty of persons interested to
appear at the time and place appointed.
Peter Applegate, assessor of Jackson
County, Oregon.
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Information gladly furnished i'.bcut
the City and County.
We have a
large number of interesting proposi
tions to present to capitalists,
We
have something of importance io s >y
to homeseekers.
Investigate Jrck-
sonville. It has the greatest future
of any city in Southern Oregon. Ask
us about the mines, the fruit, the
agriculture, the climate.
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Wealthiest City of its size on the
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Pacific Coast.
Many business op
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portunities if investigated at once.
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.... Address....
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The
Jacksonville
Commercial
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C. L. Reames H
T. J. Kenney
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Se re ary
President
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See Dunford & Overholt about that
8-room, two-story frame house. Fine
well best in town—stone cellar, out
buildings, lot 100x100 feet. Ideal loca
tion, small fruits and berries in culti
vation. Price $1300.
V
R eception |
LUY & KEEGAN. I roj s.
SOLE AGENTS ALBANY
BEEP
"Mr—
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