An Independent Weekly Newspaper . . . Sixty-Ninth Year of Continuous Publication BbONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, rEBRUARY Zl, 1M7 Nicholas Erneston and James W. Hooker will present a violinpiano sonata recital this Monday evening at 8:00 o'clock in the Pine Arts Auditorium. Boone. Mr. Erneston and Mr. Hooker are members of the, Music Department Faculty of Appalachian State Teachers College. Mr. Erneston, violinist, is director of,the college orchestra and teaches violin, music history, and orchestrttion classes in the Music Department. He formerly was a member of the Dayton (Ohio) Philharmonic Orchestra, and violinist in the Fine Arts Quartet at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Mu- i sic. Mr. Rooker, pianist, teaches piano and organ in the Department of Music. He is organist for the Joone Methodist Church and this >ast summer served as organist ipd arranger for the out door lrama, "Horn in the West." He us appeared as a recitalist in rath piano and organ and* has acompanied visiting artists who have ippeared on the campus. The program will include sola tas by Handel, Mozart, and •"ranck. Better Income Is Said To Be Area's Most Vital Need Dave S. Weaver, director of Extension Service in North Carolina anfi chairman of the State Rural Development Comfnittee, was the principal speaker at the regular quarterly meeting of Rural- Development Committees, farmers and office personnel at the courthouse in Boone last Wednesday. Speaking on the purpose of the Rural Development program, Mr. Weaver stated that its chief object was to raise the low income of farmers. He told the group that the' youth of the county was leaving the farm because they could not make a living and stated that where the farm was too poor or small to support the family a possible solution might be found in his turning to industry for a Job, stating that land area was too crowded. Listing several reasons why the low income farmers were unable 'to make a good living in North Carolina and the South, Mr. Weaver said the South was traditionally a row-crop section and that Specialists have found that row-crops breed poverty and that broadcast crops mean prosperity for the fanner. Mr. Weaver said Rural Development is trying to get more people stimulated into growing diversified farm products, stating that "anything that can be grown In other countiej, prosperous counties with the same climate and land problems, Watauga county fanners can grow." He said that there are fewer and fewer people farming each year, and that if tile Rural Development Program could help the farmer stay on his farm and make a Jiving the program would have achieved its purpose, and that such racing of income would help the farmer, the business man and business In general in the county. Mr. Weaver Mentioned that three assistant agents would be employed in Watauga to guide the program—one to work as a liaison officer, ineluding general (arm .problems, and, also to work sorrfe (with the Chamber of Commerce, 'another assistant agent to work directly with low Income fanners In poultry, crops, etc., and the other to work with the home demonstration agent. Mr. Weaver ended his speech by saying they believed they could achieve the purpose of the Rural Development program and that they were willing to bet on Watauga to the extent of (29,000. W. B. Collins, district farm agent and a former Watauga county agent, speaking briefly, said, "We are always making surreys—well, let's make a survey to ascertain why our young people are leaving the farm and make a survey of any and everything that will raise their income including industry, where the farmer can work pert Unto for I wage* off the farm, and itill continue to raise food crop*, poultry, c etc." ' t Watauga County Agent L. E. t TuckwtUer, chairman, presided, is- r tfoducing the speljters, M. C. Mc- i Iver, of the S«U Conservation De- S partment who promised that bis a department would cooperate in ev- c ery way possible; Miss Mary Har- a ris, district home agent, who said, 5 "Your thinking will help make t this program a success. We want a your ideas about your farm prob- c lems." l W. H. Gragg, speaking, said inustry would employ, at least part me farm workers who could coninue to operate their farms, when at buay with crop*, and could emtoy some' full time worker*, peaking of the Vecent plan to get promotion man for Watauga aunty, Mr. Gragg said, "We would end him anywhere in the United tates where we heard of an inustry planning to open a plant, nd he would endeavor to get that ompany to bring its factory to Watauga County." Hereford Breeders Elect Slate Of Officers m: A a-X-A C.*« mmlA D W Cf oil inrta Rnnn. oaftl*. Hereford Breeders Association and the Tri-State Purebred Livestock Association, Inc., was held here last Saturday at noon. It was the first time the organizations, which include membership* in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, had held their annual meeting outside of Bristol, Late Mail Is . Restored Here Late afternoon mail servicc to the South has been restored as of last Saturday, states acting Postmaster Lyle Cook. -/ The new seven day a week dispatch leaves Boone at 5:59 p. m. with fast service to Chfcrlotte. Asheville and-the West. The mail which had been discontinued was to Winston-Salem, but it is explained that this new service is actually better. Mr. Cook has actively sought a new mail since the existing dispatch was cancelled by the department a short time ago. Chas. Culver Taken By Deatlt Charles M Culver, 70, a former resident of Watauga County, died Tuesday, February 10, at Memorial Hospital in Johnson City, Tenn., following an illness of several weeks. Mr. Culver, who nude his home in Jonesboro, Tenn.. was an uncle of Mrs. E. T. Glenn of Boone. He is survived by his widow and two sons, Dsrrel and Glenn; a brother. Chester Culver of Cincinnati. Ohio; and four sisters, Mrs. T. A. Efgers of Johnson City, Tenn., Mn. David Winn of Elixsbethton. Tenn., Mrs. Ross Fltts of Mountain City. Tenn., and Mrs. R. L Phillips of Pomp*no Beach. Fla man. President G. R. Andrew! extended a welcome to the 30-odd stockholders attending the meeting on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce. which war host to the group at a luncheon in the banquet room of the Boone Trail Restaurant. Robert S. Orr of Dryden, Va., was re-elected president of the Hereford Association, B. W. Stallings of Boone, vice-president, and Morris Fannon of Penington Gap, Va., Was re-elected secretary-treasurer. Love B. Rouse of Bristol, Va.. was re-elected president of the Purebred Livestock Association, H. Grady Farthing of Boone, vicepresident. and Harmon Crumley of Bristol was re-elected secretarytreasurer In other business, plans were discussed for the annual spring and fall cattle salesoto be held in Bristol Tax Collector To Vfeit City State Revenue Commissioner Eugene G. Shaw has issued a reminder to North Carolina citizens that annual State income tax returns and payments are due on or before April IB. < Taxpayers la this locality wha desire forms or free assists are may contact the Departaeat of Revenue's field representatives at Ike Sheriffs Office, Boone, an the following days: March 12th, March ZCth or April Mh. Representatives will also render assistance in other localities during the filing period. It is suggested that taxpayers look for notices in courthouses and other public places for time. For further information write North Carolina Department of Revenue. Raleigh, North Carolina. Officials Defend Move At Waynesville Meet By V. G. ROLLINS About sixty persons of Boone ind Blowing Rock joined with jther representatives of Western North Carolina's tourist industry Monday at Waynesville in a vigorous protest against a proposed Federal expansion of Blue Ridge Parkway facilities. Representatives of the mountain region attacked the proposals before a special meeting of the North Carolina Park, Parkway and Forests Development Commission. W. Ralph Winkler of Boone is a member of the commission. Heading the Watauga County delegation, which traveled -to Waynesville in a special bus and a number of automobiles, were Jfcmes P. Marsh, executive vicepresident of Horn in the West; W. H. Gragg, H. G. Farthing, Harold Rice, the Rev. E. V Troutman, and the Rev. E. H. Lowman of the Boone Chamber of Commerce; Baxter Hardy of the Boone Junior Chamber of Commerce; Bynum Sreene, chairman of the board of :ounty commissioners; R B. Harlin, mayor of Blowing Rock; President R. E. Wilson, Grover Robbins, Jr., Spencer Robbins. and Dr. Walter K. Key* of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. Others leading the attack were Attorney John W. Caffey of Qreensboro, retained by opponent* of the Federal program, and Hugh II*rton. Grandfather Mountain 3wncr. Thfcy decried the proposed expansion as unfair competition with private, off-Parkway operators. The park service has proposed its controversial *4,000.000 "Mission 66' program to develop government-owned concession facilities along the Parkway to be leased to private operators. It has :ome in for sharp criticism from jwqers of private tourist developments near the Parkway. Under a barrage of critical luestions, officials maintained the government-owned facilities would be at a "minimum" and insisted hey would not compete with private enterprise. Elbert Cox. regional director of the National Park Service, Richmond, Vt, Hid "this question of whether developments on the parkway are in competition with those near the parkway i* one that can be argued for a long time, rheie development! seem to us to be the very minimum for the convenience of the visitors." He said the service feels that "no facilities on the parkway would adversely affect the visitors. As it is, some visitors complain lhat there are not adequate facilities on the parkway." Cox said that existing and proposed facilities would not compete with local interesta. "We feel Ihere is no conflict between the locations." He said that "gas and food are minimum conveniences that can make or spoil a trip, depending upon their availability." Cox said the plan includes only two proposed overnight accomodations in North Carolina and only gas stations and lunch rooms in addition. He said lodging la proposed at Dough ton Park and Mount Pisgah. Sam P. Weems, superintendent' of the parkway, said, "We feel that these facilities are needed and we feel that we owe the public these facilities." William Medford, chairman of the North Carolina Parks. Parkways and Forests Development Commission, said: "Citilens of North Carolina have a big stake in this parkway. The main reason the state was willing to help by providing the right-of-way, at a cost of several million dollars, was to attract more people to North Car olina and thus benefit the economy of the mountain section." , Also placed before the commission were written statements from Hugh Morton, Mayor H. B. Hardin of Blowing Rock, and Spencer Bobbins, representing the Northwest North Carolina Development Association. Morton uid in hit _ prepared statement that "the great damage that ii to be caused by the controversial Government-p T o p o sed facilities will come by right of the disunity that all the facilities will forever create. Private operators will never be expected to give wholehearted support to the promotion of the Parkway if ihe Parkway is in effect in monopolistic competition to the private facilities." • Hardin's statement attacked the relationship of National Park Concessions, Inc., and the National Park Service. He quoted the Hoover Commission recommendation the NP Concessions, Inc., be dissolved. Until three months ago, he charged, high officials of the NPS were members of the board of directors of NP Concessions, and resigned by instruction of the assistant secretary of the Interior—"apparently just a formality, for the close relationship remains the same." Hundreds of tourist rooms just off the Parkway go empty every night even during the peak of Parkway travel, be said. Bobbins' statement charged the government's contract with National Park Commissions contained such rigid restriction* no private individual or company apart from NP Concessions "which knows it will have friendly administration of its contract" could afford to sign it. Inviting private enterprise \6 bid is a farce, fobbins' statement declared. The $4,000,000 figure. Cox'(aid, includes estimated value of existing buildings as well as estimates of proposed hew construction Only $2,300,000 is proposed in North Carolina. Of this sum. *327,000 is the estimated value of existing buildings. facilities, the construction of which will cost *1.498,000 in North Carolina, he (aid. The remaining $485,000 it in equipment and operating capital. In a report submitted by Weems, thif new construction figure is distributed as follows: Construction of additional facilities (food-gas) at Cumberland Knob, 23 additional rooms at Doughton Park lodge, and new gas and food accomodations at Tompkins Knob—$563,000 Construction of new gas and food accomodations near Linville Palls and expansion of existing similar facilities at Crabtree Meadows—$280,000. Construction of new gas and food accomodations at Tennessee Bald and improvement of existing facilities at Mt Pisgah—$788,000. "Not >one red cent of Federal j funds will be spent on any of | these new projects," Park Service officials declared. They said persons submitting proposals to build the facilities will have to find their own capital. The North Carolina Parks, Parkways and Forests Commission, which asked the federal officials to sppear at the public hearing, has taken an impartial stand. Paper Drive Set Scouts Boy Scout Troop 131 will conduct a paper drive Saturday, February 23. • Townspeople who have scrap paper are aaked to place it on their front porch so that it can be picked up by the Scouts. Those who prefer, may call Jimmy Cottrell A AM 4-3088, or Edgar Brown at AM 4-3234, and leave your address with them. Money that is made Yrom the sale of this paper will be used to buy badly needed equipment for Troop 131. which is sponsored by the First Baptist Church in Boone. Rising gasoline prices in the United State* do not appear to b« justified by oil shipments to Europe since the Suet qritJs, according to Senator O'Mahoney (#./ Study Problems Of Principals Ben H. Horton, Jr., discusses problems of beginning school principals with W. Guy Angell, superintendent of Watauga County Schools, at Boone.—John Corey photo. By JOHN (JOKEY "A glorified office boy.'' That'* the tab put on today'i school principal by many obaerven becauie of the educator'! shacklement by mulitiudes of office du tie* that prevent him from doing his main job — supervising the school's instructional program. There's truth in the observation, reports Ben H. Horton, Jr., an Appalachian State Teacher* College official, who's conducting s study of problems confronting beginning principals. Horton's findings show the principal might deserve even another sub-title—"general flunkie." In many cases, he does janitoral work, drives school buses, issues equipment, takes sick children home, runs errands, calls teachers and pupils to telephones, buys lunchroom food and adminlater* first-aid. Why must he perform the trivial tasks? Lack of clerical aaaiatance la partly the answer, state* Mr. Horton, after studying the problem with principals, teachers and superintendents in eight city systems « and 13 county units. i Mr Holloa U attempting to identify this and other principal c problems so that ASTC can bet- ] ter provide ssaistance to the prin- 1 cipals and raise its own ins true- ' tional program for students study- i ing to become principals. In trouble-shooting the school 1 administrator's troubles, Mr. Hor- t ton makes three visits yearly to c school systems st Albemarle, Con- i cord, Hickory, Lenoir, Mocksville, [ Statesville, Taylorsville, and Wadesboro. t County systems visited are Alexander, Carteret, Catawba, Cleve- < land, Durham, Granville, Iredell, t McDowell, Robeson, Rutherford, s Slurry, Union and Watauga. f Principals involved in the study a are mostly those who received i Masters of Arts Degree from ASTC At each school system Mr. ( Horton listens to teschers, superintendent, and principals describe * problems as they're conceived from < their respective positions. S An Appalachian stall then conerns Itself with possibility of pro■idlng solutions to the problems. "for instance, how should a prinipal deal with a split school board, revent too many classrom interuptioits and find time from hi* office boy" chores to help begining teachers? And there's that ever present icadache of discipline. What anic should be given to youthful estructors of property, truants, mokers in school and the everresent bad conduct artist. Even teachers observe difficulies encountered by