Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-10-20

4
Hotel Josephine for creating here
modern hostelry.
DIR. j. G. Smith.
Or. j. c. Smith, representative
from Josephine county to the legis-
lature, responded to the toast,
Good Roads and Good Hotels" DR..
Smith spoke briefly, saying:
One of the greatest questions
confronting US In this state Is how
to get good roads. The last legisla-
ture passed some road bills which
l considered pretty good, one bill
being particularly SO, but our dis
tinguished governor thought he
knew more about 0regon's needs in
road matters than the entire legis-
lature. Now the cry for road legis-
lation is renewed"
DR.. Smith tnen discussed the val
ue Of good roads to community
as q result of attracting tourists,
also the value of good highways to
the farmer. IF a tourist passes ov-
er bad roads, he will remember
them" said the speaker, and he
will spread the facts among others
as he travels. Then again If the
hotels in a town are bad, the tourist
remembers this also and warns other
travellers through the country dur
ing the auto touring season; and
none Of them will stop In that town,
and the town loses much that 1t
would gain II things were differ
ent." Dr.. Smith then complimented
Metschan Bros. for the splendid new
Josephine and closed by expressing
wish for highway to the caves,
"and then thousands would come
this way" said the Josephine repre-
sentative.
City Attorney G. ii. Clements.
The succeeding number on the
program was Civic Progress, Past,
Present." to be responded by Mayor
j. l.. Myers. The mayor was,
however unavoldably detained else
where and could not be present. He
delegated City Attorney c. H. Glenn
ents to act In his capacity. Toast
master Hawley In introducing Attor.
ney Clements said 81 have known
him longer than you, and have look
ed on his marked advancement with
pleasure"
Mr.. Clements himself was late,
nearly the last item on the menu
having been reached when he arriv-
ed, but he was hurriedly served
with some OF the viands, not in ord
or OF rotation on the card, and,
when he stood to speak he called
attention to the fact that he was
probably the only person present
who began at the bottom and ate
Responding to the toast
for the mayor, the city attorney
made one of the most original ad-
81 tbn aunntnn
Phil Metschan, Jr.
Services Which Hotels Render
the Public" was the last toast on
the program and assigned to Phil
Metschan, Jr, one Of the leading
spirits which made possible the New
Josephine. Mr.. Metschan was at
ease and interestingly humorous. He
confessed he had no prepared speech
but he entertained nevertheless. He
first spoke Of and did that which ev-
cry true gentleman at heart appre-
ciated, he paid tribute to his WIFE,
who sat next him, and he re-
the banQueters that one of
his reasons why he had a warm spot
In his heart for southern Oregon was
that Mrs. Metschan was southern
Oregon girl,
The speaker then humorously re-
ferred to the many occupations he
had engaged in before he took up
the hotel business. 81 was In the
business in eastern Ore
gon, and It is a good bank-yet; /
sold goods, sold insurance and did
other things until one day man of
fered to sell me a hotel in Portland.
He wanted $4,000 for It, | did
not have $50. He said he would
take notes, We bought and It took
me all day to write the notes. OF
course In giving man all those
notes Il did not make any differ
ence what he charged for his hotel +"
When the laugh over this witticism
rlppled away, Mr., Metschan contln-
ued But we made ends meet |
have been spoken OF as knowing the
hotel business. ! had to know the
hotel business after | bought that
hotel and gave all those notes.