Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-02-17
SPEECH NOT ASKED FOR
AT RAILROAD MEETING
Mr.. Editor:

wanted to say something to sec
ond the remarks Of Mr.. H. G. Gilkey.
l felt that more along that line
should have been said.
Because now is the opportune
time. Now is the time to strike,
while the iron is hot" will say
that came to Oregon seventeen
years ago, and was impressed with
the possibilities Of Josephine county
through her varied resources, at that
time, and | have not had oscasion
TO change my mind.
said then, that here was destined
to some day be great country, a per-
feet garden spot, veritable Eden,
because our resources are practically
unlimited, and they are only await
ing the magical touch OF enterprise,
backed by energy and good judg-
ment.
Here we have mines, containing
gold, silver, platinum, copper. iron
and enough to supply the world,
waiting, only waiting development to
pour forth their treasure into the lap
OF commerce, and here we have
marble as beautiful as ever was pol
ished, and granite rock for building,
as lasting as the ages. and limestone
as fine as ever was burned, and clay
to combine with the lime for max
Ing OF Portland cement, and all, all
OF these in profligate and unlimited
quantities.
Then we have virgin forests, un-
touched by the hand of man, contain
Ing billions upon billions of feet OF
the finest lumber that grows. Fir,
white pine, sugar pine. cedar, ETC.,
waiting, inviting, tempting and plead
Ing to be used for the upbuilding OF
Grants Pass and Josephine county.
And here also we have the great
est boon that has been given to man
kind, a perfect climate, unscathed
and unsullied by severe cold exces-
sive heat, and untouched by storm,
hard winds or cyclones, and where
even thunder is almost unknown.
Yet blessed with gentle and copious
showers through a part OF the year.
and only lacking proper and sys-
tematic application OF water to our
soils by mechanical means during
the growing season to insure to us
bounteous returns from as fertile a
soil as ever covered the face OF the
earth. and here we have the beautiful
Rogue river flowing through our
midst, carrying to the sea each year
In profligate waste hundreds upon
hundreds OF millions OF acre feet of
the life-giving fluid, for which our
soils are yearning.
Wednesday evening was demon
atration OF what can be done by en-
ergy and a unity OF purpose.
In one week the stock was taken,
lnsuring to Grants Pass and Jose
phine county the building OF a rail-
road Into the beautiful Applegate
and Williams valleys and to the
Marble Halls OF Oregon" which
Will be the wonder and the attraction
of the tourist world.
Now let the next step be the up
building and securing OF an irrlga-
lion system In the North Rogue
River valley, OF which we may all be
proud. Let us do II now, We have
been buncoed and fooled by promot-
'rs, and others with an axe TO
grind are batting their hooks and
fasting tempting lures, hoping to be
successful In snarlng us into careful
y-woyen net, and levying tribute is
heir goal.
The money must and will come
,ut OF us We are the people. Let
rs own II, organize the irrigation
district build the system ourselves.
'wn II ourselves, use It ourselves.
'ay tribute to no man, DO II now"
We need II, We must have It. The
'lSns are on foot, the ball has start.
ID rolling, push II along
Let success be our motto,
A railroad center at Grants Pass
3 all right.
A great mining country. surround.
ng us, grand
A great numbering country is su.
Verb.
A great manufacturing center will
70 fine,
A great country OF duarrles
clleut.
All OF them good, all magnificent 4
III necessary.
But, to round II all out, complete
he whole number OF natures lavish
'ifts, Man must Go his part and A.,
make agriculture complete. for we =
an not all mine we can not an how a
ome must I'll the soil that others q
n different industries may eat d
Fruits as fine as ever Eraccd the