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Newspaper
Shafter Press
Location
Shafter, California, United States of America
Date
Feb 23, 1939
Page
1
In a special session the Shafter city council accepted WPA plans for Central Avenue sidewalks and gutters in Assessment District No 1 and directed engineer F S Currie to prepare construction specs. Currie reported only 646 368 square feet of notices, under 15 percent, prompting no further cost investigation.
Superior Oil company begins work this week on Moodie No 1 location in Section 26 28-25 near Shafter Taft highway on Dr A R Moodie property. Equipment capable of 20000 feet depth aims to make this the world’s deepest well potentially advancing Shafter field and nearby production zones.
Local growers watched a demonstration of a sulfur gas fumigation machine designed to kill potato scab. Invented by George H. Woods, the device uses butane fed chemicals to heat and emit gas through four shoes into the soil to a depth of about 19 inches. The rig, on a two wheel frame and tractor drawn, showed the need for two passes, with several design changes planned.
Shafter advances street repairs with WPA labor and PG and E lighting. Alleys gutters and culverts upgraded, new lights to be switched on by week end at key intersections including Beth Eden and Shafter highway. Central avenue lighting raised to 600 candle power. more city lights planned.
Shafter high school squads fell 18 24 to McFarland and 11 13 to the Cougar Cubs on the local court. Generals trailed after the first half as McFarland pulled away while Colonels struggled to score through the game. Players listed include Walt Kirchenmann P McCoy J Rodriguez J Wilcox R Paloma and others from both teams and the Cougars.
The Shafter High School Colonels and D team travel to Bakersfield tomorrow for a Sierra League basketball game against the East Bakersfield Blades. East Bakersfield has no A class team, so the Generals receive a bye.
L G Helm Bakersfield oil and real estate operator announces plans to build a potato growers and shippers office in Shafter. The adobe or brick building will stand behind the Shafter Warehouse on Santa Fe Way, likely ready before the potato shipping season. Local occupants may include L E Plymale William Lachenmaier and Bob Neuman plus the Pacific Fruit and Produce Co.
Coach Bill White reports strong outlook for Shafter high track as workouts start. Standout Ted Collins leads team with 53.5 in the 440 and 22.8 in the 220, aiming to break the Sierra league 440 record. Key sprinters Merwin Olson Elmer Dahl and Don Kliewer join a depth of distance runners led by Waldo Unruh Adolph Goertzen and Harold Janzen.
The United States Civil Service Commission announces an open competitive exam to fill the Shafter postmaster vacancy. Eligibility requires US citizenship, one year within the delivery area, good health, within age limits. both men and women may apply. Applications due March 7, 1939.
Shafter Post American Legion discussed a highway safety campaign with W. W. Tannahill as chairman and planned a future presentation. A potential Boy Scout cabin site was considered with possible ground purchase and construction ahead. A stag dinner is set for the next meeting on March 6.
Kern county supervisors agreed to underwrite the annual stock show held with Bakersfield Frontier Days. They will provide 2000 dollars for the show and budget about 3500 dollars for open barns to display livestock.
The report notes multiple county teams entering Bakersfield and Fresno relays. Shafter will defend its Sierra league title from last year in spring. An interclass track meet is planned within a month with date to be set later, and a definite schedule will be released subsequently.
The 1938-39 cotton season in Shafter closes with 15,672 bales ginned across three gins. D. O. Moore, Camp-West-Lowe, and Shafter-Wasco reported totals of 4,917, 6,698, and 4,057 bales respectively, with final closings expected next Saturday at Moore. Yields ranged from half to two bales on local soils, and conditions were generally favorable despite rain, fog, and an early frost.
Noel Roberts was elected secretary of the Shafter Wasco Kiwanis club to succeed Charles Berry effective March 1. Berry resigned due to time constraints after helping found the club. Captain Roy Galven of the Bakersfield CHP spoke on highway safety at the Tuesday meeting, sharing incidents from his patrol work.
President Roosevelt ordered a special group led by F. C. Harrington WPA administrator to study relief problems in California caused by migration from the middle west. The action followed a petition from California House members asking for action.
Officials say a four company wildcat drill in Section 36 27-24 northwest of Shafter will spud before March first. Union Oil Tide Water Associated Sea Board and Continental plan a joint effort with equipment moving in and a power line set. Local interest grows as the project could open another field impacting near Wasco and Maple ranchers.
Testifying before the state agricultural committee in Sacramento, J. J. Siemens, C. R. Simpson, W. B. Camp and Adolf Kirschenmann urged labeling of all potatoes sold in containers and marketing only US grades. Shafter and Wasco growers approved a bill to require each container to bear the grade and owner or packer address, while Kern, Siskiyou and Modoc growers split on the measure.
Supplies this week were issued from the new headquarters of SERA in the Klassen building at 301 Pacific Avenue. The former location was a small wooden building across the street at 330 Pacific Avenue.
Officials of the General Petroleum corporation say Van Ness No 3 in the Shafter field should reach production by week’s start. Drilling at 11 490 feet, cementing completed at 11 390 feet, with Van Ness No 2 to be drilled next near the No 3 site. Field limits and southern orientation noted. Caldwell drilling at No 1 reached 9 625 feet. Union and Getty active, Union moving its last derrick to a northwest wildcat.
J. H. Strathdee, Salvation Army adjutant of Bakersfield, spoke at a Friday noon meeting of the Shafter Business Men’s Association at Cafe Neuman. Ford Hudson urged reorganizing steps, and H. Midgley was asked to convene the other final board members. Plans announced include starting sidewalks around the county park on California Avenue.
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