Mail Tribune 100, April 13, 1921
May 7—April 13, 1921
BUILD A TOURIST ROAD HOUSE ON TOP SISKIYOUS
Talent, April 13.— The news will be welcomed by many autoists that E. R. Jones, now residing in Ashland is going to build a road house on top of the Siskiyou mountains and will handle everything to accommodate the tourists including gasoline, oils, cold drinks, tobaccos, eats, etc. He is planning on serving quick order lunches. The building will also be equipped with pool tables and places of amusement, a rest room for the ladies, etc. It is quite an undertaking and if Mr. Hones plans all work out alright it will be an up-to-date place of business and a big drawing card for autoists. He will begin the work at once.
METER SYSTEM IS RECOMMENDED BY STATE FIRE DEPT.
The following recommendation and conclusions are included in a report of the recent fire survey of Medford just made by the state fire marshal department:
We recommend that all of the industrial plants using large quantities of water be put on meters. It is noted that water is literally wasted in many places, and that the city at times actually suffers for the need of it. The meter system would be only fair, because consumers would then pay for what they use, and they would not be extravagant. It would be bound to effect a great saving of water, and be a help to the solution of the problem of the water shortage.
We recommend that the fire department be enlarged by the addition of four more men. This would make a department of sufficient size to keep a working force at all times and allow firemen to keep up regular inspection work.
We recommend the purchase of a triple combination pumper of 1,000 gallons capacity. The need for this piece of equipment is very great. Many of the best residences of the city are located on high ground, with small water mains, with the result that thy have not near adequate protection. In addition to this, the industrial part of the city, consisting of an iron works, a pre-cooling station, two box factories, three saw mills and three large oil stations, approximately a valuation of at least half a million dollars, are located a mile north of the city, with only one hydrant on the dead end of a long 4-inch main to protect them. This protection is absolutely inadequate and leaves all of this property, which means so much to Medford financially and in a business way, entirely at the mercy of a fire. There are several large ponds about the mills, and sidings could be constructed for the pumper so it could draw water from the ponds and would give good protection to the entire industrial district.
Medford cannot afford to sacrifice any of its business or industry, and owes them the best protection available. Safety from fire to property and life means more than anything else, and should come first. The pumper should be purchased at the first possible moment.
In addition, we recommend the purchase of the following minor equipment: One Browder life net folding in quarters. One hydrant gate, tee handle 2 1/2 inches. One Blanchard adjustable nozzle. One set reverse connections 2 1/2 inch.
In conclusion, we wish to say Medford has been particularly fortunate in its fire loss, and as a result the authorities and citizens are somewhat lulled into a false position of security from which they may be awakened at any time by a disastrous and costly conflagration. Too great stress can not be laid upon the serious condition confronting the city. Fires must be met with modern equipment and scientific means for control if the fire loss is to be kept at a minimum; therefore, we hope not time will be lost in heeding our recommendations.
We wish an expression of our appreciation to be made to the city officials, the fire chief, the newspapers and the Commercial Club for their assistance in the making of this survey, and to the people in general for their courtesy and hospitality.
— Alissa Corman; acorman@rosebudmedia.com
