PAGE FIVE
CHAMBER REVIEWS BUSIEST YEAR
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD. OREGON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 1943
AID TO MILITARY
IS MAIN ITEM ON
ACTIVITY LEDGER
Coming of Camp White, Ex
pansion of Airport, Hous
ing Efforts Take Attention
Winding up one of the busiest
years ever experienced, the
Medford Chamber of Commerce
has compiled a summary of the
past 12 months under the direc
tion of Frank Hull, manager. In
a report to the president, Karl
Janouch, Mr. Hull reviews the
year's activities in relation to
Camp White, the Medford air
port, the local housing situation,
agriculture and other projects.
Pertaining to the cantonment
the report states: "The canton
ment represents an expenditure
of approximately $30,000,000
and has a continuing expendi
ture, in the quartermaster's de
partment alone, of some $3,000,
000 a year. The Chamber of
Commerce took the leading part
In acquirement of this army
camp and is constantly in touch
with officials at the camp, and
will be as long as this conflict
exists. Some of the contacts are
of a very serious nature and im
portant to the well being of this
community. The Chamber of
Commerce is the natural chan
nel through which these activi
ties are guided."
Airport Big Asset
Discussing the. airport the re
port states: "This project is con
sidered one of the finest assets
of Jackson cpunty. The Cham
ber of Commerce has consistent
ly worked toward its improve
ment and enlargement in every
way. In fact, it could practically
be said that something is done
about the airport daily.
"Its future benefits to this
community are unbelievable
unless one has analyzed what air
traffic means to a community.
"It has been advocated by
several influential citizens that
our airport should be consolidat
ed into a Jackson county proj
. ect instead of its present status
as a city of Medford project.
Over $1,850,000 has been spent
on this airport to date."
Housing Hop
Reporting on the local housing
situation the summary states:
"The Housing Authority, created
by the city and the Chamber of
Commerce, has recently had ap
nroved a 125-unit temporary
housing project. This project
should be under construction in
a very short time and will re
lieve some of the present conges
tion. "In the past the Chamber of
Commirce has continuously as
sisted in the procurement of pri
orities, handling of correspondence-
and the arrangement of
contacts with the proper au
thorities on all of, the housing,
both permanent and temporary.
Obviously we will continue to
do so. ' .
Help In Housing
"We have Actually' housed
over 1,500 military personnel
and their wives since July 20,
and are continuing to handle
anywhere from ten to 25 daily.
We feel that our relations with
the military personnel of Camp
White are pleasant and condu
cive of benefits to this commun
ity. "The Chamber of Commerce
represents the acting contact of
several of the federal agencies
in operation in the community,
such as the Rationing Board, the
Office of Defense Transporta
tion, Rent Control Office, Recre
ation and Civilian Protection.
Under civilian protection there
is a great deal of detail, and dis
semination of needful informa
tion being passed on to the citi
zens of this community daily.
"The Chamber of Commerce
. last year secured single-handed
the large federal shops located
as the fair grounds. These are
a permanent asset to the com
munity." The shops, originally
constructed for the CCC camps
in this area, have been taken
over by the army and employ
many men at the present.
Aid Given Many '
"The Chamber of Commerce
Is continuously ictive in running
down and getting information of
benefit to not only its own busi
ness members, but for the ben
efit of all business, including
professional, in the community.
"In agriculture, while it is
difficult to list any tangible re
sult, the Chamber of Commerce
believes it has been of value
this last year. Acquirement of
all of the projects listed above
directly benefits agriculture in
the consumption of its products.
'The Chamber handles be-
k tween two and three hundred
inquiries by communication.
monthly. We also continuously
serve citizens of this community
with various forms of Informa
tion, advice where feasible, as-
Babson Gives Outlook for 1943;
Sees Gain in Defense Production
Sharp Drop in Non-Defense Lines
THUMBNAIL OUTLOOK FOR 1943
1. TOTAL BUSINESS: Defense production will be up sharply (plus 50)s noa-defenu
down sharply (minus 33). accompanied by a drastic standarisation of products.
2. EMPLOYMENT The above also applies to employment if we do not include the armed
forces.
3. FARM INCOMEl W1U be up 5 la 1943 over 1942.
4. DIVIDENDS AND BUSINESS EARNINGS! Have passed their peaks and will be lower in
1943 than in 1942.
5. LABORi There will be practically no strikes until the end of the war and wages will
gradually become stabilised.
9. COMMODITY PRICESi Will strengthen somewhat, especially the prices of manufac
tured goods. Commodity price indexes will indicate far leu than the actual advance.
7. TAZESi Will be felt severely, especially by the white-collar group who can expect no
pay increases.
9. RETAIL TRADE) Will be 12 off in physical volume in 1943 compared with 1942.
- 9. HIGH-GRADE BONDS Should decline, but good Stocks should sell higher.
10. CREEPING INFLATION Will continue throughout 1943.
Babson Park, Mass., Dec. 31
Events are moving at breath
taking speed. Never before has
the world been in the midst of
such a far-reaching turmoil.
Within the next hour news
might break that will, change
the whole course of history.
Nevertheless, it is vitally im
portant to keep your perspec
tive. To change your business
or investment program with
every piece of war news is ut
most folly. A good example oi
this was portray when the
United States opened up a sec
ond front in North Africa.
That morning many thousands
of self-appointed commentators
were convinced that the war
was going to last at least five
years. Yet by midnight of that
same day these same commen
tators could see nothing but a
short war and a quick victory.
Let us now, therefore, confine
this outlook to probabilities.
RETAIL TRADE -The
first quarter of 1943
should equal- the first quarter
of 1942; considering the entire
year, a decline of 12 per cent is
probable. Just what will hap
pen depends on two things: first,
upon the quantity of goods; and
second, .to what extent consum
ers are willing to. take substi-
tutes. -Washington talks about
300.000 retailers being put out
of business; but I believe this
is entirely unnecessary. If land
lords will be easy on rents, as
sensible ones should be, practi
cally all retailers can run on a
skeleton force and keep alive
until the war is over when busi
ness again should be good.
The hope of America lies not
with big concerns, but with small
businessmen. These small busi
nessmen must be protected in
order to preserve democracy,
I go further and say that the
preservation of democracy de
pends on small and so-called
inefficient manufacturers and
retailers to "clutter, up" the
economic situation. Large units
lead .ultimately to tyranny. As
this Is becoming recognized, I
think 1943 will see some real
help given the small retailers.
Of course, no general forecast
will apply to all parts of the
country. The industrial and ag
ricultural sections should hold
up to 1942 figures; but retailers
in certain other sections are
bound to suffer. After paying
their tax bill in 1943, the Amer
ican people will have left out of
their income $36 billions more
than they had after paying their
taxes in 1940. City restaurants
and amusements will prosper
mosi; wnue filling stations, ga
rages, lumber yards, household
appliances and hardware stores
will suffer most.
PRICES AND LIVING COSTS
Prices of practically all com
modities are at their low with
the exception of certain ones
that . are now Imported from
India, the Far East and Africa.
As we are shipping loads of
sistance and direct action in
hundreds of cases.
Help Organisations
"The Chamber of Commerce
while not being in complete
charge, has assisted In the fol
lowing activities this year: the
Red Cross drive, China Reliui
drive, Greek Relief drive, two
U.S.O. drives. Community Chest
and War Bond and stamp sales
Also, we handled completely the
solicitation from our business
men and the construction of a
large public rest room on the
parking lot.
'The Chamber of Commerce
has been continuously active in
keeping before the proper au
thorities the necessity of high
way construction through its
area. It has representatives in
the highway association and has
carried out, up until last year,
quite an extensive advertising
campaign for future settlers.
"To formulate a forward plan
of operation under the present
intensity of war is considered
practically impossible. It could
be considered safe to say that
the work of the Chamber of
Commerce in the future will
parallel the past, and If it is at
this time carrying a larger load
than previously, that load will
perhaps increase.
men and supplies to these points,
ships may bring back supplies
of cocoa, coffee, olive oil, dried
fruits, cork, antimony, lead,
manganese, hides and skins,
mercury, molybdenum, zinc and
other commodities. Throughout
1943 there will be a continued
pressure to pierce price ceilings.
These ceilings will be kept down
fairly well on goods which the
armed forces need.
Thus far the OPA has made
no distinction between essentials
and non-essentials. Not only is
this a very difficult thing to do,
but it is good 'politics to class
everyone alike. The war against
inflation, however, will ' never
be won in this way. The only
way to keep women from buy
ing unnecessary clothes, for in
stance, is to let the prices of
these clothes increase to a point
where the price tag hurts. There
fore, during 1943, I forecast a
reclassification of the essentials
and non-essentials. Prices will
be held down on the essentials,
but retailers will be allowed to
charee higher prices for non
essentials. There will be a little
increase in living costs, but care
in buying and less waste can
more than offset any Increases,
SECURITY PRICES
I believe that the Dow-Jones
Stock Averages will go to points
during 1943 higher than any
thing seen in 1942; also that
bond yields and stock yields
will tend to come closer to
gether. This may mean a de
cline in the price of low-coupon.
long-term bonds and an Increase
in the price of many stocks.
This especially applies to stocks
of companies which are not
handicapped by cumulative pre
ferred issues or bond issues.
Remember, the London Stock
Market is witnessing the high
est prices it has seen for five
years. Certainly, investors are
sound asleep in the United
States. Even the utilities begin
to look better in spite of com
ing inflation.
The most important question
for the investor during 1943
will be, "Shall I buy peace
stocks or war stocks?" Of
course, the safest thing is to
buy peace stocks. The war
stocks include airplane manu
facturers, the steels, coppers
and other metals and machine
tools; while the peace stocks
include building supplies, mo
tors, rubbers, household appli
ances and the stocks of most
other companies which are now
suffering from lack of business.
One sure bet Is that companies
which are now prospering most
during the war will suffer most
after the war; while companies
which suffer most during the
war will prosper most after the
war. There are some concerns
of course, such as the merchan
dising companies, which should
do well both during and after
the war. The railroads will do
well during the war but after
wards, look outl
REAL ESTATE
New building during 1943
will fall off. Government build
ing, both of factories and can
tonments, - will decline while
residential buildings will con
tinue to be held down. This
means that not only will the
manufacturers of building sup
plies and contractors have a
poor year in 1943 but there is
liable to be more or less un
employment among carpenters,
masons, painters and plasterers.
The honeymoon of the building
trades is over for the duration.
After the war, however, build
ing should come back with
a bang although prefabricated
houses may put some union
labor out of business. Hence,
do not sacrifice good real estate
or farms during 1943. Besides,
there may be legislation requir
ing the demolition of buildings
over 75 years old.
NEW INDUSTRIES
1943 will see the greatest
crop of new scientific develop
ments that any year ever wit
nessed. These may revolution
ize agriculture, industry and
commerce even to greater
extent than the war will revo
lutionize governments, politics
and human relations. Among
the new industries I especially
have in mind are synthetics for
making artificial products bet
ter than the natural; plastics for
displacing metals and wood;
fertilizers and photosynthesis to
revolutionize agriculture; photo
electric cells to make machines
think; prefabricated houses: air-
conditioning; radio heating which
will dispense with all radiators
and oil. burners; automatic typ
ing; unwoven textiles; ultra-micro-cop-ry
which will great
ly help the elimination of dis
ease. New alloys with marvel
ous strength and lightness; har
nessing the sun, tides and winds;
cosmic rays to supplement our
powerhouses; atomic power; new
military armaments and com
mercial aviation. Big profits
are possible for alert business
men and investors.
During 1943 our wives will
begin to use dried eggs, dehy
drated vegetables, frozen meats
and other Innovations. This does
not mean that canned goods will
be displaced, but I do forecast
a revolution In connection with
prefabricated houses, using ply
wood, aluminum, plastics and
rubber; the buying, preserving
and use of foods. There will be
more experiments in national
planning with government guar
antees, but with the return of
the Republicans to power after
this global war, we shall see
less, rather than more, ration
ing, price fixing and regula
tions. Some time it will dawn
upon the American voters that
the government cannot give the
people anything that it does not
first or last take away from
them. There cannot be a level
ing of living standards without
a lowering of living standards.
FURTHER RATIONING
1943 will see more changes
in civilian life than any year
since the Revolutionary war.
Wise are those who are first
to prepare for these changes.
When one studies the tremen
dous purchases which the gov
ernment is making, they make
one shudder. For instance, the
army recently purchased 30
million pounds of salt, 4 million
pounds of mustard and 2 mil
lion pounds of black pepper,
simply to fill a few months'
requirements. Dried fruits are
bound to be short in 1943,
especially prunes and dried ap
ricots; while the kibosh will
still be on stoves, bicycles, type
writers, hardware and rubber
goods. I should not be sur
prised to see the rationing of
dairy products, certain furni
ture, paper supplies, manufac
tured goods, farm equipment
and possibly clothing and shoes
during 1943. Some of my asso
ciates think there will be ra
tioning of meats, eggs and
cheese, but present statistics
do not indicate the necessity
for this. Certainly, there will
be no rationing of cereals, cit
rus products and fresh fruits
that cannot be shipped.
What is most needed is the
rationing of labor union leaders
and a lengthening of the work
ing week as the labor week now
averages only 42.5 hours even
after over-time payments. Of
course, this is a hot potato that
the Administration does not like
to touch. I forecast, however,
that 1943 will see a real step
in this direction. The power
of the War Labor Board will
either be curbed or the board
will become much more con
servative. Manpower (including
women) will be allocated. Pri
vate recruiting of labor may be
curtailed. Farmers, manufac
turers and other employers may
be obliged to go to the U. S.
Employment Service when de
siring additional help while em
ployees may be subject to the
same regulations when desiring
to change Jobs.
POLITICAL SITUATION
Certainly we are entering
1943 with a much better politi
cal situation than existed a
year ago. This does not mean
that the new congressmen are
conservative some are more
radical in certain ways than
their predecessors but they
will combine with the conserv
ative southern Democrats on
questions of taxation and war
matters. Looking back over
1942, It becomes evident that
the tax situation was the . most
upsetting feature on business
and investments. The markets
were at their worst directly
iter the Morgenthau . recom
mendation of a 55 normal
tax. When the House voted o
43 tax business began to pick
up and even security prices had
a real move when the Senate
dropped the rate to 40.
Recent visits to Washington
convince me that the Treasury
has temporarily lost its influ
ence with Congress and that the
1943 tax bill will be written
by Congress itself and will be
fairly conservative. I am much
Interested in reports that Hon
orable James Byrne, the new
economic dictator, is to be put
in charge. For the first time,
it is reasonable to hope that a
sales tax perhaps under some
other name will be enacted in
1943. The farmers will continue
to have as much influence In
the 1943 Congress as heretofore,
but the honeymoon of the labor
and other blocs is temporarily
at an end. 1943 will see very
few wage raises and certain
labor leaders will be put. in the
dog-house.
MONEY RATES
There may be a slight in
crease in short-term money rates
during 1943; but there will be
little or no change in the rates
that banks charge their custo
mers. Money rates are now
managed by the government
even more closely than the
prices of commodities. The
idea, however, that money rates
will always continue low is just
as foolish as were the forecasts
of 10 years ago that money
would permanently remain on a
high basis. The pendulum has
always swung and it will con
tinue to swing after World war
II is over. Whether or not
banks should borrow from the
Federal Reserve in order to buy
government bonds will be de
bated during 1943. Banks that
do this will temporarily make a
profit, but whether this will
work out as a profit or loss in
the end is questionable. In the
long run, very few banks, cor
porations or individuals make
money by borrowing money.
The bonded debt of the fed
eral government is now $90 bil
lions, or an increase of $67 bil
lions since the Roosevelt admin
istration came into power. By
the end of 1943, this debt may
stand at ' about $150 billions.
Some of it, of course, will be
raised by selling additional Vic
tory bonds to the public and In
stitutions. The amount will
largely depend upon whether or
not compulsory saving is adopt
ed. I forecast, however, that
the major portion of this money
must be raised from the banks
and chiefly from the large
banks. This, of course, means
inflation sooner or later.
CROP SITUATION
With normal weather condi
tions there is every reason to
believe that more crops will be
raised in this country in 1943
than in 1942 and that farmers
should benefit accordingly. On
the other hand, there always is
the possibly of bad weather con
ditions including droughts and
floods. The large amount of
wheat, corn and other grains In
storage, however, should help
offset any crop failure in 1943
The wheat yield for 1942 will
be about one billion bushels,
second only to the crop of 1915,
while the corn crop for 1942
will break all records, amount
ing to about 3,250,000,000 bush
els. The cotton crop for 1942
amounts to only 13,400,000 bales
but this is perfectly satisfactory
considering the large amount of
cotton In storage. Without doubt,
the theory of "winning the peace
with food" is sound. Farmers
have a legitimate reason for ex
pecting good treatment during
the remainder of the war. After
the war, their celebration will
be over.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
Readers will, remember that
our war production will not
reach its height until well into
1943. The plants manufactur
ing big bombers are not yet
completed, shipbuilding is just
getting into its stride and thous
ands of factories are still re
tooling. 1943, however, should
witness a transition from con
struction to production. I
therefore, visualize a drastic re
shuffle of sub-contractors, of
labor and of communities In
general. This means hardships
for management and for the
men and women workers. Some
communities now doing - well
will become ghost towns; while
other sleeping cities will become
busy beehives.
Taking All in all. Industrial
production should climb into
new ground during 1943, aver
aging about 210 per cent of the
1935-39 level. This would leave
only about $70 billions for do
mestic consumer goods, com
pared with about $78 billions in
1942. This means that only
about 10 per cent of the output
of the durable goods Industry
and 60 per cent of the output of
the non-durable - goods industry
will be available for civilian use
in 1943. This estimate la on
per unit basis with no allow
ance for price inflation. ,
FAILURES
Business failures In 1942
amounted to $105 millions and
I fear these will be Increased
during 1943. If so, it will be
due to manufacturers being un
able to secure necessary raw
material . or substitutes - and
LOCAL BUILDING
IN 1942 CURBED
EFFORT
Permits Valued at $273,458
Issued 55 New Houses,
2 Businesses Built
Due to the war, Medford
building this last year fell ma
terially below last year, figures
In the city superintendent s of
fice show. This year building
permits totalled $273,458 as
compared to $454,129 for 1941.
'This decrease is of course
due to the drastic building re
striction set up by the War
Production Board,". Frank Rog
ers, city superintendent, states.
Medford was more fortunate
than many cities of comparable
size where building was prac
tically at standstill since last
spring."
Safeway Constructs
Fifty-five of the permits Is
sued during the year were for
new dwellings. Only two'busi-
ness buildings were constructed
during tile year, both of these
by Safeway stores. The new
stores, one at East Main and
Oakdale streets and the other
between Fifth and Sixth streets
on Bartlett, cost $20,000 apiece,
These constructions were made
possible since priorities had been
given on them before the drastic
restrictions were enforced.
It was pointed out that these
building figures do not include
the Federal. Housing Adminis
tration project recently author
ized for Medford. This is to
include 125 family units to
be constructed In the Jackson
school district and will , cost
about $400,000.
merchants being unable to get
a supply of goods. In addition
to the normal casualties . and
those additional ones due to the
war, I expect a certain "birth
control movement" in business,
The government may require
new businesses, farmers desir
ing to increase acreage and
especially employers desiring to
Increase their sales forces to get
permits. Sales organizations
would be the first to be treated
to "birth control." We may-al
so expect to see In 1943 experi
ments in 'zoned markets by
limiting the distance that goods
can be shipped.
The paid leaders of the farm
groups are fighting ceiling
prices on farm products, but I
believe the farmers would be
willing to have a ceiling pro
vided they could also be assured
a floor. I am certain that farm
ers are more reasonable and far
more patriotic than the lobby
ists In Washington who pretend
to represent them. There will
be no decline in purchasing
power. Men, and especially
women, in the farming and
munitions districts, will have
more money even after the pay
ment of taxes than they have
ever had before. The delivery
of goods should be easier in 1943
than in 1942 due to an improved
tire and gasoline situation.
WAR OUTLOOK
It must be realized that
great improvement in the re
sources of the Axis powers has
taken place during 1942. Where
they were short of raw materi
als they now with the excep
tion of a very few commodities
have a surplus supply. For
instance, in 1939 the Axis pow
ers, had no rubber and today
they have 90 per cent of the
world's supply; in 1925 they had
only 25 per cent of the bauxite,
seven per cent of the Iron ore,
nine per cent of the tin ore, 10
per cent of the manganese ore,
eight per cent of the lead ore
and six per cent of the world's
flax. Today the Axis powers
have 68 per cent of the bauxite,
44 per cent of the iron ore, 73
per cent of the tin, 35 per cent
of the manganese, 21 per cent of
the lead, 35 per cent of the flax
and a large percentage of the
world's oil. These figures show
that time Is not necessarily on
our side. The success of the
United Nations depends more on
making every sacrifice.
The best opinions are that
Germany will be brought to her
knees, probably through the
lack of oil, in late 1943 or early
in 1944 and that It wiU take an
other year to finish Japan. As
Germany does not want to see
Japan a world power, she may
endeavor to Join the United Na
tions In putting Japan back
where she was 40 years ago,
This would mean not only clean
ing the Japanese out of China
the Philippines and the Dutch
East Indies, but also making
them give up Manchukuo, Korea
and Formosa. Of course, the
present actions of our navy in
the Pacific are merely to keep
the Japanese from pouncing on
Russia at Vladivostok. They
are no part of the coming cam
paign to clean up Japan. All
of this meant that the general
war newt during 1943 will be
better than that of 1942.
CONCLUSION
It is probable that 1943 will
witness further cuts in civilian
business, that victory models
and standardization will be com
pulsory, that manpower will be
rationed as well as commodities,
that a sales tax will be Inaugur
ated, that subsidies will be ex
tended, and that inflation, like
great glacier, will continue
slowly to push up -prices; but
what of it? We grow by striv
ing, not by arriving. Char
acter gains during 1943 will by
far offset all losses and incon
veniences. - This global war will
be a great blessing to all the
world by bringing about that
spiritual awakening which is
the only solution to our troubles.
E
T
Problems brought up by build
ing of Camp White adjacent to
Medford have been solved much
more readily than was antici
pated, according to H. S. Deuel
outgoing mayor of the city, in
reviewing the city's year yester
day. Mayor Deuel will be suc
ceeded by C. A. Meeker at the
first 'council meeting in 1943,
which will be January 5.
We have accommodated our
selves much more rapidly and
with less confusion, to the prob
lems and changes brought about
by the building of Camp White
than anyone anticipated," the
mayor said. "People have had
to change their habits and way
of living somewhat, but for the
most part this has been done
quickly and cheerfully," he
added. . .
Planning Helped
Much of the orderly transition
from a small quiet city to the
center of teeming activity of a
war center was accomplished
because of preliminary planning,
the mayor said. He pointed out
that prior to building the camp
here several had been set up in
California and that througn
visits to these centers and cor
respondence with officials many
problems were avoided. "There
was much advantage to not be
ing the first cantonment on the
coast," Mr. Deuel said.
Mayor Deuel also said that all
agencies of the government and
the army had been most cooper
ative and had helped materially
In preventing and solving major
problems brought up by trv
camp The mayor complimented
the general citizenry on the
splendid manner in which per
sonal problems had been han
dled and stated that he wished
to thank Medford people for
their helpfulness and coopera
tion. Little Confusion
Frank Rogers, city, superin
tendent, also commented yester
day on the fact that the Impact
of the camp, with its resulting
enlarged poDulation, had been
less confusing than first antici-
nated. He said countless diffi
cult situations had arisen from
day to day but that these had
all been met and that operation
of the city's departments was
returning to normal.
Touhy Will Have
Hearing On Writ
Chicago. Jan. 1 U.R) Fed
eral Judge Philip Sullivan today
Issued a writ of habeas corpus
for the captured gangster, Roger
(the Terrible) Touhy, but stipu
lated that the freeing of Touhy
would depend upon the outcome
of a hearing on the writ Jan. o
The petition for the writ was
filed by Attorney Joseph Har
rington, acting for Eleanor
Touhy. niece of the gangster
The writ charged that Touhy
was being held by federal
authorities in
constitution.
violation of the
RELEASE OF BUTTER
WILL NOT FILL NEED
Chicago, Jan. 1 (U.R) Offi
cers of the mercantile exchange
announced today that approxi
mately 2,000,000 pounds of stor
age butter frozen in the 35 prin
cipal markets on Nov. 21, will
be released for civilian con
sumption by the WPB upon
recommendation of the depart
ment of agriculture.
Traders said that the release
will not relieve the butter short
age, however, for It represents
only a small portion of the
weekly butter consumption of
the nation.
AD HELP PRAISED
New York. Jan. 1 U.R
Advertising's contributions to
the war effort were praised to
day by Secretary of Treasury
Henry Morgenthau, Jr., who ex
pressed thanks, in a year-end
message to the advertising coun
cil, for the help the council had
given the treasury in Its war
financing campaigns.
Cm Mail Tribune Want Ada,
HERE PAST YEAR;
CAMP STIMULATES
Thorndike Says Largest Vol
ume Ever Recorded All
Bank Deposits Increase.
An excellent, perhaps even
record-breaking, year of busi
ness was enjoyed by Medford
this past year, according to local
bankers. This was spread over
all types of business and em
braced fruit growing, warehous
ing, cattle raising and all type
of farming.
"Business in Medford thla
past year has been excellent,
with a very substantial increase
in bank deposits and a large
number of new accounts", said
George T. Frey, manager of the
Medford branch of the United
States National bank of Port,
land.
Looking ahead to 1943, Mr.
Frey said that fruit men, farm-
ers and cattlemen generally
would have a good year, which
automatically meant a good year
Jot merchants and banks except
in tnose lines where merchan
dise would be unobtainable due
to the war.' Lack 'of labor will
be an Increasing problem also,
he said. -
Mr. Frey pointed out that a
good deal of the increased busi
ness was due to the building of
Camp White and that business
from the canip itself would carry
along for the duration of the war
and afterwards. He predicted
that the next few weeks would
be light, as it traditionally is,
and that some establishment
would seriously feel the lack of
merchandise.
- Women Lauded
Mr. . Frey complimented wo
men on the manner in which
they had taken over the work of
men ' called into " service. "He
pointed out that the Increased
staff of the United States Nat
ional bank was all women and
said the bank now had nothing;
nut women tellers and that only
six men were on the staff, with
one of these due to leave by the
middle of January. ' '
"Medford. probably had tHa
largest, volume of business ever
recorded," stated Eugene Thorn
dike of the First National bank
of ' Portland Medford branch.
"Merchants, restaurants and
hotels all enjoyed an increase
of from 20 to 125 per cent Con
tracting firms especially reaped
a harvest of business due to the
construction of Camp White.", ...
. Mr. Thorndike said that cas
ualties among Medford firms
had been small this past year
but predicted that during 1943
there would be more due to the
lack of merchandise, to lack of
labor and to an Increasing drain
Into the armed forces. The lum
ber industry has been hit hard
est by the labor shortage, he
said, the type of labor used in
this Industry seemingly being
the exact kind needed in con
struction, ship building and the
armed forces.
. ' Rent Incomes Jump .
Business will generally be as
good the coming year as 1942,
Mr. Thorndike believes with
losses In some types evened up
by others gaining or holding;
steady. He pointed out that the
housing situation created by the
camp had brought a large in
crease in rental incomes to .the
district . and that - automobile
firms were going a good business
In repair work, business gener
ally holding up better in this
line than had been anticipated.
Predictions for the fruit in
dustry are a bit hard to make,
since the ability to obtain sup
plies and the labor situation af
fect this industry so much, Mr.
Thorndike said. He stated that
the Christmas business this past
year was the largest, ever
handled by the industry locally,
some firms being completely told
out several dayt before Christ
mas. Staff Increased . .
The First , National here has
also increased its staff this past
year and has replaced men going
into the service with women, Mr.
Thorndike stated. A year ago the
bank had 33 men and five girls
with the picture being almost
exactly reversed thla year with
a staff of 30 girls and 10 men.
TAKE "12-MILE DRIVE"
Newport, R. I. (U.R) The
Twelve Mile Drive, one of the
sights of America in the gay
'90s, still interests recruit sailors
who come here from all parts of
the country. USO hat conducted
Twelve Mile Drive parties, and
shown tome of the great man
sions of other days, but gasoline
rationing has cut into this form
of entertainment. Now USO la
considering a return to the car
ryalls and buggies which were
tvnical ei Victorian Newnart.--