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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1956)
Sunday, January 29. 1958 Improvements Worth $222,000 Planned For CyriscipaS Airport TWZLVE MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE O Seek Federal Funds; Bedford's Share Ds Listed As $79,266 Passenger traffic at Medford Municipal airport Oregon's lecond busiest airport last year totaled 80,920, an increase of more than 20 per cent over 1954, according to figures released last week. Because of increased passenger, freight and air mail traffic at the airport in recent years, improvements have continued to enlarge facilities and provide additional safety features for the ftrport which serves southern Oregon and northern California. Although far-sighted Medford citizens provided all the funds for the purchase of the present airport site and construction of buildings, in more recent years the federal government has borne a large share of the cost of improvements. - In November 1955, a request was submitted to the CAA by the city for permission to undertake 5222,000 worth of airport im provements. Of this amount the city would pay 579,266 and the remainder would be provided by the federal government. High Intensity Lighting System The single biggest item in the proposed development is in stallation of a $100,000 high in tensity lighting system. Other projects to be complet ed over a three-year period in clude complete resurfacing of the main runway; resurfacing the east end of the cross run way; acquiring land for a clear zone; resurfacing and sealing taxiways, construction of an ap proach road, landscaping, and paving parking areas. Another proposed project in cludes zoning land extending for some distance from both ends of the main runway to eliminate landing hazards. The clear zone would regulate the height of buildings or other structures permitting further from the end of the runwSy. A joint county city airport zoning board was appointed last year to study the zoning problem. Approre Bend Issue Voters in 1929 approved a $120,000 bond issue for the pur chase of land and construction of new airport facilities. A run way 100 feet wide and 3,300 feet long was built. A combination hangar building, officers and pi lots' quarters was constructed at a cost of $33,918. In 1930-31, the main-mnway was lengthened 700 feet. In 1931 to 34 the original cross runway 100' feet wide by 2,700 feet long was constructed as a public works authority project. This was the first instance of government aid in financing. The U. S. paid $22,689 of the cost and the city paid $899. From 1940 to 1942 the city in conjunction with the National Defense Airport program, pur chased additional land, widened and lengthened the main run way to 5,400 feet, installed a ra dio station and a new lighting system. Army Maintains Facilities The airport was taken over Dy tne army in 1942 and main tained by them until April, 1947. During that time it is estimated that the army spent $2,000,000 to construct a control tower, barracks, shops, fire station, and other buildings. The air force maintained a refueling station at the airport until 1954. In 1941 West Coast and South west Airlines began a regular schedule of flights from the air port. Land to satisfy requirements ior an instrument landing sys tem was purchased in 1951 at a cost of $62,427.75. Of this amount the federal government paid 534,933.82. The system, con structed by CAA was put into operation last year and has ma terially increased the number of planes stopping at the airport during the winter months. On June 7, 1953, an air show commemorated the dedication of the new airport terminal building A bond issue for 5250,' 000 was voted in October 1951 to provide the city's share of the new terminal cost. Termina? Building The building includes a large waiting room, ticket offices, res- taurant, and operations offices on the first floof; airport man ager and CAA offices, second floor; CAA equipment room, third floor; and, fourth floor. CAA control tower. Cost of con struction, including the purchase of th- old United Airlines build ing was 5174,405.14. The federal government paid $97,096. The airport has shown a sub stantial profit for the past three years although before that it op erated at a small loss during some years. An maication of its recent growth may be seen in the num ber of passengers on and off planes. In 1953 there were 62 450; in 1954, 67,136 and in 1955 80,920, an increase of slightly more than 20 per cent in the past year. Air Freight, Air Mail In addition to passengers, 615,' ozz pounas ot air ireight was handled at the airport and 276 426 pounds of airmail. Air traf fic totaled 53,937 landings and .take-offs. The airport with its modeVn terminal building and a main runway 300 feet wide and more than a mile long presents a sharp contrast to the municipal airport 30 years ago. The airport was then located at the fair grounds and was known as Bar ber field. It had one small hang ar, a gravel runway 50 feet wide and 1,800 feet long, and an office building used by Pacific Air Transport, now United Air lines. Today, passengers can choose between 12 flights daily six north and six south scheduled by three commercial air lines, or the services of two local flight companies. An instrument landing service, installed in 1954 permits landing of planes when the cloud ceiling is as low as 400 feet. Other Facilities Passengers alighting at the air port may obtain rental cars from two different companies or, by taxi service, arrive in the heart of Medford within six min utes. ' Revenue from the airport during the calendar year 1955 was 536,804, an increase of $3, 464.35 over 1954. Projected rev enue for the fiscal year 1955 56, however , is $46,870, an in- 56, however, is $46,870, an in- Airport revenue " is derived from building and land rentals, landing fees, concessions and plane tie-downs. Airport Operations About 85 personnel are ; em ployed at the airport by a total of 19 operations. Located at the airport are the offices of the El ectronic district supervisor of southern Oregon and northern California; Air Safety district; U. S. Weather Bureau; Civil Aer onautics association; Civil Air Patrol; Mercy Flights,. Inc.; Med ford Air Service; Rogue Flying Service; Talk of the Town res taurant; the Fruit Grower's League labor barracks; Hertz U-Drive service, and Avis U Drive. Two agricultural leases are given by the airport and six hangar leases. A storage ware house is rented. Ticket offices of the three commercial flight companies, United Airlines, Southwest Air ways and West Coast Airways, are located on the main floor of the terminal building. About 900 landings and take-offs are made each month by the commercial plants. Mercy Flights Mercy Flights, Inc., under the direction of George Milligan, maintains two twin-engined 'am bulance planes at the airport. The non-profit corporation pro vides air-ambulance service for southern Oregon and northern California. The U. S. Weather bureau of fice is located adjacent to ' the terminal building and provides detailed weather information to pilots as well as for the general public. The weather bureau ad vises pilots about air currents and cloud heights as well as ex pected and existing weather conditions. Ralph E. Pierce has been man ager of the airport since July 1, 19o2. Pierce receives a volun tary salary of $1 per year for his services. He is also vice-pres ident of the Rogue Valley State bank. Plans For Annua! Hereford Sale Made Plans for the Cal-Ore Here ford Breeders sale March 14 were made Friday at a meeting of the sale advertising commit tee. Attending were E. N. Lip- pert, Williams; R. H. Field, Central Point; Chloe Small, Phoenix; John Bohnert, sale committee chairman; and J. W Bigham, president of the Cal- Ore Hereford Breeders associa tion. Some 50 purebred bulls and heifers from Jackson and Jose phine counties are expected to be sold. For the third year, the association will award a here- ford to a 4-H club member. Judging of animals will be March 14 at 1 p.m. at the fair grounds. The sale will begin at 12 p.m. the following day with Ellis White, Ontario, as auction eer. S i - ' ' ' ' ' -j BARBER FIELD From 1925 to 1929 Med ford Municipal airport was located at the fair grounds and was known as Barber Field. It had a gravel rimway 50 feet wide and 1,800 feet long, a small hanger and an office build AIRPORT HANGAR BUILDING A com bination hangar and administration building was constructed at the present airport site in 1929. The building, above, was 100 to 150 feet and contained, in addition to the hangars and office,, pilots quarters where men flying be- AIR TERMINAL BUILDING This modern, multiple purpose air terminal building was constructed at Medford Airport in 1953. Of wood, stucco and concrete, the building con tains ticket offices for three commercial air Sheriff's Posse For Annual Rodeo Manager Jackson County Mounted Sheriff's possemen signed a con tract Friday afternoon with Max Barbour, well-known rodeo pro ducer, to furnish the stock and manage the show for the 14th annual Rogue River roundup, tentatively set for August 10, 11 and 12. Barbour, who previously has staged annual professional ro deos for, the possemen, is na- Eisenhower Petitions In Circulation Here ' Petitions to place President Eisenhower in the Oregon pri mary are feeing circulated in Jackson county, according to an announcement by Paul Ker rigan, chairman of the Eisen hower for President committee. Fred E. Robinson, Medford, is directing the circulation, as sisted by A. A. Lausmann, Ray mond R. Reter, Reese M. Alexan der, Robert R. Dickey, Frank J. Van Dyke, and Dick House. P. H. Stransbury is in charge of circulation in Ashland. Kerrigan said, "We recognize that the final decision on a sec ond term must be the president's alone, but we feel that the peti tion is the best way for Oregon ians to show their faith- in him." He added that the petition is in active circulation in 13 coun ties. Interested persons may ob tain copies from Robinson or from the committee's headquart ers at Reed college, Portland. 4-H Club Butte Falls 4-H Club Nineteen Butte Falls boys met Wednesday, Jan. 25, to organize a 4-H woodworking and leather craft club. Officers elected were: presi dent, Warren Ellis; vice-president, David Jenkins; secretary, roger Ellefson; , news reporter, Herman Bryant; and song leader, Raymond Abbott. The club, leader is Bob Cup pies, with Mrs. W. B. Edmondson as assistant leader. ' The club ': will meet every Wednesday at 3:30 pjn.-at the high school shop. Contracts tionally and internationally known. This year his circuit will include in addition to Medford, shows at Petaluma, Salinas, and Sonora, Calif., Pendleton, Myrtle Point and Redmond, Ore., Lew iston and Nampa, Ida., and nu merous other cities. Representatives of the Ladies Mounted troop., posse, auxiliary, also were at the Friday meeting. Amateur events with purses fur nished by the posse were plan ned. The posse will again spon sor the kid's calf roping event and Junior posse members will participate in events. ' Ward Will Direct Leonard Ward, as captain of the posse, will direct the show plans; general chairman in charge of the grounds will be Frank Christian; Tony Boitano will be parade chairman; Jim Henry, past captain, will be in charge of headquarters and Glenn Martin will conduct ac tivities for the queen and at tendants. Homer Chamberlain will be in charge of posse stock and barns; and Harold Hulse, secre tary, will head the finance 'and publicity committees. Homer Marx, Mrs. Clarence Dodge and Mrs. O. D. Martin will direct Junior posse activi ties. The recent meeting was held in the banquet room at Valen tine's cafe and Ward, as captain, presided. Woman Injured In Crash Near Hornbrook Hornbrook Viola Brown, Na tional City, Calif., was taken to Siskiyou general hospital, Yreka, Friday for treatment of injuries suffered in a two-car accident near the California state quar antine station on Highway 99. She was a passenger in a car operated by Bert John Sim onson, Stanwood, Wash., which collided with a pickup driven by Russell Thomas Blower, 32, Grants Pass. Blower was cited for driving on the wrong side. Both vehicles were reported bady damaged." About 800,000 American's eacr year die from some form of heart disease. ing, shown above, occupied by Pacific Air Transport, now known as United Air Lines. In 1929 the airport was moved to its present site. tween Portland and California points could spend the night. Total cost of the then "new" airport was $124,212.08, including purchase of land and construction of the building shown above. lines, a restaurant, waiting room, CAA con trol tower and offices. The U. S. Weather Bureau office is -directly behind the control tower. Private hangars and workshops may be seen at the extreme right. Tax Clinic at UO Slated Tomorrow A state-wide . tax' clinic to study the Oregon tax situation will be held tomorrow in Eu gene at the University of Ore gon Erb Memorial building. Among persons attending from this area will be Alf Mekvold, county school ' superintendent, who will represent the county rural school board, of which he is secretary; John Niedermeyer, president of the Jackson county rural school boards association; and Mrs. M. O. Grove of the rural school board. Speakers will be university faculty members, the state tax commission, interim tax, study committee, bureau of municipal research, school board associa tion, state department of educa tion, and the Oregon education association. CP Merchants Group Appoints Committees Central Point r Central Point Merchants association have vot ed yearly dues of $5. A member ship committee, with Steve Bart lett and Dick Stratton as co chairmen, was named to contact all local merchants. Two other committees ap appointed were for city-wide pro motion and for investigation of possibility of erecting signs on Pine street to off-street parking areas. Get Marvelous KlfJG-OF-ALL To Clean Your Septic Tanks and Cesspools And to Keep Them Clean We guarantee satisfaction or your money back. Get King-Of-AII today at your local Feed & Seed, Hardware, Plumber or Bfdg. Supply Store. ' Jan. 31 Election Scheduled by T For New Officers Elections to fill vacancies on the board of directors of the Medford YMCA will be conduct ed at the annual meeting of the association to be held Jan. 31 in the YMCA social hall. : A potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m. will precede the meeting. Sopho more Tri-Hi-Y girls will act as serving hostesses during the din ner and background music will be furnished by John Lusk. Members will also hear re ports on the year's activities, and discuss proposed program for the coming year. Volunteer leaders will be recognized for their service to the association Bob Dames will act as master of ceremonies. A special program for the chil dren will be held following the" dinner. ' Names submitted by the nomi nating committee for board posi tions include Roy Gilbertson, Ron Gandee, Dr. William Rob erts, D. F. Huson, Robert Boyer, Mrs. Roy Wilkes, Alan Pierce, Carl Brophy, Bob Dames, D. Ford McCormick, S. V. (Duke) McQueen, Alex McDonald, and Mrs. John Mansfield. Gandee, Roberts, Huson, Brophy, Dames, McCormick and McQueen are in cumbents. Sitters Will Donate Part of Income to MOD ' Members of the Baby Sitters club here have offered to contrib ute a portion of their earnings to the March of Dimes during the next few days, according to MOD headquarters here. The evenings of Sunday, Mon day and Tuesday, sitters of the club will donate the proceeds of their first four hours of work to the anti-polio fund drive. Ar rangements may be made by tele phoning 2-8904. WEATHER , By United Press Northern ' California: Mostly fair Sunday but increasing cloud iness north portion Sunday; little change in temperature; coastal wind variable 7-15 MPH. PICTURE TUBES REJUVENATED Is your picture tube dull and weak? Most picture tubes can be restored to original brightness at only fraction of the cost of replacement. For further information CALL ' Electronic Service 18 N. GRAPE PH. 3-1971 P3oin(u(D0IG51 High School By NELLIE RAWLINS The end of the first semester was marked by a well-earned day of -rest. No classes were held Friday, . but students re ported at one o'clock 'for their report cards. ' ' The winner of the portable p h o n ograph from Swem's Record Shop was J a r e d Black. He came within one bean of guessing ; the exact number of beans in the Sophomore Bean Jar. Pro ceeds, went, to the March of Dimes. . National Schools Assemblies presented an outstanding pro gram in the auditorium Thurs day, Jan. 26. The. "Harmonairs," ' Barbara Pearson and Lawrence Smith of radio, stage, concert "and tele vision played' and sang a series of songs, varying from novelty selections . to Negro spirituals, j - A beauticians' ' scholarship is j being offered to. any senior girl j interested in that line of work..i This offers a great opportunity for someone planning on beauty as a career. Bob Stedman's room has temp orarily been evacuated, while it is undergoing a change. This room is being repainted and completely redecorated. ... " Polio' Tags were sold all this week, in connection with the March of Dimes. , " The advanced typing and SONOTONE All-Transistor HEARING AID WHAT IS IT? pi i In simple terms " the Sonotone transistor Hearing Aid is a very small perfectly engineered in strument. It is most economical to operate and easy to wear. The only thing that your friends could possibly notice about it is the marvelous change in your hearing and. your ? entire personality. C. 839 East 18 Years with Sonotone neip me, iuo MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE News Notes stenography classes held a "Typ ing Track Meet" last week. The different events were represent ed by some difficult typing, and then the papers were scored oh the basis of the correct number of words typed. The results will be tallied and the winners will be announced next week. The idea of this contest was to give girls speed and accuracy in their typing. ., Talent scouts are on the prowl agam, as talent for the Kiwanis Kapers show is being brought in. A talent party will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 3 in "the high school band room. The "Big Holiday" will be presented later on, and will fea ture small groups, solos,.' and various .types of entertainment. , Water from melting glaciers irrigates rice paddies in Nepal. Farmers stir the mud with wood en plows but leave the sowing and reaping to their wives. Be Choosy Buy Jacuzzi Vs H.P. Deep Well Pump $03o V3 H.P. Shal low Well Pump $9650 WE GIVE S&H GREEN STAMPS SISKIYOU HARDWARE 225 West Main Medford's Oldest Hearing Aid . Institution R. ADAMSON DISTRICT; MANAGER Jackson Phone 2-5904 1 f r' t ' s : L n 1 LsL. .J M m m m