davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
RAISE IN WATER
RATEFOUGHT
~ 3.:::: -: s

RICHMOND. Va, March %.
Delegations of citizens from Alex
andria appeared here today to
testify before the State Corpora
tion Commission in regard to
proposed increased water rates
in that city.
While other cities, including
Charlottesville, have been on linn
tied water rations as a result of
the drought, Alexandria is the
first municipality to figure in a
fight for higher cost of water.
H. Lester Hooker, chairman of
the commission before which the
Alexandria Water Con1pany's pc
tition for increased rates is be-
ing advocated and opposed, de-
cided to reserve the entire week
for hearing the case.
Wallace Lawrence, city man
ager; Albert V Bryan, Common
wealth's attorney; j. w. Lam
poll, superintendent of water
works; James M. Duncan, jr.,
chief of fire department; R.
C. Bowton, superintendent Of
schools, and William L. Schaefer,
city health officer, are among
the officeholders interested in
the fight.
To what extent Arlington
county is to figure in the case
is yet to be ascertained.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
KIN MEET FTER
29-YEAR WAIT

After 20 years of waiting, Rob
ert D. Shrier has realized his
wish to see his aged mother once
more. The realization was made
possible through bonus money re-
ceived by his World War veteran
son, Don.
Shrier left his home in Canada
% years ago and since that time
has not seen his mother, Mrs.
Julia Shrier, until yesterday she
walked into his delicatessen at
232 Massachusetts, Ave. N. w.
The delicatessen owner has op-
Grated at his present stand for
more than five years. He has
often planned to visit his mother,
now living in Charlevoix, Mich,
but unforeseen circumstances
have always prevented.
So when he drew his bonus
money, Don, the 31-year-old son,
made a secret trip to Charlevoix
and brought his grandmother
here for the long-awaited re-
union.
Many Washingtonians will re-
member that from 1911 to 1918,
Shrier and his two sons and a
daughter, now Mrs. Audrey Stein
metz, of Hagerstown, appeared
in acrobatic and Wild West
shows. The other son, Quincy.
20, operates Bob's Coffee Pot
lunchroom at 733 Fourth st.
N, w.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
TIP On FATAL
BUSH CRASH
WINS $40
Prompt Report of Virginia
Crash Which Killed Three
Takes First Times Prize

Tips on news events outside
the city took the first two and
the fourth prize in last weeks
news tip contest of The Wahing-
ton Times.
First prize of $40 went to the
person telephoning the city editor
on the crash of a truck and a
bus near Fort Humphreys, Va,
in which three persons were
killed and IL injured.
The second prize Of $40 was
awarded for the tip that re-
tired preacher had committed
suicide by throwing himself into
the path of a speeding train
near Upper Marlboro.
Death of Woman, 78
The tip that Mrs. Mildred
Limerick, 78, was burned to death
in !,,er apartment at 2018 Port
ner Pl. N. w., took third prize,
an award of IS.
Four prize of So was the other
Out-Oftown tip, telephoned from
Winchester, Va. The story was
that fire had exploded 200 pounds
of dynamite which destroyed five
buildings in StandardsvilIe, Va.
Winners Of So Prizes
Prizes of 81 each were given
for the tip that Louise Grotlisch,
IL, of Woodland, Md, had been
hit by a piece of steel hurled from
the old Polls Theater to the Ma
tional Theater when a blast was
used in wrecking the former
building; the tip that "Girlie," a
Boston bull, abandoned her five
pups; the tip that an airplane
was flying medicine from New
York here to treat a dog bite
wound of Robert Lewis, II, of 1922
Seventh st. N. w.; the tip that
little Jean Cannon, 2, of 1923
Argonne Pl. N. w., was dropped
into scalding bath by her "big"
sister, 6 years old; the tip on a
fire at Harvard Street Northwest,
and the tip that the threatened
strike of Diamond Cab drivers
had been called off pending ne
gotiations between company and
union officials.
Cash prizes tOtaling $50 will be
awarded again next week. Phone
The Times if. you see or hear of
an important or interesting news
happening. Call News Tip Ed
itOr, District $3.50.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
MAN, 70, VICTIM
Of H|T-RUN
DRIVER
Boy BiCycIist Is Hurt When
Vehicle Skids; Physicians
Daughter Seriously Injured

More than a score of persons
were injured in traffic accidents
In Washington and in nearby
Maryland and Virginia over the
weekend. Their injuries ranged
from skull fractures and critical
hurts to slight ''uiSes.
Daniel O'Connell, jr., II, of 1107
Twenty-third St. N. w., received
fracture of the left leg when
he stepped from the running
board Of his fathers automobile
yesterday into the path of another
machine operated by Frederick
a. WaSsnearm, 218 Seventh st.
N. w. The boys father is cap
tain Of the guard of Public Build
1ngS and Public Parks.
Bicyclist Is Injured
Wallace Gentleman, IA, of 621
z st. N. W., received a fractured
skull when his bicycle skidded
and struck a parked automobile.
Francis Allen, 633 Eleventh St.
N. W., owner spf the automobile,
took the injured lad to Emergency
Hospital.
Mrs. Bernice Claire, 26, of 1405
Webster St. N. E., received treat
ment at Garfield Hospital last
night for cuts, bruises and shock
received when an automobile she
was driving was struck by street
car and caromed into another ma
chine.
A 79-year-Old man was injured
by hit-run driver yesterday at
North Capitol and l. Streets.
Michael Mas, 1903 Harvard st.
N. E., the injured man, was taken
to Sibley Hospital, where he was
treated for cuts by his son, DR..
William A. Mas.
Ashby Davis, 18, of Hoadley,
Va, is in critical condition at
Casualty Hospital from injuries
received at Quantico, Va, when
his auto ran off the road. An
other motorist took him to the
hospital, where physicians hold
little hope for his recovery.
A collision early yesterday morn
ing at Sixteenth and T Streets
Northwest, wrecked a police ma,
chine and overturned another
car without injury to the four
occupants.
The police car, ordered by
radio. to Eighteenth Street and
Columbia Road Northwest, was
operated by Policeman T. R.
Haage. The other machine was
driven by Joseph w. Shimon,
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
HIGHER WATER.
RATEFOUGHT

ALEXANDRIA, Va, March %.
City Manager Lawrence accom-
panied Albert v. Bryan and Carl
Budwesky to Richmond today to
defend the city against the de-
mands of the Alexandria Water
Company for a Is per cent III
crease in the water rates.
More than a score of citizens
will testify concerning low pres
sure and poor service.
The attorneys for the city ex-
pect to show that in spite of pay
ing more than twice the market
value of the old Alexandria Water
Company stock, the presen t
owners paid more than 8 per cent
dividend last fall.
The hearing, which is before the
State corporation commission, will
take all this week.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
SCHOOLS
To HOLD MEET

The first Of a series Of three
day meetings to be held in con-
nection with the eighteenth an
nual conference of officials of AS
sociation of Military Schools and
Colleges Of the United States is
scheduled for 10 a. m. tomorrow
at the Mayflower Hotel.
Subjects for discussions will be
selected at a meeting of officers
and members of the executive
committee at a dinner tonight.
Between 800 and 1000 gradu-
ates of At schools are annually
commissioned second lieutenants
of the Army Reserve Corps and
the military session tomorrow
afternoon will be devoted to re.
lations with the War Depart
ment.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23

policeman, who was off duty at
the time.
Miss Lucille Lucie Sharp, 49,
year-old daughter of a prominent
Washington physician, is in a
serious condition at Emergency
Hospital from injuries received
Saturday night when the auto
mobile in which she was return
ing from a country club dance
plunged over an embankment On
River Road Northwest.
Three companions of the in
jured girl were less seriously hurt.
They arc Eleanor Walsh, 20,
Douglas X. HuntresS and Robert
Rodenberg.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
Who Killed
Self To Be Buried

DANVHLE, Va, March %.
Funeral services for Wyche Law
son, 81, who was found dead in
his fathers drug store Friday
night, were held yesterday.
The young man had been suf-
fering from i'll health for the
past two years. He had a key
to the drug store, and is believed
to have entered after closing
hours and shot himself.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
Bus Line Demanded
By FOrhaU Village

A protest against the proposal
of the washington Railway and
Electric Company to abandon its
Foxhall Village bus line has been
received by the Public Utilities
Commission from the FoXhall Viii
lage Citizens Association.
The letter asked for a public
hearing. The company asked per-
mission to abandon the line on
the ground that it is being oper-
ated at loss.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
Income Taxes Drop
S177,OOO,OOO in Year

Income tax collections for the
first 20 days of March amounted
to $283, 100000, a drop of $177,-
100000 from those received dur
ing the same period last year, the
Treasury announced today.
Receipts collected March 20
were $44, los, 900, as compared with
$75,000,000 March 20, 1880, and
for the fiscal year from July l to
March 20, $1,454,6OO,000, a de-
crease of $258,OOO,O0O.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
Woman Asks $1,000
For Theft of RIM

ALEXANDRIA. Va, March %.
A special jury has been sum-
moned to try the case of Mrs. B.
B. Ezrine against the Fidelity and
Casualty Company for recovery of
damages for a ring said to have
been insured by the defendant
and subsequently stolen.
Mrs. Ezrine asks $1,000, the
value of the ring.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
Removal of r. I. AUe.
Poles Starts Soon

The Washington Railway and
Electric Company has notified the
Public Utilities Commission that
it will shortly begin work on re-
moval Of center trolley poles on
Rhode Island Avenue Northeast,
from the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad viaduct to Twelfth
Street, and erect side poles.
The company also stated that
it intends repairing and renew
ing tracks along the same route.
This work is a part of the TO-
year program for the removal of
all center poles. During the first
five years of the program, center
poles have been removed on
Georgia, Wisconsin and Con-
necticut Avenues.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
T'IUO Fined in Liquor
Trial in Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, March 23.-In
Police Court today John Brown.
of Baltimore pleaded guilty to
possession of IL cases of corn IL
quor, found in his car. He was
fined $500.
Joseph Robinson, colored,
charged with a fifth offense
against the prohibition law was
fined $40 and given three months
in Jail,
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
Baltimore e Ohio
March LOadinu In

Cars loaded and received from
connections by Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad in the first 10 working
days of March increased 2.586
over the corresponding period of
February to a total of 8O,184 cars.
Compared with March year ago.
the number of cars loaded de.
clined 1858 and the daily aver
age was 1856 cars below that
period.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
Luncheon to Honor
official of e.. w. u,

John Bell Larner, chairman of
the board Of trustees of George
Washington University, will be
honored by the General Alumni
Association at luncheon Saturday.
Justice James Mcpherson Proc
tor, Of the Supreme Court of the
District, and president of the as
Sociation, will preside.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
Warnings Are Flying
For Atlantic Storm

A storm raging about 800 miles
east of the Virginia capes caused
the United States Weather Bu-
reau today to continue it's storm
warnings north of the capes to
Provincetown, Mass.
The disturbance was moving
northeastward.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
Old City Records
Are Bein0 Rebound

ALEXANDRIA, Va, March %.
The old record books of the cor
poration court, dating back to
1785, are being rebound this week
by c. F. Scoper, of Winchester,
who has rebound the records of
every county in the State.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
PLAN AIR LEGION CHAPTER

A meeting to form a Washing
ton Chapter of the International
Air Legion will be held in the
Carlton room, Carlton Hotel, to-
morrow night at 8 o'clock. All
persons interested in aviation are
invited to attend.
The Washington times., 1931-03-23
NeW Map Pictures
Alabama in Detail

Completion of a map for $50
square miles in Alabama, includ-
ing the cities of Montgomery
and Prattville, with data show
ing the changing course Of the
Alabama River, yesterday was
announced by the geological sur
Vey.
Seward daily gateway., 1931-09-11

Iriculture, on laws relating to fur animals.
 The muskrat pelt taken in Oc- tober or November is worth hardly half as much as if trapped in Feb ruary. Trappers are often care less of their own interests, and in their eagerness to forestall com- petitors take the field far too early. Fur dealers, on the other hand, have generally deprecated this policy, and have endeavored to secure reform. Muskrats with in the United States should not be trapped before December Is; and while the fur is still prime in the latter part of March, the breeding season is then on, and continued trapping would greatly limit the number of animals for the next season. The open season for the muskrat should be limited to about three months, from De- cember Is to March IS, or in the more northern States from De- cember to March 15.
Seward daily gateway., 1931-09-11

Iof proper depth for dams reduces to a minimum the danger of ln- jury from muskratS. The modern dam or weir is always safe rom their attacks.
 Probably the most successful means of protecting earthen em- bankments is to employ sKlllful trapper to patrol them regularly, using traps, poisons, and small calibre rifle. The patrol is usually charged with the additional duty of watching for and promptly re- pairing slight breaks in the em- bankmentS.
 Several methods of keeping muskrats from injuring small
 ponds have been recommended. One is the liberal use of gravel or coarse sand for the surface of
 entertainments, since the animals
 will not burrow in soil that fills the holes as fast as they open 1t. The best means of protecting the vegetable garden from musk
 rats is to erect a fence of net ting, either surrounding the gar
 den or skirting the bank of the adjacent stream or pond. The netting should be of galvanized wire 3 feet or more in width and |of 112 in mesh. The lower edge should be sunk 6 inches into the soil to prevent the animals from digging under.
 ENEMIES OF THE MUSKRAT Man is by no means the only destroyer of the muSkrat. Among. its natural enemies are the coy ote, fox, mink, the larger hawks and owls, and the pickerel. But all of these enemies together do not greatly affect its numbers.
 The proposed reclamation of SwampS and marsh lands through out the country, if carried out, will greatly reduce the number of muSkrats by restricting their hab- fiat, and if the supply of this fur is to be maintained it must be through protection and eventually through private ownership.
 PROTECTIVE LAWS
 The earleiSt act for the protec- tion of fur animals in America was the Massachusetts law of 1791, which prohibited trapping fur animals, including the musk rat, during the months of June, July, August and September. An act passed by New Hampshire in
 1921 protected beavers, minks, otters, and muskrats from May l to November 1 of each year. The New Jersey law protecting musk rats, passed January 21, 1929, con- tinued in force until 1913. The first Ohio law providing close season for muskratS was passed June IS, 1830 At present this animal has partial protection in a large part of it's range, but most of the laws are of comparatively recent enactment. Changes in laws affecting the muskrat may be found in Farmers Bulletins of the United States Department of Ag-
Seward daily gateway., 1931-09-11
SOME EXAMPLES

prosperous business. On 5000 acres of marsh at the mouth of the Maumee River, near Lake Erie controlled by a hunting club of Toledo, Ohio, the muskrats had been undisturbed for two years prior to the winter of 1903-04 when they were trapped for the benefit of the club. Five thouS- and were taken in a single month January, 1904, and the skins were sold for 25 cents each. The carcasses also were sold at $1 a dozen.
 The muskrat industry probably has reached it's highest present development on the eastern shore of Maryland. The extensive marsh eS of Dorchester county are a center of muskrat fur production. Formerly the land was consid- cred almost useless, as it is sub ject to tidal overflow. Now, owing to the increased value of fur, many of the marshes, measured by ac- tual income, are worth more than cultivated lands in the same vii cinity. Trapping privileges are leased, usually on the half-and- half plan, and trappers and own CTS unite to protect the marshes from poaching.
 A few specific examples will give better idea of the value of these marsh lands The owner of one tract informed the writer that he bought it several years ago for $2,700 It is leased for half the fur and in 1909 yielded him $890, or about B per cent on the investment. A small piece of marsh H about 40 acres I'LL was bought in 1905 for $50 Leased for half the fur, it yielded the owner $40, $6O, $7O, and $1OO, re- spectively, for each of the fur years, 1906 to 1909 Taxes on this land are very light, and on the basis of per cent income the returns for 1909 would represent an approximate value of nearly $40 an acre The owner of a 1,30O-acre tract of marsh, who traps with the aid of his sons, in two seasons, 1909 and 1910, se- cured over 12,0O0 muskrats, which sold for more than 5000.
 The muskrat skins sold in this region are seldom assorted before sale. They are separated into black and brown lots and then counted, deduction of from 3 to 5 per cent being made for the young, known as kits" The skins sold throughout the season of 1917 brought 35 to 45 cents for brown and 50 and 75 cents for black. The proportion of black skins varies on different parts of the marshes from 10 to 60 per cent, the average being about 40 per cent
 MuSkrat meat is an additional source of income to the trapper. It is bought by local buyers and sold for local consumption or shipped to outside markets, all be- ing utilized. The Baltimore mar ket absorbs the bulk of the ship ments. In 1909 the wholesale price was about cents a carcass; in 1917 it ranged from 10 to 13 cents.
 The editor of the Cambridge (MdD Record stated that the muskrat industry of Dorchester county brings into the community about $100,O0O annually. This would indicate that the average catch is about quarter million animals. Owing to continued cold weather in 1917, the catch prob ably did not exceed 150,OOO, but the high prices prevailing brought the income nearly up to normal. The danger of exhausting the SUD- ply by continued close trapping
Seward daily gateway., 1931-09-11
THE MUSkRAT AS A FUR BEAR
By David Lantz formerly Assistant Biologist Division of Economic Investigation, Bureau of Biological Survey

has been discussed in Dorchester county, but trappers maintain that with the long closed season, March 16 to December 31, little ground for anxiety on this score exists.
 POSSIBILITIES OF BUSINESS
 MuSkratS require no feeding, since the plant life of ponds and marshes furnishes abundance of food. In many States the .areas adapted to the muskrat are ex- tensive, and doubtless suitable areas could be found in sections from which muskrats are now ab- sent. As trapping is done in winter, the business of muskrat farming is especially adapted to farmers and farmers boys.
 The improvement of the musk rats pelage by selective breeding has never been attempted Prob ably the black muskrat could be bred true to color and greatly inn proved in the localities 1t now in- habits, and could be introduced successfully into other sections of the country. Indeed, to make the most of the nuskrat industry re- quires that the possibilities of se- lective breeding be tested.
 MUSKRATS
 Its destructive habits make the pest in comparatively few places. On the whole, and es- in large marshes and un- inhabited sections, it's economic value far outweighs the harm it does. On many of the streams it inhabitS, no attempts have been made to impound water for use, and hence the animal does not with engineering opera tlonS. In all such situations and ln sWampS the muskrat should have ample protection to insure a present and future fur supply. The present value of the pelt is an incentive to excessive trapping.
 Mill owners and superintendents of canals, irrigation works, and levees sometimes are confronted With the necessity for active op- eratlons against muskrats. and should know the more effective methods of combating them. It must be confessed that the usual means have not been very suc- cessful. Counties have never ef- tected more than a temporary re- duction of their numbers. Shoot ing ordinarily makes the survivors exceedingly wary. Trapping is more successful. but it can seldom be carried to the limit of practical extermination.
 Methods of trapping are effect i've in both summer and winter. but when green food is abundant greater care is needed in the se- lection of baits With enough steel traps placed in favorable loca- tons the danger to entertainments may be diminished greatly. The barrel trap will sometimes bring quicker relief, since it often cap- lures an entire family of muskrats at one setting. Whenever poSsi- ble, trapping these animals should be deferred until their skins are prime.
 Muskrats can be destroyed much more rapidly by poisoning than by trapping. Powdered strych- min sWeetened with powdered sugar or commercial saccharin and sprlnkled over freshly cut pieces or apple, carrot, or ripe squash has proved effective in many cases. Crystals of the same poi son inserted in the baits with knife also have given good re- suits. Care must be taken to keep poisoned baits where they will not endanger other valuable wild or domestic animals.
 DESTROYING MUSKRATS
Seward daily gateway., 1931-09-11

Science of Trapping, $1.5O; Fox Trapping, $50; Fur Buyers Guide, $2.5O; Home Manufacture of Furs and Skins, $1.75; ALASKA SHOP.
Seward daily gateway., 1931-09-11
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

RATES-Fifteen cents per line first inser- tion. Seven and half cents per line for subsequent insertions. Count six craze words to 8 line. Minimum charge .B cents
Seward daily gateway., 1931-09-11

FOR SALE-Seven pair Moose Pass raised mink. Inquire Joe Ramon, F. o. Bx. 412, Seward.
Seward daily gateway., 1931-09-11

FOR SALE-Old newspapers; 25c per bundle. Order by phone Main no or letter to Gateway office, Seward.
Seward daily gateway., 1931-09-11

Quartz and placer location notices
 at the Gateway office.