Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-11-19
Col. Ray Boosts
Springs Project


electrical development in southern
Oregon, wrote George Putnam from
Karlsbad, Austria, last June, advo-
eating the development of Ashland
mineral springs, and citing Karlsbad
as an instance of what the springs
can be made to do for the Rogue
River Valley. His letter follows:
Karlsbad, June 25.
Editor Nail Tribune: l am keep
ing in touch with your section of the
country by reading the Mail Tribune,
which is forwarded to me every week.
l noticed your article regarding min
eral springs at Ashland. l am glad
you have taken it up, as that can be
made one of the most beautiful places
in Oregon and attract a great many
people.
/ am sending you all data | can
gather on Karlsbad You will note
that in 1854 they only had 273 per-
sons here for the cure and in 1912
they had $4,000 for the cure and in
addition to that about 100000 visit
ors.
In the morning when you go to the
hot water springs between and 8
o'clock you will see the streets lined
with 10000 people every morning
during the season. Each one of
these persons who are taking the
cure pay taxes to the town of from
So to $40 apiece. This is called the
music and cure tax. This money is
used in keeping up the ninety miles
of walks through the woods, and l
must say they are very attractive.
You will find great deal of the
data l send you in German; in case
you can't read German, call on Judge
Tou Velle or DR.. Reddy. They are
both good German scholars, or at
least think they are, as l have seen
them eat a bushel of wienerwurst
and sauerkraut.
You have nothing to do here but
sleep, drink hot water and eat very
little. All you have got to do is take
care of yourself and rest, and that
can be done at Ashland as we'll as
any other place. But they will have
to build fine walks through the woods
and garden cafes along these walks,
not for the purpose of drinking beer,
but coffee and hot milk. There are
about fifteen such garden cafes here,
running every day, where scarcely
anything but coffee and milk are con-
sumed. In addition to your walks
you will have to have plenty of ac-
commodation and will have to adver-
tise that the waters will cure rheu-
matism, gout, stomach troubles, in
somnia, etc. rr-s
l think the whole valley ought to
boost for Ashland springs as we'll as
the Southern Pacific Railroad. 1t
would be great thing for the
Southern Pacific, and | am satisfied
that Mr.. Sproule will do his part, if
he sees the people in the valley will
help the project along. If you start
in small way you will soon see that
outside capital will come in and put
up large hotels and boarding houses.
The hotel am staying at here, the
Imperial, is one of the finest / was
ever in, and best run. You will no.
tice picture OF it in the book / send
you.
Round this town there are factories
which manufacture porcelain out of
kaolin, also glass, laces and worsteds
Of the very finest kinds, and hardly
any of the people visiting here go
away without buying from 81 up to
$4,000 or $4,000 worth of goods.
This is what the Rogue River Valley
needs, so all of you give it a push.
Give my regards to all inquiring
friends. / am,
Yours truly,
FRANK H. RAY,