BASM FARM OOTUMK GOOD FOR "'47
By C. A. HENDERSON
Ktewatll Ctr Afffflallarl AflM
Agricultural Highlights of 1946
Nineteen hundred and forty
six found farmers of the Klamath
basin again producing a maxi
mum acreage of farm commodi
ties needed during the. recon
struction period following the
war. Some of the highlights of
the year were: A marked de
crease in potato acreage with
large increases in the alsike
clover seed acreage and the
Hannchen barley acreage; fur
ther decreases in dairy, sheep
and hogs; cattle and poultry held
their gains and there was con
siderable increase in suburban
acreage gardens and small fruit
and berry tracts.
Potato acreage reached an all
time high in 1945 with 28.096
acres in the Klamath basin. Pre
liminary figures for 1946 indicate
that this acreage was reduced to
approximately 24,500 acres or
Cupid Loses Out In Basin
Marriages By Long Odds
For every three couples who
decided to get married in Klam
ath county during 1946, four
came to the parting of the ways
via divorce court.
A compilation of marriage
and divorce records at the coun
ty courthouse shows that there
were 383 wedding licenses is
sued during 1946. and 446 de
crees of divorce granted in
court.
In 1945. a war year, there
were 502 marriages and 345 di
vorces. In 1944 the divorces
totaled 279.
CIO Lumber
Workers Pay
Hike Slated
(Continued From Page One)
new base rate in sawmills and
log camps will be $1,224 an hour,
and in box factories $1.20. Effect
ive date will be January 1.
Agreement was reached by J.
E. Fadling, representing the
northwest regional negotiating
committee of the CIO, and C. L.
Irving of the PIRC. Fadling said
the plan will be presented to the
membership by ballot late in
January. Notice of acceptance
must be received by the PIRC
in January, according to the
agreement.
It was also agreed that the
wage increase shall not be paid
to employes who terminate em
ployment prior to union .accept
ance, unless application is made
by "the terminating employe
on or before February 10. Local
unions and companies will de
cide whether to convert the
raise to piecework contracts.
Fadling said 22 companies are
affected, including operations at
Prineville, Bend, Klamath Falls
area. Rogue river valley, Mc
Cloud, Redding and the Feather
river country. He said that the
plan, if ratified, will be applied
in a number of independent op
erations not represented by
PIRC.
He said the agreement settles
negotiations to April 1.'
Irving announced that the
PIRC and AFL northern Califor
nia council have agreed on 15
cent wage boosts for about 1500
AFL employes in the Feather
river-Susanville country. Last
week, negotiators agreed on the
same boost for AFL employes in
the Klamath basin district coun
cil areas.
'46 License Plates
Expire Today
Klamath county motorists
were issued a final warning by
state police Tuesday advising
that 1946 license plates are void
December 31, (today), and that
after January 1, 1947, those
without plates are subject to ar
rest and citation to court.
Several hundred late license
applicants lined up at the license
bureau Monday afternoon and a
similar line was observed this
less. Potato prices are averaging
considerably lower and the total
sales value as well as shipments
should be considerably under
that of 1945. Alsike clover, un
der the stimulus of world-wide
demand, increased from 6000
acres in 1945 to over 9000 acres
in 1946 with a production Jump
of from 21 million pounds to
nearly four million and a sules
value in 1946 approximately
$1,500,000, nearly double the
sales value of the 1945 crop.
Barley also showed consider
able increase in acreage and
some increase in selling prices as
well. The total 1945 acreage wus
54.500 acres while in 1946 it in
creased to 56,500 acres with pro
duction of about 3,100,000 bush
els and a sales value of nearly
$4,250,000 as compared with
$3,750,000 in 1945. A large por
tion of this was Hannchen barley
and was in great demand by
malsters for brewing purposes.
Circuit Judge Dovld R. Van
denberg. who presided over
most of the divorce cases, gave
an average of two decrees each
day court was in session in 1946.
Most of them came on uncon
tested default cases.
The judge laid the blame for
the great majority of the broken
homes directly to the war,
whether or not either party had
been in the service. A good
many civilian couples some
married as long as 20 or 25
years split up, the Judge said,
simply because in the war years
the family had more money
than ever before, enough money
to cause the husband or wife to
begin to step out, drink and see
a little night life.
The majority of the divorces
were in families of ex-service
men. however, auicklv married
.during the war years at Reno or
some other city which doesn't
have a three-day "cooling off"
period.
When the serviceman return
ed home everything wasn't ex
actly as he had imagined, his
wife had been stepping out, he
wanted to loaf a while Instead
of going to work, and so the
divorce court.
Default divorces arc those in
which only one party comes to
court, generally the wife. She
has a lawyer draw up a com
plaint alleging that her husband
didn't write to her while in the
service, beat her, drank,
wouldn't work or committed
any of the other multitude of
sins covered by cruel and in
human treatment, and got the
decree. Judge Vandenberg says
that in those cases he knows
that both parties want a di
vorce, and the allegations in the
complaint actually amount to
nothing. He listens while a few
perfunctory answers are given
to an attorney's questions, then
says:
"You may have the decree."
Year's End To Be
Festive Occasion
Paper hats, tin horns and
noisemakers will be on hand to
help Klamath folk welcome 1947
in fine fashion tonight at dances
and many other festive affairs
planned for New Year's Eve.
Wednesday, New Year's Day,
will mark the end of the winter
holiday season when stores,
banks, the post office, court
house, liquor store, libraries and
city . hall will close. The day
will also be a holiday for The
Herald and News staff with no
paper being published.
Drunk Driving
Warning Issued
Police Chief Orvllle Hamil
ton, expecting a good deal of
jubilation over the advent of
the New Year tonight, says that
the police department is not go
ing to deal leniently with drink
ing drivers.
He warned drinkers to do
their traveling afoot, by bus or
taxicab, but to stay out from
under the wheel of an auto lest
they greet 1947 from the city
hall drunk tank.
American railroads use an
nually more than 6,000 tons of
weed killers on rights-of-way.
OUter major crops showed little
change from previous years with
tho alfalfa, onion, wheat, oat and
rye acreage about holding their
own. Tho lower Income from
the 1946 crop of potatoes will
perhaps be offset by increased
returns from alsiko clover, bar
ley and other grain crops.
Dairy production continued ,to
decrease throughout tho year
and estimates of those people
connected with the industry in
dicate Unit the all-time high of
8000 dairy cows in the Klamath
basin has been reduced over two
thirds and that now approxi
mately 2000 milking cows only
arc left. Beef cattle continued to
hold their own with favorable
prices and good summer feeding
conditions.
Other matters of great Interest
to agriculture in the Klamath
basin was the construction of the
cooperative starch-glucose plant
at Hatfield financed by potato
Political Figure
LiNU
Circuit Judge David Raymond
Vandenberg, first Judge of the
Klamath county circuit court to
ha reelected to the bench, was
the central political figure In
the county this past year. The
November campaign In which
Judge Vandenberg defeated
District Attorney Clarence
Humble, gave sett to an ether
wise uneventful election.
Jap Island
Plan Proposed
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 )
Creation of a United Stales "ter
ritory of the Pacific" or some
similar type of civil administra
tion to govern cx-Japa:icsc
mandated islands, was recom
mended today by Rep, Mansfield
(D-Mont.).
Mansfield, who accompanied
a house naval affairs subcommit
tee on a recent inspection of the
islands, told a reporter that he
will introduce legislation for this
purpose in the coming congrens.
He said that in his opinion the
mandated islands should be ad
ministered by the United States
"only because what we paid for
in blood and in money and in
uncertainty must never be allow
ed to happen again, and one way
of securing peace In the Pacific
is for this country to maintain
undisputed control of all the is
lands in the Caroline, Marshall!
and Marianas groups."
MB Transfer To
State By WAA Told
(Continued from Page One)
tors, dishes and similar equip
ment, Oscar I. Paulson, state voca
tional director, said that he
hopes to have the school here
in operation "In a few weeks,"
and that the legislature would
be asked to appropriate money
for its operation.
He had hoped to have the
school in operation by tomor
row, but the final release by
the WAA was slower in coming
than expected.
Paulson estimates that 7500
to 10,000 war veterans and
other students will attend the
Klamath school within the next
10 years.
Basin Potato Shipments
In Carloads
1946 1945
Dev. 30 38 1
Dec. to Date 882 892
Season to Date .. .5434 6302
growers of the Klamath basin;
tho opening of 86 additional
homestead units In the Tulelako
district; survey of agricultural
possibilities now being under
taken by tho bureau of reclama
tion ana Increasing land values.
The starch-glucose plunt at Hut
field should be In operation
about January 1, and should be
of considerable assistance to
potato growers by converting
culls and low grude potatoes to
starch and glucose and thereby
Improving marketing conditions.
Tho bureau of reclamation
survey of agricultural lands In
the Klamath basin should pro
vide excellent information as to
future agricultural development
in the basin. Preliminary reports
so fur made Indicate that less
than half of the highly produc
tive lands of the Klumuth basin
are now In full production. The
opening of the Tulelake home
Coming Year
Of Readjustment In Basin
Br MITCHELL TILLOTSON
Manager, First National Bank
Klanuilh county hus Just com
pleted the lurgcst yeur In Its
business history. This Is Indicat
ed by ulinost every business in
dex available including bunk
deposits, post office receipts,
bank debits, water, electric and
telephone connections, volume
of retail trude and number of
new businesses established.
At tho present time indica
tions are that 1947 should bo a
good business year.
However the coming year ap
pears to be one of business re-
Gale Force
Winds Rake
California
LOS ANGELES. Dec. 31 f
Gales as high as 64 miles an hour,
raking most of southern Califor
nia in a surprise year-end freak
of weather, left two men dead
today, at least five others Injured,
and tangled wreckage of trees
and Christmus ornaments In
many cities.
Two Inmates of a hospital near
San Bernardino were crushed to
death beneath a falling tree
For a time San Bernardino's
business district was closed to
traffic becaase of breaking glass
and flying ornaments which had
been strung above the streets. In
Hollywood, a mammoth Christ
mas bell blew down on Holly
wood boulevard, sending lute
theatre-goers scattering as It
fouled a trolley wiro and show
ered sparks across an intersec
tion. A 50-foot lighted Christmas
tree blew down in Laguna Beach.
Felled power lines darkened
the movie colony of Malibu for
an hour. Citrus and other fruit
growers said they feared some
damage from scarring as the
winds whipped trees wildly.
The blow was expected to
diminish in Intensity during to
day, with a sunny, mild New
Year's Day predicted for Pasa
dena's Tournament of Roses and
Rose Bowl football game. Sev
eral floats for tho tourney were
slightly damaged when a portion
of the main tent blew In.
Chains Advised For
Crater Lake Travel
Those ski fans who plan to
drive to Crater Lake national
park New Year's Day to enjoy
winter sports were advised by
radio this morning that roads
were slick and icy and chains are
required above Annie Spring to
the rim. Skiing Is expected to
be good, with 62 Inches of packed
snow and a powdery covering on
top. The ski trails are well
packed.
Minimum at the park Tuesday
morning was given as 16 degrees.
There are boats that have no
masts but depend on soils under
water to carry-,, them alone.
They're called "mussel diggers,
and ply along the Ohio and Ken
tucky rivers, collecting tho fish
from whose shells shirt button?
and cheap jewelry are mad.
steads focused considerable is
tcrcst.on the Klamath district
and resulted In Uio adding of B4
(arms to the rapidly Increasing
(arming operations of this dis
trict, Much good furtn land hua
changed hands during the your,
at prices ranging from $300 t
$500 per acre, showing confi
dence of purchasers in the agri
cultural future of Klamath,
All In all, the year 1946 has
been one of considerable variety
excellent prices prevailing fur
some agricultural commodities
and low prices for olliers and hus
brought about many difficulties
In chunglng over from a wur
time to a peacetime basis with
some problems such as farm
labor showing some improve
ment but with farm supplies
still hard to gel and cost of
operation particularly high, In
fuel, Die highest on record In th
Industry,
To Be Period
adjustment, and under such cut
Unions It Is difficult to see how
volume of businoM wilt continue
to rise.
i Vices in many lines will ton
tinue well above the price levels
for the curly months of IM4U.
The readjustments and realign
ing of price levels have already
begun In many agricultural lines
and undoubtedly will continue
through a greater part of the
coming yeur. This will undoubt
edly he true quite lurgely In all
soft goods lines as well us agrl
cultural commodities, and, wuil
no radically depressive Influ
ences are upparrul at the preM-ut
time, iMTiods of price readjust
ment and realignment arc al
ways ceoinwnled by buyer cau
lion. In KlamuUi county this influ
ence will be partially offset by
a continuance of substantial
price levels for our greatest
commodity, namely lumber.
However it Is generally fell Unit
some softening of prices may lx
experienced in lumber before the
end of the yeur particularly in
fir. Such cluinges however will
not radically affect production
programs of any mills with avail
able stumpiige. Some mills may
be closed due to a lack of tim
ber, and it Is probable that tho
volume of lumber cut In this
area In 1947 may be below that
of 11)46. However there In no
prospect of any material decrease
in production of agricultural
commodities, and, in spite of
price readjustments Vhich will
gruduulty take place throughout
the year, it Is probable that
1047 will end with about the
same unit production in agricul
ture and slightly lower unit pro
duction in lumber than In 1946.
With the general level of lumber
prices much higher at the be
ginning of the year, however, it
would appear likely that the
dollar volume of lumber pro
duced would be ulinost as great
In 1947 as in the previous year.
Another Important factor bear,
lng on general buslnew condi
tions Is the fact that the general
level of wages received in the
territory will probably be higher
per capita In 1947 than In the
previous year. If this condition
should be maintained through
out 1947 the volume of retail
trade will undoubtedly continue
at high levels. This will be
further encouraged by several
population increases In the west
and by freer flow of tourist
travel.
To summarize 1947 should be
good to very good as a business
year, but oare must be exercised
In accumulation of inventory and
in controlling costs of produc
tion and distribution.
Cautious Driving
Warning Given
A warning to motorists t
drive carefully was Issued today,
New Year's Eve, by Sgt. E. W.
Tichenor of slate police. The offi
cer urged all persons driving to
proceed with utmost caution as
a protection to themselves as well
as others. Roads were slick and
with minimum temperatures,
highways were deemed extreme
ly hazardous.
With the score or more of
Christmas traffic accidents still
treii in4hc mind, drivers should
ho aware that sensible driving is
the only protection, Tichenor
observed.