davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-11-01

1850. This increasing density of popu-
lation, together with increasing freight
traffic, with a requirement for more fire.
quent and more rapid train movements,
calls for extraordinary measures to be
adopted now in anticipation of the time
when existing modes will not be able to
meet demands.
It is not b strained concept that in
the course of the next quarter of CEN
tury the main rail lines in this country
will all be on an electric basis The
steam locomotive has always been recog-
nized as an expensive and from the power
point of view an uneconomical unit 1t
has been developed to a high point of
efficiency, but still represents at best
a heavy waste of energy The reason
for its replacement by the electric
motor. however, is not primarily finan-
cial in the matter of power economy
1t lies in the greater flexibility and
efficiency of the current-driven power
unit, with respect to the assured in
crease of traffic burdens.
Evening star., 1928-11-01
Disagrees With Fire
Siren Suggestion

To the Editor of The Star:
read in Saturday nights paper your
second editorial upon the speed of fire
apparatus and note that you say there
are two suggestions: one reduction n
the speed, in accordance with the Sug-
gestion I made in my last letter to you.
and the other from persons who think
there should be sirens placed along the
fire routes, warning persons OF the
approach of fire engines.
I am not in accord with the last
suggestion for the following reasons:
First, deem 1t impractical as advance
sirens, to be of any value, would have
to be automatically operated as the
engines approach the siren and this
would be unnecessarily expensive, if not
prohibitive from the standpoint OF ex-
pense. Second, I think we have con-
fusion and noise enough in the streets
as it is without adding this additional
noise to cause additional confusion.
Since I wrote you my last letter, one
or two persons have suggested to me
that the motorman of the car from
which the young ladies alighted in the
last tragic accident was somewhat at
fault for opening the door of his car
and letting them alight when the fire
apparatus was. approaching from the
rear.
If this apparatus was going so or 60
miles an hOar as claimed, it could have
been at Fourteenth and F when the
motorman first started opening his
door, and certainly motorman can't be
expected to look out for vehicles three
or four blocks in his rear before opening
the door to let passengers on and off.
If any one will take the trouble to
figure the distance vehicle travels in
very few seconds at a rate of speed
Of 25 to 80 miles an hour he will imme-
diately be convinced that it is dangerous
to every one for fire apparatus to exceed
that speed and more Is not justified
unless the whole city should be threat
ened with destruction from fire in
general conf1agration.
Nine-tenths CT the fires are small, and
If 1t was possible to properly control
them with horse-drawn apparatus when
the buildings were constructed with
much more inflammable material than
at present, certainly fire apparatus run
ming 25 or 80 miles an hour with short
ened runs over the runs of the old
horse-drawn vehicles, should be able to
get to any of the fires in ample time,
and think the facts and the argument
must support my contention, and fail
ure to enact such an ordinance for
future regulations OF the fire depart
ment and hospital ambulances on the
danger of unlimited speed being permit
ted these vehicles has been established
by terrible accident, would be criminal
negligence on their part for which they
could be held ansWerable in the Crimi-
nal Court and the District certainly
answerable in a civil suit for damages.
F. S. KEY-SMITH.
Evening star., 1928-11-01
UNITED STATES
in WORLD WAR
Ten Years Ago Today.

The 1st American Army attacked
this morning on a front of more than
Is miles north of Verdun, with its right
flank on the MeuSe, and advanced
nearly miles at some points, cap
tured 5000 prisoners and many machine
guns and liberated dozen towns
The Americans never before had so much
artillery in action as today. Although
the artillery preparation lasted but two
hours, the concentrated rain of missiles
fairly smothered the Germans.
Todays attack in Flanders gave the
allied troops an advance of more than
miles on a 10-mile front
South of Valenciennes. the British ad-
vanced miles to the southern edge
of that town. which Is flooded.
Allies are now in possession of all the
hign ground between the Scheldt and
Lys Rivers, with their lines running
close to the Scheldt. Turkey
surrenders its forts and warships and
will demobilize its army Immediately.
evacuating all occupied territory and
surrendering all Turkish officers.
ArmiStice terms are submitted to the
Austrians as revolution spreads through
that country. RumorS ema-
mating from Germany say the Kaiser
has abdicated, but the report Is prema-
ture The matter has been discussed
and will soon be an actuality if Ger
many is to make peace with the al
lies. Four hundred and sew
enty-five names ON casualty list given
out today Four thousand three
hundred and thirty-nine American soi-
diers were invalided home from France
during the month of october. Six
billion eight hundred and sixty-six mil
lion four hundred and sixteen thousand
three hundred dollars subscribed to the
Fourth Liberty loan is a high-water
mark in world finance. Twenty-one
million persons bought bonds.
Evening star., 1928-11-01
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Erie near its western end. 18 miles be-
low the City of Detroit 1t is about 81
miles long and varies in width from
one-half mile to three miles. 1t is
navigable for the largest ships and car
ries an enormous tonnage of freight.
Q. What breed of dog is the police
dog?-R. N.
A. The term ''police dog" does not in
dicate any breed of dogs, but merely a
purpose to which dogs of various breeds
can be and are trained. Shepherd dogs
Of Germany, France, Russia and Bel
GUM, together with pure-bred dogs of
other breeds, cross-breeds and mongrels
have been retained and used as police
dogs 1t is as ridiculous to describe
any breed of dogs as police dogs as it
would be to designate any race of peo-
pie as doctors, lawyers, merchants, etc.
In both the case of dog and man the
designation indicates the kind of edu-
cation and training, and not the blood,
which is varied.
@. How can plaster statues be treated
after they have become dingy and
dusty?-B. F. G..
A. First give the statue thorough
| brushing and busting. Take good
quality of white or cream colored paint
and make it thin with turpentine. Ap-
| ply this to the statue with great care
SO that no paint settles in the crevices
to impair the modelling The statue
can then be kept clean by wiping care
fully with wet cloth. Many statues
| in the Corcoran Art Gallery. WASH
ington, D. c., are treated in this way.
| @. Why does the under side Of a cigar
| or cigarette burn faster than the upper
when put on the edge of a tablet
| F. M P
A. When a cigar or cigarette is placed
| on table with the lighted end pro-
| Jecting over, the glow in the under side
| progresses g little more rapidly than
that above. apparently because of thu
| air convection current created around
| the burning part, which would be more
| active on the lower portion than on
/ the upper portion. The burning of
cigars and cigarettes can be accelerated
| by applying a gentle breeze to the
burning end.
| @. Should radiators be painted with
| bronze or aluminium paint?-E. w.
| A. The Bureau of Standards saws
that painting radiators with bronze or
aluminium paint decreases the radiation
| Of heat. It is more satisfactory to use
any good interior paint or enamel.
@. When will the racing season open
at Tia Juana Pr. r.
A. The races will begin at Tia Juana.
Mexico, On November 80, and will last
| 100 days.
Evening star., 1928-11-01

for four days, the luster OF triumph
that will be forever inscribed on the
pages of history canont be dimmed.
One hundred and twenty-four per-
sons. besides large amount Oh mail and
freight. were carried from Germany to
the United States and back, distance
of something over nine thousand miles
with only one stor = approximately one
hundred and eighty :. urs' flying time.
one hundred and ele zen and half
hours of which was spent on the west
ward trip. Four days and fifteen
hours from Germany to the United
States and two days and twenty-one
hours from the United States to Ger
many! The true significance of the
feat performed by the Zeppelin can be
read in these figures and an amazed
and appreciative world congratuiates
Germany in its hour of triumph.
Evening star., 1928-11-01

This is a special department devoted
solely to the handling of queries. This
paper puts at your disposal the services
of an extensive organization in Wash
ington to serve you in any capacity
that relates to information. This serv-
ice is free Failure to make use of 1t
deprives you of benefits to which you
are entitled. Your obligation is only 2
cents in coin or stamps, inclosed with
your inquiry, for direct reply Address
The Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic j. Haskin dire tor, Washing
ton, n. G..
@. Is 1t dangerous to use milk from
sterile cows?--N. N. H.
A. The Bureau of Dairy Industry says
that milk produced by sterile COWS that
are otherwise in good health is just as
good as milk produced by other cows as
ling as 1t Is normal in appearance and
flavor. Sometimes when soWs have been
fresh for a long period of time and are
nearly dry the milk becomes bitter and
salty in flavor. In such cases the milk
is not fit to use and the cow should be
dried up.
O. What would the height of the
barometer be at the top of Mount
Everest?-J. G. o.
A. The Weather Bureau says that
this would vary a little with the sea
son of the year, and also with the state
of the weather. In Summer it would be
about 1923 inches.
@. Are weaving looms used in the
manufacture Of automobile tires?-
II. w.
A. The Rubber Association of Amer
lea says that loom is used in the
process of making cord tire. 1t is the
last operation through which tire cord
is put and, of course, 1t is to tie the
cords together by means Of filling
threads in the form of a fabric so that
the material can be handled in the
calenders. Usually the filling threaos
are very light in construction in COM
parison with the warp cords and are
spaced from 2l2 to to the inch.
@. How is artificial lightning made
for stage effect?-H. C. G,
A. Artificial lightning as made or
the stage~is done with a special effect
lamp and projecting machine. A
simpler way is to have the stage dark
and turn the lights on and off quickly
using artificial means to produce the
noise of rain and thunder.
@. How long is the Detroit River?-
A. The Detroit River issues from
Lake st. Clair. runs southwark, forms
part of the boundary between Michigan
and Ontario Canada, and enters Lake
Evening star., 1928-11-01

Decision by the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Co. to begin the .electrifcation of
its system probably marks new era
in American transportation. This i'm
mediate enterprise is to cover only the
lines between New York and Whining
ton, Del, but it is understood to be the
purpose Of the corporation to continue
the process in successive movements
eventually to compass the entire sys-
tenn of 1900 miles of trackage. The
New York-Wilmington electrification
will, it is stated, call for an expenditure
of $100000,000 and will cover seven
or eight years of continuous work. This
will embrace 325 miles of line and 1900
miles OF track, an operation far ex-
ceeding in magnitude and in importance
the electrification of any other railroad
in the world.
The magnitude of this change from
steam to electricity is not measured
alone by the cost of the work itself.
In five years, 1t is computed, the COM
pany will require between $50 and 800
electric locomotives, costing 100000 to
$500,000 apiece. At the lowest figure
this entails an expenditure of $75,0O0.-
900 for power" and at the higher
figure $150,000, 900. An average of these
two estimates, $10O,0o0,000, puts the
cost of installation and power at
5000, ,ooo, 900.
It is explained that, save in few
places, the current transmission will be
by overhead construction and not by q
third rail- In certain locations both
sources of power will be employed. Nc
word is given as, to the matter OF cur.
rent generation. whether from fuel ol
from water-power plants. The advan'
tage claimed for the electric system
is the greater economy in operation ir
dense traffic territories. It is figured
that at the present rate of metropolitan
growth the area of New York and the
New Jersey district as far as New Bruins
wick will contain 3o.0o0,000 persons b!
Evening star., 1928-11-01

Just now. with the sands of the CAM
paign running fast toward the finish,
with the remaining hours to be counted
as were the days Of the earlier stages
the minds of the managers and OF the
candidates themselves are diverted from
the immediate questions at issue by
fears of the "roorback," the canard
deliberately manufactured for the sake
of influencing voters. There is no way
to insure against such attacks. The
nearer the end approaches, the greater
the danger of these tricks and ruses, for
the briefer the opportunity to correct
and deny them.
The roorback, or campaign falsehood,
had it's origin in the presidential battle
of 1874. when a pamphlet entitled
Baron Roorback's Tour Through the
Southern and Western States" was cir
culated to the disadvantage of Henry
Clay and the advantage of James K.
Polk. Clay's partisans attributed his
defeat for the presidency in material
degree to stories that gained currency
through this medium, tales that were
fictitious, but which could not be cor
rected in season.
In these times of rapid communica-
ton, and particularly of radio broad
casting, the roorback has less impor-
tant potentiality than in earlier times.
It is now possible to deny effectively
misstatements sprung in surprise in the
closing hours of the campaign. With
diligent scrutiny of all that is printed
and attention to all that is said,
capable campaign manager need not be
caught by roorback. He can get on
the air. with effective correction or
denial at short notice. He can get
print publicity for a repudiation or
challenge at even shorter notice and
gain the attention of millions of readers.
The life span of the roorback, which
was considerable in the days of the
s.Baron's" travels, and which remained
extensive down through the Civil War
period and for some campaigns there
after, is now shortened to an almost
negligible point. The real menace to
the political peace of mind nowadays
comes not from the falsehood that can
be effectively met and exposed, but
from the truth or near-truth that is put
forward with sinister purpose, telling
of some old relationship or old action
half forgotten and hard to explain.
Then there is the break" the mis-
take of judgment, the inadyertent word,
the awkward gesture, the inappropriate
action seized upon by the opposition
and by it broadcast and proclaimed as
a token of unfitness. This need not be
something the candidate himself has
said or done. It may be the word or
the action of partisan, ''spellbinder."
In the heat of the campaign, particu-
larry in the closing period, stumpers are
sometimes carried away by zeal and
say too much.
Then there is the plant" the trick
of the opposition to elicit some state
ment from candidate or supporters
which, addressed to an apparently SIM
pie proposition, turns out upon analysis
to be an embarrassment The wise
candidate and the wise manager avoid
all such bats They turn deaf ears to
challenges and direct questions. They
pay no heed to criticisms, mind their
words with scrupulous care, with eau
ton that increases with the lapse of
time and the approach of election day
Evening star., 1928-11-01
Debate on Socialism Charge
Lively Incident of Campaign

lican), Indianapolis Star independent
Republican,, Hartford Courant (inde-
pendent Republican, and Manchester
Union independent Republican,.
Smith supporters give special en-
phaSlS to the power question. When
the Federal Government or the States
owning these dam sites insist upon de-
veloping and utilizing them for them
selves" according to the Nashville Ban
ner independent, Mr. Hoover calls
it State Socialism. When the power
trust uses its vast wealth to buy with
bribe money politicians or attorneys of
influence to invade the schools of the
land and the like-and the facts are
well known-the Republican candidate
finds no words of denunciation."
Gov. Smith stands" AYERS the
Omaha World Herald independently &,
"for economic equality for agriculture
under the protective system, for public
ownership of the public's water power,
and for local elf-government in mat
terS of sumptuary legislation. Herbert
Hoover abhors these proposals as State
Socialism that would cause the down.
fall of the Republic. 1t will be good
thing to have count of noses on that"
X X X
The Importance of opposing power
interests is stressed by the Sioux City
Tribune independently and Asheville
Times independent Democratic), while
the Milwaukee Journal independently
declares that "the pretense that the
Nation is facing the abandonment of
the principles of $50 years is to every
one within the sound of Mr.. Hoover's
voice only a campaigner's trick" The
Baltimore Evening Sun independent
Democratic) regrets that Mr.. Hoover
departed from the candor and direct
ness that mark the rest Of his speech
and descended to misrepresentation of
the difference between himself and his
opponent"
HE might have done better" advises
the Charleston Evening Post (independ-
ent Democratic), ito have yelled Boil
sheviSmP since that has more horTiflc
sound and would have been more ef-
fective, Just as DR.. johnson aroused the
indignation of fShwife by calling her
proposition Denial of any Social
ism in the governors policies is made
by the Springfield Republican Gnde-
pendent) and Little Rock Arkansas
Democrat (Democratic). The Houston
Chronicle (Democratic) concludes: 'sThe
State Socialism is the stock and trade
of the professional lobbyist. A paid
lobbyist does not have to think. 1t is
not his business to analyze. Patriotic
consideration is no part of his equip
ment."
Opposition to Government ownership
is strongly expressed. 1T h. been a
more or less popular doctrine" says the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin dnde-
pendent Republican,, "ever since the
days of BRYAN oratory. But it never has
stood the test" Similar condemnation
comes from the Charleston Daily Mail
independent Republican,. Seattle
Daily Times independent Republican,,
Chicago Daily Tribune. Republican,,
Worcester Telegram independently and
Oklahoma City Oklahoman (independ-
ent).
Evening star., 1928-11-01
Unkind Fate.

The vagaries of Fate were never bet
ter illustrated than yesterday near Cam
den, N. ]. For nearly forty years Bob"
Hammill has been an engineer on the
Reading Railroad. Yesterday he was to
climax a perfect record of safety with
retirement from service and attendance
at testimonial dinner given by his COL
leagues AS the pilot of the crack
Reading train which leaves Atlantic
City every evening on the dot of six and
arrives at Camden, after straight and
fast run. at seven nine, Hammill, with
smile of anticipation at the close of
an honorable career, sent the big en-
gine roaring toward its terminus for his
last stop. And then tragedy stalked
across the tracks. Five minutes from
Camden Bob Hammill met with his first
accident A small automobile had be-
come stalled on the rails and the speed
ing train hit it amidship. One man
will probably die.
The veteran engineer was in nowise
to blame for the unkind fate which de-
posted the car in his path within a few
minutes of the time he was to shut the
throttle and apply the brakes as fit-
ting climax to a record of more than
two million miles without an accid@1t,
and he is deserving of the same amount
of praise that he would be If it had nev-
er happened. The country needs more
Bob Hammills, not only as engineers,
but in all lines of endeavor. Men of
his type are the backbone of the Nation
and the accident yesterday, unfortunate
as it was, does not detract one iota from
an enviable record
Evening star., 1928-11-01
New Airports.

| Washington is no nearer building Its
proposed municipal airport now than il
was nearly a year and half ago, when
Lindbergh's flight to Paris started other
cities throughout the Nation of on a
wild scramble to obtain suitable sites
and construct their port facilities for
the future ships of the air. But Wash
ington, lacking any municipality owned
site. is receiving first-hand deronstra-
ton of what will take place everywhere
when the commercial practicability of
travel by air is firmly established. A
few weeks ago plans were announced
for the construction. by private agencies.
of a large airport and training school
north of Washington off the Rockville
pike. Yesterday the sale of Hoover
Field, opposite the Lincoln Memorial on
the Virginia shore, was announced,
together with plans whereby the pur-
chasers will develop this pioneer enter
prise as a modern airport, with new
hangers, concrete runways, automobile
service and all the other conveniences
and facilities demanded by patrons of
air travel.
Within a few years, if these two
projects are successful, Washington will
probably be surrounded by airields, and
some venturesome soul will have bought
the right to use the roof of down.
town Office building for an airport that
entices the visitor with the prospect of
a landing in the hotel and theater dis
trict, without the inconvenience of hav-
ing to travel by automobile to reach the
center of things. And few years later
those now living will witness the
launching of a movement to have
union terminal Many of the argu-
ments now used to portray the ad-
vantageS of a central union bus
terminal will be used to illustrate the
confusion and inconvenience to which
air travellers are placed in trying to dis
cover the location of the proper field
to catch the right airplane express.
In the meantime, therefore, what is
going to happen to Washington's own
municipal airport scheme? One may
already anticipate the argument that
with private enterprise making such
headway in the commercial development
of air lines and air ports no room is
left for municipal endeavor. In this
connection, however, it may be recalled
that Newark, NJ. j., is beginning work
on what will probably be the largest
and most complete air port in the
world. The project involves some six
million dollars. And this new airport
is being constructed despite the fact
that New York is already surrounded by
six large airports, and more viii
probably be built.
Washington and its governing body,
Congress, should never allow the
municipal airport scheme to slip away
merely because of the feyerish activity
of commercial interests in developing
their projects. The airport projected
for Gravelly Point, in the first place, is
on far larger scale than any SO far
contemplated by private interests. Nor
would it's construction conflict with the
business of the commercial enterprises.
If Newark, N. j., can afford to spend
six million dollars for public airport,
the United States cannot allow its
Capital to depend on private agencies
for the provision of a suitable landing
place for all the ships of the air that
in future will make Washington chief
port of call.