davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-05-23
Building Permits
OF Week Include
100000 Dormitory
Dwelling Planned
To House CoIored
Men War Workers

New building in the District dur
ing the week featured approval of
plans for erection of dormitory for
colored men war workers at 209 Elm
street NV. The dormitory will be
built by Defense Homes Corp, R.
F. c. subsidiary, at a cost of $780,
900.
There was very little other build
ing activity in the week The valua-
ton of all permits issued was $685.
$50 In addition to the dormitory,
residential building included 36
apartment units and two one-family
houses
Permits of the week follow:
Defense Homes Corp, owner: v.
P. Lofts Co., 1851 Third street NV,
builder: Hilyard r. Robinson, 1927
Eleventh street NV, designer: to
erect one 3-story basement brick and
concrete dormitory. 209 Elm street
NV. to cost 100000
Martin Bros. l341 Connecticut
avenue NV, owners and builders;
G. T. Santmyers, designer: to erect
eight 2-story brick and cinder block
fats a units EACH. 337-339- -343-345-
349-351-355-357 Parkland place Sc;
to cost S64,000
Maurice Schlein, 915 New York
avenue NV, owner and builder: j.
M. Hallett, designer; to erect two
2-story brick and cinder block fats
q units each), 4320-4324 EadS street
NE; to cost $4,000 each.
Maurice Schlein, 9l5 New York
avenue NV, owner and builder;
j. NJ Hallett, designer; to make re-
pairs, 511-515 Forty-eighth place
NE; to cost $4,000 each.
Irving l. Epstein, 1929 Thirteenth
street NV, owner; Edmund w.
Dreyfuss, designer; to make repairs,
1907 Que street NV; to cost S5,000
Sam Fig, 54l6 Georgia avenue
NV, owner and builder; Evan j.
Conner, designer; to erect one l.
story brick and cinder block store
addition, rear of 3416 Georgia
avenue NV: to cost $500.
Crosby Kelly, 1924 Mills avenue
NE, owner and builder; j. L. Rus
SELL Brentwood, Md, designer: to
erect addition, 1924. Mills avenue
NE; to cost $1,000.
G.. Eugene Edwards. owner. M.
Evening star., 1942-05-23
District Tops
Entire Nation
In Building
Four Months of AZ
Show 5000 Valuation
Gain Over Al

Washington during the first third
Of this year topped all cities of the
Nation in construction volume for
the first time on record, 1t was re-
vealed in the Labor Departments
national building survey. Building
increased in the Capital in April
while it declined in most of the
other cities.
The valuation of building here in
the first four months of the year,
including Government activity, was
$50 ,421,141, gain of almost $50
per cent over the S21 100000 total
for the comparable period of 1941.
Los Angeles. with a valuation Of :
more than $4,000 900, was second
among the larger cities. with New
York third and Detroit fourth.
Permit valuations in all the cities
were 80 per cent lower in April
than in the corresponding month
last year. The decline was noticed
in all classes of construction. New
non-residential building showed the
greatest drop, 40 per cent. Resi-
Dental construction was off % per
cent, with permits for additions,
alterations and repairs down 19 per
cent.
War Held Responsible.
The Labor Department stated
that the War Production Board
order of April banning all nom
essential construction was respon-
sible for the huge construction de-
cline.
April variations also were lower
than those of March, contrary to
the usual seasonal trend. This de-
cline was u per cent and was caused
by drop of 81 per cent in nom
residential activity. Residential con-
struction was up II per cent from
March to April.
The report showed further that
during the first four months of the
year permits were issued in all the
cities for building valued at $685.
fCoa PTTTT DTNC paoa Pel
Evening star., 1942-05-23
Realtors Call Off Outing
To Aid War Conservation

As a gesture of cooperation with
the war conservation program the
Washington Real Estate Board has
called of the annual realtors out
ing scheduled to be held early in
June at Manor Country Club,
Charles H. Hillegeist, chairman of
the Program Committee. announced
today.
The cancellation of the outing
was decided on at a meeting of the
Program Committee and the Board
of Directors, Mr.. Hilegeist said. The
affair has been a bright spot on
the realtors entertainment program
for eight years.
The board has decided that each
member should carry in his car
sign bearing the wording, Ride
With a Realtor," as a contribution
of the real estate business toward
solving Washington's transporta-
ton problem. A committee was ap-
pointed to carry through the "dou-
ble-up" idea. Its members are j.
Garrett Bethel, j. Merrill Conner
and S. Dolan Donoiloe.
Evening star., 1942-05-23

(See BUILDING, Page B-6)
Evening star., 1942-05-23
Builders Hail
Order Relaxing
Curb on Lumber
Deliveries Slated
On 'VitoIIy Needed
War Housing
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

The War Production Board an
nouncement late yesterday that the
drastic order freezing" construction
lumber at the mills would be relaxed
was good news to private builders
and public housing men alike. Me-
chanics of the relief plan will be
completed by early next week.
w. P. B. said the larger lumber
mills, whose stocks have been frozen
for more than week to all except
the Army. Navy and Maritime Com
mission. will be permitted to make
deliveries to war housing projects
deemed "vitally needed" The need
of each project applying for relief
will be determined by w. P. B. and
the various housing agencies.
In view of the very serious housing
shortage here which is the chief
reason for the large turnover of
Government employees announced
yesterday by the Civil Service Com
mission, it is believed that ma
jority of projects in Washington
will be held as vital to the war ef-
fort.
Supplies Quickly Exhausted.
A large amount of housing here
actually is at a standstill as result
of the freeze" order. 1t knocked
sky high plans for additional prof.
ects, at least for the 60-day life of
the order. w. P. B. invoked the
order in the belief there were suffi-
cient stocks of lumber in dealers
yards to take care of housing for
two months. In less than a week,
however, supplies of Washington
lumber yards were exhausted.
In announcing the modification,
James S. Knowlson, director of w.
P. B. industry operations, said a
clause in the freeze order would be
invoked permitting lumber producers
to make deliveries on specific w. P.
B. authorization.
Congress this week passed the
long-aWaited F. H. A. amendments
which are designed to release private
capital so that builders may partici-
pate more actively in war housing.
The measure now goes to the Presi-
dent. and it is expected he will sign
1t without delay.
The Federal Housing Administra-
ton is reported prepared to place
the program in operation immedi-
ately. The amendments to the Ma
tional Housing Act probably will be-
come law early next week.
Clay Products Plentiful.
Builders and real estate men were
so busily engaged this week seeking
relief from the w. P. B. lumber
freeze" that congressional action
on the amendments was virtually
unnoticed. Now that w. P. B. has
promised to modify the order build
ers may get along with building
plans
The general building materials
situation. however, does not look too
bright. There is scarcity of nearly
every material used in housing.
Perhaps the most plentiful materials
are clay products. The type of war
housing last year was changed from
(See IITMREP PAGE R6)
Evening star., 1942-05-23

(See LUMBER, Page B-6D
Evening star., 1942-05-23

Cladny. 635 F. street NV, builder;
Lewis w. Giles, 4428 Hunt place
NE, designer: to erect one 1-story
brick and solid block addition. 2216
Eighth street NV; to cost s1,500.
Mr.. and Mrs. G. B. Darling, 1852
Maple View place Sc, owners; A.
Kaufman Co., 1918 w street Sc.
builder; Earl Won Reichenbach, 2111
Nichols avenue Sc, designer; to
erect one 2-story brick and frame
(See BUILDING PERMITS, Pg. B-4)
Evening star., 1942-05-23
Test for Cement Moisture

Before painting a cement floor
make certain that the cement is
thoroughly dry. A simple test for
excessive moisture can be made by
placing a small linoleum rug on the
Evening star., 1942-05-23

floor and leaving it there for two
days. If moisture shows under the
rug, allow the floor to dry further
before attempting to paint.
Evening star., 1942-04-29
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. TrdceDell.

water 1t makes very nice soup, at least
the Chinese like 1t, and so do some
Americans who have tasted the real
thing.
There is, after all, as the saving has
1t, no accounting for taste, mental or
otherwise
At least we can be free of the mental
picture of some hardy person trying to
eat a soup made of twigs and the like.
Several good photographs Of chimney
swift nests have been taken in recent
years.
The young swifts are not very pretty.
They are entirely naked when Matched.
They keep to the nest for two weeks,
after which they get daring and cling
TO the wall beside it.
Why they do not get cooked by the
heat coming up the chimney, We do not
know. Perhaps some of them do.
1t is said that the swift can stay in
the air for at least two hours. catching
insects. without once alighting
Since it cannot perch in trees, this is
not to be wondered at, for a good handy
chimney is not always to be found,
just So
Young swifts often engage in games
of tag in the air.
They are not as graceful flyers as
just the same.
Just why this bird took so readily to
chimneys nobody has ever explained
Originally they were tree nesters. using
old hollow trees, that is. 1t is said that
even today they will 60 back to hollow
trees if no chimneys of just the right
sort are present.
They like best the old large, wide,
handsome sorts. The type which
abounded in the old days when chimneys
were more than ornaments.
Into these chimneys, on the spring
migrations, hundreds Of the birds would
fly. John Burroughs has left us
description Of such gathering Swarms
of the birds would hover over a chimney,
then seem to grow denser and thicker,
and would suddenly seem to be pulled
down into the chimney as If by suction.
\
The mystery of the swifts is one Of the
best.
This mystery is:
Where do the birds go when they dis
appear from the north coast of the Gulf
Of Mexico?
Until recent years this was an I'M
solved mystery. The birds just vanished.
Now ornithologists have found them
in Haiti and in various parts Of Central
America, as migrants, and it is believed
that most Of them spend the months
from November to March in the north
ern part of South America.
The old legend, that they spent this
time dried up in the mud, to thaw out
in the spring rains. is not true, although
it was undoubtedly picturesque.
Evening star., 1942-04-29
Pastoral Letter

News of the reading in a number
of Catholic churches in Spain of a
pastoral letter denouncing Naziism
and openly criticizing suppression in
the Spanish-controlled press of in
formation regarding German perse-
cution Of Catholicism may be highly
significant for the United Nations
cause, particularly in the Western
Hemisphere.
The Franco regime in Spain has
consistently adopted the attitude Of
"the defender of Catholicism" and
has emphasized its supposedly close
ties with the Catholic church. This
naturally has tended to give Frances
pro-AXis agents influence over large
segments of the predominantly Cath
olic population in Latin America,
especially in view of its traditions
Of Spanish culture.
In this background, criticism of
Franco and his Nazi masters in the
Catholic churches of Spain itself
assumes unusual Importance. Ac-
cording to reliable reports reaching
Washington, the pastoral letter at
tacking Naziism and minimizing the
danger Of Communism was signed by
the Bishop Of Calahorra and is re-
ceiving wide circulation in Spain.
The letter is said to describe persecu-
ton of the Catholic church in Ger
many and Holland and to comment
critically on the fact that news of
this persecution has been suppressed
while the "Bolshevist bugaboo" is
PLAYED UP in the controlled press of
both Spain and Germany, leaving the
clear implication that falsehood is
part Of state policy in both countries
Evening star., 1942-04-29
Urges A. ID. A. Reconsideration
OF Straight Tract Site.
To the Editor of The Star

To the Editor OF The Star:
In the light of recent developments
pertaining to transportation facilities, 1t
would appear advisable that the Alley
Dwelling Authority carefully reconsider
plans for it's proposed demountable
housing program adjacent to Chevy
Chase View in Montgomery County.
The Straight tract, upon which the
authority proposes to erect these de-
mountable buildings is located one-half
to three-quarters of a mile from the
Connecticut avenue shuttle bus extension
running between Chevy Chase Circle and
Garrett Park and three-quarters to one
and one quarter miles from the B. & o.
Railroad station. 1t is reasonable to as
sumo that the war workers to be housed
in these demountable dwellings will be
dependent entirely upon these facilities
for transportation to and from their
work inasmuch as gasoline rationing and
the rubber shortage will permit very little
transportation by private automobile.
At the present time permanent resi-
dents Of Garrett Park, Remington and
Evening star., 1942-04-29

Chevy Chase. View do not utilize B.
e. o. train service unless their work
is located in buildings within walking
distance Of the Union Station, as the
expense involved in an additional con-
nection by street car or bus would be
prohibitive. Even so, B. & o. commuter
train service is taxed to the limit of
its facilities. A majority of residents
In the past have utilized private auto
mobiles for transportation to and from
Chevy Chase Circle, but with institution
of gasoline rationing these residents
of necessity will be forced to depend
upon bus service. Bus service at present
is inadequate, especially during rush
hours, and this is expected to become
much worse after May Is. President
Merrill of the Capital Transit Co. re-
Gently stated that he has been unable
to purchase additional buses. B. & o.
officials publicly have stated that be-
cause of the necessity for keeping their
right Of way clear for through express
trains it will be impossible for them
to supplement existing commuter service
with additional trains.
In the light of these facts, the trans
portation bottleneck that would result
through the location of 300 additional
war workers in the Kensington area
would be impossible of solution. Under
the circumstances, it is my sincere belief
that the aforementioned housing prof.
ect never will be fully utilized by war
workers and that it would constitute a
needless waste of taxpayers money.
No criticism is directed to the pro-
posed erection of A. D. A. demountable
dwellings near College Park in Prince
Georges County. This area is serviced
by both the B. & o. and PENNSYLVANIA
Railroads, with substantially increased
number of commuter trains available
for the transportation of war workers
to and from Washington.
In lieu of the Straight tract project.
1t is suggested that available funds be
spent for the erection of number of
apartment houses located within easy
access to streetcar lines, which are not
dependent on gasoline and rubber for
uninterrupted service.
M. F. GRASS, Jr.
Evening star., 1942-04-29
Proposes Chewing Gum
As Substitute for Rubber,

To the Editor Of The Star:
In view Of the fact that chewing gum
appears to have some of the character
istics of certain kinds Of rubber, 1t is
thought that it might be possible to
produce satisfactory substitute for
rubber from chicle, the basic ingredient
Of chewing gum.
If sufficient quantity OF chicle is still
obtainable to supply the large demand
for chewing gum (Which is a non-es-
sential commodity, it would seem that
diversion of this substance to the pro-
duction of a rubber substitute "a very
essential commodity would be worth
while. providing, Of course, that its use
for this purpose is found to be prac-
ticable.
A less important but quite beneficial
by-product Of such diversion would be
relief Of non-gum chewers from the an
noyance Of seeing, hearing and smelling
the ubiquitous chewer. C.W.C.
Evening star., 1942-04-29

in recent years. Lack of uniformity
in State and local regulations gov
erning the size and weight of motor
vehicle carriers Is one Of the princi-
pal bottlenecks delaying the move
ment Of war materials. Anti-migra-
tory laws in twenty-seven States
impose obstacles to the shift of
workers to areas where their services
are needed in the production of war
supplies. Local restrictions on the
right Of citizens to engage in certain
professions similarly impede the
transfer of doctors, nurses, engineers
and dentists to States which face a
shortage of men and women with
this specialized training. Overlap
ping inspection restrictions in many
States interfere with the shipment
OF milk, dairy and other agricultural
products, thus narrowing their avail
ability to consumers. A good eX-
ample of barriers to the war program
in another field are provisions in
many local building codes requiring
the use of critical materials in con-
struction despite the fact that salts
factory substitutes are readily OBJ
tainable.
Removal or temporary suspension
Of local interferences with war activ-
tiles is clearly needed. Though the
Federal Government has a vital
interest in the matter, solution of
the problem, in large measure, rests
with the States. Elimination of most
Of these barriers, however, should
not be difficult, provided the States
and local authorities join with Fed
eral officials in a cooperative
program to this end.
Evening star., 1942-04-29
War Proqrum Barriers

In calling a Joint Federal-State
conference to consider means Of re-
moving State and local restrictions
that are hampering the war effort
the President obviously hopes to
speed the elimination Of interstate
and other barriers to the free move
ment of materials needed by the
armed forces. The meeting, to be
held here early next month under
the auspices of the Commerce De-
partment, will devote its principal
attention to obstacles that prevent
the fullest possible use Of transpor-
tation facilities, construction ca
pacity, agricultural products and
labor in the war program.
Interstate barriers, which cover
many nelds, have greatly increased
Evening star., 1942-04-29

welt told listening multitudes last
night: They are typical examples
Of individual heroism and skill"
No more dramatic retort to Der
Fuehrer's abuse of democracy could
be imagined than that which the
spokesman for the United Nations
returned to him when he declared
Our soldiers and sailors are men,
bers of well-disciplined units. But
they are still and forever individuals
free individuals. They are farm
erS, workers, business men, profess
sional men, artists, clerks"
President Roosevelt went on to af-
firm: That is why they fight" His
logic is perfect, his words should be
remembered as an expression of
humanity aroused and valiant.
Evening star., 1942-04-29
Mankind Heroic

Perhaps Hitler counted upon an
element of cowardice in the human
race. 1t we'll may be that he took
for truth the oft-repeated cynicism
which held that mankind was tinid
and effete. His plot to conquer the
world probably never would have
been put into practice If he had real
ized the heroism inherent in un-
counted millions of plain and humble
people the earth around.
That bravery, the President of the
United States has said, is mot ex-
ceptional." Two hitherto unknown
Americans, Captain Hewitt T. Whe-
less and Lieutenant Commander
Corydon NJ Wassell, suddenly have
become part OF the immortal tradi-
ton of y heir country, and Mr.. Roose-
Evening star., 1942-04-29
Arbutus

When May tDas come, I used to tollo1D
Old pine paths to q pungent hollow
long had kno1Dn, and searching
there
Beneath dead leaves find, cool and
fair,
The pale arbutus blossoming,
Whose fragrance is the breath of
spring.
Deep in the sun-Ddrmed sheltered
hoIlo1D
The May foWers bloom. Not mine
to tollo,D
The path OF pine to that loued hill,
(Oh, memory OF my youth lie still!)
And search beneath leaUes claimed
by death
To find the trail, pale blossoms
cleaning,
Whose fragrance yet can stay mn
breath.
Whose coral beauty sets me dream
ing.
JOHN RICHARD MORELAND.
Evening star., 1942-04-29

A resident of Minnesota avenue Sc
reports that chimney swifts returned to
his chimney at 23o am. April 10, on
schedule time.
Falling of SCOT in the chimney awak-
ened him. He listened and could hear
the fluttering wings
The swifts, or swallows, are common
summer residents and abundant mi
grants. They have been noted in some
years as early as April S, with the aver
age about April 16.
They are not large birds. being but
5l2 inches long The feathers are, ap-
propriately enough. sooty-black and
lighter below.
The nest is placed inside a chimney
invariably. 1t is made of small twigs.
held together with a gelantinous fluid
secreted by the salivary glands.
In this nest, which makes a sort of
circular pocket on the wall, from four
to six pure white eggs are laid
These birds seldom If ever perch on
the branches of trees, as other birds do
They hang, like bats, to vertical sur
faces. Their claws are 50 made that
they cannot get a good grip on a round
branch.
The young cling to the inside of CHM
neys. Whether the birds time their
returns properly is question, since most
local chimneys are in operation at this
time of year.
II
The swifts resemble their cousins, the
barn swallows, in having long wings and
very large mouths, with which they
scoop out Of the air thousands of insects
every day.
The sticky substance which the birds
secrete to help make their nests is what
makes the famous bird nest" soup of
the Chinese.
Most persons, when they hear about
birds nest soup, Immediately think of
twigs, leaves and branches, with maybe
hairs and the like thrown in for good
measure.
Certainly soup made from such nests
as most of us are familiar with would
not make very appetizing dish.
We are likely to wonder over this odd
taste of the Chinese, recalling the famous
lines of Bret Harte in which he spoke
Of the ways of the heather Chinee"
Today we know that our Allies are not
as heather" as we once thought them
but we still commonly wonder about
that soup.
Well the mystery is explained when
once we know about the swifts and their
salivary glands.
The swifts in China make their nests
solely Of the sticky substance from these
glands.
1t hardens and works up into a very
nice nest. CAT least, the baby swifts
like it,
When it is cleaned and melted in hot