davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09
BRIDGE Price Too Low

TACOMA has lost its Narrows Bridge because the bridge
was designed to fit prce-too low price.
From the beginning the important factor determining
whether such bridge could be built to for itself was
the question Of the volume of traffic it would attract
Unless the bridge could be made to for ITSELF and
carry bonded debt, it was deemed an mpractcabe
project.
That was what queered the original Chandler deal.
Estimates of too low to warrant the risk OF
private capital in such toll venture.
Similarly low estimates of persisted into the
federal development of the project and the Public Works
Administration and Reconstruction Finance Corporation
before whom the project eventually laid eyed the pro-
posa at all times questionable financial success.
The restriction in amount of funds available direct
product of underestimate of how badly such span
needed; to put it another way, underestmaon of how
much value such bridge would to the community
to be served.
SECRETARY of the Interior Harold Ickes stood day
the high ground overlooking the bridge Site His east
ern looked westward toward the Oympcs. Across
the waters of the Sound he little but forests of fir
whats over there?" he asked. 1t was a practical
question from his sandpoint-he standpoint of
tive who had been accustomed to the casts busy bridges
where population normally borders both shores densey
Tacoma enthusiastically told him. it told others, that
the question of population lover there not important
to the success of the bridge toll venture What would
for bridge Tacoma said the traffic that would
from the important need of shortcut between Ia
coma and that peninsula "over there"
Harold lckes not convinced. Like other fasteners
he doubter.
But, limited funds were provded--by PwA grant and
RFC loan-to build bridge. 1t up to engineers to
design and up contractors build bridge that would
fit the funds available
IN contrast to funds for the Tacoma bridge the toll
bridge authority found trouble financing the Lake
Washington bridge for some s. This money was
revenue bonds of $5060000 For the Tacoma bridge,
financing furnished only for the amount of the
tract 440 900 although additional funds
needed to finish this skinny structure expended
by the toll bridge authority.
When the authority tried to obtain further government
help it denied
Truths than evident today these: Tacomas
bridge built to design based upon preconceived
price that too low to provide the size and strength
sound engineering would have dictated. 1t expert
ment in skmpiness. 1t should have had starting pro-
vision of Sl0000000 than $5000000. 1t should
have had four traffic lanes at least, instead of two
,ACOMA'S enthusiastic boosters have this consolation
as they their bridge a shambes of twisted Steel
broken concrete, and great where 2,S00foot
became roercoaser in the hours before its DOOM
In the four months it in operation, bridge
fully justified expenditure ample to have constructed
sound bridge in the first place.
Let rebuild this bridge; but let that it is de-
signed and built to last.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09
SO THEY SAY

We can use $4,000 more physi-
clans. 100000 more teachers.
500. 900 workers for four years
building superhighways. a mill
ion workers conserving our prec-
ious soil.-Stusrt Chase, author
and economist
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09
TTruT An Inside Picture OF Finqn-
II / u IL ! ciol and Political America
BY RAY TUCKER

WASHINGTON - Nelson Rockefeller, unofficial
ambassador to the South Americas, getting off to
slow start in his attempt to cultivate closer commercial
ties with the nations to the south of His difficulties
reveal how hard it is to the bond which has linked
us to Europe for long and to reorent interests
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09
EGARDING PAY
OF TEACHERS

Editor The Times: The mi
tiative to increase the pay of
teachers was defeated and I
heard several people say they
voted against it because of the
part teachers played in the
election. During the visit of
Mr.. Willkie to Tacoma. teach
ers led their children in cheer
ing for President Roosevelt.
They told their pupils things
that might influence the parents.
A teacher should be non-par-
usan and above taking advan-
tage of her position. Anyway,
they will not have an increase
IN pay and will have to suffer
with the rest OF us under the
New Deal. JEAN. H. BRAN
1901 No. Yakima ave
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09

flying at slow speeds without
stalling. He evolved the idea of
the rotating wing, to attain lift
while the plane was virtually at
a standstill.
His invention a proved success,
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09
QUESTIONS TO TEST
YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Can you answer seven Of these
test questions. Turn to the wom-
ans page for the answers.
1. How many yards are in a
mile?
2. Did Abraham Lincoln
George Washington or Ulysses
S. Grant, say, with malice to-
ward none, with charity for all'?
8. "Mein Kampf" is the auto
biography of -?
4. The capital of Alabama is
Birmingham, Montgomery, or
Mobile?
5. Is the Pyramid of the
Sun" in Egypt or Mexico?
s. Is this expression correct?
He won't leave me come in"
Z. Who was the first childless
president Of the United States?
s. What is the aorta?
2. Name a famous living Irish
playwright, whose home is in
England, and whose first name
is George.
10. How many cabinet offices
are there?
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09

The Gopher Prairies Get
Rid Of Cotton Stockings
And Shaker Flannel and
Sleszy Dresses
II All Reminds Us 10
Think on Our Blessings
QUITE a few years ago
VI about twenty-five-one Of
the then best seller was Main
Street" BY Sinclair Lewis. II
was the story of small town
and the tough experiences OF a
bride from the city who found
the commonplaces of Gopher
Prairie exceedingly hard to
bear. It was a typical country
town-a sort of spot by the side
of the road-and did not have
much 10 offer. especially to one
who went there expecting the
worst.
One would think that a per-
son as smart as Sinclair Lewis
- attpnnaaa ~ ho Tho 80 tho
husband of Dorothy Thompson,
which is something) would have
gone back to Gopher Prairie
once in a while to see how the
town was getting along, but he
seems to have forgotten it en-
tirely.
Gopher Prairie, however, has
not been forgotten by others.
The town has been re-discovered
by another writer. Bernard De-
Voto. He finds an entirely diff
trent Gopher Prairie and tells
about it in the current issue of
Harpers magazine.
What makes Mr.. DeNoto's
story of more than ordinary
interest Is the application that
may be made to any other
place, including Tacoma. In a
way, he abjures ms to count
our mercies and open our
eyes to the blessings that
have conc TO Gopher Prairies
and more metropolitan towns
as well.
For instance, take silk stock
ings and other such. In the old
Main Street day the farmers
wife and daughter when they
came to town wore ugly, lumpy
cotton stockings and shoes that
bulged at the ankle. Their
clothes were made of badly WOW
en-. sleazy materials. Their I'M
derwear-well, anybody who OBJ
served the Monday clothes line,
could tell you what they wore.
Today all that is changed.
The farmers wife and daughter
when they come to town do not
look like farmer folk of Main
Street days. For that matter
neither does the farmer himself.
A visitor in an agricultural
town Saturday night, noting the
crowds on the street, comment
ed that he did not see any farm
ers. He finally was able to spot
a few farmers but he couldn't
pick out the wives and daugh-
ters. Their dresses were copies
of Sak's Fifth Avenue or Macy
models. Their stockings were
silk and served the purpose even
if they did snag more easily
than the three-pairs-for-five-
dollars variety. The underwear
cost much less than the average
of the exclusive Fifth avenue
shops, but it gives the skin a
feeling of self-respect. The en-
tire ensemble is summed up by
Mr.. Devote as the uniform Of
the American woman which now
makes no caste determinations
between Gopher Prairie and
Pasadena.
Another hallmark of distinc-
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09

1t has gotten so that a farmer needs to bring
economist bookkeeper accountant and lawyer along
with him before he knows what he going get for his
milk-Mayor La Guarda of New York.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09

JUAN DE La CIERVA
An irony of fate brought an
untimely end to Juan de la
Cierva, inventor of the autogiro.
DE la Cierva believed there must
be basic fault in airplane de-
sign that prevented a plane from
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09

TODAY'S COMMON ERROR
Never say, She is a perfect
specimen of humanity; say,
nearly a perfect woman" No
man or woman is absolutely per.
feet.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-09

Another hallmark of distinc-
ton in the Gopher Prairie OF
Evening star., 1940-09-20
British Fleet, Unhurt,
Back in Alexandra

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Sept. 20
R.-Britain's Mediterranean war
fleet splashed back into Alexandria
Harbor today, intact and appar-
emily undamaged, after leaving what
its officers reported was a broad
trail of destruction amid Italian
troop concentrations and supply
bases along the Egyptian coast.
The warships returned from a
broad sweep of $500 miles which in
three weeks had covered the Aegean,
Ionian and Eastern Mediterranean
Seas, the officers reported, without
encountering the Italian fleet or
any attempt at bombing by italian
airplanes.
One officer said this demonstrated
"our mastery of the sea-
Making a surprise attack on the
italian invaders less than 48 hours
after they had advanced to Sidi
Barrani and Salum, the returning
British reported they blasted those
two places at close range and tore
wide gaps in the war machine Mar
shall Rodolfo Graziani is preparing
| for a further thrust.
The fleet air arm also had q clear
field, the British reported, for the
bombing Monday of Bengasi, chief
Libyan port, where they reported
they probably sank destroyer, set
fire to q merchant ship and dam
| aged several others.
| Italian communiques have ad-
mitted the sinking of torpedo boat,
. pontoon and the starting Of ssv.
erai fires at 3eugssi.
Evening star., 1940-09-20
Business Federation BaIks
On Restricting Authority

Opposition to motion by l.. r.
Colburn, president Of the Connecti-
cut Avenue Businessmen's Associa-
ton, that the Federation of Bus1-
nessmen's Associations act only on
questions of city-wide importance
instead of local grievances of men,
Der associations was voted last night
by the Federation at its first meeting
of the season.
Louis 1. Oberg, chairman of the
Federation's Public Utilities Com
mittee, reported an experience Of
having Capital Transit Co. trans
fer refused and said his complaint
to the Public Utilities Commission
had resulted in change of practice
The Washington Hairdressers' As
sociation was accepted unanimously
into the Federation on resolution
presented by Alex j. Berlin.
The meeting was held in the Con-
tinental Hotel, following a dinner
and entertainment.
Evening star., 1940-09-20
Rome
Continued From First Page.)

plenty and the axis a limited
amount.
Germany has already started the
scramble in Rumania. But Eu-
manian OF lis insufficient for axis
war purposes. Russia perhaps fur
nishes a considerable quantity of
petroleum to the axis, but it can
turn off the juice at any time. Iraq's
vast petroleum resources are not far
from Syria, where the Italians have
trying to get foothold. Saudi
Arabia's petroleum wealth is not far
from Egypt, but the British are in
the way.
Will the Germans concentrate on
Britain less and on Egypt more with
the design of forcing the British out
of the Mediterranean SO as to con-
troll all Eastern Europe, the Mid
die East, the Near East, North
Africa, Egypt. and maybe even
Arabia, whence 1t could derive stocks
for a long war?
Perhaps it is too soon to substi-
tute the possibility of concerted
Italo-German action against Egypt
and the Middle East for the posi-
bility Of German invasion OF the
British Isles. Nevertheless, it Is q
possibility worth keeping in mind
all the more so as German planes
now are known to be operating with
the Italians in the Mediterranean.
(Copyright. 1910, by Chicago Daily News,
Ynf
Evening star., 1940-09-20

forced. Ration tickets for all ra-
toned foods served In restaurants
start September 80.
An official statement accompany
ing the rationing announcement
said "the consequences of the war
and our defeat appear now in all
their tragic reality"
Causes Of Shortage.
The causes listed for the present
severe shortage included destruction
and deterioration of harvests and
livestock in the war zone. Milk
production dropped of ito an enor-
nous extent" and in certain places
aphtic fever spread among farm
animals. There also was a poor
harvest of cereals in the unoccup.ed
zone of France, it was said, and the
British blockade prevents imports to
take up the slack.
The official explanation said no
further supplies of coffee or rice
were entering France. Soap, which
has practically disappeared from the
market, "can be manufactured only
in an extremely small quantity"
The Germans have promised to
take from the occupied zone for the
army of occupation only the cereals
needed for bread, the explanation
went on, and only part of the meat
required for German troops.
Urged to Accept Sacrifices.
The army of occupation will
supply itself with sugar, potatoes
and other necessary foods from
Germany, dating from the time the
rations 60 into effect, it was said.
French war prisoners in Germany
Evening star., 1940-09-20
Funeral for N. J. Curran
To Be Held in Banaor

Funeral services for Michael J.
Curran, 70, father Of United States
Attorney Edward M. Curran, will be
held Monday at the Curran home in
Bangor, Me-, followed by a requiem
mass at st. Johns Catholic Church
there at 9 am.
The Rev. Matthew E. Curran,
brother Of the deceased and pastor
of st. Patrick's Church in Lewiston,
Me-, will officiate at the mass. Burial
will be in Mount Pleasant Gene
terry in Bangor.
Mr.. Curran died yesterday at his
sons home, 6607 Western avenue
NV. The body, which rests at the
Hysong funeral home, 1900 N street
NV, will be taken to Bangor to-
morrow.
Mr.. Curran, a native OF Bangor,
was in the grocery business there
for many years. Four years ago he
retired from business and came to
Washington to make his home with
his son. He had been i'll since
Monday.
Besides his son and brother, Mr.
Curran leaves his wife, Mrs. Mary
Agnes Curran; three other brothers,
William F., Thomas A. and James
Curran, and two sisters. Miss Mary
E. Curran and Mrs. Sarah Estes, all
of Bangor.
Evening star., 1940-09-20
Body Found Near Railroad
Believed BerWyn Man

A body tentatively identified as
that of former marine sergeant
was found early today beside the
southbound tracks of the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad near Eastern ave-
nue. NE.
Police. who found no sign OF
violence in preliminary examination.
said it was likely he fell from a
train.
Honorable discharge papers found
on the body bore the name of SerRt.
Hugh M. Berdan, IS, of Berwyn, Nd.
He was listed as having served In
the Marine Force from September.
1923, to December, 1927.
Based at Quantico, Sergt. Berdan
was recorded as having taken part in
the Nicaraguan Expeditionary Force.
He was further described as un-
married and Of excellent" service
rating.
Nine cents were found In the
mans pocket.
Evening star., 1940-09-20
are fed from supplies available 1,
Germany, 1t was explained.

IF severe rationing were not es-
tablished We would find ourselves
in grave difficulties before the next
harvest" said the explanation
Some rations will apply to every
one regardless Of position or wealth.
All Frenchmen were called on to
accept the sacrifices with courage,
discipline ard dignity"
Premier Marshal Petair called on
farmers to do everything to boost
production" declaring that If sup
plies were not increased rationing
would reach a point where it would
endanger the peoples health and
physical development.
Evening star., 1940-09-20
France Will Ration
All Main Food Items
Starting Monday
l7.6 Ounces Of Sugar
A Month Allowed;
10000 to Enforce Ii
Ry the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
VICHY, France, Sept. 20.-All
main food items will be rationed
In both the occupied and unoccu-
pied zones of France beginning
Monday under severe new restric-
tions announced here today.
Henceforth each Frenchman will
be allowed the following rations:
Meat-360 grams (about 1921
0unceS a week.
Cheese-50 grams (about ia
ounces) a week.
Bread-35O grams (about 12.4
ounceS q day.
Sugar-500 grams (about 17.6
ounces a month.
Rice-10O grams 1about 3.5 ounces)
month.
Soap-125 grams (about "A
ounces) a month.
A corps of 10000 agents will be
created to make certain the ra-
tioning regulations are strictly en-
Evening star., 1940-09-20
Rickenbacker Expects
j. :. 10 Enter War in 1941
BY the Associated Press.


RICHMOND, Va, Sept. 20-Capt.
Eddie Rickenbacker, World War fly
ing ace and now a commercial air
lines official, said here last night
that mo power under the sun"
could keep the United States from
declaring war on Germany next
spring If Great Britain stands up
under the Nazi onslaughts.
He spoke at the annual banquet
of the National Association of
Supervisors of State Banks, along
With Gov. Price, who congratulated
the banking officials on their fine
service" in reducing bank failures.
The flyer said Shocking as 1t is,
we are in this war already"
I'VE simply haven't declared it
yet" he added.
Evening star., 1940-09-20
Dividend Is Ordered
PHILADELPHIA, Sci

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 20 (Spe-
ciaD .-Birdsboro Steel Foundry &
Machine Co, Birdsboro, Pa, has de-
clared a dividend of Is cents per
share on its outstanding no par
value common stock. The dividend
is payable October 25, 1910, to hold
ers of record October 10.
Evening star., 1940-09-20
| Reporter Mistaken
For President by
Party Seekinq Doctor

BY the Associated Press.
A telephone rang in the White
House press room.
rs dis Doctuh Adams house?"
some one inquired.
mo. this is the White House."
replied the reporter who an
swered the phone.
OH" said the caller with
considerable confusion. The
White House! S'cuse me, Mis-
tub President!
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-02
JANUARY COOLEST
MONTH IN HISTORY
OF WILMINGTON

Continued From Page One)
share of hard freezes. And
along with the freezes came a
serious threat to the states
crops.
Crops have been damaged
little in New Hanover county,
as far as has been learned.
Although few products are in
the ground now, spinach, beets
and other truck vegetables are
being raised to some extent. No
estimate of crop damage mas
been made.
But any shortage in damage
to crops can be compensated
by bursted water pipes all over
the county. City water men
said the department has been
plagued since the first cold
snap to dash to various parts
of the city to shut off a water
pipe that is flooding a base
ment or washing up a lawn.
Now, however, the unseason.
able cold snap seems to have
somewhat and weather.
men have promised at least a
few days of warmer tempera.
lures.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-02
SOVIETS OPEN NEW
DRIVE ON FINNS'
MANNERHEIM LINE
Continued From Page One)

CONTINUED From Page One)
tacks on Hanko, Kotka and Turku
in southern Finland, and Rovaniemi
in the north.
Helslnki's first midnight air raid
alarm chased the citizens out OF
bed into their bombproofs at 1906
a. m. today. No planes were sight
ed, however, and the alarm was
ended after 20 minutes.
Buildings Fired
Several buildings were set afire
by incendiary bombs at Rovaniemi
but early reports indicated few
persons were killed.
President Kyosti Kallio's appeal
to end this "barbaric, ~senseless at
tack" was firmly qualified by the
assertion Finland would not cringe
before 'imperialistic aims"
The president used the final, sol.
emn session of the war diet as q
sounding board for his plea, but il
really was addressed to the Soviet
government which does not recog-
nlze his government and which does
not even admit it is "waging a wal
against Finland" Russia invaded
Finland two months ago.
Firmly and proudly Kallio insist
ed, despite the second peace offer
that Finland will not cringe before
"imperialistic aims" This he re
iterated in general the previous Of
fer Of peaceful negotiations made
on December Is by Foreign Minis
ter Vaino Tanner, in a broadcast
to Soviet Premier v. Molotoff.
Only Reply
The only reply was an authorized
Moscow statement dealing with
Russia's expulsion from the League
of Nations which said the Soviet
proclaimed peoples government"
was the only one Moscow recognize
ed in Finland and that Russia's
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-02

relations with this %so-called regime
were peaceful and friendly" So
Wet statements usually refer to the
Kallio government and its armies
las Finnish white guards"
Kallio's speech, containing a ref
erence to Finland's repugnance at
destroying people innocent OF this
war;" was made while the Russian
larmies continued stubbornly to try
to advance, with the aid OF con
lstant reinforcements, on the Pet
samo and Salla fronts in the Arctic
and on the f%uriously contested
flank Of the Mannerheim llne'
northeast Of Lake Ladoga.
Finnish reports continued to say
that these attacks were repulsed,
and that assaults intended to COW
er reinforcing movements in the
Ladoga sector resulted in heavy
Red army losses. Finnish pincers.
the high command said, were
frightened on a disorganized Rus
sian offensive with the defeat of a
Russian force which tried to take
one Of the offshore islands at the
least end Of the frozen lake.
Dispatches from Tallinn mean
while tended to support reports
that Soviet air bases in Estonia
had been damaged by bombs drop
ped from a fleet Of "a Finnish
planes. At Baltiski, one Soviet air
base, several planes and hangers
were reported destroyed in a sur
prise raid. Now the coastal city OF
Kuiessar and the airbase islands
of Oesel and Dajo are blacked out
at night on orders from Moscow.
Reports that italian pilots have
carried out these bombings have
captured popular interest here, but
are lacking confirmation.
The Finnish claims Of constant
military ucces have contained no
estimate of Finnish military cas-
Qualities, and the Soviet attacks CON
tinue. Thus President Kallio's ap'
peal today was based on sombre
realities.
ut followed a prediction by the
Finnish minister to France, DR.
Harri Holma, that the Finnish
army is condemned to death" il
it does not get sufficient material
help against Russia.)
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-02
TO TALK
ECONOMIC PLANS
Continued From Page One)

background of diplomatic talk and
maneuvers from the great belliger'
ents:
Germany: Foreign Minister Joachim
Won Ribbentrop's assurance that
Germany and Russia alike do not
want to carry the war into the
Balkans;
Britain: A British. review of the
entire question of trade between
England and Rumania until London
can find out how far Bucharest is
going to yield to Germany's oil de-
mands..
The Economic neutrality" plan
proposed by Rumania and Yugo-
slavia would oblige the four powers
to freeze" their trade with the war
ring empires at levels that existed
before the war began.
It's sponsors believed such unified
action by the Balkan states would
prevent further and extremely dan
gerous extension of the bitter eco
nomic battle over the Balkans wares
between Germany and Russia on
one hand and Britain and France
on the other.
Diplomatic representatives of all
four countries have made it amply
plain that some plan along this line
is all that can be expected of the
entente.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-02

fare' president Of the board of trade
overseas trade minister and minister
of shipping.
Morrison in proposing a change
said people are worried and public
morale is likely to weaken if they
think that things are not working
with the speed and precision they
should" 49,
Sir Archibald Sinclair. onnosition
lloeral leader, said the present war
drain was approximately 1000, 900
pounds (about $2S, 900, oON a day
compared with 1000, 900 in 1914.