The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 321, Ed. 1 Monday, February 19, 1923 Page: 1 of 14
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
! tr-n n n ra
POST.
' : Weather Houston and
v - Vlelnlty
Sunday Partly . cloudy;
warmer.
1 . '
Building Ptrmlta lemed . .
. Saturday . .
Number of structures I. '
Total value 13660.
Total permits issued to"
date I2.060.28t.
VOL. 38 NO. 321
HOUSTON TEXAS MONDAY FEBRUARY 19 1923 ' '
PRICE 5 CENTS
11 "lnllb
TWEMTf
DIE
Fill
TRADING
REVIVAL
ARRIVES
Business Boom Proof Is
' Shown in Every Line
Of Endeavor
COMMODITIES
LEAD MARCH
Railroad Earnings Climb;
iSteel Prices Stiffen; .
; Building Rush On
Associated Press Report.
NEW YORK Feb. It Evidence ac
cumulated during the week of' an c
celeratlon in the pace of the business
revival..
Although anxiety still exists over
the potentialities of the European sit
uatlon the feeling has grown that this
country can enjoy prosperity for some
time at least without regard to any
Improvement abroad. Some lines of
business already hive been stimulated
as a result of the French occupation of
the Ruhr.
Kteel prices have stiffened markedly
within the past week. Much of the
present buying Is due to a desire to
obtain supplies against later higher
prices as the trade is beginning to
fear that the market may get out of
hand. Losses are Inevitable when
reaction comes aa it must sooner or
later.
teel Contributes.
Activity in steel has contributed
largely to maintenance of record rail-
road traffic for this season of the
year. With the building boom una-
bated with much coal still waiting to
be moved and with a heavy retail dis-
tribution of goods traffic prospects
for the next few months at least are
.bright.
The grain movement has fallen off
to some extent but this has been more
than offset by lumber coal coke ce-
ment automobiles and building mate-
rials. An' encouraging feature of the
railroad situation is that in contrast
with ino the roads have been able to
translate their increased business inta
larger profits.
A comparison ef net operating In-
come of 10 representative lines shawa
that In ma thsy earned a total net
Of H87.0O4.OO9 as against I40I.000.0O8
in 1921 .and 45.000oe in 1910. The
class 1 railroads as a whole last year
earned 4.14 per cent on their tentative
valuation as fixed by the Interstate
commerce commission as compared
with 1.1S per cent in the previous
Vear. In ' December an even better
showing was made with net at the
rate of 5.15 per cent on valuation.
Early estimates indicate that January
earnings will show further Improve-
ment. Splendid Showing.
The showing of the leading indus-
trial and public utility corporations Is
no less impressive. Twenty-seven In-
dustrial companies which have pub
llshed annual reports for 1912 have
made net profits of $182000000 wnl.h
compares with $74000000 In 1821.
Leaving the reports of steel companies
cut of the compilation profits actually
exceeded those for 1920 and this de-
spite lower commodity prices last
year. Publication of these reports has
had much to do with increasing public
participation In the stork and bond
markets and the resultant forward
movement of security prices.
In the commodity markets the fea-
ture was a resumption of heavy buy-
ing in cotton under the stimulus of a
favorable report on consumption as
Issued by. the census bureau. The re-
port shows thst the mills consumed in
Jnnuary 610375 bales an amount ex-
reeled only twice heretofore. The
price for the May future moved up to
v.'ttiln I points of the high for the
v ear with some reaction later on profl
isklng.
Money was somewhat firmer time
rates moving up to i per cent for all
maturities while call rates ringed be-
incen 4 end per rent. The lncreaa-
ir; riVmanda of business higher prices
nnd I ho cumulative effect of the heavy
ifOimrs of new Dond Issues In recent
i.ioi.tlm foretells. In the opinion of
many cIohs observers more firmness
n the near future. Money however
in at 11 relatively cheap and the banks
H.-r-irently are able to take car of all
iemanda without recourse to redis-
counting st the Federal Reserve banks
to any extent.
LIABILITY SHOWN
COT BY ARMOUR
Associated Press Report.
' CHICAGO. Feb. It. A reduction of
from 180.000.000 to l.000000 in cur-
rent liabilities was shown in its first
statemnt since its recent refinancing
by Armour at Co. and its subsidiaries.
The statements made public tonight
was signed by F. Ed son White who
succeeded J. Ogden Armour aa presi-
dent of the company. It covered the
fiscal year ending December II 1922.
Declaring that the business of the
company "elves every Indication of
having been permanently returned to
a normal basis" Mr. White expressed
gratification at the "strong financial
condition of the company" aa indicat-
ed by the statement.
After riving effect to the refinanc-
ing tbe statement showed current as-
eeta ef 110.41(1 mad lavestment
stocks bonds and advances of I4S.I77-
164. The properties were listed at
llM18t7 and deferred charge In-
cluding anemorttoed discount at IIS-
s.4U. The current llabilltlee were placed at
880.88.818. bonds at 8100. 000.000: re-
serve tl.eOO 00: preferred stock 111.-
SM.OOO; common stock Siat0t0M and
surptua $tel740 - i
INSURANCE RATE
CUT TRIBUTE TO
ORANGE FIREMEN
Houston Post Special.
ORANGE Texas. Feb. IS. Notice of
15 per cent reduction front the final
rate for insurance for the city of Or'
ange was received here today by local
agents front the Texas fire Insurance
commission. The low rate and reduc
tlon was based on the record of a 13
per cent loss for the past three years.
Local fire Insurance men believe
that the excellent service and equip
ment of the Orange fire company
well aa the fact that there 1s not too
much insurance written when com
pared with property valnes is the
cause for the low fire rate.
This record of 13 per cent loss In
three years Is the best in the history
of this city and follows the addition
of better and more fire fighting equip
ment.
COTTON PRICES
MOUNT SLOWLY
ONSTATISTICS
'
Short Interest Covers at
Each Opportunity to
Buy on Drop
By SWAN HUNTER
Houston Post Financial Editor.
Sustained through. a period of wav
erlng political developments In Europe
by a strong spot market and bullish
statistics cotton futures last week
maintained in almost unbroken climb
and although the advances were small
each day SO to 53 points were aanea
to March and May deliveries and the
more distant active months moved up
(0 to 74 points. Houston spots went
back to within S points of the high
mark of January S3 when 28.60 cents
ner pound was quoted Friday and left
on the board the following day.
It was a week of comparative quiet
with the watchful waiting policy of
some traders who are uneasy over
European conditions probably reaching
its climax. There were occasional
bursts of selling on developments
across the water that did not look
rood but aa a whole the market was
able to absorb these nervous onenngs
with little losses and always came
back aa heavy mill takings and da
creasing visible supplies became the
tonia of the day.
Both New York and New oneans
were closed Monday .and tne letter
again Tuesday. As a. result the one
domestic market was exceedingly dull
on the opening day ef the week's
trading. When New Orleans opened
Wednesday morning it apparently feu
Into a slumber for a while ana threat
ened to drop below Saturday's closing
quotations. Before the day was done.
however considerable demand naa ae-
veloped and a alight advance had been
registered.
Probably the feature or the weeK
from a purely mathematical standpoint
was the new high established by March
at New Orleans when It went to 28.70
Just after the opening. The former
high mark was established on January
24. when other months made the sea
son's peak quotations. Other months
did not aulte touch the previous high
but May st New tort advanced to
within points of the former level
when it went up to St. 97. Shortly after
the opening Saturday considerable re-
alising and week-end profit taking set
In and closing prices were only a few
points better than Friday a close.
Bullish Statistics.
As an indication of future trends.
should the European situation either
clear or remain hopeful for any length
of "time bullish mill takings for the
week produced the greater amount of
comment among Houston brokers.
Spinners' takings last week were
245004 bales against 180000 the same
period last year; while into-sight cal
culations were much smaller than last
year. In fact the visible supply Is
causing some concern it is said al
though leading traders scout the the
ory of a cotton famine.
Considerable Interest waa attracted
late in the week when the report be
came widely circulated that Jap buy
era were offering the best basis of the
season in New Tork for spot cotton.
On the same day this report was re
ceived the rumor was spread about
that Houston would have to revise Its
stocks downward and the nxt day
official announcement was made that
10000 bales would be clipped off Sat-
urday. Liverpool may have to re-
vise downward also. Is another rumor
that is going the rounds.
March New Orleans although It Is
getting nearer normal in comparison
to spots and other markets. Is still
bringing a premium. During the
week'a trading much of the one-time
huge difference In that month waa
wiped out and It is said that a ahort
Interest there has been covered al-
though there are still a few who have
sold contracts and need the cotton to
fill them.
Weather conditions last week was
one continuous rain. From the Rio
Grande Valley to the northern edge
of the belt precipitation In quantity
was reported. In the former section
there seems little doubt but that the
rainfall will augur a larger crop next
year but In some of the other sections
previous rains would Indicate that
excessive moisture Is now In the
ground. Except tor the extreme south-
ern section where rain admittedly was
needed little attention was paid to
weather conditions except in a minor
calculating way.
What WIN Be Trend?
Despite the high quotations there are
those who contend that the staple
will go higher. They point to the sta-
tistical position and claim knowledge
of a big short Interest. On the other
hand there are numerous brokers who
can see nothing but a reaction In the
near future. They point out that
world condltiona are not at all en-
couraging at the present time that a
crisis must surely come sooner er later
and that when H does foreign indus-
try including the spinners win shut
down. Every now and then a report
la made that even now French and
(Cont'd on Pg. 1.)
HOUSTON MAY GET
COTTON MILL THIS
WEEK SAYS BUSH
Correspondent Learns This
City Seriously
Considered
TEXAS TOWNS ON
LIST OF VISITORS
By RICHARD C. BUSH
Houston Post Correspondent.
WACO Texas Feb. 18. Spurred on
by the visit of Eastern cotton mill
men during the past week . several
Texas cities nduably Houston Waco
and Dallas enter the new week with
renewed determination to bring the
thriving cotton mill Industry from far
off New England to the great Texas
cotton patch. .
For several weeks now many Texas
towns have been engaged in preliml
naries incident to the establishment
of mills in the Southwest. ExtensiveJ
corresponaence nas oeen exenangeu
with eastern manufacturing execu
tives. Telegraph-wires have carried
many aa urgent message the last sev
era! days. The front pages of news
papers In aspiring cities havs come
forth with numerous declarations re-
garding the advantages of the various
localities.
Definite concrete action In the case
of one or two larger cities being cho
sen for sites of large cotton mills
backed by outside capital is looked
for this week. -
While all of the Texas towns who
(Cont'd on Pg. t.y
STORMY SESSIONS
EXPECTED IN BOTH
SENATE AND HOUSE
Cousins Medical Practices
Act Will Bring On
Fiercest Fight
Houston Post Special.
AUSTIN. Texas Feb. ' 18. Several
bills which have been engrossed In
either the house or the senate and now
go to the other body for approval will
be watched with Interest in legisla-
tive circles this week because of the
known difference in lineup of the two
branches and the hard fight that has
been made on the measures.
The fate of the Cousins medical
practice bill which had a stormy pas-
sage through the senate is not at all
assured of approval in the house al-
though its proponents are claiimng
they can muster enough votes in the
lower body to send the proposal to
Governor Neff. The bill passed the
senate late Friday but came out with
amendments. Christian Scientists are
especially active In opposition to the
bUl because of a "joker" amendment
that will allow their practitioners to
administer but not to charge for ser-
vices. Doubt Its Passage.
Legislators will be watching prog
ress of the Rountree-Quald constitu-
tional convention resolution which
has passed the lower body and now
goes to the senate. Despite strong ad
ministration support there Is much
doubt that the bill will get through.
On the other hand many senators are
known to favor the proposal and a
hard fight will be made to gain Its
okeh. Governor Neff will sign it
should It be passed proponents feel
assured.
Already there Is a great deal of
early adjournment sentiment develop-
ing. Resolutions have been offered in
both the house and the senate for ad
journment early In March and It now
appears that favorable action will be
taken.
Tax measures probably are the only
thing that is keeping 11 the legisla-
tors from favoring going back home
to their business.
Gas Tsx Fight.
The Intangible tax law and Repre
sentative Cowen's 1-cent gasoline tax
both are virtually approved by the
house but face a hard fight in the sen-
ate. The gross production tax on oil.
however. Is the main consideration of
the legislators. It is understood that
producing companies will not oppose
strenuously raising the tax from the
present 1 1-2 per cent to 2 per cent.
but a finish fight on the X per cent
proposal is expected. Leading pro
(Cont'd on Pg. 2.)
City Fireman Falls
From Swinging I ruck
C. E. Brown fireman was painfully
Injured Sunday afternoon at 2: JO
o'clock when he fell from a fire truck
making a turn at San Jacinto street
and Lamar avenue. The Injured man
waa taken to St. Joseph's infirmary
by the ambulance of the Houston Un-
dertaking company.
After an X-ray examination It was
announced that Brown's Injuries were
not serious. He Is expected to be able
to leave- the Infirmary today.
Mrs. Raizen Who Slew
Doctor Found Guilty
Associated Press Report.
NEW TOIsK. Feb. It A verdict of
guilty ef second degree murder waa
returned by a supreme court iurv to
day against Mrs. Lilian 8. Ralxen
who shot end killed Dr. Abraham
GHrkstein In hia Brooklyn office De
cember 10. 12L
Mrs. Ralxen's defense wss thst the
physician had rained her life and that
she had been driven to inaanitv
through haunting fear of him.
PANAMA CANAL
RA TES BLOW TO
MIDDLE WEST
Associated Press Report.
CHICAGO Feb IS. Lower freight
rates to the Pacific coast via the Pan-
ama canal threaten to force many Mid-
dle Western concerns to move to the
Atlantlo coast or quit business accord-
ing to a atatement issued tonight by
R. M. Calkins vice president of the
Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul rail-
way. To explain the seriousness of the sit-
uation confronting Middle Western
shippers Mr. Calkins cited one case
where a Wisconsin company shipped
10 carloads of their product to the Pa-
cific coast by way of Philadelphia and
saved (2500 under the railway rates
from Chcago to the Pacific coast
"It is our desire to protect Chicago
and the Mississippi valley against the
competition of the Industrial Atlantic
seaboard so far as possible. We stand
ready to reduce tariffs on practically
every article shipped to the Pacific
coast. We also desire to extend these
reductions some distance east of Chi-
cago so we may send as much traffic
as possible to the Pacific by way of
Chicago and the Western roads' his
statemnt declared.
Industries In Chicago and the cen-
tral States are being actually forced
out of business by Atlantlo seaboard
manufacturers' water advantages Mr.
Calkins declared. Western roads ob-
viously are losing right along; equally
with the industries.
CONFERENCE ON
LOUISIANA OIL
TAX IS FAILURE
Contesting Companies and
Attorney General
AtOdds
Houston Post Special.
SHREVEPORT La. Feb. 18. Ef-
forta of the attorney general and
counsel for the oil companies contest-
ing validity of the 3 per cent severance
tax failed to agree according to Joe
Bj Elam secretary of the Louisiana-
Arkansas division of the Mid-Continent
Oil and Oaa association. The at-
torney general was here Thursday and
Friday In conference with defense
counsel relative to an agreement by
which State institutions Supported In
whole- or In part by proceed)- ef the
severance tax might Dot suffer by
those proceeds being tied Hp while the
case Is In litigation.
According to Mr. Elam'a atatement
the attorney general declined to In-
clude moneys paid previous to filing
of the suit in credits on final settle
ment of whatever amounts the courts
decree are due the State according to
final opinion on the contested tax.
Meanwhile the companies are willing
to continue paying the 8 per cent tax
levied under the original severance tax
law and to place in escrow all moneys
claimed by the State. .
The situation remains aa It was pre
vious to the conference; the compa-
nies are willing to pay the 8 per cent
and place In escrow the additional 1
per cent levied by act 140 of 1922 pro-
vided they ere given credit for such
payments prior to April 1 123. Mr.
Elam said:
'According to ths statement in the
Shreveport Journal of Thursday pur-
porting to be an interview with the
attorney general the attorneys repre-
senting the oil companies In the pend
ing suits testing the validity of act
140 of 1922 expected to sign an agree
ment with the attorney general by vir
tue or which the companies paying or
who should pay to the State a tax of
2 per cent each Quarter beginning
January I 1923 should be credited
with such payments upon whatever
amounts the courts should finally de
termine due the State whether under
the contested law or under the I per
cent severance tax. law.
'At the conference with the attor
ney general and his sides It develoDed
mat tne state is willing to make this
agreement in part only that is to say.
wouki allow credit for the 1 per cent
payments each quarter beginning
April 1 1923. but as to prior payments
no agreement would be made and no
credit allowed so that should the
courts hold the 3 per cent tax applied
beginning April t and the 3 per cent
license tax did not spply for the first
quarter of 1923 the companies having
paid such 3 per cent tax could only
recover by suit against the State: and
no such suit could be brouaht unless
authorised by a special act of the
legislature.
"In brief the State will not agree
to credit the companies for what they
nave paid and will pay on what the
courts may determine they owe the
state.
"Attorneys for the companies have
stated to tbe attorney general that In
addition to paying the 3 per cent tax
to the State referred to they are will-
ing to place In escrow In a Shreveport
bank all other amounts claimed by
the State to the end that should the
State's contentions be sustained
there will be no difficulty in collec-
tion of whatever amounts the courts
determine the companies owe. This
would have the effect of relieving
State Institutions of any emoarress-
ment during the term of contest of the
tax; and the oil companies I am ad-
vised. Intend tendering the State the
amount of their 3 per cent tax for
each quarter and ask that such
amount be credited on whatever In-
debtedness the courts may finally de-
termine they owe."
Fire Raging in Slick
Threatens Whole Town
Associated Press Report.
TULSA. Okie.. Feb. IS. Fire to-
night was threatening destruction of
Slick a 4-year-old oU town eight
miles southwest of Bristow according
to reports reaching here. The tele-
phone operator there said that the
greater part of the downtown district
was afire and that apparatus from
Bristow and Sapulpa had been called
to fight the flam
SHIP SUBSIDY MAY
DIE OF PRESSURE
FROM OTHER BILLS
Demand for Action on
"Private Measures" En
dangers Passage
ADJOURNMENT
IN TWO WEEKS
Associated Press Report.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 18. The sin.
ping bill fight in the senate aad a
sharp conflict In the house over farm
credits legislation promise heated pro-
ceedings during the remainder of the
present congress which adjourns two
weeks from today. .
Pressure for these two principal
pieces of legislation ta complicated by
increasing demands for action by sup
porters of other bills including scores
or so-called "private measures." Cus-
tomary eleventh-hour maneuver and
tactics are In full awing with pitched
battlea In prospect for the next fort
night Party conferences are being
agitated wttlt the senate swinging
into night sessions this week In an
effort to' break obstruction to the
shipping bill.
The essentia! bills for which dis-
posal is necessary to avoid an extra
session however are In advanced
shape. All but five appropriation
measures have been sent to the presi
dent. The army and legislative bills
are to be completed this week with
the deficiency as usual to be fin-
ished Just before adjournment.
Two more of the regular supply
(Cont'd on Fg. 3.)
GRANT MANNING
'FUSS' EXTENDS TO
COUNTRY CHURCH
Word Battle of New York
Rectors Gains in
Fury
Associated press Report.
NEW TORK Feb. 18. Bishop Wil-
liam T. Manning of the rPoteatant
Episcopal diocese of New Tork and
Rev. Dr. Percy Stlckney Grant of the
Church of the Ascension today again
came to grips over Christian doctrines.
Dr. Grant preaching on "The Re-
ligion of Main Street." attacked the
attitude of the American small town
towsrd the controversy which broke
out between him and the bishop after
the rector in a sermon had questioned
the dlety of Christ The small town
he asserted waa narrow in believing
that the doctrines of the Christian
church comprised a clear cut and
dried proposition.
Bishop Manning preaching at the
church of St John the Evangelist on
"Called Into the Fellowship of His
Son Jesus" declared that doctrine was
not to be "pooh-poohed."
Referring to newspaper accounts of
his controversy with the bishop and
the editorial comment thereon. Dr.
Grant said he had found the press for
the most part very fair. Ha thanked
the newspapers o fthe country for "the
Intelligent manner in which the matter
has been treated."
But said the rector he waa sur-
prised to find that comment which
indicated a narrow and anllberal view
toward religion came mostly from the
smaller places.
mall Towns Scored
Referring to the smal town Dr.
Grant continued:
"Nobody care about the theology
of ministers. It's their economic
opinions that count. Under these ctr-
sumstancea what the small town needs
Is the fresh air of independent thought
"Tbe country stores are complaining
that their business Is being taken
away by the houses that sell goods by
mall; the country ministers are com-
plaining because people would rather
stay home and listen to a sermon by
radio.
"The country newspapers may tike-
wise take notice that the time msy
come when the city newspapers may
be delivered by airplane to every coun-
try town.
"For the most cart these small news
papers are standpat papers controlled
by the Interests thst control the town.
Who knows perhaps rhe time will
come when the news will be transmit-
ted by radio. It ought not to be so
difficult bees use after all it's only a
few columns."
Just at the end of the sermon sn
unidentified men In the congregation
was stricken with apoplexy and re-
moved to a hospital.
Bishop Manning in his sermon de
clared that "being a Christian means
more then being a philanthropist or a
humanitarian.
Neneeense Charge.
"It's nonsense the talk we hear of
doctrinal belief." he said. "Truth is
important as It Is the very Lord him-
self. If we are to have an Intelligent
(Cont'd on Pg. 3.)
McAllen After Record
' On Shipments of Hogs
Houston Post Special.
Mc ALLEN. Texas Feb. 1. Thirty-
three cars of hogs representing (64.000
pounds ef live weight have been
ahipped out of the Valley In the past
few months by Joe Hammerly Sr Son
of McADen. Three cars of these bogs
went to Loo Angeela Cat. while the
remaining 3d went to Texas points
the majority to Houston and some to
Fort Worth.
These shipments brought into the
Valley darmg the past eight months
nearly' 3&t00.
assaeeaaswsssssi i i lssasssesasassssassasspssssasej-saaaaiFt ' eBS
I rflMaMWrfkawrVMwa 1
CITY OFFICIAL
TO MAKE TALK
ON SANITATION
O. L. FUQATK.
a. L. Fugate assistant city engineer
who Is an authority on city sanitation
will address the Southeast Texas sec-
tion of the American Chemical society
in the Rice Institute physics amphi-
theater Thursday evening February
22 at 8 o'clock. - '
His1 subject will be "Activated Sludge
Process In Sewage Disposal " and he
will explain the new tnventlona whlah
are at this time enabling the sanitary
engineer to keep up the. high health
record of Houston.
Dr. H. E. Howe editor of Journal of
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
will also address the Thursday evening
meeting. Dr. Howe whose connection
with the official organ of the largest
sclentiflo society In the world makes
his office a national one la an eminent
figure In the field of industrial re
search and Journalism. His message
Is of Interest to all who are con
cernjd with the advancement of chem
istry and the chemical Industries.
Ths lectures are free and the public
la invited.
C. I. A. DROPS PLAN
OF SCHOLARSHIPS
Houston Post Special.
DENTON Texas Fob. 18. Scholar
shtpa to first honor graduates of first
class high schools made for the past
eight or ten years by the College of
Industrial Arts will be discontinued
according to a statement issued this
morning from the office of 'the presi
dent Dr. F. M. Bralley. Only such
scholarships will be offered aayire pro'
vlded for by speclflo persons and or
ganlxatlona.
"A scholarship does not determine
whether the student will attend a col
lege" stated Dr. Bralley. "It has never
served any special purpose except to
advertise the college or university of
ferlng such a scholarship. The con'
sensus of opinion among the better
class of colleges and universities as
expressed at the Association of South
era Colleges at the New Orlesns meet
ing last fall waa to the effect that
such scholarships. In the long run; do
more harm than good and should not
.be offered.
Runnells County Plans
Educational Survey
Houston Post Special.
AUSTIN Texas Feb. IS. An edu
cations! survey of Runnels county will
probably be made In March according
to announcement of T. II. Shelby di
rector of the bureau of extension of
the University of Texas.
Williamson Wichita and Karnes
counties have already been surveyed
from an educational standpoint and
bulletins containing the Information
gathered have been published by E. E.
Davis rural school expert of the ex
tension bureau. It Is the purpose of
the bureau to make similar surveys in
various other Texas count lea
Last of Gonzales Cotton
Sold to Go to Liverpool
Houston Post Special.
GONZALES. Texas. Feb. IS. The
largest cotton deal made here this
season wss put over Friday when Q.
M. Sharp lornl cotton buyer pur-
chased S7& bales of cotton from C. T.
Itather paying 28 rents per pound.
The total sum realised on the sale
was about 856.000. The cotton will be
shipped out at once destined for Uv
erpool. This sale practically cleans up
the cotton held In storage here except
tor a very tew scattered Iota.
.
Corsicana Will Fight
New County Proposal
HntMtnn Pnt RmkIiI
CORSICANA. Texas. Feb. 18. Ths
matter or tne proposed creation of a
new county out of parte of Navarro
Hill Limestone and Freestone has be-
come a serious question here and the
Chamber of Commerce will appoint a
committee of leading cltlxene to go to
Austin to oppose the measure.
Anti-Saloon Leader
Charges Conspiracy
Associated Press Report.
TONKERS. !. T.. Feb. 18. William
H. Anderson. Bute superintendent t
the Anti-saloon league of New Tork.
fharared tndsw In hia immi - - - - - -
Uon et the Central Methodist Episco
pal rnurcn mat a conspiracy waa on
font tit '." him ni 1
board and reduce the erganixatioa to
ua awais ei a -epi- coBcega
1 I '1Na y
Victims
In Cells
OfBuildinsB
1600 Inmates of Ward Island Institution Driven Into
Stinging Cold as Fierce Blae Rage--Terror
Reigns Among 7000 Maniacs Homicidal Ward
Destroyed. J:-
A8oclated Preti Report . ' 1
NEW YORK Feb. 18. Fire today swept a unit ot the
Manhattan State asylum for the insane on Ward's island
killing 25 patients and nurses and driving nearly 1600 insane
out of their cells into the stinging cold.
Twenty-two of the dead were insane Three were male
nurses.
Most of the dead were trapped in their cells for tt was
the homicidal ward that was destroyed.
Hundreds were carried to safety while terror reigned
NATIONAL BANKS'
STATEMENTS PROYE
PROSPERITY WAVE
Comptroller Details 'Com
manding Position' of .
In
nstitutions
Associated Press Report
WASHINGTON. Feb. II. American
nations! banks occupied "a more com
manding poaltlon" at the time of the
last bank sail than at any time in
more than two years according to
atatement today by Coatroler of Cur-
rency Crtsalngar. Tbe statement
added that aside from the position of
the national banks the last call Indi-
cated "greater activity la Industrial
pursuits' in virtually every line of
effort. . .... .
Tha anrente reseureea ef ISIS re-
porting national banks aa tha data
of the call December 18 last amount'
ed td Ul.t7t.Se7.000 en Increase of
Sl4MS8eoo eey tha aggregate
sources of the same banks oa Septem-
ber U the date of the previous bank
call. The total represented an In
crease in aggregate resources for ths
year ml of 82081116.000 a figure of
Itself regarded as aufflclent proof ot
renewed Industrial and commercial
progress.
There are approximately 11000 bank-
Ing Institutions tn the cuntry but the
number of national banka.lncl'ided in
t i iigures givsn by Mr. Crlsslnger
represent a much greater wrtlon
of the total banking resources than
they d in numbers acoordlng to
treasury officials. The Indications
given by statistics affecting thoss
banks therefore carry more weight In
the view of officials than would be the
ccje were the ratio of the resources ths
same as ths ratio of the numbers of
the financial houses.
Loans and discounts of ths national
l-nks December It amounted to 111-
5StS000 or slightly more than half
of the available aggregate resources.
The figure ' Includes rediscounts of
more than $11000000 but represents
an Increase of more than 184000.000 for
the year. While there was an Increase
In the loans and discounts during rhe
year the ratio of loana and discounts
to total deposits of the national banks
ea-ed rather heavily as compared
to 'he last bank call In 182L
The statistics show that loans and
counts were 8.M per cent of the
total deposits laat December 88 while
.hey constitute' 71.88 per cent of the
total deposits December 81 1821. The
reduction In the percentage was said to
show a general tendency of borrowers
to llqu.uate their loans nd this was
said usually to ah'" a healthier tone
tn business. '
Total deposits were recorded Decem-
ber 2 at 817.420.481.000 or an in
crease In the year ot ij.ita.sis.uov.
While part of the increase obviously
can be traced to the stesdy growl of
commerce and Industry In a nation of
Increasing population some of It. In
the view of treasury officials necessar-
ily must result from ltnpi business
conditions. There haa been no esti
mate however of how much of the
amount can be attributed to each
source.
$1000000 in Films
Destroyed by Blaze
NEW TORK. Feb. 18. Properties
and films valued at 81.000.000 were de-
strayed today In a fire which rased
a three-story ouiiaing in nariem oc
cupied as studios by International
Films and the Cosmopolitan Produc-
tions Inc.
Schooner Abandoned in
Storm Liquor Loaded
NEW TORK. Feb. 18. Tbe British
auxiliary schooner Dorln abandoned
by her crew during a storm off the
Jersey coast several days ago. waa
picked up today 100 miles off Ai.ihroee
channel light by the coast guard cut-
ter Seneca. It was reported she car-
ried a quantity of Uqeor.
Chicago Labor Body
Scores Ruhr Invasion
Associated Press Report.
CHICAGO. Feb. 11 Condemnation
of the French invasion of the Ruhr
valley and a demand that the United
Ptates act as mediator ia the repara-
tions controversy were expressed ia
resoiauons adopted by the
Federation ef lathee? toda
Trapped
As Unit
urns
J among the rest ot tne imj
insane on the island situated
in the East river.
The fire waa discovered at 1:0
o'clock by Michael Campbell an at
tendant la ward 48 la which aH the
fatalities occurred. Hie calm berold
work and that of James Hill attend
ant In charge and Patrick Btltlgan
Oeorge A. de Emo and George T.
Relss the three attendanta who were
burned to death prevented a tar
greater catastrophe.
Hospital authorities and City Medi-
cal Examiner Norrls after a hurried
Investigation said that In all probabil-
ity a blast set off by dredgers tn Hell
Date last night was the Immediate
cause of the fire. ' According to their
theory the explosion caiyied a break
In the Insulation of electric- wires in
the attto ef the building and a abort
circuit did the rest.
Coel Order Saves Day. .
Upon discovering tbe blase Campbell
manned a hose line and fought back
the names while the other attend-
anta directed by Hill ran tip and
down the SOe-foot top floor corridor
rousing the patients with the cool
prder ''All up for breakfast" i
Aa fast aa the maniacsdeclared by
Superintendent Marcue Heyman to
have been the moat dangerous en the
Island-reould be marshaled from their
roams they were marohed In orderly
procession to the fireproof dining halt
far from the scene ef the Bre.
- Seventy of the 88 Inmates ef ward
48 had been led er carried to safety
when a huge water tank In the bias-
ing attto crashed through the1 celling
completely blocking the eorrldor that
led to safety and filling tha ball with
flames and smoke. City firemen
fighting their way past tha biasing
barrier brought out several struggling
screaming maniacs and several who
had been overeome by smoke while
dressing for the "breakfast" call.
Most of tbe dead were found In the
rooms and corridors beyond the fallen
tank. Several were believed to have
been carried down and burned be-
neath the debris when tha floor gave
way.
Seventeen bodies ef Inmates and one
believed to be that of aa attendant
had been recovered tonight. In addi-
tion a few charred bodies had been
found which were believed to be all
that waa left of some ef those un-
accounted for.
Only two of the II bodies recover ed
had been Identified. They were those
of Soloman Appelbasmi and Nathan
Cohen. Most of the others were burned
beyond recognition and probably never
wilt be Identified positively.
The building In which tbe Are oc
curred Is an ancient brick and wood
structure shaped like the letter B. Jt
Is three stories high and had accom-
modations for a maximum of Hoe pa-
tlnete. There were about 1(00 In It this
morning whea the fire waa dlsovered'
and ot these about 8M were seriously
endangered by the flames. They were
the patients In tha huge west wing.
The (8 patients Imprisoned In ward
48 on the third floor where the fire
took He toll were described by fin-.
Heyman as "violent homicidally in
clined men. any one of whom might
suddenly have turned murderously
upon hla rescuers.
But so coolly did the attendanta work
that only In a half dosen casea at the
most were there instances of straggle
against or attacks upon the attendant
and firemen.
Flames Light Island.
While the oscue work waa being ear.
rled forward the flames buret through
the roof of the building and lighted np
the entire Island. Screams ef the Ur-
rifted patienta nearest the flames
roused ths entire population ef the
madmen'a lale and In a twinkling every
winaow rramea a maniac a face.
Soma laughed and cried out In glee
at the sight ef the Haaoeo. Othsra
stared moodily. Others wrenched with
maniacal strength at the barred win-
dows of their cells and screamed la
anguished fright for rescue.
Attendanta la buildings far removed
from the danger aone had almsst as
strenuous a time preventing mad-
men and anadwomea'a panica aa those
at the scene of the blase.
The battle against tbe flamea waa
hampered by two ohstactoa. One Was
the near sere weather In which the
Bremen worked; the ether and more
serious waa the extreme difficulty in
getting apparatus to the place. Wsrd'a
Island a dot of land la .the Bast river
lust opposite lllth street and Just be-
low Its famous sister BlackweU's
Island haa a tiny fire department et
its own. But the ferry boa tea which
play to and from it are toft email to
bear heavy equipment traca the at
Bctent Manhattan force.
The city force forsaking tta entinM
Bre towers book and ladder track
aad hose wagons went to the frmr
with ao eoutptaest but a few Unee ef
heee which ceald be transported eat .
the tiny ferry. Fire beau which '
a ronded to the alarm had to lay bee '
lines neerty a half mile long before
they conld pump water oa tbe Bre.
But despite their handicaps tbe" rltv
fsg-ce end the Island force succeeded
In confining the fire to the two apper
ftoore et the west wine - whea the '
hospital effletala were fsaiHuf the
. CaV.fm - ; '
a
i'
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 321, Ed. 1 Monday, February 19, 1923, newspaper, February 19, 1923; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth610087/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed June 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .