Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 1

WEATHER Variable High Cloudiness Little Temperature Change Temperature at Noon 40 Nevada's Greatest Newspaper SEVENTY-NINTH YEAR NO. 266 PHONE 3-3161 RENO, NEVADA, MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 1956 PHONE 3-3161 20 PAGES 10 CENTS ales KVSGWG ram uaze A Newspaper For the Home Information and Enjoyment For Every Member of THE FAMILY EVENJO AZETTE Fv A f)) 0 1) JJi ft Nvs if Flood. Sales I a Warm Weather Water Plan for California Could Have Saved Millions i I In Christmas Flood Losses Are Top Stories Work of Nevada Legislature, Political Developments Lead The legislature declined to vote any construction money at its session last year. Lawmakers could not agree on the major features for moving water as far south as San Diego county. Had the Feather river dam above Oroville been ready, say the engineers, Yuba City would i -v 1 1 -J i Out of Money, Cannot Meet Tuesday Payroll Casino Folds, Dining Room Show Is Ended LAS VEGAS.

The Royal Nevada Hotel appeared early today to be the first Strip resort destined to succumb to a combination of underfinancing and slack Winter season. Saturday night, an hour before the New Year was heralded, the casino closed down, and last night marked the end of the entertainment in the dining room. Spokesmen for the hotel would not yet admit that tomorrow will see the doors closed, but they did not deny that the management is out money and cannot meet the Tuesday payroll. LEVIES FACED In addition, attachments totaling more than $25,000 are scheduled to be levied when the sheriffs civil department opens tomorrow. They were filed last ails to Pose Fhreaf of Flood Damage Repair Study Scheduled At Tuesday Meet Warmer weather which melted snow locally greeted Renoites on New Year's Day, but tempera-tues in the Sierra Nevada remained low enough to bring snow flurries and to pose no immediate further flood threat.

Federal and local officials involved in flood reconstruction were preparing for a Tuesday meeting at which plans were to bo made for rectifying damage done all over western Nevada by the recent foods on the Truckee and Carson rivrrs and by overflows of creeks and ditches. The meeting is scheduled at the Washoe county civil defense tower at 1200 East Second St. at 1 p. m. Tuesday.

SURVEY ATTEMPTED Floyd Crabtree, state civil defense director, said today that he and W. C. Ilgenfritz, Federal Civil Defense Administration engineer sent here to coordinate' iloocf reconstruction activity, have been attempting to survey disaster areas over the long weekend. He indicated this morning they hoped to meet with City of Reno officials this afternoon on tnai subdivision's problems which amount to about a million dollars worth of public works damage. They met with A.

E. Holgate, county engineer and civil defense director, Saturday, and gathered at his office again this morning. Crabtree said the far flun damage area is so great that he and Ilgenfritz haven't been able to cover much of it yet, having so far confined inspections to Orm- sby, Storey and part of Washoe county. There was also damage in Douglas, Churchill, Mineral and Lyon. FLUME REPAIRED Prior to the weekend they au thorized work on the Virginia City Water Co.

system flume, and during the weekend looked at the Dayton water problem, which consists of a wash-out of a ditch which supplies domestic water. Crabtree noted that one aspect of the floods has been damage to livestock feed, and said he had been informed that the state drought committee will meet in Reno Wednesday to assess this "On the weather front, forecast ers at the weather bureau station at the municipal airport foresaw only variable cloudiness today, increasing Tuesday, for the Reno area, and little change in temper ature. A few snow flurries were ex pected in the mountains of Nevada Elko and Lovelock reported precipitation overnight and oc casional snow north of Yosemite was expected Tuesday in the Sier ra Nevada. Many weather sources in the Sierra were unavailable on the Monday holiday, but. snow over night was evidently spotty.

An inch fell Sunday and last night at Tahoe City for a 2S-inch pack (with the Lake Tahoe level stand ing today at 6226.52) but Norden reported no snow overnight to add to a 110-inch pack. Blue Canyon had 1.2 inches of precipitation in the 24 hours prior to 6 a. m. today. TRAVEL EASING Road travel was gradually eas ing on most routes, but chains were vital equipment still Snd a slide caused problems on Highway oO west.

The local division of the state highway department reported this morning that on Highway 50 west chains are required from six miles out of Carson to Glenbrook and again from Meyers to Strawberry, and said a slide meant one-way traffic at some points. Highway 40 west was open to light vehicles and emergency trucks with chains required from Donner lake to Baxters. Chains were advised from the California line north on Highway 395, and there is a detour at Halleluiah Junction. The highway department reported that Highway 395 south was open with chains required from Bridgeport to Casa Diablo. No difficulty was reported in travel to the Chains were necessary on the Mt.

Rose road from Galena to Sky Tavern, and were advised on Geiger grade because of slippery spots. HOLD MESSAGE Police hold a messaze for M. M. Randall. SACRAMENTO, Jan.

2. JP If northern California's Christmas-time flood water were behind dams instead of wasted to the sea, it would be wortft about $10 an acre foot next Summer in thirsty cities and on dry lands. On paper, California has a statewide water plan for dams and other works that could have saved much of the 84 million acre feet of water state engineers estimate came down during the storm. WATER IS LOST But without the works, most of the water was lost. Theodore Neuman, state division of water resources engineer, estimated the water would have sold for from S3 an acre foot for irrigation to $25 an acre foot for city use or an average of $10 an acre foot total of 840 million dollars.

Added to this is the 150 million dollars in actual property damage attributed to the floods, not to mention the loss of life. Why aren't the dams built "Money, time and some politics," answers one state official, without permission to use his name. The California Water Plan, now being shaped up, provides for 270 major dams about the state and state engineers say such cities as Santa Cruz, Yuba City and Eureka would have been spared by disaster had they been ready. Harvey O. Banks, acting state engineer, estimates the dams would cost from 10 to 15 billion dollars.

But had they been ready for the rains. Banks said "the damage would have been negligible." FEATHER EXA3IPLE The proposed lVa billion dollar Feather river project, authorized by the legislature four years ago, is an example of how politics can be delaying. Flood Damage Survey Is Made Homes Suffer Major Damage Flood damage between Reno and Wadsworth along the Truckee River was completed by Tom Horgan, disaster chairman of the Washoe county chapter, American Red Cross, and M. A. L.

Gardner, building advisor of the national organization. They visited 284 homes between Reno and Wadsworth, found five had suffered major damage, 140 had suffered minor damage, and that the remaining 139 were hurt chiefly by silt and muck and would require only a cleanup job. This is in addition to 15 homes in Nixon, known to have been ruined by the floodwaters. Major damage means almost a complete rebuilding job, while minor damage, according to Mr. Gardner means that work costing from $50 to $500 will be required to return the homes to their for mer condition.

Of the 55 ranch and farm homes surveyed, the Red Cross group found five destroyed, two that suffered major damage, and 16 that suffered minor damage. Thirty-two others suffered some damage from water but most of the work in connection with restoring them is cleanup work. Fifty-three other buildings were surveyed by Tom Horgan and his crew. These were barns and other outbuildings, of which two suffered major damage, 38 minor damage, and 13 very light damage. Emergency headquarters has been set up by the Washoe county chapter, at 1041 South Virginia, and all who need Red Cross help are requested to report there as soon as posible.

So far 25 families have applied for -such may be for the emergency or for a longer time, and which is an cutright gift and not a loan. 39 Canadians Die In Mishaps OTTAWA, Jan. 2. UPh At least 39 persons were killed in holiday weekend accidents in Canada from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight Sunday.

A Canadian press survey for the 54-hour period showed 20 per sons died in traffic accidents and 13 burned to death, and Mrs. Howard Wilbourn of Modesto. Honorarv deerees were con ferred on Lester D. Summerfield, Rear Adm. John R.

Redman, Sarah Hamilton Fleischmann, Maude Frazier and Arthur Orvis at the university's 65th com mencement exercises on June 6. Echoes of the Dr. Frank Rich ardson case were heard at the beginning of the year when Alvar J. Jacobson, sociology professor, attacked Dr. Minard W.

Stout, university president, in a letter charging that professors who defended Dr. Richardson were victims of discrimination. A petition seeking a legislative probe of university operations was presented to Assembly Speaker Cyril Bastian, and the lawmakers appropriated $25,000 for the study. Later in the year, the Nevada Legislative Commission appoint ed Dr. Dean E.

McHenry, profes sor of political science at the Uni versity of California at Los An geles to head up the investigation team. TIIUNDERBIRD CASE The major gambling story of the year was Nevada Tax Commission action against the Thunderbird hotel, a major Las Vegas strip resort. The commission ordered Marion Hicks and Clifford A. Jones to dispose of their interests in the hotel, after finding them guilty of harboring hidden partners in the enterprise. However, Hicks and Jones took the fight to the courts and Judge Merwyn S.

Brown, in December, granted the Thunderbird partners an injunction against the coinmission order. The com mission ruled that if Hicks and Jones.did not sell out, the hotel casino would be closed. Three of Reno's major estab lishments changed hands during the year. The Golden Hotel Bank Club casino was taken over by 27 persons, the group headed by William and James Tomerlin, who bought the Golden property two years ago from Frank Hofues. William Graham and John Drew formerly operated the gambling enterprises.

Sanford Adler bowed out of Ne vada gambling after internal rev enUe service agents seized liquid assets of Club Cal Neva in Reno to satisfy government claims of federal excise and withholding taxes due. The club and the building housing it was purchased by a group headed by James Contratto, former license holder in the Colony club, and the Palace in Reno. RIVERSIDE SOLD A major transaction was the sale of the Riverside hotel to Mert Wertheimer and associates by George Wingfield. Purchase price was $4,010,000. Movie Actor George Raft joined the Nevada gambling fraternity in September when the Nevada Tax Commission approved his application for a two per cent, interest in the Flamingo, on the Las Vegas Strip.

Four new hotels opened in Las Vegas, and others changed hands. At the year's end, one of the new hotels had closed and three others reported in financial difficulty. Opening were the Moulin Rouge, on the city's Westside, the Royal Nevada, Dunes and the Riviera. Gambling grosses promised however, to reach a new high for the state, and with final returns not in, the state's income from taxes on the industry had doubled last years take. CONTROL BOARD In operation the last half of the year was the three-man gambling control board set up by the 1955 legislature.

Its members, Robbins E. Cahill, chairman, William Sinnott and Newell Hancock, direcmt investigations of all applicants and make preliminary direct investigations of all ap proval of new applications, and revocation of existing licenses to the tax commission. In other departments of state government, there was considerable activity too. An area of great change was the Nevada Industrial Commis sion, the state-owned insurance agency which provides compensa tion to injured workmen, and the to Page 8). i Adoption of the first sales tax in Nevada's history and the disastrous floods of December were the big news stories of 1955 so far as this state was concerned.

These were the big stories, over shadowing all others, although the story of the Nevada legislature, which passed the sales tax, provided for a new school set-up in the state and, among other acts, established a board to make possible stricter control of gambling, provided continuing interest. Some of the actions of the legislature, while not carrying such an immediate impact, will be felt in the months and years to come. So will the story of Sen. Alan Bible decision not to run again. This will make the 1956 election campaign in Nevada more hectic and have a direct bearing on the political careers of many Nevadans, STATE GOVERNMENT In the field of state government several memorable stories were read widely during the year 1955.

One of the most significant oc curred during the early months of the year when the legislature departed from tradition and passed the first sales tax the states history. It also was the first, so-called nuisance tax to go on the state's books, as the lawmakers ran into heavy pressure to increase greatly state contributions to the schools, and appropriate more money for state government. In the first quarter of operation, the sales tax produced in income for the state's general fund. The lawmakers also broke all records in approving appropriations totaling $33,438,567. A new gambling tax schedule, Increasing as gross winnings rise, doubled the state's income from that industry.

The sales tax was a hotly debated issue and a large segment of the state's population is op posed to it. REPEAL SOUGHT Petitions for its repeal, bear ing the names of 9000 Nevada residents were filed in the secre tary of state's office Oct. 24, and the referendum measure will' be voted on in the 1956 general elec tion. One of the big political stories of the year was the announcement of Sen. Alan Bible that he would not seek reelection next year.

Bible was elected to the unex pired term of the late Sen Patrick A. McCarran by Nevada voters in 1954. The term expires in Jan. 1957. The first candidate for the senate seat was Attorney General Harvey Dickerson, who an nounced on the heels of Bible's withdrawal.

At the year's end, the number of potential candidates was growing and a bitterly-fought campaign was in prospect. Political seasons were returned to their old form by the 1955 ses sion of the legislature. The law makers wiped the presidential primary off the books after two years, and Nevada primaries again will be held in September, with the general election in November. UNIVERSITY IN NEWS The University of Nevada per iodically hit the headlines during the year with the recent sale of the South Virginia farm and the purchase by the regents of a replacement, the Flick Gilbert ranch in the east Truckee Meadows, a major event. The South Virginia farm, center of a controversy in 1954, when the governor vetoed a transaction, was sold to Reno's eccentric mil lionaire La Vere Redfield, for $750,000.

The Flick-Gilbert ranch was purchased for $525,000. Last year, when the regents tried to trade the 20S-acre uni-. versity farm for-' the 1040-acre Flick-Gilbert property, $95,000 in cash and equipment worth $5000, Gov. Charles H. Russell refused to approve the deal.

During thj year, trustees of the Fleischmann Foundation of Nevada granted th university a total of S2.091.1S0 to found the Max C. Fleischmann College of Agriculture. MAyR GIFTS Other major gifts included a 5100,000 pledge from Arthur Orvis of Reno to found the Orvis School of Nursing, and a 60-acre tract for the Nevada Souhtern campus in Las Vegas from Mr. have escaped instead of suffering 58 million dollars worth of damages. Terminus dam on the Kawean river and Success dam on the Tule would have spared the Vi-salia area, say the engineers.

Levees could have saved Santa Cruz, they added. Dams on the Eel, Klamath and other North Coast streams would have left Humboldt and Del Norte county communities intact. Engineers point to Shasta dam on the Sacramento river north of Redding and the new Folsom dam on the American river east of here. Redding and Red Bluff, below Shasta, both escaped. So did Sacramento.

CAN BE DONE Projects in the state water plan would not necessarily all be built by the state. Its purpose is just to show what can be done. But who should build the dams, the state, the federal government or a private interest? The Visalia Times-Delta answer in a front-page editorial which said: "Nearly all of the misery and property damage could have been avoided if our people had learned a few years back to forget petty differences and had been welded into a unified team to press for construction of Terminus "WE DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHO BUILDS THE DAM LETS GET IT BUILT." New Year Girls Top Boys Here Girls outnumbered boys in New Year's Day births here, but a boy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Moss, 314 17th Sparks, was the first to arrive.

Baby boy Moss made his first appearance just 21 minutes after the new year began, at St. Mary's hospital. Second baby of the year was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Copling, 2710 Wrondel Way.

She appeared at 1:49 a. m. in Washoe Medical Center. Other Jan. 1, 1956, babies at St.

Mary's were the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Dulgar, 1585 Marvel Way; the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vance Nelson, 929 Wil low the daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Hale Charlton, Loyalton, Calif, and the son of Mr. and Mrs, John Westburg, of Carson. At Washoe Medical Center ether Jan. 1 babies were the son of Mr.

and Mrs. Arnold Martin, 40 North St. and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Stoli, 2303 Sharon Way.

Babies who arrived New Year's Eve at St. Mary's graciously qualifying their parents for 1955 income tax exemptions, were the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Tobin, 231 First St. Sparks; the daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Ber nard Von Hatton, 550 Apple the daughter of Mr. and Mrs Wilton Herz, 414 Glen Manor Drive and the last baby of 1955 at. that hospital, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

Jerry Burkett, 805 Ryland St. Baby Girl Burkett was born at 8:15 p. m. Dec. 31.

The last baby of the year at Washoe Medical Center was also a girl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pappie, 554 Vassar St. She was born at 3 p. m.

Film Star Weds Magazine Writer LOMPOC, Calif, Jan. 2 CT) Actor Gregory Peck and French magazine writer Veronique Pas-sani honeymooned today after on New Year's eve at the ranch home of a friend. They are expected back in Holly wood tomorrow. The couple crossed up movie publicists, who expected them to slip away to Las Vegas, Nev for the ceremony, and were married by Justice of the Peace Arden Jensen at the home of Mr. and Mrs.

Charming Peake. DIES Frank Hague, veteran Democratic political power and former mayor of Jersey City, N. J.f died Sunday at 8L Death Summons Frank Hague, 81 Former Political Power Succumbs NEW YORK, Jan. 2. UP) Frank IIague 81, former political boss whose power was rooted in Jersey City, N.

and reached to high levels of national Democratic politics, died yesterday. For some 30 years Hague headed an unbeatable political organization in Jersey City. For one of his eight terms as mayor, the machine gave him a fantastic vote of 110,743 to 6,798. JXTROLS PARTY From his Jersey City bailwick. Hague controlled the Democratic party in New Jersey and for years was the party's national vice chairman.

Hague, who retired as mayor in 1947 and gave up his national par ty post several years later, died' at his Park Avenue residence. At his bedside were his wife, Jennie, his son Frank and an adopted daughter, Peggy. The son said Hague had died of "pneumonia and complications." He had suffered several heart attacks recently and a close associate described him within the past week as "a very sick man." Hague was born in Jersey City's rough-and-tumble "horse shoe" section, one of eight child ren of Irish-born parents. His first job at the age of 16 was on the Erie railroad but he quickly shifted to politics. He first was a ward constable, then court clerk, sergeant-at-arms of the state assembly, custodian of the city hall, street and water commissioner, director of public safety and finally mayor.

By coincidence Hague died on New Year's day, a day when, before his retirement, he traditionally held open-house at city hall and thousands would line up to shake his hand. PHRASE STICKS On a relatively unimportant occasion Hague once remarked, "1 am the law." The phrase stuck to him and for many political observers typified the iron-fisted control he exericsed in Jersey City. Hague in later years recalled he had. made the remark in handling the case of two juvenile delinquents. Convinced they were better off working right away that waiting until 16 to leave school, as required by the law, Hague stated, "In this case, I am the law." He then got them jobs and later got them to go back to school too.

When Hague retired in 1947 he picked a nephew, Frank Hague Eggers, as his succesor. But the Hague' power was waning and within two years the once invincible machine was beaten by a fusion ticket headed by John V. Kenny, a former Hague lieutenant Hague neither drank, nor smoked but was a dapper dresser and lived in a rich and comfortable style. His obviously heavy spending at a time when he earned only a nominal public salary brought on a state legislative in vestigation in the late 1920's. Hague successfully defied the probe and close associates said he made his money on market tips from friends.

In a 1951 libel suit he was less successful in keeping his private finances to himself and, in re sponse to a court order, listed his total wealth at S2.0-19.937.62. THURSDAY RITES Funeral services for John Liv ingston will be held at the Sierra chapel, Walton Funeral Home, West Second and Vine streets, Thursday, with the time to be an nounced later. FREE ON BAIL Minnie C. Mangum, 52-year-old spinster, was free on $25,000 bail Dec. 30 following her arrest in Norfolk, Va.

She was charged with larceny of $100,000 in the past 12 months of funds of the Commonwealth Building and Loan Association. Miss Mangum, assistant secretary-treasurer of the firm, has been connected with the organization for 28 years. Women Dies ffer Accident Maria Grifantlni Is Struck by Car A Reno woman died Saturday right three hours after she was struck by a car on Cheney street. The woman, Mrs. Maria Grif-antini, 865 Forest was 61-years old.

At the time of the accident she was believed not too seriously injured, for she was taken to the hospital in the car which police said struck her. The car was driven by George M. Cundiff, 38, 900 Capitol Hill Ave. Cundiff told police he heard a thump as he turned the corner at South Virginia street and stop ped his car. Mrs.

Grifantini was stepping from her husband's pickup truck when she was hit. Cundiff said he was driving but 20 miles per hour, and witnesses to the accident told investigating officers they be lieved the man was driving care fully. Doctors said Mrs. Grifantini suffered multiple internal injuries, fractures of the spine and pelvis, and chest and head in juries Mrs. Grifantini's death sends Reno's traffic toll to four for 1955 and Nevada's to 174, an all-time high.

Mrs. Grifantini was born in DeMonte, Italy, July 25, 1894. She came to the United States in 1913 and lived in Ohio until 1920, when she moved to Tonopah, where her husband engaged in mining and farming. The couple came to Reno in 1928, where Mr, Grifantini has been employed by the post office. Surviving besides heF husband, Venanzo Grifantini, are four sons, Bino Grifantini of Reno, Dan Cul-lincini, Reno, Fred Cullincini, Sacramento and Mondo Cullin cini, Reno; six grandchildren, Vickie and Michael Grifantini and Dorothy, Fred, Nicholas and Ann Marie Cullincini; three brot hers, Pacifico Antonelli, Reno, and Giovanni and Pietro Antonelli of Italy; and one sister Mrs.

Ersila Riccioni, Italy. Funeral services will be held at the Ross-Burke Co. chapel Wed nesday at 8:30 a.m., thence to Our Lady of the Snows Catholic church for a requiem high mass at 9 o'clock. Recitation of the ros ary will be Tuesday at 8 pjn. at the chapel.

Entombment will be in the Ne vada Memorial Park mausoleum Traffic Deaths Hearing Record By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Traffic deaths over the New Year holiday were running below the Christmas season but were mounting toward the rec-crd for a three day New Year holiday. With 11 hours of the 78 hour period yet to go, traffic fatalities totaled 292. At the same time on the Christmas holiday the total was 479. Deaths from fire amounted to 64 and from miscellaneous causes to 49. That gave a total of 405.

i week, but deputes were instructed not to attach any cash or property over the holiday weekend. Bill Miller, president of the controlling corporation at the Royal Nevada, said last night the board of directors has been called together to decide what they want to do in the face of the situation. Last night, with 500 guests in the dining room, it appeared for a time that there would be no entertainment, as the musicians sought to collect $3800 due them, before going on. Advised that the hotel could not pay in advance, the musicians voted to play the two shows, on a guarantee that the proceeds from the dining room would be used to pay them and other entertainment personnel. Anna Maria Alberghetti and her family, starring in the show at a figure of 511,500 a week performed without pay night so the available money could be divided among musicians and other employes.

$3900 SEIZED Saturday nights decision to close down the casino followed action by the culinary workers union in seizing $3900 due under an agreement by the hotel to make daily payments to catch up on deferred pay. At approximately 10:30 New Years Eve, representatives of the union appeared with a sheriff's deputy and began gathering uo money from the casino cage and the pit. A hotel spokesman said the sight of persons assumed to be deputies taking charge of money in the casino, panicked some dealers and bartenders, who themselves began pocketing money, it was also claimed, that unidentified persons launched a "run" on the cage, bearing quantities of $25 chips. GAMES CLOSED Jack Burke, manager of the casino, then ordered all games closed down. A Nevada tax commission agent, who had been stationed at the Royal Nevada to watch developments, immediately summoned William Gallagher, chief of the gaming enforcement for the Las Vegas area.

Gallagher said upon his arrival, he conferred with Burke, and that the mangement wished to resume operations in the casino. Gallagher said he 'pointed out the hotel would be liable for $12,000 in first quarter 1956 table taxes plus other fees to the state. He said he insisted also that the hotel keep a bankroll large enough to pay off the public. Gallagher said t.h hotel came up with $10,000 but that the situation had then become so demoralized that all agreed it would be hopeless. Reckless Drlvlna Charges Lodged Reckless driving charges were filed Sunday morning against Betty Jean Harper, 22, 50 Burns Lane, after her car hit a power pole on East Second street.

Miss Harper said an oncoming car had forced hed to the right shoulder of tho. road near Sunshine Lane, and that her 1955 car went out of control in getting back on the pavement' The automobile ripped out 30 feet of metal fence. as well as hitting the power pole. The young woman was slightly injured, with cuts on her chin and mouth, and was treated at Washoe Medical Center,.