Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-28
Capital Sidelights

what. is the reference value of all the
archives of the United States, not to
mind their historic worth?
For more than a decade Congress
has been urged to build a modern,
fireproof archives building to properly
house these old documents Of meal
culable value, which are now stored
in firetraps and dank cellars. Here is
a little human-interest story told by
Col. e. Lester Jones. director of the
Coast and Geodetic Survey, which
illustrates why these records should
be properly preserved to protect the
Government and the individual in
property rights:
Suit was brought in the courts of
New York State over title to the
western part of Rockaway Point. at
the entrance to Jamaica Bay. Rock
away Point Is the easterly of two
points which inclose Jamaica Bay.
Between these points lies Rockaway
Inlet, deep channel through which
flow the tidal waters entering and
leaving the bay. The title to Rock
away Point passed from the State to
private individual more than a CEN
fury ago, and thence eventually to the
corporation now in possession.
During that century Rockaway
Point has grown to the westward a
distance of some miles or more as
the result of sands deposited at its
extremity by waves and currents.
The City and State of New York
claimed that about 1887 this point, in
the course of its westward growth,
overlook and annexed an island. and
that as title to this island had never
passed from the State, it remained
State property after It became at
tached to the mainland, and in con-
sequence title to that part of the
present point which consists of a for
mer island and all subsequent ac-
cretions was still vested in the State.
The case for each side was prepared
and presented by an impressive array
Of professional and scientific talent.
The present Secretary of State, Judge
Hughes. was one of the attorneys for
the corporation. Yet the facts on
which the case was decided were
established by the Coast and Geodetic
Survey through reference to old
charts. From the records of frequent
Topographic and photographic sur
veys made by the Federal bureau at
that point, the corporation was en-
abled to establish to the satisfaction
of the court that Rockaway Point
had not overtaken and annexed an
island as claimed by the State, but
that, on the contrary, as the point
grew westward, there had always
been a navigable channel between
it and any islands still farther west.
1t was shown that the existence of
the island had not been continuous,
but that one would be washed away
by the encroachment of the channel,
while another would subsequently
appear in a position farther west,
and that during the periods when
islands were in existence the tend
ency had been for island. channel
and point to move to the westward
in unison.
They are telling in congressional cir
cles good joke" on some Of their col
| leagues. illustrating how "Canny Call"
with the blood Of the New England
Yankee in his veins, is quite well able to
cleverly disconcert pressing politicians
and make them quite ready to withdraw
without having forced him to accede to
their opportunities.
According OF his story a group of con-
gressmen called on the President urging
that he appoint to the International
Boundary Commission one Adolphus p
Nelson, formerly member Of the House
from Wisconsin. who attributed his de-
feat for reelection to the fact that he
refused to take orders from Senator
Bob" La Toilette.
Cal listened to them then drawled
out-"By the way, I've a little veto
message waiting action, how many of
you are going to vote to sustain the
President" Then accounts differ as to
whether 1t was two or three men in
the delegation who raised their hands,
while the others, with embarrassment,
registered Present, but not voting
Il thought that was about the proper
cd Taf Wit ay-xy lie
and that was about all there was to
the interview"
Oftentimes in Congress they sheer at
the scientists in Uncle Sans service,
and especially at those who are devoting
their lives to pure" science as differ
entiated from applied scienee-and
yet:
There was follower Of science for
the sake OF science itself, researching
out his days in a laboratory of the
Smithsonian Institution. He happened
to be studying some grubs, or ground
worms. One morning he noted that the
grubs had evacuated one side Of the
laboratory and gone to another side
Simple experiments convinced him that
the grub had very sensitive smelling
apparatus, and could thus locate par
ticles of food placed far beyond its
vision or allotted sphere.
Result-during the World War, when
poison gas was killing our American
youth by the hundreds in the trenches
overseas, a lot of these grubs were taken
into the trenches with canary birds and
other devices for giving warning OF gas
raids-and the grubs saved a very large
number of American lives.
The name Of this humble scientist has
never been divulged, and it was never in
tended by the Smithsonian that this
story should be written-but he saved
hundreds of mothers sons by his study
-sneer at that, If you will, Mr.. Con-
gressman-
The Walt Mason of Congress Is
Representative ]. Alfred Taylor of
West Virginia, publisher of a weekly
paper, Pick and Shovel, named in
honor of the two tools which helped
most to develop the section he repre-
sents, rich in coal deposits. Here Is
a sample of his Muse:
DON'T WAIT FOR BIG THINGS.
sixty seconds make a minute, tiny
little things, and yet they form the
months and years that speed on
lightning wings. Most people want
to do big things and for the chance
they wait-but years pile up and soor:
they find, alas, it is too late.
L hope, my friend, you'll never try
| to do some big things bye and bye
the chance may never come. 1t is the
little things that mount and make
great big sum. In living out your
| life you'll find that little things are
all you do, so do them gently, with a
snile-and doing so, make life worth
| while"
X X n
Representative Sol Bloom has just
had an interesting personal expert