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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (July 31, 1949)
W i9lh YEAH 36 Pages State Foresters Vet Colony Residents Come to Defense of Zone, Ask Public to Inspect Alleged 'Slum' Conditions By Winston n. Taylor Staff Writer, the Statesman A majority of the veterans' housing colony residents "take an interest in the appearance" of their dwellings to keep them from becoming "slums," one of the residents protested Saturday in an open letter. Another asked "but who gave their returning veterans the slums?" Both asked the, public to come and inspect conditions. The "closest we havea slums in Salem" appellation came out of a public housing meeting of Salem businessmen Thursday. Both W. H. Merrill, 1110 S. DIP Another thing the war did was to bury much of the pioneer spir it in the west. First, it broke the hell of provincial thinking, ori enting our, people to global affairs. They had to learn geography to know where their boys were fight- g. They have since had to fol w events in China, Grece, Czech oslovakia, Russia, South America. Second, the new immigration to the west coast was concerned-with housing, employment, schools, f It came by swift motorcar, or pas senger train or airplane. Plodding oxen on the Oregon Trail were remote in time and rarely rose above the horizon of their con sciousness. That may help explain why the expected crowds at the centennial celebration at Columbia, Califor nia, old mining town, failed to materialize. It also points up the need which the west coast faces to, educate the newcomers in it history. - For there is a story to tell which is by means strictly local. Great nations contended for dominion on . this coast. Russia and Spain and Great Britain sent ships and men and each gained substantial foot hold here. The two former yield- ,ed their places, Russia selling Alaska to the United States, Spain's title passing to Great Bri tain In the north and to the re public of Mexico in the south which later ceded Upper California to the United States. How Great rBritaln and the United States Car ried on their rivalry and how it was peaceably settled giving the former British Columbia and the latter the Oregon country south of the 49th parallel is also ,a story of more than local interest. ( But I fancy the pioneer legends will have receding significance in Oregon. Not only are the descend ants of pioneers overrun postwar settlers, but the thinking is . in terms "of the future and not of the past. Power dams with rac ing kilowatts. Dunaozers gouging out new speedways, glistening air-. planes, speeding streamliners, tractor-drawn gangplows, auto matic gadgets, these are the sym bols of our new civilization. The more ample time for leisure is fil led with entertainment radio, movies, nitedubs, soon television. Oregon history will be like art, something for those with a special ized taste for it; or something to be exploited In a celebration or a scenario. The links with the past are being cut Even the social reign of first families is being broken up. Truman Memorial Group Organizes INDEPENDENCE, Mo., July 30 JPy- The Harry S. Truman foundation became an official body today. Circuit Judge John R. James granted an application for its in corporation. Over $3,000 has been collected in $1 contributions so far toward the erection of a mem orial building here,5 which would house President Truman's me mentoes and serve as-a, museum for Independence relics. . Western International At Vancouver U-S. Salem 4-7. At Victoria S-l, Yakima 0-1. At Bremerton 1. Wenatche 4. . At Tacoma S-S. Spokane 1-4. Coast League j At Portland 4. Hollywood J At Loo Angeles , Sacramento 7. At San Dtefo 3 San Francisco 4. At Oakland S. Seatu S. American Leaxne f At Philadelphia 0, Detroit It SAt.Kew York J. Chicago 9. At Washington t, St. Louis 11. At Boston S. Cleveland 10. National League j At 'St. Louis Brooklyn " At Cincinnati 7. New York S (10 Inn.) , At Chicago 3-1. Philadelphia -. At Pittsburgh-Boston, rain. Two Sections 18th st., and Mary L. Creighton, 1125 S. 19th st, stressed that the colony's residents are nut there by choice but are there temporarily until real estate prices are lowered. Both pro tested the "low-cost" label plac ed on houses at $6,000 and up and rental apartments at $65 and up. Merrill declared that the pro ject in southeast Salem is "the best thing that has happened for the benefit of veterans in Salem," who are "content to make this our temporary home." He calls attention to a low cost housing plan carried out in Landmarks to s ;! i x j. k 11 1 1 1 in i ss: (f , . iumwuii infT nirr 4j&immiMmmhM . .. hf . ttazing of 11 houses to make way for a new state hifhway department office building will start soon with first bids to buy the old E. T. Barnes house to be opened this week by the highway commission. The area to be readied by September 15 for construction is the block (outlined) just north of the new state office building now under construction (partly shown at left) Photos above show the Barnes house, built about 1891. and westward-looking aerial view of the block, bounded by Capital, Center, Summer and Cbemeketastreets. (Statesman photos.) WrerkW nf Homes Due ShnnT i o speed start or state building Action to provide more state office space will take place soon as bids for the wrecking of houses on the block just north of the new state office building now under construction will be called and let by thfe state highway department. Letting of wrecking contracts will staift work which will clear the block of 11 houses, some of them almost 60 years old. All houses are to be cleared off the block by September 15 so that preliminary work on the new state highway office building can be started. The block is bounded by Chemeketa and Center streets on the south and north; and by Cap itol and Summer streets on the east and west and is in an area which was settled early as a sub urban district to Salem. Before there were graded streets and many buildings there was a not iceable hill in the area, taking the name Piety Hill from the homes of many missionaries and church officials who built there. Prominent among the homes to be razed is the old E. T. Barnes place at Chemeketa and North Capitol streets. It was built about 1891 by W. W. Martin, later oc cupied by Dr. T. C. Smith, and in 1906 bought by Barnes, who resid ed there with his family and own ed the house until the property was bought by the state in 1946. Another old-timer is the R. A. Turner house, also built about 1891. Houses which were. 'bought by the state and which will be razed were homes of F. B. Cunningham, F. C. Crabtree, C B. Pomeroy, D. W. Eyre, George Waters, J. E. Heenan, A. A. Rogers, H. R. Worth found no 1651 The Orocon Statesman, Salem. Orscoa, Fight of f Mrs Danger Painesville, Ohio, where banks and , construction firms coope rated to provide new, uncom-; pleted houses to Veterans at nothing down and $39 a month. Besides the $5,800 price, the buyers invested considerable time and sweat to doing the finishing touches. That is the type of thing that will solve Salem's housing problem, rather than more apartments or pro posed $6,000-$8,500 houses, Mer rill claims. Merrill said he has seen many houses and apart ments here that are much worse than the colony. Mrs. Creighton stressed that Make Way fof Office Building and F. B. Rise, besides Barnes and Turner's. Bids for razing the Barnes home are in the hands of the highway commission now and will be opened at a commission meeting Friday. At that time bids will be called for the. homes of Turner, Worth, Eyre and Heenan. Bids for the Remainder of the houses will be called for soon after the others. Parades-Long . By Conrad G. Fringe SUfi Writer. Th Statesman Military flash, blare of bands, lines of marchers, stunts and color will feature the three parades which will wind through the Am erican Legion covention here this week. The grand parade, expected to carry about 2,000 participants through Salem streets will begin Fridav night at 7 o'clock. The children's parade is set for 1:30 p.m., that same day while the 40 et 8 parade is slated for Wed nesday at 5 pan. Five sections are to make up the main parade Friday night Grand Mashall Brig. Gen. H. G. Malson of Sunday, July 31. 949 residents of the colony, if they want to better conditions, Hjust buy their, own water hose and lawn mower and must provide wiring fos electric ranges. She protested the furnishings of the apartments as "wood stoves that don't work, stinking ice boxes, inadequate wood boxes." She staged that the structures haven't .been painted since they were erected and are "depress ing." She noted that many resi dents are trying to cover up with flowiers but that the com ing wintef- season will undo all their efforts. (Letters on editorial page.) ft - AX II i OregoBniWing "Vj.Jetirfs Move Ahead Of 194S Figures . SEATTLE, July 30 (JF)- Ore gon started more buildings in the first half of 1949 than in 1948, the magazine Construction News Bulletin said today. , The July 30th edition of the trade journal devoted to construc-1 tion projects reported $36,010,700 of building permits issued in Oregon this year, compared to $34,786,653 in the first half of 1948. The largest increases were in Portland and in Albany. In Port land, $25,728,280 to $22,780,035; in Albany $1,086,498 to $625,910 The upswing was general over the Pacific northwest and Salem and staff will head the first section. The second group is to be made up of military units including 250 marching troops of the 2nd divi sion from Fort Lewis, Wash. The 50 piece 2nd infantry band, rated as one of finest in "the nation, will feature this section and the en tire parade. Two battalions of the 162nd In fantry of the Oregon National guard - 700 strong - including Salem's two units, will follow. A reinforced rifle company will ride in jeeps and show mounted guns. The 41st division artillery unit will display 20 vehicles containing the newest and largest of the No. 134 Threats Grow; 93 In Salem By The Associated Press Foresters fought off the fire danger in Oregon Saturday, but another day of serious fire threat loomed for Sunday. The weather bureau warned that temperatures would remain high and humidities low in most of the already dry forests. Salem's high reading Saturday was 93 a degree hotter than Fri day with 95 predicted for Sun day, and no relief in store through Tuesday. Along the coastal fringe clouds are expected. They will be bro ken up before noon by a hot sun, the weather bureau forecast. (Foresters controlled all fire out breaks Saturday. A 500-acre blaze irt the Blue mountains east of Pen dleton was quelled before it got into the state forest or Umatilla national forest lands. Crews Recruited West of Gold Hill on the coast, logging crews were being recruit ed to help state patrolmen fight a timber and brush fire. The flames were still out of control Saturday evening after scorching about 100 acres along the left fork of Foots creek. One of ten small lightening set fires had burned about 85 acres of brush and timber in the Clover creek area west of Klamath Falls. Crews expected to corral the flames by tomorrow morning. None of the other blazes was as serious. Five Small Fires Five small fires in Lane county were controlled. Humidity percentages were low around the state, except on the coast, Saturday. Medford report ed 17 per cent, Roseburg 28, Eu gene 26, Salem 33 and east of the Cascades Redmond reported 19 per cent, Klamath Falls reported 17 per cent The Dalles and Ontario shared 100 degree temperatures highest in Oregon while Medford and Pendleton each reported 99. Others: Baker S3, Portland 87, Eugene 93, Roseburg 96. A storm-studded cool airfront broke the east's two week heat siege late Saturday. At Philadelphia, the Mercury dropped from an afternoon high of 96 to 79 at 10 p.m. in some places in Maryland the drop was as much as 18 degrees in 15 min utes. $75,000 in Prizes Await Fair Exhibitors Oregon State fair exhibitors will vie for more than $75,000 worth of prizes and premiums this year, the biggest total in history, Fair Manager Leo Spitzbart announced here Saturday. Interest among contestants is ex ceeding anything he has seen in 14 years as fair manager, said Spit zbart., Particularly noteworthy is number of out-of-state live- ock entries. Show strings already have been entered from Idaho, Washington and California. Livestock classification entries close at midnight, August 5. Dead line for floral, cooking and text ile entries is September 4. Richard Munson, San Mateo, Calif., was named Saturday as racing secretary of the fair. He will arrive in Salem September 1 to complete arrange ments for the local meet Two $1,000 handicaps will be includ ed during the six days of racing. Monmouth Bank Merges MONMOUTH, July 30-P)-The First National Bank of Monmouth formally merged with the U. S. National Bank of Portland today. becoming the National Bank's 40th branch. The bank here was established in' 1889. PRICE Colorful - - on Legion's army's big guns. Completing the military second section will be marchers from local naval, army and marine reserve units, i Section three will consist of Le gion post members and members of the state auxiliary units the 40 et S. In the fourth section pa triotic groups including the Gold Star Mothers, War Mothers, Vet- jerans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American veterans ana o triers wui participate. Civie organizations will make up the final section. Stunts and features will high light the 40 et 8 parade Wednes day night during the organization s grand promenade here. The par - (DMmisi tedls; Wavy FogMeD (SooftsADirllDinieir odhTw, 5L 5e New Jersey Crash Laid to Stunting Pilot By Melvin J. Grayson FORT DIX, N. J, July 30- Sixteen persons were killed to day 'as a Memphis-bound airiiner was .chopped apart in the New Jersey skies by what witnesses described as a stunting n3vy fighter plane. The airliner's left wing and tail were shorn off jS-th e crippled Eastern Airlines DC-3 whirled into a farm pasture and buret into a wall of flame. The navy plane burrowed into the ground two miles away. The charted bodies of 12 pass engers and three crew members were strewn throughout the wreckage of the airliner. The pilot of the navy plane was found dead in a field beside an un opened parachute. State police said they had re ports from two witnesses who saw the two planes tangle high in the sky over the Fort Dix military reservation. One was a pilot of a Piper Cub who said the navy fighter had buzzed his little craft and "stood me on my right wing for an in stant" just before zooming into the airliner. "The small plane appeared to strike the airliner on the left iae just aft of the left wing, the Piper Cub pilot, George Hum phries of Fair Haven, told inves tigators. "Parts of the airplane were all over the sky, and I veered to my right. I saw the aircraft strike the ground amid a cloud of dust and flames." Pilots of two other commercial planes complained later at Miami that their airliners also had been "buzzed" by navy aircraft while flying over the New Jersey area today. Pilots Berate State Board of Aeronautics PORTLAND, July SO--A campaign of opposition to the state board of eronautics took flight here today. Several flying groups disclosed they had'joined in demanding new appointees to the board. They chal lenged qualifications of W. M. (Jack) Bartlett as, state director of eronautics. Letters to povernor McKay ac cused the Ward of "mismanage ment and flagrant waste of our money.' 1 The letters were signed by of ficers of the Oregon flying far mers, the sportsmen-pilots and the aerial spray and dust operators. Directors of the flying farmers are to meet tomorrow at Lebanon to discuss further action. Claude Williams, Prineville, pre sident of the flying farmers, said there was particular dissatisfac tion with twb of the board mem bers. He asked that vacancies be created to make room for Ralph Scroggins, Lebanon, and Jack Loennig, Haynes. The letters accused the board of spending money without accom plishing good for the majority of private fliers in the state. 76-Year-Old Man Lost On Slopes of Mt. Hood PORTLAND, July $0 -4JPy- A 30-man search started today on the slopes of Mt. Hood for 76-year-old Istacada man who dis appeared Tuesday. The automobile of J. H. Tracy was found on Sherborn road, sev en miles from Government camp. The car doors were open and the man's lunch was found on the seat. He had left home Tuesday. Max. SI 87 - 65 Kin. Prcccp. SaVm Portland San Francisco Chicago SS 00 4 traco 74 n 7 .00 T7 M Mew York Willamette river -1 1 feet. FORECAST (from U.S. weather bu reau. McNary Meld. Salem): Fair to day and tonight, continuea warm wim hlchest temneraturo today near 95 and lowest tonight near S3. Condition favorable for farm activities except for moderate winds. . SALEM PEKCIPrrATION ISeDt. 1 to JulT 11) This Tear Last Year Normal 41. 87 47.00 37.32 ade is to start at 5 pm, and is to form on South Liberty street bet ween Ferry and Trade streets. Grand voiture officers will head the parade. A number of bands and drum corps are expected to participate including the Kilty band from Ashland Legion post Members of county voitures from over the state will follow with each voiture displaying its own special stunt or brand of humor. A special feature will be the traditional Linn county voi ture box-car. Judges of the parade will be Sa lem Mayor Robert L. Hfstrom, Fire Chief W. P. Roble and W. L 1 Phillips, sr., Bert Victor, of the Elephant Caught Near Scappoose After 18-Hour Hunt ST. HELENS, Ore . July 30-&7) A posse cornered Big Babe in a gravel quarry near Scappoose tonight prodded her into a truck .and carted all eight tons of the old girl back to captivity. State police reported Big Babe an elephant with a penchant for taking off into the Oregon wilderness had. been loose for 18 hours. She broke away from a carnival here late last night Occasional telephone calls from an irate farmer kept police post ed on Big Babe's trek. Babe finally slowed down un der today's heat and was coaxed aboard the truck by Trainer Ernest Hupp. He said the ele phant was the same beast that made a similar trip in the Al bany, Ore., vicinity two years ago. Bean Barbecue Draws 2,000 ToStaytonFete STAYTON, July 30-(Special)-About 2,00 people ate barbequed navy beans at the Santiam Bean festival "bean-hole" feed here Sat urday night. And at least another thousand watched the horse show and parade during the afternoon. The Salem Saddle club won first prize as the best riding group in the parade. They also won two events at the horse show, the flag! relay and the musical chairs con test. Mrs. Mike Southard of Albany won individual, parade honors as the best rider on the best horse. Mrs. Vada Carson of Silverton was second, and Mrs. Margaret Keigil of Lyons, third. Riders of the Santiam won the stake bending dash and the potato race at the horse show. The Sil verton Saddle club won second prize among riding groups in the parade. They also presented a quadrille; Other events during the day were spbrt contests for children, a concert by the Stayton band and the concluding Bean ball at the new community building. Officials reported the festival a financial success with record crowds attending all sessions. Eugene Firm Wins Contracts At Detroit Dam PORTLAND. July 30-MVMln- nis and Shilling, Eugene, won a $138,734 contract today to build a number of facilities at Detroit dam. The army engineers award the contract for construction of a mo tor repair, shop, warehouse, pump ing station, water storage tank, water and sewer system, electri cal distribution system, access roads and parking areas in the permanent housing section. Other bids awarded by the en gineers: , McKinnon construction com pany, Sandy, bank protection works on the McKenzie river lti miles east of Springfield, $27,442. R. A. Heintz Construction Co., Portland, revetment repair on the Willamette river four miles south east of Corvallis, $14,853. McKinnon construction com pany, Sandy, bank protection works on the Willamette river five miles southeast of Independence, $11,131. Mt. Angel Flax Plant Float Wins Parade's Sweepstakes Trophy By Loretta EL Dehler Statesman Valley Correspondent MT. ANGEL, July 30 The Mt Angel Flax Festival parade Sat urday was one of the finest and largest ever held despite a blaz ing sun that shone unrelentless ly on the marchers and on the dig nitaries gathered on the review Ins; stand at the western entrance of the city halt The Mt Angel Flax plant won the sweepstake trophy donated by Stevens Jewelers of Salem. The entry, called "A Basket of Flax," was huge basket formed of flax from the raw fiber to the finished product Vice Admiral Thomas L. Gatch Schedule Marlon county voiture. Is parade chairman. Forty et Fight mem bers also will inarch in the grand parade. The children's parade will be gin from State and Cottage streets, according to William Dyer, chair man of the Junior and grand par ades. Children of all ages are eligible to enter the parade with any kind of stunt or costume ther may devise, said Dyer, i Frizes and awards will be made for the best features in all three parades. The auxiliary unit of the Veterans of Foreign Wars posts will feed the 700 guardsmen, after the Friday night parade. In the V W halt . - Amethyst Slips Past Commies To Rejoin Fleet LONDON, July 30 -(.TV The British sloop Amethyst escaped down the Yangtze river today un der fire of Chinese communist shore batteries and rejoined ' tht British fleet the admiralty proud ly announced tonight Prime Minister Attlee relayed his personal congratulations to the commanding -officer and crew of the Amethyst for their -gallant exploit." The British naval com mander in chief in the Far East told the sloop's crew their daring passage will go down as "an epic in the history o' the navy." A signal from the ship said: "Rejoin ed the fleet. No damage or cas ualties. Cod save the. king." Long Time at Anchor The Amethyst has been at an chor in the Yangtze river since last April 20, when she was shelled by Chinese communist shore batter ies and ran aground on Rose isl and. 60 miles downstream from Nanking. This was before the fail of Nan king to the communists. At that time British casualties aboard the 1.490-ton Ame .st included 17 dead and 20 wounded. Normally the Amethyst carries 192 men but only 86 were aboard when the sloop made its dash to freedom. The Amethyst was one of four British warships that were fired on in the Yangtze last April. The gun fire killed 44 British sailors in alt Slipped Around Obstacle The admiralty announcement of the escape said the Amethyst man aged to slip around an obstacle at Kiangyin and continued down stream. Kiangyin is about 55 miles from Nanking on the way to the east China sea. The negotiations bogged down about June 1. The communists were demanding reparations on behalf of 254 Red casualties in .he battle with the British vessels. The sloop had been reported able to move under her own steam, but had been pinned to the shore by the communist batter ies. 3 Hospitalized us, Auto Collision ' A city bus-car collision at 12th and State streets about 11:20 p.m. Saturday hospitalized three per sons. Roy Donald Anderson, 63, driver of the City Transit lines bus. and Mr. and Mrs. Art Scovell of Port land, occupants of the car, were taken to Salem General hospital. Mrs. Scovell, suffering principally from shock, was dismissed after an examination. Attending physicians said An derson Incurred severe back bn cusions and possible internal in juries. Scovell sustained multiple lacerations and bruises and a fractured left arm. City police said several passen gers were on the bus but none were reported injured. Both ve hides were damaged. One side ol the car was demolished, according to investigating police. CHINA RED THREAT EASED CANTON, China; July 30hV The Chinese nationalists reported today successful counterattacks had removed the red threat to Hengyang, important government bastion 265 miles north of Can ton. , of Portland, speaker of the day. In his short speech stated that the Flax Festival was a monument to Mrs. Julia Lord, who had been a tireless promotor of the flax in dustry. He mentioned that they had known each other since child hood. He paid tribute to Marion county and told the people to hold on to their right to sow and reap when they pleased and quoted "If we ever have ot ask Washington when to sow and reap, well want for bread. Other speakers were Rev. Cyril Lebold, representing St Benedict abby, Joe Obersinner, president of the Flax Growers association, George Chrlstenson, vice chair man of Silverton council. Dean Wm. A. Schoenfeld of Oregon State college, Roy Rice, County commissioner, S. J. Butler, Mar lon county treasurer, Harry Riches, Marion county agricul tural agent, Kay West and Mrs. El don Campbell, KEX radio sta tion, Portland. The trend of opin ions expressed was that although flax prices and prospects are not too good at present it Is no time- to -quit sine every industry must have its low as well as high times. Others Introduced by Joe Ber chtold, were Mr. and Mrs. Clyde chtold, master of ceremonies were Mr. and Mrs. Clyde EveretV Oregon Flax Textile; Jes se E. Harmond, federal agricul tural engineer at Oregon Stats college, and Drexel Watson, Pro duction and Marketing, Portland. (Additionan details on page 16) After City B