31 Dec 1954
Page 1
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Newspaper
Portsmouth Herald
Location
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States of America
Date
Dec 31, 1954
Page
1
HAL BOYLE argues that holiday death is a sport and offers dangerous, provocative tips to win a coffin. He mocks holiday caution, urging reckless behavior across driving, drinking, and partying, concluding that living safely remains the real challenge.
City officials urge sober driving as New Year’s Eve arrives. Martin O Betz warns police roadblocks will be set up at multiple locations to catch drink drivers. The anonymous poster stresses that alcohol and gasoline do not mix and a drunk driver risks a fatal crash.
More than 250 changes have been made in the Forrestal supercarrier during construction. Navy officials say the total cost will stay close to the initial estimate of 197 859 000 dollars, with Congress having set aside 218 639 000 for the ship. Adjustments ranged from lighter supports to steam catapults and an angled cantilever deck. The island was moved outward 22 feet to provide 147 feet of clearance on the main flight deck, affecting plan layout and future carrier planes.
Weather eased across the mid continent with clearer skies and warmer temps after earlier snow and ice storms. The storm claimed 23 lives overall, while the east saw fair conditions and the Northwest saw light rain. Snow depths persisted in parts of Maine and northern regions stayed cold with subzero readings including 9 below at Bemidji Minnesota.
Hurricanes Carol and Edna trigger windstorm rate hikes across four New England states. Rhode Island and Maine see premium jumps from 12 to 30 cents per $100 for one-year policies, with Massachusetts and Connecticut awaiting official word. New Hampshire reports no filed increases.
In Boston, ex governor Joseph Ely and Patrick McGinnis clashed over three McGinnis associates buying 42 percent of the Boston and Maine Railroad. Ely, a friend of Frederic Dumame Jr., called McGinnis a stock broker driven by market interests while McGinnis retorted that Ely should focus on other business matters. A New Haven spokesman offered that McGinnis advised the trio to buy B and M stock amid rumors of moves by Delaware and Hudson Nickel Plate and Lackawanna railroads.
Law officers across state and local agencies vow strict enforcement on New Year weekend. Frederick N. Clarke warns drinking drivers will be prosecuted. spot checks and 12 hour patrols planned. wet drivers to be removed or detained. roads reported mostly dry with light snow in mountains.
Washington Cabinet forecasts for 1955 call for a moderate up swing in business activity and higher employment plus a rise in living standards. Mitchell notes rising employment and production with record savings and heavy buying in 1954. Weeks says the economy is gathering steam for steady growth, despite some unemployment, and predicts continued gains in industrial production and housing.
The Portsmouth Herald will not be published tomorrow in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday.
Secretary of State Dulles may reveal in Bangkok plans for a February meeting with eight nations to discuss the Manila Pact for Southeast Asia. The pact, signed September 8, aims to combat subversion, provide joint defense, and foster economic cooperation, with council procedures to be set for possible action even before U.S. ratification. Nehru also spoke of brighter world peace prospects at Colombo ahead of East-West tensions.
Louis Galeffi a 60 year old proprietor of Louis Restaurant on Islington Street was beaten last night in a Market Street hallway by a small assailant about 25 with no hat who fled after attempts to search his pockets. Galeffi was hospitalized with three scalp lacerations and a head cut but released after treatment. Police and auxiliary officers searched the area but found no trace of the attacker.
American officials welcomed the French Assembly vote approving West German rearmament but urged patience. Eisenhower and Dulles called it a good augury while noting more steps needed to integrate German forces into Western defenses amid ongoing debate across Europe, and ratification hurdles remain in several countries.
Postmaster General Summerfield announced the city and town phase of the simplified address mail trial will end after March 31. Third class mail will require exact street addresses on city and town routes, while rural routes and some post office boxholders will continue briefly.
Adelard E. Cote, longtime business agent for the New Hampshire Shoeworkers Union, was named state labor commissioner. The post pays 6500 to 7500 dollars annually and runs to August 30, 1956. He succeeds the late William H. Riley after a unanimous Governor's Council vote.
Activation of the 4018th Air Base Squadron is moved up to tomorrow. Lt. Col. Andreas A. Andreae said the unit will arrive with 18 officers and 180 airmen, take command under an air base officer, and reach full strength by April 1955 after HQ orders from Fort Worth, Texas.
The 1955 March of Dimes drive in Portsmouth begins Monday with Albert H. Woolfson as general chairman for the sixth year. He agreed to lead again after seeking a successor proved futile. Woolfson aims for even greater fundraising than last year’s record. An organizing meeting at the Rockingham Hotel outlined tentative plans and appointed subchairmen on the central committee.
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