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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 10, 1955)
Sunday. Jaly 10 IMS . mmii mi EM u u u uu u-vsjird u . u vy; uj 1 k I k K 1 (III II (OHECOK) MAIL TRIBUNE Disr ehab Dcatieiresft-iFree Loam - (Firooira (Sovemmenft dgb oG3tet is SougGrt On "Friday, some 1.200 or more water Users of the Medford and Rogue River Valley Irriga tion districts will vote to deter- mine whether to enter into a re habilitation contract with the United States government. ' Leaders in the two districts say the $1,712,000 project is vital to protect the future irriga tion of valley croplands from possible loss through a failure of the system. The amount would be repaid the government over a period of 40 years, free of interest. A recent study made by the bureau of reclamation, and pamphlets published by the Medford district point out the need for such a project. According to this information, the large structures on the main supply line now transporting water to the valley were built 34 years ago of untreated lum ber. They are rapidly deterior ating and maintenance costs are rising proportionately. There have been four canal failures in the past five years. If the Lake Creek flume, re sponsible for the entire supply of water delivered to both dist ricts, were to collapse, replace ment time' could easily exceed 30 days. The logical period for failure would be the heavy de mand months, July and August. During these months, a 30 day delay in water deliveries would result in complete crop failures. Critical Structures , . The Lake Creek flume is con sidered one of several critical structures. The Medford district has with in its system 21 main canal flumes and two large wood si phons. The material in some of these is badly rotted. In addition to the danger of failure, seepage losses on the present system are high. Engin eers etimate that water savings in the Medford district alone, 'if the rehabilitation is completed, would be equivalent -to that needed to irrigate 739 acres or about 1,315 acre-feet per year. The board plans to use this in crease as a supplement for presently-irrigated lands. Bottlenecks in the system would be eliminated, further in creasing the capacity of the canals. . -. '- Dams at Fourmile and Fish lakes retain the water used in the irrigation season. Initially, the districts were not financially able, to complete construction of spillways, required to release excess water after the reservoirs have filled to capacity. - The- Fourmile spillway has been in use, but needs attention. The spillway at Fish lake, although- excavated, has never been used because it - was not completed at the time of original dam construction. Because of the condition of the spillways, the districts have been forced to employ, a dam tender throughout the year to control the gates manually. ' According to district officials, the annual installment to the government for - rehabilitation J improvements would almost exactly equal and offset normal maintenance expenditures for present . structures. Consequent ly, there would be no need for raising : assessment charges to meet the yearly payments. Large Area The Medford and Rogue River Valley Irrigation districts them selves consist of 13,969 acres of irrigable and 13,135 acres of dry but potentially productive lands within a 2 to 10 mile radius around Medford. ' Their water supply is obtained from a direct flow from the North and South Forks of Little Butte creek. The natural flow of these streams is supplemented by storage in Fourmile Lake .reservoir in the Klamath river basin, and the Fish lake reser voir, at the source of the North Fork of Little Butte . creek. These supplies are further aug mented, by diversions of Bear creek -water into canals of. the districts. Own Works Jointly The two districts own jointly works at Fourmile dam and Fish lake dam, together with con necting spillway, flumes, canals and other structures to Brad shaw drop. - The Medford Irrigation dist rict alone owns the Medford canal, running, from Bradshaw drop to Phoenix, and the Phoe nix lateral, running west -and north from Phoenix, to Hopkins canal. The Rogue River Valley Irri gation district controls Hopkins canal, running from Bradshaw drop south and west to a point some two miles west of Central Point and five miles north of Jacksonville. A breakdown of total im provement cost follows: Medford district: Total $1, 475,466; share of joint-works, $334,886; work on its own sys tem, $1,140,580. Rogue River Valley district: Total, $236,534; share of joint works. $164,934; work on its owif system, $71,600. Plan Outlines This is the rehabilitation plan: The spillway at Fouvinile lake to be reconstructed and a rein forced concrete parapet wall to be added to the crest of the dam. A new spillway to be built at Fish lake and the embankment protected by adding rock fill to the crest and riprap to the up stream face. Eight metal flumes on the Main Canal tdbe replaced, three with concrete bench flumes, one with a concrete wall, and the remainder with concrete pipe siphons. One spillway on the main canal to be repaired by the addition of a concrete cutoff wall and a concrete-lined stilling basin. On the , Medford canal, two existing wood-stave siphons and one metal flume to be re placed with concrete pipe siphons. :' Six-Year Period In addition to this immediate program, a rehabilitation proj ect to be spread over six years will include numerous less im portant items, such as canal lin ing, pipelines, checks, waste ways, spillways, flumes, and bridges. Bids have already been ac cepted on two phases of the pro gram, the spillway work at both reservoirs, so that work can start immediately if the contract is approved and the initial ap propriation is made. The appropriation to get the work started amounts to $350, 000 and the bill in which it is contained is nearing final appro val by congress. Methods of repaying the .gov ernment for improvements will differ in the two districts. The Medford district presently has $190,000 bond obligations, scheduled - for retirement by 1969. During the period in which the district is obligated to pay $18,400 per year retiring its bonds, the annual installment to the government would be 180 the total rehabilitation cost, as of the preceding Dec. 31. After the bonded . indebted ness is paid, the number of years during which installments on the rehabilitation costs ' have been made are subtracted from 40. This number is then divided into the amount remaining to be paid, giving the total for each ensuing yearly installment. The Rogue River Valley dist rict has no bonds outstanding. Therefore, its improvement cost of $236,534 would be divided into 40 yearly payments. No payments will be due until after the joint works are com pleted sometime in 1958. Only Other Fund Source If the contract proposal - is turned down, the only possible source of financing for addi tional work would be an in creased assessment. For water the 900 or so eli gible voters in the Medford Irri gation .district, three meetings were held last week to explain the proposals in detail. They were not attended by many per sons, leaving directors with the belief that the issues are pretty well understood. In the Rogue River. Valley district, some 300 or more water users will be eligible to vote. Eligibility Told In both districts, eligible vot ers are those 21 years of age or more who own two or more acres within the districts with the deed recorded for at least six months, or with a recorded contract of sale. Poling places for the3Iedford district are. Precinct 1, Hillcrest Orchard ho use; Precinct. 2, Phoenix Grade School gymna sium; Precinct 3, ' Oak Grove school. The Rogue River Valley Dist rict poll will be at the district office on the old Central Point highway past the Table Rock rd. junction. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 pan.. OLD FLUME CARRIES CANAL One of the chief reasons that rehabilitation is being sought for the canal system of the Medford and Rogue River Valley Irrigation districts is the old structures, built more than SO years ago of untreated, wood, which are now . in dangerous shape. One such, a flume in the Lake Creek area, is shown above. Constant repairs are necessary to keep it standing, and it is still a threat to the district's water sup- ply. . r A V: REHABILITATION NEEDED Another flume carrying water to the valley floor is shown above. It is planned to replace such structures with concrete conduits if next Friday's vote by water-users of the Medford and Rogue River Valley Irrigation districts approves a 40-year repayment contract with the bureau of reclamation. Details of the plan are told in the accompanying article. Grand Jury Returns Two True Bills Friday Two true bills of indictment against Joseph Patrick Lynn, 36, Grants Pass, and. one "John Doe" true bill were returned by the Jackson county grand jury Saturday, District Attorney Wal ter Nunley reported. He said that Lynn was indict ed on charges of obtaining mon ey under false pretenses. One involved a $15 check cashed at Chungking inn and the other a $10 check passed at Jackson ho tel. - - -; - Sir If 1 , LEAKS IN OLD SIPHON Jack Hoffbuhr, manager of the MID, is shown above pointing to one of the many, leaks in the siphons used by the irrigation districts to get water to the valley floor. It is proposed to replace these slowly rotting, antiquated struc tures with concrete siphons. It is believed that .the savings in maintenance, costs alone will permit repayments on a contract with the government to be made without increasing water assess ments. If the system failed at any of its weak points, it could be up to 30 days before service could be restored, which, might well mean a total crop loss in the districts.. t ; s . " 4-H Teenage Council Will Meet on Monday ' Jackson County 4-H Council of Teenagers will', have their monthly session. at 8 p.m. Mon day, July li; at Bigham hall at the county faiigrounds. Yv. N Plans will be made for the summer camp at Camp Gray- back the last week in July and for the . county 4-H and Future Farmers of America fair in Au gust. - , ' . ':. ... Miss Jean Brooks, county 4- H club agent, pointed out that the deadline for. filing applica tions to attend the camp is on Wednesday, July 13. She said that at least 10 more applica tions must be in to assure that the camp will be held. " " 1 ' Spring Tree Planting Finished in Forest ' Tree planting on the Rogue Kiver ivauonai forest has been completed for the spring period, according to . Supervisor Jack Wood. Approximately . 500.000 trees, including sugar pine, pon derosa . pine, Jeffrey pine and shasta red fir; have been' set out on 600 acres of cutover lands. : - During the past five years more than 2,500 acres of nation al forest lands have been plant ed with seedlings. Areas selected for restocking are those for which natural seed source is poor or other factors indicate the need for artificial seedine: : Seedling trees used in the op erations are raised iif Forest Service nurseries and nlanted when about two years old. Swim Lesson Signup Will Start Tomorrow Registration . for the : second series of 10 swimming lessons at Hawthorne park pool will start at. the pool tomorrow, Darrell Huson, .park director, ' hia 'an nounced. Classes for the second series, will start Monday, July 18." ' , ' . " Huson said children 8 years old and over-may- register, any., registered- day next week. Ten classes will be held at a cost of $2, which covers pool entrance fee. Huson said each- child is required to furnish his own swimsuit and towel. ' , ' The first .series of classes fin ished its first week' Friday, and will .'complete its classes next Friday. -Some 154 children are Cecil Morrises Leaving for Chico The Cecil Norris family, 2105 Roberts rd., Medford, will leave this week for Chico, Calif., to make their home. Norris will take over manage ment of a Dodge-Plymouth dealership there. He has been in automobile sales work in Med ford for a number of years, and recently sold Foreign Motors here,' a dealership in European automobiles. Since then he has been sales manager for that firm. Earlier, he was a Nash salesman. : - - Norris has been active : in Democratic politics in Jackson county, having served as chair man of the Democratic central committee. In 1954 he. was Democratic candidate for coun ty clerk. ; Mr. and Mrs. Norris are par ents of two girls and a boy. Park Vandalism Gets Prosecution Warning Ashland Several acts 'of vandalism in Ashland park brought warnings last week from Eldon Scripter, park commission chairman,' that all such acts, by "juveniles or adults," will be prosecuted. , Wednesday night in the lower section of the park three heavy sprinklers were taken apart and sections of the mechanism taken. Benches were upset, the v. tool house broken into, and a rins of keys stolen. Several weeks ago, a 60-foot length of hose was found to be missing. ; , "Every effort is being made to keep the park attractive and in good condition," Scripter said. "It's the property of the taxpay ers and we have no other course but to prosecute Juveniles or adults when they commit acts of vandalism." Welcome To ft miie east S2?njjm WATCH FOR SIGNS Bring your visiters and friends ; . Voluntary Contributions Ac cepted. ., Featuring Southern Oregon Cut and Polished Stones and Indian Artifacs. Rough agate materials cut and polished are For Sale. Try Our Delicious CLOVER HONEY largo selection of contain ers, including Co ramie Jugs. Bud Fisher Newly ElectedCommander Of Legion Post 15 M. E. "Bud" Fisher, recently was elected commander of Med ford Post 15 of the American Legion for the year 1955-56. Fisher was born at Vader, Wash., in October, 1900, and was raised in the Willamette valley. He finished grade school in Se- V "BUD" FISHER Hew Legion Commander attle and high school at Mon mouth, Ore., when E. H. Hed rick, now superintendent of Med ford schools, was principal. Fisher became a member of an Oregon National Guard com pany at Dallas while in high school. and went to Vancouver barracks at the outbreak ' of World War I in 1917. He was discharged from the Army while still 15 years old. When he was 16, he enlisted in the Navy, serv ing- overseas. After the armis tice he ' was placed - on special duty, returned to the states in October, : 1920, and was dis charged in July. 1921. He became a member of the American Legion at Bend in 1925 and has been in continuous mem bership since. Fisher became a member of the 40 and 8 in 1940, and re inlisted in the Navy in 1942. Finally discharged in 1945, he and his family moved to Med ford where they have resided since. . . Fischer has been' active in affairs of the local Legion post, holding . the ' offices of second and first vice-commander, and has headed a number of committees.-. . . He said last week he is plan ning, an active and aggressive year for the post, and has se cured the services of some of the post's top .members to serve as leaders of important committees. 5 4 LODGE AT YMCA CAMP Outdoor Area Opening Today) Work on Site Completed -.,., ..... ... . , . " f 'Y Summer Camp Opening Today; Workers Ready Site During the past several weeks, workers have been readying the YMCA Diamond Lake ; camp for its official opening today. In general, preparations have included setting up tents for liv ing quarters and getting water front facilities "ship shape." The lodge, ' used as a cafeteria, was constructed two years ago. ft has now received the final ham mer, and . nail treatment - as the fireplace outer wall- was sheathed. :: Today, campers from the Ash land YMCA move in for a week's stay. Roseburg and Klam ath Falls also share the camp in ensuing weeks. ..... Local Camp July 24 ; Camp for Medford boys aged 9 through 14 begins July 24 and runs .until Sept; 5, the last week being for "families of all ages." Fee for one of the four seven day periods is $18, of which S3 is an advance registration charge. Walter Bish, committee chair Spiritual values, swimming. diving, canoeing, sailing, boat ing, biking, and campfire ses sions are featured. Safety mea sures are primary considerations. Staff Listed Staff for the summer will be Donald Day, director; - R. L. Jones, supervisor; Alfred Leste barger, engineer; Mrs. Bernard Moore, nurse, and selected col lege and high school students as counselors. Campers are asked to provide their own transportation, and parents are invited only during aunaay afternoons. Registration blanks may bo obtained at the YYMCA, 822 est Sixth st Those desiring fur ther information may receive it there or telephone 2-6295. . Mental Health Expert Slates Appearances Melvin Murphy, executive sec retary of: the. Oregon Mental Health association, will speak here Monday at a meeting of the Jackson. County Mental Health committee. The meeting is scheduled for 8 - p.m. at the Congregational church, 300 Oakwood dr. , , Murphy is conducting a work shop at Southern Oregon college in Ashland, and is, spending his free time , working with the county group, according to Mrs. man; ; - .. . .. , . At Monday's meeting he Is scheduled to discuss family counseling and problems of the aged in Oregon, as well as local work in these fields. - Murphy also is scheduled to appear Monday at 4:45 p.m. on television station KBES-TV and' at 4:15- pjn.. July 18 on radio station KMED. He wffl meet wijh parents of mentally retard ed children on July 18, and again with the mental health committee on July 21. For A Pltasant Sunday Afttrnoon IT'S DAEIDAMELLE V For Rtally FINE FOOD V L i f . V ChHdron AJwayf Wolcomo ' ' ' ' ;''. Vary Ploatant Aimotphor ; ; Opoii at .l pjni' Sunday- CLOSED WEDNESDAY PHONI S-9230 OOLD rfitt ; 360 LITTLE CIRCLESI COUNT 'EM! iuoooboooooooooooo Moooboecooooooopeo. Gooooooeooooooooooooc I OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCMC , ooooooooooocmoooooo w" - tN .': ooooooobooooeooooooooeeeoooec ' . cooooo ooooooooooooooeobooooooeoo ' OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOCOOO ooooooooooooooooooooooooo6ooooooooooooo ; rOooooooooooooooboooooodocM - . Thy all look alike, don't thay? Yat tftara's a world off diffaraflea tha way wa figura at Marcy Flights. Thbsa 360 drclas rapratant 360 patiants wa'va flown to aithor sava thair Kvaa or aparo tham pain, and 120 off tho drclas raprasant pro-paid subscribars.who wara flown ffraa of chargo. Tha othars had to pay, iff thay wara abla. Actually, wa wish that all of tha patiants had baan subscribers and flown ffraa off chargo. That would mean that everyone in Jackson County was a subscriber, plus a few more out off the county. Both the patients and ourselves -would be better off financially. l f 1 Right now, whether you're a subscriber or not, you enjoy the com fort of knowing that a Mercy Flights crew and at least one of our two planes is standing by day or night to rush you or someone in your family to specialized medical centers in the larger ernes. As a subscriber, you pay only $4.00 a year for your entire family, and for get about the high costs of operating airplanes.' Of herwise, a 50c par! mile charge is made for non-subscribers. Which do you think would bo easier to pay? J v Mercy Flights is a non-profit, public service organization which is vital and necessary for the safety and health of everyone in the com munity. It can exist only with your support as a subscriber. HY so simple to join, so do it NOW. Send your name, address, number in family, and $4.00 to , MERCY FLIGHTS, INC. P.O. Box 522 Mtdford, Oregon Your subscriber card will be sent to you by mail in . : ; 2 approximately 10 days V r
