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.