Published: October 26, 2009 11:29 pm      

Back When: 5,798 county residents were X-rayed for tuberculosis 60 years ago

GREENVILLE — “Wage Bill Inked By Truman; Calls It Major Victory” announced a headline on the front page of the Greenville Evening Banner 60 years ago today.

“WASHINGTON (AP) — President Truman today signed legislation raising the minimum wage from 40 to 75 cents an hour and called it ‘a major victory’ for his administration.”

On the local scene were stories about the Hunt County Livestock Show, X-rays for tuberculosis, and a school building program.

— “The Hunt County Livestock Show, Agriculture Exhibit and Rodeo opened today with a street parade highlighting the first day of action. The parade, held in the business district at 11:30 o’clock this morning, ushered in the event which will run four days and is expected to draw attention to this section from the entire Northeast Texas area. The exposition grounds were a scene of hurried activities this morning as livestock and hogs were moved in, general and commercial exhibits were completed, the carnival midway was being put in shape for the inrush of visitors, and the rodeo arena was completed for the first performance tonight ...

“Farm equipment is an attraction that is due to be visited by many ... the automobile building is due to be a favorite spot and the general and commercial exhibit buildings are full of interesting displays. But the livestock exhibit is the main feature of the annual show and is expected to be on a par with other like events in this section ... The rodeo will stage its first performance tonight at 8 o’clock and there will be performances each night through Saturday.”

— From the Here and There column: “The number of persons being X-rayed is continuing to mount as the mobile unit from the State Health Department nears the final 10 days of operation here. By 1:30 p.m. today, 5,798 citizens in Greenville and Hunt County had been X-rayed for tuberculosis. Over 450 persons were X-rayed this morning. Requested by the Hunt County Medical Society, the survey is open to all persons over the age of 15. Officials continued to urge citizens to go to the mobile unit for the free chest X-ray.”

— “The Greenville Independent School District soon will enter into a building program costing more than one million dollars. That was assured today as a result of Tuesday’s special election when the taxpayers approved by a vote of 687 to 290 the issuance of bonds in the sum of $600,000. Approval of the new bond issue gave the green signal for work to get underway about January 1.”

— At the Rialto theater: “Joe Palooka in ‘The Big Fight’ with Joe Kirkwood, plus ‘Apartment for Peggy’ with Jeanne Crain, William Holden.”