Medford won a [baseball] game last Sunday from Ashland, and by dint of having three of Central Point's players to help them. Nash, Sanderson and Ross went up and helped our near neighbors to stand off the "Chawtawquans," and the stunt was accomplished without much trouble. The three Pointers each packed in a good tally or two, and it is whispered around that Sanderson played a mean trick on Ashland's pitcher when he stole home from third while the curve artist was "winding up" and actually beat the ball to home plate.
Central Point Herald, June 18, 1908, page 4


    Five miles north of Phoenix is the rapidly growing little city of Medford, practically in the center of the valley and with a wealth of farms and orchards surrounding it. Medford in population ranks next to Ashland and is destined to be the commercial center of the valley. Its growth is rapid and substantial. A short line of railroad connects it with Jacksonville to the west and the Crater Lake railroad has its junction with the S. P. road here and now extends northeast to Eagle Point and is intended to open up a fine body of timber to the northeast. . . . The foregoing marks the distinctive features of Ashland, while Medford's distinguishing feature is its central location in the valley and its consequent advantage as a commercial center. There ought not to be any feeling of rivalry between these two growing little cities, for that in which each excels is not a matter of competition between them, and yet there seems to be a senseless feeling of rivalry with its usual accompaniments.
C. B. Watson, Prehistoric Siskiyou Island and Marble Halls of Oregon, 1909, page 39. This excerpt was printed in the Ashland Tidings on January 21, 1909, page 3

    Friendship between the cities of the Rogue River Valley should be fostered and encouraged. What is good for the valley is good for every town in the valley. If Medford prospers and develops it will add taxable value to Jackson County, thus affording more money without additional burden for the building of good roads and general public improvements throughout the county. The same is true if all the other towns of the valley materially develop. Therefore the interest of the several towns is identical, and no local jealousies should exist. A certain rivalry is healthful, just as brisk competition in the trades whets the wits of competition and results in greater activity. But there is a vast difference between wholesome rivalry and downright splenic jealousy. The first stimulates, the last destroys.
    The writer has not been in Jackson County long, but he has been here long enough to learn that unwarranted jealousy exists between the towns here, and that this feeling of bitterness is extremely harmful to the proper development of the valley. There are many things which contribute to this unwise bitterness, but the chief may be found in the attitude of the Medford press toward other towns and cities in Jackson County.
    A few illustrations will suffice.
    It has been a fixed policy of the Medford press, at least since the writer has had the opportunity to observe it, to ignore and overshadow every section outside of Medford. For example: A ranch is sold at Central Point or at Eagle Point, the Medford papers persistently report the sale as "near Medford." When occasion demands the mention of the mineral waters of the valley, the report locates them "near Medford," and so it goes throughout the list. If a query about Ashland's Chautauqua assembly should fall into the hands of a Medford reporter he would at once send out the information that the Chautauqua Park was "near Medford."
    That is a narrow policy, from a newspaper standpoint, and is selfish, unwarranted, and tends to augment bitterness and resentment.
    Lately the city of Medford has had up a proposition to build a concrete bridge across Bear Creek within the limits of the city. The writer knows nothing of the merits of the project. Whether it is legal or illegal, feasible or impracticable, we do not know, nor do we care. A citizen of Barron precinct objected to the methods and threatened to enjoin the county court from appropriating money for the project. At once the Medford Tribune flew into print with a libelous, unjust and untruthful statement that "Ashland opposed the Medford bridge." There is absolutely no truth in the statement. Benton Bowers, who owns more property below Medford, ten to one, than he owns at or near Ashland, on his own responsibility, declared that if the county court attempted to proceed with the matter he would enjoin its action. Ashland had nothing to do with it, and the Mail Tribune well knew it, but following out its policy to damn everything outside of Medford, it flew into print, with big type, charging that Ashland was antagonistic to Medford's proposed development.
    Pursuing the policy of such unwarranted newspaper attacks on the other cities of the valley, how can Medford expect but that a feeling will grow up against it? Bitterness does exist and none are more responsible for it than those who should be most interested in the development of Medford.
    It is well understood that the Medford Mail Tribune's last attack on Ashland was purely political. It was done in the hope of leading the people of Medford to believe that Ashland was antagonistic to every material interest of that town to the end that it should have an influence on the coming election for county officers.
    If the Medford newspapers change their policy of belittling every enterprise outside of Medford, and attempting to bury every other section of the county in the interest of Medford, this feeling of bitterness will soon be changed to one of friendship, and the valley will be blessed and prosper by reason of it.
Ashland Tidings, May 13, 1912, page 2

    MEDFORD, Or., July 13.--(Special.)--A campaign of good will and reconciliation with Ashland was started today when, headed by the Medford band, 500 citizens celebrated Medford day at the Chautauqua in that city. Heretofore, Medford and Ashland have not been inclined to be enthusiastic over each other.
    At a recent meeting of the Medford Commercial Club it was voted to change this policy of antagonism and make Medford day at Ashland a real Medford day. Ashland welcomed the spirit of reconciliation, and a large crowd met the special train at the Ashland station. Before returning tonight Ashland gave Medford three cheers and a tiger, for the first time in the history of the Rogue River Valley.
Morning Oregonian, Portland, July 14, 1913, page 7

    It is to be hoped that a large Medford delegation will attend the meeting of the Southern Oregon Development League at Grants Pass, November 6.
    Extensive preparations have been made to entertain Jackson County visitors, and the community of interest which should unite all southern Oregon demands hearty cooperation upon the part of Medford.
    Rivalry between the cities is a thing of the past--outgrown with the village era. The hammer should be forever laid away, and all communities work together for the common good. Every community presents attractions of its own, and they are not enhanced by depreciating those of neighboring localities. A gain for one is a gain for all.
    With some justice, Grants Pass claims that Medford has withheld cooperation in the past, while Grants Pass has striven, by sending large delegations, to show its friendliness and willingness in cooperative efforts.
    Let Medford show Grants Pass a touch of the Medford spirit by sending a trainload of boosters to view the progress of her sister city. Where Ashland sends a car full, let Medford send a trainload.
    The opportunity is at hand. Let everyone take advantage of it and show that Medford does not do things by halves.
Medford Mail Tribune, November 1, 1913, page 4


    Roughneckism had another inning Saturday night, when bad eggs were thrown at the special car carrying the Ashland rooters by village cutups whose acts have been noticeable for some time past in petty vandalism. Nothing was hit but the side of the car. The local high school will send an apology to the Ashland school for the misdeed, and if the culprits are caught punishment will be inflicted.
"Local and Personal," Medford Mail Tribune, November 23, 1914, page 2


    The Medford Sun, in a recent issue (perhaps thinking to be sarcastic) refers to Jacksonville as maintaining poise, in these words: "That sleepy and sleeping village never ruffled a hair at the news that the lost channel had been found." The people of this city may be sleepy, but when we make up our minds to some course we stay with it. Notice the adoption of our new charter by an almost unanimous vote, and without any hot air merchants legging for it either. Compare Medford's vote on her proposed charter Tuesday after months of agitation and column and column of editorial matter, letters from prominent citizens (?), etc. in both papers. Yes, we have poise--something that Medford seems to lack.
Jacksonville Post, January 16, 1915, page 2


    A deplorable lack of harmony exists between the cities of southern Oregon. It reminds one of village rivalry that should have been long ago outgrown. The prosperity of one city in no way injures the others. Each occupies a field of its own. None can secure prosperity by denying the others. Their material interests can only be served by working unitedly for the common good.
    An attempt was made to pool the interests of southern Oregon at the San Francisco exposition, but after making an auspicious start, Klamath County withdrew and went it alone--and has not been a gainer thereby.
    This petty rivalry and jealousy is shown nowhere so plainly as in attempts to secure the benefits of automobile tourist traffic. Grants Pass has for several years made an organized attempt to divert travel from the Pacific Highway to the coast route, hoping thereby to reap a benefit at the expense of other Oregon towns. Josephine County has refused to cooperate in the movement to make the Pacific Highway a first-class boulevard. Crater Lake tourists are directed to take the Gold Hill-Debenger Gap road--a makeshift highway, and Gold Hill cooperates in the effort to keep tourists away from Medford by big signs along the road--efforts that cannot profit either Grants Pass or Gold Hill.
    Roseburg has retaliated against Grants Pass discrimination by more or less successful efforts to induce the state highway commission to adopt a new route for the Pacific Highway via Glendale and Tiller to Trail, thence to Central Point, which besides being many miles shorter, cuts out Josephine County altogether. This road runs most of the way through the forest reserve, which pays no taxes and will not benefit a settler. Roseburg hopes thereby to reap the benefit of Crater Lake traffic, although that city has done nothing to make Crater Lake accessible or develop it.
    Klamath Falls has for years hammered the Rogue River Valley country. Big signs along the Pacific Highway advertise the tourist to take the Ager route to Crater Lake, and at Klamath Falls every effort is made to keep the tourist from returning via this region, while the central Oregon route is boosted. As a result, the tourist carries away the impression that Oregon is a desert.
    At the meeting of the congressional rivers and harbors commission at Crescent City this week, Grants Pass orators unfortunately allowed their prejudice to get the best of facts by asserting that the Illinois Valley would produce more tonnage than the Rogue River Valley for a railroad, and other assertions along the same line. Great care was exercised that the congressmen should not be given a glimpse of this section, which really will furnish most of the traffic.
    There is a glimpse of hope in the fact that harmony, or near harmony, prevails between Ashland and Medford. Citizens of both towns realize finally that the prosperity of the one is reflected in the other and that what helps one helps both. The same community-of-interest sentiment should exist among all the sections of southern Oregon.
    The tourist is capable of judging for himself as to the respective merits of the various localities. Give him the opportunity. Say a good word whenever possible for neighboring cities--for nothing disgusts the stranger more than the knocker.
    There is no surer way to homeseekers and investors out of the country than to talk pessimistically about it yourself, and next to knocking your own city, the cardinal sin is to knock your neighboring city.
Medford Mail Tribune, August 21, 1915, page 4


    Our esteemed contemp of the Medford Sun seems to be rather peeved that the price of Jacksonville lots has not fallen since the beginning of the European war and devotes about two-thirds of a column of its valuable space (?) to bewailing the fact that values are permanent in Jacksonville while Medford property has been going down the toboggan until it has reached the point where some owners are offering a quitclaim deed to Medford lots provided the grantee will assume the improvement assessments. No wonder our friend is fretful; better invest your money in Jacksonville real estate, where values are fixed on the basis of actual worth and not on hot air.
"Local News," Jacksonville Post, September 11, 1915, page 3


    Speaking before the Medford Commercial Club Monday evening, C. W. Robison, representing the Portland Chamber of Commerce, extended the olive branch as follows:
    "You accuse us of trying to hog it all. We plead guilty. You say we have worked against Astoria and Southern Oregon. That is true. But those were errors of the past and have nothing to do with the future. Let bygones be bygones and let us join hands in furthering the welfare of the state. We have reorganized the Portland Chamber of Commerce, we have 2000 young men enrolled as members. They come with a new spirit, and that new spirit is the spirit of team play, of cooperation, of mutual help and assistance. We realize that Portland can only grow and prosper as every community grows and prospers. What helps you helps us, and what helps us helps you. Nothing can be accomplished by a continuation of the spirit of antagonism and enmity. Anything can be accomplished if we bury the hatchet, get together, and united put our shoulders to the wheel for a better and more prosperous state."
    Sounds very fine. Every little while a similar burst of hot air from the metropolis cheers the small towns. Every little while we are discovered anew by a glad-hand junket, and sad experience has taught us that one of these olive branch extensions precedes some new activity to dwarf the development of the state for Portland's benefit.
    Some years ago a special train of Portland business men, representing the Portland commercial bodies, were entertained and feted all along the line. It was followed by intervention by the Portland Chamber of Commerce in the suits brought by Medford to secure more equitable freight rates, and the Portland Chamber of Commerce opposed Medford's contentions before the state railroad commission and the Interstate Commerce Commission--for fear that Medford and other towns would disturb Portland's jobbing monopoly.
    Portland's latest cooperation in building up the industries of the state is an effort to injure the lumber mills of the Willamette Valley by enabling Portland mills to ship to California points as cheaply as those located nearer California, and thus force a concentration of lumber operations in Portland at the expense of the state's development. This effort to "make the state grow and prosper" is thus set forth in an Associated Press dispatch:
    "PORTLAND, Oct. 22.--As the result of new lumber rates made effective today by the Southern Pacific Company between Willamette Valley points in Oregon to interior California points, protest has been filed on behalf of Portland lumber dealers with the Interstate Commerce Commission and a hearing will be conducted by an examiner for the commission here November 18.
    "Under the new tariff Willamette Valley points are blanketed under a rate of 17½ cents a hundred pounds for lumber to the California points affected. The rate from Portland to the same points is 21½ cents."
    Same old game. Can the leopard change his spots or the Ethiopian his skin?
Medford Mail Tribune, October 23, 1915, page 4


    In replying to the Mail Tribune's comments upon Portland's efforts to close the lumber mills of the Willamette Valley by securing preferential rates for Portland, the Oregonian says:
    "There is an opinion in Portland that Portland cannot and will not grow unless the state grows. Any lack of prosperity in Southern Oregon, or any part of Oregon, is certain to find its direct reflection here. It is not true that Portland dwarfs the activity of any part of Oregon for its own benefit. Yet undeniably that is the belief of many good citizens at Medford. It is unfortunate for them, for Portland and for the state, that it has a newspaper like the Mail Tribune, which has deliberately and continuously sought to foment discord with Portland and practically all of Oregon outside the Rogue River Valley. It might be well for Medford to indulge in a candid survey of the situation so as to determine how much of responsibility for the ill feeling, if any, in Medford toward Portland rests with its own vicious little newspaper. It will discover that there is no similar ill-will here. There is no reason why there should be."
    The Oregonian resorts to barefaced falsehood to cover the sins of the metropolis and dodges the issue by attacking the Mail Tribune for having exposed the Pecksniffian hypocrisy of Portland in promising cooperation in the upbuilding of the state while doing its utmost to destroy its development. The Mail Tribune is not an issue, and the compliments paid it are to be expected from the recognized organ of plutocratic predatory privilege, the mouthpiece of "malefactors of great wealth" as well as metropolitan greed.
    "It is not true that Portland dwarfs the activity of any part of Oregon for its own benefit," says the Oregonian.
    Then why did the Portland chamber of commerce intervene in behalf of the Southern Pacific against Medford in the six suits brought by Medford before the state railroad commission and the Interstate Commerce Commission for more equitable freight rates? Why did Portland pay the expenses of attorneys to fight at Salem and Washington the efforts of Baker and Medford to secure a square deal? Simply because Portland feared that her jobbing monopoly would be impaired if interior towns were given a chance to utilize their geographical advantages and develop.
    Why has Portland spent tens of thousands of dollars and fought for years the efforts of Astoria and Columbia River ports to secure the same terminal rates granted all Puget Sound ports, which in consequence have six times the commerce of Portland and Columbia River ports? Simply because Portland figured that she could monopolize this traffic at the expense of other towns and prosper by checking development elsewhere.
    Why is Portland today appealing to the Interstate Commerce Commission to force the same rates for lumber from Portland to California that the mills of the Willamette Valley and further south pay--mills that have many miles' shorter haul? Simply to give Portland a monopoly of the lumber business of the state by throttling its development elsewhere in Oregon.
    Why do Portland jobbers combine to kill new industries started outside the metropolis by underselling at less than cost the product manufactured in the territory affected? The case of the Valley Candy Company in Medford is a specific instance, but many could be cited. Simply to strengthen Portland's monopoly by throttling the development of the state.
    What does Portland do for Oregon except milk it? Do Portland banks loan money in Oregon? Does Portland capital develop needed industries? Has Portland capital constructed needed new railroads? Not yet, though an effort to develop central Oregon is under way--at least on paper. Portland has plenty of money for skyscrapers--let us hope she has [a] little for railroads.
    The list of Portland sins against Oregon is a long one. Innumerable instances could be cited. She has been caught with the goods. But her own lack of commerce and loss of prosperity proves that she is committing hara-kiri. And the last defense the Oregonian can make is resort to falsehood and abuse.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 28, 1915, page 4


    Medford papers take another fling at Jacksonville this week by a pretended summary of an article by David W. Hazen, published in the Portland Telegram Monday. Mr. Hazen did not state that "it has more people in its cemetery than its corporate being, due to waiting for the Southern Pacific to come," nor did he mention the Southern Pacific in any way. The Jacksonville cemetery is the resting place of many hundreds of people, many more than the number stated in Mr. Hazen's article, people who once lived in Jacksonville, Ashland, Medford, Central Point and different parts of the valley, and because of this and the natural beauties of our cemetery far exceeding those of Medford's burying ground, some smart aleck thinks to air his grouch and show the smallness of his soul by another sneer at Jacksonville's people, the living and the dead.
"Local News," Jacksonville Post, August 19, 1916, page 3


    Captain Kaspar Kubli, who was born up on the Applegate near the mining village, spent his boyhood days dodging the Jacksonville boys who were "spoilin' fer a scrap."
"When Jacksonville Was Up and Coming," Jacksonville Post, June 16, 1917, page 2




    The Medford High School fight was greatly enjoyed (?) by the "country rubes" at Trail Tuesday, also the damage done at that place, where they broke widnows, fences, gas barrels were tipped over, faucets broken, gas spilled and yards littered where students were sick.
"Trail Items," Medford Mail Tribune, June 1, 1923, page 10


    One more thing I would like to impress on the people's minds is this: In going to Crater Lake you don't have to go to Medford to start. From Central Point to Crater Lake is 80 miles and from Medford it is the same distance, and the five miles from here to Medford is saved. The Medford papers will tell you most any old thing. The fact is us old-timers would rather be hanged in Central Point than die a natural death in Medford.
Simpson Wilson, "Plant Turns Out Gold Brick," Oregonian, Portland, July 17, 1923, page 10

Jacksonville Post, November 5, 1926, page 1

    More of the recent rowdyism resulting from the bitter athletic rivalry between the Medford and Ashland high schools is published in the latest issue of the Medford Hi-Times, issued yesterday, under the heading on the first page, "History Made in Addled Egg Riot," as follows:
    "The battle cry rang out upon the night air as the enemy approached. This eventful battle took place on the eve of the basketball game between Medford and the so-called 'Lithia City' quintet. Directly after the contest the Lithians congregated at the old junior high school. The Medfordites attacked them with the aid of a Chevrolet truck which was entirely covered with the attackers and their ammunition.
    "After many eggs, pears, and numerous other decayed substances had exchanged hands (and heads) the fight was suddenly interrupted by a member of the efficient Ashland police force. 'Stop, or I'll shoot.' The congregation did stop--stopped waiting for him. The Medfordites got separated in their haste, which tended to reduce their fighting powers.
    "One party ran (and scrambled) up the hill and soon came into sight about 40 feet directly over this outclassed personage. We certainly hope he successfully removed all effects of the volley that followed.
    "While this party was effecting a getaway the other portion was holding a race among themselves up the main drag.
    "After thinking that they were safe out on the high-drive they suddenly became aware that there was cider in the air. Sploosh, sploosh. Thus with a resounding smack our heroes held a brief interview with approximately two bushels of putrid apples. Not daunted by the sudden attack in their front and flank our brave young warriors suddenly made tracks in the opposite direction.
    "After many repeated assaults the wearers of the laurel wreath returned home again.
    "If there had only been some girls to cry shrilly, the result would have been different."
    Then on the editorial page of the Medford Hi-Times appears the following editorial condemning Medford High School students for their part in these deplored rivalry affairs:
    "It is to be regretted that the students of Medford High School cannot resist the temptation to give the school a bad name in the eyes of the townspeople of both Medford and Ashland, by journeying to the latter city and destroying property. It has been a regular occurrence for a certain class of would-be students to do this with the aid of various decayed substances, notably the rotten egg and the spoiled apple. There is nothing gained by this wholesale destroying of clothing and other property, besides the small satisfaction given the offenders in seeing their missiles strike some innocent pedestrian or car.
    "Although students from Ashland High School may have started the violence this year by mobbing and seriously injuring small students from Medford, it was not necessary for the local people to try to get revenge. It would be better for the schools if an agreement could be reached in regard to this subject of dispute."
Medford Mail Tribune, February 23, 1928, page 3

NEAR RIOT ENDS GAME AT TALENT

Parker Says Medford Up to Old Trick

Twenty Years from Now
APRIL 4, 1967