davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-23
BUILDING TRADES SHORTAGE
BLAMED UPON EMPLOYERS
Labor Department Studies Reasons for
SteadyS Decline in Skilled Con- &
.struction Craftsmen.

The present high twage scales in the
building industry. which add so much
to the cost of construction are blamed
by the Department 1of Labor. largely on
employers competing for labor and not
on demands OF the'workmen.
A contractor wishes to push his work
faster than the number of men which
he has will permit. and 80 he offers
bonus above the agreed scale, says the
department. This attracts workmen
from other building jobs and the COM
petition forces wages up.
For some years past 1t has been evil
dent that the number of trained work.
ers in the building trades has been fall
Ing of, and the present activity of the
industry has made the shortage keenly
felt.
Lackiof Craftsmen.
"A number of efforts are being made
to increase the number of trained work.
ers." says the department. The scarcity
Is due partly to change in the charac-
ter Of immigrants and partly to the
non adaptability Of the old time ap-
prentice system and partly to modern
conditions. The tide of skilled crafts
supplied our needs has practically
ceased. and there seems little prospect
OF its restoration. so attention is mainly
directed toward the apprenticeship
PE0DlcUls
1t is estimated that merely to make
up the losses from death and retire
nent. the building trades need some
$4,000 skilled recruits annually, but in
the fact OF this need the apprentice
system has almost ceased to function
There have been several reasons for
this apart from the alleged opposition
from unions to apprentices. an opposi-
ton which in the building trades does
not seem to be strong. The contract
49, NJ h..hl &c
the needs Of apprentice training, and
many contractors say that they cannot
be handicapped by the necessity of
training their workers: they need men
who know their work and can do it,
not learners.
Even when so-called apprentices are
taken on, there is usually little IL any
provision for seeing that they are
trained. and the boys too often get
only what they can pick up for them
selves or II they learn to do some one
thing we'll. are kept at that instead of
being given an all around training
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-23
PLANS ESSENTIAL
TO PICTURE HANGING
Walls Should Not Be Decorated
Without idea of General
Effect.

When a group of pictures are to be
hung 1t is a good plan before begin
ming to hang a sixgle picture to draw
upon a piece of paper a definite
scheme of arrangement.
II many pictures are to be hung
upon the walls of a room this is even
more necessary. The principal point
to bear in mind when drawing up
this plan is that each wall, to give 1t
unity, should have a certain point OF
interest to which the other pictures on
the same wall gradually lead up.
One wall will generally and should
always be more important than the
others and dominate the room. A
wall Is never quite successfully hung
unless 1t Is designed with a view to
both color and form. While 1t may
resolve itself into either a compost
ton in color. a picture very high in
tone occupying the central position
leading away to those In lower key,
Or a design of line and mass. the
plan ought always to be made with
a view to striking the just balance
between these two elements.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-23
BnbsOn Sees Good Business
During Remainder of Year
Majority of BdrOmeters Favorable, Says
Statisticia,, in Discussing Prices, Credit,
Wages, Building and Other Factors.

~. Transportation-The situation is
more favorable than 1t has been for
several years. In 1920 there was a
car shortage which mounted to a
peak in October Demands at that
time called for 147.0o0 more cars than
were available. Today we are break
ing all records in the number of car
loadings. The shortage of last fall
has been practically eliminated.
There should be no immediate serious
congestion Of freight.
Handicap In Higher Costs.
"s. Wages-Wages have shown
some advance, particularly in the
building trades. This is due largely
to immigration restrictions. Wages
In general, however. are much below
the 1920 peak. Certainly there Is less
ineff1ciency than there was at that
time. Any increases in cost due to
cap business.
80. Steel production-The untitled
tonnage in the United States Steel
Corporation now stands at 100000
tons, compared with 100000 in
1920. The present level Is very salts
factory and shows that buyers are
not pyramiding orders but are follow
ing the conservative policies.
10. Gold movements-Thei increased
imports probably will necessitate
SoHuc movement Oh BOiu ITOIn lHlS
country. but our present reserves can
stand 1t easily. In fact. the tremen-
dous gold supply which really does
not belong here is a constant tempta-
ton toward imitation.
I'll. Building-The combined greed
of worker and employer in the build
ing trades has set the brakes on the
building BOOM From the point of
view of immediate volume of trade.
this Is an unfavorable factor. From
a long-swing point of view. however.
1t is not at all discouraging. The in
dustry was rapidly becoming inflated
and the slowing-up process merely
postpones the necessary building to a
time when 1t will be more needed.
1T does not take a statistician to
total our score. A few of our
barometers may be considered I'M
favorable. The majority are not I'M
favorable. General business is in a
healthy position at about ! per cent
above normal. The figures clearly
indicate good business for the most
of 1928"
(Mr. Babson, the noted statistician, who Is
q regular contributor to The Star, will con-
tinue bis special articles on business and
financial conditions in next Saturdays Start
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-23
CITE MORTGAGES VALUE
AS PAYING INVESTMENT
Insurance Companies Booklet Proves De-
STABILITY of Real Estate Paper; Return
Averages $40 for Six Years.

A study Of mortgage investments
of American life insurance companies.
Just made by the National Association
Of Real Estate Boards and now being
printed. will shortly be issued to the
10000 members of the association In
the belief that the findings which 1t
presents constitute one of the strong
est arguments that has ever been put
forth for the validity and desirability
of real estate mortgages.
Investments of practically all the
life insurance companies of the coun-
try for the years 1915 to 1921 are COW
cred in the analysis. which compares
the returns received by these COM
panies from real estate mortgage
holdings and from other types Of in
vestment. The study Is based on data
prepared by the Alfred NJ. Best Com
pany. The analysis was made for the
national association by the institute
for research in land economics OF the
University OF Wisconsin. under the
direction Of DR.. Richard T. Ely, the
institutes head.
The rate of return secured from
mortgage investment by American
life insurance companies in the period
covered shows an average advantage
over rate OF return from investments
in stocks and bonds Of 1.49 per cent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-23
BY ROGER w. BABsON.
Special Dispa tcb to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass, June
23.--"Business and the stock market
have been suffering from psychology
cal depressions during the past six
weeks. Many are expecting a repeti-
ton of the decline of 1920 In general
i activity, while others are certain that
security values are going to pieces.
1t is not at all hard to gather such
Impressions IL you listen to current
comment and market gossip. II we
turn to the actual facts on the situa-
tion, however, we find things are not
as bad as reported. Let us examine
the leading barometer of business:
81. Prices-Commodityp prices climb
ing rapidly reached a point almost
200 per cent above pre-war levels be-
fore they broke in 1920. Their pres
ent position Is only IS per cent above
normal. and this level has been
reached by a moderate, orderly rise.
Farm products are but 70 per cent
above the ten-year average 1900-1s10.
compared with the imitation of $50
per cent made in 1920. There Is
nothing dangerous in the commodity
situation. There Is certainly no
ground for fear of another decline
beginning 1920.
Calls Failures Good Sign.
'2. Failures-Contrary to popular
belief, a minimum of failures is a bad
sign, while a large number of fall
ures show that business Is cleaning
house and points to better times
ahead. During 1919 and early in 1920
ran at the lowest level reached since
they have been recorded. Both num-
Der and the liabilities Of failures at
present are running heavy. This, to-
gether with the liquidation Of the
past two years Is pretty good evil
dence that fundamental business con-
dftions are growing more sound.
"3. Credit conditions-At the peak
Of the recent boom the national
banks had over $12.415,00 100000 out on
loan. Today they are loaning a little
they were borrowing heavily from
the federal reserve banks and were
etrafning all reserves to the limit
Whereas their discounts were $2,S27.-
100000 In 1920. they are today Dor
plentiful. Reserves are strong. There
is no danger that banks will be forced
to cut down loans and slow up busi-
ness In order to protect their reserves
Imports Gaining Rapidly.
-. Imports-Though not as great
rs in 1920, our imports are gaining
ground very rapidly. For the imme-
date outlook this Is an unfavorable
factor. From a long swing point Of
View these purchases abroad consti-
tute favorable factor. Eventually
Europe can pay interest and principal
only in goods Increasing imports at
this time tend to relieve the strain on
Europe, which Is the weakest link
In the business chain today.
%. Exports-The export situation,
though better than 1913 or 1915, is not
particularly favorable. Although bet
ter than last year, I should still clas-
silly the export situation as one of the
few unfavorable conditions.
"6. Money rates-A business man
can now finance his needs at per
per cent which ruled during a part
Of 1920. 1t looks as though plenty of
money can be available on this basis
for some time to come.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-23

per annum. the statistics show. The
average gross rate earned on mort
cages is 81, on stocks and bonds as.
This gives on the rate earned an ad :
vantage in favor Of mortgage invest
ments OF practically Is per cent.
Particular Significance attaches to
the showing which the study makes
because of the fact that the period
covered by the records examined
comprises the major portion of a
business cycle during which We had
one OF the most abrupt price move
ments In the history Of the United
states 1t was Il period of great
stress. and a test period for invest
ment security.
Comparison Of the average Gross
rates OF income earned by the insur-
ance companies on mortgages and on
stocks and bonds is given in the fol-
lowing data:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-23
SIX new DUNCAN
HOUSES ARE SOLD
New Homes Located in Petworth
and Fourteenth Street
Highlands.

Contamination of the sales of six
of the new homes recently completed
In Fourteenth Street Highlands and
Petworth were announced by d. j.
DUNCAN.
In Fourteenth Street Highlands two
transfers were made, as follows: 5405
12th street to Charles S. Gum; SAB
18th street to Mrs. Lettie ]. Barrett.
In Petworth the following sales
were completed:
Clarence s. Bruce purchased 423o
Sd street. This Is semi-detached
house and contains six large rooms,
one bath. and built-in garage; 30
Varnum street to Milton L. Arnold;
220 Varnum street to Frank Tobin.
Anton koerber purchased 1924 4th
street.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-23

Ernest M. Fisher. new assistant
secretary Of the National Association
of Real Estate Boards, took up his
work at Chicago headquarters June
10. Mr.. Fisher comes to the associa-
tion from the Institute for Research
in Land Economics and Public
} Utilities. University of Wisconsin,
The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-19
Every Dairyman Should
Know Profitable Cows

Every owner Of dairy cows should
know IL his cows are giving enough
milk or butterfat to make profit over
the cost of feed" says A. c. Baer.
professor Of dairying at Oklahoma A.
and NJ. college "a scale to weigh the
milk In the barn can be bought for S4.
1t takes only few minutes a day
extra time to weigh the milk from
each COW and write the weight on a
milk sheet tackled up In the barn.
Once a month sample of milk can
be tested. Any. creamery, Ice cream
factory, or cream station will usually
he glad to do this testing. Every
school house can be equipped with a
tester at very little expense and the
boys at school can do the testing
"A profitable COW should produce
6,0O0 pounds of milk or 200 pounds Of
butterfat in 300 days. Are your cows
all profitable? Why not find out? Is
milking dairy cows business propo-
sition with you? If so, why not ap-
ply business methods? Write the
dairy department, Oklahoma A. and NJ.
college for information"
The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-19

describes as his son, and the para
phernalia of his profession Is con-
tanned In a couple Of baskets.
Minor tricks of the usual type are
perfofmed-the disappearing egg. the
resuscitated handkerchief, the produc-
ton of fire through the mouth, the
multiplication Of marbles. the vanish
ing rupee, and so on.
Most people have seen the mango
tree trick, famous throughout the
world. A small hole is made by the
wonder worker in the ground with his
fingers, and a mango seed Is put into
this hole and covered with mud.
Water is poured over 1t and then a
basket placed over the top. covered
in turn by cloth.
After a while the cloth and the
cover are removed partly in order to
give the onlookers glimpse Of a
plant which has grown to a height OF
about six inches. Later the plant IL
uncovered and Is found to have grown
to foot in height with leaves and
twigs, and Mt the last stage of uncov
ering the plant has reached cublt ana
Il bearing fresh fruit
The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-19
Good Sires Increase
Herd Production Rapidly

Further proof of the manner in
which producing dairy herd may be
built up by using pure bred dairy bulls
on common cows is afforded by the
results of a several years breeding
experiment conducted at the South
Dakota experiment station. The foun-
dation cows Of the experiment repre-
sented a blending of Hereford and
Shorthorn blood, each COW being sired
by a pure bred beef bull and out Of a
grade COW. Each Of the foundation
cows was bred repeatedly to the dairy
herd bulls In the station herd and the
heifers were retained and bred to the
dairy bulls. thus producing second gen.
Grafton crosses which had IS per cent
dairy blood Milk and butterfat rec
ords were kept for each lactation peri
Cd of the grade foundation cows and
their graded-up offspring.
The average yearly production of
the grade beef cows was found to be
4,155 pounds of milk and ITO pounds of
butterfat. The first generation heif-
ers produced by these. cows to the
service of pure bred dairy sires made
records averaging 6,707 pounds Of milk
and geo pounds Of fat. The first cross
Of dairy blood therefore brought an in.
crease of 1852 pounds Of milk and 90
pounds Of butterfat in each heifer's
yearly production. Expressed in pei
cent. the first cross heifers produced
a. v,av. caut v,,nr> MILL opd HO var ,art
more butterfat than their dams.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-19

case n an essential in a city, or in
locality where there Is much moisture
or considerable dust-laden atmosphere.
Right OF the living room Is the din
ing room, the same size. Its three
windows give the impression of a bay.
and make II q very well-lit room. We
continue on to the kitchen, II feet by
II feet, with sink right by the dou-
BILE window. and handy cupboarding at
either side. The refrigerator Is In one
corner, since there is no pantry. and
has an outside icing door. Right on
the kitchen II the rear porch, O. feet
By II feet 9 inches which could be
screened and glassed at small expense.
making a fne addition to the kitchen
workers comfort on days when the
roof was preferable to the outside.
There are two bedrooms, each IL
feet By IL feet and they are reached
through the dining room In way
which gives them absolute privacy.
We nrst have small hall. with a
clothes closet Immediately adjoining
the dining room door, and suitable for
table linens. etc.; then we have an
Sthar closet on this same hall. and an
The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-19
Wheat Is Excellent Feed
for Chicks and LAYERS

Wheat Is good feed for young
chickens and laying hens and may be
fed with profit when the price Is low.
says d. G.! Kennard. associate In AMI
NAL industry, Ohio experiment station.
The grain mixture may be Of equal
parts of corn and wheat, and the mash
Of parts ground corn. ct medium
ground wheat, and Of higb-grade
meat scraps or tankage.
II 1t Is desired to use oats, the mix
ture suggested Is corn 4. wheat >. and
oats 2 parts, and a mash OF ground
corn 8 parts, medium ground wheat 3,
Underground oats 2 and meal scraps
or tankage 2 parts.
Any change Of feed for lay.ig hens
should be made gradually, Il was
pointed out, as sudden change may
seriously affect egg production.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-19
Religion as Needed.

The soldiers marched to the church
and halted In the square outside. One
wing of the edifice was undergoing re-
pairs, so there was room for only half
the regiment.
Sergeant ordered ithe captain,
"tel the men who don't want to go to
church to fall out"
A large number quickly availed
themselves of the privilege.
"Now, sergeant" said the captain.
dismiss oil the men who did not fall
out and march the others in-they
need II most."-The Continent.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-19
Hard Spring Wheat
Resistant to Stem Rust
Variety Known as K.ota Has
Been Developed.

prepared py the United statss Department
Of Agricuiture.)
A hard red spring wheat that Is re-
sistant to the principal forms Of black
stem rust has been developed In North
Dakota by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture and the North
Dakota agricultural experiment sta
ton. This wheat was first INTRODUCED
from Russia In 1908 by Prof. H. L.
Bolley, and Is pow known as Kota.
About 5000 acres of Kota wheat were
grown in 1922, and much more this
year.
The particular virtue Of Kota wheat
is It's resistance to the black stem rust
which Is general throughout the hard
red spring wheat region. Its rust re-
sistance was not determined until af-
ter the great rust epidemic of 1916.
1t Is also fairly resistant to drought
and outyields Marquis in North Da-
kota, averaging nearly three BUSH
els more per acre during the past five
years. 1t Is bearded wheat which
ripens about as early as Marquis. In
milling and baking experiments con-
Quoted independently by the Depart
ment Of Agriculture and the North
Dakota experiment station, Kota wheat
has shown results nearly equal to
those obtained with Marquis. :.
Experiments with Kota wheat have
been carried on in a number of other
states as well as In North Dakota.
and the wheat was found best adapt
ed to the district where durnm wheat
is extensively grown, Kota wheat could
replace much of-the durum wheat now
grown in eastern North Dakota and
South Dakota with profit to both the
hard red spring and the durun wheat
industries, department workers believe.
This variety is recommended for
North Dakota and adjacent portions
Of neighboring states.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-19
Most Troublesome
Pest in Orchards
Oyster-Shell Scale Attacks
Apple and Other Fruit
Trees.

The commonest. most wide spread
and best-known scale insect In the
United States attacking not only apple
and other orchard trees but about &c
different kinds Of shade trees, Is the
oyster-shell scale. so called because
the form Of the adult female scale Is
not unlike that of an oyster shell.
Life History Of Scale.
The life history of the oyster-shell
scale may be used as an Illustration
for the whole group. The insects pass
the winter as eggs under the old fe-
male scalea, these eggs having been
laid the preceding fall. The eggs
are very tiny. white, and vary from
30 to 100 In number. In the spring
from middle May to middle June,
these eggs hatch into young scale In
sects. The newly hatched young
scales are tiny, six-legged, active crea-
lures. Soon after Matching they leave
the old mother scale and wander away
In search Of the new and tender
growths of the tree.
They may spread not only by crawl
ing. but by being carried on the bodies
of insects or feet of birds. When
they have finally settled down they in
sert their beaks into the tree and be-
gin drawing out sap. They soon lose
their legs and antennae and their
bodies become covered with white.
waxy f1bers. These fibers soon mat
down to form the scale covering. AS
the insect grows the scale gradually
assumes its characteristic oyster
shell shape, within which the legless,
eyeless insect is to be found.
Change Into Flies.
Tie male scale insects start out
like the female scale insects, but when
they have formed scale and made
partial growth they change into tiny
winged flies which emerge from under
the scales.
The control Of scale insects Of all
kinds is chiefly by spraying, and this
operation may be carried on at two
entirely different periods of the year
and for two entirely different pur
poses In one case the spraying IL
done when the trees are not In foil
age, that Is. In the late autumn oil
early spring. and these sprays ar,
known as dormant sprays because o.
the dormant condition of the trees.
The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-19
THIS BUNGALOW
IS IDEAL HOME
"Neat as a Pin" No Idle Phrase
In Describing This Design.
CONSTRUCTION LINES RIGHT
Thoroughly Pleasing and HIsh-orade
Home Whoss Outward Appearance
and inside Arrangement Leave
Nothing to Be Desired.
BY WILLIAM A. RApFoRp

Mr. william A. Radford will answer
questions and give advice FREE pr
COST on all subjects pertaining to ths
subject OF building, for the readers OF
this paper. On account OF his wide
experience as Editor, Author and
Manufactures, he Is without doubt
the highest authority on all these sub
1ects. Address all INQUIRIES to william
A. Radford. No, lsa7 Prairie avenue.
Chicago, Ill. and only inclose two-cent
stamp for reply.
"As neat as a pin" Is no Idle phrase
when used In describing this attractive
bungalow. The whole outward appear
ance gives the observer that impress
sion, and the construction lines Of 1t
are beyond criticism.
This Is frame bungalow, which
would lend Itself to stuccO or brick
treatment. as well. In this case our
broad white Colonial siding gives the
utmost impression of cleanliness and
comfort. The well-chosen patterned
door, the patterned windows, the let
ticed pergola over the terrace, the
neat boxwood shrubs in their contain
ers-all combine to make pleasing
whole.
We enter the living room from the
terrace and find il nicely proper
toned room. Is feet by II feet, with
fireplace flanked by bookcases. These
are naturally built In, and may be
giassed or not, depending upon local
conditions Personally, we like to see
books exposed to easy reach, and not
kent behind glass; but a glassed book