The North Santiam’s
Mill City Enterprise
Serving the North Santiam
\ alley
VOLUME IV. NUMBER 47
Mgy-,
Looking Up
and Down Shot in Bear
the Canyon Hunt Mishap
By CHARLES WOLVERTON
With this issue the Enteiprise in
troduces Jim Stevens and his column.
“Out of the Woods.” James Stevens
is one of the great storytellers of
America, and tops among all who
have written about the timber coun
try.
More than
years ago he won
fame for his tales of the legendary
Paul Bunyan, strong man of the tim
ber world. He knows the lingo, the
life and the soul of the logger. We're
proud to have him Writing for this
paper, many of whose subscribers
belong to the life of which Jim Ste
vens has provided an undying record.
i
4
More than the usual number of
loggers and mill workers are out of
jobs because of the lumber market
situation, or the early snow in the
higher levels.
This would not be a serious set
back for the Canyon if many of the
unemployed could use their time in
developing the land for fruit grow
ing.
Several months perhaps of time in
the winter could do a great deal to
ward clearing and planting the fer
tile hill land in fruit. In a few years
a «op like that which is now being
harvested in the Fern Ridge section
is possible.
The question simply is: Do we
wait 100 years for the trees to grow
up, or do we realize a far better use
age of the soil in strawberries, vine
berries and orchards, in a matter of
a few years.
W. R. Olmstead has proven that
this region is superb for boyseriber-
ries and king berries. A d'jen -'row
ers in Fem Ridge reaped strawberry
crops of over three tons to an acre—
at »500 a ton, and they are getting
fine co-operation from Oregon State
College with experiments on rasp-
berrier.
One Canyon citizen, long identified
with the lumber industry, is getting
into the berry business this year. He
is Vem Clark. We hope others will
f'fllow his lead.
• • •
The Canyon fully understands the
tiemendous difficulties the Kucken-
berg Construction Co. has overcome
in building the North Santiam High
way. At the same time, they feel that
motorists and truck drivers who have
to use the route frequently ought not
to have to put up with months of
tire busting and general mauling of
their vehicles because of the rough
con lition of part of the new grade.
When the construction company
built the stretch between Gates and
Niagaia. it forced momorists almos,
for a year to drive on a roadbed with
rocks as big as your fist. We hope
the same situation won’t go on much
longer on the new project.
• • •
Mill City High School has a group
of athletes this year who deserve a
lot more recognition than they’re
getting. They won second place in
the Marion County B League in foot
ball, and they appear to be headed
for at least as good a record in bas
ketball. Of course, the boys ought
to have the town's support, win or
lose. But if makes it more fun to see
them win.
But in a way, it’s not the commu
nity’s fault, entirely, that the team
gets so litle support. No regular sys
tem of reporting the ; 1 n« has been
set up at the school, am) it is difficult
for this paper to cover the games at
hohle and impossible to be on hand
at the out-of-town games.
But, with co-operation, we’ll have
the news each week, with as much
space as requires to tell the story.
A
*
j
Norris Thomas was accidently shot
in the leg by his stepson, Earl Thom
as Monday while on a bear hunt
at an abantloned logging camp two
miles above their home near Gates.
The elder Thomas was shot through
the upper part of his leg and was
painfully but not gravely wounded.
The two men had separated to fol
low the bear trail when the son saw
something, which he took to be the
bear, move in the brush. He fired,
the bullet striking his father. Ea 1
then gave his fathe. what emergency
care he could and left for help.
Tony Baker, a neighbor, returned
with him to the old Hammond Camp
6 where the accident occurred, and
Mr. Thomas was carried on a str etch
er to his home.
The accident occurred at noon, but
it was not until 7 o’clock that the
trip was completed.
Dr. Jack Reid of Mill City wa3
called. Mr. Thomias was suffering
from loss of blood and exposure.
The Mill City Tirriberwolves, who
ended up the football season in sec
ond place, looked this week as if they
were going to do even better on the
basketball court.
Tuesday evening they took on a
team outside the B League, Stayton
high school, an A League team, and
trounced the visitors 39 to 30.
The Timberwolves showed Stayton
that Mill City was playing a brand
of basketball that was on a par with
A League style, and would take that
kind of playing into the B League.
The Timbeiwolves, in a practice
session Monday afternoon, beat the
Gates team by a lopsided score.
The A string includes Lewis Ver
beck, Jerry Hunter, George Miller,
Leo and Lawrence Poole and Ernest
Thornley.
Stephen Beck, high school coach,
and a caiioad of boys attended the
St. Paul-T)ayton football game in St.
Paul.
School Begins
Hot Lunches
The hot lunch program started on
Monday in the MiU City grade school
with Mrs. Roy Beebe again in hharge
of the program.
Children are required to bring
James Cooke, former Mill City stu their own hup or bowl, Spoon and a
dent and now a senior of Salem high glass for fruit juires. Tsere is no
school, won the mid-Willamette Val lharge for the meal.
ley title Wednes<iay in the “I Speak
for Democracy” contest, sponsored by
A wide program of activities for
the Salem Junior Chamber of Com the Christmas season was under way
merce
at the grade school. Children are
Young Cook’s talk will be recorded practicing on .plays; the dates of the
for entry in the state contest at Kla performances will be announced next
math Falls Dec 4. He is the son of week .
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Cooke of Mill City.
The Dec. 8 meeting of the Mill City
* The six finalists' talks were broad Parent-Teacher Assn, will stress the
cast over a Salem radio station. Gene fellowship of man and the goodwill
Malecki was Jaycee chairman for the inherent in the Christmas season.
contest.
Two short films, “The Brotherhood
Young Cooke, when he went to of Man” and Merry Christmas,” will
school here, w<as an active leader in be shown. The choir of the Presby
the Boy Scouts.
terian Church will sing several carols
and Miss Hope Baney will lead the
STIFF FINE GIVEN
audience in singing of favorite Yule-
FOR DRUNK DRIVING
tide songs.
James A. Allen was fined »200 and
Refreshments will be served after
costs and given a 60 day jail sentence the program. Remember — everyone
in Breitenbush Court for driving un attending should contribute a plain
der the influence nt H-;uor. The sen white cup to the kitchen.
tence was .appended, but Allen was
barred from driving, exceipt at work, 3-LINKS BAZAAR 8ATURDAY
for a year.
A ham dinner and bazaar will be
given Saturday night by the Three
BOY HURT IN CAR
Links Club at the IOOF hall. Tickets
Mark Meineit, son of Mr. and Mrs. are $1 and 50 cent« for children. The
Wilbur Meinert of Mill City, suffered public is invited. Proceeds will be
a fractured shoulder Thanksgiving used to redeoorate the hall. Dinner
when the car his father was driving will be served from 6 to 7. Tickets
came to a quick stop at an intersec can be purchased from Mrs. W. R.
tion to avoid a collision, throwing Olmstead, general chairman, or mem
the boy against the dashboard.
bers <rf the club.
Ex-Local Boy
Wins as'Orator
Bridge Work
Will Close
County Road
Dam Clearing Bids
Over U. S. Estimate
Construction of Rock Creek bridge
about a mile east of Mill City on the
Linn County side will begin within
a few days. It is a duplicate of the
B(lyeu Creek span.
The construction project will close
the county road to Gates for about
60 days. The bridge is 56 feet of rteel
span ami 91 feet of timber trestle,
a total length of 145 feet.
County workers this week began
construction of a briodge across Bil
yeu Creek.
Steel for the concrete deck \ as
being placed, after which the cement
will be poured.
Lumber Slump
Laid to Tax
Situation
Engineers’ Figure
$45,460; Lowest
Offer $59,900
The Cascade Construction and En
gineering Co. of Harrisburg was low
bidder on a project of clearing tihe
Detroit daonsite, but Army Engineers
Cotips in Portland indicated the bid
would be turned down because it ex
ceeded by more than 25 per cent the
official estimate.
Bids were opened in the Portland
office Tuesday at 2 p.m. The Cascade
bid was »59,900, more than »3000 be
low the bid of the second lowest es
timiate, that of Ray Nordquist of
Sweet Home fore »63,400. But the
engineers had estimated thecost of
clearing the 78 acres around the dam
site at $45,460.
In the absence of Col. O. E. Walsh,
the Portland office of his district was
reluctant to state whlat would be the
next step. Officers said the usual pro
cedure is to submit the job for rebid.
The clearing job must be completed
if the Army Engineers Corp« fulfills
its present plan to begin construction
on the dam itself—a »60,000,000 pro
ject, by spring.
Factors other than the decline in
prices of the lower grades of lumber
are believed by lumbermen to be op
erating in the current slowdown of
lumber production.
One of the main considerations, it
is felt, is the question of taxes. In
GATES WOMAN SEVERS
nearly all cases, mills in this part of
ARTERY IN ACCDENT
Oregon have made substantial pro
Mrs. Harold Wilsou spent Thanks fits, and, exept where difficulties in
giving day and the preceding night the supply of logs were encountered,
in Salem Memorial Hospital as the prouced steadily throughout the year.
IWith the shipping situation as It
result of an accident in her home
is, still suffering from the effects of
Wednesday in Gates.
She accidently slashed an attery the longshore strike, mills could do
in her left wrist on a broken bottle, little more than pile up inventory
until the first of the year. This would
also severing a tenAon.
Dr. Jack Reid gave her emergency mean a substantial increase in their
treatment before she was operated income or corporate taxes for 1948.
on in Salem.
Inasmuch as most mills, having
producer! more lumber than they have
MAYOR RETURNS
been able, because of transportation
Mayor Horald Kliewer returned troubles, to sell, have well - filled
from Los Angeles Wednesday night. docks, the incentives for producing
He had attended funeral services for much before Jan. 1 is lacking.
The decline in the price of No. 2
his brother, the Rev. Albert Kliwer,
to No. 4 grades of fir lumber also
who ied of airplane crash injuries.
is a deteriant to continuer! produc
tion in some mills. Some, indeed, are
CZECH LODGE PLANS DINNER
in a position of having paid more
Jerry Lyons, Gates tavern opera
A dinner and bazaar will be held for stumpage than finished lumber
tor, aveited what might have been
Sunday at the Bohemian Hall. The
will bring. For despite the decline a serious fire in a neighboring tavern
public is invited. The dinner is 50 in lumber prices, the cost of stump
when he observed smoke pouring out
cents for adults, 25 cents for children
age has not yet reflected fhe drop. of it early Sunday morning after
and will be Served at 12:30. Games,
In the ease of Mill City Manufac closing.
music and entertainment will fallow. turing Co., it was learned, that firm
Mr. and Mrs. Ned Richards, oper
for some time had almost discontin ators of the other tavern, were asleep
BEAR TRAPPED IN NIAGARA
ued purchase of logs from its once when an oil stove broke, causing
George Ditto of Niagara trapped
chief source of timber -the Blowout considerable smoke damage. The tav
a 271 pound black bear on his place
Creek area, now being logged for ern was not set afire, but the interior
early this week. The animal was
the M. and M. Woodworking Oo. In was damaged by soot
butchered at the Mill City Market.
this case the price of logs, according
The Mill City fire department was
to a logging company official, was called, but the fireXhad been put un
NOTICE Knights Twnplar of San the main reason.
der control by the time they arrived.
tiam Canyon are requested to as
The break in lumber prices, it is
The Richards live in quarters in
semble at Masonic Hall, Mill City,
felt in some quarters, may actually the same building as the tavern. Mr.
at 10:45 a. m. to attend Christmas
result in an increase in production. Lyons lives next door.
service Dec. 19 fn a body and In
Those who predict this say that there
uniform.
is no basic change in the demand -
GOOCH TO HALT LOGGING
that construction of homes and other
The Gooch Ixrgging Co. expected structures fs as urgent now as before
to halt operations Tuesdayithis week
an.! that lower lumber prices may
and not to resume until the first of stimulate burbling.
the year.
Hence lumber economists are say
An Army Engineer* cre<w last
ing that it’s too soon to get gloomy week, working on tests at the Dig
Burt Turnirlge was in a Salem hos about the current situation.
Cliff dam site, were stranded for sev
pital following an injury.
Shippers of lumber report that
Lois Jean Hart has returned to buyers are a lot more choosy than eral hours on an island when part
school after two weeks’ absence be they have been. Order* come in, but of the force took the boat aerosa the
Santiam and left them with the cold
cause of brochi tis.
■pacific grades and quantities are de water between them and home.
manded. Gone, apparently, are the
They stay« there from the end of
days when a mill could ship on a the work day, about 4:30, till 7:30
“take it or leave it” basis.
when a night crew came on.
As for the Canyon, the only way
Soundings are being taken at the
be satisfied. If you can’t get along it can continue to absorb as many
with Joe Rubfoerman, you can’t get in the wood products industries as «ite, where an 85 foot dBm auxiliary
to the Detroit dam, will be built, in
along with anybody.”
before will be by more extensive pro order to eternine rock structures.
Peace in the Pines.
cessing of the raw product. The logs
Glary Jones work«! his head off are not hear to continue to supply
for a couple of days, falling as much present mills in timber for dimension
timber as any two men in the crew, lumber only. More extensive fabri Keep Stamps on Hand
and with never a fight'ng word for cating of lumber will have to be STAMP
anybody. But on th* third day the done if the Canyon continues to keep
If you want to be a friend of the
undying grouch in him would no 800 or more busy in the woods and rural mail carrier, buy some stamp*.
longer be denied. Through the after mills.
That was the message of an appeal
noon he was seen to stop sawing and
by
the Postoffice Department to rural
-\
heard to yell at bhe inner tube.
boxhohier this week, and the carrier
RECRUITER COMING
“Y’ou’re ridin' the saw. Rubber
.Sgt. Richard Edlund of the Salem of Lyons, Route 1, heartily concurs.
man!” yelled Glary Jones. “You’re
One of the pet peeves of the rural
Armp
recruiting office will be in Mill
ridin’ the saw, and it ain’t fiair to yer
postman
is an unstamped letter with
pardned! Next thing you’ll be drag City Tuesday at the postoffice to in loose pennies to be found somewhere
terview
youg
men
interested
in
en
gin' yer feet. Look out for me, Rub
in the box.
berman! Take keer, or I’ll snap you listing.
What is the remedy* Says Uncle
Recruits
between
the
ages
of
17
apart!”
Sam:
Then he would work harder than I and 35 will be interviewed from 10:30
“Just keep a supply of stamps on
ever, seeming to try to pull the saw a.m. to 3 p.m. Quotas are again open hand, enough to cover every emergen
in such fast strokes that “Joe Rub in the Air Corps. Enlistees are given cy, the «am» a* you would buy sugar,
berman” could not snap it back I a choice of areas and technical <alt or any other household commo
through the tree. But from pine to *
1 schools. Sgt. Edlund said ther are dity. It seems like a mere trifle, but
pine, Glary’a partner kept pace with many opening for former servicemen the age-old proverb say* that “trifles
at this time.
him.
make perfection, and perfection is
So the work went for the rest of
no trifle!’”
the summer and until the snow flew CHURCH BAZAAR NEXT WEEK
The Presbyterian Churrh is giving PARTNER SELLS MILL SHARE
in late fall. Six or seven times a 'lay
Clary Jones would bpwl out Joe Rub it» annual Christmas bazaar Thurs
Glen Hennes* has sold his interest
berman and threaten to destroy him. day, Dec. 9, in the new recreation
A buff<A supper will be in the Henness-Klutke sawmill south
At the end of the season he’d made building.
more budieling money than any team ' se ved fmm 5 to 7, with adult tickets of Gate* to his partner, Elmer Klutke
of fallers in the strips, with one ex-1 »1 and children's 50 cents. Mrs. Lee and the mill will continue to operate
reption. And he had begun to find Ross in in charge of ticket sales and with a «ingle management.
Mr. Hennes* has purchased an In
peace in himself. He was free of Mrs. D. B. Hill will supervise the
bucking. He was at last a faller. And supper Proceeds v4Tl go into the re terest in the tavern owned and oper
so Bullbuck Pratt looked at his work creation building fund. This is the ated by Jerry Lyon* in Gates. He was
with Glary Jones and called it goad. first affair in the complete.! building. t<> its t work there this week.
Out of the Woods - - - B.v Jim Stevens
ber.”
THE GROUCHY LOGGER
I knew Clary Jones in the short A Mighty Invention
The bullbuck started to tell Clary
log country more years ago than I
hankeT to tell about. He was the Jones that he couldn’t hope to keep
worst grouch I ever met. Called a falling partner through one full
“Clary” because a glare was the only hour. Then he thought better of it.
kind of a look he knew, this gaunt, Here was a mighty man of work,
lantern-jawed, powerful pinetop was one to good to lose. Any real boss
also unpopular in Camp 5 because with any kind of brain would rig up
he was what we termed “work-sim a way to keep such a worker. So he
ple.” Clary Jones stirred up the only told Clary to stick to camp until
fist fight I ever saw in the woods. next morning, and maybe something
It was in a gang of swampers. The could be done for him.
The next morning the fallers saw
otheis would nA 1<\ or work with
Bulkbuck Pratt lead Glary Jones into
him.
“I don’t like to send a good worker a timber strip across the railroad
over the hump, hut I swear I don’t from the others The grouchy logger
know what to do with you,” Hank packrda raw. a falling ax, wedges,
Pratt, the buUbuck, Mid. “That is, oil bottle anil waterbag. The boss
as long as you don’t want to be a carried a Model T inner tube (the
year was 1914) a long and heavy,Iron
buckor.”
“No buckin’,’ Clary Jones grimly stake and a maul. He stopped at the
said. “T expected this a is cornin’. 1 first standing sugar pine, mauled the
knowed it all the time you was plot- I stake into the ground, cut, the tube
tin' to make one of your gol-blasted and roped one end to the stake and
buAe-s of me. Well. I won’t stand the other to the saw
for it. Erery place I been for 30 years ry You’ve got you a falltng Bittner
the push ends up by tryin’ to make | Then: “There's my invention, Gla-
me a bucker. I stood it a long time | you can get along with. Mr. Jones,
But no more. I’m sick and tired of ( meet Mr. Rubberman. Go to work,
buckin’ logs." He spat out a chew of now.”
The grouchy logger made no argu
snoose as though is were a hot bul
let, then reloaded. It seemed to gentle ' ment. Soon he was sawing, knee-high
him some. “Buckin’ is so wretched from the ground When he pulled, the
lonesome," Clary complained, “tone- rubber tube held the saw steady as
it was stretched. When he shoved,
some. yes. sir. No buckin'.”
“You can’t keep peace with any the tube pulled the saw back through
body, Jones. What can I do for you ?” the kerf.
’There, now,” said Bulkbuck Pratt.
“Mr Pratt." said the grouchy log
ger, “I've always wanted to fall tim “I hope you’re satisfied. You GOTTA
mw ci mi mi wimii mrnti mtuii tmimmiMiHii mu inn.iiiiwiiwmiuiiiNWiuMMi
»2.00 A YEAR. 5 CENTS A COPY
MILL CITY. OREGON. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 2. 1948
Wolves Start Off
Like Champions
Lyons. Mehama. Elkhorn,
Mill City, Gates. Mongold.
Detroit and Idanha
Fire Averted
At Gates Tavern
Engineer Crew
Gets Marooned