1 WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY RIVERS PRINTING COMPANY, INC.
B. C. RIVERS. JR.. EDITOR AMD MANAOER
JEAN RIVERS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
An Independent Weekly Newspaper
in MM. Published for 49 yean by the Ute Robert C- Riven, Sr.
SUBSCRIPTION RATBS
la Wataugk County: One year, $2 JO; afc months, $1.#0; lour months, $1.00. Outside
Wataaas County: One year, $3.00; six months, $1.75; four montha, $1.28. 3% sales tax
to be addod on ail North Carolina subscriptions.
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS ? In requesting change of addresa, R is important to
mention the OLD, as well as the NEW address, i
Entered at the pottoffce at Boone, N. C., as second class matter, under the aet of
Congress of March 3, 1879.
MEMBER NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION
NORTH CAROLINA PRESS ASSOCIATION
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1963
I
Future Looks Bright
The report of the Blowing Rock
Chamber of Commerce, published in
this edition and that of the Boone
CHamber wtrtch came out in the Dem
ocrat two weeks ago, provide good
reading and reflect the progress of
tie two communities as well as the
atea roundabout, and indicate a re
markable civic effort and accomp
lishment.
From what we can hear it's going
to be another good year. The Ski
Slope at Blowing Rock is bolstering
the local economy ahead ef the nor
mal resort season, another one is
being built on the Avery-Watauga
line near Banner Elk, the outlook for
inventions and for accelerated pub
licity programs is good, and Wa
tauga Industries' quest for manufac
turing enterprises -is again bearing
fsuit.
Of interest too, in the Boone
_ Blowing Rock, Linville tourist tri
angle, is the civic resurgence in Av
ery county. Besides tfcj ski develop
ment, a golf course development is
in progress, an airport is being con
structed, and various other enter
prises are being pursued. At the
same time, the county, which was
without a newspaper for a long time,
now has Sherman Pritchard and his
Avery Journal, a bright newsy tab
loid which is doing good for its owner
and for the county.
With its Linville resort and Grand
father Mountain only a few minutes
from Boone and Blowing Rock by a
modern highway, progress in Avery
county will mean added progress for
Watauga too, and better things for
us all.
Add to all this the phenomenal
growth of Appalachian 8tate Teach
ers College, and the economic future
of this northwestern tourist area
looks exceedingly bright.
TV A Progress
; The Tennessee Valley Authority,
; which had been described as an ele
! ment of "creeping socialism" by
- Pfesident Eisenhower, is doing well,
i the only objection we have to it
? being that local electric suppliers
can't get the current from that
; source. Anyway the Hickory Daily
Record has given some figures on
; the mammoth operation which are
! of local interest, since, after all, we
are in the TVA watershed.
The TVA has just reported it paid
I $46.5 million into the United States
Treasury from its elfectric power rev
enues ^hiring the year ended last
June 30.
Of this amount, $36.5 million rep
' resented interest on outstanding ap
propriations of $1,103,000,000 for
TVA over the years and $10 mil
lion represented a dividend payment.
. in its annual report TVA said that
to date it has paid into the Federal
Treasury $348 million from power
irevenues, plus another $41.5 million
tfrom non power proceeds.
TVA also showed it paid out an
other $5.3 million during the year as
interest on bonds it has issued to
help finance its construction pro
gram.
After payment of interest on
bonds and payments to the treasury,
TVA said, .it had $57.4 million in
net proceeds left for investment in
plant and other power assets.
TVA also said it paid more than
$6.7 million to States and counties
in lieu of taxes and that the State
and local taxes end tax equivalents
of its power distributors totaled an
other $12 million.
TVA emphasized In this year's re
port that an intensified program had
been undertaken to aid tributary
areas of the Tennessee Valley in de
velopment of their resources.
The Record submits that TVA, in
the last thirty years, has contributed
vastly to the electrification of rural
America ? and to doing what Sena
tor Norris conceived: Serve as a
yardstick for holding down the cost
of electricity to the consumer.
Ski Safety
; Skiing is one of America's fastest
growing winter spbrts. There are
ski enthusiasts even in communities
far removed from snow and moun
tain! who make annual pilgrimages
to winter resorts for a few days on
the slopes.
Sinoe the Blowing Rock ski slopes
ihave opened, and folks are becoming
ski-minded to the extent that they
keep an eye on the thermometer to
be sure that the rising temperature
lhasn't spoiled the fun, the following
AMA safety information is passed
ton for the benefit of those who are
starting out their winter sports ca
reers.
Ski experts report that most ac
? cidents are caused by the skier's
poor physical condition and overcon
fidence. Thus the basic premise of
ski safety is to get and stay in good
physical condition and to be realistic
in your estimate of your own ability
(to handle yourself in the emergen
cies that arise in the mile-a-minute
dash down one of the big runs.
Beginning, if possible, eight to
twelve weeks befoce the ski season,
start exercising regularly with half
knee bends, toe-walking, toe touch
ing and a few push-ups. Tip-toe walk
ing will help strengthen the lower
leg muscles. For thigh muscles, sit
on the edge of a table, lift your legs
and straighten them out slowly.
Then add weights (canned goods in
a pillow case will do). When you can
lift 35 pounds with each leg in this
manner, you're ready for skiing.
Today's Health, the magazine of
the American Medical Association,
urges that all beginners should re
ceive coaching from a certified ski
instructor. Get expect advice in se
lecting good equipment, especially
skis and boots.
A fundamental safety rule is:
Never ski alone. If you're hurt, a
buddy can go for help. Learn how
to control your skiing, and how to
check your speed quickly if neces
sary. And, very important, stop be
fore you become too tir?d. The fa
tigued skier is much more likely to
fall.
Phone Calls ? 'By The Numbers'
(Christian Sciei
Ah, for the days when one picked
mp a telephone receiver and, to a
ipleasant "Number, please," replied
something like "Crestview 8134" or
"'Albemarle 6700." Or when the
?numbers in a fair-sized town could
be catalogued M belonging to either
"'Maple" or "Walmit" exchange.
This awns to be the sentiment
of the Aati-Ri^t Dialing League in
San Franciaoo. ft hat appealed to
the California Utilities Commission
to stop the telephone company there
from Introducing the all-digit sys
4
nee Monitor)
tem that would eliminate the two
remaining letters from metropolitan
and not-so metropolitan telephone
numbers.
To be sure, 767,3425 Joeks like a
more formidable memory task than
RO 7-3425 especially if one can still
think of the RO as standing for Rose
trans. But after all, telephone sub
scribers in some parts of Europe,
West Germany, (or example, have
been using all-digit numbers for sev
eral years without apparent bard
ship n 'M.:x
Love In Bloom
From Early Democrat Files
Sixty Years Ago
Jaauary 15, 1903
Capt Lovill returned Sunday
from a visit to hit daughter at
Mooresville.
Mr. R. M. Greene returned
from Greensboro Sunday, where
he had been purchasing a new
stock of goods.
The Board of Education was
in session on Monday and Tues
day and quite a lot of routine
business was transacted.
The weather for the past week
has been rough indeed, but
Tuesday morning was the cold
est, the mercury registering as
low as four degrees.
Watauga Academy is certain
ly booming. One hundred and
twenty-three answered to the
roll call on Monday morning
when the mercury was hovering
uncomfortably near the zero
point.
At 8:30 p.m. last Sunday,
Uacle William Sherrill, one of
our most aged citizens, died at
home near Moody, after many
months of intense suffering. He
only lacked a very few days of
being 75 years of age, was al
ways cheerful and bright, re
gardless of his great age. Mr.
Sherrill was much liked by all
who knew him and he will be
greatly missed by his large
circle of friends.
The Board of County Commis
sioners met in call session on
Monday for the purpose of re
ceiving the Insolvent tax list
from the Sheriff. In this in
stance one might easily pre
sume that the expense overrun
the profits.
The many friends of Mr. J. M.
Moretz in Watauga are indeed
sorry to hear of his financial
embarrassments in Lenoir. He
has made an assignment and
we are told that the liabilities
are far in excess of the assets.
Master Hill Farthing is spend
ing a few days with his brother
at Mountain City, Tenn.
Thirty-Nine Years Ago
January 17, 1924
Little Frank, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Noah Bar#, died last wi
day, the result o t a fall he had
a week previous to that time.
He was buried in the town
cemetery Saturday afternoon.
He suffered intensely during
the week after his fall, and had
no medical attention whatever.
Dr. Perry was on the way to see
him when the end came. His
parents are grief-stricken and
have our sympathy.
The last section of the old
Blair Hotel property is now be
ing razed to make room for
some business buildings that
will be buiit the coming sum
mer. The block of buildings, in
cluding the theatre building,
will extend from Mr. W. L.
Bryan's line to the alley west
of the post office, and will com
prise another big addition to
the town.
The grading on Main Street
hat been abandoned for the
present owing to the unsettled
weather.
Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, who
recently sold their home to its
former owner, Mr. Pink Hodges,
have returned to Ashe County,
and Mr. Hodges has moved into
the vacate^ property.
Attorney E. S. Coffey has
moved his law library and office
fixtures (jo njw .offices of,
I Attorney frank A. Lin
ney, 2nd the little building had
not "tieen vacated but a few
hours until Mr. Stark Lawrence
and family moved in.
A difficulty arose a few days
ago between Mr. Cleve Johnson
and a drummer. The latter
struck Mr. Johnson with an iron
spoke, and was hastened away
before the policemen could ar
rive. He will be brought back
and bound over to court for
using a deadly weapon.
Just One Thing
By CARL GOERCH
Ever thought about the prin
cipal differences in living in a
big town and living in a small
town?
In a small town you pay no
attention to familiar faces, but
every time you see a strange
face, you *ay to yourself: "I
wonder who that to?"
In a big town you pay no at
tention to ttrange faces, but
every time you gee a familiar
face you immediately become
effusive in your greeting.
Sudden thought while looking
over a list of the governors of
North Carolina: O Max Gardner
was the first Governor to part
his name in the middle. Only
two others have done this: R.
Gregg Cherry and J. Melville
Broughton.
Governor Ehringhaus had the
longest name of any Governor
of our state. Hoey, Carr, Ashe
and Nash had the shortest.
Every once in a while we hear
an expression tossed off in the
moat casual sort of manner, tha*
is entirely new to vs.
For instance, the other day
we were talking with a friend
about a mutual acquaintance in
Durham who has been ill for
some time. We made the com
ment that the last time we had
aeen him? about a month ago ?
he looked mighty bad. *
"Yes," said our friend. "I saw
him about two weeks ago and
he looked like death warmed
t?ve?."
Wonder if you ever have
heard of a bird that is known
M "Johnny GeodGad?" Or an
other one (hat is known as
"Shirt-Tail?"
We hadn't until we received
a letter from Ferdie Johnson of
Clinton. He says:
"On the s wimp side of White
Lake last summer I saw a pair
of very large red-headed wood
pecker*, almost as big as an
ordinate ben. We used to call
AFTER ANOTHER
them "Johnny Good-Gods,' but
I don't imagine thit that is the
real name. They are about ex
tinct. Can you give me the real
name of these birds? The small
size woodpeckers of this type
are called 'Shirt-Tails' due to
white feathers at the root of
the tail. The 'Johnny Good-Gods'
are the same type, except much
larger."
No trouble at all. The "John
ny Good-Gods" are plleated
woodpeckers. However, they're
not almost extinct; there are
plenty of them in North Caro
lina. The "Shirt-Tail' 'is just
another name for the common
red-headed woodpecker.
(Confession: We didn't have
the slightest idea until we'd
called up the State Museum and
got this information from Frank
Meacham and others.)
From Mrs. T. D. Wells, one of
our readers down in Paris,
Texas:
"It has occurred to me that
you might like to publish the
following. My mother said it
often to us when we were small
and it never foiled to bring
forth much merriment, especial
ly when she said it in an excited
tone of voice. Here it is:
"Doctor, mother sent me down
to the shotecary pop, quick as
blazes, 'cause Bud's siek with
the picken chox and she wants
a dimbleful of pollygolly in this
din tipper, for she hasn't got a
gottle, and the pint cup's got
bine wttters in It. Ain't yer got
any?"
The following classified ad
vertisement a appeared in a re
cent issue of the Concord
Transcript:"
FOUND: Lady's purse in my
car while parked. Owner can
have same by identifying purse
and paying for thU ad If owner
can satisfactorily explain to my
wife how purse got in my car,
will piy for ad myself. Box 543,
KING STREET
, 1 BY ROB RIVERS
? - ?
Old Dan'l * . More Of A Symbol?
We hold to the generally-accepted notion that Daniel
Boone lived down by the creek, where one now makes a
turn to get to the Conrad Stadium. . . . We've been Teady
to go to the bat for Dan'l at the drop of a hat, and have
contended that he shot squirrels around here, doubtless
scooped up trout from the brook, and fellowshipped with
Benjamin Howard, as he meandered hither and yon,
extending the frontiers or trying to find fresh bear signs.
* ? * .
"Uncouth" . . Sayi'
Authority
In late year* there's been a
tot of contention developed
around the misty career of the
old hunter and adventurer,
even as to where his flesh
mingled with the clay, and now
a Louisville historian, Robert
McDowell, needles the fellow
who gave his name to our
town, by describing him as "an
uncouth, irresponsible hunter,
who through a freak of fate
was elevated to the role of
folk hero in his own lifetime."
. . . The Kentucky man adds
these epithets for the hero of
a mountain man's childhood:
"a blunderer, a clod, a dupe,
whose reputation is largely
undeserved," and says Boone
lost his Kentucky land, was
tried for treason by his own
people and took credit for
several historical firsts which
belong to others.
?
* * ?
Otherwise . . Would Do
McDowell adds that Dan'l
was not a leader, wasn't much
of an Indian fighter, pathfind
er or explorer. . . . But Dr.
Thomas Clark of the Univer
sity of Kentucky takes up for
Boone, saying "he was a sweaty
old boy but he lived in a time
of sweaty old boys." . . .
Boone's great contribution,
Clark thinks, came from his<
knowing the Wilderness Road
and in blazing the way along
it, establishing stream cross
ings and making it a depend
able pathway into Kentucky.
. . . Boone's grave is supposed
to be in Frankfort though oth
ers have claimed he was fun
eralized in Missouri. . , . Some
say he was a Judge, while the
rest vow he didn't hold with
the laws at all. . . . Taken the
worst way, Danl has provided
a useful symbol of those who
pushed back the frontiers as
the wilderness and the Indians
fell before the Western ex
pansion. . . .He's been an in
spiration to the youngsters as
they pioneered through moun
tain woodlots and played In
dian over the rough hilly tur
rain.
? '* *
After All . . He Lived Well
Lm( cummer, while we were
driving west of St. Loui? to
Colombia, whore Kaehel is la
the School of Journalism at
the University of Missouri, we
decided to look in on Dan'l
Boone's old haunta, took a
torn onto a country road
through a lush grown-up area,
and at last came to the re
stored Boone home. ... On
a little rise above a spread of
black, loamy bottom land stood
the great limestone house,
three stories, with handsome
chimneys at each end. . . . We
heard the practiced lecture of
the Missouri lady as she con
ducted an old Boone boy
through Boone's house. ... It
wasn't like we expected, ex
cept for the kitchen, which
looked old-tlmey and lived in.
. . . Rather 'Squire Boone (If
the house was faithfully re
stored) was living in a style
befitting his title. ... Lo
cated on a huge lot, the walk
ways are framed with big
trees, clinging vines cover
border walls, and It is a place
of great beauty. . . . We liked
it a lot, even down to the
Judgment Tree, where old
Dan'l is supposed to have held
court. . . . But we couldn't
quite equate the frilly cano
pied beds with the sweaty,
beardy Dan'l as we thought of
his coming in muddy and red
eyed for a snooze, after he'd
followed the coon dogs through
the brambled creek bottoms,
the swamps and the cane
brakes, or maybe butchered a
bear as the eastern rides were
brightening.
? * *
Anyway . . A Picture
But we fetched back some
pictures we took where Dan'l
last gazed at distant horizons,
one of which appears on an
other page. . . . And like a by
stander allowed: "He shore had
him a nice place, didn't he?". .,
He did.
Fifteen Yean Ago
January 15, 1948
Major J. H. Thomas will leave
Sunday for Chapel Hill where
he will take examinations for
supervisor of a motor vehicle
inspection station for the state
of North Carolina. He hopes to
be situated in a station of thia
kind in Boone. ,v
Dr. and Mrs. J. B. Hagaman,
Jr., announce the birth .of a
daughter, Barbara Dunne, on
January 10 at Watauga Hos
pital. v .
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Lewis an
nounce the birth of a daughter,
Janice Dare, on January 10 at
Watauga Hospital.
Mrs. B. W Stall! ngs and Miaa
Coiene Boliok are attending the
Southeastern Gift Show In At
lanta this week.
f . r-f- -i-t g ?
DANIEL BOONE'S HOUSE
Uncle Pinkney
(MacKnight Syndicate)
DEAR MISTER EDITOR:
The fellers at the country
store Saturday night was work
ins on a new idea, one that
might git your editorial sup
port.
Ed Doolitie claims they ain't
but one hope fer this country
and that'* to cut down on the
size of the Congress. Fer in
stant, says Ed, Senators is too
expensive and allows as how
we could git along fine with
one from each cute.
Clem Webster was string in
favor of this motion, said he
was reading a piece in the pa
pers last November where one
HIS PALAVERING
penie, mailed out 300,000 let
ters gitting re-elected. Clem
flggered if we cut this opera
tion down to one Senator, the
savings would ppy off the na
tional debt in about 20 years.
On account of Ed being a
Republican, he was advocating
that all 80 Senators took off
the payroll be Democrats. This
caused a little arguement
amongst the teller* and it wa t
final agreed it would be Su
preme Court proper to split
'am Democrat and Republican
half and half.
Eeke Onrtjb said now that
we were gitting down to th?
m