MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE KINB
161 Residents of Happy Camp Sign Petition for Incorporation
Sunday. April SI. 1IB7
ir
Community Lists
1,500 People in ;
logging Season
By ROSIE BOLEY
Mail Tribune Staff Wrifer
One of northern California's
most colorful and isolated com
munities may soon become a
city.
4 total of 161 residents of
Happy Camp, located about 75
miles west of Yreka, have signed
a petition requesting incorpora
tion. The petition was approved
Tuesday by the Siskiyou county
board of supervisors, an admin
istrative body corresponding
with Oregon's county courts.
The Siskiyou county assessor is
now checking the signatures with
property ownership records.
Only property owners may have
a voice in the incorporation is
sue. In the 1920's, Happy Camp
was a relatively quiet commun
Hy with about 350 residents. Min
ing was the economic backbone
of the area. But in 1950, several
sawmills moved to Happy Camp,
and the community began to
boom. In the winter, the popula
tion ij about 2,000. In the sum
mer, when logging and sawmill
operations are in full swing, the
population swells to about 5,500
Temporary Residents
"Old timers," or people who
have lived at Happy Camp for
many years, comprise about half
the population. The remainder
consists of temporary residents,
who come and go, depending
on availability of employment
At the present time, there are
about eight major mills in the
Happy Camp area, including the
Happy Camp Lumber company.
Yellow Fir company, the Wil
lamette company, Yreka Veneer
and three Siskiyou Willi plants,
Considered the most important
mines In the area are the Gray
Eagle chrome mine and the Sis
kon gold mine.
Faced With Problems
As population statistics con
tinue to increase, residents of
Happy Camp are finding them
selves faced with many serious
needs. Among them are improved
sanitation and water facilities,
paved roads, local police and fire
protection and hospital facili
ties. The Siskiyou county board of
supervisors has long been aware
of these problems. Since Happy,
' Camp Is not eligible for state j
funds, and county funds are not
sufficient to provide the needed
improvements, the board came
up with an alternative plan.
About four weeks ago, two mem
bers of the board petitioned the
state to create a service area at
Happy Camp.
Under the state's provisions
lor service areas, it would be
possible for the county to install
improvements in water sewage
and similar facilities. The board
of supervisors would administer
t the program and would be auth
' orized to levy a tax in the area
to finance it.
Against Service Area
However, many residents of
Happy Camp do not favor this
plan. In fact, Don Avery, a mem
ber of the board of supervisors,
says the - incorporation move
gained impetus from strong op
position to the proposed service
, area. A hearing on the service
area is scheduled to be held
next Tuesday night. If 50 per
cent of the property owners sign
a petition against its creation,
the program can be blocked.
Meanwhile, several residents
got the ball rolling for incorp
oration. Dr. R. E. Graun, Happy
Camp's only physician and sur
geon (and the only one within
a radius of 150 miles), has been
a leader in the movement.
' Mrs. Gladys Cook, Charles
'Card and Judge Phil Tolman
began circulating petitions for
incorporation. In less than a
week, they obtained 161 signa
tures. If all signatures are found
to be valid, they will represent
more than 25 per cent of the
property owners, the number
required before incorporation
proceedings can begin.
Sanitation Most Serious
Of all problems facing the
area, sanitation is probably the
most serious. Sewage is now be
ing disposed of by septic tanks.
Dr. S. E. Lamb,, Siskiyou
county health officer who has
been studying Happy Camp
health problems for about five
years, savs soil in the area is
not well adapted to this, type of
sewage disposal. Dr. Graun,
agreeing with the health officer,
added . that sewage trequently
backs up. "When that happens,
you walk around with a clothes
pin on your nose, ne comment
ed. Dr. Lamb says setting up a
central disposal unit is the only
answer to the problem. He est
mated cost of such a unit would
be about half-million' dollars.
Happv Camp's water system
was seriously undermined about
four weeks ago, when the water
ditch was washed out during a
storm. The area was without
pure water for several days.
Get Pipe Line
The county negotiated with
the Federal Civil Defense agency
to obtain about 8000 feet of alum
inum pipe line with which to
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LUMBER INDUSTRY STRONG An estt- ed at the east approach to Happy Camp. Min-
mated 90 per cent of the population at Happy ing is next in line as a source of employment.
Camp are employed in the lumber industry. Mining onca was the backbone of the area's
There are about eight major mills, including economy.
Yreka Veneer (shown above) which is locat-
fj v fit;
1 t
4 Si- ., il,..-lTnr,n.
HAPPY CAMP Already like a lively town ration. Population of the community varies
is the community of Happy Camp, Calif., lo- from about 2,000 in the winter to about 5,500
cated 75 miles west of Yreka. A total of 161 in the summer when logging operations are
residents have signed a petition for incorpo- in full operation. . .
restore the system. But the pipe
line was given on a loan basis
and must be returned soon. Right
now it seems unlikely enough
funds could be raised in Happy
Camp to replace the line.
The community's water sup
ply is brought from Elk Creek,
south of Happy Camp, by ditch
and pipe line. An increase in
diarrhea type diseases during
summers and in periods of heavy
rainfall is "directly attributed by
both doctors to inadequacy of
the 'present water system. Dr.
Lamb also pointed out there is
a high potential for typhoid epi
demic if a carrier were to come
into the area and germs get in
to the watershed.
Estimates Differ
Dr. Lamb estimates enlarge
ment of pipes and completion of
a water system would cost about
$133,000. However, Dr. Graun
estimates the cost about $40,000.
The present water system is
owned by property owners and
called the Happy Camp Improve
ment Association, Inc. It is ad
ministered by a volunteer board
consisting of Charles Card, chair
man, and Merle Reed.
Sociologists say anyone who
looks for trouble can find it in
any community. Happy Camp is
no exception. Siskiyou County
Sheriff Al Cottar discribes Hap
py Camp an one of the county's
heaviest areas for complaints and
calls for assistance.
Most of the calls, the sheriff
says, are for assistance in deal
ing with offenses involving liq
uor. This includes drunk driv
ing, drunk in public and disor
derly conduct. Happy Camp also
has its share of major offenses.
Two years ago, according to the
sheriff, a California highway
patrolman was fatally shot there.
Other shootings have occurred
since then. Burglaries are among
other common offenses.
Stationed in Community
There are two resident
sheriff's deputies, a highway
patrolman and a constable re
gularly stationed in the com
munity. Still many residents
say there is need for more police
protection on a local level and
incorporation would make this
possible. Sheriff Cottar, how
ever, says he doubts that in
corporation would make any dif
ference in the Happy Camp law
enforcement problem.
The community's fire protec
tion is now supplied by a volun
teer crew. Two county-owned
fire trucks are kept in a central
ly located fire hall, where some
one is on duty most of the time.
Much of the land in and around
Happy Camp is federal forest
land and fire protection for those
areas is provided by the forest
service. Many residents would
like to strengthen their local
fire protection facilities and this
is another reason they are ad
vocating incorporation.
Dr. Graun, who has been prac
ticing medicine in Happy Camp
since 1952, says a hospital dis
trict is vitally needed in the com
munity. Residents needing hos
pital care now must travel 75
miles east to Yreka, or 75 mile
west to the Hoopa Indian reser
vation. Most of them go to Yreka
because hospital facilities at
Hoopa are limited.
Distance Could Be Fatal
This distance could well be
fatal in a case of emergency.
The Klamath river road between
Happy Camp and Highway 99 is
winding, rough and narrow in
many places. It is heavily travel
ed by large trucks, especially
while mills are in operation.
Thus, extreme caution and re
duced speed are essential par
ticularly when approaching cur
ves. Normal driving time from
Happy Camp to Yreka is about
two hours.
There are times when the Kla
math river overflows its banks,
making driving hazardous or
impossible. Happy Camp is also
in an area where deep snow of
ten makes the road impassable.
Even during heavy rain storms,
rock and earth slides frequently
block the road.
At the present time, Mercy
Flights, Inc., non-profit air am
bulance service, is about the only
salvation for anyone in the Hap
py Camp area needing immedi
ate hospital care. (Dr. Graun has
a Mercy Flights subscription
poster in his office window.) But
the doctor says the real answer
to this problem is to establish
a hospital in Happy Camp and
that is next on his list of intend
ed campaigns.
Not All Favor '
But not all residents are in
favor of incorporation for vari
ous reasons. Some fear higher
taxes. Dr. Graun says the city
tax, plus whatever levy is im
posed, would probably not sig
nificantly exceed the present
county tax. However, much of
the land in Happy Camp is fed
eral forest land and therefore
tax free. This would tend to re
duce the tax base for the area,
and high levies might be neces
sary if all the desired improve
ments are to be obtained.
If the area does incorporate,
there would be a possibility for
some federal assistance, but Dr.
Lamb indicates the amount of
federal aid would be small. Also,
the aid would not be forthcom
ing until at least a year and a
half after the incorporation is
completed.
Happy Camp already has the
appearance of a lively town.
From the road at the east ap
proach to the city, a tourist can
see mills, a modern elementary
school, high school, churches, .a
theater, a moderate selection of
stores, several cafes, taverns, a
grange recreation hall and a
wide variety of homes large,
small, modest and elaborate,
There is also a busy airport in
which the county and federal
government have invested 75
000. But Happy Camp is far
from being self-sufficient.
Residents Isolated
No doubts many residents
still have nightmares about be
ing isolated without food sup
plies electricity, telephone ser
vice or heat for 19 days after
a snow storm in 1952. There
were five feet of snow on the
ground and no traffic was mov
ing to, from or within the com
munity. '
In a few days, most people
had used up their individual food
supplies and stores, too, had bare
shelves. Finally, a group of wo
men in the neighborhood opened
some canned food, heated it on
wood stoves and distributed it
throughout the community. Dr.
Graun took his medical instru
ments to the home of a neighbor
and sterilized them on a propane
stove there.
Needless to say, it was a great
day when the snow plow was
finally able to get to the area.
Behind the plow was a caravan
of trucks laden with supplies.
Maintenance and repair trucks
came soon afterward. At that
time Happy Camp was served
with only one power line. A
year ago a second line was in
stalled. Improved municipal
power facilities is another hope
of those advocating incorporation.
Word Easter Derived From
Teutonic Goodness Eostre
By FAY BENTLEY
Life, slowly bursting forth
anew
In fields, in woods, in gar
dens, loo; '
With overhead the birds
en wing
Produce a symphony of
spring.
Ancient people in joy over
the season's rebirth held a festi
val each year in honor of Eostre
or Ostara, the Anglo-Saxon god
dess of light or spring, to whom
a month corresponding to our
April was dedicated. The word
Easter is derived from the name
of this goddess, famed in old
Teutonic mythology.
Christian observance of the
Easter festival is an outgrowth
of the Jewish Passover, concern
ing which Bede says, "The old
festival was observed with the
gladness of a new solemnity."
Although the Christian
churches have observed Easter
from a very early period, seri
ous disagreements over the ac
tual dates of this festival have
arisen.
Council of Nicaea
In the year 323 the Council
of Nicaea decreed that Easter
should be held on Sunday and
on the same Sunday throughout
the entire world. As Alexandria,
Egypt, was the home of astrono
mical science at that time, the
correct date for this festival was
to be calculated in this city and
announced to the other
churches.
Easter was to fall on the first
Sunday after the first full moon
following the vernal or spring
equinox. .This results in a mov
able festival and Easter may be
on any Sunday between March
22 and April 25, a span of 35
days.
It is said that the early Chris
tians worked out this method of
fixing the date so pilgrims trav
eling to various religious shrines
would be aided by the moon
light. Early Easier
Last year Easter was early,
falling on April 1. This year it
is late, occurring on. April 21
Five years from now, it will be
one day later, April 22. In the
year 2000 Easter Sunday will
be April 23.
In 1818 Easter fell on its earli
est possible date, March 22. This
will not happen again till the
year 2285.
In 1943, Easter Sunday was
April 25, the latest date possible.
Not till the year 2038 will this
again take place.
The earliest Easter since 1900
fell on March 23, 1923. In the
year 2008, Easter Sunday will
again be March 23.
After Full Moon
A full moon on the 15th of
March this year made an early
Easter impossible, as the vernal
equinox did not -take place till
March 20. In April, the moon be
came full on the 14th, which
happened to be Sunday. There
fore, Easter falls on April 21
which is the first Sunday after
the full moon after the vernal
equinox.
The inconvenience caused in
the . commercial world by the
movability of Easter was dis
cussed at the International Con
gress of Chambers Commerce
in Rome in 1923. In an effort to
stabilize the date or at least re
duce the 35-day span, the mat
ter was presented to the League
of Nations, but little progress
was made.
An early Easter means grief
for certain merchants as the
weather is usually unsuited to
Easter apparel, and if Easter is
late the spring st6ck is on hand
when dealers have to move in
their summer' goods.
As most people are more in
terested in the religious signifi
cance of Easter than' in the com
mercial aspects, there seems lit
tle chance of changing this cus
tom which as prevailed for the
last 1,632 years and Easter will
still occur on the first Sunday
after the first full moon follow
ing the vernal equinox.
ilia Tribe
Offers Scholarships
Rendieton U.R) The Uma
tilla Indian board of trustees
Friday announced that 16 schol
arships of $500 each- are being
offered to students from the
Umatilla tribe.
The offer is the highest amount
made available by the tribe
since the scholarship plan began
three years ago on the reserva
tion. The scholarships come from
the interest accrued from $50,
000 held in trust by the tribe
for educational purposes.
Missouri Man Jailed
On Weapon Charge
Elbert Dean Kelly, 24, Neo
sho, Mo., was lodged in the coun
ty jail Friday on a charge of
carrying a concealed weapon,
He was arrested by state police
on Highway 99 north of Med-
ford.
Police said a hitchhiker noti
fied them shortly before noon
that a man he had been riding
with .was carrying some rifles in
the back of his car and had a
revolver concealed in the front
of the car. Police found the re
volver hidden in the front seat,
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Three Arrested in
Connection With Theft
Three Medford men have been
arrested on charges of larceny
in connection with the theft of
several articles from" a Medford
residence March 15, according
to Medford police.
Police said Alva Allen Doty,
21, 324 Mae St., Medford; Eu
gene Allen Crandall, 22, 209
North Grape st, Medford; and
Donald Babcock, 27, 1427 Lawn
ridge drive, Medford, were ar
rested on the charges Thursday.
They were lodged in county
jail, Officers reported. . ,-
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