ft
) Train Wreck in
Missouri Kills
12, Injures Score
Rear End Collision
During Blinding Snow
storm Near Syracuse
Jefferson City. Mo., Jan. 1 Wij
Twelve persons were reported
killed and an undetermined
number injured today in a rear
end collision of two Missouri
Pacific trains during a blinding
snowstorm near Syracuse, Mo.,
95 miles east of Kansas City.
Col. Hugh H. Waggoner, su
perintendent of Ihc Misosuri
highway patrol, reported that
11 bodies were found in a
wreckage of a Pullman car on
the first section of the Missouri
Pacific's "Missourian," en route
from St. Louis to Kansas City.
One man, identified only as
H. G. Gearhart, about 35, died
at a Sedalia, Mo., hospital.
Conductor Crushed
Waggoner said the body of the
Pullman conductor was found
I crushed in the vestibule of the
fpullman, the last car on the
train. He reported the engine
of the second section, a mail and
repress train, had telescoped all
bit four feet of the Pullman
coach.
Reports from the scene were
being relayed here by radio
equipped cars of the patrols.
Communications in the area
were badly disrupted by a 24
hour sleet and snowstorm, which
left highways in a perilous cor
dilion.
The engineer, fireman and
brakeman of the second section
were reported seriously injured
and taken to a Sedalia hospital.
Icy Conditions
Waggoner said the accident
apparently was the result of icy
conditions disrupting the block
signal system. A mail clerk on
the first section said the train
was traveling about 10 to 15
miles an hour when the crash
came.
Three cars in the second sec
tion were derailed but Hid not
overturn.
Blow torches were being rush
ed from Sedalia, Mo., 16 miles
west of the scene, to cut away
the debris and remove the
bodies.
The accident occurred during
a sno-vstorm which swept this
section of the slate. Hazardous
roads and disrupted communi
cations delayed rescue crews,
doctors and ambulances In
reaching the scene.
(Concluded on Pngc 15, Column 0)
$326,995 in
City Treasury
As the new year begins the
finances of the Salem city gov
ernment show a total balance
of all funds of $326,995.98
which is considerably lower
than the $533,542.78 balance at
the beginning of 1947. Three
funds show overdrafts. There
were no overdrafts at the end
of last year.
Outstanding warrants, mark
ed "not paid for want of funds.'
and taken care of by the banks
at an interest cost of 5 percent
to the city, total at present
$100,182.18, of which $97,509.40
are street improvement war
rants and $2672.78 sewage treat
ment warrants.
These warrants will be pret
ty well taken up with the Jan
uary turnover of tax money to
tne cay, and the city has a large
investment of sewage treatment
money invested in government
bonds with which that item
could be met if necessary.
Total receipts of Salem park
ing meters since their installa
tion was, at the end of the year,
00,01tf.l4.
'Eew Year's Baby
Born at Hospital
Salem's first Nw Vnar'e k
. by, as far as hospital records
; snow anyway, is Steven Ray
; Loewen, born at 9:21 Thursday
lornine to Mr. and Mrs riaiin
.oewen, 1533 Ruge street, West
Jalem. The baby arrived at
lalem General hospital.
l ullaby Baby shop, operated by
,uucil umvn ai uio rair
? 7 -ounds road for the first baby,
lie infant claims a large crib
Ize white blocked blanket, and
lie mother a big bouquet of
link and white carnations. Oth
r New Year's babies are ex
Yected both at Salem General
Anr1 C1M I
flu" wo'tm iuciuuitdj nospiiais.
The Weather
(Released by United States
Weather Bureau)
Forecast for Salem and Vicin
ity: Cloudy tonight and Friday
with intermittent light rain.
Moderate to strong southerly
winds to prevail this afternoon,
decreasing In late evening. Max
imum yesterday 47. Minimum to
day 39. Mean temperature yes-
iicj v oa wmcn wra i oeiow
joiai 24-nour precipi
to 11:30 a.m. today 1.03.
recipitatlon for the month
apital
59th Year, No. 1
Twisters Kill
19 in Oil Belt
Of Louisiana
Shreveport, La., Jan. 1 W)
Freezing winds and rain added
peril and discomfort today as
rescue workers counted a
mounting toll of lives and prop
erty in the wake of scattered
southern tornadoes. The toll of
known dead reached 19.
The cotton and oil belt of
northwestern Louisiana and
southwestern Arkansas was
hardest hit, with 10 bodies
counted in the almost demol
ished community of Cotton Val
ley, i,a.
Three were dead in the Mem
phis, Tenn., area, from another
twister, and one fatality each
was counted in Leton, Dykes
ville and Haynesville, La., in
Village and Althcirmer, Ark.,
and in Mantee, Miss.
Hundreds were homeless and
scores were injured.
Moves Northward
The intensive weather dis
turbance moved into the Ohio
river valley with rain, sleet, or
snow and proceeded northeast
ward at a 35-mile-an-hour clip.
Hazel, Marie and Wilnus Bec-
ton were killed when their farm
home collapsed 10 miles north
of Memphis.
A woman was fatally injured
at Dykesville, La., and an uni
dentified Negro was killed at
Haynesville. At Village, Ark., a
school superintendent was killed
when a high school gymnasium
was demolished.
A twister also struck Gil
mer, Ark., destroying one house
but there were no deaths or in
juries reported there.
The funnel-shaped twister
was first sighted south of Vance
ville, La., by Herman Jones of
Bossier City. He said he saw
the funnel dip toward the earth
as he drove along a highway.
He abandoned his automobile
for the comparative safety of a
roadside ditch, he said, and
watched as the funnel sucked
up a house from nearby woods.
At that time, Jones said, the
tornado was cutting a swatch
about 50 feet wide.
Romping across wooded and
swampy sections of Bossier Par
ish, the twister struck Cotton
Valley from the southwest, dam
aging much of the business dis
trict.
Then it came back to strike
the little town again, this time
from the northeast, and demol
ished many homes.
Mayor Sam Coyle estimates
500 persons are homeless and
that the list of injured in Cot
ton Valley alone will reach 200
Death Toll of
Holiday
Low
(Br the Associated Press)
The nation's motorists appar
ently steered away from wild
driving in celebrating the arriv
al of the new year.
nn unomciai survey across
the country today showed that
18 persons were killed in traffic
accidents since 6 p.m., New
Year's eve as compared to 37
fatalities in the same period on
Christmas a week ago.
(The total includes one each
in Oregon and Washington.)
The national safety council
estimated that 175 persons may
be killed in traffic accidents in
the 30-hour period ending at
midnight tonight. In the similar
period on Christmas the violent
death toll was 288, including 179
in traffic mishaps and 109 from
miscellaneous causes. There were
116 violent deaths in the 1947
New Year's holiday, including 80
in motor accidents.
Europe Greets New Year
With Hangover From War
London, Jan. 1 P) Europe had a hangover today, too, but with
Scotch at $16 a fifth in Glasgow, champagne $22 a bottle in Paris,
the welcome to the new year was not as cordial as it might have
been. There were manv in the
ill-clothed, poorly fed, chillv na -
tions of Europe whose New Year
headaches were hangovers from
a war which ended more than
two years ago. Facing an uncer
tain future amid a widening
chasm dividing the east and the
west, they looked hopefully to
ward economic aid under the
Marshall plan.
Germans received 1948 in a
mood of dull despair. Their tram
pled country, wrecked by war,
was split in two and there was
no prospect for peace or pros
perity. Fighting continued in the
mountains of Greece and on the
bloody plains of Palestine.
The communists of Italy
greeted the new year with
threats of violence in the event
Salem,
Gaiety Features
Celebration
Of New Year
(Br the Associated Press)
The revelry of joyous throngs,
the reverence of worshippers
with prayers for world peace,
(he somber appeal of a United
Nations' leader for accord among
the great powers: in this con
trasting, but traditional, setting,
the nation observed the advent
of the new year.
As millions of merry-makers
frolicked and other millions
jammed churches, the appeal for
international unity was sounded
by UN Secretary General Tryg
ve Lie who gravely told a na
tionwide Mutual radio audience
he was "disappointed in the
greatest hope of all" the hope
that the major powers would
move toward an understanding
on disputed issues.
A more optimistic note on the
UN's future had been struck
earlier yesterday by President
Truman who said he had "every
faith" in the organization as "a
means of general world peace,
for the simple reason that we
can't afford anything else.
Hope and Despair Voiced
Other leaders expressed hope.
confidence and in some cases
despair over what the new year
would unfold.
But the day's accent leaned
sharply to gaiety and from snow-
choked Manhattan to the small
est hamlets, celebrating citizens
roared tumultous greetings to
1948.
Restrained only slightly by
slushy remnants of a record
blanket of snow, New Yorkers
set the pattern for much of
America with their traditionally
boisterous blowout.
A police-estimated throng of
750,000 last year it was 1,000,
000 surged through Times
Square and cut loose with a
mighty roar at the turn of mid
night.
Fashionable night and sup
per clubs were jammed to the
rafters and the Latin quarter-
a night spot with a $50 cover
charge turned away some 500
would-be customers lust before
midnight.
Police Commissioner Arthur
Wallander said that although
the crowd was smaller than last
year's "the city's enthusiasm for
the new year has not waned. Peo
pie are just as gay as last year"
Taxi constituted almost the
only surface traffic in the mid-
town area. The city has banned
passenger cars and non-essential
trucking to speed its giant snow
removal chores.
In Chicago, they found extra
cheer in lower prices at both
night clubs and theaters. The
Camcro restaurant, which
charged as much as $100 last
year, served the same dinner
for $20 but last year's breakfast
and free drinks were gone from
the menu.
10 Cent Bus Rides
In Effect in City
Ten cent bus rides went into
effect on all Oregon Motor Stage
equipment Thursday with three
tickets sold for 25 cents. Hold
ers of the metal tokens may use
these with the addition of one
cent or redeem them at the bus
line offices on North Front in
multiples of two. There is no
change in school ride tickets or
for children under 12 years.
The day also marked the dis
continuance of the Salem Subur
ban bus line operated by Dwight
E. Wyatt. While the OMS plans
to take over the abandoned
routes nothing can be done along
this line until hearing is held be
fore the public utilities commis
sion, it was stated today.
1 tne'r demands were not met. Bri
tons were asked to work harder
and Russians were asked to ful
fill their latest five-year plan in
four years.
South African Prime Minister
Jan Christian Smuts said in a
New Year's broadcast:
"We are living in times of
great change almost of world
order moving from one stage to
another."
An editorial in Pravda, the or
gan of the communist party in
Moscow, declared that "the age
of capitalism is approaching its
end" and in extending New
Year's greetings to communist
comrades all over the world it
added: "We are living in an age
in which all roads lead to communism."
4 Joiar
Oregon, Thursday, January 1, 1948
! -.'I ..-.', 1
M, )
Copy of Lost Inflation Bill Signed House Speaker Joseph W.
Martin (R., Mass.) signs a copy of the anti-inflation bill on a ban
quet table, stripped of its covering, in the high school at Dedham,
Mass., after the piece of legislation substituted for the original
measure mislaid at the White House was flown to Rhode Island
and rushed by courier to Dedham, Others in picture unidentified.
(AP Wirephoto)
657 More Babies Born
Than in Previous Year
By Doug Thomas
Salem and Marion county scored a new record during 1947
with a bumper crop of new Oregonians, the county health office
disclosed today with the release of an annual report. The year
end summary, covering an 11-month period of 1947, showed that
2445 babies were born in the city and county. That figure was 657
higher than the record set inf
1946 and more than twice the
1033 births record a decade ago.
An improvement in health
conditions was indicated in a
breakdown of the birth statis
tics, which showed that only 50
babies were born at home dur
ing 1947, while 464 or more
than half the 1937 total were
born outside hospitals.
Death Kate Cut in Half i
The death rate for the city
county area was virtually cut in
half during the decade. In 1937
there were nearly four additions
for every death, while during
the same time of 1947, the stork
made seven visits for every
death.
The figures showed, however,
that diseases of old age cancer
and heart trouble were on the
increase. The number of cancer
cases almost doubled during the
decade, while fatal heart ail
ments increased 10 per cent. An
improvement in the death rate
during 1947 compared with 1946
was accounted for by increased
births. The actual number of
deaths remained virtually the
same.
A sharp drop in fatalities re
sulting from communicable dis
eases was recorded during the
decade, and medical science was
credited with the improved con-
fditions.
Science Beneficial
In 1937, for example, the Ma
rion county health office re
ported that 39 persons died of
pneumonia, while only 2 deaths
were attributed to that cause in
1947. Last year, the disease took
six lives. Penicillin and sulpha
drugs as well as serums account
ed for the improvement.
While the Marion county pop
ulation increased from 62,028
in 1937 to an estimated 100,-
000 in 1947, per capita increas
es in expanded health programs
for the decade was set at about
16 cents.
Love at First Sight
Says Princess Anne
Copenhagen, Denmark, Jan. 1
iP) Princess Anne of Bourbon
Parma said today, "It was love
at first sight" with her and for
mer King Mihai of Romania and
that "wherever he goes, I will
follow him."
She said the young monarch's
abdication Tuesday was a com
plete surprise to her and that
she did not know his plans.
She was anxiously awaiting
word from him at the residence
of her uncle, Prince Axel in
Gentofte, a Copenhagen suburb.
"I have had no word from
King Michael (Mihai) and I do
not know anything about his
plans for the future," the pretty
young princess said in an inter
view. "It seems, however, after
what I have read in the papers,
that he intends to go to Switz
erland but wherever he goes.
1 will follow him. But I will
not leave Copenhagen until I
have heard from him."
There have been persistent
reports that Anne and Mihai
soon would be married.
Streets of NY
Being Cleared
New York, Jan. 1 W) New
York City's ban on non-essential
lmi,J iiijj - ) imposed by Mayor
William O'Dwyer to speed snow
removal operations will be lift
ed tomorrow but the embargo
against private automobiles will
continue until further notice.
Modification of the order, in
effect since Tuesday, was an
nounced yesterday by O'Dwyer
after he had conferred with his
emergency snow committee di
recting the still-staggering task
of digging out from under last
Friday'i record 25.8-inch snow
fall. With almost 40 percent of the
city's 5719 miles of streets alrea
dy opened, the mayor predicted
yesterday that by late tomorrow
every thoroughfare in all of
New York's five boroughs would
be cleared for traffic.
Commercial trans porlation.
with the exception of scattered
bus routes, was nearly back to
normal and commuters were ex
periencing only occasional delays
in traveling to and from work.
Fear Lost B-29
In Cook Inlet
Anchorage, Alaska, Jan. 1 UP)
Fear that a missing B-29 Su
perfortress and its nine crew
men may have fallen into the
waters of Cook Inlet were ex
pressed today by a veteran
Alaska construction engineer.
Cliff Lenihan, who said he
was sitting with his wife in the
lobby of a downtown hotel when
the sky lighted up "like the
glow from a neon sign," placed
the origin of the flash as direct
ly west of the city about over
mid-channel of the inlet.
"It was snowing at the time,
but the sky was so bright that
buildings on the street were
lighted up," he said.
The missing plane vanished
within two minutes of its take
off from Elmendorff field yes
terday morning. It was enroute
to Fairfield, Calif., army air
base on a routine weather ob
servation and reconnaissance
flight, the army air transport
command announced in San
Francisco.
A fruitless aerial search was
launched immediately after ob
servers in the field tower re
ported the flash on the plane's
line of flight. It came only mo
ments after the B-29 sent an
emergency call that the No. 3
engine was out.
A ground parly also set out
by army weasel on a round
abouts trip to the area 50 miles
to Palmer and cross-country
about 40 miles to the point Mc
Kcnzie area. It found no trace
of the craft.
ao c6 r s..
,rtV CAV"
ureek Troops
Lift Red Siege
Of Konitsa City
Athens, Jan. 1 Wj The Greek
war ministry declared today that
the battered eity of Konitsa has
been released from siege by 5,
000 communist guerrillas who
have been hammering at the
town since Christmas day.
A communique said initial re
lief elements entered the embat
tled city last night. The weary
1000-man garrison was being
evacuated today. The relief col
umn entered the city from the
west, after dislodging rebel for
ces and "inflicting heavy losses"
in a drive from strategic Bouro-
zani bridge, the communique
said.
Sought as Capital
The rebels, who fought des
perately to take the city as a
capital for a newly proclaimed
Greek communist slate, presum
ably retreated into the Grammos
mountains. The war ministry
made no mention of the direc
tion of retreat. Previous reports
said some of the rebels fled into
Albania, north of Konitsa.
Capture of Bourozani bridge,
11 miles west of Konitsa, was
announced by the government
yesterday. The rebels took the
bridge, one of the key points to
the defense of Konitsa, on the
first day of their assault on Ko
nitsa.
Military sources had no infor
mation concerning the progress
of a second column of govern
ment troops which last night was
reported only a mile and one
half from Konitsa and in com
munication with the garrison.
10,000 Guerrillas
Semi-official reports said ap
proximately 10,000 guerrillas
took part in the general opera
lion against Konitsa with 5000
shock troops assigned the task
of forcing a way into town. The
remainder were scattered along
line of approach, particularly
on the road from Kalapaki to
Bourozani bridge. It was esti
mated that 2000 to 4000 gucr
rillas tried to keep this vital
communications artery closed
while waves; of shock troops
smashed unavailmgly at Konitsa
Violently attacking national
forces, however, knocked out de
fense positions covering the road
often in bayonet charges and
hand to hand fighting while
tanks and armored cars support
ed them from the highway
proper.
11,000 Jewish
Refugees Land
Famagusta, Cyprus, Jan. 1 P)
More than 11,000 uncertified
Jewish immigrants were disem-
barking quietly here today un-
der watch of hundreds of Brit -
isri troops ana ponce irom iwo
converted cargo ships.
The ships were brought to
port under escort of British war
ships headed by two cruisers
after being intercepted in the
Mediterranean.
(The Jews had sailed from the
Black sea port for Palestine. The
British foreign office said mas
ters of the ships agreed volun
tarily to allow boarding parties
aboard and to alter their cours
es from Haifa to Cyprus, where
approximatly 17,000 other Jews
were in camps after being inter
cepted in previous efforts to
reach Palestine without visas.)
Hundreds of British comman
dos, garrison troops and civil
policemen lined up at the docks
and the operation was so peace
ful as to be anti-climactic.
2 New Courts Expedite
Salem Legal Business in '47
Judicial and administrative reorganization in Salem in 1947
included two new courts a city court that was made an exclusive
department by divorcing it from the recorder's office, and a dis
trict court that replaced the old'
justice court. The former is
presided over by W. W. McKin
ney, as judge on a part-time
basis, and the latter by Joseph
B. Felton, who was appointed
to the judgeship by the late
Governor Earl Sncll.
The city court disposed of
4673 cases during the year, only
three being left , for trial in
1948.
"Much has been accomplish
ed," said Judge McKinney, "in
setting up and conducting the
Salem Municipal court. A large
share of the credit for the
smooth operation should go to
the police department and the
city attorney. The court dock
et is completed by the last cited
case in 1947.
The total 4673 cases handled
during the year included, drunk
driving, 56; reckless driving
with liquor involved, 65; reck
100 Percent
Gain Made in
Building Here
Records Topple with
Total of $6,898,215;
369 Permits for Homes
An altitude record was made
in Salem building permits dur-
ing 1947, with a total of So,-
898,215, which exceeded lheine coss and increasing de
hi fill est previous figure ot last! mands for expenditure, Is claim-
year by practically 100 per cent.
At the end of 1946 the build
ing inspector showed a total
of $3,451,878, which was $l,-i
558,634 ahead of the then pre
vious highest of $1,893,241 that
had been scored in the year
1936.
Now comes 1947 to beat 1946
by a margin of $3,446,337. Of
course the construction of sev
eral slate buildings with con
struction at the institutions
helped along toward the big
total. But there were others,
strictly local enterprises that
soared high. Permits for new
dwellings numbered 369.
By months the money total of
all permits were:
January, $106,988; February,
$291,502; March, $832,773; Ap
ril, $214,828; May, $433,160;
June, $1,794,716; July, $292,500;
August, $506,270; September,
$1,507,074; October, $271,109;
November, $341,575; December,
$305,720.
Biggest Ones Listed
Permits for buildings costing
$25,000 or more were taken out
by the following:
School district No. 24, $109,
600; Jewish congregation, $31,
0 0 0 ; Willamette university,
$521,200; State of Oregon,
$180,000; State of Oregon, $1,-
i 500,000; D. A. Larmer, $70,000;
W. T. Rigdon mortuary, for Mt.
Crest abbey, $55,000; Dairy Co
operative association, $45,000;
Pacific Telephone & Telegraph
company, $1S0,UUU; school dis
trict No. 24, $49,000; Curly's
dairy, $70,000; state of Oregon,
$355,800; slate of Oregon, $732,
321; Herrall-Owens, $50,000;
Ivan Stewart, $26,000; archdio
cese of Portland, $35,000; Mrs.
L. S. Rossman, $53,500; Louis
Newman & Associates, $30,000
In the 19 years during which
building records have been kept
the yearly totals to and includ
ing 1947 were:
For 1929, $1,359,175; 1930,
$529,412; 1931, $325,750; 1932
$204,384; 1933, $181,905; 1934
$286,897: 1935. $348,357: 1936
$1,893,244; 1 9 3 7, $1,156,227
1938, $1,645,990; 1939, $955,712;
1940, $1,637,854; 1941, $907,214;
1942, $230,665; 1943, $138,782;
1944, $346,249; 1945, $1,793,842;
1 1946, $3,451,878; 1947, $6,898
- 215.
Frisco Float Wins
At Pasadena
Pasadena. Cal., Jan. 1 U.R
The city and county of San Fran
cisco won the Tournament of
Roses sweepstakes award today
with a float, "The Cable Car,"
depicting one of the bay city's
fnmed, old trams,
The flower - decked float,
. u,roc-fourths as big as the actual
cable cars that trundle up and
down San Francisco's steep
streets, was picked over 57 oth
er entries in the 59th renewal of
the annual Rose parade.
Girls clad in gay 90s costume
rode the car, and at one end of
the float was a realistic repro
duction of the Powell St. turn
table. The city of Alhambra won the
next-highest award, the theme
prize, with its "Founding of the
Golden West," depicting Fra.
Junipero Serra, founder of Call
fornia's old Spanish missions.
The grand prize went to the
Union Oil Co. for its "Girl of
the Golden West," which carried
life-like floral puppets depicting
a scene from the famed play
"Girl of the Golden West."
less driving. 110; ordinance vi
olations, 1611; violations of the
basic speed rule, 1037; disor
derly conduct, 90; drunkenness,
1310; vagrancy, 239; gambling,
28; illegal possession of intoxi
cating liquor, 12.
The district court was not or
ganized until July 1, when the
new law creating district courts
in Marion, Clackamas and Lane
counties became effective. The
court has county-wide jurisdic
tion both in civil and criminal
cases, which has resulted in an
increase in the court's business.
"In the six months," said
Judge Felton, "the court has
handled over 400 civil and about
800 criminal cases. We try to
work it out to the convenience
of the public and the bar. One
improvement is the segregation
of traffic from the more seri
ous cases."
Manager Plan
Of Government
Called Success
Mayor Comments on
First Year of System;
Some Forecasts Made
By Stephen A. Stone
Good judgment in the use ot
cjty money, in the face of ris-
cd by Mayor Rohert L. Elfstrom
for the first year of managerial
government in Salem.
He adds to that, among the ac
complishments of the plan, bet
ter co-ordination among city de
partments, and more orderly ad
ministrative planning for the fu
ture. The first year was a suc
cess, says the mayor. He cites
proofs. And he believes it has
shown an improvement over the
old council-committee system.
Using the first year as a basis
the mayor docs not hesitate to
malic some forecast of what may
be expected in 1948 and other
immediately future years
"City Manager J. L. Franzen
will have his own report, to be
made probably at the first coun
cil meeting of the new year," the
mayor said. "We will have to
wait for that to get the details.
But some outstanding things I
can mention without reference
to the records. And one thing
that pleases me is that we have
shifted from one form of govern
ment to the other and gone
through the first year with a
minimum of disturbance."
As an example of money sav
ing the mayor cites the purchase
of water pipe.
Steel at Low Cost
"The water department," he
said, "had asked for quotations
on 30-inch pipe. The low bid
was $8.85 a foot. Then we learn
ed that ship plate was available
from the war assets administra
tion at Swan island. We go! a
bid from the American Pipe &
Construction company of Port
land to fabricate the steel at a
price low enough to make the
cost of the steel and the fabrica
tion only $6.95 a foot, a saving
of $1.90, or on 6500 feet a sav
ing of $12,350. As an economic
move 343 tons of 1 'A -inch steel
plate was bought. So we have
enough left, valued at $10,000
at the price paid, to build a
slandpipe in Downs addition."
Another instance of econom
ical buying mentioned by Mayor
Elfstrom was new equipment for
street work, which" has put that :
department in good condition.
Some equipment is yet to be
added.
City Hall Remodeled
The mayor mentions as out
standing improvement 1 n the
fire department. Chief W. P.
Roble came to Salem a few
weeks after the first of the year,
and, with cooperation of the
manager and the council, reor
ganized the department. Sys
tematic drill, a salvage unit and
other innovations came in. The
personnel was increased.
Convenience was added to the
city's operating plant by the
remodeling of the interior of
City hall, with a shifting of de
partments that relieved them of
congestion and added efficiency.
(Concluded on Pace 15, Column 7)
Snow and Sleet
Greet Mid-west
(By the Associated Press)
Stormy, blustery, snowy, icy,
sleety, rainy and cold weather
ushered in the New Year over
a wide section of the country.,
today.
The storm area extended from
Nebraska eastward into Ohio
and southwest into the Okla
homa Panhandle. Temperatures
in Minnesota, the Dakotas and
Nebraska plunged to more than
20 degrees below zero. Sharp
drops over other midwest sec
tions were forecast by tonight.
Laramie, Wyo., was listed as
the coldest spot in the Rocky
mountain region last night with
28 degrees below zero.
Outside the storm area, tor
nadoes struck northwestern Lou
isiana and southwestern Arkan
sas yesterday, killing close to a
score of persons and injuring
about 200 others.
Snow, sleet and freezing rain
fell in the storm belt as the
cold wave 'moved northward
into southern Illinois and was
expected to spread to the lower
Great Lakes. Heavy rains were
reported in some sections of the
Mississippi valley and a wide
band of freezing rain and glaze
coated highways over large sec
tions of eastern Oklahoma, Mis
souri and the northern parts of
Illinois and Indiana. The freez
ing rain and glazing conditions
were expected to spread into
southern Michigan.
Snow also was reported in
some parts of Oklahoma, Kansas
and Northern Missouri and the
forecast was for heavy snow in
parts of Iowa, Illinois, Wiscon
sin and Michigan. The weather
bureau in Kansas City reported
winds up to 70 miles an hour
early today and numerous store
windows were broken.
V