The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-25
SOUTH
BRITAIN
BRIEFS
BY BILL GARRIGUS

The WiSeSt riverman on the
Housatonic predicted devastating
floods for 1910, especially along
the tailwaters of Lake Zoar, but
they were mistaken. The men In
charge of the gates at Stevenson
Dam kept an eye on the flow,
eased-off at just the right mo-
ment, and fooled the folks who
figured that the stream would get
out-of-hand. Those watchers de-
serve congratulations, bonus,
higher wages, or something.
About all we are sure they will
get is the heartfelt thanks of
tho property owners who live
StreamSide.
Henry Mccarthy went to see the
movies, Grapes of Wrath, and
came home somewhat disappOint-
ed. The producers forgot that
most folks are more concerned
about what dust storm looks like
than about the plight Of the
Oakies. The film version of dust
storm was a washout. Heavy en-
phasis was put on the living con-
ditiOns of the transientS, as IL to
prove that America was remiss in
the regulation Of transient labor.
Our neighbor is social minded and
truly sympathetic but he questions
the advisability of trying to prove
that everybody but the social
worker is wrong, that most peo-
pie are hell-bent to exploit the
less fortunate. Henry says that If
those Oakies had been Yankees
there would have been no Grapes
of Wrath to write about because
the Yanks would have found a
way to make a crop despite con-
ditiOns in California or anywhere
else. They're doing it here this
year and they've done it every
year, usually without subsidy and
by their own efforts. If folks have
what it takes, 1t makes little diff
ference where you plant them. II
they don't, a section Of Paradise
would be as barren ground and
they would start trek for the
nearest relief station. We've al
ways had Oakies. Years ago, folks
called them cramps" But that
was before best-sellers ran heavy
to social ills and prior to the era
of feature films.
Sunday brought the usual num-
Der of frost-bitten fishermen to
town. We had a snow storm and a
chilly shower. The Good Humor
wagon was parked at Parsells'
Corner most of the day but trade
was light in cream-on-a-Stick.
One woodchuck was seen nibbling
clover beside the way, too cold to
dodge into his Soggy hole when
cars roared past. We have a little
green grass and q few daffodils.
Lilac buds are swelling. willows
show green against the darker,
wiser shrubs. Spring may get here
about July Fourth but it's still far
from warm.
George Holmes fox terrier, Gin
ger, recently took ON an diversified
tomcat at catch weights and lost
the bout. Ginger fought fair and
gave an excellent account of him
self but the battle-scarred pussy
won.
Southbury Main Street merch-
ants are busy signing petitions
asking that U. S. 6 be continued
on its old route. Men with life
savings in filling station sites,
garages, lunch rooms, and retail
stores are all concerned with this
vital problem of protecting their
interests. If Connecticut highways
are to be built in the most eco
nomical manner, If the taxpayers
sadly mortgaged funds are to be
expended economically, the main
thoroughfare will remain on the
present route Of U. S. 6. The
merchants pay taxes and he rates
consideration.
Anyone interested in, bi0graphi-
cal material should certainly in
yestigate the mass Of material
H gathered by the Connecticut
branch of the Federal writers"
Project. Inspired productions
awaiting sponsorship are "The
Biography Of President of Ideal
Shirt Mfg. Co.." by Mary Bishop;
q biography of Zachary Plaskie-
witch, III installments); the work
T of J. Ostapkevich, entitled 1.-THE
I biography Of ]. Ostapkevich," and
many other personal histories.
/ Sponsorship Is likewise sought for
an essay captioned susceptibility
Of Jews to Diabetes" Watch the
/ spring book lists for interesting
/ titles. Folks with the urge to
write should certainly be encour-
aged. There's q story in everybody
/ and everything. Maybe we will see
"a Biography Of Smoky Jensen"
one day soon.