Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 15

RENO EVENING GAZETTE PHONE 3-3161 RENO, NEVADA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1956 PAGE FIFTEEN Sparks Council Utilities Tilt I On License Fee A I Reno, County Conslruction Near 20 Million Building Permits Issued by City In '55 Set Record Euilders obtained permits for almost $20,000,000 worth of construction in Reno and unincorporated areas of Washoe county during 1955. Most of the construction was in the city of Reno, where Ronald Coleman, building and safety inspector, issued permits" for $16,779,313 worth of construction Proposed Levy Is Protested by Bell, Power Firm ft. I which leveled a hay-filled barn and outbuildings. Cost of the blaze was estimated at $15,000. (Photo by Lt.

Van Benschoten). SPARKS FIREMEN, both volunteers and regulars, fought a losing battle Wednesday at the John Mongolo ranch north of their city on the Truckee Lane. High winds fanned a fierce fire, WIND VELOCITIES of up to 66 miles an hour did some damage in the Reno and Truckee Meadows area late Wednesday. Strong gusts uprooted an old cottonwood tree (see picture above by Christensen), in a nearby agricultural area on Mill St. road.

Nine miles south of Reno, near the intersection of the Virginia City road wind ripped a large highway sign (pictured by Rychetnik) from its moorings and sent it crashing to the ground. I y- 4 I I I I'. i I II mi i u. ir i hm i i i mi mi i in i rrmirin.i i mil. nmmMirinnr i FIVE POUNDS of rock went through this jewelry store window during the power blackout early Thursday.

The burglar alarm failed to work. Roger's jewelry store at 32 W. Second St. lost $6000 worth of diamond rings and the burglar escaped unnoticed. Credit Manager Robert Leonardini inspects' the damage, arrow.

(Rychetnik photo). POLICE REPORT SEVEN RENO JOB SITUATION STILL IN GOOD SHAPE Employment in the Reno-Sparks area on Dec. 31, in spite of Sparks city council and two utility companies bickered over the cost of increased license fees Wednesday night. The city council had asked for an annual 5 per cent of utility company gross receipts earned In Sparks. Attorney Richard Blakey, speaking for the Sierra Pacific Power said one-half of 1 per cent was more to his client's choosing.

QUERIES ATTORNEY Councilman A. IL Oborn asked Blakey what he though of 1 per cent. At first Blakey said, "Well certainly consider lt." Then, as the meeting progressed, he wanned to the idea of the bar gain. Before he and officials of the power company left, Blakey promised the city council to do what he could to get Sierra Pa cific to settle fo rthe 1 per cent tax. The meeting was called to dis cuss the proposed 5 per cent tax.

which the Sparks council read in the form of an ordinance week ago. A second reading next week will make it law. Blakey opened the meeting with an offer to pay a franchise fee. Nothing like the 5 per cent of gross receipts the ordinance suggested, Blakey said, but a more "reasonable figure." MAKES OFFER That is when Blakey brought up the one-half of one per cent figure. Blakey even offered to pay the city a $25,000 advance "with credit for years to come" if the city felt in a financial bind.

However, he stated, if Sparks is going to be so strapped every year and come to the utility com panies for their tax monies, then, Blakey said, "There is no point in this." "An unlawful exaction unen forceable," Blakey said, referring to the 5 per cent tax. Blakey explained why he thought so. "The Sierra Pacific cannot give Its stockholders money away unless they get something for it." PHONE COMPANY Paul Garwood, manager of the Nevada Bell Telephone had no offer like Blakey's. He sim ply said his company felt the proposed tax was "discriminatory and illegal" "But," he added, "We are In terested in considering a fran chise." Attorney Samuel Piatt spoke for the telephone company, too. He said his client receives its franchise through state legisla tive action, and he said he be- lived the proposed tax ordinance was "unconstitutional" as well as illegal.

"We cannot go along with such an arrangement," he said, and promised to take the matter to court if Sparks passed the law. "We would reluctantly enter into litigation Piatt told the council. The Sparks council took the at titude that the utility companies were not paying their fair share of business license fees. City Manager C. B.

Kinnison passed around a set of figures. The telephone company, he said, pays a total of, roughly $4500 in taxes annually to the city. This includes ad valorem monies. It does an approximate gross business of $240,000. The power company pays about $6500 annually in taxes.

It grosses $800,000. As a comparison, Kinnison showed, the Sparks garbage col lector, William D. Ceresola, does a $50,000 a year business in the city and pays $5500 in franchise fees. The city rested its case on those figures. All agreed to meet again this week for some sort of final bargaining session.

The city council remained after all had left for a last minute "skull ses sion," and Blakey left with a final remark, "You have our sympathy even if you haven't our money." Slaying Suspect Arrested Here mus3(SLAYING SUSPECT Reno police said today they had arrested Anthony Roski, 44, as a suspect or witness in the murder of A. Lee, 75. Lee was killed March 3, 1954, ina cabin at the rear of 550 Uni versity Ave. A length of wire had been wrapped around his neck. Police Chief T.

R. Berrum said police were looking for Roski at the time of the murder and want ed to question him. "He could be a suspect or he could be a witness," Berrum said. "We will check his story out." Roski was sentenced to "30 days or less for investigation" Thursday in municipal court. The charge was disorderly conduct.

He was arrested while applying for a work permit at the police department's identification bureau. a major flood and the closing of three downtown casinos during the month, was still in a relatively healthy state, officials of the Reno office, Nevada Employment Service reported today. Another picture, however, could develop in January since in some cases the effect of the seasonal slump and the further effects of the flood could change the situation, it was noted. End of the month figures from the Reno office, reflected a in the last 12 months. This was an all-time record, eclipsing the 1953 record of $12,247,632.

FINAL MONTH For the last month of the year city permits were issued for $713,590 in building valuation. This included 31 new residences at a cost of $362,711 and other new butldings with a valuation of $154,634. Remodeling account-ad for $196,245. The 1955 total was registered in 2346 permits, with $13,951,255 worth of new construction and $2,828,058 in remodeling work. The new construction included 586 new residences within the ity, with a value of $8,761,117.

During the year 322 Washoe county permits were issued in the office of the Regional Planning Commission. They were for 160 dwelling units valued at 356,950 and only $655,804 Dther projects. MONTH IN COUNTY The December total for the county was $115,700, for six residences and seven non-resi-ience projects. February of 19o5 was the big gest construction permit month in the county, with authorization given lor wortn oi building. Biggest month In the city was June, when permits were issued for a building value of $2,693, D26.

Some of the major county building projects during the year were construction of a $53,1 i 4 warehouse at Empire by the U. S. Gypsum a new Stand ard service station just east of Sparks that cost $30,000 and $50,000 worth of remodeling at Cal Neva Lodge, Crystal Bay, Lake Tahoe. 'Reno's face was considerably changed by projects completed during 1955. One major building both started and completed during the year was the Village Shopping Center at Booth street and California avenue.

Cost of the center is estimated at $750,000, with a stated cost of $414,000 for the bare walls and roof. The Mapes hotel blossomed out with a new ground floor corner casino and big sign during 1955, changing the look of the downtown area. At the Riverside hotel additional stories were added to the hotel's newest wing at an estimated cost of half a million dollars. Addition of three stories to Harold's club made a definite change in the Reno skyline, with the top of Harold's club now at nearly the same height as the Mapes hoteL Completion of three elementary schools here during 1955 eased the pressure of youngsters on the lower grades. They were the Hunter Lake school on Hunter Lake Drive, the Peavine school in the northwest and the'Libby Booth school in the southeast.

Another major project in downtown Reno was completion of the new Masonic Temple annex, complete with an auditorium on the top floor. The estimated cost of the Masonic building was about $800,000. Just about the biggest change in the appearance of downtown Reno is still under way, with construction of the new Holiday hotel, between Lke and Center streets, on the south bank of the Truckee. Clearing the site for construction necessitated removal or destruction of some of Reno's oldest residences on Mill street. One of the homes removed to make way for the new hotel was a fine old residence built by W.

O. H. Martin, one of Peno'a earliest merchants. The home was moved to Willow street and is still in use as a guest house. Sparks Meeting Hall Condemned Sparks building inspector Leo Gardner said today he has condemned Engineer's Hall at 311 Ninth St.

An oil stove recently overflowed on the second floor, he said, saturating surrounding walls and wood flooring. Gardner said it will be necessary for the owner, E. A. Zari, to tear out a portion of the second floor and the ceiling below. He estimated the cost at from $700 to $800.

Gardner said he would reinspect the building once the repairs are completed. The hall is used as a meeting place for railroad brotherhoods and affiliated Red Cross Here Pushes Task of Rehabilitation Washoe county chapter of the American Red Cross today press ed forward with its task of rehabilitating Washoe county fam ilies hit by the Christmas time floods as officials estimated that the total expenditure of Red Cross funds in the disaster area would exceed $8000. All Red Cross assistance to disaster sufferers comes as an outright gift, chapter officials stressed. A report that both loans and outright grants are available to sufferers was incorrect, Mrs. Sam Roberts, chapter chairman, said.

CANNOT LEND "No loans can be obtained from the Red Cross, and all Red Cross assistance comes as an outright gift made possible through funds contributed to the fund raising campaign each March," Mrs. Roberts said. The principal Red Cross job in time of disaster is to assist families in planning for restoration of homes and means of livelihood. Red Cross will assist both small business and families unable to make recovery from disaster with their own available resources. Red Cross assistance extended to enable families to return to normal living may include.

1 Clothing, food and maintenance. 2 Rebuilding and repairing owner-occupied homes. 3 Furniture and other house hold necessities. 4 Medical care and hospital' 1 lzation. Each request for assistance is given individual consideration, and the assistance is given, not loaned, it was stressed today by Tom Horgan, disaster chairman for the Washoe county chapter.

This assistance, he said, is given to meet need, not loss and is provided by voluntary contributions of the American people to the Red Cross fund raising cam paigns. Washoe county chapter to date has spent $7099.90 in the flood emergency. This included care of 300 at Nixon, two shelters oper ated in Reno, and assistance to stranded servicemen and other transients stranded in Reno dur ing the emergency period, as well as sandwiches and coffee served to volunteer flood workers. Horgan said the cost at Nixon so far has been $3337.62. To date, 51951.74 has been expanded on in dividual family assistance with many commitments out and other applications pending.

Geriach Road Paving Urged Don Crawford, northern Washoe county assemblyman, today urged the Nevada highway department to pave state route 81 from Geriach as an all-weather route over the Sierra to Cali fornia. Crawford noted that during recent flood difficulties, which first closed, and then restricted travel on other main routes, including highway 40, highway 40 rlternate, and highway 395, route Si remained open. He suggested to Huston Mills, Nevada state highway engineer, that the road be paved so that thousands of people" may have a sure-fire route to the coast, and that "inversely many thousands of coast people may be able to get into Nevada to spend their tourist dollars regardless of weather." Crawford said route 81 had remained open when other highways were closed by heavy snows in recent years. CAMERAS STOLEN Two cameras valued at $99 have been reported stolen from a display case at Montgomery-Ward, 137 Sierra St. R.

Lawrence made the report to police. Mercury Drops, Sierra Receives Heavy Snowfall (Continued from Page One) of 84 inches. Soda Springs has 80, Donner Lake, 24, Truckee. 28, Cisco, 24, Baxter's, 30. Echo Summit has 99 inches in the total snowpack.

At other points Twin Bridges has 60 inches of snow. Strawberry, 39, Meyers, 50. WIND DAMAGE Intermittent high winds, which accompanied the storm Wednes day bowled over a large cotton- wood tree on Mill street road and ripped a large highway sign from its moorings, near the intersection of the Virginia City road on Highway 395 south of Reno. Wednesday's storm lost most of its strength over the Pacific and rain-soaked and flood-bat tered Northern California escap ed anticipated damage. Storm activity, however, re sulted in at least two major changes in road network condi tions into Reno and western Nevada.

U. S. 395 north of Reno was again closed at Hallelujah junc tion and on the other side at Her- long Junction, some 65 miles north of Reno. At Hallelujah junction, 35 miles north of Reno, the Long Valley bridge is still out and a makeshift detour was blocked today. The Reno office of the American Automobile Associa tion said this morning two feet of water was flowing over newly- installed 54-inch road culverts there.

On U. S. 50 west this morning, several large tractor trailer rigs ack-knifed on slippery roadbeds. causing another block. By 11 a.

m. most of the large units had been removed, but it was re ported the route would be closed to heavy traffic temporarily. A large auto caravan carrier was reported stnck on U. S. 50 about nx miles west of Carson.

Highway 40 west of Reno was still open to only light traffic and emergency trucks carrying perishable items. Chains were required on Highway 40 from Donner Lake gate to Baxters. A chains advised sign was posted at Hirschdale, 20 miles west of Reno. U. S.

40 through the Sierra remained the only major route open to Nevada and traffic restrictions were in force. The California Division of High ways said work will start imme diately on constructing a temporary trestle to carry all traffic across a major slipout on 40 west of Baxter's. The job is expected to take about three weeks. The division said the only through route to Nevada for heavy truck traffic was taking Highway 99 to Red Bluff, thn state route 36 and state highway 89 to U. S.

40 alternate. Chains were required on several sections of that circuitous route. Highway 395 south of Reno Is open with chains required from Walker River canyon to Bridgeport, Calif. Alternate 40 (Feather river) is still closed from Belden to Oro-ville. The portion of the road in use requires chains from Halle- ujah junction to Massack.

The Mt. Rose road was closed this morning and Geiger grade is open with chains required from the junction of 395 to the junction of Highway 50. On Highway 89, both directions out of Truckee, chains were needed from Tahoe City north to Cal-pine. State route 36 reports said chains were required from Susan- vine over both Fredonyer and Morgan summits. The Reno to Carson segment of 395 south is open with no chains required but there is snow and slush in Washoe valley.

situation prevalent throughout most of the country employment at the present time is well above average. For the week ending Dec. 16 (one week prior to the flood) the Reno office had a total claim load of 995, as compared to 1018 in 1954. The Las Vegas office for the same week recorded a total of 2249 claims. 3.8 PER CENT LESS Further statistics show that even with the immediate effect of the casino layoffs and high water, the total of all claims filed in December, 1955, was still 3.8 per cent less than in 1954.

Employment officials were hopeful these figures would hold up when all factors were finally absorbed. Impressive was the fact that to the middle of November the Reno office was handling unem ployment claims at a rate of 39 per cent below the same period tor 1954. The drop to 3.8 per cent in December was indivative of how the employment situation could change in a short period of time. Overall employment office ac tivities reflected the effects of sharp curtailment in the amuse ment industry. The number of unemployed was further swelled by seasonal layoffs in the construction industry and transpor tation, disrupted locally by the flood.

BANKRUPTCY OVERNIGHT Charles W. McNitt were entered and ransacked. Moulding was pried from the doors and the locks slid open. Nothing was reported missing from 'either place. The burglar made an unsuccessful attempt to get into the office of Dr.

Benja min Drummer. At 611 Eureka Mike Mehring told police a burglar cut a screen and pried the window open with enough leverage to break the lock. He said a pair Df pants and a shirt valued at $25 are missing. Closets and dresser drawers were ransacked. At the Calvary Baptist church.

Center and Thoma streets, the Rev. IL A. Farrar told police he is missing $6.50 from his desk drawer. The minister said he knew of no suspects, and police said there were no signs of a forced entry. John F.

Randall, 453 E. Sev enth said his house was ran- sacked Wednesday afternoon. ren dollars in cash is gone. William Ahert, 619 Evans told police a burglar let his dog out of the house, spread papers and clothing over the floors, searched several empty billfolds and left empty-handed. At the offices of architects Vhay and Grow, 131 W.

Second the petty cash Jdox was stolen. Eleven dollars was the loss. Margaret Manning Dies in Sparks Margaret Elizabeth Manning, wife of Ernest John Manning of Sparks, and resident of this area for the last two years, died at her home in Sparks at 3 o'clock this morning after a long illness. Mrs. Manning, 74, was a native of Simcoe, Canada, where she was born Aug.

8, 1881. She had lived in the United States for the last 35 years. During World War I she served as a nurse In Canada. Besides her husband, she is also survived by a son, Miles L. Stephenson of San Francisco; a granddaughter, Mrs.

Wayne Hanshue, jr. of Sparks; a great- grandson, Wayne Kenneth Hanshue, Sparks; and a sister, Annie Guimond, Muskegon, Mich. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the Ross-Burke Co. BOOTS MISSING J.

P. McPhail, 1541 A street, Sparks, told police a tan pair of cowboy boots were stolen from his back porch. He valued his loss at $7.50. BURGLARIES Seven burglaries Wednesday night were reported to Reno police. They bring the total in the last two weeks to 25.

George Cantrell of Carson said he had a room at the Pioneer hotel, 138 E. Commercial Row. Cantrell said he left his room for a short time and returned to discover clothing valued at $50 missing. Two offices at the Sunderland building, 217 N. Virginia St.

were broken into, and an at tempt was made to get into third. The Austin photographic studio and the office of Dr. Burglar Sets House Ablaze Reno's recent rash of small bur glaries took a more serious turn Wednesday when police depart ment Det. William Backer an nounced that a recent fire at 75 Washington Street was set by a burglar. Backer reported evidence found at the fire scene supports his be lief that the house, owned and occupied by Mrs.

Irene Anderson, was first broken into and then set afire Monday night. The fire destroyed the second floor of the small house. Damage etsimates have ranged as high as $9000. The fire was discovered by the neighbors, Mr. and Mrs.

Robert White, 73 Washington St. As White telephoned the fire department, his wife ran next door to rouse Mrs. Anderson. She was not home. The house was empty.

But Mrs. White noted the front door had been kicked in. White later told police his car had been broken into sometime the night of the fire and a pair of glasses, a screwdriver and a hone stolen. These articles were found by Backer in the Anderson house and returned to White. New Businesses Opened in Sparks Three new businesses have been opened in Sparks.

A do-nut factory has been licensed to operate at 1745 St. Its owner is Jessie Hanback. The Old Sparks Cafe, 714 is now open and doing business. Gladys Snyder is the owner. The Saddle Club bar and cafe at 820 St, has been open for almost a month.

Virgil Ballew nd Barney Nolan manage the bar and gaming. Mrs. Sylvia Go-lightly is, the restaurant owner. Even though the total of initial claims filed was up 13.2 per cent from November to December the number of new applications proc essed declined by 143 or 16.7 per cent. CLAIMED RENEWED A relatively high proportion of the applicants were reopening their claims with renewed registrations to increase the active file by 15 per cent.

Also, the number of applications on file reached 1881 to exceed the 1954 figure by 154. A drop in non agricultural placements showed the effects of the usual decline in hiring occurring in December in the Reno area. Greatest reduction in hiring took place in the wholesale and retail trade, followed by the service, or industry classification in general. Private household employment was excluded from this decline, however. All other industries dropped in hiring activity, except government which had a marked increase.

This was explained as the substitution of civilian personnel at nearby military bases to replace servicemen. The slump in agricultural placement was a normal decline at the completion of the potato har vest. PETITION Herman Kohen, -cretary of the Royal Nevada, said that the hotel itself had no intention of seeking relief in the bankruptcy court as the Moulin Rouge hotel had done late last year. He said, "things are not as bad as they appear" and reiterated statements made earlier by General Manager Eill Miller blaming the unions for closing down the hotel. The action filed in the federal court seeks to have the hotel declared bankrupt, even without the consent of the operators, because of the numerous and costly attachments which have been levied against the hotel in the last few days.

NAMES ROYAL NEVADA LAS VEGAS Although spokes men for the Royal Nevada Hotel continued to issue optimistic statements concerning refinanc ing of the resort and a new full- scale reopening program, a group of creditors today filed an action in federal court seeking involuntary bankruptcy. Attorney William Couthard filed the action on behalf of Gail's Bakery which seeks $2119, Ruby for Flowers. $310. and the Phelps Pump and Supply $7985. Coulthard also had an order to refer the action to bankruptcy Referee John Mowbray.

However, Federal Judge Roger Foley refused to sign it until he has time to study the order..