Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1956)
i jj) 1 'I". Trains Again on Move, Highways Mostly R San Francisco U.R) A storm which gave the West Coast its second worst beating of the win ter tapered off today as rail lines resumed service and some blocked highways reopened. At least seven persons were killed in a three-day combina tion of howling winds, heavy rain and drifting snow which caused numerous flash floods in Washington, Oregon and Calif- orria. Railroads and highways were blocked by slides, whole commu nities were isolated and commu nication lines were ripped out in the three state area. . Situation Improving . TTnwever. the railroad and highway situation was improv ing in some areas. The Southern Pacific's main line from Portland to Oakland, which had been blocked by slides in the Cascade Mountains, was reoDened again at 3 a.m. (PST). Three SP trains carrying a total of 350 passeneers, the north and south bound Klamaths and the north bound Cascade, continued their runs 24 hour? late after being held up at small towns between Klamath Falls and Eugene. Ore. SP said the north and south bound Shasta Daylight trains, which were cancelled yesterday, resumed service this morning. The U. S. ' Weather Bureau cancelled storm warnings which had been in effect for 48 hours, but warned there would still be occasional rain and snow. It said, however, the huge storm center, "hanging" almost motionless off the Washington coast had spent its fury. N Death in Twer States The storm brought death to persons in both Washington and California."" ;, rs r--v; ' ' Two Pasco, Wash, construc tion workers, -Clifford A. Hack and his brother, Harold, both in their mid 30s, . were reported drowned when a flash flood trap ped them while they were work ing inside an irrigation pipeline. Ray Hammer, 37, an employee of the Chelan, Wash., street de partment, was drowned when his snow removal truck slipped off a dock into Lake Chelan. In California, Siskiyou county Wimer Area Storm Damages Roads, Lines A snowstorm in the Wimer- Evans creek area Monday night and early Tuesday resulted in 20 inches of new snow and heavy damage to county roads and Cali fornia Oregon Power company lines, Copco employees reported today. . Heavy loading of . trees and saturated ground resulted in numerous felled trees over roads and lines. ' County crews cleared the east bank road up Evans Creek by yesterday, they said, but the west bank was still partially blocked Copco crews expected to go up the route today, however. A previous heavy snowfall in the Rogue River area Sunday morning made Highway 99 dan gerous fox traffic, according to Mrs. Chris Marshall, Medford Mail Tribune carrier from Rogue River to Grants Pass. She said her normally two-hour route took four hours. Several families were reported snowbound near Wimer.-' Grants Pass Area Residents Count Heavy Flood Damage; Power Outages Numerous Grants Pass U.R) Local residents today counted heavy damage from a flash flood that sent the Rogue river out of its banks and inundated lowlands with surface water. Numerous power outages were reported in surrounding areas. Road Damage Heavy Road damage was reported heavy. Gov. Elmo Smith said in Salem he had been informed that damage in Josephine county from the rain might be three or four times greater than that of the December-January over flows. California Oregon Power com pany reported numerous out ages, with poles and lines knocked down by heavy snow in the nearby foothills. Repair crews have been working rjight and day. W. J. Moyer, manager of the local Copco office, called the trouble the worst in 15 or 20 eopen sheriff 's deputies searched the swollen Klamath river 40 miles northwest of Yreka for the bod ies of four persons, including two children, who drowned when their jeep skidded off an icy highway into the river. Communications Out The victims were identified as Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Linder man, their daughter, Paula Lee, 10, and their grandson, Robert Erwin, 18 months. All telephone and teletype communications between the Pa cific Northwest and San Francis co were cut by numerous rock slides which also severed most of the major and secondary high ways leading into the Eureka area. The only communications left was by radio. In Shasta county, east of Eu reka, the- wind velocity was clocked at 70 miles per hour before it blew the measuring apparatus away. . ' County Conditions Improve As Water Starts Receding Local flooding conditions in Jackson, county subsided late yesterday and last night, improv ing travel conditions, although some highways remained closed as did some schools. ,! Highway 99 north, was open after .being closed most' of yes terday because of high water, state police reported. They said there still was some surface water on the highway.- Highway, 238 at , the Jackson ville-Central Point highway in tersection- was closed today be- cause " water undermined the pavement, and the highway was closed just north of Applegate because of a slide. It was open about two hours yesterday after noon after a slide was cleared between Murphy and Provolt. A slide near Milo kept High way; 227 between Trail and Tiller closed today. Evacuated Families Seven families evacuated in the Rogue River area yesterday were reported returned to their homes today. Red Cross officials there said the area was return ing to normal, although Red Cross and civil defense workers were on a stand by basis. A numbe of travelers, strand ed in Gold Hill and Rogue River by blocked highways, were cared for by Red Cross last night, but were on their way today. The weather bureau here said Rogue river at Dodge bridge crested about 5 a.m. yesterday at 6.35 feet, about three feet below flood stage. The river at Grants Pass crested about 11 a.m. yesterday at 17.9 feet. Flood stage at Grants Pass is consid ered 17 feet. Continued , Showers The river continued receding today. Weather men said there will be continued shower activity to day and tonight, and probably some more storm activity about Friday. They pointed out that as long as the freezing level remains about,4,000 feet, as it is today, flood conditions along Rogue river will not change drastically. Since midnight Sunday, 3.37 inches of rain have fallen up to 10 a.m. today. ' , years. Grants Jfass itseii nan electrical service but "outages were general in the area north and west of the city and scat tered outages were reported to the south. . It was raining hard here again at mid-morning. The flood situation here and elsewhere in western Oregon was improved today. The Rogue river, which crested here at 17.19 feet yesterday had drop ped 8.7 feet by this morning. The weather bureau predicted that tributary streams in. west ern Oregon would fall during the next one to two days with the Willamette below Corvallis expected to rise. -Schools Remain Closed - Josephine county schools re mained closed today because of heavy road damage. Highway 99, closed yesterday by high water at Savage Rapids dam, was re Weather FORECAST: Considerable cloudiness with a few show ers in valleys and snow flur ries in mountains tonight and Thursday. Low tonight 30-32. High Thursday 43. Highest Yesterday 42 Lowest this Morning 35 Prec. to 10 a.m. Today 36 TOUGH GOING Ice breaker grinds its way through drift ice near the famous Lorelei Rock (right background) as the ice barrier threatens to block a bend of the Rhine River at Lorch, Germany. The deep freeze gripping Europe is showing no signs of thawing as it enters its 20th day. The death toll is mounting toward the 750 mark. Mayor Urges Early Improvement Of City's Storm Sewer System Medford Mayor Earl . Miller last night called for early im provement of the city's storm sewer system. ; Miller told the city council that flooded conditions in sev eral sections of the city due to heavy rains yesterday illustrat ed the immediate need for an extensive storm sewer improve ment' program; -s ..;- Capital Investment He said the program would probably require a capital in vestment and might best be car ried out in conjunction with a proposed arterial street pro gram. "". '. Mayor Miller reminded coun cilmen that the next meeting, March 6, would be Student Gov ernment Day, when Medford High school students would sit at the council table and act on matters of city government.' The council indicated that it wished to remain neutral, at least for the present, on the question of fluoridation of Med ford's water, supply when it voted down a motion . by Don Hansen, councilman from ward two, that a special meeting to place fluoridation on the bal lot should be called, if neces sary, before the deadline for the May 5 primary elections. Deadline Date Hansen's motion was made when City Attorney Frank Far rell told the council he was not certain whether the deadline for filing petitions for the primary election was 60 or 70 days be fore the election date. If it were 70 days the deadline" would be prior to the next regular coun cil meeting. - The council passed ordinanc es providing for -'"-two -zone changes following public hear ings. Two lots on the north side of West Main st. at Sixth st. were changed 1 from . multiple family to commercial zone. Lots 1 to 5 and 20 to 24 in block one, Laurelhurst addition, -' and an area north of Stevens st., and east of Crater 'Lake ave. was opened, Grants Pass counted 4.3 inches of rain in one 24-hour period. Some 50 famines were evacuated in one area &lone south of the city as the water -did not run off fast enough. There was dam age to the business district be cause of drainage problems. Some business houses had water on their floors. ....... Families Evacuated Some families in the Rogue River-Gold Hill area also were evacuated. The weather bure'au said there would be some relief from heavy rains through tomorrow, but an other disturbance, may arrive Friday. ; . '. Mountain passes got heavy snow. A snowslide on Santiam pass swept a bus over an em bankment early yesterday but the driver, Wayne Coker of Bend, and a lone passenger, escaped injury. Medford .JTribune United Press Full Leased WirV ftsC ,- " '"' United Press Full Leased Wire $J 50th Year 18 Pages MFr . Mew Hok v ney Seem ''" ' ' changed from single ' family to commercial zone. . .. The council adopted a motion setting April 15 as the deadline for 1956 paving petitions to be presented to the council. Construction Contract The contract for construction of; the East Side Fire station was awarded to Myron Corcor an -Construqtion,company which submitted the low bid . of $20, 990. City Manager Robert Duff was authorized to issue a work order for construction of a car port and 'paving of driveways at the station.. A connection charge of $150 Road Conditions s Highway 99, Siskiyous , chains required; 6 inches new snow. Highway 99. north Open to all traffic, some surface water on highway. Highway 62, Prospect ' Chains required; 6 inches new snow; highway closed at Union Creek because of snow. Highway 238 Closed at Bybee corner (Jacksonville Central Point intersection); closed north of Applegate be cause of slide. Highway 227 Tiller-Trail highway, closed by slide near Milo. ' ' Smith in Close Touch With Flood Condition Salem U.R) Gov. Elmo Smith was keeping in close touch with state police and state civil defense officials- today to extend any help possible to flood areas in the state, especially in Jose phine and Jackson comities in southern Oregon." - , - Reports received by Gov. Smith indicated that damage from the torrential rains in Jose phine county might be three or four .times greater than that of the December - January . over flows. . . "We expect to have estimates from official sources of damages to roads, highways, bridges, and other public works by Thursday afternoon or Friday," the gover nor said. "We can determine from these estimates whether it will be necessary to ask again for federal flood aid. All state assistance possible will be ex tended to relieve the suffering and losses of the flood victims." Flood Control Meeting Postponed; High Water . , The first board- of directors' meeting of an organization fighting for flood control in the Rogue basin was cancelled last night because floods in Jackson and Josephine counties made roads impassable. Directors of the Rogue Basin Flood Control and Water Re sources association were sched uled, to meet in Grants Pass. The meeting has been postponed until 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24. It will be held in the Josephine county courthouse at Grants J Pass. in lieu of assessment for sani tary sewers was. approved. Duff pomted out that where addi tional sewer connections ' are made to sewer lines already in stalled and paid for by assess ment there should be a charge to compensate for the initial cost of installation. Funds from the charge will be paid into the ftgeneral ,f TOd, -vThe council adopted ordin ances calling for assessment of the Valley View-Capital ave sanitary sewer system on a basis of 2.6 cents per square foot and for assessment of the Eastwood sewer system on a per lot basis. In both cases, the council ex pressed belief that the method was the most equitable for the area. Approve Exchange An exchange of 80 acres of logged over land .owned by the Water commission outside the Medford watershed for 80 acres of logged over land within the watershed owned, by Medford corporation was approved. The exchange was in keeping with water commission policy of ob taining ownership of lands with in the watershed. The council approved airport leases to Civil Aeronautics - ad ministration for construction of a high frequency communica tions antenna south of the ad ministration building, and to Medford Air Service for loading and operation of crop dusting planes. An amendment to the plumb ing ordinance was passed setting xne Term ror xne ooara or ex aminers to be one year. No term was specified in the former ordinance. ; The council accepted two planning commission recom mendations for' zone changes of a partial lot on Boardman st., from commercial to light in dustrial; and Christian Science church property in Siskiyou Heights addition from single family to multiple family. Informal Posse Takes Large Raccoon From Roof of Mail Tribune A large, healthy raccoon was captured by an informal posse of Mail Tribune and Holland hotel personnel this morning. He was finally trapped after a ' chase over rooftops, up and down stairs, and through parking lots. Where be came from no body knows. - - He appeared on the roof of the building between the - newspaper and the hotel at mid-morning. It look almost an hour to. corner the beast, which" a newsroom authority said was a remarkably big one. Somehow, possibly in a trap, he had lost his right front paw, which didn't seem ' to slow him down much. - He will be held for a rime on the chance that he might belong to someone, but will be .disposed of if not claimed by a call to the Mail Tribune business office. Pet or no pet, he was a rough customer, according io the ' amateur jposMiaan jDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1 956 Governor Advised McKay Considering Reopening Study Basin People Should Reach Understanding Washington (U.R) Secretary of Interior Douglas McKay ad vised Gov. Elmo Smith of Ore gon today that he is considering reopening a study of water re source development plans in the Rogue River 'basin. McKay said that he would like the people' of the basin to reach some understanding, . though, that would eliminate past fric tion, in connection with basin plans for water control and utili zation. The letter to Gov. Smith was in reply to a letter from the late Gov. Paul Patterson, suggesting that in , light . of the winter's floods in the basin, plans which had previously been studied, hy the ; Department of Interior might be revised. ' Three Separate Studies Three, separate agencies have undertaken studies of the-Basin including the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclama tion, and the - National ' Park Service. None of the reports from these agencies has been under official consideration by the department, however. The Rogue, a nationally fa mous sport fishing' stream, over flowed its banks again this win ter, causing considerable dam age. Objections have been voiced to any move to build a dam on the mam stream of the river, which might hinder , the ' fish runs. Due to the heavy property damage resulting from this win ter's . floods, though, several groups nave asKea lor the re- study. ' ..." Comprehensive Review McKay said "We should have a comprehensive review of the basin which considers all the varied interests involved , and this can only be done when all studies now. in progress are completed. . He said "The objective of this review, -r participated in and weighed also by state and local people, must be the best possible utilization of all the natural re sources and all the proper weighing of all the, .varied inter ests represented by the Rogue River basin." Said McKay's letter Smith, in part: . , ' i . "While I am , informed that some interests who previously opposed construction of multi purpose reservoirs have now modified their oppoition to the extent of requesting that an other survey be made for the specific purpose of: formulating plans for flood control, I am not yet of the opinin that this repre sents the combined thinking and understanding of the groups that previously opposed the carrying out of development plans. "... As the first step in this review I would suggest that the Rogue river people themselves arrive at a mutual understand ing which will eliminate past frictions. You may be assured that all interior's agencies will co-operate"' to the fullest extent in every way possible." Seven Have Announced They Will Seek County Offices Only seven persons have . an nounced ' their candidacies for county "offices, .with 16 days re maining before' the March 9 fil ing deadline. Twenty-eight have filed for precinct committeemen. The Oregon primary election is May 18. , Mrs. Anna Scott, Jacksonville, today announced that she will be a candidate for treasurer on the Republican ticket. The in cumbent is Karl Janouch, Demo crat, who also is seeking elec tion. . - , - , , Reelection Candidate Rawles Moore, present district court judge, ' stated last week that he will be a candidate for reelection to the non-partisan of fice. Republican Melvin Lattie, valley orchardist, filed for the position of county commissioner now .held by L. G. (Shy) Mortb- Price 5c Pf-,p-in $S!SSfsr - MRS. ANNA SCOTT Treasurer Candidate Mrs. Scott Seeks GOP Nomination as County Treasurer Mrs. Anna Scott, Jacksonville, today announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Jackson county treasurer. She said she will file for the of fice within a few days. A resident of Jackson county since 1935, she came here from Hood River, Ore. She and her husband, W. A. Scott, own and operate a cattle ranch on the Little Applegate. , Mrs. Scott has been active in Republican party affairs and organizations, and belongs to the Upper Applegate and Pomona Granges, and the American Le gion .'iuxiliary. 'Candidate in 1954 She was a candidate for the Republican nominatio n. f or county clerk in 1954, ' and was defeated by Mrs. Bereth Hop kins in a three-way primary election race. Mrs. Scott said she has been urged to seek the ' office by frienas and supporters. . A native Oregonian, she at tended schools at Gresham, took business college training ' in Portlard, ' and was a law sec retary, there. For 12 years in Hood River she managed an ab stract arid investment firm, later holding several county jobs. Sne said she pledges effic iency and economy in the trea surer's office if elected. Senate Votes Probe Of Illegal Influence ; Washington (U.R) The Sen ate voted overwhelmingly today for a sweeping investigation of illegal efforts to influence any senator, Senate candidate or gov ernment employee. It adopted a resolution, backed by leaders of both parties, to set up a special bi-partisan commit tee of four Democrats and four Republicans to conduct an , all- out inquiry into lobbying, cam paign contributions and "other activities" designed to influence government actions for private interests. The roll call vote was 79 to 1 in favor of the resolution. The lone dissenting vote was cast by Sen. William Langer (R-N.D.). Langer- said he was opposed because standing committees of the Senate could handle the mat ter. . Washington U.R) The na tion s railroads have agreed to postpone until March 7 a pro posed ; $500,000,000 a year freight rate increase. land. Morthland, a Republican, has declared his intention to file again. The only candidate to file .so far for the office of district attor ney, now held by Walter Nunley, is Thomas Reeder," Medford at torney, a Democrat. Nunley is a Republican.. First Candidate v First candidate to announce was Ray Schumacher, Democrat, whd will run for county asses sor. Incumbent Robert G. Fow ler has stated that he will not be a candidate. No filings have been an nounced for the positions of county superintendent of schools, presently held by Alf Mekvold; surveyor, held by Paul Rynning; or Ashland justice of peace, held by Nellie W. Burns. Commitment Said : To Follow Physical Test on Vacation Close Associates Disclose Desires Thomasville, Ga. (U.R) A White House spokesman to day flatly denied that Sher man Adams, the assistant io President - Eisenhower, had "passed the word"' that the chief executive would run for reelection. Washington (U.R) Presi dent Eisenhower has informed close associates here that he wants a second term. The United Press was ' in formed that he qualified his statement only to this extent: He would not commit himself pub licly until after making a per sonal test of his physical pow- . ers during a vigorous shooting and golfing vacation at Thomas ville, Ga. - Mr. Eisenhower will return from Thomasville Saturday. He played .18 holes of golf there today. His game was markedly stronger. Republican leaders are confident now that he will an nounce after his return that he is available if the party desires to nominate him again. The Detroit News reported to day in a Washington dispatch' by Martin S. Hayden that Sher man Adams and Leonard W. Hall had informed top Republicans that Mr. Eisenhower would run.' There "were no ifs or ands or buts about it," Hayden wrote. Doctors Report Adams is Mr. Eisenhower's chief White House assistant. Hall is. chairman of the Republican National committee. Hall has in sisted on his own for many weeks that Mr. Eisenhower would be a second term candi date. - - Doubt that .the.; President would run had been shrinking' for nearly a fortnight since a medical examination here after which Dr. Paul Dudley White made an unforeseen estimate of Mrr Eisenhower's physical condi- . tion. White said Mr. Eisenhower' reasonably could expect 5 to 10 years of active life, the kind of activity to which a President might expect to be subjected. : "Dr. White practically put him in nomination for a second term," a White House aide re marked thereafter. It was before that medical examination that Mr. Eisenhower became definite in his confidential talks with his associates about wanting another term, despite the heart attack which he suffered on Sept. 24, during a Colorado vacation. He may not have put it to each in identical words. But 'liis posi tion added up to this: He was generally unimpressed by the likely Democratic opposi- "; tion a Republican nominee might expect this year, but, appalled by the thought that some of , those mentioned might reach the White House. , He would like more time to carry out the pro grams to which he feels he is committed and would be glad to take on another four presi- dential years if his health war ranted it. 1 Mr. Eisenhower added that he would trust his own judgment as much or more than that of physicians in determining whether he would be fit to run. He has said that publicly, too. The President decided that a fair test would De a moderately stren uous vacation at the Georgia plantation of Treasury Secretary George M. Humphrey. The re turns on that test of stamina have been good. Announcement Expected The President has not author ized anyone here to reveal his plans. Therefore, Hall's response to inquiries about Hayden's story in the Detroit News was what would be expected under the circumstances. Hall told $ questioners the story was news to him. He said he did not know "one way or the other" about Mr. Eisenhower's plans. Adams was not available to reporters. . The . manner of Mr. Eisen hower's announcement remains to be revealed. Barring the un expected in Georgia, another heart attack, for example, or excess fatigue, his announce ment would be likely Feb. 29 at a regular news conference. The President could announce his candidacy or he merely could say that he felt physically able to run again if the party desired to nominate him. It would mean the same thing. j A Chicago American story said Mr. Eisenhower made his decision to seek a second term after- he arrived at Humphrey's Georgia estate Feb. 15. It said Humphrey and White House Press Secretary James C. Hager ty were "in on the conversa tion" in Georgia when Mr. Eisen hower disclosed his intentions. --" . 5.
