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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 1955)
1 Mm Ti p n Tondl BowIl? Gtons Prove About 5,000 People From IHIomes Chicago (U.R) Dust Bowl flood crests drove close to 5000 persons from their homes In a three-state area today, but broke the Ijack of a five-year drought. The Army, Red Cross, and state officials rushed emergency supplies of blankets, food, water and anti-typhoid vaccine to stricken areas in Colorado, Okla home and Texas. Southeast Colorado, where a major dust storm raged just one month ago, was awash. The rain swollen Purgatoire river drove hundreds of persons from their homes at Trinidad, Colo., and washed away six fhomes and a church. 1800 Persons Flee Home Seventy miles to the north east, the Arkansas rived washed over its banks at La Junta, Colo. It forced 1800 persons from their homes and they spent the night in an abandoned World War II housing project. States of emergency were de clared in both Trinidad and La Junta and it was estimated that the Purgatore and Arkansas floods had made 4000 persons homeless. Threat of Bombing Here Thought To Be Hoax bv Citv Police A bombing threat, which turned out to be an apparent hoax, was made in Medford last night. An - unidentified man tele- phoned Brown's Cafe and Lounge, 101 East Main st., at about 7:05 p.m. yesterday. A thorough search of the building by Medford police failed to find any bomb. " The threat, the first reported in Medford, is the latest in a se ries of bombing hoaxes, threats and one actual bombing which have busied police authorities in Oregon and Washington in re cent weeks. It started when a bomb - exploded in Meier and Frank's Department store in Portland, in an apparent extor tion attempt. But since that time, most of the calls have been made by hoaxsters or those bearing grudges. The Meier and Frank incident was the only one where a bomb actually exploded. DA Gives Warning The threat brought a warning from District Attorney Walter Nunley that threatening the commission of a felony is itself a felonv. nunishable by a maxi mum of five years in the state penitentiary upon conviction. Medford police said Ambrose Whitney (Spike) Lloyd, 36 South Stage rd., an employee at Brown's, received the call, and a male voice said Brown s will be bombed at 11:00 o'clock." ' Police immediately searched the cafe and lounge and Brown's Billiard parlor, 18 North Front St., but failed to find any bomb. They advised that the business close at 10 p.m., which it did. Search Entire Building Six officers then searched the building, including more than 30 offices upstairs. A guard was stationed at the cafe until 11:15 p.m. at which time it was taken off because officers came "to be lieve that the threat was a hx. Police said Lloyd told them the voice was definitely a male voice, and sounded like an adult. Lloyd said he asked the person to repeat what he had said, and the person again re- Medford Again State's Warmest Yesterday Medford was again Oregon's "hot spot" yesterday with an official high temperature read ing of 88. Clouds from a weak front moved in to hold the tempera ture down today, but a high of 84 is expected on Saturday. Maximum temperature antici pated this afternoon was 77 de grees, the Medford office of the weather bureau reported. The local forecast of the bu reau called for showers this eve ning but clearing tonight. Con siderable cloudiness is foreseen for tomorrow morning with the weather becoming mostly fair by afternoon. Five-day forecast for western Oregon is for fair and warm weather through Sun day with partly cloudy skies and a little cooler temperatures through Wednesday. High temperature at Grants Pass was 87 yesterday. Portland (U.R) Lois Wil son, 17-year-old brown-haired beauty from Cleveland high school, has been chosen as Port land's fourth Rose Festival princess. More flood waters drove 750 persons from their homes in Oklahoma, and the Red Cross fed more than 100 persons in rain-sodden Eastland, Tex., last night. 4 The flood waters came rolling down after days of torrential rains in the three states. Mountain Runoffs Threaten The downpours had stopped in Colorado, but mountain runoffs from the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rockies threatened to spill five feet more of water into the Purgatoire in the next few days. Flood threats also continued in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kan sas, although they appeared to be easing. The band of heavy rains had moved southeastward by early today and spread show ers and thunderstorms from the Texas Panhandle, Southern Kan sas, and Oklahoma through Ark ansas and Louisiana. emergency supplies were pouring into the stricken areas today. The loss of life was surpris ingly low, despite the savage storms and fast spreading flood waters. M plied "Brown's will be bombed at 11:00 o'clock." Lloyd told police he asked who was calling, and the person said: "This is Santa Claus and I am not fooling." He then hung up the receiver, Lloyd said. Lloyd and otner employees said they did not know of any one who had a grudge against them or the cafe. Police questioned a 20-year-bld Medford man, but said he apparently had no connection with the call. He was questioned j after police noticed him driving in the vicinity at least five dif ferent times. They said he was driving around to see what was happening. School District's Budget OKd, 7 to 1 Voters of School District 49 yesterday approved the district's 1955-56 budget by a margin of almost 7 to 1. The actual vote was 349 to 51. The approval means that the school district, which includes all of Medford and some sur rounding area, will be able to operate as in the past, and add teachers to staff the two new schools, the east side junior high school and Jefferson grade school, now nearing completion. Both will be ready when school opens in September. The total budget calls for ex penditure of $1,758,934.39. The amount needing approval of the voters, because it was in excess of the limit allowed without an election, was $822,449.58. Hells Canyon Dam Decision Postponed Washington U.R) A Senate Interior Subcommittee delayed a decision today on a bill to authorize a $350,000,000 govern ment dam in Hells Canyon on the Snake river at the Idaho gon border. Chairman Clinton P. Ander son (D-N.M.) said the bill was postponed to give subcommittee members a chance to study docu ments submitted in previous public hearings. ' There also has been a delay, he said, in the printing of the record of public hearings, includ ing those held in the Pacific Northwest. Anderson said he ex pects the subcommittee can meet to act on the bill within a week. Tongue Point Naval Appropriation Approved Washington (U.R) The House Armed Services committee to day approved an appropriation of $92,000, as requested, Jor the Tongue Point naval station at Astoria, Ore. Mlefliini United Nations (U.R) SoTiit Foreign Minister Vyacheslar M. Molotov in formed the United Nations to day that he will attend the 10th anniversary j session of the general assembly at San Francisco next month. Western Proposal Draws Rejection At Berlin Meeting Embassadors Refer Matter To Governments Berlin (U.R) The Soviets to day rejected Western proposals to lift Berlin's baby blockade and the three Western ambassa dors announced they will refer the problem to their govern ments. The ambassadors of the Unit ed States, Britain and France is sued a communique after an un successful four-hour meeting with Soviet envoy G. M. Push kin. Proposal Rejected In it they said the Soviets re jected a Western proposal that the problem of exorbitant tolls levied by the Communists on truck traffic into Berlin should be referred to German experts for settlement. The communique added that the Soviets maintained bluntly that the matter was "solely within the competence of the East German authorities. The communique said Pushkin told the Western ambassadors the little blockade could be solved "only by direct discus sions between West and East German authorities and did not fall within the scope of the four power agreement of 1949" which ended the earlier Berlin block ade. Agreement Said Violated The communique added that the three Western ambassadors then 'decided to refer the prob lem to their governments." It was the first time the Big Four envoys sat down together since the end of the 1948-1949 to tal blockade of Berlin. The West asserted today the new restric tions on supply trucks to Berlin violate the 1949 blockade-lifting agreement. The "baby blockade" began on April 1 when the East German government increased 11 -fold the road taxes on the trucks which bring in about half of Ber lin's supplies. The West estimat ed the taxes will run to $10,000,- 000 a year. Planners Advise Early Annex Vote The Medford planning com mission in a special meeting this week recommended that an election for annexation be held as soon as possible. The recommendation followed study of a preliminary report on annexation, in which it was stated that revenue from an nexed property cannot be levied for a year unless it is included in the budget. The commission said "in view of the urgent need of this an nexation," it "recommends that the council take such action and hold such special meetings as may be required to accomplish an election for annexation prior to closing of the budget" for fiscal year 1955-56. Mayor Earl Miller said the council probably would discuss the recommendation Tuesday night when it meets with the budget committee to discuss ways of balancing the proposed budget. State Vaccine Plans Clear Last Hurdle Portland (U.R) One of the last hurdles to inauguration of Oregon's public Salk polio vac cination program was cleared today. The State Board of Health an nounced it had received assur ance from the National Founda tion for Infantile Paralysis that "barring unforeseen circum stances" enough anti-polio vac cine would be available before June 30. Dr. Harold Erickson, state health officer, said he received a telegram from the foundation's New York headquarters yester day afternoon assuring him that the vaccine would be distributed as rapidly as additional lots are approved by the National Insti tutes of Health. Dr. Erickson said most Ore gon counties planned to begin inoculating eligible school chil dren next Monday. Man Pleads Guilty To Taking Vehicle Monte Louis Riddell, 22, of route 1, box 92, Eagle Point, pleaded guilty in circuit court this morning to a charge of using a motor vehicle without permis sion of the owner, according to the district attorney's office. Riddell is free on bail. Rfddell was charged with tak ing a Medford Corporation pow er wagon from Butte Falls Sat urday. The wagon was found later where it had gone over an embankment about 15 miles from Butte Falls toward Fish lake. MEDFORC United Presi full Leased Wire 50th Year 26 Pages m-m .1 r mimi ikim iiiii f immmxamiiififimni J ONE THRILL IN A DAY OF THRILLS The puzzle in this picture is: Who is having the most fun the adults, or the eight kids from Forks of Salmon, Calif., who are watching a fireman slide down a brass pole for the first time? The stop at the fire department was only one in a long day of new experiences for the youngsters from the isolated Siskiyou county logging community. In the picture, ' from left to right, are Fire Chief Gordon Bar ker, Betty Purcell, 13; Rachel Bennett, 11; Forks of Salmon Youngsters Go Home, Eight youngsters from Forks of Salmon, Calif., went home late yesterday afternoon thrill ed, excited and completely worn out, after the biggest day of their lives. It was a day that was almost beyond the imagination of the average youngster. From the time the eight, ac companied by two adults, ar rived in Oregon, they' ' saw things that they hadnever seen before and did things that many of them had never even dreamed of. Welcome Surprises They received a royal welcome from Medford residents, a wel come that appeared to surprise them as much as anything they say. Despite the fact they were completely tired out when they left at about 5:30 p.m., the youngsters were hopefully look ing forward to next year and the chance that they might be able to return to Medford. And they promised that if Medford people would come to see them, they would give them the biggest picnic ever held in that remote section of western Siskiyou county. They left Forks of Salmon by school bus at 4 a.m., Oregon time, yesterday. One of their first thrills in a day that was to be filled with them came at Lithia park in Ashland, where the youngsters saw their first monkey. What Are Buildings? Then, en route to Medford, they saw what for some was their first train. One of the youngsters Neuberger Raps Patterson For Crooked River Stand Washington (U.R) Sen. Richard Neuberger (D-Ore.) to day took Oregon's Republiqan Gov. Paul L. Patterson to task for the governor's previously stated opposition to use of The Dalles dam revenues on a pro posed Crooked river irrigation project. The junior - senator branded Patterson with a statement he made before a Senate interior subcommittee in Portland in April in opposition to the finan cing plan. Last week Secretary of Inter ior Douglas McKay asked Patter son for his comments on the plan to amortize costs of Crooked river irrigation works in central Oregon with income realized from sale of The Dalles Dam hydroelectric power. Neuberger told the Senate that he would "make every ef 4& MEDFORD, G. oON, Police Sergeant Thrilled and Tired is quoted as asking "What are those buildings moving along?" when he saw the train going down the tracks. After reaching Medford, they had their first milkshake. The youngsters had had ice cream before, but never a milkshake. This was followed in rapid succession by a ride in fire and police cars, with the sirens go ing, to the Medford hotel, where they got their first elevator ride. A minor sensation at the hotel was a vacuum cleaner, the first they had ever seen. From there, they went to the airport, taking in such unusual things as street lights, stop lights and "all those yellow cars" which turned out to be taxi cabs. Go Through Plane At the airport, they went through a big Southwest Air lines plane, guided by a pilot. The huge variety of instruments amazed the youngsters. The trip through the plane also was a first for the two adults accom panying the children. On the way back into town, the youngsters made an -unscheduled stop to see their first laun dry, and were astounded by the fact that everybody in Medford doesn't do their own washing, the way they do at Forks of Salmon. They had lunch at the Jackson hotel and then went to radio station KMED to record a broad cast, as they did later at radio station KYJC. The recorded pro grams we're played back to them. At KYJC they met a group of Medford Junior High school girls. fort to hasten legislative action on this proposal.'' He added, "Adoption of the governor's policy would end our hopes for more irrigation in east ern Oregon." Salem (U.R) Gov. Paul L. Patterson wondered with a smile what all the fuss was about today when informed that Sen. Richard L. Neuberger (D - Ore.) had criticized him for statements NeubergeV said he made against use of The Dalles Dam revenues on a proposed; Crooked river ir rigation project. Gov. Patterson said "I have received no request from the department of the Interior, from Secretary McKay or from anyone else concerning the proposed river irrigation project." Other than that, he declined to comment. - FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1955 Clyde Fichtner; Peggy Stan- shaw, 12; Nellie Bennett, 12; Florence Kear ney, 13; Mrs. Katherine George, school dis trict clerk and mother of one of the children, who arranged the trip; Raymond Bennett, 13; Mrs. Bert Pree, representing the Chamber of Commerce; Butch Floyd, 10; Mrs. Del Brown, teacher at the 14 -pupil school, and Hoop George, 12, son of Mrs. George. The blur at the right is Fireman Gene Williams scooting down the brass pole. ; (Brainerd photo). The shy youngsters from Forks of Salmon may have been im pressed by the radio station, but they also made an impression on the Medford girls, who were heard to remark that the two oldest visiting girls were' "the prettiest we've ever seen." See Demonstrations A highlight of the afternoon for the boys was a visit to the Medford fire department, where they saw demonstrations with the aerial ladder truck and wat er pumping. The boys went up with Chief Gordon Barker and helped operate the ladder. Bark er noted that they "certainly are mechanically minded." At the city hall, they were shown through the city jail by Police Sgt. Clyde Fichtner. They also visited The Mail Tribune, where they- saw the newspaper presses in action, and television station KBES - TV where they appeared on a broad cast. Television was just too much for two of the boys, who refused to have anything to do with it and went outside rather than stand in front of the cameras. All of the group were so shy that they had little to say. The two adults with the young sters took pains to point out to the oldest boy a Medford young ster wearing pink corduroy pants, noting that the Forks of Salmon boy had a pair at home that he refused to wear. Liked Balloons, Hats The little visiting girls appear ed to be more impressed by a group of small Medford young sters with balloons and fancy hats, whom they saw at the tele vision station, than they were by the overwhelming complexi ties of television itself. During the afternoon, the girls visited Mann's Department store and the boys went' to Sam's Sporting Goods store, where they had more time just to look in store windows. The youngsters were accom panied during the day by Cham ber of Commerce Manager Don McNeil, Barker, Mrs. Bert Pree, and Fichtner, all of whom report ed -they had as good a time as the youngsters. Those making the trip were Hoop George", 12; Raymond Ben nett, 13; Butch Floyd, 10; Betty Purcell, 13; Peggy Stanshaw, 12; Florence Kearney, 13; Nellie Bennett, 12, and Rachel Bennett, 11. They were accompanied by their teacher, Mrs. Del Brown, and Mrs. Kathryn George, Hoop's mother, who is clerk of the school district. The youngsters are the older students in a school that has only 14 pupils. The trip was arranged by the Clarence George family of Forks of Salmon. Tribune United Presi Full Leased Wire Price 5c No. 52 Action Brings First Break in Trucker Strike Not All Drivers Of Company Affected Los Angeles (U.R) One of three struck long-haul trucking companies yielded to AFL Team sters pay demands for some of its drivers today in the first break of a strike which had threatened to become a general industry shutdown in the West. A union spokesman called the settlement a "significant break" in the walkout which began yes terday. Pacific Motor Transport agreed to grant the original 26 - cent hourly pay boost over a three? year period to 250 drivers en gaged in hauling new automo biles. The agreement did not af fect other PMT drivers. Drivers affected get an immediate 10 cent raise and will receive 8 cent raises in each of the next two years. "This shows what direction the strike is going," the union spokesman said. "Even the em ployers' association call for a general lockout because of the strike against three members hasn't been followed." Companies Operating The union claimed that "lots" of companies were operating de spite the employers' association call for the shutdown. The union said negotiations were continuing on a company by company basis. He predicted more settlements might be reach ed soon. -. Effects of the strike, precipi tated by a wage dispute between AFL Teamsters and employers, were felt immediately. More than 10,000 workers went off the job yesterday and the lock out was expected to bring the total to 100,000. About 150 members of the Teamsters union in Jackson, Jo sephine and Douglas counties were off the job today as the strike against three major long haul trucking companies went into its second day. The strike here involves West Coast, Consolidated and Pacific Motor Transport, according to Robert Shaw, business manager for Teamsters, Chauffeurs and Helpers Local Union No.. 962. Oregon - Nevada - California Fast Freight and Pierce Freight lines "have gone out on their own in what we call a 'lock out,' " Shaw said. Only Dry Freight The coast wide strike involves only the dry freight industry, including pickup and delivery and over-the-road hauling, Shaw said. He noted that the union is allowing drivers to deliver any thing that was in transit at the time the strike was called at 8 a.m. yesterday. The strike does not involve drivers for wholesale grocery houses, such as Mason Ehrman, Safeway and Pacific Fruit and Produce, Shaw said. He added that such things as necessary drugs, bread, government mate rial and mail will be hauled. Supporters of Dai Arrested in Saigon Saigon, Indochina (U.R) Premier Ngo Dinh Deim arrest ed several supporters of ab sentee Chief of State Bao Dai today on charges of plotting with rebel warlords to over throw Free Viet Nam's American-tracked government. At the same time, French Commissioner General Paul Ely asked for his own recall in the wake of the bloody civil war he tried to prevent plus the de parture of Gen. J. Lawton Col lins, his American counterpart. Government sources said that Diem has arrested at least four of his enemies. Government sources said he arrests were for working in complicity with the Binh Xuyen rebels now entrenched south of the capital after having been driven out . in bloody street fighting last month. KILLS BEAR ' Sams Valley Lester James killed a black bear in his field near here last Friday. The year ling bear had been - treed by James' dog. James saw the bear when he went out to quiet the dog, which had been barking. i Da Iter Lipppann j has yon in aid j A toe confirm! it must know more than- politics, history and human nature. He muit know bow to get at the truth, yet - but he must alio have an ability to impart that truth to others. Here it the difference that maket Walter Lippmann unique among serious columnists. He possesses unsurpassed ability to penetrate to the heart of complex modern events. He it just at determined to make hit findings completely under standable to every reader. In short, Walter Lippmann has you, the reader, in mind as he writes. That's why "Today and Tomorrow is a model of lucid English readable, engrossing, enlightening. WALTER LIPPCAKa lata Read MAIL TRIBUNE Starting Today (See Page S) I Armed Forces Day Flag Presentation The presentation of an outside flag by Crater Lake post of Vet erans of Foreign Wars to the Medford Civil Air patrol squad ron at 1 p.m. Sunday has been added to. activities on Armed Forces Day at municipal airport. The presentation will be made in front of the CAP building at the airport. The building will open for public inspection and movies will be shown in the main assembly room. A urogram, with Mai. Gen. William T. Hefley of Sacramento air materials area as principal speaker, will start at 1:40 p.m. Aircraft Due lArmed Forces Day activities Wni start at 9:30 a.m. Sunday when several aircraft from Ore gon and California Air Force bases fly-over. Aircraft, military equipment and other displays are included in activities. The Rogue Valley Amateur Radio club will send messages to service men from the north end of the CAP building. Medford public works depart ment crews today were con structing a bandstand on the concrete ramp just west of Uni ted Airlines fueling pit, and flag holders were being installed. Evergreen Bus lines will fur nish service to and from the air port between here and Camp White. Buses will leave Medford at 1:15 p.m. and Camp White at 1:40 p.m. to arrive at the airport between 1:30 and 2 p.m. Buses will leave the 'airport to Medford- at 5:15 p.m. and to Camp White at 4:40 p.m. Sunday. log Truckers Reminded Of Saturday Hauling Ban Log truckers of this area were reminded today that tomorrow afternoon is the last Saturday af ternoon of the season when they will be permitted to haul logs on state highways. A state highway department ruling, banning log trucks from, the highways on Saturday after noons during the tourist season, becomes effective after this week. Log truckers also are pro hibited from using the highways on May 30, Memorial day, under the ruling. Weather FORECAST: Showers this eve ning. Clearing- tonight. Con siderable cloudiness Saturday morning becoming mosUy fair and a little warmer by afternoon. Low tonight 52. High Saturday 84. Temp. Highest Yesterday .' 88 Lowest this Morning 59 i !