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CREEK CLAIMS LIVES Whitby Strikes 32.9 Mill T ° 1 previously. THE D OSHAWA } and Chronicle % . AILY TIMES-GAZETTE Combining The Oshawa Times and Whitby Gazette WHITBY, VOL. 6--NO. 81 OSHAWA-WHITBY. MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1947 Price 4 Cents TWELVE PAGES OF SISTERS 2 4 East Reduced ax Rate 6 Mills From 1946; Budget For Roads Doubled A tax rate of 32.9 mills for 1947 in East Whitby Town- ship was set by the township council at the conclusion of a lengthy session Saturday afternoon. The new rate is a decrease of .6 mills as compared with last year's figure. Making up the 32.9 mills are the following levies: county rate, 10.8 mills; relief, 1 mill; general, 14.7 mills; general deben- {ure, .8 mill; and general school rate, 5.6 mills. * ' County Rate Down While the county rate is down this year the amount levied for gen- eral expenditure is up as the result of a nearly 50 per cent increase in township's road budget this yéar. Estimated expenditures on roads this year total approximately $50,- 000 as compared with about $27,009 in 1946. The increase is accounted for by proposed purchase of equip- ment and improvement in the con- dition of roads generally. It was pointed out that already] this year more than $7,000 has been spent on Sow removal, the highest amount in the township's history. On motion by Councillor W. E. Noble it was declded to strike a spe- cial rate for the proposed new water area, with 50 per cent of the costs being assessed on the water area and 50 per, cent over the whole township. This arrangement will ap- ply also to street lighting instead of a levy on the individual house as Water Area Higher As the water area amounts to ap- proximately one half of the : assessed area in the township, this will re- sult in those assessed in the water area bearing in all approximately 75 per cent of these costs while those in the rest of the township will pay approximately 25 per cent. The 50 per cent levy on the town- ship as a whole has been provided for in the 1947 budget. Council was of the opinion that a tax sale should be held this year A ad had not been one since De Gaulle Would Lead New Party Strasbourg, France, April 7-- (AP)--Gen Charles De Gaulle called on the French people today to organize themselves intb what , Would amount to a political par- ty suporting him and his ideas. Ho said this would prevent a dic- tatorship, anarchy or overthrow of "the independence of the state." It was the former provisional President's frankest bid for re- turn to political power and came a day after he had declared that, should a new tyranny menace the world "the United States and France will stand together in op- posing it." De Gaulle told a crowd of 60,- 000 massed in front of the city hall that he believed the * new constitution should be revised to provide for a strong executive, His speech yesterday was at a 'ceremony honoring American war dead, Some observers interpreted De GHulle's address as an allusion to Communism and an indication that he would work to tie France closely to the Western powers in the event he returns to active po- | litics, Glaring Lights 'Blamed For Auto Scrape Saturday Two minor accidents were report- ed to the Oshawa Police depart- mem Over he week-end. Both re- sul n slight damage Suliea in g ge to vehicles While he was driving north, on Simcoe Street South, late Saturday, Thomas Brown of 41 Division Street veered into a parked car owned by Russell Carswell of 322 Albers Sree Brown told police he momentarily blind headlights. y = by glaring As Ross Ball, 329 Oshawa Boule- vard was parking his automobile in front of his home Saturday, he was sideswiped by a hit-and-run driver. Damage was slight but the driver 'was unable to give police any de- geription of the hit-and-run vehic- Phonemen Quit; Cripple U.S. System Washington, April 7--(AP)-- A strike by an estimated 340,000 workers today crippled the United States' telephone system after union leaders spurned a dramatic last-minute government plea for a 48-hour postponement. The walkout began in Eastern cities and spread progressively across the country as clocks tick- ed off the 6 a.m. deadline in each time zone, | The tie-up--first of its kind in American history--was complete when West Coast workers left their jobs. Some employees halted work a few minutes in advance of the general signal and in many cities picket lines were promptly thrown, around telephone comp- any properties, * This is the telephone strfke tion dm rbriefs. ow de 19 AONE Strikers--The National Feder- ation of Telephone Workers and 39 of its 49 affiliated unions cal- led the strike against the Bell system, The N.F.T.W. claims 287,000 members, with an addi- tional 50,000 in unaffiliated uni- ons affected, Issues--Strikers demand wage increases of $12 weekly, The gov= ernment says average weekly pay is now $43.19. Union also asks union shop and other concessions. Negotiations--The union pro- posed arbitration of all issues on a country-wide basis. Manage~ ment proposed arbitration only on wages and on a company-by=- company basis in the Bell system. Seizure -- Attorney - General Clark has ruled that President Truman has the power to seize the telephone companies, Top ad- ministration officials were repor= ted against taking any such ac- tion immediately, Toll calls, information and lo- cal operator service were the first to feel the effects of the strike, except where supervisory and other non-union personnel were able to carry the load. Dial systems were not affected, Completely automatic, they pre- sumably could operate for a long period without maintenance work. How long it would last was a big question. Some officials were bitter at the union's refusal to heed Sec- retary of Labor Schwellenbach's solemn plea for 48 hours more in which to "'be of assistance" to the union. "They seemed determined strike," one told a reporter, Yet, union officials explained privately, there had been plenty of time--since last January when negotiations started with the American Telephone and Tele- graph Company subsidiaries--in which to achieve that "change of attitude" which Schwellenback reported in management, Week-end Fires Do Slight Damage Fire Department officials blamed un overheated stove for a fire late Saturday that caused $300 damage to contents and property at the 377 Gibbs Avenue home of R. Godfrey. The frame house is owned by James Lindsay of Harmony. Sev- eral puppies were asphyxiated by smoke. Less than two hours after they answered a fire at Gibbs Avenue Saturday, fire reels were called to the scene of flaming hydro wires at the north side of the Skinner Com- pany Ltd on South Simcoe plant. No damage except to the wires themselves was recorded. THE WEATHER Overcast today becoming clear to.ight and Tuesday. Cool today with not much change in temper- ature Tuesday. Wind Northwest 25 becoming light Tuesday ' evening. Low tonight and high Tuesday; 25 to and 43. Summary for Tuesday: clear and cool New Rental Regulations Announced Ottawa, April 7--(CP)-- Finance Minister Abkott announced today a maximum increase of 10 per cent in rental ceilings on self-contained housing = accommodation provided the landlord is prepared to enter into a renewal lease for a minimum term of two years. He also announced that hotel ac- ccenmodation becomes control-free immediately. The increase allowed in housing acccmmodation would become effec- tive upon the expiration of the present lease. If the tenant refuses the profer- red two-year rental lease he may be required to vacate at the end of | o) "iang on Saturday afternoon and were drowned. Mrs, Martha Flint { of Campbellford (right), Mrs. Mack's daughter, who 'receded them his present lease. In such a case, the landlord may put the 10-percent increase into ef- fect in renting to another tenant. If the landlord is not prepared to offer his tenant the two-year re- newal lease, the tenant may remain in occupancy after the expiration of his current lease as a tenant frcm month to month at the previous rental ceiling and will continue at the same time to enjoy protection from eviction. The tenant has 30 days in which to make up his mind whether or not he wants to accept the landlord's offer. If he does not accept the of- fer, it acts as a notice to vacate at the end of the lease subject to prov- incial law. If the tenant accepts, the two- year renewal lease may be termin- ated by the tenant at any time on 30 days' notice but is binding on the landlord for the full two-year term. Mr. Abbott said the two-year re- newal lease and the 10-per-cent ine crease' will not apply to housing ac- " Yoommodation built since Jan. 1, 1944, and this included dwellings created by structural conversion or reconstruction since that date, be- cause the rentals of such dwellings have been fixed at higher levels re- lated to costs of labor and materials. Present regulations of {he Prices Board specifically provide that the rentals of all housing accommoda- tions built and completed since Jan, 1, 1944, shall be fixed "at an amount which in the opinion of the rental appraiser or of the court of rentals appeals, will yieid a fair return based on prevailing costs of land, labor and materials." In the cases of houses that have not previously been rented and have not a fixed maximum rental, the rentals appraiser will add the 10- NEW RENTAL (Continued on Page 2) Letters Tell Of Railroad In Early Days An interesting link with the early days of railroading in the Oshawa area was uncovered recently by G. E. Kingsford, 311 Tweedsmuir Ave- nue, Toronto, while going through papers belonging to his grandfath- er, William Kingsford, who at one time was engineer-in-chief of the Grand Trunk Railway for Canada West. One letter, dated July 9, 1856, from the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, (Constractor's Office), To- ronto and written by Alex M. Ross, Engineer-in-Chief for Canada, has this to say:-- "It gs proposer to open the rail- way eastward to Oshawa (about 33 miles) as early next month (pro- bably the first week) 'as the few points now incomplete can be got ready. You will therefore take charge of the duties which pertain to your office. Maintenance of way will continue in the hands of M.d. Tate, the contracior's agent, at our usual rate of £100 per mile per an- num until the line is open through- out, when more permanent ar- rangements can be made for the future . .... "It is proposed to take the west- ern section into the company's hands as soon as it is opened to Stratford, which I believe will be early in the ensuing month." A second letter, under date of November 20, 1856, has this: "There are two regular trains in your district between Toronto and Belleville, and one to Cobourg, be- sides the contractor's ballast trains." Mrz. Kingsford comments that AlexM. Ross was one of the most brilliant engineers who came to Canada at the commendement of the railway age and wes responsible for the design and ccnstruction oi the Victoria Bridge, Montreal, which was opened by the Prince of Wales in 1860. He also constructed the old suspension bridge at Queen- ston in 1858--Ilater blown down. ' were scheduled to reopen. Oshawa Creek Takes Two Lives On a shopping trip to the city, Mrs. Walter Hulatt, 1138 Cedar Street, Lakeview Gardens (left) and her sister, Mrs. Jeanette Mack of Hav:- lock (centre) fell from an improvised footbridge into the swirling, flood- swollen waters of the Oshawa Creek at the rear of the Robson Leather across the bridge, turned fo see the two women struggling in the water. Capacity Congregations Hear Easter Message Pe ° ance Easter morning after two days of cloudiness and rain, Oshawa churches were filled to overflowing, as hundreds. of worshippers heard | the Easter message of hope in a world still beset with strife and suf- fering in many quarters. The joy of the resurrection with its triumph over death and dark- ness was reflected in the special Easter choral and organ music pre- sented in the various churches and the well-known hymns in which the congregations took * In memory of Christ and' resurrection many Anglicans par took of the Holy Communion at ser- vices held throughout the morning. The Roman Catholic' churches were filled to capacity as mass was celebrated hourly from 8 to 11 o'clock, with the Easter high mass being sung at the 11 o'clock service. At St. Gregory's, the high mass was sung by Rev. Father C. McCormick and Rev. Father W. Kerr preached, while at Holy Cross Rev. Father P, Coffey was assisted by Rev. Father Hugh Mallon of St. Michael's Cole lege, Toronto. At both churches the boy choristers sang at the 9 o'clock mass and the adult choir at the high mass. In the afternoon, special child- ren's services were held in many ot the churches and young peopte's groups gathered at sunrise services in the First Baptist and Northmin- ster United Church. Guest soloists at Simcoe Street United Church was Edouard Bart- lett, violinist who played at both services~ The choir under the direc- tion of R. G. Geen, L.T.CM. sang "The Strife Is O'e!" and Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" at the morn- ing service and in the evening, "Be- hold, I Create a New Heaven and a New Earth" by Gaul and "We Praise Thee" by Standford. Solo- EASTER MESSAGE (Continued on Page 2 American Miners Stay Out Pittsburgh, April 7--(AP)--Thou- sands of American coal miners, de- manding that their mines be made safe, remained idle today following the six-day mourning period they observed for the Centralia, Ill, mine tradedy. Some mines were operating in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, but all eastern Ohio pits were re- ported closed. Early reports did not estimate the portion of the 400,000 soft coal diggers who continued the work stoppage. The work stoppage called by John L. Lewis, United Mine Workers (A. FL. president, in memory of 111 miners killed in the Centralia. Ill. blast, was over at midnight last night. Reports from the field, however, showed wide confusion and uncertainty as to what mines With the sun making its appear- | Industrial sources were loath to comment on what the effects of a prolonged work stoppage would be. Plants, generally, got through the mourning period with little disrup- tion because of adequate stockpiles. But a continued lack of the vital bituminous fuel would be a differ- ent matter. The troubled situation in the coal fields sprang from Lewis' determin- ation not to send his men into mines he branded unsafe. He de- manded all but two of the 2,531 soft coal mines he closed until fed- erally inspected. Interior secretary Few Injured When Train Hops Track Columbia City, Ind., April 7 -- (AP)-- The Pennsylvania Railroad's Gotham Limited train carrying more ..than 300 passengers was wrecked early today at a street crossing in South Columbia City, injuring at least 40 persons. An Indiana state trooper at the scene said no one was killed out- right 'and none of the injured ap- peared in critical condition, al- though "three or four were serious- ly hurt." There were no Canadians among the injured. Arthur Jackson, Columbia City policeman, said he was approaching the crossing in a cruiser car as the train approached and "I saw a burst of flame shoot from the locomotive. Then the engine nosed over." - K. E. Berkins of Fort Wayne, the brakeman, said "the train apparent- ly just jumped the track. The only, car to overturn was a pullman." (Gale Havoc Extensive In Toronto Toronto, April 7--(CP)--A gale that lasted eight hours in this dis- trict yesterday uprcoted trees, snapped hydro and telephone poles and toppled some chimneys, bring- ing a violent end to a week-end of rain and fog. Normal telephone service between Toronto and communities along the Lake Ontario shore west of here was interrupted for 18 hours Sat- urday when flood waters seeped in- to the telephone cables. Hydro= electric power services were disrup- ted for a time Saturday by high wind and fog that acted as a con- ductor in burning over the insula- tors, One of the large plate-glass win- dows of the downtown office of the anadian National Railways was lown into the street by a rush cf air created when a door was opened during the gale. Press, Radio Phone Lines Stay Open New York, April 7 -- (AP) -- The start of the telephone strike across the United States today caused =0 immediate interruption of opera- tion of leased wires serving the press and radio. An official of the long lines de- partment of the American Tele- phone and Telegraph Company said such wires were set up for con- tinuous operation "and there's vir- tually nothing we have to do to maintain them. It would be many months before the system would fall apart." However union spokesmen pre- dicted that because of the walkout of maintenance workers the com- munications services would feel the impact of the strike in "less than a Krug refused. week." ONT. FLOODS SWAMPING MANY CITIES By The Canadian Press Five deaths and damage running into possibly millions of dollars was the toll of Ontario's severe Easter floods today as hundreds of resi- dents in the southwestern part of the province were evacuated from their inundated hcmes. Heaviest loss was seen in towns along the swollen Sydenhaen river in Kent county and the rampaging Thames which forced 4,000 London- ers from their homes during the week-end, gave Red Cross workers heavy work in dozens of communi- tiles and poised a disastrous threat to already-flcoded Chatham, a city of 17,000. Isolated from the rest of the province because all main highways were flooded, Chatham today be- came a community of river watch- ers as the stream, 16 feet and nine inches above normal, neared the re- cord height of the worst flood ever to hit here--in April, 1937. The crest of the flood is expected Tues- day morning and already many city districts are inundated. Many buildings and homes were chilled by doused furnaces in flood- ed cellars as colder weather was predicted. The Canadian Red Cross set up an emergency station to care for evacuated families. The tale was tiie same at other centres along 'the Thames. At Thamesville, 16 tiles up the river, water covered the business section two feet deep with the flood peak still to come thig afternoon. Mosf merchants had moved their stocks to higher levels but residents ape pealed for toats to leave their sur- rounded homes. At, Wallaceburg, once reported three-quarters under water, the sit- uation eased with the Sydenham river dropping about 18 inches. Other towns, including Dresden where the water in the business section was 10 feet deep, made sim- ilar reports. Other danger spots in the On- tario flood picture were Brantford where the Grand River forced resi- dents from their homes south of the city, Paris, north of Brantford where the Nith flooded out dozens of farm homes, at Wasaga Beach on Georgian Bay where the Nottawas- aga damaged wharves and summer cottages and was still rising, and in Waterlvo county where Galt and Ayr were threatened. The worst flood in 20 years hit Ayr with some houses in outlying sections surrounded by water from the swollen Nith. Other cities reported an easing of the situation, notably Stratford where the Avon river dropped sharply overnight leaving a few flocded cellars, An additional deatlh was reported today from Collingwood, where nine-year-old Gordon Eccles of that town slipped off a bridge over the flood-swollen underwood creek. His body is believed to have been car- ried out into Georgian Bay. The City of London believed the ONTARIO FLOODS (Continued on Page 2; Chatham Isolated By Water Chatham, April 7 (CP)--This city of 17,000 was cut off from the rest of the province today as all main highways were flooded by the rising Thames river. The river, 16 feet and nine inches above normal was nearing the record height of the worst flood to strike here -- in April, 1937 -- with the crest of Je flood expected Tuesday morn- g. Most buildings and a large per- centage of Chatham homes were chilled todays as the weatherman forecast colder weather. Furnaces sizzled out in deluged basements and power and water interruptions were frequent during the morning. (At Toronto the Bell Telephone Company reported a delay of six hours in long distance calls to the city). An emergency station of the Canadian Red Cross was set up to care for persons evacuated from their homes. These included fam- ilies from houses on one section of Thames, Street paralleling the riv- er, Tissiman Avenue, where water reached the living rooms and other districts. Though there have been no cas- ualties in Chatham and estimates of probable damage are lacking, surrounding farm lands have suf- fered hundreds of thousands of dol- lars damages. Fall From Bridge Behind Tannery; Still Not Found What was to have been a happy Easter week-end re« union for two sisters ended in tragedy on Saturday when Mrs. Margaret Hulatt, 64, 1138 Cedar Street, Lakeview Gardens, and her sister, Mrs. Jeanette Mack, 65, of Have< lock, fell from an improvised footbridge into the swollen Ontario Flood Highlights By The Canadian Press Here in brief, are some of the sidelights of the disastrous week< end floods in Ontario: LE BE London--Five tons of salt, bought as water softener, carried out its function in one full swoop, Water flooded the boiler room of the engineering plant where it was stored and the salt dissolved. Lad. BR. J Sarnia--Only valves remained above water when floods invaded the Union Gas company's distri- buting centre here. Lo J London--Surgeons at St. Jo- seph's Hospital used emergency lights to carry out an operation when power failed. LR BR Chatham--When their boat sank while cruising down Ken- dall Street ag they moved house- hold belongings, Norman Mc- Donald; Kenneth XKnornik and John De Wael towed it ashore to salvage a washing machine. Fy 3 Londop--Chtetin flooded areas went wild as hundreds of field mice were forced from their nests, Other victims were skunks --a whole family sighted riding a log on the Thames River. LER Wingham--Water reached the window sills 'of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edgard Finley as the couple 'and their baby daughter were trapped by the flooding Maitland River. A rescue party evacuated the family, LE ER Chatham--The porch light still burned today on F, Ayres' small white cottage on O'Neil St. The family forgot to turn it off when rising waters forced them to va- cate in a hurry Saturday night. fo Dresden--When Mrs. Chris Atkinson died in Camden Town- ship north of here her body had to be taken to a funeral home by boat. oe Be Chatham--The sizzle of extin- guishing furnace fires sounded through Chatham today as the crest of the Thames flood neared. It is feared every basement in the city will be filled. LR London--Londoners eyed swir- ling floods in their cellars du- biously as the Public Utilities Commission urged them by radio to conserve water. LE 2% J Thorold--The staff of the public works department was on a sit- down strike today rather than work in the rain after being called out when main sewers became blocked and cellars started. to flood. Offi- cials had to bring in outside help to meet the emergency. * LR Grand Valley--Steve Palmer, East Luther Township farmer, won $12 or 300 pounds of poultry feed Sun- day when he came closest to judg- ing the actual time of the ice break- up of the Grand River which runs near this Dufferin county village. Once a year everyone takes a chance on the sweepstake. eWaters of the Oshawa Creek and were carried to their deaths, The accident occurred at the rear of the Robson Leather Company plant in Cedar Dale at about 4 pm. While every effort has been made by members of the Oshawa Fire Department from the Cedar Dale Hall to recover the bodies, they have been without result. With her daughter, Mrs. Martha Flint of Campbellford, Mrs. Mack arrived on Friday afternoon to spend the week-end with her sis ter. In company with Mrs. Flint, the two women were on their way to the city on a shopping trip. Mrs. Flint crossea the footbridge first and on reaching the bank turned to see her mother and her aunt struggling in the creek. Taking Short Cut "We were on our way up town to shop. We thought we would take a short cut", Mrs. Flint told The Times-Gazette yesterday. "I crossed first and I think they became dizzy and toppled into the water. The last I saw of them they were on the plank, walking across the creek. I ran along the bank thinking I could catch my aunt's coat bus. they were both carried around the bend. I thought of jumping in but I cannot swim. There was another woman there and she ran and cali ed the pclice and the firemen who were there in a minute or so," Mrs, Flint continued, > Firemen under the direction of Chief W. R. Elliott and Lieut, George E. Roughley conducted 8 search of the creek banks and drag- ged from the scene of the tragedy to the lake. They remained at work until 7:45 p.m. when darkness and fog forced them to discontinue the search until Sunday morning. They were out all morning and most of the afternoon and early evening in response to calls from -citizéns | who believed they had seen a body, in the creek. : Find Ration Books The only trace of the missing woe men found during the week-end were their ration books. Mrs. Hue latt's ration book was found on Sate urday night at the Harbor while Mrs. Mack's book was found about 10:15 a.m. on Sunday near Thomas Street. James J. Cullen, 887 Robson Street, an employee of the Robson Leather Company, told The Times- Gazette of being at the Simcoe Street South bridge over the Osh awa Creek on Saturday afternoon and of seeing the body of one of the women being carried along by the current. The body was facee down in the water and the coat was spread out as though it contained ari air bubble which was keeping the body close to the surface. As there is no pike pole or other life saving equipment at the bridge he san to a nearby tree and secured a branch in an effort to catch the body but was unsuccessful. Mr. Cullen said that employees of the company have been using the footbridge for: years. At the time of the accident the waters of the creek, swollen by rains, were but a short distance be- low the bridge. Although the water dropped about two 'eet during the night, the creek was at its highest point of the season yesterday after- noon when an unrooted tree, carried on the swiftly flowing water, de= molished it. : ; Lieut. Roughley told The Times= Gazette that the firemen found an empty barrel along the creek bank, near Thomas Street and tossed jt into the creek. Less than 15 minutes later when they arrived at the turn- SISTERS DROWN (Continued on'Page 2) * LATE NEWS BRIEFS (By THE CANADIAN PRESS) Ottawa: W. J. Leclair, president of the Property Owners" Association of Canada, commented today that the newly-announced 10-per-cent increase in rentals ceilings was satisfactory "as far as it goes." Athens: Press dispatches reported today that 270 guerrillas had been killed, 114 captured and an unspecified number wounded by government forces in clashes with leftist bands in northern, eastern and central Greece. Tientsin: The Chinese government today ordered evacuation of all residents within 1,000 yards of the Marine am- munition dump at Hsinho, where a Communist at« tack Friday killed five Americans. Lake Success: Andrei A. Gromyko today renewed Russia's demands that the United States scrap bombs immediately. its atomia