Support public school education
by enlisting your services in United
Forces for Education—a non-profit
organization dedicated to the task
of bettering public schools in North
Carolina.
NEWS
GASTONIA
Firestone Textiles employees are
helping make Gastonia a “City of
Growing Beauty” by home im
provements and the building of
new homes. See the employee’s
new home featured in this issue.
Volume i
GASTONIA, N. C., NOVEMBER 5, 1952
NO. 12
Public Education
Getting Boost In
Open UFE Meet
the united forces FOK
^cation, a group of organizations
interested citizens who are in-
prested in bettering North Caro-
s school system, will hold an
opon public meeting Thursday
t, November 6, at the Gastonia
igh School auditorium.
^^One of the objectives of UFE is
encourage and promote con-
® ^uctiye legislative programs that
include these basic features:
) The immediate reduction of
size from 32 pupils to 30
'^pils based on average daily at-
ance and the reduction to 25
^Pils per teacher as soon as
possible.
(2) A salary schedule of $2600
94100 fox- A Certificated teach-
ent ^ based on pres-
j conditions with commensurate
Cl eases in salaries of other school
®i'^nnel. The salary schedule for
ba teachers shall be
on not more than 12 in-
events.
^^(3) Sufficient funds to employ
qu number of properly
^ 1 led attendance enforcement
personnel.
me not only to
pejf ^^5^'®^sed costs of current ex-
^ddir ^Iso to provide
1‘equired services and
applies.
isslf ^ outlay funds by bond
complete present school
’og These funds to
basic of need and
Si^yjojrovide^
on Page 2)
^ates. Bag Limits
^et For Hunters
season October 15
D-ly bag
Wei^u: , of two. No bear
pounds may
'‘’“'5' C hW hunting-
]». umit one.
St^te-wide open sea-
3i. November 27 to January
^0, anr/ ^ possession
limit of 75.
^'ovemi * ^_|'^^®‘Wide season from
^aily K through January 31.
^6, and^^ eight. Possession
Wit ^^fson limit of 100.
Only) „ "^UJ^KEYS: (Gobblers
^ovenih season from
Daily through January 31.
So one, possession two,
limit of three,
general POSSUM: The
t^ber 1 c extends from Oc-
divi(jg^ . ^LS: The state has been
f three zones with a
in 45October 15 to January
®^stal plains counties;
f n to January 15 in 25
? 'l^^nua '^^^ties; and October 1
Dai[^ ^ Mountain Coun-
^ limit of 16, and a
squirrels will be
local exceptions in
part of the state.
For Better Public Schools
MB
UNITED FORCES FOR EDUCATION—A movement is under
way throughout the state to bring greater attention to the needs
of public schools in North Carolina. Shown above are representatives
from all phases of Gastonia community life who met recently at the
Masonic Temple to consider organizing a unit of United Forces for
Education in Gastonia—a central agency designed to coordinate
the work of the various civic, church, business, and industrial groups
throughout the state that take an active interest in public education.
Messrs. T. B. Ipock and R. H. Hood of the Industrial Relations De
partment attended this meeting.
What’s Your Hobby?
Carl Rape Raises Champion Rabbits;
Is Leader In Rabbit Breeder's Group
ABOUT three years ago Second
Hand- Carl Rape of the Carding
Department became interested in
raising rabbits. Since then he has
advanced to the point that the
American Rabbit Breeder’s Asso
ciation has recognized him as a
scientific rabbit breeder; admitted
him and the Gaston County Rabbit
Breeder’s Association, which he
helped organize, to its member
ship; and awarded one of his
rabbits the highest award the
association offers — the Grand
Champion Award. Yet with Mr.
Rape, rabbit breeding is strickly a
hobby, there being no desire on his
part to be a commercial producer
of rabbits.
There are two breeds in Mr.
Rape’s rabbit colony: the New
Zealand White and the Giant
Chinchilla. He now has 40 of the
Whites and 10 Giants—all valued
breeders. As a result of careful
selection of breeding stock, he is
able to dispose of most of his sur
plus rabbits to others who want
high quality rabbits with which to
start into the rabbit raising busi
ness.
The New Zealand White weighs
an average of 10 pounds when full
grown as compared to 14 pounds
for the Giant Chinchilla. They are
considered by many to be better
than chicken as a meat, especially
when used as eight-week-old
fryers.
The Gaston County Rabbit
Breeder’s Association, of which Mr.
Rape is a charter member, has 27
active members. Nearly half of
this number are Firestone em
ployees.
^ - - .
CHAMPION RABBIT GROWER CARL RAPE exhibits his
finest rabbits including this White Chinchilla Doe and her litter.
Mr. Rape’s rabbits have won the highest awards offered by the
American Association of Rabbit Bieedeis.
Enlarged, Remodeled Main Office Is
Planned And Equipped For Efficiency
A PARTIALLY NEW and com
pletely remodeled 'Main Office is
now a reality at Firestone Textiles.
Ihe plant’s own employees did the
job, from plans drawing to final
decorating of the finished offices.
The new portion of the building
measures 32 by 70 feet, which in
creases total floor space from 2004
to 3554 square feet. The entire
structure is sprinklered, for fire
protection, and air conditioned.
Among the several other modern
features is an electric eye at the
front entrance \vhich gives notice
of all persons entering or leaving
the building. With this “eye” in
operation the receptionist can
attend to other duties, yet always
know when visitors enter.
In addition to the offices of
General Manager and Comptroller,
the Main Office provides space for
these functions: Accounting, pay
roll, purchasing, insurance, and
sales yarn ordering.
As a part of the modernizing
program, all office fui-niture has
been' re-finished in a light shade
of gi’ey. This was done to lessen
eye strain (through reduced con
trast between the white of paper
and the background on which it
lies, the desk top) and to enhance
the appearance of the furniture.
COMPTROLLER E. J. Mechem
occupies what was formerly the
general manager’s office. The
latter office is now a part of
the new office addition. Mr.
Mechem has supervision over all
payroll and accounting opera
tions of the plant.
(Pictures Continued on Page 2)
Firestone's Plant
Publications Paid
Tribute In Award
NATIONAL i-ecognition for its
outstanding public relations ac
complishments in the field of labor
relations was given The Firestone
Tire & Rubber Company in an
award announced recently by the
American Public Relations Asso
ciation of Washington, D. C. |
The award pays tribute to the
“development of a company-wide
Employee Communication program
to increase interest and under
standing among employee families
of Firestone operations and poll- I
cies.” I
The award was given for the j
Firestone program of putting em
ployee publications in the hands
of the Company’s factory and
office workers in the United
States, with readership of approxi
mately 120,000 persons, including
members of the families of em
ployees.
Two years ago Firestone was
cited by the American Pi\blic Re
lations Association for its public
relations activity in the field of
manufactui'ing. At that time, the
Company won national recognition
for focusing public and employee
attention on the part Firestone ac
tivities had contributed to a better
way of life, economically and
socially, in the United States.
THE FIRESTONE IMPERIAL
white side wall tire is proudly
displayed in the remodeled
visitors waiting room. On a ad
jacent wall of this very modern
room is a mural-sized picture of
The Firestone Tire & Rubber
Company in Akron, Ohio.
Meet- Your Reporter
-•I
(Continued on page 3)
Mils. GERTRUDE SANDERS,
roving hauler, is second shift re
porter for the Carding Depart
ment. Mrs. Sanders and her hus
band, Maford M. Sanders, live at
304 South Highland Street. Mr.
Sanders is likewise a roving
hauler, having the same job on
the first shift that his wife has
on the second. The Sanders have
one child, a son, David Sanders,
aged five. Mrs. Sanders has been
an employee for seven years.