Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-07-02


the land which they proved up as
homestead is now the townsite OF
Merlin. He sold most OF the land to
A. B. Cousins and this is the same
property which has now passed into
the hands OF w. B. Sherman.
Mr.. Short: 1T is not often that a
town advertises its deficiencies, but
we will do so on this occasion--as II
is among friends. Our school house
is not ell we could desire, nor will
it long continue to be an eye-sore,
for already steps have been taken
that will insure the erection of a
magnificent brick structure to take
the place of the one which has long
since passed its usefulness. | notice
that you have brought with you
trained educator--one whose ability
has just been recognized by the citi-
zens of Grants Pass, by unanimously
electing him as school director, as
we have been informed by the dis
patches of the last few hours. We
will be pleased to hear from Mr..
Geo. C. Calhoun"
This was the first intimation that
Mr., Calhoun had received of his
election, as he was chosen without
his knowledge. He was consider
ably surprised, but responded with
few well chosen remarks.
Mr.. Short: "Up to today Merlin
has been noted for its knockers,
They seem to have been here before
the earliest settlers. Mr. Lanterman
was told when he settled here that
he would soon starve to death. He
is still here When Mr. Mitchell
started his store in 1888, there were
those who prophecied his failure,
He is still here, and we would be
pleased to hear from him."
President Mitchell's Speech.
President D. w. Mitchell, who is
also Civil War veteran and presi-
dent of the newly organized Push
Club, when called upon said that
when he came there 81 years ago
and bought property he was told
that the place would never amount
to anything, but he had travelled ex-
tensively among the mountains of
both California and Southern Oregon
and had observed the water courses;
nature had planned these and he
knew that important cities We're
built on such places. Nature, he
said, made locations for trading CEN
ters. Merlin was the nearest point
to the Galice mining camp, to reach
which the trail followed a water
course. For eight years after he
came to the country machinery used
In the camp was taken In by pack
! trains. Then came wagon road and
next to come Is bridge to take
p the place of the ferry, and next tt
} follow will be a railroad He sai(
, they had done something during th'
last twenty years; many acres o
= good land had been cleared on th'
l townsite and around It, and in th'
!, town itself they had four merchan
S dizing stores, one hardware store
0 one blacksmith shop, one real estat
n office, two churches, good hote
, and as good a school as there was I
!. the county.
h He welcomed the members OF tn
" Grants Pass Commercial Club to tn
s city and said that Merlin and th
II people Of the county seat shoul
e work together to build up the couI
e try for their interests were ideI
d tical.
Mr.. Short. &c! have neglected
,e tell you Of the organization of II
Il Merlin Push Club. We adopted thi
rs name because of the fact that Il
le booklet recently Issued by Il
" Grants Pass Commercial Club gay
IN it that name And right here
Sc want to thank you for the generot
~ space you gave the Merlin distrl
in that publication II is good n
O. vertisng, and we know II is goo
ID for we have already received n larl
number OF inquiries, some OF whl'
have not yet been answered, al
I'd they could have learned In no 9th
r. way OF our organization which W
al not then organized Just today
lis was suggested that such nm orga
I'm ization would be advisable, T
&c word was passed around, and at
o'clock the first meeting was he
he every man In Merlin Is on our II
fe and everyone is booster. The
he decorations, this banquet Is oil
rt- have 60 demonstrate the way
OF started In. Mr. Mitchell was elect
iis president, and you can see how
We work under his orders. But we o
a's are new hands az the work and sh
,DI 81. 49,. F.. ,,lpl,pN Tho nro