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About Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927 | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1910)
VOL. XXV. GRANTS PASS, JOSEPHINE COUXTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, URCH 4, 1010. No. 40. L DEAL IS CLOSED TKKI) D. EISMANN AND S. METZGER PURCHASE S. PROPERTY ON ROGUE RIVER Sixty-Five Acres Will Be Set to Bart lett und D'Anjou Pears Work to Commence at Once. A recent purchase of sixty-five acres of land adjoining Grants Pass by Fred D. Eismann, a local fruit grower, and S. S. Metzger, of Penn sylvania, from Chris. M. Stackland and G. G. Stackland, of Cove, Ore., for $9,000 is bound to be a boost for fruit growing in this section of the Rogue River valley. The tract is part of the old Geyer homestead and is situated across the Hogue river from Grants Pass and is .Immediately below the new county 'bridge. It opens upon the west side of the county road where stands a "well built five-room house, back of "which Is a large barn. The oll is a Tich river bottom deposit, with the exception of a strip of five or six .acres laying along the south side 'where rises a bench of deep red soil, which provides v excellent building 'sites overlooking the entire tract,' the town and the Rogue river, should It ever be the desire of the owners to subdivide. An old orchard of apples, peaches and pears upon the land will Teceive 'the immediate care of the "buyers in order to bring it Into first tlass condition. Chris. M. Stackland, of Cove, who -was here to negotiate the deal for himself and brother, stated It was only because of the inability of either one of them to leave their large fruit and nursery business at home that they made the sale, as It had been their desire to engage in the same in dustry upon this land when they ob iained it three years ago. It is the intention of the purchasers -to plant this land to Bartlett and .dA'Anlnn nanra Murine ho nnrlnir nf 1911, and in taking this step they are relying both upon their own Judg- ment and the advice of the most ex- pert of the state's horticulturists who 'believe with them that the tract Is Ideal, not only for this fruit, but for all fruits and vegetables as well. And j i In the case of the latter the nearness to the local market being a most po .tent factor. To obtain the best results and to 'Tiave an orchard unequalled In South ern Oregon, the present owners In tend improving at once, with a view toward even further enriching the .soil and preparing it for their particu lar purposes. The small fraction of land now uncleared will immediately be cleared and the whole tract will be graded to a nicety and left In sum mer fallow until early fall. Then cover crops, will be sown and the whole covered with manure before It ' Is planted to fruit in the spring. Af ter such thorough preparations and -the establishment of an irrigation plant in the river where there is abundant power to easily pump water there can be but one result an Ideal orchard. Both Mr. Eismann and Mr. Metz ger are especially enthusiastic over the situation of their tract and vvn Sixth street paved to the bridge, their orchard, though Just outside the city limits, will be but a quarter of a mile over paved streets to the shipping and Icing points of the Southern Pa cific railway. The tract Is also w'th In touch of the lighting and telephone systems of the city. Such Ideal con ditions count, especially In the mar keting of fruits and vegetables, and are rarely to be found. In pear cul ture It has been proven most neces- nry o have Just such ft location. This news can not but be a great ' Incentive to horticultural pu-iilts In this section as It proves r.ndonhtccily fM(f frrntrinff nnnr Grant Pbs I1IUL II HIV p, i " " r -- --- is satisfactory both to those who have hitherto been engaged In It as well as to those who have? moBt carefully Investigated It throughout the North west, as we find the purchasers men representing this class. Mr. Eismann ORCHARD AND is so well known locally as a success ful fruit grower that little need be said of him, except to repeat that It has been largely through his efforts and his brother's along these lines that horticulture has received such an impetus in this valley, and to add that upon learning he could purchase This tract he Immediately resigned his position as manager of the hor ticultural work of the largest land company now operating nearby to aid In the developing of It. Mr Metz ger, on the other hand, has but re cently come into this country, but the fact that he has selected Grants Pass as the scene of his future opera tions after a thorough Investigation of conditions In this and many other points covering a period of two years, is sufficient evidence of hts good Judgment. To aptly put It, such a tract of our richest river bottom land, or alluvial sandy loam, so ideally situated and which gives promise of such sound management, can not but result in giving big returns to the Investors; and we look forward to the time, not far distant, when such tracts, so close in, as well as many others in this valley, will be worth and sell for sev eral thousand dollars an acre If based solely upon the earning capacity of our Rogue River Valley fruits. EXCITING' RUNAWAY OCCURRED MONDAY A disastrous runaway occurred in the streets of Grants Pass on Monday forenoon in which A. Bower was quite seriously injured. E. C. Under wood, his two sons and his father-in-law, A. Bauer,' all of whom arrived only a few weeks ago from Des Moines, Iowa, were arranging to move their household goods from the car to their home In Fruitdale. They stopped the team In front of the Jewell hardware store and were mak ing some adjustment In the harness when one of the horses slipped the bridle and Mr. Bauer stepped onto the tongue and reached over to fasten the bridle. This frightened the horses and they started on a run up Sixth street. Mr. Underwood ran to stop them and grabbed one of the horses by the bridle, but the other one had slipped the bridle completely off so Mr. Underwood was obliged to catch hold of the tongue and there he rode, for several hundred feet Wpt1 lf Seemed everv TTlOTTiprt V hn B'"' npt of f"""M fco-. He finally dronoM n,f 'tpr the turn was made at H street, and fortunately he was not hurt, having fallen between the horses and the wagon wheels pass- Ing either side of him. Mr. Bauer was not so fortunate. Just at the turn he was thrown down and one of the wheels struck him on the breast and slid, carrying him alonij several feet in the sort mud. Young Alien, who was in the wagon was unable Jo get out and had to stay in the race until the horses finally landed against a partition in the Fashion stables, where they were secured without further damage. Mr. Bauer though he was injured and went to hotel to remove the Sixth street mud with which he was thoroughly covered, but later he sent for a physician, who discovered that he suffered a' broken rib and other Internal Injuries. For the past few days he has been in a serious con dition, but today he seems much bet ter and he will probably recover. Mr. Bauer has been for the past 30 years or more a locomotive engineer on the Rock Island route and came west on a vacation, and to help establish his son and daughter In their new home. Regular Meeting of Ladle' Auxiliary. Next Monday, March 7, the Ladies' Auxiliary meet In regular session, this being their annual meeting. An nual reports will be given by the re tiring officers and the election of new officers for the coming twelve months will be effected. Preeed Ing the business there will be ren dered a special program. Including music and other Interesting features. On this occasion each member li privileged to bring a friend.. The trn:ram for the afternoon merits n large attendance, nnd It Is hoped every member will be present. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Booth re turned on No. 18 this Friday morn ing to their home at Roseburg after spending several days with relatives In this city. WHOLESALE CLEdtlfi BIG TRACTS FOR FRUIT Red Land of the Slopes and Dales Made Ready to Grow the Valley's Best Products by the Rogue River Orchard Co. The first annual meeting of the Rogue River Orchard company was held Monday, February 28, at the offices of the company at Merlin. Those present were: F. Williams and S. D. Williams, of Portland, and W. B. Sherman, of Grants Pass. A board of five directors was elected, consisting of W. T. Reed and F. E. Reed, of Kansas City; F. F. Williams and S. D. Williams, of Portland, and W. B. Sherman, of Grants Pass. F. F. Williams was chosen president, W. B. Sherman vice-president and S. D. Williams secretary and treasurer. Readers of the Courier, will re member that last fall the above named gentlemen purchased up ward of 3000 acres of land In the Grouse Creek district, embracing the entire Grouse Creek valley from the city limits of Merlin for a distance of four or five miles and reaching out far to the east, covering the large red bench lands in that locality and also Including a few hundred acres of the mixed red and granite soil to the west on which they have had a large force of men, teams and donkey en gines working during the past winter months. Their operations have made a marked change in the district. Early In the fall they started a large donkey engine to work on what is known as the Reynolds or Estes tract and they have covered all the river bottom land of this place with the donkey, also swept off all the timber and brush from the slope on the east; also have had slashed and the wood cut from that part of this ranch lying west of . the railroad tract. They have also pulled all the brush and trees from the Thompson ranch on the river bottom as well as on the slope to the east of the bottom lands. That part of the ranch lying west of the railroad tract has been partly cleared and the remainder sloshed ready to be burned In Septem ber of the coming season. It is their nlan to trea.t the Chamberlain tract Unwise during the remainder of the spring. That part of the Frier tract lying between the Merlin road and the creek bottom lands Is all being slashed, which makes a wonderful difference In the appearance of that locality. Considerable clearing and slashing is also being done on the Montgomery ranch, and a few hun dred acres will probably be slashed on the Sherman tract during the spring months. The Blanchard tract Is nearly all slashed. They are also doing considerable clearing and slashing on the LeRoy tract. The same Is true of the Scovllle tract. Some clearing Is also being done on the Rlggs tract. Owing to the late ness of the season the company will probably not make the Improvements on the Churchill tract lying to the extreme southwest and the Le Francis tract lying to the extreme northeast. S. D. Williams, who has accepted the position of superintendent of the comnany's business, has established his headquarters on the Chamber lain ranch, it being quite centrally located In the tract. He has over hauled some of the buildings already on the place and for additional room has had to put up three largo tents, one for a bunk house, one for a din ing room and the other for a kitchen, which gives the locality quite a pro gresslve air. For some weeks ht has had a largo force of men and teams plowing the cleared lands of the various ranches, preparing the same for planting to orchards, which he will plant this month. Earlier In the season he sent his horticulturist to the nurseries through Northern Oregon end Washington to select the choicest of trees for planting. The same have been shipped and nre now heeled In at their headqunrters on the Chamberlain ranch. They have trees on the grounds sufficient to nlant 400 acres, which Includes a larger part of the lands that were cleared prior to this year. They art planting pears and apples with peaches as fillers In the apples. About 60 per cent of the planting, however, will be pears. The pears are Cornice, Bartletts, Winter Nellls and Anjous; the apples are Spltzenbergs, the fam ous .Yellow Newtown Pippin, Wine sap and Jonathans. The larger por tion of the peaches are Crawfords, the balance being standard varieties. The old orchards which were on the various tracts are being pruned and sprayed and put Into a high state of cultivation and those that were not of commercial' varieties are be ing dug out and young orchards planted in their place. Horticulturist Ellison has taken personal super vision cf the planting department. W. B. Sherman has consented to look after the grape department and has ordered a carload of Tokay grapes from Jas. T. Langford, of Lodi, Cal. The same will arrive In Merlin the last of the week and will be propogated on the Thompson tract ready for next year's planting. The entire slope to the eaBt of the Grouse Creek bottom lands, reaching from the bottom lands up to the bench lands which have an elevation of from about' B0 to 80 feet, and with a grade of from five to twelve per cent for a distance of from four to five miles long, will be set to these cut tings next year after being rooted this year. The fact that there will be a boulevard built at the east side of this creek bottom lands and at the lower edge of the vineyard when the valley lands are fully developed to orchard and this gentle south slope to vineyard, will make a delightful automobile trip, especially In the fruit season. The company has secured the serv ices of Civil Engineer Oscar Ed wards, of Portland by the year. Mr. Edwards has charge of all surveying of the lands and Including their Ir rigation project, and the company Is n portion of the north end of their holdings, also a portion of the south end to be sold in small tracts to settlers during the coming season. Mr. Edwards is now pre paring plats and maps and survey ing the land and laying the roads for that purpose. The hundreds of acres of lands that they are having slashed on the various tracts during this winter and spring will be burned over In September ready for clearing and planting next year. Wide fire trails will be cleared around the entire slashings and a great deal of work will be done during the spring and summer months along those lines as a matter of precaution against for est fires. This Is the blggeBt fruit proposl tlon In Oregon and the businesslike manner In which the Rogue River Orchard company Is handling its af fairs will give a great impetus to the fruit Industry of the entire Rogue River valley. The planting of this orchard means eventually the plant Ing of over a quarter of a million of trees, and when this quarter of million of trees gets to producing $30 per tree the resources of this orchard will then mean over twelve millions of dollars Rnnually. MILITARY filRL THK SrCCKHS OF TIIK YKH The afternnth of the "Military Girl" has been a succession of broad smiles and frequent outburst of fresh glee nt the thought of Bteeihammer the Cook, and those "Jimmies." The general consensus ff opinion Is that the performance Is by far the fines ' thing ever put on In Grants I'nss ly home talent. The ptibll" yet run' (fathom how It wns ever accompllsho with undeveloped material In but ten days, and yet possess that very un . nilstakeable professional nlr. That Fred Carlyle, tho director, Is a mas tor of his profession Is the only ex planatlon, though we must not over look the earnest work of each mem ber of the cast. The entertainment was a succes sion of gracefully t artistic , effects, clever stunts, humorous situations, comic burlesques, good music, catchy airs and keen local hits that excited shouts of laughter from the respon se audience. The dainty costumes together with the effective lights and scenery set off well the beauty of the "thirty pretty girls." alt home production. It Is impossible to single out any one part as having made the hit of the evening, as the performance was uniformly .up to the highest crack. From the ralslnir of the cur tain upon the "Soldiers in the Park," which made a picture In Itself, to the last kick of those "Jimmies," there was spontaneity, dash and brilliancy, d a rapidity of movement that kept the audience on the qui vive with ex citement. Financially it was the best en deavor our ladles have made, as It netted them $131. Mr. Carlyle has won the confid ence of our citizens as a comedian, a conductor and a gentleman, and his return In June to put on the "Mika do" will be awaited with eager an ticipation. TEACHERS ENGAGED FOR CITY SCHOOLS The board of education of school district No. 7, comprising . Grants Pass and surroundings, held their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday and made the selection of teachers for the ensuing years as follows: Miss Fay M. Newton, Miss ' Pearl Barker, Miss Alberta W. Hawley, Miss Christina McLean, Miss Evelyn Wahrer, Mr. L. W. Turnbull, Miss Anna Blanche Crane, Miss Minnie L. Tuffs, Miss Flora Shaw, Miss Juliette B. F. Parramore, Mrs. Nellie Wood ward, Miss Reba Lowry, Miss Cora McVean, Miss Alice M. Horton, Mrs. Zoa V. O. Bryant, Mrs. Lillian Denl son, Mrs. Mollle Beldlng, Mrs. Ava E. Thompson, Miss Emily Callahan, Miss Lucie M. George, Miss Nellie E. Dement, Miss Margaret Williamson, Miss Helen McCoy, Miss Ethel Chap man. R. R. Turner, superintendent. This will leave four Instructors yet to be engaged. The matter of domestic science and manual the board did not make de finite plans, but these branches will be added next year. Election of Irrigation Directors. The directors of the Josephine County Irrigation & Power Co. held a meeting last Saturday for the elec tion of officers. Taking their cue from the action of the stockholders at their annual meeting, the old of ficers wore all re-elected. The en gineer In chief, Mr. Hall, was in structed to proceed with the survey and the scctlonlzlng of the ditches, so as to have them ready to call for bids, for construction. It has been resolved to do all work hereafter by contract. In this way It Is thought that the work can be done perhaps cheaper and quicker. The committee on construction wns directed to take up the field work and use every means to be ready for irrigation at the time the water supply will be ready for distribution. At tho mci-tlng of the county court this week the company was granted permission to use the public high ways for the purposes of construct ing, operating and maintaining Irri gation ditches. The Ilflncroft Itondlng Act. Notices of the assessment on prop erty covered by the proposed paving of Sixth, V and O streets have been posted and now those wishing to take advantage of the Bancroft bonding act must do so before Saturday, March 12, as after that date, unless application has been made, the amount must be pnld In cash. J. I). Fry has been active In the paving movement nnd bo has given up a good portion of his time for the bene fit of property owners who wish to bond, lie can be found nt the First National bank, where applications may be Mgned. Auditor Opdycke Rino will make out applications at the Observer office. Mrs. L. M. Kaser, of Portland, ar rived here Wednesday morning to bo with hr daughter, who Is 111 at the homo of Louis Steelhammer. GOOD REPORTS FROM GAUGE VAST WEALTH UNCOVERED OJT VARIOUS PROPERTIES GREATEST NEEDS OF CAMP Dr. Smith Declares that Things Are Looking Better than at Any Other Time. Every man who visits the Gallce district comes back with the story of the wealth that is being uncover ed among the eternal hills of that section. Capital, which is always timid, has at last declared Its con fldence In the camp and Is being In vested In large blocks In the various properties. 1 The business men of Grants Pass have through the Commercial Club expressed their . confidence In the prospects of the district and have done all that they could to make known to the world the real values In gold and copper to be found there. What Is needed Is more capital to harness power, build a railroad to some near ( point on the Southern Pacific and open good wagon roads to several mines which are now not easy of access. The bridge that has long been talked of Is still a dream in the minds of those who should have built It. We still hear that It . Is to be built this year and It Is not Impossible that this Is true, but our limited vision impels us to say that the Gallce district is likely to be call ed on to watt for a bridge until after the next election. Empty promises are no longer In order. Josephine county has reached a point in its history that demands the opening up of its vast resources with out delay and the way to do this Is for the county government to get a ' hustle on itself and build good roads, not highways filled In with dirt In the summer to be made mud holes during tho winter. Such roads are a disgrace to the county and we have altogether too many of them. The Mall Tribune of a few days ago gave this Item In regard to things at Gallce: "Dr. C. H. Smith, of Gallce, was In Medford Sunday night. The grow ing wave has extended from Medford even to Gallce, he says, and matters are looking brighter In taat camp than ever before. "The Almeda people are doing a great deal of workover 200 feet during the past year. The new smelter Is all raedy to "blow In" as soon as It Is possible to get the coke. The coke bins at Merlin are finish ed and It Is just a question of the roads drying sufficiently to permit heavy hauling for the smelter to be put In operation. As soon as this Is done anothor furnace will be built. "The Oriole has demonstrated the fact that Southern Oregon mines do go, down. This mine Is now down several hundred feet and the ore body Is bigger and better than It was on the surface. "There are sovcral other good things In the district," said Mr. Smith, "but these two are the big gest concerns. The smaller ones are doing as well in proportion." The (JoMen Drift Receiver Bait. Judge F. M. Calkins held session In chambers In this city on Monday and Tuesday of this week for the purpose of hearing certain equity cases, the most Important of which was the matter of the receivership of the Golden Drift Mining Co. The motion for removal of the receiver was argued and the rourt has taken the matter under advisement. At torney Reames also applied for a total Issue of receiver's certificates not to exceed $40,000, enough to be issued Immediately to pay obligations of receiver os shown by hi report and the balance to bo hsucd as may be ordered by tho court M It Is darn ed necessary after a proper showing. This amount Is considered ample to carry out every provision of tro Ir rigation contract, although It Is thought by the receiver that the wholo amount will not be used.
