MAR APR 1955 - River Rouge Historical Museum

for young people, is soliciting their assistance in planning special programs. A civil
program is being planned at which River Rouge‟s young people will be guests of honor.
City and School Board Officials; Representatives of the City‟s 18 churches; Great
Lakes Steel Corp and Local 1299-USA, Officials; and Officers of Service, Patriotic,
Fraternal Civic and Social Organizations who offer planned, supervised activities
for youth will pay tribute to the city‟s young people at the celebration. Pittman, who
handles all juvenile crime cases in River Rouge, has been making a survey of the
opportunities for leisure time activities offered youngster by the groups. He attributes the
low juvenile crime rate here to the outstanding work being done with young people by
local organizations. “These groups are greatly responsible for keeping our young people
occupied with healthful, enjoyable activities,” Pittman observed. “We hope to give them
public recognition for their outstanding contributions to the youth of the city.” Among
the more comprehensive programs cited by Pittman are those conducted by the
Department of Recreation; the Board of Education; Local 1299-USA and Great
Lakes Steel Corp.; Red Feather sponsored community centers and the business and
industry sponsored Junior Achievement Program. The idea for Youth Week
originated with Circuit Judge Ira W. Jayne. At his suggestion Police Commissioner
Edward S. Piggins requested police chiefs throughout Wayne County to cooperate by
sponsoring the week-long recognition of youth in their community.
PROCLAMATION: To the Citizens of River Rouge; Whereas: The week of April 17
23, 1955, has been designated a Youth Week throughout Wayne County, and Whereas:
We can look upon the Youth of River Rouge with pride and respect and we recognize
that our young people of today will be our nation‟s leaders of tomorrow, and Whereas:
We, the adult population of River Rouge, wish to pay our respects to our young people,
and we discharge with honor and distinction our share of responsibility that we rightfully
owe them, Now, Therefore, I, M. Warren Duncan Mayor of the City of River Rouge, do
hereby proclaim the week of April 17 through 23, 1955, as Youth Week, and Further: I
urge the adult of our city to participate in paying honor and respect to our young people.
M. Warren Duncan, Mayor.
Add Standby Service For Storm Water – A standby service line to bring River Rouge‟s
pumping station to capacity efficiency is scheduled for completion by the end of the
month according to George A. Deering, DPW Superintendent. Nearly six months‟
construction work for remodeling of the city‟s pumping station and the laying of
underground cable for the new power line is nearing completion. The Detroit Edison
Company is installing the new power line which will, Deering said, “provide an
almost foolproof service for storm water pumping.” Cost of the auxiliary service to
the city will be $75 per month less 3 per cent discount for prompt payment. The fee will
be in addition to the regular charge for metered service under the present municipal
pumping agreement. “With this new standby service,” Deering said, “we will be able to
prevent a recurrence of the situation six years ago when, during a heavy rainstorm, almost
every basement in the city was flooded. “The pumping station will be operated on a
double throw switch system,” Deering continued, “by which the standby service
may be thrown into immediate operation in the event of an emergency.” The
installation of the second service connection will bring River Rouge‟s 32-year-old
pumping plant to maximum efficiency. Located on West Jefferson at the D.T. & I
Railroad tracks, the building in which the pumping equipment is housed was first
constructed for use as a lighting plant in 1910. A small pump was installed for sewage.
When the city changed its lighting system in 1923 to better illuminate the newly widened
and paved Jefferson Ave., additional pumping facilities were required. Heavier pumps
were added to the one small pump to carry the load so the city‟s sanitary system was
expanded.
Of Interest To Women