Evening Star Newspaper, October 4, 1936, Page 21

oo v ] @he Sunday Star WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 4, 1936. Five Children, Left Fatherless COMMITTEE TOLD OF DISTRICT CASH USEDTOADU.S. Fiscal Relations Study Is Progressing Nicely, Of- ficial Says. REPORTS SUBMITTED BY 15 DEPARTMENTS Seek to Show Governmest Benefits Denied at Capital's Expense. BY JAMES E. CHINN. Fifteen reports showing the millions of dollars spent by the District in the last 12 years in providing services for | the Federal Government in Washing- ton were analyzed yesterday by the special group of tax experts appointed | by President Roosevelt to settle the perennial problem: What constitutes | a fair and equitable basis of fiscal re- lations between the United States and District governments? The reports were turned over to J. L. Jacobs, Chicago efficiency engineer | and tax authority, who is directing the fiscal relations study, as he met, for the third time, with the Advisory Commit- tee the President named to assist him. 'The Advisory Committee is composed of George McAneny, president of the ‘Title Guaranty Trust Co. of New. York City; James W. Martin, chair- man of the Kentucky State Tax Com- mission, and Clarence A, Dykstra, city manager of Cincinnati. For three weeks, department heads of the District government worked on | the reports which the Commissioners hope will convince Jacobs and his Ad- visory Committee that the present $5,- 000,000 Federal contribution toward municipal expenses falls far short of being fair and equitable. 13 Reports Awarded. The picture of benefits reaped by the Federal Government at District expense, which the 15 reports revealed, ‘was not complete, however. There are | 13 other reports in process of prep- | aration which will go to Jacobs some time this week. Jacobs, as reticent as ever about his activities. made no comment on the case District department heads are building up in support of a larger | Federal contribution. His only state- | ment for publication was: “We are going forward and making good progress. We have had fine co- operation and are pleased with de- velopments.” The fifteen reports were prepared by the heads of the following depart- ments: Traffic, fire, plumbimg,. insur- ance, survey, highways, sewer, électri- cal, schools, District militia, Zoological Park, water, United States !nglneel"ll Office, Court of Appedls and the United States Court of the District. | Each of these reports was designe | to show in dollars and cents how much the Federal Government would have to pay for the services it receives | from the District if it could be taxed ®s an ordinary taxpayer. No details were made public, either by the department heads who prepared the reports, or by Jacobs and his Advisory Committee. Gas Tax Exemption. It is known, however, that the high- | way department revealed the United | States saved more than $400,000 in the last 12 years, because it is exempt from payment of the District tax of 2 cents a gallon on gasoline, and that $14,000 & year was added to that figure because tags for automobiles of official Government cars are furnished free and these vehicles are exempt from ! the personal property tax. The high. way department report also showed the cost to the District of paving and maintaining streets abutting Govern- ment reservations. The public schools reported the pbumber of children of Government employes enrolled, and the Fire Department figured the value of fire protection provided Federal buildings over the 12-year period. Each of the other departments endeavored to show the value of their services to the Fed- eral Government, The electrical department, for in- stance, found that 18 per cent of all fire alarm boxes in the District are on Government property, and empha- sized the fact that it is required to install, wire and maintain these boxes out of its annual appropriation. Many of the 13 reports yet to be completed and submitted to Jacobs are regarded as of outstanding import- ance. These include those of the Police Department, Public Library, Public Utilitles Commission, Health Department, City Refuse Department, Office of National Capital Parks, Na- tional Capital Park and Planning Commission, Board of Public Welfare end the Municipal, Police and Juve- nile Courts. . Police Department Cost. The Police Department plans to show how much it costs to provide motorcycle escorts for the President when he is traveling in the District, as well as the cost of details assigned | to foreign embassies and legations, on request, and to the Senate wing of the Capitol when Congress is in session. It likewise will estimate the cost to the department of policing the bonus march and the so-called “hunger marches” of recent years. demonstrations are to be charged up to the Federal Government on the theory that they would not have been held in Washington if it had not been the seat of the National Government. Jacobs and the Advisory Committee fixed October 23 and 24 as the dates to hear representatives of clvic or- -ganizations who have data which may aid in the solutioniof the long trouble- somé fiscal relations problem. ‘Rep- resentatives of these organisations who expect to testify are urged by Jacobs to file reports containing in- formation they may have not later than October 12, so he and his Ad- visory Committee may have time to analyze the data prior to the hear- ings. Thus far, according to Jacobs, the following organizations have asked for & hearing: The Citizens’ Joint ' By Slaying, Widow to Tell Jury of Rent Argument That Caused Shooting. Five young children of the latc Ray | E. Childress and his destitute 22-year- | old widow faced an uncertain future as a coroner’s jury prepared to open an inquest tomorrow into the slaying of | Childress by his landlord during an | eviction attempt. The shooting of the taxicab driver, which occurred in his one-room base- ment home at 69 New York avenue northeast Friday night, left Mra. Ruth Childress virtually penniless and un- able to meet the needs of the five chil- dren, the youngest of whom is 2 months old. The widow is to tell a coroner's jury tomorrow how she watched in terror, with her 3-year-old son, Ron- ald, clinging to her skirts, while her husband was shot down by the land- lord, Donald K. Stanton, 37-year-old clerk. 10 Days Behind in Rent. Stanton claims self defense. He had attempted to evict Childress, who was 10 days behind with his rent, by nailing a board across the inside of his bed room door. Childress broke open the door, seizing the board which Stanton had nailed up. Stanton said he leaped over a bed in an effort to escape the tenant and shot after he had threatened him with the board. Mrs, Childress declared her husband only caught up the board after seeing Stanton had a gun, and was seeking to knock the weapon from his hand. The widow was near a nervous collapse last night. During the day she made a state- ment to police, gathered such of the family's belongings as she was allowed to take, moved her children to her mother’s home near Forestville, Va., ! and helped to arrange for her hus- band's funeral. Funeral to Be Tuesday. The taxicab company for which Childress worked and the W. W.| Chambers Co. will contribute the | funeral expenses and a burial plov.i in Fort Lincoln Cemetery. The cere- | mony will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday | in Chambers’ parlors in the Southeast | section. Mrs. Childress' mother. Mrs. Jessie Johnson, who is herself a widow, ad- | mitted last night that her daughter was “up against it.” She said Chil- dress had no life insurance and had been unable to save a penny above the expense of keeping his large | family. Mr. and Mrs. Childress were mar- ried five years ago. Childress had two sons, Ray., jr., now 12, and Curtis, 10 years old, by a previous marriage. Depending on the young widow are | her two stepsons and her own children, Ronald, 3; Freddy, 2, and the baby. Cots Provided at Farm. ‘The children tumbled exhausted last | night into the cots provided by their grandmother in the small farm house | where she lives with her son, Joe Johnson, about 25, a Navy Yard ma- chinist, and his wife. “My son and I will do all we can for my daughter and her family,” Mrs. Johnson said, “but I'm afraid we don’t have much. I doubt if my son-in-law's family will be able to help much either. They are North Carolina cotton mill employes and have a hard time making both ends meet. “Joe and I have our little place here and a cow and chickens. Last Summer we had a small garden. So we've been able to feed the children, but they lack clothing. “Mr. Childress had a hard time making enough to keep his family. I understand he paid $7 a week for his single room in the basement. The family had the use of the kitchen, which also was used by other roomers. Scraped to Buy Shoes, “On the day he was killed, Ray bought a pair of shoes for my daugh- ter. I doubt if he had more than a quarter left, for a few days before that he bought new shoes for Ray, jr., s0 he could go to school. He was| planning to work day as well as night tricks to buy shoes for Curtis, whose feet are almost on the ground. “The two boys were in the third grade in Washington. I don't know when they'll go back to school. Their mother is almost distracted and I| doubt if she has any plans for them | yet.” Friends of the family said the boys lacked overcoats or warm sweateis now that cold weather is coming on. Their father, it was said, got into an argument with the landlord when he demanded that screens be installed in the windows and a rug furnished for the combination bed and living room. Seven witnesses were summoned by police for tomorrow’s inquest. They included Stanton’s wife, who was in the hallway when the shooting occurred, and other roomers at the New York avenue dwelling. Childress died from two bullet wounds in the chest and abdomen. He was a large man and Stanton told police he feared for his life whea Childress advanced upon him with the piece of wood in his hand. SR T RETIREMENT GROUP Face Dark Future DONALD K. STANTON, Thirty-seven, who is being held for a coroner’s inquest tomorrow into the slaying of Ray E, Childress. —Star Staff Photo. HEALTH RATE HIGH OVERYEARIND.C. Tuberculosis and 8 Other Communicable Diseases Worse, However. ‘Tuberculosis and eight other major communicable diseases were more prevalent in the District during the | past calendar year, and the death | rates for most of the diseases in- creased, the Commissioners were in- formed yesterday by Health Officer George C. Ruhland. Despite these facts, however, the general death rate for the District dropped from 16.73 per thousand in 1934 to 14.29 in 1935. Tuberculosis cases reported during 1935 numbered 1,366, compared with 1,138 1n 1934, The death rate from tuberculosis, however, declined from 123 per 100,000 population, in 1934, to 102 in 1935. In a program financed by the W. P. A. the health office last Fall gave tuberculin tests to 1,658 children under the age of 15. Dr. Ruhland said 556 showed positive reactions. Diphtheria’s Rate Increases. There was a marked increase in the incidence and death rate for diphtheria, with 913 cases reported last year, as compared with 539 the year before. There were 29 deaths last year, as compared with 16 in 1934. An outbreak of diphtheria at the Jewish Foster Home, where 16 cases and 2 deaths occurred, served to em- phasize the importance of the im- munization of all children, whether in private homes or institutions, Dr. Ruhland said. The department is conducting a campaign for immunization through its vaccination clinic, the child hy- giene centers and the public schools. During the last fiscal year, which ended June 30 last, toxoid was ad- ministered to 8,469 children. To stress the importance of diph- theria immunization among children of pre-school age, Dr. Ruhland pre- sented statistics to show that only 458 per cent of the children im- munized last year were under the age of 5 whereas 62.4 per cent of the deaths occurred among children under 5. “It is apparent,” he said, “that if children are to receive the full benefit of diphtheria immunization, greater stress must be placed on protection during the first year of life and from then on through age 5, during which the mortality from diphtheria is the highest.” 1935 Death Records. During 1935 there were 85 cases and 10 deaths of infantile paralysis, as compared with 10 cases and three deaths the year before. There were 252 cases of meningitis and 93 deaths last year, showing a mortality of 36.D per cent. The year before there were but 14 cases and 6 deaths. Influenza cases numbered 153 last year, as against 75 the year before. Dr. Ruhland said it was probable many additional cases occurred, but were of such mild nature they were not re- ported by physicians. The number of cases of measles was greatly below 1934, and to this Dr. Ruhland attributed the fact that during the last year the grand total number of cases of communicable diseases declined. Leaving measles out of account, however, there was a decided increase- in communicable diseases in 1935. During the last year there were reported 1,006 cases of measles, with no deaths, whereas in 1934 there were 6,456 cases and 48 deaths. Pneumonia cases last year numbered | 1,352, with a case rate of 264 per| 100,000 population, as against 1,254 cases with a case rate of 253 in 1934. Extremely Prevalent. The case rate indicates the disease is “extremely prevalent,” and “it is ADOPTS PROGRAM Federal Employes in Industrial Pursuits Make Legislative Plans. A retirement program to be sought at the next session of Congress will be adopted today by the Retirement Federation, composed of Federal em- ployes in industrial pursuits. The Federation met all day yester- day at the Hamilton Hotel for a dis- cussion of this matter, and heard talks by Representative Ramspeck, Democrat of Georgia, chairman of the House Civil Service Committee; Lewis H. Fisher, chief of the service record and retirement division of the Civil Service Commission, and W. A. Colvin, secretary of the Metal Trades Department of the American Federa- tion of Labor. On previous occasions Chairman Ramspeck urged against any proposals Committee on National Representa- tion, Washington Board of Trade, Federation of Citizens’ Associations and Washington Real Estate Board. ‘ oy that would call for additional expendi- ture by the Government. Last night the federation had s din- ner at the Hamilton. a well known that the mortality is high, ranging from 25 to 60 per cent,” Dr. Ruhland said. o Scarlet fever cases increased from 746 in 1934 to 1,606 in 1935, but the death rate from the disease declined from 1.6 to 1.3 per 100,000. Dr. Ruhland reported that 85 per cent of 7,492 first grade and kinder- found to be defective teeth, enlarged tonsils, enlarged glands and improper nutrition. ——— BIDS TO BE DELAYED AIRPORT 1S ASKED 10 GET PERMIT 10 EXTEND RUNWAYS Echo of Boundary Dispute Heard as Park Director Makes Request. HOLDS IMPROVEMENTS ENCROACH ON U. S. LAND Court Action Forecast as Cam- merer Warns Interests of U. S. Must Be Protected. An echo of the District of Colum- bia-Virginia boundary controversy arose yesterday, when it was learned Arno B. Cammerer, director of the National Park Service, Interior De- partment, has requested the Washing- ton Hoover Airport firm to secure & Federal permit for extending its run- ways on land claimed by the United States, westward of Columbia Island. The Government contends that plans Yor the runways encroach upon land, the title to which is in the United States, based on the high- water mark of 1791 and fortified by & line of Supreme Court decisions. Court action was forecast, but Cam- merer warned that if an appropriate permit be not secured, “it will be necessary to initiate appropriate ac- tion to protect the interests of the United States.” A modernization program is under- way at the Washington Airport, but its manager, Samuel J. Solomon, was out of the city over .the week end and could not be reached for com- ment on the park chief’s letter. The letter was sent after Federal surveyors went to the site and made first-hand surveys a few days ago and determined, to the satisfaction of the Government, that the airport proposes to project the new runways across Military road on to property to which the United States lays claim. Attor- neys for the National Park Service, particularly Louis F. Frick, have been active in the case and C. Marshall Finnan, superintendent of the Na- tional Capital Parks, has taken a live- ly interest in the proceedings. ‘The Department of Justice, which took a leading part in the District of Columbia-Virginia boundary dispute, for the elucidation of which Congress set up a special tribunal, is expected to step Into the picture again, with the Washington Airport a party, if it is decided to push the newest phase of the case into the courts. ‘The park authorities hint that the airport concern is likewise “encroach- ing” upon land of the Experimental Farm of the Department of Agricul- ture, but as yet that branch of the Government has not been publicly heard from. o $6,252,104 SPENT FOR JOB RELIEF Public Assistance Division Ex- pended Sum, Miss Hill Reports. Expenditures for relief of the un- employed here by the public assist- ance division amounted to $6,252,104 during the fiscal year which ended June 30, last, Miss M. Alice Hill, re- lief director, revealed yesterday in her annual report to the Board of Public Welfare. At the opening of the year there were 18,208 cases receiving relief. Dur- ing the year 14,080 were added to the relie® lists, but 27,749 were dropped, 80 that at the end of the year the number remaining on the relief roster was 4,629. “Many familles were dropped be- cause the employable -person in the family group was assigned to the W. P. A. program, but many more were dropped because of policy changes, rather than because they no longer needed relief,” said Miss Hill. Outlining changes in policy, result- ing from stopping of Federal direct relief grants, the institution of the social security program and a reduc- tion of District relief funds, Miss Hill said: “The new program will carry a much greater emphasis on social security measures, but probably no relief funds available for employable persons. ““This last change in policy will with- out doubt work a great hardship on needy citizens and it doubtless will cause much suffering and distress, while those needy persons who are eligible for assistance under social se- curity titles will be given more ade- quate and stable service and relief.” — = Bridge Classes to Start. Classes in contract bridge to be held Mondays and Thursdays at Roosevelt High School, Thirteenth and Upshur streets, will begin at 8 pm. tomorrow under the auspices of the Community Center Department. Miss Mirabel Lindsay Will be the instructor. RED CROSS DRIVE Since last March, when the flood destroyed the two ve- hicular bridges, Harpers Ferry has been cut off from direct communication with Virginia and Maryland. In the picture workmen are seen laying a flooring on the old B. & O. Railroad Bridge which will serve temporarily until new bridges are constructed. The old toll bridge, not to be re- placed, can be seen to the right of the railroad bridge. This bridge will not be re- placed because of the hazard- ous approach from Maryland. The map roughly illustrates the location of a new bridge to be built by Maryland and Vir- ginia across the Potomac about half a mile below Harp- ers Ferry. A road will con- nect the Virginia side of the bridge with a new bridge, to be built by West Virginia, crossing the Shenandoah on the site of the bridge de- stroyed by the flood. MAKING PROGRSS One-Fifth of Goal Reported Achieved as Leaders Voice Optimism. Achievement of more than one-fifth of their goal in one-third of the | membership drive period was reported last night by Red Cross campaigners. Despite the discrepancy between the fractions, officials had no doubt that the anticipated enrollment of 65,000 will be obtained by midnight, October 16, the closing date of the twentieth annual District Red Cross roll call. It was pointed out that bad weather during the first part of last week practically tied the hands of thou- sands of volunteer solicitors. Furthermore, said officials at campaign headquarters, the 13,537 membership total reported yesterday was only the number for which actual receipts have been received at head- quarters. Many units are waiting | to complete their canvasses before turning in lists, it was explained. Returns thus far have been from only about a dozen groups in the seven main solicitation divisions. These are reporting periodically, while others, although they have the memberships, are holding back. 100 Per Cent Enroliment. Some units have enrolled their personnel 100 per cent, it was an- nounced last night. Among these are the Washington Board of Trade ex- ecutive office, Weaver Bros. real estate, American Express Co., office of Corporation Counsel Elwood H. Seal, and several Government units. The enrollment total jumped yester- day by 1,200. The Government divi- sion, under Maj. Gen. Fred W. Boschen, Army finance chief, con- tinued to retain its large lead, counting s total of 9,841 members. Next was with the financial group, under Robert V. Fleming, with 907 members. David A. Skinner's utilities campaigners have signed up 875; general business, John Saul, 666: professional, Dr. A. C. Christie, 555; residential, Mrs. Cary T. Grayson, 198, and miscellaneous (re- turns received at headquarters, 1416 H street, and by mail), 495. Apartment Unit Has 288. Partial returns from six apartment houses credited this solicitation unit, headed by Miss Elizabeth Wightman, with 288 membgrships. Volunteer Anacostia Flats Ideal Place to Mix Cakes, Says U. S. Expert For Washington housewives who are having trouble with their angle cakes, here's & tip from Uncle Sam— ° Try the mud flats along the Ana- costis River! The Government, always on the which are at sea level, -ought to be able to produce cakes of a quality that is unknown out in Tenleytown, where the altitude is 420 feet. For that matter, District cakes should be pretty good in general, that the :mumn.mmuomm eet. The effect of altitude on cake mak- ing was discovered by home econom- N FROM MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA OLD R.R.BRIDGE OLD TOLL BRIDGE WASHED AWAY EW BRIDGE > O, SHENANDOAH BRIDGE R WASHED AWAY NEW BRIDGE T0 BE BUILT VIRGINIA captains have been appointed for 65 apartment buildings, although this is the first year the Red Cross has at- tempted apartment and house-to- house solicitation. Many workers in this d'vision have yet to report, but officials predicted théy had been suc- cessfui. In the last-two days reports have come from the La Salle and West- chester Apartments, the Shoreham and Wardman Park Hotels and the apartment houses at 2101 Connecticut avenue and 1661 Crescent place. Miss Wightman urged apartment dwellers who have joined the Red Cross a* their offices to notify the volunteer captains for their apartment houses so that a complete record can be made of her workers' canvass. Poster Is Explained. Indorsing the campaign yesterday | Rear Admiral Russell R. Waesche, commandant “ of the Coast Guard, explained the significance of the poster in the Coast Guard headquarters | window in the 1500 block of H street. The poster shows Uncle Sam with a Red Cross nurse and bears the slogan, “Partners in Service.” Admiral Waesche told how for many years the Red Cross and Coast Guard have worked hand in hand during times of emergency, directing together the rescue and relief activities which major catastrophes necessitate. “Whenever we are threatened with floods, hurricanes or other disasters, the Coast Guard immediately gets in touch with Red Cross headquarters to offer the facilities of our service,” the admiral said. Another message of indorsement came yesterday in a letter from Dr. George C. Ruhland, District health officer, to Brig. Gen. F. R. Keefer, chairman of the District Red Cross Chapter. Dr. Ruhland thanked the chapter for the first aid assistance given by it during the G. A. R. en- campment, calling the service “a demonstration that provides an un- answerable argument for the con- tinued and universal support of the Red Cross.” BOY HIT IN LEGS BY STRAY BULLET Jack Dunn, 14, Wounded While; Walking Along Memorial Highway. A stray rifle bullet, presumably fired from the Virginfa bank of the Poto- mac, wounded Jack Dunm, 14, 1464 Clifton street, in both legs yesterday afternoon as he walked toward Alex- andria on the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. The youth was taken to Emergency Hospital by a passing motorist, Robert Mills, 1629 West Virginia avenue northeast. The bullet, which doctors said was from a .22-caliber rifie, entered the left thigh and coursed to the right thigh where it lodged. Doctors admin- istered anti-tetanus serum, but planned to leave the bullet in the boy's body until the wound is almost healed. The injury was described as not serious. ‘With Jack when he was shot was & companion, Paul Wade. They were walking near the Capital Overlook. Jack told his father, W. F. Dunn, he heard shooting slong the highway, but paid no attention to it until he was struck by the rifie bullet. Park police began an investigation immediately. DONKEY BALL GAME SET UPPER MARLBORO, Md,. Octo- ber 3—Members of the local and BROADER POWERS ASKED FOR BOARD Miss Morss Urges Changes to Deal With Juvenile Delinquency. Broadening of the powers of the Board of Public Welfare to deal with the problems of juvenile delinquency is urged by Miss Patricia Morse, chief of the Division of Child "Welfare, in her annual report, made public yes- | terday by Welfare Director Elwood Street. | Changes relating to child welfare administration, the licensing and su- pervision of boarding homes for chil- dren, and the birth registration law were studied during the last fiscal year, but drafts of proposed legisla- tion were not completed before the past session of Congress ended. Miss Morse explained that the pro- posed changes retained all the powers Welfare Board, but added others | deemed needed for a more unified and | flexible service. Provisions Suggested. Among these were: Authority to investigate the family | circumstances of children reported | destitute or neglected. “There is no | lic Welfare law providing for this,” | Miss Morse said. ‘“Adequate under- | standing, based on all the facts, may | ofter show that separation of the | child from his family by commitment | | is unnecessary. | To provide supervision in the child’s | own home, and relief if necessary, to | | prevent disorganization of the home. The present act makes no provision for family relief. Authority to assume custody and provide support for any destitute child who cannot be properly cared for in his own home, parents or guardian. “There are many instances of parents temporarily un- able to carry their responsibility, for whom the court room is an added ordeal, and an ordeal for the child, when it is necessary to accept the child for care through this proceed- ing,” Miss Morss said. Care for Children. Authority to provide for, or plan for, children born out of wedlock. Many such children come to the at- tention of the welfare board as de- pendents and delinquents, Miss Morss said. “As a preventive service, it is im- portant that the board be equipped with a staff with special knowledge to .give. understanding and assistance before the birth of a child, to aid in making practical plans for proper pre- natal confinement care and to assist in initiating and following through legal proceedings whereby the mother may gain support for the child from the father,” she said. Miss Morss said 14 additional social workers, a psychologist, a psychiatrist and three more clerks were needed by her division. She said the daily aver- age number of children under cage of the board last fiscal year was 1,751. “Marital conflicts as a factor in the disorganization of the family seem to be increasingly a cause in the neglect situations in which the division is | asked to give service,” she reported. | In almost 60 per cent of the problems | of the neglected children handled by the board this was a factor, she added. Plan Landscape Exhibit. Beginning tomorrow the Landscape Club of Washington will exhibit the work of its members for the remainder of October at the Mount Pleasant Branch of the Public Library, Six- teenth and Lamont streets, and duties previously vested in the | specific authority in the Board of Pub- | with the consent of | HARPERS FERRY PROMISED SPANS FOR TWO RIVERS New Hope for Quick End of Post-Flood Depression Seen in Negotiations. CROSSING OVER POTOMAC WILL COST $600,000 Meanwhile, Work Is Started on Temporary Planking of B. & 0. Rail Span. BY GORDON EAMES BROWN, Btaft Correspondent of The Star. HARPERS FERRY, W. Va., October 3—A new hope for an end of the local depression, which has paralyzed commerce sinee last Spring’s floods destroyed two highway bridges here, was prevalent in this historic territory today as construction of new spans across the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers became a certainty. Maryland Roads Commission offie cials said negotiations have been com- pleted with Virginia for a $600,000 bridge across the Potomac from Sandy Hook, just below Harpers Ferry on the Maryland shore, to & new loca- tion on the Virginia shore about half a mile south of Harpers Ferry. Con- currently, West Virginia Highway Commissioner Burr Simpson declared a bridge would be built across the Shenandoah as a second link in the chain of two spans indirectly to join this State and Maryland. | Meanwhile, work has been started on a temporary bridge across the Po- itomnc where timbers are being laid on the old Baltimore & Ohio Rail« road span to permit the dual traffic of trains and automobiles. Summer Nearly Disastrous. Local merchants were confident the Summer of 1937 would not be a repeti- tion of the past six months, which have brought near commercial ruin to the 1.400 residents of Harpers Ferry | and adjacent Bolivar. i Bids for the new Potomac River link probably will be opened before the first | of the year. Construction, then, would | begin early next Spring. Some $560.- 000 of the cost will be divided equally between Maryland and the Federal Government under the emergency flood appropriation distributed through the Bureau of Public Roads. Mary- land must bear a greater financial burden than Virginia, since the fore {mer has jurisdiction over the river. Some 2 miles of road extensions to link the bridge approaches with thor= oughfares on both shores must be con= structed by the three States. | Plans for the Shenandoah span have not been revealed. Commissioner Simpson, however, said last night: “If Maryland and Virginia get together on this thing. we will put up the other bridge.” The route from Washington through Prederick will cross the Poto= mac at Sandy Hook, proceed along the western shore of the Potomac into | West Virginia, and cross the proposed Shenandoah bridge into Harper's Ferry. Inadequacies Cited. The inadequacies of the Maryland approach to the destroyed span were cited by Nathan Smith, chief engineer | of the Maryland commission, as the | reason for the detour into Virginia. | He said that the narrow road, winde | ing around a bluff before it reaches | the old bridge entrance, is a traffic | hazard. Topographic limitations pre- vent changes which would be practical in, reducing the dangers, he said. ‘The economic life blood of this tere ritory is the tourist trade, attracted here by the locale’'s association with the arsenals built by Washington, the pre-presidential life of Jefferson and the vital events of the Civil War period and the beautiful scenery. When the traffic of visitors ceases, commerce ends. March 17 is a never-to-be-forgotten date in local annals. Rising a foot an hour until their levels were 55 feet above normal low points, the Potomas and the Shenandoah, meeting at this junction of three States, swept through *he town, submerged shops and homes and drove frightened residents into nearby hills. Immediate damage from the flood was tremendous. But when the turbu= lent waters carried away the two highway bridges, that damage was to« become the source of the town's virtual economic isolation. The cone tinued lack of bridges meant great hardships for Harper’s Ferry and Bolivar. Except for railroads, travel through Harper's Ferry has been stopped. The druggist, the taxi driver, the service station owner, the restaurant proprietor and the general store keeper ‘are unanimous in their morose declaration: “Business is terrible, never been worse.” Lay Planks on Rail Span. Without bridges since the flood, the first remedy came after discucsion between Maryland, West Virginia and | Baltimore & Ohio officials. They de- cided to lay planks along the old railroad bridge, flush with the tracks, so vehicles could proceed cautiously over the structure. Work on ap- proaches to the makeshift span, which will cost some $30,000 in conversion expenses, has been started. It will be finished in three weeks. Only 8 or 10 trains use the route daily. Once bearing the tracks of the main line, the bridge has been a cut-of to Winchester, through Harper's Ferry, since another span was built in 1931. Both bridges fork out from the mouth of a tunnel and pass over a road on the Maryland side, Signals and watchmen will be eme ployed to prevent accidents, but na- tives are convinced the span will be shunned by some travelers. As a temporary remedy, the plan was welcomed by merchants. Most of them feel that the measure will greatly restore their dwindled trade. They think their losses, amounting to some three-quarters of their former income, will not continue to such a devastating degree. Bavings deposits in France are falle ing off after reaching an all-time high of $3,750,000,300 in March,