davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09
AntisIum Milestone

Today Washington reaches a his
toric milestone in the city planners
slow progress toward a more beautiful
Capital of the Nation. A turn Of a spade
on the site of what once was one Of the
city's more notorious slum areas, Dixon's
Court, marks the start of an epochal
slum clearance and redevelopment prof.
ect in the blighted Southwest section.
On this site, long pictured in national
publications as typical of shameful
housing conditions almost in the shadow
Of the Capitol, will rise an impressive
Sc million, eight-story apartment build
ing. This will be the first of many new
structures which will change the APP
pearance of the Southwest from some
thing best forgotten to an object lesson
In municipal reconstruction.
1t has taken a long time to bring
the Southwest rebuilding plans to the
point OF realization. There was much
preliminary planning and work to do.
Boundaries had to be flxed, land pur-
chased, buildings condemned, families
evacuated and rehoused, contracts ne
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09
Mixed Picture

Even while allowing for favorable
seasonal factors, the February March
rise in employment by 1913 900 does tend
to support the Presidents view that the
current business decline may be "Slow-
ing up" For this figure is at least
normal" for a period in which job
opportunities, particularly in agricul-
ture and in construction, increase and
ordinarily more than offset layoffS in
other lines of work. BY contrast, in the
comparable period of 1854, when the
economy was pulling out Of another re-
cession, the employment increase to-
tailed only $4,000. In that year, there
was drop in all major employment
categories except agriculture, and the
net figure was substantially short of the
100000 increase then considered NOR
NAL"
At the same time, the present sta
tistical picture remains mixed one,
with even the relatively small increase
of $4,000 in unemployed running
counter to the usual February March
trend. The durable goods industries
particularly automobiles, machinery
and metals-remain as soft spots" in
the economy. The rate of new unem-
ployment in these industries may have
slowed, but until they show clear
upturn any optimism must remain
highly qualified.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09

There is perhaps more truth than
Jest in the familiar comment that
Christopher Columbus did not know
where he was going when he set out on
his famed voyage in the late 18th CEN
fury, that he did not know where he
was when he arrived and that he did
not know where he had been when he
got back. For the great captain was
indeed venturing into the unknown,
searching for a westward route to
Cathay He believed he was near the
Asiatic mainland when he made his first
landfall and he took back to Spain with
him some indians" for baptism. The
island of his landing he named San
Salvador and history has accepted it
as one sometimes known as Waiting
Island in the mid-Bahamas.
A modern explorer, Edwin A. Link
Of Binghamton. New York, navigating
by references in the journals Of Column
bus, has retraced the voyage Of 1892
and has concluded that the landing of
discovery was made on CaicoS Island,
200 miles to the southeast of Waiting.
The Smithsonian Institution has pub
lished the Link report. 1t. is unlikely
that the indisputable truth ever will be
known. 1t is believed that Columbus
kept double reckoning, primarily to
deceive his own FESTIVE crew. other
mariners have sailed the Columbus
route, or what they believed It to be,
and have made Waiting. The historians,
and the sailors, may now debate the
question afresh. It is beyond debate,
however, that the daring seaman and
his little fleet Of three tiny ships did
push back the horizon of the seas and
open up rich new world. His great
ness will remain unQuestioned.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09
Jokorto's Arms Deal
The State Denal

The State Department has been
quick to voice regret that President
Sukarno'S government in Jakarta has
worked out deal with three Commu-
mist countries (CzechoSlovakia, Poland
and Yugoslavia) to buy small arms and
military planes "for possible use in kill
ing 1ndonesianS who openly oppose the
growing influence Of communism in In
donesia." Certainly, to the extent that
it must be pleasing to the Kremlin and
is likely to help the Reds in DR.. Su-
karno's guided democracy" the deal is
highly disturbing, but 1t has a compli-
Gated background, not just one of black
and white.
Thus, several months ago, before
the formation Of the anti-Red rebel
regime on Sumatra, the IndoneSian gov
eminent sought to purchase a stable
amount Of military equipment from the
United States. But the State Depart
ment, for various reasons, did nothing
about the matter beyond saying that
the request was under consideration. So
DR.. Sukarno went shopping elsewhere,
and the CzechS, Poles and Yugoslavs
accommodated him. His foreign min
lister, however, has just told our am
bassador that Jakarta still wants to buy
arms from us, and he insists that none
Of this materiel-whether from Com
munist countries or from us-is meant
for use against the rebels.
Regrettable as 1t is, therefore,
Jakarta's deal with the Czechs, Poles
and YugoslavS is understandable from
Jakarta's standpoint, especially in view
Of the Sukarno governments past in
ability to get what it wanted from us.
OF course, as Secretary Dulles has ex-
planned, our country's policy is against
shipping military equipment to either
side in IndoneSia at this time. Yet,
although that may be wise, it does not
alter the fact that the IndoneSian gov
eminent has right to shop elsewhere
If it wishes. This is an example Of the
problems we face in every FESTIVE area
where communism is seeking to. make
Roadway. 1t is also an example Of why
there is considerable opposition in Con-
gresS to continuing American aid to
Poland and YugoSlavia, and why the
State Department seems sometimes to
be confronted with nothing but impoS-
sible complications in a topsy-turvy
world.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09

be close to absolute zero
(-273.l' c.. Entrapped
gases would become solid or
liquid and the gravity Of the
moon is sufficient to attract
and hold them in that state.
The moon would have q
frozen atmosphere similar to
that Of Jupiter's.
The explorer rocket on its
approach to the moons dark
side would see nothing but
a sea Of ice, amassed through
the ages, tapering from the
twilight zone on the peri
pheral edge Of the darkness
where there will be some heat
due to surface conductivity
from the sun baked side. to
its greatest depths in the
center Of the dark side where
the temperature will be close
TO absolute zero.
Max M. Chesy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09

gotiated. The Redevelopment Land
Agency, the National Capital Planning
Commission, the District Commission
ers, the Federal Government and many
other agencies joined in the undertake
ing. Private contractors contributed to
the joint effort.
All of this is a co-ordinated effort
OF Federal, District and private planners
and builders in the interest of creating
a truly Greater Washington. It is
project not only Of benefit to those of
us who live and work here, but Of in
terest to every American.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09
LETTERS TO THE STAR
East Front Insioht

It has been my great pleas
ure to see the articles which
appeared in The Star con-
corning the extension of the
east front Of the Capitol, and
! would like to thank you for
giving me a better insight
into the controversy which
has been raging over this pro-
posed work.
The architects Of the coun-
try have been hearing much
about dissertation and van
dalism but nothing at all
about what is being proposed.
The result is that many Of
US have joined in the hue and
cry II every architect could
have the benefit OF the in
formation which you pub
lished there would be little or
no opposition to the project.
I think you have rendered
q signal service to our pro-
fession and to the public.
H. EIdridge Hannaford,
Samuel Hannaford g. Sons,
Architects.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09

financial needs. On two oc-
casions he has shown more
concern for balancing the
figures than for the welfare
Of our city's school children.
Cd He became indignant
over the illegal attendance
Of certain District school
children whose claim to resi-
dence is that they live with
relatives IN the city. (He
would naturally do this in
asrnuch as he wants so badly
to save a buck.) But COM
pared with the ever-pressing
school problems before us,
the one Of illegal school at
tendance is Of negligible con-
sequence. II Representative
Smith would but become in
dignant over the ill-treat-
ment Of our school children,
then perhaps we could look
forward to some positive
action.
(2) He again resorted to
defense Of the almighty
budget when. Superintendent
Hansen outlined school con-
struction needs. It appears
to me that Representative
Smith has become so budg-
etary minded that he has
lost contact with the deeper
and more pressing issues.
To harp en- budgetary mat
tiers in the face of pressing
school needs is to misplace
human values. / only hope
that Representative Smith
will awaken TO this fact and
will show some indignation
where 1t is needed most.
Melvin G. Blankenship.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09
Father O'Grody VS.. Hoover on Delinquency

projects like the Chelsea
Neighborhood project. ! see
great hopes come up from
projects like those UNDER
taken by the young clergy Of
the Episcopal Church In low
er Manhattan. I saw some
real hope In the Baptist
clergy in the Green Homes
in Brooklyn. I do recognize
that the Green Homes are
about the nearest thing to
chaos that I have ever seen
in an American city. ! have
seen some real hopes coming
up from the Catholic clergy
in many Of the neighbo--
hoods in New York City with
which I am acquainted.
The trouble with Mr..
Hoover's philosophy is that it
looks to a purely legalistic
police approach. Let the police
and the judges become more
rigid and the delinquent will
surely be reformed. This has
never happened in the past
it will never happen in the
present-even under the very
able leadership that Mr..
Hoover represents.
Yes, we need to keep on
re-examining our methods of
dealing with delinquency. I
think we need. above all. to
take a new look at the poten-
tialities of people them
selves in their own neigh
borhoods. I have seen what
has been accom- plishe d
through local neighborhood
organizations in many areas
in Chicago. I have seen what
has been done through the
Community Service Organi-
cation in many high delin-
quent areas in California. I
know the experts. at least
those who call themselves ex-
perts. do not like to look at
new ideas. They believe that
the expert has the tools
necessary to deal with our tur-
bulent and constantly chang
ing areas. We cannot deal
with juvenile delinquency un-
til We get a better picture of
the forces that are at work
in the turbulent areas Of our
cities. ! believe that we have
at hand the implements nee
essary to deal with these
areas. but we have not fully
tried them out. I have fire.
quently pointed out that the
chaotic situation prevailing in
so many Of our housing prof.
ects today could be remedied
II We could only find q
method Of releasing a poten-
tial that already exists in the
people in these projects. We
need some people from out
side who can enkindle a new
spark. This is the basic rea-
son for the new hope / enter
tain for the Chelsea project
In New York City and some
other similar projects to be
found in various sections Of
the country.
RI. Rev. Msgr. John O'Grady,
Secretary. National Confer
ence Of Catholic Chari-
ties.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09

! was greatly shocked by
the statement from FBI Di-
rector J. Edgar Hoover pub
lished in The Star Of April Z.
Before expressing my strong
DISAGREE m ent with Mr..
Hoover. I want to pay tribute
to the very important contri-
button he has made to the
building Of better standards
in the police departments Of
the United States. This does
not. however. entitle him to
the position Of an oracle in
dealing with all questions
Of juvenile delinquency. Mr..
Hoover refers to the grow
ing menace of youthful dep
relation as the core Of the
crime cancer in America"
He wants the people Of the
United States to take a new
look at their methods Of
dealing with juvenile delin-
quency. What I fear from his
statement is that he wants
us to return to the outmoded
methods of the past.
My differences with Mr..
Hoover are basically philo-
sophical. Mr.. Hoover. like any
student Of history, must
know that hard physical
punishment has long since
been discredited as q method
of dealing with juvenile de-
linquency. In my long asSo-
Citations with institutions
dealing with delinquents, I
could never fail to note the
unspeakable bitterness en-
gendered by physical punish
ment. I have never seen
physical punishment contrib
ute to the reform Of any de-
linquent. I believe that our
only hope in dealing with
delinquency, no matter how
serious, is an increased num-
Der Of people with real con-
victions in regard to the, sa-
cred character of the human
personality Of people who
are delinquent or in danger
Of becoming delinquent. I
am not looking at this thing
from any purely academic
standpoint. Many times I
have been through the dis
tricts so eloquently described
in the recent series Of very
remarkable articles in the
New York Times. / have seen
many inhabitants of the jun
giles change completely as
they grow up. ! have pointed
out several times to the rep
resentatives Of the New York
Youth Board that their
greatest contribution so far
has been their unearthing Of
people in very turbulent
neighborhoods who developed
a real interest in the turbu-
lent youth of their neighbour
hoods. / have seen this thing
happen, and I think it is
bound to happen more and
more If we develop the great
potentialities that we find in
more and more areas Of New
York City in mutual neigh
borhood self-help. I see a
great deal Of this coming up
both in the Negro and Puerto
Rican neighborhoods. / am
hoping for more and more
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09
Also Indignant

Space does not permit
discussion Of whether q bal
anced budget is an economic
necessity. Sufiice to say that
its necessity is relative to
economic conditions at a
given time. Space does per-
init. however, protesting de-
Tense Of a balanced budget
when children's mental and
physical welfare are to be
sacrificed In favor of 1t. I
refer specifically to Repre-
sentative Smiths action dur
ing the present hearing be-
fore the Joint Senate-House
subcommittee on the city's
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09
Men and the Moon

Participants in the Inter-
national Geophysical Year
are like children who have
decided to play a game but
can't seem to agree on the
rules.
Suppose all the ICY boys
determined to pool their
know-how. military detectives
sublimated to pure science
and humanity. to build one
moon circling satellite.
Wouldn't the rewards be
worth a little policy stretch
ing and some calculated risk?
A team of men working with
q common goal would have
little time for. or interest in.
political pickering. 1t Just
might be more valuable to all
Of us than twice as many
full-time diplomats who so
often are too close to the
forest.
The program would accel-
crate amazingly. Russia and
the United States would dis
cover a great deal sooner
that a disjointed approach to
solving the mysteries Of space
may be more dangerous than
1t appears.
MY suggestion is that we
Immediately propose an all
out mutual effort to launch
a satellite to circle the moon.
II the Soviet government is
really interested in the hui
manities. 1t could only agree.
1t could produce the most
history-making summit meet
ing in the world to date.
It's hard for me to believe
that President Eisenhower
speaks for the majority when
he uses the word "gimmick"
In connection with Russia's
offer to discontinue nuclear
bomb explosions. Our collec-
tive intelligence is higher
than that. Many of us. / am
convinced. believe that the
real reason is one Of recon-.
centration Of effort on the
part Of Russia's scientific
team. Even nuclear explo-
sions may be nearing OBJ
solescence In their present
form. The delivering vehicle
will contribute more to the
strategic value than the bomb
itself. This. to me. is not a
"gimmick" II our premise has
any substance.
All such arms races have
ended in tragedy. Our OBJ
jective Of stalemating infers
that all this has to stop
somewhere short Of the sui
eide Of civilization. The only
answer seems to be in the
remaking Of our detectives so
that mutual endeavor will be
needed to achieve them.
Where can we find a man
who will dedicate himself to
this sublime cause and who
has the courage 10 act? II
we find him. he will be our
next President.
Fred Shear.
~
Now that the Government
has authorized a lunar rock
ct, speculation as to what
lies on the dark side of the
moon intrigues the magma
ton. I offer the following
hypothesis:
While the sunny side OF
the moon Is presumed to be
devoid Of atmosphere - the
moons mass being insufn-
cient to retain one and its
intensely heated surface ac-
celebrating the escape velocity
Of any gases emerging from
It's INSTRUMENTATION on its
dark side could be totally
different.
The temperature Of the
moon on that side would
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09
One of Worlds Tough Mapping Jobs


BALBOA, Canal Zone-In-
ter American Geodetic Sur
vey engineers are pushing
their mission Of mapping the
Americas into the shrouded
jungle-the region of north
ern Colombia and a large
part of the Darien Province
of Panama whose dense and
often n early impenetrable
jungle is covered by a veil Of
white clouds every day Of the
year.
Men who have lived in the
area for more than 20 years
assure the engineers they
have never seen a clear day.
1t is a reeking wet country Of
low valleys and the Jungle
covered Prii Mountains, soar
ing to as much as 5000 feet
near the Colombia border.
The area now being surveyed
runs from the Colombian
River port of Tibuga north
ward. One of the routes for
the proposed Pan-American
highway extends through this
region.
It is a country, the engi-
neers say, Of very heavy rain
except from January to April.
Even in the dry time, how
ever. 1t remains one of the
cloudiest parts Of the world.
The prevailing winds are
from the north. The mois-
ture-laden air reaches the
upper slopes Of the noun
tains and clouds form almost
continuously. Much Of the
country is shrouded most of
he time in fog so heavy that
:. is impossible to see more
than a few feet. It is constant
twilight at noon. While there
is little real rain during the
dry season the concentration
Of rain on the foliage pro-
duces what amounts to a
constant light shower.
Air Photos Difficult
So the American and
Colombian engineers have
here one Of the most difficult
jobs Of photogrammetry-
surveying by photos taken
from airplanes - yet at
tempted. One day perhaps a
few square miles will be
cloud-free. All the rest Of an
aerial photograph shows only
billowing whiteness. The CO.
ordinates Of the clear patch
will be carefully noted.
The next day the same
plane may find another
cloud-free patch, perhaps a
hundred miles from the first.
Hundreds Of flights must be
made to obtain pictures of
any consequence. Then the
cloud-free areas must be
patched together. 1t is doubt
less the biggest jigsaw puzzle
ever attempted. The work has
been in progress for ten years
and remains far from I'm
ished.
Much Of the Darien area,
the engineers say, has been
fairly well surveyed. Field
parties have co-ordinated the
work Of the flyers. The coun-
try is Sparsely inhabited by
nomad Indians who have had
a bad reputation in the past.
The engineers. however, have
found them quite friendly. A
few new rivers and mountains
have been added to the map
but scores have been found
badly out of place on exist
ing maps.
The Army surveyors are
running into other areas al
most as difficult, such as
La Comega" in eastern
Cuba several hundred
square miles Of desolate
morass and mud flats
through which it is necessary
that a line be set up. The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-09
Cold spots around town

Colo Spots around town:
/. At the base Of the
Washington Monument.
2. The northeast corner Of
Twelfth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue.
3. At the northeast corner
Of Nineteenth and I streets.
There are many other cold
spots, of course. but these
three seem the worst to the
writer.
One man we know calls the
walk from Thirteenth and I
streets up the east side Of
Thirteenth street past the old
Franklin Sc DOL Building
Windy HILL" and he may be
right.
We haven't walked past
there for many years.
4 4 y
Many years ago q reporter
for The Star went around
Washington with q ther-
mometer.
It was in the summer. and
the idea was to find the
coolest corner.
The result:
Thirty seventh and T
streets.
This many people disputed.
though. They always knew
q cooler corner, Of course.
But few who have stood at
the base Of the Washington
National Monument will ever
be quite the same again.
1t may be 80 degrees below
zero on some ski course in
upper Canada, but for down.
right GOODNESS of the ordinary
city kind, nothing quite takes
the place Of this spot.
Our most dismal memory
OF the place-and 1t is q his
toric place. too-was one
winter day, when there was
some sort Of ceremony.
It was so long ago we
have forgotten what, but
probably 1t makes no diff
ference, our memory is Of the
cold.
There was a distinguished
old man there, whose name.
at this late date. makes no
difference either.
He was a fine, outstanding
citizen, and he had been Sc
lected to make an address
to the assembled persons.
The wind was blowing a
gale, but as befitted such an
occasion, he had to stand hat
less, q rather silly custom that
ought to be done away with.
He wore low shoes. and his
socks were none too thick,