davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-03-23
A Breakdown of Inspection

The most alarming aspect OF the findings
in the Empire Building collapse is the
possibility that the failures of materials
and of men which caused the disaster last
December may not have been confined to
one Inflated building. For the report of
the Commissioners Special Board of In
quiry indicates that the failures were
spread over several decades and that they
involved both public and private RESPONSE
bilities. And the board warns of the need
for vigilance against further collapses.
That there were grave derelictions by
$50 many persons" is clearly shown by the
way in which the central bearing wall of
the structure was whitfield away during
the years until nothing but soft and
crumbling pier remained. No permit could
be found for the cutting of the first open
ings in this vital brick wall forty years
ago. How could two holes, one ten feet
wide and the other eight feet wide, be
chopped out of such wall without a
permit? In 1882 the eight-foot opening
was widened five and half feet further
under authority of conditional permit
The condition was that the supporting
piers must be constructed of hard brick
and mortar of special formula. The con-
dition was not complied with-yet two
building inspectors reported that the work
was performed in accordance with the
permit. Other holes were hacked in the
already weakened piers in recent years
and permits were granted for remodeling
operations which imposed substantial
additional loads on them.
Yet, as the Board of Inquiry puts it, mo
permit records or drawings have been
discovered which would indicate that
study was made of the loads imposed on
the remaining portions of the bearing
wall after the openings were cut in 1903
or 1909" Apparently the District Building
accepted almost without question the pro-
posals for major structural changes made
by various contractors and then failed to
make adequate inspections of the work
done. There can be no acceptable excuse
for such negligence on the part of public
servants
The boards recommendations for regis
tration OF structural engineers and licens-
ing OF general contractors are good as far
as they go. But the fact remains that such
measures would be of little avail unless
supplemented by effective building inspec-
ton. 1t Is obvious that the Empire Build
Evening star., 1948-03-23
Letters to The Star
Preserving New York Avenue Church

preserving new Ofk Avenue Ohurcn
To the Editor Of The Star:
We are glad to know that what the con-
gregation Of the New York Avenue Presby-
terian Church proposes to do has elected
considerable interest outside of our congrega-
tion. But we could hope that the interest
would be not only in what the church has
meant in the past, but also in what it means
today and could mean in the future.
We believe that the church is a living
organism and should have broad ministry,
not only to its members. but to the COM
munity in which 1t is located and to the city.
The building located on New York avenue
at H street is almost 80 years old. It Would
cost very considerable sum Of money to
make it capable of weathering another 90
years, and even were that done, it would
still be inadequate for our present needs and
the needs Of the future
We have only certain amount Of space
at our disposal and the most efficient use
must be made Of it. We shall not move from
our present location, for we are concerned
about preserving the New York Avenue Pres
byterian Church, not in abolishing it. We
need an educational and activities building to
provide the well-rounded program we believe
our church must have. For 20 years we have
seen the inadequacy of our present building to
accommodate those who wish to worship with
us, and we have never had a Sunday school
building. Therefore, 1t seemed best to re-
build the church. making better use of our
space, and providing the plant we need. This
the congregation by a. practically unani-
nous VOTE decided to do In rebuilding,
we shall retain the present architectural style
and those features that characterize the New
York Avenue Church. It Is our conviction
that when completed, the new building will
so strongly resemble the old as to allay the
fears Of those who cherish the old landmark.
The Lincoln pew will be retained and placed
in the same spot. But it Is the spirit of our
traditions that we cherish, and surely the
spirit will still be there, for it is not contained
in bricks and mortar alone It has life and
inspiration.
We yield to no one outside our church
family in our love for, and appreciation Of,
the glorious heritage Of OUR church that goes
back to 18O3 We would preserve it, and do
all in our power to perpetuate it, in living
inspiration, growing ministry, and increased
! usefulness to our city and future generations
PETER MARSHALL,
Minister;
FRANK E. EDGINGToN,
Clerk Of Session;
DONALD B. CLEMENT,
President, Board Of Trustees
Evening star., 1948-03-23
Why the Rush,

The latest news from the progress front
Is that the Chesapeake g. Ohio Railway Is
planning to build revolutionary new train
capable of speeds up to $50 miles an hour.
The development must be hailed as addi-
tional evidence of mans inventive genius
but there are some among us who are
beginning to wonder whether and when
this sort of thing is ever going to stop.
Apart from the horse and the bicycle
all means of transport seem to be moving
faster and faster. There was a time when
1t looked as if the railroad-in relation to
the plane-would remain a sort of pleas
ant slowpoke, though outracing ships and
autos. Now, however, considering what
the G. & o. is doing, we apparently are
moving forward to day when we will be
hard put to find any public conveyance
capable of taking us places at anything
less than breakneck speed. It is prospect
that one must greet with mixed feelings
OF wonderment and misgiving.
After all, there is something to be said
for leisurely travel. Why the rush? Why
this constant effort to step up the pace?
How often does man leave one spot and
AAJ oAAASNSAA Vic oAy w Ullly tO lOll
around, kill time or do practically nothing
after he arrives? To what end? Why are
we hurrying so much? Where are we
going, and what do we propose to do
when we get there? The internal combus-
ton machine, jet propulsion, rockets, the
atomic engine-these actual and potential
things are opening the way to speeds that
can make our whole race dizzy at a time
when its chief need seems to be to sit
still long enough to catch it's breath and
try figuring out few of its problems.
Instead of putting on the brakes, why does
1t strive after an ever-swifter mobility?
Is it just restless? Or could it be seeking
to run away from itself?
The questions must be left to the psy
biologists and the philosophers. Or per-
haps historians in some future era, look
ing back on these times with good sense
OF perspective. will be able to explain us.
Meanwhile, it can only be observed that
the faster he moves, the more baff1ed
contemporary man seems to become and
the more reason he has to vearn
nostalgically for the days of the horse
and buggy.
Evening star., 1948-03-23
Jets and Carriers

The Navy air arm has entered upon a
significant new phase of development with
It's first at-sea launchings and landings of
carrier-b jet planes. The initial tests
conducted aboard the 27,000-ton Essex
class Boxer-have been as successful as
anticipated, and they have made clear
that it will be only matter of time before
conventional propeller-driven types will
largely disappear from our bigger carriers.
What the Boxer experiment means Is
that the Navy will be able to hit harder
and faster in the air, either for offensive
or defensive purposes The honor of being
the first Jet to demonstrate this goes to
the "Fury"-the North American FIJI, a
six-ton fighter with a 1,500-nile range,
a mile-a-minute climbing rate and fly
ing speed in the neighborhood of 600 miles
an hour. But even the Fury" formidable
though 1t Is, is only an interim" type;
better jets. including bombers, are being
planned for our sea-going aviation.
The transition to jet propulsion, however,
is not something that the Navy will be able
to accomplish overnight. Jets can be
catapulted from carriers easily enough,
but because of their relatively slow acceler-
alton they cannot take off, as of today,
under their own power unless they can
run the full length of an Essex-class flight
deck. This does not hold true for con-
ventional fighters and bombers; 1t is
drawback that would seriously slow down
takeoffs during combat, when planes must
be positioned or spotted" on the after
half OF the ship for short-run launchings
from the forward part at intervals of about
ten seconds.
Other problems inherent in operating
carrier-based jets include the development
of new techniques to deal with the hazards
created by the fiery tail-end blast emitted
by this type of plane on taking off. The
handling methods of iight-deck crews will
have to be changed, and special kind of
Epotting will be required to guard against
the danger of one jet setting fire to another
at launching time. Among the solutions
suggested is that jets should be stripped
of their landing gear. launched from car
riages running the Starboard length of
the ship, and brought in with a kind of
ook-and-trolley-lin contraption iutting
out from the port side. One of the argu-
ments in favor of such an arrangement is
that jet without landing gear would be
400 or 500 pounds lighter and hence a
more effective instrument in battle
According to some of our foremost ex-
perts on Navy air, however, the problems
posed by Jet propulsion are not nearly so
Evening star., 1948-03-23

nents. clearly pointed this out on page 64.
Permit me to quote one paragraph on that
page: Attention will be focused here on the
economic optimum because of its great sig
niicance. With our civilization population
that is well of in economic terms is likely
to rate high as to health, physical fitness,
and longevity. Because Of its high per capita
productivity population at the economic op-
timum is likely to be able to support the arts
and to have leisure to enjoy them. Moreover,
a population that rates high from an economic
standpoint also rates high from military
standpoint. While no reputable economist or
demographer has said exactly how many million
persons constitute the economic optimum
population for the United States, the consensus
OF those who have studied the problem is that
the number is at least several million less than
the present population; 1t may be as low as
1o0,000,000." GUY IRVING BURCH
Evening star., 1948-03-23
Effect of the SoIes Tox

One table submitted yesterday by the
Board of Trades Municipal Finance Com
mittee in discussion of 2 per cent sales
tax Is very much to the point.
It is assumed that an additional $15,-
100000 year must be produced by taxa
ton. A 2 per cent sales tax, with groceries
and medicine exempt, would yield that
much, according to the estimates. So
would SO per cent increase in the real
estate rate, making it So instead of 50 per
$100 of assessed value. Which is the
least burdensome and the fairest?
The table reproduced below compares
the effect on the taxpayer of each method,
as follows:
Evening star., 1948-03-23
First of Spring

need but hear q bluebtrd carolling,
Or match q crocus lift its shy pink head,
Or touch the grass, to rea6frnr the spring.
That Uinter, In W1tite naoccasins, has
fled.
/ do not need q calendar to tell
The seasons, day by day, and hour by
hour;
A surer almanac, the dafodil;
A certain chronicle, the budding fotper.
The first of spring! see 1t eUeryaohere:
The tha,0ing brook, a tree in leaty
splendor,
A fash of ,oings across the meadotoy afr,
The bees and cricEets stirred to sudden
Dorder;;
This is the first OF spring. need no chart
When green is bursting through the
1Dinter-heart!
MAE WINKLER GOODMAN.
Evening star., 1948-03-23

difficult as has been imagined, nor will
elaborate new launching and landing de-
vices be necessary. In this view, given q
little time and practice, the carrier will be
able to handle the new planes just as
efficiently as the conventional ones. and
once 1t is equipped with them its power
will be substantially greater, both to
attack and defend.
Evening star., 1948-03-23
The Vacant Chair

To the Editor OF The Star:
Why has the United Nations failed?
Except the Lord build the house. they labor
In vain who build It," Psalm, cxxvii.1.
When the Chairman OF the League of Ma
tions was asked: why are not your sessions
opehed with prayer?" the reply was: 1--WE
haven't the time" So the League of Nations
wrangled on to utter failure.
The United Nations likewise has had no
time for prayer. Our Christian delegates. in
further appeasement of the Russian atheists,
who Of course, do not believe in prayer or in
God, left Him out of the United Nations de-
liberations. Then why should We expect Him
to bless and give success where He is not
asked, and is thus scorned?
A certain cartoon in The Star, representing
the United Nations in conference, and va
cant chair at the head of the discussion
table, created much interested comment It
showed that the Master, not being invited,
was not present to guide and bless the efforts
for world peace.
When in 1857 the Constitutional Convention
had stalemated from May till September, it
looked as though nothing worth while would be
accomplished. Some OF the delegates had gone
home. Patrick Henry is reported to have
stomped out of the room saying: "A plague
on both your houses!" Then Benjamin Frank
lin, called the wisest man America ever pro-
duced, rose and declared: 'Mr Chairman,
move that chaplain be appointed, and that
hereafter this Assembly be opened with
prayer"
The motion carried chaplain was ap-
pointed, and the convention adjourned to
Christ's Church, where prayer meeting was
held.
Two weeks later the delegates concluded
their work, giving us the Constitution of the
United States-the bulwark of our freedom.
OF it William E. Gladstone, the great Eng
lish statesman, affirmed: 'The American
Constitution, so far as I can see, is the most
wonderful work ever struck off at given time
by the brain and purpose of man."
I quote again from Psalm cxxxii
Except the Lord build the house, they labor
In vain who built it."
Had the Master been asked to occupy that
vacant chair at the head of their conference
table perhaps the United Nations, instead of
failing in its efforts, might have been sue
cessful in securing world peace.
MRS. JENNIE EsMOND WRIGHT.
Evening star., 1948-03-23
Appreciates Chess Column

To the Editor Of The Star
I recently began taking The Star upon learn
ing that you had begun to publish news Of
chess, and I hope you make this column a
leader in its field.
Chess in Russia would be an intriguing
subject. Why has 1t SO great a vogue there?
Why can Russia produce international champ
ions? hope you will provide news Of the
Forthcoming international games
]. 3. BEADLE.
Evening star., 1948-03-23
Approves Squatting Procedure

Approves Squatt1ng PROCEDURE
TO the Editor Of The Star:
The example Of the veteran who moved into
the Waldorf Astoria should be emulated by all
other people who are unable to find living
quarters. The soldier referred to had asked
only an apartment in Government housing
project and, because he could not get that, he
adopted the alternative to which he resorted.
When people appeal for bread. and instead are
given stone, the outcome is foreseeable.
L. A.
Evening star., 1948-03-23

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
ioriter, although 1t is permissible for
tortter kno,on to The Star to use
non. de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1948-03-23
Questions and Answers

reader can get the answer to any question Of
fact BY writing The, Evening Star Information
Bureau, 316 Eye street NE. Washington 2, D. C.
Evening star., 1948-03-23

"Oh, East is East and West is West"
and let us not forget that first fact of life
among the Democrats, that South is South.
Evening star., 1948-03-23
Radios in Buses Resisted

Radios IN Buses Resisted
TO the Editor Of The Star:
What has poor John Q. Public done to bring
on himself radio in buses?
Isn't 1t bad enough to be obliged to listen
to the general turmoil OF large city in transit?
We can think Of nothing more unwelcorne
than more noise. Even good music would
become only noise under such conditions.
If the Capital Transit Co. wishes to
please Its patrons, it might try dispatching
buses so that instead Of 10 to 20 minute
wait and then the arrival of two buses to-
gether, the inseparables might be spaced to
arrive singly at lesser intervals. F.B.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Is there not more than enough noise in
public traffic and inside and outside of cars
and buses. without adding to the confusion by
forcing people to listen to radio? How will
radio programs add to efficiency? How will
operators be helped by radio? Will it help
them to hear more readily fire engines and
ambulances, which often are not within sight
until close to cars and buses?
Thousands of people are afflicted with all
sorts Of noises all day at work, in streets, in
the home. Should we be compelled to have
cars and buses, too, forcing the radio pro-
grams on us?
Please, please don't. S. E. DAVIDSON.
Evening star., 1948-03-23
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@. What American college or university has
the largest endowment?-C. B.
A. Harvard University. Cambridge, Mass has
the largest endowment Of any college in the
United States. The total amount is $159, 1885,
Evening star., 1948-03-23

ll1Cu dllU d Hall SIedIcI. WUHen are also gen.
orally thinner today than they were so years
ago.
@. Where was Mayor ODwyer of New York
born? Did he serve In the WARM. N. J.
A. William ODwyer, mayor of New York
City, was born in Bohola, County Mayo. Ire
land in $780, the eldest of II children. He
served as major and eventually brigadier gen.
eral in the Army during World War II.
@. Why can foods be cooked so much faster
in pressure cooker than in an open sauce
pan?-F r.
A. In an open saucepan the temperature does
not rise above 212 degrees F, the boiling point
of water at sea level. In pressure cooker,
: the tight cover allows steam pressure to build
up and thus forces the boiling point Of water
to rise. The food in the cooker Is, therefore,
heated well above 2l2 degrees and since most
chemical reactions double in speed for every
1s degrees rise in temperature, cooking Is
speeded up.
Q. Who was the first Indian killed in World
War II?-P. r. o,
A. The first Indian to give his life was Henry
Nolatubby, Chickashaw on the U. s. 8. Ari-
zona. He died fighting at Pearl Harbor.
@. What was the depth of the snow that fell
during the New York blizzard Of 1887. Men.
A. In the famous blizzard of March lila,
1888, 1t was estimated that about 40 inches Of
snow fell. In many places in the city snow
drifted to depth of from 10 to IS feet.
Q. Did many persons from the Confederate
States emigrate to South America after the
end of the Civil War?-O. D. M.
A. At the close of the Civil War some ten
thousand people from the Southern States
journeyed to various Latin American countries.
Between three and four thousand OF these
emigrants established homes in Brazil
Evening star., 1948-03-23

Q. Are the women Of today taller than their
mothers?-L. S. E.
A. The average height Of college women IN
1892 was feet inches. Today 1t Is about an
inch and half greater. Women are also gen.
orally thinner today than they were so years
ago
Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-10-29

cause what with a blackout, the
fogs and the detours In streets
Of . normally crazy pattern. an
American soldier would not have
done - we'll That is just too
jvvsnils for serious consideration
but Eisenhower had his chance
70 deny II and stood mute. Other
thinsS being equal, one driver is
~ good a. another in blackout
or fos. II 10 . sorry commentary
on the American soldier by his
commanding general that he did
Mt think hs could find one with
the intelligence TO learn his way.
In fact, Kay did break in a
driver for Toosy Spaatz. There
AFTER, Cisenhower took her to A.
riea for the invasion, which she
already knew al about because,
first, shs overheard the "brass'
talking Il over In the back seat
and. sseond, he told her It would
happen, IA q month Of 70.
But, ahs says, they used ruses
to deceive American reporters
and later. when the Normandy
Invasion was coming, IN Ameri-
can Major-General was busted,
probably for good cause. and
sent sent home in disgracs for
xossiping about matters which
Ike had eonfidsd 10 this Brit
ish woman driver drawn out Of
4 motor pool.
We must infer the character
OF Eissnhowsr's household col n
panion, selected to relieve h,s
boredom, from her own remarks.
On The point Of morals We find
her writing that her reputation
was lost and that 4 small wick
Cd voice inside me cries out:
Next war. my girl you may a.
well do Ill these things Of
which you're accused: they'll
say you did. anyhow"
think that implies that pub
lie reputation rather than virtue
itstk matters with Miss Sum-
naersby.
Another sentence does suggest
the wornAn's character, but it
would .h6rrify every Catholic
and no ntwSpapef would print
II
Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-10-29
NARROW


Warrington, Oct. 3e-(AP)-
The maA elected president ON
Tuesday can look forward to
very little peace Of mind the
next four years
You can take 4 look for your
self into future, and you don't
need q crystal ball.
In the first place, there may
Be war with Russia In these next
four years. No one says there
Will b. But that's 4 possibility.
And the man who wins on
TussAay, wheter its President
Truman or Governor Dewey,
viii have that on his mind.
In the second place, II there
10 no w1r. what happesn in this
country the next four years
depends largely on what happens
abroad.
And what happens abroad de-
psnds largely on what happens
here. It's . complete circle,
round ~ the earth.
80 the new president will have
u jusgls the world. not just one
country.
II tbs eountry's economy
should collapse from a bust fol-
lowing ths present boom, the
rest Of the weetsrn worlds eco.
Aosny 10 almost sure to collapse.
And through The doors opened
by misery. despair and chaos
eonan,aanism can rush In and
grab power without need Of war
At Ill.
Here's some It the problem:
Whsn the new President
throws open the White House
windows the day after inausu-
ration, he'll look out on a won
derhllly prosperous America.
II VIII b . country. with full
employment, people making the
MShsst wages IN history, and
faetoriss working at their full
est.
but II won't b. quite that rosy
underneath the glow.
For living sosts---at Just about
he hdghsst point IN hiStory-are
chewing W the dollars the work
sfs make.
70 ~ he nations prosperity
back y SOLID sround, the Presi-