University of Oregon
Gateway to The Oregon Caves
Illinois Valley News
A Live Wire Newspaper Published in the Interests of the Illinois Valiev and Surrounding Districts
Volume IX.
No. 6
♦
Cave Junction, Oregon, Thursday, June 7, 1945
"f
Washington
Weekly Letter
By HARRIS ELLSWORTH
NEW CABINET MEMBERS.
The sudden reorganization of the
Cabinet by President Truman cre­
ated, as you might guess, consid­
erable of a stir here. The reaction
to the selections made was gener­
ally favorable. I am not person­
ally acquainted with Judge Schwel-
lenbach, new secretary of labor, or
Tom Clark, who will be the new
attorney general, but I have
known Clinton Anderson since I
have been in Congress, and admire
and respect him. He is a sincere
and competent man, and I am
certain will make a fine secretary
Anderson, who
of agriculture,
has headed the House committee
which has been investigating the
food situation, has a fine beck-.
ground and knowledge of the food
problem. He knows the necessity
for eliminating some of the over­
lapping and conflicting agencies
and sub-agencies which have
served to confuse the handling of
the war-time food problem. As a
first step, the War Food Admin­
istration will be placed directly un­
der him when he becomes secre­
tary of agriculture, and I think it
is safe to predict that other con­
solidations and eliminations of
unnecessary agencies will follow.
• * *
I have just received a report
from the War Food Administra­
tion which is labelled “A Summary
of the Food Situation”. The first
paragraph of the letter transmit­
ting this report to the members of
congress reads as follows:
“Prospective food supplies will
be more than adequate in all parts
of the United States to meet all
essential food needs.”
That sentence, by the way, is
quoted from the letter by Marvin
Jones, Food Administrator, as be­
ing the conclusion reached by the'
Agriculture Bureau of Economics.
I suggest you clip out this para­
graph and read that sentence again
about three months from now.
There is nothing in the current
food outlook, as seen by the mem­
bers of our food study committee,
which would justify such a super-
optimistic statement.
« * *
R E
EVERETT
DIRKSEN
PORTS. My good friend, Con-
gressman Everett Dirksen of Illi­
nois, has just returned from a
three-months’ trip, around the
world. I heard him give a splen
did two-hour report on his jour­
ney to the Republican Members
of the House in art off-the-record
session. I have also heard some
of his private discussions of his
observations. Dirksen is not onlj
a fair-minded man, but is a very-
competent observer, and brought
home numerous documents ano
newspapers, and other tangible ev­
idence, to back up statements that
he makes.
“GOING MY WAY” AT
CAVE CITY THEATER
SATURDAY. SUNDAY
Movie-goers who might have
been apprehensive about the cast­
ing of Bing Crosby as a priest
can now settle back with a sigh
of relief. His fans need not hide
in dark corners because the
“groaner” really hits the jackpot
in “Going My Way” which comes
to the Cave City theater Saturday
and Sunday nights.
,
He’s the priest everybody knows
or has heard of, but who has never
reached the screen before as a
full-fledged character.
He’s a
sort of combination of the young
Fathers under whom Bing studied
at Gonzaga. He’s a regular fel­
low, an athlete, a musician, an un­
conventional but not unorthodox
churchman who reaches the hearts
of his parishoners through his mu­
sic. And he is as well-known to
non-Catholics as to Catholics.
Teamed with Crosby is Metro­
politan Opera Star Rise Stevens,
making her second appearance in
films. Her outstanding operatic
number in the picture is the “Hab­
anera” aria from “Carmen” in ad­
dition to several numbers with
Bing and the Robert Mitchell boys’
choir, particularly Gounod’s “Ave
Mana".
Two rich parts are portrayed by
Barry Fitzgerald, as Father Fitz­
gibbon, and Frank McHugh, as
Father “Tim” O’Dowd. Barry, late
of the Abbey Players, contributes
a fine leavening of Irish brogue
and lovable irascibility.
Wednesday and Thursday Brings
Eddie Cantor in “Show Business”
Telling a human and authentic
story of a group of young people
in the theater, “Show Business”
presents a tuneful pageant of
backstage life over a period as a
setting for romance, drama and
comedy.
The action begins in 1914, with
Cantor as a scared youngster mak­
ing his stage debut In an amateur
night performance at a Bowery
theater. George Murphy is the star
of the show, and takes an interest
in the lad’s career, soon afterwaiyl
they join forces with a sister act,
Joan Davis and Constance Moore,
and the quartette goes on to fame
and fortune.
Murphy’s romance with Con­
stance is opposed by Nancy Kel­
ly, a burlesque queen, who makes
(Continued on Page Six)
--------------- v---------------
Chamber To
Assist In
Bond Drive
Harold Prestel, chairman of the
7th War Bond Drive, was in the
valley Tuesday and made arrange­
ments with President Hal Moore,
of the Illinois Valley Chamber of
Commerce to take over the duties
of soliciting the valley for War
(Continued on Tace Eicht)
Bonds. Most of the valley has al­
ready
been covered, but there arc
♦ COMING EVENTS ♦
spots that need attention, and the
Thursday, June 14—Flag day.
chamber will help in this regard.
Friday, June 15—O'Brien Worn i
President Moore asks all mem­
en’s club at the home of Mrs. [
bers of the executive committee to
Rena Webb.
get in touch with him at the earli­
Sunday, June 17—Father’s Day. est possible moment to get sup­
Chamber of Commerce meets ev­ plies and instructions on what to
ery fourth Tuesday of the ’ do and how to go about doing it.
month. Meeting place to be des­
This War Bond drive is essen­
ignated.
tial to the success of the fight­
Ladies' Auxiliary meet the first ing forces, and the country as a
and third Wednesday of each whole is letting down, but Oregon
month.
is way ahead of the national av­
erage.
But we still need to do
O’Brien Women's club meets on
the second Friday of each much before we are over the top.
Buy more bonds now and keep
month.
’em, and you will have a nest egg
Kerby P.-T. A meets the last
after the war is over, and then you
Thursday of each month, in
will be very thankful that you
Kerby grade school.
saved that money. It is just like
Marguerite Rebekah Lodge No. putting money in the bank and
Ill meets the second Wednes­ drawing interest on it. You can
day of each month at I. O. 0. F. get it out any time you need it.
hall, Kerby.
When the solicitors come to your
I. O. 0. F. Lodge No. 55 meets place, meet them with a smile
second and fourth Tuesdays of t and have your money ready for all
each month, I. O. 0. F. hall. the bonds you can buy. Josephine
Kerby.
county MUST go over the top and
Belt Lodge, A. F. & A. M. meets the Illinois Valley MUST do her
share in buying.
fourth Saturday each month.
“Trade Your Folding Money
Illinois Valley Garden club meets
the fourth Friday of each month. , for Fighting Money.”
School
Elections
Important
Special
Election
June 22
At the special election Friday.
This month our school districts
will hold important elections that I June 22, voters will be asked to
greatly concern Jhe school system authorize a post-war building pro-
j gram for new buildings and addi­
of the valley.
Kerby school district No. 3 will tions at the state institutions, in­
hold an election on Monday, June cluding institutions of higher edu­
18th, to vote the annual school cation.
“It is important that voters un­
budget and elect an entire new
board. Two members of the board derstand they are not being asked
have moved away from the dis­ to authorize collection of addi­
trict, and one member's term is tional taxes in this election,” Sec-
up, so the entire board must be ■ retary of State Robert S. Farrell
elected. The voters will also have said. “Oregon now has the $10,-
to vote on the question of a dis­ 000,000 needed to finance the
building program in income tax
trict tax for the grade school.
On Monday, June 25, the Kerby surplus, but under the state’s con­
Union high school district will hold stitution, this money cannot be ex­
their annual election to consider pended unless the people author­
and adopt the budget and to elect ize a ten mill tax levy.
one new director, and the regular
“When this tax is authorized by
the people, the tax commission can
district tax.
Then on Friday, June 22, the then apply the income tax surplus
voters of the county will vote on to off-set the property tax which
the proposition of changing the then will NOT BE COLLECTED.
school system of the county to the The levy is a mechanical device
County School Unit system. This necessary under the Oregon law
will put the entire school system to authorize the expenditure of
of the county in one unit with one i the existing surplus fund from in-
tax levy equal all over the county, I come taxes.”
according to the tax levies, and
Farrell emphasized the fact that
the school would be directed by a the buitdTflg program is one that
superintendent chosen by a board i is needed to enable over-crowded
of five directors appointed by the I state institutions to meet de­
county court for the first time, mands on their facilities. In addi­
and then afterwards elected by the tion, it will provide sound em­
people.
ployment projects during the post­
The county would be divided in­ war period.
to five districts with one director
Besides the special tax levy,
from each district. The Illinois there is the question of taxing cig-
Valley would be a district and Iarets to support the school fund
would have one director on the for the state of Oregon. This tax
I will be two cents per package.
board.
Oregon voters who will be
There is considerable controver­
sy over this measure, and it looks away from home and thus unable
like there should be some lively | to vote on election day may vote
interest developed. Citizens inter­ ; by absentee ballot any time up to
ested in the schools of the district June 17, five days prior to elec­
should get out and vote their own tion, Farrell said.
choice.
“It has come to our attention
The Illinois Valley Chamber of that there are a number of con­
Commerce is trying to have a mem­ ventions scheduled in Oregon dur­
ber of the State School Superin­ ing June and some of them may
tendent’s office come to the valley cause voters to be away from home
and explain all the details of the on election day,” Mr. Farrell said.
county unit system, so the peo­ "Voters who will not be home to
ple would know what they are vot­ vote on June 22 should obtain their
ing on. If this man can be se­ absentee ballots now and cast them
cured, notice will be given and prior to the deadline, five days
it is hoped the people will turn out before June 22.”
School Measure on Ballot
to hear what it is all about.
At this election, the voters of
--------------V--------------
BUY WAR BONDS
(Continued from Page Five)
No More Proud Sight
ALL THE WORLD I m I u to The American Flag a* the symbol of freedom
from aggression and a guarantee that peace and righteousness shall pre­
vail This, official insignia of the Mighty Seventh War Loan, shows the
raising of the flag on Iwo Jlma by L'. 8. Marines. It is the picture that has
been more widely used than any in this war, proceeds of which the AP
donated In service relief.
Price Five Cents
Death Takes
Heavy Toll
In Valley
Minnie Cornelia Cosson
Mrs. Minnie C. Cosson died last
Saturday, June 2nd, at 5:30 p. m.,
at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
Freeling L. Sawyer, on Caves
highway. She was Ijorn January
18, 1854, in Cayuga county, New
York, and was a resident of Cave
Junction for more than 31 years
and at the time of her death was
91 years of age.
She is survived by a sister, Mrs.
Lottie Hayes of Crescent City,
and a grandson, Corporal Philip
Sawyer, now in the armed forces.
Funeral services were held Tues­
day afternoon at the Community
church with Rev. George Gray of­
ficiating. Interment was at the
Kerby cemetery with L. B. Hall
funeral home in charge.
------------- V--------------
Reuben Tucker
News from Our
Boys and Girls
In the Service
Word comes that R. T. (Rich­
ard) McCtady is now in the serv­
ice and his address is R. T. Mc-
Crady, Co. 5-30, U. S. Naval Trait I
ing Station, San Diego, 33, Calif.
Pfc. Marvin Ramsey, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Clay Ramsey of Kerby,
is home on a short furlough. He
will return about June 13th to
his base at North Carolina.
Paul Kees, son-in-law of Mr. and
Mrs. L. A. Beard, was killed in ac­
tion at Saipan, April 17th. Mrs.
Kees was notified and wrote her
parents of the notice. They made
their home on the Sid Jacque«
place near Holland.
Word has just been received
from Washington stating that Pfc.
Ival H. Altis was a member of a
night reconnaisance patrol which
made its way within 15 yards of
an enemy machine gun nest. The
machine gun crew fired on the pa­
trol, forcing them to disperse and
withdraw. Ival was hit by the
first burst of fire from the gun
and died almost instantly.
The incidence occurred October
5. 1944.
Ival has a wife and one child
who live in Springfield. Other
relatives live in Mountain Grove
and one sister living in Cave Junc­
tion, Oregon, Mrs. J. L. Johnson.
Reuben Tucker, about 60, of
Selma, died shortly before noon
Wednesday at the Josephine Gen­
eral hospital, about two hours af­
ter he was injured by lumber that
collapsed from the truck he was
unloading at the Moore Lumber
Products company, East G street,
in Grants Pass.
The accident occurred, onlook­
ers reported, when the outside
tiers of the load of lumber on his
--------------V--------------
truck fell as he was trying to
steady the load before unloading.
The lumber was being hauled from
one of the Beck mills at Selma to
the Moore planer for surfacing,
according to James A. Pack, man­
ager.
Tucker was conscious when he
was taken to the hospital in the
L. B. Hall ambulance.
Funeral arrangements have not
been announced at this time, so
further details were not available
This year the 14 man squad of
at publication time.
smoke jumpers arrived in the val­
------------- V--------------
ley Tuesday and immediately
started preparations for the 1945
Henry M. Damewood
fire season. Their camp at the
Henry M. Damewood, aged 84 Redwood Ranger Station is rap­
years, passed away at his home in idly taking shape, parachutes are
Selma, last Wednesday, May 30th, being aired and packed, and fire
at 8 p. m. He was born July 3, equipment is being readied.
Smoke jumping has established
1864, in Jackson county, and has
itself
and this year smoke jump­
lived in the Selma community for
ers
are
expected to be active in
the past 10 years.
He is survived by his wife, Dora Montana, Idaho, Washington, Ore­
The local
A. Damewood; three daughters, gon and California.
squad
will
function
chiefly
in
Mrs. Gladys Lynch of Cottage
Grove, Mrs. Eldora Flick of Ven­ southwestern Oregon and north­
eta, Oregon, and Mrs. Ethel Lynch ern California.
Interesting changes in equip­
of Haines, Oregon; two sons.
George II. Damewood of Disston, ment this year include ripcord
Oregon and Ralph Damewood of jumper pants which literally leave
Spokane; two brothers, Joe of Culp the jumper upon the pull of the
This facilitates the
Creek, Oregon and Frank of Crow. rip cord.
shedding
of
these
heavy pants in
Oregon; one sister, Mrs. Allie
event
of
a
water
landing.
A quick
Slagle of Newcastle, Wyoming.
Also surviving are the following snap to the release device allows
stepchildren, Lew Hammer, Sel­ the jumper to stop this part of
ma; Mrs. lie Craig, Harbor; Mrs. his gear just before a water land­
Susan Herman, Prospect; Mrs. ing. A new 14 foot cargo chute
Winnie Williams of Lafayette, Or­ which can be stuffed in one's
egon; 12 grandchildren and one pocket has been tried and should
prove useful in dropping fire
great granddaughter.
Not all of this special
Funeral services were held in packs.
equipment
will appear locally at
the chapel of Hull & Hull funeral
this
time
but
eventually will be
home in Grants Pass last Friday,
June 1st, at 2:30 p. m., with the standard.
The coming fire season may be
Rev. Anderson of Selma officiat­
a
bad
one. You can do your part
ing. The remains were shipped to
by reporting fires to the Redwood
Cottage Grove last Friday evening.
Ranger Station or to Dick Sow-
------------- V--------------
el at the Kerby Guard Station.
With the possibility of forest firn
Marta Webb
equipment being used to the lim­
Marta Webb, 67, passed away it, extra precautions in preventing
Tuesday, June 6, at 10:30 p. m., fires in the valley will be greatly
at the Josephine General hospital appreciated. Your cooperation in
where she had been a patient for the past is evidence that extra caru
three months. Her home was in will be taken again this season.
Elk Valley, near O’Brien, Oregon.
--------------V--------------
Mrs. Webb was born Marta
Johnson in Jemptland, Sweden, Veterans Council
Dec. 5, 1877 and came to this coun­ Appreciates Help
try in 1887 with her parents who
settled near Beresford, South Da­
The Veterans’ Council of thn
kota. She had been a resident county, wants to publicly thank
of Elk Valley since 1904.
Captain Collman and his men, and
Survivors include her husband. Co. A for going to the trouble to
Louis R. Webb; two sons, Ted R. come into Grants Pass and partici­
Webb, Klamath Falls, Verne R. pate in the Memorial Day parade.
Webb, Seiad, Cal.; one step-daugh­
The Company made a great
ter, Mrs Angie Eggers, Crescent showing and added a great deal to
City; three sisters, Emma Viburn, the parade, and we want the boys
Moscow, Idaho, Ella Westberg, to know how much we appreciate
Moscow, Idaho, and Ethel Dodgp, their cooperation.
J. AL DROLETTE.
(Continued on Page Six)
Jumpers
Prepare For
Fire Season