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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1889)
THE WEST SHORE. 355 vember, 1885, when a total of a trifle more than eight inches was measured. There are no destructive tor nadoes in summer nor cold blasts in winter. Mer cury seldom gets below ten degrees above zero, al though snow usually falls to the depth of a few inch es in the winter time, and remains on the ground sev eral days. There is a oool breeze in the afternoon and evening of the hottest days in summer. Crops grow without irrigation, but gardeners sometimes resort to artificial means of watering their plants so as to pro long the bearing season or to get more than one yield in a season from the same ground. The streams flowing from the adjacent hills make irrigation con venient for those who choose to employ it In the rough land bordering the valley there is an attractive field for stockmen. Generally the local ity can be chosen so that by going into the mountains in summer time and coming out in the valley in the winter cattle find good grazing the entire year. The stock interests of the Rogue river coun try are quite- extensive and profitable. There are large numbers of sheep on the ranges, and the wool product is said to be the best in the United States. It is entirely free from sand and burrs and the sheep are well bred. The animals are almost entirely high grade me rinos, but steps are be inir taken to introduce long wool breeds to mix with them and bring the grade down to a more profitable basis according to the pres. ent tendency of the markot Jackson oounty, in which Ashland is situated, and its sinter county in the Rogue river country, Josephine, are among the important wool producers of the state. The woolen mill now in operation at Ashland does not by any means consume all the product that caturally goes to that market . , Ashland has one of the best water powers in the state, Ashland creek, which flows through the con ter of the city, has a fall of about two hundred and fifty feet to the mile, so the water can be used several time. M it passes through the city. The volume is sufficient at all seasons for manufacturing purpose It is to easily controlled that it has a special Ttlot for manufacturers of modest means who are in soarcn of a place for safe and profitable investment There are many choice sites along the stream and conveni- a n I ;:;;!: in; ( i AV n if (I ' - r AKIILAND WIMM.M MII.U. ent to railroad transportation where furniture factor ies, Homing mills, woolen mills, machine shops and many other manufacturing institutions oould be op erated to advantage. It is a live and progressive community and inducements are offered that are worthy of careful consideration by investors. The city of Ashland is a most pleasant plaoo of residence. It has broad, well graded streets and the genoral appearance of the town impresses one with a sonse of its neatness and hospitality. It is laid off on a gonerous plan and some of the avenues lead through peach orchards and fields of waving grain even within the city limits. Many pleasing architec tural features are observed in both publio and pri vate buildings. Every houso has its lawn and flower and vegetable garden. The business streets are full of life and energy and an air of comfort and refine ment pervades the homes of all the people, The education of the ohildren of Ashland is well provided for. The city has two publio school buildings and seven teachers are em ployed. A state nor mal school is maintain ed and liberally patron ized. There are also throe private schools, inoluding a kindergar ten. The oity has a large 'public hall and six handsome church odifloes belonging to the Roman Catholics, Methodists, (Presbyte rians, Baptists, Congregationalists, Dunkards. The Episcopalians have an organisation and will soon build a church. Of fraternal and benevolent socl eties there are lodges of Masons, Odd Follows and Knights of Pythias. The city has one of the best companies of militia in the state. A publio reading room under the auspioes of the Woman's Christian Temporanoe Union and the libraries of the different societies place good literature within ths reach of everyone. The board of trade numbers among its members the live business men of the city, and it Is, of course, a flourishing organisation and one that is of inestimable value in promoting the welfare of the community. A very important consideration in connection with ths bealthfulness of Ashland Is the abundant supply of ths purest water that Is furnished its dtl wna Good water is something that western cities iometimes lack, but the water supply of Ashland can