Thursday, March 29, 1951
BROOKINGS-HARBOR PILOT, BROOKINGS, OREGON
''Floras Lake Banner" Started Just 41
Years Ago This Week; Where Is It Now?
March 26, 1910, almost 41 years ago. to a day, Vol
ume One, Number One, of Floras Lal(e Banner, was
put in the mails. 1 his fact was revealed last week when
Mrs. Dewey Akers returned to Brookings with a copy
which had been loaned to her at Boise, Idaho.
lished, and other information concerning its existence
may or may not make several paragraphs in the forth-
compiled by Emil Peterson df North Bend, Oregon.
Published by Smith & Quarles, the Banner carried but two pages
of "home-print” all of which was pure propaganda concerning the
opportunities offered in Curry county, especially Lakeport, on the
banks of Floras Lake .which the editors claimed was the garden
of Eden for those in the congested far east.
Quoting: “Floras Lake Banner was born on the banks of Floras
Lake, March 26, 1910. Its life will be devoted entirely to placing
before the public the great undeveloped resources and possibilities
ol Coos and Curry Counties. It will be a booster in all things that
relate to these counties that will help develop and tend to the pros
perity of the entire southwest part of Oregon. It will be our ear
nest desire and sole aim and purpose to speak well of our neigh
bors, to help everyone in the county; to aid in the building of
railroads, canals, sawmills and every industry that Coos and Curry
counties can support.”
Choosing at random from the so-called personal items: “Port
Orford is to have a bank with mine host Louis Knapp as president.
The institution will be a strong one, as the stockholders and board
of directors are composed of the bests men of the county in whom
the public has confidence.”
Interesting indeed was the market report: “Eggs 25c; Butter 30c;
roast beef, 10c lb.; boiling meat, 6-8c; sirloin steak, 1212c; round
steak 10c; porterhouse steak 15c; pork chops 15c; pork roast 12^0;
leg of mutton 1212c; mutton stew 8-10c; veal roast 10-15c; chickens
12Mi-to 15c; potatoes, l^c.”
What became of Floras Lake Banner is not known to this writer.
Its existence was not known until Mrs. Dewey Akers returned from
Boise, Idaho, where her sister-in-law furnished her with a copy
of Volume One, Number One, which should be of interest to Emil
Peterson of North Bend, who may like to photograph it for his
historical data to be used in writing a history of Coos and Curry
counties. The copy is wanted by its owner, or it would be sur
rendered to the society.
Perhaps some of the older residents of the county, especially
ol the northern end. could supply Mr. Peterson with much infor
mation, and possibly a few copies of this old newspaper. No doubt
there lies quite a story back of Lakeport, and the Banner, which
may or may not have had considerable bearing on Curry county I
history. At least the searching of this data may uncover much for
Mr. Peterson who is “all ears” to anything historical.
As tar back as 1910, the United States had knowledge of Japan’s
covetousness of Pearl Harbor, for in this issue of the Banner was
reprinted an article from the Portland News, telling of the Japs’
activities of photographing and drawing maps of Pearl Harbor, j
MIMI
WEEK
Bv Harris Ellsworth. M. C.
A bill providing for the con
struction of housing and all
other necessary community fa
cilities, will be acted upon by
the house shortly. While conced
ing the need for some such legis
lation especially for enormous in
stallations like the one down in
Kentucky for the Atomic Ener
gy Commission, I am apprehen-
sive about the long future effect
of this bill. It is drawn too loose-
ly. The powers it confers upon
the president are much too broad
—my belief is that legislation
should be specific so that we do
not depend upon what the Exec
utive will do or intends to do.
Instead we should know’ clearly
what he can do. As I read it,
the defense housing bill is broad
so that the president can do just
about anything he wants to in
any community in the United
States, so far as housing and
community facilities and serv
ices are concerned.
Somehow I am reminded of
w’hat happened to the people in
Roumania. They came under dic
tatorship by vote of their own
legislative body. A law known as
the Economic Sabotage Act was
other grains from us on credit;
the committee bill insists upon
making it a gift.
2. Under the bill the grain
would be sent to the govern
ment of India. The Indian gov
ernment would then sell the
grain to the people. The net pro
ceeds. about $150.000.00, would
be used on the construction of
their irrigation and reclamation
projects.
3. India needs some 50 mil
lion tons of grain and has ob
tained most of it from other
countries. The amount we would
be sending would not equal more
than four per sent of their total
grain consumption. Accordingly.
I do not think it can be honestly
said that the amount we might
supply would prevent starvation.
4. We need burlap and other
supplies from India and need
them badly—but no effort is
made to protect our needs in re
turn for supplying even a very
slight portion of their grain need.
5. If this bill comes to the
floor of the house in its present
form, there is very real possi
bility that it will be rejected by
vote of the house. That, indeed,
would give us a black eye in
Asia. Those people would have
no knowiege of the details of
the bill. They would merely
know that the United States had
passed. It seemed like a very
good idea for the people to pro
tect themselves against such sab
otage. But that law was very
broad too. It was so broad, in
fact, that under it any individual
who is out of favor in the eyes
of the present rulers of Roumania
can be arrested and thrown in
jail—or worse. The people are
actually controlled by an act
which was passed for their pro-
tection.
I do not mean to imply that
the Housing bill can be used in
any such way, but as I read it
that bill could be used if any
president wanted to so interpret
it. to socialize most of the hous
ing in our country.
You will probably be hearing
and reading quite a lot about the
question of sending wheat and
other food grains to India. On
the face of it the general idea is
a pretty good one. The people of
India are in need of some grain.
We have substantial reserves of
grain now held by the Commod
ity Credit Corporation. It has
long been our practice to go to
the relief of stricken or starving
people.
But the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, which is the voice of
our state department in congress,
has reported a bill which is so
unrealistic that instead of quick
ly and quietly accomplishing
something, it may develop heated
controversy.
Such a situation
will surely do us nothing but
harm in Asia. Here are some of
the facts about this matter:
1. The government of India
has asked to buy some wheat or
P age F ive
refused to let India have foodiDJj-^-
when India needed it.
. KldefS 36T UCHCe
There
t v.«™ is considerable more to 1 ’
chetco Wranglers Saddle club
tnis story, but I believe the fore- has booked a dance for Satur
going will give an idea of what
is actually involved in the con day, April 14, at the Grange hall.
Like in the previous dance, west
troversy when it develops.
ern music and refreshments will
Mr. and Mfrs. Fred Watson he the treat of all who attend.
spent Easter week-end at Coos An advertisement appears else
Bay, visiting.
where in this issue.
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