Evening star. [volume], March 21, 1936, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
--—
WEATHER. The only evening paper
(V. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast > . M • JL'i-i, J-U
Pair and colder with lowest tempera- ^ Washington With the
ture tonight about 34 degrees; tomorrow ■ Associated PreSS NeWS
fair and slightly warmer. Temperatures ■ __ j AX7i,..._i«
—Highest. 56, at 2:15 p.m. yesterday; low- ■ and WirephOtO Services,
est, 40, at 10:45 a.m. today.
Clo.ing New York MaArb, Pag. 13 Circulation Over 140,000
V« QQ ^RO Entered as second class matter WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1936—THIRTY-SIX PAGES. ** <*> M.«n. A..oei«t«d Pr.... TWO CENTS.
iN Ob uOjJOad# post office. Washington. D. C. __ _ . ... __- - - —
: Ba
B
$200,000 DAMAGE1
TO CAPITAL PARKS
ESTIMATED AFTER'
OFFICIAL SURVEY;
-- (
Figure Will Be Submitted to !
Ickes and Congress With !
a Plea for Deficiency Ap- .
propriation. i
_ i
700 WORKERS MOP UP
WATER FRONT TODAY !
~ i
Red Cross Combs Distress Area
to Insure Aid—Memorial High- \
way Only Route Remaining
Closed—C. C. C. Workers Patrol
Dike.
D. C. Water Safe
t
District water is wholly safe.
Besieged with queries regarding
the effect of the flood on the city's
supply of drinking water. Dr.
George C. Ruhland. health officer,
said today: "The water here ts
wholly safe. Bacteriological and
chemical tests have been made
and there is no danger whatever.”
The battering $600,000 Poto
mac flood caused damage esti
mated at $200,000 when it gushed
over East and West Potomac
Parks, world-famous models of
landscaping, it was estimated at
the National Capital Parks of- j
fice today.
Meanwhile. 700 men began to
clean up the jetsam-littered Cap- !
ital water front, parts of which
were submerged 6 feet below the
boiling stream when the waters
tumbled down from the moun
tains, making rivers of Water
street southwest and of K street,
Georgetown.
At the same time, the subsiding
river, which rose in Us turmoil to 18.1
feet above normal stage, as measured
by the Weather Bureau gauge at the
foot of Wisconsin avenue, fell back to j
7 feet over the mean tide level.
Will Escape Storm.
Northward from Baltimore to Cape
Cod a storm was due today to pile
new woe on the Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and New England flood suf
ferers. but the Weather Bureau said
the Capital would escape with only a
light rain.
Despite reports from Woodstock,
Va., that the Shenandoah River was
flooding again, the Weather Bureau
had no fears of a re-enactment of
Thursday's deluge here.
It will be days before complete re
capitulation of Washington's losses
can be counted, but estimates this j
morning put the cost of the Potomac's j
rage at $600,000 at the very least,
divided thus:
General damage to the District,
(250,000.
Parks, $200,000.
Navy yard, $100,000.
Private losses, $50,000.
Ickes to Get Report.
An official estimate of the amount of 1
money which wiU be required to pay
for the park loss was to be handed 1
Secretary Ickes this afternoon by C.
Marshall Finnan, superintendent of ;
the National Capital parks.
The figure will be submitted to 1
Congress with a plea for a deficiency
appropriation to foot the bill of re
habilitating the lawns, gardens and 1
recreation areas. !
The waters ripped imported parks
shrubbery from its roots, drowned 1
hundreds of Japanese cherry trees, 1
gouged topsoil from the velvety lawn
and dug huge divots by ramming logs '
and other jetsam into the mudded
ground.
A scum of mud, 6 inches thick in 1
some spots, was spread over the shire '
fringe of the parks and laid atop the
golf course, the rose garden around 1
the tea house at Hains Point and the
polo field.
uuneiea i;n&m unage, sun ciosea
to traffic, was subjected to another In- ;
cpection at 9 a.m„ when Engineer
Commissioner Cot Dan I. Sultan and
District Highway Director H. C.
Whitehurst continued their testing of ;
the steel work of the ancient span.
Meanwhile, the District Red Cross •
combed the distress area between Key
Bridge and Chain Bridge to insure 1
emergency aid to the scores of needy
made homeless by the rush of waters
which flowed up to the Chesapeake &
Ohio Canal.
"We are ready to spend all the 1
money necessary,” Gen. Prank R. 1
Keefer, hi charge of the Red Cross 1
distress work in the Capital, said.
"We have no estimate at this time 1
What the sum will be.”
Find Temporary Homes.
Most of the families dispossessed by
the waters, which swept downstream
(See D. C. FLOOD, Page 2.)
REFERENDA APPROVED
Alabama House Favors Vote on
Repeal and Sales Tax.
MONTGOMERY. Ala., March 21
OP).—The Alabama House of Repre
aentatives yesterday passed bills pro
viding referenda on repeal of the
State dry lav and on a 2 per cent
general sales tax.
The general sales tax bill was
adopted, 42 to 38, and If passed by
the Senate will be submitted to the
voters at the Democratic primary
May 5, and become operative June 1, if
ratified. It* receipts are earmarked
tor education, relief and public health.
\ I
7lood Wirephotos
Sent by Portable
Machine at Scene
7irst Demonstration in
Field Is Given With
JSetv Equipment.
ly the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, March 21.—Flood pic
ures were sent today from the heart
f Pittsburgh over the wirephoto net
work of the Associated Press by use
f portable transmitting equipment,
t was the first field demonstration
if the recently developed machine.
The laboratory model of the trans
nitter was flown to Pittsburgh from
few York, accompanied by Harold
larlson and J. C. Barnes of the Asso
rted Press Research and Develop
nent Laboratories. In Pittsburgh the
quipment was set up, linked to the
lot work, and Associated Press stall
ihotographers this morning began
eeding pictures into the wirephoto
lircuits through it.
The portable equipment transmits a
iicture 4 by 5 inches, which is re
eived at regular wirephoto stations
is an 8 by 10 inch picture.
(Picture transmitted by the equfp
nent on Page A-3.)
NEW DEAL RUSHES
FARM RELIEF PUN
Seeks to Start Subsidy Be
fore Spring Planting Gets
Under Way.
By the Associated Press.
Flashing throughout the country the
signal to start the complex soil con
servation machine rolling, the New
Deal strove today to bring the Na
tion's farmers within the $470,000,000
program before Spring planting starts
in earnest.
Farmers were summoned hurriedly
to many conferences to organize
:ounty producers’ associations. These
will help administer the vast conserva
tion plan, basis for subsidy payments
to farmers.
Secretary Wallace had announced
;hat the new program, substitute lor
;he invalidated agriculture adjustment
ict, would provide an average payment
jf $10 for each acre of commercial,
soil-depleting crop lands shifted to
soil-conserving uses.
A short time earlier President Roose
velt had signed an appropriation bill
:arrying $440,000,000 for the program
and making $30,000,000 of unexpended
money available. The same measure
:arried a $1,730,000,000 authorization
for paying the bonus.
Wallace acknowledged that some de
tails ef the program are not perfected.
But operation is to begin immediately,
with the aim of shifting 30,000,000
icres from soil-depleting crops to con
servation growths in 1936.
The Secretary said the program was
planned on an estimate that 80 per
:ent of eligible farmers would par
ticipate. Farmers are expected to
jegin signing applications for partici
pation within a week.
The A. A. A. divided all crops into
:hree classes for subsidy purposes: Soil
depleting, soil conserving and soil
inilHinp
Base for Each Farm.
Each participataig farm is to have
i "soil depleting base acreage ’—the
icreage of depleting crops planted in
.935, with modifications to meet "un
isual situations.”
Special soil-depleting bases, cor
esponding to the base acreages set
ip under the old A. A. A., are to be
istablished for cotton, tobacco, pea
luts, sugar, rice and flaxseed.
There are to be two types of sub
iidies—“soil building” and “soil con
ierving” payments.
The soil building payments will be
nade for planting soil building crops
>n commercial crop land in 1936 and
lor approved soil building practices
>n crop land or pasture.
The rate of this payment will be
>ased on the recommendation of
State committees, but will not be
nore than $1 an acre. (An exception
s made for small producers who may
lualify for payments up to $10.)
The second, or soil conserving pay
nent, is to be made at a specified rate
or shifting soil depleting to soil con
ierving or soil buildings crops for
936.
Supply Bill Approved.
Meanwhile, the Senate Appropria
ions Committee approved a $197,447,
)00 supply bill for the running of the
Agriculture Department for the next
iscal year. Added to it was a $1,000,
)00 fund for continuation of the Mid
vestem tree shelter belt project, which
lad been eliminated by the House.
Midwestern Senators and Repre
ientatives told the committee that
15,000,000 trees now in nurseries would
>e lost unless funds were made avail
ible to set them out in the 100-mile
vide strip, intended to hamper future
lust storms.
All in all, the committee added $31,
>73.000 to the measure passed by the
House.
I
FOUR-POWER PUN
AROUSES GERMANY
10 OUTER PROTEST
Foreign Office Officials
Wince as Press Attacks
Buffer Zone Proposal.
_
FUEHRER DEALT BLOW
BELOW BELT, IS CHARGE
Hitler Declares Reich Is Ready to
Withdraw Into Seclusion to
Keep Her Good Conscience.
BACKGROUND—
European crisis was precipitated
two weeks ago by German action of
moving troops into demilitarized
zone of Rhineland. Action, vio
lating Versailles provision, also was
in direct contradiction to terms of
Locarno pact by which Germany,
Britain, France. Italy and Belgium
agreed on no disturbance of fron
tiers of 1925.
France first called for military
action, but more compromising at
titude of Britain and Italy seemed
likely to effect new agreements. In
announcing German action, Hitler
made bid for such new agreements.
Newly approved Franco-Russian
alliance was cited by Hitler as
cause for his action.
(Copyright. 1936. by the Associated Press.)
BERLIN, March 21.—Germany
raised a bitter protest today against
the decisions of the other Locarno
nations to settle the Rhineland crisis,
the four-power proposals falling into
Adolf Hitler's camp with a completely
unexpected thud.
Foreign office officials winced under
every one of the proposals for crea
tion of a new buffer zone in Germany,
for submission of the Reich’s argu
ments against the Franco-Soviet pact
to the World Court and for the calling
of an international peace conference.
The press charged that Der Fuehrer
had been dealt "a blow below the
belt," declaring British and Italian
assurances of support to France and
Belgium in case Germany declined to
accept the four-power plan carried
far-reaching consequences.
"Germany is ready to withdraw into
the seclusion where she can keep her
good conscience,” Hitler himself as
serted in a speech last night at Ham
burg.
First impressions indicated, however,
that he would attempt to negotiate
away some of the sharpest points,
rather than reject the whole program
flatly and take the consequences of
isolation or the possible sanctions
threatened by Britain and Italy.
Modification Expected.
The steps set forth in the proposals
submitted to the League of Nations
Council at London yesterday were
generally considered so drastic that
they could not represent the "last
(See GERMANY,-Page 4.)
RIVER FRONT HOUSES
FACING CLEAN-UP
Montgomery Will Deny Permits
to Rebuild Some of Flood
Wrecked Places.
Br a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 21.—The
flood that wrecked scores of houses
on the Montgomery County shore of
the Potomac River today appeared
destined to result in a literal clean-up
of the area.
Advised that many of the struc
tures carried away or inundated were
both exempt from taxes and “dens
of vice,” the county commissioners,
meeting in special session to consider
the flood situation, this afternoon or
dered Building Inspector E. W. Gray
to refuse to issue permits for recon
struction of any of the houses on the
old Chesapeake & Ohio Canal prop
erty.
Applications for buildings on ad
joining land should be issued only
after "careful scrutiny,” the commis
sioners decreed.
The order to Inspector Gray is aimed
at ridding the county of undesirable
squatters, members of the board ex
plained.
Under the law, persons who are re
fused a permit by the building in
spector will have to appeal to the
commissioners, who will decide each
case on Its merits. County Clerk Ira C.
Whitacre explained.
Upon being told by a Red Cross
representative that some of the houses
in the riverside area were vice dens, the
commissioners ordered police to keep
a close watch on them in the future.
Although advised of looting In the
flood area, the commissioners told resi
dents to watch their own property,
declaring there are not sufficient police
in the county to maintain a constant
guard there.
---1
Star Will Receive Donations
for Flood Relief
The Star, in order to facilitate the raising of flood relief funds tor
the Red Cross, has arranged to receive donations from citizens of Wash
ington toward the $3,000,000 emergency fund called for by the President
as head of the American Red Cross.
The Star has contributed $100 to start its collections.
The quota for Washington, allotted to the District of Columbia Chap
ter of the Red Cross, is $25,000. The chapter has launched the fund by
contributing $1,000 from its own treasury.
Contributions made through The Star should be sent to the cashier
of The Star, Star Building, Eleventh street and Pennsylvania avenue.
Make checks payable to "D. C. Red Croas.”
1 7
f $oundsTike\
I OL'POTATO j -
Capital Responds Generously
To Red Cross Flood Relief Fund
The D. C. Chapter of the Red Cross
today was more than one-fifth of the
way toward its quota of $25,000 in the
Nation-wide drive of the American
Red Cross for a $3,000,000 flood relief
fund.
Mrs, Margaret H. Robbins, assistant
treasurer, announced that $5,288 has
been tabulated, with additional gifts
in excess of $1,000 on their way to
headquarters.
At the same time she stated that
local banks have agreed to receive
contributions for the Red Cross fund,
while Government officials arranged
for a solicitation among Federal em
ployes in the various departments.
As funds poured into chapters all
over the country, the Red Cross
pushed ahead Into the flood-swept
areas to provide emergency shelter,
clothing and food to stricken families.
The District Chapter announced
refugees will be supplied with tools
with which they can resume their
| (See-RELIEF, Page 2 )
Flood Fund
■ ■■ - ■—
Contributions totaling $304 50 for
the District of Columbia Red Cross
Chapter’s quota of $25,000 toward the
national $3,000,000 flood relief fund
of the American Red Cross were re
ceived overnight by The Star.
Little Jean Gross of apartment 210,
2022 Columbia road, pasted a dollar
to the following note: "I took a dollar
that I had saved from my bank: I
want to give it to the Red Cross for
the flood sufferers. I feel so sorry
for them.” *
The following gifts are acknowl
edged:
Cash_ $1.00
Cash. 1.00
Cash_ .50
i Anonymous_ 10.00 !
’ Miss Keyser __....... 20.00 !
Cash . 5 00 1
(See FUND, Page 2.)
TO ASM*
New Hope Rises to Escape
Execution—Hicks Secures
Convict’s Affidavit.
By the Associated Press.
TRENTON, N. J., March 21—Brunt
Richard Hauptmann's lawyers, show
ing increased confidence of savini
him from execution, hurried prepara
tions today for a frontal attack oi
the testimony of Dr. John F. (Jafsie
Condon, a principal State's witnes
at the condemned man’s trial for th<
Lindbergh baby kidnap-slaying.
The defense hopes appeared to havi
taken a sudden upward surge, ant
Hauptmann himself was pictured a:
feeling certain he will escape thi
penalty. He is under sentence to dii
March 31.
C. Lloyd Fisher, chief defense coun
sel, said he did not see how Haupt
mann could be executed in view o
"the facts in our possession.”
The defense hopes were buoyed b;
reports that Robert W. Hicks, a spe
cial investigator in the case, had ob
tained an Important affidavit fron
Samuel W. Garelick, serving a kidnap
ing sentence in the Florida Stab
Prison at Raiford, which he said, "wil
clear up satisfactorily some interest
ing points in the Lindbergh kldnaj
case.”
‘‘Many points in my mind,” Hick
said, "as to what the Florida prisone:
knew concerning the Hauptmann
Lindbergh case were thoroughl;
cleared up.”
Hicks said he would seek furthe
data in Miami during the course o
his check-up on an interview Di
Condon had with Garelick in Dad
County in 1934. Garelick was sen
tenced from Dade County for par
tlclpating in the kidnaping of Di
Santiago Claret, Cuban newspape
editor, at Miami in 1933.
Garelick is a native of Bayonne, H
J., Hicks said.
Gov. Harold G. Hoffman, mean
while, was still trying to arrange wit]
Dr. Condon for an interview to clarif
various points in the case which th
Governor thinks have by no mean
been settled satisfactorily.
Fisher also was hopeful of talkin
to Dr. Condon and felt he might hea
today from Attorney General Davi<
T. Wilentz, whom he asked earlier ii
the week to fix a date for an inter
view with Jafsie.
Kennamer Gets Respite.
OKLAHOMA CITY, March 21 C4>>.
The Criminal Court of Appeals yes
terday gave Phil Kennamer, convicte
< * manslaughter in the slaying of Joh:
Gorrell, a 15-day extension of time i:
which to return to McAlester Peni
tentiary.
Judge Kennamer announced thi
week he would ask a new trial for hi
son because of "startling new evi
dence,” which the jurist said he ha
discovered,
A
'DUCE 10 ADDRESS
TRI-POWER PARLEY
i Strives to Augment Prestige
in Central Europe as
Armies Move Forward.
By the Associated Press.
' ROME, March 21.—Premier Mus
solini strove to augment Fascist pres
' tige in Central Europe today in con
ference with the government leaders
1 of Austria and Hungary, while his
armies pressed forward in Ethiopia,
j The first of the tri-power confer
ences was held this morning, consist
ing principally of a courtesy call by
• the visiting premiers and foreign min
| isters on II Duce at the Venezia Palace.
| The principal conference was called
; I for late today.
Great interest centered on the ses
sion of the Chamber of Deputies this
afternoon, to be attended by Chancellor
- Kurt Schuschnigg of Austria and
Premier Julius Goemboes of Hungary,
r Authorities indicated II Duce would
address the Chamber, probably in a
welcome to Schuschnigg and Goem
boes, but perhaps also with some pro
nouncement on foreign affairs.
Reports from East Africa indicated
simultaneous Italian advances were in
progress on both fronts, toward
l Quoram, 30 miles south of Amba
Alaji, in the North, and Harar. sec
i ond city of Ethiopia, in the South.
Italian dispatches reported Gen.
• Rodolfo Graziani’s air forces flew over
r Harar yesterday and bombarded large
Ethiopian concentrations.
Marshal Pietro Badoglio reported in
• his communique today, “intense avia
• tion activity on both fronts. Nothing
'■ else particularly noteworthy.”
Informed sources predicted, mean
while, that Mussolini would announce
’ constitutional reforms next Monday,
r altering the form of the Parliament, if
not supressing it.
i- . . I
i Readers’ Guide
r
5 Page.
Amusements--C-12
r Answers to Questions-A-8
» Art .-.—B-3
! Books -B-2
Churches-B-5-6-7
Editorial-A-8
Finance -A-13-14-15
' Lost and Found---A-9
i Music -B-4
\ Radio -A-10
■ Real Estate.. .C-l-2-3-4-5-6-7
Serial Story-C-7
5 Society_A-9
j Sports-A-ll-12
1 Women’s Features_B-8
I
May Start Tomorrow if
Flood Relief Situation
Is in Hand.
President Roosevelt today put off
for at least another 24 hours his de
parture from Washington for his va
cation cruise so as to give attention
to Federal flood relief work.
In announcing this at the White
House it was said that while nothing
is definite, the President may find it
possible to depart for his Southern
trip tomorrow afternoon. In that
event he will not include the one-day
stopover at Warm Springs, Ga., as
originally planned, but will go direct
ly to Winter Park. Fla., where he is
scheduled to receive an honorary de
gree from Rollins College on Monday.
He then will head for a port on the
Florida coast, not yet named, where
the presidential yacht Potomac is
waiting to carry him out to sea.
The Presidents principal concern
at this time is not about the danger
of further floods, but relief and re
habilitation work. He was represented
as feeling confident he has ample
funds at his disposal to take care of
flood sufferers and sees no good rea
son for Congress to indulge in any
special appropriation.
Agencies Have Funds.
The President's check-up to ascer
tain the available money for this
work has assured him that through
such mediums as the Emergency Re
lief Administration, Public Works Ad
ministration and Works Progress Ad
ministration. in addition to the Amer
ican Red Cross, there is plenty of
money on hand that can be allotted
ivI vtiu
The President conferred over the
telephone today with Secretary of
War Dern, chairman of the Emergency
Flood Committee, as well as with Gen.
Malin Craig, chief of staff of the
Army, and Admiral Cary T. Grayson,
chairman of the American Red Cross.
The President’s check-up on flood
conditions satisfied him today that
the waters in virtually all of the
flooded areas are receding, with the
possible exception of the lower Ohio.
Advices received by the President also
are to the effect the flood damage
in the New England section is quite a
serious problem and will call for im
mediate relief work on the part of the
Federal agencies.
Congress Action Urged.
In Congress, quick action was urged
by Representative Ellenbogan, Demo
crat, of Pennsylvania on his bill to
appropriate $50,000,000 for flood re
lief. Representative Dunn, Demo
crat. of Pennsylvania introduced a bill
calling for $1,000,000,000, saying he
did not believe $50,000,000 sufficient.
After introducing bills calling, re
spectively, for $5,000,000 and $10,000,
C00, Senators Davis, Republican, of
Pennsylvania, and Guffey. Democrat,
of Pennsylvania, withdrew the meas
ures, satisfied the Red Cross would be
equal to the situation.
Harry L. Hopkins, works progress
administrator, said the 50,000 W. P. A.
workers now helping flood victims
would be increased before the swirling
waters have spent their force.
He has allotted $18,000,000 for flood
work, and has given State adminis
trators authority to spend money
within limits, wherever needed. Be
sides aiding in rescue work, he said
the W. P. A. men were helping to re
move debris from mud-covered streets
and highways.
SKY EXPLOSION PROBED
Astronomers Believe Exploding
Meteor Caused Flash.
OAKLAND, Calif., March 21 (P).—
Astronomers studied reports today ol
what they said may -have been an
explosion of a large meteor over
North Oakland Thursday night.
The thunder-like crash and blind
ing blue flash startled hundreds of
residents in the thickly populated
residential district.
“From reports of the concussion and
the flash, it must have been a huge
meteor,” said Prof. C. D. Shane of
the University of California.
He noticed streaks of meteoric
daahaa while riding in hie automobile.
' *
DEATH TOLL 167
IN U. S. AS LOSS
HITS $300,000,000
New Crests Bring Death and
Destruction—Ohio Valley
Towns Are Inundated.
HARTFORD IS NEARLY ISOLATED
AS RIVER RAGES TO NEW HIGH
-- ■
Rain and Snow Add to Misery in
Stricken Area—Water and Food
Shortages Threaten.
i
Two Full Pages of Flood Pictures
on A-6 and A-7
(Copyright, 19GG, by the Associated Press)
With storm warnings flying along the North Atlantic
Coast and snow intensifying the suffering over the Pitts
burgh-Johnstown-Wheeling areas, the Connecticut River
wrought the most widespread havoc today as it surged
with devastating and ceaseless fury over the populous bus
iness and industrial cities of Hartford and Middletown.
The death list stood at 167, but as rescue and rehabili
tation work was rushed in 11 Eastern States—after the
worst floods in history in many localities—officials feared
| the toll would mount.
The number of homeless approached 300,000 persons.
The 55-foot flood crest of the Ohio diminished as it spread
down the broad valley toward Huntington, W. Va., reaching Pom
eroy and Point Pleasant, W. Va., and Gallipolis. Ohio.
But on down the river lowland areas were flooded from Mar
ietta to Cincinnati. Residents of Proctorville, Ohio, opposite Hunt
ington, awoke today to find themselves on an island. A ferry
boat hastily carried them across the river to higher ground.
Hartford and Middletown Hardest Hit.
Hartford and Middletown were the hardest hit as the Connec
ticut River plunged down to Long Island Sound with a force never
experienced before.
After raging for two days the river at Hartford apparently
had reached its crest, with a record high level of 37.5 feet at mid
morning.
The Weather Bureau said the river was leveling off.
The cities of Hartford and Middletown were without electric
power after a night of terror. Rain fell in sheets today as whole
families of trapped residents were rescued. In Hartford alone
more than 2.000 were homeless. The rains dashed whatever hopes
had been held for quick recession of the river.
A dam on the Quinebaug, near Danielson, Conn., also was
threatened by the new rains.
To the thousands of refugees, huddled in relief shelters in
Western Pennsylvania and down the Ohio to Wheeling—a pano
rama of destitution and misery from three days of rampaging
waters—the snowstorm today brought a new danger, pneumonia.
Water shortages in many communities already had brought
threats of pestilence.
U. S. Experts Labor to Prevent Epidemics.
To prevent epidemics, the United States Public Health Service
kept its most skillful experts laboring in all the stricken com
munities. President Roosevelt once more delayed his vacation
trip to remain in Washington during relief negotiation.
Every sanitary engineer from the Washington headquarters
was sent to Pennsylvania and West Virginia to set up emergency
chlorination systems. From other units, engineers were rushed
to flood-swept communities elsewhere in the East.
The snow hampered clean-up and reclamation work in the
Pittsburgh-Johnstown area. , , .
Some 25,000 W. P. A. workers were mobilized in Pittsburgh
and 6,000 in Johnstown to give all aid. There was no heat in
Johnstown and many of the 6,000 destitute there were ill.
Likewise, in Wheeling, between 8,000 and 10,000 homeless shiv
ered throughout the day in temporary quarters.
In Pittsburgh, there was a gradual return of facilities. More
electric power was brought in, gas was returned to several buildings
in the “Golden Triangle,” wealthy downtown area which was cov
ered two days ago with 18 feet of water by the Monongahela and
Allegheny.
Allegheny Cuts New Channel.
Above Pittsburgh the Allegheny, while near normal, was cut
ting a new channel around a giant waterway lock. Engineers
strove with stone and bags of cement to keep the river in its course.
Aside from the Connecticut and southern Ohio, rivers generally
throughout the East were receding steadily or were back in their
banks. •
But the recession only brought to the rest of the world the
plight of many communities during the worst hours of the flood
I devastation -
Williamsport, on the Susquehanna In Pennsylvania, was typical
of the more severely stricken towns. Little had been heard from
it for many hours. Communication was cut off and meager radio
reports had told of fires. . . _ .
Some revised estimates of the damage in this industrial town
ran as high as $3,000,000. Fifteen thousand were homeless. The
need for clothing was acute.
While snow and rain fell over widespread upstate New York
areas, rehabilitation work continued at a steady pace. Thousands
of persons in the Binghamton area, most severely isolated and
stricken city in the State, were returned to their homes.
Numerous upstate communities, however, were still without
lierht or Dower.
Cold Weather Hampers Clean-up Work.
Temperatures were only slightly above freezing, adding to the
misery of the homeless and hampering the work of “mopping-up.
In New England, as elsewhere over the East, the task of feed
ing the thousands of homeless and refugees created a serious sit
Uat Industry was at a standstill down the rich valleys of the Con
necticut, Merrimack and other rivers.
As the crest plunged down the Connecticut to Hartford, the
river dropped rapidly at Springfield, Mass., and the danger was
PaStThe great textile mills of Lowell, Mass., were shut tight, with
20,000 persons made idle. Thousands were idle in other mill towns
and industrial centers. . J ,,.
Up in Maine, Rumford was a lost town. The only word of the
pitiful conditions there came over feeble amateur wireless equip
meilThe desolation in Hartford was described by Robert Mac
Gregor, Hartford newspaper man, who flew over the city:
"Roofs of houses penetrated the rushing blanket of water like
tiny islands.
“Brainard Field hangars appeared like tilted rafts; Colt’s fac
tory was surrounded by water and resembled the Government
buildings on Ellis Island, in New York Harbor.
Bridge Submerged.
“The flocks of people who lined the water fronts appeared like
black moving chains. The Williamantic railroad bridge was sub
merged on one end and seemed to tip into water like a roller
coaster. The east end of the East Hartford boulevard was under i
water and the tops of marooned automobiles along Automobile
Row were visible. ,
"Tree tops appeared as bushes. Telegraph poles protruded
through the water and seemed no larger than pinheads. The lower
(See NATIONAL, Page 3.)
* 3