Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-11-12
TRANSPORTATION FOR
GALICE DEMANDED


not only to the mining, timber and
agricultural interests of the area
comprehended, but to the CONNER
cial interests of Grants Pass as well.
Because there is at this time lack
of direct communication with Galice,
the business men Of this city are los
ing a considerable percentage of a
trade that for the past year has aver
aged $4,000 a month for general
merchandise alone, while more than
$150,000 has been spent in machin-
cry. tools and mine equipment de-
vices. This trade of right belongs
here, should come here and certain
ly would come If 1t were possible for
the people of Galice to reach their
natural commercial center with rea-
sonable directness.
Some effort has been made in re-
cent months to arouse interest In the
building Of a railway, either steam
or electric, down the Rogue river val
ley, and a plan is now being advo-
Gated to secure state aid for the con-
struction of a thoroughfare from
Crater lake to the sea, following the
river grade. But with the exception
of the state road, the projects ad-
vanced have been rather nebuous
and none have been crystalized into
Anything definite. In the meantime,
Grants Pass is deprived of a large
and rapidly increasing trade and
Galice is denied the shipping facili-
ties its mineral development justi-
fies, and that 1t should of right have.
The situation is vital enough to
warrant concerted and determined
effort to secure the construction of
this line.
There are practically no engineer
ing difficulties in the way of building
an electric road to Galce. In the
25 miles of river to that camp there
are two splendid power sites-one at
He'll Gate and one near the Lewis
ranch at the mouth of Taylor creek
and below Galice the river offers
several available places where cleo
trio power could be generated in
any amount desired The water
grade Of the valley could be followed
and at no place would construction
cost be excessive, while the cost of
operation, after electric power is
once developed, is, of course, very
SMALL
Galice alone will provide enough
business to make an electric line
a paying enterprise, and its con-
struction will mean a rapid expan-
sion of mining and an attendant
expansion In the volume of traffic.
The present expensive cost of
freighting to and from the railroad
at Merlin, which today appreciably
retards the development of the
camp, would be overcome and a more
satisfactory service rendered at
normal rates. Today 1t Is impossible
without financial loss to ship ores
that average less than $50 per ton.
With an electric line ores that aver
age $40 per ton-and Galice can
furnish thousands of tons of such
ore-can be profitably shipped for
treatment. With cheaper transporta-
ton the developed properties will
largely increase their output and the
prospects of merit will rapidly be de-
Veloped into producing mines. Sup
plies for the smelter, the mills and
the cyanide plants now constructed
can then be secured without the
handicap of excessive cost that en-
bargoes enterprise. In word. a
stimulus will be given to every form
OF mining activity and a traffic de-
yeloped that assures financial sue
cess to an electric line.
There would also be other sources
of profitable income besides the rail-
way earnings. Many of the mines
at Galice would be glad to purchase
electric power and they would nav
well for IL, while a considerable volt.
age could be sold for power to farm.
ers In the valley and for lighting pur.
poses along the route and in nearby
towns.
The building Of an electric line
means much TO Galice-much 10
Grants Pass. 1t will connect n won.
derfully rich mining district with the
commercial center of Josephine conn. /
ty and It will give needed facilities
to the fertile reaches of the VALLEY
between Galice is prosperous
camp without a railroads Grants .
Fass Is a live and growing city with. I
out having direct connection with H. /
ou' Galice needs cheaper transporta.
Ilon and Grants Pass is losing TO
'orl'and aud elsewhere trade It.