(Eapr JWag

, 89 YEAR, No. 12

Cam May Wavy. Estaauahkb IB Star or tmk Cam. Ertarurmcb 1SI Cam May Star A wavk. Cowroupayr

CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY, THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1943

DCUVBtSD BY MAIL IN THE LULA. POSTAGE PREPAID—S2XX) A .YEAR

FIVE C

Repair Of Rail Crossing And Alley Demanded Improvement of the pass&gewaj' between Waahington and Lafayette street*, known as Delaware avenue, and of the Lafayette street railroad crossing waa urged this week in a letter from Cape May’s city rpmmission to officials of the Penney Ivan ia-Read-ing Seashore Lines railroad. City Clerk Fiord C. Hughes was instructed by the commission at Friday’s meeting to communicate with railroad authorities, asking to have the improvements

made.

Reporting that he had received requests from the Cape May Kiwanis Club and others relative to the improvement of Delaware avenue, Commissioner George P. Wentiell, director of streets, said that to his knowledge the city has no Jurisdiction to make pairs or improvements to passageway because it is owned oy adjoining property owners and not by the city. “For years this so-called Delaware avenue has been a source of complaint," said the Commissioner, "and to the best of my knowledge the city has no jurisdiction over its improvement or maintenance as a public street. , “It is my understanding that * the railroad company owns

TTMuui^iun ana lAuayene street, and that individual property own-j t ers on the other side of the right-

* of-way own the rest

"In some sections, the passage narrows down to a bottleneck only 12 feet wide, so that it would not conform to 'requirements of municipal streets,”

Wentzell explained.

Instructing the Clerk to communicate with railroad officials, the commission added that the deplorable condition of the Lafayette street crossing also required

repair.

In that instance, too, the city has no Jurisdiction as Lafayette street is part of the county highway system.

D. A. R. Pilgrim

’43 Vacation Travel Endorsed (Heads State Unit

By Officials; Resorts Hopeful Two announcements from federal war-time agencies made last week will be a boon to Cape May and other county resorts during the approaching season. Cape May officials : predicated this week. One was the public endorsement of moderate vacation travel made on Wednesday by Joseph B. Eastman, director of the Office of Defense Transportation. The i other was the OPA’s announcement that the ban on pleasure driving had been lifted, effective March 22, along with the extension of time “A” gasoline coupons are valid, which in ;

effect cuts their value to one

Fiscal Towns, May Be

Year

Amy, Havy Tests At School Friday . Application blanks for the

qualifying testa on Friday, April 2. for the Army specialized training program and the Nary col-

lege training program are now available at the principal's office in Cape May High School, Paul S Ensminger, principal, announced

today. r“

Properly filled out. these applications will admit qualified high school seniors or recent graduates to the tests. Each applicant may indicate on his blank whether he prefers the Army or the Navy, which includes the Marine Corps

and Coast Guard.

Students who attend college — der either of the programs will be under military discipline on active duty in uniform with pay. All expenses, including tuition, food, housing, books and uniforms will be paid by the Army or the

Navy.

BETTY LOU HUGHES Chosen to represent Cape it -High School at the annual DJL.R. Pilgrimage at Trenton last Thursday. With 63 other D.A.R. Pilgrims from all part of the state. Mis* Hughes was entertained by the New Jersey Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Fam Agent To Speak To Coaeiunity Club The April meeting of the Cape May Woman's Community Club will be held on Thursday, April 1, at the Batten Cottage, Mrs. James C. Hand, club president, announced this week. Henry H. White, county agricultural agent, will be the meeting's main speaker. He will'give an illustrated address on Victory Gardens. Films froia the New Jersey College of Agriculture, at New Brunswick, will be shown to illustrate the possibilities of Victory Gardens. Reservations for the luncheon should be made with Mrs. William H. Stevens or with Mrs. Hand. White will tell dub members bow and when to plant various vegetable crops and will give heipful hints on their care. His address will follow the monthly club luncheon, which will begin promptly at 1 pjn. The entertainment program is scheduled to .start st 2:16, and the business meeting, featuring the bi-annual election of officers will fallow White's

Compromise On

Land Sale Off Hope for a satisfactory com-

promise on the price for 88 acres of land adjoining the Cape May Naval Base was shattered last week at a conference in Brooklyn between Mayor T. Millet Hand, of Cape May. and Lieutenant Commander Wildermuth, of the Navy

land procurement division. Reporting to the dty commis-

sion on Friday, Mayor Hand said that after a re-appraisal of the land, the Navy Department refused to raise its figure sufficiently to make a fair compromise with the dty. Jor the purchase

of the land.

"Although negotiations for the sale of the large city-owned tract have failed,’’ the Mayor reported, “it is possible that the deal may revert to a lease, basis, under which the city would receive a more nearly adequate return and would retain ownership of the

property.”

After rejecting the government’s first offer for the land, dty officials conferred several times with. Commander Wildermuth in an effort to reach a satisfactory agreement on price. At Friday's meeting, the commissioners authorized payment of $2,600 to the Attorney General of New Jersey in full settlement of a claim against the city for auditor's fees resulting from a special audit in 1937. Ordering payment of the bill, the commissioners pointed out that the city had saved more than $4,000 on a compromise effected by Mayor Hand in Negotiations with the Attorney General.

Victory Gardens Are Kiwanis Topic Victory Gardens were the theme of last night’s weekly meeting of the Cape May Kiwanis Club. Henry H. White, County agricultural. agent, was prindpa! r e alter at the meeting, giving an ustrated address on Victory Gardening. Several dub members are planning to start Victory Gardens for the coming season. White showed films illustrating the possibilities of individual gardens. The pictures were compiled by the Extension Service of the New Jersey College of Agriculture.

OPA Lifts Ban On Driving Effective on Monday, the ban on pleasure driving was lifted as number five gasoline ration coupons became valid. The new coupons. although their unit value remains unchanged, must be used over a period of four instead of two months, thereby cutting the "A” ration, which may be used for pleasure driving, to about one and one-half gallons a week. The announcement was made last Wednesday night by OPA officials in Washington. Announcing the reduction in the gasoline ration, the OPA said those with "A” books who drive to work would be allowed supplemental gasoline under revised regulations to be announced

shortly.

The value of "B”, “C” and other supplemental ration coupons as not affected by the order. The halving of the basic ration applies only in the east coast area where the “A” ration books have, had a three-gallon value, compared with four gallons in Continued On Page Four -

and one-half gallons per week. “These two announcements at this time should have an important bearing upon the success of the coming season In Cape May and other nearby resorta,” declared Mayor T. Millet Hand. “The fact that the Office <rf Defense Transportation endorses moderate use of public transportation facilities by vacationists eliminates the possibility of restricting the use of trains and buses for purely essential trips, and the elimination of the ban on pleasure driving, even though the amount of gasoline is reduced, should enable a great many visitors to come to Cape May and the other resorts this summer. "Some events during the last •ar gave rise to fears that vseaon travel would be completely banned for. the duration,” the Mayor continued. “However, the recent announcements of these two war-time agencies indicate that the federal government realizes the importance of vacations to the

nation’s health.

"For example, last season there is talk of federal representatives questioning^shore-bound train and bus passengers to determine if their trips were for pleasure or — Continued On .Paoe Eight —

ODT Head Okays Vacation Trips Endorsement of vacation travel during 1943 was made public last week by Joseph B. Eastman, di- L rector of the Office of Defense |

Transportation.

Director Eastman, addressing

members of the a Allegheny Regional Advisory Board ofN Railroads in- Pittsourgh, said there would be no attempt to curb

vacationists this year. Figuratively apeaking, the

ficial said that Mr. and Mrs.

i could take their rej

vacations this year, but the C of Defense Transportation feels that perhaps they won’t be able to make as long a journey

they have in the past.

- They will have to take their chances on getting accommodations on public transportations systems, he added, and will * discouraged from beginning ending their vacation trips over weekends when travel is at a

peak.

“We’re not going to discourage people from taking vacations Continued On Page Four —

Oppose Canal Across State; Urge Deepening Of Waterway TRENTON—The New Jersey Legislature this week adopted in both houses a concurrent resolution Mposing the proposed construction by the federal government of a cross-

state ship canal between Bordentown and Sayreville. Senator I. Grant Scott, of Cape May, who sponsored the resolution, said'he believed the canal, which he estimated would cost at least $190,000,000 and require three years to construct, would be “very

detrimental” to the state.

It would cut several main highways, requiring the construction of bridges costly to build and maintain, and would deplete the fresh water supply of the region through

which it passed, he said.

Scott urged as a substitute project the improvement of the existing inland waterway system which runs close to the coast for almost its entire length, and construction of a canal between Sherwsbury and

protected routei for small

craft from the Delaware Bay to

New York harbor.

Representative Auchincloss, New Jersey Republican, said in'Washington Monday that he had introduced a bill in. the House to utilize present inland waterway facilities inside the New Jersey coast and to build a short canal between Manasquan Inlet and the Shrewsbury River, as a substitute for the ship

canal.

Auchincloss, a minority member Fflnihf fiptc

of the Rivers and Harbors Com-1 raMII J OBI* IVIBSSage

mittee, said the cost of following , Cwaim PnI

the route he suggests would be ap- ' riOOl UUI> 1/111115

nroximately $16,000,000 against

Cape May Yeuth Is Reported Milsing Seaman (ic) Weston Johnson, U.S.N.R., of Cape May, has been reported missing by the Navy Department, it was learned this

week.

Johnson's parents, Captain and Mrs. Ralph W. Johnson, of 1046 Lafayette street, were notified that their son was among the missing in a telegram from the Navy Department. No further details were given. . A graduate of Cape May High School, young Johnson had been serving as a Navy aviation radioman for some'time. Be had finished his radio training last May and had served from May until December in Newfoundland. He was transferred back to the United States in December. After being graduated from Cape May High School, he attended Tri-State College in Angola, Ind., where he studied aeronautical engineering for one year.

$199,000,006 for the larger canal, and could be. completed in a year and one-half. The trans-Jersey canal Would take more than three years to construct. Army engineers

estimated. _ __ If the Congressman’s suggestion ment broadcast from Tokyo, is followed, marine traffic would The message, received by a enter the inland waterway through -*-“— *- *•

the Cape May Canal and would proceed up the coast along the in-

side —

First direct word from Colonel Donald M. Curtis, U.S.M.C., of Cape May, who has been a prisoner of the Japanese since the fall of Corregidor, was received last week via a Japanese govern-

dsimy ShouldsM Slams J&i Slackmdt JsAl ConfuAwn

PRSL Asks Remit Fer Caisl Cable PHILADELPHIA — U. S. Arfay. engineers will act Saturday on an application of the PennsylSeashore Line, for to lay submarine sigikation cables May Canal at

Cape May’s municipal ian defense authorities late last week received a letter of apology from Leonard Dreyfus?, director of civil ian defense in New Jersey, explaining the causes of the recent test blackout farce and laying the blame at the feet of

the Army.

Dreyfus*’ letter contained a copy of a letter written by Lieutenant Genera] Hugh A. Drum, commanding officer of the East- ~ Defense Command to -Gover-

The letter from General Drum

reads in part:

“The trouble resulted from the. inadvertent failure on the part of appropriate Army authorities •pacifically to authorize the use erf the Civilian Ajr Warning Net

giving out the signal

practice blackout. It fault of the New Jersey Ov-

the the

U Defen "In the first place, the military authorities were definitely on the alert and as much so that the representative of the fighter would not permit the er the Cfarfl Air Raid

officer which he did not possess. "Practice raids are held for the purpose of bringing out any deficiencies in the system. In order to provide for artificial raids, an artificial arrangement is required to be inserted into the normal system of signaling. This normal system must be surrounded by many safeguards to prevent unauthorized signals from entering the system. It is this fact which accounts for the action

dio station in Minneapolis, Minn, was forwarded to Colonel Curtis' wife who is living in California.

It follows:

"Hello, Darling: Your letter June 6, No. 67, and Mother's June 6th, received October 13th and very much appreciated. Am well, comfortably quartered,, with pleasant surroundings. In temperate climate and being satisfactorily cared for. Expect forward first letter very soon. Understand packages may be sent via Red Cross . and would like chocolate bars and fruit cakes Please notify Mother of this communication. Miss you very muchand think of you continuously. Hope to see you very soon. Much

love. Don.”

of the representative

of the

fighter command.

“But the failure in connection with the New Jersey blackout resulted from the set-up of this artificial arrangement, rather from the system that has

perfected

Dreyfuss stated that regardless of who is at fault a personal apoldue every air raid war-

C.G. Chorus Tf Sing At Baptist Church The Coast Guard Chorus of 40 male voices from the North Wildwood barracks will sing' at the Cape Island Baptist Church Sunday evening, March 28. The chorus, under the direction of Warrant Officer Charles E Hargis, has appeared several times at churches in tl ’

changes ia the all-clear signal shop".

I “Nazareth — Lore in the Work-

Open House At (ISO Club Sun. Cape May’s USO Club at 628 Washington street will join 1200 other USO operations throughout the United States and at overseas bases in a nationwide USO openhouse day on Sunday, March 28,

from 1 to 6 pjn.

Adjutant Theodore F. Thompson, director of the local dub, in announcing the open-houae, extended an invitation to all residents of Cape May and surrounding communities to visit the USO center and see the facilities and activities provided for members of the nation’s fighting forces. A program will be presented in the afternoon. Mayor T. Millet Hand, of Cape May, officers of both Army and Navy and dub officers will speak. Soldiers, sailors, Marines and Coast Guards from nearby bases will serve as guides

for visitors.

> Brigadier and Mrs. Harold Smith, of the War Service Department of the Salvation Army, are expected to be present. Brigadier Smith is war service secretary of the eastern territory, consisting of 11 eastern states, with headquarters in New York. He will speak during the afternoon program, and Mrs. Smith will speak at the vesper service at five d’clock. At this service the Wildwood Coast Guard chorus, consisting of 30 service men,

will sing.

The Cape May. High School Band will play for club visitors from 1:30 until 2 pjn. The local USO center waa opened November 7, 1941 and has since been visited by an average of 400 men daily. Facilities provided at the dub include showers, reading and writing materials, games, music, checkroom, personal and spiritual service, dancing, movies and comfortable chairs

•RICHARD E. REEVES Well known Cold Spring resilient who last week was elected president of the New Jersey Mosquito Extermination Association a^ the group’s annual convention

in Absecon.

Possibility that the i of New Jersey countie palities and the State _ , Department will be changed 1 the present calendar year, Janury 1 to December 31, to a new fiscal year of July 1 to June 80 was reported by Freeholder Ralph . T. Stevens, of Cape May, follow-/ ing a meeting of the State Association of Chosen Freeholders at Trenton on Monday. The plan was revealed by Walter R. Darby, state local government commissioner, who advocates the change so fiscal years of the three groups will conform with federal and state fiscal

years.

letter to other members of the Cape May County Board of Freeholders Tuesday, Stevens reported: “Mr. Darby told us of a bill •at he is preparing to introduce next week that will change the fiscal year of the State Highway

Attendance at the USO centers now totals more than 12,000,000 monthly.

War Fund Hits $2,843 Mark Cape May's Red Cross War Fund campaign this week neared the end of its third week with total contributions of $2^43.19, Dr. Edward E. Pickard, city school superintendent, who heads the local campaign, - reported

Tuesday.

A total of $657 is required to meet the city’s new quota, which has been set at $8,400, an increase of $300 over the original quota assigned to Cape May. Of the total collected as Tuesday, $691.93 was donated by officers and men at the Cape May Naval Base; $227.32 had been collected at the Merchants National Bank collection booth, and $165.60 at the postoffice. The balance' had been derived from in-

dividual contributions. Figures reported this week

ered only contributions actually turned in, Dr. Pickard explained. He pointed out that a number of solicitors had not yet turned

their collections.

Donations of $41.10 from the local Bell Telephone employees, and $89 from the White Construction Co. employees were reported

this week.

present calendar

year to a new fiscal year of

July 1 to June 80.

“This is to conform with federal and state fiscal years. Ha said this would ba of great benefit, especially to municipalities, and that he was going to do’

- ^ the * ‘

ities ia

Draft Board Defers Farm Workers Farm workers in southern Cape May County are being reclassified by Selective Service Local Board No. 2, which has jurisdiction pver the conscription of men for military service in this area, it was disclosed this week after the board had begun to assign farmers to new deferred classifica-

tions.

Acting in accordance with a directive from national Selective Service headquarters, following the recent decision to defer farm workers, the local board has already reclassified approximately 16 men, deferring them because of the importance of their occupation. To date, 10 farm workers have been placed in classification 2-C, the class for farm workers without dependents, and six have been placed in 3-C, the class for farm workers with dependents. The board this week is going over all files of men who claimed farming as their principal occupation, and in cases where men are now employed- in the production of food they are being assigned to the new classifications'.

of counties 1 this bill,” Stevens cent

‘He did not want anyone to say that this change would in-

crease the tax rate.

i think he ia right, except that 1 am afraid it will tend to increase the tax rate for the first year because the calendar for making the budget ia not te be changed, so next January are will make a budget for 18 montha, from January 1, 1944 running to

Jun« 30 > 1945.

— Continued On Paob Four —

City To Check Up On Water Rent Charges The city commission will receive a report tomorrow oa the status of delinquent water rents owed to the Cepe May water department by West Cepe May property owners. In a collection drive two years ago, the city obtained judgments against a number who had -large arrearages. City Solicitor Samuel F. Eldredge was instructed on Friday to make a report on the status of the judgments. Clarence Schellenger, recently appointed city inspector, will soon begin a house-to-house inspection of water connections to determine the accuracy of dty records on which individual water rent hills are based. „ The inspection will begin in est Cape May, with sections of Lower Township served by the city water department, and the Yacht avenue district following. Later, it is planned to have the inspection cover all house* in

Cape May.

Scoti (Dsjusa (xlalsA dulhiAiiif, Sill JhJisalsnA QUy WJlihf,

Senator I. Grant Scott, of Cape May, on Friday denied that his recently introduced bill to abolish the State Water Policy Commission and to replace it with a State Water Authority contained a clause empowering the new agency to acquire control ol municipal as well as privatelyowned local water utilities. Scott's reply came in answer to question by Commissioner George P. Wentzell, director of public works and properties, under whose jurisdiction the muni-cipally-owned water department operates. Wentzell said he had heard rumors that the new bill empowered the proposed State Water Authority to acquire control of all water utilities, by purchase or condem-

nation.

Explaining that such a provision is made in the case of pri-

ator Scott, a member of the Cape May commission, declared that no s»ch provision ia made tK. case of municipally-owned departments. He pointed out that the reefer giving the proposed Wa-

ter Authoriity such power privately-owned utilities wag eliminate cut-throat competition and legal wrangling over rights to potable water supplies, particularly jn the northern section of the state. Commissioner Wentzell said he had asked to question because he had heard that the bill gave the State Water Authority power to acquire, either by condemnation or purchase, any water utility, either municipally- or privatelyowned. He said if it applied to munici-pally-owned' water departments he would* strongly oppose it, pointing put that Cape May’s water department is one of the beat -enlie-producing municipal seres. 'I would hate -to see any hill . ised which would give any state agency the power to take over, at its own price, our water which the City of paid

Former Freeholder Buried On Monday OCEAN CITY — Charles B. Powell, 74, a retired food merchant and former member of the Cape May County Board of Freeholders, died Thursday morning in .Shore Memorial Hospital, where he had been confined for two months' Mr. Powell lived at 801 Seventh street. Ocean City. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. . Anna Fowler Powell, to whom he ' was married in 1893, and a sister, Mrs. Eunice Powell, of Maurice town. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at his late residence. The Rev. Benjamin F. Allgood, of the First Methodist Church, and the Rev. C. D. Whitton, superintendent of the Bridge--ton District of the Methodist Conference, officiated. Interment was made at Haleyville Cemetery, in Cumberland County.

Legion Collecting Small Firearms TRENTON — The New Jersey Department of the American Legion has requested all local posts in the state to take part in a ^ campaign to collect small arms for use by Naval personnel guard- • the shores of navigable waterways. State Legion Adjutant Roland Cowan, said rifles And shot- _ in* of any caliber, pistols and revolver* of .25 caliber and up, web cartridge belts and pistol bullets would be accepted. Tbe Navy has stipulated that the >ons be usable Or in such ition that repair* would render them usable, he added. Cowan >aid weapons needed for the 'protection - • - -