February 3, 1950 (8 pages)

= GIVE TO THE MARCH OF DIMES = Nevada City Nugget <= Serving Nevada City and Grass Valley Twenty-Third Year — No. 5 Nevada City (Nevada County) California, Friday, February 3, 1950 Subscription, Year $2.50; Single Copy 5c hau NATIONAL IS TAKEN OVER BY NEW OWNERS Leo Weintraubs Buy From Robert Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Leo Weintraub of Sacramento this week purchased the historic National Hotel on Broad Street and began operation of the hostelry Feb. 1. Former owner was Robert Ryan of San Francisco. . The new managers, who have operated large hotels in southern California for many years, will make their, home at the National, they announced. Mr. and Mrs. Weintraub will operate the dining room and hotel without change in program or personnel, they announced. The National Hotel, built on the ashes of the original National Exchange which burned -Nov. 8, 1863, was completed April 4, 1864. The hotel saw many owners ‘during its 90-year history but ‘was probably operated the longest by the Rector brothers, who owned it until 1924. Ryan bought the National from Earl Johnson and Vladimir Vucinich of San Francisco last Octtober, who had owned the place for about a year. NUGGET HAS CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP Wray and McKenney Form Partnership Kenneth W. Wray and J. Wilson McKenney this week announced the formation of a partnership as editors and publishers of the Nevada City Nugget. Wray, who has been employed as editor and advertising manager of The Nugget since February, 1949, purchased the interests of his brothers, Donald and Robert, last Tuesday. He then sold a half interest in the weekly newspaper and commercial printing plant to McKenney effective Wednesday morning. Donald Wray, who has been working in the, shop for the past year, leff Tuesday for Oakland where he will visit relatives. His future plans are indefinite. Robert has been employed as. a linotype operator in the bay area for several months. Wray and McKenney will divide duties as editors but Wray will assume primary responsibilities in the shop as operator and printer. McKenney, who is also a printer, will spend the greater part of his time as advertising galesman ‘and news editor. Ken is well known in the community as author of a vigorous * editorial column. He is a member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce and active in other community affairs. No change in policy of the newspaper is planned by the partnership except a gradual improvement in plant facilities and service to the community. No additional personnel will be employed at the present time. McKenney negotiated with the Wray brothers in December for outright purchase of The Nugget but the agreement was modified when Wray was persuaded to obtain an interest in the property. The new partner has purchased. the home of Mrs. Hattie Lobdell at 341 Clay Street and the McKenney family expects. to ‘move in this weekend. Mr. and Mrs.’ McKenney have three school age children. He was formerly “owner and editor of the Yucaipa News in San Bernardino county, which he sold. last August. He formerly owned newspapers ‘at Calipatria and LeGrand and was co-founder of the Desert’ magazine. * FRACTURES ELBOW Leonard Foote, Jr., 3, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Foote, suffered a fractured right elbow when he fell while playing at the home. He is under care of Dr. Bernard W. Hummelt. . OF SCOUT COUNCIL LARSEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF SPORTSMEN CLUB Carl Larsen succeeded Thomas W. Keckler as president of the Nevada County Sportsmen’s club at a meeting held Monday night at city hall. Larsen, who has been active in sportsmen’s activities for many years, is a custodian at the county court house. Keckler was recently appointed chairman of the board of directors. Other officers installed were Paul Viles, Grass Valley, vice president; and H. F. Sofge, Nevada City, secretary-treasurer. Directors named to office were Carl Foote, Nevada City; Crofford Bridges, ‘Cliff Dancer, Gene Johnson and Fred Emory, all of Grass Valley. The club voted to set a work day the first clear Sunday this month: when: all members are to gather at the club site near the Canada Hill reservoir to build a parking lot. The group also voted to entertain Sacramento-Sierra Sportsmen’s Council at a dinner. at the Gold Nugget Inn. Date of the dinner will be announced. Emory and Johnson were appointed to serve as the investigating committee and Gus Vollmer was named sergeant-atarms. After the meeting William Mullis presented a motion picture on California redwoods and refreshments were served. JUDGE JONES HONORED AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE Judge George L. Jones of Nevada City received a 30-year veteran service award at the 25th annual planning ,conference of the Tahoe area council, Boy Scouts of America, at Auburn on Sunday night. Sam Partridge of Grass Valley received a 25 year veteran service award and a scouter’s key. Mrs. Betty Frost of Grass Valley received a scouter’s award for her activities as a den mother in the cubbing program. Charles W. Lauppe, Roseville, was installed as council president for 1950, succeeding Judge Lowell L. Sparks, Auburn, who. held the\ post for ten years. Other council officers installed are James R. Johnson, Arnold R. Murchie and Guerdon Ellis, vice presidents; Judge Jones and Sparks, national representatives; Robert R. Schneider, commissioner, and William S. Cuff, treasurer. Installation took place at an evening dinner~held in Placer Union High School cafeteria. The dinner followed a day of meetings attended by 200 people. Evening speaker was Dr. Duane Robinson, assistant professor of physical education ‘at University of California \Los Angeles. Dr. Robinson spoke on obligations of scouters in bettering youth. \ Executive board members appointed this week include Dr. Jerome F. Frey, Horace \Curnow and William Home, Nevada City. SUPERVISORS DELAY BEALE ENDORSEMENT Nevada County Board of Supervisors declined to take formal action on a flood of proposals favoring establishment of Camp Beale in Yuba county as a location for.the air force’s proposed academy. Letters urging supervisors to endorse the proposal came from the. Chambers of Commerce of Nevada City, Grass Valley and Marysville Disttict, Carpenters’ Union, Mine Workers Protective League, and several individuals. Supervisor Frank Rowe, who presided in absence of Chairman Warren Odell, suggested endorsement be withheld until opinions} can be obtained from livestock associations and tax groups urging that government owned lands go back to the tax rolls.as soon as possible. ‘ ‘attempts to save the structures Improvement Resolution Okeyed By City Council A resolution of publi¢ interest and necessity was adopted by the city council last night looking toward the improvement of the Nevada City sewage and fire protection systems. ig _ City Attorney John Larue said that an ordinance outlining specifications and conditions for the improvement would be ready for Passage by the council Feb. 16. Date of the city-wide election on the proposed bond issues is set for Tuesday, April. 11. Date of election which includes a $130,000 bond issue for financing construction of proposed Nevada City sewage disposal plant, and $25,000 bond issue for purchase of a new fire truck and other fire department equipment and repairs was approved at a méeting of the council Jan. 23. The council also discussed with W. H. Meuron; Pacific Gas and Electric ‘company _ illumination engineer and city planning commission proposed plans to relight the city and to install lights at the ball park, COORDINATION EXTENDED FOR BEALE SURVEY Members of the Nevada County Board of Supervisors and the military affairs committee of the Grass Valley Chamber of. Commerce Tuesday morning met with Warren Shingleand William Houserman of the Marysville district Chamber of Commerce military affairs committee to discuss details of a campaign to bring the “West Point of the Air” to Camp Beale. Shingle and Houserman outlined the progress being made and the steps that were being taken to coordinate the drive. The two men, who are taking the lead in the movement to bring the air school to Camp Beale, expressed satisfaction with the cooperation being extended. Tuesday night representatives of Nevada City and Grass Valley Chambers of Commerce military affairs committee attended a similar meeting in Marysville. Attending were Stan Halls, Nevada City; Vern Roth, Chandler Church and Crofford Bridges, all of Grass Valley. COUNTY PLANS TO ASSUME AID BURDEN MAR. 1 Nevada County Board of Supervisors began preparations on Wednesday morning for assuming the burden of aged and blind assistance by the county on Wednesday, March 1. Kief D. Melberg, district supervisor of the state department of social welfare, was instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of operating the program from March 1 to June 30. The board will ask the state for necessary funds to operate for the four-months period and will request the present administrative staff, office building and equipment to be loaned to the county until July 1. Melberg asked that 14 persons now on the state payroll be transferred to the county office. There are three persons already assigned to the county welfare office of which Miss Ernestine Eilerman is director. Previous to opening of the department of social welfare office Melberg directed the county welfare office with a staff of nine. Administration of the. assistance agencies reverts to the county. March 1. The county did not have the necessary assistance funds budgeted and will receive state aid for carrying out the program until the beginning of the new fiscal year July 1. TWO COUNTY HOMES DESTROYED BY FIRE Home and personal effects of Mr. and Mrs. William Glatt, near Grass Valley, and three-room cabin of Dan Nill in Rough and Ready were destroyed by fire Friday with= loss estimated at. $9,000. State division of forestry dispatched a truck to each of the fires but the flames had too. Mr much headway in both cases and were not successful. AIRPORT COST STUDY STOPS BOARD ACTION Action on the proposed purchase of Loma Rica airport by the county was postponed yesterday by the -board of supervisors until ‘Gilbert Cramer of Grass Valley can supply a factual study of costs and maintenance. Cramer, Grass Valley mayor and proponent of the field, said he believed the initial cost of the field would be less than $10,000. Others who appeared before the board yesterday on behalf of the project. included Carl G. Hand, district airport engineer of the CAA; W. B. Wisenand, airport design engineey of the California aeronautics commission; Kenneth A. Midkiff, CAA: airport planning engineer; George Endter, Grass Valley airport manager; Downey Clinch, Alpha Hardware; and T. S. Davey. NID PURCHASES WATER RIGHTS FROM OMEGA Nevada irrigation district purchased water rights, system and reservoir site from Omega mining company following a stormy session of the board of directors of the district. Purchase price of the physical plant was quoted at $25,000 and the site of a reservoir on Jordan creek at $2,000. Principal protestors of the purchase were representatives of the Nevada Irrigation District Water Users association. C. G. Dana, representing nondistrict landowners of Harmony ridge, and C. J. Rolph, Nevada County Farm Bureau, ‘spoke in favor of purchasing the! water rights and system. Forrest Varney, manager of the district, estimated a yield of 37,000 acre feet a year, almost half of the amount of water now annually sold by the district. Varney explained the water would be furnished to Harmony ridge and the Blue Tent areas, with surplus being distributed to other parts of the district. To service the two areas the waters of Jordan creek would have to be impounded at point of the purchased reservoir site. A provision of the purchase . calls for the mining company retaining maintenance responsibility of the system until such time as the district. is ready to use the water. The directors also authorized purchase of a three-acre plot of land as a reservoir site near Banner mountain from Charles Taylor. The proposed reservoir would store water to supplement the Herring-Taylor and Banner reservoir system, and permit the use of stored water in the Gold Flat area through the Phoenix pipe line. Ed. Litke, Grass . Valley, appeared before the directors‘ and urged’ a chlorination plant for the Town Talk, Glenbrook, Hills Flat, Ridgé Road and districts. VISIT HERE Alta Hill Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Wolf,. students.at Sacramento State college, visited Mrs. Wolf’s parents, . and Mrs. I. C. Bell ‘Tuesday. The day was also Ike’s birthday and the family honored him with a birthday dinner. . their attorney, C. Ray Robinson, MOISTURE RECORD WELL AHEAD OF LAST YEAR: SNOWFALL EQUALLED Although considerable more moisture has fallen so far this season in the Nevada City area than was reported to date last year, the snow fall was approximately the same. Weatherman Fred Bush reported yesterday that 17.45 inches of moisture had been noted to date last year but 26.09-inches is on the books so far this year. Higher moisture content in snow was noted in recent storms. Snow which started falling Friday noon turned into rain during the night to add 1.7 inches to the record, with .05 more Saturday. Tuesday .27 inches of moisture was recorded and four inches of snow was on the ground with continued cold weather making the roads icy “for several days. Bush reported eleven, inches of snow: .on the ground as ot Thursday morning. Last year snow measured to date was 72 inches and this year to date the total stands at 71 inches. ; Bush’s report of temperatures for the week. are as follows: ! . Max. Min.» Prec} 20 32 January January January January January February 1 February 2 $425,000 SUIT FOR INJURIES IS FILED HERE Harry Smith, Vivian J. Smith and Charles B. Cross, through 1.70 05 27 Merced, filed personal injury complaints yesterday’ in county clerk’s office and. asked total damages of $425,000 from Leonard Silvey for injuries sustained in a truck-car crash in Truckee Jan. 19. , The defendant in the action, Leonard Silvey, is owner of the Silvey Livestock. Transportation Co. Complaint states that Manuel Joseph Abreu, an employee, drove a Silvey truck into a Buick sedan in which the plaintiffs were riding. The crash occurred in the town of Truckee, Nevada county. Each of the plaintiffs suffered ‘sévere injuries, the complaint states. f Harry Smith asks damages of $175,000; his. wife asks a similar amount, and Cross asks $75,000. PRESLEY AND NILE PURCHASE ENGELL REALTY AGENCY Presley. and Nile, Nevada City real estate and insurance firm, this week purchased the Walter Engell real estate firm and began Wednesday to move to the Engell location in. the National hotel building on Broad street. Walter Engell and his son, Gene, who has been associated with him, expect to leave at once for southern California but they said their plans are indefinite. Presley and Nile, who are leaving their location at 106 So. Pine, said they will ‘make some alterations in their new offices and will announce their service plans next week. JOHNSON SELLS HIS BRET HARTE DAIRY ‘U.’S. N. Johnson sold his. Bret Harte Dairy, which’he has owned and operated for 23 years, to Irvin J. Heide, Lakeport, in a transaction effective March 1, it was disclosed yesterday. “Nye” Johnson expects to devote most of his time at his mine at Alleghany and to raising gladioli and dahlias-on his four-acre place on Jordan Street. DEED SLOWS PROJECT Officials of Nevada City have learned from Sacramento that the slowness _-of deed processing ‘is. all that is holding up final-action of armory for Com y E, 184th Infantry Regiment, _Californig . National Guard. Cashin field is . Proposed site for the armory. . st . disappeared as if by . time of the raids Sa LEGALITY TEST IN SLOT MACHINE LAW EXPECTED 16 Machines Seived In Surprise Raid Legality of the present slot machine ordinance is expected to be tested, according to reports in courthouse circles, on the basis of improper publicaation of board of supervisors activities at the time the “San Diego” ordinance was adopted. The county ordinance makes possession of a slot machine a misdemeanor. The long boiling slot machine problems of Nevada county came to a. head Saturday afternoon when operatives’ hired by Nevada couyity Brand jury raided and seized 16 slot machines from the ° Gold Nugget Inn and. Tick’s' Place on the Nevada City-Grass Valley highway and the Duck Inn, located on Grass Valley-Colfax highway. ‘Francis C. Merens.and Arthur ° Belleque, operators of the Gold Nugget*. Inn, .pleaded not. guilty to a charge of possession of illegal slot machines when arraigned Tuesday in Justice George W. Gildersleeve’s court. Bail was set at $125 each. Mr. and Mrs. William~«Hess of the Duck Inn and Abe Tick of Tick’s place are awaiting arraignment in Grass Valley justice court. Supervisor Frank Rowe, who has been involved in a long smouldering feud with other officials of the courthouse, commented on the raid: “Wherever there is a heavy concentration of slot machines in one area the local peace officers are usually im on the deal.” Rowe declined to elaborate. Rowe charged there are between 1,000 and 1,500 illegal slot machines in Nevada county. The machines were seized in raids Saturday afternoon by operatives retained by the Nevada county grand jury. Curtis Clark,-foreman of the grand jury, and who accompanied District Attorney Vernon Stoll and Supervisor Frank Rowe on the raids, said the seizures were staged in utmost secrecy to avoid possibility of tipoff.’ Despite the secrecy however, phone calls were made to two of the establishments raided and officials believe other places were tipped off. ‘ The tipoff by telephone-reached the place simultaneously with the raiders and a bartender answered the tipster with “You’re too late, bud, they’re here now.” Machines in other establishments throughout the county disappeared except for console type of devices. The 16 machines, believed to contain over $1,000 in coin, were transported to the sheriff’s office, sealed and impounded. Transportation was commandeered in the form of a county truck from the garage located in Rowe’s district. Clark said the raids were to be interpreted as an indication the grand jury is not satisfied with enforcement of gambling laws in the county. Sheriff Richard W. Hoskins re-_ ported his office was not asked” to participate in the raid. Sheriff Hoskins said his budget: does not provide sufficient funds to properly ‘police the ‘county and: investigate rumors of slot machine operation, “My men are all . well known throughout the coun' ty. and as a consequence it is difficult for ‘them to obtain substantial evidence of illegal op. } erations.” Hoskins added he has made numerous requests to the board of supervisors for additional men and funds to police all parts of the county but that all requests have been denied. i ~ Max Solaro, chief of pilice of Nevada City, said the only machines in Nevada City are. of the free play type. He added he was not advised of the. planned raid. Slot machines in Nevada City afternoon. ‘ ; TEACHERS DEFER DINNER Nevada County. Teachers a day, Feb. 14, has been watil further notice. =

= GIVE TO THE MARCH OF DIMES = Nevada City Nugget <= Serving Nevada City and Grass Valley Twenty-Third Year — No. 5 Nevada City (Nevada County) California, Friday, February 3, 1950 Subscription, Year $2.50; Single Copy 5c hau NATIONAL IS TAKEN OVER BY NEW OWNERS Leo Weintraubs Buy From Robert Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Leo Weintraub of Sacramento this week purchased the historic National Hotel on Broad Street and began operation of the hostelry Feb. 1. Former owner was Robert Ryan of San Francisco. . The new managers, who have operated large hotels in southern California for many years, will make their, home at the National, they announced. Mr. and Mrs. Weintraub will operate the dining room and hotel without change in program or personnel, they announced. The National Hotel, built on the ashes of the original National Exchange which burned -Nov. 8, 1863, was completed April 4, 1864. The hotel saw many owners ‘during its 90-year history but ‘was probably operated the longest by the Rector brothers, who owned it until 1924. Ryan bought the National from Earl Johnson and Vladimir Vucinich of San Francisco last Octtober, who had owned the place for about a year. NUGGET HAS CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP Wray and McKenney Form Partnership Kenneth W. Wray and J. Wilson McKenney this week announced the formation of a partnership as editors and publishers of the Nevada City Nugget. Wray, who has been employed as editor and advertising manager of The Nugget since February, 1949, purchased the interests of his brothers, Donald and Robert, last Tuesday. He then sold a half interest in the weekly newspaper and commercial printing plant to McKenney effective Wednesday morning. Donald Wray, who has been working in the, shop for the past year, leff Tuesday for Oakland where he will visit relatives. His future plans are indefinite. Robert has been employed as. a linotype operator in the bay area for several months. Wray and McKenney will divide duties as editors but Wray will assume primary responsibilities in the shop as operator and printer. McKenney, who is also a printer, will spend the greater part of his time as advertising galesman ‘and news editor. Ken is well known in the community as author of a vigorous * editorial column. He is a member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce and active in other community affairs. No change in policy of the newspaper is planned by the partnership except a gradual improvement in plant facilities and service to the community. No additional personnel will be employed at the present time. McKenney negotiated with the Wray brothers in December for outright purchase of The Nugget but the agreement was modified when Wray was persuaded to obtain an interest in the property. The new partner has purchased. the home of Mrs. Hattie Lobdell at 341 Clay Street and the McKenney family expects. to ‘move in this weekend. Mr. and Mrs.’ McKenney have three school age children. He was formerly “owner and editor of the Yucaipa News in San Bernardino county, which he sold. last August. He formerly owned newspapers ‘at Calipatria and LeGrand and was co-founder of the Desert’ magazine. * FRACTURES ELBOW Leonard Foote, Jr., 3, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Foote, suffered a fractured right elbow when he fell while playing at the home. He is under care of Dr. Bernard W. Hummelt. . OF SCOUT COUNCIL LARSEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF SPORTSMEN CLUB Carl Larsen succeeded Thomas W. Keckler as president of the Nevada County Sportsmen’s club at a meeting held Monday night at city hall. Larsen, who has been active in sportsmen’s activities for many years, is a custodian at the county court house. Keckler was recently appointed chairman of the board of directors. Other officers installed were Paul Viles, Grass Valley, vice president; and H. F. Sofge, Nevada City, secretary-treasurer. Directors named to office were Carl Foote, Nevada City; Crofford Bridges, ‘Cliff Dancer, Gene Johnson and Fred Emory, all of Grass Valley. The club voted to set a work day the first clear Sunday this month: when: all members are to gather at the club site near the Canada Hill reservoir to build a parking lot. The group also voted to entertain Sacramento-Sierra Sportsmen’s Council at a dinner. at the Gold Nugget Inn. Date of the dinner will be announced. Emory and Johnson were appointed to serve as the investigating committee and Gus Vollmer was named sergeant-atarms. After the meeting William Mullis presented a motion picture on California redwoods and refreshments were served. JUDGE JONES HONORED AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE Judge George L. Jones of Nevada City received a 30-year veteran service award at the 25th annual planning ,conference of the Tahoe area council, Boy Scouts of America, at Auburn on Sunday night. Sam Partridge of Grass Valley received a 25 year veteran service award and a scouter’s key. Mrs. Betty Frost of Grass Valley received a scouter’s award for her activities as a den mother in the cubbing program. Charles W. Lauppe, Roseville, was installed as council president for 1950, succeeding Judge Lowell L. Sparks, Auburn, who. held the\ post for ten years. Other council officers installed are James R. Johnson, Arnold R. Murchie and Guerdon Ellis, vice presidents; Judge Jones and Sparks, national representatives; Robert R. Schneider, commissioner, and William S. Cuff, treasurer. Installation took place at an evening dinner~held in Placer Union High School cafeteria. The dinner followed a day of meetings attended by 200 people. Evening speaker was Dr. Duane Robinson, assistant professor of physical education ‘at University of California \Los Angeles. Dr. Robinson spoke on obligations of scouters in bettering youth. \ Executive board members appointed this week include Dr. Jerome F. Frey, Horace \Curnow and William Home, Nevada City. SUPERVISORS DELAY BEALE ENDORSEMENT Nevada County Board of Supervisors declined to take formal action on a flood of proposals favoring establishment of Camp Beale in Yuba county as a location for.the air force’s proposed academy. Letters urging supervisors to endorse the proposal came from the. Chambers of Commerce of Nevada City, Grass Valley and Marysville Disttict, Carpenters’ Union, Mine Workers Protective League, and several individuals. Supervisor Frank Rowe, who presided in absence of Chairman Warren Odell, suggested endorsement be withheld until opinions} can be obtained from livestock associations and tax groups urging that government owned lands go back to the tax rolls.as soon as possible. ‘ ‘attempts to save the structures Improvement Resolution Okeyed By City Council A resolution of publi¢ interest and necessity was adopted by the city council last night looking toward the improvement of the Nevada City sewage and fire protection systems. ig _ City Attorney John Larue said that an ordinance outlining specifications and conditions for the improvement would be ready for Passage by the council Feb. 16. Date of the city-wide election on the proposed bond issues is set for Tuesday, April. 11. Date of election which includes a $130,000 bond issue for financing construction of proposed Nevada City sewage disposal plant, and $25,000 bond issue for purchase of a new fire truck and other fire department equipment and repairs was approved at a méeting of the council Jan. 23. The council also discussed with W. H. Meuron; Pacific Gas and Electric ‘company _ illumination engineer and city planning commission proposed plans to relight the city and to install lights at the ball park, COORDINATION EXTENDED FOR BEALE SURVEY Members of the Nevada County Board of Supervisors and the military affairs committee of the Grass Valley Chamber of. Commerce Tuesday morning met with Warren Shingleand William Houserman of the Marysville district Chamber of Commerce military affairs committee to discuss details of a campaign to bring the “West Point of the Air” to Camp Beale. Shingle and Houserman outlined the progress being made and the steps that were being taken to coordinate the drive. The two men, who are taking the lead in the movement to bring the air school to Camp Beale, expressed satisfaction with the cooperation being extended. Tuesday night representatives of Nevada City and Grass Valley Chambers of Commerce military affairs committee attended a similar meeting in Marysville. Attending were Stan Halls, Nevada City; Vern Roth, Chandler Church and Crofford Bridges, all of Grass Valley. COUNTY PLANS TO ASSUME AID BURDEN MAR. 1 Nevada County Board of Supervisors began preparations on Wednesday morning for assuming the burden of aged and blind assistance by the county on Wednesday, March 1. Kief D. Melberg, district supervisor of the state department of social welfare, was instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of operating the program from March 1 to June 30. The board will ask the state for necessary funds to operate for the four-months period and will request the present administrative staff, office building and equipment to be loaned to the county until July 1. Melberg asked that 14 persons now on the state payroll be transferred to the county office. There are three persons already assigned to the county welfare office of which Miss Ernestine Eilerman is director. Previous to opening of the department of social welfare office Melberg directed the county welfare office with a staff of nine. Administration of the. assistance agencies reverts to the county. March 1. The county did not have the necessary assistance funds budgeted and will receive state aid for carrying out the program until the beginning of the new fiscal year July 1. TWO COUNTY HOMES DESTROYED BY FIRE Home and personal effects of Mr. and Mrs. William Glatt, near Grass Valley, and three-room cabin of Dan Nill in Rough and Ready were destroyed by fire Friday with= loss estimated at. $9,000. State division of forestry dispatched a truck to each of the fires but the flames had too. Mr much headway in both cases and were not successful. AIRPORT COST STUDY STOPS BOARD ACTION Action on the proposed purchase of Loma Rica airport by the county was postponed yesterday by the -board of supervisors

until ‘Gilbert Cramer of Grass Valley can supply a factual study of costs and maintenance. Cramer, Grass Valley mayor and proponent of the field, said he believed the initial cost of the field would be less than $10,000. Others who appeared before the board yesterday on behalf of the project. included Carl G. Hand, district airport engineer of the CAA; W. B. Wisenand, airport design engineey of the California aeronautics commission; Kenneth A. Midkiff, CAA: airport planning engineer; George Endter, Grass Valley airport manager; Downey Clinch, Alpha Hardware; and T. S. Davey. NID PURCHASES WATER RIGHTS FROM OMEGA Nevada irrigation district purchased water rights, system and reservoir site from Omega mining company following a stormy session of the board of directors of the district. Purchase price of the physical plant was quoted at $25,000 and the site of a reservoir on Jordan creek at $2,000. Principal protestors of the purchase were representatives of the Nevada Irrigation District Water Users association. C. G. Dana, representing nondistrict landowners of Harmony ridge, and C. J. Rolph, Nevada County Farm Bureau, ‘spoke in favor of purchasing the! water rights and system. Forrest Varney, manager of the district, estimated a yield of 37,000 acre feet a year, almost half of the amount of water now annually sold by the district. Varney explained the water would be furnished to Harmony ridge and the Blue Tent areas, with surplus being distributed to other parts of the district. To service the two areas the waters of Jordan creek would have to be impounded at point of the purchased reservoir site. A provision of the purchase . calls for the mining company retaining maintenance responsibility of the system until such time as the district. is ready to use the water. The directors also authorized purchase of a three-acre plot of land as a reservoir site near Banner mountain from Charles Taylor. The proposed reservoir would store water to supplement the Herring-Taylor and Banner reservoir system, and permit the use of stored water in the Gold Flat area through the Phoenix pipe line. Ed. Litke, Grass . Valley, appeared before the directors‘ and urged’ a chlorination plant for the Town Talk, Glenbrook, Hills Flat, Ridgé Road and districts. VISIT HERE Alta Hill Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Wolf,. students.at Sacramento State college, visited Mrs. Wolf’s parents, . and Mrs. I. C. Bell ‘Tuesday. The day was also Ike’s birthday and the family honored him with a birthday dinner. . their attorney, C. Ray Robinson, MOISTURE RECORD WELL AHEAD OF LAST YEAR: SNOWFALL EQUALLED Although considerable more moisture has fallen so far this season in the Nevada City area than was reported to date last year, the snow fall was approximately the same. Weatherman Fred Bush reported yesterday that 17.45 inches of moisture had been noted to date last year but 26.09-inches is on the books so far this year. Higher moisture content in snow was noted in recent storms. Snow which started falling Friday noon turned into rain during the night to add 1.7 inches to the record, with .05 more Saturday. Tuesday .27 inches of moisture was recorded and four inches of snow was on the ground with continued cold weather making the roads icy “for several days. Bush reported eleven, inches of snow: .on the ground as ot Thursday morning. Last year snow measured to date was 72 inches and this year to date the total stands at 71 inches. ; Bush’s report of temperatures for the week. are as follows: ! . Max. Min.» Prec} 20 32 January January January January January February 1 February 2 $425,000 SUIT FOR INJURIES IS FILED HERE Harry Smith, Vivian J. Smith and Charles B. Cross, through 1.70 05 27 Merced, filed personal injury complaints yesterday’ in county clerk’s office and. asked total damages of $425,000 from Leonard Silvey for injuries sustained in a truck-car crash in Truckee Jan. 19. , The defendant in the action, Leonard Silvey, is owner of the Silvey Livestock. Transportation Co. Complaint states that Manuel Joseph Abreu, an employee, drove a Silvey truck into a Buick sedan in which the plaintiffs were riding. The crash occurred in the town of Truckee, Nevada county. Each of the plaintiffs suffered ‘sévere injuries, the complaint states. f Harry Smith asks damages of $175,000; his. wife asks a similar amount, and Cross asks $75,000. PRESLEY AND NILE PURCHASE ENGELL REALTY AGENCY Presley. and Nile, Nevada City real estate and insurance firm, this week purchased the Walter Engell real estate firm and began Wednesday to move to the Engell location in. the National hotel building on Broad street. Walter Engell and his son, Gene, who has been associated with him, expect to leave at once for southern California but they said their plans are indefinite. Presley and Nile, who are leaving their location at 106 So. Pine, said they will ‘make some alterations in their new offices and will announce their service plans next week. JOHNSON SELLS HIS BRET HARTE DAIRY ‘U.’S. N. Johnson sold his. Bret Harte Dairy, which’he has owned and operated for 23 years, to Irvin J. Heide, Lakeport, in a transaction effective March 1, it was disclosed yesterday. “Nye” Johnson expects to devote most of his time at his mine at Alleghany and to raising gladioli and dahlias-on his four-acre place on Jordan Street. DEED SLOWS PROJECT Officials of Nevada City have learned from Sacramento that the slowness _-of deed processing ‘is. all that is holding up final-action of armory for Com y E, 184th Infantry Regiment, _Californig . National Guard. Cashin field is . Proposed site for the armory. . st . disappeared as if by . time of the raids Sa LEGALITY TEST IN SLOT MACHINE LAW EXPECTED 16 Machines Seived In Surprise Raid Legality of the present slot machine ordinance is expected to be tested, according to reports in courthouse circles, on the basis of improper publicaation of board of supervisors activities at the time the “San Diego” ordinance was adopted. The county ordinance makes possession of a slot machine a misdemeanor. The long boiling slot machine problems of Nevada county came to a. head Saturday afternoon when operatives’ hired by Nevada couyity Brand jury raided and seized 16 slot machines from the ° Gold Nugget Inn and. Tick’s' Place on the Nevada City-Grass Valley highway and the Duck Inn, located on Grass Valley-Colfax highway. ‘Francis C. Merens.and Arthur ° Belleque, operators of the Gold Nugget*. Inn, .pleaded not. guilty to a charge of possession of illegal slot machines when arraigned Tuesday in Justice George W. Gildersleeve’s court. Bail was set at $125 each. Mr. and Mrs. William~«Hess of the Duck Inn and Abe Tick of Tick’s place are awaiting arraignment in Grass Valley justice court. Supervisor Frank Rowe, who has been involved in a long smouldering feud with other officials of the courthouse, commented on the raid: “Wherever there is a heavy concentration of slot machines in one area the local peace officers are usually im on the deal.” Rowe declined to elaborate. Rowe charged there are between 1,000 and 1,500 illegal slot machines in Nevada county. The machines were seized in raids Saturday afternoon by operatives retained by the Nevada county grand jury. Curtis Clark,-foreman of the grand jury, and who accompanied District Attorney Vernon Stoll and Supervisor Frank Rowe on the raids, said the seizures were staged in utmost secrecy to avoid possibility of tipoff.’ Despite the secrecy however, phone calls were made to two of the establishments raided and officials believe other places were tipped off. ‘ The tipoff by telephone-reached the place simultaneously with the raiders and a bartender answered the tipster with “You’re too late, bud, they’re here now.” Machines in other establishments throughout the county disappeared except for console type of devices. The 16 machines, believed to contain over $1,000 in coin, were transported to the sheriff’s office, sealed and impounded. Transportation was commandeered in the form of a county truck from the garage located in Rowe’s district. Clark said the raids were to be interpreted as an indication the grand jury is not satisfied with enforcement of gambling laws in the county. Sheriff Richard W. Hoskins re-_ ported his office was not asked” to participate in the raid. Sheriff Hoskins said his budget: does not provide sufficient funds to properly ‘police the ‘county and: investigate rumors of slot machine operation, “My men are all . well known throughout the coun' ty. and as a consequence it is difficult for ‘them to obtain substantial evidence of illegal op. } erations.” Hoskins added he has made numerous requests to the board of supervisors for additional men and funds to police all parts of the county but that all requests have been denied. i ~ Max Solaro, chief of pilice of Nevada City, said the only machines in Nevada City are. of the free play type. He added he was not advised of the. planned raid. Slot machines in Nevada City afternoon. ‘ ; TEACHERS DEFER DINNER Nevada County. Teachers a day, Feb. 14, has been watil further notice. =