Medford mail tribune., June 23, 1950, Image 1

Rising Columbia River Inundates Two Widely Separated Areas
Portland, Ore., June 23 (U.R) The rising Columbia river
poured flood waten into two areas 1500 miles apart today and
officials kept close watch on two other Pacific northwest rivers.
A levee in Columbia Diking District No. 1 broke today,
sending water into the downstream end of Sauvies island about
20 miles northwest of Portland. And at Trail, B. C, about 1,500
miles northeast of Sauvies island, floodwaters swept through low
lying sections. A half-foot of water was reported in the living
rooms of some smaller city homes. At least three houses were
roped to trees so the river could not sweep them away.
Sheriff M. R. Calhoun of Columbia county said the Sauvies
island break was on the Peterson dairy ranch. He said the sher
iff's office was sending boats from St. Helens, about 15 miles far
ther downstream, to evacuate residents of the area. He said he
understood livestock already was being moved to higher ground.
The flooded area is a rich dairying and farming area on
Sauvies island, bounded on the north by the Columbia river and
on the south by Columbia slough. The area is only sparsely pop
ulated. At Trail the Columbia pushed through a dike built after the
disastrous 1948 flood. Flood Controller J. V. Rogers said water
streamed along Trail's main street.
Death toll in Pacific northwest floods reached 11 as Harry
Horcoff, 19-year-old Doukhobor, drowned at Castlegar and Arthur
R. Bishop. 42, fell off his horse while fording Bonaparte river.
The Fraser river, meanwhile, was reported at its lowest
level this week. Dikes along the 100-mile Fraser valley remained
firm despite a driving rain and windstorm. But soldiers and
volunteers repaired soft spots in the dikes and constant patrols
were being maintained.
In northern Idaho, 200 army engineers joined national guards
men and volunteers in patrolling the swoolen Kootenai river as
a strong wind whipped water against sodden dikes.
Meantime, Elmer Fisher, weather bureau river forecaster
at Portland, predicted tht Columbia's crest would b a foot and
a half higher than his previous forcast because of heavy rains in
the watersheds. Fisher said the river at Vancouver, Wash., would
reach 26.1 feet by Monday, 11.1 feet above flood stage.
The weather bureau's river gauge on the Willamette at Port
land showed 24.2 feet in an official reading yesterday and the Co
lumbia at Vancouver was at 24.6.
Fisher predicted the following levels:
Columbia at Vancouver: 24.8 feet today, 25 tomorrow, 25.5
Sunday and 26.1 Monday.
Willamette at Portland: 24.4 feet today, 24.6 tomorrow, 25.1
Sunday and 25.7 Monday.
Weather conditions in the upper Columbia basin during the
next few days will determine whether the rivers level off and
begin a decline during the middle of next week. Reports today
from the headwaters of the Columbia indicated the flood there
was as severe as it was in 1948.
The higher flood crest here was blamed on two factors, th
sudden rise in the Snake river system and the release of waters
from Bonneville dam to make way for the torrent from above.
Local authorities closed the Northern Pacific underpass on
North Swift boulevard and students at Vanport extension center
were working on sandbag dikes to protect their main building.
Some industries along the waterfronts of Portland and Van
couver were forced to shut down because of rising waters but
others built makeshift levees and continued operations.
"It looks like the Columbia will continue rising at the rata
of 14 inches a day for a day or two at least," Rogers said. The
stream was more than a foot above flood level at Trail.
At Okanogan, Wash., the Okanogan river gradually receded
nearly a foot. Some roads which had stood six inches under water
were left covered with a slimy film of mud.
Mayor Lee Odle, Rainier, Ore., announced an emergency dike
patrol would be placed on Columbia river levees immediately.
The dikes there broke in 1948, flooding more than 40 homes.
Medford
45th Year. 20 Pages
Railroads Begin
''Stopping Trains
, In Face of Strike
Pullman Conductors
Ordered Out July 10
Chicago, June 23 U.R Five
western railroads began stop
ping trains today in the face of
an AFL switchmen s strike
scheduled to hit them within 48
hours.
Meanwhile, the Order of Rail
way conductors called a strike
of all Pullman conductors for
July 10 to enforce demands to re
duce the total hours worked each
month from 225 to 210 for each
of the 2,000 Pullman workers;
The AFL Switchmen's Union
of North America has called
strike for 6 a.m. local time Sun
day against five western lines to
support demands for a reduction
in the work week from 48 to 40
hours with no loss of pay.
The Rock Island, the Denver
and Rio Grande Western and the
Chicago Great Western announ
ced that they would halt all ser
vice during the strike.
The Western Pacific placed an
embargo on all livestock and per
ishable shipments but the Great
Northern, a major road with 28
000 employees in 10 states, said
it would do the best we can
to keep normal schedules.
It was announced that the fast
California Zephyrs would be
halted because they use Western
. Pacific track west of Salt Lake
r City. The westbound Zephyr,
which left Chicago yesterday,
was making its final run and the
eastbound Zephyr was scheduled
to start its final run from San
Francisco this morning.
The strike was expected to
have a far-reaching effect on
shipping in the area. Thousands
of workers were likely to be laid
off in industries which rely on
the roads for shipping.
About 60,000 railroadmen
would be affected if all five
lines halted service.
Letter Carriers
To Convene Here
The first contingents of some
275 Oregon letter carriers are
expected at the Medford hotel
tonight where a registration
desk has been set up for the 47th
annual Oregon convention of the
National Association of Letter
Carriers and the ladies auxiliary.
The cochairmen for the con
clave, Randolph Hugdahl and
Bernice Wilson, have made ar
rangements for a banquet and
dance Saturday at the Medford
hotel at 6:30 p. m. It will be
the high point of the conven
tion, and guests of honor are to
include Reuben B. Kremers, as
sistant secretary of the NALC,
Washington. D. C: Charles N.
Coyle, national state vice-presi
dent, Portland; Harry Palmer,
Oregon state president, Tilla
mook; Wyatt F. Ranlett, chair
man, rural committee. Green
Acres, Wash.; Acting Medford
Postmaster Moore Hamilton and
Assistant Postmaster Hugo
Gunther; Supervisor of Mails Ot
to De Jannett; Postal Inspector
J. A. Eidswick, and Mayor Dia
mond Flynn.
Business sessions for the let
ter carriers are to be held in the
IOOF hall and the auxiliary will
conduct its business at the
Eagles hall. The two-day conven
tion program will also feature
a band concert by the Letter
Carriers' band from the Port
land branch.
Portland, Ore., June 23 (UR)
President Franklin J. Smith of
the Oregon Association of Hos
pitals announced today that hos
pital rates will increase through
out the state July 1.
WEATHER
Forecast: Generally cloudy to
nliht and Saturday with few
Khowen, mottly over moun
tains. Continued mild.
Temp.
Hlrhett veMerdur T7
Lowest this morning St
MEDFORD, OREGON.
PP&i i
. 1 . .. Nft
fXy .V - , - I
Igfpi ffl
ENJOY STRIKE'S END-Rolstering Shrlners crowd'onToflhe first
Los Angeles Transit Line's streetcars that went back into service
following the settling of the six-day transit workers' strike. The
group having fun is the Al Bahr Temple from San Diego, Calif.
O Cr C Right of Way
Rules Get Criticism
New rules and regulations
governing acquisition of rights
of way to timber on O and C re
vested lands by timber oper
ators were subjected to strong
criticism at a meeting of the
Medford district O and C advis
ory board here yesterday.
Floyd Hart, president of Tim
ber Products company, who
a member of the state board of
forestry and of the state O and
C advisory committee, said he
felt the new rules will not be
adequate.
Said Unsatisfactory
"I am sorry to say that I think
the regulations are unsatisfac
tory," Hart declared. "They
were drawn up in a confused at
mosphere and I don't believe the
regulations as presently drawn
are workable or equitable. They
are impractical, inequitable and
unworkable." he said.
Hart was a member of the
state board's sub-committee
which worked for nearly two
years in preparing the regula
tions, which cover six pages of
small print.
Daniel L. Goldy, regional ad
ministrator of the bureau of land
management who also was ac
tive in formulation of the right
of way rules, gave a general
description of the policies under
which they were drawn up and
put into effect by the secretary
of the Interior. He stated he felt
Approval Given Soil
Conservation District
Representatives of the state
soil conservation committee who
held a hearing at the Sams Val
ley school last night found
unanimous support for the for
mation of a soil conservation
district in the Sams Valley-Beagle-Table
Rock areas.
Committee Member Otto
Bohnert, Central Point, and Ex
ecutive Secretary Howard Cush-
man, Corvallis, conducted the
hearing and will report their
findings to the. full committee
at its next meeting in Salem,
July 22. On the basis of the en
thusiasm expressed by the land
owners of the three commu
nities. It is expected that the
committee may order a refer
endum election to be held about
August 16 to settle the matter
definitely.
Santa Barbara, Cal , June 23
U.R) Radio Announcer Don
Wilson, 49, and Virginia Corbet.
43, were married here last
eight.
FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1950
they are workable, fair and nec
essary to clarify determination
of the rights of the bureau and
of operators.
Hart said he did not question
Gold's sincerity, but emphasized
that he felt the regulations were
subject to a divergence of pos
sible interpretations, meaning
to each individual whatever
that individual wanted to read
into them. He intimated that
administration of the regula
tions could, as a result, be in
terpreted to mean one thing by
one administrator, another by
a later administrator.
Courii Would Interpret
Goldy conceded that varying
interpretations were possible,
but said that "words still mean
what they say," and that the
courts would be the ultimate au
thority as to interpretation.
George Flanagan, chairman
of the local advisory board,
pointed out that the regulations
are of less importance in this
area than in other forest sec
tions, but both he and Hart said
that rights of way had never
been a problem before the O and
C administration began placing
such emphasis on their impor
tance. Goldy will give a detailed de
scription of the regulations at a
meeting of the Southern Oregon
Conservation and Tree Farm
association at 7 p. m. today in
the Pioneer room of the Jackson
hotel. Lumber operators are wel
come, and may obtain reserva
tions at the SOCTFA office,
phone 2-7481.
George Flanagan and L. L.
"Doc" Simpson were re-elected
chairman and vice-chairman re
spectively of the board at yes
terday's meeting.
Princess Picks Possible Future Husband
London. June 23 (U.R) Prin- lion over a possible mate for the
cess Margaret has picked t h e j princess.
man she thinks she is going to I The tall, slender earl who In
marry. i herited the wavy red hair of his
Friends said today he is the fighting family always has been
Earl of Dalkeith. 26. immensely ; somewhere close to the princess,
rich, and the heir of the Scottish i They were childhood friends,
Duke of Buccleuch. i dancing partners in youth and in
Previously Overlooked I the last few years always have
Court circles believe that if , been at the same parties. They
the princess does not change her! have dined together in restau
mind she is only 19 and young j rants, gone to the theater togcth
even for a royal marriage the er, and visited at each others' cas-
engagement probably will be an
nounced on or after her 20th
birthday August 21.
The Earl of Dalkeith is so em
inently eligible for marriage into
the royal family that courtiers
were wondering how they came
to overlook biro in their specula-
Tribune
NO. 78
Road's End Reached
By Negro Pastor's .
Ancient Automobile
Seattle, June 23 (U.R) It
was the end of the road to
day for a 1926 automobile, de
scribed by Washington state
patrolman as "one of the worst
we've ever seen."
The car owned by the Rev.
William E. Todd, negro pas
tor, was taken in for a safety
test.
Officers reported the car
had no brakes, one tire with a
long slit with a rope tied
around ii to keep it from burst
ing, a hand-made wooden body,
no tail light, no exhaust pipe,
no rear bumper, no rear fen
ders, only one headlight, no
horn, a hole in the muffler
and a loose steering gear.
Central Pointers
Again Turn Down
1951 City Budget
Central Point, June 23 Cen
tral Point officials were in a
quandary today concerning the
1950-1951 city budget.
Yesterday for the second time
this month residents rejected a
proposal to exceed the six per
cent constitutional levy limita
tion by $4,513. The vote yes
terday was 112 no, 109 yes.
City Recorder Ardcn Pink
ham said this morning that the
city council and citizens' budget
committee will convene Monday
to discuss a solution. The budget
must be adjusted within the six
per cent limit if a third elec
tion is not called.
Pinkham said the council and
committee cannot see how the
budget can be sliced $4,513
without cutting out necessary
services and insurance. He stat
ed that if the budget matter Is
not worked out now, there will
be a bad tax levy situation to
straighten out in a year or two
A rate of progress must be main
tained, he declared. The amount
that can be levied in taxes with
in the six per cent limit this
year is $5,996. A budget of $28,
135 has been proposed. A
$4,513 cut would leave a $23,
622 budget possible.
The recorder said that it has
been impossible for city of
ficials to determine clearly the
thinking of those opposing the
proposed levy. They have not
come in for information, he re
ported, and have made their op
position public only at the polls.
At Tuesday's public meeting to
discuss the budget only nine
persons appeared.
The proposed budget is about
$8,000 less than last year when
taxes exceeded the six per cent
limit by $15,023. Pinkham re
ported that with adjustments
made here taxes would be about
$20 less per $1,000 valuation
than last year.
Former Commissioner
III; Said Improved
A. E. Powell, editor of the
Central Point American and
former county commissioner,
was taken to Sacred Heart hos
pital last night. He was said
much Improved today. A Cen
tral Point report last night said
his condition was not consid
ered too serious. He has been
ill for about two weeks.
ties,
At House Party
They rode in the same carriage
at Ascot two weeks ago, and the
earl was one of the house party
at Windsor castle on that occa
sion
Princess Margaret, who is third
9 Sea Crash Survivors
Turman Wilson
Tells Life Story
On Witness Stand
Mystery Witness
Hunted by Defense
Vancouver, Wash., June 23
(U.P.I Turman Wilson, 24, who
with his brother Utah is accused
of the kidnap-murder of 18-year--old
JoAnn Dewey last March
19, took the witness stand in his
own defense today.
Testifying in a low, shaky
voice, Turman told in a ramb
ling commentary the story of his
life since he was charged and
convicted of rape in Portland
when he was 16 years old. He
said his only other conviction
was for auto theft during the
time that he escaped from the
Oregon state prison while serv
ing his sentence for the rape
charge.
Arrested and Abused
After serving five years and
10 months he said he was parol
ed because of his good behavior
but had been "arrested and abus
ed" by police several times in
recent years. His testimony,
which was to be continued in
an afternoon session in Clark
County superior court, laid the
foundation for a defense con
tention that the Wilson brothers
were "taking the rap" for the
Dewey slaying because of their
record.
Defense Attorney Irvin Good
man earlier indicated he wanted
to call a "short blonde" mystery
witness to furnish the key to an
alibi for the Wilsons.
Witness Hunted
But testimony in the first de
gree murder and kidnaping trial
of the Wilson brothers made it
appear the mystery witness
might be hard to find.
The Wilsons are charged with
abducting and slaying 18y car
old JoAnn Dewey of Meadow
glade, Wash.
Mrs. Cleo Wilson, former head
usher at the Playhouse theater
in Portland, returned to the
stand today to testify she had
looked for the mysterious "Miss
Lyons" at Goodman's request.
Beyond a brief notation of the
Lyon's woman's name on a thea
ter work sheet, Mrs. Wilson had
no clue to her identity, she tes
tified. Jufy 3 Closing by
Stores Recommended
Medford merchants were re
minded today that the retail
trade committee of the Jackson
County Chamber of Commerce
has recommended that all stores
close their doors Monday, July 3.
The recommendation is the re
sult of a postcard poll conducted
by the chamber to determine the
concensus of Medford business
men in regard to making Inde
pendence day part of a three-day
business holiday this year. The
poll showed the majority of mer
chants in favor of the July 3
closing. Banks, city, stale, and
federal offices will remain open,
however.
BULLETIN
St. Louis, June 23 (U.R)
Tom Dowd, traveling secretary
of the Bolton Red Sox, said
today that Manager Joe Mc
Carthy had retired. Dowd said
that Steve O'Neill, coach and
acting manager, would take
over the job on a permanent
basis.
in line of success to the British
throne, often has visited the earl
and his parents at their six great
mansion estates.
In fact, the warmth and dura
tion of their friendship led cyni
cal courtiers to say they were too
good friends ever to get married.
Change in Relationship
But lately there has been a
subtle though noticeable change
in the relationship of the tall earl
and the short princess (she is
only a mite over five feet tall).
Court circles say it Is romance in
full flower.
Although technically Margaret
can marry any white Protestant
regardless of his nationality, the
nobiiity wilj b relieved if tha
(Armt Tdrphoto)
CLAIMS NO PAYOFF "CP- tJndersecy. of State John E. Peurifoy
(left) confers with Senator Millard Tydlngs, chairman of the Senate
foreign relations subcommittee, as Peurifoy went before the commit
tee in Washington to deny under oath that he took part In a payoff
deal with another key Amerasia witness former State Department
official Emanuel S. Larson.
Jamboree at Talent
Starts This Morning
Talent, June 23 Talent's sec
ond annual two-day June Jam
boree got under way this morn
ing with reveille sounded by the
town's volunteer fire depart
ment. Game and refreshment
booths have been set up on a
Midway in back of the city hall
and there is mounting excite
ment here over the contest to se
lect a queen and "Cinderella"
for the jamboree celebration.
Approval of FCC
Given KMED Sale
To Radio Medford
Washington, D. C, June 23
The federal communications com
mission yesterday approved the
transfer of radio station KMED
from the ownership of Mrs. W. J.
Virgin (Randle) to Radio Med
ford Inc., for $290,000, it was re
vealed today.
First announcement of the pro
posed sale was made April 7 this
year, when the newly - formed
corporation signed a conditional
contract of sale with Mrs. Ran
dle. Approval of the sale by the
FCC was the only announced
condition of the sale.
Officers of the corporation
which now will take over the
station are H. B. Murphy, Dr.
Dwight H. Flndley, V. J. Robin
son, Dr. B. L. Lageson, J. L.
DcArmand and William M. Mc
Allister. Robinson is president;
DeArmond vice-president and
McAllister secretary.
DIRECTOR NAMED
Election of Paul Culbertson,
owner and operator of extensive
orchard property, to the board
of directors of the Medford Irri
gation district, was announced
today. Culbertson, who succeeds
the late David Holmes, was
named at a meeting of the board
held June 20, according to Ed
ward J. Leach, MID manager.
Earl of Dalkeith ii actually the
final choice.
He has blood, breeding and
wealth. In addition, he is Scot
tish. In the present raging cam
paign for more home rule for
Scotland with extremists speak
ing of breaking many ties with
England such a union might be
a calming factor.
Common Blood Line
Even as Princess Elizabeth
and her husband, the Duke of
Edinburgh, both inherited the
blood of Queen Victoria, the earl
and Princess Margaret also have
a common blood line.
But it goes back much farther
along the stormy road of British
history to tht Stuarts.
i. mm
After tha selection of the
lucky candidate is announced to
night at a program in the Talent
school, the Jamboree will come
to a temporary halt to be re
sumed on a larger scale tomor
row. Miss June Storey, KYJC
entertainer, will preside at coro
nation ceremonies Saturday
morning and a colorful booster
parade has been scheduled for
shortly after noon.
There will be no lack of mus
ical entertainment at the two
day affair. Musical groups an
nouncing they will participate
are the Eve Prentice accordian
band, Bliss Heine's juniors, Al
exander's guitars, th Talent
symphony orchestra, as well as
many solo entertainers. There
are to be contests and exhibi
tions on the order of an old
fashioned county fair and an
amateur hour.
Jamboree booths are being
SDonsored by the Talent Com'
munity club, Garden club, Tal
ent Grange, Lions and Lady
Lions, Boy and Girl Scouts,
Camp Fire girls, PTA, firemen,
Wagner Creek Grange and the
Talent schools.
The concluding event of the
celebration will be a dance set
to start at 8 p. m., Saturday. The
various events of the program
will run continuously Saturday.
Man Jailed on Charge
Of Pointing Pistol
George Ian Maxwell, 69, Wag
ner Creek, is being held in coun
ty jail In lieu of $500 bail on
a charge of pointing a Luger pis
tol at H. C. High, Medford, In a
dispute over a mining claim, the
district attorney's office said to
day.
Maxwell was arrested by sher
iff's officers yesterday shortly
after the alleged crime was com
mlttcd. The complaint charges
that Maxwell was not acting in
self-defense when he brandished
the firearm at the Medford man
during an altercation over Wag
ner Creek mining properly. The
case has been continued for hearing.
Jamboree Scout News
Her Is today's news from
th special train taking 71
southern Oregon boys to th
national scout jambor in
Pennsylvania. It arrived in th
following telegram from Dr.
Charles Lemtry, local jam
bor chairman!
Billings, Mont.
Everybody well. Boys in won
derful spirits. Best behaved on
the train. Visited Yellowstone
park all day. Beautiful weather
for traveling. Very large crowds
all admiring 400 wonderful boya.
Dinners tomorrow so no more
rest. St. Loula next stop. All
boys tend love.
N Lemery.
Rescued
Two Crewmen of
Ditched B-29 Lost
In Pacific Ocean
Plane Believed
Overshot Island
Guam. June 23 (U.R) A
cue boat radioed today it wa
picking up nine survivors of th
crash of a U. S. air force B-29
in the Pacific. The message said
two crewmen were missing.
The rescue team said it fmmri
eight of the men aboard two life
boats floating 10 miles southeast
of Guam. Another survivor, tha
message said, was taken from tha
waier.
The life rafts wera lni-atarf
earlier today by search planes
whose reports had held out hope
that all 11 N-pwmpn frnm th
missing Superfortress were sat.
On Pracilc Flight
The B-29, attached to the J8th
bombardment sauadron. ditched
at 2:30 a.m. today (12:30 p.m.
inursuay jsdt) after sending dis
tress signals.
It had been In tha all- 1a hmM
on a round-trip practice bombing
run to uxinawa, 1,425 mile
northwest Of Guam ItlH innai,
ently overshot this island on th
return journey.
' Planes of th military air
transport service spotted th two
life rafts. A second rescue squad
ron B-17 dropped two emergency
lifeboats equipped with radio ap
paratus, food and first-aid kits.
Naval planes also took part la
the search.
Fires Attributed
To Youngsters
Four out of five of th last
fires to which firemen have been
dispatched this week have been
started by youngsters playing
with fireworks or matches, fire
men said this morning.
Police said that two youth,
ages 14 and B, were reprimanded
in city court as result of a grasa
fire reportedly started by fire
crackers about 4:30 p.m. yester
day on a vacant lot at Wtit
Jackson street at McAndrew
road.
Matches Said Cause
Firemen stated that children
playing with matches caused a
grass and woodpile fire about
5:20 p.m. at 1515 Kenwood ave
nue. Both afternoon blazes were
controlled before firemen ar
rived. At 3:45 p.m. firemen extin
guished a grass conflagration
started by a trash fire near Mod
ern Upholstered Furniture com
pany, 122 South Riverside ave
nue. Stale forest patrolmen report
ed three grass fires yesterday.
The most serious burned two
acres at the Luman place on
North Phoenix road, it was said,
This fire occurred about noon.
Spot fires were reported near
Gold Hill and on Barnett road
but both were controlled before
the patrol pumper arrived.
National Guardsmen,
Shriners to Return
Two large groups of Medford
men will return home this week
end, as special trains arrive car
rying delegates to the Shrine
convention in Los Angeles and
the national guard encampments
in Washington.
The Shriners' train, of 14 carl,
will arrive here at 12:20 p.m.
Saturday. After leaving Medford
and Ashland men, the train will
continue on to Eugene. Two can
were dropped at Dunsmuir for
Klamath Falls.
The guard train wilt arrive
here at 9 a.m. Sunday. It in
cludes baggage and kitchen cars,
and 12 personnel cars. It will
leave men at Eugene, Roseburg,
Riddle, Coot Bay and Grant
Pass before arriving here with
men of Company A and head
quarters company of the first
battalion, 186th infantry.
Guayaquil, Ecuador, June it
(U.R) Twenty-two railroad
workers were killed and IS in
jured last night when a train
crashed into handcar loaded
with worker.