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About Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1911)
vol. xrm. INCORPORATE FOR ELECTRIC RAILVAY FROM ASHLAND THROUGH CITY TO PORT ORFORD. SUPPOSED HILL MOVEMENT Grants Pais Will Be Asked for Franchise By Oregon Southern Railway. 1 U it a fact that that proposed el ectric railroad to run between Ash Jand and Grants Pass will soon be a reality? Matters are moving in a way which would seem to indicate that the promoters are sincere, as articles of incorporation were filed Saturday in Spokane for the pro posed road, and the line is to be ' known as the "Oregon Southern." Promoters Farren and Doyle, who were in Grants Pass some ten days ago, declared that they represented principals who were amply able financially to build the road and were anxious to do so. The follow ing special dUpatch from Spokane to the Portland Journal of Sunday morning lends strength to the pro moters' claims. The dispatch reads- "Spokane, Wash., Oct. 28. Rev iving a project planned by John R. Allen of Spokane, two years ago, a group of northwestern capitalists is now planning a new electric road to connect the Rogue river valley with the sea. Articles of incorporation with the capitalization set at $2, 000,000 were filed at Olympia today. J. Arnold Doyle of Spokane, H. M. Farren of Boise and Charles Rade haugh" or 'Corning, Cal., being the In corporators. The road, to be known as the Oregon Southern, Is to run from Ashland to Port Orford, touch ing Medford, Jacksonville and Grants Pass en route. "Many in local railroad circles be lieve Harrlman Interests are back of the new move. High officials of the O.-W. R. & N. are said to be inter ested In the plans." A dispatch to the Portland Tele gram is as follows: "OLYMPIA, Wash., Oct. 28. With headquarters at Seattle and $2,000,000 capital, the Oregon Southern Railroad company has been organized by J. Arnold Doyle, of Spokane; H. M. Farren, of Boise, and Charles Radebaufch of Corning, Cal. According to the articles filed with the secretary of state here to day, the purpose 13 to construct a railroad from Ashland, Ore., to Medford. to Jacksonville, to Grants Pass, to Eugene, and to Port Orford, with branches into California and In Oregon. The three Incorporators, with George Godfrey and George E. Boos compose the first board of trustees." The Medford Sun grows optimistic in the matter and says: "The articles of Incorporation show that the organizers of the com pany are: J. Arnold Doyle of Spo kane, H. M. Farren of Boise, Idaho, and Charles Radebaugh of Corning, Cal. These three, with George E. Boos, secretary of the Medford Com mercial club, and George Godfrey are named as the trustees of the company. i "According to the papers filed with the secretary of state of Wash ington, the purpose Is to construct a line from Ashland to Medford, to Jacksonville, to Grants Psbs, to Eu gene, to Port Orford, in Curry coun ty, with feeders Into the orchard districts and mining sections. The plans rail for operation by steam or electricity. "It Is now expected that the rep resentatives of the company will ap ply for a franchise to operate In the streets of Medford from the city council between now and the first of the year. Right of way agents are expected to ? In valley by Janu ary 1. It Is hinted In Portland rail way circles that the line Is a link In the proposed entrance of the Hilt system Info San Francls.ro. "The Interurban system as pro posed would consist, accordlnr to re ports, of a main between Ashland and Eugene, with feeders into var ious sections, Insuring a speedy set tlement of districts now unoccupied, and forerunning a new era in the commercial growth and prosperity of the entire southern Oregon country.". The two promoters while In Grants Pass ( stated to The Courier that they would ask for a franchise which would cover a city system as well as interurban. Neither one of the promoters visited city officials while here, each stating that they expected to return within a few days, meet the council and apply for a franchise. They did not return, how ever, at the specified time, but It is probable that they will soon be on the ground here. Mayor J. L. Myers is on record as Baying that he favored a demand by the council that the promoters be compelled to put up a cash bond of 15,000 or $10,000 before a fran chise would be granted, this because the two visitors refused to state for whom or for what corporation they were acting. "No more wildcat fran chises," Is the mayor's contention. Now rumors are flying around that it is Hill,, others declare it to be Harrlman people. A fact for consideration is that the incorpora tion papers call for either steam or electricity. NEW MEN INTERESTED IN CEMENT PRODUCTS COMPANY The Cement Products companyof this city, with a plant opposite the Southern Pacific passenger station, has two new owners, two old ones retiring. The company is now com posed of E. T. McKinstry, C. F. Nut ting and Otto J. Wller. Mr. McKin stry was in the former firm, the two retiring being J. E. Hair and C. P. Courtney. Mr. Wller recently came to Grants Pass from Douglas, Arizona, and was bo much impressed with conditions here and the future outlook that he decided immediately to take up a business life in the Josephine capi tal. He has purchased the Gunston home on North Sixth street. Tho Cement Products company is building up a splendid business here, and their productions In the form of cement brick, blocks, tiling and oth er manufactures of cement are in demand by builders throughout this territory. They make tiling of measurements of from four Inches o 36 Inches, the latter dimension ne Ing something new In southern Ore gon. CHA1LSON-SJOUERG. A simple ai)d quiet wedding was solemnized Saturday evening at 8 o'clock in the hqm'e of Mr. and Mrs. Chailson at 400 West G street. Tho contracting parties were EHc E. Carlson, who ramo to this country from Sweden some years ai;o, and Miss Karln SJoberg, just arrived n few months since, from the old homeland. The young people had known each other in Sweden. Love, however, Is never satisfied to be sep a rated by half the distance around tho world, so In the presence of friends and family acquaintances the nuptial knot was most securely tied, Miss Christiana Challson playt.d a wedding march as the bride and bridegroom entered the room made ready for the occasion, where the officiating minister, the Rev. Wm. R. Jeffrey, Jr., pastor of the New man Methodist Episcopal church, In an Impressive ceremony, pronounced them man and wife. Congratulations and good wishes were many and hearty. (ALICE CREEK BRIDGE IS READY FOR TRAVEL R. X. Basford, of the Columbia Bridge company, was a visitor In Grants Pass Tuesday morning and left on the motor for Jackson coun ty after dinner. The Columbia Bridge company Is doing a largo amount of work in the Rome river valley this season and two or three of th'lr Jobs are in Josephine! county Mr. Basford says that the bridge over C.allce creek has been finished and that the crew, together with the machinery and tools, will be brought to Grants I'aR within a day or tw0 and will be sent out ti Williams creek to start t!e work which the' county court has con tracted for In that aectlon. GRANTS PASS, JOSEPHLXE COUNTY, PRESIDENT TAFT ISSUES PROCLAMATION CHICAGO, Oct. 30. President Taft Issued today his Thanksgiving proclamation, fixing November 30, as the date for the observation of the day. In his preamble he men tions the rich harvests, our Indus trial prosperity, enlarged markets and freedom from famine, pestilence and war as particular reasons for thanksgiving in the United States.,; "Our national councils have fur thered the cause of peace in other land3," the proclamation reads, "and this spirit of benevolence has brought us into closer touch with other peoples. Strong In the sense of our own rights, we are Inspired to a serse of right in others, and we live in peace and harmony with the world. Rich in the priceless posses sions and abundant resources where with God's unstinted bounty has be stowed us, we are unselfishly glad when other people pass onward to prosperity." The president opened the program at the National Dairy show at the stock yards today. Later he laid the cornerstone of the new Hamilton clubhouse, where he took luncheon. RAILWAY TRESTLE IS UP FOR DISCUSSION One Important matter to come before the county court at the present session will be how to prevent the wooden trestle of the Grants Pass and Rogue River rail road from' going out at flood tide, and crashing Into the county's steel bridge across the Rogue at the end of South Sixth street. J. G. Rlggs, who promoted the railroad that has not yet come to a successful stage, proposed to Judge Stephen Jewell, that several bents of the long wooden structure be re moved, thereby giving greater free dom to rushing flood waters ' with their accompanying mass of logs and trees. It Is conceded that the trestle will stop most everything coming down the stream until t mass of stuff Is piled high, sufficient to carry the wooden bridge, trees and logs down against the steel bridge. It Is not believed that this will endanger the county bridge, but during a high flood, it may force the waters of the river to pour across the floor of the steel structure, which would prove a menace to travel. Mr. Rlggs will rrobably meet tho county court tomorrow and Join In the discussion as to tho best method of going at the matter. To take out piling will weaken tha trestle, but It la believed that it is certain to go out anyway, and to remove some of the obstruction may favo the re mainder. STATE ORGANIZER LEE ORGANIZES MERLIN GRANGE T. L. Lee, state organizer for the grange, has completed the organiza tion of a grange at Merlin, with 34 members. The officers are: Charles D. Sexton, master; A. C. Ford, secre tary; Mrs. J. C. Corhran, lecturer. Mr. Lee Is now organizing the ranchers In Jackson uounty, and will lie In that territory perhaps two months. DISASTROUS RUNAWAY LAST WEEK THURSDAY A disastrous runaway occurred Thursday evening at about 5 o'clock, when J. M. Johnson was returning from Granta Pass with a load of sup plies for the old Elsmann ranch, wet of the city. The trouble started when John son was about a mllo out of town, the horses becoming frightened at an object near the road and began run ning. In turning a corner, the wa gon upset, the wagon box falling on Mr. Johnson, breaking bis left ankle and both bones of the leg. Another man who wos In the wagon escaped Injury. The team ran towards home, and Meeting H. Wood In a lUbt surrey, Glided 'ltn oue hind wheel of tho surrey, breaking the wheel from the vehicle. The occiipnnn were not Injured. Mr. Johnson was taken to hi borne, and Dr. Ioughrldge rolled to stteud Mm. The fracture v.k r d'ued and Mr. Johnson Is reported rctlng fairly well. OREGON. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, SAMPLING IRKS ARE CERTAINTY COMMERCIAL CLUB UNDER. TAKES TO PROVIDE 8ITE. FREE POWER FOR YEAR A. J. McCorUe, Head of the Enter prise is Now on Trip to Mining Camps. publicity given the Josephine county mining fields during the past summer is beginning to bear rich fruit. At a meeting of the trustees of the Commercial club Saturday af ternoon, A. J. McCorkle, of Llbby, Montana, who seeks to erect an ore sampling plant In Grants Pass, was given the right hand of fellowship, the plan endorsed and a committee named to confer with Mr. McCorkle and seek a site near the Southern Pacific railroad tracks, the site to be donated. The committee named to look up the Bite and care for preliminary matters so far as the Commercial club Is concerned Is composed of O. W. Donnell. O. S. Blanchard and H. C. Kinney. ' The Rogue River Electric com pany has a standing offer to supply power free for one year to any new enterprise which consumes power, and the proposed plant will take ad vantage of this offer. Mr. McCorkte stated that a site with 200 feet frontage to the rail road and 150 feet depth was the required dimensions fsr the plant. Thts will enable room for a building of sufficient size' to houso crusher machinery, concentrating tables, au tomatic ore sampler, assay office, business office and minor features. The space of 150 by 200 will also allow space for teams to turn. To a representative of The Courier, Mr. McCorkle said: "I am pleased that the trustees of the com mercial club were so frank and bus inesslike In dealing with the matter. "Establishing an ore purchasing and ore sampling plant In Grants Pass will be of far reaching Im portance to the mining Industry, commerce and agriculture, because It means that Josephine county mining men and prospectors will now be able Jo develop their properties, which will redound to all business life In every town In the county and to every farmer,' for It means pay rolls and demand for food products. "The mining Indimtry In Josephine county has suffered because tho email mine owner could not sell his ore; he could not ship small amounts and pay the high rates for less than carloads. Now he can sell to us his ore, no matter how small a batch he brings. He can dump only $10 worth In our 'plant and get his money, "Thero are many prospects In the county which have from one to many tons of ore on the dumps. This ore will soon bo Invited to get to the sampler and the cash paid for it. And this means that many mines will be opened and continue at work. Sell a little ore now, then more next time, still more next time until the owner has developed his property to the point where he can open a slope then he has fair sailing. "As soon as the tonnage in the county Is sufficient I will propose to the miners of the county that they assemble their ores at various points and I will establish traction traffic, gather up all of the ore and bring It In under steam to the plant here. This will add another Impetus to the Industry. "Thero Is another thing I want to say, and that Is this: Ijiter, when wo find a man with a meritorious mining property and be Is not able to equip It with a concentrator, why we ran give him a financial lift, aid him to put In machinery and buy his runn-ntrs'. "From the small beginning for the miners the Industry will grow 1011. to unlimited proportions. The ore la In Josephine county, because I loonea neiore I decided on this mat ter." (From Wednesday's Dally.) A. J. McCorkle, who plana to erect an ore sampler In Grants Pass, re turned last evening from an autd tour through the Kerby country and ioaay stated to The Courier that hi met with the most gratlfvlnir wei. come by mine owners and merchant! or the various districts and towni no visited. Speaking of his Journeys through tho Kerby region, Mr. McCorkle said: "I found that the peoDla were glad to know we expected to erect a sampler In Grants Fass. This is what they have needed through all these years, and they now realize the benefit to be derived. All with hom I stalked quickly placed the seal of approval upon the plan ana win get busy spreading he news among others back In the hills. 'One conservative merchant told me that he believed that one year from the date of the sampler begin ning business that 6000 men would be working In the mines of Joseph ine county. I am glad he and others take this view, because they are cor rect In the belief that It will put mining In this county to the fron-. It will set drills to ringing and stamps to pounding on ore and It will mean that Josephine county, now practically . dormant from a quarts mining standpoint, will be come one of the Important quarts mining territories In the west, as It Is now and long has been, one of the foremost placer fields in America. "The quarts miners ot the county have bad no encouragoment to de velop their properties. They could sell no ore without sending It long distances, to Tacoma or San Fran cisco; and to pay the less than car load rates' meant failure. What Is tho nse of owning some commodity If one has no market for It? I once went In to raise apples In eastern Oregon. I raised the apples, lots of them, but had no market In those years, and It was a losing venture for me. I tried to give my apples away and made all my neighbors mad because I wanted them to take the stuff gratis. "The owners of mining prospects In Josephine county are in the sanw fix I was with my apples; they have no market. But they are soon to hava a market, because I intend to build sampling works here, and every man who has a handful of ore or carloads of ore can get the cash for It at tho sampler." Colorudo and Montana miners In Grants Pass are familiar with the value of a samplor to a community, and all who have mot Mr. McCorkle have extended to him their best wishes and thanks for his endeavors here. . Tribute To Miner4. In a reminiscent mood last even ing a Grants Tass resident paid tribute to the miners. He said: "Improvements of roads Is largely brought about by needs of traffic from farms, mines, mills and other Industries seeking tho nearest mar ket points. The more' thickly popu lated the country becomes the more it becomes necessary to build and maintain good roads. The good road movement has spread ovor the cn tiro country, and Is vastly beneficial to every community. We, In Jos ephlne county, have made steady strides In the right direction, but thero Is still room for great Improve mont on present roads and need for new ones. In certain sections of southern Oregon there lies cMi vir gin soli that would greatly Increase the stato's productions Millions of feet of tlmbor ready for tho estab lishment of lumber camps, and mines and prospects of great wealth Ho at our doors undeveloped and untoum ed, most of these Inaccessible. "The west opened tho oyeg of the world In 1 8 49 by tho discovery of gold and It was the miner that ted the wny. He wn the pathfinder. Gradually the trail became a road, tho road a highway, A roadbed for rallM and steam succeeded the cara vans. History will repeat Itself and the mines of southern Oregon will again open the way for better roads. Irt these routes that are today only trails lead to Grants Pass. Encour. age any honest enterprise, mining or NO. 81. agricultural. Every hundred pounds of ore delivered here and paid for by a sampling plant erected her means employment of labor, pur chase of the necessities of life, In crease In population, more homes built and a goneral trend toward a greater Grants Pass. , "In time the trails will widen; jr Increase of trafflo they become roads. Farms will open un whera thickly timbered forests now Btand, lumber camps and mills be built. and again the miner will have been the pathfinder and the gates opened to the last of the west." T.B. MORELAND ; SERIOUSLY INJURED A frightful accident occurred at the lime works on Chauey creek Tuesday morning, tn which Thomas B. Moreland was seriously Injured. Moreland was caught In a cave-In. a large mass of clay falling on him, breaking his back, his right ankle and his loft thigh. Dr. Longhrldg was summoned and the fracture re duced, but the ankle bone was cniBhed to a pulp. The other In juries are so severe,' however, that small hope of rocovery is entertain ed for the unfortunate man. Moreland Is unmarried, about 30 years ot age, and Is known to many Grants Pass residents. None ot the other workmen was Injured. From Thursday's Dally. . " Thomas B. Moreland, who was so seriously maimed In a caveln at tha lime works on Cheney creek Tues day morning, was brought to Grants Pass Wednesday evening and Placed In toe South Pacific hospital. The trip of 12 miles was on a hayrack. The sufferer stood tha trip wall and ' was able to converse freely with his physician In the j evening. Today, however, his condition Is much worse and he Is unconscious, and It la believed that Mr. Moreland will not long survive. When questioned as to his relatives, Mr. Moreland said that he has a sister living la Cleveland, Ohio. METHODIST LADIES' AID WILL mCAUTlFM GROUNDS The regular meeting of the of- flclal board of the Newman M. B. , church was hold In the church par lors Monday evening, when a largo number of the members were In at tendance to discuss plans for the fu turo wolfare of tho organization and the Improvement of the church prop erty, The work of grading the lawn and Improving the grounds surrounding the church and parsonago was given over to the Ladles' Aid society. This church has one of the most pleasing locations in the city, as both the streets on which It Is situated are macadamized, and with little work tho grounds can be greatly beauti fied, to harmonize with the sur rounding property. Regular routine matters wore taken up and dlscussod at length at the meeting and everything was found to be In good condition, with a promising future. Among otha" things It was plannod to print a weekly bulletin, announcing time of service and giving other news per taining to church work. The bulle tin will be Issued each Sundry, NATIVE PENNSFLVANIANS TO MEET AT MEDFORD Pennsylvania la Rogue River valley are to rally In Medford, Sat urday, talk over other dajs and en Joy a basket dinner. The Courier has received the following dated Medford: "The Rogue River Society of Na tive Pennsylvanlans will meet on Saturday, November 4, In the rend ing room of tho Frosbytorlan thurch, Medford. All I'onnsylvanlani are In vited, and every Pennsylvania Is to tell tha other Pennsylvania.! about It. Tho meeting Is at 11 o'clock a. m. Basket dinner at 12 in. Every one Is to bring enough for himself and ono more. Pennsylvania gener osity and hospitality must be shown. Fume good addresses. Rcnitalsccncos by all. Good social time. Every thing Pennsylvania. Wives and husbands of I'ennsylvanlans are members of this society. "By Order of Committee."