This week in history: Sept. 14, 2022

Sep 14, 2022
Sep 14, 2022

B5 History-George Lindsay-2.jpg — George Lindsay, a news and commercial photographer based in The Dalles, is pictured at his desk at The Dalles Optimist newspaper, at left, on May 4, 1951.

1922 — 100 years ago

Big Fire On Neal Creek — Fire Reported to be in Tree Tops and Traveling Fast: The whole of the countryside was lighted up on Wednesday night by a timber and brush fire in Neal Creek canyon. The fire was located near the Sutherland ranch and was traveling east. It was in the timber and had developed into a top fire. Its direction was from west to east and the indications were that it would quickly reach the county line. — Hood River News

1942 editorial cartoon — An editorial cartoon in the Sept. 14, 1942, issue of The Dalles Daily Chronicle speaks to the fears of inflation during World War II.
The Dalles Daily Chronicle

B5 History George Lindsay-4.jpg — George Lindsay is pictured in his darkroom in an undated photograph. In the 1980s, he became a popular local columnist, his work appearing in The Dalles Daily Chronicle and The Dalles Reminder.

Verbatim

Cost Of Living Hits Officials

The two deputies in Sheriff Sheldrake’s office have petitioned the county court this week, asking that they be granted a $25 per month increase to partially offset the increasing cost of living. They are now receiving $1,600 per year.

At the same time, reports County Judge C.D. Nickelsen, Sheriff John Sheldrake, who is receiving $1,800 a year, also asked that his salary be raised, but the County Judge says the court has no jurisdiction concerning the sheriff’s salary, which is fixed by the legislature.

The applications of the two deputies will be considered at the next meeting of the county court, together with the request that, if it is granted, it be made retroactive to July 1 of this year.

County Judge Nickelsen declares that the increases, if granted, will have to be met from the emergency fund, there being no money available in the general fund for such a purpose. — Sept. 18, 1942, Hood River News

Scarcity of Vegetables Felt Here, Supply Obtained From Yakima

Scarcity of cucumbers, carrots and eggplant exists in Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman counties and local dealers are finding it necessary to get these table delicacies from Yakima and other valleys in the neighboring state. There is a less acute shortage of tomatoes and onions in the local market, but these every-day articles of food are being shipped in also to a considerable extent.

When it comes to peaches, prunes and pears, these fruits are plentiful, the only difficulty being to find enough pickers to harvest them, with urgent advertisements for orchard help appearing in nearly every newspaper.

Such a dearth of men and women willing to work exists, that at least two Dalles restaurants have had to close temporarily and all the employers are experiencing similar difficulties.

Pears, apples, plums and prunes are wanted in large quantities by the army, navy and for lease-lend overseas shipment. Men and women who are still civilians are being sought in Wasco county and throughout the nation and high school students are being urged to work in local orchards part time after school.

The U.S. employment office is aiding, and applications for work may be made there. — Sept. 14, 1942, The Dalles Daily Chronicle

Water Supply At Very Low Level; Users Are Cautioned To Go Easy

Suspension of all unnecessary use of water, even irrigation, for the next several days, in order to allow the reservoir to become filled again to a safe level, was ordered today by Superintendent C. A. Borders of the water bureau.

Water in the reservoir is now down to below the 10-foot level, which is considered dangerous, as the advent of a bad fire might find the city without sufficient pressure to combat it, Borders said.

By curtailing extravagant use of water and eliminating irrigation for several days, it is expected that the water level will come up to point commensurate with safety. — Sept. 14, 1922, The Dalles Daily Chronicle

Forest Fire Smudge Due To New Blaze Along Mosier Creek

Dark clouds of smoke, indications of a heavy forest fire, were carried over The Dalles yesterday afternoon by the stiff breeze.

A telephone call to the ranch home of T. A. Sammis Jr. disclosed that the flames were eating their way in timber on a ridge to the west, and a call to Mosier resulted in definite location about seven miles up Mosier creek.

The fire had been underway for about 36 hours, but was fanned to unusual activity yesterday by the afternoon wind, it was said.

No valuable timber was in the path of the flames, it was reported at Mosier. — Sept. 14, 1922, The Dalles Daily Chronicle