Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-06-07
QUESTIONS IMPORTANT
TO THIS SECTION
An Irrigation Project Should Re
ceive the Attention OF
Our Own People.

kdlt0r OOurler. Iedu dnon
breezy and sensible suggestion in re-
cent issue of the Observer on the sub
ject OF irrigation. Anon" has
struck the key note to ultimate sue
cess and endless prosperity for Grants
Pass and the Lower Rogue River val
ley. This city has outgrown the
country abnormslly and is not as it
should be. The present judicious
improvements of the public roads all
over the county is one mark Of ad-
vancement in the right direction.
Our county court is doing its duty
along these lines. The brushing out
and Strengthening crooked roads and
filling up the ruts and chuckholes and
making cement culveits in place Of
the shaky and dangerous plank and
corduroy make shifts By improving
the roads the farmer and teamster can
haul from 90 to IS per cent more to
town on the same thoroughfare and il
makes it possible for him to use the
roads the entire year, whereas before
he could only haul about six mon tbs
in the year. With the best road bed
materials in the world as we do have
here, and climatic conditions favor.
able, we ought to have fine driveways
in every direction from our fair city.
l would suggest, since the propositi on
to purchase rock crusher for uur
streets was defeated, that decomposed
granite be used as covering over the
turnpiked streets. This sand is coarse
enough so the wind does not move II
and fine enough tolpack and make per
feet roads as it does sidewalks. 1t Ii
cheap material and easy obtained.
Why not give 1t trial test? Along
with our road scraper, our county OF
city needs good steam roller to pack
the newly graded streets and thorough.
fares. This would prevent dust and
help tesmsters and the farmers and
when We help them we are helping
ourselves as we'll.
Now, rs to irrigation; Grants Pass
business men are able to organize a
joint stock company and make s.mint
of money out Of an irrigating scheme
hnf fhau 10 Al A.
should take the matter up al "Anon -
suggests and appoint committee Of
practical business men TO make esti.
mates OF new dam and pumps, also
to learn what dam could be secured
for. A good dam site mile from the
city can be had, where the conditions
are favorable for our city; both OF
these a committee should investigate.
Bonds for practical irrigation could
doubtless be disposed of above par and
IL left to vote ought to carry, and
think would be the proper wssy to
have our city supplied with abundS
ance of water for fire purposes as well
as irrgate couple of townships
joining our town. This would m can
10. 900 people in Grants Pass by the
time the project was completed. No
kind OF mining or milling schemes
appeal to the capitalist like irriga.
tion. 1t makes wealth where before
was poverty-trsnsforms deserts into
beautiful verdure Of green pastures
and still waters" where the dairy
mau, hortiuulturist and agriculturist
reap their suIe reward-the.increment
Of toll.
There is another feature to this
irrigation scheme by the city. With.
in i've years it will have paid Tor it.
self and the city would have at cost
at source of revenue to it,Icredit from
the nomial rates for water from pri.
vate parties and get the benefit of
using its own water What will It
have cost the city to use the other
water during the next 90
years. Again, what would it mean
for the city to generate power for its
own electric plant? | beg you foot up
your electric light and water bill for
\ period Of 90 years and see if we can
iot find we could save enough TO build
new bridge across Rogue River and
modern three story brick
md ..stone county court house. The
lime is ripe for our commercial club
'ud city Dads to act / second your
notion. Mr.. Anon" Please call a
meeting and put the question. 1t
hardly admits of debate, so would call
'oI the previous question. " Ques.
lion II. B. HENDRICKS
ho~'s Thisl