davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
BIZ c. MORAN.

~ NE hundred and forty-four
years ago, almost to the day,
commissioners from Virginia
~ and Maryland met at Alex
andria, Va, to adjust and
promote commerce and trade between
the two States. Gen. Washington,
learning Of the proposed conference,
extended to the delegates the hospital
1ty Of his home at Mount Vernon as
q meeting place. The journey, over
rough roads, to Mount Vernon took the
better part Of day, but the hard
ships Of travel were compensated by
q conference which was the forerun-
ner Of the Constitutional Convention
ut Philadelphia.
A similar journey today to Mount
Vernon from points in Maryland and
Virginia consumes but a fraction of
the time required for horseback travel
As this Is written preparations are ur-
der way for the construction OF the
Mount Vernon Memorial Highway from
the Virginia end Of Arlington Memorial
Bridge to Mount Vernon, paved right
OF way 200 feet wide, except In Alex
andria City, and with a 40-foot pave
nent and two 10-foot shoulders. The
highway Is to be completed in 1882
under three-year program.
This road, which will connect the
National Capital with the shrine Of the
first President of the United States
will make possible one Of the most
noted and beautiful drives In the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
Two Washington Men Win Credit for Vital Radio Develop

Now, instead Of a light which cannot
be seen in foggy or stormy weather, the
warning signals are sent out over the
air by radio
The perfection of this led to the de-
velopment OF another instrument for
airplanes which Is expected to prove
Of inestimable value in night flying.
The pilot. once he sets his course for
the broadcasting station, can determine
by this instrument the exact moment
when he begins to stray to one side
Morse code, and II the pilot Is on true
course, he hears a steady succession Of
alternate dots and dashes. II his ship
strays to one side, he hears only the
dots, and II 1t goes astray on the other,
only dasheS are received on the plane.
Comdr. Richard Byrd, now in the
Bay of Whales, Is one of the most
ardent admirers Of the work done by
Mr.. Burger and Mr.. Townsend.
He took equipment made especially
by them on his trips to the North
Pole and over the Atlantic. Before leav-
ing for his South Pole venture, he
sent in an emergency order for some
special equipment, which was hurriedly
| built and rushed to New York just in
time to catch his ship before sailing.
When Herbert Hoover went into the
fiood-stricken Mississippi regions he
also carried with him various radio
devices and equipment built by the two
men here in Washington.
| Only few of the many remarkable
| discoveries by these two men have
| been mentioned here, but it is sufficient
to indicate the highly important nature
| of their woodwork which is done
solely for the United States Govern
ment
| Despite their years both men still
are imbued with the eagerness Of youth,
and firmly believe that they have q
still more important role to play In
future years, when. they say, the full
significance of radio will be generally
appreciated and its many still unknown
| possibilities realized.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

The Signal Corps soon found out
about the new instrument, however,
and set was developed for them.
Their reaction to the test was the same.
and they begged Mr.. Burger and Mr..
Townsend to let them have sole use of
1t, and, above all, not to tell the Navy.
Another development at this time,
which was af great utility, was O. COM
plete set, with portable mast, which
could be installed and set up In an or
binary army truck. This was used
widely for field maneuvers during the
last Mexican War and was adopted as a
standard part of the Army's equip
ment
BY this time their regulations had
spread throughout all Government
, circles. and breathing spells for the two
radio pioneers became few and far be-
tween.
Their next commission from the
Government was to construct a set
which could be used In submarines.
The submarine Egg, which blew up a
few years later In the Brooklyn Navy
Yard, was turned over to them for ex-
perimental purposes.
BY this time the two men had become
SO versed in the different phases of
radio construction that this assignment
offered them little difficulty. The
greatest obstacle they foresaw was that
the equipment would be encased In the
metal hull of the submarine. It de-
veloped later that this made slight, If
any, difference, but before the discovery
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

~ ONE Of the most important steps
in the romantic development o.
~ perseverance and ingenuity O.
Washington men.
The radio equipment which carried
the signals Of Malcolm p. Hanson OF
Washington and now with the Byrd
expedition from the Bay of Whales to
San Francisco 5000 miles away; the
radio compass, an almost human de-
vice, which enabled Capt. Fried to To-
cate the stricken Florida: the sonic
radio depth finder for battleships and
submarines-all are monuments to the
work Of two Washington men.
Few Washingtonians have been aware
that this important work has been 60
ing forward in their midst.
The fact that their experiments have
been worked out only for the Govern
ment has led the National Electric
Supply Co., in whose laboratories the
work has been done, to proceed without
any public notice Of the work in hand
or of the results obtained.
A quarter of century ago two young
employees Of the company went to ON
Gals Of the Navy Department and Of
fered to build them sending and re-
ceiving radio set with which shore sta
tons could communicate with battle
ships at sea. They were T. Lincoln
Townsend, now vice president of the
company, and G. w. Burger, present
Superintendent of its factory.
They were greeted with smiles and
assurances that it could not be done.
Nevertheless, their proposition sounded
so good that naval officials agreed to
cooperate and furnish the ships for the
experiment.
The two men went back to their shop,
assembled the setS-crude affairs, with
carbon lamps and condenser tubes in
stead of the modern radiotrons-and
took train for Norfolk, Va.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
OvaRo dFnmWa
Territory LoB Trvnseb AmercaM Beautifully Memorable

worid--a drive from the Maryland
State line through Rock Greek Park,
through Potomac Park and along the
Potomac River, passing through his
toric Alexandria and Fort Hunt In
Virginia, to the home and burial place
Of George Washington.
Conception of highway from
Washington to Mount Vernon as me-
mortal to George Washington orig
mated In 1885. Two years later the
Mount Vernon Avenue Association was
incorporated by the Virginia Legisla-
ture, and, following an act of Congress
In 1889, Brig. Gen. Peter G. Hams of
the Corps Of Engineers, United States
Army, made and reported survey OF
three principal routes and auxiliary
connecting lines. The idea has been
commended and Endorsed by Presidents
Of the United States, by Secretaries OF
War, by hundreds of members Of Con-
gress and by most national patriotic
organizations.
On December 2, 1924, Congress Gre
ated the United States Commission for
the Celebration of the 200th Anniver-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
Great Accuracy Required
In Testing Condensed Milk

"EN cubic centimeters of milk,
hardly enough to cover the bot
tom Of an ordinary tufnbler, are
used in quick and delicate
test, the results Of which con-
troll the disposition Of more than 10000
pounds Of raw milk, a ton and a half
of sugar and 200 or 500 pounds of
cream, or between q half q ton and a
ton of skim milk in the production Of
condensed milk.
Despite this small sample of milk
which is tested, the chemist and the
skilled condensing- operator are so
accurate in their work that the result
ing product is usually less than a quar-
ter OF q per cent of in total solids in
the finished milk and less than q tenth
of a per cent OF In butterfat content.
Prior to starting the test the chemist
has placed an aluminium dish In q
desiccator at stated temperature, and
after leaving 1t there q short and &C.
curately timed interval he places 1t in
a cooling chamber and brings the dish
to a point as near the room tempera-
ture as possible. The handling OF the
dish Is with forceps, In order to prevent
the picking up Of any moisture from the
! hand.
Having cooled the dish properly, the
CIlcIIllnb WClGLlS ~ lkl u uGLCdtG DdldIlCG
which Is completely inclosed in glass
| and which is provided with a sliding
door to allow him to place the dish
upon the pan.
In the scale case is kept a dish OF
CALCIUM chloride intended to take all
moisture from the air within the case
With forceps the chemist places tiny
| weights upon the pan opposite the dish
and, closing the scale door. finishes his
weighing with tiny hair of aluminium
upon the beam. The dish Ia weighed
with miligram accuracy.
When the chemist does his testing he
places the milk u Q special bottle and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

tanned from this point. Entering Alex
thoroughfare of the town, the route
passes Christ Church, where the WASH
ngeon pew may still be seen.
alexandra was Washington's own
town. 1t was his market place, his
post office and his voting place. It
was the meeting place of the lodge of
Masons to which he belonged, and the
lodge hall is now the repository of a
great many articles and paintings as
ISOLATED with him.
The trowel, square and plumb bob
used in laying the corner stone of the
Capitol are housed in the lodge hall.
as well as the Bible that was used in
the days of Washington. Here, also, is
an original painting of Washington by
Gilbert Stuart and the Pope Peale
painting Of him in early life.
The old quarters of the volunteer
fire company, of which washington was
a member, still stand In Gadsbys Inn.
now the City Hotel he recruited his
first company of provincial troops au-
thorized by Gov. Dinwiddie, with which
he fought the Battle Of Great Meadows.
X X X
IN the ballroom of the old City Hotel
in 1893 was held the first celebration
of Washington's birthday From the
steps of this building he gave his last
military command to the Alexandria
Light Infantry Blues, his bodyguard
during the Revolution; and here. In Mo-
vember, 1899. less than 80 days before
his death, he cast hts last ballot.
At the Carlyle House. still standing.
he received his appointment as major
in the British Army on Gen. Braddock's
STAFF, and in this house also. at the con-
vention Of the five governors assembled
to confer with Gen. Braddock, the first
suggestion of Colonial taxation was
made, the step which ultimately led to
the revolt Of the Colonies
Other places still standing In the city
and intimately associated with the life
Of Washington are the homes of DR..
James Craik and Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick,
his family physicians. and the home of
Light Horse Harry Lee and Of his two
famous sons, Robert =. and Sydney
Smith Lee.
The George washington National
MasonteA Memorial which Is being
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

long. At no point will the grade be
greater than 6 per cent, and for much
of the way it will be less than per
cent. Seven or eight masonry bridges
will be constructed, monumental in de-
sign, harmonizing with the Arlington
Memorial Bridge, and these will carry
60-foot roadways, with a 5-foot side
walk on each side. Automobile park
ing places will be designated along the
route between the highway and the
rivers bank, particularly at charming
spots. Suitable planting will also be
provided along the route.
Starting at the Virginia end of the
Arlington Memorial Bridge. the road
way traverses Columbia Island. passes
under both the highway bridge and
the shore spans of the railroad bridge.
and follows the Potomac as closely as
topography, alignment, grades and plans
for future development will permit. to
the postern gates Of Mount Vernon.
About halfway between Washington
and Alexandria. the route passes close
to Abingdon, the home of John Gusts,
Mrs. Washington's son, which still
stands, overlooking the river. Here
Nellie Gusts, Washingtons adopted
daughter, was born. A beautiful view
of the river and a panorama of Wash
lngton. and the north shore are OBJ
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

At the same time, Mr.. Burger and
Mr.. Townsend developed a set, de-
signed along similar lines. for use in
balloons.
The two also participated in the per-
lection Of the radio compass and the
sonic range finder, now a combination
instrument whose value has been so
strikingly demonstrated in the several
recent sea rescues, which probably
could not have been effected had 1t not
been for the accuracy with which this
instrument located the faint calls for
help coming from the crippled sending
apparatus Of the lost ships.
The simplest explanation of its
method Of operation Is that the COM
pass shows In just what direction the
sound waves are travelling and the
range finder determines, by measuring
strength of the waves, precisely how
far away the sending instrument Is.
Another highly useful device which
they have developed is the sonic depth
finder, similar in principle to the range
finder.
The depth finder was developed for
the Navy in 1922, after years of ex-
Fermentation.
One of these instruments, installed
in the hold of ship, sends down a
sound wave, which strikes the bottom
OF the ocean and returns. The man
in charge knows from the delicate
recording instruments attached, the
time the sound started and the time
it got back. Computing this, with the
';nown speed at which a sound wave
travels, the distance to the bottom OF
the ocean Is determined. This same
depth finder can be used in locating
icebergs, or any other foreign body
in the sea. The terrible disaster OF
the Titanic could have been averted IL
a depth finder had been In operation
aboard the ship.
Perhaps the most remarkable achieve
ment with the depth finder was the
recent plotting of the entire Pacific
Ocean. One Of the instruments was
! placed on q ship which cruised back
| and forth until every peak and de-
preston on the ocean floor was identi'
fed and marked down on chart.
One of the most recent development;
of Burger and Townsend is a broad.
casting set for use in lighthouses
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

When they got there, the battleships
Virginia and Wyoming were waiting
for them, as well as q delegation OF
Government officials, who came down
to witness the ridiculous" spectacle OF
a ship in harbor communicating with
another vessel out at sea.
With the confidence born OF previous
successful tests, the two young scientists
set about the task of installing the re-
ceiving set in the Virginia, which
stayed at Norfolk, while the Wyoming
steamed to a point 100 miles of shore.
At a prearranged hour the Wyoming
flashed a terse code message across the
intervening miles of water. Suffering,
but sure, 1t reached the ears OF the
waiting group aboard the Virginia. The
practicability of naval communication
by radio had been proved!
The formerly skeptical officials were
elated and arranged for a second test,
The Wyoming was ordered 1000 miles
to sea and the test was repeated.
The result was the same, and the
radio was ''sold' to the Navy.
The party returned to Washington
and the Navy ordered two more sets.
This time the Government paid all ex-
penSeS, although the two men had had
to build the first sets on their own re-
sponsibility, with the understanding
they would receive nothing unless their
utility could be established.
This was the beginning of a contact
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

THE skunk is in bad odor again. This
time it is for stealing. wholesale
murder or whatever you wish to call it.
A report reached the Biological Sur
vey of the Department Of Agriculture
from Arizona that an apiarist had sent
out a plea for help in Graduating
skunks, which were raiding his hives at
night and killing off his bees.
The leader of the predatory control
work sent aid and found out some in
teresting facts about how a skunk could
get the bees and also about another
case Of fatal curiosity.
On two moonlight nights watchers
observed a skunk approach a hive and
tap on the front of it with his forsfeet.
The bees, disturbed by the tapping,
came to investigate, and in the cold Of
nighttime were sluggish about it. AS
each bee appeared in the opening of
the hive out darted the skunk's tongue
and bee disappeared from view.
One skunk was found to have 265
bees In its stomach when it was ex-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

sary Of the birth Of George Washing
ton. The commission, headed by the
President, consists of four Senators,
four Representatives, eight citizens, APP
pointed as commissioners by the Presi-
dent, and four ex ofiicio commissioners,
consisting Of the President, Vice Presi-
dent, Speaker Of the House and an ex-
ecutive secretary.
On May %, 1928, an act was passed
by Congress which authorized the COM
mission, In cooperation with the Secre-
tary of Agriculture, to survey, select,
construct and maintain q Mount YER
non Memorial Highway, for which an
appropriation of $4,500,0O was pro-
vided. To the Bureau Of Public Roads
Of the Department of Agriculture was
delegated the task Of surveying suitable
routes. OF the two routes surveyed and
reported on as to alignment, grades
scenic and historic value, with estimated
costs Of construction, the commission,
on January "a, chose the river route.
X n
nNE Of the routes surveyed by Gen.
Hams In 1889, which he desig-
mated the eastern route, approximates
in Its location the route selected by the
commission. The surveys made by him
began at the Aqueduct Bridge, some
distance up the river from the Me-
mortal Bridge now being built. In max
ing his report to Congress he wrote: ut
would be far more in keeping with its
character as q national road to have
it start from some point on the Ar
lington estate at the terminus Of a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
Park Herds Grow.

FIX, deer and moose are now plenti.
full on the ranges Of Glacier Ma
tional Park, the protection afforded By
the game preserve fostering the growth
of the herds. 1t Is reported that IS
head Of elk wintered in the Belly River
district, so head on Red Eagle Greek
and 800 on Nyack Greek. with scores
Of smaller groups scattered throughout
the reservation.
More than 1000 deer are being taken
care Of at five feeding stations.
Moose are particularly plentiful. but,
as they are harder and take care of
themselves, figures on their number are
not available.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
to Mount Vernon Soon to Be World Famous Highway

brother Of George. On the death o.
Lawrence and Of his only daughtes
George Washington inherited the estate
of some 5000 acres, which stretched II
miles along the Potomac. The hous,
originally had two stories and an attic
with four rooms on each floor. WheI
Washington married Martha Gusts, thi
daughter of wealthy planter, he en-,
larged the building. The mansion nov
contains 10 rooms
In 1853 John Augustine Washington
offered the Mount Vernon estate fol
sale. A daughter Of South Carolina
Ann Pamela Cunningham, devoted her.
self to raising $4,000 required for the
purchase. In 1886 the Mount Vernon
Ladies' Association of the Union wal
incorporated Git had existed since 1859
with Miss Cunningham as regent, and
vice regents representing IL States. Tit
present property of about $50 acres hal
belonged to and has been administered
by this association since 1860.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

which has held good until the
| present time. During the succeeding
years more elaborate equipment has
been prepared for the Government by
these men, but none of 1t has brought
them any keener satisfaction than the
vindication of their first effort.
The late Maj. Edward Russell, U. S.
A., heard of the successful experiment
with the Navy and began to wonder If
something of the same sort could not
be worked out for the Army. He got
into communication with Mr.. Town.
send and asked him to see what he
could do about developing a set which
would be practicable for Army field
work.
Mr.. Townsend and Mr.. Burger got
their heads together, with the result
that by 1903 they called Mai. Russell
and told him they were ready to dem
onstrate.
Hitherto the Army had used battery
sets, but they presented two difficulties,
both of which combined to make them
practically useless for field work.
In the first place, the batteries would
hold charge for very limited period
only, and the troops in charge Of the
| instruments had to remain near re-
charging apparatus, or find themselves
with a dead radio on their hands. This
meant that the radio was almost use
less to the Army In time of war when
| freedom of activity in remote regions
became essential
The second, and perhaps the greater
difficulty, lay in the fact that the bat
teries, which we're filled with large
quantity of acid, had to be transported
on mules.
One trait common to the species, and
to which the Army variety was no ex-
ception. was that the beasts were liable
to lie down and roll over at all sorts of
unexpected moments. This naturally
resulted in two evils--first, the acid
spilled out and disappeared, and, Sec
ond, most Of 1t disappeared via the
backs Of the mules, taking the hair and
hide along with 1t.
The task of developing the radio
without the batteries devolved upon Mr.
Burger, who had previously built a
small generator for use in airplanes at
Annapolis, Md.
He believed that the only solution to
the problem was to develop a generator
which could be used with o radio set
Accordingly he set about the task OF
making one.
He removed crank and the gearing
from an old blacksmith's forge, collected
several odds and ends lying around In
his laboratory and. after an experiment
or two, developed the first hand powered
generator ever found to be practicable
In radio work.
Finally the Army's portable sending
and receiving set was ready and q date
for the demonstration set.
One section of the clumsy looking
apparatus was set UP on the White
House grounds and the other installed
at College Park, Md. On the day Of
burial for the dead from the battleship
Maine the first test was made, and it
was eminently successful.
4 X 4 y
MESSAGES were flashed back and
AsA forth at will and the utility of the
generator amply demonstrated. A new
era In army communication methods
had dawned. Henceforth, troops would
go afield equipped with one of the
portable sets and be assured of con-
tact with their base through the air.
Navy officials were elated over the
success Of the set and pleaded with its
developers not to tell the Signal Corps
anything about it,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
Indians as Farmers.

THE tepee of the Blackfoot Indian Il
passing into oblivion and now i;
seldom seen on the reservation In
Glacier National Park. The descend
ant of the brave of former years i
now farmer, raises wheat. hoes his
garden and conducts himself in gen,
eral as a farmer should.
Only now and then, when the old
urge to hunt comes over him, does
he slip away from his prosaic farm.
house and once again become the wary
hunter as of yore. Then the tepet
comes out of its obscurity to be hi,
temporary abode.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

erected on Shooters Hill. on the western
outskirts Of Alexandria. is reached
through King street. At the southern
limits Of the town the route passes
within a stones throw of the first cor
Ter stone of the District of Columbia,
till standing, on Jones Point, with the
inscription still complete.
Leaving Alexandria, the highway
ROSES Hunting Greek, follows the Po-
.omac to Fort Hunt and then on to
Aount Vernon. MSlnt Vernon was
5uilt in l743 by Lawrence, the half
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
SKUNK HUNTS BEES.

amined following the killing of the ami.
NAL.
The pest was eliminated by bats Of
salt pork and strychnine.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

First Development First Submarine Radio Set Field Set Radio
rArA nhofY ounRa Pioneers I
Thug Gvnnmm Circles