Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-03-16
MedfOrd aFd Motors
:;s:.;:::;:,:::::;:;;3;;;;;;;;::;;:::;::;::::


phase OF life in Ashland which
makes a most favorable impression
upon the stranger within its gates is
the prevalence of the automobile. The
streets swarm with private pleasure
cars, silent, efficient trucks speed
about with the heavier burdens Of
! business, and the big Gray Cars"
and their busy competitors, carry the
traveller on his errands between Ash
! land and Medford
1t is but natural, then, when the
opportunity came to pay visit to
/ Medford, that the automobile busi-
ness should suggest itself as fruit
full subject for investigation and
comment. The suggestion became
more firmly intrenched in my mind
when | made the discovery that Med
ford is quite as much the slave of
gasoline as her sister city to the east.
Fortified with the never-failing
questions of the chronic interviewer,
thrust myself upon the tender mer-
cies of the first automobile house
within my reach. For the first one
/ had not far to seek 1t suggested,
in the solidity and excellence of the
building which housed it, "a security
trust building, or a sub-treasuary,
but by virtue of the sign ! knew it
for the place of business Of c. e.
Gates, dealer in automobile supplies,
and agent for the Studebaker in Jack
son county. Mr.. G. e. Gates, |
learned, was in Portland, but / found
his brother in charge, and willing
enough to help me with my story,
YES" he said, in response to my
first and very pointed query, I'VE
own the building. In way the fact
that we, firm of automobile dealers,
own building which cost $4,000 |
is the most Illuminating commentary
which l can make on the automobile
business. 1t represents not only our
own success as individual merchants,
but the substantial basis of the busi-
ness in southern Oregon.
you know" continued Mr.. Gates,
warming to his subject, "it has not
been so long since the auto agent was
more often than not a curbstone per-
son, of no business standing and of
questionable methods, who sold as
many cars as possible within month
or two and made a quick getaway
before the comeback became too ser
ious. The auto business of those
days was a game, a gamble. Today
all that is changed, The gamble has
been eliminated.
Your automobile dealer is fac
tor in the community, leader in all
movements which make for increased
public welfare, in the building of
good roads, in the opening up and de-
veloping of scenic resources, the
friend, not the swindler, of the
farmer"
"Then you believe" l interjected,
that the automobile is a necessity to
the progressive farmer of southern
Oregon?"
Il certainly do" said Mr.. Gates
with emphasis. "If there is a sec
ton in the United States where the
automobile achieves the dignity of a
necessity in the farming districts that
place is here. In this country OF
magnificent distances, served as yet,
in spite of its richness, by only one
railroad system, efficiency demands
that the farmer be equipped with fa-
cilities for produce marketing which |
will overcome the disadvantage Of his
distance from the market. And her
the surprising utility OF the family
car is seen at its best. Many man
who has lost two days in the middle
OF his busy season because OF bit