The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, November 21, 1950, Page 1

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” VOL. LXXVI, NO. 11,664 JUNEAU, ALASKA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1950 MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS PRICE TEN CENTS Floods Drive Thousands From Their fHomes $300,000 ANS Hospifal at Bethel Destreyed by Fire; Patienfs Evacuated Safely et o \Walk Into Deserted Town' Scores of patients were evacuated safely when fire destroyed the Alaska Native Service hospital at Bethel, in the Yukon valley, in zero weather yesterday. None of the patients was injured | but one hospital employee was hurt | during the removal of the invalids, injured during a fall. Hugh Wade, area director for the Alaska Native Service, said a report received here from Dr. Duncan Chalmers, head of the hospital, said | the $300,000 building was a total loss. The fire started at 4 p.m., yes- terday, Bethel time, or 6 p.m., Ju- neau time. Dr. Chalmers asked for immediate aid in providing suitable quarters for 27 patients deemed in need of immediate hospitalization. Wade said he had no idea how many patients had been in the structure but knew that everyone of the institution’s 70 beds were filled as it was “the busiest hospital in the interior.” Bethel is approximately 1,000 air- line miles northwest of Juneau and 600 miles southwest of Fairbanks. It is the center of a largely Native area which recently has been the scene of a severe typhoid fever epi- demic. Wade said that so far as he knew none of the patients in serious need of care was a typhoid victim as the epidemic had been brought under control several weeks ago. Earlier reports had said the hospital was filled to overflowing with 300 ty- phoid victims. The injured employee was flowr to Anchorage by the 10th Rescut Squadron for treatment. The patients were evacuated tc a nearby quonset hut which car serve as strictly temporary quarter: only, Wade said. He said the pa- tients would be flown to other ANS hospitals in Alaska. The ANS is a federal agency which deals with Alaskan Native in providing schools, hospitals anc other care. Dr. Chalmers said the cause of the blaze has not been learned al though it was known to have startec in the boiler room. Northern Consolidated Airlines Anchorage, has a DC-3 standing b} in Anchorage until weather clears and patients are ready to be flown from Bethel to other ANS hospitals Ray Peter is the pilot of the DC-3. There are nine nurses employec at the Bethel ANS hospital and al are ANS personnel. William J. Featherstone, construc- tion engineer, and Miss Priscille Parker, area consultant in nursing are leaving this afternoon for Bethel for survey of damage and tc The Washington Merry - Go- Round Copyright, 1350, by Bell SyLaicate, Inc. By DREW PEARSON /ASHINGTONanst, week tol erant editors permitted me to ex- pound on certain facts pertaining to Russia—that Russia has ne been defeated in a major war ex- cept through internal revolt; that our huge armament burden anc the Soviet strategy of wars of at- trition may wear us down whil Moscow gets ready for all-oul war; and that our best defense it to take the offensive, penetrat the Iron Curtain and get to thc Russian people—some of them al- ready chafing at the bit agains the Kremlin. War documents seized after V. E Day' have shown conclusivel that about three million Russian: surrendered to the German arm? in 1941 because of thes revol against Moscow. There is also con clusive evidence that millions o Russians were friendly toward the United States at the time of V-E Day; and that the chief reaso: for the Iron Curtain was to keej them frcm knowing the benefits of peace and friendship. Cracking the Iron Curtain, it should be noted, is not easy. But neither is war easy. And as a ster toward cracking it, I would like to propose four rather elementary moves which could be made in ‘Washington. Move No. 1.—President Truman (Continued on Page Four) reassign the Bethel hospital em- ployees. Featherstone will send in| a report on how much funds will be | necessary to rebuild the hospital. MORE FIRE PARTICULARS | ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Nov. 21— (M—Three patients and one in-| jured employee from the burned Alaska Native Service hospital at Bethel arrived here by airplane to- day. | They id they believed there | were 62 ents in the institution when yesterday's fire drove them out in freezing weather. They said bed patients were taken to a Na- tive Service school. Francis Aloysius, 25, a Native worker, who was injured, said he was sleeping when the fire broke out. He tried going through a cor- ridor when the smoke drove him upstairs. “Too many smoke to go down stairway,” he said at a hospital here, where he is being treated for wrist and possible leg injuries. Explosion He started climbing out a window of the second story. He said he was hanging on a ledge when there was an explosion. That was the last he remembered. Aloysius and Alice Keeley, 26, of Seattle, a nurse at the hospital who was recovering from an operation, said the evacuation was done by nospital personnel, ably aided by airlines employees acting as volun- seer firemen. The other patients brought here were Mike Rooch, 57, of Bethel, and Mrs. David S. Rodgers, Bethel. Most of the patients were reported to have been tuberculosis victims or crippled children. Congress io Be Asked for A-Bomb Funds WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 — (B — The Atomic Energy Commission is embarking on a new expansion pro- gram for “certain production fa- cilities,” Senator Maybank (D-SC) disclosed today. He made public a letter from AEC General Manager Carlton Shugg saying that the commission plans to ask for the money to pay for the program as soon as Congress re- turns next Monday. Neither the amount the AEC seeks nor details of the new program were revealed. Maybank is a member of a Sen- ate Appropriations subcommittee | which has jurisdiction over AEC funds. Shugg wrote: “It is now planned to present a supplemental appropriation request for a further program of expan- sion of certain production facilities when the Congress reconvenes at he end of this month.” Maybank told reporters that | money for atomic energy develop- ment should be “the No. 1 item” in | any defense appropriations to be zonsidered at the short session. STRANDED FLYBOYS DUE FOR PICKUP BY RCAF PLANE TODAY EDMONTON, Alta., Nov. 21—®— A Royal Candian Air Force plane, equipped with skis, was to attempt the rescue today of two stranded airmen near iced-over Iosegun Lake, 96 miles southeast of Grand Prairie, Alta. The two men, pilot Harry Adams of Renton, Wash., and passenger Arthur Foss of Kenai, Alaska, were sighted near the lake last night, several hours after their single en- gined Stinson 150 was reported over- due. The plane disappeared on a 250- mile flight from Edmonton to Grand Prairie. Neither of the two men appeared to‘suffer injuries and both were well-equipped with ra-|returned Sinday from a shiprt | dustrials 231.16, rails 69.71 U.S. TROOPS ON BORDER, MANCHURIA Without Firing One Shot | -River lce-Coated (By the Associated Press) Tank-supported U.S. Infantrymen walked into deserted Hyesanjin on the Manchurian border today. Not a shot was fired. Only the narrow, ice-coated Yalu river lay between them and Red Chinese territory. The sroops—of the 17th Regimental Combat Team —were the first Americans to reach | the Manchurian boundary. U.S. war planes swooped low over the smouldering, bomb-wrecked | town as weary Infantrymen slogged | the last two miles through snow. The only humans around were 15 villagers, garbed in black. They stood outside the town and bowed low as the unsmiling Americans marched by. Town Deserted Hyesanjin itself was deserted. Buildings that had survived the bombing were boarded up. Commanding Generals were jubi- lant. But the Infantrymen who) reached the banks of the much- talked-about Yalu river boundary were not impressed. One GI cocked an eye at the narrow stream and | exclaimed. | “Well Tll be damned. So this is| the Yalu. Well how do you like that?” Enemy Forces Isolated Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almond, 10th Corps commander, said the feat the 17th Combat Team “di- vided enemy held territory and iso- lated all significant forces east of the 127th meridan east longitude.” Reds still held a Japanese-built network of military roads on both sides of Hyesanjin. They were re- ported reorganizing in the moun- tains and north of the border. War All Winter United Nations intelligence offi- cers predicted the war would con- tinue throughout the winter. GI dreams of being home for Christmas or even by Ground Hog Day faded. | Before the Allied forces lie wild, almost inaccessible mountains, headhigh snow drifts and tempera- tures of 20 degrees and more below zero. If the U.N. forces could at- tack in full strength the line held by the North Koreans and Chinese would not hold. But sub-zero weather will cut down combat effi- ciency and U.N. Army’s resources will be absorbed in just keeping men alive and in the line. Withia Artillery Range Col. Herbert B. Powell, command- { ing the 17th Regiment said Com- munist Manchuria was within easy | artillery range, but his guns would | not fire across the Yalu “unless they fire first.” The dog-tired Infantrymen, vet- | the cold-blasted Aleutians during | World War II, reached the border Jjust 22 days after they had made an unopposed amphibious landing in | Korea, altogether they had marched | some 100 miles in the freezing cold. Their feat encouraged other U.N. forces, slowed down by adverse winter conditions. Near Soviet Border To the east, the South Korean Capital Division pushed ten miles along the coast, capturing Chuchon- | hujang. This put the division just; 85 miles from the Soviet border. On the northwest front, the Réds were said to be building up their | strongest defense lines between Huichon and Anjang. Here they were fortifying mountain peaks | from which they could dominate arteries leading to the border. South African airmen have now | | joined the U.N. fighting ranks tak- | | ing their places with U.S., Australian and Korean-fliers. | PARKER RETURNS Lauris Parker, sanitarian with the Division of Engineering, Alas- ka Department of Health has re- turned from the interior where he has been engaged in work for the Department. MRS. VUILLE RETURNS Mrs. Gladys Vuille, with the Ju- neau an American Airways office, ' to Ecattle, tions and sleeping bags. trip | erans of an outfit which fought in |’ e | Six Soldiers Die in (NR Train Wreck EDMONTON, Alta., Nov. 21—{P— Six persons were killed teday when a westbound troop train collided with an eastbound trans;ontinemtal train on the main line of the Ca- nadian National Railways, 83 miles west of Jasper. E. G. Skelding, superintendent of transportation for the CNR. at Edmonton said those killed were all aboard a troop train bound for Fort Lewis, Wash. The troop train originated Shilo, Man., and was carrying pel sonnel of the 2nd Field Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. Railways officials said the en- gine crews of both trains were miss~ ing. Some passengers on the No. 2 transcontinental, which left Van- couver last night, suffered minor injuries. The wreck was between Canoe River and Cedarside, about 400 miles east of Vancouver in an inag- | cessible part of the Rocky Moun- tains. Details were lacking because the wreck tore out telegraph com- munications. ROTARIANS HEAR OF GOVERNOR MEETING Gov. Ernest Gruening talked about the recent Wesiern Gover- nor's conference at a regular lunch- eon meeting of the Juneau Rotary Club today at the Baranof fotel. He discussed the value of uni- formity of laws regarding such things as traffic codes, and truck progress is being made in assisting students desiring graduate study to enter state institutions special- izing in certain fields, such as med- icine, he said. Hank Harmon announced a Cub Scout Pack meeting next Monday night from 7 to 8 o'clock in the Grade School gym to which all Ro- tarians are urged to attend. It was reported that A. F. Ghig- lione made up attendance at Hono- | lulu. Edward J. O'Brien, new manager of the Baranof Hotel was a gues Hareld Foss will be program chai man next week. PAROLE GRANTED OVER RED PROTEST wartime Foreign Minister, Ma- moru Shigemitsu, was released on parole from a seven-year prison term today despite Russia’s strenu- ous objections, It was the first parole granted a principal defendant in the war crimes convictions growing out of World War II. Shigemitsu was con- victed at the Tojo trial in 1948. War- launching Premier Hideki Tojo was| convicted and hanged. The seven-year sentence given the veteran Japanese diplomat was the lightest imposed by the interna- tional tribunal. He was paroled be- | cause of good behavior. Shigemitsu, 63, was one of two Japanese who signed the historic surrender aboard the U.S. battle-| ship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. | LOU HUDSON RETURNS Lou Hudson of the Family Shoe Store returned to Juneau on Mon-| day's Pacific Northern Airvays plane from Anchorage where he has | been on business, STOCK QUOTATIONS | NEW YORK, Nov, 21 — Closing| quotation of Alaska Juneau mine| | |stock today is 21, American Can | {100, American Tel. and Tel. 151, An- i aconda 38, Douglas Aircraft 85%, | General Electric 49%, General Mo- tors 46%, Goodyear 58':, Kenne- cott 71%, Libby McNeill ¢ 8%, Northern Pacific 28%, Standard Oil of California 80%, Twen Century Fox 21%, U.S. Steel 40 Sales today were 2,000,000 share Averages today are as follo 40.54. weights and measurements. Some | JAP WAR CRIMINAL | TOKYO, Nov. 21 — (# — an:m's} | visited with her sister, Mrs. | Morf, U.S. CHAMBER DEMANDS CUT GOVT.EXPENSE WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 — (B — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called on Congress today to cut government spending for non- military purposes by at least $6,- 000,000,000 before it considers taxing excess profits of corporations. Ripping into administration pro- posals for a 75 percent tax on ab- normal business profits, Ellsworth C. Alvord, chairman of the cham- berr finance committee, declared it was impossible to devise a workable excess profits tax to produce the $4,000,000,000 yearly asked by Presi- dent Truman. Alvord set forth the chamber’s views in a statement for the House Ways and Means Committee, which is winding up hearings on the pro- fits tax proposal which Mr. Truman says is necessary to finance the ex- panding defense program. As business wheeled its biggest guns into the hearings, Democrats on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee continued to hold firm rein on Republican efforts to dis~ cuss substitutes for the administra- tion plan. GOP committee members are plugging for a rise in the corporate income tax rate or a combination of that with an excess profits tax. But the Democrats are sticking by a mandate from the House to draw up an excess profits tax bill. ALASKA BUILDING PLANS OUTLINED TO CONTRACTORS SEATTLE, Nov. 21—{®—Some 300 | Pacific Northwest building contrac- tors were briefed here today on an $180,000,000 construction program planned for Alaska during the next two years, Col. Lyle E. Seeman, Alaska Dis- trict Army Engineer, warned the prospective bidders on the jobs that tion materials in the Territory are virtually exhausted. He said, how- {ever, that the government would help contractors break particular - | bottlenecks in the long supply line to keep the projects rolling. The largest projects outlined at ‘the meeting included Fort Richard- son and Elmendorf, Eielson and Ladd Air Force bases. Bids for most of the projects are scheduled to be opened early next year. MRS. FLEEK VISITS FORMER CHANNEL RESIDENTS ON THREE MONTHS TRIP After three months in California thermometer hit 104, Mrs. George | A, Fleek, shuddered a liitle she stepped into the below freezing atmosphere at the Juneau Airport from the Pan American clipper yesterday afternoon. Oldtime askan that she is, she is sure she will soon be acclimated. Mrs. Fleek visited with relatives and old friends, all former residents of Gastineau Channel. In Phoenix she was the guest of her son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fleek and with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. George Hill. With them she made several trips in the southwest including a tour of the Grand Canyon. * In Miami, Arizona, Mrs: Fleek Emil the former Sarah Berg of Douglas. Mrs. Fleek visited in San Fran- cisco with her cousin, Mrs. A. Von Konsky, the former Mary Garn of Douglas. Frem San Francisco she went to Redding where she was the guest of Mrs, E. W. Christoe. Mrs. Christoe is the former Neitie Mc- Blaine of Douglas. Her husband | was for many years with the Tread- well store, Mr. and Mrs. Carl C. McClain of Fairbanks are at the Baranof Hotel. STEAMER MOVEMENTS Baranof from Seattle in port and i scheduled to sail westward at 9 o'clock tonight. Princess Louise scheduled to sail |from Vancouver Wednesday S| Denali scheduled to sail from Se- attle 5 pm., Friday. government stockpiles of construc- ' and Arizona where in Phoenix the | ALASKA FISHERIES BOARD SETTLES ON RECOMMENDATIONS Report Wlfio fo FWS Hearing in Washing- fon on Dec. 1 After four days of hearing reports, recommendations, budget and weighing the problems of the Alaska | Department of Fisheries and the | Alaska fishermen, members of the Alaska Fisheries Board packed their brief cases and departed Juneau to- day. Careful consideration was given to all suggestions from fishermen and interested persons. The Board fin- ally settled on the following recom- mendations for fishing regulations of the 1951 Alaska season Wwhich will be sent to a final Fish and Wildlife Service hearing in Wash- ington, D.C., Dec. 1. The FWS will make final determination as the Territory has no authority in this matter. General Recommendations 1. Reaffirmed the stand for elim- ination of fish traps in accordance with the wishes of Alaskan people as expressed by vote in 1948. Under this it was recommended that (a) during closed fishing periods an opening in the lead of at least 10 fathoms to be lifted to the water line. (To be located at mean low tide outward); and (b) Starting in 1952 increase in mesh size in spillers to at least three and one-half inches stretched measure to prevent | killing of young salmon, herring and other small fish. 2. Troll salmon season: cohoes, July 1 to Sept. 20, outside and in- side waters; kings March 15 to Oct.|. 31 for outside waters, and inside | waters the year around. 3. Retain the 26-inch minimum size on king salmon for all types of gear, except in Cook Inlet area, where considerable numbers of ma- ture jack -kings, under 26-inches are caught. 4. Fish ticket system okayed but the Board believes price should be on the report considering it highly important for biological as well as ‘staustlcal purposes. Area Recommendaticns Bristol Bay: supported the stand of the FWS for use of power boats in 1951, and agreed to proposed sea- |son and weekly closed periods. Kodiak: Agreed to proposed sea- sons and weekly closures with pro- vision for an open season in Karluk area should a run of pink salmon materialize. . Cook Inlet: Agreed to proposed seasons and weekly closure with provision for minimum mesh of eight and one-half inches for all { gear prior to July 5 in all districts. | Also an additional provision that (an overall quota on the red salmon | pack be set as a maximum or buffer {to prevent the condition that oc- curred last year when too many fish were taken resulting in a poor escapement. This quota is to be based on the catch during the pre- | vious two cycles. i Prince William Sound, Copper River and adjacent areas: In gen- eral agreed to the FWS proposals except fall season and suggested August 20 to Sept. 30. Limit the number of crab pots to 100 for in- side water only, should not apply to outside water. The board felt that the potentials of the outside crab fishery are tremendous and that no obstacles should be placed in the way of its development. Also recommended a trial season July 10 to Aug. 7 to check on the rehab- ilitation of these runs. This period has been closed for years. Southeast Alaska: Recommended (Continued on Page flve) B NAT. GUARD CHECKS | FOR JULY ARRIVING Checks amounting to $470.09 are being received by 26 members of | Headquarters, Headquarters nnd} Service Co., 208th Infantry Batta- lion (Sep), the local National Guard | unit, for drill during the first month | of the units activation. The orig- inal members are receiving this “take home pay” for participating | in four two-hour drills during the| Raging, Devasfating Floods Hit Wide Areas in Nevada, California; Rain Confinues (By the Associated Press) Torrents of mountain-fed flood waters ripped through northern and central California and western Ne- vada this morning, driving thou- sands of persons from their homes and doing untold amounts of prop- erty damage. At least nine persons were dead from the floods, which started on its third day of rampage with added force from mountain rains and melting snow. Here is how the situation stacked up: Reno Tumbled Mass Nevada — The main section of Reno was a tumbled mass of mud, debris and torn paving after the swirling Truckee river — normally three to four feet deep at this time of year—roared 20 feet deep and three blocks wide through the cen- ter of “The Biggest Little City in the World.” The Truckee burst its banks with crushing force at 10:30 last night, flooding swank hotels and gambling casinos. For hours the downtown section was under six to eight feet of water, but the flood was receding today. One death was attributed to the raging waters. California Emergency California — Governor Earl War- ren declared a state of emergency over the racing floods in the central SEVERIN SWANSON'S BODY FOUND TODAY The body of Severin Swanson was recovered about noon today from three fathoms of water near the lower Government dock where he fell from a gangplank early Thursday morning. A high wind | was blowing when he went down the gangplank to go aboard the Health Department vessel Hygiene, of which he was captain. Swanson was discovered missing Friday and a search instituted by the Coast Guard and personal friends. Dragging for.the body con- tinued Friday, Saturday and Sun- day. Yesterday waters were too rough to continue, The search was taken up this morning. Participating were Swanson’s brother Harold Swanson, Ed Skaret, Chris Olson, Ed Jacobson, Nils Anderson, Tom Leite, Carl Nelson, Art Kobbevik, Emil Samuelson, and two sons, Robert and Severin, Jr. Swanson. Severin Swanson was born in Hemnes, Norway in 1889, came to the United States about 1906 and to Juneau, Alaska in 1013 where he has made his home since. He has been a fisherman and boat captain in Alaska waters for many | years, hating captained the FWS Grizzly Bear, the Margnita, the Hy- ziene, and others. Surviving are his wife, Pern- { nela, a daughter Yvonne, and four sons, Severin Junior, Robert, and Lance, all of Juneau and another son, Arnold of Shemya. Funeral arrangements will announced later. PEARL PETERSON SOUTIY M.uss rearl Peterson of .the U. 8, Forest Service office, left yesterday for Seattle and plans to return shortly after the Thanksgiving Day holidays. 1 e o 0000 0 0 00 o0 be WEATHER REPORT Temperatires for 24-Hour Period ending 6:20 o'clock this morning In Juneau—Maximum, 24; minimum, 15. At Airport—Maximum, 22; minimum, 8, FORECAST (Juneau and Vieinity) Continued cold tonight with lowest temperature near 15 in town and as low as 6 in outlying areas. Increasing high cloudiness Wednesday with high temperature 25 de- grees, PRECIPITATION (Past 24 hours ending 7:30 a.m. today month of July. Due to organizational difficulties, this first payment was slow in being received. Future payments will be| e made much more promptly, accord- e ing to local National Guard authori- | o ®escccscsccccsccecsscsveesn ties, v City of Juneau — none; since Nov. 1 — 399 inches; since July 1—33.02 inches. At Airport None; since Nov. 1 — 1.95 inches; since July 1—23.00 inches. 2 9 % 0 0 0 0o valley. The Yuba County Sheriff's office ordered the evacuation of an estimated 3,500 residents from East Linda, near Marysville, in the face of the threat of the flooding Yuba and Bear rivers. The muddy torrent, which has already smashed through levees in three places and inundated the towns of Hammonton and Marigold, continues to rise. Sacramento Flooded The American river burst its banks near Sacramento and flooded thousands of acres of suburban land, driving 1,000 people from their homes. Eight California deaths were at- tributed, directly or indirectly, to the floods. The U.S. Weather Bureau at San Francisco predicted “moderate to heavy rain” for the high Sierra to- day—~the ninth straight day of storms. Reno, gaudy little city >f casinos and quickie divorces, reeled under the impact of the flood. Muddy water raced through the business district in a stream three blocks wide, sweeping trees, benches, cars in its rage. Swank Hotels Flooded The plush Riverside hotel had five feet of water on its main floor. The ultra swank Mapes hotel basement was flooded to the ceil- ing. A six foot wall of water was kept out of the lobby by sandbags. Merchants reported thousands of dollars of damage to Christmas mer- chandise stored andie- Siand < fiogong Highways Washed Out Both main higways to California, 40 and 60, were washed out in places across the Sierra. They were blocked by slides in others. Washouts between Reno and Truckee, Calif., disrupted transcon= tinental rail traffic through the di- vorce capital. Eastbound trains were held at Truckee and westward. Westbound trains were held at Sparks, Nev. National Guard Called ' The Nevada National Guard was called out in arms to prevent loot- ing and keep residents from danger zones. » All of the city's eight bridges across the Truckee were completely under water. Two big sewer mains over the river on the east side of Reno were broken. An unidentified man died of a heart attack as he attempted to save stock from the basement of a Reno department store. Another unidentified man, who jumped into | the flood waters in an apparent suicide attempt, turned up alive sev- eral hundred yards downstream. Threat in California The biggest threat in California was in the Cutter-Yuba County area. Dikes along, the flooding Bear river broke, sending streams of water into the towns of Hammon- ton and Marigold. Sheriff’s officers reported a num= ber of Hammonton residents had huddled in the upper stories of an office building there. At Sacramento the American river spilled over levees late last night, chasing some 700 residents from homes along the river. At Visalia, the Kaweah river ate hungrily at sandbag barricades as army engineers and civilian volun- teers worked in desperation to stem the river’s inroads on flood dikes. gy LATEST REPORT Around 8,000 persons began swarming into Marysville, Calif., this morning as the Yuba river swept out in its worst flood of re- cord. About half of these refugees were from the Linda district, and the rest were from Olivehurst, both unincorporated areas in the Marys- ville area. Earlier, the nearby town of Hamonton had been ordered evacuated. ‘The Sheriff’s office "at Marysville said no one was in immediate dan- ger as warnings had been issued in time. Bute«property loss was expected to be tremendous. There was one note of hopeful- ness—U.S. Engineers said they be- lieved the worst of the floods had passed in California. A band of rain clouds was moving slowly inland. In Blue Canyon, Placer County, for example, 8.18 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. 7