The Civilian Conservation Corps in Southern Oregon. Transcribed by Dale Greenley.

    CCC CAMP CLEAR CREEK, Jan. 3.--(Spl.)--As usual, the dinner at Clear Creek camp was the most important event of Christmas. It was held back until 4 p.m., so as to make the men hungrier. Thus they ate more and enjoyed their Christmas celebration with greater zeal.
    The camp's own orchestra opened the dinner ceremonial by playing "River, Stay 'Way from My Door." The men then started to devour turkey and everything that goes with it. A package of cigarettes was given each man immediately before the meal.
    Lieut. Slusser wished all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and received similar greetings in return.
    At 8 p.m. everyone met in the recreation hall for amusement, with Lieut. Slusser as master of ceremonies. A Christmas tree, highly decorated, stood in one corner. It made the scene more impressive with the Christmas spirit.
    The fun began when Lieut. Slusser led the camp in "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here," accompanied by the orchestra. Some played instruments and sang to show their skill.
    The educational advisor gave a speech on the "Oregon Trail." The camp doctor gave a brief address on the meaning of Yuletides. Immediately after, all adjourned to the mess hall, where they indulged in ice cream, candy, nuts, cake and coffee.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 3, 1935, page 6


    WASHINGTON--(Spl.)--Robert Fechner, director of emergency conservation work, today made public two reports covering the conservation work activities o, the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps forest camps. The first, compiled by the census bureau from work total sheets forwarded to Washington from the forest camps, includes a complete record of all the forest and park conservation, improvement and protection work done by the 350,000 men of the corps during the 18 months' period ending September 30, 1934. The second report, prepared by the War Department, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, estimates the value of the thousands of miles of truck trails built, the hundreds of thousands of soil erosion dams constructed and the more than 100 other types of work completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps men at approximately $291,000,000.
    The first report disclosed that through September 30, the young men, war veterans, experienced woodsmen and Indians of the forest camps. had built 41,582 miles of truck trails through the forests, laid 25,089 miles of telephone tines through forest and park lands, opened up 27,989 miles of firebreaks through timbered areas, reduced fire hazards over 825,808 acres of timbered lands, spent 1,605,000 man-days fighting fire, planted 204,000,000 trees, improved 1,392,000 acres of timber stands through removal of obstructions and the thinning out of undesirable trees, covered 2,922,000 acres in a drive to reduce timber losses caused by insect pests, carried on campaigns against tree-attacking diseases over 2,657,000 acres, conducted control operations against rodents over 9,672,782 acres, developed better recreational facilities over tens of thousands of acres of national park, state park and national forest lands, constructed 778,000 soil erosion prevention dams and completed a substantial amount of other types of work including flood control, timber surveying, construction of lookout houses and fire towers, rodent control operations and wildlife conservation.
    In the second report, the various cooperating departments reported as follows in regard to the valuations of the work done:

	Dept. of Agriculture	$223,776,762.56
	Dept. of the Interior	64,327,945.45
	Department of War	3,583,734.21
	Total	$291,696,443.22

    The emergency conservation work program, through the allocation of
$20,000,000 for land purchases, made possible the acquisition of millions of acres of new national forest and national park lands. Through September 30, $17,992,424 of this $20,000,000 had been obligated. The acreages acquired included additions to the national forests amounting to 4,892,804 acres and additions to the national parks amounting to 67,100 acres.
    "The work accomplished to date has proved of great value in reducing losses normally caused each year by forest fires, insects and diseases," says Director Fechner. "It should result in cutting down such losses in the future. The thousands of miles of truck trails which have been constructed will make it possible to move trucks, men and firefighting equipment quickly into areas endangered by fires. These protective trails represent permanent investments in forest fire protection. The removal of such excessive fire risks as old dead trees and rotting logs from valuable timber areas reduces the fire hazard for years to come. Firebreaks constructed through forested areas will assist in the suppression of fires when they develop. The thousands of miles of new telephone facilities and the new fire towers and observation towers constructed throughout our forests and parks will expedite the prompt detection and reporting of fires.
    "The presence of the hundreds of thousands of CCC men in the woods during the fire danger months of the past year and a halfn together with the big increase in truck trail mileage and other firefighting facilities built by the CCC, have proved of great value in holding down fire losses. Since the CCC work began, the enrollees have expended more than 1,665,000 man-days fighting forest fires. More than 900,000 man-days were spent by CCC men on the firefighting line this past summer and fall. Officials of the Forest Service and National Park Service assert that the presence of this large potential group of firefighters has made it possible to hold fire losses well below comparable years during this past season. The two services concur in the opinion that had it not been for the protective work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps men the fire losses would have been much greater.
    "Control measures to reduce the damages caused by rodents and tree diseases have been carried forward successfully. With the aid of more than 12,000 enrollees the blister rust division of the Department of Agriculture has launched its first major drive against the white pine blister rust, the most dangerous tree disease threatening our forests in the campaign against this fungus menace to our remaining stands of white pine; the forest workers eradicated more than 100 million currant and gooseberry bushes from pine areas. These bushes act as alternate hosts in the spread of this disease. Effective work has been done by the Civilian Conservation Corps in campaigns against the gypsy moth, bark beetles and rodents."
Medford Mail Tribune, January 4, 1935, page 15


    CCC CO. 964, CAMP WIMER, Jan. 8.--(Spl.)--Now that the new year has gotten under way, Wimer is going to be a busy camp.
    The camp began a cooks', bakers' and meat cutters' school Monday, with 36 students in the classes from all camps in the Medford district. They are to get actual experience in the above-mentioned courses, under the direction of capable instructors. These courses are to last four weeks. The students will work in three shifts with 12 men to a shift.
    Those taking the bakers' course will bake bread and pastry for company use.
    The meat cutters will cut meat for many of the camps in the district.
    As for the cooks, they will cook one day and study the next so as to give the next shift a chance to cook.
    The schools are an example of of the good that is being done by the CCC's and the educational and practical training at the disposal of the members.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 8, 1935, page 2


    A statement of the work accomplished by the five CCC camps located within Rogue River National Forest for the month of December, 1934, was issued today from the Forest Service headquarters.
    Included in the report is such work as telephone line construction, reduction of fire hazard, roadside cleanup, construction of lookout houses and towers, construction of truck trails and horse trails, maintenance of campground facilities, campground clearing and construction of campground buildings. The work is done by Camps Applegate, Elk Creek, Evans Creek, Carberry and South Fork.
    The report follows:
    Miles constructed: Elk Creek, 2; Evans Creek, 2.5; total 4.5.
    Acres completed: South Fork, 40.
    Miles completed: Applegate, 4; Elk Creek, 15; Carberry, 8; South Fork, 1.2; total, 28.2.
    Number constructed: Applegate, 1 house and 1 tower.
    Miles completed: Applegate, 2.5; Elk Creek, .8; Evans Creek, 1; Carberry, .2; total 4.5
    Miles partially completed: Applegate, 1; Evans Creek, 2.2; Carberry, 4.2; South Fork 5; total, 12.4.
    Miles maintained: Applegate, 20.5; Evans Creek, 10; Carberry, 8; South Fork, 11.2; total 49.7.
    Miles completed: Applegate, .5.
    Acres completed: Applegate, 1.
    Acres partially completed: Applegate, .5.
    Number partially completed: Elk Creek, 1.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 8, 1935, page 2


    With an enrollment of 25 cooks from all camps in the Medford CCC district, a course is under way at the fairgrounds headquarters detachment in which camp cooks are being trained to become mess sergeants. The course, under the supervision of First Lieut. Charles H. Jeffress, QM-Res., is the first of its kind to be started in any CCC district.
    Under the instruction of Lieut. Jeffress, the cooks enrolled are taught proper methods of preparing a complete company mess. Balanced menus and the proper proportions of vitamins are stressed, so that the enrollees will be able to supervise work of the cooks themselves.
    A course for the preliminary training of cooks has been organized at Camp Wimer, where a group of CCC enrollees is being taught butchering and the fundamental principles of preparing food. The fairgrounds course takes up the instruction after the enrollees have become thoroughly acquainted with these principles.
    The class, under way since Monday, will be brought to a close at the end of this week.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 13, 1935, page 11


    CAMP HUMBUG MOUNTAIN, Jan. 16.--(Spl.)--Illinois boys of CCC Co. 611, stationed at Camp Humbug Mountain, situated in a region rich in pioneer history, will have an opportunity to hear the story of the exploration and settlement of this section from a living member of the Illinois family linked closest to its early settlement when Frank Tichenor lectures in the camp at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Mr. Tichenor is a grandson of Captain William Tichenor, who first landed an organized company near the present site of Port Orford. Captain William Tichenor's wife's name was England. The Englands and Tichenors originally lived in Illinois, the captain having been a friend of Abraham Lincoln.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 16, 1935, page 8


    WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.--(AP)--More money for the Home Owners' Loan Corporation and extension of the Civilian Conservation Corps are planned by President Roosevelt.
    At his press conference today he said additional funds for the home corporation, to meet applications already on file, would be sought but the amount had not been decided upon. A billion dollars has been mentioned in administration sources.
    The President said he favored continuing the CCC for another year.
    On the proposal for old age pensions, he emphasized that while the federal government had limited its share to $15 a month, there was no limitation upon the amount the states might provide.
    He said the federal limit was necessary to keep the old age program within sound financing.
    As for the unemployment insurance proposal, Mr. Roosevelt said he assumed the states would adopt a uniform system of providing for workers who change from one job to another so their contributions to the insurance fund would be safeguarded.
    Hope was expressed by the President that the social security legislation would be put through quickly so it could get to the state legislatures before most of them adjourn about the end of March or first of April.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 18, 1935, page 7


    TABLE ROCK, Jan. 19.--(Special)--At the annual meeting of the Table Rock Telephone Co., held January 4, an assessment of $1 per share was levied for 1935 maintenance. Including the switchboard charge of $6 per year and the maintenance charge of $1, the people of Table Rock section enjoy good telephone service for a total cost of $7 per year.
    Officer elected at the annual meeting were R. E. Nealon, president; E. C. Hamilton, vice-president and J. L. Nealon, secretary-treasurer.
    A crew of CCC boys will start construction work soon on a Forest Service telephone line through the Table Rock community and into the Meadows district. The new line will start at the Four Corners service station, following the west side of the road to the Table Rock store, running west from there on the south side of the road. An agreement is being drawn whereby the wires of the Table Rock Telephone Co. can be placed on the new poles.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 20, 1935, page 8


    Robert Fechner, director of emergency conservation work, recently announced that a total of 26,684 enrolled members of the Civilian Conservation Corps had been awarded first aid certificates by the American Red Cross during the months of September, October, November and December, 1934. The men receiving certificates were graduated from the first aid schools established in the CCC camps on a nationwide basis last August.
    Before receiving certificates in first aid, each man was required to pass an examination upon completion of the standard 15-hour course of instruction prepared and issued by the Red Cross.
    The first aid courses are given under supervision of War Department medical officers in cooperation with the American Red Cross. The regulations prescribe that each class should be taught by an instructor holding a card of appointment from the Red Cross, authorizing him to conduct first aid work. Examination blanks as well as instructor's outlines are supplied by the Red Cross. At the completion of each course, the company commander in charge of the CCC camp submits a list of graduates to the War Department.
    The number of first aid graduates for Oregon was listed as 308.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 24, 1935, page 10


    A comprehensive program for the development of Rogue River National Forest, under the national CCC expansion plan expected to be announced soon from Washington, D.C., was outlined yesterday by Karl Janouch, supervisor of Rogue River National Forest, following a three weeks' conference with officials of the regional forest offices at Portland.
    The local Forest Service has prepared scores of projects embracing enough work to take care of any appropriation likely to be made from the federal administration. Although the plan to increase the national CCC enrollment to 1,000,000 men is only under consideration, Supervisor Janouch judged from the President's recent talk on natural resources, in which he placed much weight on the importance of Forest Service work, that a considerable amount of new work is undoubtedly forthcoming. Should the plan be passed by Congress, it is expected that funds would be made available by April 1.
    The program prepared by officials of Rogue River forest includes projects whereby 35,000 men could be employed for the full field season. These men would be stationed throughout the forest at several new CCC camps which have been foreseen by local officials and already mapped. The work these men would carry on has been listed with view to priority and classified to the smallest detail. It will be checked over thoroughly before the anticipated appropriations are made and the program launched.
    Fire protection and recreational development are given first consideration, due to the fact that Rogue River forest, which is classed among the most important forests in the country, is valued for its timber resources and as a recreational area for Southern Oregon and Northern California.
    The work will include camp ground improvements, fire hazard reduction and fire prevention, blister rust control, trail and road construction, fish and game preservation, roadside cleanup, telephone line construction and many other projects which will beautify, develop and perpetuate the forest.
    Under recreational development, Supervisor Janouch hopes to make the forest not only a summer but a winter haven. He disclosed plans for the development of Lake o' the Woods into an extensive winter resort. Skiing facilities would be established, and the lake itself would possibly be made suitable for ice skating and ice boating. Ideal winter sports conditions are said to exist in the Lake o' the Woods area, which would be made accessible either by opening a new road through the Dead Indian country to Ashland or by developing the one through the Pelican Bay district to Klamath Falls.
    A new road would possibly be constructed from Fish Lake to Four-Mile Lake, with a view to opening the later to fishing and boating. A new resort would not be established in the Four-Mile area, however, as one there would tend to detract from the present Fish Lake and Lake o' the Woods resorts.
    Another recreational project under consideration is the completion of the loop from Ashland to Ashland mountain, thence to Wagner Butte, thence to Talent. By this road a short drive would be opened through an area of unsurpassed scenic value.
    Supervisor Janouch also revealed plans for maintenance of artificial ponds throughout the forest for pump supplies in case of forest fires and plans to surround all areas of great forest fire hazard with firebreaks to prevent spread of fire.
    Huckleberry Mountain, visited each summer by approximately 3000 tourists, may be thinned of its shade trees and fenced from cattle to develop to the greatest possible extent its harvest of huckleberries.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 30, 1935, page 5


    John B. Griffing, civic educational adviser for ninth corps area, CCC, will be in Medford Friday and Saturday, February 8 and 9, to attend a meeting of district headquarters of all company commanders, educational advisers and project superintendents of the district. Several prominent Forest Service officials from the regional offices at Portland are also expected to attend.
    Griffing will bring a resume of his findings in the Vancouver, Fort Lewis, Fort Wright, Boise and Fort Douglas, Utah districts. He is in charge of educational work in the CCC camps of eight western states.
    George Griffith, public relationship superintendent of forestry activities for the western area with headquarters at Portland, has been given a special invitation to attend, as have the Umpqua Forest Service and Siskiyou Forest Service  personnels.
    One session of the meeting will be given over to a detailed discussion of the educational activities of the district, as affecting the military and educational advisory. The second session will be a general discussion of regulations and carrying out of regulations, and on Saturday Major Clare H. Armstrong, district commander, will preside over a military organization meeting, followed by an educational advisers meeting over which Captain William C. Ryan, welfare officer, will preside.
    On Saturday evening a dinner dance will be held at Hotel Medford.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 3, 1935, page 3


    WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.--(AP)--An enlisted reserve force of more than 100,000 partially trained young men recruited from CCC camps is proposed in a bill now being drafted by General Douglas MacArthur, army chief of staff.
    MacArthur's bill, being drawn at the suggestion of the house military committee, would provide for voluntary enlistment of CCC camp graduates for two months intense military training. After the two months they would revert to inactive status.
    There is now no available reserve men to fill the ranks of the regular army quickly in an emergency, MacArthur told the house committee. The young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps, toughened by work in the forest camps, would make ideal recruits for a short, intensive training course, he said.
    After serving two months the enrollees would be paid $24 per year, sufficient to maintain their interest in keeping the War Department informed of their whereabouts, and periodically presenting themselves for physical examination.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 7, 1935, page 1


    Fighters from the district's most distant CCC camps will meet on the Elks smoker at the club arena tonight.
    The matches will be a continuation of the CCC cards being staged to select the district's best fighters, and all the boys on the card will be battling to win.
    La Fosta, flashy bantamweight from Humbug Mountain, will tangle with the fast Talermo of China Flats, in one of the feature battles of the evening. Two big men will meet when Romano, China Flats' light heavyweight champion, tangles with Glad of Humbug.
    King and Petrosky, two junior middleweights of Coos Head, will be matched against Oak Knoll's challengers in this division, while Brubaker of Coos Head will meet an opponent from Oak Knoll.
    The Marshfield area delegation had arrived and were awaiting the arrival of the Yreka battlers before definite matches were made. The men are given physical examinations and weighed in on the afternoon of the fights, in order to assure well-matched battles.
    The smoker will follow the regular lodge session, and is open to members only.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 7, 1935, page 4


    A two-day conference of CCC educational advisers, company commanders and project superintendents of Medford district will start here tomorrow with a meeting of commanders at headquarters detachment, and educational advisers at the courthouse auditorium.
    Dr. John B. Griffing, ninth corps educational adviser, will be principal speaker at the meeting of educational advisers, bringing with him a resume of his findings during the year throughout the eight western states comprising the district.
    George Griffith, public relationship superintendent of forestry activities for the western area, with headquarters at Portland, has been given a special invitation to attend, as have officials of Umpqua, Siskiyou and Rogue River national forests, and of officials of the regional Forest Service offices at Portland.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 7, 1935, page 7


    DeShields, 165-pound colored flash from Oak Knoll, smashed his way to a second round knockout over Glabb, 173, Humbug Mountain, in the main event of the CCC smoker at the Elks club Thursday evening.
    The fight was by no means a one-sided affair, for Glabb came out of his corner at the opening bell and rocked DeShields repeatedly with solid blows to the head. The two traded punches on an even basis, neither paying attention to defense, but Glabb appeared to have the edge in the first canto.
    The second round started fast and DeShields suddenly broke through with a resounding smack to the jaw that floored Glabb. The Humbug gladiator arose, glassy-eyed, and DeShields administered the coup de grace with another haymaker that sent Glabb down for keeps.
    Palermo, 124, China Flats, won a decision over Jenkins, 120, Indian Creek, in the semi-final event. The little boys kept the crowd in an uproar with their unskilled but enthusiastic wallops.
    Mercado, 149, Indian Creek, won the nod over King, 151, Coos Head, in another thriller. Both boys waded in as if they enjoyed it, and Mercado's superior condition gave him the edge.
    Brubaker, 135, Coos Head, took the decision over Espinor, 138, Oak Knoll, in an encounter that did not lack for color. The stocky Espinor put up a good scrap, but the taller Brubaker harassed him with long-range shots.
    Gudagna, 114, Oak Knoll, was given the nod over LeFasto, 120, Humbug Mountain, in the curtain raiser. LeFasto went down twice but kept bearing in for more until the final bell.
    A large number of Elks attended the smoker and free feed which followed.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 8, 1935, page 13


    Camp commanders and educational advisers of the Medford district have returned to their camps, following a two-day educational conference held here Friday and Saturday.
    Dr. J. B. Griffing, civil educational adviser of the ninth corps area, was here to confer with the officers and educators on camp problems. He said the Medford conference was the first two-day educational meeting ever held in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He characterized the program here as the most progressive in the United States and said that many features of the Medford district educational work are being recommended for camps in every corps area by the educational department at Washington, D.C.
    The Medford district is the first in the United States to have a separate schoolhouse in every camp; it is the first to have moving picture projectors in every camp, and has pioneered with schools for mess stewards, cooks and bakers, company clerks and motor transport personnel. A correspondence course for officers, dealing with the administrative problems peculiar to camp life, has been another district feature which has received wide commendation.
    Major Clare H. Armstrong, district commander, presided at the conference, which was followed Saturday evening by a dinner and dance at the Medford Hotel. George Griffith, public relations representative of the regional forest office, was among the principal speakers at the meetings. Heads of the Park Service, Forest Service and other agencies were present for the conference which was held in the Jackson County courthouse auditorium.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 11, 1935, page 10


    CAMP OREGON CAVES, KERBY, Ore., Feb. 12.--(Spl.)--With clearing weather rapid progress is being made in the emergency conservation work program at Camp Oregon Caves. Excavation has been virtually completed at the site of the 38,000-gallon reinforced concrete water storage reservoir being installed in connection with the water system under construction to augment the present water supply to the Oregon Caves monument.
    Nine thousand pounds of steel have been received and transported to the site, and it is expected that forms will be set and concrete poured within the next ten days. Nearly two miles of three and four-inch pipe have been purchased for this project, delivery of which will be made the forepart of next week.
    Improvements on the trail system leading to major points of interest within and adjacent to the monument have been surveyed and work started on the rerouting of the trail to the Big Fir tree. It is planned to have this trail completed within a month and the other important trails completed by the first of April.
    Work on improving the trail system within the caves is going on apace. Headroom is being increased, doing away with many "headache rocks." Drainage systems are being installed to eliminate sloppy conditions underfoot. Where necessary the trail is being widened and steps are being constructed which, together with improved rampways, will prevent slipping and make it easier to climb the steeper portion of the trail.
    The "Devil's Backbone" is being removed, thus doing away with one of the most difficult passageways in the entire route through the caves. The water system that runs the entire length of the caves has been temporarily disconnected, and an air compressor has been installed which is tied into the pipeline, making compressed air available for the use of compressed air tools at all required points.
    Fences and guard rails are being installed at all points where there is any danger of a person slipping. A masonry wall and masonry seats have been placed in the "Ghost Room" at the balcony below the "Widow Maker" to permit a few minutes' rest for tourists through the Marble Halls of Oregon. It is expected that by the end of March the entire trail system will have been greatly improved. The caves will then be open to the most timid tourist, while at the same time none of the natural picturesque features will be altered.
    The truck trail being built by enrollees from this camp for the Forest Service is being pushed rapidly forward, and with improving weather it is expected that even better progress will be made than in the past. Timbers have been cut, excavations for footings started and materials ordered for an 80-foot span timber bridge across Sucker Creek to connect the trail with the state highway system.
    Materials have been ordered for a community house to be built in the Grayback Forest Service public campground. The forest camp at this location has been cleared of down timber and dying trees, and the whole site is being prepared for a large influx of summer tourists.
    Visitors at the camp this week included Major Dark from the Medford army CCC headquarters on a periodic inspection of the camp, and "Mel" Lewis, assistant forest supervisor of Siskiyou National Forest, on a survey of Forest Service work projects.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 12, 1935, page 7


    VANCOUVER, Wash., Feb. 14--(AP)--Two army officers from Vancouver barracks were touring Oregon and Washington today is search of sites for additional CCC camps.
    Word has been received here that 30 additional camps are to be established in the two states. This army center now provides supplies for 27 camps.
    Each camp costs about $10,000 to construct, and word from Washington, D.C., has said union laborers are to be given the first chance at the work and that the prevailing wage scale will be paid. Heretofore workers have been enlisted from employment offices.
    A group of labor union leaders from Portland conferred with army officers here yesterday and discussed the work projects. 
Medford Mail Tribune, February 14, 1935, page 1


    Brigadier General Otho Rosenbaum, commanding general of the ninth corps area, visited the Medford district CCC headquarters on an inspection trip today.
    General Rosenbaum was en route from Fort Lewis, his former post, to the ninth corps area headquarters in San Francisco. He assumed command of the corps area upon the departure of Major General Malin Craig, who has been placed in command of the Army War College at Washington, D.C.
    General Rosenbaum inspected the Wimer Camp, near here, Tuesday. The district cooks and bakers school is being carried on at Camp Wimer, and the general was interested in the success of the project.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 14, 1935, page 3


    The headquarters detachment will enjoy a special turkey dinner Saturday to celebrate the winning of the Medford zone basketball championship. The detachment team defeated Elk Creek in the deciding game of the series, Thursday night, 33 to 19, and Lieut. Charles H. Jeffress, detachment commander, is fulfilling his promise of a chicken dinner for a victory.
    The Elk Creek team put up a game fight, and the members of the team have been invited to partake in the chicken dinner as guests of the detachment.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 15, 1935, page 1


    Bridge experts of Co. 926, Ruch, Ore., are getting set for a big season. A 70-foot span will be built on the Middle Fork River. This bridge will be quite modernistic in its design, reports say.
    A second bridge is also on the company's books; this will be constructed at Butte Falls.
"The Fire Line," Happy Days, Washington, D.C., February 16, 1935, page 3


    Taking advantage of their last chance to win a place in the Medford district CCC championships, ten of the leading fighters in the area will meet Thursday night on the Elks CCC smoker at the Elks temple.
    The card will be the last of the four elimination cards staged for the purpose of selecting the district's outstanding fighters, and it will be the fighters' last opportunity to prove they deserve a place on the big title card.
    Captain William C. Ryan, district athletic officer, is picking a choice group of fighters to appear on the final elimination card. Several outstanding boys who have won intercamp matches in other cities will be brought here to show their wares. Fighters from the Marshfield and Yreka areas as well as from camps in the vicinity of Medford will make up the five-bout card.
    Lieut. Henry Phelan, matchmaker at Yreka, who has brought some of the cleverest fighters of the district here, will be back with a delegation of leather slingers from camps in Northern California and plans to pair them with the class of the Roseburg and Marshfield areas.
    The Elks-CCC series has given Medford something out of the ordinary in boxing entertainment, for all of the boys are hard fighters and make up for any lack of finesse by a willingness to trade blows at close range.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 17, 1935, page 4


    For the second consecutive month Co. 1746, Camp Kerby, was given the February flag as the best all-around camp comprised of local experienced men in the Medford CCC district. The award, a green and white pennant, is given monthly for efficiency in camp and company administration, policing, mess operation and work carried on in the forest, which is judged by the Forest Service.
    Camp Cape Sebastian, comprised of "junior" enrollees, largely from the East, was awarded the Junior flag, which last month was given Camp Clear Creek. Camp Steamboat, Camp Rand, and Camp Carberry were given places in the honorable mention column for Junior companies.
    Camp Devils Flat, Camp Elk Creek and Camp Yreka were awarded honorable mention in local experienced men division.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 5, 1935, page 2


    De Priest, the knockout artist from Oak Knoll, will clash with Chief Thomas, Bradford's great Indian fighter, in the semi-final event on the Elks CCC smoker Thursday evening.
    This was announced Wednesday by Capt. William C. Ryan, district athletic officer, upon receipt of word from the coast that Glabb of Humbug Mountain is in the infirmary and will be unable to appear.
    Glabb was knocked out in the second round of his fight with De Priest here some time ago and a rematch had been slated. In Thomas, De Priest will find an opponent worthy of his steel. Thomas, whose appearances in the north have won him a considerable reputation, has not appeared here before, as no suitable opponent could be found for the deadly redskin.
    The shift in the card, although it will eliminate the De Priest-Glabb rematch, will probably result in an even better contest. De Priest has yet to be defeated, while the Indian will come here heavily supported by all who have seen him fight.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 6, 1935, page 7


    A program to restore old fortifications used in the Modoc Indian War and to improve the outstanding caves in Lava Beds National Monument was outlined today by David H. Canfield, superintendent of Crater Lake National Park. A 200-man CCC camp may soon be established at the Lava Beds and may come under the jurisdiction of Medford CCC district.
    Superintendent Canfield said that as the beds are in California, it is not certain whether the CCC camp will be included in the Medford, or in the adjoining California CCC district. Besides various historic buildings in the area, some 300 caves of much interest make the national monument outstanding.
    Under PWA appropriations, roads will be developed and an efficient well water supply will be provided, instead of the method now used--carrying water some distance.
    One hundred of the CCC men would be turned over to the division [omission] of grazing, in an effort to restore overgrazed public domain.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 6, 1935, page 10


Oregonian, Portland, March 11, 1935, page 12


    The five crack teams of the Medford CCC district will be in Medford Saturday to open the tournament that will decide the district champion.
    The tournament will start at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon in the high school gymnasium, with two games slated for the afternoon session. The meet will be continued with two more games Saturday night at 7:30 o'clock and will be concluded with the final two games Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
    Here are the teams listed in the tournament, each being the champion of one of the five sub-districts:
    Yreka zone--Indian Creek.
    Medford zone--Headquarters Detachment
    Grants Pass zone--Oregon Caves
    Roseburg zone--Bradford
    Marshfield zone--Humbug Mountain.
    Both the Oregon Caves and Humbug Mountain outfits are undefeated this season, each having won ten straight games to take its sub-district title. The Detachment team won four straight to take the smaller Medford zone title.
    Local basketball fans are invited to attend the tournament free of charge, and it is hoped a good crowd will be on hand. While the local fans have had little opportunity to see the outside teams in action, they have had several occasions to see the Detachment outfit in action.
    Neugart is captain of the Headquarters team. He played on the Albany High School team for two years and then played on independent teams for two seasons before playing for Southern Oregon Normal in '31, '32, and '33. He is the second high scorer for the season.
    Hogan, Detachment forward, played three years at Walthill, Nebraska, and two seasons of independent basketball at Sioux City, Iowa. He is the season's high scorer and high point man of the last eight games.
    Hamm, another Detachment regular, played two years with the Missouri Military Academy at Mexico, Missouri, and two years with the St. Louis YMCA. He also played in the Roseville, Calif., commercial league.
    Gallatin, who played for four seasons with the Diplomat club, San Francisco, is another regular. Leeper, who saw regular service this season, will be unable to play in the tournament because of an injury. He played two years with the Waldport high school and one season with the Portland YMCA.
    Woods, a regular, was injured early in the season but recovered and is playing a good game now. He played for three years on the Alsea High School outfit.
    Upchurch, who played 3 seasons at Timewell and Versailles, Illinois, is another who will see action.
    Sam Van Dyke, of the Medford High team, will referee the games, and Dr. D. E. Wiedman, district educational coordinator, will umpire.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 15, 1935, page 10


    MARSHFIELD, Ore., March 19.--(AP)--Edward Hamilton, 20, member of the China Flat CCC camp near Powers, drowned in the Coquille River late yesterday. He had excused himself from a meeting of workers and officers to get a drink of water. When he failed to return a search was started,  and his body was found floating several hundred yards away. The body sank before fellow workers could reach it and had not been recovered this morning.
    Hamilton was to have been mustered out of the service and to have returned to his home in Chicago late this week.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 19, 1935, page 1


    The first of three special trains carrying CCC members to the Middle West for discharge will leave Medford Saturday, March 23, commanded by Major Clare H. Armstrong, district commander.
    The three trains will carry members who do not wish to enroll for the fifth CCC period. The first train will take about 175 men, 50 of whom will be from Camp China Flats and 125 from Camp Sebastian. Major Armstrong will be accompanied by First Lieut. Roy W. Otto, Cav. Res., as mess officer, and First Lieut. Frank L. Hoagland, Med.-Res., as medical officer. The train will take the men to Fort Sheridan, Ill., for discharge.
    The second of the special trains will leave here March 25, commanded by Captain Chauncey L. Pierce, with Capt. John R. Murray as mess officer and Captain Audley C. Joslyn as medical officer.
    The train will carry 377 men from the following companies: Humbug Mountain, 88; McKinley, 67; Oregon Caves, 85; South Fork, 84; and Rand, 53. The men will be discharged at Fort Sheridan.
    The third train will leave March 26 for Fort Crook, Neb., and Fort Sheridan, Ill. The officers to accompany this train have not yet been named. It will carry 409 men from the following companies; Seiad, 70; Sitkum, 47; Coos Head, 74; Wolf Creek, 75; Clear Creek, 86; and Steamboat, 57.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 21, 1935, page 2


    SCOTT CITY, Kas., March 26.--(AP)--Two Portland, Ore., trainmen were severely injured and about 30 Oregon CCC recruits cut and bruised early today when a freight train plowed into an eastbound passenger train while taking a siding in front of the station at Shields, Kas.
    The freight train was on the main track. The engineer said he did not see the passenger train taking the siding on account of the dust.
    The fourth and fifth Pullman cars, loaded with sleeping CCC boys, were struck by the engine. One side of the fourth car was torn away as it was turned over and the fifth car was derailed and left tilting at a 45-degree angle.
    Pullman conductor P. T. Hardesty of Portland, Ore., suffered chest injuries and broken ribs and Porter C. E. Digbee of Portland suffered a wrenched back. Both were brought to a hospital here.
    Dr. Deal of Dighton was called for first aid to the CCC boys assisted by army doctors on the train.
    The CCC train of nine coaches was from Medford, Ore., headed for Fort Sheridan, outside of Chicago.
    Major Clare H. Armstrong, commander of the Medford CCC district, is commander of the CCC special train, which was struck to a freight train. First Lieutenant Roy W. Otto accompanied Major Armstrong as mess officer and Dr. Frank L. Hoagland as medical officer.
    Twenty-eight CCC men were injured in the accident, but none seriously, according to a wire received from Major Armstrong by Major Robert F. Dark, acting district commander. They were given immediate first aid treatment by the train surgeon, Dr. Hoagland, and none had to be taken to a hospital. The train was to be delayed about seven hours by the wreck.
    One hundred and seventy-five men, 50 of whom were from Camp China Flats and 125 from Camp Cape Sebastian, were on the special train. All were being taken back to Fort Sheridan for discharge at the end of their CCC enrollment period. The officers will return here at the completion of the trip.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 26, 1935, page 1


    The third special train to depart from this district with CCC enrollees for discharge in the Middle West left Medford Tuesday morning under command of Capt. Guy W. Saunders of Camp Wimer. Lieut. Robert R. Colwell of Rand was mess officer and Lieut. Clarence R. Blatchford of Humbug Mountain was medical officer.
    The train carried 228 men from the following companies: Coos Head, 35; Steamboat, 40; Wolf Creek, 55; Clear Creek, 43; Seiad, 30; Sebastian, 1; and Sitkum, 24.
    The train completes the movement of CCC members who are not reenrolling for the next period. The men will be replaced by new enrollees from the same areas. The train was to proceed to Fort Crook, Neb., and Fort Sheridan, Ill. All three of the officers were granted a seven-day leave en route, to visit friends and relatives in the Midwest.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 26, 1935, page 1


    Scott City, Kas., March 26.--(AP)--Two Portland trainmen were severely injured and about 30 Oregon CCC recruits cut and bruised early today when a freight train plowed into an eastbound passenger train while taking a siding in front of the station at Shields, Kas.
    The freight train was on the main track. The engineer said he did not see the passenger train taking the siding on account of the dust.
    The fourth and fifth Pullman cars, loaded with sleeping CCC boys, were struck by the engine. One side of the fourth car was torn away as it was turned over and the fifth car was derailed and left tilting at a 45-degree angle.
    Pullman Conductor P. T. Hardesty of Portland suffered chest injuries and broken ribs, and Porter C. E. Digbee of Portland suffered a wrenched back. Both were brought to a hospital here.
    Dr. Deal of Dighton was called for first aid to the CCC boys, assisted by army doctors on the train.
    The CCC train of nine coaches was from Medford, Or., headed for Fort Sheridan, outside of Chicago.
    The CCC boys in the wreck had completed enlistments in camps of Southern Oregon. They were mobilized last weekend at Grants Pass and Medford.
    Their homes were in Chicago and nearby Illinois cities.
Oregon Journal, Portland, March 26, 1935, page 1


    With the cooperation of the county and the U.S. Forest Service, several miles of extremely crooked road along Big Applegate River on the west side between Cameron bridge and Seattle Bar is being straightened, it was announced today at the Medford Forest Service offices.
    A crew of men from Applegate CCC camp is doing the work, with the county furnishing the machinery and the Forest Service, materials. Several sharp, dangerous turns both above and below Star ranger station are being eliminated. The crew has been at work since March 7.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 29, 1935, page 5


    PORTLAND, March 30.--(AP)--A dispatch to the Journal today from Washington, D.C. said the National Park Service has reported to Senator McNary that it hopes to assign a CCC camp to the Prescott Memorial Park in Jackson County.
    Prescott Memorial Park, on Roxy Ann, east of Medford, has been received by the National Park Service and if the proposed expansion of emergency conservation work takes place, it is likely a camp will be established there.
    The move was initiated by the Jackson County chamber of commerce in an effort to secure further development work for the memorial park, which is expected to become one of the favorite show places of this vicinity.
    WASHINGTON, March 30.--(AP)--Senator McNary's bill to add 59,000 acres to the Siskiyou National Forest in Oregon was passed by the Senate Friday. The lands embrace some of the best virgin timber in the state and are unsuited to agriculture. About 57,000 acres are privately owned, the Coos Bay Lumber Company holding title to most of it. The rest is federal or Oregon and California Railroad grant land.
    Two other bills sponsored by Senator McNary were approved. They call for a preliminary examination of Umpqua River and tributaries with a view of flood control, and a similar examination of the Coquille River.
    Senator Steiwer of Oregon was successful in gaining approval of his bill for flood control surveys of the Nehalem, Miami, Kilchis, Wilson, Trask and Tillamook rivers, and Senator McNary added the Willamette River to the list.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 31, 1935, page 3


    Copies of the first edition of The Gasquet Gazette, camp paper of Camp Gasquet F-18, 1344th Company CCC, at Crescent City, were received in Medford today, the paper having come off the press March 23. The Gazette will be published each month in the interests of the enrollees of Camp Gasquet, by the camp's journalism class.
    Under the editorship of Harold Benedict and the advisorship of Wallace C. Griffith, interesting camp news is presented, as well as humor columns. A feature of the four-column, four-page paper is a striking masthead. The paper includes a brief history of Camp Gasquet, which was organized May 21, 1933, under Capt. Shirley B. Hunt.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 31, 1935, page 14


    Officers of Medford CCC district and their lady guests will give a farewell dinner and dance at the Lithia Hotel in Ashland Saturday night honoring Major Robert F. Dark, district executive officer, who has been ordered to duty at Knoxville, Tenn. Eighty are expected to attend. The committee in charge will be First Lieut. Leslie G. Ross, First Lieut. Theodore P. Coates and Second Lieut. Roy D. Craft.
    Mrs. Dark will be unable to attend, having been called to San Francisco by the serious illness of her father. Before leaving for his new post in Knoxville, Major Dark will have two months' leave of absence, and he and Mrs. Dark plan to vacation on the Pacific Coast, returning the first of June to attend the graduation exercises of their niece, Miss Frances Elaine Combes, who has been living with the Darks and attending Medford High School.
    Major Dark reported for duty in the Medford district from Eugene district July 28, 1933, and was promoted to the rank of Major Oct. 1, 1934. He assumed command of the district last month during the absence of Major Clare H. Armstrong, who is expected to return Friday from a trip to the Middle West, during which he was in command of a casual train.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 3, 1935, page 4


    The jackhammer crews of the CCC side camp at Talent have just finished an interesting rock-drilling contest.
    Working 21 shifts of 8 hours each, these two crews drilled 2324 and 2323½ feet of hard rock each.
    At the end of each day's work the record for the day was posted, and toward the finish every man in camp was pulling for his favorite crew.
    An average of 110⅔ and 110 9/14 feet, respectively, was accomplished for a day's work, and is a record for any three-man crew.
    The winners were Floyd Munden, Reino Raikko and John Berberick. Tommy Walker, Eddie Davis and Farrel Snider were second, losing by only seven inches.
    Cigarettes were awarded as prizes by the Forest Service superintendent, L. H. McGuire, and foreman True Lewis.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 3, 1935, page 10


    CAMP APPLEGATE, CCC, April 3.--(Spl.)--To celebrate the second anniversary of both the CCC and the organization of Camp Applegate, Co. 926, a 36-page special edition of The Sluice Box appeared March 25.
    The cover pages were done in golden red yellow with the picture of the entrance gate to the camp in green as the cover design. The book was dedicated to the men with a picture of President Roosevelt on the dedication page. The book, composed of four sections, included the features, the history of the camp and each enrollee's record on the work projects, sports and humor, and a copy of everyone's personal signature written on the stencil by the enrollees. 
Medford Mail Tribune, April 3, 1935, page 10


    CAMP WIMER, April 4.--(Spl.)--Medford will be the nerve center of a 75-mile-long system of forest trails and telephone lines connecting Sexton Mountain, King Mountain and Battle Mountain lookout stations when the Oregon boys who compose this Medford district CCC company,get through carrying out the plans of Lynn F. Cronemiller, state forester. It is expected that the work will be finished by the fall of 1936. Intensive summer work will proceed full blast as soon as replacements bring Captain Guy W. Saunders' all-Oregon company to full strength about April 10th.
    Work on the Evans Creek-Medford telephone line, which has been pushed through the winter, is now within two weeks of completion. Two bulldozers, taking advantage of the better weather of the past week, are working seven ten-hour shifts a week slashing road up the gulches toward the still-snowclad ridges where the control roads will run. When the work is finished, lookouts will be able at the first tiny wisp of smoke to set in motion flying squadrons of trucks and men out of Medford, Rogue River or Grants Pass to bring the fire under immediate control. By this project four whole townships of fir- and pine-covered slopes and gold-bearing creeks will be brought under the fire protection of the state forester.
    Prospectors are thronging into Evans Creek, Pleasant Creek and Grave Creek this year because of the deep snow on the mountains which promises ample water supply until probably July. For them and others who will follow next year the CCC is building roads which will make the formerly inaccessible creeks easy of entrance with supplies. Thus fire control will make more accessible one of the natural resources of this country. Jackson County's summer population will be increased by many a creek miner who will push the gold frontier farther back into the Cascades. One of the loop trails will go round the head of Grave Creek, making every point on that stream easily approachable.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 4, 1935, page 9


    BIG APPLEGATE, April 8.--(Spl.)--Company 926, Civilian Conservation Corps, stationed at Camp Applegate, will be transferred, probably this month, to Camp Jordan Valley in Eastern Oregon, according to orders received a few days ago from the 9th corps area headquarters in San Francisco. Men in spike camps at Talent and Star Ranger Station and all recruits removed from camp headquarters at present have been ordered to be back in camp withing the next few days. Local Forest Service attaches will remain here, and it is understood will continue their duties with a new company to be transferred to Camp Applegate.
    The 100 men in camp, most of whom are from Portland, are looking forward to new experiences in Jordan Valley, which previously did not possess a CCC camp. It is reported that the work program there will be given over to a reclamation project, and that the camp will be entirely under supervision of the army without Forest Service direction. Men who are credited with overtime work here will not be extended the privilege of using this time in the new camp.
    Camp Applegate was established two years ago, and has ranked high among camps of the Medford district in all phases of work.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 8, 1935, page 8


    GRANTS PASS, April 9.--(Spl.)--The Electric Welding and Machinery Company in Grants Pass was awarded the contract to supply the Medford CCC district with five circular saws, it has been announced here.
    The gasoline-driven saws are mounted on skids so that they may be easily transported through the forests where wood is to be cut for the CCC camps.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 9, 1935, page 4


    CAMP WIMER, April 9.--(Spl.)--The laurel wreath rested firmly on the heads of Oregon boys when awards were announced by Medford district CCC headquarters for the month of March. Camp Wimer's company 964, all-Oregon junior company, was declared best in the district. The flag awarded by Major Clare H. Armstrong will fly from Wimer's flagpole as soon as it arrives from Cape Sebastian, where it spent the last month. Company 964 will be remembered for splendid work done at Agness during the summer of 1934 where the members were specially commended for fire fighting.
    Officers of the military staff are Captain Guy W. Saunders, commanding, Lt. Andrew J. Hemstreet, Lt. (Doctor) L. D. Hansen, Lt. Kermit M. Johnson and adviser Donald Mace. The technical staff are Supt. Paul Thompson; foremen, P. D. Coy, Earl Coffman, L. W. Amort, E. C. Beach, W. A. White; operators, John Connie and Clayton Akin; and blacksmith Wm. Dunbrack. The company is now engaged in making 75 miles of roads and telephone lines connecting Sexton Mtn., King Mtn., and Battle Mtn. to bring the northern townships of Jackson County under the fire control of State Forester Lynn F. Cronemiller.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 9, 1935, page 8


    CAMP WIMER, CCC.--(Spl.)--Anticipating the prefabricated house recently perfected by eastern companies, Camp Wimer's CCC technical staff has devised a three-section unit house for use in side camps. The new houses, composed of sections bolted together, can easily be demounted, loaded on trucks and moved from one work project to another, thus effecting a great saving in labor and materials. Thus in Medford district, men in side camps will live warm and comfortable in buildings which are almost as easily moved as tents.
    Each roof, side wall and floor is composed of three sections bolted together with ⅜-inch iron bolts easily removable. The roof rests on "A" frames, which are themselves bolted into the side plates. The arrangement is so simple that a crew of four can dismount and load a bunkhouse in an hour and a half. State Forester Lynn F. Cronemiller has approved the new plans, and similar buildings will be built as the need arises in side camps of other state ECW camps.
    In Jack Creek camp, side camp of Wimer, all the buildings are portable, one of them being a house of the new type. The other Wimer side camp two miles north of Medford on the old Crater Lake road is composed entirely of the three-section unit type. When completed this camp will be capable of housing 48 men.
    A side camp for 48 men includes six bunk houses for eight men each, a mess hall and kitchen, a recreation hall, a meat house, an infirmary, a tool shed, a latrine and an oil shed.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 10, 1935, page 2


    WASHINGTON, April 12.--(AP)--Enrollment of the 300,000 new men for the Civilian Conservation Corps within 60 days was promised today by Robert Fechner, CCC director, after a conference with President Roosevelt on this phase of the $4,000,000,000 work-relief program.
    Fechner went over with President Roosevelt his recommendations for 1500 new camps in the 48 states. Early presidential approval of the plan is in prospect.
    The War Department would build the camps and Fechner expressed the belief it will be possible to complete the job and enroll the 300,000 new men within a two months' period. The work law authorizes a CCC corps 600,000 strong.
    Mr. Roosevelt, in pushing forward the $4,000,000,000 program, was represented as relying on the CCC as one of the first points of action. It was believed the corps will permit absorption of some of the college graduates coming out of school this June who might be unable to find work otherwise.
    The president also had on his calling list today Rexford G. Tugwell, undersecretary of agriculture, who is expected to take a part in the work relief effort.
    Moving deliberately, the president had with him during the work relief conferences Daniel Bell, acting director of the budget, for advice on allocating funds.
    Relief administration figures showed that 6 percent of all farm owners and 16 percent of tenants and share croppers were on relief last October. The proportion of tenants on relief was as high as 63 percent in the spring wheat counties.
    About one-third of the farmers on relief were owners and two-thirds were tenants and croppers.
   CCC headquarters here have as yet received no official information as to what effect the passage of the relief bill will have on the Medford CCC district. They will have no word on the matter until official orders are received, probably in a week or 10 days, and possibly longer, it was said.
    It is generally understood here, however, that the increased enrollment will bring many new men here, and strength is lent to the prospects for the establishment of a new camp at the base of Roxy Ann. When, and if, the camp is established, work will probably be continued on the Prescott Memorial Park at the summit of the mountain.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 12, 1935, page 1


    Oregon Caves CCC camp is celebrating its second anniversary with a dance tonight at the Oregon Caves chateau ballroom, according to word received from George Whitworth, project superintendent. Anthony R. Manno is to be master of ceremonies. About 80 are expected to attend and, although the CCC boys were doubtful about finding dancing partners, it is expected that a bevy of girls will attend from Kerby and the Illinois River Valley.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 12, 1935, page 7


    WASHINGTON, April 15.--(AP)--Senator Steiwer of Oregon today made public a list of 26 additional CCC camps which will be operated in Oregon during the coming summer under the expanded program of the Civilian Conservation Corps. There are already 39 camps in Oregon, making the total 65.
    Eight of the camps will be re-established as follows:
    Camp Sherman, Jefferson County; Cascade Locks, Hood River County; Elk Creek and Ruch, Jackson County; Port Orford, Curry County, Mapleton, Lane County; Roseburg, Douglas County; Detroit, Marion County.
    New camps will be established:
    Elk Lake, Deschutes County; Silver Lake and Paisley Lake, Lake County; Burns, Harney County, Medford (land grant), Jackson; Yachats and Triangle Lake, Lane County; Drain (land grant), Douglas County; Hilyard (private), Union County; Falls City, Polk County; Tillamook, Tillamook County; Lacomb (private), Linn County.
    Biological survey camps:
    Burns and French Glen, Harney County.
    State parks:
    Long Tom, Lane County; Battle Mountain, Umatilla County; Shelton, Wheeler County; Prescott Memorial, Jackson County.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 15, 1935, page 1


    CAMP KERBY CCC, April 12.--(Special)--Camp Kerby, F-47, Selma, Oregon, seems to be in a class by itself when it comes to winning Medford district "Best Camp" pennants. In the past six months this camp has won the honor four times and been among the first three places twice. Co. 1746 is composed of local experienced men who live in the vicinity of Grants Pass and Gold Beach. Although the members are older in years than the boys in the junior companies, they show by the way they respond to the leadership of the army officers and the foremen of the Forest Service in building roads, telephone lines, shop work and building construction, that they enjoy the thrill that comes as a reward for a task well done.
    The company had its origin at Jefferson barracks, Missouri, on June 7, 1933, and the advance cadre of 35 Missouri junior enrollees arrived in Oregon, commanded by Major J. T. Murray, Inf-dol.  on June 20, 1933. Captain Harold E. Stow assumed command of the company on June 26, 1933, and remained with the company until October of that year, at which time Captain Chauncy L. Pierce, Inf. Res., took over the command.
    It was during this time Captain Pierce was in command that the company was made a "special company." At this time the remaining seventeen Missouri junior members were returned to the seventh corps area, and the company was filled to full strength with local experienced men living in Josephine County.
    In April, 1934, the company was moved to Camp Lower Pistol River in Curry County and the vacancies, which then existed, were filled by residents of both Josephine and Curry counties. In was in May, 1934, that Captain James O. Wanzer, Eng.-Res., present commander, was assigned to the company. October, 31, 1934, saw the company back in its old home at Camp Kerby and ready to continue its habit of setting the pace for the other good companies in the Medford district.
    The Forest Service superintendent, George A. Davis, has been in charge of the work projects since June, 1933, with the exception of November and December, 1933, when J. K. Blair, ranger at the Redwoods ranger station, acted as project superintendent.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 15, 1935, page 6


    VANCOUVER BARRACKS, Wash.--(Spl.)--Benefiting from a recent order which has more than doubled the tentative quota, Jackson County now will be entitled to send 10 students to the tenth annual Citizen's Military Training Camp at his post starting July 5th, it was announced today.
    The quota was set first at 218, but this has just been raised to 480; and Brigadier-General James K. Parsons, camp commander, has directed that the increase be distributed proportionately to the counties.
    The camp, as formerly, will run for four weeks, and will be without cost to the trainees, including transportation to and from home.
    The students live in an orderly tent camp, follow a program in which work and play are blended with heavy emphasis upon athletics and recreation, and enjoy a menu especially arranged for quantity and quality. The camp is open to boys 17 years old or over, and both former students and beginners are to be accepted.
    General Parsons asks that prospective applicants communicate as soon as possible with the camp authorities, addressing communication to C.M.T.C. Headquarters, Vancouver Barracks, Washington, or call upon their county chairmen if more convenient. The enrollment chairman in Jackson County is Carl Y. Tengwald, Medford.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 15, 1935, page 8


    The opening of the Elks-CCC fight series, tentatively scheduled for April 18, has been postponed because of the re-enrollment of CCC men and the movement of camps.
    Capt. William C. Ryan, district athletic officer who has had charge of the fight cards, announced today that the contemplated series will not get started this week as originally planned. The series will end with a big outdoors card and picnic in June.
    As soon as the present unsettled condition is over, the series will be started. A number of outstanding 3-C fighters have signified their intention of battling for new district honors.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 16, 1935, page 3


    Breynton R. Finch, ranger for Crater Lake National Park now stationed at Lava Beds National Monument, Cal., escaped injury Thursday noon when a CCC truck he was driving plunged off an embankment on the Greensprings Highway and turned over twice, at a point four miles above Klamath Falls junction.
    Finch said he necessarily was driving the big truck on the extreme right side of the road and struck a soft shoulder at the same instant he took his eyes off the road to investigate the overheated engine. He said the next thing he knew the truck was on its side 75 feet below the highway. The truck was damaged considerably.
    He was driving the vehicle back to the Lava Beds after having attended a fire guard training school at South Fork of the Rogue CCC camp.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 19, 1935, page 5


    CAMP WIMER, April 22.--(Spl.)--A total of 41 Jackson and Josephine County boys, many of them from Medford, got their first taste of life in the CCC when they reported for duty to Captain Guy W. Saunders here today. An additional 28 boys from Multnomah County also reported for duty, bringing the company to approximately two-thirds full strength. As rapidly as the boys are conditioned, they will be distributed to the three points where the Wimer work project is being undertaken.
    The Wimer drum and bugle corps, depleted by the departure of several members at the end of the fourth period, will draw new life from the ranks of the recruits. A number of the new men are ball players, and baseball practice will begin this week.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 22, 1935, page 2


    Dr. D. E. Wiedman, educational coordinator for Medford CCC district, was the main speaker at the regular luncheon this noon of Medford Kiwanis Club held at Hotel Medford. His subject was "Vocational Training for Boys."
    Dr. Wiedman said that in the training work carried on by the CCC for boys between the ages of 18 to 25, the past five years has witnessed the greatest change the world has ever seen. More than 1,000,000 boys have passed through the CCC, and there are 300,000 in camps at present, an enrollment which may be doubled under a plan in Washington, Dr. Wiedman said.
    In the 28 camps of the Medford district there are 5800 men whom the government is training, he said. Medford is the "railhead for the 41 camps in Oregon, which will probably be increased to 60 under the expansion program," the speaker continued, pointing out the tremendous help to the community this will mean from an economic standpoint.
    In the government's effort to "retrain" the CCC boys through an educational adviser in every camp, an opportunity is given all boys to pursue their studies, Dr. Wiedman said. In a report made to the corps area headquarters by the Medford district, the speaker said it was disclosed April 1 that there are 577 volunteer teachers and 517 courses open to the boys, who have read 30,515 books and completed hundreds of correspondence courses.
    The club was entertained by the weekly Kiwanis quartet, composed of Max Pierce, C. C. Lemmon, Ted GeBauer and R. W. Frame. Paul Carpenter of the Bozeman, Mont., club, and connected with Oregon State College faculty, was a guest.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 22, 1935, page 5


    CAMP WIMER, April 22.--(Spl.)--Ground was broken here today for the new athletic field which will soon make it possible for every member of this Medford district company to take part in his favorite form of athletics. The new field adjoining the camp includes about 15 acres of flat land in Pleasant Creek Valley. First project to be completed in the new field is the baseball diamond. The infield has been graded and smoothed in ground which gets hard in the summer heat so that the Wimer Bobcat infield will have no bad-hop alibis in the coming struggle for supremacy in the Medford district baseball series.
    Those CCC boys who are addicted to chasing the white pellet will be able to tee off from the new athletic field for the first of a nine-hole golf course which will be full of enough natural hazards to chill the heart of a professional golfer. The choppers and slicers will bounce them off trees and bury them in the creeks. All members of the company who own clubs or can borrow them automatically become members of the Wimer country club.
    A tennis court and a quarter-mile track will be included in the new field. There will be pits for the high and broad jump and for pole vaulting. Throwers of the javelin, putters of the shot, throwers of the hammer and archers will all have a place to work out. A tennis court will be provided for those who had to be satisfied with pingpong during the winter months. Captain Saunders aims at giving every man in the company an outlet for his energies.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 22, 1935, page 7


    A trainload of new CCC enrollees, 107 of them, arrived in this city yesterday from Fort Sheridan, Ill., to report for duty at Co. 1642, Camp South Fork. Most of the men were recruited from in and near Chicago.
    The men were taken to their camp immediately upon their arrival. The trainload brings to this district the first consignment of new men to fill the vacancy left by the several trainloads who were discharged some time ago.
    Within a short time more recruits will be sent from the Middle West, and also destined for this area are many enlisted in and near Portland. They will be assigned to various camps in Southern Oregon and Northern California.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 23, 1935, page 8


    A special train from Fort Sheridan, Ill., brought 113 new CCC members for Camp Rand and 100 for Oregon Caves camp Wednesday. Lieut. Fred W. Green of Medford district headquarters met the train at Grants Pass and supervised the unloading of the recruits.
    Another special train will arrive on Thursday from Fort McArthur, Cal., with 74 men for Oak Knoll, 24 men for Yreka, 97 men for Indian Creek and 125 men for Evans Creek.
    Two specials will arrive in the district Friday. One from Fort Sheridan will have 14 men for Humbug Mountain, 135 for McKinley and 142 for China Flats. The other will be from Fort McArthur and will have 125 men for Elk Creek, 125 for Kerby and 85 for Gasquet.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 24, 1935, page 11


    Eighteen camps and Headquarters detachment will remain in the Medford CCC district when the present summer movement is completed, according to Major Clare H. Armstrong, district commander.
    Nine of the companies which have been in the Medford district during the period just past are now making preparations to move to other districts in the ninth corps area during the summer. The Medford district has been made up of 27 camps and the Headquarters detachment during the past six months.
    Although news dispatches from Washington, D.C. indicate a number of new companies will be assigned here as a part of the CCC expansion program, no official word of this has been received. The nineteen camps to remain here are those already in the district and do not include new companies which may be assigned here under the enlarged program.
    The companies leaving the district follow:
    Co. 602, Seiad, to Camp Lightning Creek, Fort George Wright district.
    Co. 611, Humbug Mountain, to Camp Silver Springs, Vancouver Barracks district.
    Co. 926, Applegate, to Camp Jordan Valley, Boise district.
    Co. 994, Hilt, to Camp Board Corrals, Redding district.
    Co. 1626, Camp Steamboat, to Camp Five Mile, Boise district.
    Co. 1629, Wolf Creek, to Camp Gap Ranch, Boise district.
    Co. 1641, Clear Creek to Camp Skin Creek, Fort George Wright district.
    Co. 1652, Camp Cape Sebastian, to Camp Emigrant Springs, Vancouver district.
    Co. 1907, Camp Spring Flat, to Camp Swinford Springs, Redding district.
    Seven companies will make moves within the district. They follow:
    Co. 966 from Carberry Creek to Dog Lake.
    Co. 1305 from Devils Flat to South Umpqua Falls.
    Co. 1554 from Yreka to Lava Beds.
    Co. 1555 from Evans Creek to Diamond Lake.
    Co. 1634 from Oregon Caves to Annie Springs.
    Co. 1746 from Kerby to Agness.
    Co. 1747 from Elk Creek to Upper Rogue River.
    Companies which will not be moved include the following:
    Co. 759, Sitkum; Co. 922, Oak Knoll; Co. 964, Wimer; Co. 979, Bradford; Co. 1344, Gasquet; Co. 1622, Coos Head; Co. 1627, China Flats; Co. 1642, South Fork; Co. 1649, McKinley; Co. 1650, Rand; Co. 1910, Indian Creek; and Headquarters detachment.
    The main movement of companies from this district to other districts will take place about May 1, although most of the companies have sent advance detachments of men ahead to prepare the camps for occupancy. Movements within the district will be made as soon as weather conditions permit moving to the higher altitudes where most of the new camps are located.
    Portland, April 25.--(AP)--Oregon will have 26 more CCC camps this year than it had last winter, C. J. Buck, regional forester, announced through his office here today. Buck now is in Washington, D.C. The total number of camps operating in Oregon this summer will be 67, each to house 200 men.
    Enrollment for the new camps will start at once and will continue until October 1.
    There will be 36 camps in national forests, four on Oregon & California land grants, two in state forests, nine on private lands, nine in state parks, one in Crater Lake National Park, four identified with the biological survey, and two in grazing areas.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 25, 1935, page 1


    Three CCC companies will leave the Medford district May 1 and proceed to new summer camps in the Vancouver Barracks and Boise, Idaho districts.
    Co. 1652, which has been at Cape Sebastian, will go to Camp Emigrant Springs near Meacham, Oregon. The company is commanded by First Lieutenant Donald E. Lindsay, with First Lieutenant Grant H. Edwards, Contract Surgeon Ruber G. McCall and Educational Adviser Orlando P. West. The company will go by special train from Marshfield.
    Co. 1626, which has been at Camp Steamboat, will go to Camp Five Mile, near Burns, Oregon. Co. 1629, which has been at Wolf Creek, will go to Camp Gap Ranch, also near Burns. They will go by special train from Roseburg.
    Co. 1626 is commanded by Capt. Luther E. Morgan, with Second Lieut. Kenneth A. L. Johnson, Contract Surgeon E. Noel Smith and Educational Adviser George Meisinger.
    Co. 1629 is commanded by First Lieut. Roy W. Otto, Contract Surgeon Floyd D. Lewis and Educational Adviser Fenton R. Muldowney. 
Medford Mail Tribune, April 25, 1935, page 6


    A special train of new CCC men arrived in Medford at 2 o'clock this afternoon, bearing 335 men, 125 of which are destined for duty at Camp Elk Creek, 125 for duty at Camp Kerby, and 85 will be sent to Camp Gasquet. Most of the men were recruited in and near Los Angeles.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 26, 1935, page 11

    A backward glance at the history of Camp Elk Creek shows that the company has undergone many changes since its origin, June 7, 1933 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Major N. E. Fiske was the first commanding officer, assisted by 1st Lt. Dennison.
    The original enrollees were thirty-two members transferred from Co. 1733 CCC, together with four enlisted army men. This detachment left Jefferson Barracks June 16, 1933, en route to Medford, Oregon, headquarters for the Medford district, CCC.
    Upon arrival at Medford they were sent to the camp site chosen on Elk Creek, some twelve miles off the Crater Lake Highway, where a tent camp was established. Here the company was enlarged by enrolling experienced woodsmen, later known as L.E.M.'s, meaning Local Experienced Men.
    Many changes of officers and men took place during the summer, and by September, 1933, all the eastern juniors had been returned to their homes. About this time work was begun to make Elk Creek a permanent CCC camp. Four fifty-man barracks were started.
    On October 14th, 1933, Capt. Glen J. Key assumed command of the company, which had by this time become an L.E.M. company. Mr. Fred Warner was the first project superintendent at Camp Elk Creek, serving in that capacity until September 30, 1933 ,when Mr. Jesse De Witt relieved him. December 19, 1933, Mr. Warner was returned to company 1747 as project superintendent, which position he held until January 1935, when he was called to [Rogue?] River National Forest. Mr. Ralph G. Jennings is now project superintendent and is making an enviable record.
    On April 25, 1934, the company moved to summer quarters at Camp Upper Rogue F-38, Union Creek, Oregon. This camp is the ideal recreational spot of the Rogue River National Forest, being only twenty miles from Crater Lake, a wonder spot of the world. In this camp the men improved the recreational facilities by building trails, improving and providing conveniences for camping.
    Company 1747 at Upper Rogue made a record that set an example for every camp in the district to shoot at.
    The District Banner hung from Co. 1747's flagstaff four months at Camp Upper Rogue, April, May, July and October. The record of fighting forest fires was unexcelled.
    October 4, 1934, Capt. Glen J. Key was relieved as Camp Commander and 1st Lt. W. L. Kindred was assigned as Executive Officer.
    November 1, 1934, the company returned to winter quarters at Elk Creek.
    June 14, 1934, Mr. Celian Ufford was attached to Co. 1747 as educational advisor, serving until Dec. 1934, when L. A. Moore relieved him. Mr. Ufford transferred to a Calif. Co., CCC.
    March 31, 1935, Lt. McGuire resigning from the service, Lt. Kindred assumed command and served until April 18th, when Capt. L. N. Despain relieved him.
    Contract Surgeon H. B. Gillis on July 9, 1934, became 1st Lt. Med. Res. and served with the company until March 1935, when a transfer was made with Camp Applegate, whereby J. B. Gillis, the father of Lt. Gillis, came to Camp Elk Creek as Contract Surgeon.
    The camp is at present formulating plans to return to Camp Upper Rogue for the summer of 1935.
The Conifer Chatterer, Camp Elk Creek, Trail, Oregon, May 12, 1935, page 1  Click here for many more transcriptions from the Trail CCC camp newsletter.


    Captain M. Milton Potter, who has been with the Medford CCC district headquarters since May 1934, will leave early next month for Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
    Captain Potter came here from the 10th Field Artillery, Fort Lewis, and will be assigned to the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade at the Texas post.
    Captain Potter has served here as executive officer and more recently as district welfare officer and inspector.
    He returned to the states from the Philippines in July, 1931, and was on duty at Fort Lewis until the CCC was started in 1933. Captain Potter was assigned to the Baker, Ore., district and served there as executive officer until the district was closed in the fall.
    At Fort Sam Houston, Captain Potter will find a post to his liking. The 2nd Field Artillery Brigade is a horse-drawn outfit, that type of artillery being his chief interest. He will also find activity in the ranks of the polo players of the southern posts.
    Captain and Mrs. Potter plan to leave about June 3 and to take a vacation trip down the coast and into Mexico before proceeding to their new post.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 13, 1935, page 5


    Wednesday will be a festive day for the 4600 men of the Medford CCC district! A general holiday, celebrating the second anniversary of the district, is to be celebrated, and each of the 23 camps will take advantage of the one-day vacation with sports, games and special dinners.
    Major Clare H. Armstrong, commander of the Medford CCC district, declared May 15 a special holiday. The Park and Forest Service supervisors of the district entered wholeheartedly into the plan, and the men will be relieved from all work projects for the day. The cooks and K.P.'s will not get a holiday, though, for they will be busy with their chicken dinners, barbecues and various other celebration menus.
    The Medford district was started May 15, 1933, with the arrival here of Major Armstrong. The district had 14 camps during the first period, then dropped to 10, and in the period just closed had 27 camps, in addition to the headquarters detachment. Temporarily, the district has dropped to 23 camps, but at least 33 companies will be in this district during the summer, and perhaps others will be added under the president's enlargement program.
    The district's second birthday will be celebrated in a number of ways. Evans Creek and Wimer camps are joining in a field day at Wimer. Track and field sports, baseball, volleyball, pinochle, bridge, horseshoes and a number of other games will be enjoyed, and a steer is being barbecued to feed the men of the two companies.
    At South Fork camp, inter-barracks sports will be featured, including boxing, baseball, horseshoes and track and field events. The South Fork menu is typical of the menus for the 23 companies. It includes chicken noodle soup, fried chicken and gravy, creamed mashed potatoes, lettuce and mayonnaise salad, creamed peas and devils food cake. Refreshments will be served in the evening and the prizes for the day's events will be awarded.
    An inter-barracks baseball game, boxing, field sports, a chicken dinner, and a dance in the evening with people of neighboring communities invited will be on the China Flats program.
    Each camp in the district is planning a similar program. The Headquarters Detachment in Medford will enjoy a special dinner at noon and a baseball game in the afternoon. The Park Service, Forest Service and army heads are joining with the chamber of commerce for a special radio broadcast Wednesday noon.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 14, 1935, page 2


Oregonian, Portland, May 15, 1935, page 14


    GRANTS PASS, May 15.--(AP)--Richard Nicholas Lessman, 20, member of CCC Camp Rand west of here, was killed almost instantly when his head struck a rock as he slipped down a bank. He joined the camp April 24 from Cicero, Ill.
    Lessman was working with a night road crew and had jumped down the bank to avoid a falling rock. He slipped and went on farther down.
    The body will be sent to the youth's mother at Cicero.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 15, 1935, page 1


    CAMP WIMER, May 15.--(Spl.)--A forest fire jumped the gun on Camp Wimer here Tuesday but did not catch Wimer's smoke chasers napping. A slashing fire on Bill Lyle's place one mile north of Sexton Mountain caught the wanderlust and made for a heavily wooded section of adjacent state forest land. When foreman W. A. White arrived at the scene with a truckload of Wimer men, the fire covered six or seven acres. It took White and his men three hours to bring it under control.
    Warning of the fire came from Siskiyou observers through the Salem office. Due to the fact that the fire season did not open until May 15, the fire might easily have caused considerable damage to state forest timber, but for the alert reporting of the Siskiyou man and the prompt action on the part of Wimer's men.
    It was the first forest fire of the 1935 season for the Oregon boys who make up this Medford district camp. Many of the boys, new recruits, were receiving their first experience in checkmating Oregon's unwanted but persistent summer visitor. CCC men all over the state are stationed at strategic points for a summer of intensive campaign against fire loss. Like the minute men of colonial history, they will be ready to leave their work at short notice to run down and corner fires as fast as they occur. Wimer will be on guard in an area of hilly land which is heavily wooded with valuable trees. The area comprises four whole townships. Responsibility for stopping fires is rested in Dwight Phipps, district fire warden at Medford.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 15, 1935, page 8


    The men of the Medford 3-C district, 4600 strong, were enjoying a full holiday today, and preparing to start the third year of the Civilian Conservation Corps in this area.
    The holiday, ordered for all camps of the district by Major Clare H. Armstrong, district commander, in cooperation with the Park and Forest Service supervisors, celebrated the second anniversary of the Medford district. Each of the 23 camps in the district were enjoying a day of sports, special dinners, programs and dances.
    Only the cooks and K.P. were denied a holiday, and they will get their one-day vacations in shifts later. The cooks were busy preparing special dinners that ranged from a barbecued steer at Wimer to fried chicken at most of the camps.
    Dances will be featured at several camps tonight, with people of the neighboring communities invited. Baseball games were being played on Wednesday afternoon in almost all camps. Track and field events found places on the program of a number.
    Greetings of the district commander were read to the members of each camp at a special formation today. The message pointed out that the holiday was given as a reward for the services the men have rendered during the past two years: It follows:
    "To the enrollees of the companies of the Medford district, I send my greetings on this second anniversary holiday. It is due to the loyalty and energy of the men of the companies that this district has won a place as one of the finest in the United States. This one-day vacation is in appreciation of the work you have done.
    "The district will go forward during the next year to even greater accomplishment, but to you who have helped pioneer the first two years of the Civilian Conservation Corps, we will always owe a debt of gratitude. To each of you I send my greetings and wishes for your future success."
    The district was started May 15, 1933, when Major Armstrong arrived here from San Francisco. He has been in command since then but will leave June 2 for the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. Major George R. Owens will assume command with Major Armstrong's departure.
    The district has 23 camps at the present time but 33 will be located here this summer, according to present plans.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 15, 1935, page 12


    BIG APPLEGATE, May 16.--(Spl.)--As a spike camp personnel of the South Fork of the Rogue CCC camp, 12 men were expected to arrive here today from the South Fork to go on duty at Star ranger station as a temporary fire crew, supplementing the Applegate spike camp which disbanded for the new location at Jordan Valley in Harney County.  Captain Glenn Wallace and Dr. Lamb from South Fork were here early this week in connection with establishment of the spike camp.
    Camp Applegate was vacated early this week, more than 150 men having been transferred to Camp Jordan Valley. Fifteen accompanied a truck caravan, the remaining recruits having left by train Monday evening. Linden McCullough, educational advisor, is being transferred to another camp in Oregon. Stanley Raimer and Herbert (Slim) Pennings, formerly with the Star spike camp, are remaining here at the ranger station, where they will be employed this summer.
    It is reported that Camp Applegate will become active again in July when recruits will be transferred here from the Chicago district.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 16, 1935, page 5


    It was just two years ago this month that an alert, wide-awake, pleasant-spoken man stepped breezily into the local chamber of commerce and announced he had come to make Medford the headquarters of an extensive CCC camp area.
    It was just as sudden, brief and businesslike as that!
    Twenty-four hours later, such headquarters had been established and was functioning--it has been functioning, growing and enlarging ever since--until today, Medford is the center of one of the largest and finest CCC administrative units in the United States.
    We need hardly enlarge upon what this has meant to Medford and Southern Oregon. Everyone knows about it. It has by and large been the greatest boon to this section of the state that has been experienced during the postwar era. And the outstanding success of that venture, and the extent of its many benefits, have been chiefly due to the man who made the first brief announcement--MAJOR C. H. ARMSTRONG--to his unremitting zeal, his tireless energy, his whole-hearted devotion to his job, and his interest in and loyalty to Medford and Southern Oregon.
    From the first somehow Major Armstrong seemed to talk the Medford language. He has what we are disposed to call the Medford spirit. He was keen, hustling, up to date, and also a very agreeable and charming gentleman. Devoted first and last and all the time to the proper development and welfare of his own organization, he nevertheless was never too busy nor too concerned with the details of his special task, not to be keenly concerned also with the development and welfare of this community.
    And now--as also everyone knows--the major is about to leave. Medford hates to lose him--but that was to be expected--the U.S. army is always on the move--it's the army theory of all around development and varied experience--it's the army tradition.
    On Thursday night of this week, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce gives a dinner in honor of Major Armstrong on the eve of his departure--and needless to say the SRO sign should be hung up early and undoubtedly will be.
    Certainly there is no dining room in the bailiwick large enough to accommodate ALL the people who would LIKE to say goodbye to him, express their appreciation of his services here, and wish him success and good luck in his new field of activity--whatever and wherever it may be! 
Medford Mail Tribune, May 19, 1935, page 6


    All camp commanders of the Medford CCC district met here Saturday in conference with Major Clare H. Armstrong, district commander, and Major George R. Owens, who will assume command of the district next month.
    Camp administration, welfare and the educational program for summer were discussed.
    The Medford CCC district will have 33 camps this summer, an increase of six over the last enrollment period.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 19, 1935, page 6


    Two Medford district officers will leave Sunday for Pocatello, Idaho, where they will be on duty at the Pocatello district CCC headquarters.
    They are First Lieutenant Robert S. Bower, who will be detailed as assistant adjutant, and First Lieutenant Edward H. LaSalle, who will serve as motor transport officer.
    Lieutenant Bower has been on duty at the Medford district headquarters as assistant personnel adjutant, while Lieutenant LaSalle was motor transport officer here for several months and more recently has been on duty at Camp Bradford.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 19, 1935, page 7


    One man was killed, four were seriously injured, six others were slightly injured, and eleven more escaped miraculously, when a CCC recreation truck, returning after a community dance to Camp Seiad in Northern California with 22 men aboard, went over the grade on the Klamath River highway, late Saturday night, diving 50 feet below before coming to a stop, a torn piece of wreckage.
    The dead man was Steve P. Madj, son of Mike Madj, 2640 Holly Street, Chicago. The injured were: Henry W. Carlson, Edward Fezderie, Jesse Van Flett and Joseph Jnapik, all of Chicago.
    The board of officers investigating the accident, which occurred about three miles from Camp Oak Knoll, have not yet reported the exact cause, but it is believed the wheels of the truck locked, throwing it over the bank.
    It was reported here today that the other men in the recreation truck were not seriously injured, and were treated at the camp hospital. The four more seriously hurt were taken to the Siskiyou County General Hospital at Yreka, where is was expected all would recover.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 20, 1935, page 1


Oregonian, Portland, May 20, 1935, page 1


    Fifteen new officers from the fifth and sixth corps areas arrived in Medford last weekend for duty in the Medford CCC district. Nine of these reported here from Fort Sheridan, Illinois, sixth corps area headquarters. Six came here from the fifth corps areas headquarters at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.
    New officers from the sixth corps area follow:
    Captain Edwin H. Gates, Inf.-Res., Moline, Ill.; Captain Ralph R. Gobeli, Engr.-Res., Wilmette, Ill.; First Lieut. Walter J. Bubolz, Cav.-Res., Milwaukee, Wisconsin; First Lieut. Louis A. Hoch, F.A.-Res., Detroit, Michigan.
    Second Lieut. Bruce A. Good, Q.M.-Res., Owendale, Mich.; Second Lieut. Arthur G. Gullikson, F.A.-Res., Iola, Wisconsin; Second Lieut. Earl Harper, Q.M.-Res. Chicago, Ill.; Second Lieut. Clarence W. Huffman, C.W.-Res., Clintonville, Wisconsin; and Second Lieut. James E. Leary, A.G.-Res., Redford, Mich.
    New officers from the Fifth Corps area follow:
    Captain Winthrop W. Williams, Bloomington, Indiana; 1st Lieut. Herschel G. Leatherman, Goshen, Indiana; 1st Lieut. Phillip B. Middleton, Culver, Indiana; 1st Lieut. John A. Rosenbaum, Indianapolis, Indiana; Second Lieut. Maurice M. Radcliffe, Bloomington, Indiana, and Second Lieut. Charles A. Raney, Loogootee, Indiana. 
Medford Mail Tribune, May 20, 1935, page 3


    CAMP WIMER.--(Spl.)--By winning the afternoon baseball game handily, Evans Creek nosed out Wimer in the all-day indoor and outdoor sports meet held between the two camps here Wednesday in celebration of the second anniversary of Medford district. The final point score was Evans Creek 85½, Wimer 78½. What is believed here to be a world's record was made by an unidentified CCC boy who ate five plates full of barbecue at the noon feast served to the two camps.
    The boy explained to interviewers that he was willing to compete with any camp in the district in an all-day "meat."
    The outcome of the day of events was in doubt until the climax of the day, a baseball game, played in the afternoon. Up to that time Wimer's Oscar Newman and Clifford Nelson had put Wimer in the lead 78½ to [omission] and Brownfield at nigger billiards [croquet]. Edwin Cays, 67-year-old Wimer sprinter, might have won the match for Wimer, but there were no competitors in Evans Creek camp willing to face him. He easily led the field in the 50-yard dash for old men run off as an all-Wimer event. Robert Dalzell turned in an excellent game of cribbage for Wimer, defeating Jackson of Evans Creek by a top-heavy score. Superior melding on the part of Driskel and Pecholt gave Evans Creek the victory in pinochle.
    Wimer proved conclusively that it had more pull than Evans Creek by winning the ten-man tug-of-war. It is estimated that Wimer's ten-man team weighed an even ton. Captain Saunders outdistanced Captain Murray of Evans Creek in the 50-yard dash for commanding officers.
    The results:
    Ping pong--Carl Bridges (W)
    Horseshoes--Walter Bless (W)
    Shotput and discus--Ebert (EC) [omission] feet, 2 inches; Colton (EC)
    High jumps--Woodsworth (W)
    Running broad jump--Sturgill (EC) 19 feet, 2 inches; Ridgeley (EC); Wohler (EC)
    Standing broad jump--Hardisty (W) 8 feet, 9 inches; Bronzi (W); Ridgeley (EC)
    100-yard dash--Sturgill (EC); Bronzi (W); Wohler (EC)
    Officers' relay--Saunders, Hemstreet and Mace (W)
    C.O. 50-yard dash--Saunders (W)
    50-yard dash for old men--Cays (W)
    Pinochle--Driskel and Pecholt (EC)
    Cribbage--Dalzell (W)
    Nigger billiards--Nelson and Newman (W)
    Tug-of-war--(W)
    Volleyball--(EC)
    Baseball--(EC)
Medford Mail Tribune, May 20, 1935, page 7


    Considerable interest is in evidence in the banquet to be sponsored by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, honoring Major and Mrs. Clare H. Armstrong and Major and Mrs. Owens, it was announced today by W. S. Bolger, toastmaster.
    As an added attraction for the banquet a group of internationally famous singers has been signed up for the event and will supply the musical part of the entertainment.
    Chief Forester C. J. Buck of Portland has made a reservation as have Tom Jones, supervisor of the Klamath National Forest, Yreka; G. E. Mitchell, supervisor of the Siskiyou National Forest of Grants Pass; Karl Janouch, supervisor of the Rogue River National Forest, Medford; Superintendent David H. Canfield of Crater Lake National Park, and Carl Y. Tengwald, captain of the National Guard. Reservations have also been received from the Roseburg, Grants Pass and Ashland chambers of commerce.
    "Officers of the CCC and their wives are expected to attend, but the exact number has not been determined," stated Mr. Bolger.
    In view of the fact that it is desired to let the hotel know how many will attend, as early as possible, reservations should be made immediately at the Jackson County chamber of commerce. Ladies are especially invited. The dinner will commence punctually at 6:30 and will conclude by 8:30, thus giving ample time for those who so desire to attend the CCC fights to be held at the Elks Club at 9:00 o'clock.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 20, 1935, page 8


    A handsome myrtlewood scroll, bearing the signatures of every CCC member in the Medford district, was presented to Major Clare H. Armstrong, district commander, at the Officers Club dinner Saturday evening.
    Senior Foreman Mast, of Camp McKinley, represented the enrolled personnel in making the presentation. A guard of honor, formed by two enrollees of Camp Wimer, accompanied the speaker. The scroll bore a resolution thanking Major Armstrong for the interest he has shown in the welfare of the men of his command during his two years as commander of the district.
    James Frankland, regional Forest Service engineer of Portland, represented the Forest Service at the dinner. David Canfield, superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, represented the Park Service, Mayor Porter, of Medford, spoke on behalf of the city and Frank Farrell, representative of B. E. Harder, president of the chamber of commerce, spoke for that group.
    Captain Glen J. Key, vice-president of the Officers Club of the district, served as toastmaster. Captain M. Milton Potter spoke on behalf of the officers.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 21, 1935, page 1


    War on the devastating mountain pine beetle, which has destroyed thousands of trees in a stand of lodgepole and white pine covering some 6000 acres along The Dalles-California highway north of Fort Klamath, was formally declared today by Rogue River National Forest.
    A "bug brigade" of 40 men from South Fork of the Rogue CCC camp shouldered axes this morning, supervised by a forestry foreman and an army of representatives, and set out for a spike camp high in the tablelands southwest of Crater Lake which will be their headquarters during the campaign. This is the second extensive drive in that region against the beetle, and as the infestation is less this year than last, the Forest Service hopes to clean up the area.
    Six "spotters" are there now, locating and mapping the infested trees, which will be felled, limbed or peeled according to the extent of the disease, by the squadron of CCC men. With the spike camp located at Sand Creek service station, 20 miles north of Fort Klamath, the men will thoroughly cover the infested area, which lies on both sides of the highway from Sun Pass on the south to the intersection of the park entrance road on the north. 
    Tracing down and exterminating the beetle will require a month of exhaustive work, but the men will not do it all; the sun's heat will be put to use to kill the insect while in the larvae and pupae stage. The CCC men will fell the infested trees, allowing the logs, trimmed of all branches, to lie a week or ten days while the sun beats down upon the thin bark and kills the insect before it has a chance to develop into the beetle stage. Each log will be rolled over and the underside exposed to the same treatment.
    Infested areas are not numerous. There may be only a few in each acre, but if allowed to stand, the beetles would spread rapidly and eventually get into the valuable national park timber nearby. To prevent this spread is the purpose of the campaign.
    The beetles bore through the outer layer of bark, then travel along the inner layer, depositing eggs. When these eggs hatch and mature, beetles become so numerous in each tree that the trunk is eventually ringed and the tree dies. Scientists call the beetles Dendroctonus monticolae.
    Beside preventing great swaths of timber from being killed, the beetle control work aids in roadside cleanup, and many ugly dead trees will be removed from the sides of the Dalles-California highway.
    The work is under the supervision of Norman J. Penick, administrative assistant for Rogue River National Forest. Laurence Espey is the forestry foreman, and Lieut. Buford E. Boyd is the army representative.
    As another beetle control project, the Forest Service will cover the strip of land directly east of Crater Lake known as the "panhandle," with a reconnaissance crew this summer and fall to determine the extent of damage in that area, in preparation for the possible future invasion of another "bug brigade."
Medford Mail Tribune, May 23, 1935, page 2


    Gratification [sic] of the civilians and officials of the army, national forests and national park of Southern Oregon and Northern California for a job well done was fittingly expressed last night when approximately 200 gathered at the Hotel Medford to bid farewell to Major Clare H. Armstrong, departing commander of Medford CCC district, and to welcome Major George R. Owens, incoming commanding officer.
    An ovation which lasted several minutes greeted Major Armstrong when he was introduced, in tribute to his two years' work of developing from its inception one of the key districts of the Civilian Conservation Corps, which he will leave the forepart of June to enter the command and general staff school at Fort Leavenworth. Major Owens comes to the Medford district from a 14th coast artillery assignment at Fort Worden, Wash.
    In a sincere, friendly farewell talk, Major Armstrong said he leaves Oregon feeling rich with the friendships he has acquired through "100 percent cooperation from all sides that has built up a well-founded, thoroughbred organization.
    "Everyone has been friendly to the CCC," Major Armstrong said. "Wherever I have gone I have been given a smile, a glad hand and an expression of confidence. The district will now be increased to 34 camps, which should be easy. The machinery is there and I know it will work under Major Owens.
    "For the first 18 months we were all working under a mental and physical pressure; we had to make headway through trial and error, and I hope you will forget the mistakes we made at first. They were all honest mistakes.
    "I am not going to say goodbye to Oregon. I have sampled all its treasures, tasted all its wonders, and I am going to prize the trophies I take with me. I will certainly come back officially, and when I retire, Oregon is going to see more of me."
    W. S. Bolger, toastmaster at the banquet, sponsored by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, introduced the speakers.
    Representing Major George Potter, who was unavoidably detained from the city, City Attorney Frank Farrell said that during the past two years the members of the city council and the mayor have been in close contact with Major Armstrong and hold him in high regard. He wished him and Mrs. Armstrong "happy landings" and to Major Owens he pledged the city's full cooperation.
    E. H. McDaniels, inspector of associate and state protection of O.&C. lands and state cooperation, of Portland, spoke in behalf of C. J. Buck, regional forester.
    "When the CCC was conceived it seemed too ingenious to work," McDaniels said. "but we have found the answer in Major Armstrong. We have great confidence that the army has capably filled the vacancy."
    Albert Burch, director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, paid tribute to Major Armstrong, in a talk on behalf of the civilian.
    "Major Armstrong came to Medford a stranger," he said, "but almost immediately the people realized he was a friend. He had to handle recruits who came all at once for six months, and it was a tough spot in which to put a man, but from all I have heard he has been responsible for one of the best organizations in the CCC."
    Mr. Burch presented Major Armstrong with a fine watch in behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, which was accepted with a sincere expression of gratitude. Mrs. Armstrong, whom Mr. Burch also addressed, was presented a beautiful colored photograph of Crater Lake.
    Major Owens was introduced and welcomed by the audience, whom he in turn addressed with a succinct message: "As a newcomer, I feel more obligated than Major Armstrong, because I have been left with the responsibility of a successful organization, and so--thanks."
    Among the others introduced was W. C. Harding, secretary of the Roseburg chamber of commerce, who in turn introduced Mayor Charles Clark of Roseburg; J. A. Harding, owner of the Umpqua Hotel; Senator A. C. Marsters, president of the Roseburg National Bank; V. V. Harpham, Umpqua National Forest representative, and the latter's assistant, Robert McClay.
    Other introductions were: Karl Janouch, supervisor, Rogue River National Forest; Tom Jones, supervisor, Klamath National Forest, Yreka; V. V. Harpham, supervisor, Umpqua National Forest, Roseburg; G. E. Mitchell, supervisor, Siskiyou National Forest, Grants Pass; D. H. Canfield, superintendent, Crater Lake National Park; C. Y. Tengwald, captain National Guard, and Gordon MacCracken, secretary of the Ashland chamber of commerce.
    Entertainment consisted of several enthusiastically received numbers by the Utica Jubilee Singers, widely known negro quintet.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 24, 1935, page 1


    CAMP WIMER, May 24.--(Spl.)--District welfare officer Captain W. C. Ryan presented diplomas to 23 graduates of the district mess stewards' school which completed its course of instruction with exercises here today. Captain Ryan reminded the graduates that their education in mess management will really begin with their return to duties in the various Medford district camps. In putting into practice the knowledge gained at Wimer, the 23 graduates will fit themselves for similar jobs outside the CCC.
    Today's graduating class had the distinction of having no failures. It was the first time since the district school was organized that every man taking the course received a diploma.
    Instructors in the class were Capt. Guy W. Saunders, meats and ration composition; Lt. Andrew J. Hemstreet, Perley system, menus, diet; Dr. L. B. Hanson, sanitation; Duke Guile, mess records; [omission] Rogers, meat cutting; Jack Junne, cooking; Clyde Lyman, baking.
    The next school for mess stewards will open here Monday, May 27. Every camp in the Medford district will send students. With the opening up of new camps there will be a heavy demand for experienced men in culinary work, and many of today's graduates will receive ratings as mess stewards as soon as they return to their camps. The rating carries with it a substantial increase in pay.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 24, 1935, page 5


    Four knockouts and a near-knockout added spice to a brilliant fight card Thursday evening as a packed house cheered another of the Elks-CCC boxing series.
    Ed Slattery, 169, of South Fork, duplicated the feat of his running mate, Lezar, when he knocked out J. E. Wallis, 175, of Gasquet in a spectacular main event. Lezar, another South Forker, had kayoed DeShields of Oak Knoll, in the main event on the last Elks card.
    Mickey O'Brien, 160, of Oak Knoll, hammered his way to a second-round knockout over Chester Sczepanski, 161, Oregon Caves, in a spectacular semi-final. This battle was a whirlwind affair, with Sczepanski going down twice in the first round, but flooring O'Brien once and knocking him clear through the ropes. With a little conditioning, Sczepanski may prove one of the most popular boys in the district, while O'Brien is already being figured for a match on the June 14 picnic card.
    George Morris, 139, Elk Creek, came close to a knockout over John Kezerle, 135, Rand, when he put Kezerle down for a count of nine in the final round. The game Rand youngster, who suffered from lack of condition, came back in and gave battle until the gong, but the decision in favor of Morris was not disputed.
    Doug Glaspey, 145, Elk Creek, had little difficulty decisioning Joe Winters, 142, South Fork, although Winters put up a steady fight.
    Oats Ziady, 148, Oak Knoll, knocked out Mike Galioto, 147, Oregon Caves, in another interesting bout. Harry Asher, 134, Rand, went down under a barrage of blows at the hands of Harvey Snyder, 130, Evans Creek, and Snyder won by a knockout in the first.
    Ted Petropolos, 131, China Flats, and Jess Savicky, 130, South Fork, provided one of the most thrilling fights ever seen in the Elks ring. Hammering each other from the opening gong, they kept the crowd in an uproar until the final bell, Savicky winning the decision with a slight edge over his scrappy rival.
    Shorty McVey, 118, Evans Creek, and Steve Granzyk, 123, China Flats, provided an exciting curtain raiser, Granzyk winning the nod.
    Jack Moran, famous heavyweight fighter of a few years ago, refereed the bouts and pronounced them among the best he has seen. He gave a short talk from the ring, described his fight with Jack Dempsey, and urged full support of the CCC cards.
    The card was staged as a benefit for Viv Beach of Jacksonville, who was seriously injured in a recent automobile accident.
    DeShields, of Oak Knoll, had been booked for a bout on the card but a side injury prevented his appearance this week.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 24, 1935, page 14


    CAMP WIMER, May 25.--With the addition of 15 officers temporarily attached for instruction in CCC Medford district practice, Wimer is taking on the appearance of an officers training school. The regular staff of officers for the camp include five men. Classes held daily are used to acquaint the new officers with records, property distribution, organization and such other problems of administration as they will later meet when they are given permanent billets.
    Only one of the new men, Captain W. S. Akers, is from ninth corps area. The rest are from the second, fifth and sixth corps areas in the Midwest and eastern part of the United States. They are Captains W. W. Williams, R. R. Gobeli, and E. H. Gates; 1st Lieutenants H. G. Leatherman, P. B. Middleton, W. J. Buboltz and L. A. Hoch; 2nd Lieutenants C. A. Raney, J. E. Leary, C. Huffman, E. Harper, A. G. Gullikson, B. A. Good and R. S. Wolfsohn.
    Owing to the expansion of the CCC organization, a large number of new men have been called into service as officers. Many of them are unacquainted with CCC work. Hence it is necessary to give them a short, thorough course of training before sending them out to take charge of the new camps.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 26, 1935, page 4


    CAMP WIMER, May 29.--(Spl.)--The Camp Wimer school for CCC officers now has an enrollment of 23 with the addition Sunday of eight new officers from Fort Jay, second corps area. The new officers are 1st Lieutenants C. W. Kenyon and R. C. Lang, and 2nd Lieutenants J. H. Tate, A. H. Wilson, J. M. Wiley, Jr., R. B. Standel, W. C. Wine and N. Zeldin. After a short period of intensive training in Medford district CCC practice, these officers will be assigned to duty in Medford area camps.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 29, 1935, page 8


    Word was received this afternoon of what must have been a big upset in baseball circles over Grants Pass way, for it was reported at national park headquarters here that the Oregon Caves CCC baseball team defeated the Grants Pass Merchants 16 to 12 in a Memorial Day game at the Climate City.
    Al Hogan, big Oregon Caves moundman who hurled a bang-up game, according to reports, came through also with a home run in the fourth, when the score was 7 to 12 in favor of the Grants Pass team, that brought in four runs all told and started the batting spree that enabled the CCC men to come out on the long end of the score.
    Grants Pass gathered 11 hits, and Oregon Caves, 15.
    A smoker was held at Oregon Caves Wednesday night with the following results: Bill Sczepanski decisioned Joe Papciak in the 175-pound class in the final bout; Red Rush knocked out Frank Calliotto in the 145-pound class semi-final; Max Gordon decisioned Ed Boro in the 155-pound class; Robert Jurtsen decisioned Joseph Luchesi in the 135-pound class; Leo Rusetos decisioned Tony Liguori in their 125-pound class bout; Nat Lombardo decisioned Walt Scollie in the 116-pound opener. In a preliminary wrestling match, Duke Hollihan and Terrible Johnson went to a draw. The boxing matches were all for three two-minute rounds.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 31, 1935, page 4


    CAMP WIMER.--(Spl.)--Wimer CCC boys have a better understanding of the Japanese as human beings as a result of a lecture with slides delivered in this Medford district camp by O. S. Blanchard, Grants Pass lawyer. The slides, made from pictures taken by Blanchard in Japan, showed a cross-section of Japanese life, country and city.
    Blanchard took the pictures for the lecture during a goodwill tour of oriental countries organized in 1929 by the San Francisco chamber of commerce.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 31, 1935, page B8


    CAMP WIMER, June 1.--(Spl.)--Old -time minstrel R. J. Wright of Grants Pass tickled the ivories at this Medford district camp Friday night and sang again some of the songs he sang to Keith's houses on the Atlantic Coast and to Orpheum and Pantages houses on this coast during 25 years of trouping.
    Wright's informal entertainment in the recreational hall at the semi-monthly smoker was received by the Wimer boys with tumultuous applause. At the end of the evening, he had the whole camp singing the old songs everybody knows.
Medford Mail Tribune, June 2, 1935, page 6


    CAMP WIMER, June 1.--(Spl.)--Major G. R. Owens, Medford district commander and Captain H. O. Lane, ninth corps inspector, visited Camp Wimer here Saturday, accompanied by Dr. D. E. Wiedman, district educational coordinator. Captain Lane was highly pleased by the arrangements here. The visit was the first made to Wimer by Major Owens in his official capacity as commander of the district.
Medford Mail Tribune, June 2, 1935, page 6


    Telegraphic information has been received by the Rogue River National Forest to the effect that the relief program for the Forest Service planned under the so-called four-billion-dollar act is canceled.
    This means that as far as the Forest Service is concerned, they will not be able to contribute toward relief work in the states of Oregon and Washington. As regards relief work for other states, no information is available at the local office. Cancellation of the relief work does not affect the CCC camps. The Rogue River National Forest will have four camps for the summer, which is one more than last year, if present plans are carried out.
    Considerable information has been given out as regards the possibility of the expanded program on the Rogue River National Forest this summer. This information was based on instructions from the Washington office to prepare for an enlarged program of work.
    Much of the work planned under the relief program will be transferred to CCC camps, and the whole program will eventually be carried out during the course the next few years. The preparation program, therefore, is not wasted, local Forest Service officials say.
Medford Mail Tribune, June 4, 1935, page 3


    Robert R. Boggs, 16, employed in the Medford CCC district, passed away in a local hospital where he was brought when taken seriously ill in camp Saturday.
    His parents arrived before the youth died.
    His body was forwarded by Conger Funeral Parlors to Compton, Cal., yesterday.
Medford Mail Tribune, June 5, 1935, page 2


    New CCC companies will begin arriving in the Medford district June 20, and in the six weeks to follow the district will be brought to an expanded strength of 33 companies and 6600 men.
    Many new camps will be built and a number of old camps will be reoccupied under the program, which is to double the strength of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The assignment of numbers to the new companies has been completed.
    Each company now in the Medford district has been training a staff of clerks, cooks, stewards and foremen to provide the framework for a new organization when a new company is formed.
    The complete list of Medford district camps under the expanded program was announced today by Major George R. Owens, district commander.
    A new company, No. 2626, will occupy Camp Prescott (Roxy Ann) near Medford. Co. 2627, also a new company, will occupy Camp Bonanza, at Bonanza, Oregon, near Klamath Falls. Co. 2631, a new company, will occupy Camp Klamath, at Merrill, near Klamath Falls. Another new company, No. 2628, will occupy another camp near Klamath Falls, as yet unnamed.
   Co. 759, now at Camp Sitkum, will be sent back to Nebraska and will be replaced by a new company, 4244. Co. 922 will remain at Camp Oak Knoll on the Klamath River. Co. 964 will remain at Camp Dog Lake, near Lakeview, and Co. 979 will remain at Camp Bradford, at Camas Valley.
    Other Medford district companies to remain unchanged are Co. 1622 at Camp Coos Head near Marshfield, Co. 1627 at Camp China Flats near Coquille, Co. 1642 at Camp South Fork, near Butte Falls, Co. 1649 at Camp McKinley, near Coquille, Co. 1650 at Camp Rand, near Grants Pass, Co. 1910 at Camp Indian Creek, near Happy Camp, and Co. 1982 at Camp Gasquet, near Crescent City.
    Co. 1634, now at Camp Oregon Caves, will move to the old camp site at Camp Annie Springs, Crater Lake. Co. 1989, now at Camp Yreka, will move to a new site at Camp Lava Beds, near Merrill, Oregon.
    Co. 1990, now at Camp Evans Creek, will move to a new camp at Diamond Lake, and the present Evans Creek site will be occupied by a new company, No. 4239. Co. 1992, at Camp Kerby, is already moving to the old camp site at Agness on the Rogue River, above Gold Beach.
    Co. 1993, now at Camp Elk Creek, will move back to its old Upper Rogue camp at Union Creek and a new company, 4241, will move into Camp Elk Creek. A new company, No. 2511, will occupy the old site at Camp Clear Creek on the Klamath River, and another new company, No. 2512, will occupy the old site at Camp Seiad. Co. 602, old Seiad company, is now moving to the Fort George Wright district.
    A new company, No. 2513, will occupy a new site at Clear Lake, near Merrill, Oregon, and another new company, No. 2514, will occupy a new camp at Tule Lake, near Merrill.
    The old camp at Steamboat, near Roseburg, will be occupied by a new company, No. 4240. The old Applegate camp, near Ruch, will be occupied by a new company, No. 4242.
    A camp is to be built at Silver Lake, near Bend, and will be occupied by a new company, No. 2629. Co. 4243, a new company, will occupy the old Sebastian camp at Gold Beach.
    Co. 2904, now at Devil's Flat, will move to a new camp now being built at South Umpqua Falls, near Tiller. The Devil's Flat camp will not be reoccupied this summer.
    Co. 2630, another new company, will occupy a new site at Bly, near Klamath Falls.
Medford Mail Tribune, June 6, 1935, page 1


    The Medford District News, monthly newspaper published at the CCC headquarters here, has been named as the best district newspaper in the United States.
    The award was announced today by "Happy Days," national CCC newspaper, which conducted the contest. Competition was divided between printed and mimeographed papers, Medford winning in the senior division. Award for the best mimeographed district paper went to the Armfor News of the Boise, Idaho district.
    The Fresno Conservator, of the Fresno, Cal., district, was awarded second place in the printed newspaper class. The Review, of the 18th district of the sixth corps area in the Middle West, was third and the Fort McArthur News fourth.
    Lieut. Roy D. Craft of the district headquarters staff is editor of the prize-winning Medford District News, which has been published for the past eight months.
Medford Mail Tribune, June 6, 1935, page 1


    CAMP WIMER, June 6.--(Spl.)--Work progress on the Wimer fire patrol communication system leaped forward here this week with the arrival of a new 55-horsepower bulldozer sent out by J. J. Russell to speed up road work. There are now three bulldozers at work on truck trails connecting Battle Mountain, King Mountain and Sexton Mountain lookout stations. By running two and three shifts to the machine, Wimer's technical department is getting about 240 machine hours a week of gouging at the rocky hillsides in the Gold Creek district. Russell will add a compressor to the machinery in a short time and jackhammers will take the place of hand drills now being used.
    In military terms, the Wimer campaign might be said to be three simultaneous advances toward distinct objectives, with the strategic object of cutting three broad trunk lines into the heavily wooded hills. When these three objectives are reached, probably before the fall rains, northern Jackson County's forest fire enemy will be at bay. Loops and side roads connecting the main arteries will then be built to permanently muzzle Oregon's ancient foe in this section.
    Caterpillar No. 1 is moving up Ditch Creek toward King Mountain under the direction of P. D. Coy, with about 11 miles of road yet to build. No. 2 under Ray McCoy is advancing toward Battle Mountain summit with about three and one-half miles yet to go. The third caterpillar is cutting road up Jack Creek about four miles below the Daisy mine. The Jack Creek road will ultimately connect with the King Mountain road.
    Bill White has completed temporary telephone lines connecting the three lookout stations. His work in telephone construction from now on will be the occasional moving of old lines to parallel the new roads as they are completed.
    Two permanent crews will be organized from Wimer members before the first of July to hold themselves in readiness to fight 1935 summer fires. Sixteen men will be attached to Dwight Phipps' Medford state patrol headquarters, and eight more under Warden Merit will stand by for service as smoke chasers in the Jack Creek side camp. Replacements to bring Capt. Guy W. Saunders' company to full strength are expected by the end of June.
Medford Mail Tribune, June 6, 1935, page 2


    Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Hulbert and their three children, of Berkeley, California, are guests this week of Mr. and Mrs. Web Clark at their beautiful summer home in Shady Cove park near Trail. The visitors will enjoy trips to Crater Lake and the Oregon Caves before continuing their trip northward to Portland. The return trip of the Hulberts will be made through this city.
    Leslie Hulbert, well known in the bay district as a cartoonist and commercial artist, is also advertising manager for S. H. Kress and Company's Oakland office. Mrs. Clark was associated with the Kress organization in Oakland before coming to Southern Oregon and became acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Hulbert at that time.
    Mr. and Mrs. Hulbert are enthusiastic in their praise of the Southern Oregon country after their enjoyable stay here.
Medford Mail Tribune, June 7, 1935, page 9


    Announcement from the motor transport division of the Medford CCC district headquarters of the impending delivery of a large number of motor vehicles for this district was made yesterday. The convoy of new machines will be delivered overland from the Presidio in San Francisco, either manned by army or CCC drivers, and should arrive sometime during the week. A radio message from the local headquarters Friday requested speedy delivery, it was learned.
    The machines, including 30 Chevrolet ton-and-a-half trucks, three Plymouth sedans and three Chevrolet ambulances, are intended to equip the new companies moving into this district in the near future.  Of the new trucks, half will be stationed at the fairgrounds here, and half will be allotted to the various camps. All three of the Plymouths will be stationed here, and the three ambulances will be on duty at the fairgrounds.
    The new additions to the motor unit brings the total number of trucks in the district to 69, with eight ambulances, eight sedans and one wrecker. The wrecker is also stationed at the fairgrounds.
Medford Mail Tribune, June 9, 1935, page 5

    Present Diplomas--Major George R. Owens, Medford district CCC, commander, and Capt. William C. Ryan, welfare officer, presented diplomas today to 50 graduates of the CCC school for cooks and bakers at Camp Wimer. The graduates, completing a six weeks' course, now return to their respective camps. Another term of the school will start next week. Medford district claims credit for having inaugurated such schools in the CCC.
"Local and Personal," Medford Mail Tribune, September 26, 1935, page 7


    CAMP DIAMOND LAKE.--(Spl.)--Sunday afternoon, September 29, will be a big day at Camp Annie Springs near Crater Lake when they entertain their friendly enemies from nearby Diamond Lake.
    Officials of the two camps have planned a big sports field day at the Annie Springs stronghold, and enthusiasm between the rival companies is at fever heat over the approaching conflict.
    The meeting will be an East-West affair on a small scale, with Annie Springs consisting entirely of Illinois men composing the Eastern aggregation, and Diamond Lake a camp of California boys representing the West.
    Competition will be in several various recreational activities including volleyball, ping-pong, touch football, tug of war, 50-yard dash, relay, centipede race.
    Visitors are always welcome at CCC camps, and interested citizens are cordially invited to attend.
Medford Mail Tribune, September 27, 1935, page 3


    CAMP WIMER, Sept. 27.--(Spl.)--"The mess is the backbone of CCC morale," Major G. R. Owens, Medford CCC district commander, told 23 graduating cooks and bakers and 14 graduating mess stewards at graduation exercises of the district schools held here today. In presenting diplomas, the major asked the graduates to assist him in raising mess standards of the various district camps to the highest possible level. Captain W. C. Ryan, district welfare officer, attended the graduation with Major Owens.
    It was the 7th session of the district schools, which have been operated at Wimer since January. Men of the various camps are selected on a basis of their aptitude and sent to Wimer for four weeks of intensive training in the Wimer model kitchen under culinary specialists. Upon graduation they are returned to their camps with recommendations for ratings. They are thus in line for experience which, added to a thorough grounding in theory, may help them to find gainful employment in similar lines outside the CCC.
    Captain Guy W. Saunders, Wimer's commander, who heads the list of instructors, complimented the graduates, calling them the best group that has graduated from Wimer in the history of the schools.
Medford Mail Tribune, September 27, 1935, page 3


    Three fires that consumed a barn, a cabin and a considerable amount of brush and small timber engaged the U.S. Forest Service and CCC detachments yesterday.
    The first blaze occurred in the Applegate section at 7:30 a.m. It burned down a small cabin occupied by a ranch hand employed on the E. H. Taylor farm at Jacksonville. The fire was caused presumably by an overheated flue.
    A fire that threatened for a time to get beyond immediate control because of strong wind destroyed the Schuyster barn behind the Everett Beeson ranch in Talent. A large amount of hay was also burned. The cause of the blaze, which started about 9 a.m., was not determined.
    A brush fire yesterday afternoon burned some lodgepole pine near Huckleberry Mountain, Union Creek, before it was brought under control.
Medford Mail Tribune, September 29, 1935, page 5


    Fingerprinting of all CCC men in the Medford district for future identification is now under way.
    The purpose of the fingerprints, it was explained by Lieut. Roy Craft, public relations officer, is to facilitate identification of CCC members in case of suits against the government or in case it becomes desirable years hence to prove membership in the CCC. The prints will be attached to personnel records and will constitute a permanent identification, the lieutenant said.
    Clearing up a general misconception, Lieutenant Craft emphasized that the fingerprints are not to be used in checking criminal records.
Medford Mail Tribune, September 29, 1935, page 5


    A group of CCC members yesterday established a rabbit business at the county fairgrounds, the purpose of the enterprise being educational.
    Eugene C. Golden, educational adviser, and his assistant, William Suver, will direct the project. The program includes lectures and discussion groups as well as the actual raising of rabbits. It is expected that enough rabbits can be marketed through the Rabbit Husbandry Association to pay expenses.
    The group enrolled for the enterprise yesterday bought 18 rabbits and four hutches from Jack Ray, the boys financing the business themselves.
    Russell Lobell conceived the idea of raising rabbits as an educational feature of the CCC program. Associated with him at present are Joseph Ernst, Harland Wolf, Bob Clark, Russell Melbourne, Vernon Peck, Vincent McBride, Arthur Clark and James C. Reynolds.
Medford Mail Tribune, September 29, 1935, page 5


    Martin Liegel, Frank DeMondi and Luther Coop, CCC enrollees stationed at the Elk Creek camp, charged with indecent exposure, entered pleas of guilty in justice court Saturday, and were each sentenced to three months in the county jail and fined $4.50 costs.
    One of the trio has re-enlisted, and the other two will be returned to Chicago, whence they came, on the first October troop train, scheduled to depart this week.
    The pair scheduled to return home, the commanding officer informed the court, were "agitators." The youth who re-enlisted is not a "bad boy," the captain said.
    A number of CCC members were engaged in building a road in the woods, and the three accused were wearing overalls, cut short for comfort. The overalls were ripped to the waist. An auto bearing three women passed the workers and was forced to stop. The trio allegedly made themselves too conspicuous and offended the women, resulting in a complaint being filed.
    B. LaFond of the Ashland district entered a plea of guilty to setting a fire on forest land, without a permit, and was fined $25 and costs. He was granted until October 15 to make a $10 payment.
Medford Mail Tribune, September 30, 1935, page 3


    Two Oakland boys, Joe Serrano, 1240 93rd Avenue, and Harold Sharpe, 923 Blenheim Street, were granted diplomas at the graduation exercises of the Medford District Cooks' and Bakers' School at Camp Wimer, Oregon, today.
    The school is conducted as part of CCC activities. Culinary experts conduct a four-week intensive course to fit graduates either to help feed their comrades or to obtain employment outside the CCC camps.
    Serrano and Sharpe will return to camp with a rating as cooks conferred upon them by Major G. R. Owens, Medford CCC District Commander,
Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, September 30, 1935, page 7


    CAMP WIMER, Oct. 1.--(Spl.)--Lieut. L. B. Hanson, surgeon, and Foreman P. D. McCoy, with 48 Wimer members, are mopping up a forest fire at Azalea after passing the time since Saturday bringing the fire under control.
    It was Wimer's first fire since issuance of an order by Capt. Guy W. Saunders providing daily cigarettes and candy for men engaged in fire fighting. The special ration was received with enthusiasm.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 1, 1935, page 2


    CAMP ANNIE SPRINGS.--(Spl.)--More than 100 men from this camp made the circuit of Crater Lake over the rim road Saturday afternoon. A caravan of five trucks was arranged for the occasion by H. J. Tichnor and the boys were accompanied by Lieut. A. H. Hopkins, camp commander, and A. L. Mallery, educational adviser.
    A number of stops were made at points of scenic interest and many striking pictures were secured. The boys have been working on the rim road during the summer, but this was the first opportunity to go around the lake. 
Medford Mail Tribune, October 1, 1935, page 3


    Through the cooperation of Principal Glenn Smith, 24 CCC youths are now enrolled in regular classes at the Medford high school, Eugene G. Golden, CCC educational adviser, announced today.
    The boys are allowed time off from their CCC duties to attend classes, on the understanding that they will give at least one hour daily of their own time to the preparation of the lessons, Mr. Golden said. Some of the boys, he stated, are high school graduates who are making up deficiencies for college entrance, while others are working for high school diplomas, all of them receiving full school credit for their work. The studies are designed also, Mr. Golden explained, to increase their efficiency in CCC office routine.
    The boys are taking courses in shorthand, physics and commercial art.
    In addition, nine CCC youths are studying shorthand at night at the Medford Business College, Mr. Golden said.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 1, 1935, page 5


    CAMP WIMER, Oct. 7.--(Spl.)--Wimer, home of the Medford CCC district schools, became home of the district flag during October, according to announcement of Major G. R. Owens, district commander. The flag, awarded for all-around excellence in all departments of company 964 for administration to recreation, was given to Wimer for showing made in September. Today's award marked the fourth time Wimer has won the flag in seven months.
    Work on Wimer's new educational plant is almost completed. Through the courtesy of forestry head Paul Thompson, the educational department has taken over a large section of the forestry quarters for instruction purposes. The new plant will have a library, office, conference room press room, room for assistant adviser and three classrooms. The walls will be stained, floor of the library varnished and curtains will be hung on the windows. The plan is to keep the educational building a quiet zone for the studios. The recreational hall on the opposite side of the parade ground will house the playful and noisy.
    The old school building will be converted into a house for indoor athletics during the rainy season. A punching bag will be set up and a removable ring for boxers.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 2, 1935, page 2


    Two special trains conveying CCC enrollees to their homes for discharge will leave the Medford district next Sunday and Monday, headquarters announced today.
    The first train will be commanded by Lieut. Richard L. Matteson, with Lieut. Lawrence B. Hanson as surgeon. It will proceed with 275 men to Camp Dix, New Jersey, with second corps area men. It will include 66 men from Camp Steamboat and 37 men from Camp Sitkum, who will entrain at Roseburg, and 49 men from Elk Creek and 37 from Applegate, who will entrain from Medford. Seventy-five men will be picked up at Drain from Camp Gunther in the Vancouver Barracks district.
    The second train will be commanded by Captain Edwin H. Cates, and will proceed with 297 men to Fort Sheridan, Ill., with sixth corps area men. It will include 27 men from Coos Head, 64 from China Flats and 46 from McKinley, who will entrain at Roseburg, and 61 from Annie Springs, 59 from South Fork and 40 from Rand, who will entrain at Medford.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 2, 1935, page 10


    CAMP ANNIE SPRINGS.--(Spl.)--The forestry class of Camp Annie Springs made a visit to the Lamm Lumber Company mill at Modoc Point last week to observe a modern sawmill in operation. The boys were conducted through the plant by Mr. Stoddard, superintendent. The 15 members of the class were accompanied on the trip by A. L. Mallery, camp educational adviser. The party were guests of the company at a sumptuous meal at the boarding house.
    The CCC boys, most of whom are from Chicago, found the trip a most interesting and instructive one. The class has been meeting regularly for several months under leadership of forester L. E. Barnum.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 3, 1935, page 8




    CAMP WIMER--(Spl.)--The portable rock crusher set up by Wimer on Ditch Creek is running long shifts in an effort to finish rocking of the Ditch Creek road to ensure passage of trucks after the fall rains begin. According to announcement from the technical force, the Battle Mountain road and Jack Creek roads will be worked only so long as the good weather continues. When the heavy rains begin, the Jack Creek side camp will be moved to a new location probably near Placer, and all other crews set to work on the Ditch Creek road for the winter.
    Forestry officials converged on Wimer Tuesday to inspect the special arrangement made here for operation of the new crusher, which is a 75-yard machine for the portable continuous belt type. Sam Rodway, of Isaacson Iron Works, called the setup efficient and satisfactory. Gordon Marsh, head of Oregon O. & C. lands, T. P. Flynn of forest region 6, and State Forest Maintenance and Construction Head J. F. Joyce were members of the party.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 3, 1935, page 8


    IT IS NOT too much to hope that within a year or two the federal government's part in the unemployment burden can be carried largely through the Civilian Conservation Corps. While one of the more expensive forms of relief, this is one of the most constructive, economically and socially. It has given thousands of city youths the benefit of healthful outdoor work. It has taught them useful occupations. It has contributed to permanent conservation work of genuine national benefit. Here is the equivalent of a large standing army, putting its time into useful work instead of shining buttons and marching on parade grounds.
    In the state of Delaware, for instance, CCC camps have taken in about 1,000 young men from the state. For two years they have been working on the mosquitoes. The pest has been virtually exterminated. Where two years ago, residents were driven indoors in late afternoon by clouds of mosquitoes, now one can go for weeks without ever hearing or feeling one. In addition to the gain in physical comfort, the extermination of the mosquito has increased the milk production of dairy herds; cattle can now feed on marsh grass; hay production has increased; muskrat colonies, a source of considerable income, have multiplied; and wildlife is more plentiful. The work has cost the federal government about $400,000 a year. The state guarantees to take over and provide maintenance, which will cost about $50,000 a year.  
    THERE will always be some unemployment slack, even at peak periods, and there will always be constructive conservation work to be done. The CCC provides a useful means of meeting these needs. Mr. Roosevelt contemplates making it permanent.
    Then it is reasonable to count upon the new social security legislation to aid, with the states participating, in caring for the class of unemployables incapacitated by age.
    These considerations, plus the fact that there always will be federal work to be done, makes it seem reasonable that within the near future the federal government, without forcing anyone to starve, can materially reduce the burden of relief expenditures, and thus check the mounting debt.--Review of Reviews.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 4, 1935, page 11

    MEDFORD, Nov. 16.--(AP)--Forest Ranger Maurice Tedder said CCC workers of camp South Fork will complete planting of 60,000 ponderosa pine in the Medford watershed next week.
    He said the planting, largest ever done in the Rogue River National Forest, was a start on the complete reforestation of the Cathill burn.

    MEDFORD, Ore. (AP)--Twenty-six government auto trucks used by the CCC were destroyed in a fire that swept the agricultural building at the county fair grounds Thursday. The building was used by the CCC as a garage and storage warehouse.
Idaho Daily Statesman, Boise, January 22, 1937, page 5


    The movie which we boys have been making here at Camp Peanut was today officially presented to Major G. R. Owens, Medford district commander, and will begin its journey through channels to Washington, D.C., where it has been requested by CCC officials to have its premiere there.
    It is the first all-CCC high school cooperative movie, having been made by the CCC boys in Trinity National Forest and the girls from Trinity High School in Weaverville.
    Al Ford directed the successful movie, and now it will soon be ready for the official critics and previews by Medford district CCC. Major Owens and his staff will view the movie for the boys and help them to select the best parts of the movie which will then be forwarded by Medford district through channels. George Fields, Medford district educational adviser, is also a member of the preview committee.
Red Bluff Daily News, Red Bluff, California, April 30, 1938, page 4


    CAMP PEANUT, HAYFORK, Cal.--Requests for the first all-enrollee camp movie, "We're All in the CCC's Now," have come from various sources. First, Happy Days, the national CCC newspaper, has offered to make two prints from the movie for distribution in eastern camps. Robert Fechner has asked for a print of the movie to show to President Roosevelt, and also it has been requested by the office of Howard Oxley, national director of CCC education.
    Major G. R. Owens, and his staff at Medford district CCC, George Fields, Medford district educational director, and Leon C. Johnson from Forest Service in San Francisco, assisted the boys in making the final draft of the movie to be sent to Dr. D. E. Wiedman at 9th Corps Area and then to Washington, D.C. to Mr. Oxley and Mr. Fechner, director of the CCC. This is the first all-CCC enrollee directed movie, and it was made in connection with Major Frank Williams and the Trinity High School in Weaverville.
Red Bluff Daily News, Red Bluff, California, May 20, 1938, page 2






    MEDFORD, June 13.--An estimated 230 CCC enrollees were leaving the Medford district this week as headquarters announced plans for the quarterly troop movements.
    A special train originating at Marshfield is taking men from two camps, along with a number of special enrollees from the Vancouver Barracks district, to Fort Knox, Ky., for discharge or reassignment. Ninety-two men from Camp South Fork will embark from Medford and will pick up additional enrollees from the Sacramento district.
    Replacements are expected back in July. Headquarters said here that the South Fork camp would operate with a skeleton crew.
Oregon Journal, Portland, June 13, 1940, page 12