Page 10 THE BATTALION
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1980
Revised GNP figures
confirm recession
United Press International
WASHINGTON — The U.S.
economy, reined in by an ailing
housing industry and cautious
consumers, slowed to a crawl dur
ing the first three months of the
year as the nation wallowed into
recession, the government said
Tuesday.
Last month, the Commerce
Department reported the “real”
Gross National Product — the
total output of goods and services
stripped of inflation — grew at an
annual rate of 1.1 percent be
tween January and March.
But in a revised report released
Tuesday, the department said
new data revealed the increase in
real GNP was actually only 0.6
percent in the first quarter — or
roughly half the original estimate.
The department said the na
tion’s total output of goods and
services stood at $2.51 trillion at
the end of the first quarter, in
stead of the $2.52 trillion that was
previously reported.
At the same time, the depart
ment reported that profits for
American businesses, after in
ventories and capital were ad
justed for inflation, fell by 2.6
percent in the first quarter to an
annual rate of $171.8 billion.
This followed a 2.4 percent de
cline during the last three months
of last year.
The major revision in real
GNP, the Commerce Depart
ment said, resulted because it
had originally overestimated con
sumer spending, particularly for
housing and for nondurable goods
— relatively short-lived products
like gasoline, clothing and food.
The 0.6 percent growth rate
during the first three months of
this year was the poorest showing
by the U.S. economy since the
second quarter of last year when
real GNP declined 2.3 percent.
St. Helens anything but saintly
Continued eruptions and
more flooding are expected
ALTERATIONS
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ART OF SEWING — SO HELEN
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United Press International
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Seven bodies
were spotted on the mud- and ash-covered
flanks of Mount St. Helens and at least 29
other people still were missing Tuesday. Sci
entists warned the volcano would keep erupt
ing and mudflows might set off major
flooding.
A huge cloud of gray, acidic ash from Sun
day morning’s enormous eruption, which left
hundreds homeless and thousands more
stranded, moved eastward over the Midwest
toward the Mississippi River Valley today.
Climatologists feared the thick cloud could
effect weather in the Northern Hemisphere
for several months. Residents in many cities
of the Northwest Pacific donned masks and
the governors of Idaho and Montana declared
emergencies.
The volcano’s explosion let loose numerous
mudflows and “glowing valanches” of hot ash
and super-heated gases that raced down the
Toutle River Valley, blew down 25,000 acres
of timber, trapped dozens of residents and
campers, wiped out homes and washed out
numerous bridges and roads.
Bob Christiansen of the U.S. Geological
Survey said part of the mudflow from Mount
St. Helens had built up a one-mile dam 200
feet high at Spirit Lake. Behind the dam, the
lake level already has increased more than 50
feet.
“The best scenario is that the water will
infiltrate the volcanic materials, seep through
and join the river. The worst scenario is that it
will rise to the top, overflow and cause a big
flood,” Christiansen said.
He said an earthquake could increase
chances the dam will break.
Officials said it would be days or weeks
before the extent of the disaster was known.
Gov. Dixy Lee Ray said the loss of life was
unfortunate because, despite seven weeks of
rumbling from the volcano, some people
were not convinced it was dangerous. “There
were people who deliberately ignored the
warnings,” she said.
Sunday morning’s enormous eruption —
heard for 200 miles — ripped 1,300 feet off
the top of the 9,677-foot peak, creating a huge
crater measuring l-by-2 miles.
Scientists said the explosion, caused by
underground molten rock building up press
ure for weeks, blew out the top and northwest
side of the cone.
Water temperatures in the Toutle and
Cowlitz rivers were measured at more than 90
degrees Monday. “There aren’t any fish in the
Toutle River and few, if any, in the Cowlitz,”
Gov. Ray said.
Missing and feared dead was Harry R. Tru
man, 83, who had refused to leave his lodge at
Spirit Lake on the mountain’s 3,200-foot
level.
North west brough t to hi
by volcanic ash fallout
United Press International
Volcanic ash from erupting Mount St.
Helens wreaked havoc Tuesday with travel
ers throughout the Pacific Northwest. Most
roads, airports and railroad tracks remained
closed, and mud and debris blocked ship
travel on the Columbia River.
Schools were closed, telephone lines were
jammed with anxious callers, while hospitals
filled with patients suffering respiratory prob
lems. Amtrak and Burlington Northern
halted all rail traffic in the region.
The ash seriously restricted visibility and
forced the closure of all major highways from
the east slopes of the Cascade mountains
through eastern Washington and Idaho to the
Montana border. Driving conditions were
hazardous and drivers were being encour
aged to avoid all but emergency travel.
The heaviest fallout of ash occurred north
eastward from Mount St. Helens but a fanout
of the volcanic plume resulted in ash fallout
over most of the area.
All Cascade passes except Stevens and
Washington (North Cascades Highway) were
closed and all state routes in four counties,
Spokane, Whitman, Lincoln and Adams,
were blocked. Spokane County was declared
in a state of emergency, thus all county roads
were closed as well. In addition, all roads in
Mount Rainier National Park and the Giffort
Pinchot National Forest were closed.
Every airport east of the Cascads
closed except those at Pasco, Richlaf
Walla Walla. Airports at Lewiston,
Pendleton, Ore., and the Dalles,Ore
western Washington were open.
Ship travel up the Columbia
halted by the Coast Guard Monday
2-mile stretch where mud and debrisi
erupting volcano was flowing outoftliil
litz River near Longview.
The closure kept ships from pi
upriver and kept all large craft in
ports or on the Columbia-Snake river
from reaching the Pacific.
The Coast Guard captain ofthepoiti
in Portland, in ordering the closure,
could make no predictions on when
would be reopened.
The river was closed to vessels d
more than 10 feet, although the Coastlj
recommended that all craft travel®:J
river stay out of the 2-rnile strip l
mouth of the Cowlitz unless absolutely
sary.
Safeway coordinated several
trucks to cross the state from Seattle
markets in eastern Washington. Aeon
Seattle shortly after 6 p.m. Monday
loads bound for Spokane and 11
Another convoy left at midnight, sei
loads to Prosser and Yakima.
for I'll
Arson suspected in fire that killed 170
mu
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17 mi. East of Bryan on Hwy. 30 toward Huntsville 873-2525
United Press International
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A fire
that officials said looked like the work
of arsonists swept through a home for
poor and elderly women early Tues
day, killing at least 170 patients who
were trapped in their beds as flames
quickly engulfed the two-story
wooden building.
Officials said the confirmed death
toll stood at 170 but could rise. Of the
204 patients asleep in their beds
when the predawn blaze broke out,
only 24 were safe and accounted for.
“This could be the most serious
loss of life (from a fire) in Jamaica, ”
said one official at the scene.
“It seems to be the work of arson
ists,” said Anthony Spaulding, con
struction minister in Prime Minister
Michael Manley’s cabinet.
A police spokesman agreed with
the arson theory but a fire chief on
the scene said the cause could not be
determined without further investi
gation.
Fire Chief Allan Ridgeway said
the blaze erupted in the Eventide
Home home for poor and elderly
women in downtown Kingston.
It swept through the old wooden
building so quickly that all firemen
could do was stand outside helpless
ly, watching a few old women jump
through windows to safety and lis
tening to the terrified screams of
those trapped inside, Ridgeway said.
“They are disabled people and
can’t move along. Most were trapped
in their beds by fire,” said Police
Superintendent Ray Cole.
“By the time the fire brigade ar
rived the entire structure was en
gulfed in flames to the point that no
rescue was at all possible, ” Ridgeway
added.
“The building burned c
lapsed within 15 minutei||
arrival,” he said.
Manley headed a govej
team, including Security!
Dudley Thompson and PoIk
missioner Bill Bowes,
the scene to inspect the dai
supervise the recovery oftkij
most of which were charrefff
recognition.
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“Next to the Dairy Queen”
Italians nix boycott of Olympics
United Press International
LONDON — Italy’s national
Olympic committee voted over
whelmingly to send athletes to the
Moscow games despite a govern
ment ruling that such a team would
be unofficial.
The committee vote, 29 to 3 with 2
abstentions, came a day after the
government ruled that any Italian
athletes going to the Moscow games
could not officially represent Italy or
use the nation’s flag or anthem.
The Italian vote followed decisions
Monday by committees in Austria,
Belgium, The Netherlands,
Sweden, Iceland and Ireland to send
their athletes to the Moscw
in moves showing the intent
community is split over the!
less than one week before th
line for accepting Olympit
tions.
To date, 43 national com
favor the boycott with
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