r· .} .. ~' l.'i' !

C HAP TER FIVE

Having worked at the City Engineering Departmen~ more than six months, I became better a~qualnted with its management. There was no doubt in the minds of anr employee who was the boss. That position was held by Mr. Wm. B. Fowler, without any pretence of challenge from anybody on the payroll, or anybody doing business with the Department. He had not reached the age of forty, and looked even younger. A nice looking well built man. His curley hair had a sandy color with a faint tent of red. His brown eyes were not prominant, because they were kind of squinted into a round face with a rugged outdoors complexion. His actions were aggressive, his retorts were slashing. When things in the big office wern't going to his satisfaction, he'd yell, "If you can't do any better, I'm gonna fire everybody here, and write my own check." One of those calm days, when everybody in the office was quietly concentrating on their work. Mr. Fowler came bursting in. He shouted, "Who sold that house number on Roper's Alley?" There was a City ordinance prohibiting the issue of a house Dumber on any throfare less than 30 feet wide. Mr Pitts, the permit clerk, answered with a quivering voice, "I thought it was all right." Mr. Fowler snapped back, "Thought Hell, you're not paid to think. If you don't know, ask somebody that does, or you won't be here' long." Chief clerk, Dusty Miller, a distant second in comand of office business, raised his head up from his roll-top desk, hopeing to rescue Pitts, said, "Bill, our map shows Roper's Alley to be 30 feet wide." l-lr Fowler took two quick steps in Dusty's direction, and yelled, "By God, if you're so smart, show me the map." Dusty rose to his feet, like a dizzy prize fighter getting off the floor, and when he got to the file cabinet, he couldn't find the map. Mr. Fowler stood for about two minutes, shouting hell-raising exclamations, then turned and walked out of the room. For a minute, the only noise to be heard was the wall-elock ticking. Garvie whispered a question to me, "Did you ever

see an man, Dusty' size, ~ry to crawl into a cabinet drawer?" f Before Mr. Fowler became CityEngineer in September 1918, he was a private contractor with his partner, Frank Koehler. They constructed several of the existing sUbways under the tracks on Railroad Ave. r was told, Mr. Crump took a liking to Bill Fowler, and gave him the name, "doer". Shorty Ryan, chief draftsman, lived a quiet batchlor's life at the Catholic Club. He had never been in real good health, and in the last several months, his health became worse. After being confined

to his ro~m, he became bed-ridden. His condition grew serious and the doctor sent him to the hospital, where he lingered a few weeks before he died. The drafting department was left with a limited amount of experience. There was only Garvie and Young who had degrees in engineering. Neither had been with the department long enough to be familiar with the many problems that had to be handled. Mr. Fowler. Dave Renfro,

and Mr. Mattox made 8 very practical decision when they transferred Tom Maxson from chief of a survey party to chief' draftsman. Tom had an engineering degree from Texas A & M. Before coming to the City, July 2, 1924, he had worked in the engineering dept. at the Frisco R.R. Everybody liked Tom. He was a good mixer and enjoyed witt and humor. He was aware of the department problems, and knew the answers. As 24 c:

I mentioned "before, Tom was a hard and conscientious worker. I felt sure he would enhance the respect for the drafting department. Walter Irvin, one of the fellows I worked with at the map Co., came by to visit me at the Rngineering Dept. He told me, he was in need of 8 job. I knew Walter was single, in his middle 208, and lived with mother on South Parkway. I told Walter the salaries for draftsmen in our department were nothing to\ 'twhoop and Holler about. II His respon·ce was, "All I need is enough money to support my social life." He was 8 fancy dresser, and I'd b~en tGld, he was quite a man about town.. I sug~ested, he go and talk to Mr. Fowler. I warned him that Mr. Fowler was a man of various moods. you might be lucky and catch him in a good humor. To my surprise, Walter got the job. After Walter Irvin started to work for the Engineering Dept., he told the folks there, I was related to the famous Scotch singer, Sir Harry Lauder. That information, although raIse, fixed the nick name of "Harry" on me. That nick name stuck with me during the 45 years I remained with the department. As Irvin was making his nightly social rounds, he ran across another draftsman who worked with us at the Hap Co. Irvin must have shared his secret of, how to cinvince Bill Fowler, because within 8 few days, in came Earl Rennick to work as 8 draftsman in our depArtment. Earl was a small fellow in his early 208, and looked younger. He was b~essed with the best disposition I had ever known. Everything that happened was runny to Earl. He would be at his table, quietly working, and suddenly he'd burst out laughing. When asked, "what's so funny?" he'd reply, "shucks, I thought of something that happened last night," When the field party chiefs came into the office , around one o~~clock, ~o~ th8i~ art8rROO~ assignments, they would wander bBCk into the drafting area. Sometimes we had questions about their surveys which they could answer'rAnd sometimes it was just idle conversation. On such visits, I got acquainted with Frank Tobey. Frank grew up in Memphis. He attended"college at Queen's University in Canada, where he received his engineering degree. After college, Frank went into the contracting business. In

West Tennessee there were a lot of dredging contracts awarded by newly organized Drainage Districts. Frank bought modern equipment, including coal fired boilers. That gave him an advantage over his competitors. Everything was going fine untill World War I came along, and he couldn't get any coal. The fatal blow came when the DrainAge Districts were unable to sell their bonds on the market. The only way the Districts could pay the contractor was with bonds that couldn't be cashed. Under those circumstances, Toby went broke. On January 10, 1924, Tobey got a job at the City Engineering Dept. as survey party chief. His starting salary was $150 per month. At an early age, Frank's mother insisted he take voice lessons. By 1927 he had become very popular, singing in church choirs, and was elso able to pick up some extra money, singing at club meetings. One

day Frank came into the office a little before noon. He told us he

had an engagement to sing that day at 8 luncheon club. He was dressed nicely in a dark blue pin-stripped suit. As Frank turned to leave, somebody hollered, "Hey, Frank, you Fot a hole in the seat of your pants." Sure enough that thread-bare cloth had yielded to stress, and his white underware was showing. With a look of' distress, Frank pleaded, tIle/hat can I do, I've got to make that money?" Tom Maxson, in a soothing voice, said, "quiet down, back up to me and I'll fix you." Frank backed upto him, holding his coat-tail out of the way. Maxson shook a bottle of black India ink, took the stopper out, and painted Frank's white underware black with the quill. Away Frank went, his face still a little red. About 1:30 o'clock~ in came Frank smiling from ear to ear. in answer to the question, ttHow didger make out?" Frank said, "Fine, I walked on the stage sideways, with my butt to the back curtain, and I walked orf the same way. I don't think anybody knew the difference." Massey and Ethel, always willing to add another branch on the L8u~hter family tree, were blessed with their fifth child on June 5, 1927. They named her, Ruth Minnie Laughter. They also called the event, "Finis". It wasn't exactly an_ ordinary Sunday morning for Jessie and I, at our home on Lake Ave. Jessie's sister Margurette was in the hospital. She was not considered to be in a serious condition. We were told, she might be dismissed the next day. But when a member of our family was in the hospital, it was impossible to get it orf our minds. ,{ldu'1Jt About mid-morning, in walked Bill~augh, one of Jessie's nephews who lived on Southern Ave. Bill had a solem look on his face. Jessie took one look at him and asked, "Bill, is there anything the matter?"

Bill hesitated before he answered, "I've got bad news for you. 1t He paused as if he was trying to think what to say. Then, with 8 quiver in his voice, he said, "Aunt Margurette is dead." When Jessie realized what Bill had said, she became limp. I saw her close her eyes, she leaned, and I instinctively caught her before she fell. I placed her gently on the sofa. Jessie loved her sister dearly, Bnd it was some time before she could regain her composure.

We learned later that Margurette had been visited by her doctor that morning, pass~d the examination, and called her husband, Bob Covington, to come and bring her home. As she was packing her suitcase, she fell on the bed and died instantly. They told us it was a bloodclot. Its hard to describe the sorrow that takes place in a big family, when the first member dies. Margurette's mother, Mrs. Saino, said she had suffered the loss of both mother and father, but she had never II

suffered as 'much untill she had to loose a daughter. In addition to

her husband, Marguret~e left 8 daughter, Rose Marie age five, and a son, Robert age three. Julia, Margurette's next older sister, insisted on takin~ the children to raise. Julia and her husband, Zelna Mason, had no children of t'heir own. The idea seemed practical and everybody agreed. Trying to buy groceries, pay rent and utilities, get decent clothes, and run a car on a salary of $125 a month, took a lot of managing by Jessie and me. I reasoned with myself, I had proven my worth at ~·dJ(.r1~ the office, and I was getting the smallestj I worked up enough nerve to go in and try my reasoning on Mr. Fowler. Reluctantly he admitted

I was having 8 hard time. Surprisingly he said, "I'm gonna recommend to the Commissioner, (Harry Howe), that you be given a $25 raise." That lifted my spirits higher than a kite. I couldn't wait untill I got home to tell Jessie, We grabbed each other and put on a dance. My next payday came, but not the raise. That made us more depressed than ever. In our minds, we had already spent the raise. When Mr. Fowler came into his office, I was right on his coat-tail. I told him

my pli~ht. He called in Sabin, the bookkeeper, to find out what was

the matter. Sabin said he'd ~ot nothing from Howe's office. Mr. Fowler mumbled, "I'll talk to Harry and see if he's agreeable." Mr. Howe was a part time Commissioner. He ran his own Engineering firm in the Porter building, He was always in a big hurry when he came to our office. Never had time to talk to anybody, That conduct discouraged me from talking to him about my raise. I managed to live till the next payday, and again no raise. That time, Mr Fowler sent his secretary into MR. Howe's office with one simple question, "Mr. Howe, are you, or are you not, going to sign that letter." In about 20 minutes the secretary came back and told Mr. Fowler, "He had the letter laying under a stack of city business on top of his desk. He didn't mind signing the letter, but it looked like he hated to search for it." When I told Jessie what had happened, she said, "Start working on your next raise now. With your luck, it'll be granted about a year from now." As the summer of 1927 drew near, Jessie and I decided, it would

be. nice for us to take 8 little trip, and call it a delayed honeymoon.

We were told, Hot Springs Arkamsas was 9 beautiful and interesting place to visit. When Momma heard about our plans, she insisted we go by and visit w~th Eunice and her family. Soon after Eunice started teaching at Quitman Ark. she met and married Ben Castellaw. Their daughter, Betty Jo. was born September 11, 1926. Momma made her point, I but it wasn't like stopping on theway. From Little Rock, Quitman was more than 60 miles in one direction, and Hot Springs was about 55 miles in another direction.

Just before vacation time, we ~ot the old end contrary Ford engine tuned up, new tires mounted, and suit cases packed. Early one Saturday mornin~, we left Memphis headed west. We had no road map, but had been given the names of some of the towns we would pass through. That was the first time either of us had taken a cross-country trip. The road through the delta to Forrest City was black-top, generously speckled with pot holes. Beyond Forrest City, there was nothing but gravel. It was rough and dusty. Automobile tires, at that time, carried about 55 pounds of pressure. Every bump we hit would rettle our teeth. Air conditioning was unheard of. The weather was so hot we had to let the windows down, and that let so much dust in, we could hardly breath. Our rate of speed was 25 to 30 miles per hour. Our only consolation was, it was better than a horse and buggy. After we passed Brinkley, it was the parrie country, so flat the water didn't know which way to run, The roads were so straight they seemed to disappear in the horizon. It seemed like we were standing in one place bUmping up and down, there was no sense of progress. Nonethe less we plugged along, Making ourselves believe we were on our honeymoon.

When we turned north from Little Rock, the scenery changed, There were hills and valleys, wooded areas mixed with open fields, but the

road was as crooked 8S a snakes track. As we rounded each curve, Jessie would ask, "How much farther to Q.ui tman?" All I could say was, "Its

still a long ways, and I hope we get there before dark." At Conway, we turned off the main highway onto a narrow country road, crooked, hilly, and dusty. We began to have trouble with our list of towns. Some of them were so small we couldn't tell when we passed throu~h them. Jessie was dead sure we were lost, and she wasn't timid about telling me so. She ~ot so disgusted with Arkansas, she

swore by all that was holy, she'd never come back a~ein. It wasn't easy, but we reached our destination about an hour before dark. Quitman Arkansas was a small cross-roads country town. There were two general merchandise stores, a cotton gin, blacksmith shop, and a produce warehouse. It was 8 trade center for a scattered neighborhood. The town contained not more than 10 residences. We knew that Ben and his brother owned one of the stores, and· when we turned the corner, there it was. The conventional oblong shaped store building was desperately in need of paint. The front porch was elevated to the height of 8 wa~on bed. There were show-windows on each side of the double door entrance. Above the porch roof there was a sign with big black lettering spelling, "CASTELLAW BROTIIERS, GENERAL MERCHANDISE. It Ben rushed out to meet us, with a most gracious welcome. After

8 short, but courteous, conversation, he direeted us to their rented home, It was a large two story weather-hoarded white house. There were full len~th porches across the front of both the ~round and second floors. Large wooden columns supported the roof over the porches. Eunice met us at the back door. She said, "I'll bet you both are tied." I assured her she had won her bet.After exchanging questions and answers, we were taken inside and to the upstairs room we were to occupy. Inside were those high ceilings, dating the house to be more than 50 years old. ·There were sags here, misfits there, and the squeaky h1;gh~ stairs gave us a queezy feeling they mitht colapse any minute. As soon 8S we came back down stairs, Eunice said, I'Verne, I'll

let you draw us 8 bucket of water from the cystern on the back porch." Before I got started, I heard Eunice say, "Jessie I'll let yay peel the potatoes." When I finished drawing the water, Eunice was looking out the kitchen window, like she was trying to think of something. Suddenly she turned to me and said, "Verne, Ben won't be home from the

store untill late. I think I'll let yOll feed and milk the cow." Before Ben did come home, Eunice had let Jessie set the table, and several other chores. She had let me draw some more water, and she was the same person who had asked if we were tired when we got there. After supper, we sat on the front porch and talked. I had heard

before that Ben was 8 talker. I found out my information had not been adequately emphersized. Ben talked constantly. He told me the history and funny stories about all the people in that section of Arkansas. Eunice was not helpless in her conversation either. While Ben was pouring in the information on one side, Eunice was asking questions about things at home on the other side. I have never learned to handle that type of dual attact. After hours of that treatment, I did the wisest thing I could think of. I gave a big yawn and said,

"I'm sleepy. It

As Jessie and I were gettin~ ready for bed, we a~reed that Eunice was going to "let" us do all the work, and she wasn't interested in

"letting" ,IUS enjoy our honeymoon. On that Saturday night we decided to stey over Sunday, then leave early Monday morning for Hot Springs. •

Eunice and Ben acted disappointed the next morning when we announced our plans. We stuck to our plans, and arrived in Hot Springs in the middle of the afternoon on Monday. We stayed .at the Powell Hotel. next door to the famous Arlington Hotel. The difference in rent was about $20 a day, in pur favor. Our stay in Hot Springs was wonderful. It was the first time we could relax, do what we wanted, go when and where we wanted, and not

have to answer to anyone. We visited the Government Hospit~l and grounds on the hill. We toured the hot spring water beth houses along Main st. We drove around town, and out to a nearby lake. We probably enjoyed

the pawnshops on Main st after dark, the most. It was interestin~ to watch those auctioneers soft-talk the bidders into buying jewelery they knew nothing about. While there in Hot Springs, I ran across an advertisement for the International Correspondence School. One of the courses offered was Municipal Engineering. I was aware that the lack of technical training was going to handicap future promotions in the 6rcdq~~ work I was doing. I briught the ad home, filled it out and mailed it. On the way home, Jessie and I concluded, our delayed honeymoon was great. After Margurette's deeth, her two children went to live Zelna and Julia Mason. Bob Covington, the children's father, decided to live elswhere. Those moves left a nice little four room frame house sitting vacant on the back end of the children's lot. It was decided to move that house up to the building line of the others. When that was done, and the house repainted, it harmonized fairly well with the others. When the little house was put up for rent, Jessie and I put in our bid and was accepted as tenants. ,We loaded our belongings and moved to 2910 Southern Ave. Jessie was happy, but I had mixed emotions.

I knew Mr. Saino was not timid about asking me to help him, and he was always busy, especially on week ends. • S~6 /leNt sJ",1 nr I~t).;;,r!ll~g ~ln/djn~L ~~l . I /60 /:1'0 ,I~ fiti

( .J ~ r-:-~­ I "~ ~ -~ ~ If)-' tt ~ )----

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t i ! .- HAVNES ST f SA/NO BLOCK ( t'&~1I;:?'fin~.16i!9 tI/l,...et:'Qrd~eI Fisker Plde-e SvbeliY/liplJ t IDENTIFICATION of BUILDINGS . ----otlSAINO BLOCK

1 - Bill & Thelma Wolbrecht. # 2882 2- Mr. & Mrs. F.L.Saino, orig~onally built by Mr. Fisher. #2888 3 - Garage and Storage with 10ft, Carrage House by Fisher.

4 - Servant's House, Built by Fisher. S - Shop, Built by Mr. Saino. 6 - Pump House, Laundry, and Storage. 7 - Barn, for Mule and Cow, with Hay Loft. 8 - Zelna & Julia Mason, # 2904

9 - Garage & Store Room, with Loft. 10 - Verne & Jessie Laughter (Tenants) 4Room Frame. #~lO 11 - Coal House and Storage. 12 - Everett & Aleta Baugh, # 2916 13 - Two car Garage and Storage. ~ ~:fl.t'9'),.je r 14 - Felix & Cecelia Saine, sold to Verne & Jessie Layghter. #2920 15 - 1 Car Garage, Garage and Driveway built by Verne. 16 - Summer Hous e, 12'X 12', built by Felix. 17 - Louis & Nettye Saino. #2922 18 - 1 Car Garage

19 - Joe & Mae Feti. #2928 20 - Two Car Garage with Storage Room and Loft. 21 - Adam & Lottie Muth. #2936 22 - Two Car Garage with Storage Room and Loft. In Memphis, the City election that was going to take place in

November 1927, was 8 little more important than usual. It was the first election after the Charter Amendment requiring City Commissioners to serve full time. None of the encumbent part time Commissioners chose to run foe re-election. The only encumbent seeking re-election was Mayor Rowlett Payne. Four years previous, Mr. Payne was elected easily with Mr. Crumps blessings. Sinse that time Mayor Payne and Mr. Crump began to see things differently. Mayor Payne was confident he could win without Mr. Crump's help, Watkins Overton, whose family background was congruent with the history of Memphis, announced his candidacy for Mayor, and Mr. Crump endorsed him. The candidates for City Commissiomers, with Mr Crumps blessings were Cliff Davis, Oscar Kruger. And I have forgotten the name of the third. Cliff Davis, as a ~ityCourt Judge, had become very popular with his $50 fine for, speeding. At that time the Memphis speed limit was 30 miles per hour. Mr Kruger had never been in politics, except as a member of the school board. He was in business for himself as owner and operator of a Harness and Saddlery Co. He had some connection with a small Labor Union, but politically he was unknown. As a City employee. that was my first experience in politics. according to local newspapers, all city and county employees must work diligently for the crump machine, or loose their jobs. I learned later that was an exageration. However, being a beginner, I thought it would help my future, by joining in with the vast majority. Mr. Crump had a working political organization at that time. It was a model that made his opponents jealous. At the beginning of the 1921 campaign, I was invited to a meeting of the precinct in which I lived. In addition to the city and county employees, there were several peGple who simplly wanted to help Mr. Crump. OUr precinct leader ~ave us a pep talk. Like the other workers, I was given a~list of voters in past elections on three or four streets. My job was to calIon those people, and in a polite way, ask them to vote for the candidates recomended by Mr.

Crump. The job Made me ~ive up 8 lot of my lete afternoons, but it did help me get acquainted with some fine people.

When election day came, Mr. C~ump's recomendations won by 8 land slide. In 1927, the elected Commissioners were not assigned to~. a particular branch of City Government untill after election. Those branches were, Fire and Polioe, Finance and Institutions, and Engineering Department. The swearing-in ceremonies took place January 1, 1928. Commissioner Oscar Kruger was assigned to the Engineering Department. The morning of January 2nd, was filled with excitement, as the

employees of the En~ineering Dept. gathered at the office. Everyone wanted to get their first look at our new Commissioner. The wide-eyed expectency was showing on ell their faces. Little groups would gather here and there, curious about what kind of 8 person our new boss really was. Rumors flew like wild-fire. One rumor checked out to be true. Mr. Kruger was a bachelor, and had spent most of his time working in his harness shop on south Second St, just north of Beale Ave. He lived in 8 small room on the second floor of Kecks's livery stable across the street. When he learned of his election, he moved to 8 room in the Devoy Hotel at the corner of Front St. and aefferson Ave. Soon a sudden hush fell over the room. Looking up, I·;sBW a large grey-haired man standing in the doorway. He wore gold-rimmed glasses. His face was light complected, roundish, and was heavy at the jowls. He was dressed to prefection, and looked like he was posing for a photograph. I guessed his age to be in the late sixties. One face feature stood out, or rather hung down. It was his bottom lip. When he talked, he stuttered slightly, and that made that bottom lip jigger up and down. Mr. Kruger introduced himself, and told us how ~lad he was to be working with such fine people. That was about all he said. A change in City Officials usually meant some changes in the lower brackets. One such change occured in 1928, when our dear Mr. Eichberg, was retired from Chief Sidewalk Inspector, and his place was taken by Mr. Duncan. Mr Duncan was 8 tall slender Man of about 45 years. He was calm in his manner, and seemed satisfied with the way things were going.

His duties were to supervise all sidewalk construction, ... done by contractors on city streets. Construction of those sidewalks were the responsibility of the property owner, so Mr Duncan had to serve notice to the owners, and then issue permits to the owners contractor. Several months after Mr. Duncan started to work, there came one of those nice warm lazy days. There wasn't enough breeze to wiggle the leaaves on a tree. Tom Maxson was sitting in the hallway, waiting to get into Mr. Fowler~s office. Tom watched Mr. Duncan fingering through his stacks of notices and permits. Mr Duncan's head begAn to knod. Slowly he tilted his head upward, gazed at the horizon where the ceiling met the wall, and said to himself, "This would be 8 fine day to go fishing." That remark hit Tom's funny-bone. Tom always repeated that incident when he wanted to illustrate a wandering mind. A bul1din~ boom was buzzing allover Memphis in 1928. Banks, office buildings, apartments, houses, and stores were going up by the score. There was the Bank of Commerce building on Monroe at Second St., the Orpheum Theater on Main at Beale, a 10 story apartment building on Madison and Manassas, and several large residential subdivisions.

The Enginee~ing Department was undertaking 8 very ambitious capital Improvement program. It included some of the major streets recomended by the Bartholomew plan. A big annexation was anticipated for the following year. Prelimina~y surveys for sanitary sewers were started, and plans were being drawn for futuer contracts. The annexation included thickly settled areas, such 9S Drivin~ Park, Hyde­ Park, Hollywood, Highland Heights, Buntyn-Normal, part of Orange Mound, 5~;,ffl, Bethel Grove, Long View Heights, Siuth Memphis and Bunker hill. Those areas represented seve:ral years of oontinious sewer construc·tion. That 8pplication~I returned to the International Coreespondence School in 1927, brought their agent to our home. He was a very nice and understanding man. I explained to him the kind o~ engineering work that took place in our office. He fitted a course for me that covered just about all of that work. I enrolled in a course they called, "College Equivalent of Municipal Engineering." I don't remember the cost, but it was the best investment I ever made. I was very anxious to make myself more useful to my department. Although statistics are not interesting, they do provide a basis for comparison. According to the Department of Commerce, municipal government in Memphis for 1927, cost $28.91 per capita. The revenues were $8,11$,581, or $45.36 per capita. Assessed valuation of property was $246,605,741. and the net indebtedness was $ 25,461,519, or $142.16 per capita. Aviation was probably the most exciting boom that Americans had ever witnessed. A necessary component to that boom was air-fields on in 1926 which to land and take off. Memphis started/with the Armstrong Field near Millington. It was too far from town. Next came the Brys Airport at Jackson and Warford St. in 1927. It was small and had a dangerous

~lidlng area. When Mayor Watkins Overton signed a lease for the Ward property at the north east corner of Hollyford Rd, (Airways Blvd.) and Winchester August·14. 1928. the Memphis Municipal Airport was officially created. That Airport was destined to expand and become one of the best in the nation.

It was like the calm before a storm, th8~ pleasant fall morning of September 17. 1928. The caotic morning rush had subsided in the

Engineering Dept big office. The o~rice workere were dili~ently concentrating on their duties. A gentleman entered and excitedly approached Dusty Millers desk. With a voice somewhat interupted by heavy breathing, he said, "Dusty, the Harahan Brid~e is on :rire." Dusty stared at him, trying to determine if the man was drunk or crazy, then quietly replied, "You're kidding me." The office force, hearing that conversation, raised their heads and began to mumble opinions as to the truthfulness of the man's remark. I didn't think that huge steel bridge across the Mississippi River could possibly catch on fire. I ·,knew on each side had creosoted timber decking, and there was creoaoted timber cross-ties under the railroad tracks, but if they did catch fire, it woldnt spread, or become serious. Our mumbling was quieted down when a telephone call came in supporting our first notice, and gave added information, "Its burning like Hell."

When lunch time came, we all made 8 bee-line for Confederate Park. There were thousands of excited people scattered along the bluffs, trying to convince themselves that what they saw was real. The black smoke was billowing out from the floor level of the bridge, at a point about one third of the way from the Tennessee end. A strong wind from the north was fanning the fire, and blowing the smoke into the main structure. The length of the fire looked to be several hundred feet long. Now and then we could see the yellowish red of the naked blaze, tellin us it was still raging furiously arter more than four hours. We could see boats under the bridge trying desperately to squirt water up to the fire It was a siekenung sight to watch that huge majestic steel bridge, that ha~since 1916 ~Jbeen so important to commerce, and see it being attacked by a raging fire, charactoristic of the devil. Later in the day we were told the fire had finally been put out. It had been started by a lighted cigaret dropped on one of the creosoted planks.

The next day, a team of reputable en~ineers made a hurried inspection.

~hey reported obvious d8ma~e in the area of the fire, B space about 800 feet long. Many of the cantilever beams supporting the north roadway had buckled and twisted out of position. They recommended the engineering co. who designed the bridge (Mojeskie of st. Louis) be called in to make a complete analises of the damage. That was carried out. There was a period of time the bridge was completely out of use. The railroad traffic was switched to the Frisco bridge, and the vehicular traffic was ferried. The complete analis of ·the damage revieled no structual damage to the main structure, and to the south

roadway. Railroad traffic was routed back to the Harahan. Vehicular traffic was routed to the south roadway. Those roadways were only wide enough to carry one lane of traffic. To carry traffic in opposite directions, flagmen were placed at both ends of the bridge. They were . able to alternate the east and west traffic flow. That traffic plan for thr crippled Harahan bridge was the best

that could be devised, but it wasn't good enou~h to satisfy the impatient drivers. iDuring the peak hours, cars waiting to get on the

bridge would be linea up for miles. Mayor Overton was getting 8 lot of complaints about the bridge traffic. One morning he asked Mr. Fowler

to d~ive him across to the Arkansas side and back. He wanted to personally see how the plan was working. They made the trip over without any delay, but to get in line for the return, they had to travel

B considerable distance. The line would move up a little and stop. After a long wait it would do it again. The Mayor was loosing his patience. He was already late for a scheduled meeting. When their position in line worked its way up to within walking distance to the f1s.gman's shanty, the Mayor got out and walked forward.

He angerly assailed the fla~m8n with the question, "Can't you do any

'\ better?\\ I've been waiting hours, and I'm not here yet." The flagman recognized the Mayor·, and to keep himself out of trOUble, he answered, "sir, the trouble is at the other end. If you like, you can call there on our phone." The Mayor entered the shack and called the other end.

The man on the other end answered and listened to the Mayor raise hell. The man did not recognize the voice of the Mayor. He apparently thought he was listening to some red-neck from Arkansas. When the Mayor paused to get his breath, the flagman responded, "Listen fellow. we're doing the best we can to move this traffic. Just cool down and you'll finally get here." That answer added another flame to the already boiling Mayor, so he yelled back into the telephone, "I'm the J.iayor of Memphis, and if something isn't done, and done quickly, you'll hear from me."

The fla~an felt sure he was being conned by somebody from Arkansas, end with a little ginger in his voice he replied, "Listen SMall fry, you can't scare me, My uncle is the governor of Tennessee." and hung up the phone.

The truth was, Mayor Overton was a thinly built man. only about five feet four inches tall, and was sensitive about his size. When the Mayor hung up the receiver, it was with: such force it bent the hook. About an hour later, at the east end of the bridge, the traffic suddenly stopped. A small man got Ollt of a car and walked tward the flagman. The flagman's face grew pale when he recognized it was the Mayor of Memphis. The Mayor, in a carefully controled voice asked the flagman, "Are you the man I was talking to over the phone about an hour ago?" The flagman swallowed the lump in his throat. and tried to say something, but his voice went into 8 studder. The J.iayor yelled. "Never mind the answer, you are FIRED." When Mr. Fowler finished telling us that experience, he added, "r May live to be a hundred, but I'll never see another man as mad as our Mayor."

There were some personnel changes in the en~ineering Dept. that had considerable effect on its management. Dusty Miller, Chief Clerk of our department ranked third in authority. behind Commissioner Kruger, and City Engineer, Fowler. In 1928. Dusty was promoted to City Clerk, (later called, City Comptroler) under the Commissioner of Finance and Institutiona. When I congratulated Dusty, he shook his head and

mumbled, Itr don't know, the higher you go, the faster you fall." The .~ next change was to fill the vacancy of Chief Clerk in the Engineering Dept. Frank Tobey was promoted to that position. He was the survey

party chief, who sang at the dinner party with 8 hole in his pants. Tobey fit well into his new position. He had good appearence, e good voice, and a mind that was well educated and alert.

Jessie and I, both having 8· small income, did manage to put some money in the bank. We thought we were ~etting along ell right, untill somebody talked us into buying some stock. At that time any would stock broker/trade stock in small numbers. If less than 100 shares, they called it "broken lots." A glamorous picture of wealth was painted before our eyes.. It was pointed out that ordinary people were raking

in money from the stock mReket. Neither aessis'9r. I wan~ed to be poor

the rest of our lives, so we yielded to the argument. One bright sunny morning, my counselor met me at the office of Fenner and Bean, stock broker on Madison Ave. There I was advised to buy 8 few shares of packard Motors, which I did. I paid cash, and hurried beck to the office

to resume the dull life of B draftsman. About a week later, my counselor came to us praising the future for Motor Wheel Corp. They had, what he explained to be, 8 monoply on the manufacturing of automobile wheels. With Jessie's consent, I bought some of that stock. For a few days, I was getting so much pleasure out of reading the daily quotes in the paper, nothing else could enter my mind. It didn't last long, because instead of going up, the qu~tes began to go down. My counselor argued that the decline was temporary, and gave the smart buyers 8 chance to get a better bargin. He advised me to get some General Motors and Curtiss Wright, and I did. For some unknown reason the stocks continued to go down. One day at noon, I was at Fenner and Bean's office watching the tape roll. I guess the man I traded with there recognized the worried look on my face. He asked me, "liow're getting along?1l I told him my pitiful story. He told me my holdings were not well balanced, "you need some utility stocks to go wi th your motors." He recomended Electric Bond and shere. So I bought a few shares of that. That investment created the need for 8 small loan at the bank. That was easily executed, when I put up our other stock as colatera1. The loan at the bank frightened us, and we decided not to buy anything else untill we paid off the loan. With the help of a stingy way of living, we paid off the bank loan.

Our dream of wealth took 8 nose-dive on December 12, 1928, when the stock market dropped 124 points. Speculators who bought on the margin lost it all, when they could'nt supply the funds required to cover. Banks sold the stock held on colateral for loans when no other arran~ements could be made. All that Jessie and I could do was to hold what we had, and hope some day we might break even. Ironically, just

8 few months back Herbert Hoover won the presidential electio on the slogan, itA chicken in every pot, a car in every gAr8~e."

It could be said in Memphis, 1929 started off, "High as a kite." For instance, there was a flag-pole sitter on top 9f the Clarage Hotel, strivin~ foe an endurance record. But the main thing on everybody's mine was airplanes, air ports, air travel, and airmail. Amazing airplane

records were bein~ set and then broken allover the country. Thanks to the cooperation of a lot of people and some Oil conpanies, The proposed Memphis Municipal Airport was constructed, and was ready for the glorious dedication June 14, 1929. The first commercial plane with six passengers aboard had already left Armstrong Field, headed for Chicago in February. Before the end of the year, an airmail contract out of Memphis was granted. The City Engineering Dept. quietly contributed to the rapid and successful completion of our airport. Our draftsmen prepared property maps, so that boundries could be staked out. Countour maps were made to establish the need for surface grading. A layout map was drawn, showing the locations of runways, taxieways, and buildings. Storm draina~e and sanitary sewers were designed and shown. At that time there was no sanitary sewers available to connect to, With the

reluctant approval by the Health Dept. a simple little treatment plant was iesigned and built along side a draina~e ditch at the corner of

Hollyford and Winchester. With its limited personnel, the Engineering Dept. was going full

speed a~ead with plans to install sanitary sewers in the Highland Heights area. The preliminary work for such plans involved field surveys.

Elevations must be taken alon~ the streets and other routes under which sewer lines will be constructed. Topography must be sketched and dimentioned, showing houses to be served, and also any interfearence to the construction of underground pipes. If outfall lines are Dequired, their roube must be surveyed.

In the office those surveys were used by the draftsmen to plat the plans and profiles. Pipe grades had to be established so the sewer would serve all the buildin~s. At that time many of the residences had basements. Those basements required deeper street sewers. Pipe grades on the whole aystem had to be established so the sewage w6uld flow by gravity. Pipe sizes had to be designed with the capacity to carry the potential load when the area has been completely developed. Construction specifications must be prepared, describing how the work must be done, and how the contractor will be paid. A proposal sheet must be made, and it becomes a vital pa~t of the contract. That sheet sets out the quantity of each item qualified for pay. I'll never forget that little portable Monroe calculator we had

in out office. It was powered by 8 hand-crank on the right side. ~' ;... ,,:.. -.j

Revolutions forward added, backwards they subtracted. There was 8 little T-shaped knod convenient to the left hand by which the carriage

could be moved. It was 8 noisy machine, even when used correctly, but to keep the operator from subtracting a big number from a small number it would loudly rin~ a bell. One morning Mr. Fowler came into our

drafting area with 8 frown on his face, his eyes loo~ed like he was in

a trance. The calculator was sittin~ on Walter Irvin's desk. Mr.

Fowler looked at Irvin as if he was going to pronounce his last ri~hts. He said, "Irvin, divide 8) into 37 for me. Irvin, with his eyes bulging and half petrified with fright, managed to get 37 in the carrage and 8) on the keyboard, but the carra~e was out of position. He rapidly ground the crank backwards, The bell rang, he ground it forward, it rang again. Irvin looked up, and in a pitiful voice said "it won't go." Mr. Fowler hollered, "I'll be damned." and walked away. The improvement of Cleveland St. from Linden to Poplar was one of the several street' projects in the 1929 capital improvement program.

That section of Cleveland wes part of the major street routes. The ... ·1 • existing width between property lines was not enough to accommodate the width of pavement and sidewalks recommended for 8 major street. That made it necessary for the city to buy additional ri~htofway. most of the abutting property contained apartments and commercial buildings. To compromise with the objecting property owners, the proposed pavement width was reduced from 54 to 48 feet. Even with that concession, many buildings had to be remodeled, and in front of those apartments the intricately ornamented stone and brick fences had to be rebuilt on the new property line. Platting the topography and drawing the plans for construction on that project was a very meticulous job, and Maxson assigned it to my good friend Walter Irvin. Irvin seemed to have the uncanny ability to innocently find himself in the line of fire. That assignment was just another. example. The length of the project was going to require about four sheets of plans. One morning, after Irvin had been working

on the first sheet for more than a week, Mr. Fowler came in. With 8 stern voice, he asked, "How are we p:etting alonp: with Cleveland st. plans?" Irvin raised up from his work and answered, "I'm about finished with the first sheet." As Irvin drew in his breath to explain why progress was so slow, Mr Fowler cut him off with a burst of loud angry Irish type deliverance, and said, "What the Hell are you talking about? I want that job ready to advertise for bids, and I want it quick. By God, if you dont get a move on, you're gonna be fired." Then Mr.

Fowler directed B statement to the whole office, "If yawl dont show more interest in your work, I'm going to fire the whole bunch, and my name will be the only one on the pay-roll." He walked out. If a pin had been dropped on the floor, it would have been heard allover the room. Mr, Fowler's rage was effective, because Irvin finished the jod in just a few days,

The changin~ of life style in the City of Memphis was not always free of complications. Most Memphians thought the automobile age, hy

1929, had completely annia1ated the horse and bug~ days. That thought was not exactly so. There still remained 40 horse-watering-troughs scattered sbout in the up-town area. There was an unknown number of hores drawn peddler-wagons using those troughs. The Board of Health labeled the troughs as a sanitary nuisance, and asked the City Commission to eliminate them. The Humane Society came to the defence of those thirsty horses rights. Quite 8 controversy ensued. It seemed like most everybody in town took one side or the other. The results were, all but a few of the troughs were removed, leaving the horses with some rights, and 8 lot of inconveniences. Since Irvin, Rennick, and myself were again working together, we resorted to our old habit of playing pool at lunch time. We would I~ 1 \

leave the office at the stroke of twelve, rush down to the pool hall,

buy 8 sandwitch and e coke, grab our que-sticks, and start our first game. Each of us would gulp down our sandwithch while waiting our turn to shoot. After the second game, we would discuss the possibility of getting the third game finished before one o'clock. It was a one \ sided discussion, because all threeof us would rather play pool than work. l-1-ost of the time when we finished the third game, it was after

one o'clock. We looked like bank robbers making their get~a-way .running from the pool hall to the office. Commissioner Kruger began to notice our coming in late from lunch.

The Commissioner had 8 slight impediment of speech, and when he was disturbed, he would start off with a studder. We hAd to pess right by his door on our way in. When we would see him raise from his chair and lookat us, his lips would start moving. We would scoot right on by, l,'~·e grab A pencil, and make out ~ we were workin~.

We got by e short time without 8 scolding, but he was not going to put up with our monkey business forever. One of those days when we

played out third game, and came scooting by the Commissioners door, he got up and waddled over to Tobey's desk and told him about our delinquency Tobey, being in charge of office conduct, passed the scolding on to us. When we told Tobey about our pool playing, he laughed and said., "Try not to aggrivate the old man. Something like this is the only contribution he can make. Let him think he has accomplished something. The 1929 annexation was creating the need for more help on the

survey parties. On AU~l1st~lBt, a complete new party was added to the sewer dept. C.B.Walters was the chief, with a stA~ting salary of $160.

Harold Christy was hired 8S instrument mAn. Filmore Sperry and Reddick

were the rodman. The street department hired Lawrence M. Rier, as 8 new party chief. Work was so heavy then, that all vacations were canceled for those working on construction plans. In the ho~est part of July, 1929. Mr Saino decided he would take a vacation and drive out to California. I never knew what prompted that decision, because he didn't hRve a car, if he had one, he didn't know how to drive. Louis, who managed the business on Colorado Ave. solved the problem by buying a slightly used seven passenger Reo, called the "Flying Cloud". Then Louis picked out one of the dependable colored helpers from the shop to do the driving. To fill those vacant seats, Mr. Saino invited his wife, Jessie, Louise, Rose Marie Covington, and Everett Baugh to go with him. In those days, automobiles didn't have the spacious trunk space in the rear, but on each side there vas running boards on the outside, designed for steps. When the early morning departure time came, that automobile was loaded with happy people, and the trllnk and both running boards stacked with luggage. The first Sunday after their departure, I drove out to visit with Papa and Momma. They talked me into driving them down to the Bakers Chapel Cemetery in Desoto County Miss. The Cemetery was not well kept. We had to push the weeds aside to read the names on the tombstones. It was well worth the trip to see the joy Papa and Momma were having. They remonissed the association they had, in their early lives, with those people who had passed away. They would tell me the experiences they had. They knew most of the people hurried there. I hed to interrupt their pleasure, and hustle home, because in Mr. Saino's absence, I had to milk his cow. Mr Saino's ancesters, somewhere alone the line, must heve been farmers. He took great pleasure in his livestock, a cow, a mule, and his dog. In Addition, he cultivated a big garden,- pruned and sprayed en orchard, and since his daughter, Margurette, died he raised 8 variety of beautiful flowers. The next dey after our trip to the cemetery, I began to itch in spots on my legs, arms, and body. When I saw those little red bumps, I knew I had chiggers. Chiggers. on me seem to prefer that tender skin ~,.· I ~ 2 ,'-

around the g~oin area. They concentrate there and dig in by the droves, and itch like the devil. by late afternoon those raskels were driving me crazy. As Istarted to milk the cow, I looked on the shelf in the barn, and there was 8 bottle of insect repellant. I was so irritated with my chiggers, I grabbed the bottle, shook the contents, and smeared it generously allover my groin area.

When I sat down on the stool to start milking, I sensed 8 mild tingle. Then it grew into 9 burning sensation. Before I could finish milking, I felt like I had caught on fire. I jumped from the stool, dashed up the driveway, turned the corner, and headed for my house.

On the way to the bathroom, I stripped my clothes. Not having 8 shower attachment, I turned the cold water , for the tub, on full force. I positioned myself on my back with my feet stuck up in the air, so the cold water would run on where I was on fire. I laid there groanung for

8 long time before I got enou~h relief to turn off the water. When

I got back to the barn, I looked at the label on that bottle. It read Creosote and Pine tar. It killed the chiggers, and almost killed me.

About 8 week later, I got 8 letter from Jessie mailed from Yuma Arizona. She explained that they had taken the southern route to California. When they reached the edpe of the desert, they were advised to wait untill after sun down before attemptine the crossing. They took the advise, stocked up with drinking water, wiped the sweat out of their eyes, and took off at sun down. Somewhere along the road hetween

Gills Bend and Yums they were side-swipped by B car driven by a Methodist Preacher. The Preacher said, "May the Lord forp'ive me, I went to sleep at the wheel."

The only casulty to any of the passen~ers was a bruised and sprained ankle of Jessie's. The Saino lu~gape on that side of the car was scattered allover the desert. Jessie, alonp with her mother, was picked

up by 8 tourist and carried to Yuma, where she got a doctors attention. ?14

The rest of .the Sainos gathered what luggage they could find, and about mid-morning they rolled into YUMa. The rest of their vacation trip was uneventful. From the stories they brought back, they saw everything in that corner of the world.

The Missis~ippi River bluffs southward from Baal St. on the surface, look to be as solid as A rock. That look has been proven to be deceptive. In the early 208 an incident of serious settlement occurred under some railroad tracks near Butler Ave. In August of 1929, a large landslide occurred on the steep incline of the bluff at Huling Ave. Under Huling Ave there is a concrete drainape culvert about 12 feet high and 12 feet wide. It was constructer about 1913 to divert storm water from Gayoso Bayou to the river. Also at that location was a

)6 inch diameter sanitary sewer outfall serving 9 large city area. The morning after the landslide, Clyde Keenan, superintendent of sewer end drainage main'"tenance, went into the culvert looking for any ';c1ye struct~al damage that might~ happened. I heard him describe his inspection trip to Mr. Mattox and Mr. Maxson, "My helper and I walked about 125 feet into ~he culvert. There we found the culvert pulled apart, leaving 8 crack about five inches wide in the top, bottom, and both sides. The crack was about straight all the way around. We saw a large volune of sewage spilling through the cra~k into the culvert. That means the 36" sewer above the culvert is also broken." Clyde continued his report, with a little smile on his face, "We walked farther back into the culvert looking for more trouble. suddenly we heard 8 loud Bang like 8 cannon. I hollered, lets get out of here before the whole "thing fAlls in." The cannon bang had occurred bscause the dirt surrounding the culvert was still moving, and the strain on the reinforcing rods poped one of them in two.

The method of repairing that culvert and sewer presented 8 unique problem. The culvert was about 40 feet below the surface, and the sever about 30 feet down. An open shaft down from the surface probably would disturb what little stability the ground might have. Maxson worked 8 design for inside the culvert reinforced concrete collar. The most intricate structure was 8 drop manhole diverting the sewer into the culvert. Later there was a smaller break in the culvert near the river, which was repaired the same way, More than 50 years later those re~airs were still holding. For the benefit to ordinary people, radio was presenting a wider scope of entertainment to the memphis area in 1929. Mr. Hoyt B. Wooten started a small broadcasting station down in Mississippi. He moved it to Whitehaven Tenn, and in 1929 he moved the station to the basement of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. The station was called WRE C, and was affiliated with the Columbia Broadcasting Company. The Bell Telephone laboratories were working on television transmission. They had even found 8 way to produce color. Rumors were floating to the effect that television would be attached to the telephone

enabling 8 person to see who he was talking to.

Victor H. Laughter, 8 relative of mine, was quoted March 28, 1929, when he said, "Television is still in its formative years. An optimistic prediction of its use in theaters in the next ten years should be discounted 100 per cent" The article went on to say, Victor e noted radio en~ineer, formaly of Byhalia Miss. worked for Radio

Corporation of America. It was he who e~ected the first radio broad­ casting station in America on the roof of the Falls Buildin~ in Memphis. about 1910. Professional baseball was very popular with the ordinary fan in 1929. There were Many who kept up with the daily activity of the Major leagues. I was among the Majority who loved every player on our minor league team. The Memphis team was called the "Chicks" (short for Chickasaw, the Indian tribe who lived in these parts) was a member of ?'- 1·'\C the Southern Association. The Commercial Appeal buildine, at that time, was facing Court Square, at the southeast corner of Second and Court Ave. On the second floor, 8 large board was displayed so it could be seen plainly from almost anywhere in Cpurt Square. On that board, a baseball field was laid out. Along one side was the home team line-~p, along the other was the opponents. Each player's name and position fit into an individual slot, and could be pulled out slightly to show he was at bet. The white ball was suspended by invisible wires in such a way the operator behind the board could move it to anywhere on the :field-. (.:. There was an appropriately sized red square that represented the batter or the base runner. The operator, getting his information, as it happened, from the wire service, was able to reproduce that information with action on the board.

It was almost 8S exciting as being at the gane in person. The pitcher would wind up and zoom the ball to home plate, if it was a strike, the ball would return to the pitcher. There was a place on the board that recorded balls, strikes, outs, end runs. When the batter hit the ball it would travel to the spot where it finished its roll. If the ball was caught for an out, the operator would circle it round and round. If there was 8Jplay for the runner at any base, the ball would travel from the fielder to that base. The operator could control the speed of both the ball and the runner, so the observers could see why the runner was out or safe. If the batter hit 8 home run, the ball would quickly travel to the edge of the board, then go out of sight. It didn't take much 1ma~ination for the fans to feel like they were actually at the game. On April 18, lQ29, I was one of the lar~e number of fans that almost filled Court SQuare. We were wstchin~ the true to life board as it was showing the Memphis Chicks open their season, The game was being pls¥ed at Little Rock. Tha Chicks were doing everything right.

The crowd would yell with ~lee, just as if they were really at the FRme~ The noise and enthusiasm continued throughout the game. The final score was Memphis Chicks 3. Little Rock Travelers 1. In the late 1929s. college football was beginninp to attract more publie interest. That interest was still somewhat confined to a relative few colleges who consistently had winning teams. I've been told, the ingredients that make a consisrent winning football team,were, large enrollment, active alumnae. talented coaching. and successful recruiting. At that time there wasn't enough of those ingredients to spread around to the ordinary colleges. High school players did not have the incentive given by professional football, that was to come later. So college football teams were grouped 8S, elite, and ordinary.

Occasionally a college teaM, accustomed to the ordinary, WOllld put to use some intangible ingredients, such as spirit, loyalty, effort, and enthusiasm. To the surprise of their fans, they had a winning team. That must have heen the csse,"in 1929, at little West Tennessee Normal, affectionately called, "Memphis Teachers Colle~e," They had been playing e schedule a~ainst teams in their class for the past 18 years. The team's nickname was, "Tip.:ers" and they won about as Many games as they lost. In 1929, with those extra ingredients. they were unbeaten. Even then their average game attendence was less than 20,00 fans. The Memphis Teachers College later became Memphis State University. When I attended the University of Tennessee in 1921 and 1922, that persuading cheer leader must have given me B life-long shot of loyalty. No matter what were the circunstBnces, I always have pulled for the "Vola". Back then they were definately an ordinary team. Soon after I left, Major Bob Neyland was assigned to the R.O.T.C. at U.T. He was quite an athlete at West Point. At Knoxville he volunteered to help Mr Banks with his football coaching. He was so good that the school fired Banks and hired Neyland. It didn't take long for Neyland to get the Vols on the winnin~ side. He quietly recruited some outstendin players. Such as, Bobby Dodd the smart quarterback, Buddy Hackman and

Gene McEver the touchdown twins, and many others. SOMe of their ~8mes were broadcast on radio. When I listened to the Vola beat Alabama in 1928, and again in 1929, I almost tore the house down, jumping up and down with joy. Football equipment at that time was very little more than a token. The thin leather helmets were not adequate protection. A lot of plauers choose to pl~y without them. Coaches throughout the country were beginning to make it compulsory for the players to wear helmets in practice and during games. The masks came later. Shoulder and other padding gave very little protection. Those inadequ8ticys didn't discourage the players. They thought, "to be 8 hero,you must take the punishment."

There are many things that have established 8 bench-mark in time.

Important things that are used to measure time, such 8S, Itl was born 12 years before the volcano erupted." or "1 married foer years after the earthquake." No bench-mark could be better established, than the .s;",ir one set for the financial world in 1929 by the New York~tock Market. Its memory remaines chiseled in the minds of all American who were' living at that time.

It started with 8 flurry of stock liquidation in May 1929. President Hoover and others were able to quiet the liquidation down for the time being. The Market fluttered up and down untill October 24th, when stock prices dropped drasticly. J.P.Morgan & Co., with help from others, purchase,d millions of dollars worth of key stocks. That action seemed successful, and prices began to steady. O·ctober 28:th. stocks began to tumble again. That time there was no opposition. October 29th. was the climax of the panic. According C1 rll.....r ,i

to New York Times newspaper, 880 representative issues suffered a loss in excess of $8,000,000,000. Thousands of investors saw their fortunes wiped out.

Economists. bankers, and politicians all tried to find explainetions. Mos t of them belie1red the economy was sound, and the market would recover. Some said it was merely a momentary physiological abberation. Although unemployment had increased, and construction activities had decreased in the prior year, industry had prospered. The automobile

industry produced a reco~d 3,000,000 cars. The reaction of the ordinary people on the street was usually expressed with two words, "It's awfull." They hated to hear about the rich people loosing all that money, but they were unable to understand what effect it would have on them. The ordinary person was primarily concerned about job security. Many of them had been laid ofr, and others had their salaries reduced. They were trying to make themselves believe, they'd be called back to their jobs soon. The actual feeling of fear had not penetrated the minds of the ordinary people yet. In the early part of 1930, the stock market calmed down. President Hoover and the business leaders kept feeding the puhlic, "Prosperity propaganda" messages. 'l'hey seemed to be effective. Durin~ the first four months, the Dow Jones industrial stock average rose from 8 low of 198 to 294. For the ordinary people, there was no such relief. horrible wave of "Lay: ofrs and Closing downs" sweeping through the industrial community. It acted like a contagious epedemic. When a few industries closed down, others were forced to do so, because either their source of materials, or the destination of their products declined or vanished. By the end of October, unemployment rose to 4,000,000. That was when the ordinary people realized their part in the stock crash. Hoover still insisted the Government should not provide any direct assistance to the needy. However, in December 1930, Congress approved

what Hoover called, "~he greatest program of water way, harbor, flood­

control, public buildings, hi~hways, and airport improvements." By that time unemployment was estimated to be 7,000,000. In Memphis, a federal contract had already been awarded for a significant remodeling of the main Post Office building. That put a few people back to work, but it was only a drop in the bucket. A financial thunderbolt struck, December 11 1930, when the Bank of United States closed its doors in New York City. That was the largest bank failure an the nation's history. That pulled the trigger for a chain reaction of banks closing allover the country. There

was no doubt left in anybody's mind that our country was in 8 huge depression. Many people who had been well-to-do were sitting on the street corners, selling apples. Clarence Saunders onened a cafaterior on the second floor of an uptown vacant building. He offered, "All you can eat, 25¢ per person." His food wass plentiful end good. As I look back on those eaTly days of the depression, I find such a variation of pictures, its hard to pick our an average. Each family had its individual financial circumstances. Some had already suffered adversity more than others, some were more destitute. There was one apparition that seemed to be common to all. They had watched the massacre in the stock market. They had watched the helpless depositors loose their money in the bank failures. They had seen the massive layoffs from a crippled industry. They began to see the depression

in the form of a ~orrible octopus, with vicious tentacles capable of reaching and absorbing every resource. Those were some of the thin~s that created the apparition of despair. It was the fear of what adversity was going to happen next.

Groceries and other ~oods were cheap for those who had the money, but out of reach to those without money. In our compassionate (8)

neighborhood~ those who were able, willingly helped the unfortunate. Mother nature added another tentacle to the depression in 1930,

when 8 terrible drough took place in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. That drough almost deleted the farmer's income, which was already

suffering from 8 depressed market. I have a vivid memory of the hot weather accompanying the droilgh. It was a Saturday afternoon July 12th, when I waa filling a sMall pond in our back yard with loose dirt. I couldn't keep the sweat out of my stinging eyes, my clothes were saturated. I was sure I'd never been that hot before. The next morning

the paper reported 8 record 106 degrees for Memphis. In spite of the depression, there were some good things happening during 1930. Some of them destined to change our traveling habits, and some entertainment to relieve our worried minds. In the transportation element in our life style, 26,501,443

auto vehicles were licensed. The first run was made by a passenger

train powered by electricity. And regular air-passenger service was established for the Memphis Airport. For home entertainment, the radio brought, not only the news, but the best band music in the country, and the best in comedy. I'll never forget those programs such as, Fibber McGee and Molly, Jack Bennie, and Amos'n'Andy.

The depression, so far, had not changed the work being done by

the City ~ngineering Department. Our office was faced with the huge task of preparing construction plans for sanitary sewers in the recently annexed areas. I worved directly under the supervision of Mr. Maxson, hut the nature of my work made me relate continiously with Mr Mattox, and his superintendent Clyde Keenan. Keenan was a slinder built man of average height. He had only \ one thing on his mind, it was his work. His dedication was remarkable. I remember hearing him say, "Every morning since I have been on this job, I have ·been at my office ready to go to work when the sun came up". He started to work for the department in 1909. Everybody respected Clyde. Mr. Mattox didn't have the benefit of a college education, but he, like Keenan was dedicated to his work. MAttox was a bachelor ann lived .j~Ai · hi··t~me With h 1S mother. He spent l s spare study1ng all the yext books and Magazines related to the work he was doing. He had made himself proficient. One of his responsibilities was to desirn the sewers and drains to be constructed. After Maxson became chief draftsman, he recognized Mr. Mattox's tendency to under design. His formulA was ell right, but his projections of future growth was shy. For storm drainage, Matt assumed that providing for a l~ to 1 3/4 inch rain per hour was adequate, when it should have been a full 2 inch rain. Consequently the responsibility of sewer and drains shifted to Maxson. 'r.Then the plans and profJiihes·,s. w·ere..drawn for the Buntyn-rlormel senitsry sewer project, blue prints were made. Matt, as he was called by his co-workers, laid the blue prints on my table, and told me to establish the proposed pipe grades and sizes. I felt complimented to be given a job with such responsibilitie8~~ He warned me that the neighborhoods were full of houses with basements, end for me to be sure to get the pipe ~rades down to be at least 8 feet deep.

When I started, I discovered 8 black pencil mark on a blue print was almost impossible to see. The scale used for the profiles were too small to use 8 colored crayon. I asked Matt if he would order blue­ line prints on 8 white background. His answer was easy to understand, "Hell no. They cost too much." I went diligently along, laying the grades and writing the elevations. When I had to refer beck to the elevations, I'd have to hold the blueprint up to get the proper reflection from the light before I could read the figures. After many days of eye strain, I completed the job. When my work was checked out, there were n6t mRny changes necessary. Another draftsMan had to copy my work with ink onto the tracing cloth sheets. He cussed me continously. I told him to direct his wrath towards Matt, he was the Scruge who wouldn't pay for white prints. There was no warning for the exciteMent that was about to explode,

on that quiet spring morning. As usual there W8? 8 rumble of conversation

while Matt and Dave Renfro outlined the daily work to be done by their survey parties-. Ma tt was hard pressed to keep up with the preliminary surveying needed for our huge sewer program. On a few occasions recently, Dave had loaned Matt a party. On that particular morning, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Matt raise his head and stretch his neck, and I could hear him talking to Dave, who's roll-top desk backed up to Matt's. I could hear them talking. but I couldn't hear what they were saying. All at once, Dave jumped up from his chair, ran around to where Matt was sitting. On the way Dave yelled, "You can't tell me to go to Hell. I'll whup you before two Gods can skin a minnow." Matt raised to his feet. Dave doubled his fist and drew his right arm back in en unprofessional way. As Dave stood there poised to knock his adversary down. he looked like a fellow fixing to swat a fly with an overhand stroke. Matt didn't put up his guard, but stood there trying to reason with Dave. Matt said, "Go set down Dave. You're an old man, and I don't want to hurt you." Before any blows could take place, Tobey,Chief Clerk, rushed over

and stood between the gladiators, and prevailed on their better judL~ent. Dave was mumbling as he slowly walked back to his desk. I later found out that Matt had asked Dave to loan him a party, and Dave refused. When the office cleared and quietness returned, the office group

scolded Tobey for Interfearing with what promised to be 8 spectacular fight.

&Q£&J$ 1QJt immmJUL ... J!£!£!!!i ;;££400J;[ .. ;£MM££in J;Ji!i $1 As I looked back on the conduct of both Matt and Dave preceeding that flare-up, I should have been prepared. Then custom had been, when plans for the construction of proposed street projects were being designed, Matt would have to layout the necessary drainage and underground pipes. He had to set the grades on those drain pipes so, by gravity, they would empty into existing pipes or culverts. Most of the time those pipe grades were critical, and Matt would mark them prominently on the plans. Later Dave would come along and establish the curb and gutter grades. If Dave didn't like Matt's pipe grades, he would quietly change them. Very often, when the survey party set the drainage construction stakes, the pipe grades wouldn't tit. The result would be, start allover and rework the whole system. Consequently there was hidden feelings of animosity between them. For some reason, Mayor Overton found himself without a secretary. To the surprise of almost everyone, he decided to promote Miss. Ressie Ganong from pur office to his office. There were no tears shed in our office. Because Bessie was not famous for being friendly. To replace

Bessie, Tobey hired 8 nice friendly young lady named Miss, Rena Jones.

She was below the average height, plump, 8 roundish face with straight blond hair. In a short time she was conversing with everyone in the office, and everyone liked her. 1930 must have been a good year for hiring friendly people. June 16th, Maxson hired Glen Yockey as a draftsman, at a salary of

$175 per month. Glen was 8 chubby fellow, a little below the average height, His round face had fair complexion, his eyes blue and his hair blond. Glen was Married. His degree from the University of Illinois was titled Architectual-Engineering. It seemed to me. Glen retained in his mind about everything covered in that course. Glen was born and raised on a wheat farm in the central part of Illinois. He loved to tell us about his boyhood experiences. The steady stream of friendly people was not changed, when Maxson

hired W. Ramsey Wall 8S another draftsman. He was a single fellow, just out of the university of Tennessee. Ramsey grew up in Memphis, in an effluent family who had farming interests in the Mississippi

delta. He was 8 nice looking fellow, with dark brown hair. He had 8 jolly disposition, and could piok up aMusement from about everything that happened. For instance, months later, when Maxson would treat

his hay-fever symtons with medicine, the little gun would make 8 loud

poping noise 8S it discharged the salve into his nostrils. With Ramsey's whole frame shaking with laughter, he said, "man, I thought you was gonna blow your brains.out." Not long after Matt and Dave Renfro had their rukus in our office. Dave left our office and became Superintendent of the City Park Comm. I was among his Many friends who hated to see Dave leave. At that time the Park Commission office was on the first floor of the Court Rouse.

so after he changed jobs, he was still 8 close neighbor. The vacancy of Assistant City Engilleer was soon filled. On September

1, 1930, 8 tall, well bullt'man with a light oomplexion, and a practically bald heed, briskly walked into our office. Matt jumped up

end shook his hand vigoriously, and ~ave him B smile that would have melted a cake of ice. That well built man was Mr. Gus E. Houser, and he was our new Assistant City Engineer. Gus hed been working as a

superintendent for B private contractor installing sewers in the Buntyn­ Normal area. I never learned why, or how, Gus was hired into our department, but it looked like Matt had something to do with it. At

eny rate, Gus. and Ma tt became good friends, and co-operated with each other without any signs of friction.

The B~ntyn-Norm8l sewer contraot was prbgressing rapidly. That meant S'outhern Ave., the street we lived on, would be torn up to place the underground pipes. In spite of the' benefits that will come from 28G

the sewers later, people hate to go through that horrible construction period. Usually there was 8 period of several days, and sometime weeks, when people can't get in and out of their driveways. Sometime they can't even use the street. When the trenching machine digs a deep trench, it places a huge row.of loose dirt on the street on one side of the trench. The other side was cluttered up with pipe waiting to be laid. The missery was not over when the street sewer has been laid.

The contractor still has to dig a trench and lay 8 connection from the street main to the property line for every lot. All of that looked like a disaster to the residents. When 8 soaking rain came, invariably the cars got stuck in the mud. Papa and Momma had been living in their small home at 568 Lucy Ave. for about four years. Papa was still working as a Deputy Sheriff assigned to a Maeistrstes Court. His meager income was from the fees allowable on serving legel papers. Rent from the farm on Mitchell Ave. was unreliable. He was having a hard time meeting his house notes. Papa and Momma reasoned with each other, "We'd he better off, if we could get rid of one of these sources of worry." Mrs. Corelee Smith offered to pay $3,250 for the house on Lucy. That was the same price they paid for it four years back. They closed the deal, packed up their belongings and moved back to the farm on Mitchell Ave. Massey and his family had been living in the house on Mitbhell. After Making arrangements, they moved next door to the old house formally owned by the Italian fa~ily, but recently purchased by Mr. Gill. At the beginning of 1931, looking back on the past year, was much like looking at the debree the morning after a tornado had struck, except in the case of a tornado, the worst had passed. Everybody's mind was graspine for evidence that the depression had spent its force. and times would get better. History proved those hopes were not to be. To the ordinary person, instead of getting better, it got worse. In the early fall of 1931, City employees began to see the "hand­ writing on the wall." In reality the concern was about the lack of handwriting in the Tax-collector's office. Tax payments fell sharply. In our office we felt e foreboding that something bad was going to happen. Our maintenance branch laid off all but the essential crews. Lawrence Rier's survey party was disbanded. Lawrence was brought into

the office and made 8 draftsman. That move made the rest of the draftsmen apprehensive. By the end of the year, nation-wide unemployment rose to 9,000,000. U.S.Steel Corp. had cut the wages of 220,000 workers by 10 per cent. Other large industries followed suit. The trend of migration from the farms to the citys, reversed itself for the first time in more than 50 years. 19j1 ssw 2,294 banks fAil, twice the number that failed the past year. That was just the· big news items. Probably the largest volume of financial suffering and failure was the sMell business people.

Priva~e charity was not able to cope with the needs. Several

States, lead by New York, devised plans that gave some temporary relief. Finally, after enormous public pressure, President Hoover and Congress established the Reconstruction Finance aorporation, (R F C) to provide emergency loans to bands and large industries who were in financial trouble. That move failed to give much help to ordinary people. Over President Hoover's veto, Congress passed the Veterans Compensation Act. That Act permitted veterans to borrow up to half the amount of their 1924 bonus certificates, with interest not more than 4~ per cent. The Act saved Many small businesses, and furnished relief to 8 great number of destitute individuals. In Memphis, a civic minded ~roup of citizens gathered and dedicated their efforts to stimulate the floundering cotton market. At that time the price of cotton was down to 9~ cents per puund. Out of that gathering grew the idea of a Cotton Carnival. The idea almost immediately became a reality. On March I, 1931, the first celebration took place. The high light of the ·three day program was the grand parade of 86 brilliantly decorated floats passing in review before the King and Queen. More then 50 years later, the annual Cotton Carnival is still going proud, strong, and popular. They say, it's an illwind that blows no good, and maybe the saMe could applied to the depression. It was the effects of the depression that blew the Memphis Motor Coach Transportation CQ. into a lucrative business. Some years back the little bus company got its inauspicious start. They fixed some longitudinal seats in an ordinary covered truck, and be~an hauling passengers between Memphis and Kerrville, a distance of about 25 miles. The depression created a growing need for that type of service. so they added other suburban towns to their schedule. In 1931, they built the Union Sus Terminal in Memphis. At that time they were totaling more than 100,000 passenger miles every 24 hours.

Later that company consolidated with 8 national system, that would provide the mode of travel to more passengers than the railroads. Another story of success concerns the Shelby County Penal Farm. The story really started back in 1929, when the new Penal Farm replaced the old County Workhouse on Jackson Ave. at Pope St. The new farm was located between Highway #70 and Germantown Rd. from Wolf River to Macon Rd. and contained 5,017 acres. The chairman of the County Commission, E.W.Hale, conceived and built one of the most modern penal layouts in the country. Opening day celebration saw 4,000 visitors gather and tour the establishment. They enjoyed, among other things, samples of sorghum syrup grown and cooked on the farm. It had the taste of perfectio and launched a tradition of super syrup. Hundreds of prisoners were used in the livestock barns, in the fields, the cannery, the butcher shop, the cold storage plant, the kitchen, and' the vegetable drying plant. All were trained for similar work after prison. There was a blacksmith shop, an auto repair shop, e woodworking installation, 8 tin working bench, maintenance of large farm equipment, and dirt-moving vehicles. Training was provided for nearly 40 trades. When Commissioner Hale bought 60 cows and two bulls in 1931, he was criticised for being extravagant. The Penal Farm was becoming to mean extra fine Jersey cows, so~etime called the world's finest herd. The foundation of the herd was imported direct from the Island of

Jersey. The herd included many '~orld Record award winners. One of them was named, "Signal Dreamy Kiss". She won the "Ton of Gold ~ow" award. At the a~e of two she won a silver medal. At the age of three she won a gold medal. The climax came at the age of seven when she produced 8 record of 861 pounds of butterfat in 365 days. Within 15 years the herd expanded to 220, valued at $150,000. In addition to the Jersey herd, the Penal Farm experimented with choice breeds of beef cattle, with amazing success. They e1so demonstrated how to raise hogs, specializing in three breeds, Duroe, Hampshire, and 0 I C. There were as many as 3,000 hogs kept in the herds, and about 7,000 pigs were farrowed each year. Above all else was the accomplishment of turning the usual expensive operation for local prisons into an institution that supported itself and turned back an annual surplus. Congratulations for good management came froM the three larFest banks in Me~phis, also from nationally known names in a~riculture, including Pulitzer Prize winning Author LOllis Bromfield. Dairy products, meats, and vegetables were furnished to theC County Hospital, and sometime to other institutions. T~e sparkle be~an to fade from the Penal Farm name in 1950. Commercial growers for the Memphis meat and vegetable market cOMplained about unfair competition. The new County administration sold the livestock at auction in 1967. During ·1930, Jessie's brother Felix and his wife Cecelia bought

8 vacant lot in the Red Acres Subdivision, north of Poplar and east of Highland st. They started immediately building their new home. In the early part of 1931, Felix came to Jessie and I and offered to sell his present home at 2920 Southern Ave. to us for only what money he owed to the mortgage holder. The payments were only $25 B month.

Both of us thought it was 8 most generous offer, so we accepted. in spite of the depression, there we was buying our first home. There was one little surprise entered the deal, when Mr Saino later informed us that Felix still owed him $1,000, and he expected us to pay him that amount. We swollered the lump in our throats, and agreed to payoff Felix's debt on a plan of $10 a month plus 6% interest. Even with that tack-an, the buying price was only $3,500, and the most important thing was that Jessie was happy. The house was in the same block with all of Jessie's family.

~he house was the nicest that we had lived in. There was a large living room, a dining roo~, an ample sized breakfast room, a modern kitchen with table-top cabinets and pantry. There were two good sized bed rooms with closets, and a large closet in the hallway_ The front porch was small but it harmonized in appearance. The small back porch was completely inclosed. There was 8 large basement, with storage space for about 10 tons of coal, usually enough to last ell winter. At that time coal delivered cost from $6 to $8 per ton. In the basement was the furnace for heating the water which circulated through radiaters in each room of the house. Red brick veneer covered the outside wall, with asphalt shingles on the roof. When we moved in during the fall of 1931, all the furnature we had to buy right-a-way was a sofa and chair for the living room, and a complete dining room set. We got all of them on the credit. The quality of medium priced furnature at that time was excellentJ 50 years later, we're still using that rurnature, and it's still in good repair. Our financial plan was to postpone buying things for the house unti11 we were sure we could afford them. We started out with an old

second-hand ice box with 8 capacity of 50 pounds. We had to bring home ice every day. and then in the summer time, some of the food would spoil. Our next Major purchase represented a big change in our life

style. It was 8 General Electric Refrigerator. Exposed on top of the box was the motor and oondenser, surrounded by cooling coils. It turned

out to be 8 well made machine, from a reliable manufacturer, because it ran 15 years before a valve in the condenser went bad. The company

replaced the motor, condenser, and coils. with 8 more modern set, at no cost. Then it lasted another 10 years. A lot of my friends at the office were radio nuts. They constantly bragped about receiving programs from far away places. Jessie and I had a little radio set. It would bring in the Memphis programs fairly well, but trying for distance briught nothing but static. We found out

that we could buy 8 nine tube set in a nice cabinet, wholesale, through

8 friend. Somehow, we dug up the price of $60, and proudly brought the set home.

The first night, I was dete~mined to reach a record long distance broadcast with our new radio. I turned the dial back and forth as delicately as a thief trying to open a safe. Finally I picked up a program that I could barely hear. I waited breathlessly unti11 the announcer identified himself. When he came in, I didn't catch his call letters, but his location was some little town down in Mississippi, less a I.j rf v R1~ b {Ie than 200 miles away. He must have been operation on an aytomobile battery, but he cured me from staying up lete, trying for distance. Since raps and Momma had moved back to their home on Mitchell Ave. Papa's income had steadily declined. They were having a hard time

buying the groceries. Jessie, because of her co~passion, insisted that each time we visited them, we carry a bag of groceries. I like to believe the Lord has written that on Jessie's record. The thing that strained our pocket book the most was when their taxes came due, we had to pay them.

Massey and his. family had moved to 8 larger house on Hughey Rd. He also was suffering money problems. His layoffs from the railroad job were growing longer and longer in time. At that time they had four children in school. Jessie belped with the childrens need for clothes. A few days before the end of 1931, Jessie and I were invited to Arthur Wolbrecht's home, to watch the old year out, and celebrate the new y~a~ in. There were about 10 guests there. Arthur and his wife ,V~' r 0'111 1 CI 1&ottf&&~were the most ~racious of hosts. Happy hours started about nine. Arthur was the kind of host who considered himself a failure. if he found a guest with an empty glass. Ordinarily I enjoyed more than one highball, they induced me to make witty remarks. But that particular night, highballs only increased my gloom. Just before the clock s·truck twelve, I stood alone on the front porch, gazing out into space. My eyes saw the stars, but my mind didn't know it. I heard the fr~nt door open, but paid no attention. I heard Arthur as he yelled, "Jessie, what-n-thu-hell is the matter with Verne? lIe hasn't said two words all night." From the doorway I heard Jessie answer, "He thinks he might loose his job." When the yeer of 1932 started its shadowy course across the office calender, rumors were circulating that. salary cuts and layofrs were ineverteble" in the Engineering Dept. Annis St.Clair, payroll clerk, furnished the m8n8ge~ent a list of names and salaries of the department ...... I employees. From that list they could see where to use the hatchet for' cuts, and where to use the sledge-hammer for layoffs. From 8 copy of that list, I have picked out at random some of the job classifications end their average salaries before any cuts were made. CITY ENGINEER------~600 mo. PUMP STA. SUPT.------$150 mo ASST. CITY ENGINEER --- 1300 mo. S~T. of CONSTR. ----- $ 30 wk SUPT. GARBAGE ------~-- 216 mo. CARPENTER ------87 ¢ hr CHIEF PLUMBING INSP.--- 202.50 FLUSHER DRIVER ------1115 mo. CHIEF PUMP STA SUPT.~-- ~202.50 SUPT STR MTS ------200 mo. CHIEF:, DRAFTSMAN -.------$215 mo. FORMAN SEW, ST, GAR.-~' 150 mo. DRAFTs~mN ------~190 mo. INSTR~mNT ~~N ------~125 mo. HEAD BOOKKEEPER------$211.50 ASST STORE KEEPER ---- $ 80 mo. S & D MT. SUPT ------$180 mo. SEWER CONST. INSPR.--- $160 mo. BRICK MASON ..------$ 1.37 hr. LABOR ------20 to 2$ ¢ hr. PAINTER ------$ 1.00 hr. FOREMAN ST. DEPT. ---- $135 mo. SHOVEL OPERATOR ------$ 5.00 da. SURVEY PTY CHIEF ------$225 mo. CRANE OPERATOR ------$ 1.12~ hr HARNESS MAKER ------75 ¢ hr VETARINARYIAN ------$125 mo. NIGHT WATCHMAN ------$2.75 de. MECHANIC ------87~ ¢ hr SECRETARY (Fow1er's)-- $ 90 mo. SIDE WK CH INSPECTOR -- $160 mo. BRIDGE CARPENTER ----- 50 ¢ hr CLERK ------$135 mo. STORE ROOM SUPT. ----- $160 mo. TRUCK DRIVER ------36 ¢ hr WHITE WING ------27~ ¢ hr. STREET CLEANER ------27~ ¢ hr The pay scales for the Engineering Dept. were not entirely consistant with job classifications, in so~e instances longevity or individual Meritt effected the scale. Some of the scales were influenced by Union negoeiations, such as brick masons, etc. The main influence was Mr. Crump's philosophy, "Hire as few 8S possible, then pay them

8S little as possible." During the following weeks, we draftsmen kept our eyes and ears open. We would see Mr. Fowler hustle up the hall to the second door, like he had received 8 "Right Now" call from the Mayor. In a short while he would come dragging back with his head down. Then Mr. Fowler would call in his top assistants, Tobey, Matt, and Hauser. At that time Maxson had not established a position worthy or being called into the summit meetings, and the draftsmen felt it to be a disadvantage not to be represented. The meetings in Mr. Fowler's office would last seemingly a long time. Uaually the payroll clerk would be called in. p"vlYlp 1~hen he'd come back, we tried to.~bim for information, but we couldn't. When Tobey, Matt, end Gus came out, invaribly one would whisper a remark to the others, and they would have a good laugh. To the draftsmen, it was no laughing matter, our measly income was at stake. Those meetings became more frequent near the end of February.

On the last day. of February, Tobey came to Maxson to make the sad announcement. All five of the drafting force stood by to listen. The details were, effective on March 1, 1932, Walter Irvin and Ramsey Wall were laid off temporarily. both were not married. Lawrence Rier. Glen Yockey, and myself, all married, would remain on the payroll, but would be laid off 2/5ths (40~) of the time. Our salaries were adjusted by that amount. The field parties suffered about the same as did the draftsmen. The rest of the personnel would work full time, but their selaries were cut 10 per cent. Before that happened, I had managed to get my salary up to $175 per month. That ruling brought it beck down to $105. Being off 40~ of the time didn't help much. because there were no odd jobs to be had. Even the depression's gloom failed to take away all the amusing circumstances that developed in the City Engineers office. Proof of that was provided by Mr. M.D.Sabin. our chief bookkeeper. Sabin was e small slender fellow. with a nice smile on his face, but very little hair on his head. He didn't fratenize with his co-workers. He would talk bookkeeping with anybody when it was necessary. He reported directly to Mr. Fowler. to Dusty Miller, and later to Frank Tobey. He always seemed too busy to carryon any idle conversation. We began to notice Sabin coming into the office late in the mornings and also after lunch. Commissioner Kruger, with his eag1~ eye, noticed the same thing. That happened just after Tobey was promoted to chief clerk. When Sabin would come in late. Commissioner would stand and look at him, like 8 person studying a bad problem. Then heTd go over and talk to Tobey. They would shake their heads •

and grin, as- if they hoped the problem would disapear. It wasn't long before Sabin showed up late with a watery twinkle in his eye, and the - smell of alcohol on his breath. For that Sabin was repremanded. He

took the repremand with 8 smile, and promised it would never happen again. In a few days it did happen again, and that time the effect or alcohol showed plainly, but he managed to laugh it off. As time passed, Sabin drank more. It got to where he wound sneak e bottle into the office, and hide it in his deak drawer. Commissioner suspected that, searched his drawer, found the bottle, and destroyed it. Sabin didn't want to be out-smarted, so he began to hide his bottle in his waste-paper basket. It worked for a while, but Sabin's conduct detourated so bad that some positive action had to be taken.

'~e could tell that it was not an easy decision for Mr. Fowler, Commissioner, and Tobey to make. Sabin had been a likeable person. He could always furnish his superiors answers they needed about the

books. There was no one else in the department knowled~able about those books. However, after consultations, they discharged Sabin, on December 1, 1932. When Tobey, Dusty Miller, and others from the City Clerk's office began to look into Sabin's books, they found them badly mixed up.

They were unable to find anythin~ that balanced. A professional auditor was called in and worked for months. Finally word got out that Sabin's

books were short. He had been manipulating the entries. They said Sabin had got away with at least $18,000, and had been working on it for several years. During that time the books were audited each year

by a private licensed auditor, and no shortage was discovered. If Sabin hed stayed sober, he might have bacome a millionaire Those of

us with salary cuts, cussed Sabin for adding to our s~fering, but

we were told that Sabin was bonded, and the City wou~d not loose. •

One of -the Many things created by the depression ~.was, the first massive American Citizen march against their Capitol in Washington D.C.

The demonstration by approximately 15,000 veterans and 5,000 women and children. began May 29, and ended July 28, 1932. It was called the "Bonus Army". They were demandinp immediate payment-in-ful1 of their

bonuses. That bonus had been established in 1924 by the Adjusted

Compensation Act which contained 8 condition that it would be paid

in 1945. On June 15th, the House voted "Yes", but two days later the Senate voted "No". Most of the veterans went home, but about 2,000

remained. President Hoover finally sent Federal troops, commanded by General Douglass MacArthur, to drive the veterans out. (In 1936. Congress voted to pRy the bonus.) President Hoover made his first move to help the poor people on July 21, 1932. He signed the Emergency Relief Act, (E R A). It provided loans to states unable otherwise to raise money for relief purposes. Also the Act authorized the Reconstruction Finance Corp.

(R F C) to make loans to stste and local governments for construction of pUb1is works projects. According to the Federal Department of Agriculture's report, October 31, 1932. the American farmer was faced with depression caused hardships, in addition to crop shortages caused by the drough. Prices continued to decline on farm products. They were about 60 per cent lower than they were in the summer of 1929. The average farmer earned about $341 after expences in 1931, compared to $841 in 1929. The prices on farm products were going down very much faster than the products the farmer had to purchase.

My younger brother, Joseph, who was born in 1911, beca~e of age e,"lJ/7 ~hJ/'S". right in the middle of the depression. Regardless of ,~~nom~es, when a boy reaches the age of 21, he looks around for the girl of his dreaMs. Joe did just that. He found a girl by the name of Mary Helen Thompson, age 19. Th~y fell in love and ~ot married. It was a bad time to start their married life, and as time passed, they had their hardships and disapointments. With determination they not only survived, they did mighty well. According to the ordinary person, Ford Manufacturing Co. was the

Automobile Industry. That company Made history in 1932, when it changed

from a four cylinder engine to 8 V-a engine. That new engine produced more speed, quicker acceleration, ran quieter with less vibration. There was some change in the chasis and body of the car, giving it m"re a .~ modern look. The price for the new model was just a little more than that of the old model T. Never had a Presidential campaign come at such a critical time, as the one in 1932. Americans were taking more interest. They were like a sick patient trying to decide if he'd be better orr, if he chenged doctors. The democratic candidate, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, addressed his caMpaign to the ordinary people. He offered them a "New Deal" to the "forgotten ~an.n and the repeal of prohibition (18th Amendment). The Republican candidate, encumbant Herbert Hoover, warned his listeners, "If the Democrats win, grass will grow in the streets of 100 cities." That was the first presidential campaign in which the radio was used extensively to reach the pUblic in their homes.

On election day, November 8, 1932, Roosevelt won by a landslide. The year of 1933 started with a very slight attitude of hope sprinkled Im~with the fear which had been the sale occupant of the peolpe's minds. Roosevelt had been impressive in his campaign before his election. The economic condition of our nation was dreadful. About one out of every three workers was unemployed, and the rest were on severely reduced pay scales. Industrial production had dropped another 12 percent. Bank runs had become acute. In Memphis, tax payments were going down-down. Rumors in the r· q _~. ( ,

Engineering Department were that something worse than last year was going to happen. The department was faced with a tremendous amount of work to be done, but no money to pay for it.

'~hen the first of March came along, the announcement was loud and clear. The department must layoff more people, and cut the rest another 10 per cent. In Maxson's miserable group of draftsmen, he had already lost Lawrence Rier after last year's cut. Mr. Fowler managed to get Lawrence transferred to thA Tenn. state Highway Dept. That left only Glen Yockey and myself under Maxson. The management simply put both" of us on half time, ~nd our salaries were reduced to $87.50 per month. Believe it or not, I was glad to ~et that. I felt that, as long

as I could keep my name on the payroll, I was in a hette~ position when

thin~s got better. A~ least, I wouldn't have to be rehired. It was the first spring at our newly acquired home at 2920 Southern Ave. Part of that acquirement was a little covered patio, or summer

house, in the corner of the bRck yard. I fixed 8 lawn type fence from the pedio across the back yard, inclosing a plot 15 by 40 feet. I pulverized and fertilized the soil, and told Jessie we'd have a flower garden. Because there was no driveway from the street to our house, we had to park our car in the rear of Mr. Saino's ho~e. At that time Jessie was worlcing a t Ellis Jones t·Jhole Sale Drug Co, Late one April afternoon, I was busy on our future flower garden, when Jessie came walking up the path behind the houses. Her salutation was simple and to the point when she said, "Well. I got laid ofr." I did my best to console her by replying, "Don.1t worry Honey, I've still Rot time to change our flower garden into a vegetable garden," That's exactly whet we did, and we had plenty to eat. and some to can for the winter. Afew days later when I checked our mail box, instead of bills, the carrier had left a cardboard cylinder sealed at both ends. Ins6e. was my diploma from International Coreespondence School, certifying I had setisfsctorly completed my course in Municipal engineering. I supposed that it was intended to make me jump with glee, and celebration. At that time I was tryinp desperatly to hold

onto half 8 job, witp en unknown future. I felt like a fellow who had

been given a ticket to 8 good show which had been canceled. I remember the first extra money I made during my time off from

the Rngineering Dept. It w~sn't easy but it helped the budget a little. Jessie's sister Mae talked her husband, Joe Foti, into having his house painted on the outside. Then Jessie talked Joe into letting me do the painting. Joe was a fine and respectable gentleman, but he had an

inborn fear that everyone was out to take advantage of him. (.l'~. • .r-: t; .' J

Their' home was two doors up the street from our's. It was 8 little

larger than our's. The outside walls were brick vaneer, but there ~~e several built-in feartures that would take extra time to paint. The roof extended out over the wall about two feet, all around. That meant

the under-side of the deckin~, and the extender portion of the rafters, were a time consuming area to paint. There was 8 lar~e front porch,

8 side porch, end a back porch, each h8vin~ beaded wood ceiling. All of that was in addition to the regular wood trim and the window, and r r t::I ~ /,-, ~~ door kamong-. "Joe came to me to make an agreement about pay, before any work was done. After a little idle chatter, he asked, "Verne do you think you can paint my house?" I told him I could, but it might take about three weeks of my off time. He silently studied for a moment, then asked, "How much do you want for putting on two coats, if I bUy the paint?" That time I did.8 little studying. I wasn't thinking about how much an hour, but how ~uch Joe would be willing to give up in a lump sum. I told Joe the job should be worth at least $40. Joe came back with spontainous quickness and said, "Hell no. I'm not going to give you $40. I'll ~ive you $25. and not a cent more." I had to console myself with the thought. "a little better than half, was better than nothing." So I said, "I'll do it Joe, just for you." Joe got the paint. and I went to work. Underneath that roof

overhang was slow pa~nting. After I had been working about one week, Joe decided I was going too slow, and began to raise hell. He told me to get somebody to help me. The only one I knew who was as bad off for money as me. was my brother Massey. I got in touch with Massey, ~' .1ria came, and we finished the job. We really finished a little earlier than my first estimate of time. Joe gave me the $25. I gave Massey $15, because he had traveling expences. I was glad to keep $10.

Extra money was almost impossible to come by in those days.

In those days, the Saino block was 8 little community within

itself. There was en open passageway behind the houses fo~ one end

to the other. Visiting back and forth was about 8S common as taking

8 drink of water. One night as Thelma was doing the supper dishes at

the kitohen s1n~. She glanced at the window ri~ht in front of her, and there was a horrible man's face pressed against the window pane.

It scared her so much, she went into 8 slight convultion. Her teenage nephew, Everett Baugh, was the owner of that horrible face. When he saw what had happened, he rushed into Thelma's house, begging for

forgiveness. He pleaded, "It was just 8 prank, Aunt Thelma, I didn't mean any harm. When Thelma's husband, Bill Wolbrecht, came home and found out what had happened, he was as mad as anybody could possibly be. He said nothing to Everett in nature of a threat.

One afternoon a few weeks later, 8 group of we Saino husbands were standing in conversation in Bill's back yard. Bill had just lit his pipe full of tobacco, when Everett came unsuspiciously strolling along. Everett had on a pair of pants that was too big at the waist, but they were held up with suspenders. It was hot summer time, and 300

I'm sure he was without underwear. As Everett strolled past Bill, with his finger Bill reached and pulled the front of Everett's pants away from his body. In the same motion Bill emptied his pipe into the opening, fire and all. Everett yelled, screamed, jumped, and danced like . a savage wlt~h doctor preforming royal ceremonies. Bill's face showed the satisfied smile of revenge. To get better acquainted with the tremendous changes that were taking place"_ fXe/"TED! ~;:;'Q'-pipei;;;;-D>~d-;' in our National Government, it is kol f-tJ},I:/CCQ

On the day following the inauguration, Roosevelt declared a 6 Na'tion-wide "Bank Holiday" effective Marc~ through March 9, closing virtually every financial institution in the country. He also proclaimed an embargo on the export of gold, silver, and currency. On March 12, ~resident Roosevelt addressed the nation in his first radio, "Fireside Chat". He opened the address with a soft reassuring voice, saying, "My friends, -----" In simple language he explained the reasons for the bank holiday, and the measures to be taken to deal with the financial crisis. He assured his people they were entitled to a "New Deal". It was unbelievable • 300'" A

the majic wave of confidence that swept the nation, following that address. It soothed the bankers and money institutions, industry, commerce, and transportation. Most important it soothed America·' s working man.

Al~hough my salary had been cut in half, Jessie and I were

not as discouraged 8~OUt the future as we had been earlier in the year. Confidence was returning to the ordinary people. We had managed to pay our house notes, carry groceries to my family, pay their taxes, and help a little on clothing my brother

GContinued on page 301) ------30 /

Massey's school children. We made it somehow, and gorgot all about extra spending money. Jessie and I will always remember Jessie's kind brother-in-law, Bill Wolbrecht. Many times when he and Thelma were going to a dinner-dance party, he would insist Jessie and I join them, and he would P.8Y all the bills. Home Brew had been e sloppy substitute for beer for more than 30 years. Its existence became un-neccesary April 17, 1933. when beer and wine was legalized. The limit of alcoholic content was only 3.2~. A big chAnge that had little to do with the ordinary people, occured on April 19th, when President Roosevelt announoed{that United States was going off the gold standard. Currency would no longer be redeemed for gold. With the cooperation of Congress, President Roosevelt lost no time in organizinp e large number of Federal Agencies for the purpose of invigorating the economy. His frequent "Fireside Chats." came over the radio, and each began with the same words, "My Friends,---- ...

He would describe the need for each Agency, and explain its purposes.

He built 8 public attitude of confidence in his administration that has yet to be excelled. On the light side, he unintentionaly gave his agencie's such long names, they started a~trend of using in!tials instead of the name. Following is 8 list of the 1933 addition, ------(1) March 31. c.c.c. Civilian Conservation Corps, to provide employment for ypung men between the ages of 18 and 25, in various projects aimed at conserving or improving the country's natural resources, such 88 reforestation, soil erosion and flood control, fire prevention, roed building, park and recreation area improvement. (2) May 12. F.E.R.A. Federal Emergency Relief Administration. Harry Hopkins of New York was directed to distribute $500,000,000 through grants to state and local agencies to relieve the poor and hungry. (3) May 12. A.A.A. Agricultural Adjustment Administration, A deal with the proble~ of low farm prices. It provided a subsidy for the reduced production on certain crops, dairy products, and hogs. (4) T.V.A. Tennessee Valley Authority, May 18. Extended the authority to build additional dams and power plants. To develop rural electrification, and several other bebefits in the area. (5) May 27. F.S.A. Federal Securities Act. Instructed Federal Trade Commission to police all new stock and bond issues. (6) June 13. H.O.L.e. Home Owner's Loan Corp. To help non-farm home owners escape from high mortgage payments, by refinancing into one long-term low-payment mortgage. (7) June 16. F.D.I.C. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Gua~anteed individual bank aocounts up to $5,000. 47 years later that guarantee was raise to $100,000. (8) June 16. F.e.A. Federal Credit Administration. To handle all Federal legislation pretaining to farm credit. (9) June 16. N.I.R.A National Industrial Recovery Act. A broad Act set up to improve busuness activity, and provide jobs. It had several parts or titles. (10) June 16. N.R.A. National Recovery Administration. A part of N.I.R.A. which enforced codes of fair practice concerning working conditions, wages, and business practices. (11) June 16. P.W.A. Public Works Administration. To stimulate the economy through construction of huge Public Works projects. Such 8S dams, port facilities, sewage plants, roads, airports, bridges, and hospitals. (12) November 8. C.W.A. Civil Works Administration. Set up to create jobs for 4,000,000 workers. Most of the jobs were for relatively unskilled workers who would be paid the minimum wage. There was only one of those many programs that the City of Memphis could put into use immediatly. It was the last one, C.W.A. Dave Renfro, superintendent of parks, applied and receives approval to start crews cleaning the grounds in several city parks. The program from which the city would derive great benefit was the P.W.A. It would take several months for the application forms and regulations to reach our office. When they came, we were flabergasted.

The application for each project had to be accompanied by legal acknowledgement that our Municipality was able and willing to sponsor the project, and woulj pay all costs over and above the Federal Grant. As I remember, the grants ran~ed from 75 to 90 per cent of the estimated cost, depending on the qualification of the project. The municipality was required to furnish complete plans and specifications, subject to their approval. If the project was approved, the municipality must furnish all engineering and supervision needed for construction. When the project was approved and contract bids properly advertised for and received, P.W.A. would examine the bids and recomend the successful bidder. There was one regulation I thought was finicky. We had to surrender our name. As far 8S P.W.A. was concerned, we could no longer be known 8S, Department of Streets, Bridges, and Sewers or more commonly cBlled,·E~glneering Dept. To them, we must be called, "Department of Public Works." l,aIhan we examined our first Federal Agebcy regulations, we detected a slight element of what might be called socialism, or more politely cs.lled, "Big Government." They demanded certain procedures by the sponsor. If violated that demand, all Federal sid to the sponsor would be canceled. Like the Godfather who offered a "deal they can't refuse." I was exoedingly happy that the city was willing to participate in those projects. They represented a lot of work for the draftsmen and field parties. I was hoping it meant a full-time salary again. Nation wide, the Roosevelt programs were beginning to reverse the downward trend of the economy. Employment was back up to the 1931 level. Payrolls were increasing. By August 1933, over 1,000,600 workers had found jobs durin~ the past four months. 1,-lhen· a business house displayed a "Blue Eagle" sign on their front window, it signified they complied to the code of business practices and wage rates set out by N.R.A. In Memphis, it was hard to find a business house without the emblem. To demonstrate loyalty to the principles of the N.R.A. program, it was decided, nation wide, to do 8 public parade in every individual city and town. The date was set for September 13, 1933. In Memphis, business men and politicians organized and appointed directors to manage the parade several weeks in advAnce. The radiance of enthusiasm was evident in the "Management as well as the participants. Contacts were made with all businesses both local and in the tri-state ares. Newspapers and radio gave an abundance of publicity. The responce was magnificent. Schools, Or~anizations of all kinds, businesses of every description, end the City Government letthe managers know they would come and how many they would bring.

About 8 week prior to parare ;ime, our drafting department was asked to prepare a map showing the points of assembly for all participants, and the route of the parade. The selected route began on Third St. at Court Ave. Moved north on Third st. west on Washington Ave, south on Main St, east on Vance Ave. then north on Second st, east on Beale st. and north on Third St. to where-ever they started from. That route measured a little less than three miles. Plotting the assembly locations was not that easy. The list of marching units was several pages long. They tried to Maintain some balance by spacing bands within ear-shot of all marchers. The total number of participants was enormous, and because of the expected :;.. "" r. - '..

tremendous crowd of spectators, it was decided to march the parade four-a-brest. With those provisions in mind, marching units were assigned assembly points, all east of Third St, on Court Ave. Jefferson,

Adams, Washington, Market, and Commerce Ave. ~he assembly time was 1;)0 P.M.

I remember when the day of march came. I was wor~ing the first

half of t11at Month. I had been working late e~ery'4night to get some

P.W.A. applications ready. I was dead tired when we assembled on

Jefferson just east of Third. We had a group of ~ore than 100 people. They all were in high spirits, laughing and joking while waiting for the starting si~nal. Beer had been legalized just a few months before. Foppiana sold it at his bar on the corner of Jefferson and Third. Cush Wells, our street repair superintendent and Roy Johnson Sr. our flood control superintendent decided to go to Foppiana's for a beer. They asked Miss Bessie, our telephone operator to join them. They stayed long enough to have two or three rounds, and returned in a real good humor. It still was not time to start, so the good humor trio hustled back for more beer. They stayed longer that time, and barely got back to take their place in the front line of our group. As we marched north on Third St. spectators were not noticeable, but on Washington they were crowded into the line of march so that we had to squeeze together to get through. As I looked from side to side, r could see the spectators jammed clear back to the buildings. When we turned south on Main St. it was even worse. Everybody was enthusiastic cheer ing and waving. The spectators and the marchers were hilarious. After about three blocks, Roy turned to Cush and said, "I've got to go to a rest room." The problem was obvious, with those people packed like sardines on both sides, there was no way to break ranks. Roy's face began to get red. He looked from one side to the other, but no chance of escape. Roy began to jump up and down like a little boy who r ...... 3 ~J:~.

had waited as long as he could. Roy's misery continued untill we saw the sign, Chisca Hotel, at Linden Ave. When we got there, he yelled,

"I'll meet you on Second st." Roy leaned forward like 8 fullback going for a touchdown, and sprung into the crowd pushing and shoving untill he was out of sight. Cush quietly followed in Roy's wake. It was after 1 o'clock in the morning when I got home. I turned on the radio, and the parade was still in motion. I learned later, it was between two and three o'clock before the last group finished. There never had been, end probably never will be such a parade in Memphis. There was no way to estimate the number of marchers or spectators. All the people who enjoyed. a little or a lot, of alcohol in their drinks, gave a rousing cheer on December 5 1933. It was announced that Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st amendment to the Constitution. It meant the repeal of Prohibition•

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