Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-01-14
.OURIER
SITS MED
EDITOR
Practically Everybody Enthu
Over the beautiful Tween
Century Improvements.

Ter resolved 10 SEM represent
to that city to make an inyestiga
and talk with the property ow
interested In street improyeme
For months the story had been told
of Medford's pavement by all visitor
who came from that up-to-date mDni-
cipality. The fine streets had simply
been the one strong impression made
on the minds of those who had seen
the beautiful streets. Perhaps the
fact that the oceans of mud which
are to be found on the principal
thoroughfares of Grants Pass were
so in contrast with the clean streets
of our neighboring city induced peo-
pie who came here to mention the |
pavement in question, but be that as
IL may, our representative last Satur-
day boarded the $40 train and was
whisked away to the much-talked Of
apple and pear city. Arriving there
lllt Bldu manu- VI lllCuuohlp Ndo "a
tended to him, and, learning the OBJ
ject of the pilgrimage, every courtesy
was offered and every avenue leading
to all details of street work was
opened to the Courier man. Many
business blocks in the center of the.
city covered with the famous btu
lithic pavement were shown and then
! Oakland avenue was next exhibited.
This avenue is paved for over mile
| in length and 1t presents an appear
ance which may we'll make the aver
age Medford citizen feel proud of the
beautiful thoroughfare. 1t is the
popular avenue for those who either
ride or walk. Nearly three miles
Of paved streets were pointed out
and the campaign of education along
paving lines was enthusiastically
told by those who had helped to
bring about these important street
improvements. There were men
who had hestated long before giving
their consent to be taxed for paving,
but 100! round majority were at
LAS secured and then the work went
on with as little delay as possible
and most remarkable to relate, one
after another of those who had op-
posed the Improvement fell into
line and became as enthusiastic as
the rest. One property owner was,
seemingly, determined not to be sat
isfied and he has remainoe of the
same opinion for these MAJ" months
Finally, one of his neighbors resolv-
ed to put him to the test by remind
ing him thpt before the pavement
was laid he had offered his proper
ty at a certain price; this was ad-
mitted 10 be true. Then the neigh
Dor cp'd he would be glad to pay
that sum for 1t, and was ready 10
close the deal as soon as the deed
could be made out, The owner
promptly said his property was not
for sale for less than double the
sum he had previously asked for IT,
The neighbor then pointed out TO
him his unreasonable attitude in re-
gard TO paving and yet he asked two
prices for the property, This is the
last man on that street who is not
an omen advocate Of street paving,
but the circumstances point clearly
to the fact that he favors such I'M
provements but lacks the courage
to admit 1t.
There were some facts gained re-
garding the Bancroft act which
should be given III this article, r.
w. Teller, the gentlemanly city re-
corder, made every effort 20 furnish
full information as to lmocrtaGt facts
which property ownc.5 should be
aware of at the first instance. He
said that after the work was done
the first assessment for paving under
this act Is made aginst the property
and one year from that date the first
payment Is to be made aud so on
each year until the tenth and last
nayment is required, This, Il will
be understood, Is important lnforma-
ton
1t can be safely said that every
property owner on any important
street In Medtord is a paving euthusi-
asst Recorder Teller says that four
or five miles Of paving will be done
in Medtord during the year 1910,
and the work will be commenced as
soon as the weather will permit. He
Is OF the opinion that laying pave
ment will become more and more
/ popular each year, One thing Is cer-
tain, the paving that has been laid In
Medtord has brought prosperity 10
the city In the way Of increased busi-
ness and an increase in building con-
structlon, II any citizen OF Grants
Pass Is not satisfied that paving will
add greatly TO our prosperity, let