Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-07-13
What of AsbIandp


Now what has Ashland? Only a
moments thought presents the in.
/ evitable answer, its unsurpassed geo.
graphical location. The city was
started here because of the fact that
the road from California found at the
foot of the Siskiyous this charming
mountain stream with its abundant
supply of the best of waters. No fac
tor has been more important to its
growth than the wonderful climate
and beautiful setting Stretching
along an easy slope at the foot of a
majectic mountain range, with this
beautiful canyon and stream bi-sect-
ing that slope, with a climate that
cannot be eXcelled on the American
continent if in the world, having as
its front yard one of the most fertile
and charming valleys anywhere to be
found-who can doubt that this city
owes its present as well as its future
to the bountiful endowments of old
Mother Nature?
A Home City.
If this be the fact, and no one will
deny it, the city's future lies in a
development that makes the most of
these advantages. Coupling with
this the further fact that the nature
of the surrounding country almost
precludes the possibility of Ashland's
ever becoming a manufacturing or
commercial city, it should be appar-
on fhaf harn &c nafttpa1 nitty Of
homes; city whose ideal should be
a fine place in which to live; a city
of schools; a city of culture; a city
of bountiful living; city whose peo-
pie will always show that love of ma
ture and the beautiful which living
under naturally beautiful surround
ings inspire.
| offer this opinion in the hope
that you, into whose lives and those
of your children and children's chill
dren the effects of a city we'll
planned and built shall so largely en-
ter, may study the matter and let the
future development of the city be
grounded in an understanding of its
possibilities and the natural road to
them.
But no mere location, no matter
how favored, can alone make city
what it should be. The human ele-
ment is important. A city must be
planned and built as we'll as founded.
A city's natural endowments is one
that one which points
out a logical path. If my sugges-
ton be found well based, it follows
that the people of this city can, to
their best advantage, strive for the
things that make for the more abun-
iant home and community life, rath-
er than the mere size and financial
strength that comes with commercial
and business development.
Lessons From Other Cities.
Now, then, can fine city be built |
On this splendid beginning?
The only suggestions | feel compe-
tent to offer is in calling attention
20 some of the lessons taught by 9th
or cities. And they are abundant,
'or there is a new civic spirit abroad
among our cities that is the most
promising sign of the times-espe-
,ially so since it is attacking the
one point where American govern
mental effort seems to have been a
allure.
Ambassador Bryce pointed out in
lis admirable, "The American Com
that in our city govern
nent was our one conspicuous fail
Ire. But a powerful movement is
lnder swing that promises to wipe
,ut this stigma; a movement based
m a new and proper conception of
he functions of city's gov ernment.
1t is to look into this movement,
consider some of its lessons and how
nay be applicable to your city, that
wish to call your attention this az
ernoon.
Noting first that American cities
n their typical failure as govern
mental unities are radically different
rom European cities, we find the
ause in the fact that there grew
p a custom, in the granting of city
harters by legislative enactment, Of
rafting on cities a form OF govern
lent copied from the national con
titution and totally unfit for the {