davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-12-19
Report on the Leaning Tower

Scientists who recently have been studying
the Leaning Tower of Pisa have declared that,
barring earthquakes, it should stand at least
another three centuries. The annual increase
OF inclination, they say is seven-tenths of one
mllmeter. Thus in hundred years the change
of position would be only about two and three
fourths inches. And the danger of collapse
involved in this alteration of the center of
gravity in the campanile probably-almost
certainly-could be adjusted by weighing the
north side of the structure.
The tower is well-integrated. Otherwise it
would have fallen long ago. The original archi-
tect, Bonanno, was no fool. He knew that the
site was swampy and tried to improve it by
driving piles into the ground. Then he made
ring of masonry ten feet deep to support the
weight he intended to erect. The lower walls,
he decided, should be 13 feet thick Stone for
their core was brought from mountain called
La Verruca, five miles distant. The outer surface
was stipulated to be white marble. Work began
in 1174. The Pisans wanted their campanile to
be grander, more beautiful than a very notable
tower finished by the people of Venice in 1155.
Civic pride drove them to their best effort.
For while all went we'll. Then it was
noticed that the structure was fitting. Perhaps
Bonanno meant that it should be off-center. The
italian government solemnly announced in 1920
that the inclination Of the campanile was not
altogether accidental. But the theory of inten-
tional slanting appears to be contradicted by
the fact that the enterprise was halted when
the difficulty developed Six decades passed
before the work was resumed under Benenato
He completed the fourth story. The remainder
of the task was left to Tommaso Pisano, who
finished the eighth tier of columns and arches
in 1885,
Which of the three architects solved the
problem of the tower is matter of debate.
Probably the major share of the credit should
be conceded to the last of the trio. In any
case it was he who designed the final story
and hung the carlton to aid in balancing the
whole composition. Had he placed the big bell
on the south side, the entire campanile might
have crashed Immediately. Instead, it has
survived 600 years and is believed to be good
for another 300. The inclination was 152 feet
in 1929, 16h in 1910.
Washingtonians who 60 to Pisa invariably
think of the Washington Monument as they
gaze upon the Leaning Tower. The two shafts
have points of resemblance. Both were created
by human ingenuity, both have been preserved
by the exercise of human intelligence working
In harmony with natural law.
Evening star., 1950-12-19
SAVING Our Water Resources

That the Potomac River receives so much
attention in the report of the Presidents Water
Resources Policy Commission is not matter of
chance. The commission found that the troubles
which aff1ict the Potomac and its tributaries are
typical of those prevailing in most other river
basins, especially in the heavily populated East.
In short they found that our great water resources
are being contaminated, diminished in volume
and otherwise damaged by sewage, industrial dis
charges, soil erosion and inadequate conservation
measures.
Potomac pollution, the commission pointed
out, is costing the Washington Metropolitan Area
between $33O,OOO and 100000 year for water
publication, dredging of clogged channels and
the like-money that would be saved if the river
were cleaned up above Washington The notori
ously dirty Potomac stretch between Cumberland
and Luke Maryland, was cited as one major
cause of the rivers "degradation." And the
Districts sewage treatment plant at Blue Plains
was cited as an attractive and efficient"
example of what can be done to abate pollution.
The commission also found great merit in
the interstate-compact method of joint attack
on the problems of water basin. This method
already is being applied to the Potomac basin
with excellent results. Through the efforts of
the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River
Basin, in cooperation with State and local
Is under way to make the river cleaner and safer
for all along it's banks The latest development
is the creation of Northern Virginia committee
to study the feasibility of joint sewage disposal
facilities in the Washington area.
The commissions voluminous report called
for adoption of a national water conservation
policy with the Federal Government lending
leadership and funds in limited spheres but with
the major responsibility resting upon the States,
counties and municipalities in the respective
basins. Emphasis was given to the need for
co-ordinating the many plans and programs for
power reclamation, pollution abatement, irriga-
tion and erosion control, as to avoid conflict,
duplication of efforts and waste of funds. More
detailed consideration Of the Potomac and other
important river basins will be contained in
second report. Although some of the projects
suggested by the commission will have to be
deferred until the present war emergency is over,
the reports will be helpful to the Nation in
developing a better appreciation of its water
resources and determination to save them from
further deterioration.
Evening star., 1950-12-19
Brussels and the Soviet Threat

The Atlantic Pact Brussels conference
which is scheduled to come to an end today-has
had to work toward momentous decisions in an
atmosphere weighted down by plain threat
from the Soviet Union. The threat first
expressed in mid d-October to France, Britain and
the United States, and repeated again last week
in notes to the French and British-is that the
Kremlin will not tolerate" the rearming of West
Germany.
Such rearming of course, has been one of
the key subjects of discussion at the current
Brussels meeting. The meeting-attended by
Secretary Acheson, Army Secretary Pace and the
other Foreign and Defense Ministers of the 12
nation Atlantic Pact-has been aimed at speeding
up the organization of an integrated defensive
force for free Europe This force, which is slated
to come under the overall command of General
Eisenhower, requires-if it is to be sufficiently
strong and properly balanced-the eventual
formation and arming of a limited number of
West German military units within the pact's
framework and authority.
1t is this that the Kremlin has warned
against, asserting-with typical butchery of the
truth-that any remilitarization of West Ger
many no matter how limited, would violate the
Potsdam agreement and RuSSias special treaties
with France and Britain. Further to lend
ominous emphasis to the Soviet threat not to
tolerate" such a development, East Germanys
puppet Communists have served notice on
Chancellor Konrad Adenauers free German gov
ernment at Bonn that it will be inviting "war
and catastrophe" if it co-operates with the
Atlantic Powers in rearming for its own defense
and the defense of the Western world as whole.
In other words, let no nation dare to protect
itself against Moscow'S vast and menacing armed
might.
All this may be sheer bluff, but the Brussels
conferees nevertheless have had to reckon with
1t as something to be taken at face value. Nat
urally, the United States, Britain and France
have made clear that they do not intend to be
deferred by it. For the fact is plain, in view
of the Kremlin's rearming of East Germany, its
violation of it's most solemn pledges, and its
steadily increasing aggressiveness, that the
Atlantic community must do everything possible
as fast as possible to build up it's strength and
unity in an effort to right the European balance
of power. That balance, in terms of land armies
at least, is overwhelmingly in RussiaS favor
and the longer it remains that way, the greater
will grow the free worlds peril
Despite this, however, and despite general
agreement on the principle of an integrated
European defense force, there. has been little
concrete progress up to now in organizing that
force. France owing to its deep-rooted fears
of militaristic Germany, has been reluctant to
rearm the West Germans except under highly
restrictive conditions. And many of the West
Evening star., 1950-12-19
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

Q. What railroad has the longest
stretch of straight track?-M. T.
A. The worlds record for the longest
stretch of straight railroad track belongs
to the Transcontinental Railway of the
Commonwealth of Australia Across Null
larbor Plain in southern Australia, the
railroad runs 1913 miles without the
slightest curvature. On the Ferrocarril
Nacional General San Martin Railway Of
Argentina. there is a straight line of 205
miles between Junin and Mackenna.
This track is also on dead level. The
Nullarbor stretch is not on a dead level.
@. How far can person see from an
airplane flying at heights of 10000 feet
and 20 1000 feet?-G. r. I.
A. At height of 10000 #. the range
of vision is approximately 1913 miles. and
at 10000 feet, 173 miles.
@. What is the most useful bird?-
F.
A. This is a debatable question, but
the quail is by many regarded as the
most useful. In spring and summer it
destroys countless insects and in the
autumn it eats an enormous amount Of
harmful weed seeds.
Evening star., 1950-12-19
Letters to The Star

us Reading Cato Jones letter in The Star
OF December II. one was reminded Of his
Roman counterpart, who hundreds Of
years ago stood in the Roman Senate to
remind his countrymen that the survival
of their fatherland was at stake.
1--WE must see that our economic in
fatuation with the pleasures Of peace
must end" How we'll said! At moment
when thousands Of Americans are giving
their lives for principle. what Is the
picture here in America? Our people
still are dedicated to the illusion of their
peaceful ideals, their unrealistic beliefs.
their domestic affairs. This is not
entirely their fault. Our people lack
guidance in this hour of despair. But
maybe If we have one Cato Jones In
each paper in each city. big and small,
the voice of the people will be heard and
our Nation will awaken to the truth.
We can no longer deceive ourselves.
But, how long will the statesmen of the
free nations remain blind to the facts?
And most important. how long are our
own leaders to keep their illogical hope
of containment and peace"
have just finished reading the letter
of Cato Jones in which he urges America
to go out and "get" Russia now, regard
less Of the cost. His philippe reminds
me of the ragings of the men Of violence
throughout history. whose only solution
to complex human problems has been
war. 1t is veStige of that medieval
thinking which led "doctors"-when a
patient was afflicted with disease-to
open his veins and bleed him, sometimes
to death.
1t was this kind of behavior that
spurred great Athens into a suicidal war
with Sparta; 1t was this kind Of think
ing" that caused Christendom to under
take the Crusades aginst the Moslem
menace-fatuous crusades which ac-
complished nothing except to halve the
Christian population and leave a trail
OF blood and misery over the breadth of
Europe. It was in the name of God that
both sides clamored into the murderous
religious wars of the Reformation.
If history teaches anything, it is that
wars usually create more problems than
they solve; that when the debauch is
buried and grief cancers 10 million
homes-then the statesmen have to get
together anyway and attempt to work
out the now-multiplied problems of the
world. The intelligence and integrity
and sacrifice that they have to use then
why couldn't they bring them to bear
before the holocaust? Because the
righteous venom of the Cato Joneses
have frightened them into cowardly war.
The basic assumptions of Cato Jones
Evening star., 1950-12-19
Mike Learned Economics the Hard Way

He passed the bar examination and
started practice as an assistant counsel
for the Home Owners Loan Corp.
After his tour of duty as city coun-
Gilman, he became Vice Mayor and then
was elected Mayor-the first Democratic
Mayor of Toledo in Is years. He was
serving a second term when he re-
signed to take his present job.
Last summer he ran for his party's
nomination for the Senate, but State
Auditor Joseph r. Ferguson won in the
primary election and then was SWamped
by Senator Taft in November. When
Mr.. Disable made his campaign, he
aired his political differences with Sen
ator Taft. But he can differ without
rancor. At any rate, when he was ap-
pointed to the price stabilization job.
Senator Taft approved.
Mike Disable is a good man-he's
all right" the Senator said. There is
hope a good job will be done"
One of Mr.. DiSalle's achievements
in Toledo has been the Toledo Labor
Management Committee, through which
citizens work to head of or solve in
dustrial disputes. It has virtually put
an end to long series Of strikes.
Mr.. Disable is short and has an alder
manic bay window, as every interviewer
notes. One described him as rolypoly.
A news magazine referred to him as
yam shaped"
MY wife said that was cute" Mr..
Disable remarked. She is the former
Miss Myrtle England of New Orleans.
his college sweetheart. They have four
daughters and son.
Mr.. Disable has small mustache and
a ready smile. In conversation he sits
back in his chair and talks quietly. He
is no table thumper. When he moves
he moves fast, pattering along almost at
trot.
Mr.. Disable does his own thinking. A
radio man asked him the other day to
record a 15-minute interview. explaining
it would not take much time because
publicity man could write the script. Mr..
Disable explained gently that. when he
talked, it was his own speech.
After his appointment he shuttled
back and forth between Washington and
Toledo, starting his work here, finishing
up his work there. Last Wednesday,
after one of those shuttle trips, he was
catapulted into a meeting which Alan
Valentine, economic sterilization ad-
ministrator, had called with the auto
mobile manufacturers in fruitless at
tempt to get them to call off their price
advances.
There was much talk When the talk
that mattered was over, there was more
talk about what should be announced
publicly and what was off the record. Mr..
Disable turned to the ESA press rela-
tions officer and instructed him: quote
me on anything I've said
1t was his first statement Of the meet
ing.
Evening star., 1950-12-19
Morale Builder

The action by an unknown person in
the Washington area of giving some
$500 worth of football tickets to the
enlisted personnel Of the Armed Serv-
ices for the purpose of seeing the Presi
dents Cup Game is just another
example. of the thoughtfulness and
generosity of people in this area.
wish to take this opportunity to
extend my sincere thanks to all in the
Metropolitan area who have helped make
the community life of the soldiers at
Fort Myer most pleasant. The courtesies
shown the enlisted personnel are deeply
appreciated and have done much to
keep the morale of personnel concerned
at high standard.
James ". Cole,
Colonel, Infantry, Fort Myer, Va.
Evening star., 1950-12-19
Questions and Answers

The stars readers can set the snswsr 70
Eyening Star information Bureau. 1900 I street
NV. Washington 3. p. C.. and tnclosing cents
Extension 35S
Evening star., 1950-12-19

fall apart at the touch. Does he really
enviSion the Russian navy putting ashore
at San Francisco an army capable Of con-
quering the United States? Does 1t ever
occur to him that by failing to answer
the age-old cry of Asia's millions for
bread and land, we are pushing them
into the tentacles of the Kremlin?
Ideas-the striving for a better life
can never be erased by bullets. But by
spreading social justice we can conquer
both poverty and the Kremlin. Even If
we should succeed in the Quixotic task
of shooting Communism of the face of
the earth, what guarantee do we have
that widespread misery will not make
new tyranny arise? Violence begets vio-
lence. Are we to 60 on spilling American
blood and treasure forever? Any country
that has to undertake three world wars
in thirty years to save morality had bet
ter re-examine that morality.
Cato Jones prates about serving Gods
purpose. Who ever made him privy to
the purpose of God? Some of us believe
that Gods purpose may be to sow peace
by equitable solutions. If anything makes
us half blind with tears of anger and
grief" it is that people like Cato Jones
are trying to drive the race to destroy
itself.
Plato Smith.
Can country do Gods work by par
ticipating in wars? Did not the Lord
show Joshua how to fell the walls of
Jericho without blood, but in tune with
God? Have we sounded our trumpets
in the manner God would have us?
In love and friendship, not bloodshed.
Dorothy Matthews Spinks.
Cato Jones' magnificent letter requires
no comment, but have one suggestion:
Send copy to the President.
HI. Blakely Harvey, Jr.
Evening star., 1950-12-19

Pen names may be used if letters carry
Writers' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.
The Nome nugget., 1950-05-19
Bulletins:
 Spring Break-Up

Spring breakup is now an ac- tual fact and due to heavy run off there is considerable danger of WaShoutS.
 The public and the Army are requested to limit the use of all To- cal roads until the danger is past at which time notification will be given.
 The following information is for your consideration:
 Travel on Nome-Solomon Road is limited to emergency use only because of extensive repairs be- ing made by the sea wall contrac- tor and high water on road at Mile 1012, Hastings Creek.
 Dexter Road is open only as far as Ditch Camp at Mile 4, and for light traffic only. Travel beyond this point is prohibited due to soft condition of road and possible washouts.
 Osborne Road is closed entirely due to soft condition and washout at Dry Creek, Mile 1.
 Sunset Road is open only as far as Mile 3, travel beyond is dan gerous due to high water.
 Snake River Road is usable for the first miles only.
 The Bessie Road is open and in good condition, but public is re- quested to use the Bourbon Creek Road and Center Creek Road if they desire to go to the Satellite Field area or Anvil Mountain. The reason for this is because of de- tour at U.S.S.R. & M. company dredge operations, Mile 3.
 With the run off as serious as it is, your continued cooperation is requested and notification will be given as soon as this danger is passed and the roads are consid- cred safe for travel.
 J. D. Hudert,
 District Engineer.
The Nome nugget., 1950-05-19
Mccarthy Wants AchesOn, Jessup, LattimOre Fired

ATLANTIC, N. J.. (P)-Senator Mccarthy R.-WisD Monday ac- cused secretary of state Acheson of betraying the United States in Asia. He asked that President Truman fire Acheson.
 Contending American policies played into the hands of the com munists in China, Mccarthy said that Acheson had bought" a plan for the Far East devised by Owen Lattimore which is gigantic in its fraud and complete in it's de- ceit."
 He said that Philip Jessup, U. s. rowing ambassador, was a third member of the Lattimore- Acheson Axis" and asked that MT Truman fire Jessup, too.
 Mccarthy hit out at Acheson, Jessup and Lattimore in an ad- dress prepared for the diamond jubilee convention of the Sons of the American Revolution.
 Lattimore is a Johns Hopkins university professor and specialist on the Far East who has been an occasional consultant to the state department.
 Mccarthy has concentr e d much of his fire on Lattimore in contending that the state depart ment harbors communists and Red sympathizers.
 Lattimore has denied he is a communist ra sympathizer.
 Acheson and other living secre- taries of state have declared also that Lattimore was not the author of American policies in the Far East.
 Mccarthy said in his prepared speech that the strategy of the Acheson-Lattimore axis in Asia is that "of hitting communists at the front door with a silk handker- chief while they beat the brains
The Nome nugget., 1950-05-19
Sixteen Die In Flaming B-29

PONTA DELGADA, Azores, (P) A B-29 bomber crashed off the runway at Lagens Field Wednes- day night and burst into flames, killing all 16 persons aboard.
 Unofficial reports said the U. s. Air Force plane hit an automobile parked off the field. The plane u ght fire immediately and burned in a few minutes. Four teen men were burned beyond recognition.
 The plane, carrying crew of Il and five passengers, believed to be military personnel was en route from Bermuda to England.
 Its home was Barksdale Air Force Base at Shreveport, La. Capt. Salvatore Pelle, public in formation officer at Barksdale, said the plane had been diverted to Lagens Field when it developed engine trouble. He said no high ranking officers were aboard. The bomber was en route to England as part of the air force rotational plant to provide overseas training for regular air force groups.
The Nome nugget., 1950-05-19
GROUCHO MARK GROUCHY ABOUT HOUSEWORK

LON ANGELES, P)-Groucho Marx doesn't like homework and his young wife, Kay, didn't like his friends, the comedian testified Friday in obtaining a divorce on ground of mental cruelty.
 The 59-year-old radio an d movie wisecracker testified he had to manage the household, keep the servants in line, order the meals and perform other du- ties after a hard day on the radio.
 The comic and his wife, 29, the
The Nome nugget., 1950-05-19
Axis Sally" Must Serve Prison Term
Friday. May Is. 1850

ASHINGTON, (P)-The U. s. circuit court fappeals ruled to- day that Mildred E. Axis Sally GillarS must serve 10 to 30 years in prison for broadcaSting Nazi propaganda during World War II.
 The white-haired 49-year-old former actress was convicted more than a year ago in federal district court here. The verdict was handed down by jury which deliberated F hours and 20 min uteS.
 In addition to the sentence of from 10 to 30 years, she also was fined SlO,OOO. She would be eli gible for parole after serving 10 years in prison.
 The three judges who heard her appeal were unanimous in uphold ing her treason conviction and sentence.
 eve find no reversible error and the judgment accordingly is affirmed" the courts l2,000-Word opinion said.
 The case was argued May 9 be- fore Justices Bonnet Champ Clark, Wilbur K. Miller and Charles Fahy. The opinion was written by Judge Fahy.
 Point by point, the court denied all of her contentious that she was not given a fair trial, that she was forced to broadcast for the Nazis and that the district court had erred in conducting the trial.
 Today's development marked another scene in one of the post war periods longest treason dra- mas Miss Billiards first was ar rested nearly five years ago when American troops entered Berlin.
 Before the downfall of the Ma ZiS, her SmOOthVoiced T a d l o shows became known to millions of CTS. She was the supposedly glamorous radio siren who taught the haunting strains of 'Iili Mar lene" which became the world war marching-figh song of the Apooricap ipfopt,v
 Since federal judge Edward M. Curran pronounced sentence on March 25, 1949, Miss Gillars has been held in the District of Colum- bia jail