HomeMy WebLinkAboutWingham Advance-Times, 1981-02-11, Page 4$tk
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THE WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES
Published at Wingham. Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited
Barry Wenger, President
Robert -0 Wenger, Sec -Treas
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Member — Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. Ontario Weekly Newspaper Assoc
Six months 69.50
Return postage guaranteed
Subscription 616.00 per year
SeconctClass Mail Registration No. 0821
Rail service must stay
The discovery that a major, local in-
dustry Is being threatened by the pro-
posed abandonment of rail freight ser
vice to this area is bad news indeed for
Wingham. A town this sire simply can't
afford to lose another employer.
Not only has the. Lloyd door factory,
now owned by Premium Forest Pro-
ducts, been part of the town for most of
its history, it also provides more than
100 badly -needed jobs. If they were
lost, as they might be should the rail
service be withdrawn, the effect on the
economic and social life of the com-
munity would be severe. More families
would be forced to move away in
- search of an income; more young peo-
ple , would be left jobless; local
merchants would lose business — the
vicious cycle continues.
Company representatives are under-
standably upset -by proposals to elimin-
ate or significantly cut back transport-
ation services. When the factory expan-
sion here was planned,' some 25 years
ago, the existence of the Canadian Pac-
ific rail line to bring Western lumber
directly to the plant door was an im-
portant consideration. Since then the
plant has weathered a number of lean
years and now, on the basis of success-
ful development of an export market,
offers the possibility of additional jobs
in the future.
A proposal by CP and Canadian Nat-
ional railways to ship lumber only as
far as the Josephine Street depot in
Wingham -- or possibly to Blyth -- has
been declared unacceptable. The com-
pany calculates the additional costs in-
volved would make operation of the
plant unprofitable.
We cannot blame the railroads too
much for. Wanting to cut their own
losses, -but neither can we afford to pay
the price this move would exact. It is
quite true that having two rail lines
running into town today is an unneces-
sary luxury. The' CN track Is seldom
,t4
used, and if one line Is to be abandoned
it makes sense It should be that one.
Unfortunately the railroads, for rea-
sons of their own, are more disposed to
abandon the CP track, which serves the
Lloyd factory and which may In future
be called on to service the new
Wingham feed mill.
Railways can obtain a subsidy for op-
eration of unprofitable lines, so keeping
a fine open would not impose unbear-
able hardship. In addition, when the
Canadian Pacific company was estab-
lished it was given large and very luc-
rative grants of land and mineral
rights, In return for promising to prt3-
vide transportation services. Today,
when the company's oil and other oper-
ations are yielding 'substantial profits,
It might be well to remind it of that pro-
mise.
A pledge from a representative of the
Ontario government that It will not
permit changes which would force the
Lloyd plant to close, while reassuring,
is no guarantee 'of a happy ending. For
one thing the province does not have
the final say in the matter; for another,
the government has since been dissolv-
ed and policies may change. The rail-
roads have in the past, with their meth-
odical elimination of passenger ser-
vice, shown a marked ablility to get
their own way despite public opposi-
tion. -
It is time we all took a careful look at
what lies ahead for transportation in
this country. It Is a mistake to assume
that rail travel is an anachronism in
the jet age. With rocketing costs and
dwindling supplies of fuel, there is good
reason to believe our future may again
ride the rails. North American rail-
roads have been shackled too long by
an outlook which rejects innovations
and has allowed tracks and equipment
to decay. It is time to take a page from
the Europeans and Japanese and get
our trains rolling again.
Faithful service
Though he wilt probably blush at our
suggestion, it is our sincere belief that
Murray Gaunt has been a model repre-
sentative of the people. who elected him
to the Ontario legislature for nearly 20
years.
Many of us are all too familiar with
the type of politician who is a great
hand -shaker at election time and then
disappears from view for the next four
years. Murray Gaunt was not one of
these. He was always as close as the
telephone to his constituents, regard-
less of their political affiliation. When
he was asked to help with some
problem or other he could .be relied
upon to do his best. He was that great
est of all public representatives — an
honest and sincere politician.
Elected in the first place because he
was a likeable young man, he contin-
ually added to his reputation by hard
work and sincerity of purpose. The
time he was permitted to spend with his
young family must have been limited
Indeed, between the long months spent
at Queen's Park and the multitude of
chores he looked after when he was at
home in Wingham.
Murray says he wants to enjoy a long
holiday and then pursue an occupation
which will, at long last, leave him some
time with his family. He has earned
that right and our gratitude for a diffi-
cult job well done.
Settle out of court
Expropriation Is not the way to solve
Turnberry Township's, dispute with a
landowner over property required for
replacement of the Eadie Bridge. The
case is not a ciearcut black and white;
both sides have reasons for feeling as
they do, and the best thing would be for
them to sit down together and make a
determined effort to find a mutually
acceptable solution.
ne township council obviously is
eager to proceed with replacement of
the outdated bridge as quickly as possi-
ble. The project has been planned for
some time and councli,is not eager for
any delays which would add to the con-
struction cost.
On the other hand, it is dear that dr.
Baird has gone to considerable trouble
over a number of years to develop his
nearby house and property, and it is
quite understandable that he does not
want to see his work go down the drain.
Whether the project as planned would
in fact dry up his pond or force him to
remove a row of maple trees has not
been determined, but he has good rea-
sons for arguing that It might. His con-
cerns are reasonable and deserve con-
sideration.
One question which should be asked
about the whole project is whether half
a million dollars is a reasonable price
to- pay for replacement of a sideroad
bridge which serves a limited area and
carries little traffic. Not that local
farmers don't deserve the convenience
of being able to cross the river at that
spot, but Is it necessary to make the
crossing at 50 miles per hour?
To argue that designing the bridge
for a lower speed limit would make it a
death trap Is ridiculous. We can't see
why anyone needs to travel a sideroad
at 50 mph, and In practice traffic can
easily be slowed down by leaving the
road a bit rough on the approaches to
the bridge.
This overdesigning of structures —
building a Cadillac when we really
need a Jeep or a pickup truck — has
plagued us far too long. Schools, hos-
pitals and most public edifices too often
are designed to feed an architect's van-
ity or fill his pocket, rather than to pro-
vide economical and serviceable build-
ings, a practice condoned and preserv-
ed by ministry officials who follow the
book Instead of common sense.
It is one of many ways we have been
living over our heads, -and it will end
when governments go once too often to
the well and find it dry. At the rate we
are going, that day may not be too far
distant.
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Items from Old Files
FEBRUARY 1934
At a meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce, a
delegation headed by Mayor
Hanna was formed to in-
terview the provincial
Minister of Highways to urge
that Highway •4 between
Wingham and Clinton br
brought up to government
'standards. They ale will
request that this higlirway be
kept open during the winter.
The High School • cern-.
mencement. exercises were
held at the town hall.
Scholarship winners, were ,
Isabel McKinnon, June
Buchanan, Jean Webster,
Milian Moore, Tom, Wilson
and John CeMpbell.'Winners
. of Field Day .awards were
Jim Thompson, , John
Preston, Gerald Edmonds,
Audrey McMichael, Hazel
Armstrong and Isabel
Habkirk. ":" •
ThomasWheeler of
Wingham was named County.
Master of .North Huron Loyal
Orange Lodge at a meeting
held . in Wingham Orange
Hall .
The storms of last week
put a slop to motor traffic
with practically no traffic by
. car from Monday of last
week to Monday of this week
Baby Shirley. Temple, at
four the youngest star of a
new movie,. appeared in ,
,..court to have her long-term
contract approved by a
Superior Court Judge.
,Contractors on No. 9 High-
way, near Orangeville, have
become discouraged hiring
farmers' teams which are
not satisfactory. Most of the
horses have been laid off and
replaced by mules.
Fire destroyed the:
oeautiful stone farm home of
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sanderson,'
near Gorrie, after the stove
pipes caught fire and fell on
a bed. The snowstorm was so
had the fire could not be seen
end having no phone, they
%here unableto summon
help.
•
„FEBRUARY 1946
Miss Grace Louise Parker,
daughter of Dr. .F. A. and
Mrs. Parker. was -successful
iii passing ,her Canadian
Medical Technology
examinations at Hamilton
with first class henors. Miss
Parker is presently • the
--technician . at" Norfolk
(;eneral Hospital at Simcoe.
George Coulter purchased
the residence of Duncan
Kennedy, corner of Patrick
and Shuter Streets, last
week.
'Last week, Frank and
• Robert Hopperpurchased
the 'R40. T. Dancing
Pavilion just north of the
town. limits. They have also
purchased some additional
land adjoining the pavilion
and intend building a
number of tourist cabins.
They also hope to . add a
modern service station.
Albert Nethery received.
the appointment of assessor
for the Township of Morris.
The_ Ontario Plowmen's
Association, at its annual
meeting in Toronto, an-
nounced that the first post-
war International Plowing
Match will be held in Huron
County. The site will be Port
Albert . airport •near
Goderich.
A new world's record was
established when a Stouff
ville farmer paid $51,000. in
American currency for a
Hereford bull at an
Oklahoma auction.
Brussels is to have 'a fall
fair 'this year, The fair was
discontinued during the war
years but the newly elected
board of directors has
decided to have a fair again,
this fall.
FEBRUARY 1957
Joe Kerr Construction,.
local' contracting $ firm, was
honored, at the Good Roads
convention in Toronto, where
it ' was awarded • First
Honorable. Mention in the H.
C. •Routly Memorial Awards.
Thelocal .firm was selected
as having the best safety •
record in the- ovince during
the past year.
Byron Adams, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Alton Adania; is
making plans for an in-
teresting trip this summer,
when he will -be one of three
Scouts in this area at the
World Jamboree in England.
Many farMers who sell
Creationism vs. evolution:
. . . another point of view
Dear Editor,
As possibly one of the
leading proponentsof
creationisin in this area, and
a fundamentalist, may I take
the opportunity to clarify our
position on the much -
publicized issue of
creationism versus
evolution.
There is a movement
today desirous of having
creationism taught along
with evolution in our tax -
supported government
schools. We at Wingham
Baptist Church have founded
our own school because we
believe, among other things,
that, creationism should be
the only view taught as the
origin of the universe.
The Bible leaves no room
for any other source of life on
this planet. We hold the Bible
to be inspired, infallible,
inerrant, the final authority
for all things, and on what-
ever subject it may speak it
is absolutely accurate,
We do not base our con-
victions on the many loop-
holes of evolution, and there
are many, but on the Word of.
God alone. There are many
scientists who totally reject
evolution and embrace
creationism. However
should all scientists embrace
evolution and totally reject
creationism, that would not
changelthe truth of what God
has said in His Word as tar
as we are concerned. • •
Wehaveheard the many
arguments
of the
evolutionists. These
arguments have beentaught
as fact to our children in the
government4unded in-
stitutions, supported by our-
selves against our con-
victions and the authority of
the Word of God, for much
too long. We have been much
too patient, and although we
have founded our own
school, as long as our tax
monies support that- which
oppepaokseonwe our convictions and the Bible
ehesshuablljeccotutinue to
s
Creationists have, by
liberals, been likened in their
condpct unto Hitler in his
extermination of the Jews
and Comnivaist Russia's
silencing of dissidents. No
honest person could ever
equate a creationist with
these. The Bibleis-primarily
a Jewish hook. Jesus Christ
was a Jew, Creationists are
not Jew haters. Communism
is atheistic huinanism and
embraces evolution. In
actuality, cominuniam is the
incestuous child Of eVolution.
•
Charles Darwin's 'Trans-
mutation of Species' has
been rejected today by many
evolutionists. He admitted,
"There might be two or three
millions of species on earth,
sufficient field, one might
think, for observation, but it
may be said today that in
spite of all the efforts or
trained observers, not one
change of species is on
record," (Darwin's Life and
Letters, Vol. 3, page 25)
He rote again, "T
suppose that the eye with all
its initnitable contrivances
for adjusting the focus to
different distances, for
admitting different amounts
of light, and for the
correction of spherical and
chromatic aberrations,
could have been. formed by
natural selection' seems, I
frankly confess, absurd in
the highest degree."
We surely agree with Mr.
Darwin on that point. Many
evolutionists do not make
known to their students the
foregoing lits written by an
outstanding evolutionist.
Many creationists have
chosen to base their teaching
upon something much more
substantial and correctly
feel that something more
substantial needs to be
taught in our places of
learning.
Ross Smith
Wingham Baptist Church
$ ;
•
eggs must have been sur-
prised last week when they
received 27 cents a dozen for
extra large.As and 30 cents a
gc roaz
delfaorrg e theAs. Tnhexe tie alr
oswone
the stabilizing of the price
for government buying . of
Grade A eggs.
G. W. Montgomery,
agricultural representative
for Huron County -since 1951,
has resigned his positionand
will become agricultural
agent in Ontario with the
Canadian National Rail-
NOYs•
mr. and Mrs: Parker
Campbell of Winghara an-
nounce the engagement of
their daughter, Louise
Dorothy, to Gordon C.
Welwood of • Wingham. The
wedding will take place
early in March.
At a meeting of MOrriS'
Township Council, the
members agreed that a
bridge of rigid frame con-
struction would be built on
the third concession.
Four teachers ' from
Stratford Teachers' College
were practice teaching at
Gorrie, last week. Beverley
Ashton of Lucknow and
Eleanor Sikh of Bluevale
were in, the senior . room;
Carla Krug, Belgrave, and
Miss Mayhem, Wingham,
were in the junior room. •
FEBRUARY 1967 .
As the result of a housing
survey made by the Ontario
Housing Corporation, Wing -
ham Town CounCH passed a
resolution requesting the -
Corporation to build a six -
unit apartment -type dwell-
ing for senior citizens.
Brian McLean Douglas,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan
Douglas of town, will -leave
Camp Pendleton, California,
for Okinawa on February 21.
Brian joined the United
States Marines on Sep-
tember 19. '
At the annual meeting of
St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Church, it was ; announced
that Harold Victor Pym has
resigned after serving as
organist for the past 28
years.
After discussing the
problem for some time,
Wingham Town Council
decided to back a recom-
mendation by G. W.
Cruickshank that a two-way
radio system be installed for
the police department. Lou
Palmer has'agreed to look
after the base station,
Mrs. Jack Wickstead was
installed as president of' the
Bluevale United Church
Women. Other officers in-
clude Mrs. J. V. Fischer,
Mrs. Walter Willits, Mrs,
Lloyd Warwick and Mrs.
James Johnston.
Alvin D. Smith, reeve of
Turnberry Township, was
re-elected chairman of the
Maitland Valley Con-
servation Authority at the
organization's annual
meeting held in Brussels.
Larry Taylor left last week
for Marquette where he will
attend Northern Michigan
University, majoring in
geography.
. Mtn Pettl#011
As woll as having
disastrous floods, Winghaut
also suffered, trent MAW-
wkodstoas- V'ortahatoly flO
one was hurt yerthadly in
these disasters. On an April
mottling in 1893; a stem_
struck without warning. Part
of the east wall of the public
school -was blown out, but all
the children were remov,ed
safely with no panic, al-
though some were injured by
falling lath, plaster and
bricks. The tower and soine
off the east wall of the
Catholic Church collapsed.
(The spire was never re-
placed), Both chimneys
were blown off the Con-
gregational Church, as well
as pillars on the south side of
the Presbyterian Church.
On Good Friday in 1913,
Wingham and district
received a full share of the
equinoctial gales which
swept the whole continent.
The storm was at its peak
between noon and 2 pm. The
large mounting shop,at the
Western Foundry was com-
pletely destroyed. Walker
and Clegg also suffered a
heavy loss.
The gale loosened the
large roof on the fourth
storey off the factory. The
roof was lifted off and the
brick wall demolished. The
large brick chimney went
over and the bricks went
through the roof of the boiler
and engine room. The boiler
was not damaged but the
engine was. Mr. Clegg had a
new roof on by Sunday morn-
ing, saving the machtnery
' and stock front the heavy
rains that came on Monday
morning. •
The roof and nearly all the
brickwork on the front of
Bennett's planing mill were
destroyed. All the toof was
carried off the Wingham
Evaporator building at the
south end- of Josephine, The
front of A. Nichol's black-
smith shop was blown flat.
The hose tower at the fireball
7was blown over. No person
'could 'plate a true estimate
on the amount of damage
done.
One of the worst hurri-
canes 'to strike this area
occurred on Saturday night
Nov. 29, 1919. The winds
were' estimated to be 60
miles an hour. The rain was
blown ;ahead of it in sheets
that penetrated buildings
that were thought to be
waterproof. Half of the roof
of the Union Factory was
lifted off and came &turn on
the corner of the new skating,
rink that was nearing
•
oil:0001m. When the fac-
tory roof hit, it knocked the
arched arena roof loOseand
the • wind tore it to shreds.
The 4ebrle..,ftOM 'thetwo
buildings blocked Victoria
St. and Diagonal Road. The
corrugated ivon froi the
arena roof was him* for
blocks. One piece of it went
through the roof on the house
Of Dr. Feat': The brick wall of
the .factory fell out and
crumbled;fo the ; ground
leaving the benches . and
Machines out in the ePep at
the mere), of theelements;;
The Agricultural Society's
big show building*as blown
Own. It was st.' total wreck,
as were the cattle • sheds.
Some of the roof was
removed from the Salt
Block. The Grand Trunk
engine house and the wheel-
- -house at the power plant in
Lower Winghattr, lost their
roofs too. The Western
Foundry lost most of , its
windows. The chimney of the
Gurney Glove. Works. (Kent
Block) was toppled,..landing
on the roof of the Morton
Block, and crashed through
to the apartment .below.
Trees were uprooted, win-
dows smashed, and electric
light, telephone and tele-
graph lines.. took a real
beating. The Union Factory
was rebuilt and the roofs re-
placed, but the Wardsman
rink was left in ruins for
years.
New Books
• in the Library
MY OWN BRAND by Jack
Horner
• Straight from the hip, here
are the personalities; the
issues, the quarrels and the
• intrigues that have been the
fascination of Canadian
politics these last 20 years. It
is Jack Horner's own brand
of memoir, fast -paced, hard?
hitting and _often very Wit
'-- a rough, tough book fro
a rough, lough -:-an
ttertiely, astute man. '
EMPRESS by Sylvia;
Wallace •
Mary Anna Callahan has
come a long way from her
New ' England . childhood
When, as an orphaned waif,
she was left in the care of an
unfeeling aunt and - uncle.
Extraordinary events
brought her from an- un-
happy home in Boston to
Hollyvv,Ood, where she be-
came a famous actress, and
thence to'her royal throne as
Empress Marianna of
Bahrait.
TODAY'S CHILI)
BY HELEN ALLEN
Jop,
The two small Indian sisters seen here are Vvaitin to be
adopted by a faintly who want two daughters. Mary Lou
is four and Sally is 20 months old.
The children are healthy and active but each has a
medical history possible parents should know about.
Mary Lou is recovering from a mild case of Reyes
Syndrome, a liver condition which affects children under
15. Sally is a fetal alcohol syndrome child which means
her development is below average. She is expected to be
at best a slow learner. Mary Lou, however, is average in
a bTi Ihi teyy.
are lovable, happy children, both easy to live
with. They must be adopted together, because each of
them is very important to the other.
To inquire about adopting Mary Lou and Sally, please
write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community and Social
Services, Box ; : :, Station K, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 2112:
In your letter tell something of your present family and
your way of life.