WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
PUBLISHED EVEBY THURSDAY BY RIVERS PRINTING COMPANY, INC.
R. C. RIVERS, JR., EDITOR AND MANAGER
JEAN RIVERS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
An Independent Weekly Newspaper
Established ill 1888. Published tor 48 years by the late Robert C. Rivers, Sr.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
In Watauga County: One year, 81.80; six months, 81.80; four months, 81-00. Outside
Watauga County: One year, 8900; six months, 8178; four months, 8128. 1% sales tax
to be added on all North Carolina subscriptions.
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS ? In requesting change of address, It Is important to
mention the OLD, as well as the NEW address.
Entered at the postoff ce at Boone, N.-C., as second class matter, under the act of
Congress of March 3, 1879.
MEMBER NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION
NORTH CAROLINA PRESS ASSOCIATION
The basis of our government being the opin.on of the people, the very first objective
should be to keep that right, and were it left to me to decide whether we should have
a government without newspapers, or newspapers without government, I should not
hesitate a moment to choose the latter. But I should mean that every man should
"wcelve these papers aM ty capable of reading them." ? Thomas Jefferson.
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 19L3
Tax Cut Needed
The administration is going to ask
the Congress for a tax cut of moie
than four billion dollars, and the
President of the U. S. Chamber of
Commerce, Secretary Hodges, and
other leaders in the business world
are seeing eye to eye with the New
Frontier in the matter of letting the
folks spend more of their money, to
buy more goods and services and to
give the economy the lift that is
needed.
Walter Heller, chairman of the
President's Council of Economic Ad
visers, said the tax program of the
administration will include a larger
reduction in the lower brackets, a
cut in tax rates above 65 per cent,
plus more incentive for investment.
He said:
"What is required is not a small
cut of one or two billions, but a sub
stantial cut . . a three or four bil
lion cut won't do the job. . . For
five and a half years this economy
has been operating below, consider
ably below its potential. The tax
system keeps pulling out of the ec
onomy too large a total amount to
permit the products of industry and
agriculture to be sold at full em
ployment levels."
We have long contended that a
tax cut wowM spur business at all
levels more than an^htostelse. Even
in Boone, where aS&n&t are lower
than the national average, it would
be astonishing what could be done
to the local economy if salaried peo
ple could spend a considerable per
centage of what is siphoned off in
taxes from their income. It would
appear to one not schooled in an aca
demic type of economics that the
final income to the government
might even be upped, while the folks
were living better. ^
We hope the administration will
get a tax cut through. In the light of
recent elections and other happen
ings which have enhanced the popu
larity of the President, we shall hope
that the Congress will have its weath
er eye turned toward the mood of
the country.
Leading Citizen
In the death of W C. (Bill) Lentz
of Blowing Rock, that community
and the county at large lose a good
man.
Always concerned with matters of
public need, Mr. Lentz served cap
ably on the Watauga County Board
of Commissioners, and was chairman
of that important body. He had
served as a school committeeman, as
a town councilman at Blowing Rock,
and in other posts of public respon
sibility.
Mr. Lentz had been well known in
business circles for a great many
years' and performed his public du
ties with the same amount of dili
gence he used in his own affairs.
He was a splendid citizen, public
spirited and competent, and made a
generous contribution to his town
and county.
Business Good
Business during the holidays was
good in Boone. Fact is, most of the
merchants to whom we have talked,
said they had chalked up new sales
records during the festive season.
Boone is becoming better known
as an outstanding shopping center
and that accounts for part of the in
crease. And the merchants are pro
viding a constantly improving ser
vice, and we like to think that more
and more people are seeing the
common sense of trading at home.
Those of us who've been around
a long time note the business
changes more. Casually reading a
file of the Democrat we note that
January 4, 1907 the Watauga County
Bank had loans of $26,716 10, and
checking accounts of $23,600.51. It
had gold coin in the amount of $690,
silver $511.04, National Bank Notes
of $1,749.00 and was due from other
banks $6,988.03. E. S. Coffey was
cashier and the report was signed
by Directors W. C. Coffey and N.
L. Mast. ,
And that was doing good 56 years
ago.
Non-Farm Employment Climbs
Total non-farm employment climb
ed to a record-breaking average of
1,249,300 in North Carolina during
1962, according to a preliminary re
port released today by the State
Department of Labor.
State Labor Commissioner Frank
Crane said Tar Heel employment
averaged 40,200 higher in 1902 than
the 1,209,100 average in 1961.
The 1962 figure is subject to
minor change when employment
reports for the month of December
become available in mid-January.
The preliminary figures for 1962
are based upon the first eleven
months of the year.
Factory employment in the State
climbed 18,800 during the year, ris
ing from a 1961 annual average of
509,000 to 527,800 in 1962.
Non - manufacturing employment
(including trade, construction, min
ing, service industries, utilities and
government) increased 21,400 during
the year, rising from a 1961 aver
age of 700,100 to 721,500 in 1962.
Miracle In America
(snutord Mills Spinner)
The people of the United States,
occupying only 6% of the world's
land area and representing less than
7% of the world's population, OWN:
85% of the world's automobiles
60% of the life insurance policies
54% of the telephones
48% of the radio sets
46% of the electric power capacity
35% of the world's railway mile
age &
30% of the improved highways
92% of the modern bathtubs.
There Is more laughter and more
song in these United States than
anywhere else in the world.
In shops, streets, factories, elevat
ors, on highways and on farms ?
everywhere, Americans are a most
friendly and kindly people ? respon
sive to every rumor of distress.
Someone in America will always
divide his food or share his gasoline
or tire tool with the person in need.
Somehow, America has bred a de
gree of human sympathy that is
without parallel in the history of
mankind.
The Main Course? -
From Early Democrat Files
Sixty Years Ago
January 1, 190S.
Mr. Clint Hulcher of Mt. City,
Tenn. and Mr. Jordan Hardin of
Sutherland, were in town Mon
day.
Mrs. Mary Hagaman of Bak
er's Gap, Tenn., died at her
home on the 22nd. She had
lived to a ripe old age and was
loved and respected by all who
knew her. She had many friends
and relatives in Watauga, she
being the eldest sister of the
late D. B. Dougherty.
Married at the home of the
bride's father, Mr. Thomas
Critcher at Deerfield on the
21st, Mr. Charley Vannoy to
Miss Edwinnie Critcher. Rev.
J. M. Payne performed the
ceremony.
The little child of Mr. and
Mrs. B. J. Hodges, who died
Dec. 24, was buried on Christ
mas day. The little one was a
su/ferer all its short life, it
never being able to walk.
Thos. Vandyke, County Sur
veyor, has purchased a new set
of instruments and is better
than ever prepared to do your
surveying, plotting, etc.
Mr. Smith McBride of Aman
tha, leaves this week for Rich
mond, where he will enter the
Massey Business College.
Rev. David Green has just
closed a very successful meet
ing at South Fork Church.
Mcssers. David Councill, Roy
Brown, Henry Perry, and Logan
Farthing, Watauga's represen
tatives at the State University,
spent the holidays at their re
spective homes. They will re
turn in time for the opening of
the school next week.
Prof. D. D. Dougherty has
moved to his new residence,
and the one vacated by him is
now occupied by Mr. C. J. Cot
trell and family who will eon
duct a boarding house for the
benefit of the school.
Mr. Charles Critcher and Miss
Maggie Parlier, both of Deer
field, were married on Christ
mas day, at the home of the
groom's father, Uncle Guilford
Critcher. Rev. Payne officiat
ing.
Thirty-Nine Years Ago
January 3, 1924.
Mr. James Councill spent
Christmas with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. B. J. Councill of,\<
Boone. He left on the day fol- ,y;
lowing for his work in Transyl
vania county where he is en
gaged in engineering work on
the roads in the county.
During Christmas measles
broke out afresh in Boone, the
families of Mr. Poly Wyke and
Mr. Setzer being the latest to
contract the disease. Mrs. Wyke
was very low for some days but
is now much better as are all
the others suffering from the
malady.
Mr. James H. Bryan of Ed
monton, Canada sent his father,
W. L. Bryan, Esq. a moose ham
weighing more than 100 pounds,
Jt coming just in time for
Christmas.
Mr. Cloy Winkler spent a
few days with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs, James Winkler. He
has been on a road force in
Wilkes county for some time.
Married at the home of Rev.
Ed Hodges on Monday the 24th,
Mr. Coy Rogers of Boone to
Miss Ula Miller of Stony Fork.
Pastor Hodges performing the
ceremony.
The baby son of Mr. and Mrs.
Jas. Ray is improving from a
severe attack of pneumonia.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde
Greene of Boone, a boy.
Miss Carrie Horton went to
Washington, D. C. to spend the
holidays with her cousin, Mr.
James Moore.
Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Councill
visited relfttiyeq in ..Charlotte
during the Christmas season,
returning to their home here
Wednesday.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bryan and
Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Phillips
have returned from a visit of
several days to relatives in Me
bane, N. C.
Just One Thing
By CARL GOERCH
About 1900 a doctor told a
woman patient, "You must have
sunlight ? more sunlight." And
the woman was taken to Hender
sonsville, N. 'C. There, too, the
doctors said, "You must have
sunlight ? more sunlight." For
four years the woman lingered
in the sunlight, and then she
passed away.
The doctors' words must have
been on her mind at the last.
Her dying wish was that she
might be buried where she
would have "sunlight ? more
sunlight."
A brick sarcophagus, 10 feet
long, 5 feet wide and 4 feet
high was constructed above the
ground in the family plot. The
lidless coffin was lowered into
this. Over the entire crypt was
placed a slab with glass win
dows. From dawn to dusk the
sun's rays were free to enter the
grave.
For years the curious came
to see. Then about 1935 a mem
ber of the family had a thick
coat of tar poured over the glass
windows to stop the pilgrimages
of the morbid.
More time passed. Children
heard the story of the windowed
grave and came and tried to
scratch away the tar. But in
doing so they scratched the
glass so it was not transparent.
But then the children found
that by pouring water on the
scratches, the glass became
smooth enough for them to see.
And if you looked within you
could see a skeleton lying in a
violet light ? the skull resting
on a mat of horsehair, the cover
ing of the pillow long since
vanished. You could also dis
cern a gold breast pin lying on
the breast bOne. The pin glitters
in the sunlight.
AFTER ANOTHER
Remember the old tongue
twister, "She sells sea-shells?"
Well, here's an extension to it.
"She sells sea-shells, sherry and
stand-shoes; she sees a shot-silk
shas-shop where the sun shines
on shop signs."
Here's another one that may
not be too familiar: "The duke
paid the money due the Jew be
fore the dew was off the grass
on Tuesday, and the Jew having
duly acknowledged it said adieu
to the duke forever."
Justice Hunt Parker of the
State Supreme Court bench gave
me a copy of part of a will which
was filed a number of years ago
in a certain North Carolina
county. Here's the item in which
you'll be particularly interested:
"Item 3: I give one dollar to
my son to buy himself a
rope, with which to hang him
self. I also leave him the grub
hoe he struck me with in
church."
Ever hear of the case in which
the body of Benjamin Smith,
one-time Governor of North
Carolina, was exhumed in order
that a legal process might be
served on it.
Governor Smith, because of
his great generosity, died a
pauper and left many debts.
His body was buried at night to
prevent them from levying on
his body ? as permitted by law
at that time. Some of the debt
ors then aecured n warrant and
dug up the body to serve the
process on it.
Ex-Governor Smith, who waa
from New Brunawiok County, at
one time gave the University
of North Carolina 20,000 acres
of land.
Fifteen Years Ago
January 1, 1948.
Mr. 0. J. Harmon remains
critically ill at Watauga Hos
pital, following a paralytic
stroke almost a week ago. Mr.
Harmon has never appreciably
rallied from the attack and
hopes for his recovery are not
bright. His mother, Mrs. Mattie
Harmon and brother, Mr. C. W.
Harmon and wife of Pulaski,
Ky., have been called here on
account of his illness.
Mr. Stacy Clyde Eggers of
Wake Forest College, Miss
Christine Eggers of Vincen
town, N. J. and Mrs. Harland
Perry of Bailey, N. C. were
Christmas visitors at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Eggers.
Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Cook of
Carolina Avenue had as their
guest through the Christmas
holidays their daughter, Mary
Elinor of Washington, D. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Claud Todd and
sons,.BiUie and Mike of New
port News, Va., were holiday
viaitors at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. W. H. Gragg.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. James
G Mr, Jr. on December IS, at
the Blackwelder Hospital in
Lenoir, a daughter, who has
been named Nancy Gwendolyn.
Mrs. Geer is the former Miss
Mayie Lewis of Mabel.
Mr. Robert Moretx and child
ren, Bobby and Mike of Elixa
bethton, Tenn : Mrs Graver
Triplett of Lenoir, Mr. and Mr*.
Ralph Triplett of Waco, Texas,
Rev. and Mrs. Ervin Ledbetter
of CroMville, Tenn. were holi
days visitors in the home of
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Moretx.
Mr. and Mrs. Townley Bridge
and daughter, Bobbie of Waah
ington, D. C., recently visited
their daughter, Mrs Bruce An
gel and Mr. Angel and their
grandson, Gary Reeee.
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Wilcox
of Deep Gap, spent Sunday with
Mr. and Mrs. BUI Hodges, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cooke have
returned home after spending
a few ays with their laughter,
Mrs. Ray Han-ill and Mr. Har
rill of Gastonia.
Mr. and Mrs t. B Coffey.
Jr.. and daughter, Jenny Ray of
Colombia, S. C. spent Christ
mas with Mrs. Coffey's parents,
llr. and Mrs. Chas. Ray.
KING STREET
BY ROB RIVERS
j| $j At Year's Encl . . A Page b Turned
Aj nineteen hundred and slxty-thraa bow* in, at a
pink-cheeked symbol of the endleu counting of time,
we look to the past with a good deal of pleasure and
to the future with confidence that things are batter
than they have been, and that the days ahead, If we
use them right, will bring forth new areas of good
living, new vistas of opportunity and new chances for
each of us to mend the broken world to which we have
fallen heirs.
. Mm of rare *Uoa asd
understanding tell at there
will be * continuation of the
shaky Met of peace through
the New Year, that the fa?e
to the touchy international
powder keg will net he Ut, and
that More folks will enjoy
Bore thiaga than ever before.
. . . Which la to aay that timet
are expected to be good,
which haa come to ewcompoaa
the aum total of maa't aim*
and ambitions. . . Locally Dm
signs are good, aad the future
of this area la roae-tlatod.
* ? ?
Old Yew . . 'Twas Good
The old year was good to
the community and to the
county, and we are glad of
the progress which ha* been
made along many lines. . . We
at the Democrat, in taking
stock of the year just ended,
have a lot for which to be
grateful, including the Street
and the businesses on it, the
county and the farms, and the
churches and the schools, but
more especially for the peo
ple, and their good will and
generosity toward us ... To
all the friends of the Demo
crat and specifically of this
corner, we thank you for your
tolerance, for your friendship
and for your patronage, and
wish for you continuing pros
perity and happiness during
the New Year.
* * *
Missing . . A Neighbor
Kenneth Payne who lived on
South Water Street, was one
?f the fellows we always greet
ed as we passed going to and
from our home and office. . .
A retired Janitor at Appalach
ian State Teachers College,
Kenneth had been around a-;
long time, and we liked him
for his consistent kindness and
good humor. . . All the hund
reds of times our paths cross
ed he was polite, generous and
kind, and we always had the
feeling after meeting this good
neighbor, that after all, the
world's a pretty good place.
. . Kenneth had a fatal heart
attack the other day, and we
shall miss the kindly ex
changes with a man we liked,
and who contributed his part
to the community and to the
American system, and to our
cheerfulness as we met in
dawn's early light and in the
lhadows of the evening.
* * *
Observe* Birthday . . Works
William B. Hodge* veteran
builder, had a birthday on the
eighteenth ? hi* 81*t, and our
neighbor acroa* the itreet has
oar be*t wishes for continued
good health. . . Incidentally
Mr. Bill observed the occuion
by laying brick for three days
itraight with men half hi* age,
and putting a* many burnt
clay block* in the wall as
either of the other*. . . Mr
Hodges tells us one reason he
stays in th<e pink of health, is
the fact that he has never
had an overpowering appetite
?could always quit eating in
time. . . That's likely reason
enough.
* * *
Christmas . . Her Leavings
Christmas left as mix Ml up,
what with the irregular publi
cation dates and two days off
right at the flrit of the week,
hut it was a good time at
home with the folks. . . How
ever, nothing seems quite as
forlorn as the bright lights
and the wreaths and the gay
wrappings, after the day is
done, and one is back in the
traces after a long, long week
end. . . The Christmas tree
is just as bright as it was but
the warmth is gone, the turkey
has reached the hash state in
good flavor, the partying is
passed, and at our house we
have stored the lights and the
trimmings against another
Yule. . . And Christmas leaves
its mess. . . The trees thrown
oat with bits of tinsel cling
ing to shedding branches. . .
A bespattered pile of ribbon,
so lately fashioned by loving
hands, gets muddler etr^ry
? tiaU? a car passes, and the town
Is still small, as witness those
who throw their bottles and
beer cans all over the place,
disdaining their garbage cans,
lest city workers find out they
sometimes smile at the flowing
bowl. ?
* * #
Soda Water . . King Size
Bitsy boy, referring to a
quart of ardent spirits he had
seen in the home during the
festivities of the Yule, piped:
'Santa Cwas bwought Daddy
a gweat, gweat big bottle of
pop."
Uncle Pinkhey
(Mac Knight Syndicate)
DEAR MISTER EDITOR:
On account of the fine educa
tion I got down through the
years from reading handouts
from all them Federal agencies,
I ain't never had much need
fer a dictionery. Onct in a great
while I might make a miscue
in my spelling, but them oc
casions is so rare that It don't
bother me none.
And it's fer the same reason
that I ain't never invested in a
Encyclepediar. Any feller that
studies real good all th? infor
mation they put in tb* pamph
lets from the Department of
Agriculture, the Guvernment
Printing Office, the U S In
formation Agency, to nam* a
few I git regular, knows about
all they is to know about any
thing important.
Fer instant, I received notice
last week that the U. 8. In
formation Agency has got four
new booklets ready fer the
taxpayers. They Is entitled,
"Space Exploration," "Trad*
Expansion," "Mending Men'*
Suits," and "Growing Ornamen
tal pamboo." If a feller will
git his nam* on the proper
Guvemment mailing lists, they
ain't no n**d, Mister Editor,
fer him to buy a Encyclepediar.
But It took* Uk* I'm going
to hav* to go m to Ed Dos
little's and took up a matter in
hi* dtettoMTf' Ever time I
pick up tfcd paper I *** where
o On win* ?N*MMh agen
ey" I* needing mer* aaoney. I
figgered "research " meant
looking tor somepun, but no
body could spend that much
HIS PALAVERIIS'S
money just looking fer some
pun. I got to see if "research"
ain't got more meanings.
I got to admit that a heap of
this research is good. Fer in
stant, I was reading where a
research agency discovered
that empty pecan, walnut and
almond shells was fine fer
blasting out jet engines. They
bought $30,000 worth of them
shells, tried 'em out at the Mo
bile Alt Force Base and they
worked better'n amything ever
tried fer cleaning Jet engines
They might be some question
amongst the taxpayers about
$10,000 being ? little high fer
empty shells, but such matters
is never a question with the
research agencies.
But Ben. Humphrey claims
these research boys waste a
let of money Just setting
around thinking. If they figger
It would be better fer a light
ning bug to have headlights in
stead of taillighta, they draw up
a heap of charts and file 'em
away fer future "research."
Sen. Humphrey aays about 6
million of these charts Is being
filed in the Defense Depart
ment ever year, that they al
ready got 80 million of theee
drawings and charts filed, and
that it now take* longer fer the
research department to look
up and see If a certain chart
has already been filed than It
wquld to file H again. Ha says
this looking up bustnees Is
coating MOO million a year. I
think, Mister Editor, I better
lock op this word "research "
Yours truly,
Ua*PMMey