Canyon
Avenue
Parade
rX)
**
f
V
By DON PETERSON
The local Boy Scout troop has been j
enjoying some evening feasts follow­
ing their regular meeting sessions ac­
cording to information leaking out of
their gatherings via the giapevine.
On the evening of June 10 the 16
boys present devoured 58 hot dogs
and quite a number of bottles of pop, j
then again this Wednesday evening
sifter their weekly gathering in the
park they cut loose on a good quantity
of marshmellows. One boy reports |
that he ate so many that he got sick.
At any rate you mothers can blame
Bob Veness for providing the marsh­
mellows and doing a bit of rustling
up at the dedication of Detroit dam
for the pop and hot-dogs, if your boy
was sick the following day!
Bob Veness has taken over the
duties of Scoutmaster from Charles
Kelly recently and both are deserving
of your thanks. Kelly has given many
hours of his time to guide the boys
and we would be negligent of our duty
if we did not publicly give him our
thanks for his efforts. Many of you
do not sec in to realize the work in­
volved and the need of your assistance
on many occasions. A parent or troop
committeeman is needed at every
meeting and it is very seldom that any­
one even bothers to say “thank you”
to these men who give of their time
in order to Cwny out the Scout pro­
gram.
* * «
Someone was kind enough to send
me a clipping pasted to a postcard
which was a “letter to the editor” of
some other newspaper signed by one
James J. Mann, of Hood River. Mr.
Mann’s blood was boiling according
to hiS letter, by the statements made
by Elmer McClure,, president of the
State Grange at Medford recently, at­
tacking Secretary McKay.
Mr. Mann wrote the following:
“It is too bad some people cannot
get over the something for nothing, i
cradle to the grave ideas which started i
in the minds of many about 20 years
ego and which thought still seems to !
exist in them.
‘¿Seems to me that McClure had
better use his time and vocal efforts
in an endeavoV to breed in the minds
of his constituents the "necessity for
them to begin thinking about the in­
terests of the general tax-paying pub-1
lie who have been wet nursing them I
entirely too long in the way of farm [
subsidies.
"It is high time these unnecessary I
expenditures by the department of
agriculture were very materially re­
duced, and expenditures for such un­
warranted projects as the Hell's Can-
von dam eliminated entirely.
“JAMES J. MANN, Hood River.”
T he MILL CITY
ENTERPRISE
ON THE .-ULNTC NORTH SANTIAM HIGHWAY — GATEWAY TO THE HEART OF NATl RE'S EMPIRE
MILL CITY, OREGON. THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1953
Vol. IX—No. 26
$2.50 a Year,
DISMAL DAM NEVER DEDICATED
a Cop»
N. Santiam Dam Dream
Waited Over 60 Years
By BEN MAXWELL
Those who dedicated Detroit dam June 10 little knew
or cared about that older dam on the North Santiam ini­
tiated by O’Neil brothers and Callaghan in the 1890’s.
It was never dedicated because it was never completed.
Today the ruins of this forgotten project stand weath­
ered, grim and eroded at Niagara like some feudal monu­
ment. Fishermen cast from
its overgrown masonry into 11
CtrsrlrAM
deep pools and old inhabi- Harry Wood stricken
tants have confused history
and traditions about it for, With HOOn AttOCK
with a few exceptions, it is Harry Wood, 76, was stricken down
Older than they.
[at about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday after­
Weekly Capital Journal for Sapt. "°°n b>' 8 f“U1 beart 8tt8c* %the
13, 1900, contains a contribution about I ¿T
store operated by Mrs.
... .
. .
«, .. .„.Wood and died peacefully within a
Industries of the Upper Santiam.
.
\ .
.
t
few minutes, lie had been around his
At Niagara, 60 miles east of Albany
.
. Corvallis
n &
w v
.
i_ usual , haunts
during
on the
Eastern
railroad,
.
A ... the . day in front u:.
n O Neil i u brothers
.u
/v-
the stoiy . tells,
(Frank l i of the post office visiting 4 with his .
.
«,
.K
n
» .. of f i I many J friends as was his custom, ’ and
and Edward) and C. W. Callaghan
San Francisco were about the . business .had
|
u remarked
v , u that morning
, u_ on
, K how
__
'good
he
felt.
Mr.
Wood
had
been
of constructing a development that!
| losing some of his strength and vigor
would generate not less than 20,000 I in recent years following some light
horsepower.
strokes.
Here the gorge of the North San-
Mr. Wood was born in Marion, Ohio,
tiam is but four feet and three inches i Aug. 15, 1876, and came to Harris­
in width during low water,
burg when he was 14 with his family.
“Nature,” says this Capital Journal In 1902 he came to Mill City and had
of 53 years ago, “never provided a lived here ever since. His first wife
better place for a fine water power.” died in 1919, and he was married in
At an earlier time the Job and Ham­ 1931 to Mrs. Mildred Colburn who sur­
ilton sawmill stood at this site. Per­ vives him.
haps the San Francisco promoters ob- ’ Mr. Wood is survived by his wife
tained the water right from them Mrs. Mildred Wood and one son, Lyle
along with 1,000 acres of fine timber I Wood of San Francisco, and a step­
in Linn and Marion counties. It was son, Jack Colburn of Mill City; also
their
plan to
---- -----
-- utilize the water - power | . two sisters, Mrs. Georgia Gudmon-
to operate a papermill at Niagara in I g(jn of Ben(J nn(J M]s Haxpl AUen of
which 100 men might be employed I Pasadena, Calif., and four brothers,
comi 1903.
Ralph Wood of Alameda, Dever and
Before the O'Neil brothers and Cal­ Robert Wood of Dunsipuic, Calif., and
laghan exhausted their resources in Karl Wood of P<j*land; one; grand­
(am con*4ructwn they si»c»,t nearly daughter, Mrs. J. A'eslcott of Mil­
$37,500 of their own money in de­ waukie, Ore., and one grandson, Don­
veloping the project. The dam was ald Wood of Klamath Falls, Ore., and
not completed (winter floods des­ | four great-grandchildren.
troyed their summer efforts), the pa­
Funeral will be at the Presbyterian
The North Santiam power project at Niagara, initiated by O'Neil brothers and Callaghan in the 1890s. uas
permill was never built at Niagara church Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
never dedicated because it was never completed. More than $100,000 was spent in a futile attempt to dam
and the splendid stand of hemlock tim­ with Rev. Noble Streeter in charge.
and utilize North Santiam water power where the stream is four feet and three inches in width during low
ber owned by the firm was exploited Interment will be in Fairview ceme­
water.
(Photo courtesy Capital Journal)
by others.
tery.
But they did not propose to lose
water rights to this development site
that defied their engineering and fi­
Perhaps Mr. Mann and the person
nancial ingenuity. The Byllesby com-
who so kindly sent me the clipping
pany was give nan option to purchase - ,
—
,■
|
anonymously should study a little
and between 1909 and 1912 dropped JQ|||$ 11*011 KlOB
Salem—(Special)—The State Parks nearly $65,000 into a proposed hydro­
Wm. M. "Bill” Downing, 86, of
Jack Allaway of Mehama died sud­
more of what is going on in other
Riders of the North Santiam took
ways to “coddle” big business and denly Tuesday afternoon after suffer­ Lyons succumbed late Wednesday aft­ division, Oregon State Highway de­ electric project here. By then they,
part in the Silverton Saddle club an­
what has been going on ever since ing a heart attack at Gold Beach. Mr. ernoon at his home in Lyons to a partment is entering its second season too, were discouraged.
this great nation was founded. His­ Allaway had visited his physician and heart attack. Mr. Downing had been offering overnight camping facilities
But O’Neil brothers and Callaghan nual trail ride, Sunday, June 14. They
tory is full of details of the many was- ordered to take it easy and was j in good health in spite of failing some in 30 state park areas.
remained persistent and determined, report that 117 horsemen and women
subsidies to large companies such as left lying down in the doctor’s office, i with the advance of his years.
During last year, the first year They kept one man tinkering at the had a very successful four-hour ride
the railroads while they were starting But while the doctor was busy with I Downing is survived by seveial sons overnight camping facilities were of­ project with a wheelbarrow just to in the Silver Falls hills.
Riders enjoyed a breakfast from 8
on the east coast and crossing the other duties Mr. Allaway left and | and daughters, two of whom live in fered in state parks, over 44,000 camp­ retain their water right.
Oregon
plains up to this very day. Thousands J walked down to his boat dock, were Lyons, Orville, a son, and Mis. Forest ers took advantage of accommoda­ Electric railroad considered the site to 10 a.m. in the Silverton Legion
of acres of land was donated to the ; the doctor found him a short time Nydegger, a daughter, and one grand­ tions Forty-seven per cent of this as a source of power for their Will­ hall. A lunch was served by the
railroads by the government, many j later, too late to help him.
son, Duane M. Downing of Mill City. total were estimated to be out-of-state amette valley railroad. Others came Silverton Saddle club at the half-way
re-organizations took place until this i Allaway was worthy master of his
The funeral will be Sunday after­ travelers. Some 50,000 campers
to look, study, survey and finally de­ mark.
Riders from clubs all over the Will­
country has paid for the railroads sev­ Masonic Lodge No. 180 and an active noon at 1 p.m. at Weddle’s Funeral expected to use state parks again
part without taking any affirmative
amette
valley competed during the
season.
eral times over.
figure in the social and civic affairs Home in Stayton.
action.
Has Mr. Mann wept any tears over i of the North Santiam communities. I
Three of these camping areas are; Finally, in 1931, Oregon’s hydro- trail ride. A prize for the youngest
the money this government has spent | Allaway had acted as guide for those
major improved developments with electric commission held a hearing on rider went to a six-year-old boy; an­
to make it possible for these railroads 1 going on fishing trips out of Gold |
tent and trailer camp sites including the water power rights of the San other prize went to the oldest man,
to pay dividends to its stockholders? Beach for several years.
parking spaces, water, picnic tables, Francisco promoters who had retained a 93-year-old man from Biggs.
Representing the Riders of the San­
I don’t think he even realizes what
electric or wood stoves, restrooms, their privileges so long and yet ac­
Tuesday's fatal attack was the sec­
tiam
were: Crystal and Elmer Lim­
we have invested.
complished
so
little.
Their
decision
shower
and
laundry
facilities.
The
ond heart attack for him. His first
beck, Everett and Anita Limbeck, E.
does
not
now
matter.
Already
long
other
27
are
improved
camps
provid
­
attack
came
about
a
year
ago.
At
What's
the
hurry?
Then there are the steamship com- j
That's a question Oregon police of- ing camp spaces with wood stoves, range thinkers were dreaming about S. Peterson and Larry Nydegger.
panies who have been subsidized many that time he remained in a hospital
a superdam near Detroit, conceived
ficers
will be asking many drivers tables, water and latrine facilities.
for
a
short
time.
times—wasn't it just a few weeks ago
The improved camps are at Silver to serve a diversity of modern require­
Allaway is survived by his widow, during the weeks ahead as the speed
that we gave away the U.S.S. United
Falls State park, east of Salem, Wal­ ments.
States for about one-third its cost to Mrs. Pearl Allaway, and one son Jack season arrives on Oregon highways.
Niagara’s fortune flourished and
Such questioning, according to the lowa I-ake State park, in northeastern
a steamship company? Subsidizing I Allaway Jr. of Vancouver, Wash. The
declined
with the projected power de­
state
traffic
safety
division,
usually
Oregon
and
Emigrant
Spring
State
Allaways
have
operated
The
Hub
believe is what it is called. Mr. Mann
Shortly after the Cor-
didn’t say anything about that, he; restaurant in Mehama for a number bring a feeble excuse from the driver park between Pendleton and LaGrande. velopment.
valis
4
Eastern
railroad (a blighted
Detroit With a bid of $1,683 above
and
an
attempt
to
talk
his
way
out
Other
improved
camps
are
under
con­
of
years.
must approve of that kind of “some­
thing for nothing" deal. Of course,1 The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Fri­ of a traffic ticket. The safety divi- struction at the present time includ­ enterprise with a depressing financial the appraised value, Parkett Logging
the aviation companies have all been day morning at Weddle Funeral Home l sion, however, hopes officers will ing Spencer Creek Wayside near New­ history) reached the locality a post was awarded the contract to log 469
port, the Cove Palisades State park office was established, Oct 3, 1890. acre Straight Creek area, described
subsidized from the start, both the in Stayton with Rev. N. N. Neufelt | “stick by their guns” this summer.
Traffic
deaths
are
on
the
increase,
in central Oregon and Humbug Moun­ William H. Burns was first post- previously as the largest timber sale
officiating.
manufacturing companies by large
I master and the place was called on the Willamette forest this year.
1
nearly
160
reported
by
mid-June,
and
tain State park near Port Orford.
tax-write-offs reaching into the mil-1
Only four offers were received by
Niagara.
drivers
who
exceed
reasonable
speeds
Unimproved
camps
include
Jessie
M.
lions of dollars every year, and the
Shelton,
Marion
county
sealed
bid at the auction in Eugene,
When
Tad
play
an
important
part
in
adding
to
Honeyman and Neptune State parks
operating companies by fat mail con­ St. Catherine’s Church
assessor, went there to fish about June 16. The sale price of the timber
the
toll.
Speed,
alone,
does
not
kill;
on
the
Oregon
coast;
Cascadia
and
tracts, etc., then the steel companies |
it takes another driving error coupled Armitage State parks in the Willam­ 1900 Niagara had a store, hotel and was influenced by the high coet of
5iave also received many millions of Honored by Bishop
1
dollars in tax-write-offs and refunds ! Mill City's St. Catherine's Catholic with a driver who "overdrives hit ette valley; Cline Falls State park a gallon house. For some years be­ development and a hauling distance
until their profits have continually1 church was honored Sunday by the abiltiy” to produce an accident. But and Redmond-Bend Wayside in cen­ fore the post office finally closed, of 75 truck miles to market.
June 13, 1934, it had the name of being
climbed into the astronomical heavens j presence of the Right Reverend Edwin when that error occurs, chances of tral Oregon; Benson and Viento State
the smallest post office in the nation.
death
rapidly
increase,
the
division
parks
on
the
Columbia
river
and
Red
—their income has increased 374.3% I V. O'Hara, bishop of Kansas City and
Bridge and Catherine Creek State The finale came late in the summer Idanha Votes in Favor
from 1939 to 1951 to the point where uncle of Rev. Fr. Robert O’Hara, ' says.
of 1952 when Marion county court,
Safety officials pointed out that 116 parks in eastern Oregon.
their NET PROFITS AFTER TAXES pastor of St. Catherine’s.
Of Fire Tax Levy Monday
of the drivers involved on fatal smash-
Campers are limited to a one-week acting upon a petition of George H.
was $596.2 million in 1951, according
Ditto, vacated the four platted streets
Idanha — Twenty-two votes were
The
Right
Reverend
O'Hara
gave
ups
last
year
were
driving
at
exces-
stay
at
all
camps.
Nominal
rates,
up
to information in the Congressional '
that were never used since the town cast at the Idanha fire district election
the
sermon
Sunday
morning
and
the
[
sive
speeds.
They
added
that
an
ac
­
to
$1.25
a
night,
depending
on
the
Record.
bishop's blessing in the St. Catherine's cident at 60 miles an hour is eight facilities provided, are charged for had never developed to the exent of on the annual tax levy, Monday, at
Of course Mr. Mann didn’t say any- , parish church and also one at the time* more likely to produce a fatal- camp use. Most of the campers pay needing them.—From Capital Journal. the fire hall in Idanha. Of this num­
ber, 21 ballots favored the tax levy
thing about the electric companies Breitenbush mission. The gist of the I ity than one at 20 miles an hour. only 75 cents per night for a tent
either. Didn't they just finish collect-1 sermon before St. Catherine’s audience While the division does not recom- space.
157,480 persons visited the state parks with only one vote cast against it.
ing a 20% surcharge which netted dealt with the religious meaning of j mend driving at 20 miles an hour, it
Members of the election board who
Park use has greatly increased in in 1948. Tn 1952 the estimated at­
them many millions of dollars so they( the lives and experience.« of the ' does suggest that in heavy traffic the past few years. According to rec­ tendance was 5,390,421 people, over served were Mrs. R. C. Haseman, Mrs.
(Continued on Page 4)
Apostles.
Ray Watkins, and Mrs. Earl Parker.
i speed should be kept within reason. ords of estimated attendance some 2,- twice the 1948 figure.
Jack Allaway Dies
From Heart Attack
Wm.M.Downing,86, Overnight Camping
Dies, Heart Attack j Offered at Parks
Santiam Saddle Club
Traffic Deaths On
Increase in Oregon
Parkett Co. To Log
Big Timber Track