Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-10-13
live rail- rate now prevailing between


Francisco, but actually avail your
self OF the low water rates to and
from the Atlantic upon completion
Of the Panama canal.
Freight could be shipped BY
automobile to Crescent City for SIC
per ton and from there to San Fran
cisco or Portland by steam schooner
for $3.50 per ton, making a total OF
$3.50 as against the present aver
age rate Of s25 per ton.
Freight was handled over this
route by mule teams over 40 years
ago for less money and in less time
than is now demanded by the rail-
road from San Francisco. And this
too, In the face of the fact that the
mule teams returned to the coast
empty, thus doubling the cost from
the coast to the interior.
BY reason of the two way cargoes
OF today, freight could be handled
by automobile, with good roads, at
cost not to exceed $40 per ton
, to Cree cent City
"Cargoes over thic route could,
upon completion Of the Panama can
III, he laid dow1 1T New York. Phila
delphia, Baltimore and other Atlantic
ports for sum not to exceed SIS
per ton. The construction OF an au-
tomobile road to the coast, with the
consequent loss Of 10000 tons Of
rail freight per year, will force the
railroad to build to the coast and
thus give the porducers the benfit OF
the short haul to tidewater instead
OF the long burdensome haul over
the mountains.
"The state of California has just
voted bonds to the amount OF $1S,-
900, 200 for the construction of good
roads from San Diego county to Del
Norte county, distance OF 500
miles. II the people Of Josephine
county will vote bonds to build an
auto freight road to the Oregon
state line, near Waldo, will guaran-
tee that the California state highway
commission will build from. Crescent
City to the Oregon line, thus giving
you relief In freight rates as we'll as
placing you on the great ocean high
way extendelng from Mexico to
British Columbia.
Josephine county must act, how
ever, before California completes its
highway plans. Otherwise the gol-
den opportunity may be lost. Don't
let the railroad jolly you into the
belief that It will ever do anything
for your relief until competition
forces II to do so. There Is only one
law that the Southern Pacific re-
spects and that is the law OF COM
petition"
President Sabin then called on Mr..
Wilbur Of Jerome Prairie. Mr.. Will
bur came to this vicinity from Wis
consin. The gentleman spoke brief
ly and went on record as heartily
favoring good roads and a bond is
sue.
II. l.. Gilkey,
Chairman Sabin then called upon
II. l.. Gllkey. Mr.. Gilkey said
ut seems almost useless for me to
dwell upon the value OF good roads,
as all OF you are well posted on that
matter, but | can say that permanent
highways are the greatest means Of
building up civilization as they con-
meet remote parts OF our country with
another. l have given the matter
considerable thought, even years ago,
and studied the good roads question
as pertaining to various parts Of the
world, made comparisons Of effi-
cheney and comparisons OF results
and | was startled and was con-
vinced OF the great value OF perman-
ent highway to any region. COM
pared the dirt roads OF America with
the hard surface roads OF France and
found something like this: A one
horse load drawn on the highways OF
France will require five horses to do
the same work In America on the ay-
erage dirt road. In other words, II
would take five horses to draw load
from W'lderville to Grants Pass that
In France could be hauled much
more easily the same distance with
one horse And then again our roads
in winter are at times lmpassable
This question OF good roads with
us is not one OF pleasure soley but
is matter OF revenue We want
our main trunk line to the coast q
road north and south. then the lat.
erals, Remember we have our roads
already laid out. That means much.