TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1950
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
PAGE SEVEN
Mexico City In Sea Of Mud As Buildings Sail On Ballast
Mexico City—(U.P.)—This ancient and colorful city of three million people is sinking slowly into a sea of mud.
The process is slow. Nevertheless, the city is gently settling into a sea of semi-fluid volcanic ash and water, held by pressure in a mixed state. Engineers call the mixture "soap" from its physical characteristics.
This year, city engineers are mapping a program of reconstruction and reinforcement designed to give the city going a few centuries longer.
Mexico City is built in the Valley of Mexico, a high plateau a mile above sea level between jagged mountain ranges. A city has existed here for unknown centuries. The conquistadores' Oasis Cretes called abling Aztec capital called Tenochtitlán when they arrived in 1510.
In the years after the conquest, the Spaniards continued building in the shallow, gradually-filling lake which made Tenocititan an Indian province. The weight of stone structures piled onto the shallow cap of mud through four centuries has put Mexico City in the precarious position of being built on something less solid than sand.
The Palace of Fine Arts, one of the city's show places and the largest auditorium in Mexico, has sunk into the sub-surface "soap" more than 14 feet since it was built shortly after the turn of the century. Other old buildings in the downtown sector have sunk to such a degree that their lower floors are flooded every time a hard rain spills into the valley.
Most of the large, heavy buildings were built originally on "banks" of firm clay and sand, relatively free of water, with tremedous columns of wood introduced into the "banks" to maintain the building's level. Giant jacks also were used at ground level.
The skyscrapers of 20 stories now going up are constructed on a new principle. Engineers compare their structure to that of ships at sea, since their weight exactly displaces the weight of their foundations. Some actually have ballast chambers to control weight distribution and they sail majestically into the blue Mexican horizon on their sea of mud.
City engineers plan to reinforce the Palace of Fine Arts with huge jacks and to redistribute its million ton weight with new excavations and refills. The same process of weight redistribution will be used for other downtown heavyweights. A United States firm probably will be contracted to handle the engineering job, officials said.
But, Mexicans say, "no hay ma que por bue no venga"—"it's an ill wind that blows no good." If it weren't for the sea of mud, there would be no Mexico City at all. The volcanic "soap" absorbs and protects the entire city from frequent earthquakes. In Mexico, the shock of an earthquake lasts about a month. Aood, teeth-irarring 'quake would tumble half the buildings in town if Mexico City were raised on a brittle, hard-rock cap, engineers claim.
The Mexicans don't worry. One of the heaviest buildings in town is the cathedral. The National Palace is even bigger.
"Between church and state. I'm not worried," said a cab-driver.
Even Undertakers Advertise Today To 'Dig Up' Business
washington—(U.P.)—The public transportation people in Washing-
Taiwan. Ten all sorts of inducements for folks to ride.
Many street cars and busses have radios which give with music
During a 40-minute ride home a man can get a liberal education.
All of the public carriers have fascinating advertisements pasted eye-high to attract the strap-hangers.
in one bus, attractive ads practically take a person by the hand and lead him from the cradle to the grave.
One notice, paid for by a dairy, advises that without milk from this certain cow barn life will be dull, at best, and maybe even fruitless.
Another placard, done in brief yellow, says that you can't miss pulling up bright-eyed and healthy at 40, where life is supposed to begin—if, of course, you remember to down the juice of a lemon in water every day.
One ad shocks the bus-riding public in big black letters with:
"These folks are healthy. Are you?"
The artist pictures the head of a family along with his brood of six or so. The puniest looking guy and the sickest looking kids you ever saw.
A loan company has a cutie in colors suggesting that it's no trouble to borrow from $50 up to $1,000 "on your signature alone." The picture shows a happy group pulling up at a vine-covered ramder home in a block-long limousine. The daddy of the house lets out a sigh and says:
"Look, kids. It's all ours."
There are liquor ads and beer ads. One paid notice for some of the hard-stuff shows a man bounding out of the sack just as the sun makes it over his window sill. He doesn't even yawn as he crawls off the mattress.
"You feel like this after a night with old so-and-so whiskey," the ad savs.
It probably wasn't intended that way, but right next to the whiskey ad was one for an undertaker. It recommended you call a certain number in case of death and "get the full treatment for as low as $200
— a complete grave opened and closed for as little as $65."
The undertaker promised to put you six feet under with better service than you'd get-alive—in the case of your sister. "Sixty some services," in fact.
This particular notice had been mutilated.
In the center of the ad originally was a picture of the funeral director. Under it was a picture of a coffin, looking pleasantly down on the bus riders with the lid open.
Seven To Attend Religious Council
On another car, somebody with an upside-down sense of humor had taken a knife, cut out the picture of the undertaker, cut a slit in the coffin and put the master, himself, therein.
Seven students will attend a conference of the Associated Student Christian council at the University of Iowa Friday through Sunday, Dr. John Patton, professor in the School of Religion, and Mr. David Riggs, Y.M.C.A. secretary, will accompany the group.
Across from this ad, was another obviously paid for by the advertising concern which puts up the signs:
"Which of these ads do you like best?
Well, that's pretty hard to say.
Attending the conference will be Margaret Lutrick, fine arts junior; Kathryn Conrad, College freshman; Barbara Paul, College senior; Dorothy Lear, College senior; Harrison Madden, journalism senior; Jerre Quin, College senior; and John Forman, graduate student.
A record enrollment of 4,614 students was reached at the University in 1936.
Daily Kansan Classified Ads
Terms: Cash. Phone orders are accepted with the understanding that the bill will be paid promptly. Ads must be placed at least 3 p.m. (except Saturday) or brought to the University Journal bldg., not later than 4:45 p.m. the day before publication date.
Phone K.U.376
Classified Advertising Rates
One Three Five day days days 25 words or less ... 35c 65c 90c Additional words ... 1c 2c 3c
FOR SALE
NEED AN EXTRA pen or one to replace
the one you own. Choose the amazing low cost of the Esterbrook
fountain pen. Choose the point you like,
or buy it for only $2.49.
Student Union Book Store.
KONICA camera 35 mm f. 3.5 lens. $45.00
Brand new, never used. Same camera
sold in Chicago for $85.00. Can be seen
at Ernst Hardware Store; $26.50. 16
GOLF CLUBS: 7 irons and 3 woods with bag, all in good condition, at a reasonable price. Also set of 3 irons and driver with bag. Phone 2865M. $820\cdot1/2$. Mass 20
MOTOROLA Portable Radios. Sharply reduced at B.F. Goodrich, 929 Mass. All 1949 models must go. Convenient terms available. 17
LEFT-HANDED golf clubs. No. 2 or 3
1903M after 5 p.m. and putter. Pho
16
NORISR professional quality drawing instruments! Regular $36.00 value now only $12.50 while our supply lasts. Student Union Book Store. 17
SECOND SHETS: Your choice of white or yellow at only 69c per cup. Top quality, Rowlands Book Stores, 1401 Ohio St. and 1237 Oread. 17
WE HAVE a good Philco model radio phonograph, console type. We will trade for good used twin or bunk beds. Call 2479M 16
FOUNTAIN PEN and Pencil Sets: Close-up of a nationally advertised brand. You buy the pen and we give you the pencil free. Also Fineline dest sets originally made by Rowlands Books Stores, 1401 Ohio St., and 1237 Oread. 15 STATIONERY SALE: Two for the price of one. You buy a box and we give you one free. Rowlands Book Stores, 1401 Ohio St., and 1237 Oread. FIGURINE WINE: Put wine into the swing! The DIXIE CARMEL CORN SHOP has a complete line of figurines, paints, and brushes. Use our paints for best results. THE DIXIE CARMEL CORN SHOP has a complete line of figurines, paints, and brushes. RESTOREMENT portable typewriters, 25 percent discount on floor models. Rowlands Book Store, 1401 Ohio St.
APARTMENT SIZE Kelvinator refrigerator at B. F. Goodrich, 1292 Mass St.
APARTMENT SIZE Kelvinator refrigerator $5.00 payable Pay only $8.00 monthly.
SAVE 25% at B. F. Goodrich on new original equipment tires slightly blemished, all popular sizes available, also available in white sidewalls, quantities limited at B. F. Goodrich Store, 929 Mass. 14
TRANSPORTATION
RIDERS WANTED: leaving for Wichita every Friday at 4 p.m. Returning Sunday evening. Please call between 7-9 p.m. Harry Shultz. Ph. 3101J. 16
AIR RESERVATIONS day and night. Downs Travel Service, phone 3861. Steamship, tour reservations. Hotels, cruises. No Charge For Our Services. 31
BROWN BILLFOLD with identification
762 Eustace
Mayhew. Reward $10.00.
Meyhew. Reward $10.00.
LOST
TYFING. Term papers, notebooks, letters, theses, legal papers. Accurate work. Regular rates. Prompt attention. Mrs. Shields, 1209 Ohio, Phone 1601
BUSINESS SERVICE
JAYHAWKERS: Give yourself a pleasant surprise and visit your "Jayhawk" pet shop. We have everything in the pet field. Their needs are our business. Our one-stop pet shop has everything for fur, fenn, chin, and gift shop. **112** Comm. St. Ph. 418.
THROUGH on the auto check, easy on the G.I. check at Hadl Bros. Motor Co.
and fender repair, auto painting, used cars. 317 E. 17th. Phone 785 or 1821R
TFYING: Call Hazel Stanley. 2865M for
completed service. 820% Mast St.
FOR RENT
RENT A TYPEWRITER today! Choose from standard and portable machines in all makes. Watch your grades improve when you use our papers. Students 17 University Book Store.
ARE YOU DISSATISFIED? Do you have big dreams at night? Would you like a "sure fire" remedy? Well! We can answer these questions more easily, asking one of the following accommodations? 1. Private entrance; 2. Private bath; 3. Spacious; 4. Twin beds; 5. All the comforts of home; 6. A couch and sofa; 7. we all would, but we have a double that's the closest way to this at 1333 Tennessee. All for $20.00 a month. 17
Trained Salesman Is Stupid,
But He Sells The Goods
Memphis, Tenn.—(U.P.)—One of the best salesman in Memphis is Stupid. He's a dog, and that's his name.
The customer usually buys without an argument.
Stupid earns his keep by demonstrating how a dog prefers a certain dog food to good red meat. The meat and the cereal pellet dog food are placed side by side before Stupid, and the dog invariably eats the pellets and spurs the meat.
Call K.U. 251 With Your News.
NOW Ends WED.
Story of a Doctor's Private Life!
THE SURPRISE PICTURE OF THE YEAR!
"THE DOCTOR AND THE GIRL"
GLENN FORD · CHARLES COBURN
GLORIA DE HAVEN · JANET LEIGH
A METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE
- Also - Cartoon - News
STARTS THURS.
African and Arctic Expeditions!!!
"Savage Splendor and "Arctic Fury"
Continuous Shows—Open 12:45
THE SWEEP AND MAJESTY OF "CAVALCADE"
AND THE TRAILS OF "BRIAL ENGUN"
THE SWEET AND MAGICAL OF THE TENDERNESS AND DARING OF "BRIEF ENCOUNTER"
2. ARTHUR RANK presents NOEL COWARD'S
THIS HAPPY BREED
in Technicolor
A NOEL COWARD-CINEQUOID PRODUCTION FOR TWO CITIES FILMS
Celia Robert John Stanley
JOHNSON • NEWTON • MILLS • HOLLOWAY
BRITT COULSON CRAFT BEAUTY BRITT COULSON
Limited Engagement WEDNESDAY,THURSDAY
ADMISSION
All seats 75c tax incl.
Special Student
Price 50c tax incl.
Continuous Shows
Feature Shown
1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40
Each Day 1:00 p.m. on
N-O-W !
Showing
Funnier than a barrel of monkeys!
DAN DAILEY • CORINNE CALVET
COLLEEN TOWNSEND WILLIAM DEMAREST
JAMES LYDON
Feature times: 1:40 - 3:38
5:36 - 7:35 - 9:35
- ADDED FUN -
Pete Smith Special
Cartoon - News
Soon
Dana Marta
Andrews Toren
Stephen McNally
"SWORD IN
THE DESERT"
Continuor
Read the Want Ads Daily.
Phone 10 for Sho Time
Today - Wednesday
Randolph Scott
Dorothy Malone
"THE NEVADAN"
EDWARD SMAIL
From a Story by ALEXANDRE DUMAS Author of the Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo
STARRING
ORSON WELLES
AND
NANCY GUILD
WAVIN NANDEE · FRANK LAHATTE
Phone 132 for Sho Time
- Ends Tonite -
Gene Autry
"MULE TRAIN"
- and -
'BOWERY BLITZ KRIEG'
'BOWERY BLITZ-KRIEG'
que, usv 2a=102
1