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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 1957)
o 32nd Year Price 10e Holiday Traffic Olaiis Tribune 221 ; Ohio Leads tTnlted Preaa Full Lc&xed Wlr United Presa Full Leased Wlr 30 PAGES MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, .1957 No. 211 J A TT wim 28 G Hurricane -Force Winds Rip Across Pacific Northwest By UNITED PRESS A howling storm packing winds of hurricane velocity in places ripped across th Pacific Northwest Christmas night, leav ing a trail of damage and power outages. Gusts of wind of 92 miles per hour were clocked at Meglar Air Force radar station in southwest Washington. Gusts of 81 miles per hour were reported at Mt. Hebo near Tillamook and in the Queen Charlotte islands. O Portland got more than half Porter Suggests Forest Highway to Coast Via Agness A possible road route from Selma on Highway 199 to Gold Beach on Highway 101 via Agness has been recommended to the Oregon State Highway commission by Representative Charles O. Porter, the congress man reported today. Porter said he wrote the com mission he hoped "this route can be included as a part of the Fed eral Forest Highway system," and that the commission would "consider so recommending to the Bureau of Public Roads of the U.S. Department of Com merce. "It is my opinion that when the matter of the correct formula is settled, Oregon will be receiv ing more money from federal forest highway funds and that certainly this route deserves the benefit from these funds," Porter wrote. Information sent to Porter from J. HerWert Stone, regoinal forester from the Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest, de ipcribed the possible road route from Selma as 2.6 miles of coun ty road from Highway 199, over lt.9 miles of the Illinois River road, where it dead-ends about one mile from the Illinois Can yon Limited area boundary. &a Construction From that point there Is no construction for an estimated 37 miles to Agness. The forester said a route of about 21 miles td Lobster Creek had been pro posed, and that from there to Highway 101 the road has been completed. The unconstructed sections to aftl yme 58 miles, according to Stton He added that the Illinois r&nd Rogue River canyons are "tStremely difficult for road Dnstruction." "h-s a very rough estimate," Stone said, "this uncompleted Action would probably cost not les than $3,000,000 if built to minor road standards." The road would open up por tions of the Illinois river drain age which would "tap an area containing timber estimated to be 1,750,000.000 board feet ex clusive of the Illinois Canyon limited area," Porter said. Heavy Snowfall Reported at Lake About 714 feet of snow was reported on the ground at head quarters at Crater Lake Na tional park this morning, the park service said. r During the past 24 hours, 6Vz inches of new snow fell, bringing the total depth to 89 inches. The total depth this year compares with only 26 inches on the ground at this time last year, when the heaviest snowfall came latr in the winter. Chains are required cm High way 62 through the park and to headquarters, the service report ed The road from headquarters to the rim has been closed for several days, but will be opened as soon as possimg. ia"- - WEATHER FORECAST: Clearing this eve ning with patches of valley fog forming soon atfer sun down. Increasing high cloudi ness tonight. Cloudy Friday with occasional light rain snow level rising to 4.000 feet. Low tonight 32. High Friday 42. Temp Highest Yesterday 4 Lowest this Morning J" Prec. to 10 a.m. Today is Our Skies Tonight Sunrise J:" ? m Sunset " J Moonset 10n.rP'?i First Quarter uec 4a PROMINENT STAR Vega, low n nore.st8:07 p.m. w ill "reappear in t ii e northeast -- 4 " (ThP solar system is niovins through space in the general di rection ol this star) I an inch of rain in less than an nour, wnne snow ieu in moun tain passes. Damage at Pendleton The strong winds spread across the Cascades into eastern Oregon with gusts up to 69 miles per hour at Pendleton, where ex tensive damage was reported. Portland had power outages in the northwest and northeast sec tions of the city. A plate glass window in a service station on Canyon rd. was broken by the wind. Several street intersec tions were flooded by the down pour. Gusts of wind up to 55 miles an hour were reported at the Portland airport. The weather bureau said wind gusts of 80 miles per hour were reported at the 4,000 to 5,000 foot level over Salem, highest ever recorded there. Roof Blown Off The roof was blown off of one home in Pendleton and the wind blew down antennas and tore off a lobby door at the Pendleton airport. Traffic was tied up be tween Stanfield junction and Stanfield after trees were blown across Highway 32. Power out ages were numerous in Pendle ton, also. Seattle got winds up to 58 miles an hour and the city was hit with a rash of fallen trees and downed power lines. Calmer and cooler weather with some precipitation was fore cast today, although strong winds were expected in some areas east of the mountains. Rivers Going Up Western Oregon rivers were going up again today. The Santiam at Jefferson was up nearly a foot in 24 hours and was slightly over flood stage. The Willamette rose more than a foot at Albany and Corvallis but was well under the flood mark. Forecaster Elmer Fisher said a slight rise was expected in the lower reaches of most tributary streams today and in the main stem of the Willamette and the lower Columbia through Friday. France Considers Russsian Feelers Paris HP) Premier Felix Gaillard summoned his cabinet into session today to determine France's reply to the latest So viet "peace" feelers. Informed sources would not rule out the possibility that France would decide to hold separate talks with Russia. These sources said many of the ministers feel France and the other 14 NATO nations should explore fully any possi bility of direct bilateral negotia tions with the Soviets. The min isters, according to the sources, feel such negotiations could not be harmful and might ease in ternational tensions. - Hauser Lumber Mi Destroyed by Flames Coos Bay (IP) A lumber mill owned by the Menasha Ply wood corporation at Hauser, Ore. was destroyed by fire Wednes day. The mill was valued at $50,000 and was partly insured. It had been cutting between 35,000 and 40,000 feet of lumber per day and employed about 13 men. Cause of the blaze had not been determined. Only a few outbuildings, parked vehicles and lumber piles were saved. Sanity Hearing Set For Man in Wife's Death Salem (IP) A hearing on the mental condition of 64-year-old Allen Sleighter was to be held here today. Sleighter was being held in Marion county jail on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon after he admitted beating his wife unconscious with a claw hammer Monday. The woman. Mrs. Mabel Sleighter, 54, died in a hospital Tuesday. Cash, Cigarettes Taken From Ashland Cafe Ashland An undetermined amount of cash and cigarettes were taken by burglars who en tered the Best in a West cafe, 1209 Siskiyou blvd., Ashland, sometime over the holiday, it was reported today. John M. Hina is owner. Mem bers of the family said burglars entered through a back door and rifled cigarette and pinball ma chines and the cash register. UNUSUAL PLANT An unusual plant which grows only in southern Oregon and northern California will be used in a motion picture now being made by Universal Studios of Hollywood. Marcel LePiniec, owner of the Garden Center nursery and a nationally known botanist, last week shipped 12 cobra plants which the studio ordered for the picture "Ann Ride a Tiger," now in the process of filming. LePiniec said he does not know what use is to be made of the plants in the picture, or how the studio learned of him and his study of native Siskiyou region plants. They grow in swampy areas, are about 2V2 feet high and take their name from the snake-like hooded shape. The plants are said to be "carnivorous" in that they trap insects in the hood-like bloom and digest them. The botanist came to this region several years ago from the east coast, where he was widely known as an authority on rock plants and rock gardens, because of his interest in the nativ growth of this area. Because this area of the North American continent is, geologically speaking, the oldest section, there are forms of plant life here not found elsewhere in the world. Welfare Commission Expenses Note Rise In First 6 Months Jackson County Welfare Com mission expenditures for the usual first six months of the fiscal year exceeded the ex penditures by approximately $35,000, according to J. L. Pull man, commission administrator in Medford. ' ' "By the end of December the commission will have spent $685,628.68, compared to the $639,558 allotted under the first six months of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1958, Pullman said. "However, certain federal funds are available which will help," the administrator said. "These include federal matching funds for case work and diagnos tic services to applicants. In these categories the federal gov ernment reimburses the county welfare commission for half of the money expended." Pullman said it Is Impossible to determine what the county commission's share of the fed eral funds will be since the state welfare commission receives the money and apportions it out. The administrator said one reason for the increase or over expenditure is the rise in the number of applications under old age assistance and aid to dependent children. These cate gories, he said, have had a great er, increase in applications than any previous year he can re member. At the same time, for some unexplainable reason, aid to the disabled applications total some what less than previous years. Yet another reason for the expected overexpenditure is the increase in general assistance. This, he said, has increased somewhat but not at an alarm ing rate. "We have to expect a larger number of applications for gen eral assistance in January through May," he said. "This follows a consistent pattern established through the years in Jackson county," he added. General assistance is probably the least understood part of the welfare program, Pullman said. It covers assistance to families when the breadwinner is out of work. Usually it is a case of an employable man being unable to obtain employment, the ad ministrator said. Actually, a small proportion of the public welfare funds are spent for gen Three Mothers Awaiting Departure for Red China To New York (IPI Three Amert can mothers will leave here next Wednesday New Year's Day for China and a reunion with their sons, prisoners of the Com munists. Decided at Conference Mrs. Ruth Redmond of Yonk ers, N.Y., said today the depar ture date was decided following a "conference" with the two other mothers, Mrs. John Downey of New Britain, Conn., and Mrs. Philip G. Fecteau of Lynn, Mass. eral assistance, he added. "The most expensive, part of the program is medical care," Pullman said. "Both nursing home care and medical, expenses total nearly $500,000 for a year or represents one-third of the budget. Reason is the rising medical and hospital costs. It applies both to the nursing home and the hospital." Although Jackson county has over - expenditures of $35,000 for the first six months of this fiscal year, the county's expendi tures have been consistently under those of Josephine and Douglas counties which have smaller populations, the admin istrator said. Two Burglaries Are Reported in County Two burglaries were reported to local law enforcement agen cies this morning. About $30 in nickles was taken from 99 Tavern, 1234 South Riverside ave., according to city police in a burglary re ported at 10:30 a.m. The money was taken from a pinball ma chine, officers said. Also taken at the Tavern was $3 in pennies from the cash register. Entrance was made through a window in one of the rest rooms. The other burglary was report ed to sheriff's deputies at River side cafe, on Highway 99 north of the Rogue River junction. A small amount of money and some canned food were taken, officers said, as well as one of the music selectors pried from one of the counters. The building was entered through a rear window in the kitchen. Money also was report ed taken 'rom a cigarette ma chine. Road Conditions Highway 99. Siskiyout Fresh snow, well sanded, mo torists advised to carry chains. Highway 99, Sexton Sum mit Clear. Highway 99, Oregon moun tain Clear. Highway 62, P r o s p c t Snow flurries, highway clear. Highway 66, Green Springs New snow, well sanded. Mo torists advised to carry chains. Visit Imprisoned Sons 'We have been busy getting things together, taking shots and everything, and we plan to get away about noon on New Year's Day," Mrs. Redmond said. "We are all very excited about the whole thing." Sentenced to Life Her son, Hugh Redmond, 38, was a representative of an Amer ican import - export firm in Shanghai. He was convicted six years ago of spying and sen tenced to life imprisonment. Philip G. Fecteau, 30, and John Queen Elizabeth Pleases Subjects In Yule Address Soverign Defends Self Against Critics London (LP) Queen Eliza beth's Christmas message to the British Commonwealth made Britons just a bit prouder to day of their country and their sovereign. The response to the talk rang ed from a student's "she really shot back at her critics" to a mother's tears of joy. The Queen defended herself effectively against those who have criticized her or the mon archy in past months. She told her listeners that she could not "lead you into battle" but could fight in her own way "for everything we . know is right." Elizabeth also called for world peace and ever growing commonwealth unity. Mostly, however, she was a young and beautiful ' Queen wishing "my people" a "happy Christmas." Sidewalk Interviews What the talk meant to her subjects became apparent today during a series of sidewalk in terviews by United Press. London people all sat around the television much more touch ed than you can understand un less you are British. What was liked most though was the way she explained her role in our society today . . . "She really shot back at her critics." -After hearing her, my dad said to me "Ruddy good show that' and that's just what it was," one youngster said. A young blue-helmeted Lon don policeman commented, "I don't know much about politics or anything like that. But any Englishman who doesn't feel in spired and proud when the Queen talks to the common wealth at Christmas is crack ers." The Queen, radiant in an open neck satin afternoon dress, made the first television holiday broadcast in history by a reign ing British monarch. Most of Opportunity She made the most of the op portunity to prove to her peo ple that her outspoken critics were wrong when they called her speaking manner that "of a priggish school girl." She appeared poised and re laxed and rarely glanced at her script. And in what appeared to be a direct answer to her critics, she said, "I very much hope that this new medium will make my Christmas message more personal and direct." She touched on her role as a leader of the Commonwealth: "In the old days the monarch led his soldiers on the battle field and his leadership at all times was close and personal . . . today things are very dif ferent. I Ncannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice. But I can do something else. I can give you my heart ..." Road Right-of-Vay Buying Is Planned The state highway commission may start purchasing right-of-way for the proposed Highway 99 freeway through Medford early next year, according to W. C. (Dutch) Williams, state high way engineer. The freeway is planned along the Hawthorne park-Bear creek route, and right-of-way purchas ing will start as soon as final surveys have been made, he said. Williams said the final sur veys will not be made until after negotiations between the city and the department have been completed. The city of Medford requested several modifications in freeway interchanges and ac cess highways to the proposed freeway. Williams said construction probably will not start until 1959, but the commission hopes to secure right-of-way as soon as possible to allow residents af fected to reestablish. T. Downey, 27, both civilian em ployees of the U.S. Army, were jailed five years ago on similar charges. Downey was sentenced to life imprisonment; Fecteau got 20 years. To Take Clothing Asked what they planned to take to their sons, Mrs. Redmond said "mostly clothing." "We understand they have had some pretty mean tempera tures and they can use clothing more than anything else," she said. Under The am Eisenhower To Work On State of Union Report at Gettysburg Washington OP) The White House said today President Ei senhower will go to his Gettys burg, Pa., farm Friday for about a week of rest and work on a missile-geared 1958 legislative program. The President worked today on the proposals he will send to Congress when it returns in two weeks. The State of the Union Message, to be delivered Jan. 9, is expected to propose the big gest peacetime military budget in U.S. history as this country's reply to the challenge of Russian scientific developments. Indications are that the Presi dent is preparing to ask for a military budget of about $40 bil lion, two billion more than he asked last year and about one billion more than h expected to be actually spent in the year ending June 30, 1958. Jury Fails to Get Verdict on Case Harry Sam Mackay, Ashland, was released on $250 bail by Circuit Court Judge Edward C. Kelly on a non-support charge after a jury recently failed to reach a verdict after six hours of deliberation. Mackay, who was represented by Medford attorney Roy Ed wards, was extradicted from Id aho last month. He was returned here on a 1956 indictment. Jim Aniker, deputy district attorney, presented the state's case. Mackay was released pending further developments, according to District Attorney Thomas J. Reeder. District attorney spokesmen said this was the first local trial in several years to fail to reach a verdict and one of the few non-support cases tried by a jury in the county. New N. Y. Transit Strike Threatened New York (IP) New Yorkers harried by two strike-caused transportation tieups within a month today faced the threat of two more transit walkouts that could all but send the city's mil lions walking to work. With commuter tempers bare ly simmered down from a Christ mas Eve rush hour strike by trainment on the Long Island Railroad, the Subway ' Motor men's Benevolent association Wednesday night hinted it would strike if the city signs a new con tract with the rival Transport Workers Union. The MBA, which struck for eight days earlier this month for the right to be recognized as its own bargaining agent, warned in telegrams to Mayor Robert F. Wagner and the City Transit Au thority that the city would "be responsible for the consequences and the public will know where the blame lies" if the contract is signed 'with Michael J. Quill's TWU. Seattle Man Pleads Guilty in Court Here Billie J. Lessman, Seattle, pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to a charge of unlawful posses sion of narcotics in circuit court before Judge Edward C. Kelly. Lessman' was sentenced to three years at the Oregon state penitentiary with execution of sentence suspended under rules and regulations of Oregon pa role and probation office. Missiletoe The President also is expect ed to ask an increase in economic aid for nations menaced by Com munism and a larger federal stake in scientific training. The President will confer in Gettysburg with a series of ad ministration leaders, including Budget Director Percival Brund age, on the budget message. Press Secretary James C. Hag erty said that while the Presi dent is in Gettysburg, his pri mary job will be completion of the State of the Union Message. No decision has been made as to whether the President will de liver the message in person or send it to Capitol Hill. No Examination Date Set The President conferred to day with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles. Hagerty told newsmen who asked about the chief executive s physical condition that Eisen hower "was feeling fine today. No date has been set for any new examination to study the after effects of the mild stroke suffered by the President Nov. 25. It is understood an exami nation will be held some time in January. Russia Points To Policy Proposals Moscow (IP) Russia has call ed the Supreme Soviet's seven point international policy pro posals of last Saturday to the attention of foreign embassies here. Memoranda containing the proposals and a request that they be called to the attention of par liaments and governments were sent to the embassies Wednes day. This procedure is routine after all high level Russian de cisions. The seven-point Supreme So viet resolution contained the fol lowing proposals: Outlawing nuclear bombs. Ending nuclear tests Jan. 1. Setting up a non-nuclear weapon zone in Germany, Czech oslovakia and Poland. Signing of a NATO-Warsaw pact non-aggression treaty. A non-interference pact for the Middle East. ( End of international "war propaganda" and stimulation of peaceful cultural relations. Pope Blesses Group From Apartment Vatican City (IPI Pope Pius XII appeared at the win dow of his apartment above St. Peter's Square Wednesday and blessed 60,000 Romans and tour ists who knelt on the cobble stones. The Pope's white clad figure gleamed in the sunlight as he moved his hand in the sign of the cross above the square. Aft er he disappeared into his rooms there was a roar of approval from below. The midday appearance at the window was the only public action of the 81-year-old pontiff who began the day with mid night mass in the little chapel down the corridors from his chambers. Most of the day was dedicat ed to work and study but in the afternoon he received 15 of his close relatives. Portland (IP) Oregon fish ermen took the highest catches of the past nine years during the 1956-57 license period, the Oregon Fish commission reported. Four Children Die In Home as Mother Attends Wedding Total 2Vi Times Above Estimates By United Press A short but tragic Christmas holiday ended with a nationwide traffic death toll that topped the 200 mark. The total was 2Vz times as great as the normal toll for a non-holiday Wednesday in De cember. Ned H. Dearborn, president of the National Safety Council, 'said that "there must be a better way to celebrate Christmas on the highways." The council had estimated that only 180 persons would be killed in Christmas traffic. "We can only hope that the shock of this toll will bring about sober thinking that may hold the New Year holiday toll down to a new low," Dearborn said. At 9 a.m. (p.s.t.) Thursday, the United Press count showed 221 traffic deaths occurred between 6 p.m. Tuesday and midnight ' Wednesday. At least 28 persons died in fires and 28 in miscel laneous accidents for an overall total of 277. Ohio had the most traffic deaths of anv sinele state. 2fi. New York had 17. California IB. Michigan 12, Washington 11 and UKianoma 10. Children Burn To Death Two of the worst holiday high way wrecks killed four persons each. They were a train-car crash at Bradford. Ohio and n two-car collision near Tacoma, Wash. Ohio also was the scene of fire tragedy when four children burned to death in a lilaze that destroyed their home while their mother was . in Indiana to attend her son's wedding. A mother and her two young children burned to death at Quincy, Mass., when an oil stove exploded and the resulting fire destroyed their home. Five Oregonians Killed in Traffic By UNITED PRESS - William J. Blake, Allegany; was killed Christmas afternoon as he backed his car out of his nephew's driveway and plunged over a 40-foot bank. He was thrown from the car and crush ed as the vehicle rolled down the bluff. Four persons died in Christ mas eve accidents in Oregon, three of them in one crash. A head-on collision near Scap- poose shortly before midnight Tuesday killed James Lee Hop son, 22, Milwaukie; Frederick Johnson, 54, Portland, and Carl Rosen, 63, Vancouver, Wash. John Cline, 21, St. Helens, was in serious condition in a St. Helens hospital with head in juries. Mrs. O. G. Sooter, 58, Grants Pass, was killed about 5 p.m. Tuesday when the car in which she was riding crashed into a ditch north of Yoncalla. Her husband, Willard D. Sooter, suf fered minor injuries while two children in the car were report ed uninjured. Hagerty To Limit Procession on Trip Washington (IPI White House Press Secretary James C. Hag erty said today that when Presi-' dent Eisenhower drives to Get tysburg Friday reporters and photographers will be permitted to put only four cars in his pro cession. Hagerty's decision dated back to the President's trip from Get tysburg to Washington earlier this month. One press car was damaged then when hit , by a skidding White House vehicle, and state police along the route complained about the length of the procession which involved ever 10 press, radio and photo graphic cars. The White House has long felt that the motor procession should be limited in size as a matter of safety. Portland (IP) Frederick B. Dickens, 21, a Navy man sta tioned at Tongue Point Naval Station at Astoria, died in a hos pital here today of injuries suf fered Wednesday afternoon near Woodland, Wash. DOW-JONES AVERAGES New York (TP) Dow-Jones final stock averages: 30 in dustrials 434.16, up 5.05; 20 railroads 98.17, up 2.50; 15 utilities 68.06, up 0.07, - and 65 stocks 145.51, up 1.76. Sales today were about 2,280.000 shares compared with. 2,220, 000 shares Tuesday.
