Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1956)
TWELVE MEDTOBD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE Sunday. October 14. 1958 Pay-For-Dtseif Parking Program Proposed ' 4 Uff-Street Facilities Will Be on Ballot at November 6 Election (Editor's not: This ii another in a series of articles de scribing in four ugminli of the capital improremeni pro gram on which voters of Madford will pass at the Nor. S election. Today's article discusses the off-street parking program. Subsequent articles will discuss the storm sewer and sanitary sawer proposals, and the methods of financing the separate parts of the improvement program.) By EARL H. ADAMS Mail Tribune City Editor The four-part $2,871,000 capital improvement program, on which Medford voters will decide Nov. 6, includes a $721,000 "pay-for-itself" program to buy and develop off-street parking in the downtown area. It is proposed to tie in with the $1,656,000 arterial street pro gram because the latter, over the proposed 10-year period, would reduce the number of available on-street parking spaces. There also is an annual decrease in the number of spaces available due to other factors. Downtown businessmen and professional people, and the Retail Merchants committee of the Jackson County Chamber of Com merce have urged development of off-street parking for several years, and a number of surveys of parking problems have been made in Medford by private traffic authorities. The proposal, like other items in the overall program, is a separate ballot measure. Financing Proposed Through Bond Issues Financing the proposed 10 year program for off-street park ing would be started by general obligation and revenue bonds. Both would be self-liquidating. The city would issue not more than $300,000 in general obliga tion bonds, to be repaid over a 10-year period by three methods. They are: 1. Assessments against down town property benefited would pay one-third of the cost of each improvement. Assessments would be payed over a 10-year period in semi-annual payments. 2. Additional revenue from a proposed Increase in parking meter rates. 3. The revenue from the new off-street parking lots. Mater Increases City officials estimated that the increased rate on existing parking meters in the "core area," which includes 254 spaces, would bring in an additional $18,114 annually. The proposed increase is from 5 cents per hour to 5 cents per 30 minutes. Another estimated S8.210 would come from an additional hour of parking meter operation, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., rather than until 5 p.m. The total addi tional revenue from meters is estimated at $26,324, annually, or about 25 per cent of the total revenues from on-street parking after adjustments in meter rates and operation J To purchase and develop the first two off-street parking lots, totaling 160 spaces, the city esti mates it would cost about $300, 000 next year. As the need for additional facilities arises, the city could issue revenue bonds up to $200, 000 to buy and develop more parking lots. The general obligation bonds would mature over a period of up to 20 years, with an interest rale of not more than 4 per cent. The revenue bonds would ma ture and bear interest as the city council would determine, sub ject to legal limitations. The ballot title for off-street parking proposal reads: "Purpose: Amend Medford eity charter to authorise city to provide motor vehicle off- street parking facilities: assess one-third cost thereof to prop erty benefited: issue not ex ceeding $300,000.00 general obligation bonds and not ex ceeding $200,000.00 revenue bonds for said purposes; pledge certain revenues for bond pay ment and wther purposes hereof; creating eity parking commission." SALE of choice CAMELLIAS Heavily budded, Oregon grown, 18" to 36" high well shaped All choice named varieties from 98' 349 (were $2.00 to $7.50) PROSTRATE JUNIPERS 3 - I00 ELVVOOD CYPRESS 3 ...I25 SEEDLING RHODOS. ' I00 fc each Garden Center Nursery (formerly New-hall's) ml. So. of Phoenix Hwv. 99 Phone Medford 2-7601 The charter amendment would establish a "parking facilities bond sinking fund," into which would be paid enough money from assessments and parking meters to pay off bond inde-'.ed-ness and interest. An "off-street parking facility fund" also would be created. The fund would include all in come above the amount needed to pay bonds and interest. This money could be used only to ac quire, construct, or equip addi tional off-street parking sites. Transfers from this fund into the bond fund could be made only by the council. The city parking commission proposed would consist of five members, all property owners in Medford. They would be ap pointed by the mayor with the consent of the council. The first commission would be appointed to take office Jan. 1, 195", and the first members' terms would expire in one, two, three, four and five years. Advisory in Nature The commission would be advisory in nature. It would make recommendations to the council concerning location, acquisition, improvement, oper ation and regulation of facilities, and the location and extent of districts to be served in the off street parking program. City officials anticipate an an nual 5 per cent decrease in the number of available on-street parking spaces over the next 10 years. There is now a shortage of some 108 spaces in the down town business district, they said. Of this total, 55 spaces east of the railroad tracks are in con flict with state statutes and are recommended for removal as soon as possible. The total was determined by estimating, that to serve the pub lic there should always be at least two vacant spaces in each block, one on each side of the street. This standard resulted from a space survey last winter, when downtown locations were checked at various times during different days of the week, ac cording to City Manager Robert Duff and Public Works Director Vern Thorpe. 196E Deficiency Duff anticipated that by 1966 there will be a shortage of 464 spaces in. the central business district, unless the program is adopted. The arterial street program would also have an effect on the total number of available spaces. If it is approved, about 36 spaces will be removed by 1959 along Central ave. between Sixth and Eighth sts., and 32 spaces will be removed from Riverside ave. between Sixth and Eighth sts. by 1959. The number of needed spaces will be increased by 1961 when 81 more spaces are removed from Central ave. between ' Fourth and Sixth sts., and along Riverside ave. between Eighth and 10th sts. under the arterial street program. Duff pointed out that if park ing spaces are removed from downtown streets to make way for an arterial street system so that more motorists will be in the downtown area, facilities must be provided to handle the added number in off-street park ing. Locations for lots under the proposed program have not been announced to avoid the possi- Right This Way TO- FOOD SAVINGS Shop Today! rjl -f VA . J " ' v',)! . "rf ; l. j-?h, JxZ?2& TRAFFIC CONGESTION traffic congestion in the downtown Medford area is lack of sufficient parking spaces. Mo torists, who wish to park in the city's "core area." circle the block waiting for a vacant parking space, or stop while another vehicle Neuberger Explains Reasons for Urging Committee Hearing Portland Senator Richard L. Neuberger has issued a state ment explaining his reasons for urging a senate interior com mittee hearing at Klamath Falls, which resulted in protests from two Republican senators. The Klamath Falls hearing, pertaining to problems in end ing federal control over the Klamath Indians, is scheduled for Oct. 18. A hearing in Med ford, on Rogue river flood con trol, is scheduled for Oct. 19. Urges KF Hearing Neuberger said he urged the Klamath Falls hearing "because I am genuinely concerned over the future of the Klamath tribe members and over disposal of natural resources which right fully belong to them. Termina tion proceedings now hang over the head of the Klamath tribe. as a result of hasty legislation passed by the Republican 83rd Congress." said Neuberger. "Many Oregon people, includ ing numerous prominent church leaders, have expressed feat that the vast stand of ponderosa pine timber owned by the In dians may be put on the auction block with the result that the Klamath watershed may become a stump farm. Many conserva savionists and newspaper editor ials have agreed that the present termination act must be revised. "Thus, it is obvious that new legislation is needed so that the termination can be slowed while improved procedures can be de veloped otherwise calamity could overtake both the Indians and the economy of Klamath county." Neuberger added the .state ment that "even the so-called bility of real estate speculation. In a pamphlet published "in the interest of continued eco nomic growth for the city of Medford." businessmen and pro fessional people and the Retail Merchants , committee of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce point out that during the past three years Medford lost more than 270 off-street parking spaces for general use because the lots became more valuable as building sites. They said, for this reason, private enterprise cannot guar antee permanency of off-street parking space. The pamphlet also reports that traffic volumes are up more than 18 per cent since 1951, and that the esti mated traffic volume will almost double in the next 14 years in Medford. The pamphlet states that in the United States. 67 per cent of the communities with popu lations over 10.000 have taken progressive action in the form of city owned off-street park ing." The groups noted that Med ford "must have sensible arterial streets to take care of increased traffic flow and there must be space to park once that traffic reaches its destination." OK MARKET 1202 North RKrentse OPEN EVERY NIGHT TIL MIDNIGHT r A TTflft M iilHiiM till II Mmi ill I One cause for is preparing management specialists named by Douglas McKay, former sec retary of the interior, are sug gesting that the government ac quire the Indian timber for in clusion in the federal sustained yield program." McKay, a Republican, is now running against Wayne Morse for the senate. Efforts by McKay supporters to "inject partisan politics" in to discussion of the termination problem, he said, "is a singular ly cynical answer to the urg ings of church, conservation and other civic minded leaders for immediate action." Sen. Eugene D. Millikin (R Colo.) and Sen. Barry Gold water (R-Ariz.) last week wir I Sen. James E. Murray (D-Mont.), chairman of the senate interior committee, objecting to the two hearings. Basis of their pro tests was reported fear that the hearings may generate some publicity that could be adverse to McKay inasmuch as he was secretary of the interior and therefore made decisions con cerning both Klamath and Rogue river problems. No intention of calling off the hearings has come from Murray's office. Three Hurt in One Of Two Accidents Three people were hospitaliz ed, one was cited and another received minor injuries early Saturday morning in two separ ate accidents on Highway 99 near the Rock Point bridge, state police reported. Injuried in an accident at 1:30 a.m. were James R. Hendrix, Grants Pass, operator of one car, Dayton Murray Cooper, Talent, operator of the other car. and Mrs. Mildred Carabin, Gold Hill, a passenger in Cooper's car. According to state police, Hen drix was traveling south on the highway. C o o p er reportedly pulled from a secondary road to the main highway and the cars collided about 200 feet south of the bridge, police said. Hendrix received an injured right leg. Cooper a cut nose, and Mrs. Carabin, cuts and possible fractures. They were taken to the Medford Osteopathic hos pital by Medford Ambulance service. Cooper was cited for driving while intoxicated and having no operator's license, po lice said. Calvin Lee Winbolt, Selma, VALENTINE'S LOUNGE and CAFE formerly owned by Harold & Ermi Hulse i now Owned and Operated by Leslie A. & Muriel E. Shaw Try Our COUNTRY STYLE CHICKEN DINNER! 3 -'V tttttWMm' iWMMMWif' W 1 mil lil ff to leave a space, and delav through traffic. City officials have proposed an off-street parking program, which would finance itself, to help cope with the situation. The parking lots would be located in the cen tral business district. Steps to Increase Availability of Loans Are Reviewed S. T. Brannock, officer in charge of the Medford Veterans Administration office, has called to attention of veterans steps to increase availabily of vet erans home loans on reasonable terms in rural areas and small communities. The actions, which are being taken by the administrator of veterans affairs, were announc ed Friday by the President. They affect areas eligible for direct mortgage loans from the veterans administration as a supplement to mortgages obtain able through normal banking channels and guaranteed by the VA. New Steps , The new steps include the following: (1) Reopening of certain areas formerly eligible for direct loans but deactivated when priv ate capital for guaranteed Joans was generally available. (2) Authorization of direct loans . in eligible "areas where guaranteed loans are available only on restrictive credit terms. (3) Authorization the VA to undertake direct loan processing in eligible areas if the veteran proposes to purchase a home located on a farm site. The Voluntary Home Mortg age Credit program, authorized by the housing act of 1954, has placed nearly 16,000 applicants for veteran home loans since Jan. 1, 1955, Brannock said. These have been in small com munities and areas where the supply of residenital mortgage capital has been inadequate. Demo Registrations Lead in Five Counties Salem (U.R) Democratic registrations led in all of the first five counties to report to al registrations to the State Elec tions Bureau, Dave O'Hara, el ections chief, reported Saturday. O'Hara said Democrats had an edge in Coos, Lake. Deschutes, Wasco and Wheeler counties. He said it would take about two weeks to tabulate the total reg istrations of Oregon's 36 coun ties. Ore., received only a cut leg when his car missed a curve on Highway 99 and rolled over about four times, officers report ed. The accident occurred at 2:40 a.m. north of the Rock Point bridge. Winbolt told officers he had apparently fallen asleep at the wheel. The car was totally, wrecked. Persuading That Make By ROBERT SHORTAL United Press Correspondent Kew York (U.R) One idea can make a man great. But sometimes it takes a lot of per suading and luck to make the world pay attention to the idea. One of the great names in the food industry was Clarence Birdseye, whose recent death called attention to the fact that he fathered the frozen food field by chance. Birdseye got the idea of quick freezing foods in 1915 while fur trapping in Labrador. He noticed- that when meat was left out in 50-below temperatures it froze almost instantly but tasted amazingly fresh when thawed and cooked. He got an idea but had to borrow on his life insurance to pyramid that idea into what is today the giant General Foods Corp. Alexander1 Graham Bell dev eloped the telephone in the at tic of a Boston home. While the telephone industry now does a business of more than So billion a year in America, the phone was not regarded as a sure-fire bet when Bell first offered it to the world 80 years ago. Telephone Rejected The Western Union Telegraph Co., in a move they'd much ra ther forget, refused in 1877 to buy Bell's basic telephone pat ents for S100.000, a sum W. U. termed "exhorbitant." Many inventors, including Bell and Elias Howe, inventor of the sewing machine, had to fight patent infringers who saw a good thing and tried to cash in. Among the most famous liv ing inventors are Charles F. "Boss" Kettering, of General Motors, and Sherman M. Fair- child. Both turned their ideas into fame and fortune. Kettering invented,- among other things, the automobile self-starter, anti-knock gasoline, the high compression engine, the electric cash register, and an improved diesel engine. His self-starter removed a big ob stacle to widespread acceptance of the automobile. Kettering and a friend mort gaged their homes and borrow ed on their life insurance to raise the money to develop the self-starter. Fairchild invented the first aerial camera, the cabin air plane, and folding wings. He now heads numerous compan ies bearing his name and he makes it a practice' to finance inventions he thinks have pos sibilities. Thomas A. Edison, a fantas tic individual and probably the most versatile American- inven tor, as a youth, fed seidlitz powder to a friend. Called to task by his father he said: "Well pop, I wanted to see if the powd ers would form enough gas in his stomach to make him fly." Ask Offer Edison, whose feats ran a gamut from the electric light to the motion picture camera, once bragged that he "discover ed thousands of things that won't work." A wealthy busin ess man once asked him what he wanted for all his inventions. Edison figured S5.000 was too much, so he asked his friend to make an offer.- "Would you' accept S40.000?" the friend asked. Edison was pleasantly stunned. His name now is part of the corporate Are YOU... Thinking About Buying a Broom? DON'T FORGET- that the MEDFORD LIONS CLUB'S SIXTH ANNUAL broom Starts SATURDAY, Oct. 20 ON MEDFORD STREETS All Proceeds Go To the LIONS BLIND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM , Luck Among Factors Ideas Prove Greatness titles of such utility giants as Commonwealth Edison in Chi cago and Consolidated Edison in New. York. History is loaded with ironic tales of great discoveries. Take Enrico Fermi. This great Ital ian physicist and some friends developed in Italy a process for slowing down neutrons. When they tried to interest companies NEWS NOTES from Crater High School By PAT MEDLEY "Club Royal, where the floor show is great and the dancing even better." This refers, 'of course, to the dance last Fri day, sponsored by the advanc ed speech class. The "floor show" featur ed Pat'Torchy' Medley with her repertoire of torch songs, Jan Anderson and her ver Pat meuley sion of "Twin kle. Twinkle1', and Irma 'Little Richard' Penwell who also dou bled as Elvis Presley. Then there was an act by "Pot Packin' Maw and Clem," better known as Grace Gail and Bill Morse. Ron 'Sour Doug Pete' Harrison and his gang were unable to perform because one of the gang had pneumonia, so they were substi tuted by the "Wacky Waki kaiians" and the "Hen House Three." The music was furnished by Bell Van Dyke and her band. Play Cast Crater's fall play, "The Girl in the Rain," has been cast. The leading roles have been landed by David Mack, who plays David Underhill, the rich, young son of sophisticated but gracious and understanding socialite Alicia Underhill, portrayed by Pat Medley. Judy Van Horn plays Natalie Price, his fiancee, who is involved in a murder episode. Sharlette Hale, winner of last year's Jerome, award for the best actress of the year, has been cast as Eve, the girl in the rain. Neil Green will portray Thomas, the butler who knew too much. Supporting roles will be taken by Grace Gail in the part of Karen Bennet, a .reporter; Bay ard Stone as Dr. Will Moody, Rose Drake who will character ize Julie, the maid, and Carl Koellner playing the part of Larry Cotton. Rehearsals will begin in two weeks. Princesses Chosen Homecoming Princesses have been selected by the football team to reign over the Homecom ing game against Phoenix High school. The girls are Joan Skov, freshman; Sylvia Yell, sopho more; Patty Peffley, junior; and Sally Elden, senior. The home coming queen will be chosen from these four princesses by the football team and will be crowned at the coronation dur ing the half-time of the Crater Phoenix game. Rice is the chief food for about one-half the people of the entire world. r. ,- SA in America, they were told the process was "interesting but of no commercial value." Fermi's neutron process led to the free world's first atomic reactor, successfully operated early in World War II in Chi cago. The atomic bomb resulted from a patent that at one time nobody wanted. The annual FHA slumber party is being planned for Sat urday, Oct. 20. This event is certainly misnamed, for the girls unfailingly do anything except slumber. A "midnight supper" will be served at 2 a.m. with clean-up detail to follow. This will be the beginning of a series of activity which will last well into the next morning. Frances Willett, adviser for FHA, will chaperone, assisted by five mothers and two teachers. The slumber party will be attended by approximately 90 girls. Engineers to Study Aspects of Bridge Salem (U.R) Feasibility of constructing a bridge across tha Columbia river , at Astoria will be studied by engineers at a con ference in Olympia, Wash., Oct. 29, according to Gov. Elmo Smith. - Gov. Smith and State High way Engineer W. C. Williams said that while the deficit cost of continued adequate ferry ser vice could well upset the an nual deficit costs of the propos ed bridge, the sale, of long term bonds might pose some problems. The governor said every pos sibility of co-operation on the proposed $34 million venture would be investigated. "The great problem is wheth er or not any type of bonds could be sold for a period of the necessary 54 years," Williams said. "This would seem to . be the major stumbling block in an attempt to finance and construct the bridge." Traffic Surveys Traffic surveys have indicated it would require 54 years to re tire the bonds on the assump tion that the bridge was opened to traffic by 1962. "During the first 21 years of operation, there would be a def icit in interest charges," Wil liams explained. At the begin ning this deficit would tie $720. 440 which would reduce to noth ing after 21 years, or in 1983. Williams said fhc average an nual cost to both states would total $360,220 or $181,100 for each. After 21 years the bridge would bring in enough revenue to meet interest charges and provide gradually increased am ounts for retirement of princi pal, he said. Williams estimated that the cost of adequate ferry service in the future at Astoria would probably result in a deficit equal to that of the bridge. New ferries and new docking facilit ies will be needed shortly, he added. i
