Medford, Oregon, Jan. 1908

Yours respectfully,
    Berna Roberts.

    Jackson County lies in what is known as the Rogue River Valley in the southwestern part of the state. It is bounded on the north by Douglas, on the west by Josephine, on the east by Klamath counties, and on the south by California. The population from the 1905 census was 13,628; of these 89 percent are United States born; of the foreign 11 percent about one-fourth are German; the remaining three-fourths are made up principally of Canadians, English, Irish, Scandinavians and Austrians. The total area of the county is 1,779,662 acres. There are 48,183 acres unappropriated and unreserved, of which 47,155 acres are surveyed and 1,028 acres are unsurveyed. There are 199,183 acres reserved and 1,532,296 acres appropriated. Of the assessed appropriated land 81,069 acres are cultivated and 1,010,667 are uncultivated. Cultivated land is worth on an average of $58 per acre, and uncultivated $10.45. The total value of taxable property in the county in 1907 was $22,811,390. The expenses for the same year were $30,935.69. The surface is level, rolling and mountainous. The rock formation in the western part is pre-Cretaceous; in the eastern part it is a combination of Cretaceous and Eocene. The natural forest growth consists principally of oak, willow, yellow and sugar pine and fir. Fruit of all kinds, especially peaches, have been found to grow well on this soil, which is rich in all the essential chemicals. It is likely to be a very lasting soil. Its first need will probably be phosphoric acid. The soil is black and deep, ranging from ten inches to several feet. The subsoil is hard and white. The sugar beet, hemp, onions, sorghum and strawberries should grow well on this soil. The soil in the immediate vicinity of the valley consists of successive alluvial deposits of different geological periods and is very rich. Rogue River and its branches furnish excellent water power for milling purposes. The fuel used is wood and costs from $4.00 to $6.00 per cord. There are several mineral springs with good curative qualities in the county. The leading industry is farming. Lumbering is carried on extensively. There are fifteen sawmills, one saw and planing mill, one saw and shingle mill, one box factory, one saw and box factory, one saw, lath and shingle mill, one sash and door factory and three planing mills, employing in all 101 skilled men at a daily wage of about $3.15; 170 unskilled men at a daily wage of $2.25; two women at a daily wage of about $1.15. Mining is also an important industry. There are sixteen gold quartz mines yielding ore valued at $24.15 per ton, a number of placer mines, five asphalt mines, two copper mines yielding 30 percent ore, one iron mine, also quantities of asbestos, quicksilver and building stone. Among the industrial plants of the county are found brick yards, breweries, creameries, cold storages, electric light, flour and feed, fruit canneries, laundries, machine shops, printing, soda water and water power, employing in all 125 skilled men at a daily wage of about $3.75, and 160 unskilled men at a daily wage of about $2.25. The roads are in good condition. The climate is mild and congenial. The mean temperature during the spring months is 50.5 degrees, summer 61.1 degrees, fall 56.4 degrees, and winter 42.7 degrees. The mean precipitation during the spring months is 2.64 inches, summer 1.34 inches, fall 1.43 inches, and winter 4.21 inches. At the 1908 June election this county voted in favor of a local option prohibition law. The charter of Medford, however, exempts that town from the operation of the law.