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 ICA: under Point Four requirements, each building must be marked with a suitable inscription showing that the structure was built by U.S. taxpayers. The customary brass (cost: $7) or wooden (cost: about $2) plaques would be too expensive to install on buildings that cost $15 apiece. Besides, said one ICA health official, "brass and wood plaques are used to dignify a structure. You can't do that with these buildings." Last week the problem was solved. The markers will be suitably inscribed in the floor section of the concrete slab, there for all to contemplate. Each slab will carry the simple ICA emblem over a U.S. shield.

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