davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-09-22
Making Highways Safer

The average motoriSt does not need acci-
dent statistics to convince him that divided
highways are safer than those without strip
of grass between the opposing lanes of traffic.
Nevertheless, a survey recently completed by
the Virginia Department of Highways is of
general interest because it discloses, for the
first time in this part of the country, just how
much safer the modern controlled access
highways are.
The study showed that those who drive on
the Shirley Highway, virginia's most modern
divided lane, controlled access expressway,
linking the Pentagon network with U. S. Route
l at Woodbridge, are subjected to one-fourth
the accident risk of motorists using the un-
divided Route l. Both Shirley and U. S. are
four lane roads. Except for several short
stretches, opposing streams of traffic on U. s..
roar past each other only few feet-or inches
at times-apart When something goes wrong,
head-on collisions occur, often with fatal re-
suits. Moreover, traffic moving onto the high
way from intersecting roads, service stations or
tavernS contributes to the hazards.
Shirley, on the other hand, has a wide
grass strip separating the traffic lanes wide
shoulders, no grade crossings, no service sta
tionS or other business establishments with
entrances onto the highway. Access can be had
only at limited number of carefully engi-
f1c carried over Shirley by means of overpasses.
State highway officials found that the accident
rate on Shirley was 1859 for every 100 million
vehicle miles, as compared with 761 for every
100 million vehicle miles on U. S. l. The death
rate on Shirley was "A for every 100 million
vehicle miles, whereas the death rate on U. s.
was 179. It was found that the average traffic
load on each section of the two highways
studied was about the same. According to the
Federal Bureau of Public Roads, the Virginia
findings are similar to those in studies made
Of highways in other States.
It would be fine If all main highways could
be made over into divided-lane expressways,
but obviously this would be impracticable, from
the standpointS both of cost and engineering.
But the highway planners say that the added
cost Of dividing traffic lanes in new highways
through relatively open country is not much
greater than the cost of the more dangerous
undivided type. Certainly the added expense
involved would pay incalculable dividends in
lives saved and injuries and damage averted.
Evening star., 1953-09-22
Modern Version Of an Old Spy Story

execution of the first American spy Of
the Revolutionary War was over.
Capt. John Montresor, chief engi-
neer Of the British forces in America,
told reporter following the hanging
that he had visited with the American
officer in his tent before Gen. Howe'S
death penalty was carried out.
"I allowed him to write two letters
one to 1t. Col. Thomas Knowlton of the
Continental Army, Capt. Hale'S COM
manding officer, the other to his
brother Enoch," Capt. MontreSor said.
Ut was learned late today that, un-
known to Capt. Hale, 1t. Col. Knowl-
ton was killed in the fighting a few
days ago.
"He was calm and bore himself with
gentle dignity" was the way Capt.
Montresor summed up the youthful
spy's behavior.
Capt. Hale was arrested yesterday
as he was about to cross over to the
American lines in Harlem Heights.
Found in the possession Of Capt. Hale
who described himself as q school
teacher and who produced q Yale Col
lege diploma as his credentials-were
sketches and other important military
information on the British Army.
He was brought before Gen. Howe
at Beekman mansion, who sentenced
him to die by hanging today, according
to report in the Dove Tavern orderly
book.
Capt. Montresor was able to piece
together this account Of Capt. Hale's
mission:
Gen. George Washington, comman-
der in chief of the Continental Army,
about two weeks ago had called for
volunteer to get information on the
strength and design Of the British
Army. Capt. Hale offered his services,
repeatedly stating; 81 wish to be USE
full, and every kind of service necessary
to the public good becomes honorable
by being necessary"
Capt. Hale told Capt. Montresor
minutes before he was hanged that at
the moment of his execution this Sun
day morning his family would be at
worship in little church in Coven-
try, Conn.
Evening star., 1953-09-22
Just as in Stains Day

Andrei Vishinsky'S speech to the United
Nations General Assembly has pretty well
blasted away the wishful thought that one of
the effects of Stalins death might be gradual
Softening and revision of basic Soviet policy
a sufficient softening and revision to ease the
tensions of the cold war and make possible the
negotiation of a sound peace between the
Kremlin and the free world.
This idea-fostered for a while by some
dovelike noises and conciliatory gestures from
Moscow-can hardly be taken seriously now.
For Vishinsky, in his reply to the peace-promot-
ing appeal presented last week by Secretary of
State Dulles, has made clear that Soviet policy
today, as far as essentials go, is precisely the
same as it was in the time of Stalin-harsh,
mendacious, unyielding, and implacably intent
upon power-hungry drive for global domina-
tion.
Actually, as a member of our Assembly
delegation has said, what Vishinsky has offered
is nothing but rambling rehash OF what
we've heard many times before" to point of
complete boredom and Illustration. Thus: The
United States is responsible for all the trouble
in the world . the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization is an aggressive bloc" that must
be dissolved . West Germany must never
be allowed to join in the defense of free Europe
. Red China must be admitted forthwith
thing to fear from the "peace-loving" Soviet
Union because the "peace-loving" Soviet Union
has said so, and who can doubt its word?
and so on and so FORTH including the Kremlins
tired old disarmament plan that has been re-
peatedly and overwhelmingly rejected by the
United Nations as complete phony.
AS in the case of practically every other
stale proposal in Vishinsky'S stale speech, the
main objective of this plan is to break up the
allied defensive military strength Of the free
nations in order to render those nations acutely
vulnerable to one-by-one conquest. To that
end, the Kremlin wants, among other things,
Cd an immediate unconditional ban on atomic
weapons hydrogen bombs and other inStru-
mentS of mass destruction with the control
machinery to be run by the United Nations
Security Council, where the Soviet veto applies;
(2) prompt third reduction in the armed
forces of the five great powers-a reduction
that would leave the Russians with marked
numerical superiority on land and in the sky;
and 90 the dismantling of American bases in
foreign countries - another move that would
make the West ripe for Red plucking.
Coupled with his demand that the Assem-
bly, reverse its decision against having India
and other "neutralS' participate in the Korean
political conference Vishinsky'S resurrection of
such thoroughly discredited disarmament
program strongly suggests that Premier Malen-
kov and his top colleagues have made up their
minds, at least for the time being, not to offer
a single new constructive proposal, but to hew
rigidly to the old Stain line.
So the free world has reason to expect
nothing from the Soviet Union but the usual
Evening star., 1953-09-22
Salute to York

York, Pennsylvania, and Washington have
a tradition in common. The former was and
the latter is the Capital of the American Nation.
Travelling to modern York over U. s. /
and U. S. Ill, an observant citizen sees this
historic relation dramatized in houses, farms,
schools, churches, industrial plants and
the day-to-day life of thousands Of people.
At the end of the trip he finds an interesting
and charming city. The architecture of the
Colonial era still is precious to the community.
Old residences are kept in excellent repair; new
dwellings are built in harmony with classic
Georgian because it is harmonious. Churches
the First Presbyterian and st. Johns Episcopal
among otherS-are reflective of ancient arts
and crafts and present patterns and techniques
alike. The old Academy and many new centers
Of culture and instruction, not forgetting the
Martin Memorial Library, fit into the picture
perfectly.
In the exhibition halls at the York Inter-
state Fair last week the skill and zeal of
20th-century York and its environS attracted
a quarter million visitors. Riches produced on
the FARMS in factories, offices, studios and
homes proved the spiritual and esthetic wealth
as we'll as the vast natural treasure of "a garden
of the Lord" Automobiles with District of
Columbia tags were parked in many streets and
on many lots. They symbolized the existing tie
between Washington and York. and those who
noticed them will indorse and approve this
gesture Of salute
Evening star., 1953-09-22

nay-saying- nothing but obstructionism, and
virulent propaganda, and ceaseless effort to
weaken and divide the West for the greater
honor and glory of Red totalitarianism. Stain
is dead, but his policy apparently lives on as
strong as ever in the Kremlin and the outlook
for peace continues to be bleak accordingly.
Evening star., 1953-09-22
By Donald MiehoeI Rouh

THE FOLLOWING is an account
i of an event that occurred on
this day 1T years ago, the ,Ddy a
newspaper reporter might haze Writ-
ten it today.
Evening star., 1953-09-22

voice. II only regret that have but
one life to lose for my country"
There was a hushed silence as the
provost marshal's order rang out. A
woman screamed. Others moaned.
Even the soldiers WINGED.
Capt. Hale was dead five minutes
later
Swing the rebel down." shouted
Provost Marshal Cunningham-andt the
Evening star., 1953-09-22

Pen-nGn1es may be used If letters c0rry
1Oriters' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.
Evening star., 1953-06-28
Showdown Next Year
By EorI H. Yoss

A great day Of freer trade Is dawn
ing In America. The full light Of
morning may be some time coming,
Of course, but In the last year there
have appeared broad combinations
Of public, business and farm support
for more imports to support our
exports.
These pressures, coupled with the
Eisenhower Administrations already
strong backing. make the prospect
for freer trade mainly q matter Of
time. And the time depends on how
hard protectionist Congressmen are
able to fight.
The possibility il that they will,
flght extremely hard. They are led
by men like Representative Reed Of
New York and Senator Millikin Of
Colorado. They are the chairmen.
respectively, Of the House Ways and
Means and the Senate Finance
Committees. Both regard as
anathema the idea Of lowering
American trade barriers any more
than the traditionally anti-protec-
zionist Democrats did In the 20 years
just ended. They and some other
CongresSmen, whose districts might
suffer from import competition.
want to strengthen the rampartS
rather than tear them down.
But the cards are stacked against
them.
Evening star., 1953-06-28

he spoke of the tree Of atomic
knowledge.
1--WE have" Mr.. Dean said, 'been
rather more interested (to date) in
obtaining the fruit than we have
in nurturing the tree. And this tree
did not grow in Brooklyn. It's roots
stretched all over the world and the
most vital and nouriShing ones were
sunk deep into the rich scientific
soil Of Europe"
And DIR. Smyth, speaking to a
newspaper editors convention three
years ago, graphically illustrated the
problem that has faced the Atomic
Energy Commission since its birth.
rapid progress in basie science
requires free interchange of infor-
nation" he said. Modern military
technology depends on basic science.
Therefore, to achieve maximum mil
itary strength, we must have free
interchange Of information.
ION the other hand, we want our
military technology to surpass that
OF our enemies. We want to keep to
ourselves our new weapons develop
ments. =. These developments may
depend on discoveries in science.
Therefore. We must have complete
secrecy in both science and tech
nology."
There is no evidence to indicate
and indeed no charge made by DR..
Oppenheimer or any other serious
person--that Acc is maintaining
secrecy for secrecy's sake. For the
present, at least, Acc seems to be
trying to loosen security require
ments as much as possible in one
major field. leaving the essentially
political problem posed by DR.. OPP
penheirner to those who really
should tackle tt-the politicians.
Evening star., 1953-06-28
:. Lotin America is the main import source,

might, even we need markets in the
world. Equally, we need vital ma
terials and products from distant
lands" On May he wrote Con-
greSs: Through increasing tWo-way
international trade and stimulating
in every practical way the flow of
private investment abroad we can
strengthen the free world, including
ourselves, in natural and healthy
r ways. BY so doing, we can lessen and
ultimately eliminate the heavy bur-
den Of foreign aid which we now
bear" e~ S.
President Eisenhower's cabinet
officer in charge of trade. Secretary
OF Commerce Sinclair Weeks, used
to lean toward the protectionist side,
but he has been notably silent of
late. Instead, his Assistant Secre-
tary for International Affairs, Sam
uel w. Anderson. has been carrying
the ball. Mr.. Anderson has been
travelling all over the country, build
ing up public support, particularly
business support, in favor of in
creased imports. Here is a sample
excerpt from one Of his speeches:
United States foreign trade
should be balanced at some point
in the future at a relatively high
level rather than at a relatively low
level
Mr.. Anderson also is stressing the
need for more private investment
abroad. He has limited that the
Government is studying special tax
concessions and other incentives for
foreign investment. Such funds,
presumably, will give our trading
partners the primary plants they
need to make things America can
import. Mr.. Anderson even looks
to the day when the United States
can ''as creditor Nation establish
a balance of payments, wherein we
will import either in the form of
raw materials or other goods more
Chis emphasis) than we export"
Then American investment capital
abroad would be able to take back
to America its earnings and re-
patriate its principal on regular
amortization schedules.
The Trade Agreements Act now
before Congress provides for an
other device with which the Eisen-
hover administration hopes to
Evening star., 1953-06-28

The Atomic Energy Commissions
famed cloak Of secrecy suffered
few tatters the other day at the
hands Of one Of the Nations top
atomic scientists.
J. Robert Oppenheimer, In an
article in Foreign Affairs maga-
zine, called for fuller and franker
public discussion of the atomic arms
race. DR.. Oppenheimer would like
to have the American people know
the sine Of our stockpile Gin general
tefns), our position vis-a-viS Russia
IN atomic development and other
facts which he is confident the
Soviet already knows. This, he be-
Nevos, Is necessary information for
an enlightened public in the atomic
age. The point that attracted the
most attention was the question of
releasing stockpile information.
Since the publication Of DR.. OPP
penheimer's article there has been
at least one indication Of agreement
from . mowledgeahlO source.
Gordon Dean. retiring chairman
0e the Atomic Energy Commission,
said Thursday hO thought It would
be . good idea II the leaders In the
arms EaOo-the United States and
Russaa-opened up Q little. Such q
lowering Of secrecy bars, Mr.. Dean
believes, would end the blind n.y.
ing" Of Government leaders and the
public and would spur civil defense
preparations.
But where DR.. Oppenheimer urged
wider publicity on the atom as a
matter Of immediate necessity. Mr..
Dean suggested Government study
Of the question.
Aside from Mr.. Deans statement,
there has been hardly . ripple Of
of1cial reaction for or against DR..
0ppanhsimer's suggestion. How
0Veg. QuestaOns directed 70 proteS-
Evening star., 1953-06-28
More Trade, Less Aid

British Chancellor of the Exche-
Quer. r. A. Butler, is credited with
originating the highly successful slo-
gan, Trade, Not Aid" which has
caught on so well in the last six or
eight months throughout America.
AS with many pat phrases. however.
it is too glib. More Trade, Less
Aid" would be closer to a realistic
goal. The administration wants to
make it more Trade and Invest
ment, Less Aid" but finds that q
little unwieldy.
After exhaustive and scholarly
study. DIR. Piquet concludes that
selective suspension OF tariffs on
products from major aid recipients
like the United Kingdom. France,
Italy, West Germany and Japan
would be feasible. He suggests that
such action be combined with tariff
quotas" or limits to free imports
beyond which duty would be coll
lected. ....
Other students of the problem, in.
cluding the high-powered Bell COM
mission, are similar possibilities. All
agree that the fundamental aim
must be to base trade policy de-
cisions on the total national interest,
instead of on the narrower interests
Of particular groups within the
economy.
How America meets the problem
will have profound effect on the
world economy for decades to come.
Evening star., 1953-06-28

the present Trade Agreements Act.
which is in effect an amendment Of
the old, protectionist Smoot- Hawley
tariff law. must be jettisoned In
favor Of a trade policy to fit present
world conditions. # America doesn't
act. the world could sink into eco
nonic chaos.
Here. as recently reported by an
expert board broadly representative
Of business, farm and labor organ
izations, are some Of the incon1-
patibilities Of the existing system:
"a sharp conflict exists between
reducing tariffs under the Reciprocal
Trade Agreements and retaining
tariff rates of 25 per cent, so per
cent. or even more on numerous
manufactured goods: between giving
billions Of dollars in aid to put
Europe on q paying basis and adding
o rider to the Defense Production
Act embargoing imports Of num-
ber Of agricultural products: be-
tween insisting on security controls
by the free world on exports to the
Soviet bloc and denying the free
world the access to United States
markets which would decrease their
trade dependence on the Iron Cur
tain countries; between providing
loans and technical assistance for
development programs in under
developed parts of the world and
levying penalty duties on the proc
essing of the raw materials they sell
to this country"
Evening star., 1953-06-28
7cy Surrounds the Atonn-But What to Do?

strong United States atomic energy
program it is necessary to release
more data than that which is known
to other nations"
In order to do SOTO give engi-
neers, scientists and technicians vital
information-AEC undoubtedly will
apply a rule which has been basic
to the commissions information pro-
gram for years. This is a policy,
in DR.. Beckerly's words, of weigh
ing value to the United States versus
value to unfriendly nations"
Two Way Argument
One of the facts that DR.. Open
heimer marShaled to support his
argument for fuller discussion Of
the atom could be used equally well
as q clincher against release of
further nuclear reactor information.
DR.. Oppenheimer said an ''intelli-
gence analysis" Of published material
on atomic weapons undoubtedly has
given the Soviet Union the same
information which he would release
to the American public. There is,
Of course, the danger that release
Of technical information on nuclear
reactors might give an intelligence
analyst valuable by-product hints
on military applications. This prob
lem was discussed last week by DR..
Beckerly.
II the wraps were to be taken
of too drastically, we might help the
enemy and hurt ourselves. But If
the wraps are kept on too tightly,
We may find we have reached q
dead end.
Mr.. Dean noted this dilemma
last December at the dedica-
ton Of the Brookhaven IN. Y.l
Cosmotron. Borrowing an illustra-
ttve gimmick from Dr.. OppenhetmeF.
Evening star., 1953-06-28
The Dollar Cop

The usual starting point in the
discussion of American trade policy
is the dollar gap" which is the diff
ference between what foreign coun-
tries get from the United States and
what they pay for. That difference
has cost us $50 billion from
1946 through 1852. or slightly over,
IS billion a year.
It doesn't take q businessman to
see that, from the economic stand
point, this $50 billion give-away. or
"unrequited aid" as some call it. has
been bad business" The United
States could have allowed exports
and imports to find their own bal
ance. Then Western Europe's re-
covery would have been slowed down
to a level that could be paid for.
Military build-ups would have been
held within our allies own capacities
to produce or buy equipment and
bases.
But such q course would have left
Europe-and some of the rest of
the world-so weak that Soviet Rus
sia and international communism
might have been able to take some
of our traditionally. staunchest allies.
Rather than risk this political catas-
,trophe, the United States. with its
eyes wide open. deliberately built up
the dollar gap.
Some Of the benefits which both
Democratic and Republican admin
istrations credit to this program are
the 80 to 40 per cent increase in
Western Europe's production, and
the successful resistance to strong
Communist bids for political power
In France and Italy. The exports
bought with this United States Gov
ernment money have, Of course. kept
business humming in America as
well, although the tax burden has
risen. Some even credit the pro-
grams sponsored by unrequited aid
with keeping US out Of World
War III.
Every one involved in the projects
supported by unrequited aid ad-
mits that the dollar gap has In
volved sacrifices by Americans. The
$36 billion America has sent Europe
has lowered each Americans in
dividual prosperity by $2S0-roughly
the equivalent Of an air-conditioned
bedroom, q food freezer and an
automatic dishwasher for q family
of four.
Evening star., 1953-06-28

ness of the project are still under
way. The Hashemite Kingdom Of
Jordan is receptive to the idea.
. Sinai peninsula irrigation. The
Egyptian government has suggested
irrigation Of the GAIA desert south
OF Palestine, where 100000 refugees
and 10000 natives are now eking
out a bare subsistence. This can be
done, it is said. by siphoning the
sweet waters of the Nile under the
Suez Canal into the GAIA desert
area. Engineers say this idea is no.
where near as fantastic as it sounds.
. Syrian reclamation. About 80,-
600 refugees are being received in
Syria, where arid land will be ir-
rigated with water obtained by drill
ing wells north of Damascus.
These three projects, it will he
noted, give hope of solving only
about half the refugee problem. And
it will take upwards of five years
at least to complete them. No
specific plans are in view to settle
the other 100000 refugees. But there
is still hope that they eventually
will melt into the countryside. About
100000 have disappeared that way
in the past.
The United States has been con-
tributing Sc per cent of the relief
money necessary to support the
refugees, roughly SIC million q
year.
Fifty million dollars are ear
marked by the U. N. for Jordan, and
$50 million each for Syria and
Egypt. Toward this $11O million In
development projects. the United
States Government already has ap-
propriated $44 million. In addition.
the House recently passed bill au-
thorizing (not appropriating) anr
other $50 million for rehabilitation
of the refugees. The Senate Foreign
Relations Committee has authorized
the same figure. Favorable Senate
action on the authorization Is due
within q few weeks.
S74 Million Likely
The total American contribution
for the three rehabilitation projects.
then, is likely to come to $74 mil
lion. leaving $36 million to be given
by the rest of the world.
Meanwhile. the U. N. is trying to
keep relief outlays low enough so
that there will be an incentive to
the refugees to get of the dole. But
thi0iS q difficult balance to strike
in those poverty stricken lands. Re-
cent health surveys show that the
refugees are better on than the other
residents.