Why the Millrace Won't Be Clean Tomorrow
In the cumbersome way that municipalities pro
gress, cities along the Willamette in recent years
have been pushing toward modern sewage dispos
al systems. City fathers realize that the Willamette
is not the beautiful, limpid flow it was when In
dians navigated there; in fact, the mayors and eld
ers are aware that Indians—or anyone—who were
to perform ablutions today in the Willamette
would get typhoid.
Therefore cities have been considering some
means of getting rid of sewage without dumping it
in the river. Los Angeles and other places have
worked this out very satisfactorily with big dis
posal plants that chew the sewage into a harmless
nothing.
In addition, the state sanitary authority has
promised to clean up the Willamette by 1954, and it
has been nagging the river communities to get go
ing on the problem.
Most cities—including Springfield—have done
something on the project. Both Eugene and Spring
field have been assessing citizens and saving
money.
But not even Portland has a plant yet.
That’s the way the matter stood until the Uni
versity of Oregon, just a sidestroke and a back
sroke down the river from Springfield, got back its
historic Millrace this fall.
The University regained its traditions, too. A
few students went canoeing, and being rusty at the
sport, tipped over. A few of the brothers were dunk
ed—and it was found that the Millrace, since its
water comes from the Willamette is just as dirty
old sewer.
Suddenly the leisure class at the University has
become aware of the problem the cities have wor
ried about for a long time—polluted water.
And so the students jump up and down and beat
their little fists on the table: They want Spring
field to get a sewage disppsal system—and fast.
Right now. So they can play in their Millrace.
That’s fine. Springfield should have such a plant.
So should Eugene, Portland, et al. But these things
don’t happen over night. Maybe Springfield has
been dallying. But it has in bonds issued and in
the city coffers, almost half the $500,000 needed to
build a disposal system. And the citizens are pay
ing in regularly for the plant.
Perhaps, though, the University agitation has
helped. The other night representatives from
Springfield. Eugene and fringe areas met and pass
ed a resolution that it be proposed to the respective
city councils that engineers be hired to survey the
possibility of a metropolitan sanitary district. A
metropolitan sanitary district is a joint disposal
system that will take care of the two cities and the
fringe area water districts. This would avoid dup
lication of effort, so cutting down expenses, and
would guarantee that one area would not suffer
from the negligence of another.
This joint disposal plan probably would be the
most efficient way of disposition, for only 35 per
cent*of the pollution comes from within the city
limits of Eugene and Springfield. The rest runs
from the pipes of surrounding areas. And these lit
tle districts united only by being in the same water
district, cannot be expected to build plants of their
own.
This resolution will go before city councils soon.
Thus something, at least, is happening on the sew
age front. And we must remember that cities, like
armies, move just so fast.—B.H.
A Tack to Them
•k
The saving of blocs of seats at football games was discussed
at Executive Council meeting the other night; and the council
decided it was a little late to do anything about it this year since
there is only one game in Eugene. At this game, Homecom
ing with Oregon State, most students arrive at Hayward field
especially early; and the saving of seats would be especially
difficult. So the problem may not arise.
But the council decided that it would not be too late to at
tempt a solution to the seating problem for next year.
To those who were fortunate in having 50-yard-line seats
at last week’s game; and to those who came to the game later
than most and sat in seats that had been saved by their fresh
men may not feel that there is a seating problem. But those
persons who came early, sat on the 25, and watched the others
charge up to seats saved on the 35, will most likely admit the
situation could be improved.
It will take some time to work out a just and practical seat
ing plan for football games. That’s why this year’s council
should take action—either through a special committee or
through the rally board—to see that something is done.
The idea of having breakfast served at Hayward Field Sat
urday game mornings has little appeal, and does not sound
feasible.
Neither is there particular relish for the prospect of open
ing stadium gates at a later hour; the ensuing rush for seats
would be as delightful as a cattle stampede.
But there are ideas for student seating that are feasible;
and these are the ideas which the rally board, or a special com
mittee, could investigate this year in preparation for next year.
The Mailbag...
To the Editor:
I have a problem that has been bothering me ever since I
transferred from Cornwallis.
You see, at the Oregon Agricultural College, anyone caught
walking on the grass was branded as a farmer. The reason for
this being purely philanthropic—they save the grass for the
cows to eat.
As soon as I came to the University of Oregon, my first oB
servation was that the student’s philosophy here was “Don’t
let any grass grow under your feet,” especially when cutting
across lawns. Now you see the conflict that I'm going through:
“To walk or not to walk on the grass, that is the question”?
Does anyone have a solution to the problem of “Keeping
Oregon Green” ?
m —Dave Swanson, Jr.
Oregon’# Emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald published daily during the college year except Sundays,
Mondays, holidays and final examination periods by the Associated Students, University of
Oregon. Subscription rates: $3.00 a term, $4.00 for two terms and $5.00 a year. Entered as
second class matter at the postoffice Eugene, Oregon.
Don A. Smith, Editor Joan Mimnaugh, Business Manager
Glknn Gillespie, Managing Editor
Don Fair, Barbara Heywood, Helen Sherman, Fred Taylor, Associate Editors
Cork Mobley, Advertising Manager
Larilyn Thompson, National Advertising Manager Jean Lovell, Circulation Manager
'Ritin at Random
No Purple Cover
... by Jo Gilbert
It is a small book (195 pages) with a rather
nondescript blue cover—but don’t let that de
ceive you. A good book doesn’t need a bosomy
blonde with more than adequate cleavage
against a purple background on the cover to
entice readers. But enough of that. The book
is RIVER LINE; the author, Charles Mor
gan; the publisher, Macmillan Company; the
price, $2.75. It is the first book I’ve seriously
considered buying for over a year—outside of
pocket editions, that is.
' The plot of the book is relatively simple.
An American, Sturgess, is in England visit
ing two friends, Julian and his wife, Marie—a
Frenchwoman. In a masterly fashion, Mor
gan thru Sturgess, recounts the story of the
three’s meeting through the underground in
France—or the River Line, as it was called.
Marie was one of the members of the River
Line and it was at her home that Sturgess,
Julian, and two others stayed for the longest.
Heron, one of the two others, is never met in
the book, but it is his influence that is most
felt by the reader, by Julian, by Marie, and by
Sturgess. His unseen presence presents a bar
rier to Julian’s marriage to Marie; it is the
cause of Sturgess’ unrest of mind; it is felt in
every discussion in the book.
It is in the last thirty pages that ends begin
to tie together and the reader is held by the
suspense of an unusual, gripping, and beauti
fully handled climax. Probably the most
“felt” personalities of the book is Heron,
known only through Julian, Marie, and Stur
gess.
The book is superbly done—we know only
what Sturgess knows and no more, no less.
The people are seen from his point of view and
this method is used consistently throughout
the book. The discussions are handled natur
ally—the end result is a work of art.
I can’t do justice to the book; all I can do is
recommend that you read it. It is one of the
best works I’ve had the pleasure of reading
for a long, long time,
Incidentally, for a good book with the phi
losophical angle, take a gander at Erwin Ed
man’s PHILOSOPHER'S QUEST—the lay
man will find, it extremely readable and inter
esting.
Our Readers Speak
To the Editor:
I have observed from two weeks of Emer
ald perusal what I believe to be the best and
conversely, the poorest possible aspects of
faculty-dominated college newspapers; not
that I think the Emerald to be faculty-domi
nated.
I consider Mr. Robert B. Dean’s letter on
the advising system, to be the worthiest addi
tion to the Edit page in many an Oregon
flood; but if anyone has ideas about turning
the Emerald over to the Profs let him read
Mr. Parson’s article-(10-20). Many readers
will consider the source, and circumstances
surrounding the charge, and give it the
thought it deserves—which is none. But to
those who perceived only a rambling confu
sion of intimations, let me attempt a little
clarification.
The art of propagandizing (mentioned by
Parsons in the letter), is ably applied by Mr.
Parsons on this old but effective formula: (1)
Take a personal opinion* conviction, issue,
controversy, etc. (2) Find a medium, touch
ing many people, not too far from some aspect
of the original issue. (3) Combine the two in
such manner that the resulting confusion will
produce dissention and discord to the extent
of getting the original issue before a lot of
people.
The issue in this case is socialized medicine.
The medium happened to be a Chamber of
Commerce pamphlet in the Health Service.
1 he resulting confusion was evident to any
one reading the letter.
Incidentally, for Air. Parson’s personal edi
fication, the pamphlets were not purchased
with student funds.
Sincerely,
W. D. Braucher.
Turnabout
May we make note of an interesting condi
tion before professors beat us to it? (if they
haven’t already.)
Oregon students will not have an official
rally to welcome the team back from the USC
game because such a rally would conflict with
Saturday night social events.
But how many times, in past years more
than this, have there been rallies that have
conflicted with Saturday morning classes?
No, we don’t advocate a Saturday night ral
ly; nor the abolishment of Saturday morning
rallies. We merely comment.