davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1950-04-20

lers, tanners, blacksmiths, carpen-
tiers, and masons. The rapid growth
of the new small town can be traced
to the turnpike, which was then
reaching the height of its traffic.
Back in the first year or so after
the census of 1920, one writer of his
tory described Hagerstown in this
way:
"There are perhaps few towns in
the County which have risen more
rapidly in Importance within the
last few years than this town. Nor
are its advantages in other respects
less important. The arrivals and
departures of stages in one week
amount to forty -two,-seven arrive
from Wheeling, seven from Washing
ton, Georgetown, and Baltimore via
Frederick; three from Baltimore via
Westminster, fancy Town, and EN-
mittsburg, which line is intersected
twenty miles from this place by a
direct line from Philadelphia via
Gettysburg; three from the respec-
tive sections of Pennsylvania via
Chambersburg; and one from Vir-
ginia via Winchester, Martinsburg,
and Williamsport, making twenty
one arrivals from, and the same
number of departures for, the re-
spective places above mentioned. An
idea of the progress of improvement
may be gathered from the fact that
a courthouse equal, perhaps in ele-
gance and taste, to any in the Coun-
try has just been completed, and
that there are now in progress a
market-house, connected with a
town hall and Masonic Hall, indie
pendent of a large Episcopal church
and several private dwellings. The
number of Well-conducted public
houses is not, perhaps, surpassed by
those of any town in the country, the
enterprise and activity of our mer-
camille men are proverbial, and the
industry and perseverance of our
mechanical population give life and
energy to the various branches of
active business"
Now, in line with those question
aires the census takers have to fill
out for each and every farmer, back
in the old days they must have ask
ed some questions too, beyond the
mere count of noses. For in connec-
ton with the census reports on pop
ulation in 1880, there are stated the
following acreages for Washington
County: 56,923 acres in wheat, pro-
ducing 1024,768 bushels; 1910
acres in Indian corn, producing l.
090,972 bushels; 1874 acres in oats,
producing 52,497 bu.; 1918 acres in
rye, producing 21,750 bu.; 1873 acres
in Buckwheat, producing 1906 bu.;
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1950-04-20

and 5 acres in tobacco, producing
1850 pounds.
And about the same time, com
parison was made of several crops
between the Counties of Maryland.
Washington County took third place
in the yield per acre of corn, with
Hartford County raising 1914 bushels
per acre; Frederick 341z; and Wash
ington County, "a. But in the field
of wheat, Washington County led by
a large margin, her acres yielding an
average of 1854, while the nearest
rival, Montgomery, yielded only TIA.
Now here is a little observation of
quite a different nature, but per-
haps typical of certain time in
Hagerstown. Back in the early days
there was quite a large fire in Ha-
gerstown-the stables of the hosiery
of Daniel Schnebley, at the Globe
Tavern, and along with the stables,
a quantity of some 1900 bushels of
oats. But it was not the fire, nor the
oats, that takes our attention here,
but a request that grew out of the
fighting of the fire. 1t was a request
for a fire company of all women,
Since" the proposal of this plan
contended, "the women at that fire
were the only ones who conducted
themselves in a worthy manner"
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1950-04-20
HORSE AND
BUGGY DAYS

Have you been greeted by that
ten-year phrase, I'm the census TAX
err? l recently came across some
data relative to some early census
taking, and the population OF our
County and of Hagerstown, as far
back as the zoos. Now wonder
how many questions the census taker
had to ask in 1870?
In that year, only one year after
the adoption of our Federal Con-
stitution, there were here, within
the bounds of Washington County, a
total population of 1892. Of these,
there were 14.472 whites, 1926 slaves,
and ga free colored. This made
about one colored person to each
ten whites.
Almost one hundred years later,
we find Washington County's popula-
ton had jumped to 34,172, or little
more than double, and the negroes
had increased from 1850 to 1888,
also little more than double. 1t is
of interest to note the growth of the
slave population, and its decrease
during several decades before the
Civil War, and the forced freeing of
the slaves. The peak of slave popu-
lation in our County was in 1920,
numbering 1901, compared with 627
free negroes. After that, the slaves
were freed so rapidly that in the last
census before the Emancipation
there were more free negroes than
slaves in Washington County.
One of the earliest recorded counts
of the city of Hagerstown was the
census of 1910, when HagerstoWn
boosted of 2342 inhabitants, with a
ratio of negroes to whites of about
one to eight.
Ten years later, in 1920, Hagers-
towns population had grown by a
little over 300 persons. In that year
we are told that there were 1851
white men and 1887 white women in
Hagerstown And in the same year
Washington County totaled 23,065.
Then we have few details of
other smaller places in our County
taken from the count of $780, Start
ing with Hagerstown, for COMPARE
son, we had 1851; Sharpsburg, 756;
Smithsburg, PIG; Cavetown, 1873;
Hancock, 367; Leitersburg, 208; Will
Transport, $50; Boonsboro, 707;
Funkstown, GAL; Clear Spring 374.
At the previous census, Clear Spring
just wasn't. The first lots were sold
in 1922, and in the next three years
there were put up forty-seven
dwellings, four stores, three taverns,
two doctors shops, a schoolhouse
and a post office Among the many
who came here were mechanics,
wheel wrights, wagon makers, sad
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1950-04-20
George Snyder Heads
Young Democratic Club

The young Democratic Club of
Washington County was organized
last week at meeting at the Hotel
Alexander, with 83 potential mem
bers in attendance. George E.
Snyder of Hagerstown, who was
law student at the University of
Maryland, was elected temporary
president, with Art Deems as vice
president and Mary K. Hauser as
secretary and treasurer.
The three members of the, advisory
committee for the newly formed
club are: Martin V. Bostetter, John
Hartle and Brewer L. Stouffer.
PatrOnize Our Advertisers
Evening star., 1950-02-21
|Manchuria Railways,
Fought Over 50 Years,
Go Back 10 Chinese
BY the Associated Press

LONDON, Feb. 21.-A sprawl
ing system of railways in remote
Manchuria, fought over for a half
century by great world powers, is
again a key point in Far Eastern
power politics.
Soviet Russia has agreed to
transfer to Communist China
its rights to joint administration
and ownership of the network
Jumped under the name of the
Chinese Changchun Railway.
Prime Minister Stain has prom
ised that the transfer will be
made as soon as peace treaty
with Japan is signed, or by 1852
at the latest. For the first time
in its often violent history, the
| Changchun railway would be in
the sole possession of China
serving Asiatic communism, as it
once figured in the imperialistic
schemes of the Russian Car and
the Japanese Mikado.
The Chinese Communists of
Mao Tze-tung have long figured
on it as a powerful agent for the
economic development of poverty
stricken China.
Pact with Manchus in 1896.
Over its main routes and branch
lines the surplus produce of Man
churia-soybeans. wheat and rice
can roll to sea outlets at Dairen,
and to Russia.
From Moscow and the Commu-
niSt-dominated nations of East
ern Europe can come machines,
finished goods and tools in ex-
change for Manchurias S rich coal,
iron and timber resources.
Russian economic influence in
Northern Manchuria developed in
the 1905 after the Car began
construction of the Trans-S Siberian
Railway to spur colonization in
Russian expansion to the East.
Britain. France. Germany, Japan
and Russia all staked out spheres
of interest" in the weakened
China of the Manchus. but Russia
considered herself a protector.
An obstacle in completing the
Trans-Siberian Railway was the
distance and cost of building a
winding detour around Manchuria.
Count Witte, a brilliant Russian
statesman, negotiated a friend
ship treaty with the Manchus at
st. Petersburg in 1896. In ex-
change for promises of military
aid in case of attack, China agreed
to let the line cross Manchuria
directly from Manghouli to Vladi-
vostok. The link was called the
Chinese Eastern Railway.
Built Line South.
Later, Russia built q line south
from the Trans-Siberian, at Har-
bin, to Mukden and new holdings
it leased for Is years on the south
ern tip of Manchuria's Liaotung
Peninsula.
victorious Japan won Russia's S
1 Manchurian holdings in the peace
itreaty after the Russo-Japanese
War, but Bolshevist Russia S
strength baked japanese plans
after World War I to seize the
Chinese Eastern.
China and Russia reaffirmed
Evening star., 1950-02-21
LIVING ROOM

- LIVING ROOM
Period or Modern)
Two and Three-Pieee Suites
Sofos
Lounge Choirs
oeeasionol choirs
Love Scots
Soto Beds
Hida-Beds
Studio Couehes
Evening star., 1950-02-21

with Antung and Korea, and
pushed south to Peiping from
Mukden.
Prime Minister Stain agreed to
declare war against Japan in 1945
in return for a half-interest in
the rail system, and for conces-
sions in the Manchurian ports of
Dairen and Port Arthur.
Now, in agreeing to the return
of the railways to China, Mr.,
Stain has noted obliquely that he
is dealing with friendly Commu-
nists and not with the National
lists of Chang Kai-shek.
Evening star., 1950-02-21
KITCHENS

Open Stock Work TobIes
Breokfost Sets Dish Cobinets
"TobIes and ehoirs sold Broom cobnets
separately II desired. Step Stools
Evening star., 1950-02-21

their Joint control OF Chinese
Eastern in 1924. Five years later
Russia beat down a Chinese at
tempt to seize complete control.
But in 1881, Japan's conquests
gave her Manchuria S railways.
Under the japanese new branch
lines pushed out from the South
ern Manchurian Railway to Dali
rem in the south and to Tsitsihar,
on the Trans-Siberian, in the
west. This supplied a short cut
to the riches of the Manchurian
Plain.
Other branch lines connected
Evening star., 1950-02-21

For Cash Purchases
deposit of 1920 ,ciH hold any purchase for 50 days.
OCCASIONAL TABLES

- OCCASIONAL TABLES
Period or Modern)
Occasional Tobles
Coektoil Tobles
Lamp TobIes
End TabIes
commode TobIes
Utility TabIss
Telephone TabIes
Nest Teblss
Step TobIes
Bridge TobIes
Evening star., 1950-02-21
MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS
Bookcases
Hassoeks
Foot Stools
Desks
Secretaries
We'll Rocks
What-Nots
Pier cabinets
Folding Bridge chairs
Ivy Stonds
Evening star., 1950-02-21
20% { Off,: M . a A:Anythicg in Both @orerMM

JUVENILE
Cribs white, MopIe. Bireh)
Kobinet Kribs
Youth Beds
Bunk Beds
High Chairs
Nursery chairs
Youth choirs
PIoy Pens
StroIIers
Corriases
TabIe and Choir Sets
PIoy TobIes
Approved Mattresses
Musieol Rockers
Bothinettes
Crib Bumpers
Evening star., 1950-02-21

A Fe,c Close-Om Patterns and Remnants Only-of
Rugs and Carpets-Greatly Reduced for This Sale!
Evening star., 1950-02-21

DINING GRoOM-DlNETTE
Period Modern
7-Pe. Suites
9-Pe. Suites
10-Pe. Suites
Open Stock
Drop-Leof Tobes
Corner Cobinets
Breokfronts
Credenzos
Chino Cobnets
Bullets
Servers
Side Chairs
Arm choirs
Evening star., 1950-11-23
Zong Improvements Are Vital in Fernq CAPITAL RedeveIopmen Plan

Of Columbia, II per cent Of ali
dwelling units (32,219 units) were
listed as being In need Of major
repairs or without bath. This in
dicates the extent Of the need for
remodeling or replacement.
In IL years, the public housing
program in the District has built
about 5000 dwelling units for low
income families. Though Wash
ington has less extensive slums
than other cities, there is great
need to step up the housing pro-
gram.
In rebuilding and rehabilitating
problem areas. the most challeng-
ing opportunity is presented to re-
juvenate the central area OF
Washington and to realize the
aims Of the comprehensive plan.
Redevelopment is the new tool for
obtaining a new 1and-use pattern
BY this form Of action, more than
mere protection through zoning
or guidance through subdivision
control can be applied to achieve
land use. circulation. and housing
goals. Redevelopment areas are
the places where the public
through Government, must &c
into partnership with private
enterprise. in order to make ou1
capital a city that meets the
American standard of living,
Evening star., 1950-11-23

in parts OF Washington. The
Georgetown area is the most
striking example. The compre-
hensive plan includes recommen-
dations for helping and stimulat-
ing this type Of development
where blight has not advanced
too far. This involves rezoning,
rigid code enforcement. new parks,
Fairgrounds and services. A new
minimum housing standards ordi-
nance is essential. Other types
of control are needed to prevent
overcrowding within the structure
and other misuses.
The final phase Of q compre-
hensive housing program is the
encouragement and guidance of
new private building. The great
majority of new growth. on vacant
land. requires guidance of the
overall plan, subdivision regula-
tions and good zoning. Though
this is largely a local suburban
responsibility, certain Federal
agencies can help.
The Federal Housing Admins
tration has a chance to push for
ward the plan and program in its
actions on mortgage-insurance
applications and other parts Of its
work in the metropolitan region.
It could well encourage other
types Of development in fields
other than its present limited
practice. At the least It has a
responsibility not to approve pri-
vate projects that go counter to
the principles and standards Of
the plan. Some regular procedure
for checking with the Planning
Commission should be adopted.
Achieving good housing in good
neighborhoods for all the people
Of metropolitan Washington Is not
an overnight job. The program
will take the 30-year period fore
cast by the plan. Yet it Is i'm
portant that all groups that have
a share in the various parts Of
the picture put prompt and force
full effort into moving toward this
goal.
Evening star., 1950-11-23
How People Live

The comprehensive plan is con-
cerned not only with where people
live. but also with how they live
Health and welfare of Washington
demand that all people have a
chance for decent, safe and
healthful housing.
For some time, there has been
a shortage Of places to live. There
are still not enough dwellings for
most kinds Of people and especially
for those with low incomes. Much
of the present housing is SUBJ
standard, worn out and falling
down. Many dwellings are seri-
ously overcrowded. Many struc-
lures have been poorly converted
to makeshift tenements, from
houses that are obsolete because
lthey do not fit the needs of pres
;ent-day families. In the District
Evening star., 1950-11-23

ing would make possible excessive
traffic loads on the streets and
crippling burdens on school, play
ground and utility services. Un-
predictable public costs would
arise to increase the capacity of
facilities built to serve present
lower densities.
Recommended Revisions.
The Park and Planning
Commission recommends revising
Washington's zoning map and
undermining the regulations to:
% Control population density
according to the limits proposed
in the plan in order to determine
the maximum number of families
that can be provided for within a
neighborhood.
(2) Require better standards
for off-street parking in residen-
tial districts and off-street load
ing in business and industrial dis
tricts.
90 Protect business and indus
trial areas from residence use.
a. Substitute for strip COM
mercial Zoning, neighborhood
business centers having adequate
depth for modern needs.
(5D Provide special treatment
for large-scale residential develop
ments lover 10 acres.
CO Reduce nonconforming uses
within a time limit.
Changes in Other Areas.
In addition to zoning revision in
the District, the land-use plan
strongly suggests the direction of
zoning revision in the areas OUT
side. This. of course, is the task
lof the planning commissions and
the local governments in the va
rious cities and counties, some of
which are already alert to their
responsibilities.
In Maryland, Prince Georges
Evening star., 1950-11-23
RedeveIopment Planning

The commission fully recognizes
that urban redevelopment is not
merely a housing measure. Re-
development is an important and
effective method for changing the
present land use pattern of the
c1ty-wiping out Embellishments,
establishing by positive action
new land uses organically related
to a new. more functional ar
rangement OF the city's parts.
The commission urges faster
construction Of public housing for
low-income families, both on va
cant land and on cleared slum
sites. There must be places to
live for families now living in
slums while their dwellings are
being torn down and also per-
manent places. in neighborhoods
convenient to their needs, for low
income families displaced from
any areas planned for rebuilding
with higher-rent housing or non
residential use.
Local public housing authorities
must be prepared to meet, In each
jurisdiction. their fair proportion
Of the total metropolitan need for
low-rent public housing. In cases
where local action is not taken,
the National Capital Housing Au-
thority should be permitted to
build on vacant land, outside as
we'll as inside the District.
Redevelopment Procedure.
The District of Columbia Re-
development Act Of 1945 sets up
the procedures for undertaking
redevelopment projects. Project
plans adopted by the planning
commission must be approved by
the District Commissioner and
carried out through the Redevel-
opment Land Agency. Private en-
terprise is given preference In the
rebuilding process. public housing
being allowed only If private en-
terprise cannot meet any low-rent
specifications Of the project plan.
In any case. public Intervention
is necessary to assemble the scat
Evening star., 1950-11-23

tective control Of private land
use and population density.
(Urban redevelopment, more full
ly discussed later is emerging
as a new tool for rearTanging
land uses according to the plan
in certain specialized areas) The
District of Columbia and plan
ming Jurisdictions of the subur-
ban territory are covered by
zoning regulations. In their
present form, with exception of
the Prince Georges County ordi-
nance and prospective new ordi-
nances in Montgomery and
Arlington Counties, the coming
helps very little in guiding growth
toward the newly conceived pat
terms pointed out by the COM
prehensive plan.
The text of the zoning regula-
tions Of the District of Columbia
should be completely overhauled
and modernized. The zoning
map should be correspondingly
changed and the present separate
use, height and area districts
combined on a single map. This
will take still more detailed plan
ming, area by area, for each
community in the city, within the
framework of this general land
use plan. Present zoning is far
out Of line, both with existing
conditions and with objectives
of the plan.
Present Division Unequal.
For example, only half as much
land is now Zoned for detached
houses as is used for this purpose.
and only a quarter as much for
row houses. On the other hand,
four times as much land is zoned
for apartments as Is in apartment
use. Many areas that are and
ought to be of low density are
blanketed into apartment zones
that allow incompatible build
ings. The placement and amount
OF business zones is out OF line
even further.
A more basic weakness in the
present zoning Is the lack of dens-
ity regulations. With the allow
able bulk of buildings limited
only by present regulations Of
height and yard space, 3,670, 900
people now could be legally housed
In Washington. In addition to
providing for nearly four times as
many people as the city will have,
this allows densities far more
crowded than are healthy or prac-
tical. Unless corrected such zon-
Evening star., 1950-11-23

County in 1949 adopted an up-to-
date zoning ordinance based on
the best current forecasts Of its
land use needs. 1t was prepared
by the Maryland-N National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
which Is now drafting similar zon-
ing revisions for Montgomery
County. In Virginia. Arlington
County has undertaken zoning
modernization. Such regulations
must meet local needs.
Some correlation Of standards
and procedure, however, seems to
be desirable. Coordination and
cooperation are essential among
the different planning bodies and
with the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. If a
regional zoning scheme is to re-
suit that will be effective in pro-
noting overall, sound Develop
ment and land use.
Evening star., 1950-11-23

tered oWnerships in a large
enough site for redevelopment and
because the site cost may be too
great for private capital to carry
out the plan. The District Re-
development Act and the Housing
Act of 1949 each authorize use of
public funds to write down a part
of the cost of slum land to a level
where private builders can afford
to take over.
The commission strongly rec
ommends that the Redevelopment
Land Agency be provided money
to undertake a program of action.
Redevelopment must, of course,
fit into the comprehensive land
use and density plan. Choice of
areas for redevelopment should
be Influenced not only by the
need to eliminate slums, but also
by the urgency of other features
of the comprehensive plan-new
streets, open spaces, public works
or non-residential land uses.
Meeting Needs Of People.
In deciding, for an individual
redevelopment project. whether
the new use should be rehousing
for the occupants of the previous
slum or higher income housing of
a different type, or nonresident
tial uses. the best interests of one
group Of people should not be sac
rificed disproportionately to those
of another. In many locations
where the land use plan calls for
residential redevelopment. sound
ly planned reconstruction can
provide as many good-standard
new dwelling units as there were
slum units before clearance.
The important thing is to see
that new development meets the
needs Of people so well that a
costly cycle Of blight. slum and
clearance will not be repeated in
later years. Standards Of open
space. Of light and air. Of parking,
OF quiet. convenience and amen
ity, must be maintained to assure
the permanent economic and So
ctal health that is the object Of
the program.
Evening star., 1950-11-23

Give where you work through
Red Feather Campaign to support
los Community Chest agencies
Gifts from retired persons and
housewives will be sought at
homes.
Evening star., 1950-11-23
Washington: Present and Future

It is useless to draw a city plan
that has no machinery for bring
ing it into reality. Some key
parts Of the land use plan can
be put into effect by acts of the
Federal Government. But the
main land areas being planned
for are in private ownership, and
will be developed privately for
private use. Here. the plan can
be effected only by persuasion, or
by regulation and control.
Zoning is the established Amer
tcan tool for the mutually pro-
Evening star., 1950-11-23

The Stor is publishing the text Of the
Notionoi CopitoI Park and Planning
Commissions Comprehensive Plan for
the development of the copitoI during
the next 30 yeors. This is the third in
series Of articles containing the text.
Another will oppeor tomorrow.
Evening star., 1950-11-23
Other improvement
Programs

Private rehabilitation and mod
ernization are already widespread
The Phoenix Jewish news., 1950-11-24
Gold Moves Office

l. v. Gold has moved his office
to the Abrams Realty Company at
5th Ave. and Mcdowell Rd. He
said his new office will be more
conveniently Gated for his
clients. He handles insurance of
all types.