Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-26

while the Nation responds to appeals
for assistance in the work OF relief ana
preparation for rehabilitation in the
path of the tropical hurricane which
swept the West Indies and Florida. 1t
erieves over the destruction wrought by
the storm and wonders whether such
disasters always are to- be accepted as
inevitable.
"Nothing can curb these tropical
hurricanes" says the Flint Daily Jour-
nal. They are among the things TINT
must be endured by those who live IN
these sections where they prevail. The
Rochester Times-Union observes: 1T
was known many hours in advance
that the storm was on its way toward
FLORIDA, but that knowledge did not
prevent loss of life when buildings
we're wrecked. II such hurricanes are
to be expected every few years, 1t Will
be necessary to plan to escape their
fury. although it will be hard matter
to get a considerable population to take
to cyclone cellars or their modern
equivalents"
aThe frequency of these violent storms
shows the need of precautionary con-
struction." declares the Albany Evening
News. although the Oklahoma CITY
Oklahoman argues: Man, Win al ms
ingenuity. has never evolved any means
of saving his fellows from the flashing
whiu of the tempest. Perhaps ne
never will. All that humane people
can do IS to support with generosity
the ORGANIZED forces Of charity and
reclamation"
Suggesting means Of protection, how
ever the Hartford Times says: the
cities need to have their wiring in
waterproof conduits: they need build
ines OF cement. brick or stone. or II
If wood. then with heavy construc-
ton and small elevation, having cornices,
chimneys and roofs which VIII nold
on when the wind is blowing l25 miles
en- hour, or more. Beach cities must
have sea walls, like those OF Galveston.
When these things are accomplished.
which will take time and be en- ex-
nensiye business, the Florida hurricanes
will bring no terrors for the people on
shore, and developed real estate. agri-
cultural or residential, will have hlgn
and lasting values"
Giving attention to both Florida and
the West Indies, the Kansas City POST
points out that compared with the
two storms of this year and 1925 tine
earthquakes of southern California are
trivial" and it continues. THE plight
of the West Indian Islands especially
is bad. because they have no means
of quick overland communication with
unaffected regions, their economic re-
sources have been destroyed and their
facilities for self-aid have been wiped
out
The St Louis Times Is confident OF
ADEQUATE measures for relief and re-
habilitation. "Tropic elemental fury
has stricken little Porto Rico with
visitation from which recovery Will
necessarily be tardy." says the Times.
Porto Rico Is our ward. A cry from
her for help Is that of babe In It's
cradle"
To the Louisville Times It seems tnat
"the best help the North can give
Florida Is to go there as usual when
the Winter season begins. Those who
90 will find that a section OF the State,
not the State. was swept by the storm.
And they will find the State ready, as
usual, to receive its Winter guests"
Economic conditions in Porto Rico
are described by the Detroit News,
which expresses regret that nearly 80
years of American occupancy OF the
island have done but little to mitigate
the ills of the Porto Ricans as whole"
and holds that "the heavy death toll IN
so small an area Is In part due to the
fact that the people are not properly
housed"
Those who know Porto Rico and
realize what the hurricane did to its
crops will picture the destruction Of a
beautiful garden" remarks the New
York Sun For in this island, so small
in size and relatively so large in the