Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-08-25
The Bond Issue.

bulIOT ASHIdHu lIul0SS. AZ
there is a discussion on regarding the
issuing of bonds for the building a
hard-surface road through the coun-
ty from north to south, along what
is known as the Pacific Highway, |
thought it might not be out of the
way for me to offer my suggestion
regarding the manner of solving the
question.
Under the present proposition it
seems to me to be a rich mans prop
osition. 1t calls for large expendi-
ture of money, mainly for the pur-
pose of enabling the tourist to pass
through the valley more expeditions
ly while taking in the sights which
our beautiful valley presents. 1t
strikes me that we have done enough
of that kind of advertising. We do
not care to induce people to settle
in our midst, without having some
thing more substantial to offer. The
idea of getting newcomers here for
the purpose of unloading something
of which we are assured that we can
not make good in any other way is
not sound indication of prosperity.
What we need in the valley is
some system which will enable a
man, though he be a poor man, to
come here and buy home and pay
for the same from the proceeds of
the land. Conditions which forbid
the poor man from making money
from his farm, and which call only
for the man who has gained a COM
petence elsewhere, are not, to say
the least, the best in the world
If we vote to bond the county for
$500, 1000, to build q hard-sJrface
road along the Pacific Highway we
are asking those who live in the
outlying districts to tax themselves
that the tourist may be able to make
little more time. 1t appears to me
that it would be the height of folly
TO follow any such plan.
If we issue the bonds as called
for it will call for an annual levy
in excess of the amount necessary to
run the ordinary county business, to
provide $4,000 to pay the annual
interest. Besides, we will have to
add Certain amount to provide for
retiring the bonds when they become
due. In the face of this enormous
outlay the county will receive no di-
rect return. The road will immedi-
ately begin to deteriorate, and by
the time the bonds are due, in all
probability, the roads will need re-
building again. Furthermore, it will
be of little practical value to the
majority of the dwellers in the val
ley, in moving their produce to the
railroad. If we could induce capital
to take hold of an enterprise which
would be mutually helpful to the
capitalist and the county alike we
could well afford to put our money
into it. What we need is water to
make all these thousands of acres
along the foothills yield of their
richness to us. The land is here and
1T is rich in all the elements which
go to make the valley prosperous,
excepting the water and the neces-
sary energy.
II capital could be induced to Join
forces with the county and construct
a ditch from some point on the
klamath river, which is over two
thousand feet higher than the valley,
and bring the water over the divide,
and after crossing the divide power
plants might be so located as to fur
nish light and power for the whole
valley. After using it for power it
could be diverted along the hillsides
and so made to water the whole val
ley. The land so reclaimed would
make it possible to sustain many
times the amount of livestock, by the
production of alfalfa and other for
age plants where only foxtail now
grows.
On all the roads which now cross
and recross the valley could be con-
structed trolley lines which would
be a real help to the farmer and
the laborer, the merchant, mechanic
and the pleasure-seeker alike. 1t
would be proposition in which all
would be interested. Instead of build.
ing one fine road for those who are
fortunate enough to possess an au.
tomobile, we would build many troll.
ley lines which would be used alike
by all classes. We could give com.
pany who would be willing to take