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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1963)
MEDFORD MA1I, TRIBUNE. MKDFORD, OREGON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1963 A S In the Day's News By FRANK JENKINS There's an old saying to the effect that no news is good news. Hmmmmmm. If that's true, It look as this is written like today would be a MARVELOUS news day. AUT HERE in the West, when " there Is no other news to talk about we can always talk about water shortages and at this moment in history the Brit ish crown colony of Hong Kong has one of the most fabulous water shortages in history. As it enters its annual dry season, its 14 reservoirs hold only 127 days supply and no more rain can be expected until next May which is 150 days off. What to do in the remain ing 23 days is a problem of the first magnitude. nPHE FIRST thing to do is to -" ration the water, and that they are doing. Most of the colony's taps are dry except for four hours EVERY FOURTH DAY. That goes for the natives. The tourists, who provide Hong Kong's largest source of in come, fare a bit better. They get water every day, but only for one hour. So, if you are thinking of going to Hong Kong, don't expect too many baths. On the "water days," the na tives fill every available recep tacle. Except for what they drink, the water is used over and over. It is used first for bathing, then for washing clothes and flushing toilets and what is left is carried out and poured on the gardens. WHY THIS shortage in a re gion whose annual rainfall is 85 inches approximately equal to 0 r e g o n 's northern coastal area? The answer is that much of the colony consists of rocky islands, where the water runs off immediately into the sea. The mainland part of the colony has no rivers that can be dammed to hold the water that- falls in the rainy season. The inhabitants are like the Ancient Mariner in his "painted ship upon a painted ocean" where there was "water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink." UfHAT TO do about it? One thing they do about it is to IMPORT water from Communist China. They import it in tank ships as oil is im ported in other parts of the world. At the present time, they are using ten tankers in this serv ice, at a cost of $700,000 a month. These tankers have been working at the job ever since the end of last June, and in this way they have added about a billion gallons to their supply. 1IE THINK we have our prob " Iems in Oregon including what to do with the Boardman area. But water enough to drink, to wash our clothes with and take a bath in isn't one of them. Our big problem is to get as much money as we think we need to keep us happy. Maybe we could solve that one by sell ing our surplus water to thirsty Southern California. Communications Letters to the Editor must bear the name and address of the writer although under cer tain circumstances the use of a pen name or Initial lor publica tion is permissible. The Mail Tribune reserves the right to edit all lettcra with an eye to clarification and condensation. Letters submitted for publlca Uonmust nut exceed 400 words. Thanks To the Editor: The members of Travel Study Club, of the Oregon Federation of Women's Clubs, wish to thank the Med ford Mail Tribune for the space given them for the General Federation of Women's Clubs CARE-Literacy program. Much thanks is given to Olive Starcher for her fine coopera tion during the CARE week. Thanks to Eric Allen for his fine editorial on illiteracy. The project was a success due to the press coverage and the people of the community, who shared because they CARED. The Club wishes to thank the Severson Candy Company for supplying the mints for the CARE tea, the MJB coffee com pany, who, through the Groce teria, provided the coffee, and to Mrs. Kent Hogan for back ground music on the Hammond organ provided by Purucker's. Thro'.iih CARE, the General Federation of Women's Clubs, will send kits containing the necessary miiterials to help children and adults acquire an Atiiat!nn Thin Is an imDortant step and a challenge for the Federation to meet. Contributions are warmly welcomed, and may be sent to Mrs. Clay M. Lee, Cargill Court, Apt. 8, Medford, as late as Dec. 31, 1963. Mrs. Clay M. Lee, State Chairman of Projects, Oregon Federation of Women's Clubs Mrs. Beryl Lyon, President, Travel Study Club, OFWC 200 Sunrise Ave. Medford " ?r ' T""f- A !f fit,- - ni--.s,'',.i.,i ir.-' g ,, ,if i s ' ...another important to bank at First National! Webster's Dictionary says that convenience is "freedom from difficulty, discomfort or trouble." Mr. Webster was not one of our depositors, but he could well have had First National service in mind when he wrote his definition. Everything about First National banking has been planned with your convenience in mind. 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