Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-06-26
REAL ESTATE EXPLOITATION.
Third in Series.)

pIoltatlon. ne real estate boomer
should be discouraged A commun-
ity best prospers by raising produce,
not land values. The effort should
be along lines of solid development.
About the worst thing a community
can do is to spend money in mislead-
ing, extravagant statements, because
such always create fictitious land
values. The natural resources of
the community must be developed.
The Rogue River Valley contains
land suitable for all kinds of pro-
duction. This is world-famous
fruit section. There are quantities
of land here better adapted to fruit
culture than any land to be found
in the United States. Such land should
be set to fruit. Also there is land
here not at all adapted to fruit cul-
ture. 1t will grow fair looking trees
to the age of three or four years,
but will never successfully produce
fruit Such land should not be util-
lied by schemers to exploit tender
feet from the east. 1t should be
forced into the culture of that to
which it is adapted. Diversified ag-
riculture is needful in every COM
munity. There is some land here
which will produce cereals, some
that will produce alfalfa best, some
valuable for berries, and there is not
a foot of land in the valley but can
be profitably utilized for some be-
neficent production. A one-crop
country at best is hazardous. The
community should be self-supporting
in everything needed by it's people.
There is no section so well suited
to such production. Our hills should
be utilized for cattle and sheep cul-
ture. The dairying industry should
be fostered and built up. This val
ley can be made to rival Petaluma
in chicken culture. 1t can be fur
ther developed in bee culture.
Our fruit producers should not
longer be left to the mercies of an
erratic fresh fruit market Gamer
les and driers should be established
throughout the valley so that during
times of depressed markets our fruit
products could be preserved and the
necessity of forcing it upon an un-
favorable market obviated. This val
ley will never reach its best in pros
perity until these are accomplished
We have heard it said that freight
rates are against the canning indus
try in this valley. That can be cas-
lily overcome. A commodity rate can
be obtained on outgoing canned and
dried fruit shipments. The opening
of the Panama canal will afford us
eastern markets at a profitable rate.
Rogue river fruit is fit to supply the
choicest markets of the world, and
when it is properly processed so it
will keep pure and sweet it will
bring the top prices of both CONT
nents. We must no longer depend
upon the fresh fruit markets. 1t is
too hazardous prospect to yield us
prosperity. But the Rogue River
Valley must get shoulder to shoul-
der and go after commodity rate
for our cannery products. That can
not be accomplished by one commun-
ity pulling against another. 1t will
take concentrated action to accom-
plish it. Already a good canning
start has been made at Talent The
Bagley cannery is well financed and
well managed. Every commercial
club in the valley should get behind
the effort being put forth by that
company for better freight rates and
fight till it is obtained. The COM
modify rate when secured can be
made to apply to all Rogue river
points. The Southern Pacific will
not be hard to manage in that. re-
gard. There are thousands of dol
lars worth of fruit going to waste
here every year for want of proper
! facilities for handling it. On that
waste the railroad gets no hauling
fee. 1t will gladly lend its aid in
furthering the preservation of this
waste when the matter is rightly
brought to its attention. This mat
ter should be now taken up system
atically. Committees from every
commercial club in the valley should
! be raised to forward this enterprise.
Talent has cannery, Ashland has
cannery, Medford is now negotiating
for cannery, Central Point should
have one, as well as other points.
There should be fifteen or twenty in
the valley. This industry holds out
! big prospects. Let us concentrate
our efforts in bringing about condi-
, tions that will justify them, then we
will no longer be left helpless to the
mercy of erratic fresh fruit markets
, or to the uncertain wiles of commits
: sion merchants in the east, and the