Newspapers / Watauga Democrat. / Dec. 29, 1949, edition 1 / Page 1
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.THE DEMOCRAT >s your best and most econo mical medium oi advert iMtnt With more than 2.600 paid-up cash subscriptions, your met sage (oes to 13.000 people. on the universally used basis o* five readers to each subscriber WATAUGA DEMOCRAT An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year I 888 IMPORTANT! Ths date on your label shows the date your sub scription will expire, and the date your paper will be stopped unless sooner renewed. Th? Democrat Is operating strictly on a cash in advance baste. VOL. LXII ? NO. 25 BOONE. WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, DECEMEBER 29, 1949. 12 PAGES? 2 SECTIONS KING STREET BY ROB RIVERS SETTLING DOWN to business, trying to get into the well-known groove, following Christmas vacation period . . , Santa Claus, with his string of reindeers, no dcubt led by Rudolph with the red nose, drops down a whole "passel" of stuff, the kiddies and, their elders share in the fun, thel most of the bright wrappings,' tinsel cord, gift cards and the like has been gathered up. while the Christmas trees, already looking forlorn, though actually as spectacular as ever, are be ginning to take their places near the garbage cans, waiting for! Carl Teague, Hiram Carroll or Jimmy West to cart them away from the bright warm firesides to the big trash pile, the bits of decorations still hanging to their withering leaves . . . Twas a glorious day . . . the merriment of the children, the joy of the older ones, the crackle of the logs on the fire . . . the gifts of affection and esteem, the gay "Merry Christmas" greetings . . . the fellowship of old friends, and the mellow friendly spirit which pervades this one time above all others . . . Particularly enjoyed the bright poinsettia, a gift from our good neighbor, Mrs. Esther Boone, and the scores of greet ing cards, from folks we know and like throughout the town and county, as well as from those who have gone away . . . The other gifts, the lavish feasting . . . Christmas at home is living at its best ... If Christmas day should endure forever it would be our notion of an earthly para dise and a just reward for the faithful. CHRISTMAS MONDAY . . . sadly retracing our steps back to "the Street" and putting in a short shift a Amy ahead of our co-workers . . . Business closed down . . . While we are reviv ing the Watauga Democrat. n the Grady Tugmsn makes a couple of trips to the Watauga Hard ware . . . The Sinclair boys Aimh up some gat and cokes . . ? -n other spots in the immedi ate environs of the Democrat cloeed . . . Good many people on the streets however, despite the fad that all the doors were shut, and the vehicular traf fic rushes through town in long swift Unes . . . Tuesday the doors swung open, the ac cumulation of mail wai car ad for. and the retailers got set for the annual inventory, in this last week of the old year. ? ? ? IN THESE CLOSING DAYS of the year 1949 there is considerable casting about in the uncertainties of the ensuing twelve months . . . The econo mists and the prophets use well trimmed pencils and attempt tOj figure out the future cost of liv-j ing. the next move of Uncle Joe,! the domestic political situation, | and the turn of the wheel of for-, tune . . . We who inhabit the vil lages and the small towns and the farm districts which combine! to form some of the vitals of the body politic, are wont to look onj the one principal street, specifi-; cally King Street, and wonder what improvements can be made in the days out yonder . . . The development of the town, its growth and progress has been a slow process . . . All the most enduring structures have been erected piecemeal . . . It's a cozy thought that our community! won't be a city, a manufacturing center, or an important mart in the commerce of the nation . . . It will continue to be Boone . . . the best small town we have known .... a community of, friendly, neighborly, and for the| most part, good citizens, who get along together, make a bit of money, and live close to the soil, and the woods, and the peaks,1 and the place will continue to! enjoy a wholesome growth, ?n| proportion to the growth of the College, and the revitalized agricultural enterprise in the country roundabout . . . The cement will be mixed, the stone and the brick placed, and new places of business erected, not for patriotic reasons, but as ourj people, who have built the town; to now, see opportunities forj lucrative investments in newt construction ... We could, how- 1 ever do an awful lot with what we now have to improve the! place ... to enhance its appear-! ance, and to make it more to our I liking . . ? When it suits us . . . when we do with it what we can new residents won't be a pro blem, they couldn't be kept out. ? ? ? DUHIWG THE HOLIDAYS we saw a good many *hiogs ?bout town . . . Things which we don't take Into account while we are working . . . Saw the place. If you please through the eyes o t a stranger, and one thing stood out like the prover bial sore thumb? the consider able number of unsightly and practically useless structures which have been allowed to remain alongside the paths of progress ... and the unkept condition of our vacant lots . . . During 1950 we should team together, be rid ot soene of the (Continued on page four.) and Rotary Guest LAIZ FRANCA LESSA Burley Prices Steady in Belt Average prices for most burley tobacco sold during the three day period of December 19-21 were fairly steady with the week be fore. According to the Federal State Market News Service, changes that occurred were normal. These were only 50c to $1.00 for the most part. Volume of offerings was heavy. Gross sales amounted to 56,640,121 pounds for an average of $47.24 per hundred. The average was 7c higher than for the previous week. The weekly general 'quality of the offerings has been practically the same each week so far this season. There was, however, a slight increase in the proportion of baskets in unsafe order this week. Bulk of sales continued to consist of fair and low leal, tips and lugs, low to good flying and nondescript. After the Wednesday auctions the markets recessed for the holi days. Sales will be resumed on Wednesday, January 4, 1950. Marketing has been in progress for 18 sales days. A gross volume of 322,750,264 pounds has be?n sold for $46.44 per hundred. For the pre-holiday period of sales last year, totaling 17 days, 370, 313,792 pounds had be?n market ed for $47.76. Consignments to the associa tions this week, under the Gov ernment loan program, were estimated at only 2 to 3 percent of sales. For the season these deliveries are around 4 percent. In the final release the crop reporting board revised the pro duction estimate downward for the 1949 burley crop. The current estimate is 586.257,000 pounds The previous estimate was 589, 907,000 pounds. Many Wataugans On Honor Roll Registrar H. R. Eggers of Ap palachian State Teachers college has just released the honor roll for the first quarter of the year. Among those with honor roll rating are the following from Watauga county: William Alexander, Shulls Mills; J. A. Barnes, Boone; C. H. Blackburn, Jr., Boone* Elmer Bates, Boone; Richard Bingham, Boone; Gladys S. Blanton, Boone; Cloyd Bolick, Boone; Homer Brown, Boone; Ajmie Mae Car roll, Boone; Lyle Cook, Boone; Ranjamin Adams Farthing, Valle Crucis; Mary Sue Greene. Boone; Bobbin B. Jenkins, Boone; Guy V Lail, Shulls Mills; Verdola Keller, Boone; Eugenia Ruth Luttrell, Shulls Mills; Mary Moss, Boone; Laurence Phillips, Boone; Martha Quails, Boone; Kent Robinson, Reese; Reba Ann Smith. Boone. BRAZILIAN TO BE SPEAKER AT MEET BOONE ROTARY CLUB District Rotary Organization Gives South American Ed ucational Award: Other Foreign-Born Students To Be Rotary Guests The local Rotary club will be host to students from foreign countries at a luncheon meeting tonight (Thursday) at 6:30 o'clock. All such students at Appalachian State Teachers College are invit-| ed to be their guests. In addi tion the club will entertain Mr.j Laiz Franca Lessa of Rio de Ja neiro, Brazil, who will be the principal speaker. Mr. Lessa is a student at Lenoir Rhyne Col lege, Hickory, and is the guest for the vear of the 280th dis trict of Rotary International, of which the Boone club is a unit.j At the District Conference last April in Hendersonville, the Ro tarians of the district agreed to establish a fund which would permit a deserving student of South America to come to thel western section of North Carolina and attend one of the colleges ofl the section and at the same time, time visit among the Rotary clubs. Laiz Lessa was the young! man chosen by the Rotary Club of Rio deJaneiro to be the reci oient of this award. He arri^d in Hickory last September and enrolled at Lenoir Rhyne where he is taking courses which will prepare him for his chosen pro fession as teacher of English in 'his native Brazil. Laiz Lessa is a senior at Ra bello College in the city of Rio and upon completing his year of study at Lenoir Rhyne will re turn home to finish his college course there. He is the son of a Bapitist minister and all the members of his family are devout members of the church. He has an older brother, Eduardo, who is attending Georgetown College in Kentucky to prepare himself for mission work among the Indians of the Amazon Valley in northern Laiz Lessa says he has fallen in love with the States, as he calls our country, and especially Iwith western North Carolina. Best of all he would like to re main here, but he feels that he has a mission to perform, that ot teaching our language to his peo ole and most especially of acting as a good-will ambassador be tween Brazil and the United States. Lessa said, when inter viewed, that even in Brazil, which generally is very friendly toward the United States, there are those who desire to sow dis cord among the two peoples. This evil propaganda is spread par ticularly among young People and among the students of that! country. . . . ' So Lessa, while enjoying to tne, fullest his stay in our land and, being fascinated by many of ? ?"f"; customs, is looking forward to the time when he can returh home and tell of our kind of de-, morcracy and the Amencan way of life to his friends and those| whom he will teach in the class, Irooms of his country- , . Rotary International, through! its Paul Harris Fellowships, is] spending this year a sum in ex cess of $300,000 to provide schol arships for worthy and pr?mis in c young men and women from all over the world so that thev might attend the college or uni versity of their choice in the United States or abroad. UU trict 280 is offering this addi tional scholarship in order te i sup plement the great educational program of its organizat.on and Ithus assist in the promotion of good will and friendship among the peoples of the world. ill WW mmmrnmwmmMti "TIME. YOU OLD GYF8Y MAN" . . . Every It months, u the earth ?pins alone its course, we fondly re-enact the cherished old conceit of the a fed and worn man, representing the Old Year, meeting for ? brief Instant with hi* cherubic successor, the New Year. For In that bit of make-believe are embodied the resolutions we would make for ourselves, oar faith la the future aad oar hope that thine* will bo better nest year. CHAMPIONSHIP CORN CROP Shown are members of the Watauga county judging committee and a portion of the crop railed by Lewis Norrii of Reese, which was the banner corn yield in the county contact sponsored by the Farm Bureau and the USDA county council. Mr. N orris grew 131.1 bu shels of corn on a measured acre. The mem bers of the judging committee are left, to right: Sam Cartner. farm agent. Avery coun ty; L. E. Tuckwiller. Watauga farm agent; Dewitl Barnett, past president Watauga Farm Bureau; Barton Farthing, veterans' farm in structor; C. A. Clay. Farm Bureau president and county commissioner; and Sanford Creed, representing the AAA.. (Photo Palmer's Photo Service.) Business Volume May Decline Slightly in 1950, Says Babson Noted Economist Issues Bus iness and Financial Out look; Busineess Life of Na tion Reviewed; Drop in Bus iness Seen; GOP to Remain "in Doghouse." by Roger W. Babson 1. The total volume of business for 1950 will be less than that of 1949, due primarily to the un fortunate labor conflicts. Con sidering that the innocent con sumer will be the chief sufferer and will be obliged to pay the bills, it seems too bad that labor troubles should upset the apple cart. Labor Outlook 2. Even with all the threats, there will be few wage increases during 1950. On the other hand, all labor negotiations take the minds of both the employees and the management off their regu lar business. However these ne gotiations come out, they result in a loss from the standpoint of the country as a whole. 3. There will be fewer strikes in 1950 than in 1949, but there will not be fewer extended nego tiations which are very expensive in themselves. 4. The Taft-Hartley law will continue to stand throughout 1950, although many schemes for detouring this law will be de vised. 5. The great drive against the big companies will be for pen sions and/or for sick and other benefits. These will probably be helpful to the wageworkers and may aid in ironing out the busi ness cycle, but they will be pa|d for by the consumers. 6. It is hoped that all parties will begin to realize during 1950 that the real road to national progress is through increasing production and greater efficien cy. This is the bright light we see in the labor situation. Commodity Price* 7. Movements in commodity prices during 1950 will vary with different groups of industries and of products, but altogether there will be a general lowering dur ing 1950. 8. We, therefore, advise going rasy on inventories. 1950 is a time to get out of debt and stay out of debt. Speculation in com modities should be discouraged in 1950. 9. We believe that the coat of living index has turned duwn for the pfesent. The average for 1950 will be less than for 1949. 10. Practically all retail prices will average less in 1950 than in 1949, notwithstanding the excess of money mentioned under 27, 28 and 29 below. Farm Outlook 11. The total farm income for 1950 should be less than that of 1949, which means lower prices on the average for wheat, corn, pork, poultry, eggs and certain dairy products. Farmers should diversify more in 1950, get out of debt and put their surplus money into savings, in preparation for the next crop failure. 12. The supply of certain can ned vegetables and fruits (except citrus) should be greater during 1950 than at the same time dur ing 1949. The prices of these products should fall off, barring some weather, insect or blight ca tastrophe. 13. Poultry and dairy products will especially increase in vol 1950 IN A NUTSHELL General Business Off 5% National Income Off 5% Farm Income Off 15% Bituminous Coal Up 5% Anthracite Off 5% Crude Oil Products .... Up 5% Steel Output Oct 5% Automobile Manu factures Off 15% Building and Construction Off 7% Natural Gas Up 5% Foreign Trade No change Airline Passenger Miles Up 5% Military Activities in cluding Aircraft Up 20% Retail Trade (($ vol ume) Off 3% to 10% ume during 1950 with prices av eraging less than in 1949. 14. Farmers will continue tol work to hold present subsidies. It is popular to criticise the vast! amount of crops which the Gov-I ernment owns or is making loans; on. but this surplus in storage may be a great blessing whenj the next crop failure or warj comes. Taxes 15. The Federal Budget will be increased during 1950 over that for 1949. 16. Over-all Federal Taxes will not be increased during 1950 and there may even be some read justments to encourage venture capital. Moreover, some of the nuisance taxes may be eliminated or reduced. 17. The long-term capital gains tax of 25% will remain unchang ed. 18. There will be many in creases in local and State taxes, and more reaching for relief by "sales" taxes or other forms of raising needed funds. Retail Trad* 19. Goods on counters will be of better grade in 1950 than they were in 1949. 20. Markdown sales will con tinue during 1950 as consumer Spending slackens due to ' a de cline in employment and other .'actors. 21. The dollar value of all re tail sales in 1950 will be mod erately downward, and the unit volume of retail sales will also be less in 1950 than in 1949. 22. Less will be spent on new buildings and factories during 1950 Foreign Trad ? 23. Our exports will be down during 1950 and our imports will be up during 1950 ? comparing both with 1949. This will partly be accounted for by the devalu ation of the British Pound and other foreign currencies. ' 24. Foreign credits will con tinue to be granted during 1950, but some of these will be direct by American business firms and investors. If our Government will get foreign governments to agree that such investments will be exempt from any NKW ta^ or other legislation by the foreign country in which the investments are made, considerable progress would be noticeable along for eign trade channels. 25. American interests will have more competition from for eign producers of raw materials and of manufactured goods dur ing 1950 than they had during 194S. This will benefit soma American concerns, but be harm ful to others. 26. Fear of war with Russia will continue during 1950. World War 111 will come sometime; but it will not start during 1950. Those in large vulnerable cities should use these years of peace to get some small farm or country home to which they can go In case of war. Such places will be al most unobtainable when war act ually comes. Deficit Financing 277. The supply of money will be increased during 1950, but the price of Government bonds will not change much one way or the other during 1950. 28. In addition to ' the antici pated Federal deficit the $3,000, 000,000 being distributed as in surance refunds to veterans will be mostly soent. 29. Congress will not change the price of gold during 1950. Stock Market 30. Most stocks will work up and down in about the same .range during 1950 as during 1949. i 31. Stocks of companies with! assets mostly in natural resour-| ces, known as inflation stocks, should have the greatest demand. 32. There will be more invest Irnent buying for income during 1950 and utilities and companies making labor-saving machinery may be more popuular than other industrials or railroads. 33. The wisest investors will keep a fair amount of their funds liquid throughout 1950 pending the great break in stock prices which will come someday. Bonds 34. High-grade taxable corpor ate bonds bearing low coupon rates should continue at about the same prices during 1950, but of course, they will sell for much llower prices when money rates increase. 35. 1950 will see a further fad ing off in certain tax-exempt bonds due to the new Housing Authority Obligations to be is sued during 1950 . 36. The Federal Reserve will continue during 1950 the same general policy which it followed in 1949. 37. The importance of diversi fication will be given more at tention in 1950 and wise investors will watch their bond maturities to see that they are either short or systematically staggered. Rami Estate 38. The city real estate out look is uncertain. It should con tinue to hold firm throughout 1950 due to less available rental space caused by pulling down old structures to save taxes and to provide parking spaces. Owing to high costs ana the fear of World War III, there will be little inclination to build new city property. On the other hand, the continual movement out of our large cities ? in the interest of decentralization ? may cause pri ces to soften. 39. There will continue to be a fair demand during 1950 for suburban real estate with a shad ing of prices for large places; but the residential construction boom should continue well into 1950. 40. The demand for large com mercial farm acreage will be less during 1950; but small susten ance farms, especially those lo cated close to established com munities, will hold up and, per haps increase in price. 41. There will be some decrease during 1950 in industrial and pri ( continued on page eight) DWIGHT CABLE AGAIN HEADS WATAUGA FNA BY FARM VOTE jFarmers Go to Polls and Elect Full Slate of Committeemen To Administer Federal Farm Program; A List of Those Elected. At the county and community production and marketing ad ministration elections held la*t week Dwight Cable was re elected county chairman, O. G. Winebarger, vice-chairman, and H. Neal Blair, regular member. J. M. Burkett was elected first alternate and Sanford Creed, second alternate. M. L. Shepherd was re-elected chief clerk of the county com mittee, Thos. L. Wilson, seecre tary and Forrest Smith, treasur er. Community committeemen toe the fourteen communities for the fourteen communities are as fol lows: Bald Mountain: W. F. Norris, John T. Trivett, James E. Lewis, and Vernon Moretz. Beaver Dam: Sanford Creed, Conley Norris, G. F. Smitherman, Roby Vines and Clyde Robinson. Blowing Rock: Charlie Spann, Roy Hartley, W. W. Austin, Q. B. Cannon and S. C. Greene. Blue Ridge: S. C. Ford, M. O. Coffey, Vance Hartley, Roscoe Cook and Elmer Miller. Brushy Fork: Grady Bradley, Andy Greer, Joe McNeil, Martin Herman and Cloy Greene. Cove Creek: M. L. Warren, Jr., Lewis Burkett, J. M. Burkett, D. E. Church and Clint Eggers. Elk: Albert Greer, Charlie Simmons, J. D. Hampton, Arthur Wheeler and Sherman Greer. Laurel Creek: Charlie W. Mast. Stacy Moody, Tom Mast, Chas. rrivett and Robert Hagaman. Meat Camp: Woodrow Wlne barger, Vaughn Tuonan, Earl D. Moretz, Walter Coffey and Grady McNeil. New River: Harold Henson, Avery Jackson, Avery Moretz, Blaine Moretz and Darius Hamp ton. North Fork: W. C. South, Rom Wilson, Sam South, Jim Wilson and Rolf Wilson. Sbawneehaw: J. L. Triplett, Marshall Farthing, Adren Yates, W. E. Eggers, ana W. H. Smith. Stony Fork: Luther Moretz, A. C. Moretz, Thos. Fairchild, Hayes Wellborn and Jack Greene. Watauga: B. A. Hodges, Lee Moody, A. A. Mast, Frank Taylor and C. P. Moore. Barter Group To Appear Here On January 9, Appalachian State Teachers college will bring to its campus another presenta tion by the Barter Theatre of Virginia, for the third succes sive year. The play this year will be Moliere's comedy in prose, "The Imaginary Invalid," known also as "The Hypochondriac." Starring in the performance will be Frederic Warriner, who was introduced to the Appala chian audience two years ago in "Twelfth Night" and again last year as the king in "Hamlet." He was with "Hamlet" company which travelled to Denmark with the production last year. Warriner, described by Robert Porterfield, founder of the Bar ter Theatre, as one of the finest young actors in America, is ably supported by a well-known and experienced cast. The production is sponsored by the lyceum series at Appala chian State Teachers college, which is bringing a number of outstanding groups and indivi duals to the campus this year. Deadline Set , Burley Quotas Applicants for 1950 new grow er burley tobacco allotments are again reminded that Jan. 15, 1950 is the final closipg date for filing new grower applications. In order to be eligible for such allotments the applicant must have had two years' experience during the past five years as an (operator, tenant or share-cropper !in the production of burley to bacco, except in the case of a veteran who must have had one year's experience one of five years preceding his entry into the armed services or since the discharge from the same. Such applicant must also live on the farm and be in charge of the en tire operations of the farm. Store* To Be Closed New Year'# Monday Most of the business houses of the town will be closed next Monday In observance of New Year, in line with the recomen dations of the Merchants Associa tion. The postoffice, bank, and per- , hape other public offices art ex pected to be closed next Monday.
Dec. 29, 1949, edition 1
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