To the Editor of the Times:
    With your permission I wish to make a suggestion to the taxpayers of Jackson County. The question with business men is not what will bring the greatest return from the investment tomorrow, but what will bring the greatest return from the investment in the course of a year or a series of years. And, as the suggestion is one that will necessarily involve the outlay of some capital, it will not be out of place to give the subject a careful investigation.
    Every man in the county is interested, more or less, in the general welfare of the whole community, and it is an admitted fact that it would be for the benefit of all parties, the farmer, mechanic, merchant, as well as the stock-raiser, for the county to be rid of the "varmints" that destroy our grain and young stock. The suggestion I have to make is this: Let the people in the different parts of the county, while they are talking about the wagon road to the coast, and other public enterprises, appoint in each neighborhood a prominent person who is interested in the movement, to circulate a petition to the Hon. Count Court of Jackson County praying that it offer a reasonable bounty for the scalps of panthers, bears, wolves, coyotes, wildcats, rabbits, squirrels, etc.
    I know that some will say at once that the taxes are so high now that we cannot afford to offer a bounty at present. But while we admit that the taxes are high and that the bounty would be a drain on the county funds for a year or two, still I hold that it will be a good investment for the taxpayers in the end.
    Now let us see. We have annually destroyed, by the rabbits and squirrels, hundreds of bushels of grain that might become taxable property, and by offering a small bounty as an inducement, the boys, with their traps, deadfalls, etc., would soon destroy the majority of them. While these are destroying the cents, the larger "varmints" that prey upon the young stock are destroying the dollars. In some parts of the county, it is a very difficult thing to raise colts on the public commons on account of the panther, cougar, etc., but if these were destroyed so that we could raise our colts on the range, the taxes on a few good horses would amount to enough to pay the bounty on several scalps, but it is not only the colts that they prey upon, but calves, hogs, sheep and in fact everything that we raise in the stock line suffers more or less.
    Take the hog interest for instance. Today it costs about one-half of the value of the pigs that we raise to pay for the feed and attention that is necessary to raise them so that they will be fit for market, and why is this? Is it on account of the scarcity of feed on the commons? No, by no means but simply because if the sow is left with her young pigs in the woods, the coyotes would catch the pigs, and if they are left in an enclosure the case is but little better, for they or the wildcats will steal into an enclosure and destroy all the young. The same may be said with respect to sheep. As it is now, the sheep men have to watch their flocks all the time, and still, with all their care, occasionally a few will stray off, and then some of them are sure to be caught. But if the sheep could run at large, especially in the winter when the ground is soft and the feed is scarce, and be protected from the ravages of the pests that are prowling over our county, we could raise at least double the amount of sheep and hogs. But as it is, a large amount of the revenue that would come into the county treasury in the shape of taxes is now devoured by these pests. If the County Court would offer a premium for their scalps, as Douglas County as done, young men who have but little to do, or to do with, would hunt them up and by that plan give the hunter lucrative employment, rid the country of a terrible pest and bring money into the county treasury.
    Let us hear from others on this subject, and if we can do no more we can get the citizens of this county to think of some plan for relief.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 9, 1880, page 1


    Flour sells in Jacksonville, Oregon, for $25 per ton.
    The people of Sams Valley, Oregon, raise sorghum and make a great deal of syrup annually, which finds a ready sale. Go thou and do likewise.
    The stages are running on the winter schedule now to a minute, but who knows how long it will be so. The roads are pretty rough, but they send them along on the darn-the-expense plan.
"Local Bits," Scott Valley News, Fort Jones, California, February 5, 1880, page 3

    Complaint was filed in the Circuit Court for Jackson County on the 19th day of January, 1880, by Dowell & Neil, attorneys for plaintiff in the case of Augusta Sisson, heir at law of Dr. David Sisson, vs. A. D. Helman, John R. Helman, Mary Jane Helman, M .J. Helman, et al. This is a suit in equity to quiet title to real estate, and involving the title to property in the town of Ashland, valued at not less than $10,000. The complaint sets forth that Dr. David Sisson was owner of and in peaceable possession of a certain block of land in the town of Ashland, the title to which was based on a written contract for a deed for block No. 2 on the original plat of Ashland, given by A. D. Helman to Morris Howell and assigned to Sisson. It relates that Dr. Sisson had erected valuable buildings on said block including a hospital, that while residing on the same on the 5th day of April, 1868, when the plaintiff was only eight days old, he was shot and killed by an assassin, within sixty yards of A. D. Helman's front door, and that soon afterwards, the house in which Sisson was living at the time of his death, and also a house on the Sisson farm near Ashland, were burned by an incendiary who succeeded in burning the contract to Howell. Subsequently, the complaint alleges, the plat of Ashland was stolen from the Recorder's office, and a new plat filed having an additional block and on which block No. 2 (owned by Sisson) was changed to block No. 3, so as to destroy its identity and defraud the plaintiff out of lot No. 6 in said block which had been deeded to her by L. J. C. Duncan, who had purchased at sheriff's sale under an execution against the property of A. D. Helman. The complaint further sets forth that A. D. Helman, one of the defendants, filed a third plat of the town of Ashland on which block No. 2 (claimed by the plaintiff) is not laid down, with intention to defraud plaintiff and entirely destroy all evidence of her title. Plaintiff asks that certain deeds made by A. D. Helman to parties now in possession be declared void, so far as they conflict with her interest in the land, and he be compelled to make her a deed according to the contract made to Howell and assigned to Sisson. If the complaint be true it points to the commission of the blackest deed that was ever done in Jackson County, and if probed the fact would be disclosed that arson, larceny of a public record and forgery were used to cover it up, hide the murderer and rob an infant orphan of her property.--Jacksonville Sentinel.
Albany Register, Albany, Oregon, February 6, 1880, page 1


    The doctors up at Jacksonville, Oregon, have reduced their fees in obstetric cases to $20, from which we infer that the high prices hitherto charged have had a depressing effect on that branch of their business. Doctors generally fix their figures high in this class of cases because they know that people are not likely to count the cost until after they have harvested the crop, but probably the rule doesn't work in Jackson County.
"Local Bits," Scott Valley News, Fort Jones, California, February 12, 1880, page 3


    The season promises to be the most favorable one the miners of Southern Oregon have experienced in many years The supply of water is ample and promises to continue for some time to come.
    Many sheep are dying in Jackson County, Oregon, from starvation and exposure.
"Pacific Coast Items," Marysville Daily Appeal, Marysville, California, February 13, 1880, page 3


    Cold weather still interferes with mining operations in Southern Oregon.
    Neff's distillery, in Jackson County, has turned out a barrel of tomato brandy.
"Oregon," Vancouver Independent, Vancouver, Washington, February 19, 1880, page 4


    Skinning cattle for their hides promises to be profitable employment in Jackson County.
    The military mail to Fort Klamath is discontinued. Regular United States mail three times a week.
    The school census of Jacksonville district shows 401 children of school age--202 males and 199 females.
"Astoria," Puget Sound Argus, Port Townsend, Washington, March 11, 1880, page 2


    We are indebted to the Ashland Tidings for several items this week from the locality in which it is published. The Tidings is one of our most welcome exchanges; its columns are always filled with live news matter, and is wide awake in advancing the interest of the people which it represents, and deserves liberal support from them.
    The Ashland Tidings says that Applegate Bros. have fed about 1,200 tons of hay to 1,300 head of cattle since last fall. They will probably save their entire herd, with the exception of such small losses as occur over winter. They had been saving hay for six years, knowing from previous experience that a severe winter was likely to come.
Scott Valley News, Fort Jones, California, March 18, 1880, page 3


    The Crescent City wagon road enterprise is again being agitated with the approach of spring, and the people are inclined to feel more hopeful than ever of its success. It will be of vast advantage to Northern California and Southern Oregon.
"Pacific Coast," Corvallis Gazette, March 19, 1880, page 2


    Among the many natural curiosities of Jackson County, Oregon, [it] is not generally known that there in a floating island. Up in the Siskiyou, lying like a pearl in the great mountain chain, is Squaw Lake, a beautiful sheet of water, now utilized by a mining company as a reservoir. For many years the lake has been a favorite and delightful resort for fishing parties, and contained nearly in its center an island, comprising about one acre of ground, covered with luxuriant grass and a growth of willow and alder. It was never dreamed that the pretty little island was not terra firma, but when the bulkhead across the outlet of the lake dammed up its waters the island rose slowly until it had been elevated fully sixteen feet above its original level. It would be a question for the naturalist rather than the geologist to determine the age of this floating island, as it is evidently made up entirely of decayed vegetation. Perhaps at some remote period the roots of a tree, uptorn by the mountain storms, drifting out into the lake, formed the nucleus from which the island has grown; but it seems singular that it should have remained anchored and unchangeable in its position. The locality is much frequented by picture seekers, who will hereafter notice the increase [in] elevation.
Vancouver Independent, Vancouver, Washington, March 25, 1880, page 1


    The Ashland Tidings reports that wild parsnip is growing in great abundance in some portions of Jackson County, and stockmen are much annoyed thereat.
    Misses Fannie and Myra, and Master Walter VanMatre, of Minersville, Trinity County, who have been attending the Ashland college during the winter term, returned home last week. Master John VanMatre will remain at the college until the close of the spring term.
    We were shown a letter a few days since from a gentleman in the Rogue River Valley, in which he states that several teams would leave that section on the first of April, loaded with flour and bacon for Redding and way markets. We opine that after the notice they received from old Boreas last Friday, they will wait a few days longer.
    The Southern Oregonians are paying considerable attention to sorghum growing. A mill to work the cane is to be built on Bear Creek, near Ashland, during the summer, and the farmers are favorably disposed towards the sweet vegetable, the pulp of which makes excellent food for all kinds of stock after the juice has been extracted.
"Local Bits," Scott Valley News, Fort Jones, California, April 1, 1880, page 3


    The Roseburg Star says that C. C. Manning, U.S. surveyor, arrived in Roseburg last week. This gentleman is to survey the military road between Scottsburg and Camp Stewart near Phoenix, in this county, for the purpose of ascertaining the places where money appropriated for the improvement of the road can be most advantageously expended. The officer in charge of the improvement is also on hand, and we understand that work is to be instituted immediately. From what can be learned the appropriation will doubtless be expended on the Cow Creek and Grave Creek mountains, where it is certainly most needed.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 2, 1880, page 3


    Thomp. Wright of Oro Fino arrived on the stage last Saturday from Ashland, Oregon, where he has been attending the Ashland college.
"Local Bits," Scott Valley News, Fort Jones, California, April 15, 1880, page 3


    Southern Oregon is happy in the prospect of a plentiful fruit crop.
    A revival meeting is in progress at Ashland, Oregon, and a number of persons have professed a new interest in religion, but the conversion of that solitary saloon keeper has not been yet effected.
    The vicinity of Ashland, Oregon, is troubled with thieves, who have made divers attempts to steal horses, but have so far been prevented, more by good luck than by anything else, although none of the depredators have been caught.
"Local Bits," Scott Valley News, Fort Jones, California, April 22, 1880, page 3


    The wood piles of Southern Oregon have been completely "burned out" during the sway of the long winter.
    Mrs. Dorcas Fredenburg died last week at Rock Point, Jackson County, aged 81 years. A husband, nine children, 52 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren survive her.
"Southern Oregon," Puget Sound Argus, Port Townsend, Washington, April 22, 1880, page 2


    Now that the freighting season is about to open, the people, especially those directly engaged in shipping to or from the cities, will have their attention directed constantly to the needless outlay for transportation, which has taken from Southern Oregon in the past few years hundreds of thousands of dollars that should have remained here to enrich the country and develop its resources and business. It is estimated that from 2,000 to 2,500 tons of freight are brought into Jackson County alone every year. A good road to Crescent City would enable us to save nearly a cent a pound on all freight from San Francisco; at least, it is safe to count upon a saving of $15 per ton. This saving upon the merchandise that is brought into the country, added to that upon the exports, will amount to somewhere in the neighborhood of $50,000 a year, in hard cash--more than twice the sum Jackson County is asked to subscribe toward the building of the wagon road. Fifty thousand dollars distributed among the people of our county every year will make a very perceptible improvement in our prosperity. And it will be distributed; it cannot possibly be appropriated by any individuals or any corporation. What we have to buy from abroad will cost just so much less here, and what we have to sell will be worth just so much more, and the inflexible laws of trade will distribute the saving equitably. When the road is built it will be as though our valley were transported some 200 miles nearer to San Francisco, with our means of communication equally as good as now, for the new route will just eliminate the cost of the freighting over the 200 miles of railroad between us and Portland. This will give us the benefit not only of the saving that we have been figuring upon, but also of the certain increase of the value of property which always follows in any place the improvement of the facilities for commercial intercourse with the trade center of the region. Let everyone who can possibly contribute toward the building of the wagon road consider carefully how much his interests are involved, and then remember that now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity to increase his possessions. "There is a tide in the affairs of men that, taken at its flood, leads on to fortune." The tide of opportunity has set in toward Jackson County. Will our citizens allow it to drift idly by them?
Ashland Tidings, April 30, 1880, page 2


    The merchants of San Francisco have hitherto held much of the trade of that large and rapidly developing region known as Southern Oregon. The United States government is now spending $10,000 on the improvement of the roads from Jacksonville north to Portland, and the natural effect of this will be to give much of the Southern Oregon business to the merchants of the Columbia and the commercial centers of the Northwest. In order to secure for San Francisco merchants advantages at least equal, and probably much better, there has for months been a strong effort made by the people of Southern Oregon, in accord with the people of Del Norte County, to build a wagon road from Waldo to Crescent City. The movement has now taken such a shape that a very little aid and comfort on the part of San Francisco merchants, who are interested in this trade, would ensure its success.
    April 10th there was a public meeting held in Waldo, which is near the southern line of Oregon, and support was pledged by the merchants. Previous to this enthusiastic meetings were held in Del Norte County. April 17th a convention took place in Jacksonville. Committees were present from Jackson, Del Norte and Josephine counties. The report declared that these committees had decided to select the best route from Waldo to Crescent City. They appointed viewers and prepared for a final survey. Each county to bear one-third of this expense. A gentleman was appointed to ask for subscriptions in San Francisco. The cost of the road is estimated at $20,000, of which 30 percent is obtained.
    To show the need of this road the following statements are made by Southern Oregon and Del Norte papers. (1.) The merchants of Josephine County say that if the proposed road is not built they must discontinue freighting from Crescent City, and turn their attention to Portland, the old road being nearly impassable and on a bad route. (2.) The incoming freight of Jackson County is not less than twenty-eight hundred tons annually. These freights, landed at Roseburg, cost $25 per ton, or $70,000 per year. (3.) There is in Jackson and Josephine counties and their tributary valleys an area of 400,000 acres of wheat land, immense ranges of pasturage, rapidly filling up with stock, and a bolt of fine mineral land. Population is crowding in, and the future of the whole region is extremely hopeful. (4.) The length of the road desired is only 36 miles, and every mile lies within the boundaries of California, and will aid to build up Crescent City. The time may come when a railroad will take its place.--Bulletin.
Humboldt Times, Eureka, California, May 4, 1880, page 2


    The Ashland Tidings says that most of the peach trees in that section have been somewhat injured by the severe winter, and fears are entertained that many of them will die during the summer.
    The present term of the Ashland college will end on the 9th of June. Prof. Rogers will spend the greater portion of the vacation in lecturing at various places in Jackson and bordering counties upon education and temperance.
    The Oregon stage now leaves Yreka at 2 p.m., instead of 6 a.m. as heretofore.
    Linkville, Oregon, is down to flour and fresh fish, with the roads blockaded and no prospects of opening for several weeks yet. The people expect to be excused from keeping Lent for the next three years at least.
    The Ashland Tidings says that D. C. Courtney of Jackson County is on his way home from the Skagit, and proclaims the mines to be a stupendous fraud. He was told that the highest wages ever made yet was $5 per day.
"Local Bits," Scott Valley News, Fort Jones, California, May 13, 1880, page 3


    A band of 700 sheep were sold for $1.10 the head in Jackson County, Oregon, last week.
"Pacific Coast Brevities," Stockton Daily Independent, Stockton, California, May 26, 1880, page 2

    Miss Addie Langell, of Jacksonville, has made a bed quilt which contains 4247 pieces.
    Capt. Smith, one of the representatives of Jackson County in the legislature, who was hurt last week, is recovering.
    The wing dam of Keaton and Klippel on Rogue River, below Fort Lane, is completed. About an acre of the river bed has been shut out from the flowing waters, and work on the bedrock will soon commence.
    A letter from Linkville, August 24th, says: "Stock farmers are putting up immense quantities of hay. Money matters are still very light, but soon will revive, as cattle buyers are now here awaiting the proper time to arrive before purchasing. The health of the place is generally good."
    Following is the faculty of the Ashland College: Rev. L. L. Rogers, A.M., president, professor of natural science, mental and moral philosophy; Rev. LaDru Royal, A.M., professor of Latin and Greek languages and literature; Mrs. A. A. Rogers, preceptress, teacher of elocution, principal of preparatory department; Miss Ella M. Scott, teacher of piano, organ and vocal culture; Miss Kate Thornton, assistant teacher.
"The Northwest," Oregonian, Portland, September 3, 1880, page 1


    Copious showers have fallen in the Rogue River country, extinguishing the fires in the mountains, clearing the atmosphere and refreshing the land and people generally.
    The Jacksonville, Oregon Times notes that E. F. Walker and J. B. Wrisley have recently received machinery for the manufacture of sorghum syrup and will soon commence operations. They have about twenty acres in sorghum (which resembles broom corn) that has grown finely. It will not be long before the importation of syrup will be greatly diminished, as the home article will almost supersede the imported in time.
"Local Bits," Scott Valley News, Fort Jones, California, September 9, 1880, page 3

Gold Hill News, September 27, 1913, page 1