davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Croix tribune. [volume] (Christiansted, St. Croix, V.I.) 1922-1937, 1934-01-03

der pltroIma1 and a sn Ig gler lay dead
her. today after renewal of the Gov
ernmapJs camDaign against rum runners
on the + xaS- Mexico border -Four suS-
pected Sm Igglers two of them wounded.
were under arresr. twenty gallons Of
contrabrand whisky were in the hands
of the officers.
Chicago Medical scientists were
skeptical today of the claim of a YanN-
ton S. D man that he was the father
of only one Of twin hoys born to his wife.
While granting the phenomenon was
scientifically possible. Chicago scientists
said such such claim would De almost
impossible TO prove. The case attracted
wide interest here among gen 4ticists.
Washington: Millions Of dollars in as
sessments from thousands Of banks to-
day were pouring toto the Governments
gigantic insurance pool under which
most of the country shank depositors will
have their money insured up to S2.50
beginning tuesday. From present lndi-
cations less than a thousand of the coun-
try's operating 1900 banks will not
have their deposits insured 10 this man
ner at the first of the year. And most
of these arr expected TO De brought in
shortly af erwards.
New York. The Federal Government
moved today ia suit without legal prece
d nj to force the 20 member banks of
the New York Clearing House Associa-
tion 10 repay in foil the claims of thou
sands IF dcpositors of the defunct tiarri-
man National Bank and Trust 90 The
dep3si ors were "a iranteed their pay
ment by aims of II trriman Ba ks. The
Clearing Association during 1892 and
early 1883 4u4rauLee promised TO meet
the claims of the Harri nan Banks Il 900
d9positors. est mated a local Of -, 575,
000.
Washington; President Roosevelt will
lead the Nation tonight il observance of
tn 77th birthday of Woodrow Wilson.
With an address at the first national din
ner of the Woodrow Wilson foundation.
organized to perpetuate the war. Presi-
81 e
St. Croix tribune. [volume] (Christiansted, St. Croix, V.I.) 1922-1937, 1934-01-03

built around New Yo famous Madison Garden
showing a
o the Garden Piuring
Wu.
Sr LEW CODY
ampon
Paramount
Eahpe will receive
be
would
royable evening
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
FILA Will Help Plan
Suburban Areas

Recognizing that the future
character of the cities of the
country is in great degree depen-
dent upon the extent to which
new lands are brought into
urban use and the manner in
which these lands are planned,
the Federal Housing Administra-
ton has issued regulations SET
ting up standards for neighbor-
hood development.
The regulations, for use in in
suring offices, are based on the
supposition that the building up
of new urban areas represents a
critical situation at the present
time due to the surplus of unde-
veloped or partially developed sub.
divisions left from the last period
of real estate expansion, which
exist in a large number Of the
metropolitan areas of the country.
Specific definitions of neighbor.
hood standards are laid down in
the regulations relating to in
sured mortgages. For purposes Of
applying the standards property
shall be deemed to be situated in
an undeveloed neighborhood when
ever the property lies in an area
in such a stage of development
that it's future characteristics are
not thoroughly established or
readily predictable. Any such
The Washington times., 1934-12-22

area will be considered to be an
undeveloped n g h b rhood,
whether or not it falls within the
literal terms of the definitions.
More specifically, a dwelling
property is considered to be sit
uated in an undeveloped neigh
borhood wherever one Or more Of
the following conditions prevail:
/. When the property lies in a
tract of land laid out so as to
provide ten or more residential
lots which are made a matter of
public record on subdivision
plat, and in which less than 25
per cent of the number are i'm
proved with substantial, occupied,
or readily rentable dwellings.
2. When the property lies in a
tract where ten or more bounded
lots have been or may be sold or
used for residential purposes, of
which less than Is per cent are
improved with substantial, occu-
pied or readily rentable dwellings.
3. Where, within 300 feet of the
boundaries of the individual prop
erty in question, less than Is per
cent of the lots available for or
reasonably anticipated for resi-
Dental use are improved with
substantial occupied or readily
rentable dwellings,.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22

excoriated to little avail by
higher public officials of all per-
Suasions and belabored by poll
tical scientists.
Hitherto, the failure to root
out this invisible govern
ment," as President Roosevelt
once termed it, has been as
cribed to various obstacles.
It was explained the county
form was embedded deep in the
State constitutions and that
constitutional changes take
time; local officials lack knoWl-
edge of improving county gov
ernment, and the spoils system.
with its wide ramifications,
prevents action.
Obstacles Hurdled
Another powerful force
against reform has been the
appeal deep-seated historical
associations carry for the people
of regions defined Wltnln
county boundaries.
These obstacles. under insist
ent public pressure, are being
hurdled in different ways by va
rious States, spurred by the ever
increasing movement which de-
veloped after successful expert
ments with the manager plan IN
city government.
Commissions in IL StateS-1l.
linois, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-
sissippi, New Hampshire, North
Dakota, Delaware, Connecticut,
Indiana, Texas, New York, North
Carolina and Ohio-either have
made or are making surveys OF
their local governments.
City-county consolidation tea-
lures, either local or Statewide,
were considered by the legisla-
lures Of Alabama, Florida, Geor'
The Washington times., 1934-12-22

In all but tive States of the
Union, drastic reorganization OF
obsolete county ar erceSSiUe
local government is being forced
upon the political legislatures
by the UoterS and taxpayers,
the Literary Digest reports after
a nation-Wide surrey. The Di-
geSt's article. entitled "County
Reorganization, an Acttve Is
sue," Says, in part;
Americas basic form of local
government-the county system,
with its complex minor units
has undergone many structural
changes this year, perhaps more
than in the last 140 years.
The new deal in local govern.
ment will be put up directly to
legislators in many of the 43
State capitols wherein regular
sessions convene in January.
Success for county-reorganiza.
ton measures IN several SCaCe
elections has encouraged the
movement to reduce drastically
the 175,418 units of govern
ment of the nation.
Direct taxing power is held by
1877 500 of these units, estimates
by the Bureau of the Census re-
veal. Taxing units include the
48 States; 3,O57 counties; 16,389
cities. villages, towns and
boroughs; 1890 townships:
125,627 school districts. and
1888 miscellaneous divisions.
Approved by Voters
A number of States are set
ting up machinery to carry out
the particular method of county
reform approved by their voters
on November 6.
For years the county form of
local government, which ante
dates the Constitution, has been
The Washington times., 1934-12-22

the United States, to total Of
more than two billion dollars.
In addition, about 235,000 ap-
plicants for loans know that their
files are now in the hands OF
title examiners or loan closers,
well on the way to final closing
or rejection.
Others Benefit
Other hundreds of thousands of
people apart from the borrowers
have benefited, either directly or
indirectly, by receiving HOLC
bonds in exchange for their
frozen mortgage holdings.
During the year the corpora
ton has paid more than IA mil
lion dollars into municipal and
State treasures for back taxes
and assessments on the homes re-
financed. Expenditures in various
localities for labor and building
materials for the repair OF the
mortgaged homes where necessary
including contracts outstanding
amounted to more than 40 mil
lions.
Delinquency Low
Reviewing the work of the cor
poration during its Is months OF
activity, John H. Fahy, chairman
of the Board of Directors, pointed
out that in view of all the circum-
stances under current conditions
repayment by the borrowers are
coming in at a gratifying rate.
Less than IL per cent are more
than two monthly payments oe-
hind in the principal or interest
due on the corporation mortgages
he reported. reflecting low rate
of delinquency that compares
favorably with that of the great
majority of private lending in
stitutions at the present time.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
43 States Push County Reform Programs
Units Cut, Simplified Systems Looming

of general county adminiStra-
ton.
2. Change in the area of gov
ernment, by the consolidation OF
two or more counties to elimi-
nate overlapping administrative
and tax districts.
8. Change in the functions OF
government, by a shift of county
institutions Hospitals, asylums,
homes, etc.,; shift of sheriff's
police duties to the State or
town: and, or, shift of educa-
tional functions to the State or
town.
4. Abolition Of counties and
townships, giving State control
through administrative units
which would account directly to
the capital.
S. Improvement in admin
strative systems through use OF
central purchasing, m o der n
budget plans, improved tax as
sessments and collections, mod
ern engineering systems, and
civil service.
Rural Counties Lead
The general campaign to sim.
plify county rule is proceeding
on two extensive sectors.
The first is the rural-county
attack.
The other is the urban-county
movement, by which the large
cities of the country seek to
abolish or consolidate the
county governments within
their confines.
Despite the painfully slow ad-
vance in the urban areas. advo-
Gates of county reform neverthe-
less are cheered by the fact the
question has been pushed so
forcibly by the voters into the
attention Of so many State legis-
lators.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22

city planning, housing and finance
are the fields which dovetail into
the housing program and are in
tended to become harmonious
units of the scheme. Members
of the Council are verSed in these
fields and are drawn from voca-
tions and professions qualifying
them for advisory posts. They
will serve without pay and will
hold full meetings two days
month.
Robert V. Fleming, president Of
the Riggs National Bank and Of
the Washington Board Of Trade,
is a local member. Hugh Potter,
president of the National Associa.
ton of Real Estate Boards, is ex.
pected to hold up the realtors
end of the deliberations of the
council which includes representa-
tives of all branches of labor and
industry related to the housing
industry.
Comdr. F.. L. Sandoz, row out of
the city, is expected to speed his
return to see his young grandson,
Fritz Temple Sandoz, born to Mr..
and Mrs. Thomas w. Sandoz, a
week ago.
w. L. Hoeke, chief teller Of the
Friendship branch of the Riggs
bank, presented his wife with a
desirable Christmas present yes
terday.
He closed the transaction In
which he purchased through the
A. D. Crumbaugh firm, premises
4408 Yuma st. The family is
moving in today.
The Weedons are beginning to
miss John, jr., already.
Three days ago he departed for
Texas where, on December q, he
will wed Miss Mary Lee JamlSon.
They will return here in January
following an extended wedding
trip.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
HOUSING PL A n
SUCCESS SEEN

Banks and other financial in
Stitutions of the District have as
Sured the ultimate success of the
housing campaign here, it was as
serted by Deputy Housing Admin
istrator J. Howard Ardrey, in q
recent address.
Expressing a high degree Of
satisfaction over the cooperation
shown by banks and building loan
associations here, Mr.. Audrey told
the Washington Board of Trade
at its December meeting:
"Mr. Thomas P. LittIepage,
general chairman Of the Wash
ingtOn Better Housing Cam
paign, which has been directing
the mOdernizatiOn drive here,
has said that a conservative
estimate of the amount of
money expended on the repair
and improvement of buildings
in Washington since the cam.
paign began late in August is
more than S3,O18,OOO.
This estimate was based on
the total amount of loans made
by local banks and building
loan associations for moderniza-
tiOn purposes up to last Friday.
Mr.. Frederick P. H. SiddOns,
president of the District Bank
ers Association, has reported
that banks here have granted
7O4 loans tOtaling $375,OOO, and
Mr.. Carl J. Bergman, president
of the District Building and
Loan Association, has reported
that organizations in his field
have granted 681 loans tOtaling
$379, 500.
"Since thoroughly conserva-
tive method of estimating the
entire amount expended for re-
pairs and improvements is to
consider that, for every dollar
borrowed for the purpose and
therefore directly traceable, So
are spent for the same purpose
but obtained by other means,
the definite figure of S754, 500
obtained through the insured
loans from private financial in
StitutiOnS can be multiplied by
four to arrive at the estimated
total of $3,O18,OOO."
The District of Columbia head
the list of States in the compila
ton of number and amount Of
modernization loans per capita
Mr.. Ardrey told the board, anc
said that if the straight mortgage
loans made by the building-loar
group could be included in the
Housing Administration figures
the District would be much farther
in the lead.
He pointed out that the laws ot
the District forbid the latter
group from making insured mort
gage loans,
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
MEET
Officials to Discuss Phases of Problems
Cafritz to Hold
Xmas Party
onight

The Cafritz Construction Com
pany will celebrate its thirteenth
annual Christmas banquet for
its employees and friends tonight
in the Roosevelt Room of the
Ambassador Hotel.
Adlai Mann will act as master
of ceremonies and will dispense
gifts.
Mr.. and Mrs. Morris Cafritz
will have as invited guests on
this occasion, in addition to the
members of the organization,
Judge Milton StraSburger, Harry
Viner, Mr.. and Mrs. Russell
Conn, Ms. Alvin Aubinoe, James
Y. Newton, Richard Baker,
Thomas Cahill and Anthony
Hyde, jr.
The following members from
the Cafritz organization will be
present: Ralph Hisle, Alvin Au-
binoe, Lester Rosenberg, Claude
A. Adler. Leo Pope, Mrs. Mar
garet Hessler, Miss Shirley Kap-
Ian, Miss Lucille Lippert, Miss
Catherine Martin, Miss Sylvia
Rosenberg, Miss Beverly Lang.
mead, Miss Ruth Mickey, Mrs.
Frederica Mowbry, John Swope,
jr.; Joseph Carroll, David Wolff,
William Hubbard, Barney Ru-
bins, Henry Bell, Louis Towbes,
William Schwartz, Jacob Rob
erts. B. Pifer, J. A. Donaldson,
William Ward, C. BrincefieId,
Edward Franey, S. Spear, C.
Hedrick, William Baumback, E.
Hoffman and j. Espey.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
gia, Missouri, Pennsylvania and
Texas.
Other Counties F0IInw

gia, Missouri, Pennsylvania and
Texas.
other Counties Follow
Consolidation of counties, long
ago made permissive in Georgia
and Tennessee, has been made
permissive in Nebraska and Min.
nesota.
In New Jersey, a bill for
sweeping county reorganization
was introduced in the last legis.
lative session. An enabling act
will be introduced in the next
session.
In New York, the legislature
considered a sheaf of bills at a
special session called last sum-
mer by Governor Herbert H.
Lehman, and, finally, a concur
rent resolution was passed call
ing for a constitutional amend
ment to provide for optional re-
form through transfer of func.
tions. consolidation, or abolition
of unnecessary units.
The Kentucky Tax Reduction
Association sponsored nine bills
at the recent session of the
State legislature. Five were
passed. These measures will
bring an estimated saving of
$5,000,000 annually.
Changes in System
Changes in the county gov.
ernment system are proceeding
along five lines:
/. Change in the form of
government, by Capitalization
of authority inside the present
structure; by board of COM
miSsioners chosen from the
county at large, or by the
county-manager form in which
an elected board chooses a
manager who has supervision
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
AID ADDS
To YULE JOY
FOR MANY
Thousands of Homes Saved
by Mortgage Refunding
Loans; Payments Good

For upwards of 4,0O0,0 900 Amer.
leans of all ages, this Christmas
will be a more festive holiday
than for many years as the re-
suit of emergency mortgage re-
funding operations by the Home
Owners Loan Corporation, a re.
view of the Corporations activi-
ties reveals.
Up to December 13 the Cor
poration had closed mortgage
refinancing loans on 695,351 in.
dividual urban homes throughout
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
MOjaVe Gold Mine
Operation. BOOms

MOJAVE, Cal, Dec. % G.N.SO.
Immediate operations with mod
ern machinery, power connections
and diamond drilling backed by
New York, Nevada and California
mining capitalists will bring gold
and silver producing mines here
under full sway by early March.
The Soledad Extension Com
pany, a New York-Nevada mines
Syndicates, in taking over the
Soledad Extension No. /, Hope
Extension and Soledad Wedge
this week did not lose a shift or
lay off a man in the driving of
the 60O-foot tunnel. The tunnel
vein holds a six foot width of
good milling material carrying
values of $17.50 to the ton in
gold,
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
SHIPS RENOVIZING

The cruise ships Reliance and
Resolute will be repainted white,
according to word from the Ham
burg office of the line that oper-
ates them. The hulls are now
black, so the new paint. in addi-
ton to protecting the weather
lashed surfaces, will make the two
vessels new and shining.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
TOle Ware Proves
Popular Again

The return of tole (old-fashioned
painted tin) household ornaments
has induced many home makers to
bring down vases, bowls and trays
from the attic and rejuvenate
them with coat of bright enamel.
The old brass lamps of a genera
ton ago, for example. may be
electrified and painted olive green,
Chinese red, Venetian yellow or
rich blue-all characteristic colors
of tole ware.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
TREND SHOWS
SOUNDNESS
Of VALUE
No Soap Bubble Initiation
Seen in Gains During
Past Generation

Progress, architecturally al d
intrinsically, has done its best
with the area east of the Treas
ury during the past generation.
The area, said to represent a
fair cross-section of development
In the downtown district, has en-
joyed Steady rise in property
values from the time the Treas
ury Building was constructed
during the administration Of
President Lincoln, and Fifteenth
Street became financial row."
Tax records of 80 years ago,
showed what then appeared to
be a stabilization of property
value in the neighborhood.
Value Increases
At the intersection Of Four
teenth and G Streets on the
southeast corner there stood for
many years the Small Building
and the Lawrence Building. The
latter was composed of a group
of residences which had been re-
modelled into offices. Both Struc-
lures we're assessed for many
years for an aggregate value of
about 100000.
The Hamilton National Bank
building, standing on the site of
those old buildings, is now valued
at more than $1,000,00O.
In the noted collection of his
toric photos of Washington to be
found in the offices of Thomas J.
Owen and Son, is a photograph
of the triangle looking east from
the north front of the Treasury.
Prominent in the photograph
is the old George Washington
Hotel which stood at the corner of
Fifteenth Street and New York
Avenue. The corner of Fifteenth
and G. Streets was marked by the
Home Life Insurance Building,
somewhat of a skyscraper in those
days. The w. S. Thompson Phar-
macy Building was between. Up
to 80 years ago, million dollars
would have been a highly inflated
value for these structures and the
real estate, and the value was
stabilized for many years.
Demand Grows
Growing demand for additional
buildings, larger buildings and
modern buildings, however, again
started an uptrend. The Wash
ington Building now occupies the
space formerly occupied by these
three buildings. It's real estate is
assessed at $1,650,O0O and the
physical improvements at $2,013,-
120, making an aggregate of 3d.
663,12O.
Equally as pronounced has been
the transition in value of the
Keith Albee Building, now owned
by a New York syndicate. Once
the site of the old Riggs House
and Loehl's saloon, the property
44O" 10 doOCOoCO AOA p4,OAO,OIO.
In the same area the real estate
firms of R. o. Hoffman and
Stone & Fairfax were located. The
Holtzman firm has long since
passed out of the memory of the
present generation, but the Stone
& Fairfax firm, after several
moves about the city, finished its
active existence only few years
ago in an office at Connecticut
Avenue and K Street. It's busi-
ness is now conducted by the
Waggaman-Brawner Corporation.
There has been no soap-bubble
Initiation of property values in the
neighborhood, according to local
realty experts. The rise has been
steady and gradual, with slight &C.
celeration after each war.
The most rapid rise to the pres
ent stabilized level was in the
years Immediately following the
World War.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
to Homes
Aid to Prosperity

Because of the widespread alter
ing and painting up of old houses,
the country is entering the most
constructive area of its history,
says Louis K. Comstock. president
of the Rehabilitation and Moderni-
zation Association, New York City.
In many properties, deficits have
been changed into profits-one
house having increased it's income
from $50 month to over 5000, by
Transforming the structure into
small apartment house.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
OLD-TIME CHAIRS

Old-fashioned wooden chairs
with flower-painted backs are now
in demand by collectors of an
tiques. They are being Salvaged
from kitchens and attics and after
being carefully cleaned become
welcome accessories in modern
homes.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
SANDPAPERING HINT

When preparing to varniSh, al.
ways sandpaper with the grain OF
the wood, using No. u sandpaper
at the start and finishing off with
No. 0. For turned surfaces, such
as table legs, chair legs and
spindles, steel wool is best.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
NEW SHADES FOR OLD

Old window shades that have
become faded and worn may be
renewed with two coats of paint.
A flat wall paint well-thinned
with oil and applied quickly will
effect the transformation.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
BENEFACTOR

The man who makes good, en-
during house paint is one of the
chief benefactors of the human
race. Next to him is the con-
scientious man who spreads paint
and knows how to do it so that
it will cover and protect every
place where the weather seeks
to invade your dwelling.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
REMODELING

Refinishing the woodwork is
one phase of remodeling that will
give as much pleasure as any
thing the home owner can do.
For the amount of money in.
volved, it will change and improve
the appearance of the house as
nothing else will.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
VARNISH BOOKS

Taking a cue from the Public
Library's practice of vanishing
the backs of new books, some
bookloverS are doing the same
thing with their own volumes. A
light, clear varnish, applied in a
thin coat with a good varniSh
brush, will preserve the original
f,.nnlnranrr ~ n1nkL nn,,nX.c
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
PAINTING TIP

If paint or varnish remover Is
used before applying new coat,
all traces of it should be removed,
using turpentine or another SOL
vent. Most removerS contain wax,
and no varnish or enamel will dry
properly when applied over wax.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22

hold its first
meeting Mon
day afternoon
at the May
flower H o t e |
and outline it's
labors which
are intended to
solve some prob
lens which, left
unSolVed, might
develop aWk-
ward situations
in the housing
program.
Architecture,
c on S t ruction,
The Washington times., 1934-12-22

If you wish to know the correct
time of day or night telephone
THE WASHINGTON TIMES,
District 1000.
The Washington times., 1934-12-22
MEMBERS
VERSED IN
FIELD
They Serve on Advisory Mat.
tiers Two Days a Week
Without Pay
By DICK BAKER

Federal Housing Administrator
James A. Moffett's newly created
Housing Advisory Council will