National Affairs: Privy Seal

Under the far-flung U.S. technical assistance (Point Four) program, the International Cooperation Administration will build 10,000 badly needed structures in Jordan: a central government laboratory, a tuberculosis hospital, a maternity hospital, a nursing school and 9,996 outdoor privies.

Jordan officials, who inspected a model pit privy set up by ICA, quickly issued a formal request through diplomatic channels, found that ICA was eager to help out. The U.S. developed a plan to furnish three-inch-thick concrete slabs in the proper design. The Jordanians would dig the necessary pits, build optional surrounding structures.

But even in the interests of international cooperation, one problem bothered...

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