Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-08-11

nave AZ manu-
Within few days after the stock
holders meeting the directors OF the
Josephine Company went to work and
caused the old petition to be publish
ed and paid the bill for same. On
July s, 1911, they filed bond that
the Josephine County Irrigation and
Power company will pay all the ex-
penses of trying this experiment. |
want to ask you gentlemen IL this is
good faith; II 1t is or can be called
anything except miserable business
trick. ! take the matter up with you,
firstly, because II is adverse to a
healthy growth and a reflection on
the business integrity OF the COM
munity and, secondly, because you
business men are the stockholders
and collectively the real owners Of
the Josephine County Irrigation and
Power company, and have the remedy
in your own hands. One OF your most
prominent citizens and a stockholder
in the Josephine company expressed
himself on the subject by saying he
had been here 22 years and this was
the rottenest deal ever pulled off
In Grants Pass"
On the other hand how did the
Chicago-Rogue River company act?
Within one week after the trade was
made, which was two days after the
papers reached Chicago, they sub
scribed the s5,00OO0 for immediate
use and the $S5,OOO.OO we pledged
the people to expend on extension of
bitches. Since learning OF this dis
trict movement they are rlghtfully
indignant and the cautious ones are
right now holding back payments on
their subscriptions. 1t is difficult
to explain It, more so because we
have done everything that could be
done this year right in the face of
the fact that the seasons income Is
not near as much as the operating ex-
pense. Farmers were told to do
nothing and were lied to by these
agitators, and as a result were not
ready when water came. Now these
same farmers are cautioned against
signing up for next year and told they
Will have to pay double when It is a
physical imposslbility to furnish any
body water next year by the irrlga-
tion district plan even If it should
carry at the coming election.
These kind of methods, II it ap-
pears they are backed up by the
business community, will simply kill
legitimate investments Of money In
this community and II will be the
death knell to land buying and stop
all speculation in land at present
prices to say nothing about what It
will do to hinder watering the dry
lands
During the past seven months we
have expended practically $4s 200. 90
In making repairs on the dam and
cleaning out and extending bitches.
This money, all outside capital, has
been spent in Grants Pass wherever
possible, and has been a material
factor In the business of the city dur
ing that period, beneflting, as It has
directly or indirectly, every line Of
trade, Every dollar we have invest
ed here had TO be raised over the pro-
test of practically the promoters of
the irrigation district plan and we
have had to contend with lies SLAM
der, character assassination, treach-
cry and the expressed wishes that the
floods would destroy the dam and
even statements that II ought to be
blown up The promoters OF the dis.
trict plan are mainly a part Of the
board of directors OF the Josephine
County Irrigation and Power COM
pony These men have been the nu-
cleus OF the Ament following ana
have been openly hostile to tho mi
Iuority stockholders" as they like to
call them, ever since these stockhold-
ers brought the suit to call the Am
ents to an accounting
We don't ask you business men To
eight our battles. We have beeu able
to hold our own very nicely. We Just
ask you to give us a square daal and
look after your end of t. Your $40.
600 investment is affected and the
actual prosperity Of this whole end OF
Josephine county and the city OF
Grants Pass In particular.
There Is but one thing needed IN
this community to make your bust.
ness good and that Is IRRIGATION
Are YOU as business man going IA
stand idly by and see that one thlng
slip through your fingers now that