The Evening News from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan • Page 16

THt EVBNIMS NEWS, SAULT STE, MARIE, JULY VIEWS OF THE EVENING NEWS Everyone Trying Hard To Halt Erosion On River Welcome Booby-Trapped Roads That Kill And Maim For years masters of the big freighters, and small ones too, which ply the waters of the St. Marys River, have been accused of being responsible for shore damage caused by the wake of their ships, and being a menace to the safety of bathers and swimmers. These problems have been matters of concern not only to those on shore, but to the ship owners and masters and to the United States Coast Guard. For years there have been speed limits on some of the narrower, more congested and tricker waters of the St. Marys, from Big Point, near the Sault's water pumping station, all the way downstream to the lower end of Lake Munuscong.

Speeds in these waters range from 10 mph in some of the more confined areas to 15 mph in the broad waters of Lake Nicolet. To help reduce shore damage and to lessen the dangers to swimmers and bathers from the wash of passing ships, the Coast Guard now proposes a further reduction in ship speeds on the St. Marys River. In a broad sense speeds would be reduced to 10 miles an hour in all parts of the river system except Lake Nicolet, and here the speed would be reduced from 15 mph to 12 mph. A hearing on this proposal will be conducted by the Coast Guard sometime after next Sept.

1. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard itself is expending every effort to reduce the speed of passing ships through use of a mobile doppler type radar system which can be set up quickly at any point along the St. Marys. This speed indicator is being used around the clock and at a large number of locations. The Coast Guard reports that a majority of ship masters are cooperating fully in an effort to reduce the speed of their ships in restricted waters.

In most instances, the Coast Guard reports, ships are traveling well under the posted speed limits and violations have been few and apparently not wilfull. The problems of erosion and danger from ship wash are always with the people who live on the banks of the St. Marys River. However these problems appear to be accentuated at times of cither extremely high or extremely low water. And we do experience both conditions in cycles in this area.

The thing is that both the U.S. Coast Guard and the people who own and operate ships are aware of this problem and are trying to do something about it. The Coast Guard and shippers are both to be commended for their efforts and we believe that with the continuation of this effort the problem can largely be solved. V. Soviet Arms Pact: Long Road Ahead WASHINGTON (NEA) The estimate here In the highest circles of government is that there is a reasonably good chance of fruitful arms control talks with the Soviet Union.

The estimate does not assume Moscow is becoming peace-minded or less determined to use force and threats of force in pursuing Soviet objectives. It assumes the Russian negotiators will do their best to trick the United States into a position of defense inferiority. It anticipates enforcement problems of unbelievable magnitude. It recognizes that Russians are hard bargainers who come with their homework done and that they will be in no hurry to reach decisions on details. They will play for propaganda advantages and use the conference, if possible, to box the United States into a corner to achieve some advantage in the Middle East, Asia or Africa.

It assumes the Russians are pragmatic and hard-headed and that they will not be deterred from seeking an agreement by American moves to produce or not produce an antiballistic missile system or by continuing U.S. experimenting with MIRV, in which one missile tarries several warheads, each deliverable to a different target. The estimate assumes a general arms control agreement in principle could conceivably be realized rather quickly. It assumes such an agreement wouldn't be worth the paper it was written on. An agreement on practical details will take years to accomplish.

Under the best of circumstances, agreement on details will be a rocky road. It will undoubtedly be necessary to reach partial When practical agreements are reached after years of negotiating, scientific and technical advances and other changing conditions, (such as, for example Red Chinese advances) will probably make it necessary to continue negotiations on modifications indefinitely. Some presidential advisers use the word permanently. The problems almost defy description. The defining and comparison of weapons will be an almost impossible task.

How does one type of intercontinental missile compare with another type and, therefore, how does one balance off against the other? That is, for example, how does a giant SS-9 Russian missile balance off against the much smaller Minuteman? How do intermediate-range missiles aimed at Europe balance off against intercontinental RAY CROMLEY types? How do Polars-type submarines balance off against bombers? Then there are the problems of chemical and biological weapons, aircraft carriers, MIRV the production for peaceful purposes of large amounts of nuclear materials which could be used for war, the research, development and deployment of new weapons in other countries, lasers, electronic countermeasures and other missile penetration devices. The list stretches on indefinitely. For it is in the nature of countries that, deprived of one weapon or limited in its use, they will devise other weapons or radical improvements in the weapons they're allowed to keep. Since science cannot be stilled, new discoveries and adaptations probably will upset tentative agreements on balances even while the negotiations are going on. Human nature being what it is, it is interesting to note what U.S.

farmers did when faced with acreage cutbacks and other crop controls. The result, it will be recalled, was the greatest farm production advance in history as the farmers attempted with improved methods to offset the loss of the acres they were no longer allowed to farm. It will be recalled that Napoleon, after defeating the German armies, forced on the Germans a requirement that their standing forces be limited in size. The Germans kept this agreement. But they kept each man in the army (contrary to custom) for only a short term.

This enabled the Germans to train large numbers of troops and, in effect, build a large army. It proved very effective later against the French. The Evening News 8AULT NEWS PRINTING PUBLISHERS GEORGE A. and Publisher HERB Manager GEORGE 0. to Publisher 109 Arlington Street Sault Ste.

Marie, Mich. Zip Code 49783 Helped In Market Drop? NEW YORK (AP) Many highly regarded mutual funds that less than a year ago were the rage of the stock market are now performing so poorly that their losses far exceed the decline in the market as a Their lack of to puncture many widely held beliefs regarding the ability of funds to outperform the market. In fact, the poor showing of the funds seems to have intensified the recent market drop. Many of the declines in asset value per share were more than 20 per cent during the first half of the year, and some losses even exceeded 30 per cent. In the same period the N.Y.

Stock Exchange Index fell only 8.1 per cent. Heavily emphasized in the funds' sales literature is the assurance that money invested in their shares will be professionally managed, the inference being that the investor will have more protection than if he invested on his own. A fee is charged for this management. So poor has been the record of the majority of funds that the JOHN CUNNIFF AP Business Analyst compilation of "best performers" is really a list of funds that have suffered the smallest losses. Only one major fund seems to have managed a gain in the six months.

Some of the severest declines were suffered by funds that not many months ago were surrounded by an aura of certain success after seemingly cracking the code that marked the route to profits. The highly touted Enterprise Fund, which in 1967 ran up an astonishing gain of more than 113 per cent, dropped 20.3 per cent in asset value per share during the first half of 1969. The Fletcher Capital Fund and the Fletcher Fund, which are managed by the same firm that guides Enterprise, registered losses of 24.8 per cent and 27.6 per cent respectively. These losses have deepened since June 30. Statistics compiled by the Nu- veen Corporation, a brokerage house, reveal a story that apparently belies some of the popular claims of the funds, such as their alleged, ability to cushion losses for small investors.

Nuveen analyzed the performance of 327 funds with assets in excess of SI million. Of these, only the Templeton Growth Fund managed to increase its asset value in the six months, advancing by 8.7 per cent. The other 326 declined. In fact, only 51 of the funds managed to better than the Dow Jones Industrial Average: that is, they managed to hold their losses to less than 7.5 per cent. The performance of funds also influences strongly the per share valuation of stocks in which they invest, and in this manner, it can be argued, their recent poor performance has deepened the sharp market decline of 1969.

Views Of Our Readers 1969 by NtA, Inc. 6e fi you sftorffy. He is in his private his own In reference to the publicity which is emanating from the Sault in connection with the dedication of the new Poe Lock and which is being carried in the Mining Journal, Marquette, as well as in many other papers, factual Upper Peninsula history is being destroyed by an unknown writer who apparently has no knowledge of his subject the building of the first ship canal and locks at. the Sault. He is using questionable, secondary material without any regard or thought to its accuracy and which he cannot document.

Under dale of June 21, 1969, the Mining Journal carried an article under the headline, "Harvey's Hammer Helped Finish First Lock," stating, "With only the facilities of a blacksmith shop available, he (Harvey) devised and constructed a huge iron punch If the publicist, who wrote this fable, will refer to the Lake Superior Journal of June 7, 1855, he will discover that it was a Mr. A. Frasier who invented this variously described as a chisel, punch or hammer. Fifty years later Harvey, in his memoirs, took credit for this without any mention of Mr. Frasier.

The Mining Journal of June 2fith carries the article on the use of Drummond Island limestone in the building of the first three locks. Here again the Sault publicist is in error, stating, "Historic records are vague, but one authoritative source says that a Sault publisher and businessman named Joseph V. Brown moved from the Sault to BeTour in the early 185G's and opened production in the original Drummond quarry. 'He had anticipated the need for limestone for the State Lock at the Sault and had acquired limestone property on Drummond Island, which Charles T. Harvey had to have It is apparent that Joseph and Estelle Bayliss didn't do any serious research in writing "River of Destiny," and the publicist can hardly be censured for this error; however, here again lie is writing publicity without factual knowledge of his subject, using secondary material.

The Joseph V. Brown referred to was the original proprietor and publisher of the Lake Superior Journal, its first issue appearing May 1, 1850 at the Sault. He invariably signed his name as J. Venen Brown and we have no documented fact that his first name was Joseph. Ohio born, he had become a resident of the Sault as early as 1846, engaging in several business enterprises.

As he did not publish during the "closed season," except during the winter of 1853-1854, he went "below" late in 1850, returning with his bride on May 3, 1851, the first issue of the Journal for that year appearing on May 14th. The last known issue of the Journal, published by Brown, appeared on November 4, 1854, at about which time the canal and locks had been finished except for some clean up work. He then sold the paper to John Burt and Henry Chase, the first issue under the new owners, appearing on May 17. 1855, about a month prior to the opening of the canal. John Burt had taken over the superintendency of the canal and locks on April 1, 1855.

From the news items appearing in the Journal during Brown's ownership, it is quite apparent that he was living at the Sault during his tenure as editor and publisher, and had not moved to DeTour in the early 1850's as suggested by Joseph Bayliss. The 1860 U. S. Census for Chippewa County lists J. V.

Brown, age 41, forwarding merchant, living with his wife, children and housekeeper in "Township of Sault Ste. Marie, Post Office, same." When work was first started on the canal in 3853, Harvey, with one of his engineers, had examined the limestone Drummond Island and declared it was unfit for use in the locks, with the result that a far inferior stone was secured from Maiden and Marble-head on Lake Erie. This blunder, by Harvey, caused the estimated cost of the stone to be badly ovcrcxpendcd. Later on, early in 1854, when Harvey was relieved of his duties as "chief engineer," and John W. Brooks took over thc job, the Drummond Island stone was found to be entirely satisfactory, and a considerable amount was used in building the first lock.

J. Venen Brown gave much space in his Journal to this matter: however, there is no immediate documented evidence that he owned a quarry on Drummond Island. The need of propaganda to bolster the economy of the Sault is understandable, but the violation of historical fact is deplorable and inexcusable. The Sault has a rich history and a wealth of material is available in the Longyear Research Library of this Marquette County Historical Society at Marquette. The publicist, unknown to the writer, is invited to make use of one of Michigan's greatest historical reference collections.

Both he and the Sault would profit. Ernest H. Rankin Executive Secretary Marquette Historical Society YESTERDAYS By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Today is Wednesday, July 16, the 197th day of 1969. There are 168 days left in the year. Today's highlight in history: On this date in 1945, the first atomic bomb was exploded over the desert near Alamogordo, N.M.

The blinding flash of light marked the dawn of a new age. On this date: In 1790, the District of Columbia was established as the seat of the U.S. government. In 1958, rebels in Lebanon offered no resistance as U.S. Marines took control of the Beirut airport to aid the Lebanese government.

In 1964, Sen. Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona accepted the Republican presidential nomination at the party convention in San Francisco. Ten years ago It was clear that Sen. Hubert H.

Humphrey of Minnesota would seek the Democratic nomination (or president. Five years ago A postal strike in Britain halted the nation's mail service. One year ago: In South Vietnam, U.S. troops protecting thc southern approaches to Saigon defeated a large enemy force, killing 76, DON OAKLEV Xo convicted felon hr.s been executed in America for two years, yet the death penalty is meted out daily to unknown numbers of men, women and children who are guilty only of bad luck or bad judgment. They are the victims of what the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety calls our "booby-trapped highways." They may receive summary capital punishment through collision with the thick, unyielding support of a sign which was planted" nest to a road and designed to stand forever instead of break away on impact.

They may be speared by the sharp end of a so- called -guardrail" which was angled toward oncoming traffic rather than being buried in the ground. Or they may be confused by a misleading sign, or no sign at all, and set themselves up for a collision with another vehicle. The booby traps exist on new roads as well as old. Even the zillion-dollar. Interstate highway system, which has contributed so much to safe motoring in other ways, has not escaped the indictment.

A recent study of fatal accidents on sections of the Interstate system revealed that single-vehicle, "ran-off-the-road" accidents accounted for 57 per cent of the total fatal accidents and, of those, 78 per cent struck one or more fixed objects. Another study of one state's entire highway system showed that 53 per cent of the fatal accidents involved a single vehicle. Of those, G3 per cent had struck fixed objects. It may be argued that fixed objects don't kill people; people kill people, through reck-, less or careless driving. Many undoubtedly do, but many others are innocent victims of the reckless driver who forces them off the road, of blowouts, of unexpected skids on faulty surfaces, or poorly planned grades or intersections.

As Rep. John A. Blatnik, said in opening congressional hearings on the subject recently: "Regardless of the reasons why a driver may leave the paved portion of a high-speed highway, roadside areas should be sufficiently clear of obstructions to give him an opportunity to regain control of his car. He and his passengers should be given a reasonable chance of survival and not be faced with the death penalty for a comparatively minor error." This is a point that has not been gotten across to the public, thinks Dr. William Haddon president of the Insurance Institute and formerly director of the federal government's highway safety agencies.

The public still thinks the issue is solely one of preventing crashes, but it is also, he says, one of preventing the end results of crashes- injury or death, permanent disabilities, prolonged hospitalization, medical and other costs. There are three factors in the traffic safety situation: The driver, the car and the highway environment. By all means, there should be no letup in the campaign to educate the public in good driving habits and good car-care habits. Today's cars, which are safer than they ever were in the past, must be made much safer tomorrow. But for all the billions of dollars we have put into our highways over the years, far too little has been done about the third factor- to insure, as far as humanly possible, that when all else fails, the driver who somehow or other runs off the road is permitted to live and learn and that those riding with him are not made to pay for Ms or somebody else's mistake.

Old Times 10 Years Ago JULY 16, 1959 The Soo Line Railroad received the National Safety Council's public safety activities award in its 1958 safety program Fiv chartered airliners carrying delegates from many parts cf the United States are expected Friday at Pellston to attend the weekend's Moral Re- Armament activities on Mackinac Island Four U.S. Navy ships were locked through tb.9 Davis and the Sabin locks this morning returning from ports in Lake Superior. 25 Years Ago JULY 16.. 1944 Today was Sunday 25 years ago. are ripe in Hiawathaland.

And they are plentiful and fine in quality, according to early pickers who today invaded plains country in Chippewa county for the first harvest of the blue gold. 50 Years Ago JULY 16, 1919 Two members the Sault Coast Guard rescued a local couple who were hemmed in by a raging forest fire which had cornered them between the flames and the St. Mary's river. It is reported that the launch was brought through a dense smoke and high wind to rescue th couple whose home and adjoining property was destroyed by the fire At a recent meeting of thc Civic and Commercial association, thc newly elected president was authorized to mime a committee of five to lake steps toward re organizing and giving additional strength to the organization which for the past several years hns battled against big odds and accomplished much, but which has been hampered by a small membership and consequent lack of funds..