Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-08-26
VILLAGE JEAIOUSIES.


A deplorable lack OF harmony ex'
lists between the cities OF southern
Oregon. II reminds one of village
rivalry that should have been long
ago outsrown. The prosperity of one
city in no way Injuries the others
Each occupies a field OF its own
None can secure prosperity by decry'
ing the others. Their material inter
ests can only be served by working
unitedly for the common good.
An attempt was made to pool the
interests OF southern Oregon at the
San Francisco exposition, but after
making an auspioious start, klamath
county withdrew and went ii alone
and has not been a gamer thereby.
This petty rivalry and jealousy is
shown nowhere so plainly as in at
tempts to secure the benefits OF auto
mobile tourist traffic. Grants Pass
has for several years made an organ
lied attempt to divert travel from the
Pacific highway 10 the coast route,
hoping thereby TO reap a benefit at
the expense OF other oregon towns.
Josephine county has refused 10 CO.
operate in the movement TO make
the Pacific highway a first-claSs
boulevard. Crater Lake tourists are
directed 10 take the Gold Hill-Deben-
ser Gap road-a makeshift highway,
and Gold Hill co-operates in the ef-
fort to keep tourists away from Ned
ford by big signs along the road
efforts that can not profit either
Grants Pass or Gold Hill.
Roseburg has retaliated against
Grants Pass discrimination by more
or less successful efforts TO induce
the state highway commission TO
adopt new route for the Pacific
highway via Glendale and Tiller to
Trail, thence TO Central Point. which,
besides being many miles shorter,
cuts out Josephine county altogether.
This road runs most OF the way
through the forest reserve which
pays no taxes and will not benefit a
settler. Roseburg hopes thereby TO
reap the benefit OF Crater Lake traf-
fic. though that city has done moth
ing TO make Crater Lake accessible
or develop it.
Klamath Falls has for years ham,
mered the Rogue River valley ooun-
try. Big signs slong the Pacific high
way advise the tourist 10 take the
Ager route TO Crater Lake, and at
klamath Falls every effort is made
10 keep the tourist from returning
via this region, while the central
Oregon route is boosted. As a re-
suit the tourist carries away the I'M
preston that Oregon is desert.
At the meeting Of the COMPRESSION
al rivers and harbors commission at
. Crescent City this week, Grants Pass
orators unfortunately allowed their
prejudice to get the best of facts by
asserting that the Illinois valley
ouuld produce more tonnage than the
Rogue River valley for railroad and
other assertions along the same line.
Great care was exercised that the
congressman should not he given a
glimpse Of this section, which really
will furnish most Of the traffic.
There is q glimpse Of hope in the
fact that harmony, or near harmony,
prevails between Ashland and Med
ford. Citizens Of both towns realize
finally that the prosperity Of the one
is reflected in the other, and that
what helps one helps both. The
same community Of interest senti-
men, should exist among all the sec
iions Of southern Oregon.
The tours, IS capable Of judging
tor himself as 10 the respective me7-
its Of the various localities Give
him the opportunity. Ssy : goot
word whenever possible for ueighoor-
ing eities-tor nothing disgus,s the
stranger more than the knocser-
There is no surer wSy 10 drive
homeseekers and investors ont Of the
country than 10 talk pesSi-is;ic2lly
about il yourself. and next 10 knock
ing yoar oWn city, the oardia2l sin Is
Ia knock your neishboring city.