AN UNKNOWN Correspondent Who Writes That He Has Been A
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AN UNKNOWN Correspondent who writes that he has been a subscriber for the Herald for 40 years thinks that "dam big man" should straighten out the Red river, thus making it a beautiful stream and "putting a lot of lazy people to work." The suggestion has its appealing angles. The "big men" are now engaged in planning methods to get some water into the Red river. Has it occurred to them that if the river was straightened out it would take only half as much water to fill it? That's something to think about. I HAVE READ WITH Interest the several letters that have appeared in the Herald Mail Bag on the subject of skating rinks, and from conversation which I have heard I am sure that the interest in the subject displayed by the writers of those letters typical of very general interest throughout the city. Skating is one of the few outdoor sports in which persons of all ages can engage in this part of the world in moderate winter weather. It is an exhilarating and healthful sport, and it is about the least expensive of any that we have. It requires no equipment other than a pair of skates and reasonably warm clothing, and, while expensive skates and elaborate sports costumes may be used, they are not at all necessary. TWO OR THREE FAIRLY large rinks will accommodate adults and older boys and girls who can make long trips in safety and without discomfort, but they are useless for most of the smaller children. There are innumerable vacant lots within a few blocks of densely inhabited sections which could be obtained for rink pur- poses without cost. If the snow were removed from several of those lots now they would be ready for flooding in a day or two, if they are not ready now, and after the first flooding the quantity of water needed would be negligible. ONE MISTAKE THAT IS Often made in reflooding rinks is that of the use of too much water. I remember that two or three years ago I wrote of having watched the resurfacing of rinks just back of the Fort Garry hotel in Winnipeg. The work was done with barrels mounted on little sleds, with pipes with spray openings attached. One man removed the loose chipped ice with a wide scraper. Another, wearing rubber boots, pushed a barrel back and forth, wetting six or eight feet at a trip. A third man was ready with a full barrel when the one in use was empty. The whole job took not more than an hour. It was started about 5 P. M. when most of the afternoon skaters had left, and between 7 and 8 the rink was again crowded with skaters, having a glorious time. IN THE ABSENCE OF OTHER means it would be possible, I have no doubt, to organize local groups for the preparation N and care of rinks wherever they might be needed. But to accomplish anything some form of organization and supervision would be necessary. Why duplicate the functions of the Park commission, which is already organized, and one of whose functions is the promotion of sports? The Park commission and the city street department together have all the equipment that is necessary, and large sums are being paid for the maintenance of the men who are able, and many of whom are undoubtedly willing to work. It should be possible to combine these elements in some workable way so that those who wish to skate may find it possible to do so, and especially then the smaller children may be able to skate without going far from home. I WAS PARTICULARLY Fortunate as a youngster in having good skating almost at my door. The river ran in a great curve right along the bottom of our pasture, and when the conditions were right I could slide down hill half the distance. The school was next door, perched on a high hill, and children who lived up or down the river, or anywhere near it, invariably skated to and from school when the ice was in proper condition. Hockey, so far as I know, had not been invented, but its parent, shinny, was flourishing. I had a shinny club made of a hickory sapling, with the curve of the root attached, of which I was as proud as any golfer is of his favorite club. RICHARD BLACK'S DOG IS dead. The beautiful husky, born in the Antarctic, which was admired by hundreds of Grand Forks residents after her owner's return to this city after thrilling experiences with the Byrd expedition on the icy southern continent, died at Long Beach, California, about ten days ago. A clipping from a Long Beach paper received by friends of the Black family gives this account of the sudden demise of the dog which was prized by her master and had become the friend and playfellow of Black's little son: "NANOOK OF THE SOUTH was born to temperatures of 50, 60 and 70 degrees below zero. Maybe she could not become acclimated to Southern California sunshine. She had a heritage of long, strenuous hours in the harness; and maybe a life of inactivity palled. "Nanook, a handsome white husky with black markings, was born as an event of Admiral Byrd's expedition to the South pole. She was brought to North America because a little 4-year-old boy pleaded over the radio for her. "She died yesterday at a Long Beach cat and dog hospital. Veterinary skill lost in a heroic attempt to save her. Nanook was ill only two days. She is believed to have contracted distemper. "The husky was owned by Richard B. Black, guest at the Black-stone Hotel. She was the constant companion of his young son, Fran Black. The elder Black was a surveyor with Admiral Byrd. "Nanook's mother was a sledge dog; she was born in the expedition administration building August 11, 1934. The temperature outside was 71 degrees below zero. "Fran, who was taken from Grand Forks, N. D., to Chicago so he could broadcast to his father, said: "'Daddy, bring me a husky.' "Admiral Byrd sent Nanook to Fran with his compliments. "Black had believed that the dog was entirely acclimated until her illness developed. "Nanook was exceptionally sweet-tempered, Black said last night" ONE MAY EXPRESS A DOUBT that the California climate was responsible for Nanook's death. While the first few months of her life had been spent in sub-zero temperatures at Little America, as a mere puppy she had withstood the voyage through the torrid zone and the transition to the climate of the northern United States. She spent the hottest weeks of summer in Grand Forks and remained in good health with the temperature well into the nineties. THE DISTEMPER THEORY seems more probable, and distemper like several virulent contagious diseases among human beings, seems not to be related to climate. Breeders of fine dogs find in distemper the worst disease with which they have to contend. However, distemper itself seems less likely to be prevalent in the polar regions, where cold is intense and dogs live almost altogether in the open, than in warmer climates, where disease germs are likely to remain active for a longer time. NOW THAT THEY SEEM TO be getting airplane design down to the point where a one-man plane can be built for $350, and one need stretch his garage only a few feet to accommodate one, the day may not be far distant when the air will be congested as the highways are now, and we shall be checking air rather than car fatalities. NEW YORK AVIATION Interests are planning the utilization of the auto-gyro to supplement regular plane traffic. While it is possible as a stunt to land an ordinary plane on the flat roof of a big building, for practical purposes aviation fields must be some miles from the center of large cities. The auto-gyro can take off and land perpendicularly, but is not desirable for cross-country flights. The plan under consideration is to build an auto-gyro station somewhere along the New York water front, and by means of those windmill machines transport mail and passengers in a few minutes to the distant air fields, where a quick transfer can be made. DR. JAMES H. BREASTED, noted archaeologist, died the other day in Chicago. Dr. Breasted was one of the discoverers of the tomb of the Egyptian k in g, Tutankhamen and assisted in exploring the tomb and removing some of the precious relics found there. His death recalls the curse found inscribed on the wall of the tomb, aimed at any one who should molest its sanctity. Several of those who participated in that enterprise have since died, some of them from causes not clearly understood, and there is some uncertainty as to the precise nature of the disease which ended the life of Dr. Breasted. Naturally, the superstitious are convinced that the curse is still working. THE EGYPTIAN KING'S TOMB was discovered eleven years ago. In the case of Dr. Breasted it has taken the curse eleven years to work, and at the time of his death Dr. Breasted was 76 years old, an age at which death comes to many persons who have not rifled tombs and against whom no curse has been directed. The others of the group who have died were well in years. Perhaps the slowness with which the curse operates is due to the fact that it was pronounced some 3,000 years ago, and may be supposed in the meantime to have lost some of its potency.