7f OREGON H I G T 0 R I C A L SOCIETY PUBLIC AUDITOR I'J V. . PORTL A:.: . intra Volume 53, Number 43 HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, DEC. 30, 1937 Subscription $2.00 a Year mtm 0 White Christmas Enjoyed as Snow Conies for Day Happy Reunions, Show, Ball Feature; To Welcome 1938 Morrow county had its white Christmas. In fact, the snow ap peared to come especially to adorn Christmas day, as it fell the two pre ceding days and was cleared away by a high wind the day after. With the snow,' the moisture con tent of which was only .02 inch at Heppner, was the homecoming of many students and former residents, and visitation of many out-of-town friends, to make the day one of joy on every hand. Public activities were confined to the free show sponsored by the Elks and Star theater and the ball at the Elks hall, both of which drew large crowds, but in most every home there were family dinners and re unions reflecting the spirit of the day. Before the day arrived churches, school, organizations and groups had introduced the season with programs and trees, and the air was filled with the singing of carols, while homes decorated inside and out with lights and tokens of the season, and gay shop windows on a Main street adorned with large, illuminated trees at the corners, all joined in to make it a very merry Christmas, indeed. The season's spirit will be carried out until after the New Year is her aided tomorrow night, though many of those coming from the outside have left or are leaving today or to morrow. Church and private watch parties are on the .slate to welcome the stripling 1938, and the Elks hall will again be the gala scene of a large public ball. FATHER WALSH PASSES Announcement was received this week of the death of Father James J. Walsh at St. Anthony's hospital in Pendleton, where he was taken following his recent accidental fall into the channel of Willow creek from the south Court street bridge here. News of Father Walsh's pass ing is received with deep regret by his many Heppner friends. MAYOR DOING NICELY Word comes from Mrs. Jones at Portland that Mayor Jeff Jones is "just doing fine and hopes to be home before very long." Mayor Jones underwent an operation at St Vin cent's hospital in the city three weeks ago, and word of his recovery is welcomely received by his host of friends. NO MASONIC MEETING Because of the New Year's holi day falling on next Saturday, the regular meeting of Heppner Lodge No. 69, A. F. & A. M., will not be held, announces Vawter Parker, W. M. Degree work will be featured at the meeting in the third Satur day in January. Holiday guests at the home of Rev. and Mrs. R. C. Young were their sons, Reo Young of Forest Grove and Bob Young of Rainier; daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. How ard Rasmussen of Portland, and friend, Miss Fayetta Wasser of Rain ier. All were Christmas day guests except Miss Wasser who arrived on Tuesday and is leaving today. Holiday guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Monahan were their daughter, Miss Mary Monahan and son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Barrie of Yakima, Wash. Miss Monahan who holds a position as stewardess on the Dollar liner President Jefferson, recently re turned from a trip to the Orient Miss Kathryn Bisbee, Clackamas county health nurse, spent Christ mas at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Bisbee. W. Y. BALL HOME HAS BEST DISPLAY Exterior Illumination Cheer For Christmas Season Spon sored by P. P. & L. Company The home of Mr. and Mrs. W. Y. Ball on South Court street in Hepp ner was given first choice by the judges for its exterior Christmas il lumination in a contest sponsored by Pacifc Power and Light company to promote this kind of Christmas cheer. For their efforts, Mr. and Mrs. Ball received the $10 cash first prize. Second place winner was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Gilliam on Baltimore street, who received the $5 cash second prize. The E. L. Mor ton residence on North Court street was third choice of the judges, tak ing the $2.50 cash third prize. Eight homes were registered in the contest, all of which were judged. The exhibits were to have been in place by 5 o'clock the evening of December 22, and were expected to be lighted from 5 to 9 each evening until January 1. , Jan. 15 Closing Date For '38 Work Sheets A closing date for- filing work sheets under the 1938 Agricultural Conserevation program in Oregon and specifications for practices un der the range improvement program were decided upon by the State AAA committee at its recent meeting at Oregon State college, reports N. E. Dodd, Haines, chairmin. January 15 will be the deadline set for receiving additional worksheets, the committee decided. County com mittees have been receiving these worksheets for the past month from those who have not participated in either of the previous programs. All who have turned in these work sheets previously are automatically included for next year. Specifications for the range build ing practices have been sent to Washington for final approval be fore being forwarded to the coun ties. It is understood they follow in a general way the previous practices with such changes as are necessary to conform to some new national regulations. The extent to which Oregon live stock men have benefitted under the range program is indicated by statistical summaries in the state office showing work done under the first brief 1936 program and the re cent 1937 program, summaries of which are still incomplete. R. G. Johnson, range specialist of the state college staff, credits the range program of the AAA with bringing the greatest single ad vancement in range rehabilitation work. In the 1936 program there were 1179 cooperators owning more than 3 million acres of range land. This year estimates are for close to 1900 cooperators owning 6 million acres. "Cooperators are not paid the total cost of beneficial improvements," Johnson points out, "but are suffi cient to encourage owners to con tribute the balance." Figures from the U. S. Forest service show that it costs about $130 to clean out and box a spring, with troughs and pipe. The AAA paid $50 per spring last year and a total of 1641 were devel oped. "The value of these and other im provements from a national long time standpoint is the reason for government aid in such conservation efforts." ADJUSTER HERE MONDAY An adjuster with the state unem ployment compensation commission will be at the office of Mrs. Clara Beamer, county relief manager, all day next Monday to assist with any local problems arising under the national security act HUSBAND PASSES Mrs. Mary S. Sowers writes from Kansas City that her husband passed away a; that place last Friday, and that she expects to return to Hepp ner shonly to make her home. Final Tax-Paying Rush Makes Year's Balance Pleasing Current Roll 77 Pet. Collected; Total Pay ments Exceed Levy With tomorrow as the deadline date for paying delinquent taxes more than three years hi arrears, the sheriffs office has been the scene of lively tax-paying activity for several weeks. Payment of the current year's taxes has been accel erated by provision that paymnt of penalty and interest on certain back years may be escaped by paying this year's tax in full plus a quarter of the year's tax farthest delinquent. Turnover yesterday of $31,476.63 on the current roll brought collec tions on this year's roll up to 77 per cent of the total. Cash collections on the current roll up to that time amounted to $210,842.81, the roll's total being $277,073.66. Payment of full year's tax before due had resulted in total discount of $4,051.29 being given, while total interest for late payments amounted to $969.91. From turnovers already received for the year, total collections on both delinquent taxes and the current roll were $10,000 short of equalling the amount levied for this year, but it was believed that unsegregated collections of delinquent taxes still in the hands of the sheriff would more than equal that amount to show total collections for the year more than the amount levied, making the second successive year that Morrow county has emerged with a blue ink balance in the tax ledger. 1 1 Realty Transfers Made Since August Eleven realty transfers through the local office of affiliates with Federal Land Bank of Spokane have been made since August. They are announced as follows: L. P. Davidson lower ranch in Gooseberry, 1488 acres, to Sidney Zinter. C. B. Ruley, 600 acres near Mc Nabb, to Marion Palmer. E. R. Minor or H. E. Cool farm on creek 4 miles below lone, 356 acres, to Harry Munkers. F. O. Rasmus (formerly operated by W. P. Hill), 320 acres, to B. B. Kelley. C. H Schmidt, 320 acres near Al pine ,to Albert and Kathryn Bowker. H. H. Crawford, 80 acres at Board man, to Delbert Carpenter. Blanche Watkins, 40 acres at Irri gon. to Dee Gastin, Willows, Ore. Edith Fagerstrom, 10 acres at Irri gon, to Edgar Adams. Arbogast and Dinius, 2080 acres on North Fork of John Day near Ritter, to Gerald Slocum. Davidson ranch, 160 acres grass land, to Jesse Warfield. Oscar Keithley, 520 acres grass land, to Harvey Harshman. OFFICES MOVED Offices of Vawter Parker and Har lan McCurdy, secretary and apprais er for farm loaning agencies, were moved this week from the Roberts building to upstairs in First National bank building. The quarters now occupied were formerly held by J. L; Gault, receiver for local banks, whose offices were removed last week to upstairs in Hotel Heppner. PARTY ENJOYED The home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Chinn was the scene of a gay party yesterday when a large group of young friends of their son Daniel were invited to help celebrate his birthday. BUYS BEAUTY SHOP . Sale of the Lucille Beauty shop was announced this week to Mrs. Lowell Turner, beauty operator at the Coxen barber shop. ORDER OF CLEARING HIGHWAYS GIVEN People Not Served First Notified to Makes Plans to Meet Contingencies Themselves Engineer Armstrong of the state highway department from Pendle ton, and Bert Johnson, county judge, have released the state and county's highway clearing program in event of snow blocking such as occurred last winter. Armstrong went over the matter with Judge Johnson when in the city last week end. It shall be the intention to serve everyone as fast as possible, but the principal routes will be given first consideration, said the judge in re minding those who may have to wait that suffcient supplies of necessities should be maintained to meet such an eventuality. The first consideration of the state shall be to keep the Oregon-Washington highway open between Hepp ner and Heppner Junction. The ond road to receive attention will be the Heppner-Hardman road; thirdly, the road east to Jones hill, and fourth the Rugg-Eight Mile road. No effort will be made to keep the Heppner Spray road open south of Hardman unless it can easily be done, ac cording to the announcement. ' The county will give first consid eration to mail and school bus routes, clearing other roads thereafter as they can be managed, said Judge Johnson. While the county has equipped itself better to meet an emergency of snow-blocked roads than it was last year, still there might be some time before every one could be served, and it is the de sire to let everyone know what to expect so that those who might be unfavorably situated may plan as they think best. Pierce Helps Condon Keep Mail Slate Representative Walter M. Pierce has offered to intercede in behalf of the people of Condon and the John Day valley to assist them in holding the faster mail service obtained a few months ago, according to Condon Globe Times. The better mail service was provided on the Condon branch railroad by making up a baggage carload of freight destined for that branch at The Dalles and hooking it on to a passenger train so that the Condon branch train could be cleared without waiting for the later freight train. Threat of losing the better service came from an appeal before the railway board of arbitra tion by train employees objecting to the mixed service on the main line passenger train. A petition for better mail service at Heppner resulted in the Portland postal office asking for bids to haul mail by truck on both Condon and Heppner branches. Resultant threat from railroad sources was that loss of mail contracts to the roalroad com pany would cause restricted train service on both branches and likeli hood of removal of railroad families living in the two towns. Rather than face such an eventuality many peo ple who signed the petition for bet ter service here signed a second pe tition asking that no change be made from the present method of handling the mail, and general sentiment was expressed at Condon supporting the railroad holding the mail contracts. The railroad position has been given that the best possible service in hauling the mail has been main tained while at the same time meet ing the demand for fast freight ser vice. Delay in bringing the incoming mail on the Heppner branch has been caused generally by waiting to meet a main line freight train. Results of Mr. Pierce's intercession in behalf of the neighboring people will be watched with interest here. CHEER GIVEN Heppner Camp Fire girls dissem inated Christmas cheer, to shut-ins at Morrow General hospital which did much to brighten the day there, says Mrs. Lulu G. Rumble, superintendent. Woolmen Program At Prineville Set January 10-11 National President, Secretary Coming; Many Topics Slated Prineville has announced to the world that it is ready to play host in grand style to the 41st annual con vention of Oregon Wool Growers as sociation, January 10-11, and J. G. Barratt, president, has added his in vitation for everyone interested lo cally in the industry to attend. The complete program, released this week, gives an imposing array of speakers, including R. C. Rich of Burley, Idaho, president of the na tional association. An open forum will be held on each topic introduced for discussion, giving everyone a chance to express his views. Committees will meet at the Ocho- co inn at 1:30 p. m., Sunday the 9th, and the convention proper will open at 10 o'clock the following morning. Special music, address of welcome by W. B. Morse, mayor of Prineville, response by J. H. Dobbin of Enter prise, President Barratt's address, report of W. A. Holt, secretary; "Whose Sheep?" "by F. R. Marshall, secretary of the national association, and announcements are on Monday morning's slate. Monday afternoon beginning at 1:15, the program will include: "How come, my sheep she die?" Dr. J. N. Shaw, O. S. C; open discussion of sheep disease questions; observations on range improvement,. J. H. Dob bin; the 1938 range improvement program, N. E. Dodd, chairman State Agricultural ' Conservation commit tee, Haines; open discussion of range improvement program; "Your Auxiliary," Mrs. Ira Staggs, presi dent Women's Auxiliary, Keating; "Sighs in Ewes;" D. E. Richards, su perintendent Union branch experi ment station. The annual banquet will be held at 6:30 Monday evening, with closed meeting for woolgrowers at 8:30. Tuesday morning beginning at 9 o'clock the program will include "The Coyote Problem," Roy Fugate, district agent U. S. Biological sur vey; "What's happened to the wool market?" handled as an open dis cussion by nationally known author ities and growers; report of Trans portation and Marketing committee, J. H. Dobbin, chairman; "Why a Na tional?" R. C. Rich, president Na tional Wool Growers; report of gen eral resolutions and organization committee, R. I. Thompson, Heppner, chairman. . Beginning at 1:15 Tuesday after noon, program numbers will be "Managing Oregon's Wild Life," Wm. J. Smith, president Oregon Wild Life federation; "Can a State Plan Ita Land Use?" by Dr. E. L. Potter; "Grazing Public Timber Lands," E. N. Kavanaugh, assistant regional forester, Portland; "Livestock and Wild Life," Herman Oliver, John Day; report of Grazing and Public Lands committee, Robert L. Weir, Lakeview, chairman; report of Pre datory Animal and Wild Life com mittee, H. E. Rooper, Antelope, chairman; report of Legislation and Taxation committee, W. H. Steiwer, Fossil, chairman; election of officers for 1938. UNDERGOES OPERATION Mrs. Henry Krebs of Cecil under went an operation for appendicitis in Portland Sunday. At last reports she was recovering nicely. New OSC Term Starts Jan. 3 Corvallis Registration for the winter term at Oregon State college opens Monday, January 3. New stu dents may enter at that time with out serious difficulty in arranging a program, says Registrar E. B. Lem on. Seniors registered before leav ing, for the first time, and hence will report for class work January 4.