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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1941)
PAfTE TWO WAR AND DEFENSE HAVING EFFECT ON LIFE IN Living Standard Changes, Industrial Upheavals and j Population Shift Cited Br Son Whitehead - New York, Aug. 20 As swift ly and surely as a potter molds th clay with which he works, the disruptions of the European war and this nation's gigantic defense effort are reshaping the lives and habits of everyone in the United States. There Is the Inevitability of death and taxes in the influ ences loosed by the gods of war The average man can no more dodge them than he can shift the tides of the sea. It is becoming apparent in revised standards of living, in work and play, in industrial upheavals from coast to coast. In shifts of population, in what we eat, wear, hear, read, see nd think. Housewives, debutantes and working girls are learning to do men's work so that if war tomes they can take over Jobs as mechanics, ambulance and truck drivers, airplane ferry pilots and clerks. Try Blackouts Cities are blacked out n train ing against the day when enemy bombers might unload cargoes of death from the skies. Citizens volunteer for air raid duty and learn the tricks of defending themselves and their cities. Billions of dollars are pouring Into industry to speed produc tion of implements of war. Wages are rising. Current na tional income is about 11 per cent above last year. Wholesale and retail prices are rising. "High cost of living" again is common phrase. Like a giant awakening from long sleep, the nation has rhaken off the torpor of depres alon and plunged headlong into preparations for defense. Smoke pours from factory chimneys which a few years ago were lifeless skeletons. The lines of unemployed have shrunk as the "forgotten man" packs a dinner pail to go to his job In a defense plant. Villages mush room Into boom towns with con struction of new industries. Armies pitch their camps In once quiet meadows and the rumble of mechanized equip ment is heard along the high ways. Someone Must Pay Someone must pay the piper and that someone Is everyone Taxes are rising, with the In come revenues reaching further down the line of the little fel rew. Greater chunks are taken out of the big incomes. Many may become weary of the clamor of war and defense and try to shut their eyes and ears to the strange new dis cords while yearning for the "good old days" o( peace and restfulness. But they cannot scape the forces at work. Living costs, fairly steady during the first months of the defense program, have edged steadily upward recently, and are eating a larger slice of the wage earner's pay check. The national industrial con ference board's report for June shows living costs 23.4 per cent above the level of June, 1933. The June costs were 1.3 per cent higher than the preceding month. Food prices are at the highest level since 1029 and 390 per cent greater than the depres sion low point of March, 1933. Wholesale commodities like lie are at the highest peak since 1S29. Rents average 40.7 per cent above the rent level of January, 1934, and clothing prices are 21.3 per cent higher than in April and May. 1933. Sundries cost 0.3 more than In 1933. Few of us can comprehend money In terms of billions. We leave the graphs and charts for the statisticians But the house wives know what It means when the prices of sugar, beef, wheat, corn, shirts, dresses, shoes, fur niture and rent begin edging upward. So does the farmer, trie mechanic, the truck driver, the clerk and stenographer. That's when the budget must be revised, a few dollars saved in one place to pay for Increased costs in another. Control Sought The retail markets reflect consumers' fears of shortages and spirallng prices In the fu ture. Each shortage scare causes a flurry of buying in clothing, household goods, and durable goods. Meanwhile, the govern ment is trying to control, by price regulation and restricted installment buying, the rising cost of living. The nation saw a recent vivid example of buyer hysteria when the government called a halt in the silk industry. Hosiery coun ters were swamped by the rush of women buyers. Reserve sup piles which normally would have lasted three months were wiped out overnight. An economist in a large New ' York department f tor says buy- I M P R E S S Educated in a French convent, the empress of Annsra, N'Guyen Hull Hso (store), Is famed for her beauty: This photo wss taken at the palace tn Hue, capital of Annam which Is one of the five divisions of French Indo-China. er hysteria has "jazzed up the whole retail situation." Much of the buying has resulted from Increased national Income, but a large part of it has been at tributed to consumer fears. "If the public would buy In normal quantities there would be no problem as to consumer goods," this economist said, add ing that the factories were able to take care of normal demands even with defense orders. He pointed to the fact that national defense demands have been largely in the capital goods field which has no direct In fluence on consumer goods sup plies. Approximately 96 per cent of the government defense con tracts awarded from June 1, 1940 to March 31, 1941, were for ships, submarines, aircraft, ammunition plants, aviation fa cilities, cantonments, auotmobi!e equipment, ordnance, ammuni tion and other supplies, while only four per cent were for clothing and equipment. Store Sales Up Virtually every city, town and hamlet In the country, however, has seen the sudden spurt In trade resulting from the vast volume of federal expenditures. Department store sales have shown increases up to 48 per cent over last year In such cities as Norfolk, Va., which has many defense industries. Department store sales through out the country were approxi mately 13 per cent higher in the first six months this year man in a similar period last year. The dollar volume Jumped from $32,671,000,000 to more than $36,890,000,000. All these things are outward manifestations of the shifting currents In American life. One day there will be neace. The guns will be silent and the economy geared for war and defense will shift to peacetlne pursuits. America will return to normal. But it will not be the America of today or of yesterday. It will be a new America, a changed America with new ideas, new tastes, new standards and new habits. Snow-flake, Ariz., was named for its founder, William J. Flake, and a friend, Erastus Snow. BLENDED WHISKEY ralTert -Reafrre": Sri Proof -6 Gram Neutral Spirits... Cslnrt Speui j JO Proof -7ilS Grata Neutial Spitits. Calm DiMtUcrs Corpotsuoa, .New York dry MEDFORD MAIL FATTEST EVER, IS Average Hog Last Week Weighed 288 Pounds 270 Average Year Ago By William Lochner Chicago, Aug.. 20 OP) It's a well fed porker that comes to market these days. Livestock men said today the average weight of hogs market ed here was the highest since August, 1939. They attributed the unusual plumpness to prices near tne best level in four years, large marketings of heavy sows, rel atively cheap and plentiful feed and farm response to govern ment urgings for greater live stock production. The govern ment has been buying lard and pork, some for Great Britain under the lend-lease program. The average hog that came to Chicago's market last week weighed 288 pounds compared with 270 a year ago. One day last week the average broke the 300 mark. With their corn bins over flowing and a bumper crop waiting for harvest, the mid west's swine producers have in creased the average weight more than 40 pounds since Jan uary. Near Peak Now Hogs for market normally in creased in weight from week to week beginning in January and reach a peak about this time of year, but last year under un favorable feed-price relation ships, they scaled only 20 pounds more than in January. The producer's most favorable period for feeding hogs was the week ending July 19, when, based on average prices at Chi cago, the value of 100 pounds of live hog equaled 14.9 bushels of no. 3 yellow corn. At that time the average weekly price for hogs was at a peak of $11 a hundredweight. Although hog prices have receded slightly amce, the average weight has continued to increase. In 1939 the average weight leached a peak of 295 pounds. which followed a period of even Better feeding conditions. Late In 193a and early in 1939 the feeding ratio had ranged from 16 to 18 bushels of corn to 100 pounds of hogs. In mid-1940 it fell to around eight, which was unfavorable for feeding at a pro fit. First Lady Dons Cotton Stockings Plttsflcld, Mass., Aug. 20. i.!F) There was none of the "do as I say, not as I do" about Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt when she visited the westero hemisDhere encamnment nf ih Girl Scouts at East Otis. The f ist lady s ensemble included cotton mesh stockings. APPLE PURCHASES TO CUSHION EXPORT LOSS Washington, Aug. 20. W) An apple purchasing program expected to supplant vanishing export markets totaling - be tween 10.000,000 and 12,000.000 TRTBUNE. MEDFORT). bushels annually will be under taken by the government this fall, Representative Randolph (D., W. Va.) said today. Such a program would be the third undertaken by the agri culture department's surplus marketing administration to re lieve apple growers, he said. Cold of Russia Flowing to U. S. Washington, Aug. 20. WV Russian gold started flowing to the United States last week, ap parently to pay for war pur chases. The commerce department re ported imports of $3,407,285 of gold from Russia in the week ended August 13. Officials could recall only two other shipments of Russian gold arriving in this country In the last several years. Although Russia Is one of the principal gold producers in the world, it has heretofore either hoarded its gold, or sold it else where. Flood Control Bill Receives Signature Washington, Aug. 20. W President Roosevelt signed to day a bill authorizing a $275, 000,000 flood control program and made it clear that all pro jects would be held up which are not important to national defense. The measure merely author lzes construction of scores of projects without appropriating funds for them. Six More Items On Control List Washington, Aug. 20. President Roosevelt, by procla matlon, added six articles and materials to the export control list today, with the restrictions to be effective September 10. The commodities affected are furs, synthetic fibers, wood natural asphalt or bitumen, non ferrous metals, and precious metals. Loaf of Bread Philadelphia OJ.R) The big gest "lump of dough" in Phila delphia wasn't at the mint. When the Master Bakers' asso ciation held its annual outing the principal exhibit was a loaf of bread 10 feet long carried by 50 boys and girls in patriotic costumes. Enters Wrong Door Montgomery, Ala. (UP) An Inebriate staggered into police headquarters and walked up to what he thought was the coun ter. "Gimme a package of cig arettes, bud," he said. ( Ho smoked them in Jail. i JSSSSWSS Nationally fomovi Cernwueai lecanea Csltsi Mas Suflet Irrwl Diiwif mS anquet Rooms Fameuili I'm foot Medsn aepoutmests Car art Spsuits 11M. IIP CALVERT "SPECIAL" PINT$115 ONLY 1 a. aai.M. CALVERTRESERVE" PINT $145 ONLY JL OREGON. WEDNESDAY, EX- EE FOR VISIT Maurice Peters, a youth who has been plying the high seas as a radio operator for the past six years when seafaring has become more adventurous than ever before, is a guest at the home of his cousin, Mrs. Frank Perl, 426 West Sixth street. Mr. Peters resided here for ten years prior to his departure In 1932 for California. Since the outbreak of war, riding the high seas has taken on added thrills. You never know when a submarine will send a torpedo sailing your way or when a sea battle will de velop within eye sight. Nothing like that has quite happened to Mr. Peters. In fact he has not for certain sighted any Axis warcraft. But his ship has been hailed a number of times by both American and British warships seeking to ver ify Its identity and twice his vessel has been boarded by British naval officers who want ed to make sure that no funny business was being attempted. The British officers were ex ceedingly courteous in looking over the ship's papers, Mr. Pet ers recalled. Mr. Peters has been employed on passenger vessels but most of the time he has been on oil tankers. He has plied the Pacific but for the past three years has been bouncing around the At lantic, mostly in the South American trade. He arrived in New York an month ago on his ship, the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey tanker, Svithiod, in from Curacao with 80,000 barrels of gasoline and kerosene. His ship, he said, has handled gtsoline for Spain, delivering it at Tenerife where it was taken or. by Spanish ships allowed through the blockade by Eng land. On the day war was declared Mi. Peters was aboard a tanker five days out on its way to Ham ourg with a $2,000,000 cargo of lubricating oil for Germany. On the second day of the war the company ordered the tanker back to New York to await fur ther orders. The ship Idled at anchor outside New York for three weeks awaiting orders Finally it was ordered to Copen hagen. Mr. Peters thinks he will re main at sea for another couple of years. Besides the added thrill nowaday there is another Inducement bonus money, ex tra cash for those adventurous enough to take a chance. r "To most . 0 AUGUST 20, 1941. Quaint Epitaphs of Past Form Collectors Record By Corrinne Hardesty United Press Staff Correspondent Chicago MM) Grave humor is what interests William Bethel, who for 15 years has collected eccentric epitaphs all over the world. Bethel, a thin, sallow man of 54, became interested in grave stone inscriptions while touring historical cemeteries. His col lection of epitaphs and photo graphs, gathered in thousands of miles of travel and with the help of correspondents, fills four ponderous volumes which have been sought by several libraries. "Because styles In epitaphs have grown so conservative," Bethel said, "and because an cient cemeteries are being de stroyed by war or neglect, presently collections like mine will be the only record of this colorful form of writing." Bethel explained that tomb stones recording lives of pro digious length are usually the work of Jokesters who add a figure or the unwitting mis takes of stonecutters. Bethel has photographs of tombstones SAVINGS EARN MORE when they are invested here. Divi dend declared semi-annually in crease your savings substantially and steadily. Save with greater gain at the Jackson County Federal savings & loan association 126 East Main r ... -X?si. l. :sJ 1 be prepared for war is one of the effectual ways of preserving peace . . . When George Washington spoke these words the world was a much smaller place. Transportation and communication facilities were such that it took considerably longer for anything to happen than it does today. But there are certain thoughts that were as true then as they are now. This "preparation for war for the preservation of peace" is MEDF0RD MAIL TRIBUNE depicting persons who "lived" several hundred years. Bethel regards as his oddest discovery the grace of Nancy Martin who died at sea In 1357 and who is buried in a cask of wine in Wilmington, N. C. Her father, a sea captain, brought back her body preserved in the barrel of wine and buried her in it, chair, wine, cask and all. The most frequently encoun tered verse, Bethel said, dating from the 14th century, is some variation of: Stranger, stop and read. As you are now so once was 1, As I am now so shall you be. Prepare for death and follow me. In an English cemetery Bethel found a grave where a wag had added: , To follow you I'll not consent, one of them. That is why the United States is hurrying to make itself the strongest nation on earth. Your newspaper plays an im portant part in the preservation of peace by keeping its readers in formed of their country's progress in preparation of war. Under the freedom guaranteed it in the Con stitution, the American Press fear lessly voices the sentiments of the American people. Until I know which way yo' went. Although Bethel's collection numbers more than 5.000 strange epitaphs, he plans to continue collecting. He hasn't found one he wants for himself. Accepts Sale Skunk Albuquerque, N. M. OJ.R) At last Albuquerque's school chil dren can look at a skunk in safety. The city has Installed a deodorized polecat in the zoo. See Properly For Success C. L. PERKINS DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY Eyes Eiainlned Without I'aa of Urur,i. Glasaes Fitted and Re paired. Lenaes Duplicated. ISA So. Central Ave. Phone JS81 CITY OF PORTLAND Say many hour to Chicago I Standard Pullmans, Including All room Car with Badrooms and Compartment. Coachas iaature oltra-oomlortabla reclining seats. . Famous Continental Dinnara; alao popular priced maals. Streamliner aialaai 5 salllne.e monthly (rem Portland, 6:3 O a. fa. an lit, 7th, 13th, 19th, 23th. Ree. ervatiom for Coaches aa well aa Pullman " ECONOMY FARES " In Deluxe Coach FROM PORTLAND 565 xtlo CHICAGO 139.50 ONE WAY 2 Famous Daily Trains East from Portland PORTLAND ROSI 9:35 p. m. Regiaterod Murae -Stewaidaaa eenrice. 35c, 40, SOc Challenger Meala for Coach and Pullman Tourist pasiengere. PACIFIC LIMITED 8:00 a. m. Complete equipment ier all daiaoa ol tiarel. Collee-ahop eesvlce. farfv Sank eno ft ftiwmt b CeMfVw m S rnrfc-H Visit Sun Vallev, Idaho! r.U Sport.: riT H.Hn Blta Uoottaf Big Q.m. Hutting. Noted Trophy UIe J . For details, consult South ern Pacific Aft or write 4. C. Camming, Gen. Pais. Ast., rittock Block, Portland. ,--.- I tvy '-ifeZS. keam&tWL iS T ttSrt . MTBaessssianaanaa I trTsT.T'T I I E-T?.y,T7y; ss 1 aiis imiibw j
