Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-02-14
REV. R0BT. M'LEAN
WRITES OF TRAVELS
Editor Rogue River Courier:

@NObNS SOuIl6Is
1t is said that travel is a great
educator, and it surely is in some
things. One needs to leave home in
order to appreciate the blessings of
home. | have heard people knock
ing Grants Pass, the Rogue River
valley, and all that pertained there
to, until | almost thought that in
the dispensation of Providence we
had not had a fair deal. The ad-
vantages of southern California, in
soil and climate, have been so per-
sistently extoled, contrasting that
section with Rogue River valley, to
the disadvantage Of the latter, that
one might almost imagine a transit
tion from north to south would be
step from purgatory to paradise.
had great desire to visit the south
country and see for myself the won
ders of which | had so often heard.
| came. | saw. compared, and
Rogue river conquered. In all my
journeying | have seen no place that
combines the advantages of climate,
variety and resources with beauty of
surroundings that we find in AMI
about Grants Pass, no place so de-
sirable as a place of residence the
year around. It is true that my visit
to southern California was at time
when they were in mourning because
of the killing freeze; but making all
allowance for that, there are things
that deeply impress one coming from
the north that are entirely indepen-
dent of the accidents of frost. There
are beautiful orange groves, though
many look as If they had been fire
swept, there are beautiful homes
with a wealth of verdure and flowers,
but back of all is the natural desc
lation that makes one feel as If ma
ture there is an enemy that must be
overcome, rather than a smiling,
benevolent co-worker. | could not
help contrasting the arid, desolate
background with the emerald setting
Of Grants Pass, and as my thoughts
turned to the valley where the green,
protecting mountains are round
about it as were the mountains round
about Jerusalem of old, l found my
self quoting
81 love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and tempted hills;
and if my heart did not with rap
ture thrill" it was at least filled with
content that l still had home in
the valley that is without COM
pare"
After leaving Oakland | found
myself in a compartment in the par
lor car with three typical southern
California land boomers; In all the
time they we're with me l heard
nothing but land. land, and still
more of southern California land
One man, the principal orator, had
great assortment of language, but il
was so mixed with profanity that Il
was hard to follow his line of argu
ment. BY careful attention / man
aged to sort out enough of language
from his oaths to learn that there
were a lot of blankety-blanked fools
in the world who would go to Oregon
to buy land instead of going t'
southern California, Where ever!
prospect pleases," and only the ora
tor OF the occasion was vile Grant
Pass seemed to be the red rag be
fore this bull, so l paid close atten
ton to learn his particular grleV
ance; and l found that there wer'
two principal heads 1st. mat III
could not get drink OF whiske'
there; and 2nd, that there was
church on every corner. Incident
ally the land was high and worth
less in quality as compared VIII
southern California land, and nj
Oregon man would buy any land L
California without first submitting
pound or two OF it to his pastor
Then followed another TRADE agains
the churches and ministers. hnal
" asked. "will you 'please tell m
what is your particular grieyanc
against churches and minister's
This called forth a most remarkaoI
Characterization OF ministers; an
what did the blankety-blanked min