Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-12-23

about as far from market centers as
any town on the Pacific slope. Freight
rates are high, prohibitive in some
instances, and the production of the
country is consequently greatly cur
tailed.
Railroad development seems to be
in the air. At Medford the Hill lines
are operating a road-The Pacific &
Eastern-to Butte Falls, eastward 35
miles. Recently Che line between Med
ford and Jacksonville was sold and
electrical equipment is being install
ed. 1t is rumored here that the de-
velopment is being made by the Hill
interests as the first link in the in
terror of a line which shall connect
eastward at Bend with the Oregon
Trunk road and westward reach the
fdClllC OCtdH dl OOOS Day.
On Paved Highway
Ashland is at the southern end OF
16 miles of paved highway and al
the northern end of the Siskiyou
drive, extending 22 miles to the Cali
fornia line. The drive is one of the
truly magnificent highways of the
Pacific Coast, and is being paved
from a continuing state appropria'
tion to complete, $4,000 of which
is available each year, the first in.
stallment being expended this year
The road problem has not been SER
ious at Ashland, except for the noun
tain grades. The land is of granite
formation and roads of decomposed
granite wear well and have been
made freely by the county and by
settlers. For real heavy traffic hard
surfacing will be necessary.
Granite Deposits
Granite deposits of great extent
and remarkable variety of colors
exist in the hills near Ashland. For
years development has been going on
in a small way-very small until last
year-and no comprehensive plan
was evolved to market the granite
outside of local needs. Recently men
of means have become interested in
the deposits and work is under way
which will give the district two or
three granite guarries with equip
ment to handle the work in competi-
tion with we'll known districts.
Ashland granite is of a variety Of
colors, and all of high grade, it is
said Tests have been made many
times which show possibilities of a
remarkable development of the gran
ite industry here The quarries
which are to be opened lie near
wagon roads and only a few miles
from the main line of the Southern
Pacific railway.
Fruit Business Drags
For many years the people of Ash
land have boasted of possibilities in
fruit culture with the result that
land values-or rather priCes-soar-
ed, and men paid more for tracts
than they were worth or could be
worth for several years at least.
Without irrigation the fruit crop has
been short and the quality not always
first class, hence the grower failed
to realize his dreams of wealth and
ease.
When production began it was seen
that Ashland had marketing prob
lens which will be hard to solve.
The city is far from market centers
and only hardy fruits can stand the
long journey to Eastern cities. The
fruit business, between high prices
of land and excessive cost Of mar
keting, is not forging ahead, and the
for resort development is
timed and wise. Land production
will not reach the top price without
and even with plenty of
water marketing problems would
still exist.
ROadsides Weeds Museums
Noxious weeds line the roadsides
in sections Of Jackson county,
spreading weeds over the land of
the hard working farmer who keeps
his own acres clear Of the pest. Reg