4 The Nawt-Rvlew, Roiebura, Qr--Thur. May 19, 1949
Published Dally Exoopt Sunday by the
Newi-Reviaw Company, Inc.
Kntarei ticonl cl.u matter Mar T, ll. l Iba I alilae at
Raeebaff, Orefan, ander met al March I, lilt
CHARLES V. STANTON -sTP! BDWIN L. KNAPP
Editor Manager
M amber of tha Aaaoolatad Praaa, Oragon Nawapapar Publisher
Anoclation, tha Audit Buraau of Clroulatlcna
Bvaraiaatad b; WF.ST-HOI.UDAY CO., INC., fflo.i la N.w Yark, Caleaaa,
lu rratioleaa, Ani.lee, Saallla, F.rllaad, Ik Laila.
aim CBIPTION BATES la Ortion Br Halt Taf Yaar li.lt, da maatka M.M,
thru month. i.M, Br Clrr Carrier rer raw Jlt.H (It iltaank laaa tkaaj
na raar, pel maalh U.M. Oolilae Oreiea B Mall Tar jeer II.M, als
taeniae a.?, thraa mealaa IS.7a.
Whence All But Him Had Fled
YOU'RE BEING ROBBED
By CHARLES V. STANTON
Twenty years ago an individual, or individuals, committed
a crime which has cost the people of Douglas County more
than' $20,000,000. The exact loss resulting from this crime
has never been accurately determined, nor have the crimi
nals ever been apprehended. In fact, it would be impossible
to inventory the loss with any degree of accuracy, because
the amount keeps growing with the years. Another sizable
sum must be added to the total this year.
Twenty million dollars is a considerable amount to be
taken from a public treasury. Had this sum been stolen from
a bank, or had it been secured through fraud or stick-up, the
nation's entire police force would have been alerted and as
signed the task of apprehending the criminals. But because
the crime was of an ordinary pattern, it aroused little public
interest, and even today many people do not realize they
have been robbed. Yet the public loss stands at $20,000,000
on a very conservative inventory. If all the intangibles could
be listed, the amount would be far greater.
It was In the fall of 1929 that "person or persons un
known," to use the customary phrase, set a string of incen
diary fires in the Beaver Lake area on the South Umpqua
district of the Umpqua National Forest,
It had been a dry fall and the forests were like tinder.
Yet, because there had been earlier rains, a major part of
the forest protection crew had been withdrawn.
The incendiary fires were strung out over a considerable
area. They gained great headway before fire fighters could
be assembled, equipped and moved into the scene. .
The puny efforts of men, however, had no effect upon the
blaze which raged out of control for many days, burning
through from 6,000 to 7,000 acres of mature, virgin, mer
chantable timber.
If the Beaver Lake timber had not been burned it would
have a stumpage value today in excess of $1,500,000, for the
fire destroyed more than 100,000,000 board feet of mer
chantable timber, which, because of its quality and accessi
bility, would be in ready demand today at a minimum of $15
' per thousand stumpage.
But the stumpage price of timber is the least of its values.
To process 100,000,000 feet of logs into finished products
would yield many times the stumpage cost,, particularly
taking into account payrolls, supplies, services, profits, etc,
Consequently, an inventory shows tangible losses in excess
of $20,000,000, simply because criminally-minded incendi-
arists lit fires with a few matches.
But. what about intangibles?
The Beaver Lake fire had an immediate effect upon fish
life in the South Umpqua River.
Loss of water retention on the land caused higher flood
peaks and lower summertime flow. Summertime water tem
peratures rose beyond fish life tolerance. Silt damaged
spawning beds. Ashes washed into the stream changing
chemical conditions. Down timber blocked tributaries nor
maily used for spawning.
Who can evaluate the fishery loss resulting from the
original Beaver Lake fire?
Other factors are to be considered in loss of topsoil, flood
damage, loss of sub-irrigation, etc.
Because of the large area covered by the fire, there has
been little reproduction, except in the fringe area. The
center of the old burn is a tangle of snags, down timber
and willow brush.
No the 1929 robbery is having further tangible results,
Fire, believed to have originated from Rn electrical storm,
is sweeping through the old burn. Fortunately it is not burn
ing in good timber, but instead is located in the central
mass of old snags and brush. To date the loss to merchant
able timber has been small. But there is a most critical
threat to the fine timber surrounding the old burn if the
fire is not promptly controlled.
Approximately 250 men have been moved into the area
to fight the fire. They are being paid out of the public
pocket at rates ranging from 90 cents to $1.50 per hour. In
addition, supplies amount to many thousands of dollars. So
we must add another entry into the "lost" column of the
Beaver Lake crime.
If the public only could be brought to renlize that every
forest fire results in actual monetary loss loss evaluated
not only in the value of timber, but also in jobs, homes, busi
ness, profits, revenue to the county, community security,
etc. man-caused fires would be vastly reduced in number
and the incendiarist would be treated ns a common criminal.
But how many people in Douglas County truly realize that
the person or persons unknown who set the Beaver Lake fire
in 1929 robbed the area and its people of at least $20,000,000
and probably more, and that the loss still is mounting?
By Viahnett S. Martini
U. S. Bureaucrats Have 120 Million Bones, Claim
Federal bureaucrats work for
120,000,000 bosses, aeciarea Mer
man Mallsoff, In a humorous
cnnin fit Hip Roseburg Toast-
masters Club Tuesday. As one of
four speakers on the program,
he recalled his own experience
as a "bureaucrat" In Washington,
and answering to demands of the
members of Congress represen
tatives ol the "120,000,000 boss
es." -
Mntlsoff pointed out that peo
ple have "some tolerance" for city
nl slate emnloves. but less for
federal employes, even when the
latter are helping administer
laws which are "clear and aim
pie." He said he sometimes felt
as If he were for working for
210,000.000 bosses.
Dr. K. VV, Carter served as
toatsmaster of the evening. Other
speakers Included Pat Turner,
who recalled his experiences In
Nicaragua 20 years ago, while
serving with the Marine Corps:
Bob Harvle, who extolled the
Scandinavian ptople in a speech
prepared for reading on Norwe
gian Independence day, May 17,
and Phil Hnith, who reminded
his listeners of the American
Legion poppy sale and "the little
red flowers that grow by the
fingers of disabled veterans."
Pythons and cobras are par
ticularly reverenced by mem
bers of the African Masai tribe.
Recalling a year In which I
labored through a course in
civics, I am discouraged. For
one shining Item I gleaned out
of It or so I thought until I
read a recent AP dispatch was
one concerning the viewpoint of
a United States Senator.
It was my Impression that such
a dignitary, entrusted with so
high an office, and so Important
a place in the watch-tower of our
national government, would
think FIRST of the welfare of
his country as a whole before he
was swayed by pressure from his
own state. But alas,' I must be
confused? For no less a per
sonage than Senator Harry Byrd
of Virginia of all places, too!
Is quoted In a recent AP report
as declaring: "I owe my alleg
iance to my constituency In Vir
ginia. So long as I remain in
the Senate, I will vote as my
conscience dictates and to repre
sent the wishes of my con
stituents" who, I presume, are
Virginians?
Well, I wouldn't know, of
course, knowing nothing what
ever of politics. But I love to
read about the early days of our
country, the days In which, no
longer held tightly by the com
mon cause of winning freedom,
the states broke up into a dis
organized group, loosely held
together, fiercely jealous of each
other, concentrating on what
seemed best . for the Individual
state and never mind the coun
try! But there was one man stand
ing head and shoulders above the
others, because he knew better
than any other one man the
price the states, united, had paid
for their freedom; blessed with
a far-seeing mind that could
think beyond the borders of his
beloved state of Virginia that
man was George Washington. .. . ,
No amount of modern day de
bunking attempts can dim the
shining lustre of that man's
patriotism! Such attempts mere
ly polish the gold, not dim it! All
through the pages of . any his
tory, written at any time in the
years since, we feel the greatness
of Washington's vision, a great
ness transcending "state's rights,"
reaching out for the country as
a whole, knowing the good of
each state is bound up, as each
fibre of a rope, with the good of
the whole.
Was Washington less a Virgin
ian because he was an American
Intent upon, seeing the United
States "one nation, indivisible?"
Congress Hasn't Made Dent In
Heap Of Domestic Legislation
By PETER EDSON
NEA Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON (NEA) President Truman's program for
domestic legislation is In an even worse way than his requests to
Congress for action In the fields of foreign affairs and national
defense.
With four months of the pres
ent session of Congress gone and
less tnan three months to go, it is
Important to review this state of
affairs. It shows how overworked
and mired Congress has become.
It shows how utterly futile was
the filibuster which tied the Son-
ate In knots for several weeks. It
shows how wasteful was the
House Easter recess of 10 days.
It shows how advisable some kind
of reorganization of the legisla
tive machinery would be to per
mit more action on important
matters and less dawdling on in-
consequcntinls.
In 12 messages to Congress this
year, President Truman hns pro-
poseii nearly su domestic meas
ures of Importance. The Congress
itself and the executive depart
ments have proposed another 40.
Thus far only seven have been
acted upon.
Honest differences of opinion
are, or course, responsible for
much of this lark of action. And
In the long run, it may be better
to postpone action than to rush In
and pass laws that may be no
good or definitely harmful.
Major Bills Slumber
Striking some kind of a bal
ance between action and Inaction
is, of course, desldahle. At nrescnt
good case can be made that
there Is too much Inaction on the
Important national issues.
Eight of the President's recom
mended programs concern health
welfare and social security. Hear
ings on all are in progress, hut so
far none has been passed.
Whether any will be passed Is
doubtful.
In the Inventory are found the
many bills to provide health In
surance, extend social security
coverage and benefits, Increasing
unemployment Insurance, con
struct more hospitals, expand
medical education, provide more
benefits to Indians, Puerto Rlcans
and Virgin Islanders, Improve
stream pollution controls and
make the Federal Security
Agency a government department
of cabinet rank.
There are nine major housing
proposals. Extension of rent con
trol is the only one passed, though
the Senate has put through a new
low-rent housing and slum-clearance
bill. This has been In the
works since 19-15, incidentally.
That gives some Idea of how
long It sometimes takes to put a
sound Idea through Congress.
The Senate is far ahead of the
House on education, having pass
ed national science foundation
and federal aid to education bills.
They have also been In the works
lor years. School survey, school
construction and promotion of
higher education bills need action.
Labor Bill Stymied
Ten farm legislation Drooosals
of importance are stymied behind
Secretary of Agriculture Bran-
nan s new plan to stabilize farm
Income. This is one that will nrob-
ably take time to work out.
A dozen pieces of major labor
legislation are also dammed up
behind efforts to revise the Taft
Hartley law. Increase of mini
mum wage, strengthening of the
Labor Department, an Industrial
safety program, regulation of pri
vate employment agencies, estab
lishment of a labor extension
service and a half a dozen meas
ures affecting employment of
women are on the legislative
docket.
Eleven natural resources mer.s
ures none of which seems to
stand much chance at this session
Include American. Columbia
and Missouri River Valley Author
ity plans, extension of reclama
tion laws to Louisiana and
Arkansas, revision of mining
Justice To Drop
Plaint Against
Laughing Diner
HUNTINGTON PARK, Calif.,
May 19. OP) Justice M the
Peace Stanley Moffat the jurist
who likes silence with his soup
says he will ask for dismissal
of a peace disturbance complaint
against a laughing diner.
Moffat signed the complaint
Monday when he was disturbed by
loud laughter during his lunch
in a restaurant.
John G. Frazier, 68, the de
fendant, said he was merely
laughing loudly while tickling the
chin of the cafe's proprietress.
"It didn't sound like laughter
to me," Judge Moffat said last
night. "It sounded like screaming,
at the top of his voice. Like an
Indian whooping on the war
path." The judge, amazed at the furor
his complaint had caused, said
he didn't wish 'to cause , serious
trouble for Frazier. ,:.
"What I had in mind was a re
buke, hardly anything more. Aft
er thinking it through I think I'll
likely ask for a dismissal.".
Frazier's hearing is slated for
today. Moffat originally said he
would press charges.
VITAL STATISTICS
Marriage Licenses
WEATHERSBEE HI GEN
B O T H A M Bobby Gambill
Weathersbee, Sutherlln, and Lu
cille Arline Hlgenbotham, Cen
tral Point.
JAYKKA HILL John Wil
liam Jaykka and Alberta Marie
Hill, both of Oakland.
Divorce Suits Filed
HALEY Gareld T., vs. Ber
nice Haley. Married Feb. 4, 1949,
at Crescent City, Calif. Cruel and
Inhuman treatment charged.
HOGAN Jane G vs. Her
bert M. Hogan. Married at Suth
erlln May 28, 1947. Cruel and in
human treatment charged. Cus
tody of their one child and $30 a
month support asked.
Divorce Suit Filed
WEST Earl M, vs. Genevieve
N. West. Married at Reno, Nev.,
Feb. 6, 1946. Cruel and inhuman
treatment charged. Plaintiff asks
for a property settlement and
that defendant's former name of
Genevieve Norris be restored.
SUES FOR LAND
Demanding judgment for res
titution of premises located at
100 Spruce Street, Roseburg,
Florence A. Garrecht has filed
a suit In Circuit Court against
Martin E. McClay and Moss K.
Brown, doing business as Rose
burg Nursery, Ltd. . The com
plaint states that the defendants
are In possession of a portion of
the property specifically prescribed.
SPREE FINE PAID
Betty Harthelmey, 21, Rose
burg, paid a fine on a drunk
charge when arraigned in Jus
tice Court Monday, reported Jus
tice of Peace A. J. Geddcs.
Albeit Arthur Hudson, 33, of
Kirk, Ore., arrested at Oakland
on a drunk charge, has been
committed to the county jail to
serve until his fine of $40 is paid,
the justice reported. -
Five Suits For
Money Filed In
Circuit Court
The following money action
suits have been filed in Circuit
Court:
1 Pacific Greyhound Lines vs. R.
F. Randall and Robert Miller,
doing business as Randall and
Miller Lumber Co., and Vernon
R. Work. Plaintiff alleges that
on March 31, 1948, a lumber
"hyster" operated by Work for
the lumber company along High
way 99 a half-mile north of
Drain, turned left across the
highway as the bus was pass
ing. The hyster allegedly hit the
bus In the back side window with
its steering arms. Damages of
$744.42 are asked.
Douglas Creditors Association
have filed suit against Kenneth
G. Hong and Edna Grace Hong
to collect assigned accounts in
the sums of $66, $44.06 and
$152.50.
Douglas Creditors have also
filed against Mrs. Minnie Wil
liams, now Mrs. John Schlachter,
to collect assigned . accounts
amounting to $55 and $240.
State Industrial Accident Com
mission has filed against Harvey
Davenport Harrison to collect
allegedly unpaid contributions
amounting to $121.50 plus in
terest and costs.
A. B. White has filed suit
against A. L. Warner, J. C. Oak
man and n. M. Middleton doing
business as Warner Brothers Cir.
cus, to collect $545 as alleged
balance of wages due and unpaid
for a period March 1 to May
11, 194l.
Harmony Reigns In Ashland Council On Budget
ASHLAND, Ore., Mav 19 (.?
Ashland's mayor and city council
men who verbally slugged out dis
agreements among themselves
early in the year, found a new
problem the budget.
They met it in harmony, how
ever, and came up with a tenta
tive answer of getting approval
for more than the legal 6 percent
tax boost. It would be the first
time in the city's history the 6
percent limit was exceeded.
Among other troubles: a $3,500
audit of city books ordered dur-
Inn tha aai-lfnr H-rannino- f Q 1W1
approved for improvement of the
Police Department: $1,800 for a
immi.(- rcuiraalinn nrnoram nnrl
$2,500 for Chamber of Commerce
aid, both already approved; and
need ior auauiunai tinpiuyea. ,
Mavor Tom Williams' January
T- .I,... tVia nffir-a nt rits
rcUUt?l Mini in- ' J
superintendent be abolished was
Tha rvnet ft r-ttV lltili-
apjjiuvcu. i"-"- - j -
ties superintendent ic.uini.-u n.
In the Day's News
(Continued from Page One)
Customers In barber shops
were once provided with musi
cal entertainment.
the prospect of declining Income,
wants to spend more and UP the
taxes.
WHY the difference?
Well, when your Income
drops, you're up the creek In a
leaky boat. When government's
Income drops, It reaches into the
pockets of the people for more.
HERE'S another one for the
book:
. Coast Guard headquarters In
Washington have received this
brief and pithy letter from a citi
zen in Nebraska:
"Dear Sirs: Will you please
send me some of your free air
planes and ships? I will appre
ciate it very much."
a
IT'S a little on the screwball side,
of course. But you can hardly
blame tho guy after what candi
dates for public office have been
promising all these long years.
THERE are screwballs everywhere.
The other dav a scholarlv
gentleman, equipped with docu-
ments attesting to his prominence
as an Egyptologist, persuaded the
French authorities to let him ex
amine inscriptions on the. obe
llsque of Luxor in the Place de la
Concorde, one of Paris' most
famous squares.
The Fire Department obligingly
backed a hook-and-ladder truck
up to the tall shaft of the obe
llsque The "scholar" shinned up
the ladder. When he got to the
top, he pulled a cigaret-llghting j
gadget from his pocket and began
to ballyhoo its merits in the
leather-lunged tones of a barker
at an American side-show,
a
THE firemen, with red faces,
pulled the ladder down, and
the s rowd laughed as crowds the
world over do when somebody
puts something over on the
authorities.
a a
YOU real In this column yestei
day that Eastern Germany
(the Soviet Zone) was exnectert
to turn in at Sunday's and Mon-1
day s two-day election a practl-1
cally unanimous vote for the
Communist slate (which was the
only ticket on the ballot).
SOMETHING SLIPPED. I
Of 12 million valid ballots cast
at the election, FOUR MILLION
WERE MARKED "NO!"
a a a
THE Berlin dispatch telling of
what happened concludes:
"So shocked were the Commu- j
nlst officials that the election re- i
turns were withheld for 20 hours
after the polls closed end the
Snviet-mntrolled newsnanpr voll.
ed 'DOUBLE-CROSS' at their po-
luteal allies in the Eastern Zone."
That IS one for the bock.
WANTED TO BUY LUMBER
Wanted to buy 8' lumber for re-milling. Will accept unedged
2", edged 4", 6 and 8" squares, Number 3 Common and Better.
Contact lumber buyer any night this week from 7:00 P. M. to
9:00 P. M.
WESTERN STATES LUMBER CO.
SUTHERLIN, OREGON
First Plant South of Sutherlln on Hwy. 99
a. r jr"Yt lM Compltlt atocke and prompt delivery
&YI nT"! ' y "A "tell at American
VX V4V-jf.M 0 Steel." Whether h'a tool, and Sttinj.
I ) A VAyLfcM I liFJ- l. tubi"t or ban. have it
- ,M CT- r .i.V'U f53 near
Km yuuu
a your telephone, too, for
we're keyed to givt immediite lerviet.
Send for our complete catalogue.
;
1 1 ..r-r-r- rv
WAREHOUSE CO.
Yoer (all Gees Direct te City Desk
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SCHOOL BUDGET OKd
MEDFORD, May 19. (Jp,
AfoHfnrH-. .i . :
slum!, uisiricu voters
Tuesday OKd, 2S9to 71, a bud-
jiri. venting ior syni.n. it will
boost taxes by $55,622.
laws, development of synthetic
fuels, reorganization of the Na
tional Park Service.
Twenty important bills have to
do with development of transpor
tation and industry and have
little chance for action: The St.
Lawrence Seaway projret. Revi
sion of postal rates. Modernisa
tion of the Coast Guard. Aviation
legislation. Stronger anti-trust
laws.
Finally, there are 11 major civil
rights measures. If they are acted
upon In the 20th century. It will
be nothing short of a miracle.
Phone 100
If you do not receive
your News-Review by
8:15 P. M. call Mr.
Waters before 7:00
P. M.
Phone 100
' Our 'Caterpillar' D4 Tratcor
s equipped with a
Traxcavator bucket and a Hyster-2-drum winch. It's
easily the most versatile machien around our mill.
With the Traxcavator we load hog fuel and other
materials . . . and also use the bucket to blade
around the yard. The winch is used to dredge out
our log pond. The Hyster winch also comes in han
dy for hoisting heavy saws and other equipment up
to the second floor. The tractor will go anywhere
and has plenty of power for all jobs. We should
have bought it years ago!"
That's what C. E. Castle, Manager, Oceanside Lum
ber Co., Inc. has to say about the "Caterpillar" D4
his firm purchased recently.
Equipped with a Traxcavator bucket and a Hyster
winch a "Caterpillar" Diesel Tractor will handle a
bigger variety of jobs than any machine you can
buy . . . around a saw mill, logging operation, crush
ing plant or any job where there is material to be
moved. It costs less than a shovel of comparable
size ond will do more jobs of a greater profit. It
NEVER stands idle!
Your Interstate Man has complete information. Get
in touch with him today!
Tractor and Eauipment Co.
704 N.Jackson ROSE8URG ' Phone 893