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About Vernonia eagle. (Vernonia, Or.) 1922-1974 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 1957)
.’Ht fÄGLZ •THURSDAY. OCT 1% 1*57 Vernonia Story Tells Problems Encountered by Committee •Note The Vernon.» chamber -•f m e si/w r e mdurtna! eoanszuttee .-»pared the f'.kzwrmg ^nforma- m relative to tn» area in ad- aaee eg the state departmer.t of p»mcmg and deieloptBent meet- ng at TiLamcx. K Septe-mbe? 1? An i W'- tic ot the brief was pee r-led verbally at that t.me and ■w ful. artx-ie wai tied with, the ■ parttm nt It » prvsier.ted here give readers ar. idea ff s rr* of •ne prubleshi faced try tía* «en- -..ttee os the Mghly cumpetitive ' eld of seet-ng new mdur-ry for the area I Th’ following » a brief aun.- - ary leading up t the present natus of Vernama and the Upper Nehalem Valley There has always be»- a pah • 1 peasirruTr. hanging ■jver the Vpp« N ehalem Valley because of the fact that rumors were al ways started to the effect that toe mill would shut down maybe .-»ext year, maybe the following year, maybe three, maybe five In the Spring of 1954 the Gen eral Manager of the Long Bell ximber Company, Vernonia Branch, along with the County .-saetaor and a representative- 'rom the State Tax Commission met with the Lions one evening .r*d told the club of a thirty month writeoff that they had se- • ured from th? County, State -»nd Federa; governments on their /««it purchase of the Oregon American Company This was a . <XMuderab!e blow to the Upper J»ehaJem Valley businessmen and w orkers bec ause the fast write- fl was ind.cative of th« amount <d time that they felt they ha«f •eft to operate In the wake of n» shocking news, a group of swiainessm« ’. banded together and 1«»rwM-d the Vernonia Chamber of Commerce The Chamber has. tn the Last four years, contacted. ^processed, dealt with any and all types of buxnjess enterprises that we he »rd ot or could find out about ÍX the mgny contacts that T-ave been made during this time, we have met with very little «»wecess, as all communities are, likewise, vying for new industry In th Upper Nehalem Valley the whxk was more terrific than ,t .would be in other communitie were they have diversified in dustry The now Internationa! J’aper Company, which bought cart Long-Bell, hired at p-ak op •rating Um? approximately 700 • mpieyees in the woods and m »ill This was the Upper • M*e? ’g major payroll. The Chamber has be -n success Ito tn rtarting a candle factory «■tact » progress.ng very nicely, it does not h.re ov« prop» and was. further w—~srfu ». getting toe Smith- | a«A Ccncrrte Products Campan? to esBabLih their aggregate kik, a: tta - te_r.mg ute clow to Ver- •««-a which will tmpioy atx/u; t ■ sit l MeedLes’ to say. the two tria. ’Mwitnti lac* a whale t«t of of * X1 tn *”* large r- ’^peratMOi On WedntwUy Sept er- , be- 11. v» te»?, jog *iu tteawn into tr>- < mwwi ¡:. auj now the mill wiL *«>• twent y mt- with w .th XKr ew.. f^kyces f t one more TTK»T> month ttwfj no p^yroi] Shurtiy after th* Chamber L ormmejw wes fuel TH si. |f was dch that a survey »as nr-cessary to drtertrin« * hat resources were ■ »ailabie in the Vemonia area Members of the staff of Lewi* •nd Clark college were approach- • d to help m mak-ng the survey 1 rtdew. ar Phillip J McAllister of tar Business Administration D, ¡tartm-nt headed the survey Aorking with the college group uerr local volunteers. This group prepared a survey which im ude» ■iformati n on manpower, raw "»aienals and many other items Thw survey cost th* Chamber ap. THE VERNONIA EAGLE Marvin Kamhv'x Editor ari Publisher Official Newspaper at Vernonia. fttpn Entered as second class mail tatter. August < 1922 at the post office tn Vernonia. Oregon uader the act of March X 1ST» fabrrpu.- price $3 00 yearly m the Nehalem Valley Else where $3 50 NATIONAL tOfTO> At assoc F aî I Í I : i pe?x.mateiy $49? !»5 As a resort of tne xcroey «* foutsd our area to be htekrng sr oertau- areas. It u tt.a r~.iuT oefir iene»« wtnt we wist to diacxus toda y r'ties* are srmn rf the »neue jrrç>.Truir t yr-.itof-rn.- in our area tosuy anc IT H.lTTlf measure have mao- difficult it attract -Mustr? K our urea R'.teds at»d tagte*tky* IT nur a~t i ci the Upper toe^iaien Vaiiry I create * rr-a.K-r pnMen Th« tea slate aad r:>unry -.¡aru a-i rue- | row rough and :«tMi:>iru for mr- terr. transgKimatjre requirements. Verrr.it-* lies net- th* cer.ter | of the prcTptisei Highway WW Alternate which ru*^ freer Me M-nn\. ie on tt>e the South to Ktisci. Wasmr.gton cm on th? North To those of us 11 Tift g in the Upper Nehalem Valley the proposed highway means faster, better trar.’portation to the North and to the South To the ps-ople liv. .ng in TiLamoox and Lincoln Counties, it will mean a route which will save many miles, and dollars, when they are ¡»ending their products North into Wash ington Since this route inter cepts important arteries such as the Wilson River Highway, and the Sunset Highway, which run in.and toward Portland from the coast, it will tend to siphon off from the already extremely crowded Portland area through traffic which would only add to the congestion. With th- improvement of Highway 30. th» route would also make possible easy access from the Willamette Valley to the Lxiwer Columbia River area New and improved roads in this ar?a would open to tourist traff.c the beautiful Nehalem Vailey and the mountain valleys of the Coast Range I The key portion of this road program in Northwext Oregon is not an expensive highway. High way Commission estimates place the cost of this 80 mile highway at between S4.009,000 and $5.- 000,000 This money would build up the deficient portions of the highway to safe standards for many years. Industry which might locate in th» area has looked at the lack of roads and has left for other regions. Only last week we were informed that a certain industry was settling in another location where highways were better The other location is farther from many of the markets for the par ticular product than is Vernonia but the roads wer- a major factor tn its not settling in Verncnua The counties in our area need help m improving and main taining county road*. They are abort cm funds and trained man power Perhaps th? state could assist them in setting up con struction ¿->d maintenance p.ans a inch would let the counties K»ou Which IS most impnlOar • m bringing the roads up to date Or. county roads we find mast of our transportation problems It u r m.les from. Vernonia to the county seat at St Hefei* 1« '-**es one hour driving time make the 27 tniitt tr'.-rr. Vemcdia to F miles Thu car t»e m lew than one bom When it a easier to go to othe towns than OUT CVODty V m ec-orr-my of the county we hve 1 > » suffering due to the condition of the roads A road such i—*- as - Highway 99W Alternate would be t of consider- able value as a mi iitary road m case of National J emergency Th» route, for the most part, stays clear of maji r military target but is readily acres.ble to them With th» in nind. it would be valuable as alternate mili- tarv road far en. ugh away from military targets to be out of the way and * close enough to serve its requirements I Water is another item whta needs greater study a-.d p-»s ■le If1 ¡aJ act.-on i The Nel River ». like all i rivers a U m Coast range. t, essentially a ram river The •■vsu.t n » that we havr I eitl feast or <x famine ) In wm I ter when we need little t wat«. we have too i much In summer f »her. water » used m Urge quantities fai r agr-culture and other US's we dr not even ha»« enough flow to pt^periy Mlp- t r»h life r agr- - * .re » to expand n Nehalem Valley water » re- th' farmers can on compels or sith crops from areas The ■»- iOQd r’ttw.remer ts of the Insert Stat's will make it man datary that all agrxuiture areas be developed to their fullest If the water resources were to !>• AerktdL tbe n umber of water « .tskrswto p e r m t* on the Ne- -itrtit wtwud undoubtedly be fnuiii ta be greater than the toto. amnur: of water flowing I.’ kE r*4Xt were used at once the?* wouid be no water and the tea fisit ief: m th* low water be dead in the stream bed lr Jun*, ltd*, a F*e»d Exami- ruiLinr « as maae of the Upper '•ehtorm Watershed by a num ber rf >ocal state ind federal *4fT<r/e* As is always done, this Kurve? «as at a brief, two-day, m wnxh a group of ex perts r-bocked jver th? area Es- aentialiy the results arrived at sadicated that tne existing law _n3tr which the invest-gation was mao* would not app.y. How ever the report indicates further mvest.gat.c® should be mad- L.ti> credit was g.ven in the report to the benefit* accruing to the area if a program of water storage was inaugurated beyond those from irrigation ar.d Good controL We have been told that this area suffers from a shortage of water How-ever. annually ap- ptximately 400,000 to 500.000 acre feet of water flow past Vernonia. A portion of this water properly stored would provide sufficient water for all agricultural and industrial use needs for many years. Recreation possibilities in the Nehalem Valley are numerous and include such phases as un developed sites for overnight parks and picnic areas, lock and fossil deposits, fish and game and areas suitable fur trail riding. Som.- deve'opment has taken place in establishing picnic areas, but there is a need for more such sites than those already in use The if are no developed camp sites such as the state has es tablished in other sections of Oregon where campers can spend the night or several days. Be cause of poor highway conditions on the proposed 99W Alternate route, this area does not partici pate to any appreciable extent in tourist trade, Oregon's third largest industry. The d-velopment of recreation i hindered again because of th lack of water during summer months which hindered abundant fish life, which, in turn, would be remedied by a dam on the I pper Nehalem river designed to resti am heavy winter flow and permit gradual run-off dur- ing the dry summer months. Extensive rock and fossil de posits are located in the area and considerable attention has been given in encouraging "rock hounds to avail themselves of these deposits. To properly develop the valley mcreBtiunally a much improved highway arid conservation of wa ter resources are necessary and -n both instances th» comm un- rtjr » in need of state leadership because '.ties’ projects cannot be handled from the local k-vel. Forest and forest product» make up the most important s-ng> item in th- Upper Nehal alley. em Valley In fact one might say that all other types of enter- prtse an secondary to the enter prunes o.rectiy connected with our forests To date these forests bet-r ■ both a blessing and The forests bless the wi h its first large scale m- dustry. In the valley are rt- mainden of Clark and Wilson, Oregon- _ • .American, Birkenfeid Lumti-r Co and many others both large and sntal 1 We have «bande >ed shingle mills and ter- libie Signs uf forest f.res All this is behind us A new class °f forest operator has moved in- to join us In this new group ai» Crt-wn - Ze, 1er bach, Longview F. bfY Ka.ier Gypsum (Firtex Di rtlma) P^per and Sitate oil ---- Qr* J 1^/z. J it sr*f At these new groups have abandon- td the old * cut-out and get-odt” technique They the idea tries forever Wi are in hearty •graement with their slogan We know what the old attitude did U us However, we are not re tain that they bring us all bless- r.g- with the.r perations Theo- . arlows groups own in excess of 7€ per cent of the land in the Upper Nehalem Valley This 7« per cent com« to the total of 171 90b acres of a total of 229.000 acre*. If they carried on then prucos.ng in the valley we would f' ■) mor? kindi.v toward such a situat. w although wondering at trie great control they have over our ec-’Mtowiy H wev«. they carry on the processing in other <p«nr far .-vmov«d from our area Therefore, we are subsid.ary to tJ.eee areas and must be set .sited to see cw industrial and expenrti.'rc w.-irkr-"» drairwvi away to ccber c.-romuriinei. bave trees crtrtrtrtg or. «'« hsvr experience« l*b.c ** h*vr ir duct—a art?» nr>c ra.. sne truck transgK ctati.nr. hut «r nut p.-'Tiirr-.i.. me «’tv. nut Th» we awartt hsw tr h*x«r a sound teaxaue future Mr nocc help to detersnm? bow thr tim ber pr -resstni *r. this grrwt *.-<•* car. be Kept rr. the vx-miry of the t.mber growth When the m.tial reps in phi«c«essui»g ar? amt a whole .ndustry based or. timber waste can be budit but th» can not be dorse at the pressent tant ■.it.. ring wastes left in the for- erts foUcwing ->ggmg We need new processes to utilize the jog ging wastes so that profitable industries may be established. power is needed However, oth ers can de * much better job of diwussmg the merits and de merits of such issues Our prob lem is »>ne of seeing our tradition- *. «<? pf :dt which was wrap- ped up in lumber disappearing. We want to help ourselves but we need help and ideas. Th**«- can make ours a stronger arm better community for the entile state of Oregon. C3 m > m See Fire Truck Fire Prevention Check Suggested Wcanesds? tnornutg. C L. Johnson and Rob Cur’, took the rura. fine truck to the Washing- toa schv< gre unds »here they explained new it works to stu- der.ts of the fourth grade »lasses taught by Mrs Mathilde Berger- son and Mrs Rose Steen. Extension Unit Officers Trained The best time to think about fire on your farm is before it happens, advises County Exten sian Agent. Don Coin Walrod Those who give it some thought beforehand are least likely to have a fire, he says. And he offers this special Fire Preven tion Week list of fire considera tions to think about: 1. Know how to call the fire department; post your fire de partment number and exchange at the telephone. Make sure your fire department is familiar with the layout of your farm, hous- and barn exits, and location of water supp :e In Vernonia, the lire department number is HA 9-3131 2. Check condition of heating equipment including chimneys and flues. Make all repairs ne cessary for safe operation. 3. Check electric wiring for heat and loads—replace worn and inadequate wiring; use only 15 ampere fuses unless a circuit has been specially designed for larger loads • 4 Your fire f.ghting tools should be easily accessible in an emer gency. Have ladders always rea» dy for escape and fighting roof fires. 5 Have the right extinguish ers in the right places. Check them frequently and recharge; protect from feezing where ne cessary. 6. Make sure water supplies are accessible for fire fighting Further resources surveys would Eighty-six ujiit officers and help us to know better exactly committee chairmen representing v. hat we nave to offer We have the 19 home extension units in collected and filed much mater- Columbia county gathered a’ lal regard.ng our raw materials Fern Hill Grange hall Septem and resources. This material is ber 30 for a training session Mr.- of great valu? in contacting and Norman Hansen, Mist, chairman discussing our Valley with poten- I of the county home extension t.al industrial developers. Th: comm.ttee. presided. Mrs. F. problem we are faced w-ith is Beeler, Warren, county commit that we lack money and help to tee secretary-t reasurer, had keep the information current and charge of registrat.on. valid. We know we have certain The meeting opened with raw materials but in most cases group singing led by Mrs Ernest we know nothing else regardin-’ Hams of Yankton accompanied these raw materials. We know by Mrs. John Rauch of Fem Hill. Litt)? of the actual potential in Mrs Hansen stated the purpose mineral resources in our area. of the meeting and th? county We know we have deposits of a extension agent, Mrs. Margaret large number of minerals. We Allyn, spoke on the extension have not besn able to gather in program as applied to Columbia formation regarding the future county. potential of these minerals. The The group then broke up into deposits we are most blessed committees with a county com with are various ores of iron and mittee chairman leading th? dis aluminum plus large amounts of cussion in each committee. Thes° low grade coal on which some chairmen are as follows: Mrs development work has taken E. Avis, Columb.a City. 4-H; Mrs. place. There are large deposits Charles Mikesh, Scappoose. A.C.- of shale suitable for the manu W W ; Mrs. John Rauch, Fern facture of expanded shale for Hill, Azalea House; Mrs. J. Mc lightweight concrete. T w - q of Clung, Delena, Health and Safety. these deposits have been develop Mrs. M. Meyer. Timber route. Students to Hear Band ed but a number of additional de Citizenship and Research; Mrs. posits are available. We are will F Beeler, Warren. Secretary and Wm. B. Johnson, band instruc ing to work for further know Publicity. tor in the Vernonia schools, will ledge regarding these items but Each committee worked out take about 75 band students from do not have the man-power or suggestions and recommendations the grade and high schools to money to properly study th-se for its phase of the current years Portland Friday to hear the U.S. resources. home extension program. Navy band. Market surveys for possible products are needed. Again we run head-on into the problem of bow to gather the information. MAKE A PICNIC HAMPER Much of the information regard Carrying food and utensils i on the outside edge of the bot ing specific products can be easily for a picnic can be much easier tom with glue and No. 10 wood if ail the items are placed screws, 2 inches long. The top obtained but in some fields the in one container. The hamper, is assembled with glue and No. information is not so readily shown is basic and can be I available or has not been com modified with separators and/ ; 9 screws 3 inches long. The screening is attached to the up piled. When this condition oc or compartments. Make the hamper using 1 by per side of the frame. Use a curs th? community has not the 12-inch lumber with 1 by 4-inch piano hinge to attach the top resources available to gamble on lumber for the top. Use a miter to the box. Add carrying han I the cost of such a market survey box for the angle cuts and to dles and a lock and hasp to secure the top when closed. help cut square ends. We are in that position at the When assembling the project, Sand smooth and paint or present time in the fieid of char fasten the sides and end pieces stain and varnish. coal. General indications are that a good market is available in charcoal but specific informa tion has not been available. Pre sent trends show a growing in terest in charcoal production with a rapid market increase develop ing Washington and California interests show a strong inclina MITER tion toward entering the market 45’ e *?t but to date- we have not been HIM.I abie to compile sufficient infor mation to attempt to encourage available capital to enter the field. The Department of Plan ning would help all small com munities if such information or sources of such information were compiled Much of such work * could possibly be carried on by research projects at the State Colleges and University HERE'S HOW. .Most important to us at the moment would bt- the calling to gether of a task force made up of the various interested County. State. Federal agencies and lo cal business leaders to study the entire picture of the lost indus try in Vernonia. The purpose would be to find methods to de velop replacement industry for the area and to ease as much as possible the dislocation resulting in the closing of so much of the community payroll. Such a group could gather basic facts and in formation related to the situation which would make possible a quicker and bitter solution of the problems arising from closure of industry in other Oregon towns We snow other towns will be so affected and a program now toward saving Vemonn could help a number of other Oregor town« now and in the fu- tore In closing w ? would l.ke to state that along with the >ther communities in the state we are toterested in more cqu.table freight rase? and ,n the best pos s ble tax program which can be laid out We also feel that mace MAKE A SAW TABLE EXTENSION A valuable addition to the the upper vertical member and tiocn« workshop with a power join vertical memtor» with table saw is an adjustable saw 5 16 by 44 inch carriage bolts table extension or support for with large washers ami wing Jong timber. nut». Cut mortises S inch Make the support from 2 by deep and assemble pieces as ♦ inch lumber. Cut the lower «how», with glue and 3 inch vertical piece so that the sup-f Ne» 10 wood screws Attach p<wt will be the sa.ne height as .-ertical member to base with the saw table, with all»>wance 5 T6 by 5 <s -inch carriage bolt» for adjustments up or down. Install diagonal braces, cut Cut a slot as shown in the from 2 by 4's. under the top lower vertical member. Bore Mount twelve large rwller-ball holes S 18 inch in diameter in casters «’aggered on the top. CAjrfv i
