Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-02-16
tislIOR FROM PULLMAN
PLEASED WITH VALLEY,


lishment In that swift city has been
in Grants Pass for a week. The
Washington capitalist has been busy
observing men, events and condi-
tions In Grants Pass. and his impress
sIons are Interestingly told In an in
teryiew with The Courier. Mr. Bur-
gan, II is known, will probably be-
come identified with business here.
This does not mean that he will dis
pose Of his heavy interests in Pull
man, but that he will invest a por-
tlon OF his surplus In Grants Pass.
II he does. a son will probably come
here to care Tor the Investments.
Regarding conditions here and In mis-
home city. especially the liquor ques-
tlon, the Washington capitalist said
"A casual visitors first impress
sion OF Grants Pass is that II is a
city OF thrift and of substantial,
though as yet undeyeloped, resources,
aud that II Is peopled by a citizen
ship high minded and progressive.
after a week In your midst, dur
ing which time ! have been a care
ful observer OF conditions, | see that
the first impression Is the right
one, and that your magnifcently
paved and lighted streets, beautiful
public parks, and many other munlc-
ipal Improvements that attract first
attention, do bespeak the public
mind
ITO me one Of the attractive fea-
lures OF your community Is the at
tltude OF your people on the liquor
question My experience as a mer-
chant and banker In my home town,
Pullman Washington, where this
question was fought out and settled
five years ago, proves beyond any
attempt at contradiction that the
people and the liquor traffic can be
divorced to the great and lasting
benefit Of the people. For years
Pullman was rent and torn by po-
l't al and faellonal strife engendered
the liquor traffic. Business in
ests suffered, municipal improve
nent was at standstill and the
condition was chaotic In the ex-
treme Dire results were predicted
by the liquor interests Y Pullman
went dry and so cut of from her
sources of income the amount OF the
license money paid by the traffic
Pullman was a pioneer In this move
ment. and like the pioneer in every
movement, she had the hardest fight
to make, without precedent to follow
or the experience OF others to point
the way.
"The solution OF the question
came for Pullman with the election
OF city council and the appoint
ment Of other city officials who were
sincerely In favor OF dry town, and
Pullman became dry in fact. The
effect upon our city has been marvel
ous. Business houses have flourish
ed as never before blocks have been
built those that had stood vacant
during the rule Of liquor are filled
and legitimate businesses are now
housed whore formerly the saloon
was found The municipality has
made greater Improvement than in
c7 Ike period before and the rate
axation Is lower
But how about the individual cit
lreg. YOU ask? In him the change Is
even more marked, for Improvement
In general conditions can be but re-
Hectlon OF the advancement of the In
dIylduals who make up the commun-
ity He has prospered financially
and Is now filled with a greater self
respect and with pride In his town,
Taxes that he formerly contributed
only In an Indirect way through the
medium OF the saloon license he now
pays through the ownership of prop
erty and his credit is good at either
bank or store, And in this counec-
tlon can add that our store, the
largest In the city, doing credit
business, has an annual loss OF
much less than one per cent OF its
credits l could quote you columns
of hgures TO prove to YOU that the
benefit TO Pullman has not been
fictitious one, but the best proof
can offer is that there is now no
sentiment whatever for a return to
the old conditions, and that peace
and friendship and general get-to-
gether and pull-together spirit make
OF Pullman a united and prosper
Gus community And the commence
meut OF this new era dates back to
the day when Pullman went dry.
SCHOONER ASHORE.