House Trailers Declared Fine for Purpose
But Offer No Replacement for a House
By BILL THOMAS
UPI Correspondent
Louisville, Ky.-flJPD - They
used to be known as house
trailers, and people who lived
in them were referred to as
"tin can tourists," or worse.
In the years since World
War II, however, the brightly
painted or silver-sided homes-on-wheela
have acquired size,
comfort, even luxury, and a
degree of dignity.
The old term "trailers," is
fading out in favor of "mobile
homes," and more than three
million Americans live in
them-including the Thomases:
my wife and I and our two
small children.
What led us, and has led
so many American families, to
live in a home that can be
whisked off to far-away-places
at a moment's notice? What
are the economic and social
facts of trailer life? What is
it really like living in a home
8 to 10 feet wide and 35 to
60 feet in length?
Convenient Life
We have owned three trail
ers, starting with smaller
models and progressing to one
of the larger ones. We have
found the life fascinating, con
venient, in some respects ecc-nomical-and
crowded.
We started trailer life short
ly after we rnarried, between
our sophomore and junior
years in college in-1954. Both
of us had previously spent all
our lives in big roomy houses,
and we found the idea of the
compact little mobile homes a
fascinating novelty-
We rented a 28-foot one-
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summer
straws
'
Beige-ombre
Whit.
Nylon Mesh 0
Milan Straw
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on
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THE CORNER SHOE STORE
Central at Main Medford
bedroom trailer that offered
the two of us, as college stu
dents, a great deal of comfort.
Except for one thing. It got
awfully hot. Window fans
didn't help much-they just
circulated the hot air.
Even so, after three months,
Backing Accidents
Number 4,092
When your car is in reverse,
your eyes should be, too,
Chief of Police Charles P.
Champlin of Medford said to
day. Chief Champlin said many
drivers fail to check behind
them before backing up and
as a result the state last year
added 4,092 accidents to its
record that could otherwise
have been prevented. Almost
all such accidents occurred
within cities. Medford ac
counted for 103 backing acci
dents on public property.
While only one of the acci
dents in the state attributed
to backing actions resulted in
a fatality, 83 produced in
juries of some type and 4,008
resulted in property damage,
the chief reported.
In addition, 31 pedestrian
motor vehicle accidents in
volved cars which were back
ing up when the accident oc
curred, Chief Champlin said.
He added that it would take
little extra time to- turn
around and check carefully
before putting the car in mo
tion. Beige-ombre
White
Nylon Mesh
Milan Straw
we were sold on trailer life.
In the fall, returning to school,
we bought our first mobile
home-a 30-foot, one-bedroom
model which, although offer
ing little compared with to
day's plush models, still was
pretty nice. It had wall-to-wall
carpeting in both the living
room and bedroom. We lived
in it for two years.
During those two years, we
watched the sides of the trail
er gradually close in on us
We watched our closets get
smaller and smaller, and our
storage space-ample at first-
shrink and shrink until it was
bulging. Then David arrived.
Things really began to
crowd in on us. Extra clothes
came along, and a lot of other
things-
We moved in a bassinet,
which took a big piece out of
the living room. Later, the
bassinet had to go in favor
of an apartment-size baby bed,
and before long a high chair
which took still more room
even though it folded up.
In Each Others Way
ine time came when we
were constantly in each oth
er's way, and something had
to give.
Unwilling to abandon the
advantages that trailer living
offered us, we began to search
ior a larger trailer in our
price range, and found it in
a new 37-foot, two-bedroom
model.
This offered dream home
design, decoration, roominess
and storage space. It had a
full-size "island type" bed in
the back bedroom, a three
qarter bed on the bottom and
single bunk above in the oth
er bedroom, and the couch
could be made into a double
bed if needed, making sleep
ing space for seven altogether.
Three large clothes closets
offered ample wardrobe space,
and there was plenty of stor
age for linens. The bath had
both tub and shower. The
trailer was air conditioned
and had furnace-type heating
through vents in the floor.
It was luxury indeed for
us. Then, I was' graduated
from college, commissioned in
the Army and ordered to ac
tive duty in Maryland. Our
home was about to become
truly mobile, and we were
about to discover some of the
facts of trailer life.
I feared the trailer was too
heavy for our station wagon
to pull over the Appalachian
Mountains, so we hired a
mover to tow it the 750 miles
-at 25 cents a mile
Bought Pickup Truck
This seemed pretty expen
sive, and we decided that if
we were going to keep on
living in a trailer, we might
as well have homething to tow
it with. So we bought a half
ton pickup truck, which we
thought would do the job. As
it turned out later, the half
ton was too light to do much
towing either.
This I found out after com
pleting my Army hitch and
heading back across the moun
tains with that four-ton mon
ster behind me. Inexperienced
at the job, it was a tough haul
but we finally made it . . .
and I swore I would never
undertake to move a mobile
home anywhere again.
Now we have two children,
and once more the walls are
beginning to move in a little
day by day. Room is more and
more a thing to be desired.
We think now we are ready
to settle down and find a
home, but with the type of
house we need for a growing
family, it may be a long time
before we get out of our trail
er. Ideal for Purpose
My wife and I have con
cluded that mobile home is
ideal for its purpose. For
those who must travel in
their work from time to time,
for military personnel, for
those not ready to settle
down, and for the retired
couple, it offers convenience
and luxury not otherwise
available at the price
There is one major problem
anyone contemplating life in
a mobile home must consider
a growing shortage of suitable
places to put your trailer.
A spokesman for the Mo
bile Home Manufacturers As
Quotes From the News
By UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
San Quentin, Calif.-Mrs. Louise Gschwend, 55, who was
held hostage on a fishing pier for six hours by two escaped
convicts:
"I hope they don't take It out on the boys. They were good
boys. I'm sure they didn't intend to harm me."
New York-Michigan's Gov. G. Mennen Williams, on his
qualifications for the Democratic presidential nomination,
which he may or may not seek:
"I have been governor of a large state longer than any
men ever has before. I don't say that's the only qualification,
of course, but you do have the opportunity to get a good
deal of experience."
Washington-Harry Bridges, West Coast longshore leader,
on why he invoked the Fifth amendment on a question-is
he a Communist?-he had previously answered, negatively,
under oath:
"There have been one or more attempts to frame me on
this same issue. I think this committee is trying to start an
other court case."
New York-Arthur Godfrey, telling his television audi
ence about his expected surgery for a chest tumor:
"Keep your fingers crossed. I have three good omens. I
feel good; my weight hasn't gone down, and my appetite's
good."
Katmandu, Nepal-Thote, 27, a Tibetan refugee who said
he had been about to join the Communist party when the re
volt broke out in his country:
"Every Tibetan is a prisoner. The whole country now has
been turned into a vast prison."
Washington-Comptroller General Joseph Campbell, ac
cusing the Navy of withholding information from govern
ment auditors:
"We do not know and have no way of determining what
material has been deleted unless we are permitted to review
the entire report."
Wall Street Chatter
New York - (DPD - Investors
Research Company "fully ex
pects this week's rise to be
the beginning of a great up
surge in stock values," with
groups such as aluminum,
automation, electrical equip
ment, airline, office equip
ment, steel, drug and building
materials remaining in the
Vanguard.
E. F. Huttong & Company's
Joseph E. Granville says re
cent softness in coppers is ex
pected to be temporary, and
as the bull market approaches
its more dynamic and final
phase, it is likely to be topped
off by a sharp unswing in the
metals, pricinpally copper.
L. O. Heeper of W. E. Hut
ton & Co. feels Norfolk &
Western should be able to
earn around $9.50 a share this
year, and perhaps $11 in 1960
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' SP 3-3619
JOHNSTON STORES
112 S. RIVERSIDE
sociation says mobile homes
are being sold at more than
twice the rate that spaces are
being provided for them. The
inevitable result has been the
placing of many fin costly mo
placing of many fine costly
mobile homes in makeshift,
inadequate and sometimes un
Combination A mobile home costs just
about what you want to pay
for it and how much you want
in it. Many homes in the
55,000 class offer air condi
tioning, furnace heat, full-size
bathtub and shower, built-in
ovens and other features.
Wall-to-wall carpeting is al
most standard.
If the buyer aspires to en
ter the $10,000 class, he can
get built-in washer-dryer com
binations, split level living and
in some cases even fireplaces
in the living room. Some
trailers are double-decked.
You can enjoy gracious liv
ing on wheels. A mobile home
has everything a house has
to offer-except room, storage
space and permanence.
It is no replacement for a
house-but It can be a home.
. . . Says weakness in Ameri
can seating provides an op
portunity to make trading
purchases in light of antici
pated $3.50 to $3.75 a share
probable for the year's earn
ings. Hayden Stone's General
Technical Survey says Stan
dard Oil of Indiana is in a
position to move above 60,
with improvement in crude
reserve position, re-entry into
foreign field and increased
production of crude and na
tural gas auguring well for
earnings . . . says sales and
earnings of New York Air
Brake should rebound sharp
ly in 1959, with increase in
quarterly dividend antici
pated. Livestock raising is an im
portant industry in Paraguay.
m
H
:
Alaskan Traveler. To
The local chapter of Izaak
Walton League of America
will sponsor a series of three
talks at the Girls Community
club Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday.
Speaker will be Herb
Kenaga, Alaskan traveler and
photographer, who will show
HUBBARD BROS
KENNEDY
TACKLE BOX
Genuine Kennedy brand model
BC-155 tackle box as shown.
Regular $7.50
75th Birthday $K25
Party. Price w
T Ktapi coffc unms int at ad Ham.
Factory List $19.95
75th Birthday $1488
Party Price I
Safety Goggle
Wide vision Mono-Safety Gog
gle may be used over glasses.
Regular $2.35
75TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
PRICE
$1.95
Wrench Set
5 piece open-end wrench set.
Va" through Va". Forged. Plat
ed. Regular $1.98
75TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
PRICE
$1.35
SHERWIN WILLIAMS
House Paint 9
"S.W.P." is Sherwin Williams
best quality exterior house
paint. Choice of white or reg
ular colors.
Regular $7.40 Gallon
75th Birthday
Party Price Gal.
$519
SCREEN DOOR
HINGES
Adjustable tension. Choice of
brass or bronze. Choice full sur
face or half surface.
Regular $1.80 Pair
75th Birthday
Party Price
$j25
MAIN AND RIVERSIDE
MEDFORD,
)'
Stainlm storf ftiKB j;
arcra trot IS j f if 1 -j
coHh ton B - I C jS t A
Stawlm tlMl fl
strong coffM rXZ?. "
IMS.,
Show Slides at Talks
slides of Alaska. The program
will start at 8 p.m. and pre
ceding each program will be
an hour of stereophonic music
recordings.
Austria reports, in Vienna,
a 20 per cent boost in steel
output.
Don't
No. 99 O'Cedar
SPONGE MOP .
No. 99 O'Cedar sponge water
mop is a new TWIN ACTION
mop. Has larger surface, new
type squeeze action.
Regular $3.95
75th Birthday
Party Price
$2
99
BETTER DACRON
SLEEPING BAG
Big 36"x80" full zipper bags
two will zip together to make
double bag. Good looking dur
able cotton poplin cover. Heat
ray treated rayon lining. 3-lb.
100 dacron filled. Has mat
tress pocket.
Regular $28.95
75th Birthday $M95
Party Price -
No. 89A CORONA
HAND PRUNER
The Corona 89A is one of the
best anvil and single blade type
hand pruners. They stay sharp
for years and cut smoother and
with less effort.
75th Birthday
Party Price
98
flexible Pladie HOUSEWARES
VEGETABLE Dill
srBolis a peeH
No. 1257 Powerhouse
DRILL
As Shown
2.5 Amp. Motor
Va" Jacobs Keyed Chuck
Ample Power for Attachments
Factory List $21.95
75th BIRTHDAY
PARTY PRICE .
$127i
MAGNETIC
CUPBOARD GATGH
Magnamatic cupboard catch,
10 pound pull. Easy to install.
Regular 39c
75th Birthday
Party Price
33c
Miff
PHONE SP 2-61 89
OREGON
I RAIT f
I AUTOMATIC " k
Itmggei lOOt
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MAIL TRIBUNE, Medford, Oregon, Wednesday, April 22, 1959
GROUNDS FOR PROTEST
Hastings, England-flJPD-John
Palfrey, general secretary of
the Motor Schools Association,
protested to a trade confer
ence today that there is at
least one licensed teacher of
automobile driving who has
lost his own driver's license
ENDS SATURDAY, APRIL 25
$100.00 In Prizes
BE SURE TO REGISTER
BEFORE 4 P.M. SATURDAY
Free drawing for $100.00 in merchandise gift
certificates during Hubbard Bros. 75th Birthday
'Sale. Drawing Saturday, April 25. YOU DO NOT
HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN. You do not
have to buy to participate! Just come in and
register.
FIRST PRIZE $50.00 in Merchandise of
Your Choice
SECOND PRIZE $25.00 in Merchandise of
Your ChnltM
THIRD PRIZE
FOURTH PRIZE..
SAVE NOW!
Miss These Values!
LADDERS
No. 436 foot household lad
ders with dadoed and steel
trussed steps and steel bound
top.
Regular $7.20
75th Birthday
Party Price
$399
HEAVY TOOL CORD
We do mean heavy 142
flexible cord set to handle elec
tric saws and other tools with
high power consumption. 50 ft.
cord fitted with heavy duty
couplings. .
Regular $6.95
75th Birthday
Party Price
$46S
4 IN. PAINT BRUSH
4 inch wide nylon brush. Brush
is tapered and bristles are flag
ged for smoother finish work.
Regular $4.98
75th Birthday
Party Price
$3
19
A roomy, sturdy, storage bio that wont
break, rust chip or corrode. Cleans
easily. Fruits and vegetables are read
ily accessible.
STACK W!
Ose singly or in multiple units to meet
your storage space.
specially
designed feet
lock units
solidly
Reg. $2.79
75th
Birthday
Party Price
$167
HOUSEWARES
Trouble Light
50 foot cord with globe guard
and tool tap.
Regular $3.20
75th Birthday
Party Price
WHEELS
10" x 1.75 ballbearing wheels
with heavy molded rubber tire.
Regular $2.25
75th Birthday
Party Price
$65
Iff
for drunken driving.
We Give ff
GREEN STAMPS
CENTRAL REXALL DRUG
Main and Central
1
$15.00 in Merchandise of
Your Choice
.410.00 in Merchandise 4
Your Choice
Btg-Fimitr Stae
BAKES.
TOASTS
ax! FRIES!
Reversible Grids
lht
with automatic Sig
nal light
NOW cook and
serve the modem
way, right -at the
tablet This 14"
square beauty
bakes four pleto
size waffles all at
once ... or re-,
verse to the grill
ing grids and use
the double electric
fryer for pancakes
lEVEKWU tlltS
SUT-KSBTMT
RR...CTH-CO01
IMMKAT coartoi
...our pons
m ton saws
and sausage or bacon end eggs. Makes
wonderful grilled sandwiches, too, and
delicious canape. Come in, end sae
it today! (
Regular $21.95
BIRTHDAY $1C88
PARTY PRICE . . IO
MECHANICS'
TOOL BOX
1 8 inch tool box which it staotf)
to hold tools. Double handle RQ
with lift out tray.
Regular $6.99
75TH BIRTHDAY PARTt
PRICE
$
3.95
REFUSE
CONTAINER
Unbreakable handles and lock
ing cover. Superb coppertone
coloring blends well with sur
rounding area. Buirt to take
rough handling.
75th Birthday
$a59
:6!
Party Price
Yard Light
Weather-proof yard light for
wall mounting. Has wide shade.
Regular $3.25
75th Birthday
$2
Party Price..
GRA8IT GLOVES
Are rough finished natural rub
ber coated. They grip wet or
dry. Outwears leather out
wears canvas five times.
Regular $1.00
75th Birthday
Party Price
75c
Pr.
Free Delivery
Within Medford
City Limits
$1.00 or More