Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 284, Decatur, Adams County, 3 December 1959 — Page 1

Vol. LVII. No. 284.

260 Persons Killed As Dam Bursts, Inundating Sleeping Riviera Town - — — — ■»■■■■■

600 More Tickets I For Rides Saturday [ A limited number of additional tickets were made available today for the third annual Santa Clause train rides next Saturday, as final i plans for the event were announced. Since all of the available 3,000 children’s tickets were picked up so quickly this year and there are still some adult tickets which can be purchased, the committee has decided to issue an additional 200 children’s tickets for each train. Merchants may reserve these tickets on a first come, first served basis until they too are exhausted. k Parents are urged to mark the age of their children on the tickets to assist in future planning, since more of the younger children can be accomodated in the same coach snace. It was emphasized again that only tickets issued for a particular train can be honored on that train. The Erie railroad is providing 12 coaches and this is the limit of eouipment available. Many of these cars are being brought in from a great distance for this event, since most passenger cars are assigned to regular scheduled runs. Police chief James Borders asked that special attention be given to posted no parking areas which are to be left open to insure free flow of traffic. City police and the Adams county sheriff s department are cooperating to handles the traffic problem which has been handled very smoothly in previous years. The trains will be using the north track and will be ready about 30 minutes before departure time. Winchester street and Third street will be blocked while the train is (Continaad on pay »!x)

——«— Urges Utility To Halt Work

INDIANAPOLIS (UPD-Gover-nor Handley’s office revealed today that the chairman of a Senate subcommittee studying a proposed dunes national park in Indiana has urged a big utility to stop construction of a power plant in the area. Robert J. Fink, Handley’s administrative assistant, said that Sen. Ernest Gruening (D-Alaska) sent a telegram several weeks ago to Northern Indiana Public Service Co. officials at Hammond. Gruening urged NIPSCO president Dean H. Mitchell to “cease construction activity and delay further activity until Congress has had an opportunity of deciding what shall be done with this area.’’ A multi-million dollar power plant to serve the Gary steel area was announced by Mitchell some time ago, to be located in the general area proposed for a Dunes National Monument. Mitchell's office said after the disclosure that he replied to Gruening’s Nov. 12 telegram and letters Nov. 13 and Nov. 25 from two other senators on the Gurening committee. Mitchell’s reply merely outlined reasons for building the generating station at a location chosen nearly 30 years ago. Company spokesmen , said there has been no slowdown of activity preparatory to construction. Gruening favors a national park covering much of an area which Indiana state officials want used for a huge industrial area and a seaport on Lake Michigan on grounds it would greatly expand the state’s economy. Gruenin ’ n nd / Sen. Paul H. Douglas (D-Ill.) are leaders in a battle to set aside the land for park purposes. Fink’s disclosure of the telegram came as he read a statement by Handley at a Senate hearing on unemployment- In the statement, Handley made a pointed reference to Douglas and Gruening without mentioning them«4r name. Certain members of Congress, he said, “profess great concern

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NBWBPAPBB IN ADAMS COUNTY

I- - - Open House Saturday At County Building

Public ceremonies officially opening the new $43,000 county highway building, just north of Monroe in Washington township, will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, the county commissioners and county highway superintendent announced today. The building, built jy Yost Construction Co., is now complete, and the department is operating from it. Haugk Heating & Appliances had the heating and plumbing contract, and electrical work was done by Reynolds Electric. Built with tilted concrete walls requiring no forms, and roofed with triple galvanized steel, the building should need little repair in the future, Lawrence Noll, highway superintendent, pointed out. Useful Building The new building is 140 feet by 60 feet in width, and is a much more useful building than many county buildings costing far more. The 2% acres of ground is located just north of the county 4-H fair grounds, the buildings of which are used during the winter by the county to store equipment. Those attending the open house will be served coffee and cookies and taken on a tour of the building and grounds to see the practical uses of |he building. The area around the building has been blacktopped so that the heavy county equipment can aL ways get out to the highways for clearing snow, and working on the roads. A parking area surrounds the building. 6,000 Gallon Tanks On the south side of the building are two pumps. One pump is con-

over unemployment and distressed economic regions, yet continually pursue a policy of harassment and delay in our effrts to create a potential of thousands of new jobs by expansion of the Northern Indiana port area.”' Handley said such “negative interference" is frustrating. “Reports have just reached me that your firm is destroying the Indiana Dunes by current construction activity at the site of the proposed Indiana Dunes National Monument,” Gruening said in the telegram. “If these reports are correct, such action would, in my view, be very indiscreet for a public utility and wholly inadvisable even from your own standpoint while bills for creation of a monument are under consideration by the Congress. “As chairman of a Senate subcommittee party which examined the site and as author of a pending bill which seeks to reach a solution fair to all interests, I respectfully urge you to cease construction activity on the proposed Dunes National Monument site and to delay further such activity until the, Congress of the United States h?s had an opportunity of deciding what shall be done with this area.” Gruening said he expected a reply from Mitchell “at your earliest convenience.” Sens. Frank 1 Moss of Utah and Richard Neuberger of Oregon wrote similar messages to Mitchell and he made similar replies. “We will use only 1,500 feet of lake front,” Mitchell Wrote. “Diversification of generating facilities is vital to our national defense. Sound economic planning, diversity of power production, and proximity to large electric load centers fixed the Burns Harbor site as the best location so this new station. ‘lt is our belief the location is in the public interest and essential to the well-being of all of the people living here. Business, civic and community leaders agree with this point or view.”

. nected to a 6,000 gallon gasoline > storage tank, properly installed , beneath a cement pump area ac- ’ cording to state fire marshal’s reg- ( ulations by the county department . itself. There are two gasoline hoses running from the one pump, to . facilitate handling of the county trucks. j Just west of the gasoline pump ’ is a diesel pump, also attached to . a 6,000 gallon oil storage tank, . installed like the gas tank. The large storage tanks will permit , the county to buy gas and oil at I chfeaper rates. b The grounds around the building ’ will be landscaped and grass plant- . ed. Small shrubs are already planted next to the building. Interior Described I The large equipment doors oper- , ate electrically to acilitate move- ; ment. Near the southeast corner of the building, pillars for radio] : antenna have been installed. Radio ; contact between the headquartres , building and every vehicle will cut j down on the mileage necessary to check up on workers, and send , them on new a? signmen _ s. . Insde the building, on the south- “ east corner, are the two offices. i Superintendent Noll has a small office, 13% feet by 5% feet, where , of roads and bridge* in the county. Adjoining the superintendent’s , office is the clerk’s office, which , includes the filing cabinets and filing space. This corner room is 13% feet square. Workers Room Connected by an entranceways is . the worker’s room. Folding chairs are available, and a drawer in the central tables used to collect the daily reports. Rest rooms adjoin the worker’s room and the clerk’s room. Stalls have been painted on the floor of the main garage section of the building so that each truck and piece of equipment has its proper parking place. ‘ Through the center of the building is a large drainage channel, properly raised for drainage, and covered with a grate, so that melted snow and water from the trucks can be taken from the building, rather than collecting in puddles. A parts room, with storage space for truck parts, allows the full-time mechanic to do most of the maintenance work on the seven trucks and other heavy equipment, including the new snow plows that can be attached or detached in three seconds, saving thousands of dollars in time each year. Modern Equipment An air compresor, used to pump up tires, clean equipment, and for pressure for grease guns, is convenient to the greasing area, where each man can work on his own truck. The highway department also has its own welding equipment, used or bridge sand trucks and other necessary repairs. A tire rack is now under construction to hold spare tires. Tool racks are already built in the northwest corner. A nail cubboard will be placed there, too. Behind the new building, gravel has already been stockpiled, together with a large mound of dirt, which may be needed by the department A circle driveway around the stockpile has been built. Bridge plank, tile and cement pipe are also stored in this area. A new blacktop material, which can be spread during the winter in wet and snowy weather, is also on hand. < Because of the light traffic in front of the highway garage, no flagman is now necessary when the equipment drives out each as was “ecewary at the old building in downtown Decatur All county workers now start from the garage each morning, allowing a better check to be made personally by the superintendent. Good Fellows Club Delta Theta Tau .... SIOO.OO Mr. & Mrs. Dick Heller, Jr. 5.00 Catholic Ladies of Columbia 5.00 Total 1110.00

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, Dec. 3, 1959.

FREJUS, France (UPI) — The 200-foot high Malpasset Dam burst Wednesday night with a noise like! the crack of doom and sent a 35--foot wall of water onto this sleep, ing Riviera town, killing at least 260 persons. The official death toll was announced at rescue headquarters of the regional prefect in Mar- , seilles. Additional scores of vilI lagers were feared swept to their death when 45 million tons of water cascaded through the 10mile long Reynan River valley. Authorities said 52 injured sur-* vivors were in the hospital here and that other injured had been taken to nearby towns. Frejus, founded by Julius Caesar and a target of the Allied invasion of the Mediterranean coast of France in August, 1944, escaped total destruction because a slight rise of ground divided the wall of water into twin torrents that roared through the town's : edges. But the town of 14,000 was a ■ scene of devastation, stunned and flooded, some of its streets running in rivers six feet deep. A .'French army rescue team sail . the scene during the night was . blood chilling with screams and , cries for help coming from the , darkness. The morgue was a scene of chaos. Bodies of men, women and ] children, most of them naked,, their clothes stripped off by the fast moving waters, lay side by side in the morgue, its chapel and neighboring buildings taken over as morgue annexes. Long lines of anxious relatives ' tom? sobbing, some moaning*] I moved through the morgaes, AHI 1 ing for tfaeir kin and found then* 1 dead. Flood survivors told of seeing neighbors and even members of their own families swept from rooftops where they had clambered in an effort to escape. One rescue worker, a teacher, found several of her pupils half buried in the mud, all dead. On a highway stood a car, only its roof showing. Its driver escaped by climbing a tree. His wife and child were swept away Power Station Destroyed The rushing waters carried away the town’s new power station, plunging it into a darkness lighted only by the faint starlight that followed five days pf torrential rains and gales. The night of fear and sudden death was worst in the farmhouses which dot the 10 miles of valley between Frejus and the dam, along a highway where trucks and cars were swept away like matchsticks. A moving passenger train was derailed as it sped along the Riviera from Marseilles to Nice but all passengers were accounted for although two cars rolled into the water. • There were many “miracles” of survival and one of those was a woman found sitting dazed but unhurt under a tree 600 yards from her house. “My house was hit by a wall of water that rose above the rooftop,” she told her rescuers. Shopkeeper Survives Another was shopkeeper Jean Durand. “My wife and I were sitting in the living room when suddenly the television set went dead and the lights went out and there was a terrible crash, as if a ten-ton truck hit the house,” he said. “Ze ran out and jumped into our car and I drove off. My idea was to flee. But at the corner of the street a wave several yards high hit the car and stopped us. Later we were rescued by a navy motor boat.” The French Navy rushed hundreds of rescue craft to the scene. Frejus is on the Riviera between Nice and St. Tropez, a few miles from the sea up the Reynan River Valley Allied troops captured the city and its ancient Roman antiquities the second day of the invasion. Throughout the night, with the aid of lights powered by their own batteries, French Army and Navy men moved through the devastated area, answering calls for help, the frantic waving of flashlights and the occasional sound of a signal shotgun. The United States military in France placed its massive supply and transportation system at the disposal of the French government to help out in the disaster. The Air Force was prepared to fly in all supplies needed.

— City Sewage Dept. Showing Net Loss The city sewage treatment deJpartment shows a net loss of $lO,,261.39 for the quarter, and $9,415.64 . for the first three quarters of 1959, despite a utility operating income , of $1,147.97 for the quarter, and $24,812.50 for the year. Actually, there is $8,867.21 on ' hand in the cash fund, city auditor _ Ed Kauffman pointed out. A depreciation figure of $12,871.97 was deducted during the quarter, which put the book-figure loss in print. Cost of Plant The sewage treatment plant has cost the city $1,029,979.37. There is $17,795 in the sinking fund to retire the $975,000 bonds outstanding. The depreciation funds, which includes SSOO a month, is now at $6,500. A total of $139,203.21 remains in the cash construction fund; this amount will be used to help build the sewer for the Southeast school. Customers’ accounts receivable are $7,702.34. Prepaid insurance is $734.84. Total assets, on the books, are $1,210,881.94. _ Accounts payable are $5,910.90; interest accrued is $13,178.12. The book amount removed so far for depreciation is $12,871.97, as required by law. The earned surplus on Jan. 1 was $13,336.59, while the federal government donated $250,000. A I net loss of $9,415.64 for the first three quarters balances the books. Sewage charges for the SeptemOperation Costs It cost $6,333.56 to operate the plant for the quarter, and $249.11 for maintenance. Commercial expense is $620.32 for the quarter, with general and undistributed expense listed at $1,071.78. This total figure, $21,146.74, subtracted from the sewage charges of $22,294.71, gives the operating income of $1,147.97. The major deduction from this is the $11,409.36 paid out as interest on the debt during the quarter, and the $34,228.14 paid out for the first nine months. This interest is for the $925,000 borrowed to build the plant. 12 Pages

Ike To Embark Today On Tour

WASHINGTON (UPI) — President Eisenhower embarks tonight on a fateful peace mission along the perimeter of Russia with a parting word to fellow Americans to compose their economic quarrels lest the entire free world suffer. pie Chief Executive and a relatively small staff leave by jet tran port from nearby Andrews Air Force Base about 8 p.m. e.s.t. for Rome on the first leg of Eisenhower’s 22,370-mlle journey to 11 nations. Before departing, however, Eisenhower called the National Security Council into session. He also arranged a farewell conference with Secretary of State Christian A. Herter who leaves late this month for the North Atlantic Treaty ministers meeting in Paris. TV-Badio Address Shortly before boarding his plane, Eisenhower will address the nation by radio and television at 715 p.m. e.s.t., outlining his trip and pointing to the unbreakable connection between economic stability at home and the maintenance of peace through strength in other landsHe leaves the country deeply concerned over the steel strike which is now in abeyance because of a federal court order. The President intends to stress again tonight the importance of steel management and labor coming to an agreement to prevent a resumption of the walkout next month. He will base his appeal for successful steel negotiations on his

Directors Elected For Decatur C. C. Five new directors for the Chamber of Commerce were elected by a mail vote, which was tabulated this morning by a board of three judges. Dan Tyndall, of the Krick-Tyn-dall Tile Co., Max Gilpin, of the Gilpin Ornamental Iron Co., will represent the Industry division, with Wayne Price of Price Men’s Store, and Dick Macklin, of Macklin Motor Sales, as the retail division representatives. Art Heiman, of the First State Bank of Decatur, is the professional and service division member. Charles Gable, of the local G. E. plant, Herb Banning, of Holthouse on the Highway, and Leo Kirsch, Decatur postmaster, served as judges for the voting. The board of directors will meet at the Fairway restaurant Tuesday at 7 p.m. to elect the 1960 officers of the C. of C., according to Fred E. Kolter, executive secretary. 55 Students Enroll In Auction School The Reppert school of auctioneering enrolled 55 members for the winter term at the Decatur location, with 24 states being represented and two Canadian provinces, according to figures released by Dr. Roland Reppert, president of the school. Dr. Reppert also announced the faculty for the course, which is conducted twice a year. For the 79th session of the school, Col. Q. R. Chaffee, of Towanda, Pa., will again serve as dean. Others on the staff are: G. L. Pettit, of Bloomfield, Ia„ Clyde M. Wilson, of Marion, O.; C. B. Drake, of Decatur, 111.; H. W. Sigrist, of Fort Wayne; Walter Carlson, of Triumph, Minn.; Ray Elliott, of Portland; H. D. Darnell, of Cythiana, Ky.; H. B. Sager, of Bozeman, Mont.; Homer Pollack, of Delphos, O.; Earl Wright, of Mount Gilead, ’ 0., and Gene Slagle, of Marion, O. The three-week course consists of the training in voice culture, ] pedigree study, health care, adlivestock judging, comfmunity sales, real estate auctioneering, tobacco sales, and bookkeeping. Henry Engeler Dies After Brief Illness Henry Engeler, 80, retired Fort Wayne hardware saleman, died Wednesday in St. Joseph's hospital after a brief illness. Surviving are his wife, Grace; a daughter, Mrs. Jean Begnot of Fort Wayne; a brother Frank Engeler of Bluffton, and a sister, Mrs. George Klocher of Elida, O. Services will be held at 1:30 p,m. Friday at the Thoma funeral home in Bluffton, the Rev. William Pifer officiating. Burial will be in Fairview cemetery, Bluffton.

firm belief that the United States cannot do a good job of helping her friends stand firm against expansion if America is torn by serious economic strife. Stop in Labrador Eisenhower will land at Goose Bay, Labrador, late tonight for refueling. In Rome he will be met ' at noon Friday by President Gio- : vanni Gronchi, Prime Minister ; Antonio Segni and other high officials of the Italian government. 1 The arrival in Rome will set 1 the pattern for the rest of the * trip —a brief speech at the airport, a ceremonial drive into the : center of the city and a black tie dinner Friday night in Quirinale ; Palace. This schedule will be standard first-night procedure at every stop except in India where Eisen- . hower will spend most of five days and not get into official entertaining until his second evening in New Delhi. INDIANA WEATHER Sunny and wanner today. Fair and a little warmer tonight. Friday generally fair and a little warmer. Low tonight in the 30s. High Friday mostly in the 50s. Sunset today 4:21 p.m. c.s.L, 5:21 p.m. c.d.t. Sunrise Friday 6:50 a.m., c.s.t. 7:50 a.m. c.d.t. Outlook for Saturday: Partly cloudy to cloudy and mild with chance of showers, turning colder north. Lows 33 to 40. Highs upper 40s north to low 60s south.

District Banquet Held For Scouters

Decatur and Adams county scout troops, and their workers, were among those from the south district honored at the annual district banquet held at Bluffton Wednesday night. Troops which will receive the , national camping award include Cub pack 3067, Scout troop 61, sponsored by the Rotary club, troop 62, sponsored by the Lions . club, and Berne troop 67. Award Presented Five council emblem awards were presented at the meeting, including one to Dick Heller, Jr., of Decatur, “for outstanding service to the south district of the Anthony Wayne council” during the past year. Heller has served as district publicity chairman, and institutional representative for the Lions club troop. Two Jay county men, August Baker, of Dunkir, organization and extension chairman, and Charles Harper, post advisor for the Redkey explorer unit which developed the rocket project; and two Wells county men, Paul Bander, assistant district commissioner, and Dr. C. 'William Truberg, pack leader for four years, also received the award. This is the fourth year’ that the award has been given; Gehe Rydell and Oren Schultz received it in 1956, and Sylvan Zuercher received it in 1957, from Adams county. Ziner Elected Gene Ziner, a member of the Rotary club troop committee, was elected vice-chairman for Adams section, to serve under Lyle .Cotton, Bluffton insurance agent, who was reelected chairman. Ziner succeeds George Auer, of Decatur. Harold Sprunger, of Berne, was reelected to the council board. Brown Speaks A forum on scouting, including W. Guy Brown, Decatur superintendent of schools, and Gene Ziner, Decatur businessman, Mrs. Amos Steury, Bluffton mother; and the Rev. L. G. Sapp. Methodist minister from Bluffton, took place following the meeting. Mrs. Steury explained how scouting had helped her three sons, actually training them to save four lives; Brown explained how scouting took the educational I subjects and made them a pleasure to learn and to live; Rev. Sapp explained the religious benefits obtained from the broad picture of scouting; and Ziner explained how scouting infused in the growing man the ability to accept responsibility. Dr. Charles Boonstra, district advancement chairman, gave the invocation, which was followed by a dinner served by the W. S. C. S. of the Methodist church of Bluffton. Bluffton troop 150, under scoutmaster Roger Ream, gave the opening ceremony, which included a taped message, enacted in the background by the troop, on the history of scouting. District chairman Lyle Cotton then introduced the people present by job and by county. R. L. Van Hom R. L. Van Horn, council executive, then spoke on the real job of the adults in scouting. At the present time in the council there (Continued on page six, I Advertising Index Advertiser Page Adams Theater —— 3 Beavers Oil Service, Inc„ 5 Burk Elevator Co 5 Butler Garage 5 Bower Jewelry Store 3 John Brecht Jewelry „ 7 Decatur Super Service .... 5 Equity Dairy Store 2A I Fairway Restaurant 3, 6 Goodyear Service Store 7 Gambles — 4A Goodin’s Market -3 Haflich & Morrissey -.. 3 Haugks J. 2 Habegger Hardware -6 Hammond Fruit Market„ 7 Johnson & Schnepf, Auctioneers 3A Miller-Jones 6 Model Department Store 8 J. J. Newberry Co3A, 4 PJiil Neuenschwander, Auctioneer 3A Niblick & Co. — 3 Rash Insurance Agency — 7 The Suttles Co. ..... 5 L. Smith Insurance Agency 5 Stucky Furniture Co. 2, 4 Schmitt Meat Market — 4 ‘ Sheets Furniture Co 4 Schwartz Ford Co., Inc—. 5 Smith Drug Co. lA, 4A, 5 Standard Food Stores 1A Stewarts Bakery 4A Shaffer Restaurant 6 Sears-Roebuck & Co. 3A Dell Shaw, Auctioneer 3A Sudduith Market -- 6 Teeple -- 5 Teen Togs — 4 Yost Construction Co., Inc. .... 2

Siy Cents

Reveal Profit Made By City Water Dept. A net profit of $36,208.76 for the first nine months of 1959, or $15,200.66 for the third quarter, is shown by the Decatur water department, city auditor Ed Kaufman announced today. The balance sheet as of September 30 shows that the utility plant in service has had $689,919.59 in it. There is presently sßj*.9o in the bond and interest nxfcnipdion fund to pay off the outstan*ng bonds, and $23,215.78 in the cash depreciation fund. CaßhAvailabie A total of $84,580 is in the cash fund, with. $13,091.90 in accounts receivable from customers, and $3,630.71 in miscellaneous accounts receivable. On hand are supplies and material valued at $23,399.33, with $456.82 in prepaid insurance. A total of $1,233.84 for a preliminary survey and investigation charge remains as a deferred debit. Liabilities include $48,000 in outstanding bonds, $7,048.30 in accounts payable, and $276.48 in accrued interest. Depreciation has amounted to $161,646.45. leaving the water utility valued for book purposes at $528,273.14. A reserve of S3OO for uncollectable accounts is also maintained. Operating Revenae Tass permits and new main contributions are valued at $27,578.31. The earned surplus as of Jan. 1 was $567,528.57, with a net profit so far in the year of <36,208.76, leaving an earned surplus of $603,737.33 as of September 30. Sales to general customers accounted for $36,526.87 during the September quarter, with public fire protection bringing $3,461.25, interdepartmental sales, 91,105.16, and customers’ penalties $260.13, for total operating revenues of $41,353.41. Purification led the expenses in the water department for the third quarter, costing $10,055.55; source of supply, $327.74; pumping expense, $3,583.84; transmission and distributing expense, $3,594.45; accounting and collection expense, $1,716.02; sales expense, $7.39; administrative expense, $2,469.64; depreciation, $2.667.55; taxes, $561.87; for total costs ofs 24,984.09. Other income amounted to $191.50, while interest on the long-term debt was $255, and donated interdepartmental sales were $1,105.16, leaving a net profit of $15,200.66. Amount Used During the quarter 94,267,000 gallons of water was pumped, and a total of 239,351,900 gallons in the first nine months, 12.2% over 1958. A total of 24.7%, or 21,936,800 gallons of water was used at the plant, and 88,646,800 was pumped through the plant, with 5,620.200 not pumped through the plant. The swimming pool used 3,929,873 gallons during the quarter. 4’,232,873 altogether. A total of 55,951.073 gallons was sold through the mains, with a loss of 12,449,254 gallons, or 18.2% of the 68,400,327 pumped through the mains. This is 3% less than last year. During the quarter 437 tons of (Continued on page »Ix> College Enrollment At All-Time Record WASHINGTON (UPD — Enrollment in the nation's colleges and universities reached an all-time high of 3,402.297 this fall. The U.S. Office of Education said the figure, for the beginning of the current 1959-60 academic year, represented an increase of 143,741, or 4.4 per cent, over the fall of 1958.