History Holds Key to Cheap Homes
Put in New Claim for Merits
Of Rammed Earth Buildings
By BAUKIIAGE
Sews Analyst and Commentator.
WNU News Service, 1616 Eye Street
N. W.. Washington. D. C.
WASHINGTON.—Is there a solu
tion at the low-cost housing problem
as simple as the
dirt under our
feet? Have we
been overlooking
a bet, which
Pliny said the
Romans were
overlooking, in
the first century
A. D. and to
which most peo
ple have shut
their eyes ever
since?
Anthooy F
Merrill says so
and so does a Baukhage
convincing job of
proving the contention in his book
"The Rammed Earth House,” which
I have Just read. It seems incredi
ble!
It didn't seem Incredible to Pliny
who heatedly proclaimed that the
Ramans had, in Africa and Spain,
"walla of earth ”.
They are "moulded rather than
built,” Pliny explains, “by enclos
'ng earth within a frame of boards.
ing or my cooperation,” say* the
secretary, “they may be assured
of them both.”
Rammed-earth, according to Mer
rill, is a term describing "both the
material and the process of wall
building by which earth is tamped
into the shape of a wall or building
block. In essence, a compressed
block or section of earth will, when
tamped, assume the shape of the
form into which it is pressed and,
when the moisture dries out, harden
into a permanent shape suitable
for use as a building material."
The reasons set forth by Merrill
as to why, if this method of building
is so good it has not been widely
adopted, are logical: One—there's no
money in it, except the money
saved by the builder. Two—con
trary to the impression among sell
ers of building materials, Merrill in
sists it would help rather than hurt
their business. The man who builds
a rammed-earth house can't afford
any other kind. And he has to buy
everything—floor, roofing, plumbing
—everything in fact except the
walls, which are free except for the
cost of the forms and the tamping.
Merrill's thesis Is that anyone
willing to acquire the rudimentary
The eld and new In rammed earth houses. Top panel shows mod
ern structure at Claremont, Calif. Bottom shows church at Sumter,
S. C., which has stood through more than a century.
constructed on either side. These
walls win last for centuries, are
proof against rain, wind and fire, and
are superior in solidity to any ce
ment. Even at this day (more than a
century after Hannibal) Spain still
holds watch-towers that were erect
ed by Hannibal.”
The idea of houses of earth Is not
incredible to Clinton P. Anderson,
secretary of agriculture, who has
written the preface to the book.
•‘If Tony Merrill and his rammed
earth builders want either my bless
_A_ A
knowledge of building, can build a
rammed earth house himself with
three bedrooms, spacious living,
dining and cooking facilities and all
plumbing and heating equipment for
less than $5,000. He can build as
good or better a dwelling than most
of the so-called defense homes, so
widely used during the war, for
$3,000. And there are already mod
est cottages in a number of places
which cost little more than a thou
sand dollars for two members of a
family to build.
_A_ A
m m m
Solons Have Laugh on Selves
When Bob Hope or Henry Morgan
or even Senator Claghorn pokes fun
at congressmen, that’s supposed to
be humorous. It’s always open
season on politicians In this country
where people nddle their public of
ficials with gags instead of guns.
But it is not generally realized
that legislators like to laugh, loo
even when the laugh's on them And
at least one of tnem enjoys congres
sional jokes so much he’s written a
350-page book about them.
Compiling the congressional Joe
Miller may seem a far cry from
steering policies of the senate judi
ctary committee, but Senator Wiley
has been working on the humorous
project since 193d when he first was
elected to the United States senate.
Last year be got around to send
ing a letter to all his colleagues In
the house and senate, asking them
their favorite Jokes. He was del
uged with stories—good, bad and
corny; and most of them jokes on
or about congress and congressmen.
All of which inspired the title of
his book. "The Laugh's With Con
gress."
Under the title The Women—God
Bless 'em,” he relates how in the
closing and very literally hot ses
sions of the 79th congress, the then
Serge«nt-at-Arms Wall Doxey ruled
twice within three weeks that, al
though women In slacks could be
permitted in senate galleries, wom
en in shorts would be inimical to the
dignity of the senate and were to be
barred from the gallery.
All of which moved Sen. Richard
Russell of Georgia to remark:
"In hot weather. I am sometimes
envious that I cannot wear shorts
myself. Mr. Doxey Is supposed to
be an authority on what creates con
fusion in the senate, but personally,
I have no objection to shorts." (If
this had been printed in the record
there would have been "laughter”
after that one.)
Another story claimed as the fa
vorite of former Sen. Guy Gillette
of Iowa and Arkansas’ young Sen
William Fulbrtght is a true one. As
Senator Gillette tells it. his colored
maid had noticed that the senator,
then a representative, had his pic
ture in the paper Underneath was
a caption to the effect that he might
be nominated for the upper cham
ber. "Is a senatuh higher than a
representative?" the maid wanted
to know. "Yes." Gillette told her,
"they are so considered because a
senator represents an entire state
and a representative represents a
district of a state.” The maid's
next question was: "Well, is there
anything lower than a congress
man?” Gillette is said to have been
forced to imply that there was in
deed nothing lower than a congress
man!
INCOME INCREASES
Farm Cash Receipts Hit Feak
WASHINGTON. — Farmer*’ cash4
income from livestock and crop
marketings in 1946 soared to the
record-breaking total of more than
24 billion dollars, according to a
preliminary survey announced by
the agriculture department
The latest bureau of agricultural
economics estimate places cash re
ceipts at $24,100,000,000, the highest
in history and a 16 per cent gain
over 1945 Earlier predictions had
forecast only 23 billion dollars,
but high prices 6or meat animals,
cotton, feed grains and feed crops
following the end of price control
boosted the earlier prediction by
more than a billion dollars.
Receipts from livestock and live
stock products were estimated at
aboyt $13,400,000,000. an increase of
14 per cent over 1945. Income from
crops was placed at about $10,700,
000,000, an increase of 18 per cent.
Marked increases in returns from
cotton, food grains and feed crops
were largely responsible for the
gain in the total crop receipts.
If the final accounting of cash
farm income matches the prelim
inary estimate, cash receipts in 1946
will be 16 per cent over the previous
year. The 1945 figure, a record up
until last year, was $20,700,000,000
During the prewar years of 1935-39.
cash receipts averaged $7,900,000,
000.
Preliminary estimates released by
the department indicate that cash
receipts for December. 1946, were
about $2,500,000,000, which is 20 per
cent below the November total but
30 per cent above December. 1945.
NEW CITIZENS . . . Veterans of Pacific campaigns, 150 alien na
tionals of the U. S. navy were sworn In as American citizens on Guam.
The group was composed of American Samoans, Chamorros and
Filipinos. Judge P. J. Phillip of the immigration and naturalization
service presided.
NEWS REVIEW
GOP To Continue Probes;
Boundary Dispute Looms
CONGRESS:
Busy Bodies
GOP congressional investigators
prepared to dig deep into war ex
penditures and un-American activi
ties with the full support of the first
Republican majority in 16 years.
Senate Republicans beat down an
effort of the Democrats to transfer
duties of the war investigating com
mittee to the inactive committee on
expenditures in the executive de
partment by a 47 to 45 vote.
The watch-dog over efficiency of
the war effort under President Tru
man while he was still senator from
Missouri, the war investigating
committee widened its scope under
Senator Mead (Dem., N. Y.) to
probe irregularities in munitions
contracts. In the wake of disclosures
of the close relations existing be
tween congressmen and army of
ficers with war contractors, the
GOP voiced its determination to dig
deeper into wartime dealings.
Not always in favor during the
liberal New Deal administration, the
house un-American activities com
mittee promises to enjoy smoother
sledding under the Republicans.
Now headed by Representative
Thomas (Rep., N. J.) the committee
laid plans for an early probe of Com
munism in government departments,
labor unions, Hollywood, and col
leges and schools.
GERMANY:
Polish Claims
Should the U. S. oppose Polish
claims to the 40,000 square miles of
former eastern German territory
taken over by the Poles under the
Potsdam agreement, this country
faces a stiff fight with the Russian
bloc. With the U. S. bringing the
full force of its prestige into play,
however, it may secure modification
of the Polish claim or cudgel out
other concessions from the Reds.
Poland served notice of its de
termination to permanently affix the
new territory at the deputy for
eign ministers’ meeting in London,
called to lay the groundwork for the
Big Four conference in Moscow in
March to formulate a German
treaty. Since given control of the
territory at Potsdam, the Poles said
they have moved 1,363,000 Germans
out and 3,500,000 Poles in.
STILL MISERABLE . . . Misery
and poverty still are rampant In
China. This poorly-clothed, hungry
and tired little boy sleeps In the
doorway of a Shanghai hotel while
his mother begs for coins from
American servicemen.
Nub of the disagreement lies In
the Poles' contention that they were
led to understand they were given
full sway over the territory at Pots
dam. The U. S., on the other hand,
holds that they were merely given
temporary administrative control,
with the question of Germany’s final
postwar borders to be settled at •
peace conference.
PORTAL:
Tax Relief
The burden of portal to portal
back pay will largely be shouldered
by Uncle Sam when, and if, union
members are awarded their sub
stantial claims against industry as
a result of Secretary of the Treas
ury Snyder’s announcement that
such outlays are deductible against
taxes levied in the years affected.
Because portal payments to work
ers will be liable to taxation, how
ever, the U. S. stands to recover
some of the refunds in personal in
come taxes. In many instances, the
portal claims run into hundreds of
dollars per worker, leaving them
open to a heavy bite under the high
wartime rates.
Under Snyder’s ruling that indus
try could claim credits on taxes
paid in the years for which portal
demands were granted, companies
would be able to take advantage of
high rates and excess profits levies
of the war years. At the same time,
they would be entitled to a 6 per
cent interest on the money collect
ed from them to cover their tax
liabilities.
FOOD:
Enemy's Need
Declaring that the U. S. could not
afford to permit the American flag
to fly over a gigantic Buchenwald,
former President Herbert Hoover
undertook another survey of food
needs in the U, S. and British occu
pation zones in Germany.
In addition to providing for es
sential German relief. Hoover’s Jun
ket was aimed at making the reich
as self-supporting in food needs as
possible. Improvement in the food
situation would lead to a reduction
in present U. S. relief costs of 300
million dollars annually. The former
president had the assistance of two
food experts on his tour, being ac
companied by Dr. Dennis Fitzger
ald, chairman of the international
emergency food council, and former
Ambassador Hugh Gibson, who aid
ed him in World War I relief work
COMMODITIES:
U. S. Eyes Trade
In an effort to prevent serious
breaks in commodities. Secretary of
Agriculture Anderson announced
that the department’s commodity
exchange authority would be freed
of other duties to permit full time
policing of the markets.
Anderson disclosed the move in
the face of growing speculation Re-*
membering the big break in cotton
last October and the alleged manipu
lation of butter prices in New
York, department authorities acted
to check future slumps affecting
prices. Studtes are being completed
on the factors in the cotton break,
with Anderson ready to ask for ad
ditional regulatory authority if war
ranted by the Investigation.
CLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT
AUTOS, TRUCKS & ACCESS.
TRUCKS — FOR SALE — PICKUP8
1941 and ’42 Chev. L.W.B. Trucks
Completely reconditioned. 8:25 tires, two
speed rear axles, with or without farm
bodies. 1941 and 1942 Chev. and Ford Vi
and VC-ton pickups completely recond.
NIELSON CHEVROLET COMPANY
Kearney. Nebr. - - - Phone *181
FOR SALE OR TRADE—5 New Diamond
T and Chevrolet Trucks. Will trade lor
new or late model John Deere Tractors,
listers, cultivators, power mowers or what
have you. GAGE COUNTY SUPPLY
COMPANY, on Highway 77. in Beatrice.
Nebraska. Phone 57*.
BUSINESS & INVEST. OPPOR.
ESTABLISH PROFITABLE BUSINESS
AT HOME. Particulars Free.
THE BOOK MART
Box 585, Watervliet, Mich.
FARM MACHINERY & EQUIP.
FOR SALE: 1945 M-Farmall tractor. 2 M
two row mounted corn picker. 2-WC Allia
Chalmers tractors with starter and lights.
1946 KS International truck. All In A-l
shape.
WALTER GLENN. Tarkio. Mo.. Ph. 891J.
WINDMILLS. DIRECT FROM FACTORY
133.00 up. Guaranteed 5 years. Free liter
ature. Write todav. CURRIE WINDMILL,
Box 481, Salinar Kansas.
FARMS AND RANCHES_
77 ACRES
5 miles north. Vi mile east and Vi mile
north of Ashland. Nebr.. rich bottom soil
will not flood. Vi mile to gravel, electric
service, automatic water system. Owner
CARL C. REISER
Ashland. Nebr.
_ HELP WANTED—MEN _
EXPERIENCED shoe man for district
manager. Wolfe Wear-u-well shoe stores
Nebraska territory. Salary, expenses, perm.
Free Life and Hospitalization insurance.
WOLFE WEAR-U-WELL CORP.
Minneapolis ... Minnesota
HELP WANTED—WOMEN
NURSES WANTED—Two graduate and
two unde: graduate or practical.
TAYLOR HOSPITAL - Sidney. Neb.
_MISCELLANEOUS_
FOREST LAWN CEMETERY
• OMAHA •
CREMATION
o£ the most modern type
Write to ua for booklet
NEW OBSOLETE FLOUR SACKS, 50 lb.
size, excellent for dish towels. $2.25 per
doz.. postage paid. Write MANEY MILL
ING CO., r.o. Box 1126. Omaha. Nebras
ka. Cash with order.
CA8T IRON SOIL PIPE AND FITTINGS
All sizes. Large stock. Immediate delivery.
Wholesale or Retail
J. KLEIN & SON
4M8 Cottage Grove Ave.
Chicago 15 .... Illinois
POULTRY, CHICKS & EQUIP.
BROAD BREASTED BRONZE POULTS
hatched in an exclusive turkey hatchery.
All blood testing done under the supervi
sioi. of the State Bureau of Animal Indus
try. WRITE FOR OUR LOW PRICES.
Order now to insure getting your poults
the date desired and protect yourself
against possible price Increase.
HILDEBRAND TURKEY HATCHERY
Seward ' .... Nebraska
SEEDS, PLANTS, ETC.
STATE CERTIFIED CLINTON OATS
$15 BUSHEL
Send checks with orders. Will ship.
THOMAS AKKFELD. Panama, Iowa.
_ WANTED TO BUY
TOP MARKET PRICES
FOR GOOSE. DUCK FEATHERS.
FARMERS STORE Mitchell. So. Dak.
*★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
JJul flu&L QnvcAimsuiL
1A. S- Scwin^A. fiondA.
DOGS, CATS, PETS, ETO
FOR SALE: Pure golden Sebntght Ban
ta&m Cockerels, while they last $2.00
Each. Kuglers. Inc. Culbertson, Nebr.
Gas on Stomach
Rettev«d in 5 minutes or double your mooey back
When oxcms Stomach acid causes painful, suffocat
ing gss, sour stomach and heartburn, doctors usually
prescribe the fastest-acting medicines known foi
symptomatic relief — medicines liks these i n Bell-ens
Tablets. No laxative Bell-ans brings comfort in a
jiffy or double your money back aa return of bottle
to us. 2&c at all druggists.
How To Relieve
Bronchitis
Creomulslon relieves promptly be
en nse it goes right to the seat of the
trouble to help loosen and expel
germ laden phlegm, and aid nature
to soothe and heal raw, tender, In
flamed bronchial mucous mem
branes. Tell your druggist to sell you
& bottle of Creomulslon with the un
derstanding you must like the way It
quickly allays the cough or you are
to have your money back.
CREOMULSION
for Coughs. Chest Colds, Bronchitis
!_J
WNU^-U_ 06—4'.
Help Them Cleanse the Blood
of Harmful Body Waste
Tour kidneys ere constantly 81 taring
waste matter from the blood stream. Bui
kidneys sometimes leg is their work—ds
not set as Nature Intended—(ell to re
move Impurities that. If retained, may
Eoisos the system and upset the whole
ody tnechinery.
Symptoms may be nagging backache,
i persistent headache, attacks of dizxneaa,
getting up nights, swelling, puffiaace
under the eyes—a feeling of nervous
anxiety and lone of pep and strength.
Other eigne of kidney or bladder dis
order are sometimes burning, scanty as
> too frequent urination.
There ebonld be no doubt that pram pi
treatment la wiser thee neglect. Use
Doan's PilU. Doan's have been winning
new friends for more than forty yearn.
They have a nation-wide reputation.
Are recommended by grateful people tho
country over. Ask year aeiyUer/
NEEDLECRAFT PATTERNS
PirieaDD/e Sauare Has Many Uses
pp^
570 ,
^OUR favorite pineapple design
* makes this square of dozens of
Uses. Crochet one and you’ve a
doily; three, a scarf; twenty, a
cloth.
• • •
Whether you make one of these large
pineapple squares or many, you'll have
An iron always heats more rap
idly than it cools. Place fabrics re
quiring less heat at the bottom of
the clothes-basket when dampen
ing the family clothes.
—•—
In making yeast bread, it is most
important to avoid letting dough
get too light or rise too long. Let
it rise until doubled, but not more
than doubled.
—•—
Clothing should never be dried
over heat, nor should it be ironed
dry.
—•—
In soldering, remember that the
metals to be joined must be heat
ed to the melting point of the solder
before it will “take” properly.
f
crochet you'll proudly use. Pattern 570
has directions. —
Sewing Circle Needlrcraft Dept.
564 W. Randolph St. Chicago 80, 111.
Enclose 20 cents for pattern.
No__
Name___
Address__
*
DO THIS TO RELIEVE DISTRESS
Rub throat, chest and back
thoroughly with comforting
Vicks VapoRub at bedtime. It
starts to work instantly . . .
and it keeps up its fine sooth
ing action for hours to relieve
distress even
\while you sleep,
""throwaway
HARSH LAXATIVES! '
Millions Have Ended Con
stipation with Healthful
Fresh Fruit Drink
Don’t form the habit of depending
on harsh, griping laxatives until you ’ve
tried this easy, healthful way million*
now use to keep regular.
It’s fresh lemon juice and water
taken first thing in the morning-just
as soon as you get up, the juice of
one Sunkist Lemon in a glass of water.
Taken thus, on an empty stomach, it
stimulates normal bowel action, day
after day. for most people.
And lemons are actively good for
you. They ’re among the richest sources
of vitamin C, which combats fatigue,
helps resist colds and infections. They
supply vitamins Bi and P. aid diges- 4
tion and help alkalinize the system.
Try thus grand wake-up drink 10
mornings. See if it doesn’t help you I
Use California Sunkist Lemons.
*
Buy U S. Savings Bonds!
i
Sflj # Rub in Ben-Gay around throat and nose, keeping
flu away from eyes. Gently warming Ben-Gay brings fast
raw relief from miseries of head colds. Insist on genuine
SPrj Ben-Gay, the original Baume Analgesique. It contains j| 4^
■^4] up to 2Vi tiroes more of two famous pain-relieving ||g|||
j agents known to every doctor — methyl salicylate 1 J
Uliwl and menthol — than five other widely offered rub-ins. |||||g|