The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-08-14
Waterbury
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Continued from Page Il filing claims voluntarily and 21, ,634 were still filing claims a year after VJ-Day.
 Average period for veterans on the compensation rolls has been less than nine weeks.
 Civilians Have Scored Waterbury Civilians likewise have scored their not inconsiderable tri- umphs in this year of peace. Alter the first wild outburSt of joy at the advent of peace, workers be- gan to worry about reconversion dismissals year ago this week. More than 10000 were expected to be out of work temporarily.
 At least half of that worry was unnecessary. The unemployment to- tai never got above 5000, a peak reached early in September, and by the middle of October the U. s. En- ployment Service was begging work CTS to take 5000 jobs in Waterbury plants.
 Strikes delayed reconversion. Strikes in auto plants, in oil plants, in coal mines, in Hollywood movie studioS-in Waterbury brass mills. | When labor settled down to stand ard 18 1-2 cent-an-hour pay in- crease, industry again began to catch up with production. Rationing Lifted Rationing was lifted on many items. Meats, butter, fats and oils were freed from rationing Nov. 23 and there resulted such a buying spree that months of shortages fol- lowed, from which housewives are only now beginning to find relief.
 Waterbury received $13,000, ,000 postwar improvement program from it's Planning Commission. Tax payers got $42,0OO,00O increase in assessments, later reduced by $15,- 0OO,OO0
 New homes were started, only to run into shortages in materials. U. , s. housing officials said last March that 200 temporary housing units for veterans would be allocated to Waterbury. Work is only now get ting started and quarters are prom ised by October.
 These developments can be appre- ciated best by viewing them against the background of unbounded joy that was unleashed with news of victory and peace year ago today
 Kissed Flag
 On Canal Street, colored man with tears streaming down his checks kissed every star and stripe of the American flag draping 8 parked car.
 On lower Grand Street a lonely war wife pushed her year-old sor up the steep grade in stroller, anc both the baby andstroller were decorated with multi-colored stream CTS.
 At the Church of the Immaculate Conception, another young war wift knelt for many minutes motionless her copious tears of gratitude fall. ing on the pew before her.
 In the Center, a sweet-faced ole lady with cane pushed her wa. through the milling crowds, de claring with a twinkle in her eye wouldn't have missed this fol anything. Makes me feel young again."
 Streets Were Empty
 Such was the spirit of mingled emotions evident everywhere on tha never to-be-forgotten night of Aug 14, 1945, when Waterbury's factor. whistles and church bells heraldet the return of peace after A month of the cruelest warfare in history.
 An anxiously-waiting Waterbur, heard the welcome news following TOT agonizing uncertain hours o waiting. When the word "SuTTen der" finally burst upon the city a 7:O5 P. M, downtown streets Wer' singularly devoid of people. Her and there, a few lateworking mel and women burst from office build ings as if they were af1re. Thel they stood at the curb for seyera minutes wondering which way t take.
 Not five minutes later, long queue of men, women and children stream ed from every imaginable direction to the Center. Merrymakers danced shouted and kissed people they ha never seen before. They threy streamers until the debris was foot deep. .:
 Wild joy was reflected on almos every face. Some wept unashamed ly on the streets, wiping away thei tears with the back of their hand! Children had the most enjoyabl time of all for all restraint wa thrown to the winds.
 What Can You Say? , Few could express what they fell Most said with voice quiverin with emotion, What can you sa at time like this? It's just won derful-that's all. Peace is wonder full"
 Seaman Erwin Slatnick of Fer Circle declared with gusto, Its won derful news. But the big momen will come for me when I shed thi uniform" Seaman Slatnick didn shed his uniform until he was dis charged two months ago Called thi morning at his fathers store, Wher he is clerking, the 19-year youth was still of the same mind.
 "Oh, still feel very good abou the whole idea. Looking back on i