Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-07-17
Not the Coy Creature the
Poet Paints Her.
WAITING TO BE TAKEN
No Place Like Rogue River
Valley for Those of lntelli-
gent Industry.

The following editorial which ap-
pesred in last Saturdays Portland
Oregonian il so much to the point
and so locally applicable that the
Coarier is glad to give the comment
space verbatim. The mention of
Grants Pass in the editorial also in
dicates Josephine county's signifi-
cancs on the map as we'll as the mag
nitude of possibilities in this section
Of the state The Oregonian says:
Opportunity is not by any means
the fitful, fugitive creature which
some of the posts have said she is.
Nor ia it true that she has no hair but
forelock. being bald ON the top and
back of her head, SO that, il you do
not grab her as she prances up you
can never get hold of her afterwards.
The truth is that opportunity is a
kindly, patient matron, at least in
Oregon. Her head is covered with
abundant locks not only in front, but
all over the scalp, and she does not
run past one like a frightened ghost,
but advances plscidly, holds out her
hands invitinRly and waits unvexed
while one makes up his mind about
her. In all the world there is no such
accommodating person as Opportunity,
that is, Oregon Opportunity. Else
where she may be somewhat more coy.
THAT is all very well, sighs some
timid soul as he peruses these re-
marks. Of course, The Oregonian
must be expected to boom Oregon and
paint roseate pictures Of the delights
Of the Willamette, the Rogue and the
Umpqua Valleys. But what are the
facts? Is it not true that farm life
there is hard, dismal struggle with
much pain and little pleasure, just as
it is everywhere else in the world?
We are about to set forth few of
the facts, but not for the benefit of
discouraged old cynics who will
probably lose their tempers when
they get to heaven because they will
find nothing to grumble about. This
message is addressed to the young,
the hopeful and the energetic; to the
man who can think, plan and act,
no matter what his age may be
There has been much gloomy preach
ing of late years that all the op'
portunities Of the country have been
grabbed by the trusts. man has
no chance any more, it is said Let
him toll never so strenuously, lie can
not accomplish anything. The pluto
Gratis will rob him of all his profits.
They will rob him of all they can,
there is no doubt of that. But aftel
the trusts have reaped their harvest
there still remains a tidy remnant oi
profits for the toiler himself if he man
ages his affairs shrewdly.
Witness the tale OF the man no
far from Roseburg who bought hall
int rest in prune orchard in the
year 1907. The orchard contained q
acres and the half interest in it cos
s2750. for which the man gave hi
mote at s per cent. He was not
capitalist, either large or small, on'
peroelves. He was only man Will
sturdy muscles and good, old-fssh
loned American will. be possessed
nothing but his labor power, and
fair stock of common sense to make /
tell. He had not even team o
horses, bot bad to buy one before hi
could cultivat' his trees, and thi
plugged him still deeper into debt
Worse yet, there was no drier on tn
place, and he had to build one befor
prunes were ripe that fall. The team
and drier cost him $500, for which b
gave another note at per cent. Thu
when lie Was ready to set his plov
and harrow at WORK among the tree
his account with the world showed O.
one side his brain. his muscle and
half interest In a 2o-scre orchard; o
the other more than $500 of debt.
But he did not sit down and o.
vail the iniquities Of the trusts. d
went to work. He plowed. ne hai