Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-03-04

The first annual meeting Of the
Rogue River Orchard company was
held Monday, February 2S, at the
offices of the company at Merlin.
Those present were: F. Williams and
S. d. Williams, of Portland, and w.
B. Sherman, of Grants Pass. A
board of five directors was elected,
consisting of w. T. Reed and F. e.
Reed, of Kansas City; F. F. Williams
and S. D. Williams, of Portland, and
w. B. Sherman, of Grants Pass. r.
F. Williams was chosen president, w.
B. Sherman vice-president and s. D.
Williams secretary and treasurer.
Readers of the Courier will re-
member that last fall the above
named gentlemen purchased up
ward of 5000 acres of land in the
Grouse Creek district, embracing the
entire Grouse Creek valley from the
city limits of Merlin for distance of
four or five miles and reaching out
far to the east, covering the large red
bench lands in that locality and also
including a few hundred acres Of the
mixed red and granite soil to the
west on which they have had large
force of men, teams and donkey en-
gines working during the past winter
months. Their operations have
made marked change in the district.
Early in the fall they started a
large donkey engine to work on what
Is known as the Reynolds or Estes
tract and they have covered all the
river bottom land Of this place with
the donkey, also swept off all the
timber and brush from the slope on
the east; also have had slashed and
the wood cut from that part of this
ranch lying west of the railroad
tract. They have also pulled all the
brush and trees from the Thompson
ranch on the river bottom as well as
on the slope to the east Of the bottom
lands. That part of the ranch lying
west of the railroad tract has been
partly cleared and the remainder
slashed ready to be burned In Septem-
her of the coming season. 1t is their
plan to treat the Chamberlain tract
likewise during the remainder OF the
spring. That part of the Frier tract
living between the Merlin road and
the creek bottom lands is all being
slashed, which makes wonderful
difference In the appearance OF that
locality. Considerable clearing and
slashing is also being done on the
Montgomery ranch. and few hum
dred acres will probably be slashed
on the Sherman tract during the
spring months. The Blanchard tract
Is nearly all slashed. They are also
doing considerable clearing and
slashing on the Leroy tract. The
same Is true of the Scovllle tract.
Some clearing Is also being done on
the Riggs tract. Owing to the late
ness OF the season the company VIII
probably not make the improvements
on the Churchill tract lying to the
extreme southwest and the lie
Francis tract lying to the extreme
; northeast.
s. D. Williams, who has accepted
the position OF superintendent OF the
, company's business, has established
his headquarters on the Chamber
] lain ranch, II being quite centrally
located in the tract. He has over
hauled some OF the buildings already
on the place and for additional room
has had to put up three large tents
one for q bunk house, one for din
= ing room and the other for a kitchen
= which gives the locality quite pro
! kIthSlNt hlls IVi 'pAhN "N"'h'
, has had large force OF men and
: teams plowing the cleared lands o
: the various ranches. preparing thu
, same for planting to orchards, whicl
!. he will plant this month. Earlier II
) the season he sent his horticulturis
e to the nurseries through Northern
s Oregon and Washington TO select th'
A choicest Of trees for planting. Tb
same have been shipped and are nov
heeled In at their headquarters Of
: the Chamberlain ranch. They hav
i trees on the grounds sufficient 4
r plant 400 acres, which includes
s larger part Of the lands that wer
cleared prior to this year. They ar