Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-12-10

and other war activities, do you fino
an inland town with pay roll ex-
ceeding that scattered among US
each month by the Southern Pacific
Company-to say nothing Of the
Cannery, the Iron Works, the
Creamery and other local industries?
Where again do you find a city OF
like characteristics that at this time,
when war activities are drawing men
from our community constantly, peo-
pie are securing the town for de-
cent houses in which to live?
/ say that there are no better
cities than Ashland and when some
of us wake to that fact 1t will be
too late to capitalize on the tip"
/ feel that a warning should 60
out to our own people to take ad-
vantage of the low prices now pre-
vailing and buy the homes and the
acreage that are being offered at
less than one-half their actual value.
II we do not accept these opportuni-
ties, we will again see the time when
we must say what fool / was.
could have bought that place in
1918 for s." Failing to grasp
these opportunities, we will again
see those men of clear vision from
the outside world come into our
midst, buy up the bargains, and
laugh at us for our stupidity. This
is not a recommendation for boom
nor even a near BOOM" but only
that our own people may enjoy the
fruits Of our labor and our taxation
My message is also intended as
warning to those now owning prop
erty, to hold on to 1t until reason
able price can be secured. The time
Is sure to come.
The blame for low rentals (Which
have a tendency to restrict the erec-
tion of satisfactory dwellings, apart
ments. etc. lies at our own door. In
our feverish anxiety to keep some
thing coming in, we have cut rent
ais at the first sign of unrest. The
remedy for this lies in a Realty
Board or a Realty Committee at
tached to the Commercial club.
This committee or board could in 2
short time appraise properties listed
for rental and could fix a price
which would bring a reasonable re-
turn on the money invested, at the
same time setting maximum price
as protection to those, who by
circumstances beyond their control,
are compelled to pay rent. The real
estate dealers of the city are hon
orable business men and women.
They should be encouraged in their
work, but should be asked to abso-
lutely refuse to list for rental any
property not kept in good living
condition. They should agree to re-
fuse to list a house or farm for sale
at a price beyond its reasonable rem
tai or productive value.
Our land is productive, but it has
been maligned by spectators who
bought at the peak and failed to un-
load, and by others who have at
tempted to farm II without adequate
and knowledge, until we
now must ask What is an acre Of
good tillable land adjacent to Ash
land worth?
Requests for valuations on real
estate by outside people should be
referred to one Board for reply.
Some mistakes wound be made, no
doubt, but in the main the result
would be fair returns to the seller
and fair values to the buyer. This
Board should cooperate with the
State Land Commission, which has
been organized for the sole pur-
pose of developing our State with
out profiteering by spectators.
On this sort of a foundation
structure of splendid development