3 3 n
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Our Men
tin Service
DESCRIBES LIFE OF
ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE
CpL Donald Robinson, with the
parachute infantry in England, re
cently wrote his impressions of the
rural life in England. His parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Robinson, Hard
man, have consented to publishing
the letter in the Gazette Times.
Dear Folks:
Since this ia Sunday and I have
n't much to occupy myself, I de
cided to write you folks a longer
letter than a "V" mail.
England has some good farming
land and most of it is devoted to
raising small grains, which is most
ly wheat. Before the war a good
deal of this land wasnt plowed but
was used for grazing land. Also
some of it was planted to different
types of hay. So these peope un
doubtedly need more grain for
flour. We are eating quite a bit of
bread made from barley flour,
which has a peculiar color but
tastes okay.
The country is rather rolling, its
soil is pretty good, judging from
the looks of the crops; all the soil
has quite large gravel in it and
most of the farms are small.
So far I haven't seen a combine,
instead they use stationary thresh
ers. I've seen several tractors, most
ly American made. Most of the far
mers are using horses and a large
part of the horses are Clydes
dales. They are sure fine horses
and in fine condition.
I had to laugh at the roofs on the
buildings here at first, but am now
getting used to them. All the roofs,
even of the houses, are more or
less thatched and are made of hay,
about a foot and a half thick, laid
right on the rafters, without any
sheeting, I don't know how they
put it on but it makes a very good
roof. The reason for the thatched
roof is there is a shortage of lum
ber here, besides shingles won't
last any length of time in such a
wet place as England.
I have seen but very few herds
of beef cattle and they were Short
horns and very good ones, in small
herds of 25 or 50 head.
I've been to town once and when
they black-iut here it's really black,
you can't see your hand before
your face. Everybody bumps into
you, but they go about their busi
ness as though it was daylight. I
got lost at least three times while
I was there, but all you have to do
ask a Bobbie (same as our city
cops) where a certain place is and
he'll tell you.
You see very few cars in use, the
majority of the people travel by
bicycle, even in the country.
British cafes and restaurants don't
serve the meals ours do in the
Stales, but even at that there is
quite a variety to choose from and
everything is quite reasonable in
price.
If anyone has ever told you that
the Red Cross isn't any good don't
pay any attention to them because
it has certainly done plenty for us
tlready. Coming over on the boat
and in most of the English cities
there are service , men's centers
where a soldier can get a meal and
a place to sleep, or rend and play
games. I say. give something to the
Red Cross every time you get a
chance it's certainly putting out
for us.
From the way the war is going at
the present time, we may be able
to get it over in the near future
the sooner the better.
I'd sure like to know how my
buddies came out that jumped in
New Guinea. Undoubtedly some of
the boys I went -ough jump
school with were in both opera
tions there. From the way the pa
pers read, I believe General Mc
Arthur sort of pulled a surprise out
of the hat for the Japs when he
Continued on Pag Eight
Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, December 30, 1943
1943 Viewed as
Successful Year
ByJAllied World
Turning Point in
War Seen During
Past 12 Months
One of the great years of history
is rapidly drawing to a close and
will have given way to the new
year ere the Gazette Times reaches
many of its readers. When history
is recorded in years to come 1943
will stand out as the turning point
in the greatest war known to man
up to the present. It has been the
year when production goals have
been attained, great battles won by
the Allies, and the fact pressed
home to the Axis powers that their
doom is sealed. The re-conquest of
North Africa, the liberation of Sici
ly, the destruction of German ci
ties, removal of the U-boat men
ace, retaking of the Aleutians,
steady progress from he South Pa
cific, attaining air supremacy, and
countless other gains which indicate
the eventual outcome not all, per
.haps, but most of these events have
occurred in 1943.
. Coming closer home, the year
just passing out has been marked
by the greatest production score in
history. A heavy wheat crop aug
mented by barley and peas and an
unprecedented garden yield boost
ed food crops to a new high, while
cattle, sheep and hogs also main
tained a high level. All this was
accomplished in the face of a rapid
ly diminishing manpower, and far
mers state they are prepared for
another good year if Mother Na
ture continues on their side.
Success of Allied arms has eased
the American mind to the extent
that while looking forward to pro
secution of the war there has been
time to consider that deeper future
when peace comes. What will the
situation be when the .millions in
the armed forces return home. This
has provoked no small amount of
discussion in clubs, town councils
and wherever two or more people
come together for a chat. It has
claimed the attention of the Hepp
ner city council and that group has
several municipal projects in mind
which would tend to absorb some
of the manpower released by the
government. Whether or not any of
these projects will get the go-ahead
in 1944 is uncertain but there is one
that should not have to wait longer
than the knockout of Germany. That
is the water system. Additional wa
ter is needed, as well as improve
ment to the pipeline leading from
the city's well to town. There is a
difference of opinion relative to the
type of addition needed and the
council will have to reach agree
ment before anything can be started.
Another important project is con
struction of a sewer system. This,
too, has occupied the attention of
the council to the extent of secur
ing figures on the cost. This is fol
lowed by street and walk improve
ment and additional lights on the
streets, the latter to be done this
year if the powers that be give
down with the materials.
Further employment will be found
in residential and business house
construction and improvements. The
question is: when can we start?
RED CROSS TO REOPEN
WORK ROOM TUESDAY
Resumption of Red Cross sewing
will start at 2 p. m. Tuesday, Jan.
4, 1944, in the former Dix grocery
room in the Masonic building, ac
cording to Mrs. Blaine Elliott, pro
motion chairman. All interested
workers are urged to join in this
important project. Mrs. Elliott hopes
for a prompt response to this call
for volunteers in the workroom.
By
BABSON PARK, Mass., Dec. 30
Most firms are booked to capacity.
If any more business were offered
they would not be able to handle it
for many months. This is roughly
my forecast for 1944. The Babson
chart Index of the Physical Volume
of Business for the final quarter of
1943 averaged 141 compared with
150.7 for the same period of 1942.
The all-time high was reached in
December 1942 when my Index
stood at 155.6. It is not (possible that
this record can be exceeded in
1944.
COMMODITY PRICES
War developments will influence
commodity prices during 1944. The
collapse of Germany could result in
a sharp, though temporary, reaction
in leading wholesale indexes. If the
going in Italy or elsewhere, should
prove unexpetedly hard indicating
a longer war prices should be firm.
Cattle and hogs may bring lower
average prices. Soybean and com
prices face the test of large market
ings. They will do well to hold. In
creased imports of coffee, cocoa and
sugar will hold down their prices.
Continued heavy demand is indi
cated for most industrial commodi
ties. To what extent efforts to roll
back food prices to September 15.
1942 levels will succeed is proble
matical. Mounting over-all shortag
es, unprecedented demand and the
necessity for maximum output will
tend to maintain strong upward
pressure on most prices. Advancing
parity prices, storage, insurance
and black markets further tend to
Powder Boys Show
Too Much TNT for
Mustang Quintet
All the conceit built up by their
victory over lone last week was
knocked out of the Heppner Mus
tangs Tuesday evening when they
faced the barnstorming aggrega
tion from North Powder. The boys
from across the mountains just
couldn't seem to miss the basket
Continued on Page Eight
To face each day
with courage high
To realize the im
portance of the
little day by day
contributions to
the war effort . . .
To cooperate with
all special wartime
programs . . .
To buy more War
Bonds and Stamps
To accept the cur
tailment of special
services and the
wartime shortages
without grumbling
For the sake of a
better world to
come!
Business and Financial
Outlook for 1944
ROGER W. BABSON
keep prices high. Subsidies will be
granted certain producers during
1944.
INVENTORIES
Businessmen should watch the
Government's policy of disposing of
its huge inventories of consumer
merchandise. With supplies at a
much higher level than in World
War I, retailers, wholesalers and
manufacturers should insist there
be no dumping on domestic markets.
This could smash prices. Flooding
the export markets could make it
difficult to sell goods abroad at a
fair profit. I hope a substantial por
tion of our surplus will be given to
the peoples of Continental Europe
and China.
SALES PROSPECTS
I forecast ' that retail dollar sales
will average 5 to 10 higher in
1944 than in 1943.Sales volume of
consumer, goods will again start to
climb as smaller companies get the
okey on postwar merchandise. I ex
pect some decline from 1943 in the
physical volume of retail sales due
to scarcity of goods and less em
ployment. Substitute merchandise
has sold well but manufacturers
and wholesalers are now wary of it.
As good war news increases, consu
mers will wait for postwar mer
chandise rather than buy synthetic
war made goods. Merchants should
keep a workable inventory. Do not
over-stock.
The following ten states are tops
for 1941: New York , Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri,
Continued on Page Four
Charles W. Valentine
Victim of Heart
Attack This A. M.
Death came to Charles Watt Val
entine at the family residence
about 1:30 o'clock this morning, the
result of a heart attack suffered a
few hours previous. He had been in
failing health for about a year and
sold the ranch in Sourdough can
yon in September and moved to
town to take life easier. Mrs. Val
entine, . son James and daughter
Helen were with him when the end
came.
Funeral arrangements ate being
withheld pending receipfi ojf word
from other members of the family
living in distant points.
Charles Watt Valentine was .a
native of Brechin, Scotland, where
he was born July 5, 18G2. He passed
away in Heppner Dec. 30, 1943,
aged 81 years, 5 months and 25 days.
When a youth of 19 he came to
America, settling first in Minneso
ta. After two years there he push
ed westward, arriving at Weston in
the fall of 1883 and after a winter
there came to Morrow county. He
took up a homestead which was his
home until last September.
He was married to Arminta War
field about 1892 and to this union
were born six children, two of
them deceased. The marriage was
broken by separation and in 1910,
after returning from a, visit to his
native land, he married Mary Reid
of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who
was at that time living in Montana.
Two children, Helen and James,
were born to this union and with
the mother survive. His other chil
dren are Zetha Gorham of Walla
Walla; Stewart Lindsay, Klamath
Falls; Zeolia Tielman. Fresno, Cal
if.; and William Euart, Los Ange
les, and five grandchildren.
ELKS DANCE FRIDAY
Everything is in readiness for Ahe
New Year's eve ball at the Elks
hall tomorrow (Friday) evening,
Music will be provided by the Blue
Notes from Arlington, and Heppner
lodge No. 358 has secured favors
for everyone, assuring a big time
for all who take this means of wel
coming the new year.
Volume 60, Number 40 i Z
Climax Reached
In Milk Status
This Week
Dairy to Discontinue
Delivery if Price
Held at 12 Cents
Heppner residents will be with
out milk after Jan. 1 if action is
not taken by OPA officials to pre
vent such a catastrophe. This fact
was made plain this week when
the Alfalfa Lawn dairy announced
that if forced to return to the 12
cent rate established by the OPA it
would have to discontinue milk de
livery in town.
In a desperate effort to maintain
milk delivery, the Heppner cham
ber of commerce Monday appointed
a committee to investigate the situ
ation. It was learned that the Al
falfa Lawn dairy had been request
ed to submit figures sustaining the
claim that the concern is operating
.at a loss "on the 12-cent basis and
that Marvin Wightman was prepar
ing the report. A review of cost
sheets convinced the committee
that the dairy cannot maintain
production at a profit on the 12
ccnt delivery basis. A telegram was
prepared and forwarded to M. L.
Goldsmidt, price survey officer of
the OPA in Oregon:
"Heppner milk situation critical.
Delivery to three retail stores stop
ped Wednesday. Regular customers
without milk. One dairy closed, re
maining dairy, Alfalfa Lawn, will
stop all local delivery Jan. 1 unless
14-cent level approved. Costs sub
mitted show operating loss. Citizens
feel price should be in line with
Pendleton, Hermiston, The Dalles.
We urge special and immediate
action on application of Alfalfa
Lawn dairy for price increase."
Heppner Chamber of Commerce.
Awaiting reply to the message the
committee is pondering over what
action to take should the verdict be
unfavorable. The matter of the
city taking over has been discussed
with Mayor Turner who has some
other card up his sleeve he would
like to play first. However, in case
of suit it is not likely the OPA
would file against the city whereas
there would be no hesitancy in
pressing action against the dairy or
Ralph Beamer who delivers the
milk.
Further action will be taken at
the chamber of commerce luncheon
next Monday.
Representative of
Blood Bank Sets
Date for Meeting
Plans for taking blood plasma in
the Heppner territory will be laid
before the people at 2 o'clock p. m.
Saturday. Jan. 8 according to Clyde
Denncy, exalted ruler of Heppner
Lodge No. 358, B. P. O. E. Mis.
Madge Brown, manager of the
Portland blood bank, has requested
a meeting and arrangements are
being made to use the Elks hall for
the purpose.
Definite plans for handling tha
blood plasma have not been made
known here, although Lee Bcck
ncr has visited the Portland bank
several times and discussed meth
ods with the officials. Latest infor
mation is that blood donated here
will be taken immediately to Pen
dleton and placed on a plane and
rushed to Portland. First plan
called for a specially equipped sta
tion wagon to haul the blood di
rectly to Portland but it was found
that a saving of several hours
could be effected by placing it on a
plane at Pendleton.
It is the belief of interested par
ties that donations will be made
readily enough as soon as arrange
ments are made. "All the people
want to know is the time and place,"
Denney stated.
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