Washington News J Society and General
WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, JULY 8, 1940. _ B—1
Civic Leaders
See Problems
In D. C. Growth
Increasing Load
In Wake of Census
Figures Is Emphasized
Pleased with the unexpectedly
large 36.2 per cent growth of Wash
ington In the past decade, as dis
closed, by the 1940 census, respon
sible officials and civic leaders today
turned to consideration of what
they said may be "serious and per
plexing problems" in “servicing"
the Capital in connection with the
big national defense expansion.
Business leaders said there was
an "encouraging outlook” for busi
ness. From several sources came
prediction, that within the next 10
or 15 years the city may reach a
million population.
Washington grew from 486.769 in
1930 to 663.153 in 1940, according to
preliminary figures made public
Saturday by census officials. The
1940 figure, however, is not final, ac
cording to Gerald Ryan, assistant
to the director of the census. The
Washington books will be kept open
for some time, he said. Persons
who think they have been missed in
the enumeration are urged to report
to Garnett R. Brown, area manager
for the District, at the census build
ing. First and M streets N.E., or
telephone Republic 2146, Branch 43,
and notify Mr. Brown.
Figures Certain to Increase.
It is certain, according to Mr.
Ryan, that the figures for Wash
ington, and nearby counties, also
disclosed Saturday, will be increased
before the final tabulation is com
pleted.
John Russell Young, District Com
missioner, declared:
‘Washington should be very proud
of its tremendous growth in the
last decade. I am glad to see the
city step up into the front ranks
of the Nation's largest cities. That’s
where it should be. But we must
realize that our responsibilities as
officials of the municipal government
and as citizens of the National Cap
ital have become greater along with
the rapid growth in the city’s popu
lation.”
Predicting that within a short ex
panse of years Washington will have
a population of more than a million,
Richmond B. Keech. vice chairman
of the Public Utilities Commission,
said: "It’s bound to come, and this
means that the Public Utilities Com
mission must keep its eyes and ears
glued to the task of making the
utilities services keep pace with the
expected increases in population.
Our particular function is to see that
the utility services are adequate and
the rates kept at a reasonable level
so as to satisfy those who live here,
as well as to attract others to the
city.”
Colliflower Surprised.
James E. Colliflower, president of
the Washington Board of Trade, de
clared the count “shows a sub
stantially greater number of resi
dents than we had anticipated ”
. “The greatest surprise to me, how
ever,” he said, “is the remarkable
growth of the adjacent counties,
so that our Washington area now
contains almost a million inhabi
tants.” The population figure for
Washington, Alexandria City and
four adjacent counties is 962,742.
“Business houses of Washington,”
continued Mr. Colliflower, “may well
look forward to further increased
activity resulting from certain ex
pansion of some Federal depart
ments working on national defense
plans. The outlook is most en
couraging. In 1935 Washington was
the eighth largest retail market in
the United States. No doubt it has
now exceeded the volume of one or
two of the cities immediately ahead
of it at that time, and we may ex
pect further expansion.
“There aye, however, many serious
and perplexing problems which are
bound to arise as our population
becomes greater and denser. We
must all be alive to these attendant
difficulties and continue to co
operate closely with District officials
who will be called upon to service
the rapidly growing city.”
Randolph Is Pleased.
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee said he was
“delighted” with the showing made
by Washington in the census. De
claring he had been predicting for
some time that Washington within
the next 10 or 15 years would reach
a population of a million, Mr. Ran
dolph said the 1940 census figures
would indicate that his prediction
may come true.
“It is important,” he continued,
“that as Washington grows in
population it should grow in beauty
and becorrife more nearly the great
est national capital in the world.”
Nearby Montgomery County re
vealed a gain of 65 per cent to
reach 81.444; Prince Georges, a
gain of 45.6 per cent, to reach 87,
177; Arlington Coun.y, a gain of
113 per cent, to reach 56,500; Fair
fax County, a gain of 61 per cent,
to reach 40.668, and Alexandria
City, an increase of 40 per cent, to
reach 33.800.
U. S. Crop Control Cost
Set at $878,973,924
By the Associated Press.
The Agricultureal Adjustment Ad
ministration reported today it had
spent $878,973,924 in carrying out
crop control and farmer benefit pro
grams during the 11 months ending
June 1.
The largest item was $512,460,000
in soil conservation payments to
fanners who co-operated with pro
duction control and soil building
programs. Price-adjustment pay
ments to producers of cotton, com,
Wheat and rice totaled $200,695,000.
Administrative expenses, exclusive
of local farmer committees, were
$16,593,935.
Wheeler Has Golf Sprain
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana, was walking with a cane
today because of a sprained foot
received yesterday while playing golf
at the Columbia Country Club. The
Senator slipped on an embankment.
THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR “SUNSET” SYMPHONY OPENER—Here is a section of the huge audience which took advantage of fine weather last night to hear Dr. Hans Kindler open the Summer
series of Sunset Symphonies at the Water Gate by the National Symphony Orchestra.
-—-.5. _> _ <• - <e
D. C. Resident Dies
Of Injuries Received
While Diving
Thomas E. Flaherty
Suffered Broken Neck at
North Beach July 4
A 27-year-old department store
employe died at Emergency Hospital
this morning of injuries received,
when he dived into shallow water
at North Beach, Md., July 4.
He was Thomas E, Flaherty, 1301 !
Vermont avenue N.W., who sue-1
THOMAS E. FLAHERTY.
cumbed to a brokeft neck and spinal
injury. His sister, Miss Janet
Flaherty, is a supervisor of nurses
at Emergency. The Prince Georges
County Rescue Squad took him to
the hospital Thursday night.
Mr. Flaherty, who was unmar
ried, was a refrigerator service en
gineer for the Hecht Co.
Meanwhile, Maryland State police
last night announced a reward of
$25 for the recovery of the body of
James P. Pannill, 19, of 245 Twelfth
street N.E., who disappeared Satur
day while swimming from a rowboat
off Colonial Beach, Va.
State police and Marines who
had been dragging the Potomac
River off Quantico, Va., for the
body of William H. Young, 60, of
4038 K street N.W., who drowned
while fishing Friday night, gave up
their search yesterday.
Mr. Young, a retired iron work
er, disappeared from a fishing boat
near Quantico.
Willkie Independents
Open Baltimore Office
By the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, July 8.—Willkie
for-President headquarters were
opened here today by a committee
independent of the Republican
State Central Committee. Kirk A.
Landon, one of the original Willkie
workers in Maryland, was in charge.
Mr. Landon said his group wanted
“to interest people who are not po
litically minded in this campaign."
He said it would co-operate with the
party organization.
The headquarters in the Munsey
Building will be maintained by a
volunteer staff working without pay.
Children’Arrested'
In 'Safety Town'
Learn Quickly
Would-Be Motorists
Given Instructions
In Traffic Laws
Automobile horns tooted, traffic
lights flashed and scores of pedes
trians crossed the intersections at
"Safety Town'’ today as the Amer
ican Automobile Association set up
its first miniature city of the year
at the Logan Playground, Third and
G streets N.E.
More than 50 colored children
participated in the demonstration,
including eight who manned the
small pedal automobiles furnished
by the organization. Due to the
rough ground, however, they were
unable to drive the cars themselves
and had to be pushed around the
four blocks of the model town by
older boys and girls.
The curb on the 10-foot-wide
streets were marked as white lines
and many of the amateur drivers
showed a regrettable tendency to go
over them as they cut corners in
an attempt to beat the car in front.
"Arrest ’ Brings Results.
As they did so, however, they
were "pinched'’ by the vigilant
Grant L. Clarke, in charge of the
project. No penalty was attached
to the arrest, but the guilty driver,
thereafter, was seen to swing very
wide when going around corners.
Some of the small motorists, even
without being told, put out their j
hands when making a turn. In fact,!
one swung out both arms before
turning, apparently in an attempt
to make certain that the motorist
in back would not mistake his in
tentions.
Four regulation traffic lights were
mounted on 4-foot stanchions and
worked perfectly throughout the
demonstration with the exception
of a small traffic tie-up when one of
the red lights refused to turn green.
Director Praises Project.
Praising the project, Mrs. Mary
J. Dickerson, director of the play
ground, expressed the hope that the
more than 800 children at the Lo
gan School will have an opportu
nity to see it during its three-day
stay there and will learn to cross
the street only at the crosswalk.
The next demonstration of "Safe
ty Town” will be held Thursday
through Saturday at the New York
Avenue Playground, First street and
New York avenue N.W.
Traffic Record
The traffic record, as revealed
at police headquarters for 24
hour period ending at 8 am.
yesterday:
Fatalities, 1 (a pedestrian).
Accidents, 34.
Motorists injured, 8.
Motorists arrested, 256.
Pedestrians injured, 9.
Pedestrians arrested for vio
lation of pedestrian control reg
ulations, none.
The traffic record for 24-hour
period ending at 8 am. today:
Fatalities, none.
Accidents, 23.
Motorists injured, 1.
Motorists arrested, 109.
Pedestrians injured, 4.
Pedestrians arrested for vio
lation of pedestrian control reg
ulations, 1.
Mrs. August Belmont, music patron and member of the
Central Committee of the Red Cross, thanks Conductor Kindler
for dedicating his opening concert to “the heroic work of the
American Red Cross.’’ Mrs. Belmont spoke briefly.
—Star Staff Photos.
Soot-Covered Kitten Safe
After Eight-Story Tumble
Meow Locates Pet
In Ventilator After
Firemen Give Up
There will be no more sun-bathing
on apartment house roofs—at least
not eight-story apartments—for
Wabash.
Wabash, a three-month-old kit
ten, was taken from the foot of a
ventilator shaft of an apartment in
the 900 block of Nineteenth street
N.W. this morning, the climax of an
eight-story fall and 20-hour entrap
ment.
The kitten, with her mistress, Miss
Grace D. Beaton, 705 Eighteenth
street, and a companion was basking
in the sun on the roof of the Nine
teenth street apartment yesterday
when she decided to roam.
Playing at the top of the shaft,
Wabash, whose favorite recreation
is climbing, broke through the screen
to fall to the first floor.
When the fire rescue squad called
by Miss Beaton failed to locate the
pet all hope was abandoned.
A hungry meow coming through
the grill of a first-floor apartment
kitchen this morning sent Miss
Beaton back to the scene with flash
light, cardboard box and cat food.
Within a short time a colored jan
itor had removed the grill.
There sat Wabash, nearly blinded
and covered with soot.
A little of the cat food back home
on Eighteenth street, and Wabash
was climbing up screens and posing
for photographers just as though
nothing had happened.
Miss Beaton, however, just to
make certain Wabash is unscathed,
planned to take her to a veterinary
this afternoon.
Wabash, shown with her
mistress, Miss Grace D. Bea
ton. —Star Staff Photo.
Man Struck by Train Dies
STAUNTON, Va„ July 8
John R. Talley, 44, Staunton foundry
wwker, who was struck by a Chesa
peake & Ohio train Saturday night
died at a hospital here yesterday.
14,000 Music Lovers
Hear Symphony at
Water Gate
Mrs. Belmont Makes
Red Cross Plea at
Opening Concert
Washington and the National
Symphony Orchestra welcomed each
other back to the picturesque Po
tomac Water Gate last night in a
manner indicating that both now
are ready to take their “sunset sym
phonies” in stride.
The 14,000-odd music lovers who
gave the orchestra an enthusiastic
send-off at the first concert of its
fourth summer season showed a fine
disregard for the side attractions
peculiar to the outdoor concert hall
and acted as tnough they had been:
going to Water Gate concerts all
their lives.
Things which used to attract al
most as much attention as the mu
sic—such as the drone of airliners
and the seagoing music lovers in
their yachts, canoes and rowboats—
proved to be distractions no longer.
The side-attractions were there
again, but they were as much a
part of the picture as the orchestra
itself and the audience, accustomed
to them, just listened to the music.
A brilliant sunset over the Vir
ginia hillsides added to the charm
of the setting as the crowds gathered
early in the amphitheater. Long
before the concert began, hundreds
stood several deep in the Memorial
Plaza, and hundreds of others lined
the Arlington Memorial Bridge and
the high ramparts of the Lincoln
Memorial Causeway.
Thousands Seated.
Thousands of others were seated
inside the amphitheater along the
water's edge between the Memorial
Bridge and the Causeway and on
the steps leading up to the Memorial
Plaza. There were many others
lolling lazily in houseboats, yachts,
canoes, rowboats, motorboats,
launches and other river craft
anchored near the concert barge.
To harbor police and symphony
officials must go credit for keeping
distracting noises at a minimum.
A police detail kept the boats mov
' ing quietly, and pilots of incoming
airliners, at the request of symphony
officials, courteously avoided the
Water Gate area as much as pos
sible.
The program, conducted Dy ur. i
Hans Kindler, was dedicated to the
American Red Cross and at inter
mission the audience heard Mrs.
August Belmont of New York, mem
ber of the Central Committee of the
Red Cross, make an impassioned
plea for further aid for the organi
zation's war relief fund.
Mrs. Belmont walked across the
ramp to the concert barge escorted
by 16 uniformed Red Cross workers.
Before she spoke, the flag of the
Red Cross was raised above the
north end of the barge as the or
chestra played "America.”
Gratitude Expressed.
Expressing the gratitude of the
Red Cross to Washington for ex
ceeding its quota of the war relief
fund, Mrs. Belmont pleaded:
“Give again if you possibly can.
But if you can’t, make of yourself
a worker for the Red Cross. There
never was a time when money was
- more tragically needed. As we hope
■ for mercy, let us render the deed of
■ mercy.”
, She said the plight of the refugees
In Europe “who are trying to escape
Marylanders Willing
To Harbor Refugees
Face Legal Obstacles
Licenses and $10,000
Bonds Required for
Care of Children
By the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE. July 8.—Mary
landers anxious to take refugee
children into their homes for the
duration of the war have run into
two legal obstacles, the State De
partment of Public Welfare dis-;
closed today.
Although the department pledged {
its ‘‘fullest co-operation” with indi- ;
viduals and agencies in placement |
of the children, Director J. Milton
Patterson cited two statutes on the
subject which his department must
observe.
The first, he said, requires an
annual license from the welfare
department for persons—other than
relatives—caring for such children.
The license can be granted only
after the applicant shows “due
proof of compliance with rules and
regulations designed to secure the
proper care of such minors.”
$10,000 Bond Required.
The second statute prohibits the
bringing or receiving of “dependent
or defective” children into the State
without furnishing to the welfare
department an indemnity bond of
$10,000 "to cover each child.”
This, Mr. Patterson said, has been
Interpreted by the department to
mean that it may accept “from a
reliable agency, society or individ
ual” a contract or agreement in lieu
of a bond, indemnifying the State.
This law, he added, is not appli
cable to relatives of refugee chil
dren or placement or care of chil
dren in any institution in the State.
Dry Cleaners to Aid.
Charles E. Rinehart of Silver
Spring, Md„ president of the Na
tional Association of Dyers and
Cleaners, today cabled representa
tives of the English Federation of
Dyers and Cleaners offering sanc
tuary in the United States for the
duration of the war to children of
British proprietors of dry cleaning
plants.
The cable follows: “National As
sociation of Dyers and Cleaners
offer co-operation in meeting on
arrival and congenially placing any
group of children of proprietors
British dry cleaners which may be
sent to the United States in present
crisis.”
No reply has been received as yet.
the horrors of war” is growing worse
each day. They are without food or
money, she said, and it is up to the
Red Cross to do what it can to re
lieve their suffering.
Enjoyment of the excellent con
cert was not confined to those with
in earshot of the orchestra. Radio
listeners heard a portion of the sec
ond half of the program over WRC.
The broadcast was arranged by the
National Broadcasting Co. and The
Star in co-operation with the Sum
mer Concerts Committee of the
symphony orchestra.
The reception in the Water Gate
itself was better than ever before
because of an improved amplifica
tion system. The audience demon
strated its enjoyment by calling Dr.
Kindler back time after time at the
end of the program. The conductor
responded with several encores.
2 Fatally Hurt
In Maryland
Auto Mishaps
Woman, 29, Is Killed
When Car Overturns;
Girl Falls From Car
Two persons were dead of In
juries suffered in week-end traffic
accidents on highways in nearby
Maryland.
The victims were Mrs. Elizabeth
Farrell, 29, of 1235 Morse street N.E.,
formerly a clerk in the Aericultvre
Department, and
6-year-old Mil
dred Naley of
Bel Alton, Md.
Mrs. Far r e 11 d
was injured 1
early yesterday I
when an auto- I
mobile in which I
she was riding I
o v e rturned on *
Central avenue
near Capitol
Heights. She
died two hours 1
later at C a s- 1
ualty Hospital.
In the car
Mrs. Farrell*
with her were her husband. Charles
Farrell, 26. who police say was driv
ing the machine, and her 16-year
old sister, Miss Evelyn Honey, also
of the Morse street address.
Husband in Hospital.
Mr. Farrell was still at Casualty
Hospital today with shock. Miss
Honey was given first-aid treatment,
The Nalley girl, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Francis Nalley, was in
jured Saturday afternoon when she
fell from an automobile driven by
her grandmother, Mrs. Alexander
Gray of Gray ton, in Charles County,
Md., police said. She died yester
day at Sibley Hospital.
Her parents said the accident oc
curred when a door of Mrs. Gray’s
car swung open as she made a turn
from the driveway of Mrs. Gray s
residence. •
William Melvin. 20. of 631 Balti
more road, Brentwood, Md, was in
Prince Frederick (Md.) Hospital to
j day with back injuries suffered when
! an automobile in which he was rid
| ing ra noff the road near Mount
i Harmony, Md.
Injured in an automobile colli
sion last night near Largo, Md.,
George Shiflet, 28, of Upper Marl
boro, Md., was admitted to Casualty
Hospital for treatment of lacerations
of the head and body.
In an early morning collision
Alfred Brown of Boulevard Heights,
Md., received a possible fracture of
the back and lacerations. He was
taken to Casualty Hospital. The
accident took place at Central ave
nue and New roadway, Maryland
Park, Md.
Band Concerts
By the Navy Band, at 7:30 o'clock
tonight, at the east front of the Cap
itol. Lt. Chaises Benter, U. S. N„
leader: Charles Brendler, assistant
leader.
Program.
March. “The Beau Ideal''... Sousa
Overture, "Carnevar.. Dvorak
Solo for cornet, “The Devils
Tongue" _ _ Schmidt
Musician Oscar Short.
Ballet from “Henry VIII,”
Saint-Saens
(a) Gathering of the Clans.
(b) A Scottish Ideal.
(c) Dance of the Gypsy Girl.
(d) Jig and Finale.
Numbers from the motion pic
ture, “Pinocchio."
Arranged Walters
Waltz, “Wedding of the Winds.”
Hall
Pan-American Suite,
(a) "Malaguena” _Leucona
(b) “Batique" from Brazilian
suite . .Nepanncona
(c) “Andalucia” . Leucona
Tone poem, “Les Preludes”_Liszt
“Bacchanale” from “Samson and
Delilah” - Saint-Saens
“The Star Spangled Banner.”
By the Marine Band at 8 o’clock
tonight at the Marine Barracks
bandstand. Capt. William F. San
' telmann, leader: Henry Weber, sec
j ond leader, conducting.
Program.
Grand march. ’’The Pilgrim”..Lake
Overture. “Mignon” .Thomas
Idyl, "Narcissus”_ Nevin
Cornet solo, "Spanish Ca
' price” - Smith
(Musician Edward Masters.)
Gypsy caprice. "Zingaresca.” Curzon
Selection. "Friml’s Favorites,”
compiled by _Grofe
Flute solo, "Premiere Solo de
Concert” ..Damersseman
(Musician George Langdon.)
Waltz, "Danube Waves” Ivanovici
Polka and fugue from “Schwanda,
the Bagpiper”_Weinberger
Rhapsody. “Southern” ..Hosmer
"The Marines’ Hymn.”
“The Star Spangled Banner.”
Man Jailed Year
For Theft of Five
Pints of Milk
Theft of three bottles of milk
two quarts and one pint, valued
at 36 cents—today sent Fred Weems,
31, colored, of no fixed address, to
jail to serve a sentence of a year
imposed by Police Court Judge
George D. Neilson.
The defendant, who pleaded guilty
and offered no explanation to the
court, was arrested by Pvt. H. L.
Sanford of No. 1 precinct and
charged with larceny, on complaint
of Patrick Curtain, 2140 H street
N.W.; a driver for a local mink con
pany.
Mr. Curtain charged that Weems
took the milk from the delivery
•entrance of a grocery at 206 Massa
chusetts avenue N.W. yesterday
morning.
After reviewing Weems’ police j
record, which was a lengthy one,
Judge Neilson sent him down for
364 days.