Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-08-21

building of branch roads. as there Is
but one railroad in the County. the
Southern Pacific. When branch roads
are built. these hitherto inaccessible
forests will furnish millions OF feet
Of sugar pine. fir, yellow pine. oak
and madrone The msnzanita is a
small tree or bush but the wood is
hard, OF beautiful red color and
takes a fine finish. 1t is principally
used for cane and ornamental pur-
poses. With wood suitable for all
kinds of furniture at hand, furni-
ture factory carefully managed would
be great success,
When the facilities for reaching our
timber belts. our mines of gold. and
copper, our marble lodges are pro-
vided by the iron horse, it does not
require prophet or one veIsed in the
science of astrology to predict the
future of Josephine county.
In an article printed in 1865 the au-
thor stated that the great staple Of
Oregon was then and would always be
its mineral wealth; that when fully
developed it would afford employment
for millions of people and materially
add to the worlds wealth. Josephine
county has added its share to the
wealth Of the world though men
veised in the subject declare that the
mining industry there is still In its
infancy With the developments OF
later years in lumbering and sgricul-
tural productions, mining will have to
compete with both timber and agri-
culture to retain its place ~ first on
the list.
The grea. need of this country today
is irrigation and We have the water
IL IL could only be utilized. The
Rogue river with its great volume Of
water. the Applegate, the Illinois.and
the numerous creeks tributary to
these rivers form wonderful resource
OF wealth.
We cannot usually obtain water
from the skies in summer. but these
streams can be used. II Is thought by
many from the lay Of the land that ar
tesian water might be obtained but
the theory has not been tested. Our
soil teens with big things The
4 writer previously referred to. said
that the the distinguishing feature
Of the soil of Oregon aud Of tho en-
tire Pacific coast is its tendency to
convert itself into fruit. and that the
difficulty with trees in Oregon was not
to make them. bear, but to keep them
from bearing too much. These are
certainly facts In Josephine county.
While irrigation might not make
great wealth for one person, homes
and a means of livelihood would he
furnished to many on lands that are
now worthless. We have land all
about us showing what water will do.
The fertile Williams creek and APP
plegate valleys 20 years ago contained
few farms that paid we'll. Today
with irrigation the fields are green
with alfalfa. two oreameries are In
operation, hops. grain. berries, fruit.
all show what "a combination OF pluck,
industry, good soil and moisture can
produce. The farmers and fruit
ra sers are prosperous not only there
but wherever irrigation, together
with the other qualities mentioned
has been tried. Where good wells
can be procured II Is possible to water
several acres with electricity. gsso-
line or steam as motive power.
In conclusion let us listen mo-
meut to the murmurings OF old Rogue
River ms 1t rushes by to bury itself IN
the bosom Of the great Pacific.
"Only give me chance and can
furnish millions Of volts of electricity.
| can run your mills and factories.
/ can water your land transforming
thousands OF acres Of waste land into
visions OF beauty, making the desert
blossom as the rose. Hundreds OF
years | have poured this immense
volume of water into the sea. bot am
anxious to help yoo. OF all the re-
sources Of Josephine county, developed
or undeveloped, l am the greatest.
Only give me chance.
Aud when shall the mighty river be
given chance to prove his powerf
MRS. l.. W. HOOD.