davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05

learn that in the course Of our 125-
year history in the construction of
public works. the Corps of Engineers
has recommended against the con-
struction of IS per cent-more than
half-of the projects which Congress
has instructed the corps to investigate.
Such an, impartial. factual system
of evaluation does not attempt to take
into account the many intangibles in
volved. but it clearly establishes the
economic and engineering reasons
justifying or failing to justify every
project. 1t would. therefore, seem
more logical in supporting the Peace
Cross food control project to COM
ment on the many well-founded rea-
sons for it's justification rather than.
without proper foundation, attempt to
deprecate in general terms the merits
of all similarly worthy projects through
out the Nation 1t is interesting to
observe that such practice is not
limited to The Stars subject editorial.
To illustrate a common but unfortu-
nate error. let me cite one example from
among many. On April II. 1858, the
Dallas Morning News stated edito-
rally: I'VE must see that no one in
Congress or the administration con-
fuses these CTexas hoodway projects)
with pork-barrel projects that some
times are tackled onto engineering pro-
grams Dallas water needS-for de-
tense industries as well as for homes
call for completion Of the Garza-Little
Elm reservoir. Too, the city'S insur-
ance against floods requires going
ahead with the fioodway project, now
only per cent completed"
am sure that The Star and the cit
liens of Washington. continually har-
assed by the flooding condition at
Peace Cross, do not accept this I'M
savory Dallas categorization of a much
needed project in this area although
quite similar to the terms by which
The Star has classified others than the
Peace Cross project.
Your editorial. like that Of the Dallas
paper quoted, perhaps overlooks the
solution to this anomaly. Is 1t not
possible that all the projects recon-
mended in the Corps of Engineers pro-
gram are, indeed, engineeringly and
economically well-justif1ed projects and
In the public need? This is the queS-
ton raised which you have left unan-
swered. so permit me to advise you
that the answer is overwhelmingly in
the affirmative as can readily be shown
by the official reports issued by Con-
gress and by the performance and
achievements of public works recon-
mended and built by the Corps of En-
gineers, Nationwide.
!. therefore, believe you have I'M
justly castigated the men and women
of an organization constantly on en-
cheering vigil to enhance and protect
the public interest. Moreover, it has
always been a source Of qualification
to us in our work to observe the wisdom
and the courage Of the Congress as q
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05
Polio Patient

She, who should be as supple as a
1Cillo1D
And free to run as little girls must
run,
Reclines, her bright face fowering a
pilloW;
Her body kin to pain instead OF fun.
Her sapphire eyes alert at every motion
Within the room, but otherwise she
lies
Inert. and those Who tend her Wtth
deUotion
Assault the barbed defense her foes
deUiSe.
She is a battlefield ,Uhere time and
science
Deploy to over1Uhelm an enemy
Giving contested ground ,Dith a de-
fdnce
And gaining inches auth dlacrity;
For human hearts are eUer s,citt to
quicken
When little children are so grimly
stricken.
Leto M. Edwords
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05

lies as much with the Arlington PTA
as with those who make out the de-
lightful courses of study now in use.
The PTA members never seem to
question the type of education their
children are getting-their energies
are devoted to physical plants which
are fine and beautiful and listening
to psychologists who tell how life can
be fine and beautiful. Every one is
happy-teachers. children, parents
but what children are educated?
Still Another Parent.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05

the safety laws removed from the highways
virginias death toll for 1858 dropped per cent
during the year. virginia's successful expert
ence with sterner enforcement is akin to that
of other jurisdictions. The results justify spe-
cial emphasis at the White House conference
On this phase Of the three-E safety program.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05
Bealeton, Va.
D. c. Liquor Tex

The District of Columbia wants Con-
gress to appropriate more of the ma
tional taxpayers money to support the
District. yet it neglects very important
source of revenue of its own.
Why not levy a District tax on al
coholic beverages sold in the District
of Columbia?
Sane and Sober.
Editors note: The District does levy
a tax of IS cents gallon on whisky
and 81 q barrel on beer. and there has
been talk Of increasing this taxi
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05

c. c. Almond.
Almond. Va. used to be a small
community located not far from Elk
ton. Va, close to the Shenandoah
River c. c. Almond ran the Almond
General Store.
Just imagine what dozen eggs used
to buy!
Irene T. Harrison.
Editors note: With eggs today re-
failing at IS cents a dozen, five dozen,
costing 1925, still come close to bal
ancing the books on four Spools of cot
ton. 40 cents: half pound of alum. 80
cents, and three pounds Of coffee,
$2.85)
Facts on Civil War Incident
George Kennedys article in The
Sunday Star, January IT. states that
1t. John r. Meigs was killed by Con-
federates wearing Yankee uniforms
near Winchester, Va. herewith give
the facts of this occurrence. My father.
William L. Ficklin, belonged to a Gen.
Jeb Stuart cavalry company. the
4th Virginia, commanded by William
H. Payne of Warrenton. Va. In this
company was my fathers first cousin.
George w. Martin. My father, George
Martin. and a man by the name of
Campbell were scouting on this fatal
evening. They saw three Yankees COM
ing toward them. They Immediately
dropped into single file, the form in
which their adversaries were riding.
My father passed the first two men
and halted the last man. It. Meigs was
halted by Martin. It was raining: the
men were wearing overcoats with capes.
George Martin thought Meigs was
taking of his pistol belt, when advised
to surrender. Instead he took his pistol
from the holster, pointed it from under
his cape. and shot Martin through his
right lung. have heard cousin George
Martin say many times it was simply
the contraction Of muscles. having his
pistol leveled at 1t. Meigs when struck
by MeigS' bullet. They were not wear
ing Yankee uniforms as stated by Mr..
Kennedy. Meigs was killed in fair
combat. Had he not shot Martin he
would have been taken prisoner. /
doubt If Mr.. Kennedy was present when
this occurred
j. ID. Ficklin.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05
Misauoted

In your issue Of February 2, The
Star quotes w. Lawson King of CATH
ersburg as saying. ANY good farm
program should be one that would con-
troll production and provide support
prices to farmers"
This statement is incorrect. What
did say was: mo farm program could
possibly work without a control pro-
duction on a quality basis and to sup
port the price until supply and de-
mand could function" meaning that
you can not support prices without
control of production-just the oppo-
site of your quotation in the article
Of February 2. would appreciate it if
you would correct this statement.
w. Lawson King.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@. Are giants physically stronger
than people of ordinary size?-R. P.
A. Contrary to general belief. they are
not particularly strong. Giants are not
as good in athletics as might be ex-
pected. They often die young.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05

@. Should the copper on cooking
utensils be kept brightly polished for
best Service?-A. W. B.
A. Though its appearance is not SO
handsome, a copper pot will give The
best service if it is not polished
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05
Questions and Answers

reaoer can get the answer to any question
o. fact by writing The Evening Star Informs
ton Bureau 100 Eye St, NV, WASHINGTON
D c Please incIosce three Is, cents for
return Dos, age
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05
Letters to The Star. E.

whole In rising above the arguments
and emotions Of individuals and COM
munities and treating each Of our
water-resource projects In the light Of
Its economic merits.
Should Congress finally determine
that the accomplishment of the pro-
posed work in the Peace Cross area is
sufficiently sound to receive appropria-
tions, you may rest" assured that the
Corps Of Engineers will spare no effort
to complete expeditiously and econom-
ically the worthy Bladensburg project
just as we are doing elsewhere. for
other citizens throughout the Nation
s. d. Sturgis, Jr.,
Major General, Chief of Engineers,
Department Of the Army.
Editors note: The Star intended
no reflection on the Corps Of Engi-
neers. It was referring to the past
tendency In Congress to load the
rivers and harbors appropriations
with pork barrel" projects not rec
commended by the Corps Of Engineers)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05

O. Are jet pilots expected to follow
a special diet since they fly at such
great attitudes and speeds?-D. w. M.
A. The Air Force has developed a
special non-gas forming diet for its jet
pilots.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05
Groceries Then and Now

Having run out of reading material
over the week end, was glancing over
the books in our library. Choosing a
History of the United States. published
by Barber & Robinson-l824-a small
piece Of paper futtered to the floor.
Here is what was written on the
paper:
Almond, Va. April i, 1884.
To- spools cotton ------ "a
u h. alum ------ .05
8 lbs. coffee -------- Sc
IS
By-5 doz. eggs at 1T IS
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05

Pet-1Gnles may be used If letters carry
tOrtters' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-05

@. Is most of the energy consumed
in the United States supplied by coal?
r. Y.
"A. No. In 1852 $40 of energy con-
sumed came from coal. 39.49o from OIL
22.5Go from natural gas, and 4.1fo from
water power.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
On Making Friends with Soviet

Winning freedom for the oppressed
or enslaved is essentially a problem of
methods. Clearly those methods en-
p!oyed so successfully by Washington
and Lincoln no longer apply-revolu-
tionary or civil warfare with todays
weapons would be suicide.
The method of more-or-less passive
resistance has freed hundreds of
millions in India Indonesia and else
where. But in all cases freedom was
won from enlightened governments
not from ruthless Moscow dictators
fearful for their security and, as in
the Berlin riots, capable of savage
repression of any attempted uprising
If war of liberation be inconceivable
and passive resistance futile. what then
might succeed? Is the answer found
in more transition Curtain balloon
messages of the kind sponsored by the
Crusade for Freedom: Organize your
strength with unity and courage! .
Today demand concessions. Tomorrow
freedom. The free world is with you"
Indictment of rebellion will lead only
to harSher repression. Instead. may not
a sincere offer of greater trade and
acceptable aid to promote the welfare
of captive peoples. accomplish more
than anything else to diSpel the
Kremlin's fear and hatred and per-
suade it eventually to grant the satel-
lites gradually increasing Self-rule?
Robert S. Field.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
Voting Age

President Eisenhower is credited with
having made the rather foolish state
ment that If person Is old enough
to fight he is old enough to vote" He
arbitrarily fixes the minimum fighting
and voting age at Is years. However,
most teen-agers are able to shoulder
and fire rifle, and if the ability to
fight. according to the President. is
the proper gauge of a persons intellec-
tual capacity to vote, then the voting
age should be lowered to at least Is
years.
The judicious selection of the officers
and board of directors of the greatest
corporation on earth calls for highly
accurate intellectual perceptions and
wise discriminatory judgments based
upon political acumen and personal in
tegrity. 1t is regrettable that Mr. Eli
Senhower could not offer a suggestion
to increase instead of decrease the
proportion of this class of voters in the
electorate. The politician will say to
these children, Sure, you are mature
reasoning adults when you vote for me,
though you are legally irresponsible
and cannot enter into valid contract
or select your own mate and marry
without the consent of your papa and
mama!" Thus while the law says that
the 18-year-old is not qualified to de-
eide the question of his own social
status. President Eisenhower insists
that he is qualified to make decisions
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
This and That .

A new use for detergents comes from
G. C. of Military road.
To keep squirrels off his bird feeding
station he gives smear of one of the
popular brands to the porch rails. on
every point where the creatures can
take off" for the station.
you must be sure about this" he
warns. because they will study dis
tances and leap from other vantage
points if they can make it,"
MI. c. has been having time with
his squirrel population. which is very
thick along Military road way.
He tried pie pans, tilted feeders. ar
rangements using trolleys, etc.
The squirrels solved 'em all
They always found the food, just
as Mr.. c. suspected they would.
1t was a battle of man-brains versus
squirrel-brains, and he wasn't sure
which would win.
He still isn't.
Operation Detergent has them
stopped, for the nonce, but how long,
he is not at all sure.
Il wanted something" he writes,
that wouldn't taste good; but would
be harmless"
He seems to have won, but is keep
ing his fingers crossed.
Zone Of these days." he laments.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
By Charles E. TroceWeN

Each squirrel makes his own de-
ciSionS.
And, as far as we can observe. he
never learns anything from watching
the others. If he seems to, it is merely
because he has hit upon the same
plan, himself.
We can recall the time we tied
coconut shell in the center of tall
arch.
Each squirrel that surveyed the APP
paratus, bullying with sunflower seed,
worked out his own way of getting to it.
This scene was source of acrobatic
enjoyment for many days, and in all
that time no two squirrels solved the
problem in the same way.
One would run along the top of the
arch and drop down, swinging freely.
Another would leap up from the top
of the gate.
A third would take running jump
from the fence.
No two ever went up and in the
same way, though the method used
by the smarteSt was plain to be seen
by all. and you might have thought
they would have initiated him.
It was not brain power, but hunger
and determination. in equal parts.
These are the levers that have moved
the world, SO far, and it looks as if
they always will squirrel or man, it
makes no difference.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
Though Earth Be TumuIt

u 1Conder Uhat the sounds of hedven
are?
Its sights hare been described: we hare
been told
About the pearly gates and streets OF
gold,
Somewhere aboue, beyond the tarthest
star.
But no one tells me, and haze not
read
Whether the golden harpS haze silent
And if the rustic of the angels wings
Is SUeet and soft, nobody has said.
Some. I am sure, hope for a quiet
hedUen,
But am one 1Ul,o Uould much rather
hear
The sounds / lonesome gay, familiar
noise,
Such as the shouts of certain girls and
boys:
Ny husbands laugh; our dogs bark.
brisk and clear,
Though Gmplifed to seventy times
SeUen!
Minnie Hite Moody
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19

I'm sure I'll see our two raiders
appear wearing overshoes."
Fear not. friend.
They won't be wearing overshoes,
because they won't need overshoes
They will just use those bright little
eyes to look the situation over, as
they have done in the past. and then
determine whether they can leap to
the goal, or drop onto it.
The squirrel mind. which is. of
course. the rodent mind. works after
an age-old principle.
1t does not bother itself with pros
and cons.
The objective, or goal, is the whole
thing.
What the animal wants, it goes
after: directly, if it can, indirectly, if it
cannot.
1t is the same easy sort of thinking
a small boy INDUCES in when he
knows the cookie jar is full of cookies
The squirrel has the same advantage
the boy has-he has beautiful appe-
tite.
Human beings who live in the midst
of American plenty have little concep-
ton of rodent appetite.
The rodent family is one of the
worlds largest, with many interesting
members. all OF them clever, and all
Of them hungry all the time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
Trend or Opinion?

BY accurately reporting and care
fully interpreting economic develop
mentS the press can do much. especially
under present circumstances. to help
individuals and Government make the
kind of enlightened decisions which will
direct the Nation toward ever-increas-
ing abundance and prosperity.
Conversely, by reaching out too far
for startling lead or an interesting
headline, the press can do psychological
harm to the people, the economy and to
itself.
The Star on February 10 published
on Page 3 an Associated Press dispatch
from Memphis under this headline:
Southern Economy Burdened by job
less Back From North" The first
paragraph of the dispatch read: There
are signs that the South's economic
stream is being complicated by an I'M
oercurrent of 'drift-back' jobseekers."
The substantiation given was state
ment by Hilton Bracey. manager of the
Missouri Cotton Producers Association
who was quoted as saying: Il think the
biggest trouble is that lot of people
who went up North are coming back"
GIlc n. WHICH lldu OGiICI
information not included in the dis
patch to support his theory of new
shift in population which would indeed
be of major Importance to our economy.
But did he? There is no hint of it,
and the A. P. is usually thorough. How
much weight is to be attached to the
news item2 The A.. P. fatty states
that there are signs" of this. new de-
velopment. and the A. P. is highly
reliable. Yet one mans opinion is
fragile peg on which to hang dispatch
which purports to reveal a development
of this scope.
One must admire the A. p for want
ing to be the first to detect and report
any news of this kind. One also must
concede that there are merits in the
press association technique of trying to
surprise and excite as we'll as dissent
nate information. But at least in
handling news of business conditions
during the difficult period of economic
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
One Argument Remoins-Necessity

The Joint committee considering it agrees
that the public works program is necessary. It
agrees that the Federal Government should pay
SO million year instead of $l1 million. It
agrees to Federal loans, with interest amount
ing to about ST. million for water and sewer
extension. 1t agrees to wipe off the books an
inequitable and uncomfortable personal prop
erty tax on household furnishings.
1t does not agree that the list of taxes rec
commended by the Commissioners to produce
about $4.5 million year ION top of an undis-
puted sewer and water rate increase of another
SIS million) is the best list or that $45 million
is enough. 1t disapproves of $4O-million loan
to supplement funds raised from general taxes
It has therefore substituted taX-increaSe plan
of its own to produce $94 Million instead of $4,5
million annually.
These changes have been made, not because
they are fair to the District, but because the
subcommittee evidently believes that the pro-
gram as amended stands a better chance in
Congress than the Commissioners program,
which had been approved by the Budget Bureau
and supported by the President.
This amended program bears only remote
resemblance to the program drawn up by the
citizens committee appointed by former Com
missioner Robinson in 1882 That program was
based on the concept of a needed public works
program financed without tax increase beyond
new sewer tax and higher water rates. The
effort to avoid heavy tax increases was based
upon fear as to their effect on the cty's
economy. And as further contribution to
public improvement, the exclusively controlling
Federal Government was to make it's loans free
of interest flor which there is precedent) and
with amortization delayed until completion of
construction.
IS BY degrees. that concept has been ADAM
doned. Instead of preventing any increase in
general taxes, the program will cost nearly
SO million in higher taxes. We shall be pay
ing another S. million in higher water and
sewer charges to service Understanding loans,
instead of paying off non-interest- bearing loans.
''Sales arguments" supporting the original pro-
gram have dwindled away-save one.
But that one is still highly important. The
program is necessary The public improvements
must be built. The alternative-to do nothing
is unacceptable Even with drastic local tax
increases proposed, the District will be better
off than with no program provided Congress
meets the Federal obligation imposed by the
new plan. That obligation is Small-picayune
in relation to the Federal interest in the Amer
lean Capital, and the burden imposed on unrep-
resented local taxpayers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
Riding Hiqh'

In your February editorial Riding
High" you take Senator Mccarthy to
task for not being much impressed by
a report of the United States Advisory
Committee on Information that Con-
greSSional Investigations have largely
offset. if not destroyed the effective
ness" of the United States Information
Agency and demoraliZed its personnel.
The committee members are of I'M
Improbable loyalty and high position.
but 1t is hard to see how such busy
people found the time to delve ade-
quately into the background and opera
tons of the Agency. Ben Hibbs Editor
Of the Saturday Evening Post. is
member Of the Committee. but he must
have overlooked the fact that the lead
ing editorial of the Post on August 8.
1853 scathin5ly criticized the pink tint
of our taxpayer supported libraries
abroad.
In 1916. the United States Infor1na-
ton Agency took over the work and
much OF the personnel of the Office of
! War Information, which was not above
criticism. For example. around 1914 the
Far Eastern Division of Owl was
headed by Owen baltimore, now under
indictment for alleged perjury as the
result of report by the McCarran Sub
committee of which Senator Mccarthy
was not a member.
Prior to the Nationalist defeat in
China. my Chinese friends and I regu-
larly read the handouts of the Agency
in China to keep up to date on the
Communist line then being sold in the
United States. During this period, if
memory is not in error, the editor of
Time asked the Chief of the China
branch why he slanted United States
news to the left The surprisingly
honest reply was that it was not his Job
to give correct cross section of United
States news. but to forward United
States policy" which at that time was
definitely favoring the Chinese Com>
munlStS.
! was in China as a member of the
United States Production Mission to
China and adviser to Nationalist gov
eminent until its withdrawal to Taiwan
The above could be extended indef-
initely. including areas other than
China. and the facts available strongly
indicate that. if any people in this
agency are "demoraliZed," they are
those guilty of disservice to the United
States. L. B. Moody.