MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON
CHIT CHAT-
It JOI COWLfY
Mail Tribune rai Edit
Agriculture and rural people can no longer continue to
miiuiB me cuy sireicn, or wnat the experts call urban ex
pansion. r .
This has bepn rpnpafeH (1mA nA Bnt u...
, , , - ' - - ...... 1-IIU 1UB Mgaill, vui ICJC"
tltion is considered the essence of the learning process so
we are repeating it again. This thought has been demon-
naicu uunng recent events in the Rogue valley, too.
The Talent people were blissful among their stretch of
, mcmiug jiuj, aecouu nana stores ana a jumoie or unsightly
roadside businesses. Then along came the proposal for an
other wrecking j ard-and they awoke with a jolt. We noticed
these businesses are being cleaned up considerably. Eagle
Pniflf roci r)(in t o uiieho l. . . u-j - : . i .
wrecking yard threatened to establish on Gregory rd. and
wre tuuciii tiubaie uver cunveraion oi me meuco
logging railroad to a log truck road.
Although Sams Valley residents recently turned down
n interim zoning proposal, we predict they will be next.
Many of the current sight-unseen land sales are being made
there. People who can ill afford to waste their money, buy
land described with bountiful water, lush pastures and easy
access roads only to discover they have been sadly misled.
Result? They move out leaving their squatter's shack or
partly finished house and another ugly landmark for Jack--son
county. Zoning won't solve the problem, but it might
neip. a county building code would help, too-a code which
has some common sense standards to help people construct
solid, neat appearing homes which will return a fair value
to them for the money Invested in labor and building materials.
Traditionally, Americans have hated regulation, any
kind of regulation. This is particularly true of rural people.
But such regulation cannot be avoided and can be used
effectively to maintain that rural independence. Only, the
jural people and the farmers must work together with plan
ning commissions and work out regulations which would be
satisfactory to most people. ...
As one authority has pointed oat, so far little informa
tion is generally available on what rural units of govern
ment can do with problems of urban expansion; Fortunately,
Jackson county under the leadership of County Judge Earl
Miller, with the planning commissions of our various cities
and towns, is fostering a land-use study and a co-ordinated
planning program.
Land-use means what areas are best suited for heavy
Industry, light industry, homes and agriculture. It also re
veals what the existing uses of certain areas are and what
' the overall growth pattern is. To learn how your community
or area fits into this pattern, all you have to do is to come
to the publicly announced Jackson County Regional Plan
ning Adivsory committee meetings held at the courthouse
Throughout this nation, it is becoming' more and more
difficult to separate the rural from the city. This means
many city problems are becoming country problems. The
need for a home rule charter is apparent. The county gov
' ernment must be allowed to solve its own problems as they
come up. The county government must be flexible enough
created when the cities spread out into, the country and met
ropolitan type services are needed.
Such supplements to city living as water reservoirs, air
ports,, golf courses .and regional and industrial parks are
i : , t : i i u.. 1 1 1 j n(ni
xounu ill ruiai uieaa. ieciaiuiis mauc ujr cities uu uci.v
the country. And the reverse is true. If rural areas1 ignore
the problems created by metropolitan expansion. If they
adopt the policy of having no policy, the results are going
to be unsatisfactory to everyone concerned.
But, when the rural people do adopt policies they should
not be designed to keep city growth out. This would be like
bucking the law of gravity. On the other hand, the city
people must understand country problems. The country
people must be Invited to help solve mutual growth prob
lems. This is one big aim of the regional planning advisory
committee. ' '
Since' agriculture requires use of large pieces of land,
the farmers here should take a vital interest in land-use
studies. Farm groups here don't seem to understand or
appreciate the advantages to agriculture of controls which
guide orderly development, halt premature subdivision and
head off speculation in underdeveloped, lands and the ruin
ous effects such speculation has on farming over a wide
zone around the urban center. We would like to see Grange
mee'lngs, stockmen's meetings, dairymen's meetings and
fruitgrowers' meetings devoted to discussions of this urban
growth problem.
"Urban expansion gives rise to fiscal problems for ,the
local governments in the surrounding rural and semi-rural
areas and to tax problems for the farmer and his neighbors.
How can the new and expanded public services that a grow
ing population requires be financed?" one authority pointed
out: ' "State aid doubtless has a role, and perhaps many
states have not recognized sufficiently the fiscal responsi
bility of the state to such communities. Still, the bulk of
the load rests on the property tax," an authority on county'
government pointed out. .
The result of unplanned rural expansion is obvious.
Property tax problems become acute. Governmental costs
rise. Farmland prices are pushed far above the value of the
land to farming. This means that the farmer must either
sell his land to a speculator or developer or become a specul
ator himself. Apparently a number of local farmers are
Hnlnff Bft.
Oregon's legislature recently passed a law permitting
farmland to be assessed as farmland as long as it is used
for agriculture. A few other states have the same provision.
In fact, the USDA in cooperation with the Maryland Agri
cultural Experiment Station, is doing research on how such
a law works in Maryland. These studies are not complete,
but preliminary information indicates serious problems are
Involved in such a policy.
"The workability of any taxing scheme to preserve agri
culture Just like any system of planning and zoning, lies
In Its being conceived and enforced on an areawlde basis.
This requires that farmers and other rural people Involve
themselves In an active way In the governmental decisions
that affect metropolitan areas," an authority on county gov-
.
To help rural areas have a voice In metropolitan area
problems, some reorganization of existing governments has
been tried in other sections of the country.
hm - In.lnila I Via nrhan pnnntv nlnn rifv-rnnnfv enn-
lolidation, organization Of multi-purpose metropolitan dis
tricts and a metropolitan federation. A new proposal calls
for setting up suburban development districts having wide
powers in areas where development is occurring. Other less
formal reorganizations are being tried, also.
"Whatever method is chosen, it seems almost certain
that some form of areawlde governmental machinery will
produce better results for agriculture and for urban people
than the present system, in which decision-making powers
are scattered and the tax base fragmented. The welfare of
the entire community, and especially of its agricultural
segments, requires establishment of some system whereby
rural areas can participate In these decisions," national
authority on county government concluded.
Farmers Warned
About Children
Riding Tractors
Salem - Labor Commission
er Norman O. Nilsen has is
sued a warning on the dan
gers of children driving or
riding on tractors. He asserts
spring field work invariably
brings to his office increased
reports on tractor accidents
involving children.
Nilsen cites the bureau of
labor's 1960 records of minors
accidents to stress farm trac
tor hazards. The records show
one-third of Oregon accidents
involving tractors last year
resulted in deaths. One-half of
the casualties were children.
Three accident victims were
fourteen and fifteen year old
drivers of tractors who are
not permitted to operate any
power driven farm machinery
under child labor laws. Two
were killed while one escaped
with a fractured pelvis and
multiple bruises. The other
children were riding with an
adult driver.
Follows Trend
The bureau of labor report
asserts these statistical find
ings correspond closely with
the severity rate of injuries
incurred in tractor accidents
over the nation.
Nilsen says he finds it hard
to convince people of the haz
ards to minors in tractor op
eration because It is a slow
moving vehicle that seems
easy to handle. The principal
risk is said to lie in the easy
overturn of a tractor when it
hits a ground obstruction or
is driven by inexperienced
hands. The commissioner
states his investigations dis
close the upsets occur on ter
rain that is hilly or uneven,
sometimes in only a slight de
gree. The tractor topples
backwards or sidewise, pin
ning underneath anyone who
is on it.
Oregon's child labor laws
prohibit minors under 16
years of age from operating
all power-driven farm mach
inery. A permit is required
for the employment of any
minor in the operation of such
equipment.
TUESDAY, MAY 9. 1961
Most Counties
In Bang's Fight
Salem - Oregon cattle own
ers will be interested in the
latest veport on the nation
wide brucellosis eradication
program.
According to information re
ceived in Salem by Dr. A. G.
Beagle, federal veterinarian in
charge, USDA, ARS, 78 per
cent of counties in the United
States are participating in the.
program.
If the present rate of par
ticipation continues every
county in the United States
will be enrolled in two years'
time. Federal officials point
out that all states can be cer
tified by the end of 1966 if the
livestock industry so wishes.
While no year is mentioned,
the federal report says "it is
only a question of time until
this country is completely free
of brucellosis and undulant
fever." 1
In Oregon, counties are "on
schedule" with their Bang's
recertification work to hold
the modified certified status
gained In July, 1999. Oregon
counties recertified in recent
months are: Baker. Clatsop,
Lane, Linn, Malheur, Hood
River, Clackamas, Yamhill,
Union, Deschutes, Wheeler,
Wasco, Grant, Jefferson; also,
warm, springs Indian Reservation.
NO NEWS CONFERENCE
Washington -UJPfr- President
Kennedy will not have a news
conference this week. Asked
why. White House Press Sec
retary Pierre Salinger said,
"he's just not going to have
one."
Report on Farm Supply Co-Ops Issued by OSU
Corvallis-The growing
trend toward "bigness" in
business is pointed up in a
recent Oregon State college
economic study of Oregon
farm supply cooperatives.
Rate of business growth of
large farm supply coopera
tives has been nearly three
times that of small coopera
tives since 1950, reports Ger
ald E. Korzan, OSU agricul
tural economist.
Korzan said the larger
firms' better net margin po
sition, ability to absorb set
backs, and higher ratio of
owned capital to borrowed
capital were key factors in
Farmer Net Pay
Expected to Hold
At 1960 Level
Corvallis - Oregon farmers
can expect net income for
1961 to hold to 1960 levels
despite present sagging of the
general economy, report Ore
gon State university agricul
tural economists.
Food store sales have held
up while many so-called "hard
goods" such as automobiles
and home appliances suffered
a lag in sales, says M. D.
Thomas, OSU extension agri
cultural economist.
The general economic out
look and prospects for Ore
gon cattle sales and grain,
hay, and seed crops are re
viewed in the current issue of
the Oregon Farm and Market
Outlook circular.
Free copies of the outlook
circular may be obtained from
Oregon county extension
agents or the OSU Bulletin
Clerk, Corvallis.
Grain Prices Lower
Feed grain prices in Ore
gon will probably range low
er in 1961 than in 1960 un
less new government pro
grams set higher support
prices, reports R. H. Teal,
OSU seed and grain market
ing specialist.
Prices for Oregon corn in
1961 will probably be about
the same as in 1960, he points
out in the circular. North
west wheat prices are expect
ed to follow the 1960 pattern
and move about the effective
support prices.
Price prospects for other
Oregon crops indicate lower
hay prices due to prospects
for larger carryover stocks
for the 1961-62 feeding year;
little change In prices for
turfgrass seed, but slightly
lower prices for tall fescue
seed.
Market ' outlook for cattle
for the next few years ap
pears more optimistic than ex
pected last fall. Stephen C.
Marks, extension agricultural
economist, says there are con
siderably fewer cattle on the
nation's farms and ranches
than previously estimated.
Earlier forecasts for a sub
stantial rise in beef output,
which would tend to lower
prices, have now been revised
to only a modest increase in
cattle slaughter, Marks explained.
OSU Bulletin Tells
Of Worm Control
Corvallis - Questions farm
ers often ask about the cause
and control of stomach worms
in sheep are answered in a
new Oregon State university
circular.
Dr. S. E. Knapp, assistant
v e t e r 1 n ary parasitologist,
points out, that deaths from
stomach worms are few, but
economic losses may be heavy
because infected sheep waste
a lot of feed. t
Oregon residents may -obtain
free copies of the circu
lar, "Control of Stomach
Worms in Sheep," from their
county extension offices or
from OSU bulletin clerk, Corvallis.
their faster growth rate.
The OSU study of 27 asso
ciations doing business in
Oregon included most of the
cooperatives In the state that
specialize in handling farm
supplies. Such cooperatives
handle about 20 per cent of
all Oregon sales of farm
equipment and other operat
ing supplies needed by farm
ers a $175 million annual
business in the state.
Details of the study are
reported In a circular of in
formation, "A Decade of Per
formance by Oregon Farm
Supply Cooperatives," pub
lished by OSU agricultural
experiment station.
Free Copies
Oregon residents may ob
tain free copies of the circu
lar from local county exten
sion agents or the OSU bul
letin clerk, Corvallis.
The 13 largest cooperatives'
In the survey average sales of
more than $1 million in 1959
and showed an annual rate of
growth in sales of 6.5 per
cent. By contrast, the 14
smaller cooperatives averaged
sales of about $290,000 with
rate of sales growth at 2.42
per cent.
Most of the small firms
already at a disadvantage in
growth rate have little or no
hope of catching up to the
large ones, Korzan pointed
out.
Best possibility for. the
small firm with low growth
ratio is to merge with another
supply cooperative, a market
ing cooperative, or a nonco
operatlve firm in either sup
ply or marketing activities,
he said.
"Traditionally, business
firms that are losing ground
will try to hold on hoping
for a miracle. The time to
merge is when they are still
operating with some measure
of success," Korzan empha
sized. ,
The trend toward fewer
and bigger supply firms is
keyed mainly to the impor
tance of volume in a highly
competitive business. Ease of
transportation and commu
nications encourages farmers
to by-pass small, neighbor
hood farm supply firms that
can't compete pricewise with
bigger outlets in the area.
Another advantage listed
for large cooperatives is more
working capital to extend
credit to farmers until crops
are sold. Korzan said use of
credit by Oregon farmers
through their supply coopera
tives has tripled during the
past 10 years.
Most cooperative managers
considered the rapid increase
in accounts receivable as their
most perplexing problem, it
was pointed out in the study.
Suggestions for improving co
operative credit programs are
listed In the OSU circular of
information.
Memory Gardens
' Funeral Home
"The Chapel of Memories"
Located within
Memory Gardens Memorial Park
Home of the "Last Supper"
FUNERAL HOME CEMETERY MAUSOLEUM COLUMBARIUM
SERVING:
All Faiths
All Cemeteries
Persons of All Means
PROVIDING:
Complete Funeral Services
Complete Burial Services
0 Public Parking for over 200 cars plus
Private Family Parking area
The veteran to be honored this week is
BRUCE BURCHFIELD
PHONE SP 3-7338 DAY OR NIGHT
Thank You ...
The Crater Lions Club wish to express
their thanks to all participants in the 4th
Annual Crater Lions Sportsfair, Horn, and
Garden Show. W. hope that all those
who attended enjoyed the show as much
as we enjoyed bringing it to you.
DAVE FRANKLIN
President
DICK HAWKINS
General Chairman
Another good reason for Confidence in a growing America
ill
4"
'I
7
OUR SAVINGS JUST HIT A NEW HIGH!
Even with inflation, we've put aside three times as much as in 1H0
When the economy reaches a plateau
after a long period of growth, there's a
tendency to rest for a while before start
ing' up again. Buyers do the same thing.
They defer purchases and hold the
money as savings.
But now we're all set for another
climb, and the savings that have been
piling up will help to keep it rising.
Discretionary income-surplus above
what is needed for basic necessities-al-most
doubled during the Fifties and at
the present rate, will grow nearly as
much again by 1971.
Over 100 million Americans have a
stake In the country's productive capac
ity and real estate through money
saved in banks, savings and loan asso
ciations and by ownership of life in
surance policies.
Constantly in America the base of
ownership broadens. Many large corpo
rations now have more stockholders
than employees. This is a trend which
has been evident for a generation. It is
strengthened by the increasing popular
ity of savings in other forms, such as re
tirement income programs and group
insurance.
What's more, our savings are safer
today. We have federal insurance of
bank deposits and savings and loan
accounts, as well as mortgage guar
antees. Our whole financial structure
is basically sounder today than ever
before.
All these savings, plus rising income
and a big research program that is turn
ing out scores of exciting new products,
point to another upswing in the near fu
ture. America has a brilliant future, but
to realize it fully, we must
lUtttn., 1 all work together for the
I n2T I common good.
UU
FREE Write for illustrated
booklet, "The Promise of
America." Box ISO, New
YorklS.N.Y.
GET READY FOR AN UPSWING I
mori risiakch-We're now spending
$12 billion year-and that's expected
to double during the Sixties I
MORI inoomi -Today's $6500 per fam
ily represents an all-time highl
MORI moouotion-U.S. production
doubles every 20 years. Our annual
output is due to rise $300 billion by 1071 1
mori JO.t-There are 15 million more
jobs than In 1930 will be It million
more by 19761
mori IDUCATION-By 1970 well hare
20 million more high school graduate
and 3 million more college graduates.
They'll earn more, live better!
MORI HliURI-40 million Americana
get paid vacations, and there are 16
million people over 65, many of them
with retirement Income to spend I
MORI MARKITS-U.S. exports, pins
output of U.S.-owned plants overseas,
already account for over $60 billion in
sales!
mori niioi-Schools, hospitals, high
ways, homes we need billions in im
provement right bow
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE
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