Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-01-02
COLUMBUS MAN WRITES
Charles II. Barlow, Former Resident,
Writes JOcOsely and Other
wise of Issues.
Columbus. O., Dec. 20. 1912.

NOul tulAlAb ftA AANtAA' NAN
10 congratulate Ashland for having
one of the newsiest and most public
spirited papers on the coast. 1t takes
considerable courage and backbone
to stand up for what is right and
best sometimes, especially in the
newspaper business.
The various articles anent the mu-
nicipal light plant were quite a .puz-
zle for a time as the writer could
not make out why the citizens of
Ashland should not have pride and
interest enough in it to support it
Loyalty against a foreign company
that had held them up and tried to
rob them when there was no compe-
tition.
There is generally a motive back
of an attack of the kind, and, read
ing between the lines, it looks as
though interested parties wanted a
commission appointed to handle the
plant, with possibly one of the COM
mission to act as city accountant as
well, and draw down a fat salary.
1t is we'll to know just what it is
costing to run the various depart
ments of the city government, as it
is only in this way eXtravagances can
be discovered and eliminated, but if
the same energy was put into getting
light manufacturing plants and other
users of the day load, it would go
long way towards making the plant
more profitable
A handle factory, pottery or
factory for making insulators and
numerous clay products from the
various valuable Clays to be found
around Ashland should be a paying
proposition.
A site was purchased up on the
hill, back of Roper's hill, for a reser-
voir to store water, and if this was
done there would be no need of a
shortage of water during the irri-
eating season.
All these improvements can be
made when things are dull for much
less cost than when they are boom
ing, and if the contracts are let to
local men so the money is spent at
home, they help to make times better
for the local merchants and work
men, and the bonds, especially il
twenty-year bonds are sold, will be
paid off largely by future genera
tions or newcomers who come in anC
buy.
1t would be well for the citizens
of Ashland to remember that man,
cities of the coast have fine scenery
climate, water and fruit, but tha
one of Ashland's strongest drawing
cards is the water and light systems
and if worked to full capacity it will
not be many years until the bond
are wiped out and a surplus shown
The writer has for many years bee
engaged in municipal contract work
and has never seen a city where bel
ter results were obtained for tn
amount spent, and where the official
seemed so honest and sincere.
We still pay a considerable tax i
Ashland for which we do not get an
of the water, light, climate or sceI
cry, but we have enough confidenC
in the city officials to vote MOI
bonds for anything to improve, be
ter or beautify the city.
Ashland problem is to produC
something to ship with low freigl
rate, or have a large value for sma
bulk. In this line the writer is gla
to note that the cannery has bee
extended and dryer put in.
,, 1t would no doubt prove very pro
liable to grow Loganberries exte
''sively, also currants, and boil Il
Juice down. barrel and ship east
be made up into jelly. There won
be a ready market here at goo
prices. Also the Rogue river vail,
is one of the finest sections of Il
country for growing seeds and bull
These all carry high values al
small bulk
One thing more, and then | W
stop suggesting; The U. s. COVER
ment and the various states are stal
ing a campaign against tuberculos
Let the politicians, near political
and would-be politicians all get bu
and get an appropriation for a /
'sanitarium on one of the hills ne
there, and combine profit with h
manitarian interests.
One more matter occurs to me:
notice in the engineers estima
$3.50 for an EXETER. Why spend
much when an article in the Tidin
suggesting another bond issue wor
produce SO much more excitemer
Well, it is showing hard, we {
going to have a white Christm
and ! will close by wishing a mel
Christmas and happy and prosperc