Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1917-08-13

should be interested-the starting Of
work on the Strahorn railroad. How
much interest did Portland evince in
us on that commonwealth-bu
occasion? Not the head of a Port
land firm was there; just few trav-
cling statesmen buttonholing mer-
chants for orders. No evidence Of
good will and godspeed. We asked
the Portland Chamber of Commerce
to participate. Not representative.
Not an echo. That body seemed to
think more Of sixty dollars expense
] the trip would occasion than it did
of the klamath country and her
greatest enterprises. Purely selfish.
Why should we act otherwise? OF
course, buy at the handiest market.
Why should | inconvenience myself
to favor town that does not recipro-
cate? They all look alike to me-"
confess that rather punctured my
enthusiasm, because the conversation
called to mind that al the same in
stant Ashland was straining every
nerve in pulling off the greatest cele-
bration in her history. She had just
completed her mineral springs prof.
ect, fine park and one of the
largest auditoriums in the state, at
cost of over three hundred
thousand dollars, and was cele-
brating that event. She felt she had
accomplished wonderful things for
small community-and felt proud OF
her achievements. She had gone the
limit in celebrating II. She had sent
delegation to Portland to extend an
invitation and cultivate interest and
good will Portland Chamber OF
Commerce said she was with us-she
would send good delegation and a
special train. The day arrived. The
cannon booms. The fireworks flash
out into the night. Wicked horses
buck and the long-horned steers meet
magnificent foe Where is Port
lands delegation? Sound asleep in
the shade of an empty skyscraper.
wrapped in the gauzy filaments of its
own satisfaction. At Ashland, not a
happy how-dy-do from a Portland
manufacturer or jobber. Not a good
will representative from. the Cham
ber of Commerce. Just few travel
ing salesmen engaged in their COM
mon pursuit That was mere venal-
ity. We hoped for more cordial
and wholesome interest from our big
sister.
Does the Rogue River valley trade
with San Francisco? Yes, mostly.
That's another symptom.
Sometimes as great profit is de-
rived from an exchange of good will
as comes from an exchange of wares
Portland to be robust and prosper
Gus, needs to spread her great wings
over the entire state Of Oregon. Her
trade territory should embrace more
than Multnomah county and the Will
lamette valley. 1t should extend over
Washington Montana, Idaho and all
of Oregon. at least. Is 1t not just
possible that her tiade territory has
shriveled through pinched policy OF
her own? II so, there is another
symptom.
Portland can greatly prosper only
by building up her trade territory
ny b9hinb IL Nlu6cs
even as hen taketh her brood under
her wings BY helping to nourish her
natural offspring so II will grow big,
fat and sleek.
We Southern Oregon folks-so
near the California line-need more
or less coddling and courtesy, lest we
forget whether, in truth, we are Ore
gonians or Californians. Besides
that, we country dealers have OBJ
served, through long experience, that
attention and good will are
as essential in holding the patronage
Of our neighbors as good goods and
right prices. We visit considerably
with our customers. That's why am
here tonight with this message OF
good cheer and good will.
l thank you.