Old Mill Race Flows
To Promising Future
By DOROTHY HABEL and
GERTRUDE CHERXIS
Back in ’52, when farmers Hil
liard Shaw, John Liesure, and
William Smith decided to dig out
"that darn slough” that ran down
through their places, making sort
of a marsh, and start a little grist
mill from the power the tiny
stream developed, it is highly im
probable that they realized their
little project would have over a
half million dollars spent on it in
the next 80 years and develop into
one of the biggest assets possible
to their native city—the mill race
of Eugene.
In those days the Willamette
river ran noth at Jadkins Point
in a great bend around the other
si6e of what was known as Day
Island and included a tract of more
than 1000 acres. Only a small
brush-choked stream found its way
iJSwn the present course of the
river to form a mill pond near the
location of the present head gates.
How these enterprising pioneers
dug the course of the race is un
known, but it must have been done
by horse shovel and by hand.
Changing Course
In the big flood of ’91, which is
historic in this country because
the river ran down Willamette
street, the river changed its
course, washed out the mill pond,
and cut its present course. At that
time the owners sold their stream
to Chanturn and Midgley, who
operated it as a power project for
17 years.
As late as ’95 the race was
nearly impossible for use for navi
gation. Canoes were unknown on
its surface at that time, for its
crar.nel was so clogged with
stumps and brush that even flat
bottom boats often became stuck.
An interesting dispute over this
famous landmark occurred in
October, 1925, when plans were
made to establish a dance hall
opposite the Anchorage. The Uni
versity student council protested
that the erection of a public dance
hall would change the atmosphere
of the mill race from its pictur
esque quietness to that of jazz,
noise, and lights. The council won
the argument, and the mill race
bubbled on, still undisturbed by
the above-named vices.
Future Development
Plans for future development of
the millrace had their beginning
in 1942, with relocation of the
Southern Pacific railroad tracks,
which brought about changing the
highway and course of the stream.
The war intervened here to halt
[l^f’gress on the highway and con
sequently cease the improvement
program for the mill race.
It was understood at that time
DECEMBER, 1941, the mill race was bathed in winter glory.
PRE-WAR STUDENTS staged a mud-slinging contest by the
race during spring term elections.
that the highway commission was
to fill in a part of the lagoon be
hind the Anchorage. With the mill
race widened at this point and the
lagoon filled, Oregon would then
have a suitable place to hold its
canoe fetes.
Bleachers, planned to seat about
5000, were to be built across the
race from the stage with wings
to provide for an estimated 1000
auxiliary seating capacity. Up the
race from this canoe fete area was
to be an area in which the floats
could be built.
Sports Areas
North and east of the stage an
informal sports area was to be
constructed for softball and simi
lar sports, and west of this would
be a landscaped' passive sports
area.
As to when progress will again
start now that the war is over,
Remember . . .
For a Large Variety of
of Fresh
Sea Foods
Shop At
NEWMAN’S
FISH MARKET
Phone 2309 39 East Bdwy.
To insure Friday delivery, order Thursday!
Dean Karl Onthank declared, “As
soon as the highway commission
completes its project it will be
time for us to begin. For the last
two years money has been accum
ulating in the treasury from stu
dent activities, and it has been
decided that this fund will go
toward improving the mill race.
With so many interfering prob
lems, such as the acute housing
shortage and need for more build
ings, it is doubtful if plans for im
provement will begin until next
summer. If this is true then every
thing should be completed for the
coming fall term.’’
Miss ThorsfancS Fleads
Student Service Fund
The appointment of Martha
Thorsland to chairmanship of the
World Student Service Fund, was
beth De Cou, president of the Stu
beth De Cou, presdent of the Stu
dent Religious Council.
The service fund formerly was
responsible for getting books and
educational programs for the
prisoners of war, and aided stu
: dents in China and Europe. This
| fund is the students’ part of the
national war fund and community
chest.
Three Patients Enter,
Four Leave Infirmary
Three new patients were admit
ted to the infirmary, Barbara
Elliott arrived there late Tuesday
evening; Jean Moe, Hendricks hall
and Mary Boves, Gamma hall,
came in Wednesday.
Still under observation are Rally
Eaves, Delta Zeta, Marilyn Pres
ton, Judson house, and John Frick.
Harvey Wardrip, Pearl Denike,
Mary Corrigan and Dorothy Davis
were released from the Pill Palace
Wednesday.
Former Student Returns
Captains Giant Mosquito
By Mavis De La Mare
_ Donning green and yellow for thirty days, big-, blond Lieut,
(jg'l \\ illiam C. Loud returned to the campus two days ago.
l.ouci. \\ ell-i emembered lor his midnight serenades with brothers
ol Beta I beta Pi, came back for a long awaited visit to Oregon.
"A. lb." as he was known here, is a graduate of '4o from ih.> 1! \
school. Though lie explained that lit
was strictly the scholastic type, he
was a member of Skull and Dagger
chairman of the Frosh Glee, key
note speaker for the 1910 Greek
party, and sophomore representa
tive.
Famous for his slightly elaborat
ed stories, A. E. likes to tell this
one.
“The waves were 1020 feet
high; in fact these waves were so
high it took our ft boat fifteen
minutes to reach the crest.."
Another Tall One
We were expecting anything
from here on, as he continued;
"Once, while we were struggling
to reach the top, so we could see the
German convoy on the other side,
one of the torpedoes was discharged
and it shot straight up in the air.”
When reminded that you can't
sink any German ships by shoot
ing torpedoes skyward, his reply
was quick in coining.
"No, I know you can't sink ships
that way, but the torpedo blew up
an entire flight of ME 110’s flying
at 15,000 feet."
Lieut. Loud took his midship
man’s training at Northwestern.
The major part of his naval experi
ence has been in the English chan
nel, where he served as captain of
motor torpedo boat 31 of squadron
2. Kis FT boat with its squadron
spent many dark hours a few
thousand feet from the by-passed
German held ports of Le Havre am
Bordeau. This squadron workec
with the OSS, an allied secret ser
vice organization, and with the
French'underground. It encounter
ed and sank three German E boats
and seriously damaged nine others.
Modest About Awards
He smiled modestly when asked
about his bronze star and presides
tial unit citation. He received the
former while working- with the
OSS. For 15,000 tons, equivalent to
five and one half ships sunk by his
squadron, he was awarded the
presidential unit citation.
Of his many exciting experiences,
the one most outstanding in his
mind is of the resourcefulness of
his quartermaster. As he told it, Ids
squadron was making a torpedo at
tack on a German convoy moored
near the French coast. The Ger
mans sent a challenge to his group.
The quick-thinking quartermaster
sent a “warbled” reply meant to
confuse the enemy. Aecoplishing its
purpose, the message caused the
enemy to delay its action, giving his
squadron time to drop their load of
torpedoes and make for home.
When asked what he likes best
about being home again, he grin
ned and said, “Well, there are a lot
of things, but it’s sure good to see
American girls’ legs again.”
After his discharge, Bill wants to
return to the University to study
psychology and student life at
Robinson's, By the time he returns
he expects Oregon to be the way he
remembers it two years ago.
M E N
ONLY
Conic here for the styles
and shapes in haircuts to
lit your own desire.
THE KAMPUS BARBER SHOP
LEO MAC DON
On loth
NOW THAT CLASSES HAVE
BEGUN, VISIT THE LEMON-O FOR
THE BEST FOOD ...
Sundaes
Milk Shakes
Cokes
Sodas
ALSO STUDENT SUPPLIES OF ALL
TYPES AND REQUIREMENTS
TOILET ARTICLES FOR GIFTS AND
PERSONAL OSAGE .MAY BE
PURCHASED AT THE
Lemon - O
Cor. 13th and Alder
“DOC” IRELAND, Prop.
Phone 2717