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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1952)
BIX MErFOHD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE Sunday, Junt 11, 1951 Afledford Grows Greatly Since First 1883 Survey; Simplified Process of Annexation Nov Being Used Original Town Had 176 Acres; Total Kow Is 1,938.8 Additions To City Completed; Others Due By JACK JACKSON Mail Tribune Staff Writer In 1883, surveyors for the old Oregon and California railroad laid out a townsite in the center of the Rogue valley for what had been known as Middleford The town, set up parallel to the O and C tracks, lay com pletely west of Bear creek and left out two large sections of property owned by private citizens. Middleford, by that time changed to Medford by persons hailing from Massachusetts, lay within what now constitutes the business area of the city. The eastern boundary was Stage road, now Riverside avenue, ana the city ended on the west at J street, now Oakdale avenue Jackson street, "the road to Jack sonville" on the original survey, was the northern boundary, and 12th street, still known by that name, marked the southern city limits. Ciiv 176 Acres O and C Surveyor P. P. Prim's original Medford, Incorporated as a "town" In 1885, totalled 176 acres In a tight cluster around the railroad depot In the center of town, and then, as now, all streets in the area roughly north west by southeast and southwest by northeast Medford's railroad survey background was not an uncom mon one for towns which started on the Pacific coast in the 1870's and 1830's. In California, Cen tral Pacific railroad survey crews drew up townsites for what are now Bakersfleld, Fresno, Visalla and other similar cities. Growth of Medford from the original townsite was a rapid, but somewhat tedious process Most of the first additions to the city were to the west and north. They came Into the city by means of a vote of the proper ty owners In the area and in the city, or by revision of the city charter. Process Slow, Expensive The process for bringing new property Into the city was slow at best and Involved consider able expense to property owners. City officials estimate that an annexation election today would cost about $500. Despite difficulties which arise, annexations came in rapid ly during the early years and through the 1920's when new "home construction was going at a comparatively rapid pace. Fold ers containing documents on these annexations and additions now fill considerable drawer space in the city hall. The de pression years of the 1930's were slow, both for building and an nexatlons. With the close of World War II in 1045, Medford again started to grow, in population, number of houses, and in area. This time the emphasis was on cast Med ford. Shortly after the end of the war three sections in the vicinity of the Rogue Valley Country club were brought Into the city, still by the method of holding elections in the proposed annexation area and In the city New Method Enacted The break in this time honored custom came last year, when the Oregon state legislature ap proved a new measure on city annexations. Under this action, property could be brought into the city without any elections, , if 100 per cent of the property owners In the area agreed to the annexation and If it were ap proved by the city council. Two large sections of property were brouRht In the city last fall under the 100 per cent provision, shortly after the new state law went into effect. Both were in east Medford. Eastwood subdi vision lay on the northeast city limits and Verde Hill subdtvi sion No. 1 lay on the southeast margin of the city. The total acreage Involved In these two subdivisions amount ed to more than 44 per cent o( that within the original town site, as turned in to the county clerk on May 4, 1888. Eastwood contained 42 acres and Verde Hills No. 1 amounted to 36 acres (or a total of 78. compared with approximately 178 In the original townsitt. They brought the total acreage within the city limits to 1,939.8. Four In Process Now four more subdivisions are In the process of coming into the city under the 100 per cent provision. In addition, some ac tion has been started In one oth er area to bring property into the city through elections, still necessary when 100 per cent ap- , WOODS. AW t -r? pSIVr-,Vw- - : v? w v - !...! : S . ' ' X : ?. r i - 7.,,. ' ' : ! , L - ' f ' ' - r1 - P -I '-4 X-- r ,.s . VV - v. f J' VERDE HILLS ' Four tracts, one already brought into the city by annexation and three -awaiting public hearings on annexation, are shown in the above map. The lined-in area is Verde Hills No. 1, which was brought into the city last fall. The area surrounded by small lines, to the left, is Verde Hills No. 2, and the larger area, also surrounded by small lines, to the right, is Verde Hills No. 3, both of which come up for public hearing July 1. The small square area above Verde Hills No. 2 is also slated to come up for public hearing at a date still to be determined by the city council. MM STRATFORD V -jtulCK'IIOH ; '"syi' OHKiON 't a !i&cnaTi f' vy lit -' : 1 v I1 CD : MICDIUCT CAST J L L n JACK SOU I EASTWOOD Eastwood subdlvlson, Incor- margin of Medford. (All maps prepaied for The porated into the city of Medford last fall by Mail Tribune by George Brown of the city annexation, la shown In the lined in area of engineering department.) the above map. The tract is on the northeast dents or property owners In three other areas have Indicated an interest In coming Into the city, but no concrete action has been taken thus far, The subdivisions which are In the process of coming Into the city under the 100 per cent pro vision are Verde Hills Nos. 2 and 3, West Side Heights, the Washington school area, and a small tract east of Highland drive and north of Roxy Ann drive. City officials do not have an exact acreage for these four subdivisions, but they appear to be as large as, or larger than those which were brought into the city last fall. July 1 has been set for a pub lic hearing on annexation of the two Verde Hills subdivisions and August 5 for West Side Heights. No date has as yet been set for the fourth tract. If no opposition develops at these hearings, the tracts will be brought into the city by a simple vote of the city council. Mar Need Election The area in which a vote will probably be necessary for an nexatlon is in east Medford, ad jacent to the Verde Hills tracts. It is located between Verde Hills No. 1 on the south and the pres ent city limits on the north. In addition to the 100 per cent clause in state legislation, the city of Medford has certain re quirements for property being annexed to the city. According to a recent report on annexations by City Super intendent Robert A. Duff, all districts to be incorporated Into the city should have all streets graded and surfaced according to city specifications. Also, all lateral water and sewer mains should be installed as a mini mum requirement when possible. A system of city checks has been started to Insure that this work Is done before a favorable vote Is given by the city council. Pose Many Problems Duff's report points out that 'the inclusion of new districts will propose many problems and eventually cost the general city taxpayei some expense before all facilities of the new areas are incorporated into the general service utilities of the city." It adds, however, that "this future expense will be offset to some extent by the Increased assessed valuation of the new districts sharing the tax load of the city." The annexation of Verde Hills No. 1 and Eastwood last fall to city public service depart ments, according to Duff's re port. A statement by Fire Chief Gordon Barker says "the annexa tlon of Verde Hills additions should make very little differ ence in the time element In responding to alarms In this area, provided the East Side lire station is in operation by the time that home building has pro gressed to any extent In the addition." "Eastwood subdivision should likewise create no serious problem of fire protection," Chief Barker adds. Regarding the two new tracts, Hawthorne Park's Summer Schedule To Begin Monday The Hawthorne park sum mer program Is under way, and supervised play will begin at 1 p.m. Monday, according to Play ground Supervisor Lillian Ken dall. The Friday night spectial programs conducted last year will be changed to afternoons, preferably Fridays, to accomo date more children. The pro grams will consist of children's parades, contests or special mu sic. The special program for next Friday will be a doll parade. Each child is to bring a doll or stuffed toy. Judges will award ribbons for the largest, smallest, most unusual and prettiest dolls. For the handicraft periods, 3 to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, children are asked to bring a cork and a box of pipe cleaners. Schedule Given The park program for the summer, Monday through Satur day, is as follows: 12:30 p.m. Inspection of play ground equipment. 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thurs days and Saturdays Story hour. 3 to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wed nesdays and Fridays Handi craft. 4 to 8 p.m. Wading pool sup ervised. 5 to 8 p.m. Dinner hour. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Pool open, free play on equipment, games. 7:30 p.m. Lockup, repair poval cannot be obtained. Real- brought no "unusual" problems work. Police Chief Clatoui McCredie states "It is the opinion that, under present conditions, this department will be able to fur nish police service." He also points out that "it is felt that if more annexations are made it may later be necessary for the police department to add a con stant east side patrol." Both Barker and Duff, as city water superintendent, believe that no difficulty will be in volved in maintaining an ade quate water supply in the new subdivisions. City officials point out that bringing new property Into the city limits is becoming more necessary each year. They state that building sites for homes within the city limits have be come almost non-existent during recent years. Probably one of the biggest problems In taking In new an nexations, and one which Is cer tainly not unique to Medford, is that property owners develop ing tracts have their own pref erences for street names. For example, Chief Barker pointed out last fall that Sating street. Oregon avenue and Capitol ave nue actually constituted only one street. The same was true of Stevens street, South way and Harrison avenue. However, since Duff's report was Issued, this problem has, in general, been corrected. To clean dusty artificial flow ers, place them blossom-end down in a paper sack contain ing salt, close the top of the sack tightly around the stents and shake vigorously. I MURRAY i i '"" MT PITT !; (?! Fm (g i i -' i; i,: V " WINCHESTER'' T jj ,"- 1- '!;""" ' - I' iZll!i.ll.7r;:::i L ' ' ' ' .;. ': ; v.aki WEST SIDE HEIGHTS Pictured above Is a map of West Side Heights subdivision, in the Washington school district of south west Medford. A public hearing on annexation of the subdivision, being developed by D. A. Parker, will be conducted by the city council August 5. County Economic Survey Shows Overall' Increases Jackson county's annual pay-: roll has increased nearly seven times since 1940, according to the latest comparative economic survey compiled by the Jackson county chamber of commerce. For the 11-year period cov ered by the survey, the Jackson county payroll increased from under $6 million to $40.3 mil lion In the same period, the county's employment (as shown by figures of the State Unem ployment Compensation commis sion) increased from 4,695 to 11,940. And citizens have been able to buy more with those payrolls, too. The effective buying income actually the buying power of the Jackson county family was raised to $3,769, according to the latest figures. In 1946 it was $2,919. The effective buy ing income for Medford families was increased from $2,919 to $3,769. The population Increase for the past decade has been 22,297 in the county. Over 6,000 of these newcomers were counted in Medford. Since 1939 the assessed valua tion of Medford has nearly dou bled it has been raised from $9,837,861.02 to $18,036,815.04. Assessed valuation for the entire county increased from $34 mil lion to $57 million. The number of power and water connections in Medford have also nearly doubled since 1940. There are now three times as many telephone connections as there were then. .The 630 building permits issued in Med ford in 1951 were worth over $2 million more than the 215 permits of 1940. Bank deposits increased in al most direct ratio with the coun ty payroll. A 5.7 million Med ford deposit in 12 years in creased to one of $38.7 million. Dead line Sunday Classified! Is at noon Saturdays. Medford Woman Winner In National Contest Mrs. L. S. Stenerson, ZZie Jacksonville highway, is a winner in a recent national contest. And she nearly had to wait for a call from The Mail Tribune to learn about it. Saturday The Mail Tribune was informed that Mrs. Sten erson was a winner in the "42" Shampoo Friendship contest. When she was called and questioned about the size of the prize, her reply was: "What? Did I win? They haven't told me anything about 111" Mrs. Stenerson's sponsor, the Assembly of God church, will receive a reward identical with that won by Mrs. Stenerson. HARVEST CONDITIONS EASE Salem (U.R) Cool weather combined with an improved re sponse by students, housewives and family groups has eased farm harvest labor condition in most parts of Oregon, the state employment service said Saturday. 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