PAGE FOUK
firestone MlWi
JUNE 25, 1955
Good Highways Needed For Defense, Economic Progress
A long-range building program for an
adequate highway system in the United States
will mean thousands of new jobs for American
workers.
That a desperate need for an adequate
highway system exists, there can be no doubt.
Every expert in the field agrees that the need
exists, that it is urgent, and that immediate
action should be taken.
* S|! *
AN ADEQUATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM is
needed for the survival of the nation in time of
war and for the full development of the econo
my of the country in time of peace. Our high
way system must be geared to future needs to
permit the continued expansion of the national
economy for the benefit of all. Such a system
also is necessary in the interest of traffic
safety. These are the needs, every one of them
of basic importance.
* ^ *
IF A GIGANTIC EFFORT to meet these
needs is made in getting a highway building
program under way—and only a gigantic ef
fort will do—here is what roads can mean in
terms of jobs:
Jobs by the thousands will be created to
get done the task of modernizing our highway
system—jobs manning bulldozers, paving ma
chines, picks and shovels, and additional thous
ands of new jobs of producing cement, sand,
gravel, stone, slag, asphalt, tar, steel, lumber.
* * sK
ACCORDING TO THE U. S. Department of
Labor, the 1954 average of 220,000 workers
actually engaged in road construction will go to
500,000 by 1960. That is, provided an adequate
program is undertaken nationwide and in the
near future.
In addition to this economic stimulus for
the American economy, other benefits will nat
urally follow for every working man in the
country who drives a car. And 65 per cent of all
workers drive to their jobs.
A modern interstate highway system will
provide everyone with quicker, safer and cheap
er transportation, not only to work, but to what
ever destination a person’s car is driven.
* * *
AN AMERICAN JOB-HOLDER pays an
estimated $775 a year to operate his car. Part
of this sum is wasted because of our outmoded
highways. It is wasted in excessive gasoline
consumption, extra wear on brakes and other
unnecessary operating costs. In all, the sum of
$3 billion a year is wasted in this way. That
amounts to an average of $100 a car.
Of particular interest to those in the rub
ber industry is this fact; that because of our
poor roads, some people are using their cars
less and less. They prefer not to drive at all in
the jungles of city traffic. If this trend is allow
ed to continue, some traffic experts predict
severe restrictions may be applied to the use
of automobiles. A blueprint is not needed to
forecast the result of the rubber industry.
4s ^ ^
BUT WHAT CAN AN INDIVIDUAL DO
in a situation as vast and complex as this one?
The answer is that you can do what everyone
can and should do, and that is to “talk it up”
every day_ among your friends, to members of
your family and others. The most effective
thing you can do is to make known to your
Senators and Representatives that you are
aware of the deplorable state of the country’s
highways and that as their constituents you
want their help to put over in Congress a high
way system that will meet the needs of today
and the future. Your Senators are: Hon. Sam J.
Erwin and Hon. Kerr Scott, The Senate Office
Building, Washington, D. C. Your Congressman
is Hon. Woodrow Jones, Washington 25, D. C.
Employees Give To
Blood Bank
(Continued from page 3)
MARY M. CHILDERS, Edna
Howard, Junior R. Bingham, Lu
cille M. Baker, Ray D. Thomas,
Carmon F. Robinson, Purvie Clon-
inger, John Foster, Grady L. Davis,
Cramer J. McDaniel, William F.
Hogan, Lloyd Smith, Roland B.
Jolly, Ray W. England, Coy J.
Davis, Paul Powers.
William M. Moore, Wilson Glis-
son, Katherine Davis, Myrtle Brad
ley, Walter R. Barnes, Walter H.
Watterson, Eva Henson, Jurlene
Strickland, Margaret Rhyne, Doro
thy N. Couick, J. C. Barnes, James
M. Cooper, Thomas E. Bradley,
Odell Thomas, Clinton Guffey, Hat
tie Stacy, Ronald R. Beaver, W. 0.
Stephenson, J. A. Haney, Ben T.
Hanna.
♦ * *
ROBERT S. BRYANT, Sam F.
Honeycutt, Ruth L McCreight,
Myriel Horton, Francis B. Galligan,
Phillip Williams, Oscar W. Hart,
C. M, Horton, Dorothy W. Owens-
by, Roy M, Chastain, Sallie E.
Crawford, Charlie M. Plyler, Eula
Wilson, Vernon Treece.
Ollie Liles, Johnny T. Jones,
Thomas A. Grant, William R. Turn
er, Jr., John T. Crane, Eulalia
Brock, Thurmon B. Davis, Lois P.
Bolding, Shirley P. Bolding, Win
ston Phillips, Thomas A. Ramsey,
Opal Bradley, Bobbie Baldwin,
Nellie H. Stowe, John A. Verdery.
Vigilance Helps
Cancer Control
Many deaths from cancer
occur because the patient
waits too long to see a doctor
about the symptoms, Dr. John
R. Bond, chairman Gaston
County Unit of the American
Cancer Society, said in a re
cent letter which commended
Firestone employees for their
contribution to the Cancer
Crusade for 1955.
Dr. Bond urged that each one
who contributed read one of the
leaflets or posters that the Society
puts out. He advised each person
to have at least one complete
physical examination a year, “This
is the only way that you can find
early cancer which has a good
chance of being cured,” he said.
Dr. Bond urged employees to visit
the local cancer center, or to let
the personnel there know of in
digent cases of cancer immediately.
“That way,” he said, an individual
can receive help—in time.”
The local county office is located
at 232 East Main Avenue. It is open
on Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p. m., and
on Fridays from 10 a. m., to 12
noon. The telephone, listed under
“American Cancer Society,” is
4-1271,
Program Stresses Safety During Vacation
With children now on vacation from school, there is need for
special emphasis on child safety. The Safety Committee of the Gas
tonia Chamber of Commerce urges that parents not only teach their
children to observe traffic rules and general home safety precautions,
but also by setting the proper example for them in safety practices.
A committee charged with the meeting of this objective is com
posed of L. B. McAbee, Firestone Textiles, Chairman; W. G. Hardin,
Rex Mills; Rivers Scruggs, Akers Motor Lines.
ANNIVERSARY IMPRESSIONS
Tours Brought Varied Reactions
Visitors’ interest in technological advancement, the variety of
products made from Firestone Textiles materials, and the frequent
expressions of good will for the Company were high on the list of
reactions gained by Firestone News reporters during the 20th Anni
versary Open House week here in early May.
Questions asked by the touring public ranged from “How do 1
apply for a job at Firestone?” to “How many yards of fabric does that
loom weave in 8 hours?”
Among frequently noted improvements were the speed of the
looms, the modern automatic equipment, and production efficiency.
Most often noted was the giant plastic dip cord-treating equipment.
So complete did the industrial revolution appear that one veteran who
was employed here from 1908 to 1924, “couldn’t find a thing that
looked familiar.”
Many visitors were impressed by the evidence of safety procedures
in the plant.
Hundreds paused in the plant entrance for a look at the flowers
and the display centered around the bust of Harvey S, Firestone, Sr.,
founder of the Company.
HELP YOUR YOUNGSTER TO BE A SAFER BIKE RIDER
m
Before you permit your young
ster to ride a bicycle on the
road—Check the condition of
the bike itself — handle bars
tight, coaster brake in good
working condition, tires not
worn. Is the bike the right size
to handle easily? Does the
bike have a carrier or basket
so that hands are free for steer
ing, a light and rear reflector
for riding after dark?
Teach your rider — to use
proper hand signals, ride only
one on a bike and only single
file in a group on the road, ob
serve warning signs and traffic
lights. There should be no
swerving or fooling on bikes on
the street. Teach him to be
alert for vehicle traffic.
AMERICAN MUTUAL LIAB. INS. CO.
raiNTID IN U. S. A.
News In Brief
(Continued from page 3)
nieces. Misses Shirley and Judy White of Lenoir, visiting them.
Mrs. Jean Brock, main office, and her husband, Connie Brock, have
returned from a two-week vacation at Santee Cooper River, S. C.
The annual Kaylor Reunion was held Sunday, May 21 at the home
of J. R. Kaylor on the Oakwood Road, Gastonia. Attending were Mrs.
Mildred Mack, daughter of J. R. Kaylor; Raymond Mack, Laboratory;
Mrs. Gladys Nygard, Main Office; Miss Maude Jordan, Twisting De
partment; and other relatives. There were 89 relatives present at the
reunion.
Steve Smith, son of Clerk John P. Smith, has been awarded the
Varsity A Athletes Award for participation in football, ibasketball and
baseball at Arlington Junior High School for 1954 and 1955.
Carol McAllister, daughter of Mrs. Ruby McAllister, cloth burler,
played in a piano recital which was held at the Woman’s Club, Gastonia,
recently.
FIRESTONE TEXTILES
P. O. BOX 551
GASTONIA, N. C.
SEC. 34.66 P. L. & R.
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
GASTONIA, N. C.
PERMIT NO. 29
Form 3547 Requested