Evening star., 1941-07-23
DC. Aluminium
Roundup Gets
Under Way
3,l00 Volunteers
Make Canvass
In 235 Trucks

Tense moved through the streets
of the Capital today collecting scrap
aluminium to be remade into i'm
plements for national security. More
than 3,l00 volunteer workers, drawn
from the ranks of the Police and
Fire Departments. American Legion
and Boy Scouts, were manning 235
trucks in the city-wide effort.
Collection of the metal from
Washington's homes and business
establishments began at 8 am, when
units of the corps rolled away from
l3 police precinct stations and two
fire houses. The work was to con-
tinue throughout the day.
First truck to leave No. precinct
was that in charge of Capt. J. C..
Lacey of Fire Engine Company No.
%, Capt Lacey was under instruc-
tion to complete his route at the
White House.
aluminium for Defense"
Each vehicle carried one or two
uniformed men and two laborers
Ahead of the truck ranged Scouts,
ringing doorbells and announcing
aluminium for defense" The boys
carried pots, pans, discarded fash
light cases and a near-inflnite va
riety of other aluminium offerings
to the curb, where they were tossed
into the carrier by the workmen.
As the trucks were filled they were
directed to deposit the gleanings In
bins at the police stations or in the
large wire enclosure in front of the
District Building.
The Boy Scouts frequently found
1t unnecessary to notify householders
of the arrival. Many citizens had
followed suggestion of P. Y. X.
Howat, chairman of the campaign
here, and placed their donations on
porches or steps.
5 O'Clock DeadIine.
Most fruitful calls were those made
upon hotels and apartment houses
with their own kitchens. In most
instances managers augmented the
residents gifts with contributions of
large kettles, skillets and coffemak-
ers. At the Westchester a number
of huge soup kettles dominated the
shiny heap in the lobby. Two COM
plete vacuum cleaners also were
discarded there.
AS the trucks began dumping their
loads it was found that the bulk of
the contributions we're of usable
aluminium. Iron, chromium plated
and copper items could be spotted
in most of the piles. however.
Active interest in the collection
WaSmost in evidence in the .vicinities
OF police stations. Housewives were
standing at doorways, utensils in
hand, watching the approach of
the trucks. Children pleaded for and
were accorded the privilege of hand
ing aluminumware to the Scouts or
tossing it into the vehicles.
Off1cials expected to complete the
Job we'll before the S pm. deadline.
but personnel difficulties delayed
starting at some points. Several of
the: dispatchers found an excess of
Boy Scouts and deficiency of
Legionnaires, flremen and police
men, or vice versa. Shifting of con-
tingents resulted. and the teams were
sent into the field.
Prospective donors were warned
by Mr.. Howat to give only to men in
uniform or Scouts. All workers were
instructed merely to state the pur-
pose of their visit and make no
appeal or argument.
Collected at Front Doors.
All collections were being made
from the front entrances of houses
and apartment buildings to avoid
confusion with regular refuse dis
posal services. The Scouts rang door
bells in apartments not having more
than four units, but contributions
from tenants of larger buildings had
been gathered in advance and placed
outside under direction of the man.
ayers.
Foremen were instructed to make
reports to the Northwest Garage of
the City Refuse Division every two
hours.
When the aluminium was deposited
In bins at the police and fire stations
and in the high wire incloSure in
front of the District Building, it's
protection became the concern of
Maj. Ernest w. Brown, superintend-
ent of police and head of the sub
committee charged with safeguard
ing the metal.
P. Y. K. Howat, general chairman
OF the campaign here, said all COL
lections would cease at pm. but
predicted virtually all teams would
complete their routes well before
that hour.
! Any contributions not collected or
brought to repositories today will be
accepted tomorrow at any police
precinct station or at the stations
Of fire department engine companies
Nos. 81 and %. Such donations will
be picked up if request is made to
the Refuse Division garage, the tele-
phone number of which is North
2140
Hyattsville Drive Tomorrow.
Solicitation and collection in Hy-
attsville, Md, will get under way
tomorrow following a meeting of
chairmen and helpers at 9 am. in
the Town Council rooms in the fire
house. Mayor E. Murray Cover and
II. Wilson Spicknall, chairman of
he drive, will outline duties.
H The Suburban TaXicab Co. has Of
fered to deliver without charge alu-
minum donated by Hyattsville
householders to the collection center
In the Hyattsville Fire Department
Headquarters. This would serve
persons who are not at home when
the collectors call and are without
means of delivering their contribu-
tion.
Il Aluminium matinees, to which a
piece of scrap will serve as an ad-
mission fee, will be held at 2 pm.
tomorrow in Prince Georges and
Montgomery County theaters OF the
Sidney Lust chain.
Arlington Opens Drive.
p In Arlington County, school chill
dren were enlisted in the aluminium
collection Drive and were making a
house to house canvass OF the areas
adjacent to the various school