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Newspaper
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Location
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 30, 1936
Page
4
The National Safety Council warns that by New Year’s Eve 1936 traffic deaths will reach 37,450. Iowa’s 18 foot highways are widening to 20 feet but curb reduction narrows driving space. Critics argue funds should go to widening and hard-surfacing, but due to budget limits both goals cannot be pursued. Giant trucks threaten safety on narrow pavements as the death toll climbs.
In a strategic move Mussolini limits aid to the Spanish rebels and urges Hitler to do the same. The stance risks angering der Fuehrer while giving Rome leverage as France and Britain press for an end to German interference.
Des Moines AP Thomas L Curran announced the appointment of Homer Hush of Essex Indiana as assistant secretary of agriculture following a meeting with governor elect Nels Kraschel. Hush, a former Republican state senator from Montgomery County, shifted to organize the Iowa farmers committee for Roosevelt during the campaign. Curran said Hush is well equipped to coordinate federal and Iowa independent agencies for farmers and ensure efficient nonpartisan administration.
A 1936 reflection extols positive thinking and virtue, urging readers to avoid despair, forgive, show kindness, and cultivate happiness. It emphasizes laughter, courage, and fair play as keys to a meaningful life, concluding with a copyright notice.
Linn County board of supervisors unanimously extends the year old medical relief program for six more months starting January 1. Fred Stirm of Alburnett will sign the renewal with Linn County doctors, with Dr. H. M. Ivins continuing as medical relief director and Mrs. Elizabeth Parker as secretary. The contract remains 3200 dollars monthly and the medical society appoints seven physicians to direct the program.
Vatican sources report Pope Pius, 79, gravely ill with circulatory congestion and age related complications, showed some improvement after a sleepless night. The Pontiff endured severe pain in a paralyzed leg from a blood clot, while sedatives eased discomfort briefly.
Vatican report says Pope Pius on his sick bed in the Vatican dictated a letter to the Sisters of the Convent of St Therese at Lisieux France asking prayers for courage and strength to bear his pain and conduct his remaining life as befits a pope. He did not reveal his illness in the letter. The convent holds special significance as St Therese was canonized in 1925 after his election.
A powerful storm swept Cedar Rapids Tuesday into Wednesday as technicians mishandled controls. Lightning damaged John Basker’s home at 1118 First St SW. no fire occurred. Temperatures spiked to 53 F before a rapid drop to 39 F by mid afternoon and rainfall reached 0.36 inches. One year earlier the city stood at 10 below zero.
London AP reports Inland Exploration of New York secured a 75 year concession covering 270000 square miles in Afghanistan. The deal, described as the greatest untapped oil reserve, involves Fortunes tied to Ogden Mills and others, with production targets of 40 million barrels in ten years and American ownership required.
A tuft of sandy hair on a wrecked 1936 Buick found five miles north of Cedar Rapids led Linn county deputies to Forrest Waitman of Independence. He pled guilty to larceny of a motor vehicle and received a ten year indeterminate sentence at Anamosa Reformatory.
A mystery of twenty three “ghosts” on two empty street cars sparked a grand jury probe into ambulance chasing in Chicago. George L. West confessed to coordinating fake injuries with a bruising device and a notebook of “customers” and doctors while investigators target physicians and lawyers in the case.
United State Bank of Cedar Rapids will begin paying the last half of the 40 percent of deposits placed under trusteeship in June 1933. Depositors will be notified by mail as liquidation accelerates, with no special assessments for stockholders. Total resources recently surpassed one million dollars, up from 310000 in 1933.
In Washington, two Japanese naval officers were barred from testifying in the espionage case of former U S Navy Lieut. Commander John S Farnsworth. The ruling came from the U S district court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday.
Plans for a staged tri motor flight from Genoa toward San Francisco with Bruno Mussolini possibly on board. Major Attilio Biseo will pilot with the Duce’s son as co pilot if confirmed. The voyage aims to set a new long distance record, surpassing the 5 657.55 mile current mark.
A southwest windstorm struck Cumberland Iowa causing roof loss to several businesses and debris clutter on Main Street. Buildings including Fullerton Lumber Bootjar and Bond hardware Gardinier grocery and White garage suffered shattered plate glass and collapsed structures. No injuries were reported in the Cass county town of 600 residents.
The Chicago and North Western railroad with Judge John P. Barnes approval will buy eight new streamlined locomotives, 23 passenger cars and 500 automobile freight cars for 6 307 500. One quarter cash and three quarters in equipment trust certificates.
A wave of sit down strikes hits Fisher Body plants in Kansas City Atlanta Cleveland and Flint affecting 11 200 workers and raising the pressure for a formal bargaining agreement with General Motors The UAW backed by the CIO met in Flint to approve a basic contract while GM maintained strikes were local issues.
Tacoma AP reports Lieut Col Gus B Appleman, tied to the Mattson case, spent 40 minutes at Dr W W Mattson's mansion then left quickly on an undisclosed mission. His departure followed a spokesman stating ransom negotiations were near completion amid renewed police activity and tense officials. Capt John S Strickland, a private investigator and Dr Mattson ally, was also seen leaving without comment.
Tacoma police and investigators anticipate a major breakthrough in the Mattson kidnaping, with a high likelihood of a climactic development within the next 12 hours. An officer involved in the probe remarked the climax should come soon.
Mrs. Charles Fletcher, grandmother of 10 year old Charles Mattson, pleaded through newspapers on Wednesday for the kidnapper to spare the boy. She urged the abductor to communicate with her instead of contacting the boy's parents.
A 10 year old boy Charles Mattson was abducted from his father Dr. William W. Mattson’s home Sunday night. Negotiations began Tuesday with a personal ad in a Seattle newspaper and have progressed to the point where the father waits a final word from the black bearded kidnapper before paying a $28 000 ransom. The ransom note demanded the parents publish an ad in a newspaper classifieds section. The case echoes last year’s George Weyerhaeuser kidnapping.
Mrs Gala Barnhaus of Fowlerville Michigan wins the Burlington Wisconsin Liars Club prize as the world’s best liar for 1936. She tells a tall tale about a mosquito that eats livestock and finally meets a donkey named Maud in a dramatic ending.
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