Medford, known as the "biggest little city" in Oregon, has a population of 7,500. It is located near the center of the Rogue River Valley on the main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Pacific Highway.
    Medford is "Gateway to Crater Lake" and is located on the Medford-Crater Lake Highway, which splendid state highway is eighty-two miles in length and is traveled each year by thousands of tourists to that scenic gem of all national parks.
    As a trading and financial center Medford is the most important in Southern Oregon.
    During the past ten years Medford has had an average annual rainfall of 16.44 inches. The elevation is 1368 feet. Bear Creek, which is a tributary to Rogue River, flows through Medford.
    Few, if any, cities the size of Medford have a greater length of paved streets, there being a total of twenty-three miles here. The city has more than twenty-nine miles of sanitary and storm sewers, twenty-eight miles of cast-iron mains, thirty miles of cement sidewalks, and a twenty-three-mile gravity water system, costing $275,000. The water is brought from a natural reservoir in the Cascade Mountains, and the source is sufficient for many times the present population. The city is supplied with gas and electric light and power.
    Medford is headquarters for the Crater Lake National Forest Service, the Crater Lake National Park Service, and the offices of the county pathologist and county agent are located here. The key station of the United States Weather Bureau for Southern Oregon is located in Medford. The sum of $110,000 was expended in 1916 for the erection of a three-story modern federal building. Medford has a paid fire department, equipped with several auto fire trucks. There is a music conservatory, business college and Catholic school, eleven churches, twenty lodges, a College Women's Club, University Club, and an active women's civic improvement club; there are five large public school buildings. The junior, as well as the senior high school, has special courses of study, including domestic science, art, manual training, agriculture, etc.
    Medford has a public market, and for the past [twelve] years this has proven to be very popular and is working to the advantage of both country producers and city consumers. Medford is the chief outfitting point in the county for Crater lake, stages making regular trips during the season. A number of large fruit packing plants are located in Medford. These plants are supplemented by storage warehouses, one of the precooling warehouses having a capacity of 100 cars.

No Cyclones.
No Electric Storms.
No Mosquitoes or Other Pests.
Over 2000 miles of salmon and trout streams. The hills abound with deer, cougar, mountain and valley quail, pheasant, etc.

Medford Mail Tribune, April 1, 1924, page B1


    It has oft been said, "If you want to live in a city where the people have energy, enthusiasm and enterprise, locate in Medford, Oregon, the biggest little city in the West." This enthusiastic recommendation by our friends has gained for us the highest type of citizens from many sections of the United States.
    The phenomenal growth of Medford during the past 15 years has caused it to change from a small village to a city of over 7,500 population, and to expand its limits over an area approximately 3¾ miles or over 2000 acres of land. This expansion has resulted in the creation of a taxable wealth representing over one-sixth of that of Jackson County, or almost five million dollars.
    The total holdings of Medford citizens and corporations in and out of the city will easily represent one-fourth the taxable wealth of this county, so it will be readily seen what the growth of Medford has meant to the county as a whole and what a contributing factor it has been in the development of the magnificent road and irrigation projects during the past ten years. Many Medford citizens are owners and managers of orchard, stock, poultry and alfalfa ranches; also are timber and mine operators; therefore they are creating new wealth for the entire country and building up new resources.
    In our city we have the largest hydroelectric power company between Portland and Sacramento, with high-power electric lines extending from Springfield, Oregon on the north to Delta, California, on the south, and across the Cascade Mountains to Klamath Falls and Chiloquin, Oregon, on the east. Medford enjoys the distinction of being one of the best lighted cites in the United States, having 200 large candlepower street lamps at intersections, besides cluster and streamer lights on business streets. Low rates for electricity have encouraged its use for cooking and household comforts to such an extent that we are among the largest consumers per capita of any section, and it likewise provides power for the larger part of our manufacturing plants.
    With the billions of feet of pine and fir timber that is tributary to Medford, not only will the present sawmills and woodworking plants be augmented by several more, but the new additions will undoubtedly be on such an extensive scale that they will be an enormous contribution to the future prosperity of the city and all of Jackson County. Lumber production totaling at least one hundred million feet a year will be a reality in Medford district within a few years.
    The location of two canning plants in Medford creates a large demand for the products of the irrigated lands of this immediate vicinity, also provides labor for many people. Both the plants and the payrolls are growing each year and they make it possible for the saving and commercial use of thousands of dollars' worth of Jackson County products, a large part of which would otherwise be wasted or not produced. In a comparatively few years each plant will pass the million-dollar mark in point of production and will there be a large contributing factor to the community.
    To have a city that would measure up to the requirements for the present and future, 21 miles of streets were paved at a cost of more than one million dollars. Also 26 miles of sewers and over 20 miles of cement walks were built for the convenience and comfort of the citizens. Within a few years our paving operations will be extended to the remaining unpaved streets of the city until a complete network of hard-surfaced streets will be the final result. When this program is completed we will have approximately 60 miles of permanent streets.
    Medford has a water system which has been one of her greatest assets. The source of this water supply is Fish Lake, which is situated at the base of Mt. McLoughlin (Mt. Pitt) in the Cascade Mountains about 36 miles from the city. The lake is fed by springs at the mountain base and it is the storage reservoir for a watershed of approximately 150 square miles all within the Crater Lake forest reserve.
    The bringing of mountain water into the city about 15 years ago was the turning point in Medford's development. Each succeeding year has witnessed an additional demand from new water users until today we are rapidly approaching the total utilization of the full supply carried to the city through almost 25 miles of the main gravity pipeline. Having in mind the future needs of the city for a larger water supply, Medford's city water commission is already planning on a new and larger pipeline direct from seven large mountain springs of remarkably cold, pure water at the source of Big Butte Creek, which will make available an abundant supply of the purest water obtainable. This is the city's biggest project for the near future and it will be accomplished because Medford's citizens demand an adequate water supply to meet all future requirements.
    The creation of Medford's city planning commission was another important step for the future development of the city along right lines. By careful planning of manufacturing, business and residence sections, and keeping them separate, a well-balanced city with stabilized values for real estate will be the result. This commission will be called upon each year to meet new problems as business and residence districts enlarge and can be of inestimable benefit to the city in planning parks, playgrounds and other public improvements, essential to the city's advancement.
    To provide for the twenty to twenty-five thousand population which will be our problem in the next 15 years, there must be some advance thinking and careful planning to meet new traffic conditions. We must provide a system of boulevards running east and west, also north and south. We must have at least three avenues 80 to 100 feet wide, in both directions through the city, to provide safe traffic for future years. Will we do this in the next few years while values are reasonable or will we wait until they become almost prohibitive?
    Medford citizens were not satisfied with paving only the city streets, but they were the pioneers in Oregon in sponsoring and putting over the plan of paving the main highways of their county and state, with the result that the first highway pavement in the state was laid in this county, and we now see the Pacific Highway paved through all the counties from the Pacific Ocean at Seaside, Oregon to the California state line. The next big project along this line will be the paving of Crater Lake Highway from here to Crater Lake National Park.
    The coming of the tourist has entirely changed our problems. He will not only help us pay for our wonderful paved highways and streets, but will leave us a dividend besides. Many tourists will remain to invest if we will interest ourselves in showing them what numerous opportunities we have. Nearly 40,000 tourists stayed in our campgrounds last year--perhaps 150,000 passed through our city--how many did we try to interest in our city and county? Citizens and real estate brokers should outline a plan of action for 1924 that will place at the disposal of the tourist every bit of available information he will need to induce him to become a resident of Jackson County.
    Two hundred and fifty thousand tourists through Medford during this year is a possibility, which in ten years can easily grow to four times as many, or one million. This means a large problem for Medford in seeing that adequate campgrounds are provided and properly managed so as to give proper accommodations to all who come. Many thousands of dollars must be spent to accomplish this.
    A carefully planned park and playground system is an additional problem to consider, one which will be of vital importance before our city doubles in population. We should build a lake of sufficient size to provide a municipal swimming pool during the summer months. It is claimed to be feasible to pipe sulfur water into the city for such a swimming pool.
    There has already been some demand for a municipal golf course, and with the increase of population and tourist travel, this will be a future problem for the city to carry out. It will also be essential to develop a system of scenic drives along the mountains of the valley, such as the proposed drive to the top of Roxy Ann and Table Rock and up to Wagner Gap, also several others yet to be selected.
    Since the growth and prosperity of Medford is so closely allied with that of Jackson County, it is one of the first essentials that we direct our energy towards getting a larger, more prosperous farmer population in the county on our irrigated lands. With this accomplished and with manufacturing plants turning out finished products from our forests and soil, the future growth and progress of Medford is assured.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 1, 1924, page B8

    Medford, the "biggest little city" in Oregon, with a thriving population of 8500 people, is located in the heart of the Rogue River Valley on the main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Pacific Highway. It is known from coast to coast as a "gateway to Crater Lake," being located sixty-nine miles from the Crater Lake National Park and eighty-one miles from that matchless gem of all scenic attractions. A splendid highway, skirting the banks of beautiful Rogue River, has been recently improved and it is traveled annually by thousands of Crater Lake tourists.
    Because of its location in the center of Southern Oregon, Medford is particularly fitted as a trading and financial center for the entire section. The foremost developed industry of this section is fruit raising, and on many of the orchards near Medford famous Bosc pears are grown, in addition to quantities of Bartlett, Comice, Anjou and other pears as well as apples, peaches and cherries. Small berries and garden products, produced from this locality, are supplied to regions east of the Cascades and to Northern California communities, where the elevation does not permit of their culture.
    An industry which promises to even eclipse that of fruit raising in territory near Medford is lumbering, the Owen-Oregon Lumber Company having selected that city as a site for their gigantic $1,000,000 mill, which is already under construction. A thirty-five-mile railroad, extended to the heart of the Cascade forest near Butte Falls, has Medford as its terminus and will be operated by the Owens-Oregon interests. This company owns $3,000,000 worth of fir and pine in this section. The Tomlin Lumber & Box Company operates extensively near Medford. Another railroad connects Medford with a wealthy timber area five and one-half miles west through Jacksonville, one of the historic old cities of the early days.
    Alfalfa is grown extensively and is responsible for large herds of stock cattle and many high-bred dairy cows. An elaborate series of irrigation ditches, supplied by systems recently completed and new ones under construction, open vast sections of land in territory immediately adjacent to Medford for intensive farming and dairying, and is bringing her a steadily increasing prosperity.
    During the past ten years, Medford has had an average rainfall of 16.59 inches. The elevation is 1368 feet.
    Few, if any, cities of the size of Medford have a greater length of paved streets, there being a total of twenty-three miles here. The city has more than twenty-nine miles of sanitary and storm sewers; twenty-eight miles of cast-iron mains, thirty miles of cement sidewalks, and a twenty-three-mile gravity water system costing $275,000, with water supplied from a natural reservoir in the Cascade Mountains. The city is supplied with gas and electric light and power, has modern cement and brick office buildings, a public park, a $20,000 library, a $110,000 federal building, a $140,000 hospital, an $80,000 armory, a natatorium costing $75,000, a $50,000 passenger depot, several hotels, including one six-story hotel, erected at a cost of $200,000, which ranks with the best hotels in the state, while construction of another hotel is being contemplated.
    There are four banks with a combined deposit of over $4,000,000, and two motion picture theaters, one of which has been recently built and is recognized as one of the most beautiful on the Pacific Coast. It is splendidly equipped for high-class shows which appear on their tours of the coast.
    Medford is headquarters for the Crater Lake National Forest Service, the Crater Lake National Park Service, and the offices of the County Pathologist and County Agent are located here. The key station of the United States Weather Bureau for Southern Oregon is also located in Medford. Medford has a paid fire department, equipped with several auto fire trucks. There is a music conservatory, business college and Catholic school.
    Many beautiful churches, twenty lodges, a Chamber of Commerce and numerous civic organizations, a College Women's Club, University Club, Rotary and Kiwanis organizations and an active women's civic improvement club, as well as a Business and Professional Women's Club.
    A public market has proven popular in Medford and is working to the advantage of rural producers and city consumers. Many fruit packing plants are located at Medford, one of which is being operated as a cooperative fruit selling agency. These plants are supplemented by storage and precooling warehouses and a cannery operating throughout the year, also a fruit drying plant.
    Medford has five large public school buildings. The junior as well as the senior high school has special courses of study, including domestic science, art, manual training, agriculture, etc. In 1924 there were 458 high school students enrolled and 1,260 grade students in the Medford system.
    There is one daily newspaper, the Mail Tribune, with a Sunday morning issue, The Sun, and two weekly papers, the Jackson County News and the Pacific Record Herald.
    Because of its ideal climate, beautiful scenic surroundings and diversified industries Medford is enjoying a remarkable natural growth. New homes are being erected in large numbers and it is estimated that 150 will be constructed here during 1924.
    Building permits for the early part of 1924 far exceeded any corresponding period.
    Two golf courses are located near Medford while the surrounding country has a special lure for the hunter and the fisherman.
Bert Moses, Where Nature Lavished Her Bounties, Jackson County, 1924