Newspapers / The Badin Bulletin (Albemarle, … / Nov. 1, 1918, edition 1 / Page 8
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Page Eight BADIN BULLETIN = ^e = BADIN BULLETIN Devoted to the interests of the employees of the Tallassee Power Company, and the pleasure and profit of all people of Badin. Published Monthly by the Employees of Tallassee Power Company Subscriptions, Fifty Cents a Year; By Mail, Seventy-Five Cents. Per Copy, Five Cents. CONTRIBUTING STAFF Armitage, J. L Town Site Buchanan, R. D Falls Claywell, C. R Construction Daniels, L. G Carbon Plant Dotson, W. J Laboratories Gomo, B. L Dams Dickson, J. H Machine Shops Moore, Aiken Main Offices Oliver. T. M First Aid Parks, R. L Pot Rooms Rainey, Dr Hospital Thorpe, J. E. S General Superintendent Mrs Coffman \ Mrs. Mueser * ^ Mr.. Thorpe j Mrs. Bussey / Business Manager, Advertising, Subscriptions, and Distribution, H. R. Wake Managing Editor F. A. Cummings Vol. 1 November, 1918 No. 3 Extravagance—America’s National Sin Our besetting sin is waste, extrava gance, thriftlessness. The average American works hard, lives well, and dies poor. The worship of money in all ages and times has been considered a brutal and revolting idolatry. There is, however, a middle ground, which conduces to independence, peace of mind, and happiness. Except the habit of righteousness, no habit is apt to do so much to bring about happiness as the habit of earning and saving money. Except sin itself, nothing causes so much unhappiness and misery as debt and poverty. Everyone will accept the truth of these statements; but few act upon them. It is a sad fact that the average Amer ican citizen dies with not enough to justify the settlement of his estate ac cording to law; and the vast majority of citizens who reach the age of sixty- five years are then more or less de pendent upon friends, relatives, or the public for support. This is a national habit and failing of ours; and it is just as prevalent in North Carolina as it is elsewhere. It is probably a little more prevalent in the southern part of the United States than in the other sections. Blessed with a mild climate, and im mune from the extremes of cold, with the necessities of life easy to produce, we, at the South, as a class take too little thought of the future; and we come too near spending money as we make it, with no thought for laying up for old age or a rainy day. A majority of the white families in North Carolina are now living on lands that belong to someone else. I have examined the records of several counties to ascertain what proportion of people die leaving estates large enough to be settled by an administrator. The exami nation shows a remarkable situation. Here are some of the counties: Wake has about sixty-five thousand popula tion. It is one of the largest and rich est of our counties. But during the entire year 1917 only 185 estates were considered of sufficient importance (o have an executor, administrator, or col lector; and some of these 185 estates were totally insolvent, not possessing anything like enough to pay the debts. Others represented no estate at all; the intestate had died by violence or acci dent, and the relatives wished to bring suit, and an administrator was necessary, altho the deceased left no property what soever. Others of the 185 were admin istrators dc bonis non, the former ad ministrator having died, resigned, or been removed. Such estates counted twice. But, adding them all together, the solvent and insolvent, those merely appointed to bring suit, and those count ed twice, and including a number of very small estates devised by will, in some instances amounting to less than one hundred dollars; all combmed we have only 185—about one in eight of the peo ple who died. A similar count in Davidson County showed only eighty appointments; Cum berland, 105; Johnston, eighty. These are all prosperous counties; but they show a very small proportion of esUtes left by descendents large enough to be settled according to law. This situation ought not to continue. Our people should learn that poverty, due either to laziness or extravagance, is anything but an honor. I overty due to misfortune and accident is bad enough; but poverty due laziness or extravagance should l>c regarded—not in the light of a mis fortune, but of a grievous fault No family should 1« willing to go thru life living on another’s land or in another s hou.se, and subject to a noticc another’s will. U i, our duty to own a home, at least, from which no power can drive us. The first effort of any family should be toward acquir ing enough of the earth’s surface to afford them shelter •and a place of refuge from the storms of life; and until that be achieved no family should think of resting satisfied. But, much as I would advocate the ownership of a home, I wish to say this is no time to build. Prices are too high, material too scarce, and labor is needed for things just as vital and more urgent. While this is no time to build, it is the best time to prepare to build; that is, to accumulate the funds with which to build when times become normal. Prices and wages are high beyond precedent; and the buying power of money is low. That family determined to buy a hom! should devote itself to earning and sav ing the money necessary to buy the home; but by no means build until after conditions become normal. If they shouW see a vacant lot that exactly suits, at * reasonable price, buy it; but the balance of the money that is saved should be pu^ where it will certainly be repaid whef needed, or where it can be reduced to money if the paper be not due. Of these securities, the very best (o' this purpose are United SUtes War Sav ings Stamps. They are drawing fouf per cent, interest, compounded quarterly! and can be redeemed at any time. TheJ constitute the ideal means of savin# money with which to build a hous« aft*^ the war. Next to these. United States Bonds the best of securities. While they not payable on demand, they can be at any time. Their market is ste**!?’ regular, and worldwide. They will brinX nearly par during the war; and shortlf after will bring much above par. ExrtP* the Bonds and War Savings Stamp#- | know of no security that I would reiT*^ as exactly fitting the needs of a f»n>itf which has accumulated money to or build a home. The purchas* Stamps or Bonds will enforce habits ® economy, and will educate us away our habiU of waste and extravajc**"^' which has caaaed m many citizens to die inaotrenU It will children to save money instead of thr*'**^ ing it away. I believe the Thrift Stamp Camp«^ and the purchase of War Stamps and Bonds, will do roor* anything that has rrer happ*f'^ ^ transform the Araerioui peopi* race of money.«arer» inst«*d of wasters. If it JuUI ba?» this will iro a long way towards the cost of the war. for the An»**' People can. out of the thtsss Ihef '***
The Badin Bulletin (Albemarle, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 1, 1918, edition 1
8
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