FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1940 Seeding of City Park Completed; Aid of Individuals Asked Field to Be Available for Use for Football, Estimated Under the cuthorization of the Vernonia Park Board, completion Of the seeding of the city park was seen Saturday, following work by a group of men including Walt er Kent, Roibert Spencer, Wallace He Cree and several N. Y. A. help ers. Mr. Kent disced the ground previous to sowing the seed. The park board asks the coopera tion of individuals in keeping off the field which will not be in use during the summer because the terf i will not be rooted sufficiently. The turfing will be a great improvement to the park and it is felt ihat everyone will do 'his part in ke p- ing off the ground until the proper growth permits the using o. the field. The turf, it is expected, will be up in about two weeks, and will be in use for fall football. The Congress of the United States has by concurrent resolution, ar.d the President of the United States has by appropriate proclama tion, desigisated tl.e 6 th day of April as Army Day. Accordingly, I, Charles A. Sprague, Governor, request that the citizens of Ore gon give suitable recognition to this date and consider its signific ance for the welfare of the Nation. Past history shows that seasor..- of peace are pain iully interrupted by periods of warfare.. It reveals aiso that lack of preparation for military action is always costly and sometimes fatal to national exist ence. Therefore, while we as a people love peace and abhor war, we must not neglect the training and equipment of armed forces ade quate for the proper protection ol out Country’s vital interests. Recent months have seen a con siderable expansion of our military units, including our own National Guard, and an intensified training of personnel. Army Day will give citizens the opportunity to observe tne progress made for the strength ening of our military effectiveness; and I invite the people of Oregon on Army Day to study the present condition and needs of our defense establishment. Fescue Found to Produce Well On Logged Land Long-Life Grasses Impor tant in Development of Pasture Chewing’s fescue was found to be producing well on a logged-off pas ture on a farm on the Fish Hawk in the Nehalem Valley after it had been seed 15 years or more. It is holding its own against fern which is an important matter in Columbia county. Chewing's fescue was also found to be growing on a small area of stump land on Rudy Anliker's farm in the Beaver Homes district. It is making a dense sod and holding its own against fern. It is not known how long this planting has veen made, but the fern was well established around the area where the Chewing’s fescue was found to be growing. Tall oat grass was found to be growing on Mr. Gus Wanstrom’s farm on the Fish Hawk on a steep (Continued on page 6) Mr. and Mrs. William Pringle, Sr. Possibility Of Area Discussed Evening Meeting Plan ned for April 9, Decided Tuesday Mr. and Mr*. Pringle, a week ago Sunday, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary. The couple is one of the pioneer families of the NehaL-m Valley, Mr. Pringle having homesteaded here in 1877. Three One-Act Annual Meet Plays to Be Of Steck men Due April 3,4 Presented Eighth Grades of Wash ington School Prepare for Friday Night Western Oregon Live stock Association to Meet at Corvallis The eighth grades bf Washington school are presenting three one-act plays this Friday night, March 29, in the auditorium of the school at 8 o’clock. The proceeds from the plays will go into a fund which provides for the annual picnic and the annual giving of a gi t to the school, usually a picture. The plays Group from Linfield this year should prove as humerous and exciting to the audience as the Entertains Students— iitles suggest: “Buddy Answers an Four entertainers, three girl’s ani Ad”, “Rummage” and “Orville’s one man, and Dr. Johannson, Dir Big Date”. ector of Admissions, of Linfield College at McMinnville met with the high school students last Thurs day morning at nine o’clock for musical numbers, consisting of vo cal, piano and trumpet selections, and an address by Dr. Johannson. The group represented the con tact committee of Linfield. Gathering of Livestock The annual meeting of the West ern Oregon Livestock Association is to be held in Corvallis, April 3 and 4, next week, according to an announcement made this week by H. A. Lindgren, secretary of the association. On April 3 the committees will meet and prepare their reports which will be presented to the general session on April 4. The Western Oregon group is made up of local groups of stockmen such as the Columbia County Association. The association in this county at the present time boasts the great est m< mbership of any group. Date Set For Meeting Of Stockmen Inspector Reviews Post Office Quarters— Inspector Wolform of the post office department spent Monday in Vernonia making an inspection of of ice quarters relative to the poss ibility of a change of the location. A rental contract has been offered the department at an amount con siderably lower than the present figure. Young People to Give Play— The young people of the Chris tian Church will give a play in the church auditorium on Sunday eve ning at 7:30 o’clock, it is entitled, “The Better Things of Life”, this will be followed by the regular preaching service; the public is cordially invited. Final Voters'1 Petitions Gj Nehalem BasinPUD Filed with Com mission Chamber To Seek Members Committee to Meet with County Court Officials Soon A number of farmers in the Upper Nehalem Valley met last Wednesday evening at the Natal Grange hall f or a discussion of the possibilities of development of logged-off land in this vicinity to some use in the future. Seme members of the group pres ent that evening have been active in the leasing of land in the Crook ed creek and Burnt creek areas for cattle grazing. Leases have | been mai'a with the county court. I To further develop this area a committee was named to contact the court seeking further use o land not now utilized for that pur pose. Discussion was also held on means of fire protection for the area. The committee appointed for the Citizens Urged to Consid evening to contact the court is com er Significance for Wel posed of Noble Dunlap, B. F. Win slow and Will Chalmers. fare of Nation Army Day Date Set by Sprague For April 6 VOLUME 17, NUMBER 13 VERNONIA, COLUMBIA COUNTYJ3REGON Association Slated Here in April The date of the Vernonia meet ing of the Columbia County Stock mens’ Association was announced this week by Lode McDonald, pres ident of the organization, as April 19, Friday. The meeting is to be held in the Grange hall in the eve ning starting at 8 p. m. No other statement was made a.-, to the program intended for the evening but attention was called to members and others who might well benefit to attend. The Columbia county association is at the present time the largest group of any affiliated with the Western Oregon Livestock Association. Activity in the county group has been lively due to the extensive benefit to be gained from work of the association. To that can be attributed the large membership. Business men can well afford to give attention to the work due to the eventual bene it to be derived. Commission Offers Show Bird Eggs Tuesday noon’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, attended by a number of business men of the community heard the decision to continue the organization as the chaniber instead of changing to a Lions Club as had been proposed end discussed by a number of people. The proposition was brought be fore the meeting Tuesday at the Terminal Cafe, discussed again, and he motion made to continue with the present organization. As was stated at that time it was the opinion of a number that little additional benefit could be gained from the Lions Club although the cost would be greater than for the chamber. Later in the meeting the date >' April 9 was chosen for an eve ning gathering at which time a irogram will be the feature of the evening. Grange Council to s Meet at Natal— Through a notice issued this week by Mrs. Pearl Becker, Pomona Grange Secretary, the Columbia County Grange Council will meet at the Natal Grange hall on Sunday, April 7. Luncheon will be served at I noon. 540 Fine Assessed— Work incidental to the obtaining olf sufficient signatures on the Voters’ Final Petitions for the for mation of a Nehalem Basin Public Utility District were filed with the Hydroelectric commission of Oregon the forepart of this week to meet with the requirement that the docu ments be completed by March 27, Wednesday. The petitions were three in num- ber, one for the Municipality of Vernonia, one for the Parcel of Territory (iCIolumbia County), and the third for Parcel of Territory (Washington County). The three divisions in total comprise the en tire district with an area of 83 square miles. Population for that listrict is approximately 5,300 and the assessed valuation $1,536,796.00. Petitions were also filed carrying the names of those to run for elec tion as directors of the district. The names of those to be included in the ballot are: E. M. Bollinger and C. S. Hoffman from Vernonia, Ndble Dunlap from Natal, W. C. Johnson from Birkerfeld and A. V. Doree and William Harkson from Timber. The directors elected in the May primary will make a survey during the summer to determine feasibility if a bond issue for raising finances for the district. They will be assist ed by competent advice from en gineers and attorneys. The bonds to be voted at a later time can be paid only from earnings of the dis trict and con never cause a tex on real or personal property according to laws governing the district. Opportunity Offered (Hub Members Don Wolfe was assessed a fine of $40 and costs in the Justice of Peace court here this week. Con $1,200 in Prizes Offered viction came about through a fight by Pacific International Applicants May Have staged a week ago last Friday. The Show Eggs on Application, convicted man was committed to the county pail in St. Helens in Transportation Cost Columbia county 4-H club mem lieu of the fine. bers in pig raising clubs will have Do you want to hatch out some opportunity again this year * o com extra fine show birds? Here’s your pete for $1,200 in prizes at the Trial Date Changed chance. Pacific International Livestock show The Oregon State Game Com To Coming Monday— mission has a surplus of show bird The date of the trial set for in Portland, as the Portland Union eggs of the Golden, Amherst, Sil Monday of this week for Lester Stock Yards company has again vers and Reeves variety of pheas Sheeley w:s changed by the court appropriated that amount to finance ants which will be given without his week. Instead the trial will the pig feeding contest. The purpose of this contest is cost to applieants as long as the held on Monday of the coming to give club members practical ex supply lasts. Applicants must pa> week. perience in feeding pigs for market transportation costs. The Commis and to demonstrate the rate of gain, sion also has a limited supply of Here from Bend— cost of feed and profit that can be show birds that will be sold at a Jim Byers and Sherman Nicar made, said Harry H. Burdick, pres nominal price. of Bend, Oregon, are spending the ident of the stock yards company, Both the eggs and the birds are located at the state game farms at week of spring vacation here in in announcing the 1940 contest. Eugene and Pendleton. Applications Vernonia. Both boys formerly at Details of eligibility, requirements hculd be made to Frank B. Wire, tended Vernonia high school; both and general instructions may be had from George A. Nelson, County state game supervisor, 616 Oregon *re pominent in athletics in the Agricultural Agent. Bend high school. Building, Portland, Oregon. President Burdick also announces that the corn growing contest, sponsored for the past 15 years by his company, wilt not be held in the future as its- purpose has been largely accomplished. Other agencies • I * • could have a post office established, have been born seven children. Fred, I are now active in promotion of corn in the city itself. In 1925 the present Hy-Van hotel My brother, Henry, and Mrs. Adams who is a logger, lives in California.! growing and are providing contests we« erected and in the following wanted to name the post office St.' Walter also is a logger. Dewey is I and fairs of various kinds, he said. Cloud, after their home town of farming near Junction City. Laura ' That 4-H projects have been the year built a garage. On August 12, 1891, Mr. Van St. Cloud, Minnesota. Someone el»« lives with them. Harley and Macy biggest single factor in improving Blaricom was united in marriage to wanted to name it Auburn, for | are loggers at Marshfield. Myrtle! the type of hogs produced in this Miss Ida Vaughn. Mr. Van Blari Auburn, Minnesota. Professor Cher-1 married Harry Coleman, a locomot-' area is the opinion of R. L. Clark com has shown an active interest rington, who taught the first school, I ive engineer. Three of my boys, ! ■ >f Portland, superintendent of the in the affairs of the community and was a widower, wanted to name Fred, Walter and Dewey, saw ser- ( fat stock auction of 4-H club entries at the P. I. each year. and has served as city marshal and it Vernona for his daughter. I was! vice in the World War. constable and several terms as a »oing with Annie Adams. Her father j A number of friends of the Van] Clark said the type of hogs pro wanted to call the place St. Cloud, i Blaricoms were present last Satur- duced has been completely ctanged member of the school board. but I persuaded her to vote for day for the birthday party: Dewey [ In 1879 he took a four-year con from the wrong type to the right tract to carry the mail from St. Vernona. I liked Professor Cher-1 Van Blaricom, Mr. and Mrs. Johnj type. He estimates that his accom Helens to Vernonia, a distance o' rington and wanted to plecse him Van Blaricom, a nephew from Port- so I got busy and lined up all the; land, L. B. Brewer of Portland, Mr. ' plishment alone is worth “more thirty miles over the mountains. Mr. Van Blaricom was elso instru votes I could and when the vote and Mrs. William Woods of Ver- cold cash than all the money ever mental in the selection of the name ! was taken, 17 votes were cast, nine t nonia, Mr. and Mrs. A. Rowlands, spent on club work in this area.” for this city, Vernonia. As told by! of which were for Vernona. When Ellen, Ruby, Edith and Bill Row- 4-H club work is also entitled Mr. Van Blaricom, “My brother. the post office was established they lands, all of Portland, Mr. and Mrs. ' to much credit for the improve Joseph, decided to lay out a town called it Vernonia instead of Ver- George Parker and Mrs. Dora Wash- j George Parker, Mrs. Dora Washburn , ment in the fed steer market, said site on his homestead. We held a nona (Continued on page 6) meeting to select a name, so we I To Mr. and Mrs. Van Blaricom and Clarence V. Gee of Vernonia? H. D. Van Blaricom Celebrates B5tli Birthday • I Last Saturday marked the 85th birthday of H. D. Van Blaricom, one of Vernonia’s earliest settlers and one of the men responsible for the early development of Ver nonia. Mr. Van Blaricom was one of j 13 children born to John and Nancy ■ Vtn Blaricom who came to what is now Vernonia in 1874 to take up a homestead one mile east of the | present city. H. D. Van Blaricom attended the public schools of Min- j nesota and one term in the first <>g schoolhouse near Vernonia. He assisted his father on the home ranch until his marriage in 1891 ; when he moved onto land which he had homesteaded in 1876 and located one and one-half miles northeast of Vernonia. Later he sold the place and purchased 30 acres, a part of which is now included Petitions for ^Directors Also Filed for May 17 Election