North Carolina Newspapers

f Established 1885 Oldest North Carolina Newspaper West of Buncombe County ? i ' 4 WW Wi lifl Wanbjfi TJaconiati JMU I I L If v Vl II Wi PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL INDEPENDENT 1802 Circulation Affording Advertisers Thorough Coverage of Macon County VOL. LVI. NO. 4 FRANKLIN, N. C THURSDAY. JANUARY 23, 1941 Agricultural Buflcling Has Destructive Fire Damage By Fire, Water Last Saturday Covered By Insurance The Agricultural Building was partially destroyed by fire early last Saturday, when Night Police man Officer saw a blaze on the roof about 5:30 o'clock. The great er part of the interior of the build ing was burned or damaged. The offices of Sam Mendenhall and T. H. Fagg, farm agents,' and Fred Sloan, district farm agent, suffered ' from smoke and water, and are in condition to be used, while the rest of the building will have to under go extensive repairs before it can be occupied. The fire broke through the roof and burned through the floor at a point in the hall where a waste basket stood, and was spreading i from this, point when discovered and promptly halted by the Frank lin fire department. It is supposed that a match or cigarette was thrown in the basket and smould ered for some hours before start ing a blaze, but the cause cannot be positively ascertained. The fire hose was still playing on the fire at 8:30 a. m. ; A lame auantitv of cotton was seriously threatened, but no cotton I church in the old school house or mattresses were destroyed in nunaing. the large room occupied by the , Another . church service was held mattress project. A small quantity " P m wun me K.ev. j. i of ticking was burned, also most ; Stokes, 11, pastor of the Franklin ot the contents ot the Home Uem onstration office, occupied by Mrs, Asbury Church Opening Attended By Many ;'l The first services held in the new Asbury Methodist church building last Sunday morning and afternoon were attended by a large congregation of members, and vis itors. The Rev. W. L. Hutchins, sup erintendent of the Waynesville dis trict, who was to deliver the prin cipal sermon, was1 unable to at tend because of illness. The Rev. J. C. Swaim, pastor of the church, had charge of the services and preached the morning sermon. J. Horner Stockton, of the Frank lin Baptist church, offered the prayer and Miss Hazel Bradley, a daughter of Mr and Mrs. Ed Bradley of Otto, who gave the property on which the church was built, gave a ; brief history . of the college, gave a brief history of the Asbury churches in that com- fmunity, Mrs. Claude Bradley, on behalf of the church, thanked- all members, friends and business con cerns of Franklin, Clayton, Ga., and other near-by towns for their generous help, financially, and with materials and labor At the close of the service lunch was served by members of the Franklin School And - Four Rural Schools Closed Until Monday On account of the epidemic of influenza school authorities decid ed to close the Franklin school Thursday and Friday, reopening on Monday. It is reported that about one-fourth of the pupils are absent on account of sickness, and several of the teachers. As a precaution ary measure to prevent the spread of the epidemic, this action was taken Mrs. Philip Green, Miss Frances Barringer and Miss'. Catherine Sehr- rill have been absent this week with "flu The .school bus schedules of the Franklin school have also been discontinued for these two days, which also closes the Cowee, Oak Grove, Iotla and Slagle schools, as pupils of these rural schools are served by the Franklin school buse&. Florence Sherrill, and the Farm Security office of K; F. Montague. The building was insured for $10,000 and the damage estimated at $5,000. Rickman And Talley Leave For Fort Bragg . Dewitt Edgar Rickman, of West's Mill and Ed Henry Talley, ' of ., Highlands will leave on Friday , j morning for Fort Bragg. They re place John Sherman . Welch, . o , ' , Franklin - Route 3, and .Barnetl .Howell Glidewell, of Otto, .who ac compained Macon county's quota of volunteers last Thursday, but who - failed in their physical examination on arrival. Assembly Aeceives ' Record Spending Program . Introduction of the 1941 Revenue and Appropriation Bills in both houses highlighted the second week of the 1941 General ( Assembly. A score of other important public measures, including reapportion ment and congressional redisrict ing, educational, utilities, agricul tural, highway and usury legisla tion, were presented and sent to committees. Methodist church preaching the sermon. . Rv. And Mrs. Swaim Honored One of the memorial windows was given by the congregation in appreciation of the devoted and self-sacrificing labor of the pastor and his wife, Rev. and Mrs. Swaim, without whose efforts the church could iiot have., been built. All the windows in the new church . axe : memorials , given by members. . Members x and friends ' from Franklin. Dillard, Clayton and sur rounding communities 1 attended ihtim .opening services and-attwere proud and rejoiced with the com munity in such a fine church in which to worship.' Scruggs Home Burned Monday Night The family of Walt and Fanny Scruggs, colored, consisting of a daughter and child were made homeless by the burning of their house in East Franklin Monday night. They saved only a few quilts. Their friends are assisting them with household necessities. They owned the small frame house, but had no insurance. This is the third time the Scruggs have suffered the loss of their home by fire. W SPREADS IN MACON CO. Health Department Issues Rules And Instructions To Citizens i BENEFIT BALL NEXT THURSDAY For President's Birthday Fund For Infantile Paralysis Chairman Harley Cabe and Lest er Arnold announce that the local committee for the Jnfantile Par alysis campaign has planned to celebrate the Presidents birthday with a square dance at Panorama Courts on next Thursday evening, January,30, beginning at 8 o'clock. The admission will be fifty cents a person, the funds to go to the prevention and cure of infantile paralysis. One-half of the proceeds of the birthday parties; and other activities being carried on at this time throughout the nation will remain with the local committee to be used for cases in the com munity. Highland Festivities A number of festivities have been planned for Highlands by their local : committee, Miss Eva Potts, chairman, according to Jack H. Potts, county chairman, and an nounced in last , week's Franklin Pre&s and Highlands Maconian and the Highlands Highlights in this issue. Franklin people are Cordial ly invited to attend the Highlands parties, and vice versa. ' Helen' Barn Dance Jan. 29 The date' of the square dance scheduled to take place at Helen's Bank Of Franklin Plans To Rebuild At An Early Date William Barnard Prominent Citizen Dies After Brief Illness As The World Turns A Brief Survey of Current Events In State, Nation and Abroad. TOBRUK FALLS TO BRITISH The fall of the major Italian Libyan base of Tobruk to the British African army was announc ed officially. With 30,000 Italian prisoner, taken the number of prisoners was raised to about 100, 000 with huge supplies of war booty, BRITIAN IN ITS 'WAR STRIDE" Prime Minister Churchill declar ed yesterday that Britain must 8 LEND-LEASE BILL sending reinforcements to help the defeated Italian forces, and it is believed will seek to crush Brit ain's hold in the Mediterranean. WENDELL WILLKIE FLIES TO ENGLAND Wendell Willkie, who boarded the Yankee Clipper at New York on Tuesday for a trip to England, carried a message to Churchill from President Roosevelt. Mr. Willkie favors all-out aid to Britain. conscript her manpower and wo manpower for labor to supply Bri tain army of 4,000,000. "This great nation has got into its war stride, he told the house of commons. CREEKS ADVANCE ON VALONA The Greeks are pressing their offensive relentlessly toward Va lona and Berat in some of the bloodiest bayonet fighting of the Albanian campaign. The Italians retreated only after fierce counter-ntftacks. RUMANIA IN STATE OF NEAR-ANARCHY Rumania faces anarchy, civil war end the alternative of "order re stored by Nazi troops. Strict cen sorship reveals only that the ex tremists are seeking to oust Dictator-General Antonescu, and that several hundred persons, have been killed in bitter fighting. SECRET MEETING OF HITLER AND MUSSOLINI The matters discussed by Hitler and Mussolini in their recent sec ret meeting at an undisclosed place have pot been rtveikd. Hitler U Hearing before the House com mittee on the lend-lease bill con tinue. Witnesses favor aid to Brit ain, but differ, largely along party lines, on the degree of aid, and ex tent of power granted to the president JUSTICE M'REYNOLDS RETIRES Associate Justice James C Mc Reynolds, Utter foe or New Deal, announced his retirement to the U. S. Supreme Court yesterday. He is a native of Kentucky, 79 years old and has served 26 years. Senator Byrnes of South Carolina has been strongly recommended as his successor. N. C LEGISLATURE AND PAN-AMERICAN GOOD NEIGHBORS A party of 70 educators and pro fessional men and women from Sooth American coon tries have ar rived in Chapel Hill for six weeks study of the United States. The Legislature will bold m session in Chapel Hill on Thursday, January 30 and make itself an exhibition in law making for these Pan- American Good Neighbor!, Dr. E. N. Haller, county health physician and head of Macon county health department, has warned all citizens of the serious Barn has been changed from Mon proportions of the present influ- j day, January 27 to Wednesday, enza - epidemic, wnne prevalence January 29. of the disease in this county is j ' not yet as widespread as in some n t a -J i Other communities, there is no rea-j. t v'B"" an son why it should not become so. LHtO OCnOOl LHStriCt It. probably will unless all citizens ! Parents ana teacners of the Otto cooperate to check its spread by . . , ... . . . . observing all rules to that end. i SchJ1 dlStr,c mt December 12. Dr.- HaUer .ive.stheoUowing a"d asSlsted h s' Fd Slagle rules and instructions fbr .four who is president of the Parent protection and the safety of others., TtT . ,1. Association of Franklin, Any epidemic can be effectively organized 1 a -Par6BUTeachrAsso- curtailed with intelligent applica- cation, I he tallowing officers tion of rules to prevent its spread. elected: . Mrs. Jim Gray, .iW TUm,., , prwHiewj . rs j-eonaxa Myers, . . , 1 . vice-president; Mrs. Edd Henson, 1. Remain at home, if unemploy- s,rrparv aoj Mr. Arti,.,, ed, as long as new cases are be- jandi treasurer. ing reported. I . The first ' rmifar nthur ni thU Z Postpone all pleasure trips, or organization was held January 16. travel on trains, busses, or crowd- The new officers were installed. ed taxis. 'members enrolled, and membershio. 3. Beware of anybody with a program, publications. les:islative. cough, or sneezing. i and hospitality committees were 4. Avoid unnecessary conversa-; appointed. J. J. Mann. Drincioal of tion with people on the street, at ; the Otto school was chosen his- work, in the stores, etc. j torian. The president gave an m- 5. Keep away from crowds, con- structive lecture on the parent's gregations, meetings, parties, square duties to the school dancing, etc. The association is to meet at the William D. (Doc) Barnard. 77. died at his home on Iotla Wed nesday night about 12 o'clock. following an illness of six weeks. Mr. Barnard, a widely-known citizen of Macon county, was born and reared in the Iotla community. He was the son of the late Wil liam and Auline Lench Barnard. and waj. born on October 7, 1863. He was married to Miss Ela Win stead, who survives him.They had been married 53 years. They liad no children. Mr. Barnard served Macon county a.s conunissioner for several terms and was also a member of he county board of education for a number of years. Mr. Barnard was a member of the knla Methodist church and of the Masonic order of the Juna- luskee Lodge No. 145 of Frank lin. : He was a former director of the Bank of Franklin and a present stockholder in the bank. Funeral services will be held on Friday morning at 11 o'clock at the Iotla Methodist church. The Rev. Philip . Green, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be in the church cemetery. The pallbearers will be Will Childers, Ted Campbell, Fred Willis, Jim Willis, Ell Welch. Frank Moody, Sam Sweatman and James E. Myers. Surviving are the widow and two brothers, Thomas Barnard of Asheville and J. L. Barnard, Sr., ot franklin. Fifteen Per Cent Dividend Declared And Officers Re-Elected 6. Cancel friendly or social func tions, visiting, chatting, etc 7. Avoid the use of improperly sterilized cups, glasses, and eating utensils' at home and other places. scalding water will sterilize eat ing 'utensils. ' 8. The use of the vaccine as a preventive is worth trying. How ever, it must be taken oefore any Flu symptoms appear. : What To Do If Yon Get "Flu1 1. Go home at once and remain there until coughing and sneezing has stopped. 2. Stay in your room and keep away from others at home. 3. Call your doctor.. . 4. Use precautions while sick always cough and sneeze, into a handkerchief. - 5. Sterilize your eating utensils, cups and glasses to kill the Flu germs. The use of scalding water will, do this. Facta About Tho "FIim" 1. It is a very contagious ("catch ing") disease. 1 2. Few people are able to resist the Flu. 3. The Flu spreads . from person to person by a cough, sneeze, or by talking at close range. . 4. A relaple from the Flu is common, and serious. 5. Complications from the Flu are dangerous. Most often it is pneumonia. Some of the other com plications are: pleurisy, weak lungs. chronic cough, tuberculosis, heart trouble, kidney trouble, ear . ab scess, mastoid intection, sinus trouble, and prolonged weakness. 6. Influenza is a reportable dis ease. Physicians, parents, teachers, and othew are required to report it. Otto school the second Thursday of each month at 3 o'clock. All parents of the district are urged to attend and visitors are cordially invited. Rush Cemetery To Be Cleaned The Rush cemetery at Riverside will be cleaned on Friday, Janu ary 31, as was announced by J. T. Cabe. All members of the community are asked to come and bring lunch, and stay until the work is done. The expiration date of your sub scription is on the address label of this paper. Honor Roll Of FranklinSchool Pupili For Second Quarter The following pupils received grades during the second quarter that entitle them to be listed on the honor roll: 2nd Grade, Mrs. Elsie Franks, teacher : Evelyn Roper, jeanette Hall. Marshall Ramey. Mrs. Kate Williams, teacher : Mary Sue Potts, John Archer. 3rd Grade, Mrs. Pearl Hunter, teacher: Jo Ann Todd. Jeanette Robinson, Howard Baldwin, Cullen Bryant, Curley Walker. Miss Mar garet Slagle, teacher: Marie Wal droop, Edith Plemmons. 4th Grade, Miss Edna Jamison. teacher: Marie Jennings, Elizabeth Phillips, Mary Alice Archer, Ber gen Hall. 5th Grade, Mrs. Margaret Ram sey, teacher: Howard Horsley. oth Grade, Miss May Burvl Moody, teacher: Edgar Angel, Mac Duncan. Mrs. Lola Barring- ton, teacher: Roy Phillips, Freda Arnold, John Angel, Ruth Brvson. Hazel Robison, Virginia Porter Kuth Moore. 8th Grade,. Miss . Frances Bar ringer, teacher: Myra Slagle. Mrs. Katherinc O'Neil, teacher: Marie Waters. 9th Grade. Mr. J C Hawkins, teacher: Clell Bryant Mary Fran ces Page, Barbara Stockton. 10th Grade, Mrs. Lois Green, teacher: Marion Carr, Virginia Bryant, Emogene Landrum. 11th Grade, Mr Marie Stewart, teacher: William Led ford. PosrGraduates, Miss Annie Bail ey, teacher: Rosalie Kiser. Plans have been accepted by .the directors of the Bank of Franklin for the new bank building on the site of the building destroyed by fire on November 10, it was learn ed this week; S. Grant Alexander and A.li- ciates of Asheville are architects for the proposed new two-story structure, which will be built of brick and niodern throughout. The building will cover the entire lot occupied by the buildings destroy ed by fire, two-thirds of the area belonging to the Bank of Franklin and the other third the property of Harve Bryant. f The bank buildilit: oroner will be built with a facade along mod ern architectural lines, elevated above the rest of the buildinu with inset entrance, and with stair case to the offices of the second story ascending from a lobby. Architect Completes PUn Mr. Alexander came over from Asheville on Monday for the pur pose of looking over the lot and making final adjustments for blue prints, according to Henry W. Cabe, cashier, who, stated that work would begin as soon as possible. Director Re-Elected Meeting to organize on January 15, the board of directors of the ' Bank of Franklin elected the fol lowing officers: C. Frank Moody, chairman of the board; Dr. W. A. Rogers, president; M. D. Billings vice-president; Henry W. Cabe, cashier; L. B. Liner, assistant cashier. At the annual meeting of the stockholders held on January 8, the hoard , of directors was re elected as follows: M. D. Billings. hHsfiJW; .Cabe R L. J jwdle, orover -Jamison, Sr, R. S. JoBeV C. Frank Moody, Dr. W. A. Rogers, v Dividend1 Declared At the stockholders' meeting the report for the year 1940 .showed a gain of $125,205 in the total re sources, an increase of 35 per cent over the resources of 1939. The payment of a 15 per cent dividend to stockholders was announced. The executive committee is com posed of Messrs. Billings, Dowdle and Jamison. Jones and fones were re-elected attorneys. Bill To Abolish Tax Penalties In Macon Macon Housing Figures Reported By Census Census figures recently released in regard to H6uTttK-6ffk:--Ih: state show that Macon county has a total of 3,854, of which 3,489 were occupied, and 240 for sale or rent, April 1, 1940. On a basis of 15,880 population, an average of 4.6 persons per unit. MaconV percentage of 6.2 per cent Macon's percentage was 6.2 per cent state's average was 3.1 per cent. Of the total number of dwellings in North Carolina, 70 per cent were listed in rural communities (places of less than 2.500 oooula- tioin.) . Sizo Of Family Shows Decrease The number of occupied dwell ing units represents approximately the number of private households in the respective areas. Compared I Dr. W. A. Rogers, Macon coun- r ,1 . . OI P"vate nouse- ty s representative in the lower holds in '1930, there is an increase of 22 per cent, as compared with 12.7 per cent of increase in popu lation. This is explained by the fat that the average size of the family in North Carolina has de creased considerably since 1930 as it has throughout the country. house of the General Assembly, meeting in RaleiKh. has introduced a bill entitled H B 25, "Abolishing Tax Penalties in Macon county." The provisions of the act would be in effect as soon as ratified. The bill has been sent to the Committee on Finance. CITIZENS ON THE RECORD The general level of farm wages on January 1. at 124 per cent of the 1910-14 average, was five points higher than a year earlier, aavs the U. S. Agricultural Marketing Service, - Under this head The Franklin Press and Highlands Maconian will print comments of citizens on matters of public interest. Suggestions of queries will be appreciated. THIS WEEK'S QUESTION "WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE BILL PROPOSED LAST WEEK BY MACON COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVE DR W A. ROGERS, TO REMOVE THE PENALTY FROM TAXES FOR 1940 AND THEREAFTER?" T J- HORNER STOCKTON: "I have not seen this bill and do not know its full contents, however, if I am correctly informed, I favor its passage. Personally, I have never favored allowinT h;,,.,.. . paid early nor charging a penalty on those paid Jater. This, in my. way of thinking ,s giving the tax payer most able to pay the advantage. 1 do not believe m penalizing one tax payer just because he does not happen to have the ready cash to pay his taxes as early as some other tax payer. I think the bill should bo two stenc further tn-u,:. .1 i:.t. discounts as well as penalties and limit th int.r.ct -i. a tcm. i ms is me maximum legal rate in state and I do not think a political subdivision of the state si marge more. our hould T. W .PORTER: "From a business standpoint, I think the penalty should be charged when taxes are not paid on time. Personally I would be glad not to have to pay the penalty." toMnav SAN,DtERS "people should be given an opportunity to pay their taxes later without a penalty, for this reason: We have few payrolls ra Macon county and no surplus crops; January Febru ary and March are therefore lean month,. The present time for pay ment of taxes catches both fanners and merchant, ,t a time when they are least able to pay." ' , ..R. S. JONES: "I have not read Dr. Rogers' bill, so I would not like to express myself until I am acquainted with it, exact provision! MRS. PEARL L. WRIGHT: "Since I have to pay my taxes br in stallments I would like tosee the penalty remove! l7wouTd telp l lot of people who do not have the money in January" T. W. ANGEL: "I think the count v should due after a certain time, but as now required, the time for the payment of taxes comei when it if hard fo most people to pty.