davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-06-28
Drought Threatens
Area Farm Crops;
Hope for Early Rain

Nearby Maryland and Virginia
farmers are threatened with
summer drought damage unless
there Is substantial rain within
q week.
County Agent p. e. Clark of
Prince Georges County. Md, said
some farms already are feeling
effects of the recent dry spell
land if this keeps on the condi-
ton might get serious"
Mr.. Clark said the sudden
change from the wet weather
of a few weeks ago to the very
dry weather at present had
handicapped crops. Pastureland
particularly shows signs of being
retarded. said Mr.. Clark.
Hope for Rain In Week
County Agent Frank D. Cox Of
Prince William County, Va,
agreed that the farmers should
have some rain within a week.
He said nearby Virginia, too,
has had a full week of very dry
weather. The heavy rains that
preceded the dry spell probably
have kept things from getting
too dry and many farmers have
even welcomed the week Of dry
ness to thrash their barley and
cultivate corn.
But things could get serious
shortly If we don't have rain,"
said Mr.. Cox.
PaSturelandS Damaged.
He added there had been no
noticeable crop damage so far in
his area.
Blue grass and clover pastures
have been hard hit, most of the
grasses being forced into a dor
mant stage by the lack Of rain.
Farmers say weather signs
have been failing of late. Clouds
and high humidity, which usually
indicate storms, have been fol-
lowed instead by dry weather.
Of1cial forecasts Of thunder
showers have failed to material
lie.
Evening star., 1953-06-28

Of Texas to other States for
pastures. Hundreds of thou
sands have been sold simply
because the farmer or rancher
didn't have the money to buy
feed.
Prices Hit New Low.
This week choice beef on the
hoof slumped to a new low of
Is cents a pound at Dallas with
Evening star., 1953-06-28
Trovel Curbs Eused
BY the U. S. and Cubu
BY the Associoted Press

Senator Smathers. Democrat
OF Florida, said yesterday he has
been notified by the State De-
partment new agreement cas-
ing restriction ON travel has
been reached by the United
States aand Cuba.
Senator Smathers said the
agreement eliminates the one
per cent tax on travel fares and
the requirement for separate
VisaS for each visit.
Instead a new multiple-entry
tourist card" costing $3.50 and
good for two years. will be is
sued. The cards are now at the
printers and will be in use soon.
Evening star., 1953-06-28

Of the Big Spring Herald who
lived at Dalhart on the north
plains during the 1930S, says that
the current "dust bowl" on the
south plains is far worse than the
one of two decades ago.
The drought is forcing farmers
either to leave the land or seek
part-time employment in town,
he reports.
Riding the ranges with the
drought has been another
calamity-falling cattle prices.
Farmers and ranchers who
bought cows before the price
drop are caught-they can't af-
ford to sell at current prices be-
cause the proceeds would not
cover the Indebtedness against
them, they haven't been able to
raise feed, and they cane afford
to buy feed.
A West Texas rancher summed
up his problem briefly. MY
trouble" he said, ''is that I have
Eisenhower calves on Truman
cows"
Hundreds of thousands of head
OF cattle have been shipped out
Evening star., 1953-06-28

some lower grades down to 5
cents a pound. There have been
reports Of some Texas cattle
going for as low as two and
three cents a pound in sacrifice
sales.
The drop in prices has been
reflected in Texas retail stores.
This week Fort Worth butchers
we're offering hamburger for IL
Evening star., 1953-06-28

than they can take in. They
have to have credit.
At a county meeting of
farmers. ranchers and business
men in Stanton this week.
bankers Robert Currie of Big
Spring and Jim Tom of Stanford
declared that banks have ex-
tended credit as far as they can.
Evening star., 1953-06-28
Longest Drought in States History Whers West Texas Area
Sy The Assoeiot.d Pres,

DALLAS, Texas. June 27.-
Drought-desperate Texas farmers
and ranchers this week set up a
holler for help that roared clear
to Washington and sent Secre-
tary of Agriculture Benson on an
inspection tour Of the States
devastated areas.
Texas has been hit by the
worst drought in its history.
It's a drought that is going
into its fourth year, a drought
that has created a new dust
bowl" piled blowing topsoil deep
across highways and railroad
tracks, sucked ponds. lakes and
streams dry, and stunted and
killed crops before they could
finish sprouting.
It's a drought that has made
rangeland grasses as dry as ex-
celsior and forced ranchers to
dispose of their cattle at ruinous
prices. Country bankers say they
have reached the "end of their
rope" in extending credit and
StorekeeperS have windows full
of goods their customers can no
longer buy.
Sweeping more than 900 miles
down the length of Texas from
the northern border of the Pam
handle to Brownsville and near
ly $50 miles across at its widest
points, the drought now grips
1913 counties in the western part
Of the State and encompasses
more than half the land area of
Texas.
Burns Huge Area.
Starting in the high Panhan-
dle-plainS area the drought has
burned its path westward into
the vast cattle ranges of far
West Texas and the rugged Big
Bend country and southwark
across the rolling sheep-and-
goat country to the winter gar
den" area and the lower Rio
Grande valley.
It covers an area comparable
in size to the New England and
Atlantic Coast States lying
northeast Of a line drawn from
Toledo, Ohio, to Washington,
D. c.
And If q drought of equal in
tensity were to hit that north
eastern region, Washington
would be pumping its municipal
water from puddles left in what
had been the Potomac, and the
New York Central would have
crews out shoveling sand OF its
tracks so the Twentieth Century
Limited could get through.
Farmers of Pennsylvania would
be entering their fourth year
without harvesting a crop and
dairymen in New England would
be spraying their shriveled grass
with molasses to tempt their
cows to eat the only available
fodder.
That's what they are doing
now in the parched rangelands
around Maria in the Big Bend
country.
Ranchers have shipped in tank
trucks and railroad cars full of
blackstrap molasseS. They have
sprayed the molasses on the dry
TOBIAS grass which the cattle
usually refuse to touch. The
cattle 60 after the sprayed grass
like a kid after candy. The
grass provides needed roughage
and the molasses provides nu-
trientS.
Hits Different Area.
This Texas drought has burned
a pattern in the State different
from that Of the great drought
Of the mid 30s. Then it was the
Panhandle high plains area that
was the "dust bowl"
Though suffering from lack of
rainfall, the northernmost part
of the State has experienced far
less soil erosion than it did two
decades ago because of better
farming and soil conservation
practices. The central and south
high plains area where irriga-
ton by pumping from under.
Evening star., 1953-06-28
Police Aid lnehriates

MONTREAL-For a small fee,
Montreal policemen will drive
home any motorist who feels he
has had q little too much to
drink to drive safely.
Evening star., 1953-09-13
Gas Truck Driver Killed
After Crash and Fire
By the Assoeiafsd Press

ANNAPOLIS, Sept. 12.--The
driver of a gas tank truck was
killed and a fireman was seri-
ously burned today when q tire
blew out. causing the truck to
crash and creating sparks which
touched off the blaze.
Carol Melvin Lee, "a, of Bal
timore, was the fatally injured
driver.
Anne Arundel County police
said the accident happened on
Route 301 near Anderson's Cor
ner. Police theorized Mr.. Lee
must have escaped from the
truck but returned to it for per-
sonal belongings and was en-
veloped in flames.
1t. Edward Hall of the Harold
Harbor Fire Co. was burned
when flames brought down a
high tension wire as he tried to
make his way to the truck to
rescue Lee. Hall was admitted to
Annapolis General Hospital with
severe burns on the face, arms
and legs.
George Daniels of the Early
Heights Fire Co. said heat was
so great it melted asphalt on the
highway. Firemen from eight
companies battled the blaze.
Evening star., 1953-09-13
Experts Say Gee as Horses
Show Skill in Montgomery

them over. The backing contest
was the most difficult. The
drivers had to back their wagons
between the wings of horse
jump and touch the cross poll
at the back without knocking
it of. That meant stopping
within a range of three inches.
Dick Ramsburg, a farmer
from Olney, backed in perfectly
but did not stop quite in time.
The cross pole fell. Oliver CASH
ell, driving team from the
dairy farm of Frank P. Palmer,
Hyattsville Ford dealer, stopped
in time but the rear of his
wagon was not quite square
with the pole. George Jones, ST.
year-old colored driver for NAH
Ion Kirk ~ of the Embassy
Dairy, who raises beef cattle.
performed the feat perfectly.
Then along came Ralph Leis-
heal with his four-horse team
and did it with the same per-
fection. Later the Palmer team
was combined with the Leisheal
quartet for a demonstration Of
driving a six-horse hitch, still
with only one rein.
But all this will soon be a
thing of the past. The Leisheals
have ordered their first tractor.
Evening star., 1953-09-13
By George Kennedy

The skill OF driving teams OF
heavy work horses has not al
together disappeared from the
Maryland countryside. Yester-
day, near Olney, several farmers
from the heighborhood turned
and backed their big horse drawn
wagons through narrow openings
with an accuracy that would
have made a truck driver en-
ViouS.
The occasion was the oath an
nual Montgomery County Horse
Show, which used to be entirely
a farm horse show but now has
jumping events-mostly children
on ponies-to fill out the pro-
gram.
Ralph Leisheal was the hero
of the event.
Ralph and his father. Elvin,
have a 200-acre farm near Sandy
Springs. Their four dapple-gray
Percherons were walked all the
way to the horse show, drawing
the Leisheals' old farm wagon.
Most of the horses arrived by
truck or trailer.
Wagon Built so Years Ago.
The wagon is almost a museum
piece. 1t was built about so
years ago at Olney by Dorsey
H a wilkins, wheelwright, who
fashioned the oak spokes and
rims of the wheels by hand; and
by Reuben Hines, blacksmith,
who forged the axles and the
hinge of the wagon tongue and
put the steel tires on the wheels.
Elvin Leisheal, who is almost 10.
used to drive it to Rockville
loaded with seven and one half
tons of wheat.
Some of the slighter men had
trouble in handling the heavy
harness. The weight almost
threw one man. But Ralph Leis-
heal, who has a solid build, had
no trouble in throwing the har-
ness over the horses backs. It
had studded tielineS Gust
for decoration), leather flynets,
big collars with wooden names
and Ginning brass bells strung
between them.
When he drives the double
team, Ralph rides the haw Cor
left) brichen Cor rear horse,
whose harness has a saddle fast
ened in it. He controls the quar-
tet with a single rein to the haw
lead horse. If he wants the
horses to haw Cor turn left) he
gives the rein a steady pull. If
he wants the horses to gee Cor
turn right, he keeps jerking on
the one rein.
Training multiple teams to
follow a lead horse controlled
by one rein was traditional in
parts Of Maryland, Virginia and
southern Pennsylvania.
Backing Contest Difficult.
Drivers of the teams made fig
ure eights. bringing their wagons
between posts with little space
to spare and without knocking
Evening star., 1953-09-13
58 Jehovah S Witnesses
Baptized in Chesapeake
By the Assoeioted Press

, ANNAPOLIS, Sept. u. -
Nearly 1000 Jehovah's Witnesses
continued a three-day meeting
here today with the baptism of
So members at Carr's Beach this
afternoon.
The meeting of delegates from
% Maryland congregations
winds up tomorrow night.
w. A. Elrod, district director
of the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society from New York.
is principal speaker at the con-
vention.
Most witnesses who we're bap-
tized today waded into Chesa-
peake Bay in bathing suits. Only
the older members were fully
dressed. 80 80
Evening star., 1953-09-13
.HaIf-Finiis|1ed
School 'Ghast|y'
Sight 10 Tuthi||
Arlington Board Head
Says Green Holds
Key to Completion

DR.. Curtis E. Tuthill, chair
man of the Arlington School
Board, yesterday described
Jamestown School, a 14-class-
room unit on which construc-
ton work has stopped, as a
"ghastly" sight-"the first con-
crete evidence Of what we have
feared during the summer"
AS the series of suits instituted
or conducted by Arlington At.
torney John Locke Green con-
tinued, school board members
for months have feared that
construction work would come
to a halt on county schools.
The litigation has blocked sale
of $2.8 million in school con-
struction bonds.
Work on finished James,
town School ceased nine days
ago.
1--WE don't know when the
school will be Finished" DR.. Tut
hill declared. Some of that de-
pends on the will of John Locke
Green"
Litigation Called Malicious"
He added that there is some-
thing "mischievous and malici-
Gus" behind the whole pattern
of litigation.
DR.. Tuthill's remarks were ac-
casioned by a report from School
Supt. T. Edward Rutter on a
tour he made last week Of county
schools.
At the board meeting yester-
day, Charles Walsh, assistant
superintendent in charge of pert
sonnel, said that 389 teachers
this year have been given con-
tinuing contracts. These are
teachers who have completed the
three-year probationary period
teachers whose contracts are
renewed or discontinued each
year.
Recently, James R. Miles, Ar
lington Independent Movement
candidate for the School Board
in the November election.
charged that Arlington teachers
"have no job security whatever"
He said that failure of the School
Board to enact a merit system
policy was responsible.
rs Per Cent Are New.
Mr.. Walsh pointed out that
about Is per cent of the 800-odd
teachers in county schools were
hired for the first time this year.
OF these, however, nearly 100
represent an increase in number.
The rest are requirements.
The School Board also voted
to honor 81 teachers who have
been employed in county schools
20 years or more.
OF the 81, one teacher has
served more than 40 years. ii
have served between 80 and 80
years and 80 have served between
20 and 20 years.
c. Glen HaSs, associate super
intendent in charge Of instruc-
tion, reported to the board on
the completion of an Arithmetic
Guide" The new handbook will
assist teachers in the first six
grades.
Evening star., 1953-09-13
Substitute Teachers
Seriously Needed in
D. c. Public Schools

The Washington public
schools are seriously short of
substitute teachers.
Thomas j. Holmes, associ-
ate superintendent, said yes
terday the school system
urgently needs 200 substi-
tute teachers for 13 junior
and senior high subjects
manual arts, physical edu-
cation. music. physics, me-
chanical drawing, art,
biology, business, chemistry,
French, German, home eco
nomics and Latin. More
substitutes also are needed
in other grades and sub
jects.
Substitutes are paid $11 a
day. College graduates are
preferred. Applicants should
call Mr.. Holmes after $3.50
am. tomorrow at Sterling
3-6111.
Evening star., 1953-09-13
Baltimore Police
File 81 Charges
Aqoinst Trucker
BY the Assoeiated Press

BALTIMORE, Sept. 12.-Police
lodged a record total of 81 traf-
f1c charges against a man today
after they said he led them a
speedy chase across Baltimore
in a horse van with his wife and
small son huddled beside him.
William H. Brady, 42-year-old
painter, was arrested after the
van smashed into a police car
and caromed into a fence, police
said. No one was hurt.
Police said the mans wife and
6-year-old son were in the van
when the pursuit began after the
vehicle hit a lamp post and con-
tinued on. At one point police
said the chase reached speed
of 10 miles an hour.
Among the charges were fail
ing to obey stop signs and traf-
f1c lights, reckless driving,
speeding and driving on the
wrong side of the road.
Evening star., 1953-09-13
ago, while those for August were

ago, while those for August were
up &c per cent.
District building mits
issued in the first eight months
of this year moved forward to
56,364,066, highest in history
for this period and 64.6 per cent
above year earlier.
Building Permits Set Record.
Swollen by new commercial
projects. August permits totaled
$9,998, 1929. also a record for that
month. Residential building was
about even with a year ago.
The Census Bureaus report on
independent retailers of the
area for the seven months gave
the following changes from a
year ago: Auto dealers, -F21%;
food stores. +3%o: eating and
drinking places. 80; general
merchandise group, 80; de-
partment stores, -1qo; apparel
group, 40; mems and boys
apparel, 40: women's ready
to-wear, -3%: furniture stores,
So; household appliance
radio, 49,; lumber building
upplies. So; hardware, 40;
auto accessories. +2%; gasoline
stations, equal to year ago; fuel
and fuel Oil dealers, 1870: drug
stores. equal to year ago; sta
tionery stores, -4%o. The July
changes were similar.
The July and seven months
report of the Electric Institute
of Washington. covering unit
sales of electric appliances in the
territory of the Potomac Electric
Power Co., showed gains in many
appliances and only a scattering
of declines from q year ago.
Evening star., 1953-09-13
Rival 10 Federation
OF Arlington Groups
Now Being Studied
By WiIIiom J. EIyin

Formation of a rival organiza-
ton to the Arlington Civic Fed
GRAFTON is being studied by men,
bers Of some county citizens as
sociations.
Ernest J. Holcomb. a leader in
Arlington Independent Move
ment and the Waycroft- Wood
lawn Citizens Association, said
"very preliminary discussions
are being held to determine if
there is enough interest to start
the new federation.
Mr.. Holcomb said the move
ment got under way last June
when it was proposed that Way
croft -Woodlawn withdraw from
the federation. He proposed in
stead that a committee study
creation of a new group of citi-
zens' organizations.
Preliminary discussions with
members of some associations
have been held and another
meeting is set for September 90.
At that time, If interest is cx-
pressed, a constitution and by
laws will be proposed, Mr.. Hol-
comb said.
Members of more than a dozen
associations have agreed to take
the plan to their memberships
to see what their reaction is.
Mimeographed letters describ-
ing the plan-Mr. Holcomb said
he was not the author-cited a
need for a non-political group
of citizens associations"
Mr.. Holcomb said he is tired
of going to federation meetings
and just being criticized"
The Civic Federation is not
linked officially with any poll
tical organization. There have
been statements however, that
the majority group in the fede-
ration actively supports nom
partisans in county elections and
issues.
Mrs. Ruth Cox. president of
the federation for the past two
years, was a non-partisan can
didate for the County Board last
fall.
Evening star., 1953-09-13
Gold in the Hills
OF West Virginia:
Urdniun-Moybe
Special Disposeh 10 The Sior

MARTINSBURG. w. Va. Sept.
12.-There is a possibility of
uranium deposits in the south
eastern section of Jefferson
County, DR.. Virgil L. Mann. Uni
versity Of North Carolina geolo-
giSt, told service club here yes
terday.
He emphasized that none has
been located but the type of
geological formation prevailing
is such as is found where de-
posits are discovered.
Among metallic minerals found
in this area are iron. manganese,
zinc. lead and gold, although
none is known to warrant COM
mercial development. He said
there is little possibility Of any
gas being found in quantity. OF
the non-metallic minerals, the
most prevalent are limestone,
Oriskany sandstone, shales and
coal, said DR.. Mann.
Evening star., 1953-09-13
Sobe|off will Speak
Al Constitution Day
Rites in Rockville

Chief Judge Simon E. Sobe-
loft of the Maryland Court of
Appeals will be the principal
speaker Thursday at ConStitu-
ton Day services on the Mont
gomery County Courthouse lawn,
Rockville.
The ceremonies. under aus
pices of the County Bar Associa-
ton, will get underway at 1870
pm. The day commentaries
the signing of the United States
Constitution.
Guests of honor will include
Chief Judge Charles w. Wood
ward and Judge Stedman Pres
colt, of the Montgomery Circuit
Court; Representative Hyde, Re-
publican, of Maryland; John r.
Reeves, Maryland secretary of
state; members of the county's
General Assembly delegation, the
County Council and the School
Board; and officers of the Rock
vile Board of Trade and the
County Historical Society.
Ralph G. Shure, president Of
the bar association will be master
of ceremonies.
The county school board has
been asked to release as many
students as possible to attend
the services.
Band music will be provided
and Samuel Riggs will present
vocal selections. Color guards
from Service Company, 115th
Infantry. Maryland National
Guard; the county division of
the Naval Reserves; Cissel-Saxon
American Legion Post and Silver
Spring Post No. 1862, Veterans
of Foreign Wars will participate.
The program has been pre-
pared under direction Of At
torney Joseph B. Simpson. jr.
Evening star., 1953-09-13
Nelson's Go on Trial
On Gambling Charge
In Maryland Court

Trial of Charles E. Nelson, re-
puted head of a numbers ring
said to have cleaned Sc million
year in the District, Maryland
and Virginia, is scheduled to be-
gin tomorrow in Upper Marlboro
A total of 233 prospective jur-
ors have been summoned
The opulent Ritchie tMd.)
farmer, with his wife, Madge
and six others, is to be tried on
charges of conspiracy to violate
Maryland gambling laws.
Co-defendants include two for
mer District policemen. Detec-
tive Sergt. Robert G. Kirby and
Precinct Detective James E
Lowry.
The others are the Nelson's
alleged syndicate partners, Mr.
and Mrs. Robert L. Nowland, and
two women described as veteran
numbers Office employees. They
are Mrs. Ruby Geary and Miss
Effe Lou Trent.
All face possible penalties of
up to 10 years imprisonment.
Convictions Set Aside.
Prince Georges County au-
thorities decided to try the de-
PENDANTS on indictments re-
turned in October, 1851, after
the United States Court of APP
peals last July set aside gambling
law convictions obtained in the
District.
The Appellate Court held that
a "little red book" and other
documents Nelson turned over to
the Senate Crime Investigating
Committee after testifying be-
fore it were illegally obtained.
The records were used as evi-
dence in the District trial.
Prince Georges County States
Attorney Carlyle G.. Lancaster
said he regards the papers as
important corroborative evi-
dence" but not necessarily of a
key nature. He declined to say
whether he will attempt to use
them.
Mr.. Lancaster said he plans to
call at least IS witnesses, among
them former employees of the
alleged syndicate and persons
who testified at the District trial.
Prosecutor Faces Veteran.
Mr.. Lancaster. SO, is one of
the youngest prosecutors the
county ever had. Assistant
County Prosecutor Wilmer D.
Pyles will help in the States case.
The county's former States At
torney A. Gwynn Bowie, veteran
Of many courtroom battles, and
a battery of experienced defense
counsel will oppose them. The
trial is expected to last several
days.
The prosecutors VIII attempt
to prove that the defendants con-
Spired to violate State lottery
laws in the summer of 1945. They
will allege that the conspiracy
was Matched in a house on Gen.
trail avenue, Seat Pleasant. and
at Nelson's showplace farm.
Nelson faces two other indict-
ments in Prince Georges. One
charges that he offered County
Sheriff Carlton G. Beall $4,000
a month protection" money. The
other alleges pistol-whipping Ct
a former employe. Trial dates
have not been set on these ac-
Evening star., 1953-09-13
West Maryland Child
Badly Bitten by Pig
By the Asseeieied Press

by the ASSoctoted PreSS
LONACONING, Md, Sept. IL.
A pig that was a pet soon will
become pork chops because 1t
picked on 3-year-old Freeman
Wilhelm.
The boy was attacked on the
nearby farm of his parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Thomas Wilhelm.
DR.. George j. Richards said
he had to take 40 stitches in the
boys face to close his wounds.
He also had been bitten and
scratched on the back.
An older brother. John, 10,
along with the family dog, Collie,
finally managed to free the boy
from the SOW.