March 26, 1973

NY Times series on destruction of Mayan civilization remains in Mexico and Guatemala by looters; 1st article describes efforts of Brit scholar I Graham to preserve Mayan record photographically; growing art mkts in US and Eur are cited as cause for looters' 'systematic decimation, which has reached massive proportions' in last 10 yrs; archeologists are increasingly afraid that entire record of 'most intellectually advanced Amer civilization' before Spanish Conquest will be destroyed without its secrets being unlocked; civilization, which began to reach its apogee by about 300 AD and suddenly disintegrated around 900 AD, has perplexed scholars because it 'excelled in the impractical but failed in the practical'; complex hieroglyphic writing system, carved into tall limestone monuments or stelae, holds key to problem but at present is largely undeciphered; stelae as well as smaller objects have become targets for looters during recent boom in 'primitive art' collecting just when significant progress is being made to decode writing; effort to provide complete compilation of Maya inscriptions, which will aid in deciphering, is now being mounted with Graham as head; Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation and Natl Endowment for the Humanities are funding operation, called The Maya Hieroglyphic Inscriptions Study; Graham's background sketched; expedition to Naranjo, Guatemala, 1 of major classic sites, described; Graham's work, which involves both photographing and drawing stelae he has found, discussed; results of his efforts will be planned 50 vol Corpus of Maya Inscriptions, which may take yrs and cost nearly $500,000; history of various Naranjo stelae from discovery by looters to ultimate destruction or illegal entry into US traced; many of stelae were photographed by pioneer Mayanist T Maler in 1905; expedition to newly discovered ruin in El Peru, Guatemala, described as hardly worth trouble as looters had taken almost every piece of about 30 stelae; illus of Graham working; illus of remains of shattered stela; map of Mexican and Guatemalan sites being examined in inscription study

A 20‐foot jump shot by Bobby Stevens in the last second of overtime yesterday gave Virginia Tech a 92‐91 victory over Notre Dame in the final of the National Invitation Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Page 57.

Nixon says, Mar 25, he ordered US forces to stay in S Vietnam until all Amer POWs have been released, statement issued by White House press sec R L Ziegler; statement is attempt to end deadlock over release of 9 Amer POWs in Laos; statement text; release of POWs in Laos was not part of truce accord, but Nixon and Kissinger say there was a 'private understanding' that they will be released within 60 days set for POWs release

Agr Dept repts on Mar 25 that cost of 'mkt basket' of foods from US farms had increased 2.5% more in Feb than in Jan; increase adds $34 to annual cost of farm-produced foods for 'statistical household' of 3.2 persons, raising cost for a yr at Feb rate to $1,409; total increase of 5.2% for Jan and Feb represents more than half over-all increase of 8.4% for 12-mo period since Feb '72; dept claims that biggest share of price increases in 'mkt basket' foods, which include only certain foods, went to farmers who grow products; farmers' return was up 3.2%, compared with 1.9% increase in 'farm-retail spread'; holds that with increase farmers receive 43c of consumer's food dollar, highest increase in nearly 20 yrs; farmers' share of $34 increase in annual rate of 'mkt basket' costs was $18, compared with $16 for middlemen in food indus; for yr ended Feb '73 cost of 'mkt basket' has gone up $109, with $93 going to farmers and only $16 to middlemen; middlemen's increase is 1st in 4 mos

Chase Manhattan Bank and Franklin Natl Bank on March 25 capitulate to Nixon Adm wishes by rolling back prime rate to 6 1/2% from previously announced 6 3/4%; Chase Manhattan also suspends graduated prime lending rate structure; makes its decision as result of earlier meeting between 6 of its officials and Interest and Divds Com; Franklin Natl feels 6 3/4% rate level is fully justified and says if money costs do not decline it will be forced to reassess its decision to roll back rate; Chase pres W C Butcher discusses graduated rate system, which he says presents some significant but not insurmountable adm problems, telephone int