The Bay City News (Bay City, Tex.), Vol. 10, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 23, 1956 Page: 1 of 8
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DIAL
C15-7291
FOR ALL
DEPARTMENTS
THE BAY CITY NEWS
DIAL
CI5-7291
FOR ALL
DEPARTMENTS
MEMBER TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1956
BAY CITY, MATAGORDA COUNTY, TEXAS
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 36
COUNTY POLITICOS SLOW IN FILING
With Acreage Cuts Rice Growers
Must Average Over 20 Barrels
FOUR COUNTY WELLS ARE TESTING
MAGNOLIA RUNS
LOG MONDAY
ON HAWKINS
9
Potentials Are
Reported By
Ohio And Crown
"Testing. . . "
That's the word this week from
four Matagorda County wells—two
wildcats and two field tries.
Here they are:
1—Phillips Petroleum Company's
wildcat at Shepherd's Mott, called
1-A Mott, ran pipe to the bottom
of the hole, is testing.
2—Russell Maguire's No. 1 F.
Huebner, also a wildcat southeast
of Bay City. Maguire drilled the
farm-out from Humble Oil & Re-
ining Company to the approxi-
mate total depth of 11,500 feet,
encountered oil production from
the interval at 9,514-24 feet, is
now attempting to reduce the high
* (See "4 TESTING," Page 8)
Archie Thompson
Enters Candidacy
For Commissioner
Archie (Lieutenant) Thompson
of Palacios has authorized this
publication to announce his can-
didacy for commissioner of Pre-
cinct 3.
Mr. Thompson is retired from
the United States Air Force, 49
years old, married, and has three
children in school. He has been a
resident of Precinct 3 for the past
10 years.
Jfr. Thompson owns a small cat-
tle ranch on the Tres-Palacios
River Road and is proud of his
membership in the Matagorda
County Farm Bureau.
Mr. Thompson minimizes his
World War II overseas service by
stating that being a professional
soldier he would have been ashamed
of his record without combat ser-
vice.
The candidate states that "this
is not a so-called campaign prom-
ise—it's a pledge upon my honor;
if you elect me your commissioner
I will show you my appreciation
by seeing to it that a minimum of
$200 is made available each month
during my entire tenure in office
to tLiaintain a full-time juvenile
officer even if the money comes
out of my salary. •.
"There appears to be more than
enough of your TAX money al+
rea<& appropriated the commis-
sioner in salary to accomplish this
without further taxation.
"You are well aware of the
growing and imminent juvenile
situation now facing us both in our
schools and in pur community life
and the urgent need for a full-
time juvenile officer to start work
here* immediately."
Mr. Thompson further states
that "all American citizens have
a right to know how their elected
officials stand on any public mat-
ter and I shall not be known as a
'hedger' where your interests are
concerned.
"Having a record of more than
30 years of satisfactory public
service in varibus capacities both
in the military and as a civilian, I
am cSifindent that I can serve you
well and on a full-tme basis.
"Come, come|'let's not quibble—
how about that rote?"
AN ECONOMY SUGGESTION
Does the fact that we have law enforcement officers
on state and local levels imply that all citizens are law
violators ?
Certainly not!
Neither do laws requiring publication of financial
statements by governing agencies, or open meetings
of governing bodies, or that public records be open to
public inspection imply that all government officials are
corrupt. Yet many office holders resent and resist
efforts to enact such laws because they say they are a
reflection on their honesty!
Actually, such laws would be a protection to honest
officials, just as the policeman is a protection to honest
citizens.
Lack of an adequate police force tends to make
people careless and they often do little things they would
not do if an officer of the law were close at hand. Like
speed laws, for instance. Isn't it surprising how much
more carefully people drive when they see a highway
patrol car parked by the side of the road ?
Laws requiring publication of financial statements
by tax-spending agencies of the government are chiefly
beneficial as a preventive measure. Few officials will
unlawfully expend money if it has to be reported public-
ly. Most officials will weigh carefully what might be
only an unwise expenditure if they know it is to be
printed for all to see.
Officials move more cautiously in transacting gov-
ernment business when their meetings are open to the
public, or when minutes of their activities are subject
to public inspection. This makes for better government,
for sounder thinking and planning in government. It
just about puts the occasional corrupt official out of
business.
It was reported during the Duval County investiga-
itons that financial statements made to Austin authori-
ties showed that hundreds of dollars had been paid car-
penters for repairs on school buildings. Until the in-
vestigation began, Austin had no way of knowing these
were not legitimate, but it was revealed during the in-
vestigations that the carpenters had not done any work
and had not received any payment.
How long would such practices have continued had
the school districts been required to publish financial
statements in local newspapers? The carpenters would
have revealed the fraud immediately, of course, but
more important—it never would have been attempted If
publication had been required.
That's why Texas needs laws requiring that public
business be made public. That's why Texas voters should
demand that legislative candidates make known their
attitudes on such measures during this campaign year.
PLANTING DUE
TO START ABOU
MIDDLE MARCH
Most Cotton Land
Ready For April
Planting Schedule
With the rice planting season
almost at hand, farmers, irrigators,
and other allied businesses are
alarmed at the reduction in acre-
age.
This year Matagorda County
received an allotment of 35,343
acres.
Farmers will have to come close
to or exceed their record 20 barrels
per acre last year on about 42,000
acres to make rice growing eco-
nomically feasible.
K. D. Horton, president of Gulf
Coast (Water Company, said that
there would not be over 26,000
acres on the system this year.
This year approximately five-
sixths of the acreage will be on
canals and one-sixth on wells, if
past figures hold true.
The Gulf Coast Water Company
will supply the major portion of
water, 'followed by the Blessing
Canal System.
More farmers are beginning to
understand and give the nod of
approval to the proposed two-
price system for rice.
New System Revealed
This system provides for govern-
ment support at 90 to 100 per
cent of parity for all rice sold in
the United States and its terri-
tories.
It also calls for a support level
at 50 per cent of parity for all ex-
port rice.
The tendency in the past has
been to price products out of the
foreign trade market. A more
realistic price might find new
markets as well as solidify old
ones.
Whatever the case, this two-
price system would not go into
effect until 1957 if passed by the
government.
Rice marketing quotas will be
in effect this year. County farm-
ers voted for quotas January 27
(See "20 BARRELS", Page 8)
Heart Donations
TSunday Accented
As Tax Deductions
Hundreds of volunteer workers
in a score or more of communities,
including Bay City, in all sections
of Texas will visit their neighbors
and others in their home towns
next Sunday to accept contribu-
tions to the 1956 Texas Heart
Fund.
Sunda^—designated as Heart
Sunday nationally by the Ameri-
can Heart Association—will be
observed throughout Texas by the
Texas Heart Association and lo-
cal affiliated Heart groups in the
state's communities, it has been
announced by Senator Lyndon
Johnson, chairman of the 1954
Texas Heart Fund.
"In those communities in which
no formal observance of Heart
Sunday is planned, contributions
to the fight against the nation's
number one killer may be made
by mailing the Heart Sunday con-
tributions to Heart, care of the
Postmaster," the Texas Heart
Fund chairman pointed out.
It also has been pointed out that
contributions to the 1956 Heart
Fund, including those made on
Heart Sunday, are acceptable as
income tax deductions.
Emphasizing the tragic total of
lives lost annually in the United
States because of heart diseases,
(See "DEDUCTIONS", Page 4)
Only 4 Of 8 Sign Up
With Party Chairman
Although eight politicos have signified in the columns
of THE BAY CITY NEWS that they are going to enter the
county political wars this year, only four candidates had filed
with Democratic Party Chairman A. Harris Jr. by Saturday.
Deadline for filing for the July 28 Democratic primary
election is May 7, and Mr. Harris said that it was "customary
to file early."
He reminded candidates that it
is necessary to file with him.
Announcements in newspapers
alone will not make a person a
candidate for an office.
Those filing with Mr. Harris are
Billy Holt for commissioner of
Precinct 3, W. C. (Bill) Tillman
"for commissioner o'f Precinct 1.
S. O. Eidman for commissioner
of Precinct 1, and Fred Holub for
county attorney. Mr. Holub is the
lone incumbent 'filing.
NEWS Announcements
Prospective candidates announc-
ing in THE NEWS are T. D. (Tom)
Matthews, candidate for commis-
sioner of Precinct 1, incumbent.
Mr. Eidman; Mr. Tillman; Mr.
Holub; James H. Selkirk, candi-
date for county tax assessor-col-
lector, incumbent; George A.
Shoultz, candidate 'for commission-
er of Precinct 1.
J. B. (Jack) Cole, candidate for
sheriff, incumbent, and C. H. (Dee)
DeWolfe, candidate for sheriff.
Commissioners draw the highest
b^se pay of any county officer,
and that race is drawing the most
interest.
Base pay is $7,125, an increase
of $1,425 over last year's salary.
The sheriff is paid $6,085, tax
assessor-collector $6,445, and coun-
ty attorney $6,085.
Offices Named
A district attorney, two district
judges, and all constables will be
elected in the primary, but as yet
they have neither filed with Mr.
Harris or announced in THE
NEWS.
Cost of filing to candidates will
not be decided until after the 'fil-
ing deadline.
The county Democratic execu-
tive committee will meet and figure
the cost of the election and ap-
portion filing fees to candidates
on the basis of office salary, num-
ber of candidates, etc.
There is no fixed method for
figuring filing fees, Mr. Harris
said.
If everyone who bought a poll
taxe uses his right to vote, some
6,480 Matagorda Countians will
flock to the polls in the primary
election and in the absentee vot-
ing.
Absentee voting will begin July
8 and end July 24. All absentee
(See "POLITICOS", Page 8)
G. F. Benedict
Announces For
County Sheriff
G. F. (Gus) Benedict has author-
ized THE BAY CITY NEIWS to
announce his candidacy for sheriff
of Matagorda County.
Mr. Benedict has received ex-
perience for the position as deputy
sheriff and county patrolman un-
der the late Harris Milner.
Now a cotton buyer, the 49-yeaf*
old Matagorda Oountian was born
and raised in Bay City and attend-
ed public schools here.
"If elected I will serve as a full-
time sheriff and do the job to the
best of my ability," the candidate
said.
Mr. Benedict is married and has
four daughters. The family lives
at 2601 Boring Street.
COUNTY RETAIL SALES
'54 ARE $25,778,000
Matagorda County retail sales
in 1954 shot up to $25,778,000, a
30.4 per cent increase in sales over
1948, according to the preliminary
1954 census of business figures
just released by the Bureau of
Census, Department of Commerce.
The 1954 figure was based on
the sales of 325 stores in the coun.
ty. Two hundred stores in 1948
brought in $19,761,000.
Stores with payroll in 1954 num-
bered 221, had 997 paid employees
in November, 1954, with a reported
payroll of $2,524,000, and account-
ed for sales of $24,164,000.
Proprietors of unincorporated
businesses numbered 322.
Food stores topped the list in
number as well as in retail sales.
In 1954 there were 71 food stores
in the county reporting $6,478,000
in sales.
For its size, the automotive
Harry Wirth9 s Doorstep Is The World
By BOB STEWART
Editor
Harry |Wirth is probably the
only Bay Ci.tian to talk with a na-
tive of the Principality of Monaco,
the kingdojn of Prince Ranier,
bridegroom - elect of Hollywood
Star Grace Kelly.
Although this contact was a bit
unusual since the tiny principality
probably has only one radio ama-
teur, Mr. Wirth has worked 208
different countries via amateur
radio since he began his hobby
nearly 40 years ago.
The Bay City "ham", as radio
amateurs are known, hastened to
add that as far as he knew the
Monaco contact was no relation to
his highness, Prince Ranier.
Since Mr. Wirth began amateur
radio operations just after World
War I in New York, he has work-
ed "upwards of 15,000 contacts."
The transmitter Mr. Wirth uses
today is a far cry from his first
amateur rig. The first set had a
power of 10 watts and worked with
a crystal detector without today's
vacuum tubes.
'We were lucky to make a con-
tact across town in those days,"
the native of Illinois laughs.
Now, Mr. Wirth's transmitter is
a powerful instrument working
with the power of 1,000 watts, the
limit under Federal Communica-
tions Commission rules.
The transmitter was home built
by the sound' and projection engi-
neer of Long Theatres and is at
least the twelfth transmitter he
has used.
Lasting friendships have been
struck Up via the radio waves. Mr.
Wirth first met Dr. Mark Poole of
Bay City in a radio conversation
when the Presbyterian doctor of
medicine was in the Belgian Con-
go-
"Dr. Poole recently returned to
Bay City after four years in the
Congo," relates1 the local amateur,
while showing the reporter several
vicious-looking African arrows the
missionary gave him as souvenirs.
After Dr. Poole had his trans-
mitter set up in Africa, his friends
and relatives came to Mr. Wirth's
home and talked with him by
radio.
Mr. Wirth pointed out that this
communication was highly valu-
able to the doctor since, if he were
It serves a two-fold purpose in
in need of rare medicine, he could
relay his needs by radio and save
weeks of time.
All such traffic is handled free
of charge by radio amateurs. As
a matter of fact, it is against the
law to take money for their ser-
vices.
"I think the public realizes the
value of the 'ham' in time of dis-
aster," Mr. Wirth said.
He handled traffic in the Texas
Other amateur radio fans in
Bay City include Glen Ellis,
Jimmy Aydelotte, Milton Jarrell,
James Emerson, Morgan Frank-
lin, Ted Doubek, Frank Bunk,
, Kenneth Hite, and Denny HolJ
combe.
City explosion, letting friends and
relatives all over the nation know
how residents had fared in the
1947 disaster.
Messages are handled by the
dozens when hurricanes hit this
part of the Gulf Coast or freezes
take out the powerlines. t
Mr. Wirth may have talked to
your favorite Hollywood- star but
he can't be certain., ^
California actors seldom give
their names in contacts. If they
did fans would tie up the frequency
trying to talk to them.
The Bay City amateur who came
to live here in 1938 has worked
"hams" with expeditions in
Anarctica.
"The men down there have a
lot of time on their hands and pass
it away by radio work," Mr. Wirth
said.
Language No Barrier
Language isnt a barrier to radio
amateurs. They have a set of "Q"
signals that transcends language
and allows them to carry on com-
prehensive conversations without
using their, native languages.
Information on the site of the
transmitter, power, and of course
the names and addresses can be
given by these "Q" signals.
"Hems" always come back to
their first love in contacts—their
equipment and contacts.
Mr. Wirth's antenna is a huge
affair located in a side yard of his
home at 2901 Third Street. The
antenna looks like an overgrown
television yagi.
the (Wirth household.
Recently, some youngsters ab-
sconded with the family's house-
marker. However, Mrs. Margaret
Wirth—better known to her friends
as Maudie—-says that the antenna
is as good an identification method
as a housemarker anytime.
And how does the "XYL" ("ham"
language for ex-young lady) feel
about her husband's hobby ?
"She grins and bears it," laughs
Mr. Wirth.
Their two young daughters,
Nancy, 4, and Susan, 8, are still
too young to think much about
their dad's radio activities.
Mr. Wirth has a mobile rig in-
stalled in his car. Since much of
his time is spent on the road radio
talks with "hams" help to relieve
the monotony of driving.
"This is a good hobby that could
lead young men into an industry
that still has a great future," Mr.
Wirth commented.
The cost is moderate. Rigs can
be set-up for less than $100.
And, as for interest, Mr. Wirth
can testify to the fact that once
you get started as a "ham", it's
hard to stop.
group was the biggest seller pro-
portionally. Nineteen stores had
$6,092,000 in retail sales in 1954.
Kinds of business, number of
stores, and total sales:
Eating, drinking places, 60
stores, $1,276,000; general mer-
chandise group, 13 stores, $1,154,-
000; apparel, accessories stores,
16 stores, $1,063,000.
Furniture, home furnishings, ap-
pliances, eight stores, $823,000;
gasoline service stations, 46 sta-
tions, $2,283,000; lumber, building
materials, hardware, farm equip-
ment, 30 stores, $3,333,000.
Drug stores, proprietary stores,
13 stores, $1,110,000; other retail
stores, 45 stores, $2,143,000; non-
store retailers, five, $33,000.
In terms of individual cities, Bay
City led all the rest of Matagorda
County in all fields. Palacios was
second.
Bay City had a total of 199
establishments employing 139 work-
ers, while Palacios had 61 estab-
lishments employing 41 workers.
Bay City Totals
Kinds of business in Bay City,
number of stores, and total sales:
Food stores, 38 stores, $4,816,-
000; eating, drinking places, 33
stores, $916,000; general merchan-
dise group, six stores, $872,000.
Apparel, accessories stores, 14
stores, sales withheld; furniture,
home furnishing, appliance deal-
ers, seven stores, sales withheld;
automotive group, 15 stores, $5,-
098,000.
Gasoline service stations, 26
stores, $1,548,000; lumber, build-
ing, materials, hardware, farjn
equipment dealers, 20 stores, $2,-
394,000.
Drug stores, proprietary stores
eight stores, $905,000; other retail
stores, 27 stores, $1,669,000, non-
store retailers, five, $33,000.
MEMO: Give Generously To 1956 Heart Fund Drive!
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Stewart, Bob. The Bay City News (Bay City, Tex.), Vol. 10, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 23, 1956, newspaper, February 23, 1956; Bay City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth428516/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1&rotate=270: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Palacios Library.