INSIDE
EDITORIAL ........................ Page 2
SPORTS .............................. Page 4
CLASSIFIED........................ Page 6
COMICS ............................ Pog� 7
WOMEN'S, SOCIAL .......... Page 8
FHE
WEATHER
Sunny and a little warmer with lighf winds. Low tonight' and high tomorrow in Prince George, 35 and 70.
Dedicated to the Progress of the North
Phone LOgan 4-2441
Vol. 3; No. 154
PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1959
BY OARRXBH J5e PER WES*
BREAKING GROUND for the new Overwaitea Grocery store started on Monday. The new store will be located on Victoria and Fifteenth Avenue. It will re-
place the old Third Avenue store destroyed by fire a few weeks ago.
�Vandervoort Photo.
Community Turns Out Enmasse To Celebrate Hixon Sports Day
The Hixon community centre was the scene of a gala .sports day Saturday.
An enthusiastic, crowd of 200 watched the proceeding Hint hail everything from pJJIpw fights to
�-�-'WoHrt-eeuiH-l'y- vai'e.
At noon Saturday; the largest parade "ever stayed" in that urea started.
The prize for the best float was awarded to the Hi-Way Esso entry, which consisted of a wrecker towing a wrecked car to illustrate the careless drivers that still slick thole necks out on the- highways.
The second prize went to the Forestry, whose float consisted of a Douglas fir forest that was
Special Square Dance For Visiting Caller
The Happy Gant? Square Dance Club has called a special dance for this evening In honor of I-os Angeles caller .lack Solley.
Sollby, well-known for his calling. Is passing through Prince George on his way home from Alaska.
The special shindig will lie-gln at ?:.'{() this evening in the Civic Centre banquet room.
completely blacked by a careless smoker. �
The entire parade was under Che direction of Mr. "1-t...Thorpe, Mrs. l'ete Larsen and Mr. U. Swanky.
" The highlight of the day was the crowning ! of the Spruce Queen, Miss Darlene Johns. This is the first year that a queen has been elected and crowning was performed by Mis. Ralph Wilson.
The two princesses, Miss E-Allwood and Miss H. Thompson were also on hand to officiate at the big day.
The days events were made tip of a Two Mile Cross-Country race, won by Ivan Melynchuk. In second position was Ken Thompson and Eric Larsen finished in the final payoff spot.
The ladies participated in a Rooster Race.
This race was won by Mrs. (I. I.a-Vallee, who was allowed to keep the rooster for her "home cooking."
For the men there was a pillow fight. This rough and tumble set-to was won by Paddy Mclvelvie, who dethroned John
Crowe!! the 105S pillow righting champion.
In the Greasy Pig Race, young Denis Brigden was the victor as he landed the "large piece of pork" with a flying'tackle.
The next Item on the agenda was the giant Tug-Of-War. The various sawmills in the area participated.
The over all winner was Atlin Sawmill. In the boys' class the team of R. Heer, I. Melynchuk, W. Haynes, Butch and Wayne Stoner was tops.
For the power saw men the sports day offered a Bucking Contest. The man with the fastest saw was Buck Dale, who went through his log in 1 minute, 17 and (5/10th-seconds.
In second place was Paul Colebank with G. Hall third.
There was also a. treasure hunt and a potato race on bicycles. A ladies' ankle race and a ladies' spike driving competition.
Baker Monument At Fort Saint James
Pioneer pilot Muss Baker, who died last November after a colorful flying career in British Columbia's Northland, has been honored by a fitting monument at Fort St.. James.
A bronzed. Ihree-bladed airplane propeller is mounted on a concrete pillar, sitting high
over Stuart Lake on top of a
his death last November.
A plaque with Baker's picture on it is to be bolted to the huge memorial when its manufacture
rocky cliff that drops into the is completed.
lake waters.
The 11-foot prop gleams brightly over the spot where Raker was buried, following
������;;, :: '
P.eech D-17 Stagger-Wing was well-known in the and it was the start of s today the third largest
A HUGE airplane propeller, mounted on a concrete pillar, overlooks Stuart Lake from a vantage point high atop a rocky cliff. It is a monument to Russ Baker, pioneer pilot and father of Pacific Western Airlines, who first began his service as Centra] B.C. Airways at the Stuart Lake town of Fort St. James, 100 miles northwest of here. �Whitney Photo.
The site on the lonely cliff top overlooks the Pacific Western Airlines installation at Fort St, James.
PYY'A owes its life to Rust Baker.
Mo was one of the first flyer* in the North and his daring courage and skill helped make the country what it is today.
In li)!(i he founded a one-plane airline at Fort St. James
� 100 miles northwest of here
� known as Central B.C. Airways.
� His craft Xorth what airline in Canada�PWA.
Miners, timber cruisers, prospectors and clergymen often owed their lives and their livelihoods to the man who de-vbtorl his life to the air.
The changeover from Central B.C. Airways to PWA took place when otVip'1 tnt'erosts frrVeslo'd in Baker's little airline and help-id him begin a controlled expansion.
It. was a sad day for Pacific Western people when ih<> mysi-dent of the company died last November at the age of 10. And, the heart attack that claimed the life of Russ Dakcr also left many northerners mourning the loss of a man responsible for much of the North's development.
Low Temperature
Just as a point of interest, the temperature sank to an even freezing, 32� last night.
This is the lowest recorded temperature .for August 11 in Prince George in 45 years.
The low for the corresponding period last year, was 38�� and the recorded low for the month of August last year was 31.4.� on the ISth.
The lowest recorded temperature in Prince George was 24� in 1917 on August 3rd and 24th.
Linking Investigation
Ray Cunliffe, general manager and chief engineer for Ben G inter Construction Ltd. today protested reference to Ginter Construction in a story which reported police investigation into handling of certain highway contracts and stated the company has no connection with work on the portion of the Trans-Canada highway referred to.
In referring to the story, first published in a Vancouver news
paper Saturday, stated there was
Mr. Cunliffe no reason to
Ltd.
link Glnter Construction with the investigation.
Both Mr. Ciinlifl> and lien GJiUer, president of the firm r\ pressed the belief that barbs were being thrown their way because of jealousy on the p;irt of other co in pa u ies.
In a prepared statement for the press Mr. Cunliffe said:
"Statements in the Vancouver Province and copied by the 3rince George Citizen seem .vorcled to suggest that the Ben jinter Construction Co. Ltd. is linked with the RCMP investigation into highway matters. The insinuations are in error and" some reply appears warranted.
"It is suggested that payments In excess of $1,000,000.00 were made tOj the company by the provincial government la'st year. From th.e company's point of view that would he a happy situation, but unfortunately the construction business was not that good. The Province reporter can certainly have a job in the Ben Ginter invoicing department if he could only substantiate his amounts.
uWithin recent years the company has enjoyed a large volume bfbiisihqss with government agencies. In I!>."><> and 1037 contract*) were held with ilw l'GK, provincial departments of forestry and highways the Federal Defence Construction Md., and witli the U.S. Air Force. All ton-traets with these agoni'lrs must be on the basis of competitive public tender. Progress payments made to the. lien (tinier Construction Co. l/td. represent a small proportion of the cost of public contracts.
"Within the last few days a contract has been awarded to the Hen Ginter Construction Company for work on the Prince George By-Pass. The Ginter bid was the lowest of seven received, and prices ranged from the low of $355,045.00 to a high of $507,107.00. Bids were opened in public in Victoria and the opening was attended by competing contractors and other interested persons. Because of the distance involved it is virtually impossible for officials from the Ben Ginter Construction Co. to attend, but the system fully pro le'c'ts the company's, and the public's interests.
"The Hen Ginter Construction Co. has always enjoyed some success in the rental field on day labor work. The success has been a result of active promotion and good service. New equipment of all sizes is offered and is properly supervised, maintained and serviced on the job. The other big construction companies have shunned this work until very recently, but now appear willing to displace Ginter machines wherever possible. Generally speaking, the Ginter equipment in use on day labor is of a type not readily available from other suppliers.
"It is a little known fact that equipment purchased for use in the primary industries, forestry and mining, is not eligible for rental work. Certain tax anil duty concessions, which are not available to contractors, are applied to such machines which binds them to their particular industry.
"The Vancouver Province has done the Ben Ginter Construction Co. Ltd. a great disservice in casually linking the name to a story of improper conduct of a highway official. The company was an unsuccessful tenderer on the Trans-Canada work mentioned but has no other connection to the work or to any of the participating companies or per sons.
Limited Vocabulary Can be Expensive
Thomas Frame pleaded guilty in court here yesterday to causing a disturbance by swearing on a downtown street.
lie told court, "That's all I know."
Magistrate Stewart said, "Vulgarity?"
Frame said, "Yes, sir."
The magistrate decreed, "Twenty-five dollars and costs or 10 days."
Fire Costs Are Down
DKANK KINLAYSOX, British Columbia Progressive Conservative leader, is- speaking here tonight to the Fort George Progressive Conservative Association. He will speak at a nomination and annual meeting in the Shasta Cafe at 8:30, which-follows a 'dinner meeting at fi:;iO p)m.
Six Month Sentence For Theft of Camera
Robinson Neskapow, \29, was sentenced to six months in jail here yesterday when he pleaded guilty in city police court to theft of a camera from a local resident.
An extensive record, read to the court, prompted the long sentence.
The Prince George Forest district is now in fourth place with li)r> fires and a low to moderate fire hazard rating.
This time last year, the Prince George Forest District had spent $1,335,750 for fighting forest fires, as compared to the $111,� 148 spent to date this year.
The cost of fire suppression for the past seven clays was an increase over the previous week.
Cost for the week was $102,-201, the highest per week for 105!).
� There were 121 new fires started in the province during the week compared to 174 for the previous seven days.
The Vancouver Forest District reports (502 fires to date with an estimated cost of $G3,151 and a moderate fire hazard rating.
The lookout reports that the northern half of the province is experiencing a continuation of the weather pattern that has existed for the past seven or eight days.
There is a continued drying out process throughout the southern half of the province and this is expected to continue at least for the next two or three days.
Although the provincial cost 'for fires is far below the 1058 figures for the corresponding period, !!)")!) totals so far are above the average for the past ten years.
Council Asked to Abandon Ambulance
It was recommended to city council last night that the city-owned ambulance service be abandoned.
A report from the health committee asked council to put the $4,000 ambulance in the fire
hall � to be used only in emergencies � and revert to paying a subsidy to a private operation in order to provide Prince George with ambulance service.
The recommendation was tabled. Aldermen Graham and Perry were not at last night's meeting and councillors ruled that no decision should be taken on the matter until all members were present.
The ambulance recommendation is slated to he taken up at the nest sitting of city council
Walter Bogh, operator of the Prince Geoi'ge Ambulance, has
offered to provide service to the city, for a $200 per month sub sidy, and take care of the district as well.
This was the arrangement with Alex Izatt, former owner of Prince George Ambulance, when he ceased operation at the end of April and the city went into the ambulance business.
Under the committee's recommendation a subsidy would be paid Bogh and the ambulance now being operated by the city
engineer's department would be stored in the fire hall and.used only if the other ambulance was not available.
Men in the city engineering crews want no part of the city ambulance, which was made their responsibility when the city started an ambulance service.-
Firemen take the same stand.
Cost of having 13ogh provide ambulance service would be less than under the current arrangement,
[estimates are that the city is paying between $300 and $100 per month to keep its ambulance going.
This doesn't take into consid-
eration time lost from regular duties of engineering department men who operate the ambulance.
The report to council noted that firemen don't want to he saddled with the ambulance under any circumstances.
They say the arrangement wouldn't work well. There are only about eight full-time firemen on dutv.
SLOWED TKAKKIC
WINDSOR, 0'n.t; (CP) � A speed clock installed on St. Clair Peach's Riverside Drive slowed down traffic 50 per cent, police reported. They na'bhed 14 motorists for speeding on the first day.
CENTRAL and TENTH, once a quiet neck of the woods, is now a scene of bustling activity with bulldozers cutting up tiie land for a new road that will
lead to the now famous "bridge that goes nowhere." At last the bridge will start" going somewhere.
�Vandervoort Photo.