davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-08-01

(This is one OF a series OF articles taken
from the studies OF a special citizens COM
mittee on Washington's future depelopment.)
The sewers Of Paris have been made famous
by Victor Hugo in his novel, Les Miserables.
But nobody except the appropriation commit
tees have written much about the sewers of
Washington
Ancient cities have been described as built
in layers upon their own trash and garbage,
which archeologsts probe in search of civiliza-
tions past. But we in Washington dispose of
our trash and garbage as soon as they are
collected.
But few local taxpayers know what happens
to their waste and refuse after 1t leaves their
own doorstep. They only complain loudly when
the disposal system fails to function.
A representative citizens committee, however,
has told the Commissioners that $27,420,000
should be spent during the next II years to
bring the sewage facilities in line with present
and expected future demands of a modern
world capital Another s2,603, 900 is asked for
the City Refuse Department. to broaden its
plant and services.
In both cases some Of the money is carried
in the 1848 city budget.
Modern Washington has two types of sewers
OQe CaTrleS SUOTm water lQLO CQe fOCOnaC
River. The other carries domestic waste to the
sewage treatment plant at Blue Plains-the
southern tip of the District on the Potomac
where 1t is processed. This separation Of storm
water and sanitary sewage is the ideal.
But old Washington like other early Ameri-
can cities, still is served by combined mains.
This is the area south of Florida avenue and
lying between the Anacostia and the Potomac
Some Raw Sewage Reaches River.
In normal weather the yield of the combined
mains is handled without too much difficulty.
In heavy rains, however, they carry SO much
liquid they would swamp the treatment plant.
Thus, when the flow rises above q certain
level, automatic relief devices divert the excess
directly into the river. Most of this is rain
water but some raw sewage necessarily is inter-
mingled.
Although this would seem to threaten pol
luton of the river, the danger is lessened by
the fact that at such times the river is flowing
high and fast.
The treatment plant is modern but was built
to serve a population of 650,000 The citizens
committee report asks four more sudge diges-
ton tanks, four more sedimentation tanks
chemical precipitation facilities, >sludge drying
and/or incinerating facilities, and additional
pumps and power equipment.
A change over to separate mains in the "old
city" would be highly complex job The COM
mittee however asks funds for comprehensive
study Of this undertaking. Rough estimates
Evening star., 1947-08-01
Letters to The Star

and more. Salaries which, in October, 1945,
seemed fair and reasonable, have become a
mere pittance in the meantime The highest
salary for a highly qualified professional
amounts, after the reduction of the Japanese
income tax payable at the root, to Y2,40O
monthly. That is not enough to buy for a
family of four the minimum official food rations
which the Army has directed the japanese
government to supply to foreigners in this
country and which, as matter of course, have
to be supplemented on the free market. If
the foreigner happens to have been burnt out
during the war, and is compelled to live in
very modest japanese apartment house.. he
has to pay rental of VI 600 for each member of
his family, again more than his whole salary
The net result is that most of the foreigners
who devote their time and energy to the work
for the occupation have had to subsist many
months by selling their curios. clothes and
other personal belongings. There are not
few Japanese who observe with undisguised
amusement how little it pays these foreigners
so,have turned against them.
Especially so since the japanese who are
working for the Army are faring incomparably
better. True, they have no mess-hall facilities.
Their salaries, however, are paid by the Japa-
nese government and, therefore, are gradually
raised according 10 the progressing lnnaLlon.
The effect is that Japanese assistant who
started with third of the salary of for
eign national may now get double his salary
and more. In addition the japanese employees
of the Army get paid vacations and paid sick-
leave while foreigners have to work without
a single holiday year in and year out.
For more than nine months these hapless for
eigners have been trying, and trying in vain, to
bring about an improvement of their lot AS long
as free trade is not re-established the Army Is
the sole possible employer. As "collatorators"
with the Americans they have hardly chance
OF being employed by japanese firms. So they
have no other choice but to stay on. True,
sympathy and understanding are not lacking,
neither from American individuals, officers
and civilians alike nor from the chiefs OF diyi-
sions and sections for whom the foreigners
work and who appreciate job well done. But
this sympathy and understanding are really not
enough to set things straight. None OF the
headquarters staff sections concerned has, so
far been able to cut through the red tape and
bring about q remedy Of their sorrows
Working within the framework Of an Army
organization they cannot approach the COM
mander in chief or his chief or staff. But
knowing that the American public is fair and
generous, they trust that today's appeal will
not fail them. A FOREIGN NATIONAL.
Tokyo.
Evening star., 1947-08-01

optimistic view. It says that the produc-
tion Of coal has increased steadily each
month. even with the five-day week. since
the industry was nationalized in January,
and that some $4,000 more men were work.
ing in the mines in June than in January.
1t would seem that this Is either too
optimistic or that the current news from
London is too deeply tinged with pessimism
At best, however, the position of the British
is difficult enough. and before many more
weeks have passed it should be possible to
determine the real extent of their ability
to pull themselves out of the hole.
Evening star., 1947-08-01
Foreign Nationals in Japan

To the Editor Of The Star:
Whatever your readers learn about the ex-
ploits of the American occupation in Japan,
they will, presume, never have heard about
one group, which, though small in numbers,
still takes pride in having contributed its share
to the last one and half years success: The
so-called foreign nationals" l. e., non-Ameri-
can foreigners, resident in Japan and employed
by the Army And even today we do not
presume upon the hospitality of your column
in quest of publicity but for extremely sober
and matter-of-fact reasons
Immediately after the organization of Mac
Arthur's headquarters in Tokyo the Army
started to recruit an increasing number OF
local foreign residents as civilian employees.
Their qualifications range from secretaries,
clerks, translators to highly qualified profess
sionals like educators, economists, engineers,
lawyers and doctors Common prerequisite for
EMPLOYMENT was and Is, of course, . clear
political record, established through a meticu-
lous investigation through the Counter Intelli-
gence Corps of the Army. Not few OF these
foreign residents had during the war, to pay
for their political attitude with loss OF their
homes and properties, imprisonment, intern
ment, and torture at the hands of the Japanese
militarists All of them welcomed the Ameri-
can occupation as liberation from the totali-
tartan yoke; their knowledge Of the japanese
language, psychology. and customs proved to
be valuable assistance throughout. an indis-
pensable one in not few cases.
The employment conditions, as stipulated
by the Army in October 1945, were fair and
reasonable. The salary, payable in yen, cor
responded on the whole to the professional
qualifications. In addition medical care in
Army dispensaries mess-hall facilities and the
right to purchase in the post exchange and
commissary were provided After some weeks
one of these essential privileges after the other
were revoked, without previous notification and
compensation. The only remaining privilege.
the right to eat in an Army mess-hall, was
reduced to working days only. an indispensable
minimum for any one who has to devote him
self to an eight-hour working day under the
abnormal living conditions in this country
One thing, however, remained stable to this
very day, the yen salary, as fixed In OCTOBER
l945. What that means will be clear to any
body who has followed the inhationary develop
ment of Japan in the last year and half.
The living expenses have gone up 10 times
Evening star., 1947-08-01
IRRIGATION Centenary

In connection with the celebration OF
the centennial of the settlement of Utah,
Secretary of the Interior j. A. krug WlsneS
the public to remember that 1t was the
Mormon pioneers who started the sue
cessful conquest of American desert LANDS
through modern irrigation" OF course,
the principle involved was not new in lS41.
Water was managed by the ancient Egyp-
tians and Babylonians long millenn1ums
before Brigham Young's followers first
undertook to persuade a little creek to
nourish their newly planted potato patch.
The earliest farmers this planet ever saw
discovered that rainfall must be aided and
abetted intelligently, If crops are to prosper
in arid areas
What matters now is that for ten busy
decades the science of reclamation has
heen adding to the wealth of the people
of the United States. The whole Western
half of the map of the Nation is dotted
with irrigation projects of Importance not
merely to their immediate neighborhoods
but to the entire country. approximately
forty-five million acres are available for
development and exploitation in relation
to the Mississippi Missouri, Colorado,
Columbia, Sacramento, Rio Grande and
other river systems. Since 1902 the Fed
eral Government has sponsored activity
in about half the territory waiting to be
reached. The progress of the next hundred
wears should be at least as notable.
Certainly, it no longer needs to be dem
onstrated that the best practical use OF
the West depends upon the control of its
streams. The Imperial Valley has proved
that the desert can be made to blossom
like the Scriptural rose. Even where vast
Evening star., 1947-08-01
Mint

When / pass a bed OF mint
Memory hurries to reprint
These nostalgia nectars spread
From pungent leaty bed:
/ can see a rocking chair
And my father sitting there
Happy In an old routine,
Frosty glass Nth nainty green;
Mint brings back table spread,
Snowy cloth and at the head
Father helping plates that hint
Leq'ot lamb and sauce OF MINT
Standing In shining To10
Gipino off an emerald olop,
Jellu sparkling jet0el-clear
Mint beds fragrant souventr -.
Memory ficks my nose hint
When ] reminisce on mint.
JESSIE FARNHAM
Evening star., 1947-08-01
A Vile Crime

It would be hard to think Of anything
more vicious, more wanton and more sense
less than the murder Of two youthful
British Army sergeants by the Jewish ter
rorist organization In Palestine which Is
known as Irgun Zvai Leumi.
These British soldiers, each twenty years
old, were snatched from the street fort
night ago and held as hostages pending
the execution by the British OF three
terrorists found guilty of participating in
the bombing of Acre Prison. On Tuesday
newspapers were notified by Irgun mes
sengers that the Britons had been hanged.
The bodies were found hanging to tree
yesterday, and when the sea-chers cut
them down BOBBY trap mine attached to
the body of one of the sergeants exploded.
blowing the bodies to bits and injuring
another man.
An Irgun communique denied that the
sergeants were murdered in retaliation for
the execution of the three Jews Instead,
according to the communique, they were
tried, convicted and hanged as being men,
bers of British criminal, terrorist organ
ization known to us under the name of the
British Occupation Army in Palestine" In
other words, Irgun, having resorted to
cold -blooded murder, now seeks to give 1t
a color of legitimacy.
What will be the effect of this senseless
crime-senseless because it can only serve
to hurt the cause of Zionism and Jewish
interests everywhere? 1t has already
brought forth an outburst of counter
terrorism by British troops in the Holy
Land, eliminating in the indiscriminate
slaughter of five innocent Jews. World
opinion will insist that the British author
tiles take drastic action to put stop to
terrorism by their own troops. And it
will also expect that vast majority of
Jews, including Zionists, who abhor the
1rgun tactics, to do everything in their
power to root out and destroy this vile
criminal organization which is doing such
great disservice to the Jewish cause.
Evening star., 1947-08-01
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE

@. What is the highest elevation Of any
building in the United States?-V. M
A. The highest habitable structure In the
United States is believed to be the stone hut
on the summit of Mount Whitney, California,
whose elevation is IA, ,495 feet.
G. Why do the British people call derby
hat a bowler?-R. E.
A. Because the hat was designed in 1850 by
an English halter named William Bowler
O. What States do not levy taxes on in
dividual incomes?-H C.
A. In 1946 the following States did not have
individual income tax laws: Connecticut,
Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine Michigan,
Nebraska Nevada, New jersey Ohio Penn
sylvania, Rhode Island. Texas Washington
and Wyoming.
Q. How did the tarsiers get their Manner
H. L. E.
A. Tarsiers are tiny monkey-like creatures
related to the lemurs, whose name is derived
from the length of the bones of the tarsus
or ankle The first in captivity are at the
Bronx Zoo in New York and in the National
Zoo in Washington, D. C..
O. Why was the maple leaf chosen to be the
emblem of Canada?-A. C. H
A. The story is that during the War Of 1912,
when the English were fighting the French in
the woods, they attempted to hide their scarlet
uniforms by means of maple leaves, which
proved to be an effective camouflage.
Q. Was President Monroe inaugurated on
March 4 or 5, 1821?-C. Meg.
A. When the Joint Committee of Congress
waited upon Mr.. Monroe on February 26, 1891,
to inform him of his reelection, he had already
fortified himself with written opinion Of the
Supreme Court, through Chief Justice Marshall,
that the oath should be taken on Monday,
the 5th, and Of this purpose he informed the
committee. The inauguration took place on
Monday, March S, at the Capitol.
O. Did Martin Luther write the words and
music of his famous hymn Elm Feste Burg?
r. NJ T.
A. Elm ,Feste Burg" "a Mighty Fortress), Is
based on the 46th Psalm. The melody was
written by Luther and first played on the
flute
O. What is a milk shed"?-S. u.
A. Milk shed" is the term used to designate
the farming area from which city obtains its
milk.
@. Is person who owns business Of his
own eligible for an annuity under the Social
Security system when he reaches the age of
65?-E. T.
A. Under the present Social Security Act no
annuities are provided for persons who own
and operate their own businesses.
Evening star., 1947-08-01

This world is a difficult place, indeed,
and people are hard to please The folks
who cough in crowded bus are a griev-
ance to those who Sneeze
Evening star., 1947-08-01
Questions and Answers

Bureau. 316 i, street NE. washington . b. c.
Please inclose three Cd cents for return posage.
Evening star., 1947-08-01

More marvellous than change is the fact
that some things alter so little with the
years-the Washington Monument, for ex-
ample; it looks now very much as 1t did
half century ago.
Evening star., 1947-08-01

Contentment may not require a house
full of books and a garden full of flowers,
but they help.
Evening star., 1947-08-01

People are very human. Those who have
been saying that it ought to rain change
. their minds when it does while they are
homeward bound from work.
Evening star., 1947-08-01

@. What is the highest elevation Of any
building in the United States?-V. M.
A. The highest habitable structure In the
United States is believed to be the stone hut
on the summit of Mount Whitney, California.
whose elevation is IA, ,495 feet
Evening star., 1947-08-01

@. Why do the British people call derby
hat boWler?-R. E.
A. Because the hat was designed in 1850 by
an English halter named William Bowler.
Evening star., 1947-08-01

O. Did Martin Luther write the words and
music of his famous hymn Elm Feste Burg?
r. M. T.
A. Elm ,Feste Burg" "a Mighty Fortress), Is
based on the 46th Psalm. The melody was
written by Luther and first played on the
flute
Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-07-18
SUPERIOR INTELLECT

ONE of Sans mules took it into
~ his head to stop dead on the
main street of the town, and it was
twenty minutes before Sam could
persuade the animal to move
single step. And then the other mule
baked! Sam pleaded, threatened,
cursed, but to no avail. The critter
wouldn't bulge an inch.
If the mules made Sam mad, the
steadily growing crowd of specta-
tors that gathered about his wagon,
offering comments, suggestions and
jibes, reduced him to the state of
raving, gesticulating maniac.
Pushing his way ahead of the re-
calcitrant mules, Sam turned, lev
eled an accusing finger at them, and
shouted, "I'll conquer you, I'll con-
quer you'll" Sensing some doubt on
the part of the spectators. Sam add
ed, Don't think I can do it, Ell?
Well, l can, cause I've got more
sense than both of you mules put
together!"
Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-07-18
Entire Logging
Town Is Moved
For Fifth Time

SHEVLIN, ORE.-For the fifth
time in it's existence, this central
oregon logging community of 900
population has moved again.
Originally Minnesota town, the
entire community was moved to
Oregon &c years ago when the Shev-
lin-Hixon Lumber company shift
ed operations to this state. Since
then four moves, including two in
the last five years, have been made
to conform with the company's log
ging operations.
More than $50 buildings in the
community were hoisted upon rail-
road cars and hauled 40 miles to
the new site, in the pine forest on
which the company operates.
Townspeople loaded down their
cars. trucks and trailers with CLOTH
ing, small furniture and kitchen
ware.
Streets and utilities in the new
village were ready when the fami-
lies arrived. Stores already were
open for business. Everyone knew
where he would live as chart had
been issued weeks before by the
company.
Arguments over voting rights and
other civic issues which marred the
1912 move will be eliminated this
time. That move was from Des
Chutes county into Klamath coun-
ty, invalidating ballots cast in either
county. On this move, Shevlin
stayed in klamath county.
Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-07-18
The Blind Teach the Blind -
Delicate Art of Radio Repair
Disabled Master
Technical Trade
At Omaha School
WNU Features.

OMAHA, NEB.-The blind lit
orally "see again" as they learn
the highly technical and delicate
craft of radio repair at Radio
Engineering institute here.
Men who have been blind
all their lives and ex-service-
men who lost their sight or
were otherwise severely dis
abled in the recent conflict represent
the bulk of enrollees at Radio Engi-
neering institute Their objective is
to learn a trade which will permit
them to return to their home COM
munities as self-sustaining members
of society. Armed with the techni-
cal training acquired at the insti-
tute, graduates establish their own
business as radio and electronic
technicians or as dealers in appli-
anceS.
Described as the only school in
the world catering to the sightless
and the disabled, Radio Engineering
institute was opened October l,
1915. From its meager beginning
with only three blind students, the
school has expanded rapidly as its
facilities became known. Today the
school has Is blind men in training
and its first graduates already have
established their mark in the bust
ness world.
The Blind Teach.
Founder and head of this unique
school is LaVon Peterson, who was
born blind. Peterson acquired his
knowledge the hard way-by read
Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-07-18

prise ana the. school became real
ity.
."How can the blind man
solder?" Chow can he handle
the tiny and delicate radio COM
pOnents?" "How can he follow
the color code used in radio re-
ceivers?" Glow can he make
the necessary tests essential in
this type of work."
These and a multitude of similar
queries are continually being hurled
at Peterson and his associates by
people interested in the school and
its work.
Solder Without Burns.
Even the totally blind person,
Peterson insists, can do this type of
work on par with sighted people.
To the sighted, soldering general
ly is considered an impossible job"
for the blind person. The school,
however, has developed a simple
technique in the use of the stand
ard soldering iron for a blind per-
son, permitting him to solder with
never a burn.
The color code problem also is
easily solved, since the color code
in wiring is merely a convenient
way for the sighted person to trace
wires. The blind person can trace
wires equally well with his super
sensitive fingers. Although values
of parts shown by color code can
not be read by the blind person.
specially adapted Instruments en-
ploying sound and Braille dial per-
init him to measure the values
quickly and efficiently.
Development of the testing equip
ment is the result of long expert
menting on the part of Peterson.
Determined to do radio work and
unable to buy equipment that would
enable him to take necessary tests
and readings in radio work, Peter
son sought to devise apparatus
which would permit him to do the
measuring. Through a long proc
ess of building, experimenting and
tearing down, he finally perfected
the "Braille multi-tester." a device
which measures resistance, cur
rent. voltage and allied factors.
Tester Is Keystone.
Experimentation with other test
ing equipment was continued, and
an adapter developed at the insti-
tute now permits blind person to
read any standard meter. Each
blind person in school now builds
his own adaptor and learns to use it
in radio repair work. This tester,
which the student takes with him
upon graduation, is intended to
serve as the cornerstone for his fu-
ture business.
AS the schools role in aiding the
blind became assured, the sugges-
ton was preached that the radio
field offered possibilities for per-
sons afflicted with disabilities other
than blindness if tools were adapt
ed to their particular disability.
Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-07-18
Roaring Fork Line
Will Roar No More

NORTON, VA.-The Roaring
Fork railroad has roared its last
roar. As its last act, the once
cOlOrful little railroad sent a IS
fee to the state corporation COM
mission for a dissolution certif-
icate.
The line began operation In
1904 as a subsidiary of Black
wood Coal and Coke company.
Although it once carried long
trainloads of coal as well as
passenger trains, the Roaring
Fork eventually was forced to
pull in its steel tentacles as
large railroads gradually ex-
tended their lines into Virginia's
coal fields.
When the Southern railroad
extended a line to Calvin, the
Roaring Fork let its engine fires
die and became a paper rail-
road.
Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-07-18

Aware of the need for this type Of
training, institute officials estab-
ished a department for training this
group. Now it is possible for any
person, regardless of his disability,
to learn this type of work.
Only requirements for a dis
abled student are that he has
the ability to move about, even
though it be in a wheel chair,
and that he has enough gripping
strength in one hand to hold
tools firmly. Grasping devices
operated by the teeth, specially
designed methods of moving
heavy objects and other SINH
lar apparatus have been de-
signed for use of those with Sc
we're disability.
Fame of the institution has spread
throughout the world. Information
about the training has been sought