Castlegar Kinnaird ASTLE NEWS Published Every Thursday at “The Crossroads of the Kootenays” ridge VOL. 5 5 Robson Brilliant 5 Cents Per Copy G. ROOT GUEST SPEAKER AT CHAMBER OF COM. MEET A busy year was reported by W. T. Waldie in his president's report to the Castlegar and D trict Chamber of Commerce An- nual General Meeting held last Friday night. The full texc of Mr, Waldie’s report can be found elsewhere in this paper. New officers installed Art’) Anderson, president; Mike Dalton, vice - president; Ron Couchmin, secreta ireasurer and Dick Elliott, Nick Oglow, Ralph West and Cecil Watson councillors. During the eveniug five men were accepted into membership of the chamber, They were 4 W. Ackney, . Stephonic, G. Shaw, Rev. C. Johnston and E. J. Fink. Gordon Root, officer of the Celgar Develop- ment Company Lid., was guest speaker for the evening and the full text of his address follows I want to try to give you some concrete idea of the Celgar de- velopment what it involves and what it will mean to the Ar row Lakes district generally. However, any reference to this subject would obviously be in- complete if it failed to include some background ef the com- pany responsible for the pro ject include public relations As you know, Celgar Develop- ment Co. Lid. is the third of the Canadian affiliates of the Cel anese Corporation of America, one of the younger and more ag- gressive of the major industrial organizations jn the United Stat- ¢ Celanese Corporation of Am- erica was founded a little over 2 years ago to produce yarn from cellulose by the acetate pro- cess. If the technical terms con- fuse you, cellulose is a high quality pulp and the acetate pro- cess is a chemica) formula de veloped by the Dreyfus Brothers and perfected in the Celanese la- boratories. From a very small beginning, the Celanese Corporation as spanded and extended its fi of operations until today it 11 plants and 2 laboratories in the United States and, in addi- tion to the Canadian program, has joined forces with loca] in- dustrialists to build plants” in Mexico, Columbia and Venezuela. So far the company is commit- ted to expenditures — totalling more than $160 million in Can- ada. rom the original yarn produc- tion, the company has branched into the dyeing, plastics and pulp industries, and at Castle- gar will again extend this field to include newsprint. In the acetate process, the cel- lulose is combined with acetic acid to form cellulose acetate flake. This flake is then dis- solved in acetone and the solu- tion is spun into yarn or molded into plastics. Further processing produces staple fibre from the yarn. The uses of these mater are as broad and as diversified as the demands for modern liv- ing. The yarn and s are woven into a variety brics ranging from floor cover- ings to the delicate gowns of mi- lady’s wardrobe, From the _pla- stics come a long list of items including such varied articles as food wrappers, lamp shades and telephones. The first of the Celanese ven- tures in Canada — the Columbia Cellulose plant at Prince Rupert was created to assure a con- stant supply of cellulose for the company operations. With the development of the natural gas fields in Alberta and the growing demand in Canada for chemicals, it was only na- tural that Celanese, -~- With its wide experience in chemistry -— should turn its attention to that area, Out of these investigations came the plans for the Canadian Chemical Co. operation at Ed- monton. When construction is complet- ed this fall, the Edmonton plant will offer to Canadian manufac turers a wide variety of indus- trial chemicals and sufficient ace tate yarn and staple fibre to meet the current requirements in this country. I feel that the importance of our Alberta project to the Can- adian economy and to the peo- ple of Canada is deserving of the fullest consideration. The Cer. awe owe rica GORDON ROOT Gordon Root, Director of Pub- lic Relations for Canadian af- filiates of the Celanese Corpor tion of America is a native of Vancouver and veteran British Columbia — newspaperman Root entered the news field in 1933 after attending University of British Columbiit and until 1940, when he joined the Vancouver Daily Provinee, Was associated with the Van- couver News-Herald. Fromm 1916 until his appointment to the Cel- anese post six months ago, he represented the Daily Province in the Legislative Press Gallery in Victoria. Mr. Root addre: nual General Castlegar and of Commerce day night. sed the An- Meeting of the District. Chamber meeting last F: has come into this country to develop and utilize the natural resources, but in the process it has established a firm policy of carrying the refining process to its ultimate conclusion in Can- ada for the benefit of the peo- ple of Canada. The trees from the forests near Prince Rupert will be trans- formed by Canadian workmen into gowns and sui. for Can- adian women, and drapes and carpeting for Canadian homes. And the petroleum gases from the Alberta oil fields will become important ingredients in the paint, anti-freeze, insecticides and fertilizers that are produced in Canadian factories. Celanese is playing an import- ant role in the great indust revolution that is today forming Western Canada an to a manufacturing economy, and this role has been substantially increased with the decision to proceed with the Cel- gar development. The Celgar project has been described as an integrated for- est indu: By that we mean that it of a group of plants or mills to utilize every stick of merchantable timber that is available. The saw logs will lumber and the usable waste from these logs will feed the pulp mill. Low grade logs will go to the pulp and newsprint operations. If there is sufficient peeler stock there will be a ply- wood plant to use it to the best advantage and, if present studies prove its feasibility, another plant will be built to recover tannic acid from the bark. The site near Castlegar has been Selected for the pulp opera- tions for several reasons. It was essential that we have good rail transportation, but if this had been the sole factor we could have found satisfactory sites in either the Revelstoke or Nakusp districts. It was also essential, however, that we have ample power and a ready supply of fuel, and the proximity of the West Kootenay Power and Light Co. and the Crows Nest Pass coal mines fa- fored Castlegar on these require- ments. st. perhaps the most import- ant single factor in the decision was the location of Castlegar at the lower end of the drainage Le in from which we hope to draw our timber supply, and as you all know, it is cheaper to move logs with the current than against it. At the same time I want to emphasize the fact that it is not our intention to centralize the entire project in one area, So be cut into R. CAIL GUEST SPEAKER «| AT PARENT.TEACHER ASSN. The Parent Teachers’ Associa- tion met Monday night in the library of the high school with about 30 members present. The President, Mrs. Marshall, —con- ducted the general business. A Ways and Means Committee was formed to work with Mrs. Mar- tini on the Variety Concert to be presented in March. Members of the conimittee are Mrs. An- derson, | Fletcher and Mrs. J. Taylor. Responsible for ob- taining and distributing tickets for the concert Mr. Campbell. Speaker for the evening Mr. R. Cail, librarian counselor for the S. H. high school, who chose for his subject, “The Func- tions of a Counselor.” “Counseling,” Mr. Cail said, “is a part of guidance, which of course is every teacher's duty but there should be some one person whose “business” it is to be available to any student at any time to discuss any problem whatsoever. “People live a existence,” he hurried said, nd what v definitely the duty of the parents 40 years ago is a duty now shared by the teachers and more especially the counselors. They are interested not only in behavior and schoo] lessons, but in home and social problems as well.” Individual interviews are held with cach student. The first step in counseling is to make his job understood by others .— stu- dents, parents and other workers. Secondly, he must help the stu- more demt select an occupational goal. ‘There are many sources of in- formation 1o help with this —- one being a “Dictionary of Occu- pations” published in the United States every three years. The latest one listed 19,000 different occupations, Tests indicate fairly accurate- ly a student's intelligence, achie- vement, interest and aptitude. If achievement tests do not match intelligence tests it is the job of the counselor to find out Why. "We do not teach mathe- aties” said Mr. Cail, “because it is good for a student — but because he needs to know it to earn a living.” The counsclor is there to help students with personal problems, the three main ones being “Parents, Friends and Se: There is never any judgment given if a coun- selor can help a child to see for himself what must be done all well and good but he is never what he must or must not And finally, a counselor helps the student select the courses he will take throughout the school . J. Buhr then spoke briefly ing “Study Groups” a discussion group to meet in various homes — a leader will be selected for each group and re- sources of material turnished. Anyone interested in this is re- quested to contact’ Mr. Buhr. There groups have proven most satisfactory in Robson when TLAY FOR THE & Corporation of America, Co through being planned by these men. vice-president of Celanese Corporat 5,000,000 forest industry which Cel any, is bringing to Castlegar 188 its affiliate, Celgar Development and the Arrow Lakes district, ix” Left to right standing are K. C. Donald, ion of America; Axe] Brandstrom, woods manager for Celgar; Gordon Root, director of public relations for the Celanese Corporation's Canadian affiliates, and Harold Blencke, president of the Celanese Corporation. Seated are George Schneider, senior vice-president, and D. G. Stenstrom, chief planning officer far Celgar. PROMPT ACTI ON BLOOMER BRILLIANT | HALL BURNS Fire destroyed the Doukhobor hall at Brilliant early evening. The fire was first by a train crew in Brilliant yards. It was a Joss. The hall, as it has been for the past few years was first built residence in 1913 and later converted into the hall. Final alterations were only completed a few weeks ago. Monday no- the total ticed asa study groups on the “Pre-school Child” were held and it is felt much could be learned in this manner. Mr. Thomas and Mr. Cail would like to make it known that any parent Will be most wel- come to come and discus any problems of their childern or fu- schooling plans. far we have avoided any direct mention of our sawmilling plans because of negotiations at pres- ent under way, but we propose to cut the saw logs in the dis trict from which they are taken. We envisage the operation of sawmills in at least three stra- tegic locations in the license anticipated that the opera- at Castltgar will employ about 1,000 men and women and the chief products will be bleach- ed and semi-bleached kraft pulp, and newsprint. In other similar projects it has been found that the ratio of new residents to em- ployees is approximately 5 to 1, so perhaps it would not be too far wrong to place the popula- tion increase in the Castlegar area that will result directly from the Celgar development at 5,000. It might be well at this time to examine some of the policies adopted by the Celanese Corpora- tion of America for its Canadian affiljates, We convinced that our companies in this country must be Canadian in operation as well as in name and we have adopted the principle of employing Can- adians first wherever it is pos- sible. At the Columbia Celulose plant there are approximately 1,000 employees and of these there are, as far as we know, only four who are not Can- adians. In anticipation of the opening of the Edmonton plant, the Can- adian Chemical Co. has employ- ed a group of Canadian engineers and has sent them to our plants in the United States for train- ing. At the end of six months they will return to permanent positions at Edmonton. The same policy will be adopt- ed here, and as far as it is pos- sibie local residents will have the first chance for jobs at the mills. This policy will also ap- piy to purchasing of materials and supplies when the plant is in operation. During construc: tion period, of course, the con- are ractors Will be in charge of such but wherever feasible all materials and machinery will be purchased in Canada. I would like to read _ briefly from an address given by Harold sident of Calanese of America, in Tor- November: “Io wish to that we do not con- sider ourselves a foreign organ- ization. Since it is our purpose to preserve the Canadian char- acter of our affiliates, Columbia Cellulose Company and Canadian Chemical Company, We are care- fully building them wherever possible of Canadian - made ma- chinery and materials, and staff- ing them almost completely with Canadian personnel. It is unsound to permit local industrial problems to become foreign problems. Such a situa- tion is entirely unnecessary. is logical for people to want share directly in the prosperity of the local enterprises with which they are familiar and in which, on a local ba they onto in emphasize ON URGED CREEK A special meeting of the Board of Commissioners was held on Monday night to deal with tt gineer’s lepo rt for the posal of Bloomer Creek water: A detailed survey was made last fall by Mr. iidd, hydraulics engineer with the Department of Public Works, ttoria, for the Water Rights Branch. The engineer’s report gave three alternatives by which the tlood Waters could be carried the Columbia River. After care! ful consideration the commissions ers decided to support preposal Which calls tor pipe to take the shortest route to the river; this being a permanent sv lution with almost no subsequent maintanence cost. Other proposals metal flumes and pipe. A letter V's mentioned gay ized Was ordered seat the Water Right Branch, toria, stressing prompt action Present at Chairman Williams, mers. on the me Oglow, Commi Cherrington take pride.” The company’s tion to its e be of interest policy in Aployees will to you. At Princ Rupert, Columbia Cellulose has introduced an insur. medical benefit plan. sloyee receives a lite polic varying in size salary but the minimum is In addition there are payments in lieu of salary for ali employ- ees who are ill or who are burt i ients not covered by work men’s compensation. Tnere we surgical benefits, co-insurance and the cost of a semiprivate ward ate paid for employees and members of their families. These bencfits are all provided by the company and the employee inal es no contribution. Our engineers report that an additional 1,200 men will be re quired in the operation to supply the required at the mills. This point brings face to face with to quest of the small operator and cv (Continued on Page 6)