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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1956)
TMf MTOFORD (ORZGOW) MAIL TRIBUNE TABLE ROCK Flood Destruction Told BY-.R. E. NEALON Table Rock Tha road to the Bybee bridge was open Friday morning, Dec. 24, after a 24 hour closure. The road bed shows the effect of a terrific beating, with a stretch of the black top torn up and rolled off the road bed, the big tile culvert partially uncovered, and bould ers and logs scattered over the road-way. During the high water two cars were stalled near the Bybee bridge, one being driven by Dick Reum, with his wife and small son as passengers. They were coming home from Medford about 9 p.m. Wednesday and wptld have made the crossing had he not tried to dodge floating causing the car to slide off the crown of the road A state" trooper stationed at the bridge, assisted in getting Mrs. Reum and young son out of the car, then taking them to their home here. Later a wrecker ar rived, which the trooper had called by radio, and the car, after some three hours in the water, was towed out. During the inter vening time Dick was waiting in the car with the water steadily rising until it was in hia lap, when the car was finally pulled out. Telephone service, which was disrupted for the Table Kock Community and the Beagle dis trict Wednesday night, when the cable crossing the river went down, was restored about 6 p.m. Friday. Friends and relatives in other sections were somewhat anxious about our plight here during th high water, owing to radio reports about the community be ing isolated, with no telephone service, and no way of getting out. The truth is -that the road north of Bybee bridge was clos ed to traffic about 6 hours, telephone service was out a little longer, the mail carrier missed one trip, and power service off a few hours. The Mail Tribune came a little earlier tfran usual, being carried by airplane to the Table Rock store. The real headache will come to those whose lands border on the river, when they begin to untangle and dig out miles of fence buried in sand, twisted and torn and covered with tons of debris. It will be hard to estimate the damage, as there are some things that cannot be repaired, such as crop land torn up and wash ed away, and sand piled on land in some places two f eJ or more deep. Although this was considered by many as being a bi,g flood, we have seen some thdt would make this one look small, and should the same conditions pre vail, such as a heavy fall of snow on the valley floor, and m the mountains, later going off with a warm rain, the flood wat- 1 J nAWA Jmim mimh ers wumu tumc uwwn faster, owing to so much timber being taken from the water sheds during the last few years. As time goes on, and more timber is cut from the water sheds, and more people build their cozy little homes near the beau tiful Rogue, we predict that some day, those who opposed flood control via "Flan A" on the river, will see that they missed the boat. Flood waters swished through the two Allen homes near the river bank Wednesday night, 22 inches deep in the Jimmy Allen home, and 30 inches in the home of the senior Aliens, which is a little nearer the river. The Jimmy Aliens had left their home earlier and had gone to the home of their son in Sams valley, and the seniors to Med ford. The water was deeper this time around the Allen home than any time since they have lived there, according to Mrs. Jimmy Allen. The annual Christmas tree en tertainment held last Friday night at the school house was well attended. The program, con sisting of instrumental music, songs, including solos, quartets. OOERN Complete Line of Copper Tubing and Fittings Vi in. to in. National 40 Gallon Water Heater 10 Yr. Warranty duets, group singing and read ings, was appropriate and en joyed. The little tots took an important part in the program, and did the parts assigned to theiji in a credible manner. Santa Claus managed to get through in spite of the weather, bringing presents to the boys and girls, who said they had been good, and giving a scare to the tiny tots who had not met him before. Bill Bray, local farmer and auctioneer, recently purchased three acres of land with a bus iness building and dwelling just across the road from his auc tion yard,jwhere he will operate a service station, with possibil ities of future development. Bill, who is busy with installing one of 'the best set of scales in southern Oregon, says that at a recent auction sale he put some 950 cattle through the ring, some of them being trucked as far as Los Angeles. The heavy downfall of rain which caused much anxitiy in some parts of the valley, was most welcome in Sams Valley, where irrigation reservoirs are being filled that were only par tially filled last winter, causing the irrigation season to be short ened somewhat the past sum mer. The warning given by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce in a recent issue of the M. T. about the many so- called charitable agencies at tempting to raise funds by mail ing neckties, gadgets, etc., to persons and asking money in return, is well worth reading. The Portland Better Business Bureau, after an investigation found that most of these are run for profit, for the instigators, and very little, if any, of the money gets to the supposed re ceipients. So if you're wearing a necktie sent to you by mail and haven't sent in the dollar and twenty-five cents, don't let your conscience bother you. If you do this a few times they will take your name off their sucker list. The Robert SageEfamily, resid ents of this community since shortly after the close of World War II, have purchased a new home in Medford at Oregon Terrace near the new Junior High ' school, and are moving this week to the new location. A neighbors feed lot, filled with fat white-faced steers that cost 18 cents a pound when put on feed, are worth 15 cents according to buyers. Some 30 to 40 years ago, when hay was worth 10 to $12 a ton, we used to buy feeders on what was call ed a 3 cent margin, which if obtained at selling time, would give us a market for the hay at a little better than the going price. In the above case the margin is in the reverse. The annual Christmas dinner gathering of the Bigham clan was held last Sunday at the Everett Brown home, with 43 members present. Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Brood of Corvallis are visiting this week with Mrs. Brood's parents at the John Morris home. The J. S. Richardsons and the R. E. Nealons were Christ mas dinner guests at the Ernest Leavitt home on the Old Stage rd. Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Kiefer and daughters, Lael, Karen, and Janet of Vancouver, Wash., were weekend visitors here at the home of Mrs'. Kief er's sister, Mrs. C. L. Goodwin. Other recent visitors at the Goodwin home were Mr ."and Mrs. Steve Puro of Crescent City, Calif. The reservoir recently con structed by Viggo Skou at Beagle to improond the run-off water from the north side of upper Table Rock, is now filled to ca- pactiy, which is 130 acre feet. Found in Tern Velle park after flood waters had receded were several fish resembling gold fish in color, but with the scales and mouth of a carp, and larger than the usual run of gold fish. mrmiiriMii'iiii PLUMBING Your Headquarters for Plumbing, Sheet Metal, Heating 613 East Jackson - Phone 3-5368 Silkauf TOILET SEAT ON DISPLAY NOW American Kitchens NEW ONE STEP KITCHEN AS ADVERTISED IN THE AMERICAN WEEKLY Copper and Birch Cabinets DOUBLE SINK, READY TO INSTALL AT THE NEW LOW PRICE! SEE THEM NOW AT MODERN PLUMBING & SHEET METAL CO. OPEN ALL DAY SATURDAY Sunday, January I, 1958 Coos County Highway Bids To Two Companies Salem ttJ.P.) The State High way commission has awarded a Coos county highway contract to Fred H. Slate Company, Ore., Ltd., and E. C. -Hall Company, Portland, on low bid of $306, 273.50. The job involves 1.36 miles of grading and paving on the Coquille-Rink creek section of the Coas Bay-Roseburg highway east from Coquille, and furnish ing crushed material in stock pile. Mrs. Timm, who rescued them from a small pool of water left by the flood, was puzzled as tq what kind of fish they were. Bert Peck, an employee of the Oregon state game commission, explained that gold fish do some what resemble carp, and in some cases grow to be quite large. County trucks and loading equipment being used at the gravel pit near the old military bridge site barely missed being trapped by the flood waters. They were taken out Wednes day about 10 p.m. just before the swift moving water reached there. A break-down of man and lightning caused fires on fed eral and state lands in Oregon for 1955 gives 821 man caused, and 797 lightning. On the man caused 257 were charged to smokers. We notice that mem bers of the Oregon State Hort icultural society came out in favor of a general sales tax, but made no mention of the cigarette tax, to be voted on next election, which reminds us of a debate held at the Central Point Grange hall, before the election of 1947 when a state sales tax was on the ballot. Two Medford attorneys debated the issue. There was a sales tax on the same ballot that year, and the speaker for the affirmitive in closing his argument for the sales tax, said there was also a cirgarette sales tax on the ballot, but this he was opposed to be cause it would discriminate, as he might be the only person in a room full of people who smoked cigarettes, which he ad mitted he did, so would be the only one in the crowd paying the tax. We thought .of a neigh bor who had made several trips to Portland, and paid about $200 for mechanical device to enable him to walk owing to arthritis, who would have been taxed under the bill this man was- working for, although he prob ably could have been the only one among many, needing this service. As Bob Ruhl says, it makes a difference whose ox being gored. These are quotes from conver sations we have heard lately that show the trend of the cattle man's thinking: "Charles Hil key," Sams Valley farmer and stockman; "The farm business has got to where a person can sleep better if he don't figure too much." "Gerald Mitchell," Meadows cattleman, looking at a load of hay he hadojust bought: "When an old cow eats that load of hay, she has eat her head off." Meaning, the hay was worth more before she ate it than she is after she. eats it. "Abe Half hill," manager of Table Top Ranch, while cutting and wrap ping big hunks of beef for the locker, "Can't sell these big steers, might as well try to eat them." Mrs. Julia Myers celebrated her 95th birthday Saturday Dec. 31, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Mary Myers, where she has resided for the past three years. We owe Mrs. Myers an apology, as we had given Mr. Davisson the hon or 'of being our oldest citizen on his 90th birthday last Septem ber. We ofer this apology, with best wishes for a Happy' Birth day and many more. Sam Glass, the ex-marine, now taking a course in civil engine ering at OSC is spending the holidays with home folks, and keeping his figure trim by help ing with the farm work on the J. L. Nealon ranch here. . 8l SHEET METAL $ each 4 r h , ! PROVING BANKERS have sense of humor, Karen McGuire, 12, admires horse given her by officials of New York's Han over Bank which sold Nashua for $1,251,200. Karen, of Greenwich, Conn., bid $24.03, all her savings, for Nashua, promising good care for horse if she got it. (International) GOLD HILL Newlyveds Return to City By MRS; AGNES HARRISON Gold Hill Dr. Stanley Brown and his bride, the former Miss Charlotte Moreland, Portland, returned to Gold Hill after be ing married in Portland Nov. 26. Mrs. Brown recently completed nurses training at St. Vincent's hospital in Portland. The couple honeymooned in Mexico and are living at Drake's Lazy Acres Motel. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Burnett and family had as guests Christ mas day his parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. F. Burnett, Rogue River, and Mrs. Burnett's brother, Charles Smith and family, Med ford. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Smith had their son, . Douglas Smith, and wife Gail, who both attend Oregon State college and their daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Pettey and their twin danghters, Jan and Debbie, Coos Bay, with them for Christmas. The Gold Hill health unit will meet Tuesday, Jan. 10, instead of the first Tuesday in the month. The meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. Jack Cline on Highway 99N. Co-hostess will be Mrs. Clarence Parsley and Mrs. Melvin Burnett. Johnnie McCoy, son of Mrs. Ruth McCoy, is visiting with his mother and brother and sisters during the holidays. He is at the children's farm home near Cor vallis. Mrs. Earl Taylor, former resi dent of Gold Hill and now of New Plymouth, Ida., is visiting friends in the valley. Mr. and Mrs. Seth Coy are vis iting with his mother, Mrs. Susie Coy, and other relatives. They are from California. Jim Hughes is spending his vacation from San Francisco State college with his friend, Marvin Throne, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Throne. Mar vin and Jim axe together in the Navy. Mr. and Mrs. John: Jore and daughter Dianne are vacationing over the holidays in Los Angeles with their son Raymond and family, and their daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith, and other relatives. In the contest sponsored by the Gold Hill Lions club for out door home lighting decoration for Gold Hill, and which was judged by H. D. Force, Mrs. Paul Malloy and Dr. Stanley Brown, awards were presented to Gene' Jones, first place for his portrayal of Christmas, a nativ ity scene; George Gilman, sec ond place, and Delos Walker, third. Honorable mention went to Cecil Gabie, Dale Collins, Al Fink and Milton Steinmetz. Judging was based on original ity, time and effort and pofi trayal of Christmas theme. Cash prizes ; were donated by Gold Hill merchants. Mr. and Mrs. Lin Murdock and two children, Tom and Jill, have Complete Line of Plastic Pips . and Fittings From V2 Inch 00 returned to their home in Ana heim, Calif., after spending two weeks visiting with Mrs. ,Mur- dock's sister and family, Mr. and Mrs. Jack White. They also visited with the girls mother. Mrs. F. Mant, who has been liv ing with the Whites since June Ward Blue recently visited with his brother in Centralia, Wash. Mr. and Mrs. James S. Arnold and family are vacationing with relatives in California Mr. and Mrs. Al Harrison and family spent Christmas with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Harrison of Matheson, Calif Gold Hill health unit met in December at the home of Mrs Arthur Boye. Twenty-five mem bers attended, with Geneva Mar tin and children as visitors. A rummage sale was planned for February. It was reported that Adrene Anderson was home from the hospital Steel Industry's 1955 Production Tops in History New York (U.R) America's dynamic steel industry produc ed more steel in 1955 than ever before in history, but consumers clamored for more. Steel-spewing furnaces turned out a fantastic 116,000,000 tons in 1955 but was gobbled up im mediately by companies, making everything from hairpins to sky scrapers. The booming automitive and construction industries were in the vanguard of this mad scram ble for steel that sent order back logs zooming. Industry spokesman expect no letup in the tight steel supply- demand picture at least through the first half of 1956. Another Record Seen - Officially, steel men are reluc tant to extend their glowing pro ductions beyond the half-year- mark. Unofficially, however, many expect 1956 to be on a par or possibly greater than 1955. ; Production during the past year easily exceeded 1953, the best previous year in history when 111,600,000 tons were pro duced. Output in 1955 ran some 29,- 000,000 tons ahead of 19o4 a recession year one of the big gest year-to-year gains in hist ory. The almost insatiable demand for steel produced some nifty earnings reports and led to high er dividend disbursements. But it also gave the industry some man-sized operating headaches. It did one other thing, too. It conviced even the most conser vative in the steel ranks of the pressing need to expand capa city. Industry To Expand Iron Age, the authoritative trade journal, predicted its rated capacity by 16,000,000 tons witrP in the next four to five years. Annual capacity now stands at 126,000,000 tons. Tom Campbell, editor-in-chief of the metalworking weekly, told the United Press this ex pansion will cost something like $3,200,000,000. Most of the money will come from retained earnings, depreciation and high er, steel prices. Veneer Firm Low In Federal Timber Sale Portland (U.R) Columbia Veneer company was low bidder at $377,090 for 17,000,000 board feet of federal timber - in the Clackamas watershed, the Forest service said Saturday. The bid was 52 per cent above appraisal. The timber is located about 29 miles from Estacada in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The Great Lakes carry more than two-thirds of all the inland transport in the U.S., and the two principal cargoes are iron ore and coal. Color TV Sets To Remain Costly During Next Year New York (U.R) Color tele- vision sets are expected to re main costly in 1956, but they'll make some strides in their march toward the nation's average home. RCA president Frank Folsom predicted next year will defin itely see what the industry calls the break-through. Chances are, however, you'll have to pay more than $500 for a olor set next year compared with 1955's $695-$l,000 price tags, while the industry blasts at the roadblocks preventing the break-through. That much-discussed- term re fers to the time when enough sets are sold to permit mass pro duction economies and prices of $300 or less. Many trade leaders balk ' at predicting a specific break-through time. One says it will come in 1958, with sales of nearly 3,000,000 receivers priced around $300. Mass market economies were impossible in 1955, when sales sputtered up to about 25,000 sets. But sales predictions for 1956 range from around 100,000 up to 500,000. Expansion-minded networks say they'll broaden and improve color programming in 1956 to help spur interest and demand for sets. Intensive research by set mak ers will aim at lower prices and better technical performance. Tavern May Spur Color Oddly, the local tavern may write itself into history for help ing spur color TV's progress, just as it' did in black-and-white's in fant years. Affluent taverns and hotels were fairly good custo mers for color sets in 1955. ueaiers may step up promo tional activity sharply next sum mer, when several set makers are expected to unveil new color models. Then may come a vast promotional surge involving al most everybody ' in the busi ness, CBS-Columbia spokesman predicts. FROM ALL OF US AT Jackson County Ends Good Year From Health Outlook The year 1955 has been a good one for Jackson county from a health standpoint, according to a year-end report by Dr. A. E. Merkel, county health officer. Contagious diseases have been comparatively low, with few er cases of polio than in several previous years. Five polio cases were reported. Oregon as a ghole had almost 475 polio cases compared with 350 in 1954. In 1954 and 1953 Jackson coun ty had 15 and 35, respectively. Polio not Licked . . "Polio is not yet licked un less we get all our children pro tected by the use of Salk vac cine, "Dr. Merkel -said, fam ily physicians have ample sup plies to protect the priority eroun from birth to 15 years." Sixteen cases of pulmonary insis were reported in 1955, as compared to 15 in 1954, and Merkel said "many more cases are as yet unknown." He stressed the use of tuberculin skin testing and x-rays at Sacred Heart and Community nospitai centers. Typhoid, one of the most dreaded diseases not too many years ago, was reported only once during 1955, and no cases of diphtheria have been report ed in the past five years. "Constant vigilance must be kept through immunization and j periodic 'booster' shots," the j health officer stated, adding that j large numbers of diphtheria ! cases have been reported in parts j of the south. : Dr. Merkel stressed that f am-: ilies should keep protection against the serious and highly , fatal disease through periodic boosters. ' . Sharp Decline A sharp decline was noted in ! the streptococcal diseases scarlet fever, septic sore throat and erysipelas with 50 cases in 1955, compared to 152 the previous year. i able disease reduction in recent years is unbelievable," accord ing to Dr. Merkel. "Credit goes to many the taxpayer who sup ports the health department with funds; the family physician; Jackson County Public Health. association, its health education and tuberculosis control pro gram: and dentists and other agencies who contribute to bet ter community health," Many unmet needs still pre- c vail in the county, he declared, including accidents, both on the 0 highway and homes; mental o diseases of the aged. Dr. Merkel said health educa tion and rehabilitation can play major parts in improving com munity standards regarding the aged. Health programs for sani tation and increased housing also should be strengthened. The 83-cent annual cost to the taxpayer for health department work should be worth much more, he said, through the knowledge that the "food we eat, and water and milk we drink are safe, to say nothing about the many other services received." WEATHER By United Press Northern California: Showera and short periods of clearing; snow in mountains above 3,500 feet; little change in tempera ture. ROBERT LEE 0PTDMETMST 309 EAST 8TH ST. O LAI. 9-6923 icecia'.ized study with' practice for preventative vis ual troubles make possible highly satis factory results with lenses and treatment. Special attention to children's eye problems. 1 E i Years of i 1 Us Mail Tribuna Want Ads
