Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-12-18

the Almeda smelter mas almost put
the Galice road out of com mission,
and as this will now become a very
important highway, it is necessary
that it be kept in good condition.
Nor is this the only road that de-
serves attention. A town that eX-
poets to have something doing very
soon must see that all highways
leading to 1t are kept in good shape.
Probably the most important of
last weeks real estate transfers was
the purchase of two of the D"incipal
business lots in the town by John
Twohy of Spokane, Wash. Mr. Two
hy is connected with the Old Nation
al Bank of that city and is a promi-
nent railroad contractor of our sister
state. He intimated that there would
be something doing on that particu-
lar corner sometime between now
and spring. Mr.. Twohy spent CON
siderable time in the Medford dis
trict looking over what 1t had 20
offer, and his choice of Merlin snd
vicinity as a field of this and other
investments is matter OF 10 'itrle
congratulation on our part.
A concerted movement IS bein2
made to stop the wanton destructo-
of property that has long been goins
on by the rowdy element of the
younger generation. They havs
long considered any unguarded
building as their legitimate prey,
and were satisfied to stop nowhere
short Of absolute destruction. The
new galvanized iron warehouses re
Gently constructed by Barlow & Mat
tison has been punctured full o.
holes, both sides and roof, and they
have offered a reward of $40 fol
the conviction of anyone throwing
a rock against it in the future. Ray
Colby has taken it upon himself tC
see that there are no more Windows
broken in the school house and eve
ry other property owner has con
cluded that it is time an example is
made of some one. So look out,
there'll be something doing in Mer-
lin very soon.
An amusing real estate transfer
was consummated in Merlin last
week. B. A. Williamson traded
horse for 40 acres of land three
miles north of town a couple OF
years ago and has put in his .tal4 e,-
er since trying to trade it to Charles
E. Short, our real estate man. This
week the trade sprouted up again,
and the entire town took a hand in
the deal. Mr.. Short started in by
Offering eight head of cattle, then
raised it by adding 80 head of goats
finally throwing in pig, some barb
ed wire and bunch of groceries.
This latter offer-something that
could be eaten-cinched the deal.
Immediately a discussion was start
ed as to who got the worst of the
proposition, and sympathy was gen
orally extended to Mr.. Short, but
when he pointed out the fact that
hay was selling for $40 per ton, feed
clear out of sight, and told them
that such land around Medford was
worth 500 per acre and intimated
that "There'll be something doing in
Merlin very soon" they came to the
conclusion that he was not looking
for consolation.
Lou Gibson, who has handled
enough dynamite to blow up all of
Oregon and considers it
as harmless as a small boys top,
came near meeting with a fatal acci-
dent in the tunnel of the Mammoth
Copper mine last Saturday. He was
a shot and entered the
tunnel carrying a stick of dynamite
4 cap and fuse in his left hand and
candle in his right. Needing a bar |
ne transferred the candle to his left |
land and stopped over to pick it up. |
lie forgot that he wanted the bar.
however, in the commotion that |
'ollowed When he recovered his |
Wits he found himself still hanging |
IN to the fuse and candle, but the |
'ap and dynamite were gone. The |
dynamite was later recovered with |
he paper in which it was wrapped |
Mostly burned off, and Lou only has |
few small punctures in his breast. |
md a lacerated knee and thumb to |
emind him that there is a difference |
n the explosive power of cap and |
stick of dynamite. Just why the !
dynamite did not respond to the cap |
win its attendant fire and jolt. is a /
natter of much discussion between |
he old miners, but Lou is satisfied !
o let the question remain unsolved. !
lie reports that the work already |