12 A
SUNDAY, JANUARY IS, 1961
MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, ORE.
'The Co
Like Ao 0 offnimDshed Jewel'
4v
s
Gold Hill's Civic Leaders Say:
'Let's Get City Moving Again'
By MARY KELL and JOHN STAFFORD
Gold Hill Correspondent and Mail Tribune Staff Writer
Gold Hill - "What's wrong
with Gold Hill?" Mayor Mil
ton Steinmetz asked 30 busi
ness leaders, councilmen and
planning committee members
Monday night. "Everywhere I
go people are asking me this
question," Steinmetz ion
tinued. H. D. (Bud) Force says,
"Gold Hill has been standing
still for some time. If we stand
still much longer our progress
is going to be backward in
stead of forward." Force is
chairman of the city planning
committee.
Is something wrong with
Gold Hill? Is the city prog
ressing in the wrong direc
tion? Apparently some city of
ficials and business leaders
think so.
The crowd of 30 attending
the special Monday session
called by Steinmetz to con
sider city prbblems was one
of the largest to attend such a
meeting in many years, offi
cials indicated. The spirit of
the meeting paralleled John
Kennedy's election slogan -
Lets get this city moving
again,
Lead to story of City
Many of the problems con
sidered lead to a story of the
city itself.
Steinmetz slates the city has
experienced a population de
cline in the last half-century
that is a matter for concern
The 1960 census showed 608
residents, compared to 619 in
1950. Fifty years ago the pop
ulation in the area was close
to 1,200, the mayor said.
In 1910 gold mining was the
major industry in the city,
according to Steinmetz. Little
lumbering was done in the
immediate area. Today the
picture has changed. Heavy
and light Industry, area fruit
growing companies and the
lumber mills keep the town
alive. .
Another problem, some offi
cials say, the town is facing
centers around the area s
main Industry - The Ideal Ce- 'j'1 Location
need for a water filtration
system, according to Stein
metz. Presently the cement
company pumps the city water
supply from the Rogue river
at little cost to the city.
The water is pumped to two
reservoirs, and then chemical
ly treated with chlorine.
Many times the wuter con
tains an unbalanced propor
tion of chlorine, making it ob
jectionable, the mayor im
plycd. A water filtration sys
tem would eliminate use of
the chemical, he said.
Preliminary examination of
a filtration system Indicates it
would cost a little over $100,
000, Steinmetz said. One pos
sible means of financing the
project would be by a combi
nation revenue and general
obligation bond, he Indicated.
Gold Hill residents would vote
on the project if a bond issue
was proposed. However, this
is still in the talking stages
and an engineer will have to
be consulted on exact costs if
the project is pursued.
More Businesses
City officials are also de
sirous of interesting more bus
inesses and industries to
tablish plants in Gold Hill
This would encourage people
to build and buy homes in the
area, they feel. More small
industries such as- Jeddcloh
Brothers Sweed Mill are de
sired.
The company was estab
lished In Gold Hill in 1955. It
produces modern machinery
used in production of ply
wood. Five or six men were
employed at the start, and this
figure has risen to about 60
full - time employees today,
Fred Jeddeloh, co-owner, says.
The terrific growth the com
pany has experienced has
meant an increase in physical
facilities. From 6,000 square
feet of production floor space
In 1955 the company has ex
panded to 16,000 today. Plans
are being considered for addi
tion of another 8,000 square
lect, Jeddeloh says.
Highway 99. The dairy
presently supplying milk on
wholesale basis to 25 markets
in the Rogue valley area. The
dairy herd has grown from
one cow in 1954 to 100 today,
Mr, and Mrs. John Jaksch
operate the dairy.
Although the city faces
problems, officials point out
that it has much to offer po
tential residents. The sewage
disposal system is termed
"equal to any in the state'
by Mayor Steinmetz. It was
completely over hauled In
1952 and now is considered
adequate for a population of
5,000 people.
The city is rare In its small
amount of Indebtedness. Cur
rent indebtedness is only $1,
500 remaining on a bond issue
that financed a new fire truck
Of the 4.7 miles of city
owned streets, 3.5 miles are
paved. These figures don't in
clude more than a mile of
paved streets owned by the
stale.
Assessed valuation of city
property was $534,217.56 in
1960, compared to $522,376 in
1955.
Building permits issued in
1960 totaled 23 with a valua
tion of $151,071. These in
cluded two residential homes,
seven residential home addi
tions, a $122,031 addition to
the Patrick Elementary
school, a new post office and
other miscellaneous projects.
The post office was dedi
cated In August and contains
1,238 feet of floor space. Con
struction cost was about
$8,500.
The school system has im
proved facilities at a rapid
rate since 1055. The Patrick
Elementary school was com
pleted in 1956 at a cost of
$77,334. It is situated on eight
acres near the northern city
limits. Four classrooms were
included In the initial con
struction. In 1960 four additional
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CITY FACING PROBLEMS Gold Hill is a city confronted with problems, offer prospective residents, city officials say- Recently the Chamber of
according to Mayor Milton Steinmetz. The problems center around a lack , Commerce was re-activated and preliminary plans call for the chamber to
of growth in recent years. The population has been slipping slightly for ..work in spreading the Gold Hill message far and wide. -some
time. Situated on the banks of the Rogue river, the city has much to
ment company. The cemen
plant came to the Gold Hill
area in 1813. It was founded
originally as the Beaver Port
land Cement company. It
underwent a series of owner
ship changes until taken over
by Ideal. .
Two types of cement are
manufactured by 100 hourly
and 15 salaried employees.
Most of the cement is used In
the central and southern Ore
gon areas. The plant ordinari
ly operates 12 months of the
year, according to Frank Sut
cliffe, manager.
One of Smallest
The Gold Hill operation Is
one of Ideal's smallest. The
company has 16 plants and
four terminals In the U.S. The
company Is happy in Its Gold
Hill location, Sutcliffe says.
Unfortunately, many claim
the plant Is creating problems
Possible air pollution is blam
ed on allcdgcd cement dust
coming from the plant during
operating hours. That air pol
lution exists hasn't been
scientifically dcte r m 1 n e d
However, the company has
agreed to have the state sani
tary department conduct scl
entitle tests in various loca
lions to determine if cement
dust is a factor In the possible
air pollution.
Ideal has one of the latest
dust filtration systems avail
able, according to Sutcliffe
An electrical precipitator
magnetizes dust particles
which are collected on a mag
netic rod. The system was In
stalled about 10 years ago,
Whether alledged air pollu
tion Is actually due to cement
dust will have to wait severa
months for determination. The
sanitary department tests take
an extended period of time,
Water Filtration System
Another problem is the
He says the plant is located
in Gold Hill because skilled
laborers were needed and the
city s location between Med-
ford and Grants Pass provided
a convenient skilled labor
market from which to draw.
About 30 per cent of the em
ployees come from Grants
Pass and about 30 per cent
from Medford. The remain
ing 40 per cent are situated
In the Gold Hill area.
The friendly attitude of
Gold Hill people also influ
enced our decision to settle in
this area," Jeddeloh com
ments
"We emphasize continual
development of new products
in order to insure the security
of our company," he says.
"The plywood Industry at the
present time has a great de
mand for labor - saving devices."
Other businesses In the area
include fruit orchards, lum
ber mills and a farm and
dairy. The Del Rio orchard
located about a mile north of
the city limits, is one of the
areas oldest industries.
Expanding Facilities
It was founded In 1906. and
has been expanding facilities
at a continual rate ever since,
In 1059 a modern cold stor
age building was constructed
at a cost of about $75,000.
During the 1060 harvest sea
son 72 people were employed
in the orchards.
H. S. Deuel Is manager of
the business. Deuel says that
about 75,000 lugs of penrs are
harvested each year. They are
shipped to all parts of the
country, and even reach Fin
land, Sweden and Canada. Ap
pics arc also grown.
A new business in Ihe area
is the Three Jay's Guernsey
farm and Dairy, located
about a mile north of town on
Barker's announce with regret
pair of their shoes are dead.
that some 300
If you would like to visit the bodies where they
lie at 206 E. Main, please bring nine dollars.
'pretty good! the formerly
sold for as high s $22.95
Preparations for
Annual Kiwanian
Show Get Started
Preparations for the 13th
annual Medford Kiwanis Kap
ers come out from behind the
scenes this week wun ine
kickoff of tlie program adver
tising campaign.
Members of the service club
will begin contacting business
and professional men of the
community Wednesday, Jan.
18, and the drive will con
tinue through March 1.
The Kapers' production,
"Off the Hook," will be pre
sented March 8, 9, 10 and 11
at the senior high school audi
torium. Proceeds from the mu
sical variety show will go to
ward Kiwanis philanthropical
projects, among them the
countywlde dental clinic for
youngsters who cannot other
wise afford such care.
General chairman of the
Kapers this year is Herb Part
ridge. His division heads are
Doug Phillips, program and
advertising; Fred Gattcr, tick
ets; Ken Baker, publicity; Bob
Balk, show; Dr. Abncr Clark,
talent, and Glen Allen, fi
nance. Phillips has called an or
ganizational luncheon meet
ing of advertising division
team captains and special
chairmen for Tuesday noon at
the Jackson hotel.
Ills organization Includes
Bill Cobb, assistant division
chairman, Bob Collins, Fred
Sears, Hugh Engstrom, Jen
nings Pierce and Leo Radkc,
team captains, and the follow
ing special committeemen, Dr.
Billy Blackstonc, dentists;
Ken Wright, attorneys; Gor
don Mackenzie, Insurance
men; Jerry Lausmann, whole
sale lumber firms; Dick
Payne, fruit growers; Dr.
Buonocore, doctors; Jack Bur
pec, auto dealers; Russ Brown,
retail gasoline dealers; Dwlght
Houghton, banks and savings
and loan firms; Max Millhol
lln and Paul Mitchell, retail
grocers; Jack Edson, retail
lumber firms; Jack Morcland,
electrical appliance dealers,
and Vic Milnes, program lay
out. The Kapers have been
staged each year by Klwanl
ans since 10411.
Eugene Man Turns
Bmck; 'If Was Cold'
-' Eugene - H'PD - Harry John
son figured it wasn't worth it
Friday. o o
Johnson, who si out on foot
Thursday from Florence to
get to Saudi Arabia, turned
back nrar here after making
aboutQ.-iO miles.
Said Johnson: "giwas cold."
classrooms, a multi-purpose
room, cafeteria, stage and
physical education floor were
added. The addition cost
$122,000. The outdoor physi
cal education field also is
scheduled for improvement.
Leveling and grading is to be
done, and an application to
the state for pumping rights
from the Rogue river is be
ing made. An irrigated turf
field will make it possible for
tackle football to be initiated,
Gilbert Mack, principal says.
Hanby Improved
Improvements have also
been made to Hanby school
facilities, Mack states. Cafe
teria facilities have been ex
panded, classrooms have all
been improved and the home
making department enlarg
ed. Boys and girls dressing
rooms in the gymnasium
have been expanded.
Another unique feature was
added to the Hanby activity
schedule in 1960, with forma
tion of an amateur radio club.
The Federal Communications
commission granted the school
a club radio call of K7LYX in
April, 1960. Six students have
received amateur licenses so
far.
City law enforcement has
also been improved. L. C. Har
rison was appointed as police
chief last fall and has institut
ed several new programs. One
of these is a security check
of business establishments
and industries nightly. Space
has also been set aside at the
cily hall for use by the police
department.
Harrison says a needed im
provement is addition of a po
lice radio for the city. "Quick
communication between law
enforcement agencies is nec
essary," according to Harrison.
Gold Hill is facing growth
problems, however, as H. D.
Force, planning chairman
says, "The city Is like an un
finished jewel. All It needs is
a little polishing."
j i . r. "iTiTfn i"1fii,n . mi i.. ...iti'iJjf sAss3Kf"J JMY SPusiJsit. iVSfet ""-t.mnStLKl
MACHINERY PLANT Jeddeloh Brothers Sweed Mill Inc.
was established in Gold Hill in 1955. The plant designs and
produces machinery used in plywood production. About 60
full-time employees operate the industry. The friendly
attitude of Gold Hill people influenced the company's de
cision to settle in the community, Fred and Otto Jeddeloh,
co-owners, sny.
ip$ rBri 1 hWk b 0 fill
r- li;f'if? fill tils Ii Mi Hii l-H4 ;
Engineers
Monday Meeting ;
J. A. McCormack, resident
engineer, and A. A. Anderson,
office engineer with the Med
ford branch of the state high
way department, will be guest
speakers at the year's first
meeting of the Rogue Val'ey
Section, Professional Engi
neers of Oregon, Monday,.
Jan. 16.
The dinner meeting will ba
held at Ping's Garden restau-i
rant, Medford, beginning at.
7 p.m.
Topic for the evening is to
be "Interstate 5 Through the
Rogue River Valley."
More than six million tele
vision sets were produced in,
the United States in 1959, a
20 per cent increase over the
previous year.
"Hi! I'm Kathleen Ostcr
man and I'm inviting you to
attend our Open House
Party, Friday, January
20th, celebrating the merg
er of
The Rogue Valley
State Bank
Medford
and
The Oregon Bank
Portland
Watch for your Treasure
Chest key in the mail."
Rogue Valley Branch
1 1 09 Court Street
East Medford Branch
701 East Jackson
SCHOOL ADDITION The Gold Hill school system has
been improving facilities at a rapid rate during the last
five years. The Patrick elementary school was completed
In 1956. In 1960 this addition costing $120,000 was added.
Four additional classrooms, a multi-purpose room, cafeteria
stage and physical education floor were included In the '
addition.
IRRIGATION
PUMPS
to 60 H.P.
From V- ff up
1s H.P. Shallow
Well $ggoo
Vi H.P. DEEP WELL
With 42 Gallon Tank
and
-rS$RAj Charger
15450
Complete
Siskiyou Hardware
Ph. SP 2-2939225 W. Miin
MEDFORD, OREGON
we Give S&H Green itampi
V4r
'
it
sMKitt
XT
4 i
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DEAL CEMENT PLANT The Ideal Ce
ment company plant is located Just outside
the northern city limits of Gold Hill. It is
the principal industry in the area and cm
ploys 115 people. Two types of cement are
manufactured and most of it Is used In the
central and southern Oregon areas. The com
pany is happy in its Gold Hill location, ac
cording to Frank Sutcliffe, manager.
HELP
US!
v
need clothing, iho.t, dishes,
furniture, and bedding.
We PiclCUp.
HELP OTHERS!
The Salvation Army
30 N. Holly
SPring 3-7335
w m m
We'd love to help you
with yoifr decoratinsj!
o
Colorama Paint Genier
"Your Silver Dollar Stamps Paint Store'
COLORAMA & GLIDDEN FAINTS
,315 E. Main
Ph. SP 2-4564
MAUSOLEUM ENTOMBMENT
-PLUS-COMPLETE
Funeral Service for
Less than the National Average
Funeral Service Cost
Joe Hoslck Funeral Director
SISKIYOU
Ask About
the
OREGON
FUNERAL
INSURANCE
PLAN
1 uw
SjttMsasMgMsas 1 1 n I KW "mi "WW W "iiwinwej iw ni ' u 1 mm im piej
m$ I I '
vX-:-?1 A I II I SP 2-5488
lit II '
MORTUARY
CEMETERY
MAUSOLEUM
CREMATORY
INVESTIGATE
j and
with
One
Call
In One location
L G. "lew" Miles
Cemetery Manager
SISKIYOU MEMORIAL PARK
1
-1 V
u4l
605 Highland Dr.