davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-12-29
BY Thomas R. Henry
Stor Sfoff Correspondent


CHICAGO, Dec. ga region of
high temperatures starting in the
thin air 10 miles above the earth
and continuing upward for an un-
known distance was described before
the American Association for the
Advancement of Science today by
DR.. Ralph J. Havens of the Naval
Research Laboratory at Washington.
This is the latest finding from an
analysis of the record Of rocket
flights above the stratosphere at
White Sands, N. Mex.
1t previously had been established
that temperature declined with alti-
tude up to about II miles, where it
reached an average of about Is
below; that it then rapidly increased
to a maximum of ITO above at 30
miles, then decreased to about IS
below again at so miles, and then
started to 60 up again.
The rocket records now have
established that this increase is
progressing rapidly at the 70-mile
level, where 1t already has reached
100 degrees above, and there is no
indication of any further drop.
There is a possibility that it may
continue to 60 up as far as the top
of the earth's atmosphere.
The rocket flights also have es-
tablished an enormous increase at
great attitudes in the number OF
charged electric particles, respon-
sible for the DETECTION of radio
waves back to earth and in some way
associated with emanations from
the sun. From the % to so mile
levels, it was found. there are only
about 10000 of these per cubic
inch, but in the next 10 miles their
density increases to about 100000
per cubic inch.
Isolation of mysterious sub
stance in plants which may repre-
sent the first step in the process
of life on earth also was announced
today before the association.
If it can be identified as some
simple chemical compound which
can De maze IN Lne laboratory IL may
be the key to the eventual harness.
ing of sunlight directly for food
production.
The discovery, made with the use
of the new radioactive carbon, was
announced by Drs. Hans Gaffron,
A. H. Brown and E. w. Eager of the
University of Chicago.
1t has long been recognized that
life depends primarily on the pro-
cess of photosynthesis. Plants by
means of chlorophyl, the green pig
ment in, their leaves. are able to
utilize the energy of sunlight to
combine carbon dioxide from the
air and water from the soil into the
so-called hydrocarbons - primarily
starches and sugars-which build up
Evening star., 1947-12-29
Priest and Penn Student
Asphyxiated in Florida

FORT PIERCE, Fla, Dec. 29.-A
priest and University of Pennsyl-
vania student on vacation in Florida
were asphyxiated by a gas heater in
tourist cabin yesterday.
The dead are the Rev. James A.
Kinney. about 40, and R. j. Dietrich,
20, Philadelphia. undergraduate at
the university. Father Kinney was
a teacher at st. Thomas More High
School in Philadelphia and resi-
dent of Sacred Heart Parish,
Manoa, Pa.
The two men registered at the
tourist court Saturday night. The
bodies were found yesterday morn
ing by o. A. Charles. court manager.
County Judge Elem c. Dane,
acting coroner said death was due
to asphyxiation and that no inquest
would be held
Evening star., 1947-12-29
darlington Trash HauIer
Arrested on Pistol Charqe

Nathiel Smith, operator of a
hauling company which has been
collecting refuse in darlington
during the strike there, was arrest
ed TODAY on charge Of carrying
a concealed weapon after pickets
charged he drew a gun on them.
Michael Lucas, treasurer Of Build
ing Service Employees Local 81, AFL,
said Smith pulled out revolver
when pickets were slow in moving
away from his automobile as he
drove to the darlington main
tenance shed this morning.
AS result, Mr. Lucas said, Hayes
Adams of Arlington, a striker, OBJ
tanned the warrant for Smith from
Judge Hugh Reid of Arlington.
Smith said after his arrest that
he had a revolver Oh the seat of
his truck and claimed this was legal.
He was arranging to be released on
bond this afternoon
Evening star., 1947-12-29
Police Pvt. James Christian
To Be Buried Tomorrow

Funeral services for Pvt. James
Christian, 81, of No. l police pre-
cinct, who was found dead Satur-
day night after a small fire was
discovered at his home. 26l3 Ran
dolph avenue. Alexandria, will be
held at pm tomorrow at Hysongs
funeral home, 1900 N street NV.
Burial will be in Arlington Gem
etery.
Pvt. Christian was born in Tus-
caloosa, Ala. and came to Wash
ington when a young boy. He at
tended Eastern High School and
worked for Chestnut Farms-Chevy
Chase Dairy before he Joined the
police force five years ago.
During World War II he served
with the Army military police in
the Philippines.
He is survived by his widow,
Mrs. Allie Christian; four young
children. Barbara, Marie, James and
Sandra Christian, and brother,
william v. Christian, detective
sergeant in the fugitive squad here.
Evening star., 1947-12-29
BY the Associoted Press

TOKYO, Dec. 90. - Mrs. Hideki
Tcjo, one-time social queen OF ia
pan, saw her husband on the wit
ness stand for the first time today
and broke into nervous sobs.
Tojos hard eyes picked her out
in the crowd of japanese spectators
in the balcony of the international
war crimes court as he entered with
two American military police. He
glanced at his wife impassively
moment and then turned toward the
witness stand.
Mrs. Tojo, a 57-year-old daughter
Of a prosperous businessman, has
attended several court sessions. She
was not present, however. when
TOTO took the stand for the first
time Friday.
! Meanwhile, Allied officials were
surprised at widespread japanese
acceptance of Tojo's plea that
Japan was defeated while fighting
in self defense"
With Mrs. TOTO in court today was
their fourth daughter, 16-year-olc
Kimie, conspicuous in an orange
western style dress and with eyes
Redeemed by weeping. She did moi
sit by her mother the two ap-
parently separated in an attempt te
avoid attention.
Mrs. TOTO, dressed in a black silk
ceremonial kimono. sat in the
second row of the japanese specta-
tors gallery. Throughout the session
she kept her face partially covered
with a handkerchief. She left be-
fore the end of the court session tt
avoid further the curious stares OF
neighbors.
( At the moment when TOTO saw
her, Mrs. TOTO sobbed convulslvely
leaning forward in feeble attempt
to bow and then covered her fact
Evening star., 1947-12-29
Jap Public Accepts Tojo's Plea
Nation Fouqht in |Sef-Defense'

with the handkerchief. Her shoul-
ders continued to shake as Tojo's
attorney read the defense affidavit.
During Tojo's moment of power,
Mrs. Tojo became Japans leading
lady, and it was whispered she was
running her hard-faced husband
One opposition japanese general,
referring to the reported authority
of the premier's wife, was quoted as
saying: when the hen crows, 1t
will be the end of Japan.
Tojo lolled nonchalantly today
assured that his "selfdefense" plea
had reached the public.
Allied censorship and policy max
ing officers limited that tempest
ragged over the reception given his
defense by the japanese press ano
the man in the street. The former
premiers version was contained in
a 65,0O0-word affidavit still being
read to the tribunal.
Today censorship suppressed at
least temporarily, several editorials
and editorially slanted stories COM
menting on the fact that most
young japanese and a huge ma
iority of former servicemen inter-
viewed accepted Tojo's version.
Many of the older people inter-
viewed expressed the opinion that
Tojo was attempting to alibi for
losing the war, but said neverthe-
less they believed Japan acted in
self defense.
All occupation official charged
with supervising the japanese press
commented you can hardly expect
the japanese to be anti-Japanese."
There was no question that higher
officials were surprised at the Jap
anese reaction after % months of
efforts to enlightenssthe plain peo-
pie on the causes of the war.
Evening star., 1947-12-29
Editors, Publishers
See Weakening Of
Communism in '48
By the Associoted Press

NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-As nine
American newspaper editors and
publishers gave a radio forecast last
night OF what 1948 has in store for
the world, most said they believe
communism is weakening.
The majority on The Editors
Speak" program of the National
Broadcasting Co. gave opinions that
the Marshall plan promises eco
nomic recovery abroad, and that at
home some check on imitation is
needed and will be found.
The newspapermen, reviewing
events of the past year and offering
their versions of what 1948 will
bring, agreed generally that pros
poets are good but that there are
uncertainties ahead
Recent Communist defeats in Italy
and France were viewed by several
as indications that totalitarlan in
thuence is waning. Some said the
United States has strengthened
international position after recent
diplomatic clashes with Russia.
None made any prediction on the
outcome of the 1948 presidential
election.
Those who participated in the
program were: Palmer Hoyt, editor
and publisher of the Denver Post;
Philip Graham. publisher of the
Washington Post; James w. Mulroy,
managing editor of the Chicago
Sun; J. Hyde Sweet, editor of the
Nebraska City News-Press; Frank
R. Ahlgren, editor of the Memphis
Commercial Appeal; George w.
Healy, jr.. managing editor Of the
New Orleans Times-Picayune; Har-
Ian G. Palmer, editor and publisher
of the Hollywood (CalifJ Citizen:
H. Duncan Oliphant, editor of the
Portland (Me.) Press-Herald, and
Turner Catledge, assistant managing
editor of the New York Times
Evening star., 1947-12-29
High Temperature Band Found
10 Miles Up in Rocket Tests

their own substances and provide
all energy food for the animal world.
All coal and oil are the results of
the photosynthesis of long past ages.
But the progress OF photosynthesis
has been natures secret and man
never has been able even TO start
on duplicating the work of the plant.
The three chemists made up a car
bon dioxide gas containing minute
amounts of the new carbon IA, a
radioactive isotope of the element
which is the cornerstone of the
living world. This was fed to green
algae, the one-celled plants which
form the green scum on stagnant
ponds and which are about the
simplest and most primitive Of
living things.
After the algae were exposed to
sunlight for various intervals the
cells were analyzed into their various
chemical components to find out
what had happened to the carbon
in the photosynthetic process. BY
means of a Geiger counter which
registered the clicks of the explod-
ing atoms it was possible to follow
it as it passed through the various
cellular constituents during the pro-
cess of photosynthesE.
In experiments Of 20-minutes
duration or longer the carbon isotope
became generally distributed
throughout all the chemical frac-
tions into which the plants cells
were separated when the irradiation
time was reduced to one minute
However, it was discovered that just
one of these chemical fractions con-
tanned almost all the radioactive
carbon taken up. This fraction ap-
parently represents the first, or one
of the first, steps toward the sugars
and starches which are the fuel of
life.
The three University of Chicago
scientists have not yet been able
to identify this substance but have
determined that it is not identical
with any of the constituents Of
living cells known in the past.
1t is far below sugar, starch or
any of the organic acids. The chem
lists now are trying to identify it
by a process of elimination.
Hundreds of gallons of algae
cultures have been tagged with
radio carbon and the mysterious
substance has been obtained in a
form 1,70O times more concen-
trated than when it was first
recognized Then it was found in
only about per cent Of the cells
substance.
Attempts are being made to
crystalline it in order to work out
it's chemical structure. From its
possible implications this promises
to be the most significant step yet
accomplished with the use OF radio
active atoms as "X-rays' OF
physiological processes.
Evening star., 1947-12-29
House Group Charges
u. ). Owns Businesses
Tota|ing 80 Billion
BY the Assoeiotsd Pres,

Federal Ownership OF 4o corpora
tions controlling some $4,000 ooo.-
900" came under fire by a congres.
sional committee today as an
alarming expansion Of the powers
of Government vitality affecting pri.
vate business"
Chairman Ploeser of the House
Committee on Small Business said
in committee report to Congress:
THE enormous concentration Of
financial power in the hands Of
Government, exemplified by these
As Government nt-owned corporations,
represents an unprecedented and
little scrutinized growth of govern
mental activities"
Co-operatives Studied.
Terming the problem urgent"
the report said Government opera.
tions directly or indirectly com.
pete with similar activities Of pri.
vate business"
AS beginning, the House com.
uilCtCC ACpOl lCo ~ lldS lux INTO
governmental privileges" enjoyed
by co-operatives-which have tax
exemptions-and has amassed "a
great deal of data" on operations
of the Farm Credit Administration
Tennessee Valley Authority, Fed
eral Home Loan Corp. and Federal
Housing Administration.
The committee said its investiga.
tions since April covN the whole
broad field of Government COM
petition with private business" and
financial aid to business.
Recommendations Deferred.
In most cases, the committees
recommendations for corrective ac-
ton by Congress were held in abey-
ance pending the conclusion Of the
various inquiries.
Among other things, the report
said there had been complaints by
independent tire dealers against al.
legged monopolies and secret dis
count practices" of large tire dis
tributors in connection with their
retail outlets.
Chairman Ploeser said in the re-
port that "the present difficulties
in the tire industry are in large
part due to the failure of the Gov
ernment effectively to enforce the
existing antitrust laws
Evening star., 1947-12-29
Sofecruckers SteuI Tool

DECATUR, Ill. (P.-Safecrackers
who broke into the Decatur Scrap
Iron g. Metal Co. used an acetylene
torch hanging on the wall to burn
the lock of the safe. They didn't
find any money but took the acety-
lene torch,
Evening star., 1947-12-29
Fourth Big Fire in Day
|nPhiI|ade|phiaC aCauses
$4,000, 900 Damage
BY the Associotsd Press

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 29.-Phn-
adelphia's fourth major fire within
"a hours-coming in the wake Of
heavy snowfall that hampered
firemen-destroyed five industrial
buildings and damaged half dozen
adjoining structures with a loss
estimated at $1.000,000.
The latest blaze yesterday-bring-
ing to about $1,500,000 the damage
caused by major fires in the
24-hour period-struck in down.
town manufacturing district inter-
spersed with many historic land
marks such as Christ Church,
half block from the scene, and the
house occupied by Betsy Ross when
she made the first American flag,
200 yards away.
Nine Firemen Injured.
The destroyed buildings-all five
story structures - contained the
quarters of a score of firms, includ-
ing clothing companies, shoe, elec-
trical appliance and printing con-
Germs.
Nine of the 400 firemen summoned
to the scene were injured, two oil
them suffering leg fractures in the
collapse of a wall, before the blaze
was brought under control Az hours
after the first alarm was turned IN
bv an early morning churchgoer.
Eleven families were evacuated
from their homes adjoining the
DESTROYED or damaged buildings as a
precautionary measure.
The 100000 damage estimate
was made by Fire Marshal George
Gallagher. Max Silver, who recent
" purchased three of the buildings
lost at 121-123-125 North Fourth
street, said his own loss would
reach S250,000.
Two Suffer Broken Legs.
Most seriously injured OF the
firemen hurt in battling the blaze
were James Leonard. hoseman,
who suffered a compound lett leg
fracture, and Harry Jones, a fire IN
surance pstrolman, whose lett knee
was fractured.
The three other major fires in the
Philadelphia area destroyed a five
story industrial building at 939-94l
North Front street, with damage
estimated at $780, 1000; large paper
box factory at Third and Spring
Garden streets, with 100000 loss
and thousands of gallons of oil after
a blast at the Gulf Oil Corp. refinery
in Southwest Philadelphia.
IS Flee Hotel Fire.
CAMDEN, N. j., Dec. % P)-
About rs guests were forced from
the New Ridgeway Hotel in their
pa ajamas early yesterday while fire
men fought blaze that had spread
through wall partitions from the
basement boiler room to the ceiling
Evening star., 1947-12-29
Monthly precipitation in inches in q
Ca nital lcIrrent month to date(.

ANtOmOblIe l"ntS must be JUTne'
,ne-half hour after sunset.
Precipitation
Evening star., 1947-12-29
GuIfstreum Park Entries
FOR TUESDAY.
BY the Associated Press

First Post. :45 PM. EST
Weather. Clear. Track. Fast.
FIRST RACE-Purse, s. 400: claiming
a-year- -olds; 6 furlones.
Evening star., 1947-12-29

The Sun and Moon.
Evening star., 1947-12-29
Weather Report

District of Columbia-Sunny with
highest temperature about 38 de-
grees and northwest winds around
Is miles per hour this afternoon.
Mostly clear with lowest near 26 in
the city and 20 in the suburbs to-
night. Tomorrow increasing cloudi-
ness and somewhat milder.
Virginia and Maryland-Mostly
clear and cold again tonight. To-
morrow increasing cloudiness and
somewhat milder followed by some
rain or snow in west portion by
night.
Wind velocity. Is miles per hour
direction West-northwest.
Road Report
From American Automobile ASSOCIATION. J
Main roads in Virginia and Maryland
clear: few of the secondary roads may
be icy.
River Report.
(From U s. EngineersD
Potomac River clear at Harpers Ferry
and at Great Falls; Shenandoah clear at
HarperS Ferry.
Humidity.
Per Per
Yesterday Cent To-day Cent
Noon 36 Midnight 63
y pm. ------- 81 am. bH
pm. 81 10 2 NJ %
High and Low for Yesterday.
High. Al, at LAG pm.
Low, 20. pt $40 am
Record Temperatures This Year.
HIGHEST, 96. on August IA.
Lowest, +, on February ).
Tide Tables.
FURNISHED by United States Coast
and Geodetic Survey
To-day. Tomorrow
High S:54 ams a:49 a m.
Low 3.30 m So m
Hieh - a:o1 pm. 1918 pm
Low ..- 1886 pm. 4 q" pm.
The Sun and Moon.
Rises. Sets.
~un. todav 1:@1 A:5f
sun, tomorrow 1:oT 4:55
Moon, today ~ 1:0:' pm. 9:2d am
Sun, today 'I26 4:54
Automobile linhts must be turned on
,ne-half hour after sunset.
PrecipitatiOn
Evening star., 1947-12-29

Russia has reduced retail prices
of perfumery and cosmetics.
Valley frontiersman., 1947-09-20
VALLEY VISITORS

AT THE LODGE-C. L. Chase G. L. Payne. Ray Heller, Harvey Solherg, MT. and Mrs. E. H Baier, Peggy Elfson, Anchorage; Paul Healy, Kenneth Boyd, Fort Richardson; C. D. Sellers. Sc attle; Roy Palmer, Fort Richard, son; Ralph Neville, ARR: Moen. lued Bogue, Juneau; Naomi Tal, bitzer, Anchorage; Thomas Ash. burn, Anchorage: ". T. White Portland, Ore. D. P. Hafferty Anchorage; R. E. Lee, Duluth Minn.; Paul Stockard, Fairbanks w. A. Knight, Anchorage.
Valley frontiersman., 1947-09-20
WaSilia SchOol Pupils Planning Student Council

WASlLLA - Abandoning the more formal type of high school student body government for the first time this year, pupils of Wasilla high school, under the guidance of high school teacher Ernest Line, are now planning the organization of student council.
 Officers Of the council al- ready have been elected. They include:
 Juanita Mcdonald, president: Don Dinkel, vice president; Katherine Peterson, secretary; Bobby Ford, treasurer.
 The officers of the council are at present in the midst of revis- ing the former student body con- stitution for use under the coun- cil form of government. A cal endar of the years activities in the school is also under way, but will not be completed until a little later in the term. Many students of Wasilla school were absent 1. this week, time of the potato harvest in the Valley.
 Miss Mcdonald explained that under the newly initiated coun- cil type of government, students expect to assume more responsi- Dility for the routine police duties of the school.
 We'll watch the halls, take charge downstairs, take care of the Washrooms, and things like that she said.
Valley frontiersman., 1947-09-20

Forty-five thousand acres of land in the Wasilla-Goose Bay area will be thrown open to land hungry veterans for homestead sites on Selr. 27.
 Filings will be accepted on that date by Lowell M. Pucket, regional administrator Of the Bu- reau of Lard Management in Anchorage. Puckett's office is on the ground floor of the Federal building.
 Realizing the importance of further developing the Mata- nuska Valley Secretary J, A. (Cap Krug of the Department of the Interior has freed the land from. general domain for home stealing.
 TEe area is suitable for farm ing although most of the land is unimrroved. . The new homesites may not exceed 160 acres. The land is free. A filing fee of $5 is charged for tracts not larger than 80 acres. A S10 fee is charged for tracts over 80 acres, plus a com mission Of $1.50 for each 40 acres.
 The land which is located on the northeastern end of Knik Arm is about 25 miles west and southwest of Palmer.
 The Land Bureau paints no rosy pictures of what lies ahead for a homesteader who may file for a tract of land in the area. The office says frankly that very little land has been cleared.
 'HCmesteaders will have to start practically from the ground up for there is no housing avail able" the office claims.
Valley frontiersman., 1947-09-20
Prize Winner Takes Trip

Lynn Sandvik and'his mother. Mrs. I. M Sandvik. left Palmer this week cnrouie to Portland, Ore, as guests Of Columbia Air Cargo service. Lynn's trip was the prize-Winning award given to thc best s-H club garden display at the recent Matanuska Valley fair.
 Lynn, who is a l6-year cid stu cent in Palmer high school, is a seven-year veteran in All club work here. Prize winning is al- most a habit for him now, for he was the winner of a $50 war bond for a top All garden ex- hibit last year.
 His All projects this year were gardening and poultry, and he entered exhibits in both classes at the fair. Tn addition, he has .entered these two divisions in the National Gardening and Ma tlonal Poultry contests.
 All activities have occupied much of the time of this teen- age Palmer youth. Besides com pleting work in his chosen fields, Lynn has attended All camps at Kings Lake for the past several years, last year went to Fai"- banks to attend the All Roundup at the University. and this year is a junior All leader of tte Butte Boys club and a member of the All Council of Matanuska Valley.
 Gardening has been his chief interest throughout the years, for he has undertaken a garden pro- ject in each of the seven years he has competed in All work.
Valley frontiersman., 1947-09-20
Late Hunters Hurry Out
 For Final Try

With moose hunting season in this area scheduled to draw to close on Saturday, Sept. 20, belated parties of local hunters were hurrying to the woods this week for last chance shot.
 Among the late hunters this week were MT. and Mrs. Gilman Lindsey, Lloyd King and Rev. Victor Alfsen. The party left for Willow on Tuesday, and expect ed to be back within a day or two.
 Caribou hunters will have un- til Sept. 30 to get their quarry.
Valley frontiersman., 1947-09-20
Hay Fever
 Sufferer Seeks Relief in Valley

Shifted any ragweed here abouts lately?
 If you have you'd be doing Murl s. Peterson a favor if you'd let him know about it. Murl is an employe of the War Assets Administration in Tulsa. Okla. He's heard all about the Matanuska Valley and says he'd like to come, but-well, you know ragweed. It makes him sreeZe.
 Murl wrote for information about lots of things in the Val ley. He'd like to know about food prices, climatic conditions, and opportunities for work. He's got to make a change soon since apparently Tulsa's got a thick growth of ragweed and-a-a- choo. Well, you know how it is with hayfever.
 Anyway, it will comfort MT Peterson to know the Farm Se- curity Administration says rag weed has been found in the Val ley in scattered places and it's not at all abundant.