davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-10-08

bidder and money from the sale is
held for the length of time neces-
sary to hold non-perishable prop
erty. officers recently disposed of
a package of smoked meat, held as
evidence in housebreaking case
since January, 1886, after it became
infested with maggots. Such cases
are rare, however, since most perish
able goods are disposed of as quickly
as possible.
All recovered property is kept in
good condition. Furniture is han
died carefully and clothes are put
away to prevent deterioration. De-
nothing crystals are sprinkled on
shelves and fur coats are stored in
cedar chests after being sprayed.
The department disposes OF its
property at public auction when an
accumulation of salable items war
rants the event 1t is usually held
in one of the two large storage places
under supervision of the chief clerk
and is handled by licensed auc-
tioneer.
At present Capt. Callahan and his
aides are preparing for the largest
sale in Police Department history
with approximately $500 separate
lots scheduled to fall under the
gavel A definite date has not been
announced, pending progress of pre-
sale preparations, but it has been
tentatively set for the last week in
October or the first week in Novem-
Der. The law requires, Capt. Gala
han said, that the event be adver-
tised three days prior to the date
OF sale and the advertisement will,
as is customary, be placed in three
metropolitan Washington papers
when the time comes.
Sergt. Price, Pvt. Goggins and Pvt.
Lamon c. Davis, also assigned to the
Evening star., 1939-10-08

what you'll handle next and I like
to root around old stuff anyway.
He said he could tell pretty we'll
how persons lived at home and size
up most of their personal traits
after an examination of their prop
erty, especially if furniture was
included.
Inspection of a small section of
lots ready for sale (stored in the
May Building) revealed the follow
ing items: Carpenters saws, spit
toons, spoltights, crutches, canes,
moving picture machines, washtubs
and boilers. pipe fittings, footballs,
meat cleavers. fire extinguishers, doll
babies. bicycles, coaster wagons
baseball bats, sleds. shirts, tool
boxes. books. flags. a cigarette vend-
ing machine, railroad lantern and
lunch box. lawn mower. ice box,
motor, auto batteries, umbrella, golf
clubs, an ak. shoes, irons. steam ra-
diator and seemingly endless other
articles of wide variety.
Wnlle tne Polce property Depart
ment generally is concerned with
local activity. it also is known
throughout the country by those
who have benefited by its mailing
service. Thousands of visitors and
tourists from the 48 States and
neighboring foreign countries who
sight-see Washington each year leave
behind them a sizable array of lost
or stolen articles and possessions
that find their ways to department
shelves.
These articles. if properly claimed
and identified by owners. who report
their losses to police before leaving
town or by correspondence after
reaching their homes, are bound in
the shipping room, addressed and
sent express collect.
Evening star., 1939-10-08

chief clerks Office, have been doing
pre-sale work for more than three
months and already more than 200
lots are on the list. It is almost GER
tain, Sergt. Price declared, that the
total will reach $500, if not more
The last previous sale was held
in April of this year and resulted
In a return of 5000, Of which
$2.507 was in cash taken from mis-
cellaneous packages prior to the sale
and S2.58e from actual proceeds Of
the sale. 1t was the first sale of
miscellaneous packages and items
in nearly three years. but automo-
bile sales have been held semi
annually during that time, officials
said.
Auto sales are held when the de-
partment accumulates about IS or
80 machines, that number falling
under a six-month average take. 90
II unclaimed, the vehicles can be
sold after three months. with the
money being held for three addi-
tlonal months. If, during the period
following the sale, an owner can
establish proof that any car sold by
the department was his property,
the cash collected for the sale is
turned over to him.
Proceeds of the departments
auctions are turned over to the COL
lector of taxes for the District and
later credited to the police and
f1remen's relief fund.
One item of interest in reviewing
results of the sale last spring was
the lump sum of $77.l3 offered by
the highest bidder for the rag pile.
Former auctions have been well at
tended, with most of the bidding
coming from secondhand dealers,
competing with numerous private
citizens.
Evening star., 1939-10-08

record the number of vehicles using
each. lane.
"Speedmeters," entirely new robots
developed by the administration
technicians, will record the exact
speed of every vehicle passing Sc
lected points on the highway. They
also will record the distance between
vehicles, or the headway each driver
is able to maintain under all sorts
OF traffic conditions not only in
heavily congested city regions, but
in less travelled rural areas. From
these records. the capacities of high
ways of different widths will be
found, standards of safe design set
up and reasonable speed limits,
based on engineering investigation
rather than guesswork, may be es-
tablished.
Other devices will record on all
types of grades. curves and straight
aways the transverse position Of
each vehicle using the highway.
From these records can be found
the most effective width Of lane, the
limits to which the roadway may be
curved without inconvenience or
danger to the motorist and the
amount that curves must be banked
to insure safety.
Use Actual Records.
With instrument records, the ad-
ministration points out, future high
way design need not be based in
estimates and assumptions. The
highway will be designed to At the
driver from actual records made by
the drivers themselves.
During the past few years, all of
us have seen highways reconstructed
or replaced, not because they failed
structurally, but because they be-
came obsolete by not being able to
accommodate the desired volume Of
trafic at a reasonable speed and
with freedom from interference be-
tween vehicles. Highway planning
surveys, now being conducted in 46
States, will furnish highway engi-
neers with more accurate volume
counts and future traflc estimates
Evening star., 1939-10-08
Army OF Robots Aids Study of Easier, Safer Travel

best to fit the highway to the needs
and desires of the driver and to per-
NIT uninterrupted travel at any rea-
sonabae speed will be revealed by a
new army of robots being placed in
operation on typical roads through
out the country.
Ten years ago a detailed traffic
count was almost novelty: now it
is an essential tool of the highway
designer. Adequate speed records
are available today only in rare
cases, but the next decade will see
an extension of speed measurement.
In the future, the administration
believes, speed will be regularly
"metered" on all important high
ways. This is easy to understand
when it is realized that the max
1mum speed of automobile has in
creased from about go miles an hour
in 1926 to around 100 miles an hour
today. This is an increase of almost
so per cent in 13 years and, accord
ing to many highway engineers, "the
curve is almost a straight line with
practically no indication that q top
count is even being approached"
Desire Traffic Facility. 49,
In the past highway research has
necessarily been devoted to the de-
velopment of strong, durable sur
faces. Now that pavement design is
well advanced, emphasis in research
will be shifted to the facility with
which traffic can move over these
surfaces, so that road design may
keep pace with the constant i'm
provement in the motor vehicle.
Already under administration su-
pervision, at hundreds Of points
throughout the country, automatic
trafic recorders actuated by electric
eyes are on the job "a hours a day,
counting the passing vehicles and,
at hourly intervals, recording the
number counted. At other points
portable counters, actuated by small
pneumatic switches or by almost un-
noticeable treadles, obtain counts
over shorter periods, to fit in with
the more complete records from
nearby electric eye counters. On
Wide roads, other instruments win
Evening star., 1939-10-08

An unusual feature of the ap-
preaching event will be the sale OF
several lots of liquor. 1t will be
the first time in several years that
spirits frumenti" have been avail
able to bidders and a goodly stock
is on hand. 1t has been stored in
basement room at headquarters
along with other valuable items
Whisky will be sold "at not more
than IL quarts to a lot Sergt
Price said, but he did not announce
the limit of lots to individual bid
ders, if any.
The approaching sale will be the
first under the direction of Capt
Callahan, who came into Office Au-
gust l as the first police officer to
assume the duties as chief clerk
Prior to his appointment the Office
was held by civilian employe
Passage of the district appropria-
ton bill by the last Congress, in
which was included provision for
appointment of police officer to
the post drawing regular police
pay), placed the Office under police
jurisdiction for the first time in
history.
Capt. Callahan. though compare
lively new on the job, is popular
with his staff members and can rely
on experienced assistants in solving
any administrative problems. Sergt.
Price, the file chief, has been in the
chief clerks Office since 1925 and
Pvt. Goggins, veteran chief of
storehouse personnel, is in his 18th
year with the organization.
Goggins, who gets "a real kick
out OF his job, to quote him, said
I've been around here more than
10 years and I hope I'll be here 10
more. It's interesting, informative
and never dull. You never know
Evening star., 1939-10-08
District Is Healthy Place
ToLive, Statistics Show
Heart Disease and Cancer Lead
All Other Maladies as
Causes of Death

oner Macdonald commented that
here, as in other centers of popu.
lation. there are numerous unsuc.
cessful attempts at suicide which
never become a matter of public
record.
Suicides are decreasing in the
District, which is a matter of con.
siderable satisfaction among Dis
trict officials, for the high suicide
rate in the Capital City has been
the occasion for unfavorable COM
ment throughout the country.
Accidental Deaths Decrease.
Encouragement may be derived
from the fact that accidents are
fewer. At least. there are con-
siderably less accidents with fatal
results. although people still stub
their toes and still fall downstairs
and get in the way of automobiles.
Records for 1888 show that 296
Wahingtonians met death by acci-
dent. while in 1887 there were 349
deaths from accidental causes.
From the Bureau of Communica-
BILE Diseases We learn:
"The communicable diseases cause
about one-fifth of the total NOR
tally in the District of Column
bia. The prevention of
acute infections not only spares
suffering in the present. but lowers
the toll of untimely death from
heart and kidney diseases in the
future. The preventable disease
service is. then. one of the chief
factors in determining whether the
people of the community live out
their normal life span"
The bureau has undoubtedly con-
tributed materially to the reduction
of the death rate-by its disinfect-
ing service, ambulance service. i'm
muniZation service, Shick and tu-
berculine tests and its bacterio-
logical and sociological laboratories.
Competent officials.
While various causes account for
lowering death rate, an important
share of the credit must be given to
the excellent work of faithful and
competent officials directing public
health functions. More scientific
methods of dealing with disease,
larger expenditures of public funds,
better facilities-these are out
standing factors. Every appropria-
ton of money to expedite and ex-
pand the warfare of organized So
ciety against the ills to which flesh
is heir is wise and judicious in
vestment.
AS an example, the construction
Of the Capitals first public health
center will be OF great significance
to Wahingtonians. 1t is expected
that the structure will be COM
pleted early next spring. The long
delayed clinic, to be located at Della
ware avenue and H street SW, will
be equipped and stated to diagnose
and treat venereal diseases and
tuberculosis, as well as to give medi-
cal care and advice to children and
prenatal care for women.
Congress appropriated 100000 for
the project over a year ago. DR..
George G. Ruhland, health omcer
of the District. would like to build
four centers in various sections of
the city, but funds have been pro-
vided for only one. This alone will
constitute powerful weapon in
beating back the ailments that af-
flict Washingtonians.
Aside from the collective efforts Of
the community through official
bureaus and institutions, Washing
ton people individually are paying
greater attention to delaying death
as are the people of the country as
q whole.
Evening star., 1939-10-08
Arlington Research
Solving Problem
For Officials
By James Nevin Miller.

In obscure laboratories just across
the Memorial Bridge, in Arlington,
Va, little group of Federal SCI
entists has been conducting novel
experiments and developing revolu-
tionary inventions on highways. AS
a result of these studies, in the
charge Of the new Public Roads Ad-
ministration, formerly the United
States Bureau of Public Roads,
highways Of the future will be de-
signed for easier, safer travel. How
Evening star., 1939-10-08
By Verna PHILLIPS.

What malady causes the most
deaths in the District of Columbia?
Heart disease tops the list in the
District as in the country as a whole.
Washingtonians are a bit more
prone to commit suicide than peo-
pie in most sections of the United
States and the tuberculosis rate is
high.
All in all, however, official sta
tistics show that Washington is a
safe place in which to live. The
death rate is on the decline, and,
during 1910, health officers hope to
reduce the rate to a lower level.
In 1888 the number of persons
dying from heart disease here was
little more than in 1871 ,462. as
against 1889 Around four a day.
The dread scourge of cancer
claimed few less lives in 1898 than
in 1887, decreasing from 695 to 667.
Cancer rates second as the cause
OF deaths here and it is hoped by
officials that in the new cancer
clinic, plans for which are now
under way. methods for a more ef-
fective control of this fearful malady
will be worked out.
Due to the large Negro popula-
ton in Washington and the racial
inability of the Negro to resist tuber-
culosis the death rate from this
particular disease is higher than in
cities of corresponding sizes con-
tanning smaller colored contingent
The successful warfare waged dur
ing the past few decades against
this great white plague in the Ma
tons Capital is illustrated by fig
ues OF the Bureau of Vital Statistics
OF the District Health Department.
A drop last year to 1T from 1875
205 speaks we'll for the accomplish
ments Of modern science. Examina-
ton Of the tabulation shows that
the decrease has been steady and
uniform. In 1888 it went down to
the lowest point in the whole period
Of 40 years-938.
Authorities point out that no
statistics on deaths caused by
syphilis are accurate, as it is the
indirect cause Of many deaths listed
as due to other ailments. The great
imltator" attacks the victim in his
weakest point any may appear as
heart trouble, nephritis or any one
OF score of different diseases. One
OF these maladies may be on record
as the immediate cause of death,
and so it is, but back of that the
real cause may be syphilis.
Suicides Fewer.
According to records at the Dis
trict morgue, suicides are actually
on the down grade here. The year
1898 reported the largest number of
suicides in many years, totaling 167
-150 whites and II colored. DR..
A. Magruder Macdonald coroner,
was unable to explain this. Discus
sing the subject, he said:
THE causes for the high rate of
suicides in 1888 were apparently
the usual ones, financial and do
mestic. Quite a proportion occurred
among disappointed persons who
came to Washington seeking Gov
eminent jobs. Naturally, a certain
number fail to secure Federal posi-
tions, take their plight overseriously
and conclude that life isn't worth
the while. They assume that jobs
must be plentiful in the city where
the President and the Congress are
and don't stop to think that WASH
ington is not an industrial munici-
pality and therefore with less open
ings for the jobless than factory
communities"
AS an interesting sidelight, Cor
Evening star., 1939-10-08
Public Roads Office
Meters Speed in
Many States

than they have had in the past.
But to make the best possible use
of this information. the capacities
OF various surface widths and types
OF design and alignments must be
known.
With all this in mind, the Public
Roads Administration is starting its
Evening star., 1939-10-08
By WIliam ". Parrioff.

When two Washington policemen
swinging 6-pound sledge hammers
demolish more than 1,100 pieces OF
firearms while war news floods the
Nations Capitals that news?
With arms and munitions head
sang the daily diet of European
menus, it is pleasant to report that
destruction (not construction OF
these death-dealing instruments
ranging from air rifles to sawed-off
shotguns, was recently the order of
the day in local police circles.
Capt. Harvey G. Callahan, chief
clerk of the Metropolitan Police De-
partment, supervised the smashing
of the weapons, plus an additional
LOT of knives, dirks, daggers and
razors, in the basement of the head
quarters building at 462 Indiana
avenue. After being shattered
against section of railroad rail
the remains were trucked to the
harbor precint launch and dumped
into the Potomac River below Alex
andria.
Where. you ask, did officers col
lect that "arsenal?"
The 1,100-odd guns were only a
small item in the gigantic storehouse
collection of the District Property
Department, headed by Capt. Gala
han, which is responsible to the Dis
trlct Commissioners for all lost.
abandoned and stolen goods re-
covered by police.
Has High Valuation.
Surprisingly enough, the depart
ment does 81 100000 business YEAR
ly and for the last seven years the
assessed valuation of recovered prop
erty has totaled more than s7.O61 900
Since 1881, when new system OF
nllng was adopted, 59,376 lots OF
goods have been handled. Valuation
OF each lot is estimated by the pre-
clnct or bureau that turns it in and
1t is likely, Capt. Callahan claimed
That the actual cash value is greater
than the estimates.
AJudged from any angle, the Prop
erty Department does business on
large scale. although it is prob
ably the least publicized branch of
the force. There are few items in
mans work-a-d day world Cor wom-
EMS that lack representation on
Its shelves, in it's storehouses and
safes or on its automobile lot, the
last also used for dry-docking boats
falling into police custody. Articles
range from spittoons to fur coats
Nend miss no stops in between.
In addition to lost, stolen or
abandoned goods, the department
also stores property of estates on
which no immediate claims are
made and articles in police possess
sion which are classified as evi-
dence to be used in some court
action. All items are held until the
chief clerk receives a court release
for their disposal.
Among assorted items still held in
connection with police cases is the
mattress on the bed where Beulah
Limerick was found murdered, a
pullet hole In the back of her head,
several years ago. The fatal wound
was cleverly covered with a tuft of
hair and was not discovered until
an undertaken started embalming
the body. The gun alleged to have
been used in the murder is also
held, but, although a suspect was
arrested, tried and acquitted, no
claim has been made to the prop
erty.
Case Never Solved.
Jewelry and clothing found on
the body of Mary Baker, Naval
Department clerk, who was found
murdered April 10, 1890, in a cul-
vert near Arlington Cemetery on
Military road, is also in possession
OF police. The case, which created
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-05

Look at the women sitting around in shorts. slacks and dirndls at summer resorts and in the country. They are comfortable.
 It's asking an awful lot of them to suggest that they give up their proficiency in sports and their right to relax-just for the sake of hour glass figures. HAVE TO CONSIDER
 THE MEN. TOO
 Furthermore are the men going to like it? Tn New York they are stopping to look at the corset dis- plays in the Fifth avenue shop win- dows. After seeing girls in prac- tically nothing for so many years. they seem intrigued by anything as confiningly feminine as the old- fashioned corset.
 But eyeing them in store windows is different thing from having the girls suddendly stop being good companions because. imprisoned in their corsets, the only thing they can do is walk with the strut of a peacock.
 No. 1t looks like the corset revival has come c little late--both in mems and women's thinking.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-05
Of Interest
 To Women

Rave you . household problem to solve? Write your question clearly, sign your name and ad- dress, enclose a three-cent postage stamp and mail to The Woman's Editor, Washington Service Bu- reau, The Democrat, 1913 18th Street, Washington, D. C., for a personal reply.
 Q. How long will dramatically sealed, canned fish keep?
 A. Indefinitely, if stored in 6 cool dry place.
 O. Does Cheddar cheese have any other name?
 A. It is called "store," Amer ican, "New York;" or by the name oi the state where 1t is made. It is us- ually the cheapest cheese and has as much nourishing value as most of the expensive kinds.
 O. Where should monograms be placed on napkins?
 A. With 22-inch napkins. a 2. inch monogram is usual and the newest place for 1t is in the center of the top section when the napkin is folded in thirds. Otherwise, the monogram may be placed in the exact center of the napkin or in either corner.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-05

Busy days for the autumn bride! So many dress, etiquette questions!
 Do surroundings determine wheth CT a wedding should be formal or informal? At a quiet home wed- ding must you forego a veil?
 You may be formal anywhere you like-at home or church, club or hotel. A formal wedding sim ply means that the bride wears a formal wedding dress, with train and veil. The groom wears a cut- away at an afternoon ceremony, full evening dress after o'clock
 To be informal means only that the bride and groom are less for- nal in their dress-but by no means less handsome.
 If you'd like to be informal and still wear veil, quite all right at an evening ceremony. Our picture shows an evening home wedding with the bride in long white dress, short veil, the groom in a dinner coat.
 And both, you see. are poised, sure of etiuetqte. The groom waits Tor the bride at the home altar. offers her his left arm. Will there be a recessional? Not customary at a home wedding.
 Know such points to be lovely, serene on your wedding day! Our 32-page booklet describes formal, in- formal weddings, gives etiquete, corr rect dress for bridal party and guests, pointers on invitations, budgeting.
 Send lOc in coin for your copy Of PLANNING AND EDUCATING YOUR WEDDING to the Waterbury Democrat Home Service, 635 sixth Ave-, New York, N. Y. Be sure to write plainly your NAME. AD- DRESS, and the NAME Of booklet.