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About Vernonia eagle. (Vernonia, Or.) 1922-1974 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1938)
COUNCIL BOOSTS WAGE FIGURES AT MEET 12.34 Per Cent, up, Average Who make* a Town? A City? Always the Businesses The Residents. Without Either Vernonia Would Not Be. Keep Vernonia, Build Vernonia by Taling Vernonia! VOLUME 15, NUMBER 5 Bob Reed Killed by Bull Tues. Grim Incident Takes Life Of St. Helens Hill Ranch er; Is Crushed Robert (Bob) Reed, well known St. Helens hill rancher, was crushed to death Tuesday, sometime after noon, by an enraged bull which he met in a field not far from his ranch home. The Reed farm is located 15 miles, from Vernonia. According to reports reaching here, Reed had been busy during the morning segregating stock in his fields. Evidently returning to the house for dinner at noon, he met his bull in a pathway in the 2-feet deep snow. While there were no witnesses to the tragic incident, his sons reconstructed the killing by tracks in the deep snow. Spotting a stump and fallen log not far distant, Reed probably leap ed from the path and ran toward them with a view to getting out of the enraged animal’s range. His bruised body was found later in the day by his sons at the base of the stump where the animal evident ly caught up with him and crushed him against the stump and log. It was believed, after an investi gation, that Reed was instantly killed, at least instantly rendered unconscious due to the crushed condilion of b's upper bed* The remains were taken to St. Ilel.ns. He is survived by three children, Robert Jr., Frank and Frances, aside from his widow. ■ -o Bov Scouts Honored at Court Monday Legion Hall Scene of Activ ities; Forest Grove Well Represented at Session Approximately 80 Boy Scouts, parents, friends, Legionnaires, Aux iliary ladies and visitors from For est Grove and Portland gathered at the Legion hall Monday evening to witness a district Court of Honor which conferred increased rank on 10 scouts. Paul Yearout, scout executive from Portland, acted as interro gator during the evening. C. H. Hieber of vernonia acted as one of the judges during the evening. The event was one of the most attractive and impressive held here in scouting circles and was adjudged one of enjoyment for the youths honored during the evening. The Court of Honor was one of several events due this week in commemoration of Boy Scout Week which is being observed over the entire nation. VERNONIA, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON________ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1938 CITY FATHERS FIND GRIEF IN OWNING HOMES FOR RENT Being a city councilman has its troubles and trials but with the city owning certain pieces of rentable property here, the tribulations are heaped all the higher on the heads of the city fathers, it developed Mon day evening at the council meet ing. A feminine voice had called Loel Roberts, recorder, during the week, and asked if the city intended to put blinds up in a city-owned residence here. At the council meeting Monday evening the councilmen were remided by the recorder that landlords are expected to furnish blinds in a rent home. “We know very little about those things,” said Councilman Roy Raymond, “I guess we should have a woman on the council.” Farmer Meeting Next Week Large Crowd Expected to Consider The Problems Of Farmers VERNONIA TO BE WELL SIGNED, MEET MONDAY SHOWS That Vernonia will be well signed was indicated Monday night when Marshal Henry King announced that 102 signs would be required to place the city in tersections in “readable” shape within the next few weeks. The council decided to follow the suggestion of the Grange Home Economics ladies and place at tractive, stenciled street signs at each intersection in the city. The marshal had worked out a chart which plainly indicated the number needed. City-owned property which is up for sale will also bear “For Sale by City of Vernonia” signs, the coun cilmen decided. Invite Ross Here To Speak Bonneville Dam Power Ad ministrator May Come to Vernonia; Group Appears At the instance of a delegation, With all advance preparation com headed by Chas. Worth, Vernonia pleted for the one-day Columbia district representative of the county farm outlook conference in Peoples’ Power League, the city St. Helens, February 16, a general council decided Monday evening to extend an invitation to Bonneville invitation has been extended to far Dam Administrator Ross to come mers and their wives, as well as here and speak. to any businessmen Interested, to Administrator Ross has spoken attend the conference, which will before many civic bodies of the open at 10:00 a. m. in the Metho state in recent weeks. In all pro dist church. bability, the official’s appearance If advance interest is any indica here would be before the council at tion, a large crowd will be on hand a regular meeting, presumably the during the day to assist In the con next one. sideration of important questions The delegation which met with facing the agricultural Industry of the council Monday evening indicat Columbia county, says County Agent ed that it was desirous of seeing Coach Asks to Be Relieved the city gain* all possible information Geo. A. Nelson. Of Coaching Duties for concerning the availability of Bon In the light of recent develop neville power in Vernonia before the Next Year, Reported ments—national, state, and county— councilmen proceded too far with the farmers and their wives, with Evangelical Social Hall to the assistance of specialists from All of the Union High School their proposal to vote bonds and Be Scene of Annual Af the Oregon State coliege extension teaching staff was rehired Tuesday install a diesel operated unit, or fair; Nichols Toastmaster service, will seek the answers to evening by the Union High direct units, here. The official responded by ordering the invitation to the such questions as: What is the out The annual Fathers and Sons look for agriculture in 1938 and ors during a meeting held at the administrator extended. No answer banquet will be held in Vernonia over the next few years? In view school. is expected before tomorrow. Wednesday evening, starting at! of the outlook, what crops, num j The vote of the officials dis 6:30. The scene of the event will bers and kinds of livestock should played confidence in the existing be the Evangelical social hall. Ladies be produced1 the county? What staff, all of whom will be offered of the church will serve the banquet, kind of land use program will con- contracts for the 1938-39 school eported as a turkey dinner. serve soil fertility and prevent eros year, the minutes show. J. W. Nichols, Oregon Gas and ion? What is the relationship bet A surprise move came during the Electric manager, will serve as ween the farm home and the farm meeting when Coach W. F. MacDon toastmaster during the evening. business? The conference will be opened ald asked to be relieved of his Chief among the well-arranged coaching duties during the coming Program, Objective* Heard ■o---------- program numbers will be the ap year. He was retained, however, pearance here of George Koehn, Church Group Meets— at Civic Group Session; The Christian church Missionary in his capacity as industrial arts Portland, national committeeman Agriculture Theme and physical education instructor. for the American Legion, recent society was held at the home of Mrs. A new coach will probably be sign head of Reed College and present R. A. Simmons Friday night. A large An attendance of 60 Vernonia ed sometime this week or early leader of the Royal Rosiarians, number was present. Refreshments business men and women, their next, Superintendent Wallace Mc- well known Portland booster group. were served after the meeting was wives and lady friends, marked the (Continued on page 12.) over. first evening meeting of the year, Koehn will present the main ad for the Chaml|er of Commerce dress during the evening. and the first which saw the recently Preceding the feature address, named president, Lyman Hawken, however, several interesting num wielding the gavef. bers have been contacted. An or At the outset of the session, the chestra will furnish incidental president pointed out his objectives music for the occasion. Mrs. L. H. for the year and sought the co Dewey and Mrs. J. W. Nichols will Columbia county ranked second other element we considered was ■ operation of the. members in pre present a vocal duet, Mrs. L. Jones a reading, Mrs. Sehorn a vocal among Oregon’s ten group I coun each county’s death rate per 10,000 paring the way for an agricultural solo, C. Hyatt a solo and two num ties from the standpoint of excel population. We did not consider future for Vernonia and district. President Hawken plans the ad lence in traffic safety last year, the improvement in the traffic bers by a male octette. dition of a “high-powered promot death record, since variations in this according to 1937 statistics complet In making the announcement this week, it was said that wives ed this week by Secretary of State field were too great to permit ready ing” committee of local chamber members whose objectives will be comparison.” or mothers of the men attending Earl Snell. Group I counties are those with to pave the way for added agri The grouping and ranking of the may also attend the speaking por tion of the program. They will be counties was done this year to en a population density of more than cultural activity on cut-over land. Wallace McCrae, program chair admitted at 7:30. A charge of 10 able every citizen of Oregon to 10 persons per square mile. Snell learn just where his county stands has divided the 36 counties of the man, presented an appreciated hour cents for ladies will be made. in the statewide campaign against state into four classes, based on of entertainment following the ---------- o---------- Paul Gordon’s Power Official Here----- accidents, and to stimulate local population density, for the sake of president’s talk. Washington grade school tumbling T. E. Roach, general manager of efforts to improve traffic conditions. valid comparison. Top place in this group for 1937 class presented a series of stunts “Accurate ranking of the counties the Washington and Oregon oper ations of the local power company, is naturally difficult, because of was taken by the city of Portland, and tumbling tricks followed by spent a few hours in the territory differences in highways, traffic and which was classed separately from three tap dancing and song num Wednesday conferring here with weather, ” Snell pointed out. “For Multnomah county for statistical bers by Mrs. R. D. Eby’s dancing Other counties in this class. The latter were accompanied Manager J. W. Nichols. The official this reason we based our ranking purposes. was accompanied by two more com partly on the improvement each group, in the order of ranking, toy Mrs. J. W. Nichols. The Tuesday evening meal was pany officials. The men inspected county made over its 1936 record were, aside from this county which served by the Eastern Star ladies. (Continued on page 9) for accidents and injuries. The local facilities while here. All Teachers Rehired by School Board Dads, Sons to Banquet Next Wednesday 50 Turn out For Evening Chamber Meet Columbia County Ranks Well Up In State Accident Toll Emergency Ordinance Pass ed Monday Night; Deputy I* Biggest Benefactor An emergency ordinance, fixing and establishing the compensation to be paid salaried city officials, was passed Monday night which gave the employees a substantial raise, the figures show. The city recorder was raised to $125 a month, a 4.16 per cent, boost over the prior monthly fig ure; the city treasurer, formerly receiving $30 monthly, was given $35. The city marshal was given a 4.16 per cent raise, allowing $126 monthly. The deputy was raised from $100 to $126; the water superintendent from $120 to $125; or 4.16 per cent; the city librarian from $25 to $30, with the city at torney remaining at $25 monthly. A recapitulation of the figures shows that the average boost for the six employees benefiting was 12.34 per cent. The ordinance is effective as of January 1, 1938. ---------- o ------- Portland Delegation to Come Here Noted Sportswoman, Other* to Aid in Local Club'* Steelhead Fight Having heard of the Nehalem Hunters and Anglers action of Mon day night to initiate a state-wide movement to have voters declare the steelhead trout a game fish, thereby eliminating commercialism of the meat, a delegation of Port land sportsmen is expected here Wednesday evening to attend the big meeting billed for the high school study hall, it was learned yesterday afternoon. .Included in the delegation will be Mrs. May Nordstrom, prominent Portland sportswoman, and others. The president of the Portland Wild Life Protection Association is also expected here. Arrangements for the Portland folk's appearance here were made through Ross Duncan, past president of the local club. Show Gains Depth in Area Surrounding Rain Here Mantle* Moun tain* with Snow, Report* from Outlying Area* Say Though Vernonia, for the most part, has enjoyed rainfall the past week, the rain has turned to snow in the upper regions of the district and reports reaching here state that the soil is covered to a depth of from 28 to 34 inches in several points close by. Some difficulty was experienced the fort part of the week in reach ing Camp McGregor after the rail road track was covered with a heavy blanket of snow. Speeders finally ployed through the distance and connections were restored, The Eagle learned. Survey Shows Interesting Figures Concerning Municipal Power Proposal The first concrete evidence to be produced in the eventual power discussion brewing here, and which would place the city in competition with the existing power company, was in evidence Monday evening when William J. H. Vossbrinck, Seattle, representative of the Chic ago Pneumatic Tool Co., spoke be fore the city council. In conjunc tion with his talk, he presented a letter allegedly showing the ad vantage of a diesel power pro- duction plant here over the exist- ing service. The Eagle ] procured a copy of his letter and herewith presents it for the perusal by local readers: City of Vernonia Vernonia, Oregon Attention: Mr. Loel Roberts, Recorder Gentlemen: At the request of your Mr. Roy Raymond, Chairman of the Finance Committee, the writer has under taken to conduct a power survey of your city, results of which are outlined in the following pages. According to a personal canvas made of the users of electricity in the City of Vernonia covering the month of November, 1937, there were 369 customers, Total con- sumption was 42,116 K. W. H. at a cost of $1,932. These figures are very conservative since, for the year of 1936 according to the ! Utilities Commissioner of Oregon covering the Oregon Gas and j Electric Co., there were 729 eust- omers who consumed 704,490 K. W. H. at a cost of $30,502. However, since the Oregon Gas and 'Electric Co. serves customers outside the City of Vernonia also, there is actually not as great a difference in the above figures as would seem apparent. Any owner of a modern Diesel Electric Power Plant can put power into the switchboard at a cost of from 7 mills to lc per K. W. H. This average cost includes the cost of fuel oil, lubricating oil, the salary of an attendant, and inter- est on the investment, Therefore, had the City of Vernonia furnished power during November, 1937 to these 369 customers they would have made a minimum profit of 3.6c for each K. W. H. consumed or a total of $1,516, operating under the present rate schedule. If this output continued year round a single year’s savings would a- mount to over $18,000. However, I understand that the month of November was heavier than usual in the amount of power consumed, so that a conservative figure for the year round savings would pro bably be $15,000. Considering the load character- istics of the City of Vernonia, an economical diesel engine installa- tion and one that would take care of the load variations properly (keeping in mind future expansion resulting from lower rates) would be a two-unit plant consisting of one 100 K. W. unit and one 200 unit. The writer the money However, a K. IV. laaaaw. vaaawa has no | , ------------- - thus spent. — figures at hand as to the cost of municipally owned diesel power a suitable power house. Nor do I plant, properly managed, can be know exactly how much a new of Infinite good to a community. As outlined above, the City of transmission system would coet. However, the power plant machinery Vernonia would be able to pay for including diesel engines, generators, a diesel electric installation in less exciters, switchboards, and all ac than 2'4 years, provided the pre cessory equipment necessary to sent rate schedule was maintained. the proper operation of the power The entire power house and trans plant would cost the City of Ver mission line should be paid for in about 5 years. Having their own nonia approximately $35,000. Under the present system of municipal diesel plant, for every purchasing power from the Oregon 5c a citizen pays for power lc Gas and Electric Co., the various would go for operating and main- customers merely get electric aer- tenance costs and the remaining vice for the bills they pay and 4c would be used to pay for the there the benefit ends. They pay power plant and transsnission lines. their bills from month to month At the end of the 5 year period (Continued on page 12.) and derive no further good from |