davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17
School Land Sales
in Last TLUO Years
BRING SI9I.8I8.36

Sales OF 2059546 acres Of school
lands in II counties during the last
two years have brought $l91 1886 into
the state treasury. J. w Walker, state
land commissioner. reported.
In addition, Walker reported the
state sold in that time 20.63216 acres
Of mortgage land acquired through
farm loans) for sl58.4SO.7O. The aver
age price paid for school lands was
1881 per acre. compared with $7.6s an
acre for mortgage lands. School lands
we're sold In Beaverhead Carter, Chou
teau. Glacier, jefferson. Liberty, Madi-
son, Pondera, Ravalli, Sanders, Teton
and Toole counties
On June 80, 1912, the report said,
the state had I'll 800 acres OF school
lands under certificate Of purchase
and 164,745 acres Of mortgage land
under certificate. Unsold school lands
on that date totalled sos, 760 acres.
valued at 50,sS7 .6O51O, and unsold
mortgage lands totaled 447,086 acres,
valued at "a, 696 y56350.
Interest received on school land pur-
chase contracts for the biennium end
ed on that date totaled e172. 1882, the
report said.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17
POSTWAR PLAY
AREA SCHEDULED
AT COULEE DAM
RECLAMATION BUREAU, NATION.
AL PARK SERVICE PLANNING
PROJECT

Planning Of postwar recreational
facilities on the l50-mile reservoir
above the Grand coulee dam Is pro-
vided for by an agreement just en-
tered into by the bureau Of reclama-
ton, builder OF the dam, and the ma
tional park service.
Under the temporary agreement,
covering the 1913 fiscal year while a
permanent organization is being es-
tablished. the park service win per-
form functions necessary in connection
with area planning, submit recon-
mendations for general administrative
policy, handle applications for use per-
mits, supervise current uses. and ne
gotiate agreements.
It is felt that the agency is parti-
cularly well-fitted to administer and
develop the new play area, having
available the services Of personnel
equipment with specialized knowledge
and experience in these matters.
The large number Of visitors who
use the lands and waters OF the l50-
mile lake make it necessary to admin
lister and maintain the area for recre-
ational use, pending the adoption of
permanent plan for recreational de-
velopment, which is being investigated
by committee of the Columbia basin
joint Investigations. The permanent
organization viii be established by the
bureau Of reclamation, national park
service, and office Of Indian affairs
The investigation committee recent
ly reported that the huge man-made
body Of water offers unusual oppor-
Lunities, through sound planning. for
health, and social and economic gains
for the people Of the nation. It viii be
ideal for fishing, boating, bathing,
picnicking, and other out
door sports. and viii offer some inter-
esting exhibits in geology. history.
wildlife. vegetation, and
Wild flowers.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17
Former Great Northern
Brakeman Takes Part
In Raid On France

Great Northern brakemen in Great
Falls we're made happy recently. fol-
lowing news that one Of their number.
an aerial gunner on a flying fortress,
had participated in a raid on northern
France in which 13 OF the Germans
best fighter planes had been shot
down.
The flying shooting brakeman Is
Clarence K. Blend, who enlisted in the
army air corps three years ago, re-
signing from the Great Northern at
that time. He Is now a sergeant.
Joining in the cheering we're three
brothers in Great Falls, who had been
notified but the day before OF Clar-
ence's safe arrival In England.
The three in the Electric City are
Henry, Russell and George.
Another brother. Carroll, Is now
serving as an army air corps instructor
at Wichita Falls, Tex.
Clarence is the son Of the late G. x.
Blend, Great Northern engineer. who
died last spring.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17
Miss StGTner Named
NeLC Child Welfare
DiUiSiOn Director

Miss Ethel Starner, former consult
ant in charge Of the adaptive institu-
uonal and foster home program for the
care OF children in Montana since
1888, is the new director Of the division
Of child welfare services, J. y. Con-
very, administrator OF the state depart
ment OF public welfare. announced.
Miss Starner replaces John Coey,
who was given leave Of absence to
serve in the navy.
Miss Starner is well qualified, both
through training and experience, to fiji
this position" Convery said.
The new director has resided In
Montana for nearly IS years. She Is a
graduate OF Montana State university
at Missoula and did graduate work In
social studies at the universities OF
Washington and Southern California.
She has been engaged in public well
fare work since 1884 and has had ex-
pertence as a caseworker, child welfare
worker and child welfare consultant.
Prior to her employment in public
welfare work, Miss Starner was well
known in the education field. She also
served for five years as county super
intendent Of schools In McCone county.
Coey was employed by the public
welfare department since 1894 as
county and field supervisor and d.
rector Of CCC selection and child well
fare.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17

Read the Classified Advertisements.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17
FLGtheGd Lake Naval
Base Plan SheLUed

The bureau Of naval personnel, in
a letter to Hal T. Cheney, Missoula,
chamber Of commerce manager, states
that the bureau has no further need
at this time for additional training
stations in the western United States.
This letter Is in reply to q request by
the chamber for further consideration
OF a naval training station on Flat
head lake.
Randall Jacobs, chief OF naval per-
sonnet, Washington, d. c., wrote that
the Flathead lake area was considerd
last March when survey was con-
Quoted as the location for a training
station in the western United States.
Jacobs said that other sites were found
more suitable for the purpose and the
bureau of personnel has no need for
any additional training stations at this
time.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17

arger, farm ugheing batteries. tswers.
en- any sloux City. Eowa, Genuine
~ size sz-voa models available. guy
Oar erew can Install. Dealer inqnlries
CID farm HKhtine batteries. Write fer
ssEeal win weld 10 70 s-lneh Shafts.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17

ecy was fulfilled, and the first steam
boat successfully combatted the strong
current of the mighty river, breathing
out a huge column OF smoke, and
moved by some unseen, mysterious
power. It was a fearsome sight that
never lost its attraction for them.
Those river boats might have been
described as four-storied. Close to the
water lay the largest, or lower deck,
where the deck hands lived, moved
and had their being, when their duties
did not call them elsewhere. Over this
was the cabin, occupying the center
Of the second story. In it were the
staterooms Of the passengers, the din
ing room, and the general gathering
place, where they tarried Of evenings
when there was no moon to flumin-
ate the scene without. The third story
included the upper deck, and the
Texas" the staterooms Of the Off
Gals. From this deck, some steps, or
a ladder led to the pilot house, that
lowered aloft, dominating the whole,
and housing during the day-for the
boat did not run during the night
the controlling force of the boats
Northumberland might be called its
brains.
The pilot house was small, with
bench at one side evidently intended
for visitors, as the pilot could never
cease his watchfulness long enough to
avail himself Of 1t. The building was
open on all sides to permit Of unob-
structed view in every direction, and
here at the wheel stood the pilot from
dawn until sunset, his eye swerving
an instant from the treacher-
JUS stream before him.
Mark Twain has given vivid pic
,re Of the education Of pilot on the
the education Of a Mis- !
iouri river pilot must have been quite
rs difficult to acquire. It demanded
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17

an accurate memory and a remarkably
keen eye for observation.
The late Mrs. NJ. E. Plassman,
daughter Of Gov Sidney Edgerton,
said Of travel on the Missouri:
when with others I climbed to the
pilot house to talk with the man who
occupied that important post, never
dreamed of how absolutely he held our
safety within the clutch of his SEN
sitiVe hands which manipulated the
wheel. saw the river and the sur
rounding banks, but not as he did.
An eddy in the current meant nothing
to me; 1t indicated the presence Of
a snag to him, and with the def turn
OF the wheel we passed 1t safely. My
idle glance observed the bank, 1t Is
true, but failed to note that it had
been undermined by the river Of late,
and the channel was altered. 1t did
not escape the pilots watchful eye.
'aThe pilot I first knew was son Of
Capt Joseph LaBarge, whose brother
brought the first steamboat to Fort
Benton. Probably no better pilot ever
guided a boat on the Missouri, than
the one I was privileged to watch.
Captain LaBarge was dark, like the
Frenchman he was. This. his son, was
tan and blond, with golden hair and
beard, showing the German strain OF
his race. AS he stood there in the
sunlight, gazing intently down the
stream, one might have fancied so
looked a Norman as his high-prowed
boat approached the shores Of France.
Every night the boat tied up to the
shore, the plank was put out, and
'wooding-up' followed, under the
charge of the mate, who stood on the
shoreward side Of the second deck
with my youngest child, a
mere baby, In his arms, he having
taken a great fancy to her, and urged
the long lines Of roustabouts who
came and went over the gangplank,
to greater effort, often In none too
choice terms"
All this belongs to the past, and for
tunate are those who can recall II.
Now the mighty river, three-headed,
like god Of the far east, goes on
It's way undisturbed as formerly IN its
upper course, by the whistle Of the
audacious steamboats, which once
its surface. Close at hand Is
heard the boot Of the locomotive, not
n the brief summer months only, but |
many times a day the year round. Re-
eased from the tyranny Of the steam
1oat. the river has fallen into hope
ess and ignominious bondage, and Is
'orced TO furnish light, heat and power
% numerous cities and Industrial /
plants, before 1t Is again permitted |
% flow on to join the Mississippi as
{ hastens to the gulf.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17

Here's mighty
good news II
your nose "closes
mn tonight and
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-17
MiSSOILLG Man Heads
Medical Examiners

DR.. A. r. FoSs Of MiSsoula was
elected president Of the Montana state
board Of medical examiners TO succeed
Pat Kane Of Butte at the boards BIZ
ennial meeting at the state capitol.
DR. Cedric Nelson Of Billings was
elected vice president and DR.. Otto
O. Klein Of Helena was reelected
secretary. Other board members are
Dr. A. T. Munro Of Ralispell and DR..
J. H. Garberson Of Miles City.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-16
A GREAT DAY COMES
WITHOUT FANFARE

Twenty years ago. 10 wears ago. even
five years ago, Imperial Valley looked
forward to the date of Friday. February
18th, 1912 with yearning SO great that
its very vastncSS almost bred the thought
that the day could never come. 1t was
day such as we picture in dreams. even
while we half admit that the stuff Of
dreams is fragile
Through those years we waited hoped
and worked for that one day. We did
not know. then. that it would be a Fri
day the Thirteenth. nor that it would
come in February, nor even that 1t would
be in the year 1912 We knew only that
it was the day" to which W. looked for
ward which would-Which muSt-com1
SOmedaN.
Now it has come and gone. and such
a peculiar thing is the human mind that
its passing WAS marked by no wild hllar-
ity. no celebration, no erecting OF a monu-
ment There was not one single speech
to mark the occasion. For most of the
people of Imperial Valley the day pass
ed unnotced except for the routine Of
living.
The history of Imperial Valley how
ever, will always note the day, the 18TH
of February. 1912. as the day on which
=
Colorado river entirely across territory
within the boundaries of the United
States Until then, water users within
the Imperial Irrigation District, where
water is lifes most vital element. had
received their water partly through the
big All American canal and partly
through the original canal system tray
ersing territory below the international
boundary.
Today the All American canal is earn
ing its name Today it is bringing ALL
the water used by Imperial Valley and
all of ii comes across American soil. The
very name of the canal, the purpose for
which it was built, points up the I'M
PORTAGE OF the day which arrived Feb
l3 Imperial Valley on that day came
into its inheritance.
There are still problems that must be
solved, and they are weightv ones. but
in honor of those who carried on the
great fight for what now is reality, and
in thanksgiving for the achievements
which have been given us, it is fitting that
we take this moment for a quiet elation
that our valley has reached and passed
one of its greatest milestones.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-16
CANDLES

Riverside PreSS)
1t is better to light a candle than to
curse the darkness" Why not use this
for a Slogan during the war?
II goes without saying that we deplore
wars. think they are a poor Way Of i'm
proving the world But we must face
the facts We are i war. Each Of us
is Il part Of its cause or 4 part Of its
cure. Am | personally worth defending
or am a dictator in my own home or my
place of business? Am | a lazy para
site. a conceited critic selfish snob?
If on searching our lives we find they
are not worth the sacrifices our draft
ee> are making let us 90 to church ard
to private prayer and learn how to be-
come honest. clean-minded. unSelfiSh.
Then we shall be not only worth defend
ing but able to light candles.
We may have to stream-lioe our habits.
One local woman has quietly given up
club because it conflicted with her war
relief work. Many people have opened
their homes to one or more Of our de
Tenders now camped without benefit OF
table linen or bath tub. And what H.
tereSting guests they are. Other candle
lighters are sewing. knitting, spOtting
airplaneS at the government listening
posts. volunteering as assistant fire
men.
Make no mistake Each of MS can light
some candle in this darkness.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-16
ROLL OUT THE BARREL
lWoodland Democracy

lWoodland Democracy
\ hundred thousand people died in ae-
cidentS in the Ueited States in 1911 and
nine million were injured.
The deaths and injuries cost nearly
four billion dollarS-more than the de
Tense bonds that are beirg sold today in
the current issue Forty thousand of
these accidents were traffic accidents and
% 600 OF those accidental deaths-one-
fourth Of them. nearly-Were to persons
OF military age.
They were not all the results of booze
in is various forms certainly. but much
too large a percentage o1 these killings
were directly or Indirectly caused by the
incidence of alcoholic indulgence.
Apparently this nation is deliberately
careless 1t seems that we are arrogant
ly neglige~t.
Obviously We don't give d tinker's red
resin dam what happens, lust 50 we have
our own sweet way, and whose business
is this anyway? "Who cares for mother
now" So. will somebody kindly put a
nickel in the luke box a~d punch II so
that it will rattle off Roll Out the Bar
ral?" Let the rug cutter 90 RIGHT on Jlt-
terbugging the i've Of death,
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-16
LAURA INGALLS,

Conviction Of Laura Ingalls,, formerly
ore of Americas foremost women flerS.
on charges of serving as a paid propagan-
da agent of the German government IN
this country. has behind it a lesson for
all Americans.
Miss Ingalls, started or her road, evi-
IDENTIFY. because she was dissatisfied with
the government of our own country. Step
bv step. her dissatisfaction led to cooper
alton with an alien government winch
was. before long to become our avoWed
enemy. Through cooperation it led to
worse thngs-and Miss ingalls, was by
way of selling out the country Of her
birth to its bitterest enemies. There can
be no excuse for what she did. no alibl
is strong enough to stand in the face OF
the admitted factS'
One thing Americans can learn from
her case. however. 1t is that dlssatlstac-
ton with the American administration
should never be carried to the point OF
treason against the American way OF life.
The administration, after all. Is pass
ing thing America ard its ideals are
things that will live forever. 10 turn
against the one because we are dlSsatlS-
fled with the other is like burning down
our home because we do not like the
drapes on the windows.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-16

.ould seize the main East Indies
oil supply
The PaEmbang area supplies
around half of the East Indies oil
production and the enemy had
l?nded hundreds of parachute
troops there in an effort to pre-
vent destruction of the fields. Vir-
lually all of the paratroopS were
wiped out by the Dutch but the
lanCYng on the, Sumatra coast
and on the Musi river were sue
ceSSful
Large numbers of japanese
t. oops are still pouring into the
Sumatra coast, the official state
ment Il lnowledGing the loss of
Palcmbang. said.
DUTCH FORM LINE
Dutch forces. which eliminated
an estimated TOO enenE para
troops before giving up Palem-
hang were fighting strongly to
hold the enemy south of the city
md to maintain control of the
railroad running south and east
toward the eaSternmost rim of ST.
m;,tra.
pa!.mbang is only 27O miles
from Batavia and the japanese
Wtrc expected 10 attempt to drive
quickly toward Java, the site of
tJIc United Nations supreme head
quarters under Gen. Sir Archi-
talG Wavcll
The Strait of Sundra, only 97
miles wide at one point separates
Sumatra from Java
allied reinforcements in consid-
erable numbers have recently been
reported arriving in Java. In ad-
dltion to the reported arrival of
American airplaneS and air per
sonnel, it was said in Sydney q
Saturday that large numbers of
Australian troops were in position
for defense of Java
PRONG OF PINCERS
In addition to the drive through
Sumatra on the west side of Java,
the japanese were maSSed in force
on the south coast of Borneo is
land in preparation for a 300-mile
over-Water attack on the allied
main base. especially aimed at the
naval base of Soerabaja With the
tall OF Singapore, Sorabaja was
TIE only important naval base left
to the allies in the East Indies
area
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-16
Jops Take Dutch Oil
Center i'm Blow at Java

BATAVIA, Feb l6 rUP)-Japan s
troops occupied the great Sumatra
OIL center of Palembang in their
pincers offensive against Java to-
DAY despite furious allied blows
that took a heavy toll OF enemy
Transports
American. Dutch and British air
planes scored direct hits on seven
enemy warships and transports, in
Guiding two cruisers in pounding
japanese fleet in Banka strait,
while other allied forces strongly
battered invader ships along the
Sumatra coast
PLANES ATTACK
British and American alrplaneS
including HUI ricanes and Blen-
helms. caused great devastation .
n low altitude attacks on the troop
packed Japanese transports and
barges that attacked the Sumatra
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-16
Sin9apore's Fall
Shdkes Churchill

had been evacuated to the Neither
lands East Indies, which are now
under a full scale japanese at
tack
But the most dramatic. if not the
most important defeat of the War,
was a ghastly fact to them. 1t
dwarfed the surrender of the little
rong Kong garrison, and people
went back to Kut Ell Amara in 1916
when a British army surrendered
to the Turks, and Lord CORVALLIS
surrender at Yorktown in 1871 for
comparisons
1t had taken the japanese only
E" few weeks to drive down the
Malaga peninsula from Thalland.
tine British Imperial forces had
withdrawn from Malaga to the is
land Jan. 81, two weeks ago The
japanese had attacked one week
later, needing only one week to
tdke the island fortheSS
Men of the brigade of guards,
symbol Of British military prowess
tEe East Surrey regiment, the Lei
ctster regiment, the Argyle and
Srterland highlanders, the Gordon
highlanderS, the Manchester regi-
ment, the Loyal regiment, the Roy
al marines, navy men from the
impregnable Singapore naval base
Royal engineers, Royal artillery
the Australians, the Malaga regi-
ment, the SaraWak rangers, the
Hyderabad regiment, the Puniah
motorized unit, mixed Punjabis
Baluchis YatS, Garwalis, from al
over India and men from the fam
Gus northwest frontier force oi
India had been in the fighting.
Reports started to circulate that
there had been another Dunkirk
hat many if not most of the Brit
!sh and Australian forces had sue
ccCded in leaving the island Friday
night for the Netherlands East
| indies.
But for hours, the country waited
Yalnly for official news.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-16

coast and moved up the Musi river
to Palembang. the communlQue IS
sued from United Nations supreme
headquarters said
Five japanese transports Jam
med with thousands OF troops and
the two cruisers were bombed in
the Banka straits One OF the
cruisers was left burning furious
ly
japanese ships in the Musi river
we're heavily attacked with un-
certain results. Palembang is Sc
miles up the MuSi river.
FACILITIES DESTROYED
The Dutch had applied vigor-
ously the "scorched earth in the
great oil fields around Palebang,
Destroying at least $l0o,00OooO
worth of facilities and dashine the
hopes of the japanese that they
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-16

LONDON. Feb l6. up - Brit
ons shocked by the fall of Singa-
rore and asserting that the country
faced the gravest situation since
the collapse of France, demanded
with increasing inSistence today a
radical and immediate change in
the direction of war and mercl-
less purge of Prime Minister Wins
ION Churchill's cabinet.
They waited anXiouSly for news
If the number of troops involved
in what the regarded as military
disaster.
huthorative quarters, "a hours
after the British surrender, were
unable to give any news.
we do not know yet what hap
rened," tn INFORMANT said. 1T
lc possible that small parties were
taken away
NEWS FROM JAPS
They received their first news
Of the surrender of the British gar
rison through japanese communi-
oues Then Churchill, in a world
broadcast, announced it in three
y ords. "Singapore has fallen For
roarly a whole day, there had been
40 other official news of Singa-
pore , 49,.
The British people knew that
one of the few such surrenders in
,heir history had come atop the
bumiliating cruise of a German
battle fleet past the Dover coast
within range of shore guns
they knew nothing Of the num-
fanous regiments of British reg
mars British Royal marines and
,alIors and engineers, an Austral-
ian Imperial force, Indian regl-
,nents Malayan and Sarawak for
ccs had been involved in the fall
If singapore.
UFTAILS WITHHELD
Tbey knew nothing Of the num-
l.or Of men involved in the sur
rcader how the collapse had come
what proportion of the garrison
Imperial Valley press., 1942-02-16
Harold Guard Tells Last
Hours Of Fated Bastion

The captain asked for volunteers
to round up more European women.
I have no idea how many were lett
on the island.
QUICK FLIGHT
l went aboard with only the
clothes 'on my back. That is how
quick we got out Two days before
I left | had been forced to abandon
m" suburban home and camp in
the office in town.
Our ship was under constant fire
by japanese artillery which was
laying down a big barrage. The
shells whisteled over us. All one
could do was hug the deck and hope
tnat one OF the shells would not
fall short