davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-03-25
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
Radiation of Creation Hits Earth
BY THOMAS R. HENRY

space-Milky Way radiation
xtra-galactic radiation, and
radiation from several kinds
OF sources, or radio stars.
4 \ 4 \
There are at least a
billion observable galaxies in
Creation. There may be
many more but this number
is within the theoretically
observable range of present
telescopes.
A galaxy is an isolated
cluster of a billion or more
stars. The two-billion-star
Milky Way galaxy, to which
the solar system belongs, is
considered fairly typical.
There is about one Of
these great stellar aggre-
cations for each 10 quin-
tillion cubic miles of space.
This report on the know
able magnitude of creation
is presented in a report on
extra-galactic astronomy by
the National Academy of
Sciences.
Galaxies Far Apart
The galaxies are separated
from each other by billions
of light years, or the dis
tances traversed by light
waves at a velocity of about
100000 miles a second. The
mean density of m tier
throughout this vast ex-
panse, the Academy Space
Science Board estimates is
roughly a single hydrogen
atom per cubic yard. This
would be the case, that Is,
if all the matter composing
the stars were spread out
equally to fill all space. Gre
alton would be essentially q
complete vacuum. Whether
there is matter of any sort
in the tremendous voids
between the galaxies them
selves, the report says is a
pressing problem for astron-
omers of the future.
Only in the ne arest
galaxies, the report points
out, can separate stars be
discerned with earth-bound
telescopes. Masses of others
must be inferred from such
data as surface brightness,
their speed Of rotation and
the internal motions Of their
gases,
Evening star., 1961-03-25
Mood for the Cold War

In his excellent address at the
University Of California, Secretary of
State Dean Rusk has offered the Nation
good and timely advice. He has done
so in connection with what sometimes
seems to.besthe almost hopeless task of
trying to- cope effectively with all the
persistent and dangerous issues involved
in what has come to be known as the
cold war.
This grimly dreary conflict, as the
Secretary has said, arose out Of the
ashes Of the Second World War, whose
terrible fires, though vastly destructive,
unfortunately failed to consume the
ambitions of those who seek totali-
tartan domination and who therefore
have been conducting an unremitting
assault on freedom throughout the globe
ever since 1945. 1t is because of these
forces, controlled and manipulated
primarily by the Kremlin, that our
country and its friends and allies con-
tinue to be confronted with challenges
OF the gravest kind on every continent.
In MIR. Rusk'S words, these challenges
are very real and very deadly, and chow
we meet them makes difference. They
will not be scolded away by invective
nor frightened away by bluster. They
must be met with determination, con-
fidence and sophiStication." Accord
ingly, referring to how we should con-
duct ourselves in relation to the Com
munistS, he has counSeled as follows:
Unnecessary or pontless irritations
should be removed; channels Of communica-
ton should be kept open to make it the more
possible to find points at which tension might
be relieved; our discussion, public or private,
should be marked by civility; our manners
should conform to our own dignity and power
and to our good repute throughout the world.
But our purposes and policy must be clearly
expressed to avoid miscalculation or an under
aestimation Of our determination to defend the
cause Of freedom. Perhaps most important Of
TRn@we should keep our eyes on the world
FheYond the "cold war;" the world we see when
men come to their senses, the world which
ymen have dreamed about for centuries.
In effect, the Secretary of State
atails has given the American people and
E$heir Government q. prescription for
living intelligently clear heads
and steady nerves--iIl the same world as
the menacing and thoroughly exasperat-
ing Reds. It is prescription, a formula,
that calls for frame Of mind, a
Evening star., 1961-03-25
Same Old Pattern

Means Commlttee hearings on the
Presidents eminently sensible proposals
for financing the Federal interstate
highway program have begun on the
same note of diviSive opposition which
has characterized this legislation in the
past.
.s The principle at issue, as enunciated
by President Kennedy this year, and by
President Eisenhower before him, is
simply that these masSively expensive
highways should be paid for by the
people who use them. Mr.. Kennedy
suggests that the necessary additional
Federal aid funds come either from
higher fuel taxes on truckers, who are
not now paying their fair share, or by
a motor fuel tax Of Az cents a gallon
on all motorists. (The current Accent
gas tax will be reduced one penny on
June 80 unless Congress prevents it).
Either Of these proposals is fair. Either
would preserve the integrity of the
original concept Of the program. Either
would assure continuing flow Of ade-
quate funds, largely on a pay-as-you-
go basis.
Perhaps the most alarming new
idea, tossed out by Representative
Curtis Of Missouri, is that the current
level of Federal aid is too high-that
instead Of 80 per cent of the cost of
the system, the Federal aid percentage
might be dropped to the neighborhood
Of 10 per cent. But this most certainly
would slow the construction of the inter-
state system to crawl, and very well
might insure that it never would be
completed. In terms of mileage, the
interstate system is not awe-inSpiring;
indeed, it constitutes only about IL per
cent of the Nations highway network
When completed, however, it will carry
an estimated 20 per cent of all United
States traffic and this, Of course, is what
makes it important. ...
Rather than curtailment, however,
the major effort in opposition to the
Kennedy program is developing around
the diversion Of tax revenues from the
General Fund Of the Treasury to highway
purposes. The theory Of this is that high
way users already are paying their fair
share, and that something also should be
paid by indirect beneficiarieS of new
freewayS. AS we see it, there are three
faults in this reasoning: First, such
diversion would create a further deficit
in the Federal budget, where none need
occur. Second, indirect benefits" while
undoubtedly they exist, are impossible
to assess. And third, those who stand
to gain the most from the new freeways
are motorists themselves. On the latter
point, Maj. Gen. Louis W. Prentiss, exec
utiye vice president of the American
Road Builders Association, had this to
say in his testimony before the House
committee:
At the present time, only IL cents Of the
average motorists transportation dollar is
allocated to paying for the highways on
which he drives All Of the evidence indicates
that his total transportation costs will be
reduced II a somewhat larger percentage is
used to provide better highway facilities The
average motorist Is now paying the equivalent
of a 20-cent-per- gallon tax in accident costs;
he is paying it to insurance companies, body
repair shops hospitals and mortuaries, and
it is cost that can be reduced. :. In our
judgment, the motorist will reap net saving
despite the increased levy.
Evening star., 1961-03-25

Hail to the 10 ladies of
the Mclean (Va.) Bridge
Club! The success Of their
hoax, which consisted of pro-
ducing paintings" composed
OF house paint. glue, kitchen
flour, ashes and the like, de-
serves at least as much COM
mendation as that given to
productions" by the art GAL
leries of Washington.
These clever women de-
serve the thanks of the en-
tire community for exposing
the utter senselessnesS of
modern art. Satire and
ridicule are the best weapons
for attacking the stupid and
inane which impudently
pose as the ultimate. Too
long have "abstractionists,"
"expressioniSts," and mod
ernists" imposed their pecu-
liar ideas and products upon
the public, treating with
contempt and derision all
who insist upon recognizing
the principles of harmony,
color, design etc.
1t is to be hoped that the
success of this hoax will i'm
pei those responsible for the
theory and practice Of art
schools and galleries to re-
assess critically their own
judgments and to consider
their effects on the present
state and future progress Of
art in this country. While
Evening star., 1961-03-25

An intense space radi-
alton" strikes the earth. In
some parts Of the light spec
trum it amounts to 1000
times the radiation received
from the sun. The radiation
from all the stars is less
than a millionth that from
the sun.
This is made known in a
report issued by the Space
Science Board Of the Ma
tional Academy of Sciences.
A temperature of more
than 10000 degrees above
absolute zero would be re-
quired to produce this space
radiation, the report says. 1t
is. quite literally, the "radi-
alton of Creation, the radi-
alton from the millions of
external galaxies of billions
of stars billion of light
years distant from the Milky
Way galaxy to which all
visible stars belong.
This radiation is difficult
to disentangle from that of
the local galaxy, itself, the
report says.
Radiation Source Uncertain
Although the continuous
background ra adiation is
known to be a mixture of
thermal (heat) and nom
thermal radiation, says the
report, "the nature of its
origin and the bodies emit
ting it are unknown. We do
not know whether it origi-
mates in an extended source
or is a blend OF unreSolved,
faint sources. The tempera-
ture and the intensity fall
off with increasing re-
quency and at the highest
frequency that has been
measured the temperature is
only a few degrees absolute
and the intensity almost
unobservably low"
Better knowledge of this
radiation, the report points
out, is essential for clearer
understanding on the struc-
ture of the totality of Gre
alton, of which the Milky
Way galaxy is only a minute
part.
There are doubtless, says
the report. several compo-
nents Of the ra adiation
reaching the earth from
Evening star., 1961-03-25
Oxon Hill PLANNING

Your paper noted the state
ments by Prince Georges
County Commissioners Bag
gett, Reichelt and Brooke
criticizing the Planning Com
mission for not devoting more
time to zoning regulations for
high rise" apartments over
looking the Potomac River in
Oxon Hill. This area from the
Jones Point Bridge south for
several miles as planned
for Single-family residential
dwellings by the Planning
Commission. The master plan
for this area was adopted by
the county commissioners in
November, 1857.
Since 1857 many fine homes
have been built and sold over
looking the Potomac and
nearby. Many more are now
under construction and Of
fered for sale. Owners and
developers have believed that
the master coming plan Of
fered them reasonable aSsur-
ance against apartment
development adjacent to them
which would Immediately
overload schools, roads and
sanitary facilities.
The Oxon Hill planning
area had, on July Is, 1859,
enough apartment-zoned land
not developed to meet all re-
quirementS Of population
growth for the coming Is
years! This data prepared by
the Planning Commission as
Sumes an increase in the ratio
of apartment units to other
units of from "a per cent at
present to 80 per cent in 1880.
Substantial acreage in Oxon
Hill has been rezoned for
apartment use since July,
1859, so that the dispropor-
tionate amount Of apartment
zoned land is now much more
substantial.
Taxpayers who are paying
more and more taxes for
planning, only to have master
plans become window dress
ing in favor Of freely granted
changes for more and more
apartments, are fed up with
our Planning Commission get
ting only lip service.
Owners Of apartment-zoned
land suitably located are ap-
prehensive about developing
1t in the face of the over
abundance of apartment land
with more and more apart
ment coming taking place.
People considering home
purchases in Oxon Hill are
dubious about buying next to
an area where an apartment
development may go up, de-
spite recommendations Of the
Planning Commission, petit
tions by the community and
requests by the citizens asso-
Citations. Orderly and planned
development is paid for but
ignored. The community and
the county pay too dearly
for the profits Of landowners
and developers Of apartments
located contrary to the master
plans.
James r. Vance.
Past President, Oxon Hill
Vista Citizens Association.
Evening star., 1961-03-25
Troffic's Toll
Wnilld Il he nnssihle

Would it be possible to per-
suade the District Commis-
SionerS to read the testimony
that was taken, by a Senate
banking subcommittee on
March 20, 81, on the need
for mass transportation and
the inadequacies of more
freeways and street WIDEN
ing to solve traffic conges-
ton? I commend the reading
to both the Commissioners
and the Highway Depart
ment.
Perhaps it Is too late now
to stay the destruction that
has been ordered on K Street
and 10th Street, in the name
Of solving traffic congestion.
One does not have to be es-
pecially old to recall that
when the extra width was
ordered on K Street, the
promise was that congestion
on that street would end.
The testimony presented
before the Senate committee
by the Governors of Massa-
chuSettS and California, and
Boston officials pointed out
clearly that the more roads
the more congestion. Edward
j. Logue, development ad-
ministrator of Boston, OBJ
served that we "are paying
the full price for the ridicu-
louS proposition that the
building Of major limited ac-
cess highways Is q proper ex-
penditure and that capital
funds must be invested in
commuter service on a basis
that will earn a competitive
return on the investment. We
have lived with this absurd
piece Of public policy about
as long as we dare"
The testimony of other Of
ficialS was along the same
line. But the District Com
missioners continue their pol
icy Of running beautiful tree
lined streets, and driving
more people into the suburbs,
to keep up with traffic while
: thereby inviting more traf-
fic.
To complain Of the destruc-
ton Of trees, once the glory
OF this city, is considered
out-of-d and foolish. More
trees are promised but are
rarely planted and II some
are, they are spindling af-
fairs that will not take the
place OF those destroyed, in
a generation.
The District Commissioners
appeal to a don't-care Con-
greSs for more funds, which
they could have If they pro-
tected the streets from de-
struction that Is costly.
Why not let the traffic
pile up a little and act as a
brake on more traffic and
meanwhile work out some
practical mass transporta-
ton? 1t is possible that more
people would, stay in the city
to enjoy the streets rather
than making the streets still
more congested.
I indorSe the views of
Joseph Lapiana Jr., Presi-
dent of the North Washing
ton Citizens Association, in
your issue Of March IS. It's
too bad he is not District
Commissioner.
Walter Raleigh.
Evening star., 1961-03-25

South Korea-there had been
no such long period Of active
fighting. The blow was sud-
den. Within two days, Presi-
dent Harry S. Truman
ordered American forces to
go to the aid of the South
Koreans, under command of
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, and
the United Nations supported
the use of armed forces. The
war was in effect an Ameri-
can war, although our allies
supplied segmentS of the
armed forces. But the Ameri-
can forces were greatly handi-
capped by orders not to attack
the supply lines north of the
Yalu River - lines which
brought more and more Chi
nese volunteers" and more
and more war materiel.
American commanders have
contended again and again
that had they been permitted
to attack the source of the
supplies, the war would have
been ended. Furthermore, had
this been done, Red China
would have been slapped back
on its heels and not been
able to conduct a war that
ended in a Stalemate after
almost two years of fighting.
Leaders Back President
The Republican leaders in
Congress, Senator Dirksen of
Illinois and Representative
Halleck of Indiana, have an
nounced their support Of
President Kennedy in this
serious situation. Rightly,
they have said this is no
time for partisan division,
but a time for a united
America. Republican mem
bers of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee have
taken a similar position.
There have been no charges
of craftsmanship" which
certain Democrats brought
against President Eisenhower
and his Secretary of State,
the late John Foster Dulles,
when they were stalling off
the Reds in Far Eastern
waters, in the Berlin area and
in Lebanon, for example, with
firm declarations and action.
AS one Republican Senator
said: 1--WE have to take a
firm Stand-we can't back
off in one place and attempt
to stand firm in another, If
we are to retain the support
of our allies. But" this Sena-
tor continued, "if we must
come to open conflict in de-
fenSe of Laos, let there be no
'Yalu River weakness, such
as was forced upon us by
some of our European friends
during the war in Korea"
Americans will fervently
hope that the Laotian crisis
will be erased through diplo-
matte means and a realiza-
ton on the part of the Reds
that the United States means
business. The SEATO nations
are meeting in Bangkok. Our
Secretary of State, Dean
Rusk, is attending. The other
members of SEATO- (the
South East Treaty Organiza-
tion) are Britain, France,
Australia, New Zealand, Paki-
stan, Thailand and the Phil
ippines. The military chiefs
of SEATO already have en-
phasized the need for solidar-
ity If action is required and
have been arranging their
armed forces for any emer-
gency. If SEATO maintains
a firm front, a war may be
averted. Obviously they ex-
pect the United States to
play a major part, either in
the negotiations for peace
ful settlement or in any war.
President Kennedy has en-
phasized the need of main
tanning Laos as a neutral
zone.
Evening star., 1961-03-25
THE POLITICAL MIL
Voice of Russia, Hand of China
By GOULD LINCOLN

Is Laos shaping UP as an
other Korea2 The American
people do not wish war. They
have never believed in peace
at any price," however. They
will back President Kennedy,
as they backed President Nc
Kinley in 1898, President
Wilson in 1917, President
Roosevelt in 1941, and Presi-
dent Truman in 1850, If the
United States is forced to q
showdown by the Communists
on our treaty obligations and
anti-aggreSsion policy.
President Kennedy has
made it amply clear to the
world, including Premier
Khrushchev and Mao Tse-
tung, that he is striving in
every way to bring a peace
ful ending to the strife in
Laos. But he has warned the
world and the leaders of,
Communist Russia and Com
munist China that the armed
attacks by Communist forces
supplied and abetted by
Communist nations from out
Side-on the Laotian gov
ernment must end and that
that country must remain
a neutral zone" He has
not said he is prepared to
use American armed forces
to help the Laos government
defend itself, but equally
significant. he has not said
he will abstain from their
use. Nothing, very properly,
is being announced about
the movement of our armed
forces into that area. But
with the situation as it is,
the President is not allowing
grass to grow under his feet.
China, Soviet Supply Arms
The hope is that the Rus
sian Premier will listen to the
British proposals for a cease
fire dn Laos and also to the
very clear words Of the Presi-
dent of the United States.
Up to the present, the voice
heard from the Communist
side in the Laotian situation
has been that of Mr.. Khru-
Shchev, but the hand has
been that Of Mao Tse-tung.
And if the Communists de-
eide they will press their at
tacks in Laos, it may be ex-
pected that So-called Chinese
volunteers will augment their
fighting forces, while Russia
continues to supply the war
materiel. That is what hap
pened in Korea. Indeed, the
Russians have proved them
selves past masters at getting
someone else to do their
fighting for them. Especially
will this be true if the fight
ing is confined to a So-called
"brush-fire war;" A nuclear
war,if it should develop, would
be vastly different. But it is
doubtful that Mr.. KhruShchev
wishes to force matters to
that degree. According to re-
ports, it is the. Communist
Chinese who are more anxi-
Gus for hostilitieS-for press
ing the Communist drive to
control the world through
use of armed force.
The aid which has gone
to the Communist forces in
Laos has gone through China,
when it has not been flown
in directly from Russian
sources. The Communists
have, as President Kennedy
pointed out, intensified their
attacks in Laos, taking more
and more territory over the
months. The time has come,
Mr.. Kennedy said, to bring
these assaults, sponsored by
outsiders, to an end and to
restore and continue Laos as
a neutral" country, not COM
mitted either to the East or
the West. In June 1850, when
the Communist forces in
Vaded the Republic of Korea
Evening star., 1961-03-25
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry tDriters' correct
names and addresses. All let
ters are subject to condensd-
tion. Those not used tnill be
returned only tUhen accom-
panied By self addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star., 1961-03-25
Art Critics

Walter Raleigh.
The Nome nugget., 1961-12-23
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Students from ANU scheduled to arrive are Ray Arnold, sopho- more, son of Mir. and Mrs. Will bur Arnold and Karen Baldwin, daughter of Mir. Robert Baldwin and. granddaughter of Christie Waldhelm. Karen was among s vocalists and instrtnmentalists from 12 Alaskan cities and seven other states who combined their musical talents under the direc- ton of pr. Murray North and presented Christmas concert al ANU last week.
 Also arriving with the AMU students is Rod Boucher from tho U of Alaska, who has been in ski training for university's ski team on the Anchorage ski course.
The Nome nugget., 1961-12-23
Canadian Kids are Up to Christmas
 Tree Tricks Again
Bv The Associated Pysss

Canadian kids are Up to their Christmas tree tricks again,
 As they have often done in the past = because they found Uncle Sam to be Uncle Santa they're flooding the United States once more with pitifuI pleas tagged to exported Christmas trees.
 But the bells soon may not be tinkling SO merrily on sleighfuls of goodies going northward. Tn fact, the tear-jerking tots may have pulled Santa's whiskers once too often.
 A tree from the little town of Tracadie, New Brunswick, touch ed the hearts of men at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and then touched off the ire of the Tracadie parish priest. On the tree was a note from a boy saying: twill you have the kindness to help poor boy" It asked for a box of candy to be shared with seven brothers and sisters.
 The MacDill men hastily as- sembled planeload of food, toys and clothing, and sent it winging to Tracadie. Back from Tracadie came winging some stiff words uttered by the parish priest, the Rev. A. Trudall, about the tactics of the local kids.
 He denied that residents of the New Brunswick village are in dire straits, as the Air Force men were led to believe. He said only two families in the population of more than 4,000 were in need, but tha, l they were being well looked after
 ssChildren these days wan everything" snapped Father Tru del.
 Children in one large famil. ] I know sent about 300 letters witt
 trees this year." he said.
 The parish has populatiol
 of more than 4,0OO and their say 1 ings accounts amount to abou l $2.5 million