davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-01-31

CINCINNATI (N.A.N.A.).-G Given
State and Federal appropriations Of
approximately 100000, 900, the Ohio
River division of the United States
Army Engineering Corps could start
immediate construction on 80 flood
control projects in this area which
would preclude a repetition of the
recent catastrophe.
This was the statement made
at divisional headquarters by r. G.
West. senior engineer on the stan Of
Lieut.. Col. r. g. Powell. West is
acknowledged to be the country's
foremost authority on flood control as
applied to the Ohio from Pittsburgh to
Cairo and its main tributaries.
Though nearing exhaustion with
the task Of keeping down-river au-
thorities informed Of river stages and
marshaling all available floating
equipment at concentration points be-
tween faducah and Cairo. West ex-
hibited q voluminous report and de-
tailed charts, completed In March,
1894, recommending the eventual con-
struction Of 600 sea walls, dams. reser-
voirs, power sites and irrigation
works, estimated to cost 81 800. .426 900.
This is to be borne Jointly by the
IS States Of this division and the
Federal Government" he said. Con
gress has authorized Government par
ticipation but made no appropriation.
Pennsylvania is the single State to
take legislative action as yet"
West said that q start had been
made, with control works on the
Tygart and Muskingum dams IS per
cent complete.
"While the operation Of these res
ervoirs alone would not have miti-
gated this flood to any great extent"
he declared, they might have indi-
Gated their worth. Unfortunately,
persons were still residing In the dis
tricts over which nowage rights are
to be obtained.
Evening star., 1937-01-31

gasoline, two Of the corner stones Of
modern civilization, were turned into
foes instead of servants. There was
an infinite amount OF suffering in
the wrecked area, and city dwellers
all over the Nation were left with
an uncomfortable sense Of insecurity.
What had happened to the people Of
Louisville or Cincinnati-or an un-
predictable something Just as disas-
trous-might happen to them next.
Folklore Tells Of Floods.
What did happen? A flood. There
have been floods since the beginning Of
history. Some Of them have been
terrific. One is described in the Bible,
and in the folklore Of every primitive
people from China to Patagonia there
is a great flood" legend. For all any
body knows it may have been the same
food, but probably not.
Nearly every year there Is big
inundation somewhere in the United
States. The average property loss for
the past 80 years, as calculated by the
Weather Bureau, amounts to $40,-
100000, and there are nearly 100 lives
lost. A flood is one of Natures most
potent weapons.
Big cities, by and large. are pre-
pared for them with. adequate de-
fenses. It is only their low-lying
river front sections-uSually slum Sec
tions-which are inundated. Floods
cause the greatest havoc in the small
cities and towns clustered along the
river banks which have been unable
to afford huge expenditures necessary
for supposedly adequate defense.
Nobody has questioned the efficiency
Of flood as a destroyer Of life and
property. Even greater than its own
dangers are those which follow In its
wake-interruption Of communications,
exposure, hunger and disease. Few
realize how delicately human health
Is adjusted to stable conditions and
how rapidly epidemics raise their
heads when these are disturbed. The
Federal Government long since realized
this. The big waterways are under
its control. No other government has
CAkC14QCu 6O HULL 0A0 CAEVA
to safeguard Its citizens from the food
peril.
Weather Peculiar to Years.
What happened, then, in the Ohio
Valley to cause one Of the greatest
catastrophes in American history
almost without warning and in spite
of all precautions?
For the past 10 years-it seems su-
perficially at least-American weather
has been funny" It has set all sorts
of records-hot and cold records in
Winter, precipitation records and
drought records. Early in January
1t began setting another such record
in the Ohio Valley. There was rain
almost every day. Over the area there
was from IL to 20 inches Of precipi-
tation In three weeks-as much as q
third Of the amount Of rain which
should have fallen during the entire
year. This amounted to as much Is
1900 tons Of water on every acre. No
great amount Of it fell In the ALE.
gheny water shed where rise the rivers
which feed the Ohio. Most Of It fell
Evening star., 1937-01-31
Church on Wheels
Spreading Gospel

CAPETOWN.-A church on wheels
has recently been dedicated in Sails
bury, Southern Rhodesia. It Is a new
railway coach which has been given
to the Church Railway Mission by
the Rhodesian Railways.
The central compartment forms Q
chapel, with q portable altar. and II
capable Of holding communion serv.
ice and Sunday school for children.
There Is also . bed room for the
missioner and . kitchen and . room
for Q native cook.
Evening star., 1937-01-31

cold air Of the high until all the water
Is squeezed out Of 1t and falls as rain.
Now over the narrow Ohio Valley
highs and lows have been in almost
continuous contact along two fronts
all the month.
Situation Not Unprecedented.
This, however, IS not an unprece-
dented situation in Winter. The At
lantic high has . tendency to be-
come blocked from time to time.
To understand the real picture Of
what has happened now, Weather
Bureau experts say, involves an UNDER
standing of the three-dimensional
aspect Of the atmosphere and the move
ments, in relation to each other, Of
masses of cold and warm air. During
the past two weeks there has been a
tendency for q wedge-shaped mass Of
relatively cold air to lie over the Ohio
Valley. Its southwestern front has
been so shaped as to cause masses Of
warm, damp air coming northeastward
from the Gulf Of Mexico to rise very
rapidly-a condition which causes In.
tense precipitation. This pattern has
been repeated time and time again and
Is of more significance than the sur
face features.
Why it has behaved that way nobody
knows. How long 1t will continue to
behave that way nobody knows. The
situation Is obscured by the paucity
Of high altitude observations. It seems
In some obscure way related to q heavy
mass Of cold air which has rested
rather persistently this Winter over
Northern Siberia. It also Is probably
related to q changed shape OF the
persistent Western Pacific high, which
is shunting warm tropical air north
ward to Alaska and bringing it down
in the form Of freezing temperatures
over California.
Altogether, Weather Bureau experts
point out, It Is . Winter Of very queer
weather.
The figures for heavy food damage,
as prepared by Mr.. Kincer, are appal-
ling:
Evening star., 1937-01-31

along the lower reaches Of the river
between Pittsburgh and Cairo. The
soil became soaked to the point where
1t could absorb no more water. The
rain was simply dumped into the
rivers and creeks. The channels nat
urally couldn't hold all this extra load.
The Ohio and its tributaries were be-
ginning to rise late in December. The
Wabash was in flood New Year day and
the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers
had sharp rises. There was no let-
up In the rain. The Ohio River be-
gan q steady rise along It's entire
length, extending into the Lower Mis-
sissippi below the confluence Of the
two ctreams. The Wabash and the
White Rivers in Indiana reached
record d-breaking stages.
BY January 10 the lower Ohio was
above flood stage at Evansville, Ind,
and by the 18th was flooded over its
entire length from Pittsburgh to Cairo.
The previous all-time record Of til
feet, which occurred at Cincinnati
February II, 1884. was broken the
early morning Of January 23 and by
January 26 the water had risen to 30
feet above the flood stage. All pre-
vious records were broken everywhere
along the river. The stream channels
simply couldn't stand this constantly
increasing load. They had to over
now. Dikes and Ievees had been built
with what was supposed to be . rea-
sonable margin Of safety. There
never had been reason to expect i've
or six times more rainfall than normal.
Heavy Rainfall in Watersheds.
This flood, says J. B. Kincer, chief
of the Climatological Division Of the
Weather Bureau, differed decidedly
from most river floods. As o rule the
heavy rainfall is in the watersheds
where the channels are narrow and
where, durings the Winter, . good deal
Of 1t Is held back in the form Of snow.
The big floods come with Q sudden
thaw. This time the greater part Of
the extra water was precipitated along
the lower areas as rain-and there
was nothing for It to do but pour
pell-mell into the river channels.
There was no natural brake upon it.
Now Is to the reason why. A few
years ago Government meteorologists
might have given . fairly simple-if
neutrality-suspicious.. Almost all
Winter there has been an area Of high
pressure lying over the Western At
lantic and touching the Middle Allan
tic and Southeastern States. Just
west Of It has been narrow through"
through which TOW" after "low" has
passed northeastward from the West
ern Gulf Of Mexico, to disappear over
the Northern Atlantic. The high" is
blocked. It covers thousands Of square
miles and extends upward - far -
observations can be taken. Other
"highs" are coming continuously out
Of the Northwest. They bump head.
on into the trough Of lows and are
shifted southeastward to bring freez-
ing temperatures to that part Of the
country. .t4
When Q high and low come together
the warm, Light, noisture-laden air
Of the low tends to rise over tie dense.
Evening star., 1937-01-31

BY THOMAS r. HENRY.
"EN days ago Louisville's 350,000
citizens were living in comfort
and security.
Il Here was typical American
"big city" Like a great ocean liner. it
was carrying its cargo Of a generation
of human lives safely and luxuriantly
over the high waves Of twentieth
century living. Substantial. heated
houses, broad streets, abundant water,
telephones, radio, good schools, good
hospitals, good hotels good theaters-
the average Louisville citizen accepted
as commonplaces luxuries beyond the
human Imagination even generation
ago.
All this was taken for granted.
The modern city Is an extremely COM
plicated mechanism. Experts run it.
One trusts them, and expects water
to run from the faucet, a room to be
flooded with light when a button is
pushed, the trash man to call once a
week-just as one expects the sun
to rise tomorrow morning. Folks ad-
Just their lives to the certainty OF
these happenings.
Late last week Louisville citizens,
listening to the weather reports from
their radios, were told that there was
q light drizzle at Memphis. They paid
no attention to it. If they had known
how to interpret it-they wouldshave
known far more than any meteorolo-
gist-they might have realized that
1t was the most important bit OF
news that would ever come to many
Of them. It was an important link
in q chain Of events above the clouds,
whose theater extended from Siberia
to California, which in q few days
was to make nearly 100000 OF them
homeless and which was to disrupt
entirely all the ordinary activities
of their lives.
Possibilities Unforeseen.
What could happen to such q stout
ship as . modern American city to
cause it to founder and take away
from its people most Of the con-
veniences and luxuries Of civilization
upon which they had come to depend
rs commonplace? -....
What could happen to Louisville?
What could happen to Cincinnati, 80
miles away and almost twice as big?
What could happen to New York, or
Philadelphia, or Baltimore, or WASH
ington? Perhaps . thousand things
which nobody dreams Of. If they
could be predicted, they could be
guarded against. The bigger and more
complicated the civic liner the easier
to run 1t on the rocks. The more
people have come to depend on its
smooth sailing and have abandoned
the more primitive mechanisms Of
life, the greater the hardship when
something does happen.
One Of these things did happen to
Louisville. to Cincinnati and to .
score of smaller cities along the Ohio
River. II was something nobody could
have pi Adicted. It was without any
precedent in history. The best-made
calculations Of engineers went wrong.
Hundreds Of Thousands were driven
from their homes. Electricity and
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10

cier who has lost his money and
won't wed the rich girl to replen'
ish his treasury; a fisherman and
his family who reScues the dis
couraged drunk when he falls into
the river; Angelina, the fisher
mans daughter, who tries to make
O man out of the river Romeo; a
racketeer of the waterfront and
an Italian business man who
wants to marry Angelina.
EXCITEMENT GALORE
The romantic conflict is be.
tween Angelina margaret Lind.
say) and the heiress (Marla Shell
toni, as to who will win Herrick
Jeffrey Dean. After nearly
everything, including a fire aboard
q liner at sea, rich girl rescues
Angelina and nobly relinquisheS
al claims.
This is a picture that somebody
like Myrna 10y and Robert Mont
gomery might have elevated to
Grade A. AS it is Jeffrey Deans
best work is in falling overheard
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10
"Moytime" in
Third Week

"Maytime," lyrical operetta Of
Sigmund Romberg's immortal
music, continues for q third week
at Loew's Palace Theater. Jean
cite Macdonald and Nelson Eddy
are superb Of voice, charming Of
manner; in fact, perfectly cast in
this beautiful performance. Fur.
thermore, John Barrymore as the
sopranos hacker and husband
gives one Of the very finest OF his
many brilliant performances.
Lifting melodies, elaborate set
tings, gorgeous costumes make
'Maytime" one Of the most i'm
pressive pictures, a finished and
a delightful entertainment. Selec'
lions from the great operas are
introduced so that both Miss Mac.
Donald and Nelson Eddy find ex.
tensive occasion for displaying the
rare qualities Of voice, though the
famed sweetheart melody and the
"Sextette" are perhaps the pin
nacles.
Newsreels featuring pictures Of
the distinguished members Of the
Supreme Court, q short colored
animated cartoon and forerunners
of the next attraction round out
one Of the best programs OF the
SeaSon.-H. K.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10
Boyer Picture
At Keith's

For the first time in ages Hardie
Meakin has himself a picture that
is encouraged to remain over as a
second week guest at the Fifteenth
Street playhouse. History Is
Made at Night" 1ightfully earns
this most favored privilege.
The combination Of fine direc.
ton, splendid writer's, top cast and
a sincere producer could not easily
slip up when it comes to turning
out an inspiring and enjoyable
film. Skipping from comedy to
drama it is hard to. pin the pic
lures real tempo to any specific
mood.
However, this is not in the least
necessary inasmuch as the whole
, effect makes a pleasing harmony.
Like Life itself, one must take the
sadness with the gladneSs to make
for balanced values.
An attractive and very much
alive wife Of an insanely jealous
millionaire shipping magnate de.
cides to leave him. Their life to-
gether has been a hollow farce.
To regain his hold on her the huS.
band resorts to trying to compro'
mise her with her chauffeur.
Fate intervenes and changes the
entire course of all concerned.
Rescued by a man Of mystery the
wife falls in love with her savior
and the story then begins.
Jean Arthur plays the wife and
is more charming than ever
With such naturalneSS as she
knows how to employ it is safe CO
predict this film will raise her fan
rating even higher. Charles Boyer
is the mysterious benefactor and
gives a suave and finished per
Torrance. Cast as a chef, pal OF
Boyer's, Leo GARLIC gives added
proof Of his engaging versatility.
Colin Give plays the husband
and so much a cad is he that his
untimely ending leaves no one the
sadder. A corking picture and
certainly should be on everyone'i
must list" Of this springs films
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10
"WiIderness"
For Little

The screen version Of Eugene
ONeill's human drama Of a typi-
cal American family, "Ah, Wilder
neSs!" returns to the Little Thea
ter, Sunday.
In the controversy of stage
versus scren production. "Ah Will
derness!" scored point for the
screen. Clarence Browns produc-
ton recreated a period in Ameri-
can life, the small town of 20
years ago, as no stage bound by
three walls and a row Of footlights
could ever do. The high school
graduation, the band concert, the
Sunday drives, and the Fourth Of
July celebration were incidents in
corporated in the motion picture
adaptation that heightened i'm
measureably the heart-warming
drama of O'Neill's play.
A notable cast brought the Mil
Ter family and friends to the
screen. Lionel Barrymore added
another great characterization in
the role Of the father, created by
George M. Conan and later played
by viii Rogers on the stage; Wal.
lace Berry as the lovable inebriate,
Uncle Sid; Eric Linden, as the
boy; Cecilia Parker, as his sweet.
heart.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10
SONG OF THE CITY OPENS MARKE
Swing High in
Second Week
At NE"

"The King and the Chorus Girl'
Is a very good picture. That's why
it has been brought back for this
second weeks showing at the Met
ropolitan.
With Sly leers this def bit Of
saucy satire presents the story Of
Alfred Bruegger, the ex-king Of an
unknown kingdom. His Majesty
has a sad failing for going on pro
longed brandy hinges from which
he usually emerges slightly hung
over.
Now tits a deplorable thing for
so personable a youth to spend his
DAYS and nights thus. Sorely
grieved are the two faithful re-
tanners of King Alfred. All might
have gone on from bad to Bladder
when a chance trip to the Folies
Bergere changed everything.
Meeting Miss Dorothy Ellis,
dancer from Brooklyn, proves just
the effective cure all for Alfred's
Apatheia, which according to the
royal physician had reached alarm
ing proportions.
The royal motto Of the royal
BrueggerS freely translated from
the Latin meant mo Steps Back.
wards" and amazingly Alfred
snaps out Of an alcoholic stupor
to trip, and fall head over heels in
love with the chorus girl. Miss
Dorothy Ellis.
But this cannot be the faithful
retainer's decree. Royalty must
marry royalty. What happens Is
worth a trip to the Metropolitan
to find out. It's light, good, clean
fun from start to finish and If at
times the story parallels another
royal romance recently exploited
in the press then chalk it up to
coincidence.
The cast are thoroughly at ease
and most agreeably pleasing in all
scenes and moods. Joan Blondell
clicks as Dorothy Ellis. A new
conner, Ferdinand Gravel, as Al
fred is splendid. This Frenchman
should win host Of fans from
now on. Mary Nash and Edward
E. Horton do the kings two watch
full Watchdogs with creditable fin
ish. Alan Mowbray and Louis Al
berni complete the cast. D. M.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10
Trinity Girls
To Dance

A dance group from Trinity Col
lege will take part in the dance
symposium to be held at Pierce
Hall on Saturday afternoon, April
10.
The group has been trained by
Miss Elaine Scanlon, and will pre-
sent an original number. The girls
taking part are Virginia Wuller,
Regina Sherman, Greta Gardiner,
Margaret Koch, Miriam Coyne,
Alice Loughman, Betty Dilhoefer,
Betty Spencer, Marguerite Strau-
kamp, and Marjorie Mintz.
Dance teams from six other
nearby colleges will also appear
on the program.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10

lives Of Chinese farmers. Wang,
an ambitious youth, gradually &C
quires a family and wealth, only
to lose it during a drought and
then regain it through the good
fortune of his wife.
Portraying other roles in the
picture are lilly Losch, Charley
Grapewin, Walter Connolly and
many others, both from Hollywood
and the Orient.
Sidney Franklin, the director,
Karl Freud, cameranlan and Cedric
Gibbons, art director, have already
received international plaudits for
their work in bringing to the screen
the scenes showing the locust
plague, the storm and the revolu.
ton, three Of the high lights OF
the production.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10
At
The Howard

Jimmie Lunceford, that choco-
late maestro, who said rhythm is
his business, is swinging and sway
ing with his incompatible band at
the Howard Theater for a week,
opening yesterday.
Well known to the local theateI
goerS, the Lunceford rhythm
makers need no introduction as to
their ability to play swing, jazz and
the light symphonic stuff. Willie
Smith and Mabel Scott do the
vocal interpretations with the unit.
Other participants in the very
fast and entertaining revue include
the six Cotton Club boys; Ford,
Marshall and Jones, tap dancers;
John Mason and ApuS Brooks,
blackface comics and Ben HaWley,
master of ceremony.
On the screen Donald Woods and
Jean Muir are featured in "Once A
Doctor" Special midnight show
tonight. W. r.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10
On Avenue Is
At Columbia

ION the Avenue" irving Ber-
Inns cheerful eye and earful, is
wing currently at Loew'S
Columbia; a return engagement
by popular demand.
This is a delightful show with
a half-dozen song hits, including
the current "topS," to wit: "ThiS
Years Crop Of Kisses" Eve Got
My Love to Keep Me Warm" and
Lets Go Summing"
The story is not too much of
a strain on the imagination; it
jumps backStage now and then
and is crammed to the foot
lights with humor and humorous
situations.
The cast is headed by Dick
Powell, the grooming Alice Faye,
the beauteous Madeleine Carroll.
those amusing Ritz Brothers and
is supported by Cora Wither.
spoon, Alan Mowbray, Walter
Catlett, E. E. Give and Stepin
Fetchit.
It's a gay play in which the
richest girl in the world is
shown UP as a poor sport and
with words and music Is made to
fall in love with the song and
dance man who knew all along
that she was a good scout under
that veneer Of money.
You'll like it, you come away
singing the songs and you'll re
member the humor and laugh
again. It's that kind Of a show.
There is the newsreel and q
couple of short films to augment
the feature. K. Y.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10

RHYTHM AND DANCE
Best part of his new act is a
well written sit-down strike satire
which permits the Galloway band
to retire discreetly, while a wash
tub group of tramp musicians pro-
videS cacophony and rhythnlS.
The Galloway specialists In
clude Arvis Andrews, whose sweet
soprano is well displayed in a
beautifully arranged medley OF
Southern airs, Evelyn Keyes, just
another tap dancer.
On the Capitol screen this week
Is Song of the City," a Metro
Goldwyn- Mayer feature, in which
authors and director tried to pile
so much it emerges as a fast NOV
ing hodge.podge.
The locale is San Francisco.
The principals, an heiress; a finan'
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-10

or jumping into the sea. He is
sunk trying to make his role cred
IDLE. Margaret Lindsay's choice
moments are musical (either she
has a good singing voice or this
is good doubling), and Nat Pen
dleton's bumbling comedy provides
some laughs.
Director Enrol Taggart tried for
some Lubitsch touches and even
attempted whimsy, but the story
leaped around too much to ever
sustain a real mood.
Phil Lampkin's musicians offer
a brief MaSSenet overture, news
reel pictures of the Army Day
parade and a Buster West-Tom
PATRICIA short comedy, complete
a program in which the hi-di.his
are the thing.