Evening star., 1942-03-24
b|ackout Funds
Awaited by
Institutions
Home for Aged
Meets Difficulties;
$4,000 Needed

District health, penal and welfare
institutions were today awaiting al
location of funds by the Commis-
sioners to complete their prepara-
tions for operation during black
out
With the exception of the Home
for Aged and Inflrm at Blue Plains,
most are in good shape to operate
under blackout conditions but will
be able to complete preparations
only after certain materials are pro-
vided. Commissioner Guy Mason
disclosed yesterday after a meeting
with the heads of the institutions.
Mr.. Mason was quick to add that
the fault for the Blue Plains situa-
ton did not lie with Otto Cass,
superintendent of the institution,
but in the location of the buildings,
lack of materials and the difficulty
of explaining the precautions to the
aged inmates.
Perfecting of blackout precautions
and substitutions for some present
makeshift arrangements at some in
stitutions may require from $75 900
to 100000 which Mr.. Mason said
he hopes to get from the 81 900 900
blackout fund approved for the Dis
trict some time ago.
Lorton Needs a Fence.
Civilian Defense Director Lemuel
Bolles said after the conference that
most of the institutions "are in very
fine shape to operate under black
out conditions" Col Bolles said
vital operations have been complete
ly screened, and progress is being
made in backing out other sections
In addition to actual backing out
material, Mr. Mason said. the con-
ference revealed q need for a wire
fence at Lorton Reformatory and a
pump at the District Training
School for Feeble Minded at Laurel,
Md, where getting water from the
Patuxent for fire fighting in event
of a bombing is considered a prob
lem.
Highly commended for their
preparations to date were Gallinger
Hospital and the tuberculosis Sana-
torium at Glenn Dale, Md. At the
latter institution, Col Bolles said,
the upper parts of the windows
have been painted black on the out
side and aluminium on the inside,
while celotex screens have been
made for the lower sections of the
windows.
Difficulty at Blue Plains.
At the District Jail, Col Bolles
said, ordinary tin cans have been
placed over guard lights, which
must remain on. and provide effec-
tive shading against view. from
above. - Z, :" 7.E
In explaining the situation at
Blue Plains Commissioner Mason
pointed out that the buildings are
right in line of searchlights from
Boiling Field, the Naval Air Station
and the light of the Naval Research
Laboratory, making it almost i'm
possible to screen the buildings.
In addition, Mr.. Mason said, the
inmates do not understand the pre-
cautions, and unless the master
switch is thrown they are continu-
ally turning on lights, thinking them
out of order. Where black paint
has been applied to windows, Mr..
Mason said, inmates have scratched
it off. A few sand buckets placed
around have been dumped on the
floor and the pals appropriated for
0t her IlSeS he continued
The most serious problem at Blue
Plains, Commissioner Mason indi-
Gated, was fire protection. He has
asked Chief Stephen Porter of the
Fire Department to have fire engi-
neers study the situation and re-
port on its needs. Additional per-
sonnel will be provided to help evac-
uate the old people, many in wheel
chairs, if need arises, he said.
Horn to Be Tested Tomorrow.
Mr.. Mason admitted he had called
the session of the institution heads
because he was disturbed" over the
conditions. Welfare Director Con-
rad Van Hyning is preparing a
study and recommendations dealing
with the evacuation, if necessary.
of many District institutions lying
near possible military objectives in
the Capital and nearby
Testing of a powerful air-horn
warning device developed by the
Bell Telephone Laboratory will be
undertaken here at 1870 am. to-
morrow at the Capitol Garage, Thir-
teenth street and New York avenue
NV.
The demonstration was arranged
Jointly by Commissioner John Rus
sell Young, United States co-ordi-
nator for civilian defense for the
Metropolitan Area, and Col. A. S.
Janeway, acting director of the
Third Defense Region, which in
cludes the District.
Officials and co-ordinators from
Richmond, Norfolk, Baltimore and
the nearby counties have been in
vited to the test and will gather in
the boardroom of the District Build
ing afterward to discuss results, ac-
cording to civilian defense officials
Complaints Welcomed.
The air horn-only one of its
kind-has been tested in New York
and Detroit with great success, it
was stated, and is supposed to be
extremely powerful. 1t is driven by
a gasoline motor, and the horn it
self is air actuated, it was stated.
The demonstration follows sched-
uled tests at 3 pm. today OF SO
electric sirens already installed at
various points around the city. Per-
sons failing to hear today's test of
the sirens have been requested to
write in by post card to Capt. Her
bert A. F'rieds, head of the District
communications system, at room
512, District Building, giving the ad-
dress of the writer.
The British War Relief Society
will present specially documented
films of English war life at $50 pm.
Friday at the Departmental Audi
torium.
Some 500 Invitations to the meet
ing have been sent out, which will
also be addressed by Col. BolleS.
Mr.. Young is cooperating in the
program.