Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-10-16
DESCRIPTIVE OF MANY
GRANTS PASS SCENES

An excellent article descriptive OF
Grants Pass and vicinity appeared in
the Portland Journal of the 7th in
stant. With it we're published photos
of Sixth street and the Rogue River
Band. The article follows:
More than half century ago the
scout line Of the miner was thrown
out in the Rogue river valley.
Gradually, bat surely. the frontier
receded before the resolute stroke of
the invader. and the mining camp
gave way to the home of the settler.
Nearly all the prominent cities of
the Rogue river valley have some
specially that has contributed to a
greater degree than any other factor
to their growth and prestige. Grauts
Pass has no specially. Its resources
are diversified and we'll nigh mex
haustible, and its people have the
force, push and enterprise which is
essential to success as are the gifts OF
nature, without which it cannot be
won.
The wonderful richness of soil,
backed by great natural wealth of
forest and mine, was sufficient to
form the ground work of Grants
Pass. These great natural advantages
attracted good men and made men
good. Their citizens were of the
restless, energetic type. which worked
wonders wherever they located. They
cut down the vast forest only to find
a greater mine of wealth under the
tangled roots of its stunps. Grants
Pass also has a goodly number of
manufacturing industries, and the
dinner pail brigade is assuming In
dustrial proportions.
The city enjoys prestige as com.
mercial and financial center. which
keeps pace with the growth of the
country she serves and which, in
turn. serves her. There are two dis.
tinct classes of settlers in new
country. In the Mississippi valley
they settle up the country, In the
Rogue River Valley they settle down
in the country. The difference be.
tween a period of settling up and set.
Ting down is the difference between
adventure and development. And
this spirit has had much to do with
the prosperity and development of
Josephine county. From the earliest
settlement of Southern Oregon the
Rogue river has been potent factor
in its affairs.
1t is almost universally character
istic of cities OF Southern Oregon to
be SO absorbed in the pursuit of
wealth as to entirely lose sight of
sanitary conditions and home com
forts. The identifying Of cities OF this
part Of the state has recently become
an interesting and popular subject
All cities have choice residence dis
tricts, where the homes. lawns and
streets are attractive and we'll kept,
but in Grants Pass this condition ex-
tends over the entire city, evidenoing
the fact that prosperity. contentment
and love for home prevail among all
classes.
The city enjoys splendid retail
trade, and this accounts for the finely
furnished and well stocked stores.
Competition is keen and prices are
kept at a minimum. Within few
miles Of the city are many prosperous
fruit farmers and stock rsisers, who
have grown wealthy, or acquired
competency. yet there are thousands
Of acres that are practically uu'
touched. AS these are cleared up AND
cultivated, the retail trade will in
crease in corresponding degree.
The city of Grants Pass has moi
grown one sided, nor has any one In
tel est been allowed to develop at tb,
expense of another. Public fund
have been wisely expended, streets
kept in splendid repair, sanitary regu
lations carefully enforced, every feat
ure Of comfort and cleanliness urget
and insisted upon by the healtl
Authorities. As q result, Grants Pas
is one of the heslthiest cities in Ore
gon. The enthusiasm and struggl
for supremacy. which NATURALLY fol
low and belong to the development o
a resourceful country, we're kept IN
der control and the greed for gan
was not allowed TO overshadow tn
higher principles. Educational inter
ests were encouraged and insiste
upon, schools were supported, moderl
houses built as the times demanded
the improvement Of public school
kept in harmony with advance
ideals. This sentiment has had II
influence on the lives Of all classes
and is evident in business and privat
life. Churches OF almost every d.