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Medford
in 1904 Medford was incorporated in 1885. Is situated on the west bank of Bear Creek, on the line of the Southern Pacific Railroad and has a population of 2,500. The business part of the town has well-built brick and stone buildings equaling in size and cost the business centers of many towns twice its size. All branches of trade, industry and all professions have able representatives. It is a city of churches, there being nine comfortable church buildings. A large public school building, water works, electric light plant, four mill, two banks, two hotels and a large number of business houses. Most of the business men are from the East and Middle West, and are bright fellows who have a good trade and carry large stocks of goods. Medford, lying as she does in the heart of the valley, has naturally become the chief trading point for a large country. There are opportunities for a man who has money to invest, in and about Medford. Fruit canneries, dyers, manufactories and almost any kind of business would pay, and in many cases pay well. Do not come to Oregon and expect to find a snap. The rush of homeseekers is beginning to arrive--most of them men of moderate circumstances. Many of them have an idea that land can be bought very cheap here and when brought to the realization that good land is not sold for a song, they fold their tents and silently steal away. Now and then an Eastern farmer drifts into town with his pockets full of money. If he has the price he can find the land that is all right; but mind you, it would take several New York State farms to buy a good one here--I mean a good improved farm of 160 acres near Medford; one that a farmer could go onto, commence farming and make a good living from the start. Real estate agents are thick as the hair on a dog. They always have just what you want; the land will grow almost anything from hay to oranges, and on account of sickness of the owner they will sell it to you for almost next to nothing. If you ever come West look out for yourself; look well before you buy land; take your time, look around and do not buy the first thing you see because some fellow says it is cheap. There is lots of land--a little good and a whole lot of it no good at all. You are expected to pay more or less for climate, but look out that you do not buy all climate. There are many good chances for the Eastern farmer and young business man in Oregon. Do not expect too much or any soft soaps, as there were people here ten years ago looking for the same thing. Excerpt, Frederick A. Thomas, "Valley of the Rogue River," Pulaski Democrat, New York, May 18, 1904, page 4 Medford in Jackson County on the S.P.R., 328 miles south of Portland, also in the Rogue River Valley has 2500 population. Has 2 banks, large roller flour mills, distillery, brewery and 2 planing mills. Headquarters of the Iowa Lumber Co. Center of a great fruit region in which prices of land are rapidly rising. Good school, opera house, electric plant, four newspapers and eight churches. Wallis Nash, The Settler's Handbook to Oregon, J. K. Gill Co., Portland, 1904, page 187 Last
revised September 29,
2009
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