Evening Star Newspaper, May 19, 1935, Page 23

ALL WATER SALTY ON WILKES ISLAND Base on U. S.-Asia Airline Found Lacking Supply for Drinking. BY JUNIUS B. WOOD. WAKE ISLAND, May 18 (By Wire- less) (N.AN.A.)—With several thou- sand miles of water in every direction, ‘Wilkes Island, originally selected as a Pan-American Airways base on the projected United States-Asia airline, hasn’t & drop to drink. Several days of Herculean digging under a broiling sun have demon- strated that Wilkes Island is barren in the fullest sense of the word. Al- though it was so reported in previous cursory naval surveys, an unidentified hole which the charts described as a “well” existed on the island and the supposition was that previous itinerant inhabitants had found water there, Any water they found was undoubt- edly salt water, like that at the shore only a few feet distant. The Pan-American Airways expedi- tion not only excavated this rubbis filled well but dug four others in dif- ferent locations before being convinced | of the unusual geological formation of | the island. Four feet down the dig- | gers always struck a two-foot-thick strata of solid rock and coral. When this was drilled and blasted by dyna- mite, salt water was always found be- neath it. “Divining Rod” Works. The only touch of humor to the back-breaking toil was that a woods- man with the expedition, equipped with a “divining rod” cut from one of the island's abundant trees, invariably located water, but demonstrated that the rod was unable to distinguish whether the water was salt or fresh. To the amateur geologist Wilkes Island apparently has merely a loose covering over solid rock, which sheds rainwater like a roof. The island’s structure differs radically from that of Midway Island, where the sand stores rainwater above the level of the sea and one is able to find suit- able drinking water by digging a few feet. With hopes of finding fresh water | ebandoned, pipes are being laid and electric pumps installed to bring water from the ocean and distill a limited supply. Meanwhile tarpaulins have been spread and eavetroughs made for every canvas roof to catch every pos- sible drop whenever it rains. Peale Island Different. In contrast with Wilkes Island, Peale Island, a half mile away on the opposite side of the lagoon, is covered with sand and stores suffi- cient rain water to maintain life. There is a centuries-old accumula- tion of coral consistently on the north- eastern side of each of the three islands—Wilkes, which has the consistency of a slag heep at a steel mill. All three is- lands are covered with trees and vines, densely interwoven, and the colonists must use machetes to cut a path through the jungle. Without foliage ‘Wilkes island would be an expanse of black-stained coral varying from the AUBURN-WASHINGTON CO. Peale and Wake—| | swept the Convent of Notre Dame the building, as firemen continued THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. Copyright, A. P. Wirephoto. An aged nun died of heart failure and two firemen were crushed to death by falling walls when fiames Above are the fire-scarred walls, all that remained of at Joliette, Quebec. to fight the stubborn blaze. Flames Sweep Canadian Convent size of a fist to immense boulders casional patch of sand. Attempts to dynamite a passage through the channel between Wilkes ,and Peale Islands, to enable launches and marges to reach the lagoon and avoid unloading the steamship North Haven's stores on the unprotected | ocean side of Wilkes, have been no | more successful than the attempts to | ing’ fresh water by blasting holes in | the island. The coral rock in the channel is as hard as that under the island. Each dynamite blast dis- {lodged only enough to fill a good- sized dishpan, so the efforts were abandoned. Only a dredger equipped with dynamite could cut the granite- like barrier. Lights on Wake Island. Brilliant electric lights now glow nightly from Wake Island, whose abrupt, low-lying reefs have menaced navigation for many years. A pole was erected by the first landing party as a temporary lighthouse to guide the North Haven at night when she moved out to sea. Now, with an electric | generator running, the pole has been raised higher and more powerful lights installed. A two-pole radio station has been erected, with its own wooded house and sent its first message direct to San Francisco Tuesday morning. This message went through the air more than 4,000 miles from the world’s new- est station, with the call letters KNBIL Tents, each with a board floor and cots for two to eight men neatly line the company street, with electric lights in the center. mess tent, with oilcloth-covered tables set for 50 men, and nearby is the Farther along is the | being dragged by tractor from the| 15 feet in diameter, with only an oc- | sh ore. The unloading of stores does not | halt even during a rainstorm, for the men strip to their waists and toil un- complainingly on the most inhos- pitable spot of land that human beings ever tried to make habitable. But they know that in a day or two they will enjoy movies and all the comforts of home, | (Copyright. 1935. by the North American Newspaper Alliance. Inc.) st ssiearike SR, TREES TO BE MOVED Patent Office Oaks to Be Taken to Lafayette Park. The Master Tree Surgeons, Inc., of Holliston, Mass., immediately will be- gin removing the oak trees on F street, between Seventh and Ninth streets, to Lafayette Park, to make way for the | widening of that downtown thorough- |fare and the removal of the south steps of the old Patent Office. | Secretary Ickes approved the award- |firm for the job and the announce- | ment was made yesterday by C. | Marshall Finnan, superintendent of the National Capital Parks. The park chief explained that the oak trees are fine specimens, although they have been growing on a busy downtown treet. They will be set out Lafayette Park as part of the perma. nent scheme there. 143,571 Babies Subsidized. Germany spent approximately $610 | each for 143571 “loan” babies born | last year, the expenses connected with cook’s tent and piles of food supplies | their birth and rearing being subsi- under tarpaulins. Still farther on are .rapidly growing hills of materials dized by the government under the ! “law for promoting marriages.” Announcing ing of a contract for $2,187 to this | | | SPRECKELS' FORMER WIFE IS REWED SOON | Divorcee Is Married to Third Husband by Same Judge Who Gave Decree. By the Associated Press. RENO, Nev., May 18.—Pretty, so- cially prominent, Lois Clarke De Ruyter Spreckels, divorced only yes- | terday from her second husband, was | | married here today to Frank C. Clin- | | ton of San Francisco and Los An- | geles. The marriage was performed at the Washoe County court house by Dis- | trict Judge Thomas F. Moran only |24 hours after he had granted the | bride’s divorce from Adolph Bernard | Spreckels, wealthy San Francisco | | sugar-fortune heir. | Mrs. Spreckels gave her age as 24. | Clinton is 23. Clinton is the son of J. E. Clinton, retired Los Angeles business man, and | has been connected with a San Fran- cisco brokerage firm (Hutton & Co.) ltor the last nine months. He said |today he recently had resigned his | position, and added that he and his vife intend to make their home in Los Angeles. — Sect to Build Shrine. ‘The former villa of Mayor Ginjiro Katsuda of Kobe, Japan, which is said to have cost $150,000, has been | purchased by the Hyogo-ken branch of the Tenrikyo, and the sect will build | a shrine there. as Distributors In the Washington Territory for; AN\/B\IRN You Are Cordially Invited to Visit the Permanent Anburn Salon-Salesroom in the East Wing of the WARDMAN PARK HOTEL LOBBY Complete line of Auburn models on display, including the famous 100 M. P. H. Supercharged Speedster—the most talked of car of the year, The same reasons that caused this organization to c¢hoose Auburn are also the reasons you should aselect it as the car for you to own and drive. The New 1935 Auburns Look Like $3,000, but cost very little more than ordinary cars. Auburns have Long Wheelbase, insuring riding comfort. All-Steel Bodies; Triple-reinforced, Twist-proof Frame; Wide Seats, Extra Long, Metal-Covered Springs; Ride Stabilizer and Hydraulic Brakes. are roomier, more comfortable, better-performing and exceptionally economical. Prices that Auburn cars bring—means protection for the Owner’s Investment, Compare; Drive. AUBURN AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, Auburns The Big Resale Come in; Inspect; Auburn, Indiana, Sperial added attraction—See Herb Cock and from the Wardman Park display today at 9:30 P. M.; Big, Roomy, Full 5-Pas. senger Luxurious, Closed Car (not a coupe). 120-inch Wheelbase, 6- cylinder Lycoming En- gine. the “Thres Little thelr Thursday, May 23, at 7 P. M., and Saf Big, roomy, full S-pas. senger luxurious closed car (not a Coupe), 127- inch wheelbase with 115 H. P. 8 Cy. Lycoming Engine. Words” In personal RS, e T P 5 and up at factory %995 at factory wisy AUBURN OWNERS—Your service requirements will be splendidly taken care of, at the Wardman Park Garage, ground floor, Calvert street entrance. Telephones: Sales or Demonstration, COlumbia 9164; Service, COlumbia 9165 ] MORE CHILDREN ARE DEPENDENT ON CITY Child Welfare Head Reports 478 Were Charges in 10- Month Period. The number of children dependent on the District for care is steadily in- creasing as a direct result of continued unemployment and the small incomes provided the thousands of individual families on relief, the Board of Public Welfare was informed yesterday. Miss M. Patricla Morss, chief of the | Child Welfare Division, reported that 478 children had been made charges of the District in the 10 months end- ing April 30. The number placed in the charge of the city in the same period of last year was 434. During the past month 21 children were added to the list, for whom foster homes will be sought. She reported an increase in the number of applications coming from private child-caring institutions and from the Public Assistance Division, formerly known as the Emergency Re- lief Division. Miss Morss revealed that at the be- ginning of April the division had 1,684 children under its case. During the month 35 were discharged, but 56 others were received from Juvenile Court and May opened with the di- vision having 1,705 wards. A total of 1,037 of the children were being cared for last month in foster homes under the supervision of the division, including 131 in free foster homes, 844 in boarding homes and 62 in homes where they were working for their care, e Poland Plans Roads Loan. To finance road construction in Po- land, an internal loan will be floated. AY 19, 1935—PART ONE Gets Apology JEAN HARLOW DENIES SNUB ‘WAS INTENDED. MISS BOB HENDERSON. A group of coeds at the Uni- versity of Arkansas tried to tele- phone Jean Harlow, movie blond, but allegedly were told Miss Har- low didn't know anybody in Ar- kansas and didn't want to talk to them. The snub brought a protest from moving picture theaters, with one manager suggesting a boycott. This action was followed by & $6.45 telephone call from Miss Har- low to Miss Henderson, coed, with an apology explaining she did not get the original call. —A. P. Photo. Sears New 1935 6.2 Cu.FT. Completely 1935 Throughout May gCONOMY SpeCIAL Convenient Payments Easily Arranged Small Carrying Charge Check These Features Against High-Priced Models: Touch-a-bar Door Opener 96 Ice Cubes—714 Pounds Quick Freeze Control Interior Dome Light 9 Speed Cold Control Dupont’s Dulux Exterior Finish Finger lce Tray Release Extra Accessory Shelf 3 Inches of Dry Zero Insulation DOLLAR-STERLING STABILIZING URGED L D. Edie, Economist, Sees Move “Most Forward Step in World Today.” By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 18.— Stabili- zation of the English pound and the American dollar, not necessarily on a gold basis, was characterized today by Lionel D. Edie as the “most for- ward step in the .world today.” Writing in the Spring issue of Eco- nomic Forum, just published, this well-known economist declared that instead of letting sterling “seek its natural level” in relation to the dol- lar, the United States and Great Britain could fix a de facto ratio be- tween sterling and the dollar and let the price of gold “seek its natural level.” Dr. Edie continued: “The most im- portant forward step in the world to- day would be to bring about stability as between the pound and the dollar. “It does not have to be final. It can be provisional. It can be de facto. But let the period of competitive de- preciation between the pound and the dollar come to an end. “With this stability of Anglo-Saxon currencies established as a basis of better prepared to absorb the shock of currency readjustments in Western Europe.” Confession Takes Week. It required a week to write the supposed confession of Henry M. | Robinson, aged 21, who is alleged to | have been connected with 555 cases of housebreaking and shopbreaking in it side by side, Liverpool, England. Hurry to Sears and see it. support the world econmy would be | AIRLINES MERGER TALK DENIED BY C. R. SMITH President of American Line Says No Negotiations Are Pending. Denial that any merger with Cen- tral Airlines is contemplated by American Airlines was voiced here yesterday by C. R. Smith, president of American Airlines. Rumors that such a merger was being negotiated had reached officials of the Post Office Department and caused a stir in official circles. “There is nothing to these rumors,” Mr. Smith said. “We never have had any negotiations with Central Airlines for such a purpose nor do we intend to start any.” Smith said that, in his opinion, such a merger would be illegal under the new airmail laws. The question of legality also had been raised by Charles P. Graddick, superintendent of the airmail service of the Post Office Department. “American Airlines right now has all the routes it cares to handle un- der the present conditions,” Mr, Smith explained. _— Aerodromes Increase. ‘Twenty-one towns in England have municipal aerodromes and 22 others plan to establish them. POULTEY AND EGGS. o 1 BECK'S QualityChicks ) [mmed del Br & Wh Cert. Bar. Wh. Bi 10480 $8—1 tons, Bri Duckling T Orpin ). Cornish Game $15==100. Coldspot /;0 . Sears Bought Thousands to Get This Low Price! In offering this new 1935 Electric Refrigerator we are demonstrating how much our methods can save you! Our factory concentrated on this model, giving us the opportunity to sell you a BIG new refrigerator, with 1935 unit, at a spectacular low price. down our selling talk to one word—COMPARE! eature for feature with other electric refrigerators selling at $150, and our case is won! Itis a beautifully designed, mechanically perfect, All- Family Size COLDSPOT, and it’s a marvel for value! We can boil Put Sears, Roebuck and Co. 911 Bladensburg Road, N.E. 714 12th St N.W. 3140 M St. N.W.