Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17
Capital Sidelights

force economy result in squandering
much larger sums. Sometimes Gov.
eminent red tape" marks out the
course to costly subterfuge. In con.
nection with public service the word
economy" should always be accom-.
panied by the qualifying word "efi.
Gent"
The State Department hasn't money
enough to buy the newspapers that
are read there to keep abreast of
public opinion, so Marines are Dor.
rowed and sent around to various
Washington bureaus Of the news.
papers to collect free copies. It costs
more, or course, to maintain the
Marines than 1t would to buy the
papers.
AS another example, group of
Army airmen were brought to Wash
ington to participate in the ovation
to Col. Charles A. Lindbergh. They
suddenly found themselves up against
regulation providing that they
would have to@ pay their own ex.
penses if they remained longer than
~ hours in one city. They made a
special flight to a Virginia flying field
and back to the Capital to get around
that regulation. An officer estimated
that this little evasion cost the Gov.
eminent about $1,000 as against 5000
or $500 for another day in Washing.
ton.
Fireworks have as their principal
function, in the public eye, to help
make glorious the celebration of the
Fourth Of July as an annual reminder
Of this Nations birthday and the
@azzling place 1t has taken in world
history. Then, too, most Of US know
that they are used as beacons and
warnings by the Coast Guard and
Lighthouse Service to aid ships that
are fighting the storms off perilous
coasts. We have also heard Of dyna-
mite being used in clearing ground
for farming.
But E. w. Nelson. chief of the
Biological Survey Of the Department
of Agriculture, In visiting with fellow
scientists at the Cosmos Club the
other day gave a new insight into a
novel peace-time service performed by
fireworks.
Martins are birds somewhat smaller
than robins or starlings, and gather
in fiocks by the thousands Just be-
fore migrating. They establish roosts
within small areas where they make
themselves exceedingly obnoxious.
The noise and filth they make and
the breaking Of branches of trees
where they roost are particularly oh.
jectionable in residential districts.
The law forbids the shooting of
martins, so their roostS have to be
broken up in other ways.
Mr.. Nelson's story Is that last year
the townspeople Of Newton, Ark,
out in Representative Tillman's dis.
| C1IddAnIHy fI,nv,
by ten to fifteen thousand of these
birds and at first turned to the
police for help in getting rid of them.
The police were informed by the Bio.
logical Survey that it was illegal to
shoot the martins. The birds were
finally scattered by turning the fire
hose upon them, by shooting Roman
candles through the tree-tops after
dark and by discharging blank black
powder shotgun shells. The Roman
candles were especially effective-and
this method Of soaring them on their
way is spreading. ....
The youth of the land pursuing
their varied ways to the goal Of learn.
ing are earning millions, and the
National Capital has long been
fertile field in which students for the
professions especially have enjoyed
the opportunity to earn their way
through college and university, even
while supporting families.
The Federal Bureau Of Education
estimates that $25, 500, 900 was earned
last year by students who were earn
ing their way through in some 400
colleges and universities in the United
States. OF the entire enrolment in
these institutions more than 80 per
cent were wholly or partially self.
supporting, while "A per cent OF the
students in co-educationa1 institutions
OF learning are working their way.
A third Of the students in mems col
leges and a sixth Of those in wom-
ems colleges are earning at least a
part Of their expenses.
X X \
Now that the family fiivver is TAX
ing us on weekly jaunts into his
toric vicinage or to the seaside or
mountain heights we become more
and more interested in the develop
Mcdonald, chief of the Bureau Of
Public Roads, has just signaled a
"Hallelujah" by announcing that the
States Of the Union have just built
10000 miles Of surfaced roads during
the year since our last Summer tour.
ing fest.
Mr.. Mcdonald shows us that our
next.door neighbor, Maryland, leads
all States in the Union with 100 per
cent surfacing Of her 2,420 miles in
the State highway system. and that
Massachusetts, ranks second with 1851
miles surfaced out Of the 1864 total.
Connecticut is third and Indiana
fourth. Last year Ohio led all other
States. almost double the nearest com.
petitor, in mileage Of new surfac.
ing placed during the year. with a
total of 2.411, or one.fifth Of her en-
tire highway system. Minnesota came
second with 1,412 miles surfaced dur.
ing the year-and Minnesota. today
has practically 100 per cent Of her
State highway system well surfaced.
The West is still calling us to the
open road.
The fact that Representative
Charles E. Winter Of Wyoming was
one Of the party with President Cool
idge the other day when Dakota
Clyde" Jones raced down the noun.
tain from the West in a cloud Of
dust to the Summer White House and
delivere a message from the Gov.
ernor Of Wyoming. carried 270 miles
by 81 mounts over old trails of the
pony express of pioneer days-re.
minds us to recommend that just now
is a good time to read "Grandon of
Sierra"
With the President tout there" you
have an urge for just such a story
as is we'll told by Representative Win.
ter, author Of the book. 1t Is a whole
some story, well told, and with the
added charm that alternate chapters
are real masterpieces Of description
which will give you q mental glimpse
of the mountain scenery and remain
with you long after The thread Of the
story has been forgotten.
Representative Winter has written
Of the old stagecoach and pony rider
| doxyo whnu tina country WAS hniUer