p RINCE GEORGE Thursday, January 5, 1939. Prince George, B. C- Seek Lethbridge Route For The Alaska Highway Advantage oi Connecting Prince George to Finlay Forks Seen An editorial in the Edmonton Journal makes a strong appeal for acLion hv the Alberta provincial government onri the Edmonton city council, to ac " bring to i he notice of the Alaska � commission of the U. S. and Canadian governments, the advan-taee's and what is claimed to be ,su-ueiiority from military, engineering and financial viewpoint of the Alberta section of the proposed high-wav. ever any other routes, in British Columbia. ' Tlie route suggested for consideration is the Le.hbridge-Edmon ton-Peace River Highway. No mention is made as to the route to be taken through Northern B. C. afcer leaving Pea^ River. This agitation coupled with that of the westerly route in B. C should more closely emphasize the matchless advantages from every possible consideration of the extension of the Cariboo Highway from Prince George to Finlay Porks, hereby connecting with ail Peace River highways and affording a desirable connection with Edmonton and other cities. � j No new construction other than the connexion to Finlay Porks would be necessary to make this point a junction with Alberta and also points west of Prince George in B. C. Council Should Act The prince George city council and board of trade and other local bodies might well consider the preparation at once of a joint brief, "setting out the advantages of this route, in a similar manner to the excellent brief presented last year to the Rowell Commission on British immigration. The commission has no authority to cons'ruct the highway and its terms i of reference are limited to making 1 "inquiry into the engineering, econo- Inlc, financial and other aspects of the laid highway to Alaska, and to meet (it the purpose of discussions and the [exchange of information with the United -States commission for that1 1 purpose, and subsequently to submit ho the governor-in-council a report setting forth the evidence received and the conclusions to be drawn therefrom." Horse In Room Where Man Died His half-starved horse was Cedor Grebe's only companion in death when the middle-aged Russian railway worker passed away in his shack at ^wey, December 23. Grebe's body, was discovered by Albin Carlson, section hand, who jj-und the horse in the cabin in which the man died. When Carlson opened we door, the horse, in a half-starved condi.ion. galloped out "of the bare room. The late Oedor Grebe, about 56, �as a member of the Russian Dra-KOons and served under Czar Nicholas �f Russia before the Great War. He came to Dewey from Alberta *wut.l925. Coroner W. Skinner of frmce George was called to Dewey Sn from Assman's Funeral SHELDON LUCK IN DRAMATIC RESCUE ., The word "HELP," tramped ouo in big letters in the snow by a woman whose husband was suffering from blood poisoning attracted the attention of Sheldon Luck, who landed his plane on Nordquist Lake to take the man to safety at Whitehorse last Thursday. Mrs. J. Nordquist, who conceived the idea for focussing the pilot's attention on her plight, was with her husband 400 miles south of Whitehorse, Y.T. Sheldon was making a regular U.A.T. flight when he saw the appeal for help in the snow. Radio Listeners Here "Apathetic" Says Govt. Official Federal Department Cannot Appoint Part-Time Radio Inspector "The revenue collected from radio license fees in a given area is a determining factor in the amount of service we are in a position to render broadcast listeners." This statement is contained in a; letter to John Walker, head of the Junior Chamber of Commerce radio committee, who has been in communication with the department of transport in an effort to clear up radio interference in the Prince George district. The letter is from W. A. Rush, controller of radio, of the Dominion government department of transport. The' communication follows: "The district superintendent of radio, Victoria, has referred to this office a copy of your letter of the, 12.h instant addressed to Supervising Radio Inspector Bowerman of our Vancouver office, wherein you suggest that a part-time radio inspector be appointed to take care of interference to broadcast reception at Prince George. "Your comments and recommendations in this connection have been duly noted and I may say that, while the monies received from license fees in respect of private receiving stations are credited to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for the betterment of broadcasting throughout the Dominion, the revenue collected in a given area is a determining factor in the amount of service we are in a position to render broadcast listeners. Apathy at Listeners "Our interference service is provided solely for listeners who are duly licensed and the situation in Prince George may, therefore, be fairly attributed to the apathetic attitude of broadcast listeners in the matter of licensing their sets in compliance with the law. During the-, fiscal year 1937-38, 235 licences were issued in Prince George but to date during the present fiscal year wnly 112 persons appear to have taken out their licenses in spite of the fact that all who were licensed last year have been warned twice by mail of the necessity for renewing the same. "It is regretted that the department is not in a position, at the present time, to give favorable consideration to your recommendation for a part-time radio inspector, although we are instructing our Victoria office to arrange to loan the Prince Geotge Junior Chambe of Commerce, in accordance with your wishes, certan equipment for use in connection with interference investigation, immediately, he has such equipmentjivailable. ~Alaslca Highway United Farmers "of Alberta propose a resolution in their convention urging the building of the Alaska highway through Alberta. ____ � TIE CONTRACTS ARE SMALL "-----------------------------------------------i--------------------------------j��---------------;----------------------------* � . ;�;"�"�____________________________________ Local Orders Are Cut To 30% Of Last Year By Canadian National WIDE REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURES IN DISTRICT ! VANCOUVER WELCOME�Rt. Hon. I R. B. Bennett, former Prime Minister of Canada .will be honored with a i civic reception when he says farewell j to Vancouver January 9. The dis-| tinguished Canadian statesman is retiring from political life in Canada to 'ake up residence in England. Tie contractors, tie hackers, farmers and merchants are all seriously disappointed in this district in the contracts received this week for railroad ties from the Canadian National Railway. Considerable bitterness is expressed by many people in town in the drastic reductions made by the government owned railway in both quantity and quality purchases of ties in Central British Columbia. --------:----------------------------------------& A few years ago the tie industry Children Dejected As School Begins Again r 6'S In their strod u'Bt:s younger generation monJn^ to scho�l Wednesday of "rg^ �,begin mother five months Rn^ � 'ritin1 and 'rithmetic." � Profited by their "red-cards last ^r mart topDed thai next their h plas their hands the plasses of making Others wno ! apples in y at little & Prin- reported an j of 329 yes-; sch001- and there on in high school the teaching staffs of the local schools this term. Most of the teachers spent holidays away from town to enjoy Christmas and New Year's with families and friends. . , ,- Harold Pennington, principal of the high school, journeyed to Vancouver, as did Morvena Irwin. Maryon Hunt-. lv and Margaret Reid. Mr. and Mrs. MichVel^Ttlck spent the holidays in Winnipeg, while Marjorie Roberts was with her family at KamloopsThelma Peterson holidayed at Burns Lake Tnd Doris Moore went to Port Frasor to spend Christmas with her pirents. �hT Sanders spent some tune at newev while Mr. and Mrs. Denis Sh went to Hutton after a trip to Vancouver. Other teachers spent the holidays in the city. Pioneer Couple Marked Golden Jubilee Monday-Mr, and Mrs. John Henderson Well Known 'Beaverley Farmers The golden wedding anniiversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Henderson was celebrated by a group of friends and relatives at Beaveri^ .on Monday, January 2, at the farm home of their son, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Henderson. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson were pioneer farmers in the Beaverley district. where they took a leading part in all community and dis-rict affairs, and did much toward the development of that excellent farming area. Lately they have been residing near Kelowna and are now on an extended visit to their son and family at Beaverley. Both Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are enjoying excellent health, and though they are near the three scoie and ten allotted mark they are as keenly interested in this district and its progress as when they resided here. Beside their son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Henderson and grandson Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Freeman and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Leversage from Prince Geoge. joined in the party at Beaverley, and many others have expressed their desire to wish Mr. and Mrs. Henderson the best of health and happiness for many more years together. ------------o------------ Thieves Busy On New Year's Eve Skating Rink Loss is #25 Parker's Store Entered But Nothing Taken While Prince George was celebrating the arrival of the New Year Saturday night thieves were busy in two parts of town ransacking business premises. When Harry Thacker arrived at the skating rink Sunday morning, he found the locks on the doors of the building broken and the main room in a disorderly state. Burglars had broken in and s olen Mr. Thacker's complete stock of tobaccos, bars and gums, resulting in Joss of $25. No insurance was carried on the stock. Police are investigating, the at-'empted robbery of Bruce Parker's men's wear store which was broken into Saturday night. Mr. Parker reported his back window smashed in and a number of footprints around the back of the shop. Nothing was taken, however, the thieves having apparently been frightened away. KING AND QUEEN WON'T PASS- HERE Their Majesties the King and Queen will arrive in B.C. from Banff and make a short stay at Kamloops on May 28. The return trip from Victoria and Vancouver will be via Jasper where they will arrive at 9 ajn. on June 1. Old Year Given Rousing Send-off In Prince George Record Crowd, Attends Dance In Princess Ballroom Saturday Night Old 1938 was given a rousing goodbye in Prince George Sunday and Monday when the incoming of 1939 was celebrated with traditional New Year exuberance.-**- The weather . was satisfactory lor holiday-making. A light snow which began falling early Saturday gave way to rainfall which began about midnight. Highlighting the holiday was the New Year's Eve dance in the Princess Ballroom Saturday night and Sunday morning, annually sponsored by the Army and Navy Veterans Swirling-streamers, toy horns and paper hats were merged with a milling throng of carefree dancers. At 12 o'clock, master of ceremonies Robert Pooley announced the arrival of the New Year�the crowd formed the traditional circle.around/the room and "Auld Lang Syne" rose above the din of chat.ering laughter and toy horns. The orchestra/was also heard. An estimate placed the number in attendance at 400. The ladies' auxiliary to the Legion were hard pressed to provide refreshments but managed wi'.h notable efficiency to feed everybody. The Gabriele-Aitken orchestra attired in white mess jackets, made their bow to the Prince George dancing public, playing old and new melcdies with distinction. Formal Attire Many of the men were dressed formally, and most of the ladies chose long evening gowns. A variety of striking gowns were seen, and at least two women were bold enough to appear, with an upstyle "hair do." The Lambeth Walk was vigorously indulged in, and nobody seems to have yet become tired of the dance that swept the country. Many Parties A no-host dinner was Held at the was a most important pari of the economy of the district served by the old Grand Trunk and orders were given for several seasons running from one and a half to two million ties at considerably higher prices than those prevailing today. Lastllyear the orders ran to 470,000 ties to which must be added about 80,000 overrun which were later accepted at a discount of five cents per tie. The contracts so far received show the quantity to be purchased this year is reduced to thirty per cent of last year, and if these prove a fair average of other contracts along the line the total quantiy will be abou 160,000 instead of 470,000 in 1938. Not only has the quantity of orders been reduced but quality also, which makes a further wide reduction in money expenditures in the district. Last year approximately seventy per cent of the ties taken were of number one grade while this year contracts are limited to 25 per cent number one's, sixty per cent number two's and fifteen per cent number three's. No premium is to be paid this year for squared ties, while last year five cents per squared tie was paid as extra bonus. As approximately- 65 per cent of the ties taken here last year were squared, this makes a further reduction of actual amounts to be paid. �Prices to be paid this year to contractors who are limLed to five cents per tie gross profit, to be deducted from price quoted, are: Number one's.. 52c; number two's, 40c; number three's, 20c. This is about the same as last year including the five cent squared tie premium, the big change being in increasing the ratio of number two ties at forty cents and decreasing the ratio of number one's to 25 per cent of any quantity bought. Handicap to Men This ratio change works an additional handicap to tie men here as it bears no relation to the average percentage of number one tie timber in the usual tie tract of timber, whacn usually runs from forty per cent to fifty per cent good number one tie timber in any area. It is stated, that this will actually mean it will be (Continued on Page Four) See "TIE CONTRACTS" SMITHERS TAKES TWO FROM LOCAL JUNIORS won two games Smitners juniors Shasta banquet room and"another in j from Prince George hockey players at the. Prince George hotel where a Smithers Tuesday and Wednesday. the Prince George large membership of the ladies' sewing circle gathered before the dance. Among others, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Matheson, Mr.' and Mrs. Dave Ross, Charles Yost, and Charlie Gow, held "open house" on New Year's day. Miss Kay -Johnson also entertained on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Burden assisted by "AT Young, held their annual "open house" on New Year's Day. Tuesday the score was 15-2, and Wednesday a close, fast game finished with a 4-2 score for Smithers. In last night's game, the first period closed with Smithers up 1-0, making two in the second period which closed at 3-1. Game ended 4-2. The "kid line" of Rebman, Paschal and Barone played fast hockey all through the encounter. Strobiki was in goal for the final game. Interest Current In Opening Of Federal House Next Week Parliament at Ottawa opens next Thursday and more than usual interest will be taken in the proceedings his session, owing to the general impression that after prorogation an election will be held probably next September. "v Out of a total of 245 seats the Liberals have 180. It has been the practise of the Liberal governments particularly to go to the country after four years though the legal length of each parliament is five years. With the impending visit of the King and Queen o Canada in May, business of the House may be speeded up to permit prorogation before the arrival of Their Majesties. On the other hand so many important ques ions require effective action, the proposals for which mored an adjournment will take place during May, and the House reconvene in June. This assumption is reasonable as it is unlikely Mackenzie King will go to the country until efforts have been made to satisfy demands for more ac ive measures on many matters of public concern. Unemployment insurance may be introduced, probably on similar lines of assistance to provinces, as is given under the old 8ge pension act, thereby permit ing the federal-government to undertake such a measure under existing powers limited by the B. N. A. Aci. Interest will certainly be shown in the report of the Royal Commission which investigated in o the Bren gun See "FEDERAL HOUSE"