davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-04-23
Insecure Bridges.

In the light of a report made to 1t
last night the Board of Trade adopted
recommendation that the Klingle
Valley and Calvert Street bridges be
replaced by new structures. It was
shown by the report, based upon de-
tailed examination of the bridges,
that they are both insecure and un-
dependable, that there is excessive
vibration on the former bridge and
in the case of the latter there are
tending to render it unsafe. Both
bridges are badly rusted, through
lack Of paint. The approaches are
insufflciently lighted. The flooring
is in bad condition. The guard rails
are inadequate.
In the case of the Calvert Street
Bridge there has been for several
years a public feeling of insecurity.
1t is too narrow to accommodate the
traffic, vehicles being compelled to
occupy the car track space. 1t is
subjected to heavy strain, beyond
that for which it was constructed.
Not long ago it was the scene of a
fatal accident, a motor car being
driven through the guard rail to fall
into the creek valley. This was
probably due to the coincidence of
the vehicle roadway with the car
tracks.
Repeatedly efforts have been made
to secure an appropriation for the
replacement of the Calvert Street
Bridge by a new, substantial struc-
ture. but without success. The bridge
has been patched and "stiffened" and
made to serve, though always with
doubt in the public mind as to its
dependability. Meanwhile the traf-
fic has increased and, as the acci-
dent of last Winter showed, the con-
ditions are highly dangerous. Only
complete replacement will meet
the requirement of the public safety.
There should be no bridge in the
District that Is under the least sus-
picion Of insecurity. The Board of
Trades recommendation comes, of
course, too late in the present sea-
son to effect an immediate change.
The appropriation bill is now in con-
ference, beyond the possibility of
amendment to make provision for
the replacement of these two ques-
toned bridges. But it should have
its effect upon the preparation of
the estimates for the following fiscal
year, which will be shaped during
the Summer and submitted to Con-
gress next December.
1t is of vital Importance that a
searching survey be made Of all the
viaducts in the District and that rec
ommendation be made for the cor
rection of every fault, even to the
extent of the complete replacement
with new, substantial structures of
all the bridges that are in any degree
in doubt as to their security.
Evening star., 1926-04-23
A Campaign for Courtesy.

A campaign has been started in
New York which Washington may
we'll copy 1t is against the reckless
and needless drivers of big trucks who
violate all the rules Of the road relat-
ing to decency and courtesy. More
than one hundred drivers have already
been EMBODIED in the arms of the law,
where they have been speedily con.
vinced that obedience to the funda-
mental traffic rules is expected even
Of them. One operator of t1ve-ton
truck proudly displayed on his vehicle
when an officer stopped him sign
which read Don't hit me, I'm a big
boy" This attitude is said by the
enforcement officers to be typical Of
drivers Of this type of vehicle. Know
ing that they cannot be hurt or their
trucks damaged to any extent by
collision with light passenger cars,
they proceed recklessly across inter
sections, fail to give right of way to
passing automobiles, and generally
make life miserable for the law-abid-
ing citizen who is proceeding on his
cautious way.
Washington, unfortunately, has
many of this kind of truck drivers.
They drive their big vehicles to the
limit Of their speed entirely needless
of other traffic. Bus operators are not
immune from this charge. either; on
many occasions it is almost impossi-
BILE to get right of way for passing.
This latter difficulty, to some extent,
is traceable to the recent decision Of
judge in the Traffic Court who dis
missed a bus driver for failure to give
way, on the ground that the Commits
sioners should have realized before
granting license that busses were
heavy and cumbersome and liable to
block traffic. This ruling has natu-
rally led the bus and truck operators
into a somewhat contemptuous atti-
tude toward traffic regulations.
New York's campaign of enforce
ment should be tried out here in any
event. Trucks and buss ses, because of
their weight and comparative un-
wieldiness, should be driven with the
utmost care and with the utmost con.
sideration for other users of the
streets. The police and the courts
should see to it that this is the rule
and not the exception, and there is no
better place to start than in Wash
ington and no better time than now.
Evening star., 1926-04-23

been started by rays of sun shining on
bottle or bit of glass and focused
on dead leaves or brush. Perhaps a
clearing up" or brush fire, sending
sparks and burning twigs high and
far, has ignited a distant patch of
woods. The wooded and brush dis
tricts east of Washington will prob
ably have fires in Fall, Winter and
early Spring until there is a clearing
of the brush and slashings from the
forest floor, or until the woodland is
destroyed by fire.
The wood fires cause loss of some
valuable timber and at this season de-
stroy much bird life and wipe out the
chief places of refuge of birds in this
neighbol hood. The fires may spread
to villages and destroy homes that
have been built in the forest, with
small clearings about them. 1t is a
difficult question. 1t is only since the
country became rather closely settled
and since there has been unusual
carelessness in leaving the woodland
floor covered with dry brush that the
of Washington has been
much troubled by forest fires.
Evening star., 1926-04-23
Nearby Forest Fires.

Woodland fires breaking out at sew
eral places and burning over extensive
tracts northeast and east Of the Dis
trict are destroying a good deal Of
property and giving fear and other
discomfort to many persons. The fire
territory may be roughly sketched as
within the triangle formed by the
Baltimore and Potomac and Popes
Creek branches of the Pennsylvania
railroad and the Chesapeake Beach
railroad and through this triangle
from the District northeast runs the
Baltimore and Washington electric
line The Baltimore and Potomac after
passing Landover and following it's
course along the valley of Beaverdam
Creek goes through Ardwicll to Lam
ham, which is near the crest of the
Potomac -Patuxent watershed. 1t then
descends the Patuxent slope by Sea-
brooke and Glendale. From Bowie the
Popes Creek line runs past Collington,
Mullilzin, Halls. Leland, Hill and Marl-
boro The Chesapeake Beach railroad
from the District line at Seat Pleasant
touches Brooks, Behren, Berry, Brown,
Clagett and Marlboro. East of the
Baltimore and Potomac the Baltimore
electric railroad roughly parallels it..
From several Of the railroad settle
ments come reports of forest fires and
y number of new hamlets, especially
nf oil "a
are named in the dispatches. Fire has
broken out in patches of brush and
woodland far off any railroad.
Much of the country east Of the
tracks of the Baltimore and Potomac
Is likely forest fire land. Most of the
merchantable trees have been cut for
lumber, ties and cordwood and the
slashings have been left on the ground.
On the cut-over land there is common
ly a heavy growth Of new brush
among the old slashings. 1t is said
in one neighborhood that "it is be-
lieved the fire started from locomo-
tive sparks" The writer OF the dis
patch only goes so far as to say "it is
believed" Several fires have started
along the electric railway and fires
have started far back from the steam
railroads and in country crossed only
by wagon roads. The brush growth,
the leaves that fell last year, the dead
trimmings or slashings from wood cut.
ting are fire danger. A locomotive
spark, an unextinguished match, live
cigarette butt and hot ashes from a
pipe may be among the fire causes.
1t is said that woodland fires have
Evening star., 1926-04-23
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

and meat and softens fibrous portions
of meat and cellulose in vegetables.
Q. Did the composer Bach die a
pauper?-T. b.
A. Bach was in very straitened cir
| cumstances at the time of his death,
and was buried in a pauper'S grave
in Leipzig.
Q. What size must a ferry be to
carry truck of 4 900 pounds weight?
L. n. G.
A. The smallest ferry which can be
used in carrying a truck of about
1000 pounds would bAabout 20 feet by
10 feet by 2.5 feet
@. How much tide does the Medi-
terranean Sea have?-M. w.
A. The tides of the Mediterranean
Sea are very Slight, at most places
being only few inches. In certain
| sections, however, such as in the
1onian Sea, the Adriatic Sea and parts
of the African coast, there is a rise of
more than 6 feet.
@. How many calories are there in
apples and oranges?-F. L.
A. Apples furnish ]. .467 calories per
mound, while oranges furnish about
2S4.
@. What were the kinds of gas
used during the World Ware. c. Z.
A. The principal toxic gases used
were classified according to action of
the gases. Lung irritance or suf-
focance-chlorine, phosgene and
chlorpicrin; sternutators (sneeze gasl
I-dipsenyl l-chlor- -arsine; lachrymators
(tear asechloracetOpheno desic
cants clustering gasl-dichlorethylsul
phide; directly poisonous to the nerv
Gus system-hydrocyani acid; gas
interfering with respiration Of blood
carbon monoXide.
@. When was the white potato intro
duced into Ireland-J. E. s.
| A. The potato was introduced into
Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1910.
and it's cultivation developed in eX-
traordinary rapidity.
o. Will there be a Decoration day
race on the Indianapolis Speedway
l.. B.
A. Decoration day falls on SUNDAY
this year, so the race is scheduled for
Monday. May 81.
@. How many accidents were there
last year at grade crossings?-J. NJ. q.
| A. For 1925 the number Of accidents
| in the United States at railroad grade
crossings was 5,479; the number killed,
2,2O6; the number injured, 6,555.
| O. What President actually had the
most individual votes cast for him.
T. p.
A. Warren G.. Harding had the high
mark when 16, 1852 800 people indicated
him their choice in 1920.
There is no other agency in the
,corld that can GnstCer as many Ie0tt-
innate questions as our Free Infor-
| nation Bureau in Washington, ID. Z.
This highly organized institution has
been built up and is under the per
sonal direction of Frederic J. Hdskin.
BIZ keeping in constant touch tCtth
| Federal bureaus and other educd-
ttonaI enterprises it is in position
to pass on to you authoritative an
formation of the highest order. Sub
NIT 4our queries to the stag OF eT-
perts arhoSe services are put at Jour
| free disposal. There is no charge eT-
cent 2 cents in stamps for return
| postage. Address The EUenin1 star
| Information Bureau, Frederic j. Has
kin. director, Washington, d. G.
Evening star., 1926-04-23
Retirement Annuities.

Retirement Annuities.
Wishes of the active employees OF
the Government for a more liberal re-
tirement law, increasing the annuities
to a maximum of $1,000. were ex-
pressed yesterday to the President by
a delegation that waited on him and
presented him with a set of petitions
signed by thousands of Federal serV-
ice workers. Inasmuch as this mat
ter is still in the legislative stage, the
President could not give the delega'
ton any assurance whatever on the
score of enactment at this session, but
1t is reported that he did give the i'm
preston that he will approve such a
measure if it is laid before him for
signature.
1t is undoubtedly the wish of the
great majority of the Government
workers that the annuity scale be in
creased, even though such en- ad-
vance may involve the increase of the
monthly deductions from the salary
envelopes. The system as it is now
established is in effect compulsory
self-insurance. Under the present
schedules the workers cannot save
enough to assure them a decently sus-
tanning compensation upon retirement.
Some of the large corporations of
this country, employing many people
and desiring stability of service, have
adopted a system of direct insurance
and pensions, costing the workers
nothing, and have also adopted saw
ing systems, themselves contributing
a liberal percentage to match the de-
posits of the workers. The conse-
quence of this wise liberality is that
the personnel rarely changes, save as
age and disease take their toll.
The Government has merely adopt
ed a system of retirement practically
exclusively at the cost Of the workers
and has fixed the maximum amount of
pension at point below the possibil-
ity of decent subsistence. 1t is collect
ing from the workers more than the
system requires for operation, holding
the surplus in trust against the posi-.
BILE resignation or dismissal of the
contributors to the fund before reach.
ing the retirement age. Assertion is
made that an increase of the retire
ment scale, with the maximum placed
at $1,000, will eventually entail a de-
mand upon the Treasury for direct
contribution. Actuaries differ as to
the amount thus falling upon the Fed
eral resources. That difference of
opinion has caused a delay in the
shaping and legislative advancement
of the measure. Now it is ready for
action. There should be no question
of it's enactment at this session. in
order that the President may, as he
intimated yesterday to the delegation
representing the Government workers,
give it his approval.
Evening star., 1926-04-23
Police Hostility Cause
Of Traffic Troubles
To the Editor of The Star:

Our papers have said much recent
ly about the very large number of ar
rests for violations of traffic regula
tions, claiming that at the present
rate one out of every five residents
will have been arrested within the
year. I have not, however, seen any
statement as to the correct reason for
this.
I am satisfied that the cause is the
active antagonism of the police to the
Traffic Bureau. This is evidenced by
the great number of arrests for minor
offenses which do no real harm. while
serious offenses, such as reckless driv-
ing and the like, endangering the
lives of others, are but rarely noticed
by the traffic officers. Others, with my
self. have had occasion to note that
such serious offenSeS are but a small
proportion of the cases reported In the
papers.
am moved to call attention to this
state of affairs, because OF an occur
renee in my own family. The other
night my daughter was arrested and
required to put up IS collateral be-
cause she had parked her car without
being lighted, though she had gone
out of her way to park under street
lamp where no parking light was
necessary and where the car could
not have been a menace to any one In
any way.
The officer who made this sort of an
arrest could not have exercised either
ordinary intelligence or the slightest
common sense. AS these men are ca
pable of better Judgment and as un.
der the circumstances there should
have been no reason for such an ar
rest except the desire to increase the
number of citizens arrested, 1t Is clear
that the reason is because Of the feud
between the police and traffic depart
ments.
Our citizens should be protected by
the press against being made the vic
tins of a squabble between two de-
partments of the city government.
MORRIS BIEN.
Evening star., 1926-04-23
Britons Following Suit.

The American invasion of Great
Britain proceeds. Steadily, if slowly,
Western customs are being adopted
by the conservative people of Eng
land. Many have been the comesti-
bles and the potations Of origin in
the United States that have become
popular overseas. Not SO much has
been accomplished for American
styles and manners of dress, for If
there is one respect in which the
Briton is more stringently particular
than in any other it is in the matter
of garb. Yet even in that line Amer
lean innovation has been accom-
plished. Thus there now comes
word that after a very long time Of
temptation the American idea of dis
carding the waistcoat, more COM
monty known here as the vest, has
been given definite sartorial ap-
proval.
That most conservative of institu-
tions, the London tailor, has finally
found a way to enable the men of
Britain to cast aside the superf1uous
waistcoat in warm weather, by de-
vising a style of double breasted
jacket, which will permit it's wearer
to discard the neither garment with
out losing the appearance of smart
ness and trimness. So whereas
heretofore the appearance of a male
person without a waistcoat, however
correctly clad otherwise, immedi-
ately caused a social chill, be the
physical temperature however high,
now it is. accepted that a gentleman
can present himself in comfort of
both body and mind minus that so
often superfluous article.
The topper" has almost disap-
peared from the marts of trade and
finance in the City of London as a
feature of the daily wear of business
and professional men. Occasionally
one sees a stout-hearted conservative,
whom only death can change in GUS
tom, capped with this formerly In
variable badge of responsibility,
usually wearing a tailless coat in
amusing incongruity.- from the West
ern point of view. But the high hat,
or silk hat. is coming back into vogue
for formal wear, in this country as
in Europe.
Americans are not obstinate about
such shifts Of fashion. They have not
Evening star., 1926-04-23
How the Maximum
Annuity Has Worked
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Your editorial in The Star of the
18th, "The Annuity Maximum. Is the
best vet offered on the subject, ana
states in the strongest terms the ker.
nel of the whole subject in favor of
a more liberal annuity for those VINO
have been placed on the retired list
after long and faithful service to the
Government.
Let me first state my case in f1g-
ures. so that those who may read this
letter may keep them in mind while
reading it.
After a service of AS years and {
months I was placed on the retired
list in 1925, with the maximum an
nuity of $T20, relinquishing a salary
of $1,000 as chief of division to which
| was promoted about a year before
retirement.
NV budget" was then as follows:
Annuity, $720: annual payments on
insurance, $120; balance to exist on,
S12O. Total expenses, $720.
In short, after paying my fixed
charges, have exactly $40 per month
to subsist, clothe myself and meet
other incidental expenses.
Many years ago purchased home
on the partial payment plan, and at
the time of my retirement l had re-
duced the debt to such an extent that
| it costs me but $50 per month to
carry 1t, a very moderate amount on
a full salary. The other fixed charges
must be met to hold my home. Had
l not led an economical life, and been
able to lay by little, I would soon
| be at the point of having to sell my
home, or plaster It with another mort
gage to obtain means to live upon.
Economy before justice seems to
| be the burden of objectors to a more
| liberal annuity. Those who do so
appear to overlook the fact that those
who have been forced to leave the
| Federal service are those who served
during the period of admittedly low
and inadequate salaries compared to
those now prevailing, and had barely
sufficient to exist upon and maintain
| families, with little or nothing laid
| up for rainy day, which at last
| overlook them under the retirement
| law of 1920. I, myself. served more
! than 20 years at salaries averaging
less than $1,000 year, yet most of
that time I served in supervisory
capacities, commanding among the
| highest salaries prevailing. Would
not the Government be doing tardy
| justice to such faithful servants, and
| not let them continue a. hard exist.
ence, and in many cases actual suffer.
| ing, and go down to their graves, as
many of them are doing, with bitter
| tastes in their mouths, and with re.
grets of having given the best part
| Of their lives on such scanty recog.
milton? J. M. LOVE.
Evening star., 1926-04-23

O. Why was the northern bound
airy of Louisiana fixed where 1t Is?
p. w:
A. The entire territory comprising
the Louisiana Purchase was of too
great an extent to be erected into one
single State. 1t was therefore divided
to comprise a number of States. The
act of March 26, 1904. erected the
Territory of Orleans. which was south
of the thirty-third parallel.
@. During the War of 1912 did the
New England States threaten seces-
sion?-G. T.
A. Andrew Mclaughlin says: ut
was commonly supposed that 1t the
Hartford convention) would plot a
disruption of the Union, but 1t simply
drew up remonstrances, and proposed
amendments to the Constitution in
tended to protect minority of the
States against unwelcome Federal
legislation"
Q. Are there any States that pro-
hibit tobacco smoking entirely?-H.
d. G..
A. No State does so, although one
State prohibits smoking in public, and
another smoking when a public nui-
sance. Twenty-four States regulate
the sale of tobacco to minors.
Q. What is the meaning of "alou-
ette"?--E. H. z.
A. 1t means lark"
@. What would happen If the earth
stopped revolving?-W. M. W.
A. The late Camille Flammarion,
the noted French astronomer, express
ed his opinion as follows: Were the
earth suddenly stopped in its course,
the shock would be transmitted by
recoil, so to say, to all the constituent
| molecules of the terrestrial globe, as
If each received a stunning blow: the
! whole earth would be instantaneously
luminous and burning, and an i'm
| mense conf1agration would devour the
world"
Q. Are more seals being caught
this year than there were last year?
H. n. S.
A. A report from Newfoundland
says that the catch this year for the
| whole of the sealing fleet has already
| reached the total of 40 900 pelts, with
| the end of the season still a
month away. The total catch last
year was 1875, 900 pelts. The heavy in.
| crease this season is said to be due to
| the use of airplanes which scout over
| the ice fields
Q. What is included in home eco
| nomics?-J. NJ. S.
A. Home economies represents a
| coordination of several kinds Of spe
| cial knowledge and skill in their ap
plication to the common needs OF
| daily life. These are: A knowledge OF
| nutrition and food preparation, a
knowledge of textiles and the hygiene
and art Of clothing, a knowledge Of
sanitation. of the principles Of house
decoration. of houshold and institu
tional management, a knowledge Of
| child care.
O. How old is the Bahai religion
n. L.
| A. Bahaism is a religious move
rnent that was started by MierZa Al
Mahomet in Persia about the middle
of the nineteenth century.
Q. How does cooking food change
it's composition?-H. H. S.
| A The combined effect Of heat ant
| moisture swells and bursts starch
grains. hardens albumen in eggs, fish
Evening star., 1926-04-23
American Public Likes Its
Practice of Buying ''On Time"

continues the Times. as it asks.
What are they?" Finding the an
swer to this question il sets as "the
task to which the best brains in the
business world must be applied, for
the sooner the answer is forthcoming,
the sooner one of the chief objections
to the installment method will be
removed"
Speaking of the contention of GER
tain economists that the inStallment
system lis building up a super
structure of credit in deferred pay
ments which might crash and inJure
the entire country should some un-
fortunate element of depression over
take the nation" the Great Falls Trtb-
une points to the vast increase In
savings deposits and in life insurance.
together with normal investments. as
indicating the soundnesS of the pros
perity of the American buying public.
"Installment buying has made 1t pos
sible to raise the already high stand
ard of living in America and has con-
tributed immeasurably to the happi-
ness of millions of people," is the con-
clusion of this paper.
** +
Experience and analysis have
shown" states the Portland Oregon
Journal, about what proportion of
payment can be counted upon. The
losses may be figured in advance.
They usually amount to a fractional
percentage of the total and may be
added to the profit margin. Install
ment buying, therefore, has become a
regular part of banking transactions.
What so much debt will mean to the
future cannot be so readily forecast.
If we maintain high productive
capacity, if incomes are proportioned.
the fad might result in a higher per-
manent scale of living in a country
where the scale of living now is the
highest in the world. But those who
pay as they go may yet have honor
again."