Hymeneal.

    TO THE PEOPLE OF MEDFORD AND VICINITY:--For the past year I have been working with Mr. John W. Coleman, of Ashland, toward the establishment of a fruit and vegetable cannery at some point in the valley, and except for the severe frost of last May we should undoubtedly have made a start last year. That fruit and vegetables of the finest flavor can be had in abundance and to compete with other canneries I have never doubted, the only serious drawback urged by my friends being that freight rates might be prohibitive. Under the liberal and progressive direction of Mr. C. H. Markham, general freight agent of the Oregon lines, I do not fear this contingency and have been often assured by Mr. Markham that he would encourage this industry in every possible way, and that it was not the present policy of the company to let possible industries at the smaller points languish because of a desire to build up terminals only. Mr. Coleman has been canning fruit and vegetables at Ashland for the past four years and so far he has never been able to one-half supply the local demand, and has not been troubled about freight rates, nor does he fear the future in this respect.
    I have sampled peaches, pears, tomatoes, sweet corn and string beans canned by Mr. Coleman and do not believe his goods are surpassed in quality on this coast. His peaches and tomatoes have more than a local reputation, and many people consider them equal to the very best home canned. Mr. Coleman's aim has always been to put up a little better goods than any competitor, and he is extremely neat and careful in his work. Nor does he stint in quality, rather the reverse. The cans are all solid filled, whether market requirements call for same or not, and the syrups are rich and heavy--"like your mother used to make." Mr. Coleman has a natural skill and ability in his line which, coupled with a desire to give high value, must surely win out. I regard him as able to undertake a pack of any size with certainty. He is also familiar with the local soils and climatic conditions, the markets and the people, and could start off with more assurance than an eastern expert probably could. We would propose to pack 100,000 cans the coming season, the bulk of the pack in the following order: Tomatoes, peaches, pears, blackberries, plums and apples. We should also can enough sweet corn, peas and string beans to get them on the market with the expectation of making a large vegetable pack the second year. Tomato catsup we expect to put up considerable of, and we shall work into jams, jellies, fruit butters, pickles, etc., as fast as possible. In order to keep running most of the year we shall try pumpkin and mincemeat late in the fall, and may pack pork and beans if yield and prices are right. We shall also be prepared to can strawberries any year when there is sufficient crop, but we do not count on any regular supply.
    What first induced me to first consider a cannery proposition was the probability that sweet corn could be raised here in quantity and quality each to the best eastern corn, and if such proves the case our corn pack will eventually equal everything else combined.
    There is a present demand in the Pacific Northwest for three million cans of sweet corn annually, and not a can is packed west of the Missouri River. For the most part it comes from Maine, New York and Iowa. Last spring I procured Hickok and Early Crosby corn seed from New York state canneries and had a little planted near Medford. Those who tasted it said it was the sweetest and best corn they ever ate. We expect peas and beans to be equally good in this soil and climate.
    We wish to start right and not be handicapped by lack of capital now or later. We want to make all provision in advance to can 100,000 cans the coming season, double that quantity the second year, and from three to five hundred thousand cans the third year. The Salem cannery is reported to have canned 600,000 cans last year and to have had their pack all sold early in the season.
    Our proposition to the people of Medford and vicinity is to organize a $10,000 stock company, and Mr. Coleman and myself will take half the stock if the balance is subscribed locally. We propose to call for fifty percent only to be paid up about May 15th, and in no event will there be a call for more than $6000 this year. Possibly we may not find it necessary to call for payment of any additional the second year, but we wish it understood that we shall probably call for the balance of forty or fifty percent to be paid up about May 15, 1902
    We expect to declare dividends from the start and regularly, and nothing that can be thought of for the Rogue River Valley is bound to be a more certain paying investment than a cannery well conducted. We will employ about thirty hands the first season, but this should soon grow to employ 100 persons. Not only would a cannery relieve the glut which has always been here in a grade of fruit just below the grade which will alone bear transportation east, but it would enable many people of moderate means to get a good living from three- to ten-acre tracts in small fruits and vegetables under intensive cultivation. It will serve to get our farmers out of wheat raising and into more profitable lines.
    We have also a proposition from the Ashland creamery to put in a skimming station here if 2000 pounds of milk can be depended on daily, with the understanding that when our dairymen have built up a sure supply of five or six thousand pounds daily Mr. Perozzi will gladly join with us, in putting in a creamery here. As we will have abundant power we could easily handle this and probably should if sufficient patronage could be assured. While a creamery would be of considerable benefit to the farmers hereabouts, it would never employ more than two or three persons, and in a strictly industrial sense would never benefit Medford as a cannery would.
    It should be a comparatively easy matter to get the balance of the capital stock subscribed here under terms we offer, particularly as ample time is given to raise the money. We do not wish or expect any man to cramp or burden himself, nor should this be necessary with the wealth and population hereabouts. Besides, the chances are all in favor of the stock being a good-paying investment, and to Medford will be worth five times what it will cost.        Respectfully,

    Since it has been positively determined that a fruit cannery is to be established in Medford renewed interest in the enterprise is manifest on every side. In order that our people may know what to grow and expect a market for, we have asked Mr. Chas. Pierce, one of the projectors of the cannery enterprise, to furnish these columns with items bearing upon the matter, and he has this week given us the following:
    "It is now settled beyond doubt that a cannery will be permanently operated in the Rogue River Valley, of a capacity at least sufficient to supply the demands of the Southern Oregon and northern California territory, with a fair prospect of our being able to reach the whole coast territory with some products.
    "We are advised by the Southern Pacific officials, and our own experience has taught the same, to push such articles as do not require sugar in the canning, for trade conditions are such that on sugar we cannot hope for any reduction in existing freight rates. However, this handicap will not prevent our canning a considerable amount of pears, peaches, cherries, berries, etc., where sugar is a main component, for the local territory, and there will be occasional years when we can pack these fruits for outside territories. This year if we had been properly equipped we could have canned and sold several carloads of gallon pie apples and gallon pie blackberries at some profit, but this requires a much more perfect organization than we were working under. Our advices are that there will be a large and steady demand for these two articles, also gallon pie peaches for many years to come, and as no sugar is required we shall not hesitate to pack them liberally when we can buy the raw material at reasonable prices.
    "In this connection I would advise the planting of a largely increased acreage of blackberries in the valley. The Lawton blackberry seems best adapted to general purposes; the Kittatinny berry gives considerable promise, but is not yet thoroughly tested in this soil and climate; the Evergreen berry we particularly advise against, as it is small and unattractive and runs largely to core and seed, and comes in bearing too late for canner's use, at a time when peaches and tomatoes occupy his attention fully. It is not likely that we could ever use the Loganberry extensively for canning, though if we embrace preserving in glass later on, this berry would be in larger demand.
    "Blackberry culture has proven extremely profitable at Ashland, and common report is that the yield is often above $500 per acre. The entire Applegate district and portions of the Little Butte, Wagner Creek, Anderson Creek, Thompson Creek and Griffin Creek districts seem splendidly adapted for raising blackberries, not to mention a considerable part of the main valley where the water supply is reliable. We feel that this is one branch of small fruit culture we can safely encourage the grower in undertaking.
    "As to strawberries we are in doubt. If any certain means of protecting against spring frosts could be devised to work economically which would materially increase the yield, there is no doubt of a cannery's ability to work up the surplus, but prices are beyond the reach of a cannery at present. The market does not warrant our encouraging a decided increased acreage in raspberries, gooseberries or currants, though a small increase would help a cannery.
    "Through the Mail we shall shortly have more to say about vegetable supplies, which will always be our main pack, being most staple, requiring no sugar and being obtainable in quantities."
Medford Mail, November 15, 1901, page 2


    Chas. Pierce, the gentleman who is arranging to establish and fruit and vegetable cannery in Medford, has purchased W. S. and H. M. Crowell's interest in the Palm-Whitman cigar factory in this city. Mr. Pierce is a hustling man of business, and the Mail is heartily glad he is to become a permanent resident of our city. He has progressive ideas on business lines and as well a determination to carry his projects and enterprises to a point where good is sure to come to himself and the people generally.
    An article from Chas. Pierce on tomato culture in the valley will appear in these columns next week. The tomato, Mr. Pierce figures, will in a few years be one of the leading revenue earners in this part of the county.
"Additional Local," Medford Mail, November 22, 1901, page 6

    Chas. H. Pierce, of Ashland Canning and Preserving Company, who is also director of the "experiment station" for the Fish Lake Ditch Company on the edge of the "desert" at Agate, has been putting in considerable time lately at the station, and reports all prospects as pleasing there in the line of vegetable and fruit production. The large strawberry plantation made this spring. as well as the tomatoes and the peach trees, are all thriving by the aid of the water from the ditch available there now. Mr. Pierce is promised a busy season of it attending to the work in connection with the operation of his extensive cannery plant there and the gardens, too.--Ashland Tidings.
Medford Mail, June 14, 1907, page 1


    C. C. Johnson has gone to Medford for the summer, where he will superintend the building of C. H. Pierce's fine residence.
"Chaparral Scratches," Medford Mail, June 21, 1907, page 3

    The sale of lots, or small tracts of land, in Pierce & Son's Medford Heights addition, east of Medford, began yesterday morning and will continue all of today. Fully 100 prospective owners visited the tract, and a dozen or more lots were either sold outright or were contracted for. Mr. Pierce says that the success of the sale was due to the Morning Mail.
    This tract of land is situated just two miles east of the center of Medford, or a little better than one mile from the corporate limits of the city. It contains 370 acres of land and is most admirably located for a colony of small homes. It has been divided into tracts of from two to 20 acres, and these are being sold at from $90 to $150 per acre. The soil, Mr. Pierce, who has investigated, states, varies in depth from three to nine feet. The most of it is very suitably located for tree planting and homemaking; it has been provided with streets, or lanes, so that each tract has an outlet to a country road; there is a school house on the land, and an old, bearing orchard on a few acres of it. The owners of the tract have reserved about 30 acres of the tract for park purposes. This is situated on the south part of the land, and here they propose clearing out all underbrush, leaving only the oaks and other shade trees standing, and maintain a park for the pleasure of those buying tracts of land from them. This park land lies quite high, all of it overlooking the main part of the tract, while near the center of the park tract there is a high butte, from which a view of six towns of the valley may be had, as well as all the prominent orchards, as well as the full length and breadth of the valley. This entire park reserve is covered with oak trees, and the ground lies so high that all of it is well drained.
    Messrs. Pierce & Son do nothing by halves, as was evidenced yesterday. They furnished four automobiles and carriage transportation to all prospective buyers, to and from the tract, and at the noon hour a free luncheon was served.
    Today these same conveyances will be furnished, and more if needed, and they want us to extend an invitation to everybody to enjoy a ride to this very beautiful tract.
Medford Mail, July 17, 1908, page 1

    MEDFORD, Or., Oct. 2.--(Special.)--Excitement prevailed on the streets and in public places this evening, when it became known that oil had been struck two and one-half miles east of Medford. Many persons made haste to purchase property in this district, but found that others had secured options and bought up everything in the neighborhood.
    C. H. Pierce is the owner of 300 acres where the oil discovery has been made. About six weeks ago he started to bore for what he then stated was water, but which he now states was in the hopes of getting oil. He secured the services of H. A. Troxel. an experienced driller, and put down an eight-inch well. At a depth of 50 feet a fair supply of water was struck, but as the contract called for 500 feet the drilling was continued.
    Last Friday night at a depth of nearly 300 feet it was noticed that there was oil on the drill and the following night, at a depth of 305 feet, Mr. Pierce let down a can attached to a wire, and when he pulled it to the surface found it full of oil. He repeated this several times, getting oil every time.
    The oil reaches to within 63 feet of the top of the well. Several experts are said to have made an examination of this well and the oil and are of the opinion that the well will turn out to be a regular gusher. For some time past it had been suspected that there was oil in this vicinity. It could be seen coming out of the ground in small quantities at a spring north and east of where this well is located. About a year ago G. Miller sank a well to a depth of 115 feet on the east edge of the city, but could not use the water because of the oil taste.
Morning Oregonian, Portland, October 3, 1908, page 3


C. H. Pierce & Son (Charles H. and Clarence C.), real estate
R. L. Polk & Co.'s Oregon, Washington and Alaska Gazetteer and Business Directory 1909-10,
page 246


    W. V. Moore, who has served Hotel Moore so ably as clerk for several months, has purchased a one-third interest in the  C. H. Pierce & Co. real estate firm. Mr. Moore is one of the finest, best-natured and genial gentlemen in this city and the Morning Mail wishes him success.
"Local and Personal," Medford Mail, August 13, 1909, page 2


    East of the reservoir and hidden by Medford Heights is the little home and other improvements of A. B. Williams and Charles McGougan, who were the pioneer settlers in the Pierce subdivision. They have a young orchard of about 1000 trees with a good start and are preparing to make their land productive until the trees get to bearing.
    C. E. Cook, the nurseryman, has also made a start along the same lines in that same subdivision, while Mr. Webb and another party are each building small homes in the Barnum tract. Several other parties who have recently purchased small tracts in this neighborhood and about the city reservoir contemplate building in the spring. A recent arrival who purchased a tract just west of Hillcrest is building a barn and later will erect a handsome two-story house on the west slope of the nob on his land.
    Mr. Pierce contemplates extensive improvements on that part of his subdivision, which he has reserved for himself, including Medford Heights. On the top of the heights he proposes to erect an observatory and to park adjoining ground on the east. He is already having the land cleared for this purpose.
"Nob Hill Section Is Rapidly Growing," Medford Mail Tribune, December 22, 1909, page 2




    A. Conro Fiero and Mrs. George Harvey have purchased twenty-three acres on Medford Heights adjoining the city from C. H. Pierce, paying therefor $4600. It is the intention of the new owners to cut it up in suitable tracts and place it on the market with the view of making the Heights one of the choice residence districts of Medford.
The Rogue, March 1910

    KLAMATH FALLS, Or., Oct. 30.--(Special.)--The will of the late Albert C. Hopkins, Representative in Congress of Lock Haven, Pa., who was the owner of about 40,000 acres of timber lands in Jackson and Klamath counties, has been filed for probate with County Clerk DeLap. The property is to go to the widow and two sons, mainly, and is subject to a trust for 20 years, with the widow, Matilda G. Hopkins, son William Hopkins, Thomas R. Weymouth, of Oil City, Pa., and Isaac Shaffer, Jr., trustees.
    To the sons is left $50,000 each if 21 years old at his death, and if they survive the 20-year trust, together with the widow, they are to get the property, save $100,000 which is to be the widow's. Shaffer is to get $5000 a year as trustee and the other trustees not less than $3000 a year each. If the son, William, died, according to the will, Joseph G. Pierce, of Klamath Falls, a nephew, was to be trustee in his stead, but Pierce died a short time ago. If the sons do not survive the trust the widow is to get three-tenths of the estate and the remainder is to be divided mostly among nephews and nieces, including Joseph G. Pierce and Charles H. Pierce, of Medford, nephews. If Shaffer serves as trustee 20 years he is to have $25,000 and a proportionate sum for service less than that time.
    Of the 40,000 acres of timber land Hopkins owned in Klamath and Jackson counties, this county has 32,089 acres, assessed at $599,262. If the county assessment rate is the same this year as last the Hopkins timber holdings will pay $8389.66. As the state inheritance tax is in no case less than 1 percent, assuming that the 8000 acres of timber land in Jackson County are assessed as high as the Klamath County acreage, the state will collect about $8000 as a tax on the inheritance.
Morning Oregonian, Portland, October 31, 1911, page 5