Medford mail tribune., May 19, 1957, Image 10

TW-MZDrORB (OREGOrf) MAIL TRIBUrTB
Sunday. MT 19, 195?
Ml MeLy
ITVOS (SIS
ghUDim S
Sixth Highest Peak
In State Is Part
Of Volcanic Cone
Bt JIM FISHER
A recent article in the Mail
Tribune on an abandoned forest
service lookout and its one-time
occupant has aroused local in
terest in Mt. McLoughlin, or Mt.
Pitt as it is known to many local
residents.
This article told of the career
of a Frenchman named J. F. G.
Cone who served as the fire
lookout for several years on top
of this 9,493-foot peak.
But how many people know
the history behind Mt. McLough
lin. sixth highest peak in Ore
gon and highest point of the
Cascades between the Three Sis
ters in central Oregon and Mt.
Shasta in northern California?
For many residents of Klam
ath and Jackson counties, Mt.
McLoughlin serves as a guide of
the coming winter. When snow
starts sticking to the rugged
sides of the mountain, winter is
not too far behind. For others,
Mt. McLoughlin is a scenic view
from Blackwell Hill, Butte Falls,
Prospect, or Camp White. Tele
vision fans see the mountain each
day when the Medford television
station has a station identmca
tion slide with Mt. McLoughlin
as a back-drop.
Formation Tim
To know Mt. McLoughlin, one
must go back to the time of its
formation, more than 1,000,000
years ago. The mountain first
grew as a volcano, but the north
east walls eventually fell in or
were cut by lava.
The remaining peak -is then
actually only a portion of the
volcanic cone with the center of
the cone opening up and extend
ing down to the shores of Four
' mile lake.
To the Klamath Indians Jiv
ing along the shores of Upper
Klamath lake in Klamath coun
ty, Mt. McLoughlin was known
as M'laiksinl Yama, or "moun
tain with the steep sides."
The name Mt McLoughlin
first appeared on a map in 1838
accompanying a report of an ex
ploration made by the Rev. Sam
ual Parker in 1835-37.
The mountain was named for
Dr. John McLoughlin, chief fac
tor of Hudson Bay company at
Fort Vancouver. Dr. McLoughlin
held that, position from 1824 to
184S and was known, for his
kindness to American settlers of
the Oregon country and for his
leadership of the trappers, farm
ers, and traders of Fort Vancou
ver. Dr. McLoughlin died in
1857 after becoming an Ameri
can citizen.
Mt. Pitt Shown
In 1843, a map made by John
C. Fremont's cartographer shows
Mt. Pitt, but no mention was
made of it in Fremont's jour
nals. Later reports stated that
Mt. Pit or Pitt was named after
the Pitt river of northern Cali
fornia. Indians of this area had
dug numerous pitfalls to catch
wild game. These pits were six
4set deep and lightly covered
with grass arid twigs.
Snowy Butte and Big Butte
were the names used by early
settlers of the Rogue River val
ley in referring to Mt. McLough
lin. A man named Hall J. Kelley
proposed in 1839 to change the
r.ame of the Cascade Mountain
Range to the Presidential Range
with all major peaks named
after American presidents. Un
der this plan, Mt. McLoughlin
would have become Mt. John
Quincy Adams. Kelley intro
duced a memoir to the 25th Con
gress but his plan failed to gain
support.
Commonly Knows
Through the work of George
H. Beldon a civil engineer hired
. by the United States surveyor
general of Oregon Mt. McLough
lin became commonly known as
Mt. Pitt during the 1860's.
In 1905 the name Mt. Mc
Loughlin was restored to the
mountain by the Oregon state
legislature and was accepted by
the United States board of geo
graphical names.
In 1908 the Crater National
forest was created and the moun
tain became the concern of the
U.S. forest service. The name of
this forest was changed to the
Rogue River National forest in
1932.
- A forest lookout was first
built on Mt. McLoughlin in 1917
and was used until 1930 when it
was decided that a new building
would be constructed. This new
builing as a two-story stone
tower located 100 feet south of
the original building. The new
tower was completed in 1931
and was manned until 1936.
Abandons Lookout
At this time the forest service
abandoned Mt. McLoughlin as a
lookout in favor of lower points
such as Robinson Butte and
Brown Mountain. The heavy
haze and clouds at the elevation
of the mountain made the detec
tion of fires very difficult."
During the years the lookout
was manned, the Frenchman
named Cone was an interesting !
8 SG
MT. McLOUGHLIN The volcanic cone, ris
ing 9,493 feet above sea level, is shown from
Fourmile lake. The northeast walls, visible
above, eventually fell in or were cut by lava.
M.W.McGrew Named
50CTFA President
M. W. McGrew of McGrew
Brothers sawmill was -elected
president of the board of direc
tors of the Southern Oregon
Conservation and Tree Farm as
sociation last week.
He replaces Don Whalin of
Timber Products, retiring presi
dent. Other officers Include vice
president for Medford, Robert
(Bob) Kline; vice president for
Grants Pass, Loyd F. Silva, who
was reelected; and treasurer,
Ben Nork, Shady Cove, who was
reelected for a second term.
L. L. (Doc) Simpson was re
elected forester and secretary
manager. New directors are Bernard
Parent of Gulf Red Cedar; Leo
Hoag, Prospect logger; and Ray
Oft'ord, Jacksonville logger.
Holfi-over directors are Russell
Hogue, Medford corporation,
and A. C. Smith, Grants Pass.
At one time, he conceived an
idea for preventing forest fires
started by lightning. Cone assem
bled an elaborate system of wires
and antennas with the idea of
drawing all electrical charge
irom me air in a wide area
around Mt. McLoughlin.
Plan Back-Fired
His plan back-fired when it
was tested during a lightning
storm. Cone's apparatus was de
stroyed by a nearly-direct strike.
A badly-frightened and speech
less Cone appeared at the Lake
of the Woods Ranger station
following the storm and refused
to return to his station.
Ansil (Andy) Pearce, assistant
ranger of the Klamath district
of the Rogue River National for
est, tells of a winter's climb that
he made with a Mr. and Mrs.
Hoyt Smith and John Henslaw,
another forest service employee.
The party started the climb
from the Fish lake side on Jan.
17, 1931, and spent one night in
the lookout before returning.
The people traveled . on snow
shoes and used two dogs as pack
animals. "Andy" has also had
experience as a lookout on Mt.
McLoughlin during his early
days with the forest service, re
placing Cone after the lightning
storm.
For the person who wants to
climb the mountain, the forest
service maintains a trail that
leaves the Fourmile lake road
and winds its way up a five-mile
course. Each summer, many va
cationers as well as large groups
of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
make the climb.. Some of these
hikers start " their trip at the
Lake of the Woods Ranger sta
tion, making the trip a 10-mile
hike.
Safely Precaution
As a safety precaution, the
forest service requires that
climbers register before and after
climbing Mt. McLoughlin. Climb
ers can register at the Lake of
the Woods Ranger station.
The actual climb is an inter
esting one. Only the last mile is
steep with most of the hike
being made through green for
ests before reaching the end of
the trees at timber line.
From the top of the mountain,
the effect is the same as sitting
on a church steeple. Below, Lake
of the Woods, Fish lake, and
Fourmile lake are small pools of
water in the green forest. The
smoke of Medford and Klamath
Falls can be seen. To the north,
one can see the Crater JLaKe
rim. Only Mt. Shasta to the south
rises to challenge your perch on
the top of the world.
The trip down the mountain
is a lot easier than the ascent and
there is generally a tired group
of climbers to make the trip
home. .
No matter what name it has
been called Mt. McLoughlin,
Mt. Pitt, or many of the other
once common names, climbers
and viewers alike will always
be impressed with its beauty,
white and lofty in the winter,
rugged and mighty in the sum-
i mer.
FOURMILE LAKE From the top of Mt. McLoughlin, Fourmile
lake looks like a pond. Mt. McLouglhin is the highest peak in
the Cascades between Three Sisters in central Oregon and Mt.
Shasta in northern California.
LOOKOUT HOUSE All that remains of the two-story lookout
building which once was occupied at the peak of Mt. McLough
lin is the bottom stone walls. The wood top floor has fallen in.
Lookouts were stationed on Mt. McLoughlin between 1927 un
til 1936, when the station was abandoned in favor of lower
peaks.
The Family Council
Editor'! note: The Family Council consists of a Judge, a psychiatrist,
three clergymen, a newspaper editor, a women's editor and two writers. Eacb
article is a summary of an actual report. The Family Council does not glv
advice: it merely reports on problems tbat bay been dealt with by responsible
agencies moo cuun&ciiiri.
Eugene S. I want to be of
service to the community.
Helen S. He's an old busy
body. Eugene S. My wife and two
daughters and I live in a small
community where there are
numerous opportunities for serv
ice to the community.
I am active in church work
where I teach a Sunday school
class, in the Boy Scots and sev
eral local charities. I also work
on a committee to help enter
tain veterans in a local hos
pital.'
As a result of these activities,
which I enjoy very much, I am
out of the house nearly every
night of the week and my wife
objects violently. She complains
and carries on as if I were go
ing out to visit another woman
or drink and gamble with the
boys. She knows this is not the
case.
I believe in service to the
community. It makes life worth
while to me and to others.
Helen S. My husband, it is
true, lives an exemplary life and
in no way carries on with liquor
or women, etc. But I feel that
he is becoming a regular old
busybody, sticking his nose into
other people's business and not
caring at all about his home
and children, let alone me. He
has become so engrossed in these
community projects of his that
it is almost embarrassing. He is
constantly trying to help people
who would just as soon be left
alone.
In contrast, Gene takes little
or no part in the upbringing of
our two girls. Sometimes I feel
he just doesn't love us at all
because he doesn't care to spend
any time alone with us. He al
leaving only a portion of the original cone of
Mt. McLoughlin. A trail is maintained by the
forest service for climbers, who are asked to
register prior to climbing.
ways has to run off to this or
that meeting.
The Council: It does appear
that Eugene is going a bit too
far in his laudable desire to be
a constructive member of his
town. An important part of the
town lives in his own home, and
work that takes him away "near
ly every night of the week"
sounds a little too much like an
effort to escape from the family.
Certainly his wife and daugh
ters need him and have every
right to expect him to spend
several evenings a week alone
missing a great deal in life if
he doesn't enjoy a warm, day-today
relationship with his grow
ing children.
On the other hand, Helen's
accusation that he is a "busy
body" shows a resentful mis
understanding of the work he
is doing. Group work of the kind
he cites is not the same as med
dling in anyone's private affairs.
It is a welcome contribution to
the life of the community.
Helen should try to meet her
husband halfway, since he has
this intense interest in commuity
affairs. -Surely, there are oppor
tunities for her, and even the
two girls, to become a part of
this work.
If the family will learn to
work together in these commun
ity projects, the chances are
they will help themselves as
much as those they attempt to
aid.
(COPYRIGHT 1957,
GENERAL FEATURES CORP.)
FEATURED SPEAKER
Klamath Falls (IP) General
William Dean of Korean War
fame will be the featured speak
er at the Murdoc Area Council
Boys Scouts of America recogni
tion dinner today.
Grange News
Phoenix Grange
Mother's Day was the theme
of the program at the May 14
meeting of Phoenix Grange. The
Grange hall was decorated with
iris, snowball and peonies.
Mrs. Charles Johnson read an
article on the origin and observ
ance of Mother's Day in our
own country and other coun
trys. Two little girls, Cheryl and
Karen, daughters of Mr. and
Mrs. Roy Bolz, each played an
instrumental number. Evelyn
Niedermeyer gave a reading en
titled "Before It Is Too Late."
Corsages, made by Mrs. Sol
Cox were presented to the old
est mother present, Mrs. Enid
Caster; the youngest mother,
Mrs. Roy Bolz; the mother hav
ing the most children and grand
children, Mrs. Willis House; and
the mother havin been a
Grange member the longest,
Mrs. L. A. Penland.
Mr. and Mrs. Jake Arnold
were present at Grange, after
having been away for several
months. They are only here for
a short time and expect to do
some more traveling. They have
spent some time at Riverside,
Calif. Arnold gave a short ac
count of the orange harvest
there and said that the early
potato harvest was at its peak.
The price of land in that lo
cality, he said, was around $45
per acre. He told of a sign on a
refreshment stand which read,
"All the orange juice you can
drink for a dime." He found out
one ' glass of orange juice was
all you could drink for a dime,
another glass required another
dime.
Reports on agriculture were
given by Charles Hockersmith
He had made a trip through the
Klamath valley and as far south
as Weed, and he said that crops
looked excellent, which was
probably due to having been
seeded last fall. He added that
the weather has not' been too
favorable for spring seeding
Master Dee Hendrickson told
of the traveling billboard, as a
method of advertising now being
used in the east. The advertise
ments are painted on the trucks.
He said that method might well
be used elsewhere in place of
billboards along the highway.
Mervin hixon reporting on
the milk production ltw which
he said is a protection to the
public.
On legislature, Melvin Lattie
told of bills that have been pass
ed that are of real interest and
benefit to farmers and other resi
dents of the valley, such as bill
495 known as the Dairyman's
bill, which would regulate fair
prices to the milk producers.
Also bills 274 and 275 concern
ing the Southern Pacific railroad
and the bill regarding farm
buildings, permits and contrac
tors, had been amended to ac
commodate farmers, and passed,
he said.
Treasurer Olin Poe reminded
those present to save sales slips,
and to get them in on time this
second quarter, April, May, and
June. Mrs. Cox mentioned the
labels from White Satin sugar
sacks would count double and
asked that the amount paid for
the sugar be written on the
label.
The secretary was instructed
to purchase five new patron
song books, in which there are
several new numbers. In them
our National Anthem is written
in a low key.
The chaplain reported that
Mrs. Johnnie Green is now at
home and improving satisfac
torily. County Agent W. B. Tucker
who was in the Rogue Valley
Memorial hospital for surgery
recently, is now at home and
able to be at the office part ime.
A special Pomona meeting
will be held Saturday evening,
May 25, in Central Point Grange
hall when the 5th degree will be
given. All those having articles
in the sewing contest, should
have them there to be judged at
this meeting. The articles are,- a
street dress of any material, a
kitchen apron, and hooked rug.
It was announced that Jack
son County Health association
will hold x-ray clinic for Phoe
nix residents from 7 p.m. to 9
p.m. Monday, May 20, at Sacred
Heart hospital.
This is expressly for the con-
Body of Man Found
In Willamette River
Portland (W The body of
a man floating in the Willam
ette river here is probably that
of George Ray, 41, a songwriter
and salesman, the coroner's of
fice said here Friday.
Ray has been missing since
police found a suicide note writ
ten on a copy of one of the man s
published songs. The note was
believed to have been written
by Ray. -
Positive identification has not
been made, the coroner said, but
a patrolman who spoke with the
man the day before he disap
peared said the clothing on the
body is similar to Ray's clothing.
venience of Phoenix residents,
and they are anxious that all
who possibly can be x-rayed.
They stress the fact that 20 oth
er , abnormal chest conditions
can be discovered if present,
and that tuberculosis can be dis
covered as early as one and one
half years before symptoms of
the disease are noticed.
The age limit has been low
ered to 15 years. Entry from the
parking lot by patients entrance
is best.
The meeting adjourned at
9:45 and refreshments of home
made cookies and coffee were
served by the refreshment com
mittee, Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Herb
Thomas and Mrs. Enid Caster.
The Home Economics club
met at the home of Mrs. Mark
Smith, 716 Oak st., Medford,
Wednesday, May 15.
Dessert luncheon was served
at 1 p.m. Mrs. Alfred Scroeder
was co-hostess. Roll call was an
swered by "My favorite flower."
Plans were made and menu de
cided upon for the lunch to be
served at the Phoenix Commu
nity club building during the
Phoenix Spring Festival which
is to be held in June.
Gertrude Lewin,
Publicity Chairman.
Trustees, Alternates
Of Pear Bureau
Reelected at Meet
Trustees and alternates of the
Oregon-Washington - California
Pear bureau from the Medford
district were reelected at a meet
ing Thursday in the Rogue Val
ley Country club.
Elected to serve another term
as trustees were Dave Holmes,
Floyd Baker, James Finnegan,
Howell Murphy and Don Root.
Alternates chosen to serve again
this year were Lynn Newbry,
Harold Holmes, Dave Lowry,
Kay Keter and Joe Naumes.
The local shippers met with
special guests to discuss produc
tion problems of the current pear
season and report on research
aimed at solving industry prob
lems. The special guests included
Dr. M. J. Magnews, director of
horticultural research for the
U. S. Department of Agriculture;
Professor S. B. Apple, head of
the horticulture department of
Oregon State college; R. A. Pat
terson, manager of the pear bu
reau; Gerald Smith, represent
ing the Water Resources Devel
opment corporation of, Denver,
Colo.; Ted Wright, former path
ologist with W.S.D.A. and cur
rently representing the Orchard
Supply company; Don Berry,
Jackson county extension agent;
W. J. Rogers, frost forecaster for
the U.S. Weather bureau; and
Hal Larsen of Crown-Zellerback
Paper company.
Harold Holmes, president of
the Medford Pear Shippers asso
ciation, presided at the business
meeting and introduced the
speakers.
Boy Scouts
TROOP 16
Troop 16, Boy Scouts, spon
sored by Talisman lodge 31,
Knights of Pythias, will meet
jointly Monday at 7 p.m., in
the Pythian building, 5th and
Grape sts., for a court of honor,
tenderfoot investiture, entertain
ment and refreshments.
A motion picture of activities
at scout camp at Mt. McLough
lin will be shown, demonstra
tions of scout work are sched
uled. Local area Scout Commission
er Harry Barneburg, L. A. (Shag)
Pritchard, George Bryant, form
er scoutmaster, John E. Schroed
er present Troop 16 Scoutmast
er and his assistant Julien Bates,
are among executives who will
be present.
Lodge members who have not
received notice cards are asked
to attend, as are parents and
friends. Refreshments will be
served in the dining room after
the program. Commissioner Ed
die Bostwick will be in charge
of refreshments.
The meeting night for Troop
16 has been changed from Mon
day to Wednesday starting Wed
nesday, May 22.
TJWf, Damage to Light
Bulbs Reported to Police
Three Medford homeowners
Fridav and Saturday reported
to city police that light bulbs
on porches of their residents
were broken or stolen by un
known individuals. m
Olan Charles Clemans, 408
Crater Lake ave., reported Sat
urday that someone had-stolen
his porch light bulb as well as
a milk bottle from his residence.
Reporting broken porch lights
Friday were Josephine Marie
Sleight, 117 Tripp st., and For
rest Wyant Winkfield, 316 How
ard st.
Canada buys 25 per cent of all
U.S. commercial exports.
FIREMAN'S PICNIC Motorists passing Camp White Weane--day
evening might have wondered why firemen from the
Central Point Rural Fire Protection district stood around and
watched a barracks building burn to the ground without
doing anything about it. The picture above shows what they
were doing having a wiener roast. The building was burned
down intentionally by the fire department to dispose of the
half-burned framework left by a previous fire, and served as
a training operation at their regular Wednesday drill night.
Far-sighted fire captain, Robert Mclvor, left, who brought
along wieners and soda for refreshments, is shown above
' with volunteer fireman Elgan Amidon as they prepare a batch
of "hot dogs" for roasting. While firemen enjoyed themselves,
their truck radios were left "open" in case a real fire oc
curred elsewhere.
NEWS NOTES from
Crater High School
Approximately 2 5 0 eighth
I grades from school district 60
were guests at Crater High
school last Wednesday, May 15,
for the annual
eighth grade
visitation day.
These eighth
graders will
constitute the
freshman class
at Crater next
year. The visi
tation day is
i i j i i
Pat Medley acquaint lue
incoming freshmen with the
school, its activities, and the fac
ulty.
The youngsters were entertain-
eded with a style show of what
a well-dressed freshman wears
to school and school functions,
and various organizations and in
dividuals gave pantomines, hum
orous speeches and even magic
acts. Senior members of the Hon
or Society conducted tours of
the buildings and classrooms.
The Girls league honored the
eighth grade girls by presenting
nine of them with a "Little Girl
of the Month" award. A list of
the most outstanding girls from
each of the schools attending was
compiled, and the nine girls of
the month from Crater presented
each "Little Girl of the Month"
with ' her award. Terry Turner
and Vicki Lester from Gold Hill
were presented awards. From
Howard, Rosy Patch and Ro
mona Schrader were selected.
Sharon Terry and Marilee Smith
were chosen to represent Sams
Valley. Central Point Junior
High was honored with' three
"Little Girl of the Month" pres
entations, with Phyllis Woods,
Katherine Wood, and Barbara
Medley receiving awards. From
these nine girls, Phyllis Woods
from Central Point Junior High
was named "Little Girl of the
Year."
Carol von der Hellen was elec-
m "
V SsV
Funeral
Arrangements
can be made
to keep WITHIN
YOUR MEANS
You' can depend on Conger-Morris for
full cooperation in helping you make
funeral arrangements within your means.
Following are the price brackets for our
complete service which have been chosen
by more than 1,400 families served by
Conger-Morris:
Below $350 (27.5)
$350 to. $449 (29.2)
'$450 to $549 (17.1)
$550 to $649 (15.2)
$650 to $749 (5.8)
Over $750 (5.2)
WEST MAIN AT SIXTH
GongerSlLorris
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
"YOUR TV WEATHERMAN"
KIES-TV MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 6:1 3 P.M.
ASHLAND MORTUARY .
Member National Selected
to
. S7:i: ' M
ted Girls League president for
next year in the Girls League
election last Wednesday. Gail
Collins will serve as vice presi
dent. The new secretary will be
Arvella Prom, and Julia Thoma
son will be treasurer. Freshman
Jeanette Purdy, was elected the
Girls League publicity chairman.
Installation of the new officers
will take place soon.
The seniors displayed their tal
ent and ability to keeD an aud
ience laughing at their annual
"Senior Talent' Show." The
theme of the show was "Skool
Daze" and all the acts were cen
tered around this theme. John
Greb, senior class president, was
master of ceremonies. The sen
iors offering included a Danto-
mime of "The Class of 57 in
Kindergarten" with c?ra Turner
as the .unlucky teacher. "This
Is Your Life" proved to be hil
arious to the underclassmen,
when among other life accounts,
a certain engaged couple made
an appearance sporting a newly
filled baby buggy, and followed
hy a good dozen small children.
The informal, haphazard manner
with which the show was pre
sented was actually more amus
ing than the acts. The underclass
men thoroughly enjoyed the 45
minutes of senior entertainment.
In the recent Future Teacher
of America elections, Carolyn
Edwards was elected president.
Vernola Hutcheson was elected
vice president, and Alice Thomp
son was selected for secretary
treasurer. Judi Davis was chosen
for observation chairman.
APPROVE TREATY
Washington Iff) The Senate
Relations committee has approv
ed the United States-Canadian
pink salmon treaty and sent it
to the floor for ratification.
An average American eats 3.5
gallons of ice cream in a normal
year.
4th and C Sir.. Ashlond
Morticians by invitation
. mr ' i -r'-W i
attraction of the- mountain.
I