davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-04-23

the mercury thermometers fas-
tened horizontally inside wood
en- box to protect it from wind,
which registers the low for the
night.
The temperature went below 80
at 1890 am. but the pots will not
be lit until about 2::30, Mr.. Byrd
explains. The really dangerous low
is not expected until am.
Burn a Gallon An Hour.
Each pot holds 10 gallons of oil
and they burn about a gallon an
hour. This operation will burn
about 10000 gallons by the time
the pots are snuffed an hour after
dawn. At 10 cents a gallon this
brings the expenditure in oil to
81 900. About ITO of the $50 men
regularly employed by the Or
chards were told to report at II
pm. They get SIS cents an hour
and 81 bonus for the night work
bringing the overtime labor cost
of the operation to about $700.
Harry, jr.. is bit more econom-
ical than his father. He has
10000 trees. but after trying the
smudge pots for two years, he con-
cluded that the results are not
worth the expenditure. He lets
his trees weather the frosts.
But I'm afraid my trees are
going to get it tonight" he says
The Byrd orchards have been
using smudge pots only since the
end of the war. The practice
started in the orange groves and
then spread to the apple orchards
of the west, where good results
have been reported.
.. Men Garry Torches.
About so men are gathered ir
the barn-like building. its walls
hung with pruning hooks. pruning
saws and q collection Of litho-
graphed girl art. The men, all clac
in blue dungarees. look more like
railroad workers than farm hands
a resemblance that Is heightened
by the copper cans they carry
cans with long. slender tops like
the oilers used on locomotives
These are the torches filled with
mixture of gasoline and kero-
sene.
1t is now 2::30 a m. and out the
men go to light UP. Soon as fal
as the eye can see fires are glow
ing across the landscape. It's q
bit eerie, and brings to mind
the camp fires of armies which
bivouacked in the valley during
the Civil War.
The big tank trucks used fol-
spraying the trees are on hand
filled with water in case of fire
But the grass underfoot is fresh
and only one small fire occurs
which is quickly extinguished.
What appears to be a concrete
swimming pool in the orchard has
a more utilitarian purpose. 1t is
reservoir for the spraying tanks
which use tremendous amounts OF
water. The trees are sprayed again
and again from spring until har-
vest.
Harry. Jr.. drives the reporter tt
the other orchards II miles dowr
the valley across the West Vir.
ginia line and answers questions
The orchards near the house arr
called the Rosemont orchards
Evening star., 1950-04-23
Boys Hurt as Motor Scooter
Strikes Car in HyatfsviIIe

Two Takoma Park teen-agers
were hurt yesterday when the
motor scooter they were riding
crashed into the rear of a car
on Ager road, near Lancer drive,
Hyattsville.
The two. Thomas Lewis, 200
Spring avenue, and Arnold Col
Inns. 122 Cockerille avenue, es-
capped with multiple cuts of the
legs and arms and were released
after treatment at the Leland
Memorial Hospital, Riverdale..
Prince Georges County police
said young Lewis was operating
the scooter. The car was driven
by Arthur Higgins, SO, of Hebron,
Conn. police reported.
Evening star., 1950-04-23
By George Kennedy

Senator Byrd, Democrat, of
Virginia keeps a strange vigil
during those nights when frost
threatens the apple blossoms.
No matter what the legislative
situation is. he gets out to his
extensive orchards In Clarke
County. He sits around playing
setback with his sons, mapping
occasionally on couch, but
listens to every telephone report
of falling temperatures from men
patrolling the orchards.
AS the danger point approaches
he goes out to supervise the
lighting of thousands of smudge
pots to bring the temperature up
and save his crop.
Frost was forecast for early
yesterday and this reporter. who
had asked for an opportunity to
watch the operation, was noti-
fed to be on hand about 1880 am.
Sons Are With Senator.
The road to the Harry Flood
Byrd place is Route 7 past Lees
burg, over the crest of the Blue
Ridge near Bluemont and through
Berryville on the floor of the
Shenandoah Valley. There is a
stone wall on the left just out
side the village and gate marked
"Rosemont"
A white rambling house stands
we'll back from the road. The
Senator is with Harry F. Byrd,
jr., a Virginia State Senator who
publishes the Winchester Evening
Star, and Beverly Byrd, who runs
the orchards. His third son, Dick
who runs the apple canneries. is
away.
Inside the house is a large pic
ture, a remarkable example of the
portrait photographers art. It is
a picture Of a child with bare
torso, but for lack of wings a
cherub ready to peer out of the
corner of a Raphael painting
There is something familiar about
the face. Inquiry reveals that ii
is the Senator at the age of two
$4,000 Pots of Oil Used.
THE men are gathered in the
machine shop ready to light up. .
says Beverly and out we go into
the chilly night. This reporter is
with Harry. jr. The Senator and
Beverly follow in another car.
Harry. jr., explains the opera
tion. About $4,000 pots filled with
fuel oil have been spotted about
the orchards, about one for every
six trees. AS it is not expected to
go below Is before sun up. only
about 10000 of them will be
lighted. They will let the trees on
the high ground weather the snap
without fires. It is in !. the low
places that it gets coldest. Colo
air is heavy and settles in the
hollowS.
He points to one of the pots, a
metal container about a foot and
a half square and more than q
foot deep with a sliding cover
The fire Is controlled by sliding
the cover open and closed. They
will be left open about two inches
to start with and wider in spots
where the temperature is going
down. And he points out one oi
Evening star., 1950-04-23
Boy Hurt as He Runs
Into Side of Automobile

Donald Roots, colored. IL, Of
1907 Hamlin street NE. suffered
head injuries yesterday when he
ran into the side of an automobile
at Twelfth and Hamlin streets
NV.
Witnesses told police the boy
was running to catch a bus. The
car was driven by William H.
Brown. jr.. 81. of the $500 block of
Fifth street NE. The boys con-
dition was described as good at
Casualty Hospital last night.
Evening star., 1950-04-23
Naval Academy Asks
D. T.. Heads 10 Revise
Cadet Examinations
BY Colt HendIey, Jr.

The Naval Academy has notified
the District Commissioners that
the examinations given here for
appointment to the academy are
unsatisfactory and should be re-
vised.
The problem was passed i'm
mediately to the Board of Educa-
ton because school officials draw
up and conduct the examinations.
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
said his staff was making a study
of the criticisms made by Rear
Admiral j. L. Holloway, jr., Naval
Acadamey superintendent. A re-
port should be ready for the Board
Of Education soon, he added.
Admiral Holloway told the Com
missioners that the examination
given in physics was considered
to be unsatisfactory" The Eng
lish examination was called "a
bit difficult unless much more
time is allowed. The same applied
to the, history examination,
Approves Some Tests.
The Admiral said the tests given
in lgebra, plane geometry and
plane trigonometry were salts
factory.
The criticism of the examina-
tions was preeipitated by the
Commissioners.
The city heads make appoint
ments to both the Naval Academy
and the Military Academy at West
Point on the basis of competitive
examinations. The school officials
conduct the examinations and
submit to the Commissioners a
list of the standings of candidates.
In letters to both Annapolis and
West Point. the Commissioners
said they were concerned with the
low passing marks of the average
candidate and even of the highest
one" The letters revealed that
in the last examination held, the
highest mark was CTS per cent.
I'VE are wondering if the exam
nations are needlessly severe" the
Commissioners said, land are
above the general academic de-
mands made of a new cadet at
Annapolis"
DR.. Corning explained that the
examinations are graded on a
comparative basis and school off,
cials do not fail or pass any candi-
date, only give comparative scor-
ing. He did say that differences of
opinion had arisen on his staff
about the examinations.
The superintendent of West
Point found nothing seriously
wrong with the examination, how
ever; The same tests are given to
candidates for both schools.
The West Point reply to the
Commissioners stated the exams
were not considered needlessly
severe and that the lack of high
MAI Nd was INV VI SlCdL COIlCcl IL
since they were comparative ex-
aminationS.
Challenges 20 Questions.
Admiral Holloway's letter went
into great detail on the examina-
tion in physics. He took excep-
ton To more than 20 of the ques-
tions, adding that the entire test
was based on remembered facts"
rather than an understanding of
principles.
Some of the questions were con-
fusing. Admiral Holloway said;
others had several correct an
swers, and still others used scien-
tific terms improperly. giving the
student little chance to be right.
| In asking the Board of Educa-
ton to review the examinations,
the Commissioners stated:
/ THE itemized criticisms (of the
| physics examination certainly
appear to point to extremely care
less drafting of the examination. "
Evening star., 1950-04-23
Group Suggests
Wider Powers
Against SIun1s
Housing Association
Says Health Officers
Need More Authority

The Washington Housing Assoc
citation last night urged stronger
powers for health officials to move
in on owners OF substandard slum
dwellings.
The appeal came in an associa.
tion pamphlet. outlining results
Of a 30-month study to gather
evidence about the link between
slum housing conditions and sick
ness in children.
In its survey Of 2ll families in
which there were $50 children.
the group reported that 2S2 chill
dren were admitted to Gallinger
Hospital for treatment Of o wide
variety of ailments. Since q few
of the children were treated more
than once, there was total OF
240 hospital admissions,
Wealth OF Evidence"
The pamphlet reporting results
of the Survey-available at aSso.
citation Offices. 1906 NJ street NV.
stressed that the association IL
not attempting Ito prove that
bad housing is the cause Of Ill
ness"
But there is not q health Of.
ficial in this country" the PAM
phlet adds, who does not have Q
wealth of evidence that housing
and health are inevitably linked"
In the absence of adequate sluna
clearance programs. the associa.
ton denounced inadequate en-.
forcement OF condemnation OF In.
sanitary buildings.
AT present" 1t declared. the
powers held by authorities show
many gaps and much confusion.
The enforcement process is woe
fully weak and lags far behind
that of many other cities Of com.
parable size.
Gen. Young's Report Endorsed.
With a really adequate en-
forcement procedure In the hands
of District health offlcials. own
ers of these substandard dwellings
could be made to keep them in
proper repair or to demolish
them"
officials strongly indorsed Q
report submitted to the Commits.
sioners March 80 by Brig. Gen.
Gordon r. Young. Engineer Com.
missioner, TO strengthen the
Board for Condemnation Of In.
sanitary Buildings. Function of
the board is to require owners Of
such buildings to correct defects
or have them vacated or razed.
All the 211 homes covered In
the survey are in the Southwest
and Southeast sections. In areas
designated almost entirely AZ
'slum." the association said.
All Are Overcrowded.
While 100 of the homes were
"structurally" sound. the survey
reported, Ill were Substandard
structures with no indoor toilets
or water. All the homes were
overcrowded. but the greatest de-
gree was in the "structurally sub
standard" homes. In 10 per cent
Of that group. there were more
than is persons per room.'
Despite the overcrowding. the
group said that "the rat popula-
ton still exceeds the human popu.
lation." 1t cited findings of rot.
ten floors and walls and wood
piles necessary to fuel heating and
cooking stoves" as excellent
places to harbor rat families"
Involved in the disqualification,
the survey showed. were 4S0 all.
ments. of which IL were fatal.
Highest class of ailments was dis.
eases OF the respiratory system
and ear, with 1876 cases. There
were 20 diseases of the intestinal
tract. and 20 others. ranging from
congenital bone defects to men,
ingitiS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-24

House Garden had mixing Morsenou seesof
live
dduoIzed
bed
I'VE
Nooeon by uphotend) conee
IN omoden
sotn~oodnsh and
Hills blends
all the
our o Decoroi g.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-24

Library with French Moroccan de-
roll murol on Driftwood wolL See
tionol SOTO hos leopard print. block
ond PorceIoin Blue. jones Lees
Durotwist corpet echoes the Pores.
lain Blue.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-24

Adjoining the French Moroccan
EorIy American living room, photo
grophed above the dining
room with grill window, black and
white linoIeum tile floor, pine furn-
lture, hand hooked rug . end
Nosturium VOLS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-24

Vertical venetion blinds ereots
seporote living dining and bedroom
oreos in our ons-room contemporary
apartment. Here Toni Porsingefs
designs in SoIterini wrought iron
blend with Hermon MiIler's. piostie.
Koroston's cotton Jubilee Corpet.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-24

Beoeon Hills new English Regency
sotinwood end dark mohosony
finishes, slimpsed In the bedroom
Of q three-room group. Willow
Green ond Avocado establish The
monoehrometie background
Willow Green IN Koroston's Che
teau eorpet.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-24
Our
Model Rooms
Are Open

-. Furniture Galleries, Sixth Floor
you're invited to come, see how they
blend finishes, colors, periods
,. visual evidence of House & Gardens
Evening star., 1950-06-20
DR.. Harold P. Morris
Gets Star Trophy

DR.. Harold P. Morris last night
received The Evening Star Cup for
outstanding public service to
Montgomery County. The award
was made at the 25th anniversary
dinner Of the Montgomery County
Civic Federation at the Kenwood
Club.
In the presentation, w. H. Nc
Clenon, new federation president,
cited DR.. Morris work as chair
man Of the federation's coming
committee, which made an ex-
haustive study of the relation of
apartment houses to the county
governments economy, and as
chairman Of a special committee
which surveyed the work of the
Montgomery Junior College.
DR.. Morris, an official in the
United States Public Health Serv-
ice, was commended for the "sci-
entif1c point of view" he has
brought to the federation. He
lives in Silver Spring.
Herbert Eaton. retiring presi-
dent, and Stephen James, a for
mer president. reviewed the fed
eration's history and achieve
ments. Frederic p. Lee, president
of the Montgomery County Coun-
Gil and twice winner of The Star
Trophy for his work in the fed
GRAFTON, spoke briefly. About $50
persons attended the banquet.
Evening star., 1950-06-20
State Board Studies
Arlington Pollution

A formal hearing on whether to
order Arlington County to clean
up pollution in county streams
was in progress today in Richmond
by the State Water Control Board.
The board informed the Arling-
ton County Board last month that
it had received complaints of
pollution in the Potomac, in Four
Mile Run and other county
streams. Local civic groups have
actively urged measures to clean
up the water.
If today's hearing determines
steps are necessary to correct the
problem, the board is expected to
issue formal order requiring the
country to build additions to it's
sewage disposal plant.
The present disposal plant
treats about 5 million gallons Of
sewage daily. whereas rs million
gallons is emptied untreated into
the river. The county already has
plans for enlarging its sewage
treating facilities and the esti-
mate for the work has been placed
at $1.8 million. The Arlington
Civic Federation has urged a bond
issue to finance the enlargement.
Evening star., 1950-06-20
HyattsviIIe Council
Approves City as Site
For New Post Office

The Hyattsville City Council
last night approved the city as
the site for a proposed central
post Office for this area.
Letters will be written to Vim
cent A. Burke, Deputy Postmaster
General. and Representative
Sasscer. Democrat, of Maryland
informing them of the Councils
action.
An ordinance was adopted re-
quiring the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad to have a f1agman on
duty at the Baltimore avenue
crossing. Trains are prohibited
from blocking crossings for more
than 10 minutes and from operat-
ing in the city at more than 40
miles per hour.
Traffic Lights to Be Discussed.
A motion was passed to ask the
railroad to order it's engineers to
refrain from unnecessary whistle
blowing in the city.
1t was announced that State
Roads Commission officials will
confer with city officials at 2 pm.
Thursday in the council chamber
regarding Synchronization of
traffic lights on Baltimore avenue
and installation of two new lights
on the thoroughfare at Madison
street and in front of the Hyatts-
vile Theater.
1t was reported that property
owners on Forty-third street have
agreed to permanent improve
ment Of that thoroughfare which
divides Hyattsville and Riverdale.
Its Improvement has long been
advocated.
Sidewalk Contracts Awarded.
/ Contracts were awarded for
sidewalks on the north side of
Oliver street from Queens Chapel
road to the end of the street; on
the north side of Madison street
from Thirty-second avenue to
1nirty-third avenue: on the south
side of Madison street from
Thirty-first place to Thirty-third
avenue, and on the south side of
Lancer place from Thirty first
place to Thirty-third avenue.
Property owners will be told how
much the work will cost at the
July 3 council meeting.
Contracts also were awarded for
concrete curb and cutters on Roa-
noke road between Forty-frst ave-
nue. and Forty-f1rst place and on
Banner street between Buchanan
and Crittendon streets. Black top
ping of Roanoke road from Forty
first avenue to Forty-first place
also was ordered.
A special meeting will be held
July 10 to consider assessments for
sidewalks in, the fourth ward.
Evening star., 1950-06-20
Presbyterian Synod
Opens Conference i
Al Hood College
Speeial pispeseh TO The Star

FREDERICK, Md. June 90
Reports on the state of the three
presbyteries forming the Balti-
more Synod, Presbyterian Church
in the United States of America,
will be given today at the 25th
annual conference of the synod
at Hood College here. The con-
ference will continue through
Thursday. .-
The meeting opened yesterday
with 200 delegates present. The
Rev. DR.. HALEY B. Taylor of
Washington, pastor of Fifteenth
Street Presbyterian Church, as
moderator of the synod, presided.
He also conducted the communion
service last night.
The Baltimore Synod consists
of the Washington City, Baltimore
and New Castle, Del. presbyterieS.
1t has 155 churcheSs 2o9 minis
ters and 56,109 members.
There are 1,150 Presbyterian
missionaries in active service, the
Rev. John c. Corbin of the Board
of Foreign Missions. told the
meeting last night. He said that
$50 missionaries are in "a coun-
tries, with $50 of them being in
China.
Maintenance costs have risen so
sharply that the church will be
able to hold only its present num-
ber Of missionaries rather than
increase them, DR.. Corbin said.
A memorial service for deceased
minister and elders was conducted
last night by the Rev. w. Keith
Custis, Riverdale, Md.
Evening star., 1950-06-20
80 Recreation Areas Open
Monday in Montgomery

Two new Fairgrounds will be
among the 80 recreation centers
opening for the season Monday in
Montgomery County.
The new ones will be located at
the Forest Grove and Oakview
Schools and will serve the Forest
Glen and North Takoma Park
areas.
Official opening hour for all
centers is 8 am, according to the
Recreation Department of the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission.
The planning agency also an
nounced yesterday it will conduct
training classes Thursday and
Friday at the Sligo Park Golf Club
to orient STATE personnel in con-
nection with the county's annual
summer recreation program.
Evening star., 1950-06-20
Smoke FeIIs Fireman
Fighting Arlington Blaze

Three Arlington fire companies
this morning fought a two-hour
blaze that damaged the interior
of the Virginia Floor Covering,
Inc, store at 5723 Lee highway.
One fireman was overcome by
smoke.
Assistant Fire Chief p. e. Fin
isecy reported the fire broke out
in storage balcony in the large
one-story brick structure, burn
ing linoleum. tires, boxes and
other items. The blaze was con-
fined to the balcony. he said, but
heat and smoke damaged other
portions of the interior. There
was no immediate estimate of
damage.
Homer T. Moore, Is, of Ill
Franklin walk, Falls Church, q
volunteer with Company No. 6,
was overcome by smoke and
treated at Arlington Hospital.
Evening star., 1950-06-20
Alexandra Cab Driver
Indicted in Fatality

The driver of a taxicab involved
IN traffic accident in which Mrs.
Nettle Frances Martin died last
April "a was indicted on a charge
OF manslaughter by an Arlington
grand jury yesterday.
The driver is Jean Hamilton
White, Is, of Route 2, Alexandria
The crash occurred at South
Second and Fillmore streets.
A 20-year-old painter held for
attempted rape waived hearing be-
fore the grand jury and pleaded
guilty. Robert Chester Jones of
the 1900 block Of Bluemont drive
Arlington, will be sentenced today
Also waving hearings were two
members of what police described
as the most effective gang" OF
auto radio thieves ever to operate
in Northern Virginia. Both, Robert
Lee Almond, Is. of the 1900 block
OF Duke street. Alexandria, and
Benton L. Hit, 81. of the 200 block
or South Patrick street, Alexan-
dria, pleaded guilty to grand lar
ceny charges. They also will be
sentenced today.
Others indicted yesterday were
William Johnson, %, colored, of
the 2800 block of Lee boulevard,
housebreaking; William Edward
Padgett, "a, of the 1900 block of
Shannon place Sc, grand lar
ceny; Bruce William De Lozier, 30
Deer End, Va, grand larceny. and
William Lawrence Blount, "a, COL
ored. OF the 1900 block of Eighth
street NV. grand larceny.
Evening star., 1950-06-20
Chemical Engineers
Choose, Armisteud

George Armistead. jr.. Washing
ton chemical engineer and war
time associate Of the Petroleum
Administration for War, today as
sumes his duties as new president
OF the Chemical Engineers Club
OF Washington.
He was named last night to sue
ceed Philip H. Groggins Of the
Agriculture Department.
Other officers. elected at the
annual business meeting in the
Naval Gun Factory. are Randall
D. Sheeline Of the Nays Bureau
Of Ordnance, vice president; Her
bert W., Yeagley Of the Monsanto
Chemical Co., secretary. and w. D.
Kavanaugh. American Cyanamid
Co.. treasurer.
Evening star., 1950-06-20
Virginia Father Accused
Of Trying 10 Kill 7 Children
BY the Associated Press

FREDERICKSBURG, Va, June
20.-A 38-year-old Fredericksburg
roofing worker today had been
charged with attempting to take
the lives of his two children
10 months old and 3 years old
by holding them before opened
gas stove jets. -..-.
A. G. Kendall, superintendent
of Fredericksburg police, said
Clarence Edward Garnett was
being held in the city jail charged
with attempted murder. Supt.
Kendall said Garnett's wife told
police her husband ordered her
from the house and locked the
doors yesterday. Police said when
they arrived at the Garnett home,
Garnett was holding the two chill
dren in front of the jets.
When police attempted to enter.
Garnett threatened to cut the
throat of the smaller child with
"a knife if they attempted to stop
him, Supt. Kendall said. When
one policeman distracted Gar
nett's attention, Kendall said, an
other knocked the knife from his
hand with a club.
Kendall said the two children
showed no signs Of i'll effects.