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About Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1948)
Page 8. Kegister-Guard, Eugene, Ore., Tue Sept. II, 1948 AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPEB (Publlihed Every Bvenlnl ud Buiidjyl mpri-in Jivn PITBUSUXB Alton r. E1K MANAGING EDITOR NEWS bbllVllb- UEMBEH oiiiUd PreM, United Preee Auail Bureau 01 wnuwum EMBER . AU011 ouxrau m Entered'it'the Port Office it lus roe. Oregon, u eecono- C"ThlRl.ter-ouerl'i poller to the oomplete end tmoertUl publication in lu new, pegea of ell newi and "'""'',2 newi On thl. page the editor, of The "';G""a their opinions on events of the amy and metier, of taporttnca to the community, endeavoring to be candid but '"T helpful In the development of con.tructlvo community policy. No Parking, One-Way or What? In Seattle, they are chasing all parkers off of the principal streets during morning and evening rush hours and it seems to work very well (although it may have a lot of hid den headaches). In San Josc, California they have made one-way thoroughfares on San Antonio, Post, and San Fernando streets with excellent results. Ed Deardorff, who wrestles a Fairmount Loop bus through Eugene's traffic, has brought us copies of the San Jose Mercury Herald with "Before" and "After" pictures of the San Jose experiment. In the "Before" picture, San Jose's "main drag" looks just about like Willamette street. The "After" picture shows vast improvement in traffic flow and safety. The San Jose paper re ports: "Installation of one-way traffic on San Antonio, Post and San Fernando streets yes terday seemed to be working out far beyond our greatest expectations," Sgt. Arthur B. Phllpott, chief of police department accident Investigation bureau reported." Only a few people were getting "mixed up" with the new turn signs; a few were having trouble parking on the left side or putting their parking nickels in the wrong slot. There were no serious tieups. In the recent comprehensive engineering report of the Oregon Legislature's interim committee, there is an entire chapter on city problems, and the long-range development of city arterials, but It says: "The ONE WAY STREET offers the most important means whereby congested streets may be converted Into better traffic arteries, without heavy expenditures for widening and other Improvements. Among the advantages of one-way streets are: increased capacity to han dle heavy traffic volumes, reduction of most types of accidents, facilitated bus and truck movements and increased average speed." Did you know that at present our traffic signals on Willamette street have to be set for 18 MILES PER HOUR and you are lucky if you can make it from 6th through 13th at that speed without a jam. Portland is planning to gird the entire downtown area with one-way streets. Eugene is going to have to do something. Here's an idea with which we have toyed from time to time: 1. Make Willamette one-way north-bound, so that all in-bound traffic, particularly buses get a whack at the main drag. 2. Make Oak and Olive one-way for south bound traffic, with east side buses using Oak and west side Olive. Traffic engineers should be consulted be fore any final decisions are made. We just throw in "two bits worth." Every town has highly individualized problems of traffic management. No town can afford to copy any other town blindly. Perhaps all such important traffic changes as this should be initiated on a 30-day experimental basis, with check for results. Eugene's traffic arrangements will need ra-study when the new highway down Franklin and Broadway goes into service, when the cutoff from the West 6th overhead to West 11th is built if it is built, whenever any major arterial development takes place. There will always be squawks from mer chants who think they are going to be hurt. No merchant is ever going to be hurt by any traffic change which makes it possible for people who want to do business to get in and out of town more quickly and safely. The only thing which will ever drive busi ness out of town will be "bottlenecks." However, one-way streets and other de vices are only "soothing remedies." Major programs for arterial construction and off street parking MUST be studied aggressive ly. That's why we have a City Planning Com mission. Looking Over the "Gift Horse" Russian proposals to withdraw all Soviet troops from North Korea by the end of this year have met with the inevitable suspicion. Syngman Rhee, president of the American fupported republic in South Korea welcomes the departure of Russian troops but suggests: "The Soviet plan must mean the Soviets feel the Communist regime In North Korea is secure." Withdrawal of American troops from South Korea is regarded as a logical stipula tion for the Russian program of withdrawal. This would be met gladly if there were any assurance that any Russian promises would be kept. In Washington and elsewhere in this country, the Russian proposals with regard to Korea will be studied with great care and from many angles. There is a possibility that the surprise offer with regard to Korea may bp a lest to precede similar offers with re gard to Berlin. We have been getting exact ly nowhere with the Berlin muddle. That has developed into what some Washington writers have been calling "the tele-con Marathon" (or nightmare). The tele-con is a marvelous device which enables our leaders in Washington to talk back and forth with leaders in London, Paris, Moscow and Berlin, in code. In this struggle the Russians have ria'd the great advantage that they have just "one post of command" and we have at least four, all of which must be consulted at every turn. And Just about the time wt get Washing ton, Berlin, London and Paris all lined up on some proposal, Stalin or Molotov will make a slight variation In the line, with new confusion. There is a disposition in Washington to feel that the Russians cannot be trusted on any commitment unless it is in writing and then the writing will have to be scanned for double meanings. There is no disposition in the United States to go any farther in the direction of appeasement than we have gone even if a firm stand should mean war. If the Moscow conferences bring no result, we will un doubtedly go through the formality of an appeal to United Nations, but there is very little United Nations can do under present circumstances except to denounce or expel Russia and recommend economic blockades and sanctions which might bring on war. It would be ideal If Russian and Allied troops could be withdrawn from every part of Europe and Asia where the presence of occupation forces and military government now magnifies confusion, but we are not dealing with a power whose promises invite confidence. The offer with regard to Korea must be welcomed as a pacific gesture but it cannot be considered apart from Russian policy in other parts of the world frontier. Progress toward world peace demands withdrawals on every front and new patterns of good faith, with actions to back up words. . "How are you?" is a greeting that too often is mistaken for a questipn that leads to a person telling you all his troubles. In more ways than one you are better off with health than wealth. Nobody tries to borrow it. : A check on the autos in an Ohio city showed that one in every seven was faulty. A check on the drivers would be more inter esting. The average American home used the telephone 301 times last year. That's about one call for the old gent. A judge suggests that all cars be taken from careless drivers. How strange it would seem with our streets almost deserted. : Making miutes count for years and years is what produces most of our men of the hour. Start tooting your own horn if you want everybody to duck when you approach. Lane Tax Rates Compared With Other Communities By AL CURREY How do Lane tax rates compare with those of other communities? The United Press reports that Minneapolis taxpayers will send the tax collector SI 29 for eacn space under the 6 per cent budget law. In considering school taxes hv far tho most important part of John Q. Public's tax bill the same pattern is apparent. In Eu- $1000 of assessed property value, j gene, two elections were held this In a survey covering 20 U.S. I year to allow the scnooi Doara iu cities, the press service also found that taxes on each $1000 of prop erty value will climb this year in all but four cities. In Jackson, Miss., the rate per thousand will be $60.90 during the 1948-49 tax year. Rales in other cities are given as follows: Boston, Mass., $52:59; Atlanta, Ga., $54.45; San Diego, $67.10; Miami, Fla., $51.80, and Los Angeles, $60.60. These figures cover city, county, and school taxes in most cases. On a comparable basis, Eugene prop erty owners will pay total levies of $70.50. Actually lower than the $71.70 rate In Eugene last year, the tax dollars collected in this city during the year will be divided as fol lows: Cents of Tax Dollar 26 12 62 OUT OF THE WOODS By ,TOf STEVENS Bulldinr Code . . . Here Is more on government and the lumber business. Lumber still suffers from the practices that grew about It In the hundreds of years when Its product was the cheapest commodity every where. The building codes of municipalities, coun ties and states were formed out of experience with practices and customs of lumber use. In the main, building codes yet require the use of lumber with qualities that is, grades higher than those needed. The great majority of the J7,500,000 homes enumerated in the 1940 Census contain many more board feet per unit than were ever needed, as well as much higher grades than were actually called for in service. Very few old houses are wrecked because of lumber failure In the structure. They demonstrate that today's new homes can be built to serve as well with far less lumber and with substantial employment of low grades of wood that were always left to rot in the forest in the old times. Basle Code Items . . . The National Bureau of Standards has defined the common code of building as "a collection of legal requirements whose purpose Is to protect the safety, health, morals and general welfare of those In and about buildings." Most of these col lections are municipal codes. There are more than 2000. Six states have codes of one kind or another, snd all states have laws of some sort that bear on building construction. Countless building codes are becoming prevalent. Normally the local building code states In detail requirements for fire resistance, strength of ma terials, design loads for various types of construc tion, for securing building permits, and for many other technical phases. The code dictates to a build er the types and the grades of material for his building project, the way the materials are to be used and the place for each material. The relative quantities of differing materials for each building iob are regulated by the usual code. All of this has a special effect on lumber, which comes to the building market In a wide range of grades and Items among a large number of species. No two trees are alike, and no two pieces of wood are alike. The grade of any one piece can only be approximately fixed. In view of this fact, the en gineers who recommend building code provisions are apt to go to extremes In making sure that the grade of lumber specified for a given use is more lhan high enough to meet the need. The Tide of Change Engineers in building and engineers In forestry are joining to work out building regulations of lumber use on principles of assuring sound and safe home construction, while at the same time providing for more lumber supply, lower building costs and for utilization of the lumber tree to a degree that will help forest conservation. The ex ample of experience with wood floor construction in war housing Is but one of a myriad that dictate building code changes for lumber. In all corners of the country public and private agencies that carry technical authorltv, with num erous organizations that have various Interests building, are promoting revisions of building codes The National Housing Agency has long-range pro gram of tests on ways and means on the building ot good housing at reduced costs, and most of the tests are with lumber and carpentry. The National Bureau of Standards Association the Producers Council, the American Society for Testing Materials, the National Board of Fire Un derwriters, the John B. Pierce Foundation, various engineering societies, companies and trade groups In building materials, building trades unions, re learchers, prefabricators all of these and a long list besides are supporting the modernization of the codes and ordinances that rule building and build In e supply la America. Mills City government 18. County government. 8.9 School system 43.6 While the total of these laxes in Eugene is more than in some of the cities covered in the United Press survey, it is significant that Oregons tax laws provide a stringent control on tax increases except by specific authority of the people. The "6 per cent limitation" re quires all Oregon taxing bodies to have the voters' sanction before any annual budget can be in creased more than that percentage over the highest budget of the preceding three years. Further more, any amount budgeted "out side the limitation cannot be figured in calculating the allow able increase for future budgets. $6.08 Added As an example of the willing ness of local voters to meet com munity needs with larger tax pay ments, voters in Eugene last May approved four separate financial measures. Lumped, these proposi tions added approximately $6.08 in taxes on each $1000 of assessed valuation. Few citizens realize the extent by which electoral sanction has "raised the ante." In Eugene, how ever, except for the favorable bal lots this spring and in previous elections, the city would have been able to raise only $130,000, in ad valorem taxes. The city's 1948-49 budget totals $883,000. Receipts from sources other than the property tax will pay $486,000 of this. Only specific authorizations for taxes "outside" the limitation permit the city budget committee to finance many municipal operations. Altogether, taxes being levied outside the 6 per cent restriction In Eugene actually are more than double those "inside." This situation holds true in the great majority of Oregon's cities and counties. In Lane County the S089,787 general fund budget and $1,119,249 general road budget arc to be met with, just $662,646 in county property taxes. The county expects to gain around $260,000 through state school-aid payments; and $760,000 Is expected from gasoline tax shares and other "road receipts." Other sources of revenue other property levies will add another $300,000 to the county coffers. Furthermore, the county tax levy of 8.9 mills ($8.90 on each $1000 of assessed property valua tion) includes a 2.5 mill road levy approved In the May elec tion and a 1 mill levy authorized in a 1944 election. Both were granted by "the voters to give the county a little more breathing exceed the 6 per cent limitation first- by $200,000 and then by $612,000 more. The taxpayers gave overwhelm ing margins to both proposals to indicate their favor of an educa tional program costing them $1,- 107,000 for the year 184B-4H, Income Tax Helps At the same time, taxes on property In the Eugene school district will be augmented during the year with approximately $600,000 in state funds derived through income taxes. In the Sept. 18 issue of Oregon Voter, Editor C. C. Chapman notes the importance of slate in come tax payments to Lane Coun ty. Without these offsets, Chap man reports, taxpayers in Lane County would have been requir ed to pay $1,900,000 in additional ad valorem levies for all pur poses. Without this aid, the tax rate in Eugene, for Instance, would have been 95 mills instead of 70.5. Hospital School Starts Season With ( full complement of trained personnel, the Children's Hospital School opened Monday with a near-capacity enrollment. Capacity enrollment will be reached as soon as foster homes are found for a few out-of-town students, Miss Blanche Markham, superintendent, said. The students are divided, with ihn 2 to 8 years old attending in the morning, and 7 to 14 year age group attending in the after noon. The staff in addltipn to Miss norMmm nnrl Manager Lloyd Ep- penbaugh includes Mrs. Carol Hntchsr. sneoch therapist; Miss Kllzabeth Howland, physical ther apist; Miss Joy Efteland, occupa tional therapist; Mrs. . Martha Huffslutter, part - time physical therapist; Mrs. Frank Bonson, kin dergarten teacher. A full-time teacher will be supplied by School District Four in Eugene. While most of the students are from Eugene, several are from out of town, including some from Lebanon, Salem. Grants Pass and Burns. Some will come from La Grande when foster homes are found. Cattle Drive Starts Overland MEDICINE HAT, Alberta, P) First big overland drive ef fat and feeder cattle from southern Alberta to Montana in many years swung onto the trail this week from the Manyberries-Pakowkl region some 70 miles south of Medicine Hat. American buyers took this method of moving close to 1000 head of choice stock to United States feeding lots and packing plants to overcome the shortage of railway cars. Trailing the herd are Otto Sko- gen and Otto Shepherd who have been in this district two weeks buying up yearlings and two year olds at from 23 to 25 cents a pound. Four cowboys and a -chuck wagon are in the trailing cava cade which will take some 10 days to tovtt ft, ,,. Bna South lit J11 VotOrTliSj 10 v" in CSl "ounced noon and i i- . 'd raisler.ttk..M BIG SWITCH TO CALVERT l a Announcing- A SPECIALIZED SERVICE TO CAR OWNERS. BRAKE HOSPITAL 3798 Hiway 99 So., Eugene Phone 4348-W iPZNSOr1 X .'fj tt4 ,... ..." 'R, ii.H.:I"''""J "ilric!ui.i7T won J Nil J "Mitsl Mlera. lmcn 1UI1 Mil iraun Thousands have switched to Calvert because Calvert Reserve is smoother, CALVERT RESERVE Blended Whlskes -86.8 Proof-65 Oraln Neutral Spirits Calvert Distillers Corp., New York City FRED A J Corner 10th ujJ Sears, HmlmiljJ mrattlUM Laundrymen j Report Error OMAHA, Neb. (U.R) Omaha residents are losing their shirts and and quite a little other cloth- ing at the new self-service laun- 1 derettes. A survey revealed that forgot ten items are piling up at the laundries, left there by forgetful patrons. Clothing is not the only item left behind by the customers. A launderette manager said. "They leave tablecloths, towels, rugs, shirts, ladies' unmention ables, dish rags and mop heads." Another launderette reported that one woman overlooked a sheet In the washer. It is still unclaimed. Enough 'clothing to outfit one person completely is found in the course of a month at one Omaha establishment. The operators have a hard time majching up the articles and own ers. There is no identification on the forgotten wash and the laun derettes don't keep any record of who uses the machines. Most of the firms donate their finds to charity. But one manager said, "We keep them. My wife hasn't had to buy anything for a long- time." - Have your new permanent at BOB'S BEAUTT SALON 1146 East 25th. Phone 838 Closed Mondays Evening Appointments GOOD MEWS ran ic I OUGANIMO (T KMS are lllinoi, MtmsJ j ,B''lh""wJ no Kpiult ,M JJT Refrigerators At Last A TRUCKLOAD OF THESE NEW 'l fa 4CU. II. vemee lesii Coolerator (electric) RefiigemM That You've Been Waiting hi Arrived Today! 25 LB. BUILT-IN FROZEN FOOD LOCKER SEPARATE SHELF FOR 3 BIG ICE CUBE TRAYS STORAGE FOR 12 QT. BOTTLES TWO BIG CRISP-O-LATORS FOR FRUITS & VEGETABLES FIVE DEEP STORAGE SHELVES IN ALL $ ONLY 289 While TheyW Spray Equipment Ituipmett Rental ft. 1901', W. 64 Pa. 4026 WILLAMETTE RIDING ACADEMY Good Riding Horses For Hire Will leave et 10 A M. end t P. M. over food ictnlr mountain trail with cold 2819 Willamette Ph. 2G16-R This group of refrigerators will be the only shipment of thispop ular size we will have this year. If you live out of town an can't come to our store tomorrow, Just phone 6066 and W hold one up to 48 hours without a deposit. 7 I 787 Olive St Eugene, Oregon 643 Mai; Springfield A
