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The Infamous Black Bird Southern Oregon History, Revised


Medford News: 1893

The first three years of the Medford Mail are lost; 1893 was the newspaper's fifth year and is the second oldest to survive. Below are some highlights*:
    Hotel Medford is glistening in wondrous brilliancy since the exterior woodwork has been stained and varnished and portions of the interior papered and refitted generally. Landlord Purdin is making this hostelry as famous for its excellency as is the city of Medford for its beauty and prosperous businessmen. While our clever landlord is doing all these things, Joe Savage is assisting materially in making friends for himself and the house by attending strictly and courteously to the wants of the hotel's patrons.
    Among the old things which have recently become new is the sign on Hotel Medford. Why not "The Medford," Mr. Purdin? Isn't that more aesthetic--and more in keeping with our city?
    More or less controversy has been had of late over the Childers-Phipps lawsuit which was settled last month by the circuit court, giving judgment in favor of Childers, for $1000--which judgment has since been purchased by R. H. Whitehead.
    Among the 7th Street improvements is the new brick addition being built by Mr. D. T. Pritchard to his jewelry store. The Messrs. Childers are supplying the material and doing the bricklaying.  
"Weekly Round-Up," Southern Oregon Mail, January 20, 1893, page 3


    The transfer of a transcontinental railway would hardly create more of a furor than did the change in the rental of the Rogue River Valley [rail]road. The rumored boycott probably has no greater extent than the minds of a few gossip vendors.
Editorial, Southern Oregon Mail, January 27, 1893, page 2


    The Medford brewery and artificial ice company's building is receiving a few finishing touches this week. While it is hardly probable these people will be able to make ready to do any brewing this winter they are getting in good shape to manufacture ice as soon as the spring trade opens. By another winter those who really feel that life is not worth living without an occasional schooner of beer need not get desperate and shuffle off the mortal coil for the want of it--their demand can be supplied.
    Messrs. Davis & Pottenger are attracting increased attention to their far-famed grocery store on Seventh Street this week by suspending an appropriate sign over the sidewalk in front of their place of business.
    There is considerable talk of erecting a German Lutheran church in Medford in early springtime. Messrs. Hamilton & Palm have very generously agreed to donate grounds sufficient upon which to erect the building.
    Hotel Medford has a new office desk. Great is The Medford--one continual round of new things.
    The Medford distillery is running to its full capacity.
    It is altogether probable that the Rogue River Valley short line has the youngest conductor in its employ of any railroad in the world. His age is in the immediate surroundings of twelve years. His name is John Barnum and he is a son of Wm. Barnum, an engineer on the same road. The young man is said to be taking lessons in the guttural rendition of "TICK-ETS" and pays as little attention to questions asked by passengers as does the average real man conductor.
    Mr. Cogeshall has a two-story resident home on F Street nearly completed. Mr. C. is a newcomer but he seems to be getting right cleverly into the ways peculiar to Medford.
    Hotel Clarendon has been leased by landlord Purdin, of The Medford, and will be used only as a lodging house and in connection with The Medford.
    The vacant building standing about an [sic] hundred feet north of Seventh Street and near the Clarendon Hotel is to be moved to the corner of Seventh and Front streets and will be used for a real estate office by Hamilton & Palm.
"Weekly Round-Up," Southern Oregon Mail, January 27, 1893, page 3
Getting Down to Business.
    The committee who have charge of the matter pertaining to the erection of the Medford Business College are now getting down to good, hard work. At a meeting of the committee Monday night it was decided that a building suitable for the emergency for several years could be constructed for $3,500, and with these figures as a basis of operations they are now out soliciting subscription. It seems to us that every resident of Medford who can possibly afford it ought to contribute as liberally as possible to this important adjunct to, or perhaps the principal factor in, Medford's enviable position as an educational center. We can all contribute a little--and we can well afford to when we realize the benefit such an institution will be to our town. Ashland people have made a bid of $3,000 for the college but we hardly think they will get it. Chances are all in our favor and if we let this opportunity to make a "ten stroke" for our town go by, we deserve no better fate than to lose it.
Southern Oregon Mail, January 27, 1893, page 3

Dear council give us street lamps,
    And give them to us soon,
Or we'll go over to Central Point
    And skip by the light of the moon.
Southern Oregon Mail, January 27, 1893, page 3


    Rogue River Valley--Medford to Eagle Pass [sic], twelve miles; projected. J. S. Howard, Medford, Ore., chief engineer.
"Railroad Projects," Omaha Daily Bee, Nebraska, January 27, 1893, page 7


    After this issue the Southern Oregon Mail shall have done with its usefulness and in its stead will appear The Medford Mail. This change is made from a motive of respect to the town of Medford from whose businessmen we expect our support.
    As we see carloads of cured pork in its various forms being shipped from our pork-packing institutions we cannot but remark upon this branch of industries as one of the leaders of the many in our valley.
Editorial, Southern Oregon Mail, February 3, 1893, page 3


    Mr. G. A. Hoover, the gentleman who received a severe cut in the arm at the pork packing house some weeks ago, has been having a hard siege with erysipelas and blood poison the past week or two. It seems the wound healed over on the outside too soon and before the inner parts had been given sufficient time to heal properly, resulting in the wound opening up anew and worse than at first. The gentleman's life was despaired of for a few days last week, but he is now improving and will probably get around all right again, although it will be several weeks before he can again get to work.
    It is fair enough for one fellow to laugh at another fellow when he slips on a banana peel and strikes terra firma, but there didn't anyone even smile when Ed. Parsons rounded the corner of Seventh and C streets on horseback Monday afternoon and his horse slipped and fell flat, with Ed. on the under side. Mr. Parsons gathered himself together after the horse had gotten up and fortunately escaped with only a sprained ankle and a badly bruised leg.
    Last Thursday while H. H. Wolters, an employee of the Mathes meat market, was engaged in cutting sausage meat, the second finger of his left hand came in too close contact with the knives and the finger was so badly cut as to necessitate amputation at the first joint. The wound is doing nicely and the gentleman will be cutting sausage again in a short time, but we'll wager he'll cut more sausage and less finger hereafter.
    Messrs. Roberts & O'Neil have their new residence on A Street nearly completed. The main building is 24x26 feet in size with an L 12x18 and porches on three sides. It is a very neat, comfortable structure and is a credit to that part of the city as well as the builders, Messrs. Speas & McGee.
    Everybody almost has a "josh" to run up against Postmaster Howard and all because he was carrying his eye in a sling a couple of days, resulting from the effects of a bad cold and inflammation. It is all right for the boys to josh, but it is no joshing matter to Mr. Howard.
    Mr. S. Rosenthal is closing out his stock of goods at cost, preparatory to going east. His was the second store established in Medford more than nine years ago, and his departure is regretted by a large circle of friends here. He promises to return to Medford.
    The cold snap of Saturday and Sunday brings up for observation the peculiar exultation and pride felt by the young man whose mustache has grown long enough to become slightly frosted. There [are] several of the miniature in this line in Medford.
    Messrs. Nicholson Bros. have moved their stock of implements from C Street to the Barnum brick building on Seventh Street. The building to which they have moved has recently been fitted up expressly for their use.
    Hamilton & Palm have sold lots 7 and 8, block 33 to Macy Pickering; consideration $200; and Conrad Mingus to Fred Medynski, lots 17, 18, 19 and 20, block 45, consideration $1000, all in Medford.
    A new sidewalk is being built from Dr. Geary's place to the corner of G and Seventh streets. An extension of this walk along Ninth Street to Mr. Geo. Webb's place is contemplated.
    The Southern Oregon Packing Company shipped a carload of lard and bacon Saturday night, and Monday a carload of bacon and ham--both to Lang & Co., Portland.
    Mr. Sutter don't propose to have any more burn-outs, and to avoid them will substitute hot water pipes for fires in his greenhouse.
    Mr. J. O. Johnson's household effects, together with a driving team and carriage, were unloaded at the depot Saturday.
    Mr. Wm. Ulrich is building a residence on North C Street.
"Weekly Round-Up," Southern Oregon Mail, February 3, 1893, page 3
Greenhouse Nearly Consumed.
    Saturday morning the greenhouse belonging to Frank Sutter, on North C Street, was discovered to be on fire and before the flames were entirely squelched much damage was done to the plants and building. The fire caught from a defective flue and must have been smoldering nearly all night, as the interior of the building was badly smoked and charred. It was just before daylight when the fire was first discovered. The neighbors turned out with water buckets and by lively work the fire was put out, but not until the glass was nearly all broken out, the plants badly scorched and one side of the building burned out.
Southern Oregon Mail, February 3, 1893, page 3
The Town Talker.
    One of the dangers of being on a pedestal is that boys will throw things.
    But it was not necessary to stand in a conspicuous place last Saturday night to get a rap in the neck, or perchance over your "other eye." If you didn't get your hat knocked into a cocked eye, or your eye knocked into a cocked hat, it was no fault of the boys. If you missed one compact missile of the beautiful you were sure to catch another. No black eyes have resulted for the reason that the victims retreated and the volleys came in from the rear.
    Anyone can stand a few broken ribs, but when the "beautiful snow poet" perpetrates his lines on the public he adds suicide to insanity, and the burden of life truly overwhelms us.
Southern Oregon Mail, February 3, 1893, page 3


    Today will finish the soliciting committee's work in the matter of securing subscriptions to the Business College. The people of Ashland have made Prof. Rigby a proposition which must either be accepted or rejected tomorrow. The city of Medford has no idea of allowing this institution to leave its present location, but it is quite necessary that we secure the required amount at once. If we are to lose the Business College now after maintaining it for a year it would be better had we never have had it--it will react to the city's injury in a way not most desired. Prof. Rigby's proposition is a liberal, businesslike one and such as no person can raise the slightest objection to. He proposes to erect a building, to cost not less than $3,000, and to conduct therein a commercial school and business college, but before doing this he asks our people to donate to him $1,500. Subscriptions not due until after the building is completed. This, in our opinion, is a fair and square proposition and we can see no reason why our people should not put their shoulders to the wheel and push the project.
Editorial, Medford Mail, February 10, 1893, page 2


    The snowfall of last Saturday and Sunday did not pass away entirely unused. Besides the small boy who put in a good portion of Sunday in piling up snowballs against his big sister's neck and this same big sister was similarly engaged in piling up congealed aqua pura in the immediate vicinity of the hearing apparatus of some other sister's big brother; besides these sport gatherers there were Mr. Taylor Payne and his lady friends who delved more deeply in exhilarating outdoor sport, when the snowflake flakes and the jingling sleigh bells jingle, by coming out with their two in hand, horses and cutter, for a jingle like you don't often get in Southern Oregon.
    Mr. A. M. Woodford is preparing to erect a fine dwelling house on the corner of Eighth and G streets. The building will be two stories high and 26x28 feet in size. Messrs. Shawver & Nicholson are the contractors who will erect the building.
    A new hardware firm is announced this week. Messrs. John Beek and J. A. Whiteside have purchased the stock of Simmons & Cathcart, and the new firm will open up for business under the new regime the first of next week. The retiring firm will seek a location elsewhere, and while we will regret their departure, we can but wish them the best of success in any new field they may select. The members of the incoming firm are both too well and favorably known to need of any eulogizing by us. That they may crown their new venture with success is what The Mail wishes them.
    A team of horses belonging to Chas. Dickerson took a lively turn about town Wednesday afternoon. They started from the Klippel lumber yard, crossed the railroad track and made a liner for Hanley's saloon on the corner of Front and Seventh streets--where they struck the sidewalk and then up the walk on Seventh to Sears' millinery store where they were caught. Very little damage was done save a badly demolished wagon.
    Hamilton & Palm have let the contract for remodeling their new real estate building to contractor Lyons.
    Mr. Myron Skeel moved his household effects from Seventh Street to the east side Monday, where he expects to reside permanently.
    Mrs. Minnie Morine has opened a bakery and restaurant on Seventh Street, near the Lawton saddlery emporium.
    Last week M. H. Russell and J. L. Demmer were arrested for killing fish in Bear Creek with giant powder. They were brought before Justice Walton and each fined twenty dollars and costs which was paid. It is probable these parties had no intention of violating the law, but as ignorance excuses no man they were dealt with accordingly.
    Mr. Frank Galloway is making many improvements about his pleasant C Street residence. The interior is being overhauled and things changed around generally. Contractor Lyons is the gentleman doing the hammer and saw act.
"Locals Galore," Medford Mail, February 10, 1893, page 3


    It is told that during the heat of the affray at Hotel Medford last Saturday the Mail reporter secluded himself from harm's way by sliding into the twilight and there remaining until a body guard had been sent up to rescue him. This, however, is given little credence as reporters are known to be brave people, even more so than are women in a locality where mice abound.
    In the line of improvement comes an announcement that Mr. John Weeks is soon to commence the erection of a furniture store on Seventh Street and across the street from the Clarendon Hotel. The building will be two stories high and 24x40 in size. Mr. L. M. Lyon has the contract and will commence work as soon as material can be secured and weather permits.
    C. W. Skeel & Son, contractors and builders, are erecting a two-story residence in the west end of town of Wm. Ulrich. This is the sixth house that has been built for Mr. Ulrich by the same firm.
    There occurred on North C Street, in Medford, Wednesday, a little family ruction which bordered closely onto the line of fatalities, but as The Mail is not prone to hash and rehash family troubles we will not go into details. Another attempt by this party to inculcate family discipline by means of knocks and blows will not be dealt with so lightly either by this paper or the law.
    The Medford correspondent to the Jacksonville Times erroneously stated last week that the Medford distillery had shut down operations. Such, however, is not the case. The institution is running at full blast and is advertising for more corn and rye.
    Mr. W. J. Fredenburg, the famous fence manufacturer, is preparing to move his establishment from Seventh Street to the building recently vacated by Nicholson Bros., on C Street. He will also operate the bowling alley.
"Locals Galore," Medford Mail, February 17, 1893, page 3
He Shot But Didn't Kill.
    There was considerable consternation and a little cold lead sashaying about Hotel Medford last Saturday. It was just at the noon hour, a time when the average citizen is thinking of something more palatable to sustain the inner man than leaden missiles, that the affray of which we are about to write took place.
    The facts in the case as given the Mail reporter are about as follows:
    Joe Savage, clerk at the hotel, and the dining room girl on Saturday morning had indulged in a little skirmish in which it is told that Joe applied epithets which were not wholly relished by the girls, which, however, the cook declares was a mistake as he only swore at them, but be this as it may, there was a ruction raised and things might well be said to have been popping, as a matter of fact they did pop later on. One of the boarders at the hotel is Geo. Addington, who is a particular friend of one of the girls. The report of the trouble reached his ear and about twelve o'clock he called to Joe to come up into the sitting room. Joe complied and a fistic encounter ensued and the next report of the affair was from a forty-four caliber revolver in the hands of Addington. Savage in the meantime was making a slide down the stairs and out into the street. Landlord Purdin and a number of boarders, hearing the racket in the sitting room, started up the stairs just as Savage was coming down and the bullet came nearer hitting some of them than it did the one for whom it was intended. No arrests were made. New help has been procured at the hotel and everything is now moving along as smoothly as though nothing had happened to disturb the even tenor of the placid wave so becoming to that hostelry.
Medford Mail, February 17, 1893, page 3


    Mr. Joe Savage, the ex-clerk at The Medford, is now in San Francisco, but may probably return. Joe is the kind of a clerk you don't often find in a hotel and Mr. Purdin will do well to get him back again.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, February 17, 1893, page 3
It Was No Robbery.
    "A fair exchange is no robbery." So it was no robbery that took place on Seventh Street, near the Hotel Medford on Monday of this week, but a fair exchange. The facts of the matter are that two individuals traded boots on the street and that's all there was about it. Some very funny incidents have occurred about town recently, but this particular episode capped the climax. They made the exchange one boot at a time, and bathed their feet in a pool of water in the gutter to ensure a perfect fit. There is nothing particularly sensational in this, but it afforded much amusement to the spectators, and would have been highly enjoyed by many more who missed the performance.
Medford Mail, February 17, 1893, page 3


    We believe the average Butte Creeker has the greatest assortment of profanity in store for present use when he goes to to plow sticky soil, of any people we ever heard--trying to do the matter justice is a trying ordeal. We say, boys, use kind and persuasive words, they will be just as effective.
"Lake Creek Creeklets," Medford Mail, February 24, 1893, page 1


    The people of Medford are alive to their own interests and the town's advancement. They do not propose to have filched from their grasp that which has been here established and maintained. They do not propose to have other towns gloat over the possession of that which they did not possess but could not retain. Medford people can always be counted upon as voting "aye" when the issue is one of importance and tends to the up-building of the town and the betterment of things generally. There are issues now at hand which require the united action of all. The construction of the business college is one of the important measures now being considered. While it is true that Prof. Rigby has been given to understand that the subsidy asked for will be forthcoming, yet there is need for every friend of education--and he who is not a friend to education is a poor specimen of mankind--to put his shoulder to the wheel and assist the great majority in securing this institution as a permanent fixture for Medford.
    The Medford correspondent to the Daily Oregonian, whoever he may be, is piling up big heaps of credit for himself and doing our town an untold amount of good in giving out to the world through this medium accounts of our rich mineral finds and the town's general development. He should be treated with kindly remembrance for the good already done and implored to get in and give us "a little more of the same," and the Oregonian, as an appreciation of its favors, should be more generally read in this locality.
    There is without question not another town in Oregon which is at present demanding so great an amount of attention as is Medford. She is the seat of gravity, that gravity which draws men in quest of homes and business from afar and near. There are eyes looking our way from all directions and the first positive assurance of the indicated developments will see our town flooded with strangers. We will enjoy a boom and a lasting one--not the spontaneous inflation of a few real estate egotists, but a boost such as our immense and varied resources are capable of maintaining.
Editorial, Medford Mail, February 24, 1893, page 2


    The Mail household acknowledges a pleasant serenade Wednesday evening by the Medford public school band. Several fine selections were rendered and the head of that household regrets that upon this especial evening it was necessary that the crank of the printing press should needs be cranked. However, Mrs. and Miss Editor enjoyed the treat immensely and many rounds of praise were poured into our ears upon our return home.
    The small boy and the Chinaman are having just a little more fun than the average citizen these times. It is a standoff between the bowling alley and a Chinese Fourth of July, but when you get the two of them mixed up in the same block, life to the citizens in that vicinity isn't hardly worth staying here.
    Mr. A. M. Woodford started the foundation for his new residence, corner of C and Eighth streets, Monday morning and will get in on the carpenter work as soon as material arrives. Being an adept in the use of hammer and saw he will put up the structure himself.
    The dissolution notice of Hockersmith & Klum appears elsewhere in this paper. Mr. Klum is the retiring member--Mr. Hockersmith continuing the business.
    Mr. W. A. Forbes reports having recently sold the P. C. Scott property on the corner of C and Eighth streets to Mr. J. R. Wilson.
"Locals Galore," Medford Mail, February 24, 1893, page 3
Needed in Southern Oregon.
From the Jacksonville Times.
    The construction of the Medford Business College is now assured. The ground has been secured and work will be commenced on it as soon as the material can be got onto the ground. The building is to be a frame 40x60, two stories high and set on a brick foundation four feet high. This is an institution long needed in Southern Oregon and will be an acquisition to our school facilities.
Medford Mail, February 24, 1893, page 3

    Mr. Joe Savage returned from San Francisco Tuesday evening and is now at his old post--clerk at The Medford.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, February 24, 1893, page 3


    A. Fetsch, the tailor, has moved from Seventh Street to two doors south of The Medford on Front Street. He has rooms nicely fitted up and hopes he is now so centrally located as to catch the trade he justly deserves from all sides. He has been jumping in and out of several different places since his coming to Medford but as the motive was not that of defrauding landlords there is no kick coming.
    The ranchers in the Roxy Ann neighborhood are jubilant over the new road which is being made and fenced. The road connects the Antelope and Foothills Road and is now nearly completed. Messrs. W. P. Dodge and G. W. Isaacs are the gentlemen who are pushing this project and to them big checks of credit is due.
    Banker W. I. Vawter has recently invested in a fine pneumatic tire bicycle, of the Rambler pattern. As the gentleman is no novice in manipulating these sort o' machines the customary crowd will not congregate to watch him take a header when it is a starter that is intended.
 "City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, March 3, 1893, page 3
Best Grounds in the State.
    The Medford Rod and Gun Club are jubilant over the selection of their present site for a shooting park. They have leased grounds of Mr. I. J. Phipps, just across Bear Creek, near town, and have them fixed up in extraordinarily fine shape. One of the redeeming features of the ground selected is that of a splendid background. The trouble generally in the valley is that looking in almost any direction your sight is confronted with a background of mountains. Our club's grounds is one of the few exceptions in this respect. Here the view is unobstructed for many miles. It is almost impossible to see birds when thrown from the trap if between the marksman and mountains.
    Our local club has some pretty good marksmen and it is expected there will be some interesting contests had this coming season between Medford and other valley towns. The shoot of last week showed more than an average good score, giving evidence of improvement.
Medford Mail, March 3, 1893, page 3


    The fact exists--and The Mail hopes it will continue to exist, that more ranchmen and miners from distant localities do trading in Medford than in any other town in the valley. We meet men on the streets every day who, upon being questioned, tell us that they have driven a distance of from fifteen to sixty miles to do their trading in Medford. The sequel to this is not that they love our merchants more as friends than they do those nearer the boundary lines of their respective homes, but our merchants have struck the keynote which heralds soothing strains of glittering harmony to the trader's purse, and thereby a happy, prosperous relation is established. Medford has more live, energetic businessmen than any town [in which] it has ever been our good fortune to cast our lot. The principle of "quick sales and small profits" is the watchword in Medford, and it is a drawing card which redounds to the credit of every businessman of our town who has helped to make the quotation a truism.
Editorial, Medford Mail, March 10, 1893, page 2


    Among those who called at our office this week and learned a little of the "art preservative of all arts" were Mesdames W. V. Lippincott and M. Alford, of Medford, and Misses Belle Wagner and Fannie Ralph, of Ashland. As a matter of course, when we ought to have been looking our slickest we were right the reverse. The office floor was seven deep with exchanges [i.e., newspapers], our devil's face was ink tattooed, our compositors were smoking their cob pipes and applying epithets to the boss's copy which would not be pleasant for his ears, but it will not occur again. This office will henceforth be on dress parade every day in the week.
    Among the several improvements looked forward to is without a doubt the completion of the Medford brewery. We learn this week that matters looking to that end are taking on a very substantial appearance and that work will soon be commenced. A malt and bottle house, office and keg rooms will be the necessary acquisitions.
    Mr. W. P. H. Legate has purchased of Mr. Wm. Ulrich the resident property on C Street, between Fourth and Fifty, and has moved his family thereto. As the property is nicely located it will make a fine, cozy home when Mr. Legate shall have gotten things shaped about in proper order.
    Messrs. Roberts & O'Neil are arranging to plat a twenty-acre addition to Medford from their forty-acre tract, just across Bear Creek and adjoining town on the east.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, March 10, 1893, page 3
Why Will They Do It?
    "Why does not a small concern in this town prosper?" was asked a few days ago in the tailor establishment on Front Street. I think I am able to answer this question--because it is very plain; for the simple reason that some of the best merchants and citizens patronize outsiders more than home industry; because the "runners" are more of liars than the people here, but when it comes to business do some eastern people come to spend any money here? They do not. They don't come here and hire a team from the livery, nor will they do a banking business here; nor patronize a saloon or hotel except once or twice a year when they come to take the money away from town. This is the explanation of the above question.
A. FITSCH.
Medford Mail, March 10, 1893, page 3
    Horace Nicholson gets funny sometimes and one of his peculiar freaks caught him Monday afternoon when he rushed into our office and exclaimed: "Say, come down to the store and see if you can't talk Beek, Whiteside & Co. off the notion of moving their stock of goods to Central Point." "Are they going to move?" we asked. "Got goods all packed up now." We hastened ourselves to the scene of "packing up" and sure enough there were the goods packed and standing in the middle of the room. We expostulated and entreated with them to change the course which we thought they had mapped out, but to no avail. We then began penciling on our little tab our grief and the town's grief at their departure and we predicted that they would return ere many moons and went so far as to intimate that if they went to Central Point they would go up the flume. Just about that time Mr. Whiteside let a double-geared stove [of a hint] drop from the second floor and we tumbled [to the truth]. They had their goods off the shelves making a few repairs. Hod. Nicholson is, as near as we can arrive at it, a delineator of facts not always in accord with Biblical teachings, but we'll try and square scores with him if it takes several years of our valuable life.
    The firm of Rifenburg & Murphy, photographers, has been dissolved, Mr. Murphy returning to San Francisco and Mr. Rifenburg continuing the business in Medford.
    A. Z. Sears is erecting a fine cottage residence on [the] corner of Fifth and F streets. The building is a beauty and is admired by all visitors to that part of the city.
    While Medford is claiming honors from almost every source of enterprise and industry we may as well, and very deservingly, claim something in the way of artistic oil painting. On the showcase in J. A. Slover & Co.'s drug store is displayed as fine a piece of work as one often sees, even in art studios. It is a painting by Mrs. J. W. Short, of Medford, and shows a deer emerging from the water of a beautiful lake, while in the background is pictured the soft, balmy glow of an autumn setting sun which strikes the grand mountaintips with a wondrous natural likeness. As a whole the picture is a beauty and gives credit to the lady's true artist touch.
    Mr. M. Alford and family have leased the Purdin residence, corner of C and Ninth streets, and are preparing to move there this week.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, March 17, 1893, page 3

    Dr. Emil Kirchgessner is a gentleman who has decided to locate in Medford [for] the practice of medicine. The doctor is recently from the Cook County Hospital, at Chicago, in which establishment he was house surgeon and physician. Himself and wife have taken rooms in Mrs. Sidney's residence, corner of B and Eighth streets.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, March 17, 1893, page 3
A New Brick Block.
    For some months past Mr. R. H. Halley has had under contemplation the erection of a new brick block, but not until now has the project developed sufficiently to warrant his giving out the fact as an item of news. He informs a Mail reporter that as soon as sufficient brick can be procured he will commence the structure. The location of the building will be on the present site of this gentleman's wooden structure on [the west side of] C Street between Seventh and Eighth streets. The new block will be 60x46 7/8 feet in size and two story [sic] high. The first floor will be divided into two store rooms, one of which will be occupied by Mr. Halley and the other for rent. The second story will be fitted up for living purposes or offices. The structure will be built with all the modern styles of architecture and will be an ornament to that part of the city. It is quite probable work will be commenced next month.
Medford Mail, March 17, 1893, page 2


    Street Commissioner Brandenburg reports the laying of new sidewalks progressing rapidly. He has two or three different parties of workmen at work now, and they will probably continue in this line of improvement for a month or six weeks yet; at least there is that amount of work laid out. Aside from sidewalk building he has teams at work grading crossings. Monday Mr. Brandenburg and Surveyor Howard ran a line for a new walk from the corner of Seventh and G streets to a point three blocks south. An ordinance will probably be granted at the next meeting of the city council ordering the building of the same. This walk is intended to fill a double purpose, that of a sidewalk and a cover for the water ditch. Tomorrow or Monday Mr. B. expects, if the weather remains good, to commence graveling the Earhart and McAndrews roads, leading out of Medford.
    Mr. R. Besse has purchased the C Street Meat Market of G. W. Mathes and is now in charge of same. Mr. B. is carrying a good line of meats and if courteous treatment and liberal prices will build up a trade his is assured. His ad appears elsewhere in this paper.
    W. S. King has purchased three acres of land in the Mingus Addition and sometime during the summer he will erect a fine dwelling house thereon, and as soon as crops are garnered from his Sams Valley farm--which he has leased--he will move his family to our city.
    Mr. D. W. Speas has his fine, new residence, east of Medford, completed and the same is replete with all modern attachments and is a model of neatness throughout.
    Messrs. Hamilton & Palm have purchased the vacant Halley building on E Street and will move the same onto one of their lots, just south of The Clarendon.
    George Merriman is slicking up immensely about his C Street residence--several new shade trees being a part of the improvements.
    Mr. W. L. Halley has moved to the residence formerly occupied by druggist Slover, near Mr. Davis' place, on the west side.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, March 24, 1893, page 3


    Mr. W. T. York, an old North Dakota friend of the writer, is in our city and will be connected with the publication of The Mail. You will undoubtedly know more of him later. He a pretty good hustler and as that is one of the principal requisites necessary in newspaper work, we'll be getting to the front quite aplenty.
    Dr. W. S. Jones returned home last Saturday evening from his Iowa trip, and reports having had a most enjoyable visit with his parents and relatives. His wife and little daughter will make an extended visit there in hopes of benefiting Mrs. Jones' health, which has been very poor of late. Since his return the doctor has taken into partnership Dr. Emil Kirchgessner, who recently came here from South Dakota, mention of which was made in last week's Mail. Dr. K. comes highly recommended, and the new firm will no doubt do their share of the business.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, March 24, 1893, page 3


    The editor of The Mail took off his working harness last Sunday and appeared on the streets in dress parade. Nothing remarkable about this occurrence to anyone except ourselves, but as it was the first time in three months it was one of no small importance to us. Had it not been that we took that limp along, the one peculiar to our nigh foot, we would doubtless have been "run in" by the police as a confidence shark or a shell game fakir.
    The business place of Messrs. Hosler & Howard, on Front Street, is undergoing a general renovation this week. The partition between their former place and the barber shop has been removed and both rooms turned into one. W. H. Russell is now engaged in papering and painting the interior. A big improvement is noticeable.
    Messrs. Roberts & O'Neil have their fine new dwelling on A Street completed, and the same is handsomely furnished throughout. It has been a question of speculation as to who is to occupy this fine dwelling. It "mought" be Mr. O'Neil and again it "moughten." The odds, however, are big in favor of Mr. Roberts' son.
    Messrs. Holt & Bunch have moved their tonsorial parlors two doors south on Front Street. The present location is much larger and as it has been neatly painted and papered it presents a most pleasing and attractive appearance. W. E. Wever is the artist who did the decorating.
    A new deal is again announced at the Premium meat market, Guss Woody having purchased an half interest in the business of R. Besse. The firm name is Besse & Woody. H. H. Wolters will be retained as chief carver.
    Street Commissioner Brandenburg reports work moving on finely. He now has teams at work grading the street near Mr. Faris' residence, also teams graveling the Jacksonville road--twelve teams in all.
    G. W. Justus is making many improvements to his pleasant F Street property. The most noticeable is an addition to his residence, a new sidewalk, and improving the grounds generally.
    Prof. N. A. Jacobs is making many improvements about his fine new residence on C Street. When the lawn is seeded and the grass well grown it will be one of the finest in Medford.
    Landlord Purdin has purchased an owl for the express purpose of keeping Renus [Hamilton] company during the long stilly hours of night, when all nature sleeps except Renus and his owl.
    W. P. H. Legate and  Mr. Ulrich are improving the appearance of their C Street residences by the addition of new picket fences and sidewalks.
    The Medford Odd Fellows have teams and men at work grading the road leading from the city to their cemetery, south and east of town.
    G. W. Priddy has been given the contract for furnishing the brick for the new Halley Block, on C Street.
 "City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, March 31, 1893, page 3
    Conrad Mingus, the heavyweight real estate dealer at Ashland, was down from that city a few days this week transacting legal business with Hamilton & Palm and looking after the putting down of a considerable sidewalk about his Medford property--of which he owns not a little.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, March 31, 1893, page 3
THE ORCHARD HOME
One of the Most Promising Adjuncts to Home Building
and Fruit Culture in Southern Oregon.
Medford's Suburban Villa Tract
Planted to Choice Fruit for Anxious Home Seekers.
    Since coming to Medford we have heard the Orchard Home fruit farm spoken of many times and by many different people. Upon questioning them further as to this great farm we were invariably met with this question from them: "Haven't you seen the Orchard Home farm?" and upon being told that we had not they would follow with this: "You have missed seeing the best, and what will, in the near future, be the most wonderful adjunct to the fast-developing fruit and home building industry in this great Rogue River Valley, and in fact this entire portion of Southern Oregon." The thought occurred to us that while we plead ignorance as to this beauty spot of our Italy land it might be possible that others were as ignorant of the facts as ourselves, and to the end that we might present to our readers a synopsis of the Orchard Home Association we have endeavored to gather a few of the leading points and they are here presented:
    Three years ago the Orchard Home Association, comprised of Portland and Medford gentlemen, of which our esteemed townsman Hon. Henry Klippel is president, bought a tract known as the Nickell Farm, which is situated one mile west of Medford and on the county road leading from Medford to Jacksonville. This tract contained 214 acres of land. The plat was subdivided into 190 [one-]acre tracts, thirty-four acres being set aside for streets [sic]. These streets are laid out through the entire farm, the main street being one hundred feet wide and all others eighty feet. Each lot faces one of these streets, and in front of each has been set out, for shade and ornament, a row of almond trees, three or four trees in front of each lot. There are now 149 acres planted to fruit trees, sixty-five acres of the trees being two years old, thirty-five acres one year old and forty acres just planted over the past few months. Over one hundred acres of this land upon which the trees are planted has been sold, mostly to railroad men, many of them being old friends of the manager of the Association, Mr. Geo. S. Batly, who is himself an old railroad man. The purchasers reside in Chicago, St. Paul, New York City, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa, Manitoba and many more distant points.
    Mr. Hall, now residing in Manitoba, and a farmer and fruit raisers, bought ten acres of this land in this spring of '92. In August last he visited the farm and has since purchased eight acres more.
    Henry Pholman, who is pronounced competent and energetic by Hon. J. D. Whitman of the State Board of Horticulture, is a man who spent five or six years in California trying to get a start in the fruit business, but gave it up and came to Oregon two years ago. After working in the Orchard home two months, he bought five acres and has since bought four acres more. He was recently married and will make his home on the orchard.
    The Association is regularly incorporated, with a capital of $50,000, and its business methods will bear the closest scrutiny. It is doing a great work for this valley and will bring many people and much capital to this section.
    The first fruit from this orchard will be gathered this year. The trees have done remarkably well and the peach and almond trees promise to bear well, while there will be a good showing of prunes on the trees planted two years ago. Almonds do so well in this valley that several acres of these trees have been planted by the Association this year. The rest of the orchard is chiefly in prunes and apples. When the proper time comes, the Association will arrange for the erection of evaporators and a cannery of ample capacity to handle the fruit, which will be carefully graded, and packed in fancy packages under a special "Orchard Home" brand--the idea being to get fancy prices and thus make the investment profitable to purchasers. Every detail of the work thus far has been given so much attention that it is safe to predict a great future for the orchard. The plowing, cultivating and planting was done on the most approved methods and regardless of expense. The best trees of the leading nurseries of the state were used in planting, and the orchard is one of which our people may well feel proud.
Medford Mail, March 31, 1893, page 1
ONE GREAT CITY
W. P. Dodge Opines that Medford and Central Point
Will Be One Great City--Eventually.
Electric Street Railways will Connect Them--
Out of Chaos Will Come Peace Evermore.
    There seems to be a spirit of rivalry between the towns of Medford and Central Point. This should not be, and is not in accordance with the fitness of things. What Medford has gained in trade and population is not due to any natural advantages, but is chiefly due to the energy and perseverance of her citizens. Now it is not best to cry over spilt milk. What is good for Medford is certainly ditto for Central Point. If the enterprises now in contemplation are not interfered with, coupled with the mining industries already under headway in the valley, also not losing sight of the fruit industries which are coming to the front, there is surely cause for rejoicing. The enterprises and mineral resources are already attracting the attention of immigration and capital to our valley. This is not gossip, but is backed up by people coming from all parts of the East and South looking for homes and employment in this pleasant valley, away from the cold winters and blizzards of the East and the sultry summers of the South. Summing these things up one side and down the other and taking a bird's-eye view of the past and present achievements, and the future prospects, it does not take a Solomon to foresee a brilliant future for Medford and Central Point, and in fact the entire valley. Now all that is needed is to lay petty grievances aside and all put our shoulders to the wheel and the day will not be far distance when Medford and Central Point will be one continuous city with her electric lights and street railways for the benefit and happiness of her citizens. Why not? Scores of towns throughout the East have fulfilled this prophecy, if you choose to call it such, with less advantages than are in sight right here at present.
W. P. DODGE
Medford Mail, March 31, 1893, page 1


    Hardly a week rolls by that some of our menfolks do not invest in a bicycle. The most recent ones to join the wheelmen are D. T. Lawton and Gabe Plymale.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, March 31, 1893, page 3
Positively the Last Chance.
    Those wishing photographs taken by me must have the sittings made by the 11th of April, as I positively go away on the 15. This will enable me to finish all work before I close my studio in Medford. Respectfully,
A. G. RIFENBURG
Medford Mail, April 7, 1893, page 2


    This section of the Rogue River Valley has an institution that for excellency in woodwork we are willing to wager has not a peer in this state. The institution to which we refer is none other than the John Weeks & Son's cabinet establishment at Phoenix. An elegant specimen of this firm's work is the new bar fixture recently put in at The Medford. The material used in their construction was Oregon oak for body work and manzanita trimmings. It is hand carved and very finely polished throughout. There is no question but that it is the most elegantly gotten up of any work of the kind in this part of the state, and all credit is due any institution which is capable of executing such work.
    Mr. Brandenburg has fifteen teams at work graveling the McAndrews road, leading out of Medford, and something over an hundred loads of gravel are being daily deposited. The sidewalk work is quiet just now owing to the supply of lumber having been exhausted.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, April 7, 1893, page 3
    Great heaps of pride keep coming to the surface every time occasion offers us an opportunity to listen to the music furnished by the public school band. If there is anything which ought, and probably does, put a fellow to feeling right good and that life is worth something more than to be hurriedly shuffled off, it is good band music. A town ought always to give a band every possible assistance, and when Medford considers that her band is made up of school children, some of which are not more than twelve or thirteen years of age and that they furnish excellent music, equal to many city bands, we ought to get in and give the boys a little encouragement whenever occasion offers. The Mail is proud of the public school band.
Editorial, Medford Mail, April 14, 1893, page 2
    The Mail likes to make note of the general improved condition of many lawns this spring in Medford. Merchant D. H. Miller's lawn is not at all backward in coming forward with a new attire throughout. This place is being fitted up in fine shape. It is being leveled and reseeded, and on the north, east and south sides are being put out a fine hedge of Monterey cypress. L. P. Loretz, the experienced gardener, is getting in some of his best work on these grounds.
    Dr. J. W. Odgers has closed a contract for the construction of a new residence on his lots, one block south and west of the public school building. The building will be one and a half stories, the upright 20x32 feet in size and a kitchen addition 20x20 feet. It is to be finished throughout in the best possible manner and will be another beauty spot to that part of our city. Messrs. Davis & McGee have the contract for its construction.
    A. Fetsch, the Front Street tailor, has purchased three acres of land, in the northern part of the city, of Hamilton & Palm, and expects at a date not far distant to begin the construction of a fine residence. Mr. F. is evidently a permanent fixture in Medford, and we are glad of the prosperous turn of affairs, in a business way, which makes him one of us for keeps.
    Cabbage and cauliflower plants now ready for transplanting at Frank Sutter's greenhouse. Pepper, tomatoes and eggplants later.
    On account of bad weather and by special request I will remain in Medford and make sittings until the 24th of this month. This will enable all that wish photographs to secure sittings. Respectfully, A. G. Rifenburg.
    The dancing party given in the opera house last Saturday evening was the last of a series given during the winter. There were sixteen couples present and, as usual, a good time was had.
    C. F. Lewis is soon to commence several improvements on his residence, on A Street. He will build a good-sized addition and three porches. Messrs. Shawver & Nicholson will do the work.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, April 14, 1893, page 3
    L. F. Lozier, of Bourbon, Ind., is in Medford taking a spin 'round the county looking for a suitable location. He is desirous of purchasing a small ranch so conveniently near Medford as to enable him to ply his vocation, which is that of carpentering, in the city and will reside upon the ranch.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, April 14, 1893, page 3
Improving the Park.
    While the improvements about the city are many and varied the city park is not being lost sight of by the Mayor and councilmen. They are now having set out about one hundred shade trees comprising maple, walnut, chestnuts and basswood varieties. They are also having built a fine picket fence, on the side fronting C Street. [This must be an error; today's Alba park is five blocks away from Central.] The great trouble in keeping the park in a better shape in the past has been the inadequate supply of water, but now that new pipes have been laid and more faucets attached, that difficulty may be expected to grow from that which has heretofore been anything but a thing of beauty. Mr. Hart, the engineer at the water station, has the supervision of park work in charge.
Medford Mail, April 14, 1893, page 3


    There was a ball game on the Medford grounds last Saturday, between a Medford and Big Sticky nine. The games throughout didn't abound with as many "whitewashes" and "goose eggs" as would characterize a bangup good game, yet all players and onlookers had a pretty good time, except insurance agent Hunt, who was playing with the Medford nine and who made a mistake and caught a ball--and split his index finger open to the bone. Both nines have some pretty good players, but as this was the first game of the season the boys can easily be excused for not making a record which will admit of our publishing--the Medford team, however, won the game. A return game is expected to be played now pretty soon.
    L. F. Lozier, the gentleman who arrived last week from Bourbon, Indiana, has purchased five acres of land of Hamilton & Palm in Harbaugh's subdivision to Medford, and will soon commence the construction of a dwelling thereon after which he will move his family thereto from Ashland, at which place they have temporarily domiciled. He seems to harness himself into a good working team at once and The Mail is glad of his coming.
    Those accustomed to the pleasant aroma which comes from a bin of ripe apples can hardly notice any similarity between it and the unwholesome whiff of miasmatic ozone which is waft[ed] by the morning breeze to the olfactory organs of passing pedestrians from that illy kept gutterway on Seventh Street. It's a breeder of all things detrimental to good health and should be looked after at once.
    Eli Hogan and family, who recently arrived in Medford from Arkansas, have leased the Davis residence, corner of Fifth and B streets, purchased Mr. Davis' furniture and are now snugly ensconced therein. It's a very clever way these strangers have of dropping in here and settling down among us--and we like the way they act.
    A. M. Woodford expects to be domiciled in his new Sixth Street residence tomorrow or Monday. The gentleman has a finely planned and as taste[full]ly constructed a residence as one usually looks upon, while his grounds are so situated as to be the makings of a most beautiful lawn and grounds.
    A. Fordyce, living in the southwestern part of town, is going into the poultry business on a large scale. He has already received an incubator and has placed an order for sufficient picket fencing to fence a large yard with the Medford Fence Works.
    Messrs. Skeel & Son have received several carloads of lumber during the past week or two, which fact bears evidence that the building and manufacturing interests of Medford are keeping apace with the usual springtime prosperity of our blooming city, you know.
    There is a potato famine in Medford. Will some of our good ranchers who have this necessary article of sustenance corded up at home please disgorge their fertile ranches of some of its products?
    Messrs. Klippel & Marcuson are having built a good-sized sash and door house near their lumber office on Sixth Street. These gentlemen also received last week another carload of sidewalk lumber.
    Among the improvements soon to be made is that of a new hosecart house which is to be built on Sixth Street, between C and Front streets. It will be 16x21 feet in size.
    The new sidewalk on the west side of C Street is fast being put down. This walk is to extend north from Seventh Street to the intersection of the county road [i.e., Jackson Street], near the distillery.
    Joe Savage is a female impersonator of no mean caliber and the few that he has haunted with his soft, woman-like voice have threatened a reception of birdshot.
    G. W. Priddy is having several improvements made about his residence. New porches are being built and the dwelling proper is being generally overhauled.
    Dr. E. P. Geary is improving the convenience of his residence, on Seventh Street, by adding a second story to his kitchen addition.
    Ed. Johnson, who owns property about a block south of miller Davis' residence, is preparing to erect a new dwelling house thereon.
    L. F. Wait, a nephew of the good doctor of the same name, has purchased three acres of land in the Nickell addition to Medford.
    The Medford distillery office is being moved from Front Street to the Palm Building, near Hotel Clarendon.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, April 21, 1893, page 3


    There is a premium on the rental of resident property in Medford. This state of affairs always shows up good for the appearance of a city generally, but it's mighty inconvenient sometimes to the newcomer. Vacant buildings have too much of that graveyard blankness to be of great interest to people desiring a location, but here in Medford there is little danger of frightening them with the cold, white bare walls of store buildings and residents. It is a positive, indisputable fact that there is not a desirable building for rent in Medford today. If there were more houses, more business blocks, chances are, by several odds, that there would be more people and more business. There are several real estate owners in Medford who, in our opinion, would reap a neat profit on the investment if they were to erect a few dwelling houses. Something must be done to accommodate the fast increasing population.
Editorial, Medford Mail, April 28, 1893, page 2


    Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Haskins and children left Wednesday morning for the world's fair and many other points in the East. They will be accompanied by Mrs. M. E. Denison.
    Gotlieb Hess, an expert brewer direct from Germany, arrived in Medford yesterday morning. He will have charge of the Medford brewery, and while his services come high they are quite necessary.
    H. Klippel, the Medford lumber merchant, left last Thursday for a thirty days' visit at Chicago's big show. Mr. K. is one of Oregon's Fair commissioners and has gone thither on business in that line.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, April 28, 1893, page 3
IT WILL BE BUILT.
The Medford Business College Sure To Be Built--
Site Chosen and Contract Made.
Will Commence Work Next Week--
Building To Be Completed by First of Next July.
    There is no longer any speculation as to the erection of a new business college in Medford. The grounds have been procured and the contract for the construction of the building has been let to Messrs. L. M. Lyon and H. F. Wood. The site chosen is on Mr. T. F. West's addition to Medford. The main building will be 30x60 feet with a 23x50-foot front and in cross head shape. It will be two stories high and both floors will be partitioned off into banking office and study rooms and will be so constructed as to be particularly adapted for business college work, with study and recitation rooms for the several branches taught by the institution. It will be not only a convenient building for the use to which it will be put but will as well be an ornament to our city which every city ought, and probably will, take a great amount of pride. Work will commence as soon as material can be procured, undoubtedly next week, and is to be finished within sixty days thereafter.
    To be more explicit as to the general construction of the building we give below the size of each room and the use to which it will be put:
    The main office will be 11x12 feet in size and will be for the use of the faculty. In it will be conducted all business with the students other than the regular study course. This office will be on the first floor, as will be also the general commercial room, which will be 30x45 feet in size. At the sides and ends of this room will be arranged a bank, post office, wholesale supply houses and shipment departments. These will be set off from the main business room by railings over which will be a wire netting, in which will be small windows where the commercial business will be conducted. The manner of conducting business in this department will be upon a thorough, practical, businesslike plan and in such a manner as is experienced in a general business way in everyday life. A recitation room 11x17 feet in size will also be on this floor. On the second floor will be a typewriting room 11x17; recitation room 12x17; telegraphy room 7x20 and main study room 30x36. This floor will be given almost wholly to normal work.
Medford Mail, April 28, 1893, page 2
    On Wednesday morning of this week, by invitation from Mr. T. F. West, we enjoyed a very pleasant drive over certain parts of the outskirts of Medford. Among the places we visited was the site of the business college. This is located about five-eighths of a mile from the post office, to the north and east, and is a most delightful building spot. Mr. West has a thirty-acre tract platted in this locality and out of it he has deeded to the college, and for exclusive college use, a two-acre lot. This is unquestionably as fine a site as could possibly have been chosen and if we mistake not the handwriting on the wall there will ere long be many residences erected in that particular locality. The land lays far above the water line and from it one commands a splendid view of the surrounding country.
    The Medford Ice Company will soon be in shape to begin the manufacture of ice, and about the middle of June they will be in readiness to begin making beer. They are now having made at Portland the necessary vats, kettles and steam fixtures. The capacity of the ice plant is eight tons every twenty-four hours and of the brewery fifteen barrels per day. They now have on hand ten or twelve tons of ice which was held over from last year and which will be sufficient to supply the demand until they are in shape to begin manufacturing.
    Several changes have been made in places of abode by Medford people this week. M. L. Heart has moved to the residence occupied by A. M. Woodford, the Mail editor would rather move than pay rent and has dropped into M. S. Damon's residence on C Street. Ed. Pottenger leaves the brick house on the corner of B and Ninth and has moved to Mr. Gore's place on  C Street. It has been sort of an "inside here and outside there" play while the "ladies changed here and the gentlemen right and left there."
    Telephone No. 1 was put up in Medford Monday. The line will run from Dr. E. B. Pickel's office in opera block to his residence on B Street. The make of the 'phone is the Elliott Non-Electric. Hod. Nicholson is head lineman and he heels the poles like a schoolboy in cherry time. The doctor, however, reserves the right to do all the talking.
    C. W. Wolters, the grocer, has made an addition of several feet at the rear of his salesroom. New shelving and counters are being put in and will be filled with his new line of crockery which he has recently received. If these extensions continue much longer it will be necessary to push the back alley over onto another block.
    Men and teams are at work grading Eleventh Street. Improvements keep going on and we can't stop it--don't want to stop it nohow.
    J. W. Partlow, of Grants Pass, has rented the McAndrews building on Seventh Street and about the first of May will open a grocery store thereon.
    Ketchup--made from tomatoes--and homemade. Goes well with the doughnuts your mother used to make--at Wolter's.
    C. H. Perry has purchased five acres of Medford soil in the Nickell addition.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, April 28, 1893, page 3


    The Mail has received a communication from someone in Medford who, we conclude, has been "sacked" by his girl, and he wants us to publish a lot of gush telling the rest of his boys to watch out for her. The communication will not appear in these columns, and while we think of it we want to say that The Mail is not a sewer through which this kind of personal slush can be drained off, neither are its columns a receptacle for the unloading of personal grievances between neighbors. If you have anything in the way of news, or a worthy object, the merits of which you wish to espouse, send in all you have on hand and they will be printed, but don't send personal nonsensical trash. Our wastebasket is already overloaded.
    Prof. Rigby has given proof of his confidence in Medford as the educational center of Southern Oregon by perfecting arrangements for the immediate construction of a business college. The material is now being placed on the ground and work on the building proper will commence inside of ten days. The erection of this building will necessitate the outlay of a large amount of money, and the institution will prove of great value to Medford. Would it not be a very proper act for us to "chip in" and assist Mr. Rigby in his undertaking? A subscription paper has been left at the Mail office and all who feel that they can make a contribution, even though small, are kindly asked to call at this office. Mechanics who can donate a few days work are also invited to register their names. Subscriptions not due until after building is completed.
Editorial, Medford Mail, May 5, 1893, page 2
The poets blossom everywhere,
    The carpets get a lickin',
And every sign of spring is here
    Excepting the spring chicken.
                                                    --and spring.
    The Hanley Saloon, corner Seventh and D streets, has been decorated with a new coat of paint and the sign "Railroad Saloon" buried from sight of passersby--and it's a good act. If anything will give a place a black eye it is a sign with "railroad" tucked on one end. The name is becoming as much of an eyesore in Oregon as is "Minnesota Hotel" in North Dakota and Montana.
    G. W. Skeel's dray horse took one of its usual spins about the city last Friday. It started from near the depot and brought up on the east side of Bear Creek with the fore wheels of the wagon intact. It seems quite the proper thing for this horse to go off on a lark of this kind and no person seems to be at all surprised.
    "An unusually backward spring?" Well, yes, something like that. Even such an oldtimer as John Justus, who has lived in the valley since fifty-four, holds up his hands in horror at the way the weather has acted for the past two months. Says he never saw anything like it before.
    The advertisement of J. W. Partlow['s variety store] appears elsewhere in this issue. The gentleman has but recently arrived in Medford, and while his full stock of goods has not as yet been received, he is open for business and offers special inducements for Saturday trade. Read his ad.
    B. F. Roberts reports having sold two acres of his recently platted property, east of Medford, to Mr. Hayden, a gentleman who has recently disposed of some mining property in the Willow Springs district. Mr. H. will erect a resident house upon his lots.
    W. M. Skeel is erecting a fine residence for his own use just east of Bear Creek. The location is quite a pleasant one and is not too near town, but just a right distance to be convenient. The house will be two stories and 22x28 feet in size.
    A new addition, 20x15 feet in size, is being built onto the south side of the Medford brewery. In this addition will be placed the new brewing machinery of the company which is expected to arrive now pretty soon.
    Dr. B. F. Adkins and family expected to leave Wednesday morning for Chicago, but owing to the illness of their daughter, Miss Ada, the trip has been postponed indefinitely.
    The general appearance of our city park has been greatly improved by the erection of a fine picket fence. The park has also been set out to shade trees.
    J. N. Walter, residing first residence north of Methodist church, desires to sell his household effects. A bargain will be given on all articles.
    The merry-go-round, with which the boys--and girls--have no small amount of fun, has been laid on the shelf for repairs for a couple of weeks.
    Report has it that Jas. Stewart, who owns a fine peach orchard just south of Medford, has decided to graft the entire orchard to prunes.
    Rock are now being hauled for the foundation of the new business college. One carload of lumber has also been received.
    Thos. Spangler has purchased the Conger property on B Street and will soon move his family thereto.
    Geo. Anderson is getting his bottling works in shape for a lively run of business this summer.
    E. W. Carder is the gentleman who now pulls the engine throttle at the water works.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, May 5, 1893, page 3


    Mrs. J. E. Enyart and daughter Hazel of Medford, Oregon have arrived in this city and will spend several months visiting among relatives and friends.
"Your Name in Print," Logansport Journal, Indiana, May 5, 1893, page 8

    The Mail has been shown the plans for the new Baptist parsonage which is to be built during the coming summer. The building will be cottage shape with twelve feet posts and if built entirely after the plans and views shown us it will be a very beautiful residence. L. M. Lyon has the contract for its construction and it will be built near the church. In architectural design the building is modern in every particular, while the interior will be as convenient and pleasant as the exterior is beautiful and modern.
    A move is on foot now to get together a bangup, good baseball team in Medford. They tell us there are some good twirlers of the sphere and bat swingers in town and if such is the case they ought to organize and prove their mettle. So confident are some of the boys of getting together a good team that they have asked us to print a challenge to any amateur club in the state of Oregon.
    L. E. Bender has opened a tobacco and confectionery store in the brick building on C Street, and is prepared to serve up all the delicacies that can possibly be had in this line. His candies are fresh, his cigars fragrant and his tobaccos tender to the tastes of those addicted that way. Read his ad. [His ad on page 2 locates his business on "C Street, Opposite Mail Office"]
    The new residence which merchant William Angle is erecting over on the east side will be, when completed, as fine as any in Medford. The design is a fine one and a credit to the architect. Mr. Angle has several acres of fine land surrounding his new building and when put in shape, as will needs be done to harmonize with the new house, he will have a home that will be the pride of the entire household.
    R. H. Halley has purchased, of Mrs. [Brentano], the vacant lot fronting on Eighth Street, near the gun shop, and when he gets in shape to commence work on his new brick block he will move one of his wooden buildings onto his recent purchase.
    The merry-go-round has folded its tents and silently stolen away. The business wasn't very rushing in Medford. The outfit was taken to Jacksonville where it will remain a short time after which it will drive its stakes in Ashland.
    Last week our "types" were made to say that the new addition to the brewery was to be 20x15 feet in size. We should have said 25x56.
    Messrs. Palm & Medynski have purchased the Howard property on Front Street and will put the same in shape for business purposes.
    The foundation for the Medford Business College was laid on Wednesday of this week.
    Postmaster Howard is moving his family into the Frank Mingus residence on the west side.
    Rev. Stephens and family on Tuesday moved from South C Street to the McAndrews residence on North C Street.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, May 12, 1893, page 3
A Sad Death.
    Mrs. Florence Enyart, wife of Jesse E. Enyart, of Medford, Oregon, died at the residence of her uncle David L. Metzger, 1412 High Street, last evening at 8:30 after a few days' illness, of congestion of the stomach, in the 30th year of her age.
    This is a peculiarly sad death. Mrs. Enyart arrived here about ten days ago to visit with friends and relatives, the first time she had been here since she and her husband moved to Oregon four years ago. Some days ago she went to the World's Fair, where she caught cold from exposure. Her trouble, which at first was not thought to be of a serious nature, took a sudden turn for the worse, and last evening she died after an illness of but three days. Up to within a few hours of her death her condition was not considered dangerous, and her sad and sudden death falls with striking force upon her family and many friends here. Her husband is the cashier of the bank at Medford, Oregon, and it will take him a week to arrive here, hence an announcement of the date of the funeral will be deferred until such a time.
    Mrs. Enyart was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Mitchell, of Adamsboro, and sister of Miss Nellie Mitchell, who graduated from the Logansport High School last year with the highest honors of her class, and who is at present at the State University at Bloomington. She was married to Jesse Enyart five years ago and leaves one child, a daughter four years of age. Her family has the united sympathy of the community in their sad and sudden bereavement.
Logansport Journal, Indiana, May 16, 1893, page 5


    A telegram was received this morning that Jesse Enyart had started from Medford, Ore., and would probably arrive here Sunday morning. The funeral of his wife will probably be held Sunday.
"The Latest Local News," Logansport Reporter, Indiana, May 17, 1893, page 3

    The Howard property on Front Street, recently purchased by Palm & Medynski, is being painted anew and generally refitted. The color is a very "catchy" one and is a long ways ahead of many others which come under the dull, lifeless list.
    A team belonging to J. W. Wiley, of Phoenix, made things decidedly lively on C Street Tuesday evening. The wagon was ditched near Mr. Plymale's residence and the team brought up in Mr. Whitman's wheat field--not much damage.
    The citizens of Medford and vicinity are asked to meet at the opera house, Medford, tomorrow at 2 o'clock, and perfect arrangements for a Fourth of July celebration in this man's town.
    Councilman Wilson has men at work connecting water pipes with the C Street main and is having them run into his blacksmith shop, corner of C and Eighth.
    Wednesday the hosecart, and all paraphernalia pertaining thereto, was moved to its new quarters on Sixth Street.
    Photographer Rifenburg has moved his outfit to Grants Pass where he will remain a few weeks.
    Dr. Kirchgessner has moved his family to the G. W. Howard residence on Ninth Street.
    Even the most adept professional men, whom the majority of the world's people believe equal to all occasions, are novices in many lines outside their professions, and none the least of them is Dr. Geary. In surgery and materia medica the doctor is quite at home, but when it comes to riding a bicycle successfully he is several leagues outside the front yard fence which surrounds his fine residence on Seventh Street. Alex. Galloway assured the gentleman of medicine that he could mount and ride a wheel as easily as he could convert an artificial eye into one of life, and upon this guarantee he made a purchase of a Falcon No. 1. The doctor and Alex. retired to a supposed secluded part of the city and there a circus was gone through with, which is alone peculiar to acrobats. Finally the wheel was led up alongside of a fence and the doctor gallantly mounted and after a little wibble-wabble byplay he rounded the corner in a truly dignified style. If the doctor wants to know how this escapade came to be printed he can call at D. H. Miller's hardware store and get--satisfaction.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, May 19, 1893, page 3


    The funeral of Mrs. Jesse D. Enyart, of Medford, Oregon, was held at 3 o'clock this afternoon on East High Street, conducted by Revs. Mareb and Woods. The sorrowing husband arrived from his far-off western home in time to attend the obsequies.
"City News," Logansport Pharos, Indiana, May 22, 1893, page 3

It Is Whispered Around
    That the latest fad of Medford dudes is to flirt with their shadow on the streets.
    That Medford will have a mounted police when Wes Johnson gets that "wheel," and if he isn't dismounted several times it will disappoint many people.
    That if the boarders at Hotel Medford were to decide the [Chinese] deportation question, they would deport French cooks first and attend to the Chinese secondarily.
    That when C. F. Lewis plants garden he puts in the seed all the same lawn grass--like the fellow that stole his dollar chickens--nineteen at a time and all in the same place.
    That when Dr. Pickel gets Marshal Johnson out for a few minutes' walk to attend a coroner's inquest it will be a lesser distance than six miles and the inquests will be fewer--unless it be one to sit upon the doctor.
    That Dr. Geary has been "joshed" to his heart's content on that bicycle deal, and now to get square with the small bits of humor which have been flashed upon him at home, he proposes to get one for Mrs. Geary--and have a little fun all to himself.
Medford Mail, May 26, 1893, page 2


    The fire department came near having a job on their hands Tuesday night. When merchant Partlow returned to his place of business Tuesday evening from the Mail office he lighted a lamp in the store, and soon after the said lamp proceeded to explode. The flames caught into a pile of clothing on the counter and before they could be extinguished about $200 damage was done to the goods. It took Mr. Partlow all his time, with blankets and wearing apparel, to head off the flames from destroying his entire stock. Had the fire gotten well under way it would have required very swift work to have saved the several adjoining buildings.
    Jacob Pheister, a recent arrival from Indiana, has purchased a five-acre chunk of land in the Barr addition, from E. J. Carder. The land is already set out to trees which are now bearing--thus has another of our new arrivals dropped into a splendid locality, a healthy climate and a field of abundant fruit.
    The bicycle craze is becoming epidemic in Medford. Dr. Pickel, Wes Johnson and Elmer Bashford have each ordered one--of the New Mail pattern--sold by Beek, Whiteside & Co. When their new wheels arrive notice will be given in order that all may witness the riders' exhibition.
    Frank Pfluger, of Portland, is at work putting in the new vats and tubs for the Southern Oregon Brewing Co. It begins to look like there was a positive assurance that this institution will be in readiness to commence operations now pretty soon--and when they do they can give the laugh to those who predicted such a thing would never be.
    J. A. Whitman is officiating as cashier in the Jackson County Bank during Mr. Enyart's absence. Carl Narregan has taken a position in the same bank for the purpose of learning the business. He is a bright young man and will surely make a success under the careful and thorough training of banker Vawter.
    Henry Taylor is a well-to-do rancher living two or three miles east of Medford. His fine farm will soon be decorated with a large, new grain barn, 50x54 feet in size and built in a style well befitting the surroundings. Messrs. Shawver & Nicholson are the contractors who have its construction in charge.
    On Thursday of this week, Charles Nickell, of Jacksonville, sold through the agency of Hamilton & Palm twenty acres of the Lacy place for $1,000. Considering the stringency of money matters we think this a good sale--it is needless to say the property is located near Medford.
    Commissioner Brandenburg has sidewalk work and street grading nearly finished--will be through this week with all work except the replanking of the Bear Creek Bridge, which will be commenced as soon as the lumber arrives.
    G. W. Priddy is now engaged in making brick for the new Halley Block. Mr. Priddy will also do the brick work on this building. Messrs. Shawver & Nicholson will do the wood work.
    The tonsorial firm of Holt & Bunch has been dissolved. Frank Holt has opened a new shop two door south of the old stand, while R. G. Bunch holds forth at the old place of business.
    W. F. Shawver is the gentleman who is superintending the construction of merchant Angle's fine residence, and it's a pretty fine piece of work--on all sides.
    L. P. Chandler has leased the Damon property, corner of D and Eleventh streets, and has moved his family thereto.
    The Medford Ice Works commenced the manufacture of ice yesterday.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, May 26, 1893, page 5


    No better evidence of a town's good standing is needed than its prosperous and well attended secret societies. Medford has several of these and all with a good membership--and a membership of the very best of men and women. The Odd Fellows have a membership of 85; the Good Templars, 80; Rebekahs, 61; Knights of Pythias, 55; G.A.R., 50; A.O.U.W., 46; Encampment, 35; Masons, 27; Women's Relief Corps, 26.
    It is a positive fact, and one which we all rejoice over, that just so sure as a stranger, with his family, stops off in Medford for a few days just so sure will he locate permanently. In selecting a place of residence a family man always looks for a town with good schools, a liberal sprinkling of churches and the moral standing of the community generally good. Such a place is Medford. There are fewer of the genuine tough characters in Medford than any town of its size we were ever in.
"Editorial," Medford Mail, June 2, 1893, page 2


    Jos. Stewart, the big fruit man just south of Medford, has 4000 pear trees set out, 3000 of which are bearing this year. He expects to ship nine carloads of Bartlett pears direct to Chicago this summer. Talk about fruit--well yes, we have a few. The man that builds a cannery in this valley has laid the foundation to an income worth reaching for.
    G. E. Fox, a gentleman who but recently arrived in Medford from the East, has purchased the Premium Meat Market from Besse & Woody. He promises to keep his market well supplied with the choicest of meats and to treat his customers on the square. See his ad elsewhere in The Mail.
    The Medford Ice Works are now running at their full capacity and the quality of the goods turned out is very fine. The company has already made several shipments of ice to different points in the valley and orders are being received daily for larger amounts and from many different places.
    Messrs. Mark and Joe Goldstone, with their families, have moved to the Wm. Ulrich residence on North C Street, formerly occupied by J. A. Slover, who, by the way, has taken up his residence in Grants Pass.
    Stock inspector [B. W.] Dean reports the number of sheep in Jackson County to be 17,911. He says they are in an average good condition, but have suffered some from the exceptionally severe winter just passed.
    D. T. Lawton is moving about very cautiously these times and with the aid of a cane. Cause--horse's foot--'bout eleven hundred weight--planked squarely on his ankle. Lament--"can't ride my wheel."
    Ed. Wilkinson, the Seventh Street market man, adds great convenience to his place of business this week by placing therein a fine refrigerator--in size 4 1/2 x 5 and nine feet high.
    Mrs. Sherman has opened a boarding house in Medford, corner A and Seventh streets. She will furnish meals for two bits at all hours, also board by day or week.
    The frame work for the new Medford college was raised this week and enclosing work is being pushed as fast as possible.
    Rocks are now being hauled for the foundation to the R. H. Halley new brick block on C Street.
    Mesdames I. A. Webb and E. B. Pickel each possess a bicycle and are mastering the art of riding very cleverly.
"City Local Whirl," Medford Mail, June 2, 1893, page 3
    Myron Skeel and family have moved into their brand-new residence in East Medford.
    Our school directors have laid in a fine lot of good black oak wood for next winter--about 70 cords.
    Ed. Wilkinson has had a new coat of paint put on the front of his meat market. Ed. Johnson was the brush artist.
    Lew Benders' ice cream sign is simply out of sight. Smith & Sherman executed this tasty piece of artistic lettering.
    The sidewalk that runs out on C Street as far as the distillery will soon be finished. This was a much-needed improvement.
    J. J. Ullman has purchased an acre and a half tract two blocks south of the distillery and will commence to improve the same at once.
    W. H. Hosler has sold out his saloon business to J. M. Howard, recently from Tennessee, who will continue selling goods in that line at the old stand.
    Dr. J. W. Odgers' new residence is looming up in great shape. The contractor, W. K. Davis, is pushing the work to completion as rapidly as possible.
    The lawn tennis club of this city has reorganized, and having had the grounds at Dr. B. F. Adkins' beautiful residence placed in order, are now ready for business.
    Attorney A. S. Hammond had about 400 feet of water pipe put in out at his place this week. Horace Nicholson, Beek, Whiteside & Co.'s popular salesman, bossed the job.
    L. M. Lyon, the contractor and builder, is the man that is building the addition to the Wortman house on Seventh Street. He built a fine, large refrigerator for the Coeti saloon, and is now at work placing one in the G. E. Fox C Street meat market.
    Milton Maule has just finished a big job of painting out at the Mrs. Sallie E. Ish farm. He used up about five hundred pounds of lead, fifty gallons of oil, a large amount of turpentine and varnish. Mr. Maule is an expert workman and always gives satisfaction.
    W. F. Shawver is making some substantial improvements on his property. He has moved one of his houses onto a lot across the street which he will fix up to rent, and another one he has placed in the rear of his lot and will use it for a storeroom and workshop.
    The contract for erecting the M. E. Church, south, was let to L. M. Lyon, contractor and builder, of this place, for $1270. The structure will be put up on the lots across the street from the public school building recently purchased for that purpose. The main building will be 24x40 feet with a small classroom 14x24 feet. It is to be completed by Aug. 20. Mr. Lyon will commence active operations at once.
    There has been a shift made in the J. A. Slover & Co. drug business. W. H. Parker & Sons is the style of the new firm. Mr. Parker, whom almost everybody knows is strictly a man of business, tells us that sometime during the summer or fall the new firm will greatly increase their stock and add an extensive line of new goods at which time Mr. Slover will undoubtedly return to Medford and resume charge of the establishment. Mr. Parker's hustling business propensities has gained him the title "the busy man" and he sustains well that reputation. He conducts a law office in Jacksonville, a farm between Medford and Jacksonville and now he has tackled the drug business. The new firm's ad appears on another page of The Mail.
    Last week in company with Prof. Rigby, the Mail editor enjoyed a pleasant drive out to the new business college. The building is progressing nicely and ere many weeks it will be completed. Where the building stands is a most beautiful spot of ground, dotted here and there with fine shade trees, and elevated sufficiently to give a fine view. When this building is completed it will be such an one as every resident in Medford ought to take pride in. It will be a great acquisition to our town's upbuilding as it will draw patronage from a distance of many miles.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, June 9, 1893, page 3


    An excellent view of the city of Medford can be had by going to the top of the water works tower. A good place from which to point out the beauties of the city and valley to strangers. This is a tip to real estate dealers--no charges.
"Editorial," Medford Mail, June 16, 1893, page 2


    The phonograph man was working the town last Saturday.
    The A. J. Fredenburgs' brick residence is being finished by E. W. Starr, an expert workman.
    Chili-Con-Carne. What is it? Ask Davis & Pottenger.
    Geo. Brown is putting in a new wheel to raise the water out of Butte Creek to be used for irrigating purposes.
    W. P. Dodge's boring machine is at work near Ashland, drilling a well on the Boulevard for the new school district recently organized. Macy Pickering is running the drill. Mr. Dodge finished a well 133 feet deep for C. Svensen, east of Medford, not long since.
    The cattle which are running at large in Medford are a source of great annoyance to Engineer Barnum of the Medford-Jacksonville short line. Someone has suggested an automatic whistle as a means of lessening his labors.
    I. A. Webb, he who owns and operates the big furniture emporium on Seventh Street, is having heap many sales in house refrigerators this summer. He has recently added 3000 rolls of new house paper to his already big stock.
    W. T. York writes from Eugene stating that a party of South Dakota men left that city a few days ago for the Rogue River Valley. They are looking for fruit land and will visit Medford. This is a tip to real estate dealers--no charges.
    On account of not being properly ventilated the floor in the Dr. Adkins brick building occupied by the Henry Smith store has become rotted and will have to be replaced with a new one which will be done before Cranfill & Hutchinson open up their new stock of goods.
    M. P. Phipps is having flagstone delivered to Medford with which he will lay an eight-foot sidewalk around his property corner of Seventh and C streets, beginning at Wm. Ulrich's office on C Street and extending to S. Rosenthal's clothing store on Seventh. This will be not only a great improvement, but will further beautify these portions of our business streets.
    "Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud"  "Homeward Bound," "The Shroud"--a grander or better poem was never penned. This is also true with the refrigerators built by L. M. Lyon--the best and the cheapest. There are several of his make in use in town and they give the best of satisfaction. If you need anything in the refrigerator line be sure and call on Mr. Lyon.
    Another chunk of Messrs. John Weeks & Sons' fine cabinet work has come to light in those elegant bar fixtures in James Coeti's Star Saloon. The fixtures are made from native Oregon wood entire and embrace oak, birdseye maple and ash, and are artistically carved and finished. They are beauties and on the same level, in line of excellence, with those at Hotel Medford. Mr. Coeti, by the way, has a finely arrange place of business, the same having been newly papered and painted.
    Here is a means which some of us summer bachelors may be compelled to resort to if the already protracted visits of our good housewives are protracted to any greater extent. It is done like this: Take your local paper, cut out an item and then send the paper to your wife. She will imagine you have been mixed up in some rascality and don't want her to find it out and will proceed to get home at once. As an antidote to this clever job we would suggest that you preserve the piece you cut out.
    Landlord Purdin has been ordered, by the city council, to cease using water from the well near his hotel, as the waste water from the well makes a mudhole in the street and is therefore declared a nuisance.
    L. P. Chandler, a gentleman who but a few weeks ago arrived in Medford, is now moving his family into a residence on [the] corner of B and Ninth streets and will remain with us permanently. He will also open a wood yard in Medford and will keep all kinds and grades of woods, and will deliver same if purchasers desire. His ad appears in The Mail next week.
    Dave Miller--we call him "Dave" because everybody else does and what's good enough for Dave is quite sufficient for us--has reached down into his purse and taken therefrom a sufficient number of sicles [shekels?] to enable him to purchase a bicycle. He is now breaking it to ride and if the arnica, splints, court plaster and bandages hold out he will make a crowning success of the venture. The boys tell that his experimental trip was out on the Jacksonville road and after bobbing along behind the wheel for a little more than a mile he hired a rancher to bring himself and wheel back to the city, telling the rancher that he had experienced a serious breakdown. He slid into town the back way and quietly set the wheel over the back yard fence. He applied arnica and bandages to his wounded members and upon inquiry from his good wife as to how he felt, he remarked that he was all right only just felt kinder sick and that he would ride that dinged thing if he crippled both legs in doing it. "I'll show Dr. Geary," said he, "that he's no more of a dandy in that line than I am. I can discount Ed. Pottenger now, even if he has been practicing out in that back alley for the last two weeks. I'll be doing tricks like Bob Galloway after about one more whirl. I think I had the cinch a little too tight this time, but say, I'd give seven dollars to see Charley Wolters put a bitting rig on a bicycle and run it around town."
    Everybody knows that Hotel Medford is equally as familiar with Renus [Hamilton], but everybody don't know that this gentleman has successfully mastered the art of a perpendicular attitude while astride of a bicycle, nor is Renus quite sure of it himself, but he is positive that he galloped one of those wheels up and down a back street one night recently from eight in the evening until six the following morning. This is Renus' story but even landlord Purdin who is deucedly trusting--naturally--has weighed this narrative in the balance and finds Renus ascending the uphill side in a manner which plainly labels him a prevaricator of no minute proportions.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, June 16, 1893, page 3
    The flower and vegetable gardens and the fruit orchards in and about Medford are a most beautiful sight to look upon. Verily, this is the paradise of the world.
    It is being whispered that the fruit growers hereabouts will soon be getting anxious as to what they are to do with their fruit. It will then dawn upon these good people that some means ought to have been provided months ago for handling their products.
    As the Medford Business College building nears completion we often wonder if our good people realize the importance which this institution will add to our fast-growing city. We wonder if you realize that it is the only institution of the kind between Portland and San Francisco and that such an institution will prove to be the best possible means of building up our city as an educational center. We wonder further if our people have loosened their purse string as much as they ought. Not a business man is there in Medford but what can well afford to contribute toward the erection of this building--and make good interest on the money invested. The college is now built but there must be some assistance rendered else it may not be occupied as soon as is expected. The name "Medford Business College" is one which will advertise our city the entire length of the Pacific coast. If Mr. Rigby is compelled to complete the college unassisted no person would have the right to say him nay should he christen it the "Northwest" or "Rigby" business college.
Editorial, Medford Mail, June 23, 1893, page 2


    G. A. Buffington has commenced housekeeping over his tonsorial parlors, on Seventh Street.
    Rev. E. E. Phipps has moved into the Mrs. White dwelling on C Street, recently occupied by Carl T. Jones.
    Charlie Wolters is talking of getting a bicycle--double header--little chair up in front so he and Mose can both ride.
    Messrs. Beek, Whiteside & Co. received three new bicycles this week--one each for Mrs. I. A. Webb, Mrs. E. B. Pickel and Marshal Johnson.
    Wm. Johnson and family have moved from North C Street to the Wortman residence on West Seventh Street.
    G. W. Priddy is nearly ready to fire a kiln of brick. He now has 155,000 in the kiln and when he reaches an even 200,000 he will begin firing.
    Landlord Purdin has invested in a bicycle for his daughter Iva. The lady is catching on to the ways of the machine very rapidly and rides nicely.
    R. H. Whitehead has erected a neat little barn at the rear of his large, beautiful C Street residence, and like all things peculiar to the habits of this gentleman, the barn is a neat little affair--with a cupola on top.
    J. W. Miller, the Seventh Street wagonmaker, says this late rain will completely ruin all small potatoes--make big ones of them. This is a pun and is original with Mr. Miller and quoted by Charlie Strang.
    The Medford Business College building is progressing finely. By the 10th of July it is expected the structure will be completed, and immediately thereafter the school will be moved and resume its work in the new home.
    Wm. Ulrich, manager of the Southern Oregon Pork Packing Company, tells us that his company will soon commence the erection of a 30x50-foot brick building, to be used as a refrigerator and general receptacle for meats.
    The new sign writing which Smith & Sherman are doing on the Southern Oregon Brewery is something beautiful to look upon, as will also be the sign they are painting for The Mail. These gentlemen are artisans of great ability.
    Medford will celebrate the Fourth away from home this year. Our people will, in all probability, go either to Jacksonville or Central Point. Will these towns return the compliment next year when Medford will celebrate?
    We were in error last week in stating that the Henry Smith stock of goods was to be shipped to Wolf Creek. The goods will be placed in the store room on Front Street where a division among the heirs will probably be made.
    The Redfield Bros. have moved their gun shop from Eighth Street to East Seventh where they have opened out on a more extensive scale in anticipation of an increased patronage. The Mail hopes they get it. They will also open a shooting gallery.
    If the city council was to take some action whereby that stagnant water in the gutter on the north side of Seventh Street could be permanently done away with there would be much rejoicing by the businessmen of that locality. A few loads of gravel would fix it plenty.
    F. W. Waschau, the gentleman who recently arrived in Medford from Missouri, has leased rooms near the Star Parlor Saloon, on Front Street, and as soon as his goods arrive he will open a jewelry store, and be one of us henceforth.
    R. H. Halley has commenced tearing away the old buildings and making ready generally for his new brick. The brick for this structure are now being made, the stone for the foundation are being delivered as is also lumber for the wood work. By the middle of July it is expected work on the building proper will begin.
    There is rejoicing in dog heaven, but the canine population of Medford is wearing crepe and shedding tears of sorrow and regret--old Rex has gone home. He was the well-known bird dog belonging to W. W. Cardwell and his demise was due to the fact that old Father Time decided his stay amid the trials and troubles of the wicked and perverse dog generation had been of a duration quite sufficient--hence the shuffling off--Rex has gone home.
    Perry McGee, living over on Williams Creek, was in Medford this week accompanied by his menagerie, consisting of a full-grown possum and her two young ones which he recently brought from Missouri. He was showing them to R. H. Halley and that gentleman after looking at them for a while figured that "them ar possum" was the only one thing needful to complete his earthly happiness. After a little dickering a shotgun [and] all its accouterments were decided to be about of equal value with the menagerie and the deal was made. Mr. H., it is said, will now begin negotiation with Mr. Palm for his long-eared pet, with the musical voice, [and] will then join league with the boys with the merry-go-round and hit the road.
    And still there is another new deal on in way of a business change. This time it is Messrs. Davis & Pottenger, the genial and very popular Seventh Street grocers, who have slid out of business. Their successors are Mr. John Morris, well known about Medford, and Mr. E. H. Fawcett, formerly of Osage City, Kansas. These gentlemen enter upon their new venture under the most flattering prospects as their predecessors have established quite a lucrative trade. That the former firm's reputation for good goods and honest weights and prices will be sustained under the new order of things is not questioned by those who are acquainted with the people who now manipulate the wires that operate the "masheen." Mr. Davis, one of the retiring members, will rest up for a few months and by so doing endeavor to improve his health which has not been of the best for some little time. Mr. Pottenger has no course mapped out except that he has decided to go fishing for a time, which literally means that he too will rest.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, June 23, 1893, page 3
     Everybody rides Imperial wheels--at Galloway's, Medford.
     The St. Charles Restaurant has blossomed out this week with a dandy new sign.
    The bicycle race at Jacksonville on the 4th of July will be an exciting one. Several fast wheelmen will contend for the prize.
    The firm of Smith & [Charles S.] Sherman, painters and sign writers, has been dissolved. Mr. Sherman's ad appears elsewhere in The Mail.
    That icebox at Fawcett & Morris' which has been causing a little commotion among purchasers of butter at that place has been made good by the box having been lined throughout with zinc.
    The threshing combination of True, Bashford, Fordyce & Wilson have received their large straw-burner traction engine of the Advance make and the sale was made through the agency of Merriman & Legate.
    James Gaines, living just west of Medford, knocks all the persimmons off the palm trees in some lines of agricultural pursuits. If he don't knock them off it is not because the rye he grows is not long enough. He brought a sample of rye to Medford this week which stretched the tape line out to a distance of seven and one-half feet.
    There are very few big heads in Medford of the human make--even spirits fermenti does not enlarge this portion of the anatomy to any great degree, but our vegetable gardens are well headed, and big headed. Wm. Angle brought in this week a head of lettuce which weighed one and one-fourth pounds.
    Messrs. I. A. Webb, Dr. Pickel, Attorney Hammond and Wes Johnson took a spin down to Tolo Tuesday on their wheels and upon returning they were challenged for a race at Central Point by E. Worman. Johnson and Pickel accepted the challenge and to their credit Mr. Worman's team was noticeable in the background and indulging in a feed of dust from the bicycle wheels when they reached Medford.
    Little Nora, the six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Biden, met with a sad accident Wednesday which resulted in her death the following day. She, in company with some other children, was playing at "burning brick" in the yard when her clothes caught fire and burned her so badly as to result as above stated. It is a sad affliction and the parents are nearly heartbroken. They have the deepest sympathy extended them by The Mail and their many friends.
    The public school band came out Saturday evening and gave Medford people a treat to some of their most excellent music. Every time we hear the music of that band we think a whole heap more of Medford and our public school. The boys do nicely and if every parent whose son is a member of this school isn't proud of him then there is something wanting in the way of parental regard. The band rendered several fine selections in front of C. W. Wolters' place of business and when through the good-natured Charlie asked them all in for a drink of pop. It is noticeable that the band is playing more difficult music than a few months ago and as they seem to handle it as readily as did they the more easy pieces it is demonstrated that they possess the material requisite to musicians of high position.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, June 30, 1893, page 3


    A free reading room will be one of the improvements added to the new Mail office. All our exchanges [i.e., exchange newspapers], the leading magazines and all statistical books will be placed on file and for the free use of all who care to read them.
Editorial, Medford Mail, July 14, 1893, page 2


    R. H. Halley has commenced work on the foundation for his new brick.
    Dr. Adkins is improving his Seventh Street property by putting down a new brick sidewalk.
    The new stone sidewalk in front of Parker's drug store is going to be a lulu, and no mistake.
    The baseball boys have recently put up a good, substantial backstop at their grounds--opposite Davis' flouring mill.
    Lumber for the new Baptist Church parsonage has been ordered, and as soon as brick can be procured work on the foundation will begin. Contractor Lyon will do the mechanical work.
    Messrs. Shawver & Nicholson have just finished the construction of that big barn for H. H. Taylor and will soon commence work on an addition to Geo. Merriman's residence, on South C Street.
    A new sign--the Owl--with "one eye open for bargains," is conspicuously displayed on the awning of Fawcett & Morris' grocery. It is the work of Sherman the painter and is an excellent exhibition of his skill as a sign writer.
    The new ice wagon of the Southern Oregon Brewing Company appeared on the streets of Medford yesterday, making the rounds of ice delivery. It is most decidedly a beauty and an "up to date" metropolitan turnout. The lettering on the sides is the work of Sherman, the painter, and it's a good job. The word "Ice" gives one the chills to look at it--it's weighted down with imitation ice.
    P. W. Olwell, the big, prosperous fruit man north of Medford, is preparing to care for his fruit in a manner most commendable. He has purchased a fruit dryer and the company's agent, A. P. Gordon, is now engaged in putting the same in shape for use.
    J. A. Slover, of Grants Pass, is nothing slow as a bicycle rider himself. Last Sunday morning he started out from the above city on his wheel, arrived at W. H. Parker's place, near Jacksonville, for dinner, came over to Medford in the afternoon and back to Grants Pass in the evening. The entire distance traveled bing about sixty miles.
    Bicycling is the nearest to flying that human ingenuity has yet approached. Only one or two square inches of the bicycle wheel come in contact with the earth at any one time, so that the bicyclist, if he is not flying, is very near to it. If he has a pneumatic tire he literally rides on the air. This last sentence is a pun and copyrighted. Dr. Geary will please note.
    Street Commissioner Brandenburg is engaged this week in putting in bridges over the public water ditch at the corner of Fifth and E and Seventh and E streets. He also has teams hauling gravel and filling in around the water flume on Mr. Whitman's property, south of town, which has sprung a leak and is irrigating Mr. Whitman's orchard too plentifully. Several new crosswalks have also been put in on North C Street.  
    A Eugene girl recently found a lot of love letters written by her father to her mother many years before they were married. The daughter read them to her mother pretending they were of recent date, and substituted her own [name] for that of her mother, and the name of a young man well known to both, for her father's. The mother was very much disgusted, and has forbidden her daughter to go with a young man that will write such nonsense and sickening stuff.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, July 14, 1893, page 3


    A good, live, progressive city of over 2,000 people and no photographer--that's Medford.
    It is altogether probable that the petit burglaries which have been perpetrated in Medford of late are the work of some of the boys of our town. If this be the case it is high time a full stop was registered--before they shall have arrived at a point of more desperate outlawism. It becomes us all to appoint ourselves a committee of investigation ere it be too late and we are made the butt of their thievish notions instead of our neighbors.
Editorial, Medford Mail, July 21, 1893, page 2
Will Have Electric Lights--Perhaps.
    Mr. E. C. Sharpe, of Portland, is in Medford this week endeavoring to arrange for putting in an electric light plant in our city. This he will do provided the city will give him a franchise. He asks no bonus but expects, of course, that the city will agree to take on a certain number of lights. The matter, so far as Mr. Sharpe is concerned, will be settled today, or so soon as a conference can be had with Mr. Leadbetter and the city council. Mr. Sharpe proposes to put in a plant with a capacity of twenty-five arc and 500 incandescent lights and will have the same in running order by the first of October--if the franchise is granted. The cost of the plant will be near $10,000. The convenience and general usefulness of these lights are known to almost everybody and we will wager a guess that not a man in Medford is there but what would be in favor of granting the franchise. There is probably nothing which so greatly improves a city and gives it so metropolitan an air as do electric lights.
Medford Mail, July 21, 1893, page 2


    Watchmaker Waschau has decided to move from Medford to Jacksonville.
    Jas. L. Slowell has purchased an interest in the Roxy Ann Saloon of J. M. Howard. The firm name is J. M. Howard & Co.
    R. H. Halley has wisely decided to lengthen out his new brick fifteen feet--making it seventy-five instead of sixty as was first talked.
    D. T. Lawton's little cottage residence on North C Street is, as the ladies would give expression, "just a love of a thing." It is not large but is neat, cozy and nicely located.
    In establishing the grade level of South C Street it is found that Mr. Halley, in order to be on a level with the grade, will be compelled to lay the foundation for his new brick block about a foot below the sidewalk as it now stands.
    N. B. Bradbury, residing on North C Street, is but just commencing to get his finely located plat of land into proper shape, but he has peach trees that are productive to a degree almost incredible. Think of a peach tree only two years old and bearing peaches nearly the size of your fist! This gentleman has them--of the Alexandre variety.
    A little trouble, or more proper, a misunderstanding, exists among the directors and stockholders of the Southern Oregon Brewing, Ice and Cold Storage Company and in consequence of which I. L. Hamilton has been appointed receiver. From one of the stockholders we learn that by the appointment of a receiver it does not necessarily follow that the company is insolvent. The value of the plant is between twenty and twenty-five thousand dollars, and the outstanding indebtedness only aggregates about seven hundred.
    The services of Rev. E. E. Phipps have been secured by the Medford Business College to date from the opening of the fall term in the new building. Rev. Phipps will teach Latin and Greek and, as a matter of fact, will have full charge of the normal department of the college. Mr. Phipps is a thorough student, probably few better in the state, a gentleman in every respect and the fact that his services have been secured will greatly augment the deserved popularity of this institution. It is also the intention of the management of the college to add a two years' preparatory course to the college curriculum. This course will prepare students to enter the state university.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, July 21, 1893, page 3


    Last week we said that Medford had no photographer--this week we have two. In the face of this there are perhaps those who will say advertising doesn't pay.
    One by one Medford is giving a black eye to the shipments of the necessaries of life into our city by manufacturing the articles herself. There was a time when ice was shipped from outside towns to supply Medford, but our lively little city has reversed the order of things and now we do the shipping.
Editorial, Medford Mail, July 28, 1893, page 2


    Contractor Lyon commenced work yesterday on the new Methodist parsonage.
    Beer five cents per glass at Coati's Parlor Saloon.
    A continuation of that new stone sidewalk down past the Racket Store is a good act.
    Harry Hollingsworth has opened a bakery on Seventh Street--near Lawton's harness shop.
    Street Commissioner Brandenburg is at work clearing the streets of those treacherous thistles.
    The wood work on the new M. E. South Church is completed and the plasterers are now at work.
    R. H. Halley has leased his tinsmith tools to Eli Hogan, and as soon as a suitable location can be secured a shop will be opened.
    R. H. Whitehead is building a 14x24 feet addition to his fine C Street residence. Dan'l. Cofer is the gentleman doing the work.
    Beer five cents per glass, hereafter, at the Roxy Ann Saloon, Medford whiskey 5 cents per glass.
    N. A. Jacobs is making ready to move into his new South C Street residence--a new addition is among the improvements being made.
    A store building has been rented on Front Street for a bakery. Who the parties are or where from we could not learn, but they are making ready for business just the same.
    Messrs. Skeel & Son are doing a heap plenty work this season in the manufacture of fruit boxes. They are supplying the country for quite a distance and as the article put up in a good one there is no kick coming, except by the manufacturers of the same goods in other towns, and into whose territory these gentlemen's good work is extending.
    G. L. Webb has leased the north half of the Halley brick block--ground floor, and about October first the Racket will move to its new abode. The building will be much larger than where he now is and a much better display can be made.
    Shawver & Nicholson have commenced operations on Halley's new brick. Ditto G. W. Priddy. There will be a building up there in a few weeks that will be a credit to C Street--and The Mail will have rooms on the ground floor--go 'way trouble.
    Goodman Noble has purchased M. S. Damon's shoemaking tools and will soon open a shop in one of the front rooms of J. R. Erford's feed store. Mr. Noble invites a liberal sprinkling of work in his line and promises satisfaction or no pay. Good work is his motto.
    Messrs. J. H. Coyle and W. G. Cutbirth, of Stockton, Calif., have opened a photographer's gallery in Medford--in the Hamlin Block on Seventh Street. They are both married men and their families are with them and all propose to remain permanently. Work is coming in fairly well and they feel correspondingly encouraged. They are said to be first-class artists and such being the case they deserve our patronage.
    Medford people who reside in the vicinity of the Seventh Street Bear Creek bridge wish us to gently call the attention of the city board to the fact that the small boys are making of that particular portion of Bear Creek a swimming resort and in too close proximity to their respective places of abode--and that these swimmers are more scantily attired than is considered within the boundaries of even a slight degree of modesty. If on the opposite side of  the river from the city is outside the limits a state law "made and provided for in such case" should be resorted to.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, July 28, 1893, page 3


    C. A. Sprandle will probably move his electric light plant to Medford, providing suitable arrangements can be made with that city. It is a fine plant, and if Medford wants electric lights she can do no better than to contract with Mr. Sprandle for furnishing them.
"The City and Vicinity," Roseburg Plaindealer, August 3, 1893, page 3
And They Do Build
    Considering the inside and outside of the very scary condition of money matters all the country over, there can hardly be said to be a dearth in the building line in Medford. Our business seems to be moving on about as usual among the city merchants and the steady trend of the onward march of progress and improvements are noticeable. New or enlarged business, as well as increased population, requires new buildings, and the demand is being met with a sentiment of push which tends not to a backward move. There are several new buildings now underway or contemplated, a list of which we give below:
    The Halley brick block, on C Street, will be ready for occupancy in a few weeks. The brick work is expected to be finished next week.
    The very neat Baptist parsonage, on North C Street, is fast nearing completion. It will be a one-story cottage and when in shape to be occupied it will be one of the neatest in the city.
    Postmaster Howard has just commenced the foundation for his fine two-story residence building, adjoining the Baptist parsonage on C Street. In architectural design it is promised to be second to none.
    Over in the Roberts & O'Neil addition to Medford W. B. Roberts has recently sold a five-acre tract of land to a Mr. Scott, from Eastern Oregon, and that gentleman will soon commence the direction of a dwelling for himself and family, who are now camped on the ground awaiting the time when the new house is ready for occupancy.
    J. R. Hardin has his new dwelling well under way, and ere the sun's rays of many more days shall have reflected the shadow of this gentleman across his path--his family will be nicely ensconced in their new and pleasant home.
    The Southern Oregon [Pork] Packing Company have closed the contract with Messrs. Starr & Drisco for the erection of a 20x60 cold storage building to be built adjoining their packing house. The contract was let for $395.
    A. J. Stewart is figuring on erecting a fine residence in the south and west part of town, near Prof. Narregan's place.
Medford Mail, August 11, 1893, page 3


    Eli Hogan opened his tinshop on Front Street today.
    Dan'l. Cofer has been awarded the contract for the erection of Postmaster Howard's C Street residence.
    Asa Fordyce, residing just south of Medford, threshed out fifty acres of wheat Tuesday which yielded 1573 bushels, or nearly thirty-two bushels to the acre.
    The Medford Brewery has placed its beer on sale, and those who have sampled it say it is just as good as the average and in some respects several notches ahead.
    D. S. Youngs is making some improvements at the front of his store building. He is taking out the awning posts and putting in bracket supports instead and is as well widening his sidewalk to eight feet.
    Charlie Sherman, the Medford popular painter, is over at Jacksonville this week engaged in repainting the coach and engine of the Medford-Jacksonville short line.
    It is given out that Attorney W. H. Parker, who has recently disposed of his fine farm at a good round sum, will move his family to Medford, establish a home and open a law office--and still they keep coming our way. We can stand a whole lot of fellows like Parker.
    L. Henderson and R. Jorgensen, of Woodville, are the gentlemen who are making ready to open up the bakery and restaurant on Seventh Street. They expected to be open for business Sunday but owing to the fact that their oven collapsed when a fire was started, it will be a few days later before they are ready to supply the market.
    Mrs. S. M. West, who left Medford a few weeks ago for a visit with friends in Nebraska, has recently been appointed, by ex-Governor Furnace, to the position of expert judge in the art department of the state fair at Lincoln. The lady's knowledge of art is evidently receiving merited recognition abroad as well as at home. She will teach in the art department of the Medford Business College the coming year.
    At the meeting of the city council last Monday night contracts for furnishing 105 cords of wood were let to the following parties: Beek, Whiteside & Co., 25 cords; L. A. Murphy, 25; H. Griffin, 80; W. H. Barlow, 25. There were several other bids in but all were rejected in cases where the price per cord was higher than $3.75. The delinquent tax list was turned over to the marshal with instructions to collect. The marshal was also instructed to notify property owners to repair sidewalks, where needed. The driving down of the nails, which have worked loose and now project from a quarter to three-quarters of an inch above the level of the walk, is considered a much-needed repair and the marshal's instructions cover this point.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, August 11, 1893, page 3
TWENTY CARLOADS OF PEARS
Visit to a Sample Fruit Farm in Southern Oregon.
    The Medford Mail thus describes a visit to a typical fruit farm in Southern Oregon, owned by Joseph Stewart:
    "The farm is located 3¼ miles south from Medford. The land is very fertile and seems particularly adapted to the culture of fruit. There are 160 acres of land--not a large farm would it be for growing wheat, but an immense affair when planted entirely to fruit trees. Of this 160 acres Mr. Stewart has 60 acres planted to pears, Bartlett variety, and from which they are expected to gather this year from 8000 to 9000 boxes of fruit, each box weighing 40 pounds, or, in other words, nearly 20 carloads. Just think of it! More than an entire trainload of Bartlett pears, all from one farm. We made a drive through the orchard, and remarkable as it may seem, there is not a weed in the whole orchard. The trees are loaded to the utmost capacity, many of the branches reaching to the ground, yet bearing their immense burden without breaking. The sight which presents itself is one for which descriptive adjectives have not as yet been coined equal to do the occasion justice. As far as the eye can reach, down long rows of uniform trees, nothing but large, healthy Bartlett pears are seen growing. It is a sight worth going miles to see. Aside from this pear orchard are 50 acres of late winter apples which are bearing well and in a very healthy condition. The farm has quite an orchard of peach trees, but with these Mr. Stewart is making no special effort. Last spring he grafted prunes onto 1200 of his peach trees, and the result bade fair to be an exceptionally flattering one, as nearly all the grafts are growing well and seem even more thrifty than do the natural branches. The reason given for this grafting operation is simply that prunes are more profitable than peaches and do not crowd so closely onto his pear harvest, and are much easier to handle. During the fruitpicking and packing time 75 or 80 hands are employed in caring for the fruit, and seven or eight during the other months. Mr. Stewart also supplies the Portland market with about 10 tons of rhubarb each ear. Aside from this large home orchard Mr. Stewart has 78 acres planted principally to apples, joining Mr. Whitman's orchard, near Medford.
    "The 20 carloads of pears, spoken of above, will be shipped to Chicago and New York markets, the refrigerator cars to be used in their transmission. The orchard of which we have above written is only about 7 or 8 years old, which fact proves conclusively the great results that can be accomplished in fruit-raising where careful attention is given and knowledge of fruit culture is possessed, as is the case with Mr. Stewart."
Morning Oregonian, August 12, 1893, page 6


    Mr. Lynch, an Etna rancher, is figuring on soon moving to Medford.
    Ed. Pottenger has his new residence, on F Street between Eighth and Ninth, well under way.
    H. F. Wood has the contract for building Mr. Stewart's residence. The building they tell us is to be a beauty.
    G. L. Davis has opened an office in the Stanley brick building on C Street. His business is that of buying poultry and eggs.
    Miss Weaver has closed her dressmaking establishment on Seventh Street. She expects to soon leave for the East and the world's fair.
    The Premium Meat Market is temporarily closed. Mr. Fox informs us that as soon as the warm weather is over he expects to open again.
    The nails in our sidewalks are a source of great annoyance to pedestrians. They should be either pulled out or driven down, and it would be for the benefit of the public if either plan was adopted.
    Rev. Phipps has tendered his resignation as pastor of the Medford M.E. Church. His acceptance of the position as principal of the academic and normal departments of the Medford Business College is the why of his resignation.
    Daniel Cofer's ad appears in The Mail this week. The gentleman is a contractor and builder and is recently from Sacramento where he has been engaged in this business for many years. He has two hundred cottage designs from which patrons may select.
    Contractor Lyon finished his work on the new business college Wednesday and from him we learn that the institution is in good shape, not only architecturally but financially as well, and that, judging from indications, Prof. Rigby will open his school with a large attendance.
    Some of our people, to protect their spring chickens from the light-fingered pilferers, are said to be placing loaded shotguns in a position where they will explode when the coop door is opened. It's a good scheme and will make business for the doctors and undertakers.
    Little Fay Sears was taken suddenly ill Saturday night with spasms and for a time life was despaired of, but medical assistance being immediately called the little sufferer was soon made easier and is now getting on very nicely. The little one is the pet of the whole city, and her illness caused many an anxious inquiry.
    On Monday, August 28th, J. H. Stewart, the big fruit grower, will commence his work of packing Bartlett pears. He expects that ten carloads will be required to complete the pack. He will ship from Medford over the Southern Pacific to Portland and to the east over the Union Pacific--the eastern destination has not as yet been decided upon. The car will be iced here and will require about a ton of ice to the car.
    The chicken thief is making heavy demands on the chicken houses in Medford. George Merriman is shy about twenty spring chickens and I. A. Merriman also lost a few dozen one night last week. But what hurts Ike a little harder than the loss of his chickens is that he, being in the poultry business, was called upon to buy these same chickens again a few days later, and from the person whom he had every  reason to believe had stolen them.
    The editor that wouldn't print a paper in the Rogue River Valley, and more particularly in Medford, and be glad of the chance, is of a far different cut than the publishers of The Mail. The land is a most bountiful one and many of its products reach this office. A box of very large, mellow and decidedly luscious peach plums from E. G. Hurt, red, black and wine berries, that would tempt the goddess of epicure, from E. P. Hammond and blackberries which measured one and a half inches in length and two inches in circumference from G. W. Crystal were a part of this week's diet at the Mail office. All these delicacies for the sustenance of the inner man and a bouquet nearly the size of an half bushel measure, and made up of the most delicate, rare and fragrant flowers any print shop was ever presented with, from Mrs. C. J. Howard, brings out again the expression, who wouldn't be a Medford newspaper man?
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, August 18, 1893, page 3


    The Halley brick block is ready for the roof.
    W. E. Phipps, brother of Rev. [E. E.] Phipps, has engaged to teach the Neil School, near Ashland.
    Shawver & Nicholson have secured the contractor for erecting L. C. Shideler's residence in the Barr addition.
    W. J. Fredenburg has closed his fence manufactory on C Street and moved the machinery to his residence, corner of F and Eleventh streets.
    Haskins, the druggist, has a new ad this week. He also has a new sign, "The Mortar,"--on Seventh Street. You can't miss seeing it if you wanted to and Mr. Haskins don't want you if you could.
    Messrs. Weeks & Orr have sold their crop of Bartlett pears to Portland parties and next week they will commence picking. They expect to have between six and eight carloads--all of which will be shipped to Chicago direct.
    Wm. Simmons, the recent purchaser of the C Street Second Hand Store, wants us to tell the people that they can be found at the old stand and always ready to sell a good new or second-hand article cheaper than you can get it at any other place in Medford.
    Many of the ranchers are beginning to shape their business in such a manner as will enable them to move their families to Medford now pretty soon in order that their children may attend our public schools. A good school is appreciated everywhere--and Medford possesses that article.
    Landlord Purdin has instituted a little Chinese exclusion act all by himself. He now employs only white help--and his boarders haven't been heard to enter a protest. White help is preferable to Chinese in almost any capacity and we ought to encourage the deportation of the latter by not employing them.
    L. C. Shideler has purchased a two-acre tract of land in the Barr addition to Medford and will at once commence the erection of a dwelling house and is now at work fencing the same. The property is located in a very desirable neighborhood--just south of M. Maule's place and right close to Mr. Fawcett's residence.
    A. E. Anderson has purchased block sixty-five in Medford original townsite--except one lot. The consideration was $550 and the deal made through Hamilton & Palm's real estate agency. Mr. Anderson is figuring on the possible erection of a residence thereupon sometime not far distant. He will also purchase another tract of six acres of land in the Orchard Home.
    The Medford electric light plant proposition, spoken of in The Mail a few weeks ago, has gone by the boards. Mr. Sharpe, the promised promoter, has decided to put in a plant at Roslyn. Mr. Sharpe is the kind of a gentleman who would be a credit to Medford both in a business and social way and we dislike very much that things have so shaped themselves.
    Benj. Eggleston will open a produce and commission house in Medford next Monday. He will pay highest market price, in cash, for apples, eggs and poultry. Mr. Eggleston is far from being a stranger in this locality, he having bought produce in both Medford and Ashland for a number of years. He is located on South C Street opposite the Halley brick block. See ad in this paper next week.
    D. S. Youngs has sold his store and stock of goods, on C Street, to Wm. Simmons. Mr. Simmons is the gentleman who some few months ago was in the hardware business in Medford. He is a good, thorough businessman, and if such a good citizen as Mr. Youngs must retire no better man could take his place than Mr. Simmons. Mr. Youngs has a nicely located resident lot near Mr. Davis' residence, which he is desirous of disposing of before going east.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, August 25, 1893, page 3
A New Place of Worship.
    Situated on West Seventh Street and directly across the street from the public school building is the new M. E. Church South. It is a most beautiful structure, presenting so neat an architectural construction on the outside that while it covers not many acres of ground it nevertheless attracts much attention and pleasant comment. "It's a little beauty" is the general expression. Inside it is divided into an audience and class room and vestibule, and when completed it will be a beauty inside as well as out. It is expected the edifice will be completed by September 13th, upon which date the Western and Southern Oregon Conference will meet in this city, and at that time the church will be dedicated. The church will have a membership of something over twenty and the indications for good church work seems very promising. The present pastor is Rev. R. A. Reagan, who resides at Grants Pass and has charge of the field in that city as well as in Medford. Presiding Elder H. S. Shangle informs us that it is expected Bishop O. P. Fitzgerald, of Atlanta, Georgia, will be at the conference and will address the assembly.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, August 25, 1893, page 3


    There is a standing reward of $500 at Medford, Or., for the capture and conviction of incendiaries.
"Current Coast Cullings," Woodland Daily Democrat, California, August 25, 1893, page 2

    Herman Lenhart, of Portland, is the new brewer at the Medford Brewing Company's establishment.
    The picket fence factory was moved to East Seventh Street instead of Mr. Fredenburg's residence, as stated last week.
    The Medford Business College will open next Monday. The school will be conducted for a few weeks in the hall over the post office.
    D. A. Dodson has purchased an acre of land, being lot 7 block 38, original Medford, and we understand will erect a dwelling house upon it.
    Jas. Stewart began the shipment of his crop of Bartlett pears last Tuesday. He will load and ship one car a day for at least fifteen days. The first shipments are being made to Chicago.
    Henry Pohlman, the gentleman who superintends the Orchard Home farm, has his new cottage residence nearly completed. It is a fine structure and is justly admired by all who see it.
    Robt. Galloway has severed his connection with the Angle & Plymale mercantile establishment and expects to attend the Medford public school the coming term. Gabe Plymale takes his place in the store.
    As a proof of the fact that there is still a demand for more tenement houses in Medford we have but to mention that before Mr. Lumsden's property on C Street had been vacated six hours there were six applicants to rent it.
    Jorgensen the Baker has an ad in today's Mail. The gentleman is opened for business on East Seventh Street and is having a good trade. His breadstuffs as well as pastry is said to be a fine article and is fully appreciated.
    Wm. Ulrich has a foundation laid for a new tenement house on North C Street, adjoining the property now occupied by the Messrs. Goldstone. It will be a duplicate of that building. C. W. Skeel & Son will put up the building.
    Spence Childers is preparing to burn a kiln of brick for use another spring in erecting a two-story brick block on C Street, just south of the Mail office. There will be some several brick blocks in this man's town if those that are now promised are built.
    W. H. Parker has rented the Hutchison residence in West Medford and is now moving his family into the same. He has decided to make Medford his home for the future, notwithstanding the fact that he has had some very flattering propositions made him to enter into partnership with a big Portland law firm.
    M. S. Damon has been at work this week building a fruit drier for his own use. He has a two-acre orchard on B Street that is as fine as they grow 'em. Every tree is loaded with fine varieties of fruit. Some of the trees are so heavily loaded that many branches have been broken down by the fruit's great weight.
    There are houses of ill repute in Medford, and those respectable people who are so unfortunate as to be residents of the localities where these houses have been opened are justly indignant that such things should be tolerated, and it is to the end that the city council's attention may be called to their existence that the information is given us for publication. A wholesale arrest of these inmates and their patrons might be a means of lessening their number.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, September 1, 1893, page 3


    C. O. Damon and family arrived in Medford yesterday from Elkton, Oregon, and will reside in this city hereafter.
"Personal Mention," Medford Mail, September 1, 1893, page 3


    "Medford is the liveliest town in the valley"--is an expression used by all visitors to our queen city. The streets present a lively scene these times. Ranchers' wagons are seen coming from all directions loaded with with sacks of grain and heaped high up with fruit. Verily, Medford is indeed a metropolis.
    There are few idle working men in Medford right now--no excuse for being idle with all this bountiful fruit crop being harvested, yet there are plenty laborers to handle the work--we don't need any outside assistance. We are a little family of ourselves and our people patronize the laboring man who is a member of this family--no transients get employment, only in emergencies.
    Medford has no photographer--just think of it! A city with a population of over two thousand people and no photographer. The Mail editor is not so handsome that he desires particularly to be focused, but there are a whole lot of good-looking boys and girls whose ages range all the way from the cradle to pretty close to the grave, in this city who would look well in a frame but--no photographer no picture, no picture no frame. If some good, reliable artist will anchor a base right here in Medford and can prove by his work that he is a workman worthy the hire he will do a good business. No fakes need apply--our people have been bilked quite aplenty.
Editorial, Medford Mail, September 8, 1893, page 3 


    Mrs. Sayers, the music teacher, has changed her residence from South C Street to Sixth Street, between B and C.
    Charley Damon and family are arranging to commence housekeeping in their residence, corner D and Eleventh streets.
    Contractor Wood is pushing the construction of the Stewart residence in west Medford and the same will soon be ready for occupancy.
    Mr. Shiner is moving his family into the Edwards residence, corner of D and Sixth streets. The gentleman is thinking quite strongly of going into business in Medford.
    C. W. Wolters has been ill with inflammation of the bowels for the past few days. He is reported better today. No face is more missed from the business haunts than is Charlie's.
    Postmaster Howard's fine, new residence on C Street is fast taking on shape like unto a well-arranged dwelling. Contractor Cofer is getting in some of his best work on this job.
    Ed. Wilkinson is building an addition to both his packing and smoke houses--just doubling their size. Mr. Darnell is doing the carpenter work. Ed. proposes to buy all the hogs in sight this fall.
    J. H. Thorndike was making a vigorous kick in our office Wednesday because some fellow has fallen into the habit of milking his cow at noonday. A tourist printer, in the office at the time, suggested that as a remedy he pasture her a little farther from the railroad.
    That little thunder shower of Monday night was a surprise to everybody. J. R. Erford claims 'twas the result of those several cannon shots fired Monday evening, and he is now figuring on how he can get in a royalty as a rain producer--wants to raise money to pay off Jacksonville's claim for having closeted the cannon so cleverly since '59.
    J. B. Wrisley, residing a short distance north of Medford, is a tiller of the soil of no small caliber. He grows everything--and everything he grows is big. He has a field of corn which promises a most abundant yield. Nearly all the ears--and the stalks are well eared--measure twelve or fourteen inches in length and some measure sixteen inches.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, September 8, 1893, page 3
Shooting Tournament at Medford
    There will be a shooting tournament at Medford Thursday and Friday of next week, during the G.A.R. encampment. The programme consists of twelve matches, as follows: Ten singles, 20 singles, 9 singles and 3 pairs, 25 singles, team shoot at 10 singles per man, 20 singles, 25 singles, 12 singles and 2 pairs, 20 singles, team shoot at 6 singles and 2 pairs, 15 singles and 10 singles. The American Association rules for 1893 govern the shoot. A rate of one and one-third fare for the round trip has been secured between Portland and Ashland. The shoot will be given by the Medford Rod and Gun Club, and a cordial invitation is extended all lovers of the gun.
Roseburg Plaindealer, September 14, 1893, page 3


    That Medford is truly the business center of the great Rogue River Valley cannot be made more apparent than by an observation of the great number of teams seen tied to the several hitching places about town. Last Saturday was an exceptionally lively day. Every available hitching place for teams in the city was occupied. Eighth Street was lined with teams on either side, while C, Seventh and D streets wore the appearance of Wall Street, only ours were peopled with silver advocates instead of gold bugs. The popularity which Medford is gaining for herself as a trading center is the envy of all neighbors, but the ranchers near and far have gotten onto the way we do business and here is where they congregate. Fair, honest and liberal dealing are merits fully appreciated, and the reward which our city is now reaping is the result of this sort of treatment.
Editorial, Medford Mail, September 15, 1893, page 2
A New Law Firm.
    There isn't as much litigation in this city of Medford as one would naturally expect in a place of its size, but it is necessary that there be attorneys to do what business in that line there is going. A new law firm has been formed and their shingle will soon be swaying in the soft zephyrs of Oregon's Italy. The members are A. S. Hammond and Judge Webster. Neither of these gentlemen are novices in the law business, both having been practitioners at the bar for a number of years, and as they are well and favorably known in both Jackson and Josephine counties, it is safe to guess that they will handle their share of the work. They have office rooms in Odd Fellows' block--the three front ones, recently vacated by Dr. Pickel, and Miss Weaver--and they are now being fitted up in fine shape.
Medford Mail, September 15, 1893, page 2


    Judge Webster will occupy the Brandenburg residence, on Sixth Street, when vacated.
    Prof. Rigby has moved his school to the new business college, and the school now bids fair to be a flourishing institution.
Fetsch the Tailor ad, Medford Mail, September 15, 1893, page 2
Medford Mail, September 15, 1893, page 2
    That is a well-gotten-up ad--that one of Fetsch, the tailor, and is the handiwork of Alva E. Danielson, the boy printer.
    Eli Hogan, the Front Street tinner, has contracted to manufacture 6,000 lard pails for the Southern Oregon Pork Packing Company.
    The dedication of the new M. E. church, south of this city, will take place next Sunday at 11 o'clock a.m. Sermon by Bishop O. P. Fitzgerald, D.D., of Atlanta, Ga.
    Shawver & Nicholson began work yesterday morning on the new residence of L. E. Shideler. The main building will be 14x26, with two wings each 16x19 and all two stories high. There will also be two porches.
    Goodman C. Noble, the East Seventh Street shoemaker, has an ad on the first page of this week's Mail. Mr. Noble is a first-class workman in his line, and, as he guarantees his work, he is getting a good share of the city's trade.
    Bid adieu to that gloomy countenance. Brace up and walk down the street with the old-time snap. These are hard times, but it will do no good to cry your eyes out over the matter. So look pleasant and help cheer up the other fellow. These times won't last long.
    The Polish people who recently purchased, as a colony, the Donegan ranch, are beginning to arrive from Nebraska. Last week J. Zombra and family showed up at the ranch, as did also the family of Mr. Kott. The head of the latter household has been stopping hereabouts for several weeks.
    J. A. Whitman shipped a carload of apples to Tacoma last Saturday. This was the first apple shipment of the season, and the varieties of fruit were the Gravenstein and twenty-ounce Pippins. They were a fine specimen of the apples from here, and ought to bring a good price in the Sound country.
    G. R. and G. P. Lindley and their families are now nicely settled on their recent purchase, the Mitchell farm, and all hands are turning themselves loose in making repairs and fixing things up generally. These people are from New Whatcom, Washington, and are just the stamp of the truly American people to whom we all feel extending a hearty welcome.
    Wm. Ulrich has been granted permission by the city council to put in two stone crosswalks. This is done as an experiment, and should they prove suitable and not more expensive than the plank walks, it is probable more will be put in at different times and places and as occasion demands. One of these crossings will be put in at the corner of C and Ninth streets and the other on West Seventh Street, near Dr. Geary's residence.
    The ingenuity of some people is always worthy of mention. There is a whole heap of that article wrapped up in those Redfield boys. Their latest invention is that of a music leaf turner, for use on either piano or organ. The device, which they have recently secured a patent on, is quite novel in its construction and seems to be possessed of the requisites which will make it a welcome friend to the musical world. The device is so arranged that the performer at a piano, by pressing a small spring or button which is located near the keyboard, can turn either way, from one to ten leaves, or book or sheet music. The boys expect to soon begin the manufacture of their invention.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, September 15, 1893, page 3


    Roberts & O'Neil have purchased from Mr. Childers the lot and building just south of the Mail office, and next spring these gentlemen contemplate the erection of a two-story brick building.
    Frederick Vermeren, of Belgium, is here looking for a location for a colony of his countrymen. He is thinking of purchasing a 200-acre tract of land near Medford and settling upon it for one year and if at the end of that time the soil and Southern Oregon climate is to his liking, he will proceed to locate his colony.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, September 15, 1893, page 3


    We Talent people were somewhat startled by loud reports of thunder down the valley last night and expected, of course, to see the dust turned into mud this morning, but we learned it was the Medford people giving expression to their joyfulness by firing a salute after learning they might keep the cannon till after the [old soldiers'] reunion. We are all glad of this privilege.
"Talent Shavings," Medford Mail, supplement, September 15, 1893, page 1


    Incendiaries made three attempts last week to burn Medford. The town authorities offer a reward of $500 for the apprehension of the guilty parties.
"The City and Vicinity," Roseburg Plaindealer, September 21, 1893, page 3
    Every resident of Medford is proud of the public school band.
    About three hundred pupils are enrolled in the Medford public schools.
    E. W. Starr is getting things in shape for the erection of a dwelling house on his property on North C Street, near I. L. Hamilton's residence. The property will be for rent.
    Attorney L. R. Webster, formerly of Jacksonville, has moved his law office to town and is now located in rooms in the Odd Fellows' block, with Attorney Hammond.
    The Halley block is being lathed and plastered and ere many more weeks will be ready for occupancy. It is a fine structure and none will appreciate it more than will The Mail.
    A stranger in Medford a few days ago was discovered making a vigorous search round about a big burdock bush. Said he was looking for fruit and if he didn't find any on it, it was the first tree or bush that he had found since coming to Medford that wasn't full to the brim. "They tell me that telegraph poles grow fruit in this country, and I have half a mind to believe it."
    A tramp printer:--"Say, I didn't hardly dare stop at this man's town of Medford! It's been just like a funeral all along the line until I hit this place, and I felt kinder homesick for the old haunts that wear whiskers and are moss covered. But say, this town is a dilly and no mistake. Lively? Well yes, a few. You ought to get into some of the charnel house towns further up the line."
    Our people were hustled out of bed again last Friday night by the alarm of a fire. This time the fire was a little further out and more serious than the one spoken of last week. About eleven o'clock of the above date the barn, recently purchased from R. H. Halley by G. W. Priddy and occupied by J. Tressler, was discovered in flames and before assistance could be given the fire was so well under way as to make it impossible to save the building or its contents. In the barn was a fine team of horses, valued at $250, and a new set of double harness all owned by Mr. Tressler. These were burned together with an adjoining barn owned by G. C. Noble and in which were three tons of hay. Mr. Noble was the first at the fire and his first move was to try and get the horses out but upon entering the stable he found the fire had already reached the animals and the mane and tail of one was then on fire. They were pulling back on the halters so heavily as to make it impossible for him to untie them and as he had no knife with which to cut the halters he was obliged to leave them to burn with the building. The fire was started in a pile of hay in the wagon shed and like previous fires was of incendiary origin. The hose company was out but the fire was beyond their reach. The loss is a heavy one to Mr. Tressler and is most keenly felt as he gained a livelihood for himself and family by team work about town. A subscription paper is being circulated about town to raise funds to buy him a new team and is being very liberally subscribed to. Could the fiend who set the fire have been found that night, or even now, there are chances that judge and jury service would not be required.
    The very mysterious disappearance of Chas. S. Sherman, the sign writer and painter, has occasioned no small amount of street talk. On Tuesday, Sept. 12th, he left home telling his wife that he was going to Jacksonville to do a few days work. As he had neither returned nor sent any word to his family Mrs. Sherman became a little uneasy and on the afternoon of the following Friday she went over to Jacksonville and learned that he had not been there any time during the week. She returned to Medford, but has not as yet gained any clue as to his whereabouts. He was seen in Medford on the evening of the day he was to have gone to Jacksonville and by some is supposed to have taken the midnight northbound freight for parts unknown, while others hint at the possibility of foul play. He left a few unpaid bills, but . . . the fact that he paid several small ones only a short time before he left is one of the points held in defense of the foul play theory. Whether he has skipped or been put out of the way is a matter which ought to be investigated. If he has skipped he should be hunted up and made to return and provide for his family which he left in almost destitute circumstances. If he has been foully dealt with then most assuredly the matter ought to be investigated and the guilty ones brought to justice. The conductor of the northbound freight on the night of Sept. 12th remembers that a man got on his train at this place, but did not notice him in particular and could give no description of him. This fact bolsters up the "skip" theory, while as he was known to have had some little money on his person the foul play possibility is brought to mind. Sherman has lived in Medford since early last spring and was married a few weeks after coming here. Mrs. Sherman has been interviewed by a Mail reporter. The lady, of course, is feeling very badly, but has faith in her absent husband, and is of the opinion that if he has left the country he did so when under the effects of liquor and that when he has fully awakened to a realizing sense of the situation he will either write to her or return. Sherman, while not an habitual drinker, has been indulging quite freely of late.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, September 22, 1893, page 3


    A. G. Rifenburg, the photographer who was in Medford last winter and did such excellent work, has returned to Medford to remain a few weeks and close out his stock of plates and other material. The gentleman has purchased a placer mine in the vicinity of Cow Canyon and proposes to give mining his undivided attention.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, September 22, 1893, page 3

    Two Medford, Or., boys have invented an appliance with which the leaves of sheet music may be readily turned by the performer at the piano. It has been patented and is said to be practical.
"Current Coast Cullings," Daily Democrat, Woodland, California, September 23, 1893, page 3
ECHOES FROM THE STREET
    C. W. Wolters:--"Bicycle? No, thanks, I wouldn't bicycle, nohow. I sold mine. Had all the fun I wanted out of it. As a means of locomotion, from my point of view, the bicycle is not a crowning success."
    J. H. Stewart:--"Our pears are giving better satisfaction in the East than those of California. I received a letter from Tennessee saying they had received some of them and in the same letter was an order for more."
    D. T. Sears:--"I attended the state fair when at Salem. The fair was good and the races exceptionally so, but there were no people there. The lightest attendance for several years. I am 'clear gone' on that hop industry. There is surely money in growing hops, and then it gives employment to a great number of men, women and children."
    A Citizen:--"It is a strange coincidence, but a fact, that all the ministers, five in number, in Medford live in C Street. I guess probably they are as much needed on this street as any other--perhaps there is just a little more room for ministerial work. This conclusion is arrived at from the fact that I don't see many C Street people in attendance upon divine worship."
    D. S. Youngs:--"I want to tell you that Medford ought to be proud of the public school band. Why, just think of these little tads playing in a band. They are the little fellows that five years ago I used to toss around on my hand and now they are marching the streets playing excellent band music. Prof. Narregan is entitled to an unlimited amount of credit for his efficient training."
    Attorney Hammond:--"You haven't seen our new office. Come up while I show you around. This is our main office--little small, but there is plenty of room when you figure in the other two apartments. This is Judge Webster's private office and this is the private room of yours truly. Yes, that's a pretty good library, but it's not all here yet. Judge Webster says he is booked for years of law practice in Medford and those are my sentiments, too. If there is any law business to be done we will get our share."
 Medford Mail, September 29, 1893, page 2


    Johnson & Porter, real estate dealers, have a new sign over their offices on C Street.
    The new stone crosswalks are being put in and are seemingly going to be a big improvement.
    It is reported that the Premium [meat] market will be opened again about October first, by Wm. Ulrich and others.
    Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Kellogg have taken rooms in Hon. Carl T. Jones' residence, on B Street.
    The new stone walk is being extended north on C Street. There is also a new brick walk being put in on Seventh Street, in front of Dr. Adkins' vacant lots.
    A. Fetsch has purchased the Roxy Ann Saloon, on Front Street. Fred Lutkemeier is the gentleman who dispenses liquid refreshments to the patrons of the Roxy Ann.
    Mr. Stewart, of Medford, will realize $4000 from 60 acres of Bartlett pears. The crop made about 15 carloads and was gathered, packed and shipped without expense to the grocer.--Oregonian.
    Justine Wigle, while engaged in dipping prunes out at the Weeks & Orr fruit farm last Saturday, accidentally slipped from a board into the lye vat and as a result his feet and ankles were badly burned.
    M. S. Damon is having lumber placed on the grounds for a new residence on his South D Street property, near J. K. Darnell's place. He will build not very large, but substantial, and will either occupy it himself or rent.
    The fruit of the Rogue River Valley is not all being shipped out, but a goodly amount of it is being canned and preserved for winter use. D. H. Miller, the hardware man, has sold thus far this season 7920 fruit cans. Of this number about half were half-gallon cans and the remainder quart cans.
    Mr. Phelps, he who used to publish a newspaper in Medford, is expected to return again to this place next week.
    Chilson Smith has moved his family to Medford from his ranch near the Rogue River bridge. The gentleman has purchased the Woodford residence, corner D and Eleventh streets, where himself and family are now cozily situated. They will remain here permanently.
    Last Tuesday night there were some lively times out at the Weeks & Orr ranch. Fire started on some boards in the masonry of their dry-house and for a time it looked like the whole business was a goner, but by quick and effectual work the fire was squelched and the [fruit] drier soon at work again.
    There was a hurry-scurry time about this city of Medford Wednesday morning, and well there might be, [when] great volumes of smoke were seen to issue from the residence of A. E. Wood on South E Street. A crowd of willing workmen had soon congregated and by the time the hose company arrived the fire was well under control and nearly extinguished by the means of water from a small lawn hose. The fire started from a defective flue and was making lively headway between the ceiling and roof. Had this house burned others adjoining would surely have met a like fate.
    No news has as yet been received as to the whereabouts of C. S. Sherman, whose mysterious disappearance was mentioned in this paper last week. There is probably no question but that he "skipped," as this kind of business, we learn, is a part of his past record, he having as unceremoniously left his first wife as he did his present one. While Mrs. Sherman has our sympathy in her troubles, she as well has our congratulations upon being well rid of a husband who cares so little for home and family. Mrs. Sherman is spoken of by all who know her as a very respectable lady, pleasing of address, economical and hard working, and had her husband seen fit to have acted the man they would have gotten along finely in Medford and been the gainers in a financial way. We understand the lady, and her two bright little girls, will soon join her mother and sister at Portland.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, September 29, 1893, page 3
Card of Thanks.
    To the citizens of Medford, who were so kind to us at the time of our recent fire and who rendered such timely assistance in putting out the flames and in removing our household effects, we wish to express our gratitude. We are also under especial obligations to the good ladies of this city for their assistance in carrying back into the house and rearranging our goods.
Mr. and Mrs. A. E. WOOD
Medford Mail, September 29, 1893, page 3


    Harry Angle, of Coos Bay, is in Medford for a visit with his cousins, Wm. and L. L. Angle, of this city.
    Capt. J. T. C. Nash, formerly owner of the Victory ledge in Cow Creek Canyon, was in the Rogue River metropolis last week and from him we learned a bit of mining news, to the effect that he has sold his placer mine in the canyon to a stock company for $100,000. The gentleman further stated that he has worked his claim alone for the last four years and has in that time taken out $20,000. He says had he been a young man nothing short of an even million would have purchased the claim.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, September 29, 1893, page 3
Geo. H. Chick in Limbo
    People who lived in and about Medford something like seven years ago will well remember the name of "Geo. H. Chick." It was he who was so smooth and glib of tongue as to interest several of our people in a new process for reducing refractory ore, and very cheaply. He preyed upon the kindly indulgence of our people to the extent of persuading them to invest money in a stamp mill, which was built just across the railroad track from where the A. A. Davis flouring mill now stands. After the machinery had been purchased and the mill erected Chick and his process failed to materialize and those who invested were beautifully left, as his process was only an imaginary one and intended for no other purpose than to defraud. He made little or nothing out of his Medford deal but at Redding he fleeced one man out of $15,000 on the same proposition. From California he went to Kansas and this is what the telegraph dispatches say of him there:
TOPEKA, Kan., Sept. 14.--At the meeting of the stockholders of the Chick Short Method Silver Smelting Co. held last night it was decided to close up the affairs of the concern in the best and quickest manner. The present management has discovered, it is believed, that the assets of the company will be sufficient to pay all liabilities without any further assessments on the stock. At this meeting was read the first accurate report ever made of reducing refractory and worthless ore by the Chick process. It is on this report the present action is based.
    George H. Chick came from California about three years ago and by his representation of the matter induced capitalists in Omaha and many cities in Missouri and Kansas to take stock and build a smelter. Pittsburg willingly gave land and erected the necessary buildings, and Chick began what the stockholders now denounce as a swindle. When sales of stock would diminish he would declare a dividend of 5 percent a month, which never failed to bring more cash.
    The charges made against him and his officers are numerous and grave, and an officer is now on the way to Wyoming to bring him back for trial on the charge of swindling. Other charges will be lodged and papers issued so that should he escape punishment under one he will have to meet others. The closing up of the business will be slow because Chick and his secretary have carried the books to some other state, making it very difficult to obtain a correct statement of the affairs of the company.
    It was shown at this meeting that Chick began his famous career with this famous company without a dollar. He now has the cash, and the stockholders have a fine stock of valuable experience.
Medford Mail, October 6, 1893, page 3


    A. M. Woodford is employed as clerk at the Henry Smith store on Front Street.
    N. A. Jacobs has moved into his new residence on South C Street--and a mighty fine house it is, but no better than Newt. and his good lady deserve.
    "Mamma," asked a little Medford girl, "may we play keeping store in here?" "Yes, but you must be very, very quiet." "We will, we'll pretend we don't advertise."
    Clarence Kellogg has commenced the erection of a fine little five-room cottage on his property on B Street, near druggist Haskins' residence. L. M. Lyon is doing the carpenter work.
    George Mickey has purchased the old Rogue River Valley Railroad tool house and has moved the same to his residence, corner of E and Eleventh, and will use it as an addition to his house.
    W. E. Carroll is erecting a very fine farm residence on his Coker Butte property. The gentleman is going to have an all-fired fine place out there when he gets it fixed to suit his likes of a typical farm home.
    Sherman, the bilk painter, is reported to have been seen recently in Salem. It is further given out that he took away about $150 in good, hard cash--which he should have left here to make square a number of bills, as yet unpaid.
    Matt Hurst, residing four miles from Wellen, has sold his farm of six hundred acres to Wm. Laws. The prices paid we were unable to learn. Mr. Hurst, we understand, will move to Medford, buy property, build a residence and anchor right here.
    The city of Medford is fast filling up with the families of farmers who are moving here for the purpose of schooling their children. Medford has schools which invites them all--and upon gaining a knowledge of their efficiency the invitation is in almost all cases accepted.
    A. J. Stewart's new residence, corner of Tenth and F streets, is nearly completed. It is an eight-room residence, very nicely situated, is very conveniently arranged and tastily finished in the interior while the outside is so arranged as to present an imposing and pleasant appearance. H. F. Wood did the woodwork and our good friend, F. M. Poe, is doing the plastering.
    W. A. Forbes reports the sale of the Gotlieb Elksnat piece of property, adjoining Medford on the west and comprising fourteen acres, to Thos. Loynachan. The price paid was $1200. Mr. Loynachan is recently from Placerville, California, and as his family arrived Sunday he expects to soon be quartered on his new purchase. He expects to plant the entire fourteen acres to fruit this fall.
    Returns have been received from the several carloads of Bartlett pears shipped from Medford to Chicago, New York and other eastern points. In all instances they are reported to have arrived in splendid shape and their excellent quality is loudly lauded, and our growers are daily in receipt of letters of inquiry regarding their culture and the chances for others to engage in similar pursuits. The fruit of the Rogue River Valley is a great advertising medium.
    Members of the Protection Hose Company met Wednesday evening and took in as new members H. H. McCarthy and W. T. York, and Mr. McCarthy was elected first assistant foreman. The gentleman has been a member of a fire company in Portland and his services will greatly augment the proficiency of the Protection boys. The company is now circulating a petition asking the city council to buy a bell, to be used in calling the boys together in times of fire. It is quite necessary that something of this kind be procured, and it ought to be the wish of all who have property to protect that the petitioners' request be granted. Next Wednesday evening the company will meet again and it is desired that all members be present.
    Last July Ted Howard dug a well on his lot on North E Street. Nothing remarkable about this fact, but as last week when working about the gravel which was taken from this well he picked up a piece of metal which closely resembles gold, there is, indeed, something remarkable connected with it. The piece of metal which he found has been tested by acid and is to all appearances solid gold. Experts have also examined it and are of the opinion that it is nothing more or less than gold. Its value, if gold, is something over $29. Another question, as yet unsettled, is as to whether it is a nugget or a relic. There are dents in it as of hammer marks, but some are positive these were caused by its coming in contact with heavy rocks. In the gravel near this piece Mr. Howard found a small nugget containing about fifty cents of gold. Both of these it is thought were dug up about six or eight feet from the surface. This fact would seem to strengthen the theory advanced by several that many parts of this valley would prove rich placer fields. A later report says Mr. Howard has sold the above relic or nugget for $60. And still another report says that where it was found is the identical point where, several years ago, a counterfeiter was killed, and this metal was a part of his stock in trade. If this story spreads out very much more it will savor of fish quite aplenty.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, October 6, 1893, page 3


    Mrs. C. S. Sherman and children left Wednesday evening for Portland.
    G. W. White and family arrived in Medford yesterday morning and will make this city their future home. These people are from Washington and are acquaintances of the Lindley families. It was Mr. White who purchased the Pritchard property some few weeks ago.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, October 6, 1893, page 3


    Mr. Wolsey has moved to the resident property just north of the M. E. Church.
    C. M. Boardman is the artist who is applying paint to Postmaster Howard's new residence.
    J. W. Collins is the new caterer in the dining room of the Medford restaurant and bakery.
    Mrs. Culp has moved into the Barnum residence, recently vacated by Mrs. Sherman, on Seventh Street, near the bridge.
    John Brumbeaugh and family, recently from Oakland, this state, have rented resident property out near the distillery, on C Street.
    J. A. Whitman has carpenters at work enlarging his fruit packing house--going to duplicate his present building as to size, 24x48, and it is to be built [ad]joining the original on the south.
    Merchant Miller received a letter from painter Sherman last Saturday at Ashland. He stated in his letter that he would fix up all bills contracted in Medford. His reason for quitting Medford is not given.
    L. A. Murphy, having recently made proof on his fine Griffin Creek farm, has moved his family to Medford that his children may enjoy our excellent schools. He is occupying the Cantrall property, just south of the schoolhouse.
    I. Woolf has the framework up for his new C Street store building. Despite the hard times the buildings keep going up, but believing the statements made by people coming from other parts of the country, we don't know anything about hard times in Medford and Jackson County.
    George Buffington has been fixing things up very smooth and pert about the Palace Barber Shop. He has repapered and repainted the place, and instead of Old Virginia cigarette and porous plaster [a type of bandage] display placards on the wall he has real pictures nicely framed, and the place has more the appearance of what the name indicates.
    Notice appears elsewhere in The Mail regulating the sidewalk grade on the north side of Seventh Street, from C to A streets. This move will add materially to the appearance of the street and does not inconvenience the owners to any great extent except that of a new walk. Surveyor Howard established the grade Tuesday and it is found that the changes to be made will be very slight east from Mr. Wilkinson's market, but west of that point the walk will needs be lowered from ten inches to a foot.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, October 13, 1893, page 3
Addington Arrested for Murder.
    SEATTLE, Wash., Oct. 9.--What will be a fatal affray occurred in a saloon at Hamilton today. Geo. B. Addington, owner of a shingle mill, quarreled with Swan Peterson while playing billiards, and struck him over the head with a cue. Peterson will die. Addington is a Southerner of good education, 31 years old and very popular about Edison and Mount Vernon, where he lived several years. He was arrested and will be taken to the Mount Vernon jail.
    Addington used to live in Medford and is the fellow who shot at Joe Savage in the Hotel Medford sitting room last winter. He is evidently a better shot with a billiard cue than a revolver--which in this instance is an accomplishment that will not tend to his general well-being.
Medford Mail, October 13, 1893, page 3


    W. H. Berry, of Lotah County, Idaho, who with his family has been camping about Medford for some three or four weeks, has decided to rent a dwelling house in the city--if he can find a vacant one--and remain with us.
    W. J. Adams and family arrived in Medford last week from Sonoma County, California. They have rented a dwelling house on South C Street, opposite druggist Strang's place. Mr. Adams is a carpenter by trade but can turn his hand to many other vocations.
    L. P. Chandler and family expect to start next Tuesday for Crescent City, where they will make their future home. These people are the kind we cannot well afford to lose, but we can't expect to keep all the good ones. May success in big chunks fall on them is the worst wish The Mail can extend.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, October 13, 1893, page 3


    Medford has reasons for congratulating herself right at this time that she is not a railroad division headquarters. The tramps are having a hilarious time at those places and life and property are greatly endangered.
    Is the city of Medford drawing any nearer to the electric light goal? It is really a pity that we cannot compel those whom the city have subsidized for the purpose to either carry out the contract or throw up all claim to the subsidy and franchise.
Editorial, Medford Mail, October 20, 1893, page 2


    "Col." Jacob Johnson has moved into his residence, corner B and Ninth.
    The plaster finishing coat is being put on the interior of the Halley block.
    Merchant Wm. Angle has moved to his beautiful new residence, east of Bear Creek.
    John Justus has moved to the G. M. Price property, corner of D and Fifth streets.
    As will be seen by dissolution notice published elsewhere, the firm of Merriman & Legate has been dissolved, Mr. Legate retiring and Mr. Merriman continuing the business. All accounts are payable to Mr. Legate.
    Attorney S. S. Pentz, office in Odd Fellows' block, has a card in today's Mail. The gentleman is prepared to attend to all matters of mining, corporation and commercial law. He is also a notary public and makes a specialty of collections.
    Dr. O. F. Demorest, the dentist, desires us to say that he is again at work in his office and prepared to attend to all kinds of dental work. Office in opera block, Medford. Work executed in the most approved and modern style and at reasonable prices.
    John F. Reed, a recent arrival from Heppner, Oregon, and brother-in-law of R. H. Halley, has purchased five acres of land from Roberts & O'Neil, across Bear Creek, and will soon begin the erection of a dwelling thereon. The price paid was $150 per acre.
    W. P. H. Legate has traded an undivided half interest in the blacksmith shop on Seventh Street, together with his residence property on North C Street, to B. S. Webb for an eight-acre tract of land on the south side of the street and just across the Bear Creek bridge. Mr. Legate expects to move his family thereto sometime next week.
    The students of the Medford Business College have organized a literary society. Grant Rawlings is president; Austin Holt, vice president; Zora Bliss, secretary; and Luta Burch, treasurer. The society meets every Wednesday evening in the college building and is well attended.
    A. Fetsch, the Front Street tailor, has purchased, through the agency of Hamilton & Palm, the Youngs property, corner Tenth and D streets. Mr. Fetsch's recent purchase is only another evidence of the gentleman's prosperity in business. It is a pleasure to note the success of men so worthy of it as is Mr. Fetsch.
    Someone has said, and maliciously we think, that fruit trees, especially apple trees, were short-lived in the Rogue River Valley. We have an instance at hand which gives the positive lie to such assertions. One day recently we called at the residence of J. H. Wilson, one mile south of Medford, and were here shown apple trees thirty-eight years old and as thrifty as many of the much younger orchards. They were all heavily loaded with the choicest of winter fruit.
    "Not a vacant house in Medford," is what we hear nearly everybody saying, and what everybody says is almost always true. True it is in Medford and well it is 'tis true. There have been many new dwelling houses erected in Medford during the past summer and that none of them are vacant is a pleasing aspect. While other towns are hanging on to the ragged edge of forlorn hope with the grip of death, Medford is forging new links in her chain of prosperity.
    The large new residence of Mr. Shideler's is nearly completed, and a fine structure it is. 'Tis well 'tis so, otherwise it would not harmonize with its neighbors. Mr. Barr's brick on the corner is a fine building as is also Mr. Maule's a little further south. On the opposite side of the street is Messrs. Whitman, Fawcett and Hill; all have large and very pretty residences and beautiful grounds. Mr. Shideler is to be congratulated in his choice of a location, and the neighbors ought to feel pretty good over his coming.
    From a Seattle paper of Oct. 10th we clip the following: "A gentleman who arrived from Hamilton today gives the following story of the Addington fracas: 'Addington is part owner of the Mountain View Saloon. Sunday night he was tending bar late, and Swan Peterson, a large Norwegian, was drunk and quarrelsome. After playing cards nearly all night Peterson and Addington got into a quarrel and Peterson went behind the bar to whip Addington, who to save himself floored the big Norwegian with a beer mug. After carrying him away and working for some time to bring him to, Addington went to bed. Justice of the Peace K. O. Walders came to town and hearing of the trouble at once jumped to the conclusion that Peterson was dead and Addington had fled. He sent telegrams out intended to intercept Addington in all directions. Later Addington came down and was promptly arrested. When I left he was about to give $500 bonds. Peterson, the doctor says, will recover.'" A brother of Addington, residing near Medford, is reported to have received a letter from George saying that he was all right and that Peterson would recover.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, October 20, 1893, page 3


    Redfield Bros. have the agency for Imperial bicycles.
    R. G. Bunch is ensmalling his Front Street barber shop--making it more neat and cozy.
    The kindergarten school will open next Monday in basement hall Christian Church. See more extended notice elsewhere.
    J. A. Morey has placed his recently platted addition to Medford in the hands of Hamilton & Palm for sale. The property is well situated and ought to meet a ready sale.
    Messrs. Shawver & Nicholson, the gentlemen whose master hands are plainly portrayed upon all of their work, are now engaged in fitting up the new Halley block on C Street.
    Geo. Davis has a fondness for pea green color and painter Johnson is satisfying this fondness by applying a coat of pea green hue to George's pleasant F Street residence.
    Dan'l. Cofer, the carpenter and contractor, has been over on Emigrant Creek, on the Klamath Falls stage road, putting in a big bridge. It was a good-sized job, but the gentleman got there in his usual good shape.
    L. G. Porter is just as happy as a brand-new parent to a blooming, heavyweight boy baby usually is. The young Mr. Porter took permanent lodging at the pleasant home of L. G.'s Saturday night. Mother and son doing nicely.
    No city could have presented a busier and more inviting appearance than Medford did last Saturday. All the farmers for miles around were here doing business and our merchants were well up to their necks in the labors of selling goods.
    The Squires apple orchard, just across Bear Creek, is exciting much admiration, and many are wandering down that way expressly to gaze upon its beauty. It is very heavily loaded with the finest fruit we ever saw grow.
    A. M. Woodford has a permanent position in the Smith general store, on Front Street. Skirmish the whole valley over and a better man for that or any other position could not be found. He is every inch a gentleman and has friends at every turn.
    Fish are quite plentiful in Bear Creek right now, and the boys are having sport galore. D. S. Youngs is something of a fisherman himself and just as much of a boy as some of those of less ripe years and smaller stature. Tuesday he hooked sixty-three fine trout from the above-named creek.
    The apple shipments are increasing. Saturday night J. A. Whitman shipped one carload to Montana and Tuesday evening another load to the same point. Yesterday Benj. Eggleston shipped a carload to San Antonio, Texas. Indications now point to a good apple market in both Texas and Arizona.
    The partnership of Jones & Kirchgessner, physicians and surgeons, has been dissolved and each will follow their profession single-handed. Dr. Jones will occupy the offices formerly occupied by the firm and Dr. Kirchgessner will have office rooms in the Hamlin block, formerly used by Judge Crawford.
    Dr. J. B. Wait on Wednesday of this week commenced the foundation of a new dwelling house on his property on F Street. The structure will be 18x28 feet in size and one and a half stories high. The building will be substantially built and of modern architectural design. W. K. Davis is the contractor.
    That's a pretty good building Isaac Woolf is putting up on the corner of Sixth and C Streets. It is a two-story wood building 22x44 feet in size with an annex 16x20 feet, two stories. The ground floor of the main building will be used for a grocery store, the upstairs for a hall and the annex for family living rooms.
    E. C. Sharpe, he who was in Medford a few months ago, and who at that time made an effort to arrange for the putting in of an electric light plant in this city, has been more successful in his endeavors at Roslyn, Washington. Last week the plant was completed and that town is now at midnight as light as at noonday.
    A couple of weeks ago we advertised a lost medicine case. The "types" got mixed a little and we spoke of it as a "small doctor's medicine case." The word "doctor" and "small" should have been transposed, but as it was Dr. Kirchgessner who lost the case and he being small in stature the erroneous transposition was not so inappropriate as it might otherwise have been.
    V. Webster is putting up a very neat little 14x18 cottage just west of merchant Erford's residence. Mr. Webster is a single man, yet the fact of his building a dwelling does not of necessity carry with it the proof that a part of the furniture of the boudoir will be a pair of curling tongs; however, this may be the case. W. K. Davis is the artist--not of the curling tongs but of the building.
    There was quite a howl round about the S.P. depot Monday morning, and not wholly without cause. Engineer Barnum had run in on the S.P. sidetrack with his engine and car to load freight for Jacksonville, and had pushed several cars down over the south crossing and left them standing there while the freight loading was going on, and by so doing blocked the crossing for both man and teams--hence the howl. It's "agin" the law, Mr. Barnum, and "agin" the grain of the best dispositioned man in this city to walk several lengths in the mud.
    There is a new law firm in town, or to get closer to the line of facts, part of the firm is new to our city. G. W. White, recently from the [Puget] Sound country, and a law graduate of an Ohio university, has formed a partnership with S. S. Pentz. The latter gentleman has practiced his profession in Medford for the past six years and needs no introduction to our people. Mr. White is a stranger but that we will be better acquainted with him, now that he is here to stay, goes without the saying. He is apparently a very fine gentleman and will doubtlessly prove himself worthy of our people's support. In addition to the practice of law the new firm will do a general real estate business and will loan money. Mr. White owns the property occupied by jeweler Pritchard, and a brick addition is being built to this building in which the new firm will have their office.
    Almost all towns the size of Medford boast of a kindergarten school. Medford has had none heretofore, but this quite necessary branch of child education is now to be a part of our school curriculum. Miss May Sackett, a young lady well and favorably known in this vicinity, has decided, after much solicitation, to open a kindergarten school in our city. The school will be conducted in the basement hall of the Christian Church and will open next Monday, October 30th. Terms of tuition will be made known upon application to Miss Sackett at the church. The intermissions at the kindergarten will be at different hours than at the public school, thus the sports of the larger pupils of the public schools will not interfere with play spells of the little folks of the kindergarten.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, October 27, 1893, page 3
Making a Few Shifts.
    A. L. Strobridge is moving to the Angle residence, corner B and Sixth streets.
    A. Fetsch, the tailor, has moved to his purchase, corner D and Tenth streets.
    W. E. Macaulay is domiciled on B Street, in a residence recently vacated by A. Fetsch.
    Mrs. Merriman is moving to her residence on North D Street, recently occupied by A. L. Strobridge.
Medford Mail, October 27, 1893, page 3


    I. A. Phelps, formerly editor of the Medford Advertiser, has returned to this city from northern Oregon and will reside here for an indefinite time. He will occupy the residence soon to be vacated by merchant Hutchison, on Sixth Street.
    Mrs. Stout, of Klamath Falls, came to Medford this week with her granddaughter, for operation upon the latter's eyes. She was cross-eyed but Dr. Geary performed an operation upon them and the little lady returned to her home with a pair of eyes as straight as anyone has.
    Jas. Wiley and T. A. Culbertson, both of Klamath Falls, were loading up big loads of groceries and "sich like" in Medford Wednesday. These are the kind of men whose trade our merchants are after--and they are getting a right smart sprinkling of it, too. The time was once when Ashland caught all the Klamath County trade, but it's different now, a mighty sight different, and the liberality of Medford businessmen is responsible.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, October 27, 1893, page 3
More About Addington.
    As George Addington has friends not a few about Medford we reproduce the following from a Seattle paper. It is certainly very vindicative, and will undoubtedly be gratifying to them to know the charges were not of so rash a nature as at first reported. Here is the clipping:
    "The dispatch in the issue of the Post-Intelligencer of the 10th inst.from Mount Vernon headed 'A Fatal Saloon Brawl' was almost entirely untrue. George Addington did not fell Indian Peterson with a billiard cue, nor is Peterson fatally wounded, nor was Addington put in jail, not having been placed in custody, as he made voluntary appearance and gave bonds for hearing. Peterson is a man of intemperate habits, and had been on a spree all day. He entered the place of business of Addington and by abusive language stirred up a row, with the result that he got the worst of it. He is now around, and aside from the usual results of a fight, is all right. There were no weapons of any kind used, nor was Peterson seriously injured. George B. Addington is the pioneer in the shingle business in this county, having built the first shingle mill at Edison. He was largely interested in lumbering interests and is a man of means, having by close application to business amassed a competency. He has many friends on the Sound, and having been closely allied with the business houses of Seattle, where he is well and favorably known, it is only justice to him that he be set right through the columns that contained the garbled account. Addington came here and erected a shingle mill last fall and expects to commence operations in the spring. He is an honored and respected citizen, who has the support of the entire community in this attack upon his character."
Medford Mail, November 3, 1893, page 1


    It is estimated that upwards of 1500 tramps have passed south over the S.P. during the last thirty days.
    The people who congregate at the depot upon the arrival of the overland passenger trains do much toward giving our city plenty of pleasant comment. The people generally are neatly and tastily dressed and well behaved. As a tree is known by its fruit so also is a city by the people its roofs shelter.
Editorial, Medford Mail, November 3, 1893, page 2


    Moved--The Racket Store, to Halley's new brick.
    Two front rooms to rent. Gore building, on C Street. Inquire at house.
    G. L. Webb has moved his Racket Store to the Halley block. Good building, good stock and a good man operating the business.
    Ed Wilkinson is tearing down and building greater. This time it is his smokehouse that is being enlarged, to about twice its original size.
    Last week one day a gentleman picked up a five-dollar gold piece on the sidewalk, near the Medford post office, and after several fruitless efforts to find an owner put it in his pocket to await a claimant. The owner has since been found and if the finder will leave the money with Fawcett & Morris it can be delivered to the loser.
    Forty tons of excellent dried prunes, all the product of one orchard, is a sight worth going quite a distance to look upon. The above-named amount is what Weeks & Orr have piled up out at their splendid fruit ranch, south of Medford. The fruit is of excellent quality and has been carefully cured. They are not of the variety which has only a pit and a tough skin, but these when cooked spread out to nearly the size of a teacup and are more of prune and less of pit than the fruit grown in many other countries.
    New store, new goods, and cheaper than ever, Racket Store, Halley's new brick, on street south of bank.
    Mrs. L. J. Rivers has purchased lots 13 and 14, in block 7, Park addition to Medford, of W. S. Griffis, consideration $700. Sale made through agency of Hamilton & Palm. Mrs. Rivers returned to her home at Hood River, Oregon, Wednesday night and within about two weeks she will return to Medford prepared to remain. The lady is a corset maker by trade and will ply that vocation in this city.
    Next Monday Prof. Rigby expects to move the normal department of the Medford Business College to rooms on the second floor of the college building. This move is made because the room on the first floor is becoming too crowded for successful work. If new students continue to come for the next four weeks at the same pace they have been coming for the last six there will be little room to spare on either floor.
    Frank Galloway is a pretty good-natured fellow and one whom almost everybody likes. He has petitioned the city council to either widen the sidewalks or round the corners of brick blocks--he strikes the corners with his face, since last Friday--a day and date of much rejoicing at Mr. Galloway's fine home, on C Street. There is a boy at that house, a brand-new one, one week old today, and Frank's smiles are large and plentiful, hence his trouble with the brick blocks. Mother and son are doing nicely.
    Spencer Childers, Sr., has sold, through the agency of Pentz & White, thirty acres of his farm to J. W. Richardson, recently from Tacoma, for $2,700. The land is situated just across Bear Creek and opposite the Lindley property. Mr. Richardson is a mason by trade and has been at work about Medford for the past two or three months. He is a good, straight fellow and a first-class workman. We understand he will at once commence the construction of a dwelling house on this land and move his family thereto.
    Medford has a chair factory! Last Monday evening Messrs. M. H. Miller and M. and F. A. Barton, of Walla Walla, Washington, arrived in our city and Tuesday morning they sized the city up from all sides and decided to anchor themselves right here and engage in the manufacture of chairs. They have rented the McAndrews building on East Seventh Street and have turned themselves loose for business. They will manufacture rustic, lattice bottom and reclining chairs. They came with team and wagon from Washington and report that Medford is the first town they saw in their travels which presented the right kind of a business appearance.
    A Mail reporter in making a skirmish about town this week in quest of items happened to drop in at the new office rooms of Dr. Kirchgessner. The doctor has a suite of four rooms in the Hamlin block, two of which are now nicely fitted up, the remaining two to be used for steam bath purposes when the appliances shall have arrived. In the doctor's private office is a library of medical books and journals, treating upon all diseases which human flesh is heir to, also a fine, large instrument case in which are the instruments used in nearly all surgical operations. On another side of the office is a cabinet filled with nearly two hundred different drugs, for emergency use--at night when the drugstores are closed. At the rear of this office is where the bath rooms will be. The doctor has ordered a Turko-Russian bath cabinet in which steam, vapor, oxygen, medicated and perfumed baths may be given. This cabinet also has an electric appliance, to be used in cases of sciatica, rheumatism and paralysis. The general use of the baths, however, being for various different diseases. Mr. Kirchgessner makes a specialty of throat and nose diseases and has a complete outfit of instruments for this use.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, November 3, 1893, page 3
It Is Whispered Around
    That Medford is going to have a resident photographer. A Cottage Grove man is now negotiating for gallery rent.
    That Section Foreman Kelly is one of the best boys on the line and that every man who works on the section swears by Kelly. Mr. Kelly has friends, a whole lot of them, all along the line.
    That the alleged haunted house in Medford is haunted not at all. The residence is occupied and no rappings or mysterious opening of doors have been noticeable--not even has there been heard the faintest sound of a "pistol shot." What bosh is all this haunted talk generally. If the people of earth would leave us as much to our "lonie" as the spirits of the departed do, there would be little need of bolting the doors and barring the windows.
Medford Mail, November 3, 1893, page 3


    The Mail will move to its new quarters in the Halley brick block tomorrow.
    Mrs. Hart has leased living rooms in the Halley block and this week moved thereto.
    S. S. Penwell has decided to open a bakery in Mr. Damon's store building on Seventh Street.
    Merchant M. S. Damon has commenced the erection of his dwelling house, corner of D and Twelfth streets.
    M. Bellinger is preparing to erect a dwelling house on the corner of H and Sixth streets near Mr. Hurt's place.
    W. H. Parker has moved his family to the B. S. Webb property on North C Street, formerly owned by W. P. H. Legate.
    K. L. Brown has leased the store building formerly occupied by the Racket Store and has moved his jewelry store thereto.
    Some new lettering was last week placed on the front of J. A. Whitman's fruit packing establishment. Good job, looks well and W. Engledow did it.
    The first shipment of Tayler's foot-fitting shoe--made on his anatomical last. Every pair stamped "Tayler's Foot Fitters." Take no other.
    Lew Bender has closed his confectionery establishment on C Street. Harry Hollingsworth purchased his candies, jars and trays and has moved them to his bake shop on Seventh Street where he will open a confectionery store in connection with his bakery.
    J. H. Wilson pushed his hand, accidentally, of course, into the cog wheels of a cider press one day this week. He found the mill would crush fingers as readily as apples and he now wears a bandage on his hand--all but a portion of one finger which was left with the cider mill.
    Thos. Morine--"Yes, Oscar Morine, who was visiting me last week, is a distant relative of mine." "Why," said a Mail reporter, "I thought he was a brother. Is he very distant?" "Well, I should say he was," said Tom. "I'm the oldest of a family of twelve children and he is the youngest. If that don't make him a distant relative then I give up the guess."
    Dr. G. B. Cole, after an absence of two years, arrived in Medford on Saturday last, intending hereafter making this city his home. He has again associated himself with Dr. W. S. Jones, his former partner, for the practice of medicine and surgery. Dr. Cole, during the summer of 1891 and while in the practice here, demonstrated his ability in the treatment of difficult cases by a number of instances of serious diseases, both acute and chronic, which he conducted successfully to recovery. His experience of twenty-five years in active practice, besides his having the advantage of two years of study in the office of Dr. J. H. Sallisbury, of New York City, is the treatment of chronic diseases, also a special course in the Women's Hospital, of New York, warrants him in soliciting a share of the patronage of Medford and vicinity. Office with Dr. W. S. Jones, opera block.
    D. T. Pritchard, the jeweler, has purchased the north half of the building on C Street which has so long been the home of the Mail. The deal was consummated Monday and Mr. Pritchard moved in Thursday. The lower floor will be used for his jewelry store with living room at the rear, and the upstairs rooms will be for rent. The purchase price was $750.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, November 10, 1893, page 3


    P. S. Enyart and wife are en route to Medford, Oregon, to locate.
"Additional Items," Logansport Pharos, Indiana, November 11, 1893, page 4

Cleanup at the Burr Mill.
    The Lander Gazette [Wyoming] says that the cleanup at the Burr mill was anything but satisfactory to the president of the company, Mr. J. D. Woodruff, and as soon as the amount of gold retained on the plates was ascertained he promptly discharged one of the archconspirators, that widely advertised patent process fraud, George H. Chick, and some of the latter's assistants. 
    The rock that was being milled was estimated to be worth at least $9 per pound and about fifty tons were milled but when the cleanup was made it was found that only about $16 per ton was saved.
    It is said that upwards of $12,000 has been expended upon the representations of Chick and his friends, and the returns therefrom will not exceed $800. Mr. Woodruff relied upon his friends, and they either deliberately robbed him or in their ignorance destroyed the value contained in the ore.
    The "Chick process" seems to be a good thing for the "inventor," but a costly investment to the man who risks his money in it.
The Salt Lake Herald, Utah, November 14, 1893, page 3

    An invitation is extended our readers to come in and see how we glisten in our new home.
    The Mail is just a little proud of its new location--the best is none too good for Medford, and that's what we have got--the best print shop in Southern Oregon.
    There will shortly be published from this office a special edition of The Mail, treating on the resources of Medford and surrounding country, giving a statistical and descriptive review of the city and country, with their past growth and future prospects. A large number of extra copies will be printed. This edition will be a valuable souvenir to send to friends in the East.
Editorial, Medford Mail, November 17, 1893, page 2
    Mr. Driscoll has commenced the erection of a fine dwelling house on his property in the Mingus addition.
    Report has it that I. M. Muller, of Jacksonville, will soon open up a gent's furnishing goods store in Medford.
    Alex Orme has sold lot seven, block fifty-eight, Medford, to Benton Vincent, consideration $200. The sale was made by Pentz & White.
    John Reuter, of Jacksonville, is studying medicine in the office of Dr. Kirchgessner. The doctor is also teaching the young man Latin and Greek.
    Thos. Loynachan has his new residence, on the Elksnat place, nearly completed. Mr. L. is a thorough hustler and his neighbors are glad of his coming.
    Street Commissioner Brandenburg has been at work this week in opening up a drainage ditch on Seventh Street east of A, also moving the hitching rack a little distance into the street.
    The Knights of Pythias order of this city are arranging to give their fourth annual ball on Christmas night. Those occasions have heretofore been ones of much pleasure, and this one now promised will surely be nothing less.
    W. C. Engledow, the sign painter from Jacksonville, has been in Medford this week doing some of his fine work on the windows and walls of Pentz & White's real estate office. Our people don't usually go out of the city for their work but in the absence of an artist in that line they are excusable in the instance at hand. Mr. E. is a good workman, but if he holds the strings on this sort o' work here he must become a resident--which he probably will before long.
    D. Brooks has purchased the tin shop on Front Street from his son-in-law, Eli Hogan, and will hereafter conduct the business alone. Mr. Hogan is watching out for a chance to purchase a desirable piece of farming land some place near Medford.
    The sidewalk on East Seventh Street has been leveled to an even grade and the street's appearance is improved thereby, but just why that side of the street should be about a foot lower than the other side is a matter which to us is as yet a mystery.
    Paul Schiessler, formerly of Chicago, a relative of the Demmer boys, has opened a chop house in the Roxy Ann Saloon, on Front Street. He has christened his part of the establishment the "Boston Chop House." A bill of fare appears on a bulletin board at the entrance.
    G. P. Lindley has commenced improvements in dead earnest on his property across Bear Creek. He has moved the former residence around in such a shape that a story and a half upright may be added, and the work on the new structure was commenced Tuesday morning. Mr. Lindley is putting in some good hard work on his place, and if kept up at the "clip" he is now going he will have a model home ere long.
    J. H. Stewart, the large orchardist, last Tuesday shipped a carload of winter pears to St. Louis. The gentleman, aside from having harvested and shipped something like fifteen carloads of pears, has grown this year about fourteen carloads of winter apples. He has already shipped two carloads, one to Seattle and one to Arizona. He has also sold 2000 boxes to J. A. Whitman, and the remainder will be kept for a future market.
    South C Street is a long ways from being backward with her improvements. A new brick sidewalk has been put down in front of the Halley brick block, and teams and men are at work grading the street between Sixth and Seventh. The grade is to be cut down twenty-two inches in front of J. R. Wilson's blacksmith shop and about four inches in front of the Halley block. The sidewalk is also to be put down to correspond with the street grade. This will improve the appearance of the street and will give a good, even grade from Seventh Street south.
    The hog market is exceedingly brisk in Medford these times. The price paid, five cents per pound, live weight, beats forty-cent wheat by a long ways. C. C. McClendon was in Wednesday with a couple of as fine loads of porkers as one often sees. Not one in the two loads weighed less than 300 pounds. These were sold to the Medford Packing Company as well as are many more from various sources hereabouts. J. W. Hockersmith as well can [be] said to be strictly in it on hog matters. He has gathered up five more carloads and tonight will leave for San Francisco with them.
    Unless the people of Medford who gather at the depot at the time of arrival of passenger trains are very careful there will be given this paper a serious accident to tell of. Scarcely a train arrives but that some child is snatched from danger and many times the older ones are crowded to a position on the platform that is not altogether a safe one. Another objection raised, which is quite a troublesome one to passengers getting on and off the trains, is that people crowd so closely to the car platform that it is almost impossible to either get on or off the trains. A line should be drawn along the platform and none only those who are leaving be allowed to cross this line.
    Last Sunday attorneys Francis and Thos. Fitch were out to the Comstock of Oregon mines, and when upon their way home something gave out about the harness as they were driving down a steep hill; the buggy pole dropped to the ground and frightened the horses into a lively run. The end of the pole soon struck a rock and broke in two, but the next catch was what occasioned the court plaster on the boys' face[s]. The remaining end of the pole struck another stone and the buggy and occupants were given a somersault turn, landing the back end of the buggy foremost. The team lit out at a lively pace and the attorneys, after discussing the legality of such procedure and cussin' a little in Blackstone parlance, hired a rig and were brought to town. Only a few bruises and a little more pieces of court plaster mark the places where the earth struck 'em.
    There is a perceptible shyness in local news in The Mail this week which is the result of three days of the week having been taken up by all hands in moving the office. We are now located on the first floor of the Halley brick block, where we will venture the assertion we have the finest print shop in Southern Oregon. Medford is nothing if not metropolitan and if the city now hasn't a metropolitan printing office then there are none to be found in the land. We have a room 22x75 feet in size, all of which will be used by The Mail office except about 20x22 at the entrance where will be The Mail free reading room. We are only about half fitted up as we contemplate but an invitation is nevertheless extended to everybody to call and see what kind of a shop we have. Subscription price of The Mail [is] $1.50 per year, advertising rates made known on application at the manager's office.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, November 17, 1893, page 3
    Mr. and Mrs. P. S. Enyart, of Chicago, and parents of cashier J. E. Enyart, arrived in Medford Saturday morning and will hereafter make their home in Medford. They will occupy their son's residence, corner of A and Sixth streets, at which place J. E. will also take up his residence. Little Hazel, daughter of J. E., came with her grandparents.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, November 17, 1893, page 3
    While South C Street is being graded and its general appearance greatly improved the city council should not lose sight of the fact that a stone culvert put in and the street graded to a level, near the intersection of Eighth Street, would complete a good job which has been so well commenced.
    Next week The Mail will issue its special edition of several thousand papers. This edition will contain much valuable information regarding the resource of Jackson County, our unexcelled climate and the fertility of our soil--which, by the way, has no equal. It will be just such a paper as your friends in the East will want to read. Extra copies can be purchased at this office at five cents each.
Editorial, Medford Mail, November 24, 1893, page 2
Medford's Boy Conductor.
    The following appeared in the November number of Lewis & Dryden's Railway and Marine Gazette, published at Portland. The engraving spoken of is a very fine picture of "Johnny" in which he appears dressed in full conductor uniform, a punch in one hand and a ticket in the other.
    The accompanying engraving shows the youngest conductor in the United States. His name is John C. Barnum and he is thirteen years old. He was born in New York, but has resided in Oregon for the past nine years. His home is in Medford, Jackson County, on the Southern Pacific [railroad route]. On January 20, 1893, his father leased the Rogue River Valley Railroad, which runs from Medford to Jacksonville, a distance of five miles, and as its revenues are light, he took charge of the engine and placed his son on the train as conductor, since which time the boy has filled the place with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his father and the patrons of the line. He wears a conventional cap and uniform, with lettered brass buttons, and carries a punch. It is unnecessary to state that he is a great favorite with lady passengers.
    Conductor Barnum likes his work and says that he gets along nicely except with some of the very smart drummers who are often on his train and who guy him about his inability to handle their heavy baggage. He had an amusing experience with a big fellow not long ago, but came out ahead and earned the hearty applause of a trainload of people. The big fellow thought it would be smart to play a trick on the little conductor before the crowd, and when called on for his "fare," said he had lost his ticket and was out of money. Johnny knew better, but told the smart party that he must pay his fare or get off. This was sneered at and the conductor passed on, while his would-be deadbeat snickered over the joke. Soon afterward the conductor slipped up behind the fellow, seized his hat and put it in the express chest in the baggage compartment, calmly locking the chest. The big drummer followed him and demanded the hat, but was quietly informed that it would be held until he had paid his fare. Before the train reached its destination, the fare was paid and the hat surrendered to its owner, who sneaked away amid the jeers of the crowd.
    He fills his position with dignity and precision beyond his diminutive proportions, and as the danger on this road from collision is confined to an occasional brush with the hindquarters of a cow, our little conductor's responsibilities are not more exacting than his abilities.
Medford Mail, November 24, 1893, page 2


    Arthur Earhart, of Medford, Oregon, is visiting his grandmother, Mrs. Julia Kinkaid.
"Blacklick," Indiana County Gazette, Indiana, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1893, page 4

    Councilman J. R. Wilson is doing street excavating in front of his business property on C Street.
    Pentz & White made the sale of the J. S. Marsh ranch to R. N. Moore, spoken of last week, for $4500.
    Frank Amann has been engaged this week in putting down a good, substantial, eight-foot sidewalk in front of his business lots on South C Street.
    Contractor Lyons has men at work this week putting down sidewalks in front of the McAndrews building and Mitchell, Lewis & Staver's machinery house.
    D. Cofer has the contract for building Mr. Bellinger's residence. The structure now being built is only temporary--a much larger one is to take its place next spring.
    Jas. Bates is having rooms fitted up on South C Street for a barber shop. Chas. Damon, the artist, is engaged in paper hanging and otherwise improving the room's appearance.
    Dr. Pickel's new tenement cottage residence on South C Street is nearly completed. It is a neat little building and conveniently arranged. Frank Robbins, of Phoenix, is doing the carpenter work.
    W. S. King is having a tough time with rheumatism, but he still keeps pegging away at that new residence and outbuildings. He is going to have a fine place when he gets it completed--if anyone should ask you.
    Taylor Payne, report says, has leased one of Mrs. Stanley's rooms, on C Street, and will open a feed store therein. The report is confirmed and he will open up next week. His ad will appear in these columns.
    A little rumpus occurred in the Roxy Ann Saloon Tuesday night, and resulting therefrom Recorder Webb will have two cases in his court today. Fred Lutkemeier vs. Krouse, disorderly conduct, and Krouse vs. Lutkemeier, same charge.
    Two-bit shaves have taken a drop. Jas. Bates began putting them on the market yesterday at fifteen cents each. Shampoos are only fifteen cents at the new shop--hair cut two bits. Located near Racket Store on South C Street.
    F. M. Poe is engaged in building a barn for Chas. Clark, out near Mr. Bliss' place. Mr. Clark is now residing in Sams Valley but will soon move to Medford and another spring will build a dwelling house. The excellent school facilities of our city is the attraction in this case as in many others.
    Four of the Medford public school teachers' date of engagement expires soon after the first of December and three of them, Misses Robb, Sinclair and Nicholas, have sent in their resignation[s], to take effect at the expiration of their term[s]. The board have had several applications for their positions and will undoubtedly have little trouble in filling them.
    There has been consummated another new deal in the barber business in Medford. Peter Henderson, he who used to be in the tonsorial business in Medford three years ago, but since a resident of Walla Walla, has returned and entered into partnership with G. A. Buffington in operating the Palace. His family is now at Woodville but they will soon be in Medford and "Pete" will begin housekeeping. "Buff" and "Pete" make a strong team as pushers of the razor and will undoubtedly do a good business.
    A very neat little runaway was mapped out for last Friday evening about train time. Al Strobridge's dray team was standing near the depot and upon the approach of the train one of the team, a new horse in the business, became frightened and the team started down Seventh Street at a pace very swift. Will Crain saw them and as they passed him he caught a dray stake and swung onto the dray and very soon had hold of the reins and slackened their fleetness before damage was done. They came desperately close to overturning several carriages in their hurried flight.
    An all 'round change is soon to be made in the corner drug store. I. M. Muller, son-in-law of W. H. Parker, is to open up a general store therein. One side of the store will be devoted to gents' furnishing goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and the other side will be taken up with drug sundries and patent medicines. Mr. Muller is now in San Francisco purchasing his stock of goods. G. S. Parker, he who is now in charge of the drug store, in a few months will leave for San Francisco where he will take a course at a pharmacy school. Before going, however, he hopes to be able to close out a goodly portion of his stock.
    M. Barton, formerly of Walla Walla, has been asked by several of our young people to instruct them in the art of graceful dancing. The gentleman has decided to do as requested and will meet those who wish to join the terpsichorean club and dancing school at the opera hall this Friday evening. Invitations will be issued and only those receiving same are expected to attend. These club dances and instruction lessons in the art terpsichorean will be held upon Friday evening each week and positively none will be admitted without invitation. The idea, as given us by Mr. Barton, is to give a series of pleasant, social parties and lessons of instructions, and to do this and overcome any objectionable feature is why the invitations are issued. The cost will be fifty cents each evening to gentlemen--ladies free.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, November 24, 1893, page 3
    Nearly three miles of good substantial sidewalk has been put down in Medford the past season. Aside from this there has been done no small amount of street grading as well also has there been put down a goodly number of crosswalks, some of them flagstone. Where is there a city of its size that can beat this record?
    The schools of Medford are most prominent among the incentives which have prompted the steady, substantial growth of our city. The school buildings are large, beautiful structures, and the school rooms are presided over by teachers holding high grade certificates and who have been tested in school work and found eminently qualified as instructors.
    Thirty-six students are now enrolled at the Medford Business College, which is decidedly a good showing considering the existing condition of affairs. The school is now so well established that its permanency is no longer a question. Prof. Rigby is conducting a school well worth the reputation it has so widely gained. When students speak so well of a school as they do of the Medford Business College there need be little fear as to its success.
    Medford is unquestionably a city destined to be the metropolis of Southern Oregon. Her people are possessed of a spirit of energy which never loses an opportunity to give the wheel of prosperity a turn. During the past summer when business beyond our border was in a most inert state our city flourished as the palm tree of olden times. Stringency in money matters has without a doubt been felt less in Medford and Jackson County than any other locality in the United States. Our bank did not close its doors, neither did any of our merchants assign or go into bankruptcy. Considering all things, we have been and still are a prosperous community.
Editorial, Medford Mail, December 1, 1893, page 2
    G. W. Bashford has purchased the Medford brewery and ice plant. He is now sole owner and will conduct the business himself.
    Renus Hamilton has resigned his position as mixer of liquid refreshments at Hotel Medford and Will Crain has taken his place.
    L. Burch from the Table Rock country has moved to Alfred Gordon's place, two miles southwest of Medford, the same having been leased.
    Bear Creek has been somewhat rampant the past few days. She is a treacherous little stream during high water times, very swift and turbulent.
    Al Strobridge reported Bear Creek so high Tuesday morning that he was unable to water his team. This assertion rather knocks out that Thompson colt story. The story goes that Thompson's colt swam a river to get a drink.
    The Lutkemeier-Krouse case which was booked for last Thursday was settled before trial was had. Recorder Webb and several witnesses have donated half of the costs to benevolent institutions. The costs as collected were $0.00.
    There has been a considerable moving about of household effects this week. Eli Hogan has rented the second story of Mr. Payne's residence, corner A and Seventh; Attorney Fitch has moved to the Davis brick residence, corner of A and Ninth; Dr. Kirchgessner to the corner of C and Ninth and Rev. Stephens has moved to the beautiful new Baptist parsonage.
    Rev. Dr. Reese P. Kendall, a gentleman recently from Ohio, but who is now residing in Medford, in the Hutchison residence on the west side, was a most agreeable caller at The Mail office on Tuesday last. The gentleman, aside from being a clergyman, is an historical and reminiscence writer and we may expect some early-day reminiscences from his pen with some of Jackson County's earliest settlers as his subjects.
    The school board has secured the services of Misses Minnie Worman, Minnie Coleman and Josie Benson as teachers in the public school, to succeed Misses Robb, Sinclair and Nichols who recently resigned. The new teachers will commence upon their work next Monday.
    Postmaster Howard was considerably indisposed a few days last week--first time he has been ill in forty years. Says he didn't know how sick people acted and until the doctor gave him the formula from the regulation ritual of hospital usages he was a stranger in a strange land.
    A. P. Gordon, the Central Point fruit drier man, reports that he has dried this season one hundred and fifty-five thousand pounds of fruit. Of this amount fifty-three thousand pounds were dried for A. E. Kellogg. The season's run turned out over two carloads of dried fruit. Besides this amount Mr. Gordon has shipped considerable green fruit and has on hand a couple carloads of winter apples and a carload of dried fruit which he is holding for a little better price. Mr. Gordon is a thorough, practical man of business, and The Mail is pleased to learn of his success.
    The use of vulgar, obscene language on the streets is at its best a most degrading habit but when in the presence of ladies it becomes more revolting, and a person of more refined tastes is naturally inclined to doubt the integrity of our laws which are supposed to prohibit such language. The incident which calls out the above is cited in a few words: Last week three young men from Jacksonville came to Medford and upon their return when meeting some ladies upon the streets addressed language to them of a most insulting nature, and if repeated they will need to pray before the courts for leniency.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, December 1, 1893, page 5
    Dr. B. F. Adkins and family returned from their extended visit in the East last night. Medford isn't hardly itself without the doctor--and all are glad he is with us again.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, December 1, 1893, page 5
Medford Items.
    Joe Savage has returned from San Francisco, and is again Purdin's chief rustler for Hotel Medford.
    Arthur Arant was down from Ashland last week raking in the nickels with Prof. Barzee's phonograph.
    Wm. Slinger, wife and son left for San Francisco Sunday to spend several months at the Midwinter Fair.
    Isaac Muller, wife and child returned from San Francisco Monday, where Ike bought a stock of goods for his new store in Medford.
    Medford had a novelty one day recently in the shape of a preaching by a negro minister. He read his text, but his discourse never got around to it.
    Taylor Payne, who has opened a feed store here, was up at Ashland Friday rustling up business. One evening last week a tramp came to their home and while giving them a song and dance about his tale of woe swiped a first-class umbrella.
    The price of wheat here is 40 cents, while the Ashland mills pay 45 cents. It is rumored that our local millman, A. A. Davis, will this week knock the price down to 35 cents. Davis is a selfish old schemer, and the farmers were thinking that his stock of tricks and cussedness had actually petered out, but this play will convince them that the resources of the devil never give out.
    The populists had a big gathering in Medford Saturday. One noticeable feature of the party's gatherings is their absence from the saloons. Saloon men declare their presence in town is "no good" for business purposes. Whenever the Republican or Democratic parties have a gathering the saloon men lay in stock to be prepared for the rush of business and the candidate and office holders' ready cash.
Valley Record, Ashland, Oregon, December 7, 1893, page 3
    A good sewerage system is the one thing most needed by the city of Medford. Perhaps the time has not yet arrived for the successful carrying out of a project of this nature, but just so soon as that time shows up the matter should be attended to. There are many places in the city which are breeders of disease germs and which should be subjected to a thorough course of disinfectant, and no more efficient means could be employed than sewerage, but while we wait for this our health officers should see to it that chloride of lime is used unsparingly.
Editorial, Medford Mail, December 8, 1893, page 2
    A pretty doll's hat given away with every doll purchased of Mrs. C. W. Palm.
    A. L. Penwell, better known as "Bud," the printer, is laid up for a few days with la grippe [i.e., influenza], as is also Mrs. Penwell.
    Copy, which should have appeared in this issue of The Mail, is lying seven feet deep, more or less, on our desk and we can't help it--printers have the grip.
    J. A. Hanley's saloon was burglarized Wednesday night, or rather Thursday morning, and four or five dollars in change taken from the money drawer. Entrance was effected by cutting a hole through the rear door and removing the bolt.
    I. M. Muller has returned from San Francisco and is daily expecting his stock of goods. The shelving in the store he is to occupy has been widened and other needed improvements made. Aside from the drug store room he will as well occupy the old Racket Store.
    D. Brooks, the tinner, has purchased the building on the corner of C and Eighth street and has moved his tinshop thereto. The purchase was made from W. L. Webster, now residing in New Mexico, and the price paid was $400. The gentleman expects to use the second story for living purposes.
    Druggist G. H. Haskins has sold to D. H. VanAntwert, of Central Point, two resident lots, near F. M. Poe's residence, consideration $150. Mr. VanAntwert is a builder and architect and expects to soon commence the erection of a fine dwelling house on his new purchase for his own use.
    Even newspaper reporters cannot catch news items by inspiration. The Mail reporters make a roundup of all items possible, yet it is probable many good, live bits of news pass by unmentioned because they do not happen to catch them. Prove yourself a public benefactor and a boon to this paper by bringing in a few items.
    Fetsch, the Front Street tailor, is striving mightily to the end that his greatly increased patronage may be given all possible attention. To be in shape to accommodate his large holiday trade he has enlarged his establishment by adding a work room at the rear. The front of the building is being taken out and a regulation show window is to be put in.
    I have moved my tinshop from Front Street to the southeast corner of C and Eighth streets, where I will do all kinds of tin work. Produce taken in exchange for goods and work. Call and see me. D. Brooks.
    Messrs. J. and H. Weeks commenced work Monday morning on their new furniture building. The site chosen is to the north and across the street from the Clarendon Hotel. It will be 24x40 feet in size and two stories high. As soon as completed it will be filled with furniture, mostly of their own manufacture. Hotel, office and bar fixtures are particularly in their line of work, and as manufacturers of these articles they have no equal in Southern Oregon.
    The raise of water in Bear Creek last week promised some trouble at the Seventh Street bridge, but by prompt and effectual work by our councilmen the apprehension of the second destruction of this valuable piece of woodwork was averted. Drift wood had formed about the piling at the east side, which, however, was removed before any damage was done, but the channel of the river has so changed to that side and several of the piles were washed loose at the bottom, and in other places the tops of the piling were driven several inches out of position. To get the channel back into its accustomed place a wing dam has been put in and further danger is not expected.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, December 8, 1893, page 3
Echoes from the Street.
    Dr. H. Voegell, of Trail Creek.--"As I was driving to Medford this--Monday--
morning I was asked by a dozen or more people if it was a fact that the Rogue River Bridge had been taken away. The report as current hereabouts is a mistake. The bridge is still there, as also are the approaches. I crossed it and figure I ought to know. I might have crossed in spirit--and on horseback, but if I did I met another spirit on the bridge and he was on horseback, too. Yes, it is a long way to come to do trading, but I can save money by coming here. Everybody likes your paper up my way, and I am doing missionary work for you."
Medford Mail, December 8, 1893, page 3


    Joe Savage returned to Medford Sunday evening and has again taken his position as clerk at the Hotel Medford. During his absence he was at San Francisco and Nevada City.
    Frederick Vermeren, of Central Point, was in Medford last week and caused his name to be listed among the many new subscribers to this great family journal. Mr. Vermeren is the gentleman who is looking after the location of that big Belgian colony, of which we made mention some time ago. He has leased a farm for one year and if, at the expiration of his lease, farming and fruit culture in Southern Oregon is what he hopes it will prove to be, he will proceed to locate his colony.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, December 8, 1893, page 3


    Weeks Bros. are putting up a two-story frame building at Medford for a furniture store.
"Pressed Bricks," Valley Record, Ashland, Oregon, December 14, 1893, page 1
Medford Items.
Editor Valley Record:
    L. Henderson, the enterprising mason and plasterer, was at Ashland this week preparing to do some work for the proposed new residence of Geo. Pennebaker.
    The city election is near at hand and a citizens' convention has been called. The populists and prohis will doubtless combine and rassle with the citizen ticket committee.
    As yet the official axe has not reached the neck of Postmaster Howard, but J. S. is ready for it when she drops. The Democrats having their applications in are D. H. Miller, Chas. Strang, J. A. Slover and J. R. Erford.
    A. Fetsch, the Front Street tailor, is taking the hard times cry by the nape of the neck and shaking the life out of it. The secret is his prices--he has just literally run his shears right through the old prices and is turning out elegant suits for what store clothes cost. See Fetsch before ordering elsewhere.
    The safest calculation to be placed on man or institutions nowadays is, "Does it grow?" If it does that means success. The Medford Business College, under the management of Prof. M. E. Rigby, has baffled mountains of adversity and is right on top in a short career with a new building and over 50 pupils, with more coming. It is a successful school because it educates people to make a success of life.
    As Friday's southbound train pulled out, Marshal Johnson and M. Purdin came very near pulling the pants off a young man called Tascott, who was trying to get across the state line. Tasker [sic] had been working for Jim Hamlin for a couple of months and that day forged Hamlin's name to orders on Angle & Plymale's store for a suit of clothes and the necessary trimmings to properly fit out a nice pretty young man; one that the girls would pronounce "so cute." He also owed Purdin a board bill, of course, because beating a board bill is another accomplishment for good standing in society. The marshal took him into the hotel while a warrant was being sworn out. The young man went out of the house the back way and taking the alley route managed to keep up a speedier pace than the crowd after him until one mile, when he got winded. He was taken to the Jacksonville jail, where the grand jury indicted him for forging another, on A. A. Davis, for $18.
FLAT FOOT.
Valley Record, Ashland, Oregon, December 14, 1893, page 3
Medford Mud--Or a Few Hints to Medford.
    The time is rapidly coming when Medford will boom. I live way up toward Ashland, and have been for the past several years doing most of my trading in Ashland, but occasionally in Jacksonville, because I always dreaded Medford mud. But for the last year or two I have been trading almost entirely in Medford, because I find the roads much better than citizens of Ashland, Jacksonville and Central Point would have us believe. But how could you expect Medford to have good roads when they are continually being cut up by the citizens trying to get to that city to trade?
    My advice to the other valley towns is to quit slinging mud at Medford. And my advice to Medford is to cease for a while in discussing large enterprises and go to improving the different routes of approach, so we can get there to trade.
    I venture the assertion that during the dry season, that I can, with plenty of gravel and sand, a street sprinkling and a steam power roller of several tons weight, give Medford good, solid roads in a year or two.
    For cheek and real estate agents, commend me to Ashland. For a big fairground--minus the fair--commend me to the Point. For a demoralized courthouse clique--well, she goes with the ring every time--so did Bloomer, commend me to Jacksonville. But for trade and men of business energy I am going to Medford, mud or no mud. Yours, etc.
NEW SUBSCRIBER
Medford Mail, December 15, 1893, page 2
    Get your horses' teeth fixed up by J. P. Latour, V.S.
    R. H. Halley and family have moved into some of those pleasant rooms on the second floor of their new block.
    The foundation of J. A. Whitman's fruit storehouse gave way last week and several hundred boxes of apples which were piled inside came near being precipitated to the ground.
    J. E. Roberts is figuring on putting in a notion store, The Fair, on North C Street, in the room formerly occupied by G. L.Webb. He will carry a line of notions, dry goods and fancy articles. His stock is expected to arrive soon after January first.
    J. W. Hockersmith returned Sunday night from San Francisco. Upon his last trip he took five carloads of hogs and two of cattle, and tomorrow he expects to load six carloads of the same product at Medford and two at Gold Hill for the same market.
    Dr. J. P. Latour, veterinary surgeon and dentist, late of Montreal, Canada, is at Worman's livery stable, in this city.
    The dancing parties given by Prof. Barton are becoming quite the proper amusement for those young people whose ideas of a good time run in the gyratorial channel. The one given last Friday evening was attended by thirty couples and a very pleasant time was enjoyed.
    Dr. J. B. Wait's new residence on South F Street is looming up in fine shape and presents an appearance equalled by only a few dwellings in Medford. The doctor will have a very pleasant and cozy home and one nicely located. W. K. Davis is the mechanic whose hands shaped the structure.
    Hon. J. H. Stewart, of Eden precinct, Jackson County, shipped a carload of fine winter pears to St. Louis, Mo., last week. He is a successful fruitgrower, and has over 100 acres in orchard. This year he will receive in the neighborhood of $20,000 for his apples, prunes and pears.--Oregonian.
    U. M. Damon and Frank Bellinger are putting up a miniature telegraph line between Mr. Damon's shoe store and the Bellinger residence, corner Sixth and G streets. Miss Soliss, the teacher of telegraphy at the Medford Business College, is boarding with Mr. Bellinger's family and will give Frank instructions in dots and dashes.
    Despite all the hard luck W. P. Dodge has had with his well-boring machine the past season he is still tussling hard to turn an honest dollar. Trifles discourage him not, but instead, dispels any possible inertness which may have been lurking thereabouts. He has recently purchased the third pair of jars for his machine, at a cost of upwards of $100, and has again resumed work on the Carroll well. ["Jars" were a device resembling two 7-foot-long chain links that connected the boring head to the rope suspending it.]
    A. P. Gordon, the Central Point fruit drier man:--"I will close up my fruit business at Central Point between now and New Year's. I have had a very good run of work this fall and have made the enterprise pay. Next season I will probably put in a drier either at Medford or Ashland and on a larger plan. I like the climate of Southern Oregon. I shall spend the winter at Salem where I have land interests."
    "Tob" Brous came near being a cripple, for a few months at least, last Saturday. In some way he got mixed up in Strobridge's heavy dray, which by the way had on a heavy load, and two wheels passed over his limbs, near the ankle and above the knee. Fortunately for "Tob" the mud was deep in the street where the accident occurred or both limbs would have been broken. Dr. Jones dressed the bruised members and the patient was about as usual Monday, slightly disabled but still on the turf.
    At this season of the year grip is particularly active in scattering seeds of destruction. The temptation is constant to take chances of catching cold, going out without extra wraps, leaving off flannels if the weather is rainy, getting the feet wet. And to have the grip is no longer a joke. No more serious ailment has come to plague humanity during this century. It is estimated that the grip has been directly or indirectly responsible for more deaths than yellow fever and cholera combined. Beware of the grip.
    L. Shideler's large new residence in southwest Medford is completed and the gentleman and his family are now pleasantly domiciled therein. The main building is 14x20 feet in size with an ell 16x19 both two stories high, and a one-story addition 12x20. The house is a thing of beauty as viewed from the outside, the architectural design being imposing and up to date, while the interior is finished throughout in natural wood and two rooms have added the modern Eastlake finish. If the house is a beauty on the outside it must be doubly so on the inside. Two porches are as well added, and as nearly constructed as in the remainder of the building. Three coats of paint is about one more than the average house in Medford can boast of, but this one can do it. Shawver and Nicholson were the builders of this fine dwelling, which in fact is a guarantee as to its being substantially and artistically constructed.
    Postmaster Howard has moved his surveyor's office to rooms over the post office.
    There is no small amount of business being done at the Southern Oregon Pork Packing house these times. An average of fifty hogs a day is being dressed and packed.
    Prof. Barton has leased the McAndrews building on East Seventh street and will give dancing lessons and parties at this place hereafter, he having removed all partitions from the room and moved his fixtures thereto.
    Contractor D. Cofer is expecting to soon commence the construction of a dwelling cottage, for his own use, on the corner of Tenth and G streets. The building will have seven rooms and will be of a design peculiar to Mr. Cofer's idea of lots of room in a small space.
    Chas. Dunham, alias "Whiskers," is surely a gentleman of much diversity. It is inside here today and outside there tomorrow, today a printer, tomorrow a farmer. He's a good, square boy any spot in the road, and [while] working team harness his whiffletree never rubs the wheel.
    Gibbs & Wheeler are here from Oakland, Oregon, and will open a photographer's gallery in this city. They will lease the old gallery if possible, but whether they do this or not they will remain here and do outside work. The old gallery is now held by lease by Cottage Grove parties but there is no certainty that they will occupy it.
    Councilman W. B. Roberts received a rather severe shaking up last Friday evening: He started for the well on the back porch of his residence but the night being dark he passed the well unobserved and walked into an open cellarway. He fell a distance of ten feet and received bruises about his head and limbs, from the effects of which he has not as yet wholly recovered.
    Sunday afternoon's freight had on board near seventy tramps. Fearing lest they would encroach upon the hospitality of Ashland thirty-one of them stopped off in Medford and waited for Monday's freight. A collection was taken about the city to provide something for them to eat and a place to sleep. A quarter of beef, potatoes, bread and other articles were bought for them and after an evening meal, cooked by themselves near Mr. Klippel's lumber yard, they were given sleeping room in the Clarendon barn. They had three meals off of our people and took the afternoon freight for the south. In conversation with one of the freight brakemen we learned that many of these supposedly unfortunate working men out of employment were nothing more or less than bums--a genteel class of bum who live upon the hospitality of the people when they have ample funds in their own pockets to buy their own meals. Says the brakeman, "Take the overalls and blouses off of some of them fellows and you will find a better suit of clothes than the average man dare hope to wear. They are human leeches. If the railroad was to refuse to carry them free, half of that crowd would step up to this window and buy tickets. It is an insult to generosity to feed them."
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, December 15, 1893, page 3


    J. B. Gibbs, a photographer from Oakland, Oregon, is in Medford looking over the city with a view to opening up a photograph gallery. He is a friend of our townsman, W. R. Woolsey.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, December 15, 1893, page 3



    L. Shideler and family have moved into their comfortable new home at Medford, one of the finest residences of modern build in the county.
    W. K. Davis, the builder and wheelwright of Medford, has just completed a fine new residence for Dr. J. B. Waite. Physicians get might well off living at Medford.
"Pressed Bricks," Valley Record, Ashland, Oregon, December 21, 1893, page 1


    P. B. Theiss, the Medford distilleryman, started on his California trip Monday.
    Miss Ella Bursell, the Medford public school teacher, was visiting Ashland friends Saturday and Sunday.
    Miss Eva Wilson, postal operator at Medford, returned Tuesday from a week's visit hereabouts. Miss Cina Tyler, of Tyler's Station, is visiting her at Medford.
"Personal and Social," Valley Record, Ashland, Oregon, December 21, 1893, page 3


    Roberts & O'Neil are putting in a store at Medford to be called The Fair, a cheap cash store.
"Brevity Basket,"Valley Record, Ashland, Oregon, December 21, 1893, page 3


    Medford's influx of new people continues.
    No less than forty people have arrived in Medford from various points of the East during the last week--and all are here to remain.
Editorial, Medford Mail, December 22, 1893, page 2
Medford Business College.
    The winter term of the Medford Business College will open January 1, 1894. It is desired that all students be present at the opening and begin the new year by taking a step in the right direction, and by so doing fit themselves for the higher, nobler work of life.
    The present term of this institution is just closing, and a very pleasant, profitable one it has been for both teacher and pupils; 47 pupils having been enrolled, with 43 in regular attendance. The number enrolled one year ago to date was 27, with 22 in regular attendance; the increase of this year over last is 20 in enrollment and 21 in regular attendance. The number of visitors enrolled for the present term is 163; the number of visitors enrolled last year to date was 84.
    The normal class consists generally of teachers who are reviewing school work in general, some preparing for state diplomas, and others for county certificates. We wish to state here that during the three years that the Medford Business College has been in operation and among the great number of students who, during that time, have taken the teachers' examination for both county certificates and state diplomas only three have failed. In the commercial department students are moving along gradually. Silver and gold coin have been demonetized, and college scrip is the only legal tender. Hard times are not thought of and students in general are becoming very comfortable, and in their everyday work of commercial and college business are forming such habits as will be of use to them in the real affairs of everyday life.
    Classes in the English, preparatory, shorthand and telegraphy departments are all making rapid progress, and the school in general is in a very satisfactory condition. The college is now in its new building, which, for convenience, beauty and comfort is second to none on the coast, and the location is one of the most desirable in the state of Oregon.
    The college, which was at first thought to be only an experiment, is now a grand success, drawing students not only from the different parts of our own state but from neighboring states, and general satisfaction is given in every department, and the college is in a promising condition. We owe much to our friends for our success. "A friend in need is a friend indeed," and as we write, the names of many friends comes before our mind, friends who have stood by us, supported us in every way possible and watched with interest the general growth of the school. And we wish to take advantage of this opportunity and say to those friends in the language of the heart, thank you for the part you have taken, and in conclusion will say, we wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
MEDFORD BUSINESS COLLEGE
M. E. Rigby, Principal
Medford Mail, December 22, 1893, page 2
    Too many la grippe patients this week to think of mentioning names.
    Charlie Dunham has been doing a little reportorial work for The Mail this week--good man any place you put him.
    Geo. Davis did not decide to locate at any place up the road. Thinks if good business openings are to be found anywhere on the Pacific coast they are right here in Medford.
    Prof. E. E. Phipps writes from Paisley, Lake County, saying that he is getting on nicely with his school, likes the country and that Mrs. Phipps' health is greatly improved.
    Next Monday is Christmas, and Monday night will be decorated with beautiful presents the several Christmas trees at the different churches, and the same evening will be the K. of P. ball at the opera house--amusements enough for a whole week and all on one evening.
    It is a decidedly chilly day when the little ones cannot conjure up an answer to almost any question put to them. One day last week a teacher in the Medford kindergarten placed the letter T on the blackboard and asked the pupils what it was. None could answer, and the teacher, to make it more plain, asked what it was that their mammas drink for supper. This was a pointer not lost sight of by one little girl, who raised her hand and said, "I know; it's beer."
    A new business deal has been made in Medford since our last issue. Messrs. Mounce & Schermerhorn, of Portland, have purchased the confectionery, tobacco and cigar stock of Z. Maxcy, on Seventh Street. The purchasers have an air of very businesslike men and will doubtless make a winning of their purchase. They expect to open an oyster room in connection where oysters will be served in all styles. They will also put in a newsstand. Mr. Maxcy is undecided at present as to what vocation he will follow, but it will be some out-of-door business.
    Last August J. W. Shears and family arrived in Medford from Bradysville, Iowa, and located themselves in this city. That these people have been doing some good missionary work for the county since their coming is made very apparent when we cite that last Saturday four families of their acquaintances from the above-named town, comprising twenty people, arrived for permanent location among us. Their names are M. W. Campbell, W. T. Fine, John McNeil, G. H. Shears, and Wm. Wheeler. All of the above gentlemen have families except the last named.
    In making mention of the products of our fruit farms hereabouts we must not lose sight of the fact that F. M. Stewart, while not as extensive a grower as some, is a long ways from being a producer of inferior qualities. Last Saturday he brought to Medford a few sample boxes of his dried fruit which for excellency of quality and neatness in packing cannot be excelled, and we question if equaled by more than a very few of our most thoroughly schooled fruit men. The varieties shown were the Petite and silver prunes, pitted plums and peeled peaches. These were evaporated in a machine of Mr. Stewart's own manufacture and are packed in ten-, twenty- and forty-pound boxes.
    Rev. E. E. Thompson was up from Grants Pass last week and with him came Messrs. Meeker, Sturgis and Dorsey, three friends of his from Iowa. Mr. Thompson has been in correspondence with these gentlemen for some time and it was through his recommendation that they came to Oregon. Upon visiting Medford they decided to locate in this particular locality and have rented the G. W. Howard, M. S. Damon and Rev. Edmunds tenement houses and will commence housekeeping as soon as their household effects arrive from Iowa. The people have all returned to Grants Pass where they will await the arrival of their goods which were shipped to that place but which will not be unloaded until they reach Medford. These three will be followed by a number of other families from the same locality in Iowa. The majority of them will purchase small tracts of land and engage in fruit culture, and others may engage in business in Medford. Rev. Thompson is entitled to many kindly remembrances for his interest in our city's behalf.
    One of the most positive proofs of the merits of Medford as a business center is the attention it is attracting, both generally and locally, at the present time. Evidence of this is shown by the constant arrival of strangers from all parts of the country in search of suitable locations to engage in different branches of business. Among the most recent newcomers are Messrs. Mounce & Schermerhorn, who have bought out the business of Z. Maxcy, and decided to make their home with us. These gentlemen came direct from Portland, where they have been stopping for some time while casting about for a location. This decision on the part of these enterprising young men is a very flattering one for Medford in view of the fact that during the past year they have spent most of their time in traveling about the West and Southwest in search of just such a town as Medford. We are informed that Mr. Mounce has visited nearly all the towns of any note through Idaho, Montana and Nevada, while Mr. Schermerhorn, who is a native of New York state, has, after spending several years in Colorado, visited New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and California as well as many points, both cities and towns, in the Sound country of Washington, and after all these places had been looked over determined to come to Southern Oregon and see what inducements could be found. After being in Medford a few days he started out to see what was here to support the town and found after a number of weeks traveling over the country that from every part of the Rogue River Valley people come here to trade and was told by one man who lives nearer, by a few miles, to Ashland than Medford, that if he had $10 to spend he could make wages to come to this place to spend it. A few verdicts of that kind soon convinced Mr. Schermerhorn that there was ample resources to support a much larger town than we now have, and then the cordial and friendly manner in which strangers are treated by the businessmen of the city does much to make one feel at home. Nothing goes further in the way of helping the growth of a city than the impression first received by strangers or visitors. In addition to this is the mining industries of this part of the state which will in a short time demand the attention of some of the best mining men in the country as well as large amounts of capital, both of which are at present steadily coming this way.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, December 22, 1893, page 3
    Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Stewart left Sunday morning for Victoria, New Mexico. Mr. S. owns property in that country and will undoubtedly remain there for a considerable time--perhaps return to Medford and perhaps not. Their return will be gladly chronicled by this paper. They are the kind of people that help good, thrifty towns.
    J. T. C. Nash, of Riddle, is visiting with the family of R. Cox. He was a caller at this office Wednesday and during his pleasant conversation he let drop the information that we might reasonably expect him to be one of us now pretty soon or thereabouts. He has made a snug little sum of money in gold mining in Cow Creek Canyon and also has a little "pull" on that famous nickel mine.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, December 22, 1893, page 3
    E. J. Phipps has commenced the study of law in the office of Webster & Hammond.
    D. S. Youngs is moving to his residence--the Harlan property--on C Street North.
    The new bell for the Christian Church has arrived and was placed in the belfry of the church.
    Misses Lizzie and Mamie Nicholson have rented rooms in the Halley block. The former will open a dressmaking establishment and the latter will take a normal course in the Medford public schools.
    G. L. Davis has accepted a position as salesman with I. M. Muller. George is one of the best all 'round boys, any place you put him, in Medford, and there need be no fear lest he will fall short of his usual self in his new position.
    Prof. Barton announces that there will be a dancing party given at the opera house, in Medford, on New Year's night, under the auspices of the Medford Dancing Club. The club now has thirty members and some very pleasant parties are being enjoyed.
    Santa Claus is all right again. I have disposed of all the goods he left, and am now getting in a line of staples, all bought at extremely low prices for the cold cash, and will give you as good bargains in staples as you received in the holiday line. G. L. Webb, Racqueter.
    Prof. Vinton Smith and wife, who arrived in Medford last week from San Francisco, have taken rooms with Mr. Woody, on B Street North. Mr. Smith has been engaged by Prof. Rigby to take charge of the normal department of the Medford Business College--to commence next Monday, January first.
    A few months ago Mrs. Ball, of Olympia, Washington, bought a tract of resident property, corner of E and Eleventh, from G. M. Pierce. The lady and her three sons are now here and the boys are at work putting up a dwelling house, 16x24 feet in size and 16 feet high.
    Merchant Hutchison has received a letter from Rev. Merley, who was here with his family a couple of months ago, saying that he has decided to return to the Italy of America--the Rogue River Valley--and locate. The gentleman is now at Los Gatos, Calif., and has made a circuit of many different localities in that state.
    E. Russ keeps the Medford Nursery, one mile east of Medford, and his stock is doing great work in way of growth. He reports that from one raspberry plant which he put out one year ago there are now growing an even seventy thrifty plants--in the place of one he has seventy and all from the one parent plant. In berry culture Mr. Russ leads 'em all.
    Charlie Sherman, the bilk painter, who deserted his wife in Medford this last fall and also left several unpaid bills, is reported to now be at Kansas City, Mo., and doing lots of business. Those whom he left in the lurch in this city will doubtless take advantage of this "tip" and send their accounts for collection to the above city. Walla Walla and Spokane was the route he took from here.
    D. H. Miller has killed a "b'ar." There is nothing remarkable about the mere fact of killing the bear but that D. H. did it makes it an instance which ought to be penciled on the books of Jackson County's history. John Griffin was with D. H. when the killing took place, but he said nothing, only "plug 'im, Dave," when this five-hundred-pound lump of bruin showed itself over on Poor Man's side of the Griffin Creek mountains.
    The K. of P. ball was a grand social event. There were upwards of fifty couples present and a more pleasant time could not well be imagined. La grippe kept several at home who had expected to attend, but those more fortunate were glad to be there. The boys treated their company in a most royal style and all praise is given them. The supper was served at Hotel Medford and was in keeping with all other excellencies of the evening's entertainment.
    There is another change in the "handwriting on the wall." Fawcett & Morris have dissolved partnership--Mr. Fawcett retires and Mr. Morris gives himself a double shuffle and comes up smiling as the senior member of a new firm which has W. P. H. Legate's name attached. Everybody knows John Morris to be a good, square businessman, and if our people don't know the name of Mr. Legate they will soon discover him to be as good as they make 'em. May success stay close by and ever associate itself with the new firm. A new ad for this firm will appear next week--provided the whole office force don't get the grip.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, December 22, 1893, page 3


    Isaac Muller has stared his new store in Medford.
    Mounce & Schermerhorn have succeeded the business of Z. Maxcy at Medford.
    Thos. McAndrews, of Medford, is selling Burbank potatoes at 50 cents per 100 lbs. They are first-class.
    Capt. J. T. C. Nash, who recently sold valuable placer fields in Cow Creek Canyon, has been visiting Rufus Cox and other friends in Jackson County, and he may move here.
"Pressed Bricks," Valley Record, Ashland, Oregon, December 28, 1893, page 1


    John R. Stearns, of the Medford pork-packing house, spent Christmas in Ashland.
    G. W. Johnson and family of Medford moved to Ashland this week and will occupy the palatial residence of Provost & Kinney on Nob Hill.
"Personal and Social," Valley Record, Ashland, Oregon, December 28, 1893, page 3


What They Got for Christmas.
    Prof. M. E. Rigby:--"I got the promise of thirty new students for my business college--all to commence January first."
    Charlie Strang:--"Hung up my stocking and got the grip in it. Not a present which I relished first class but something all well-regulated households may expect."
    N. S. Bennett:--"I got as fine a bouquet of flowers as you often get in midsummer, and I didn't get them from houseplants either, but I gathered them in my yard over in the foothills and on Christmas morning."
    W. T. York:--"Got back from my trip over to the coast in Lane County. Got all I wanted of a sixty-mile stage ride on horseback. Yes, and I got very warm about the collar when I went out to my homestead and found that someone had stolen my blankets and dishes and had my stove packed up to move."
    John Bellinger:--"I got a pair of Chinese pheasants from J. M. Bellinger, at Lebanon. Got an opportunity to run Mother Merriman's cow around several blocks and club her quite a plenty with rocks. The beast got loose in the stable, ate a bushel and a half of potatoes, two bushels of oats, a bushel of corn and was trying to swallow the padlock on the stable door when I caught her at it."
Medford Mail, December 29, 1893, page 3
    E. S. Rigby, of Glendive, Montana, arrived in Medford yesterday morning and will undoubtedly make this place his permanent residence. He is father of Prof. Rigby, of the Medford Business College.
    A. Rifenburg was up from Glendale and spent Christmas in Medford. The gentleman reports work progressing finely on his Cow Creek Canyon placer mine--piping is laid and practical mining operations will begin at once with an abundant supply of water.
    Wm. McCredie and family, of Putnam County, Missouri, arrived in Medford this week and will engage in farming another summer on the ranch of D. R. Hill. He tells of snow being knee-deep in Missouri when he left and laughs at the shivers of our townspeople upon a frosty morning.
    Rev. A. C. Howlett, of Eagle Point, dropped into our office Saturday and quietly landed an articulation into our ear which was to the effect that if Medford expected to draw any winter trade from his part of the country her businessmen would needs look after the roads a little. He says the roads between Medford and Central Point are in a horrible condition.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, December 29, 1893, page 3


Last revised November 17, 2009
*For more complete names of persons identified by initials, see the Index.