- Cj3 �ndt>wident S�mi-W�fcty Newspaper Devoted to the interest of Central and North*% British Columbia 38; No. 4 (Two Sections) Prince George, B.C., THURSDAY, January 13, 1955 S4 00 0er year per copy lower Consultant Coining To iraft Reduced Rate Scale City power consultant M. A. Thomas will arrive here with-,, feW days to stcirt work on a new power rate schedule which be designed to reduce consumer costs by about 12 percent. City Council power chairman l|f|erman Percy Williams told al-Lrincn Monday night that Mr. fhoinas would be here "very to start on the new rate re-ion. . ' Ilia disclosure came after couh-luul voted to retain Mr. Thom-uHuin in 1955 at a basic cost of E'00.0. j The newi |rate revision will be second in;'a year. ;, Kates were revised through a v .schedule drawn up by Mr, Diiias in 1954 and .put, into ef- L-t last July. [The first revision was more of adjustment of comparative Jiarges between commercial and (in-commercial consumers than was an overall reduction. None- leless, the city's power revenue 111 off by 12 per cent after tho litiul Thomas report was imple- (en tod. �Alderman Williams said special Jtehtipn will be given to devising industrial power rate lower Ian the present one. lil Company Would uiy Monument Site lA major oil company has of-jrcd to purchase a plot of park Ind. at the corner of First Ave-lio and George Street where a fcmorial cairn stands in memory the westward passing of Alex-juler Mackenzie, the first white |.m to reach the Paciffo over-ind. Home Oil Company wants to fcquire the property for the purpose of-expanding the premises Austie's Service, 3155 Third �venue. J The company offered to pay the bst of moving the cairn to a new |te. 1 City council Monday voted to pk Prince George Parks Board its opinion ot the proposal. J Earlier, Alderman Carrie Jane �ray, who said she was opposed a mcfilbh; Which ould have rejected the oil comp- by's offer. The motion failed to (nd a seconder. 'The cairn and its site is under (10 care of a federal agency which reserves historical sites and [nmuments. The ground was deeded to the fcly by the Grand Trunk Pacific |.tilway Company on a condition-title which earmarks the land t>r park use. Referring to the oil company's [for, Alderman Gray stated: "I ni't see why we should move the kirn just to accommodate a gas Jntion when the town is already (jII of them. 1 am opposed to it." Council passed a motion put 3r\vard by Alderman VV. D. Kerry if err ing the application to the larks board. > *ine Manor Annex Eelumed To City I'rince George School Board,has lotcd to turn Pine Manor annex |ack to the city after it is vacated piis week-end. J The annex, formerly a nurses' [csldence adjacent to the old city lospital, has been used by the Icliool board, together with the pUI hospital, as temporary accommodation for new city teachers. � J Vacancies in Pine Manor made it possible for residents of the linnex to be moved there and thus Impty the annex. I The building contains one apart-pent on the lower floor and three nRle rooms on the second storey. Prince George and District-Hos-I'ita! earlier indicated that it ?vould require both Pine Manor. land the annex to accommodate (hospital employees when a new pr>.spHal is built in the city. - City council, however, assured school board it could make - of the buildings until the hospital urgently needed them and [that a_fu!l year's notice would b,e pven before the board was requested t3, vacate the buildings. 'ify To Borrow On |'55 Tax Potential City council, Monday night (authorized the finance committee |to borrow up 'to $200,000 for cur-opcrations until 1955 taxes . trickling into municipal cof-| fors next June. The borrowing authority, an an-. �ial affair, was requested by finance chairman W. D.-Ferry. Last year the council gave authority for a similar amoiint but "10 city used only half of it. It is expected that municipal , to.N revenue may pass the half million dollar mark -this'year for �lie first time In history. Annual Meeting Of Trade Board Tonight Annual meeting and election of officers of the Prince George Board of Trade will be held in the Prince George Hotel banquet room tonight commencing at 7 p.m. Trade Board President A. & Bowie said today that a large attendance is anticipated for the ^meeting, and that plans for a special installation meeting next month will be discussed, Mr. Bowie said that he received word this week from John Fisher, well known CBC commentator, that he will be on hand to attend the installation meeting on February 11. About 400 persons, trade board members and their wives, are expected to attend the February meeting. Advance ticket, sales to members will be the only way to secure attendance to the installa-, tion banquet and dance. Mr. BoWie pointed out that the affair will mark the first time the board has ever staged a social event purely for its own members and their wives. Membership in the board of trauje swelled by 86 within the past year and a dozen of these will be introduced this evening for the first time. � .'� Youth To Be Tried For Armed Robbery A 17-year-old South Fort George youth was committed for trial on a charge of armed robbery yesterday after a middle-aged Prince George resklent had testified how his home had been forcibly entered by a gang of youths on December 30. , - -. told the court that the. y youth came to his door demanding liquor. Reser told' him that he. had none and asked that the youth leave because his wife was sick and his children were in bed. The victim .said the 17-year-old reacted by calling in his "gang" and instituting a search of the house. Reser said he '"Was confronted with a carving knife at one point in the affair and claimed two of the youths were brandishing pocket knives. The youths left after they had found two part cases of beer and taken them outside. Some 30 to 40 minutes later the gang came back but Reser turned out the lights and refused to unlock the door. He said he armed himself with two bomb-typo fire extinguishers in case they forced their way in. Then he watched the youths as they approached a small house a short distance away. Someone shouted "Open up or welL-toaMt down," the first vie-, tim related, and then he heard sounds of .breaking glass. Finally the lights came on and the youths could be seen entering the house. Two other youths still face preliminary hearing, and charges against two have been dismissed. Three others were released in juvenile court. H. R. Fretwell acted for the Crown and P.D. O'Neil for the defence. Alderman Cranston Probing Powerplanl Insurance Case A one man manicipot conimitiee consisting of Alderman Charles E. Cranston has commenced Its investigation into responsibility for' inadequate insurance on the city's main powerplant. Alderman Cranston was named to the committee by Mayor Gordon Bryant on. Monday. The duties of the committee will be tovfind' out why the $500,000 powerplant � only carried �21,000 worth of insurance and to fix re Heart Attack Blamed For Motorist's Death Body of Sidney Saxon, well known McBride farmer, was found lying on the highway by "spomsibfiity"For;" whaPthe mayor i 3oYm Murphy, a> few hundred last week termed an "untenable yards east, of the Dunster cut-off, situation." I22 wiles east of McBride. Alderman Cranston's report on' It would appear that Saxon had the insurance condition will be driven Len Archer, CNR operator made directly to the city council at McBjrlde, to meet a main line' at an open meeting and will be i train at Valemount. Travelling made public immediately, i alone on the return trip, the car , Meanwhile, work of rehabilitating a diesel power unit which set fire to the powerhouse last week is well underway and it may be back in, operation at the end of 10 days. Work is also progressing rapidly on installation, of a new .1136 k.w. unit which is being financed by the British Columbia Power Commission. went off the highway into a ditcli,. Saxon went to the Reid farmhouse a quarter of a mile down the road to, secure a shovel, and it Is presumed that over-exertion brought on a fatal heart attack. The body was brought into �McBride by Mr. Murphy. Corporal Russell of the RCMP and Coroner G. T. Hold way visited the scene./ NILA Will Protest Move To Hike Freight Rates In U.5. Prince George lumber shippers are going to be faced with higher U.S. freight costs later this year if American railroads are successful in their application to the federal transportation authority to have Prince George taken off the Spokane rate schedule. , " i ...... ..... R. W. Hilton, president of the Northern Interior Lumbermen's Association, said his group will protest the^move to hike freight rates on lumber moving into the Chicago area. It is believed that Canadian National Railways will also protest the proposal of U.S. lines. " '� Mr. Hilton said he believed that American railroads are under pressure from spruce producers in the Inland Empire area and that the change in rates was being presented at their urging. \ Pvince George s first water serv- In Uiat area the U.S. federal ice .installment plan which expir-government and state govern- ed December 31 has been renewed ments are subsidizing the cutting and willNremaln in effect in its of- several hundred million feet original form until June 30. of diseased Englemann spruce] I The plan, which permits house- If U.S. railroads are successful holders to obtain municipal water lion's original protest to the new tariff. The protest was launched when it was believed that the tarlEf would serve to raise rates to other points. Water Instalment Plan Continued School Dormitory Gets Face-Lifting A streamlining project designed to, create more of a home-away-from-honie atmosphere at the School District dormitory is progressing under, the direction of board maintenance chairman Jack Nicholson. The project involves painting the entire dormitory and replacing the army type cots now being used with built-in beds ' and clothes closets. Two rooms which: were recently vacated as classrooms to make room for additional dormitory accommodation have already been renovated. The rooms, which will serve as dormitory space for 'junior high school boys, each hold five beds with closets and drawer space. The rooms will be. ready for occupancy as soon as painting has been completed and bedding for the qew accommodation arrives. The smaller rooms will hold two built-in- beds with closets and drawer space. -. All the furniture is being built by* the, school board maintenance crew. �' . Arrows in the above picture show where a $15,000 Prince George Powerhouse fire started a week ago yesterday and plunged the city into darkness far six hours. The arrows indicate where an explosion inside the cranHcase of Number Two engine blew off two heavy steel inspection covers permitting flames to engulf nearby woodwork. 'Protruding from the inspection hole on the right can be seen a piece of broken piston which is thought to have been the cause of the blast. City and B.C. Power Commission crews are �t w�rk today rehabilitating the unit and preparing it for a test run which wll take place in about two weeks. �Craftsman Photographers Four School Trustees Sworn In By Mayor G. D. Bryant Four, school trustees were sworn into office by His Worship Mayor G. D. Bryant at the inaugural meeting of the 1955 Board of School District 57 Tuesday. Mayor Bryant administered tho oath of office and oath of allegiance to Mrs. C. Bryant, J. Nich- olson, A. ^^ ^ j� ton. Only one trustee, Mrs. Bryant, assumed office for the first time. In officiating at .the swearing- in procedure, Mayor Bryant paid ton. tribute to last year's board foi facing up'to a 'terrifically trying job'. "Under adverse conditions, you j have kept to the job you were elected for," the Mayor told the 1054 Board. He said this year's board should have a less difficult time and pointed ovit the best wishes of the community were right behind it. Chairman Robert Range, who was re-elected to head the school board fqr another term, announced few changes in committees for the coming-year. Trustee Mrs. Bryant was appointed to represent the School Board on the Town Planning Commission and the Recreation Commission!, - rfc Nicholson, who formerly sat with the Town Planning Commission, was appointed to the Funance Committee with Mr. Bux- The new board decided to continue meeting on the second and I fourth Tuesday of.each month. Air Force Helps City Clear Streets City streets were cleared of snow this week through the courtesy "of the United Stales Air Force. _____ . Last week one of' the city's Jthajpr pieces of snow-remoVal equipment broke down just as it was faced with the job of removing furrows of cleared snow from downtown streets. . The United States Air Force base at Bald^ Hughes Radar Station'volunteered the use of a $20,-000 Sicard snowblower. This week, with a,city operator at its controls, the big blower made short work of- the piled up to the city's blower- snow. I Repairs tractor, combination are expected to be completed shortly. 34 To Take Part In Citizenship Rites � Examination of 19 applicants for Canadian citizenship are going on today in the courthouse here and win continue again tomorrow. The.examinalions are being con- boen residing here continually ducted by County Court Judge E. since that time. Robert Range Again Heads School Board Robert Range was re-elected to a second term as chairman of the Board of School Trustees^of School District No. 57 at the inaugural meeting of the 1955 board on Tuesday evening., His \inanimous^re-election to the chairmanship of the board marks the second honor bestowed on him/by educational circles AVithin the-past- few-months, ~ Last November the city school trustee was elected president of the Northern Interior Branch of the Trustees Association which encompasses all school districts in the Northern Interior. A member of the school board for the past four years, he served on the maintenance, salary and building committees prior to his appointment to position of chairman last year. Mr. Range first came to Prince George with his family in 1921 but left again in 192G to take up residence in. the district. He returned to the city in.19-16 and has p. Wbodbum They commenced" at 10 a.m. today and continue at 3. n;M. and again at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Certificates of citizenship will be issued to ,15 prospective Canadians at a public ceremony at the courthouse tomorrow afternoon, commencing at 3 o'clock. Guest speakers at the. ceremony will be His Worship Mayor Gordon Bryant, Rev. T. D. R. Allen of St. Michael and All Angels and Charles Albins, city businessman. Two Injured When Car Collides With' Train Two passengers sustained cuts and bruises when a 1955 passenger car collided with a- CNR freight train at 4:20 a.m. today. The car, driven by Robert Ding-wall, was entering the city at the Nechako River bridge when the brakes failed. A member of the train crew saw the accident and promptly halted the train, which was moving slowly. I Trio Charged With City Store Theft Three Indians charged with �breaking and entering elected for speedy trial yesterday when .they appeared before 'County Court Judge E. D. Woodburn and will be tried in County Court on January 25. .-..,;.. The trio, George Quock, and Raymond Jackson, both of Tele: graph Creek, and Donald Beiioit of Fort St. James, were arrested Tuesday, shortly after the theft of a quantity of food � arid a suit coat from Eric's Delicatessen at 251 George Street. Snow Flurries Friday Cooler, cloudy weather is in store for the I'rince George-region Friday. Snow flurries are forecast for the area, and winds will be light. Low and high temperatures expected in Prince , George tonight ana tomorrow 10 and 25 degrees. in having Prince George placed on the westcoast rate the immediate effect will be an increase of about $10 a car on all shipments bound for Chicago. connections for 6ne fifth down, was hastily drawn up last fall when ft became known that many persons were unable jto afford the .'total charge all at one time. But in addition to applying for Basic fee is $75 for a.dwelling1 an end to the Spokane rate sche- on a single lot, and $25 is added dttlft tot Prince Qeorge producers, for each additional lot. American raHroads have, a'sketf ' ""*"�-'" "*' **-~*A-< A-that their talks with the federal authority not be confined to that subject. Mr. Hilton said that the whole Canadian - U.S. rate structure -might be increased. "� Meanwhile, the C.N.R. has an-1 oif* honies* .'saja'cenT to new watermalns laid last summer continued to go without running ; water because originally the full payment had to be made before the city would render a connec-! tion. Following Citizen editorials and nouhced an impending reduction pressure from private household-in the freight tariff between ers, a system of instalment pay-Prince George and Port Arthur, I ments was worked out. but Mr. Hilton said the reduction, a substantial one, will have hardly any effect in this area. There is practically no local lumber shipped to the new tariff area and the rates will have no effect on shipments going beyond I that point. | In Vancouver next week NILA Secretary-Manager R. J. Gallagher will appear before the Canad- So far 27 householders have taken advantage of the relaxed requirements. Wil/iston Opposes Separate Schools Aid VICTORIA, Jan. 13 (CP)�Education Minister Ray Williston stepped into the hotly contentious separate-public sch.Ws issue Wednesday with a statement strongly indicating no government aid will be forthcoming for separate schools. , Mr. Williston said: "We're..committed to a public schools system in B.C., and I see nq, indication of any change in that policy at the _moment." ~ In recent months,-controversy-has been revived through appearance before the cabinet of two delegations�one representing Roman Catholic separate schools, and another representing opponents of aid to separate schools. Cariboo N.P. Wants More Highway Aid OTTAWA, Jan. 13 (CP)�Greater federal aid in the construction of provincial highways was urged Wednesday in the House of Commons. Bert Leboe (SC-Cariboo>, speaking in the throne speech debate, said as long as the federal government collects the majority of taxes in the provinces, moreljshould be done for provincial highways. He said Canada was falling behind the United States in road planning, yet roads were needed in Canada's defence program^ Mr. Leboe also criticized the railway freight rates situation, saying the whole tariff probJem must be reviewed. Canadian people were subsidizing two large, railway companies, thereby enabling . them to take away long hauls from the'trucking industry. Truckers might be forced out of the short-haul business as well, the Cariboo member warned. Off The Wires Today (Canadian Press, ThursdaV, January 13, 1955) ' - Vancouver Gunman Grabs $2,TOO When Alarm System Fails VANCOUVER�An alarm system failed twice here Wednesday, allowing a young bandit to escape with $2, j 00 from T. Eaton Co. "Police said a plucky girl Cashier in the fifth-floor credit, off ice refused the man's order to "give me bundle" and twice kicked the alarm button without result. The man grabbed the bills from her cash drawer when she refused to clean out her ..till for him. PGE Crews To Start Squamish-Norrh Vancouver Rail Link VICTORIA�Pacific Great Eastern section crews, withjn a week will lay the first rails, of o 40-mi/e link between Squamish and North Vancouver. The railway department said rails will be laid from two miles of existing trackage in North Vancouver to the east end of a railway bridge being constructed across the Capilano River. Track laying will continue through West Voncouver when � the, bridge is completed, expecteH sometime in the spring. VANCOUVER�Monthly report of the Notional Employment Service released Wednesday says there were fewer applications for jobs in B.C. during December than in the same period in 1953. Exact figures on the decline will not .be available until obour January 20 but the new report indicates persons seeking jobti are fewer than the 55,902 recorded a year ego. VANCOUVER�-A hundred-home development to cost $1,450,000 will be built at Kitimat, site of the Aluminum Company of Canada Ltd. smelter. The announcement was made here Wednesday fay N. W. Hutlah Construction Ltd. � ..--�. L