Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 46, Number 1, Decatur, Adams County, 2 January 1948 — Page 1

Vol. XLVI. No. 1.

COMMUNICATIOHS PARALYZED BY STORM

Doan And Other City Officials Assume Duties Brief Ceremonies Held Thursday To Swear In Officials John M. Doan, local businessman and former Washington township trustee, assumed the office of mayj or of Decatur at noon yesterday to : become the third Republican rul- : ing official in the city’s history. Mr. Doan and the other officials ! were sworn in ducng brief, informal ceremonies held in the council chambers of the city hall. In addition to Mr. Doan, H. VerI non Aurand began his third term las clerk-treasurer: Joseph Krick his first as councilman; Dorphus Drum, Joseph Brennan, Adrian Burke and Alfred Beavers their second terms as councilmen. Appointive officers, named by Mr. Doan and members of the board I of public works and safety — Mr. Krick and city attorney Robert S. Anderson — also took the oath of office. More prominent of these appointments include Mr. Anderson, Floyd Acker as street commissioner, Ralph E. Roop renamed as city engineer; James M. Borders as police chief, Cedric Fisher as fire chief, Lester C. Pettibone renamed as light departtnent superintendent. In assuming the office, Mayor Doan delivered the following address to the officials and city workers gathered at the city hall: "I feel greatly honored to accept the office of Mayor of Decatur, and realize the responsibilities that go with it. Os course, you as councilmen and other public servants, share these same responsibilities. “But we all, along with the board of works and safety and appointed heads of the various departments, have a great opportunity to render genuine public service to our fellowcitizens. We will be responsible for the life, health, property and general welfare of our people, and for the good order and efficient government of the city. I “In performing our jobs we will make friends, but we will also make enimies, as it is impossible for all persons to see alike on any given subject. “The times are tough, and the road ahead is rough. Financial troubles are always a serious matI ter with any unit of government. Equipment and material are scarce and high-priced. We have before us many problems; some of the larger tasks include the sewage disposal plant, the light and power plant and revamped sewer systems.

(Turn To Ptt.se 8, Column 8} Q No Traffic Accidents Reported Over Holiday ! Despite hazardous road conditions, no accidents were reported In either the city or county over New Year’s. | Sheriff Herman Bowman and poI lice chief James M. Borders both I reported a “clean sheet” on their I respective accident blotters — in I the face of icy, wet and snow-cov-I ered roads in that order, not to I mention the hazards of broken I down limbs, utility lines and poles. —o New Comic To Appear In Democrat Beginning Monday An all-around hero, a man nationally known for his exploits with a squirrel rifle, football and base- ■ ball, will join the Daily Democrat force Monday. January 5. In comic strip. Ozark Ike, one of the most popular of all comic strips produced by King Features Syndicate, will appear on page 5 of this newspaper. Ozark Ike begins a new sequence with his appearance in this newspaper. Ozark Ike's creator is Ray Gotto, a Nashville. T 0 *” 1 -’ artist, who, since his release from the navy, has climbed to the top of the ladder as the daddy one of the most delightful, excitifc picture stories ever published- f We invite y° u f to £ollow the ads ventures of e ’ beginning ' next Monda' Weiher Mostly cloud)* tonight; Satyrdaydecr«aan 0 cloudiness If f aU ite •» cold.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Search Alaska Valley For Crashed Airplane Anchorage, Alaska, Jan. 2 — (UP) — Ground parties and airplanes searched the Matanuska Valley today for a B-29 which crashed Tuesday with nine crewmen aboard. Surface craft and 10th air rescue planes looked for the plane on the frigid waters of Knik Arm two miles west of here but found no trace of it. The crash was the second B-29 accident in nine days. It brought the number of men missing and dead to 14. 0 Big Par) Os Nation Hit By Severe Storm Severe Cold Snap Slated To Follow In Wake Os Storm By United Press A storm pushed by winds up to 60 miles an hour sheathed the nation’s most heavily-populated area under a thin coating of ice today from lowa to the Atlantic seacoast and affected more than 60,000,000 persons. The storm swept freezing rains, sleet, snow and mist across the entire section, crippling communications and knocking out transportation systems. In New York City, the bad weather disrupted commuter service for an estimated 2,000,000 workers for the second time within t>. week. The sleet fell on pavements which were just being cleared of the 25.8 inches of snow that fell a few days ago. A severe cold snap was following on the heels of the storm. Temperatures were expected to drop to zero in the midwest. Authorities feared that the cold would prevent the glaze of ice coating trees, pavements and rooftops from thawing. Damage to private and public property throughout the area was estimated at more than $5,000,000 and was rising steadily. Many railroads suspended or curtailed commuting service into the big towns in the area. Some appealed to workers to stay home from their jobs if possible. Safety officials asked automobile owners to keep their cars off the streets. The storm increased the number of dead in traffic and other types of accidents over the New Year’s holiday. A United Press survey shqwed that 172 persons (Turn Tn Paen fi. Column 4)

Kohne Baby First Here On New Year Likely Winner Os Merchants Contest Stephen Lawrence Kohne, who gave out his first lusty wail In a new world at 1:42 o’clock yesterday orial hospital, may be the winner morning at the Adams county memos the annual New’ Year's Baby contest. Stephen Lawrence was born at that hour to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Kohne, of 307 South Seventh street. His mother is the former Lois Ogg. He weighed eight pounds and 10 ounces at birth. In event no other births in the northern half of the county are reported and verified as occurring at B.n earlier haur New Year’s Day Stephen Lawrence will be declared winner of the annual contest sponsored by the Daily Democrat and a number of local merchants and showered with a number of attractive gifts given by these merchants. His birth was the only one reported from the hospital on New Year’s Day. No reports of others born at homes in the north half of the county had been received at Carol Elizabeth Smith was a New a late hour today. Year’s Eve baby. She was born at the hospital at 7:40 Wednesday, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Smith. Her mother is the former Francile Lower. Carol Elizabeth weighed eight pounds and seven ounces at birth.

• ‘ Im- Y j j Hr ... -■ MR. AND MRS. W. L. THOMPSON survey the wreckage of their home in the little town of Cotton Valley, La., where 17 were killed in a tornado. Violent winter sotrms sweeping through the southern Mississippi valley killed a reported 23 and injured more than 200 over the New Year holidays.

Dale Death Is Named New Police Officer

To Assume Duties Saturday Morning Dale Death, former factory worker and World War II veteran. will assume his duties as a member of the regular city police force Saturday morning. Mayor John M. Doan announced today. Mr. DeatK who has been employed by the International Harvester company in Fort Wayne for many years, took the oath of office yesterday noon during ceremonies at the city hall. He- served as a military policeman during most of his" World War II service and made several transoceanic trips guarding prisoners of war. He was the Republican candidate for sheriff in the last county election. Mr. Death, his wife, LaVelle, and son, Don, reside on South Second street. James M. Borders, who assumed his new duties as police chief yesterday, said today that the working hours of the force have been changed to conform with the new 48-hour work week. Shifts will be moved back each month, which provides that eactt officer will work different “tricks” with different fellow policemen. In addition to the chief and officer Death, other members of the force are: Robert Hill, Roy Chilcote, Sephus Melchi, Adrian Coffee and Ed Miller, who served the past five years as chief. Other Appointments Two other appointees of Mayor Doan began their duties today. Mrs. Annabelle Heller, daughter of the new mayor, began her duties as cashier and bookkeeper at (Turn lib Page 7. Column 6) o— Native Os Decatur I Is Taken By Death Mary Jones Dies At Middlepoint, Ohio Mrs. Mary Jones, 70. a native of this city, died Thursday morning at 9:30 o’clock at her heme in Middlepoint, O-, according to word received here. Mrs. Jones, a sister of Melvin Mallonee, Adams county school attendance officer, had been ailing for some time but her death was unexpected. She was born in Decatur but had moved away from this city about 40 years ago. She had taught at Taylor university, Upland, for a number of years. Her husband, L. H. Jones, who survives, is a teacher at Middlepoint. Her first hus; band. Samuel Anspaugh, preceded her in death.

Mr. Mallonee is the. only other near survivor. Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock at the Cowan funeral home in Van Wert, 0., and burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. The body will remain at the funeral home until time for the services and may be viewed there.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, January 2, 1948

Many Die In Dixie Tornadoes

Monthly Waste Paper Collection Postponed The first waste paper collection by Decatur Boy Scouts for 1948, scheduled to be held tomorrow, has been postponed until Saturday, Jan. 10, it was announced today. 14 Persons Killed As Trains Collide Former Ambassador Wedell, Wife Die Otterville. Mo., Jan. 2 — (UP) — "Fourteen persons including a former Unites States ambassador and his wife, and another family of five persons were killed in yesterday’s collision df two Missouri Pacific trains near here, state highway patrol officials announced today. The dead, definitely or tentatively identified, were: Alexandria W. Wedell, 71, former ambassador to Argentina and Spain, and his wife.

Miss Viola Andrews, believed to be a maid of the Wedells who was travelling with them to Arizona. Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Ryan, Los Angeles, Calif., their sons, James Michael, 20. and Frankie, 9; and their daughter, Judith, 18. Miss Jane Raddatz. about 40, San Fernando, Calif. Roy Ryan, 50, Evansville, Ind. E. K. Emmons, pullman conductor whose home was believed to be in St. Charles, Mo. Harry Chambers, negro pullman porter (618 Madison, Lovejoy, 111. A soldier, whose papers indicated his name was either E. P. Gearhart or E. P. Gilpin. He was believed to have come from an army installation near Green Haven, New York. Highway patrol sergeant K. K. Johnson reported all bodies had been removed from the telescoped Pullman car which was crushed by th& second section of the same train during yesterday’s snow storm. Rescue workers had toiled all night in below freezing temperatures to cut away the tangled mass of steel and reach the victims. Many of the bodies carried from the wreckage were so badly mangled that complete identification was difficult. , W. D. Heady, railroad passenger agent here, said casualties were limited to the 11 passengers and two trainmen in the rear pullman of the first section -plus one passenger in the adjoining car. o Teletype Service Is Knocked Out By Thursday's Storm

Thursday’s storm, accompan led by high winds, in knocking out all long distance telephone service for Decatur, also silenced the United Press teletype, w’hich provides state, national and world news for the Decatur Daily Democrat’s readers. As a result, no news of this type is available for today’s issue of the Dally Democrat. No definite assurance can be given as to when the teletype service will be restored. This service is brought to the newspaper office through the wires of the Citizens Telephone company, which reports storm damage the heaviest in the company’s history.

Increased Living Costs Predicted One Top Economist Makes Prediction Washington, Jan. 2 —(UP) —I A prediction that living costs will] climb even higher this year came j from one top government economist today while another appealed to business to plan now for “real price competition.” Ewan Clague, commissioner of labor statistics, said 1947 ended with retail prices “creeping up and no indications of a break.” But he said there were very few signs of factors that could make 1948 a depression year. , ffoweveK t>T. ’pdwin G. Nourse, chairman of President Truman’s council of economic advisers, said in a separate interview that production in many lines is coming up to demand. With the end of the sellers' market approaching, he said, “far seeing business leaders will follow the policy of competitive pricing.” “The catching-up period is coming and we shouldn’t wait for it to hit us over the head,” he added. Nourse expressed “satisfaction” over the announcement by General Electric president Charles E. Wilson that his company is cutting prices three to 10 percent today on a wide variety of goods. “What Mr. Wilson did is quite symptomatic,” Nourse said. “It is a combination of his realization of the real facts of the business situation and a very broad far-seeing outlook. I hope that it will be more or less of a preview.” “There are a good many companies which could follow suit.” But Nourse emphasized he was not calling for general across-the-board price cuts. “The economic system just doesn’t work thdt way,” he observed. (Turn Tn Pasr» 3. Column 6) 0 Council Committee Members Listed Mayor Doan Names City Committees A list of the councilmanic committee appointments under the new city administration was announced today by Mayor John M. Doan. Th j appointments follow’: Board of public works and safety: Mayor Doan, Robert E. Anderson and Joseph H. Krick. Water committee: Alfred Beavers, chairman; Joseph Brennan and Adrian Burke. Street and -sewer committee: Joseph H. Krick, chairman; Mr. Beavers and Dorphus Drum. Park committee: Mr. ■ Drum, chairman; Mr. Krick and Mr. Brennan. Finance committee: Mr. Beavers, chairman; Mr. Brennan and Mr. Drum. Ordinance committee: Mr. Burke, chairman; Mr. Krick and Mr. Drum. Electric light committee: Mr. Brennan, chairman; Mr. Beavers and Mr. Drum.

Worst Storm In History Os City Disrupts Phone And Electrical Service

Indiana Battered By Severe Storms Salem Hardest Hit By Storm Thursday Indianapolis, Jan. 2. —(UP) — Emergency crews today repaired broken power lines and cleared away rubble left in the wake of wind-whipped rain and sleet storms which battered Indiana yesterday. Hardest hit by the storm was Salem, where several small buildings were wrecked and many windows shattered by high winds which swept through the town. Telephone service into Huntington was completely cut off this morning and phone company officials said 80 percent of the telephones in the town were dead after ice-coated power lines were snapped throughout the area. Parts of Wabash were blacked out by power failures and a section of Hammond two-miles square was without lights or telephone service. Calumet City las also left without lights or phones. All northern Indiana highways were glazed by frozen sleet and rain, state police reported. Roads in the southern half of the state were covered with snow. Two persons were killed in New Years’ day traffic accidents. Miss Myrtle Felstead, 25, Evansville, died of a broken neck when the auto in which she was riding skid(he road n&ar McTutchanville. Chester C. Beck, 36, Columbus, was killed when his car overturned after he fell asleep at the wheel. Sheriff Harold S. Zeis of Allen county ordered all roads running north of Fort Wayne closed temporarily. Freezing rain and sleet formed an inch-thick layer of ice on highways in that area. Ice which snapped wires also disrupted communications in (Turn To Page 7, Column 7)

G. E. Aeolian Choir In Technicolor Film Film Being Produced By General Electric The General Electric Aeolian choir, under the direction of David Embler, is busy rehearsing for its part in a technicolor sound film being produced by the General Electric company. According to E. W. Lankenau manager of the Decatur works of the General Electric company, the film, which will probably be released late in 1948 by the Wolff studios of Hollywood, will be based on employe activities in the various G. E. plants throughout the country. The local choir will have “a prominent part in the picture, said Mr. Lankenau. In addition to pictures of the entire choir, there will also be a number of sequences showing individuals singing and at their place of work. The choir will also provide background music for scenes in other plants of the company. Special music is being written in Hollywood for the choir. The author of the film script and a representative of the Wolff s'tudios attended a rehearsal of the choir last month and were very outspoken in their praise of the organization, which has been the pride of Decatur for a number of years. Referring to the choir, Mr. Embler remarked, “the Aeolian choir is a real credit to the enthusiastic interest and cooperation of G. E people and their families. Here Is where supervisory and non-sv.per-visory personnel develop understanding and friendliness that reflect themselves in many fine ways throughout the work day. Being given an important part in the General Electric film is just another evidence of our continuing success as an organization.”

Sauer, Bosse Appointed By Commissioners Sauer Is Highway Head, Bosse Named As County Attorney A long list of --ppointments, headed by Phil Sauer as county highway superintendent, and Edmund A. Bosse as county attorney, were made New Year’s Day by the newly organized Adams county commissioners. Mr. Sauer, who served the past five years as city street commissioner in Decatur, was named to succeed Ralph W. Rice. Mr. Bosse, a local attorney, succeeds Ferd L. Litterer. Both of the new appointees, as well as a number of others announced by the board, are Democrats, and replace Republicans in conformity with the switch of the board’s majority politics. Bosse will not assume office until February 1. John C. Augsburger, a Democrat, was elected chairman of the commissioners during the reorganization meeting. John C. Christener, Republican, was named vice chairman. John W. Blakey, a Democrat who succeeded Dale ’D. MoseS. Republican, is the other and new member of the board. Lester C. Stuckey. Geneva, was named trustee of the Adams county memorial hospital, succeeding J D. Briggs, whose term expired January 1. Other members of the board are Fred Kamholz of Berne, Harry Knapp and Earl Colter, Decatur. Dr. James M. Burk was renamed county physician. All appointments. except that of Mr. Stuckey, are for a period of one year. His is for four years.

Mrs. Verona Venis was renamed matron of the ladies’ room at the courthouse for one year. Gilbert Reinking was named custodian of the county garage and no appointment was made to replace Clyde Harden, who resigned recently as mechanic at the same nlace. The board approved bonds of Norval D. Fuhrman, who assumed the office of county treas(■'Turn 'T'n Pd £fn 7 C’nln v,r» RA 0 Rainfall For 1947 Far Above Average Rainfall In City Nearly 50 Inches Total rainfall in Decatur during 1947 was 49.78 inches, or more than 50 percent above average. Herman "Hi” Meyer, local weather observer, stated today. Mr. Meyer said that the govern ment estimate of average rainfal' for this section was around 31 inches a year. In 1946, Decatur had 30.74 inches of rain, the records in Mr. Meyer’s office reveal. That year was con sidered average. June was the wettest month of the year, with rainfall of 7.35 inches, Mr. Meyer stated. Farmers especially recall that last spring and early summer brought more rainfall than usual Planting of crops was delayed and in many cases farmers were unable to get out the corn. The county’s average corn acreage of 42,000 acres shrunk to about 32,000, the county agent’s office estimated. An unusually good fall permitted farmers to combine their soybeans ahead of wet weather. The wet weather also affected that crop, but the high price per bushel offset some of the loss, it was stated. Mr. Meyer will continue as weather observer and give monthly rainfall reports during the year.

Price Four Cents

Decatur Virtually Isolated So Far As Communications Are Concerned Today Described as “the worst in history,” a sleet and windstorm that struck New Year’s Day still held the city and community practically ex-communicado from the rest of the world today—and disrupted living conditions of thousands of county residents. Officials of utility companies declared today that normal service could not be restored to patrons for weeks. Charles D. Ehinger, manager of the Citizens Telephone company, declared in a statement issued to the newspaper that the storm destroyed more lines than could normally be built in several years. Scores of poles, supporting iceladen lines, were snapped off as the high winds caused the lines to “dance” rhythmically Thursday morning. Mr. Ehingter said that some 800 to 900 teleprffmes in Decatur and on the Decatur exchange have been stilled, in addition to about 250 at Berne. None was reported out at Bryant and damage was light in Monroe. All 33 toll lines out of the Deca tur exchange were out of order, but it was hoped that those south to Berne, Bryant, Portland. Geneva, etc., could be placed back in serv. ice by noon today. It will likely be three days before all those in the city are back in use, he said, and probably as long as two weeks before all toll lines are back. Medi cgl. police, fire, public utilities sick and aged persons, will be giv en preference in the work of re. storing service. It will be months before all rural lines are back in operation, he said. Hazards Created

Lester C. Pettibone of the city light department said that his crews were making herculean efforts to reach first those lines which would endanger lives of residents. High tension lines were down in various sectors of the city and community at an early hour yesterday, but workers were dispatched to these localities first. Three ’‘gangs" worked feverishly in an attempt to restore service to those places and persons in vital need. also. Practically all high tension lines in the city w’ere back in normal operation this morning and the “hot” ones creating electrocution hazards in rural areas had either been repaired or “cut off.” he said. Mr. Pettibone estimated that some 500 light and power consumers had service disrupted and approximately 150' poles had been broken down, but only a few of these in the city. * Farmers, dependent upon electric light and power, were faced with the task of watering and milking by hand, as well as firing furnaces by hand because their electrically powered stokers were not working. Light and power service was disrupted to practically all homes in Union and Root townships ’and most of Washington township, he said. Service should be temporarily restored within a few days, however. Mr. Pettibone said that he believed the department had enough (Turn Tu Pag* * Column 5) o Courthouse Clock Frozen By Storm Time stands still — as far as the courthouse clock is concerned, that is. For the first time since the electric motor was installed on the favorite timepiece of many a Decaturite’ the clock refuses to budge. The hands are frozen perfectly solid, according to jeweler C. C. Pumphrey, who keeps the clock in shape. The motor wouldn't give up the job, but the hands wouldn’t budge and as a result all of the teeth in the connecting cog have been ripped out. It’s only a matter of a short time to make repairs, Mr. Pumphrey said — after the thing thaws out completely.