News from 100 years ago
The following news items were taken from the Mail Tribune archives 100 years ago
August 21, 1922
ASHLAND CANYON ROAD WORK WILL BE COMPLETED
Ashland, Aug. 21 – Commencing the present season without further delay, it is planned to go ahead with the Ashland Canyon road, both city and county, to join on an equal footing in the remarkable improvement. Members of the town council and county court, reinforced by the presence of state engineer Reyning and road supervisor Bruin, have made a personal inspection of the route that will practically follow the line of the old road modifying some of the grades and widening the ‘width in cases of the safety first principle. The work will be divided into sections, the first extending from the city limits to the upper dams three to four miles in extent, the plan described being to do the work entirely “on the division plan,” in instead of being treated only superficially as a hole. A scenic mountain road that could easily be traversed by motor cars can already be visualized, extending from Ashland to a point on the South Pacific, either at Siskiyou or between this elevation of the summit and Steinman. Completion of this project would allow automobiles to loop the Pacific Highway and return via the canyon route, or vice versa, a trip that would even rival the attractions of the Green Spring Mountain Highway.
MEDFORD LIBRARY NEAR PORTLAND UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN 1921
According to the comparative figures just returned from the Salem State Library, the Medford Public Library is second only to the Portland Library Association in the amount of work done during the year 1921. The Year’s Circulation it was 65,228, which was an increase of 21 percent compared to 1920. The circulation per capita was 11.2 which is the highest in the state; Ashland ranks second with 10 books per capita, and Portland ranks fourth with 7.9.
Jackson County’s library system had a stellar record, second only to Multnomah County, which is served by the Portland Library Association. The total circulation was 85.84, with a book collection of 11,209 volumes. This represented an increase of 234 percent over 1920. The next highest circulation record, held by Umatilla County, was 80,336 with a book collection of 20,923.
The work in Jackson County continues to grow, showing an increase of 40 per cent, so far this year over 1921. It has been decided that the library will have an exhibit at the county fair next month. The intention is to show images of branch libraries, samples of book collections for adults, suggested reading lists and children’s books.
— Alyssa Corman; acorman@rosebudmedia.com
