MARION PROGRESS
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO. THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION ABJD McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896
MARION. N. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1929
VOL. XXXIU—NO. 42
TWO FIRES HERE
DURING THE WEEK
OVER 57 STUDENTS
IN SCHOOL FOR EACH
GRADUATE IN COUNTY
Fire of Unknown Origin Dam
ages Veneer and Panel
Plant — Residence Burns.
Marion has had two fires during
the past week.
The damage at the Marion Veneer
and Panel Company, where fire rag
ed for about an hour Thursday about
midnight, is estimated at between
$50,000 and $60,000. The loss was
covered by insurance, it is stated.
The storage building was destroy
ed and the drying rooms were dam
aged, but firemen were able to save
the remainder of the plant from se
rious damage. The flames threaten
ed for a time to spread to the Teague
Furniture Company Jiearby.
The fire’s origin was not known.
The night watchman said he saw no
signs of fire when he made his rounds
at 11 o’clock The fire was discovered
about 11:30, when the entire interior
of the storage building appeared to
be'in flames.
T. O. Teague, of Taylorsville, is
the principal owner of the plant, and
he stated that this is the second fire
he has experienced in his factories in
the past six months. The other fire
was at Taylorsville.
RESIDENCE DESTROYED
The sceond fire of the week occur
red last Friday morning about-4:30
o’clock when the bungalow of Fred
Houck on North Garden street was
destroyed by fire. The residence was
occupied by Mr. Houser. The origin
of the fire is unknown. When discov
ered the kitchen was ablaze. The
alarm was quickly given and the fire
department responded promptly but
the fire had made such rapid head
way that the building was practical
ly destroyed before the blaze was ex
tinguished. The building was partial
ly covered by insurance.
There are 57.7 pupils in school for
each graduate of the hig)i schools
in McDowell county, statistics com
piled by the University of North Car
olina and published in the News Let
ter reveal. McDowell county ranks
61st among the 100 counties of the
state, while Avery, Haywood, Mitch
ell, Rutherford, Yancey and other
mountain counties are still lower, al
though Alexander, Burke and Polk
rank above McDowell.
The News Letter says “the white
public high school graduating class
in North Carolina is less than 2 per
cent of the total white enrollment,
or was so for the last two years. The
State over, it requires 53 students to
furnish one graduate. This was the
annual average for the two-year pe
riod, 1926-28.”
Currituck county, the News Letter
says, without an incoryporated town,
leads the counties of the State in
proportion to its white enrollment
SPECIAL SERVICE
BEGINNING SUNDAY
Rev. W. O. Goode Will Preach
Series of Sermons at First
Methodist Church Here.
MARION AIRPORT
TO BE IMPROVED
Second Runway to Be Comple
ted in Ten Days — Marion
Field on Rand M’Nally Map
MUSIC CLUB MEETS
WITH MRS. M’CALL
The last regular meeting of the
Music Club for the club year 1928-
29 was held Monday night, April 22,
at the home of Mrs. Geo. McCall. At
the close of the business meeting the
club adjourned to begin work again
in August 1929. After the program
Mrs. McCall served a delicious
sweet course.
The following program was given:
Piano solo. The Rosary (Nevin);
Mrs. Roy Davis.
Violin solo, Maiden’s Wish (Mc
Millan) ; Mrs. Arnold Morris.
Piano Solo, Witches Dance (Mc
Dowell) ; Miss Julia Burton.
Sketches of the Lives of Compos
ers of Programme; Mrs. Jno. Poteat.
Piano Solo, Valse Caprice (New-
land); Mrs. R. K. Davis.
Another tidewater county, Pamlico,
ranks a close second.
Eastern counties far surpass those
of piedmont and mountain fections,
the survey shows. Of the first 24
counties, 22 are classed as eastern.
City counties rank above the State
average, but New Hanover is the on
ly city county which ranks near the
top, this county coming fourth. Ca
tawba county leads the piedmont sec
tion with a triple tie for eleventh
place, Cumberland and Moore having
the same average of 37.7 pupils for
each graduate.
The News Letter says “of the 11,-
357 high school graduates in 1928,
7,079 were girls and 4,278 were
boys. This is about the ratio for sev
eral years back, except that the girls
have widened the margin over the
boys.” In other words, that means
the girls are an increasing per cent
of the total graduates. .
The number of pupils graduating
from high schools in increasing at a
rapid rate, the paper points out, for
in 1924 there were 6,969 graduates
as compared with 11,357 who receiv
ed diplomas in 1928. The five-year
increase was 63 per cent, but al
though “this is rapid progress, wa
are far from the goal that would
cause North Carolina to compare fa
vorably with other states in high,
school graduates annually,” for
“there should be at least 200Q, to 2,-
500 graduates per year, with a white
enrollment of nearly 6000,” the
News Letter states.
The total graduates for the two-
year period, 1926-28, for McDowell
county is 155, or an average of 77.1
graduates from high school each
year. •
A series of sermons will be
preached by the pastor. Rev. Watson
O. Goode, at the First Methodist
Church beginning Sunday morning,
April 28, and continuing each night
through the week at 7:45 o’clock.
“This meeting,” Mr. Goode states,
“is primarily intended to produce a
community-wide interest in all prac
tical spiritual things and movements
for the good of our people. There
fore in its scope and spirit is non-
sectarian— nondenominational— but
deeply sincere, straightforward and
spiritual — for the good of all who
may attend and work with us. Every
body is most cordiaH* invited to at
tend and assist in all of the services.
From among the following sub
jects addresses and sermons for the
week will be taken:
“Does Marion need a revival of
genuine religion?” “Who is your God
what is he and where is he?’’ “Do
you believe in prayer that prevails,
what kind prevails?” “Does it cost to
live above the average and ahead of
the time?” “Has the modem Ameri
can home any real religion?”
“Christ’s central call humanity.”
“The coward and the hero.” “Who is
who in the world?” “Life at its high
est.” “The power and courage to for
get.” “First things first.” “Flashes of
inspiration.” “Self - versus God.”
“Tragic misuse of power.”
Good music, solo, duet, quartet
and congregational singing with a
simple, yet straightforward heart-
searching sermon will characterize
these services. Everyone is invited
to attend these service^ at 7:45 each
night through the week.
A very enthusiastic meeting of
the Airport committee of the Marion
Chamber of Commerce was held on
Friday night. Further development
of Francis Marion Field was the high
spot of the meeting. The committee
expects to leave nothing undone to
ward maintaining the local Airport
as. the best in Western North Caroli
na. The chairman of the committee,
W. S. Shiflet, announced that a sec
ond runway of three thousand feet
will be completed within the next
ten days. It will then be possible for
a plane to land in every direction on
the field which is a part of the two
hundred and twenty-seven acre area
that is being developed.
The chairman also reported that
the three thousand feet of tile that
was installed last winter is function
ing perfectly, and the area has been
dry at all times since its installation.
The Marion Telephone Company
is co-operating with the committee in
building a telephone line to the field,
and work on the line will be comple
ted within the next two weeks.
The field has been registered with
the Rand McNally map company of
Chicago, which company has marked
the local airport on its aviation maps.
The field is also being registered with
the Department of Commerce, Aero
nautics Division.
MEXICAN QUAIL TURNED j
LOOSE IN THIS COUNTY
Twenty-four pairs of Mexican
quail were released in’ McDowell
county recently f9r breeding purpo
ses, Tom Gowan, county game ward
en, announced this week. The quail
were brought here from northern
Mexico. The quail are released on
the property of landowners who
promise two years protection from
hunters.
Mr. Gowan announced that the
quail received had been distributed
over the county as follows: George
Sandlin, Old For^;, one pair; J. C.
La wing, Glen wood, one pair; Abra
ham Lavender, Crooked Creek, two
pairs; M. L. Good, Sevier, one pair;
Chas. A. McCall, North Gove, one
pair; P. H. Mashburn and Dr. D. M.
McIntosh, Old Fort, three pairs; J.
E. Jimerson, Garden City, one pair;
R. A. Lonon, North Cove, one pair;
John Yancey, Marion, one pair; L.A.
Martin, Marion; R. P. Morris, Mont-
fords Cove; S. L, Dobbins, Nix
Creek; F. S. Bradshaw, Greenlee; G.
N. Carter, Greenlee; Dr. J. F. Jonas,
Montfords Cove; G. B. Woody,
Greenlee; W. L. Dennie, Linville
Falls; W. E. Landis, Turkey Cove;
C. G. Morris, Glenwood; G. W. Wil
son, Nebo;,and D. W. Adams, Old
Fort, cne pair each.
The Mexican quail, it is stated, is
a slightly smaller bird than the varie
ty common to this state. It is some
what lighter in color.
TEN ARE KILLED
IN AUTO CRASHES
Six Die at Gastonia When
Train Hits an Automobile—
Four Killed at Greensboro.
EARNS CERTIFICATE IN
ORNAMENTAL PLANTING
OFFICERS SEIZE STILL
AND ARREST OPERATOR
MARION TEAM BEATS
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Marion High defeated Central
High of Rutherfordton here Friday
12-3. Arrowood, local pitcher, was in
fine form, striking out ten and allow
ing but 3 hits. Murray and Howard
were the hitting stars for Marion
while Libscomb looked good at bat
for Central High. .
Batteries—Marion: Arrowood and
Murray; hits .9, runs 12; errors 2.
Central High: Justice, Dotson and
Libscomb; hits 3, runs 3, errors 5.
INTERESTING PROGRAM
GIVEN BY WOMAN’S CLUB
DEATH OF CHILD
The hearts of their neighbors and
many friends were made exceedingly
sad last Sunday morning when the | ding) Charlotte Winborne.
news went out that Wilma Beatrice |
The Woman’s Club held their reg
ular monthly meeting Friday after
noon in the Kiwanis room. The meet
ing was called to order by the presi
dent, Mrs. J. Q. Gilkey and all joined
in singing the club song. After a
brief business session Mrs. T^ A. Wil
son, chairman of the Music Depart
ment, conducted the program,, which
was rendered in a most efficient and
pleasing manner by the high school
girls.
PROGiRAM
Song, “Beautiful Spring,” by
Chorus.
Reading, “David and Goliath,” Iris
Rabb.
Piano Solo, Waltz in C Minor
(Chopin), Helen Klontz.
Violin Solo, Adoration, Betty
Wilson.
Piano Solo, Rustle of Spring (Sin-
Revenue officers J.B. Banks and J.
E. Kanipe, accompanied by Tayior
Greene, made a successful raid in the
Brindletown section near the Burke
county line last Friday afternoon
where they found an illicit distillery
in full operation and arrested Jess
Francis, colored, on a charge of man
ufacturing whiskey. About 500 gal
lons of beer were seized by the offi
cers and the still was brought to Ma
rion. The outfit was of a 45 gallon
capacity. Francis, who was placed in
jail, is also wanted on a charge of
shooting B. H. Robbins about three
years ago when the latter was at
tempting to arrest the negro on a
similar charge.
On Thursday of last week Officers
Banks, Kanipe and Greene, accompa
nied by Deputy Sheriff Ben Hensley,
captured a 60-gallon capacity still
and 2,000 gallons of beer bn Pilot
Mountain near Dysartsville. On the
same day 300 gallons of beer were
captured near Sevier. The still had
been removed.
Friends of Clarence Steppe, son
of Mr. and Mrs. N. F. Steppe, will
be interested to know that he has re
cently completed a course in oma^
mental planting and landscaping.
Clarence has been doing theoreti
cal and practical work under the di
rection of Stark Bros., nursery ar
chitects, for the last two years, and
having passed very creditably the
final examinations on the various
subjects included in the course, he
has been awarded a certificate to
that .^ect.
Besides doing this correspondence
work, young Steppe is a student at
Lenoir Rhyne College, and is making
good on all his work at that place.
7“
GREAT MASTERS TO BE
ON EXHIBITION HERE
MRS. AMANDA TONEY
DIES AT EAST MARION
Mrs. Amanda Toney of East Mar
ion died at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
C. O. Jenkins last Monday evening.
She was 96 years of age and had
been a resident of this county for 49
years. Mrs. Toney was bom in Ruth
erford county and at the, age of 22
was married to John Toney who pre
ceded her to the grave in 1914. To
this union three daughters and six
sons were bom» five of whom survive
as follows: Mrs. Mary Anderson of
Cross Mill, Mrs. Joanna Anderson of
Nebo, Jack and Ed. Toney of Nebo,
and D. W. Toney of E^st Marion.
She is also survived by one sister,
Mrs. Sarah Melton of Rutherford
county; 33 grand children and 32
great grandchildren.
At the age of 20 she united with
the Baptist Church and lived a con-
Charlotte, April 22.—North Caro
lina counted ten dead and five injur
ed Monday as the toll of two Sabbath
automobile accidents.
Five of them died at Gastonia,
where the Crescent Limited passen
ger train of the Southern Railway
smashed an automobile bearing two
families from Mount Holly, N. C.,
to the Loray mill distnct there.
The heroism of two women figured
prominently in the accident. Mrs. J.
D. McCurry of Mount Holly threw
her infant son to the street piavement
just before the train killed her hus
band and four members of a neigh
bor family. Both Mrs. McCurry and
the child escaped with slight injuries
An vnidentified woman broke from
a crowd to drag McCurry free of the
buming wreckage but not in time to
save his life. Others killed wer^ Mr.
and Mrs. Fred Parton and two of
their children, “Bud” and Ring.
Another child, James Parton, was fa
tally injured.
Four Sunday motorists were killed
at Monticello, near Greensboro,
where their automobile overturned-
They are Mr. and Mrs. G. Walter
Burgess, their daughter, Mary, 16,
and Mrs. Mollie E. Hudson, all of
Ramseur, N. C. Two other children,
of the Burgess family were injured.
WILL BUILD CAMP
FOR RURAL PEOPLE
Raleigh, April 22.—On twelve ac
res of land donated by the State De
partment of Agriculture from its
holdings at the Mountain Branch
Station near Swannanoa in Bun
combe county, a permanent^ camp
for use of 4-H club members and
adult farmers and form women will-
be ready for use this summer.
“The amp is a triumph of co-oper
ative effort among those interested
in the mral advancement of western;
North Carolina,” says John W. Good
man, district agent of the State Col-
sistent Christian life. Her passing j jggg extension service in announcing:
Humorous Reading, Iris Rabb.
Walker, seven months old daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. lira Walker, of the
Elizabeth James Mill Village, had
died during the night. Although the
child was known to be very sick, yet
its going was unexpected and deep
est sympathy is extended to the par
ents and relatives in this their hour
of great sorrow.
Funeral services were conducted
from the home Monday morning at
ten o’clock by Rev. W. H. McMahan.
Special music was rendered by a
quartet from East Marion. The re
mains were carried to Dysartsville
for burial.
Piano Solo, Prelude by Rachno,
Mary Rabb.
Piano Solo, Grand Valse Caprice
(Engleman), Virginia Conley.
The next meeting of the club will
be held on May 3rd. A literary^ pro
gram will be given. The hostesses
win be Mr^: E. H. Dysart ahd Mrs. J.
F. Miller.
“ALIAS JIMMY VALENTINE”,
with WILLIAM HAINES, LIONEL urday.
BARRYMORE, LEILA HYAMS, and
TULLY MARSHALL, is a mighty
good picture, interesting from start
to finish. At Oasis Theatre next Mon
day and Tuesday.
BIG SALE CONTINUES
The Sacrifice Sale of J. L. Nichols
& Co. had a successful opening last
Friday and a large crowd ,thronged
the store all day Saturday, the ban
ner day of the big sale. The sale will
continue throughout the week with
special features for Friday and Sat
Mother’s Day and Decoration Day
will be observed at Harmony Grove
Baptist Church on the second Sun
day in May, being May 12.
BOOK CLUB MEETS
Mrs. A. W. Grayson entertained
the members of the Book Club at her
home on South Main street on last
Thursday afternoon, there being
three tables of 108 in progression.
The rooms were prettily decorated
with spring flowers. The hostess
served delicious refreshments. The
visiting guests were Mrs. E. H. Dy
sart and Miss Rena Neal.
PLAY A SUCCESS
“The Path Across the Hill” was
presented to a large and appreciative
audience at the Eugene Cross School
last Saturday night. The proceeds
amounted to $73 which will be ap
plied to the fund for purchasing cur
tains for the school building.
MRS. ARROWOOD PASSES
Mrs. T. W. Arrowood, of V?in
Mountain, died Sunday, April 14, af
ter an illness of several years and
was buried at Macedonia on Monday
Mrs. Arrowood was 38 years old
and is survived by her husband and
six children. She is also survived by
two brothers.
There will be a display of para
mount interest at the Marion High
School on May 6-10, an art exhibit.
More than one hundred and fifty pic
tures will be shown, pictures that
you want to see and that you should
know something about. You wish to
keep up with your children in school.
They are learning to recognize these
pictures and to know something of
the artist who painted them. In addi
tion to your enjoyment in this collec
tion you will assist in raising a fund
for the purchase of pictures for the
school, and they are badly needed.
brings Sorrow to a host of relatives
and friends.
The funeral service was held on
Tuesday afternoon at Harmony
Grove Baptist Church of which the
deceased was a member, with Rev. A.
A. Walker in charge, assisted by Rev.
J. N. Wise and Rev. D. J. Hunt. A
large crowd attended the services.
D. L.
the close of the successful campaign
for its establishment. “We plan to
build^^ first an auditorium, dining"
room, kitchen, and lake. These will
be available in early summer. Thea
each county that uses the location
for its boys and girlsj or men and
women will build its own cottages
for sleeping quarters. The capacity*
of the camp will be 500 persons at*
TEAGUE INJURED
IN ACCIDENT SATURDAY j cupig^j ^t least three months in thei
SILVERWARE TO BE GIVEN
AWAY AT OASIS THEATRE
The Oasis Theatre announces that
on next Monday and Tuesday every
lady purchasing an adult ticket will
be given absolutely free one piece of
silverware, and on every Monday
thereafter an additional piece of sil
verware will be given to every lady
holding an adult admission ticket un
til all have received a full 52 piece
set.
On next Monday and Tuesday the
Oasis will present William Haines in
“Alias Jimmy Valentine”, one of the
best “sound” pictures out.
D. L. Teague, of Taylorsville, is a
patient at the Marion Hospital suf
fering from injuries sustained in an
automobile collision with passengerj
train No. 36 at the Southern Rail
way crossing on West Henderson
street last Saturday morning. It ap
pears that Mr. Teague and his broth
er were on a trip west of town and
not noticing a watchman on duty at
tempted to make the crossing. Their
view of the main line was obstructed
by cars on the siding and they did
not see the train until it was close
upon them. Realizing his danger Mr.
Teague tumed his car up the track,
but the, car was struck by the train
and badly damaged.^ Mr. Teag^ie was
painfully injured about the arm and
shoulder and considerably bruised,
but nb bones were broken and he
hopes to be able to return home in a
few days.
GLENN WALKER DIES
AT DYSARTSVILLE
BALL GAME HERE FRIDAY
The Forest City High School base
ball team is scheduled to play the
Marion team here Friday afternoon.
An interesting game is promised.
See Oasis Theatre’s special offer
of Free Silverware. You cannot af
ford to overlook this.
Glenn Walker, son of Mr. and
Mrs. J. M. Walker of JDysartsville,
died lastSaturday after an illness of
several months. Mr. Walker was 21
years of age and besides his parents
is survived by three brothers and
three sisters.
Funeral services were conducted
from the residence Sunday afternoon
by Rev. W. F. McMahan and inter-
ipent made at Dysartsville cemetery.
CANE CREEK NEWS
Old Fort, April 22.—Rommie and
Roy Hicks of Maggie, N. C., are vis
iting relatives here.
J. W. Johnson of Sunnyvale spent
the week-end here with his son, W.
M. Johnson.
W. M. Johnson and J. B. Haynes
of Old Fort motored to Sunnyvale
last Sunday.
J. A. Walker and family spent
Sunday with Mr. A. C. Walker.
Miss Sylva Johnson was th| guest
of Mrs. J. B. Holt Monday .
Farmers are taking advsfitage of
the pretty weather this week for
planting corn.
year. One feature of the summer will
be a farm and home week at which,
time we expect to have thousands of
men and women from our western,
counties gathered for instruction and
recreation.”
Mr. Goodman gives credit to
County Agent O. B. Jones of Hen
derson county for first suggesting
the idea. He also credits J. M. Eng
lish of Asheville with securing dona-
tions of lumber and timber from the
lumbermen’s association to make the
camp possible. The City of Ashevill&
is hauling the material to the camp
site now and the Buncombe county
board of commissioners has graded
an excellent road. Many business and
commercial organizations have help
ed. Civic clubs have given their sup
port and individuals have made im
portant contributions. The Southern
Railway reduced its freight rates on
the material contributed.
At the present time, P. H. Gaston,
j county agent of Transylvania coun
ty, is giving his full time to con-
stmcting the central group of build
ings and the dam.
“ALIAS jimmy VALENTINE”,
with WILLIAM HAINES, LIONEL
BARRYMORE, LEILA HYAMS, and
TULLY MARSHALL, is a mighty
good picture, interesting from start
to finish. At Oasis Theatre next Mon
day ind Tuesday.
Catawba county farmers planted
more clover, alfalfa and' lespedeza
this spring than at any previous
I time during the eight years County
is' Agent J. W. Hendricks has been at
“ALIAS JIMMY VALENTINE
part talking, is well acted, and has | work in the county.
drama and suspense in it. |
Some very attractive values ini romance.
Spring and Summer wear are an-[You will enjoy it. At Oasis Theatre. See Oasis Theatre’s special offer
nou^ed by Workman’s in a page ad. | next Monday- and Tuesday. And i of Free Silverware. You cannot af-
in this paper. 1 don’t forget the Vitaphone acts. 1 ford to overlook this.
f