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.
Vacuum Cleaners
SERVICE & REPAIR
ALL MAKES
Dust Bags, Filters
etc.
kszm
Phone 2-4998
w
Tired of SHOUTING?
Are you being driven
crazy by someone you
must yell at to make
yourself heard?
If she only knew that
without the risk of trial-and-error
methods she
could hear normal speech
again!
This is the Sonotone way
to better hearing: In the
complete privacy of our
office, or your own home, a
Certified Sonotone Consultant
determines the individual
need, following medically
accepted practices.
Then from a full line of fine
Sonotone instruments with
over 300 fitting combinations
the right hearing aid ia
fitted to individual needs.
That ends the shouting I
A phone call will arrange a
private hearing check-without
cost or obligation.
DON'T BARGAIN WITH YOUR HEARING-
" SONOTONE "R"
C. R. ADAMSON, Mgr., 839 E. Jackson, Medford, Ore.
For at little ai $39.00 balance on tay terme 1 j
SONOTONE The House of Hearing
Please lend me your free booklet "Some questions 70a will want answered
before you buy a hearing aid."
Nome , City 1
Address.
-State.
Vacation Time
LOANS
Plan rur vacation NOW, Wher
ever you go, whatever you de,
we axe prepared to supply you
with ample fundi to meet all ex
penses. 1300 en Furniture, us to 1500
en Automobile. You may hare
20 months to repay,
SEE
American Finance
CORPORATION
Room 210-2U Leverette Bldg.
Phone M8SS
License M-382 License S-283
KEY"
AGAIN
"THE MAGIC
Is Opening The "Treasure Chest" At
TROWBRIDGE & FLYNN' -'
ELECTRIC COMPANY
Get Your Key At The Try It In The Lock At
BIG "Y" Trowbridge & Flynn .
MARKET Electric Company
MANY WONDERFUL PRIZES
YOU MAY BE THE WINNER OF THE
DELUXE RANGE or REFRIGERATOR
ON display AT the BIG Y MARKET and
TROWBRIDGE & FLYNN ELECTRIC COMPANY
CONTEST ENDS JUNE 27th "
NO OBLIGATION - NOTHING TO BUY
TROWBRIDGE & FLYNN "Home of
ELECTRIC COMPANY, Inc. H"
214 WEST MAIN ST. Phone 2-5211 Medford, Oregon
HURRY!