Ashland weekly tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1919-1924, 1922-07-05
$4,000 PEOPLE.
At ASHLAND s
CELEBRATION
VISITORS FLOCK TO FESTIVl-
TIES FROM ALL PARTS OF
SOUTHERN OREGON
Program OF the Fourth" Was I'm
qualified Success and Not Sim
60 Accident MARRIED Enjoyment
Of Vast Gathering.


Twenty-Five thousand people Is
a conservative estimate of the num-
ber who were in Ashland yesterday
TO attend the Fourth of July cele-
bfation. Many believe that this Is
The largest number ever in attend
ance at a single event In this city, al
though in the past the famous rodoes
attracted big crowds. Be that as
II may. the attendance was rec
ord breaker for any event ever he d
in southern Oregon.
In order to get an intelligent es-
innate of the number of people
here, 1t can be said that after the
fireworks had conc uded the pro-
gram ior the day. steady stream of
automobiles started from the park
on ih' return journey. They fol-
lowed each other about ten feet
apart, three cars passing given
point In one minuta Ffty-five
minu, os elapsed from the homeward
s'art O. the first car to the last, on
Granite street. That would total
1850 cars On the roadway through
the park, paralleling Granite street,
the cars moved at about the same
rate for the same length of time
Estimate that at 1850 cars. There
were probably more, as they moved
somewhat faster. Then on the low
er, or ditch drive, they moved in a
steady stream for thirty minutes,
and even a larger number for the
same period, took the homewaGd
route via the scenic drive. Taken
all in all, very conservative esti-
mate would place the number of
cars leaving the park at five thou
sand. Add to this the cars parked
on Main street. Both sides of the
street were lined with cars Almost
from the city limits on the north
to the Boulevard on the south
Every side street too, had its quota
of cars. How many it would be i'm
possible to even conjecture, but 1t
can scarcely be taken as an exag-
geration to say that there were six
thousand automobiles in the city
and that they carried an average of
four persons. In many instances the
cars contained all the way from four
to a half-dozen-even more, but on
an average of four to car, 1t would
easily account for an attendance
of twenty-four thousand people.
Add to this the number who came
in on special trains of the southern
Pacific from Grants Pass, Duns-
muir and Weed and you have an at
tendance of twenty-five thousand.
In point of attendance the cele-
bration marks a record, but not the
only one.
There was not an accident during
the day.
There was not an arrest made dur
ing the day.
There was not fire reported
during the day, except for five
inch hole burnt in an awning and
the burlap wall of one of the con-
cessions in the park.
Too much credit cannot be given
the police department for the man
ner in which the vast crowd was
handled. Chief Hatcher had fif-
teen extra policemen sworn in, and
had he picked his men from the traf
fic squads of Portland. they could
not have rendered better Service.
At no time, either during the pa
rade or afterwards was there a con-
gestion of traffic anywhere. How
six thousand automobiles could be
parked In city the size of Ashland,
without obstructing traffic, or how
twenty-five thousand people could
be handled without an accident and
without row during the entire day,
Is one of the things that passeth
the point of explanation. The fact
that 1t was an actual accomplish
ment will have to stand for itself.
The parade was great success.
For one thing it started on time
and during the passing of the pro-
cession there was not dull moment.
So fascinating was the spectacle
that the crowds lining the sidewalks,
seated and standing, at every avail
able point on the line Of march,
held its ground until tine parade
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