Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-05-21
PECULIAR IDEAS OF OREGON
A Correspondent Relates His Ex-
periences in Boston.


the Eastern states and especially
while in New England, was surprised
and somewhat mortified to discover
how very little the people in general
throughout that section of the country
know about his home state. They
know all about California, its fruits
and flowers and its lovely semi
tropical climate, they have heard a
great deal about the grand mountain
scenery and healthful air of Colorado,
the Yellowstone Park and its wonders
are a common topic of conversation,
and thew are even familiar with the
climatic advantages of New Mexico
and Arizona but to the majority of
them, Oregon is as vague as Central
Africa. Oregon is still to them a
bowling wilderness, over.run with
wild beasts and savages, and they
were greatly surprised to learn that
we are thoroughly civilized, that we
have modern schools and colleges and
that our cities are strictly up-to-date
in ever modern Improvement and in
every particular, Imagine how the
Oregonian felt when he met people in
Boston, yes, even in the seat of
intellectual power and mental activ-
ity, who actually did not know where
Oregon is. One lady, seemingly we'll
educated and well-informed upon most
subjects, really asked if Oregon were
not in Canada A business man in
another large city of Massachusetts,
wanted to know what state Oregon
was in. These are exceptions, of
course, but the New England people
in general have but poor knowledge
of the conditions of affairs in Oregon
and know nothing whatsoever about
the wealth of natural resources and
the congenial climate of our home
state. In conversation with gentle
man who is editor on the staff of one
of the leading Boston dailies the
writer spoke of the very mild winters
which the inhabitants Of Western
Oregon enjoy. That worthy gentle.
man was astonished and exclaimed,
"Well l always imagined that the
climate of Oregon was somewhat
similar to that of Alaska" When
he learned that our lawns and fields
are green all winter, and that we have
gathered strawberries at Christmas
time in the open garden, that almost
every month during the year the roses
bloom out of doors, his astonishment
bordered on incredulity. So decided
a revelation it was to him that he
made the conversation the subject of
an editorial in his column Of the next
issue of the paper. And this seems to
be the popular opinion regarding our
climate. They think, because we
live in such northerly latitude, that
our winters must be extremely severe.
Visitors to Oregon go into raptures
over the excellence of the Oregon
fruit, and yet Oregon fruit is practi-
cally unknown in the markets of the
East. The demand for California fruit
increases with each succeeding year
)and though in certain lines we cannot
hope to compete with California,
there are many varieties in the cul-
ture of which we can excel. There is
so much in having the name and
reputation.
Why is it that people know so much
about California, Colorado and Ari
zona. and so little about Oregon
Simply because, no matter where you
co. you find those states advertised and
Oregon is not. Oregon has never been
brought before the people in her true
light. 1t is true that the people of
the middle West are beginning to
learn of the advantages of living in
Oregon and thousands are coming to
Investigate and TO make their homes
among us. This is just what we de-
sire and we should offer every induce
ment to attract visitors. Advertising.
when it is overdone, does more harm
than good. People come to a country
filed with great expectations based
upon what they have heard ana read,
and if what they find is what they ex,
pected to find, they are disappointed
and the good name Of the country
they have visited is done irreprablt
damage. In advertising our state, il
, is not necessary to oyerdo; simply
to tell things as they actually exist
is enough to attract attention. Rosl
assured that if visitors come and stay
a while with us and return to theii
former homes they will never agair
be happy until they return 10 max,
Oregon their future home. This haI
been the writer's own experience ant
It has been the experience Of hundred
Of others W. A. J. in Woman Is Clul