VOLUME XLIX, NO. 40
LAUREL CREEK
ROAD IS URGED
Tennesssan Tells of Advantage;
Which Would Enure From
Building New Highway.
Commenting on the need for the
completion of the highway frorr
Sugar Grove to Butler and Johnaor
City, Mr. Finley P. Curtis, writing
in the Johnson City Chronicle, has
this to say:
Many comments have been received
on a recent column concerning the
suggestion of "a highway or sort of
skyline drive" from Johnson City to
Boone, N. C., by way cf Elizabethtori
and Butler and through Beech
Creek and Cove Creek valley, to be
built -by North Carolina and Tennessee
jointly. I have received several
requests to write more on the subject.
wen. 01 course, a whole lot might
fee written on it, but in my opinion
the most important thing is the practical
need for it. This immediate
section especially needs it, for there
in no good direct route in thin end of
Jo'nuson or Carter county from Butler
to Boone ami other towns and
cities in North Carolina. To reach
any such towns or cities from this vicinity
one must travel either by way
of Mountain City or by way of Hampton
and Roan Mountain, which routes
require many miles of additional
travel.
The present road from Butler to
Beech Creek, N. C.. which has been
the only road in use for fifty years
or longer, usually is in such bad condition
that it cannot be traveled with
a satisfactory degree of speed, safety,
comfort or pleasure. During winter
lime 11 is practically impassable;
hence, it is not very much help.
Tourists, If they were o:i the way to
Boone or other towns or cities ill
North Carolina, would not even stop
to consider this road, although they
had to travel more than a hundred
miles out of their way to reach their
objectives. It would be the same if
tourists in towns or cities of Western
North Carolina wanted to reach certain
towns or cities in this section of
East Tennessee. Many miles of additional
travel would separate them
from their objectives.
As suggested in the recent column
referred to, such a highway from
Johnson City to Boone, N. C., by way
of Butler, would open a vast territory
almost unbelievably rich in forests,
farming and grazing lands, natural
resources of many kinds and inexhaustible
waterpower. At least three
sit s 011 WHtauga river, six to eight
miles from Butler, long have been
considered especially Important as
*uuiT;e3j ui wmer power. II now appears
there is seme good prospect of
harnessing "Watauga's current for
practical use.
And as for the natural scenery to
be viewed along such a highway, I
dare say it could he rivaled hardly
by any other section of the country.
To travelers its wild and rugged
beauty would furnish a constant
breath-taking sight. Flower and
fauna, mountain and gorge, rock and
stream there vie in such a .picture of
riotious beauty as to render tongue
and pen inexpressible with wonder.
\>Jo artist could duplicate it on canvass.
A serious and concerted effort on
the part of all the people in the communities
which would be chiefly
benefited is needed to create general
interest in such a project, and the
people should keep right after it until
some definite action is taken. Writing
about it and talking about it may
be good selling points, but considerably
-'ore is needed. Action always
speaks louder than words. Highways
built on paper cannot be traveled.
Two Million AlWatwl
For Secondary Roads
Raleigh, April 11?Governor Hoey,
tor the second time in less than a
year, today allocated $2,000,000 from
the highway fund surplus for the
improvement of secondary, or farmto-market
roads.
The appropriation, the governor
said, was made possible because of
a large highway surplus and "because
the state generally is in good
financial shape." He added, however,
that it still was likely that some
highway money would toe diverted
for general fund expenses before the
end of the 1937-39 toiennium.
SHRUBBERY AVAILABLE
Mayor Gragg tells The Democrat
that there are still some choice
evergreens at the city hall, which are
available to the residents of the city
at wholesale cost. He insists that
those who ucBite to further beauty
their premises take advantage of the
opportunity to get the very best
nursery-grown stock at the lowest
possible price.
VATA\
An independent
? B
BETTERMi
i WEEK ANNOUNCED
j Miss Bridge' County Chairman
of National Event; Clean-up
Campaign Urged
. Miss Elizabeth Bridge, county
t home demonstration ager.t, has been
, appointed county chairman of Better
Homes Week, which will be observed
, April 24 to April 30. Miss Bridge
asks that every organization and individual
co-operate in observing the
period as a "clean-up week." She
, says:
, Better Homes In America is a national
non-profit organization devoted
to the development of a better
appreciation of home and family life,
made possible by a grant from a
v/eli known foundation. Its purpose
is to co-ordinate the work of various
agencies and to create a real psychology
for better homes and better
citizens.
Bo the primary purpose of Better
Homes in America, is education.
j Sine#1 if {9 natlrvn-urirlA In if"
ties it renders a public service by di- j
recting attention to various methods
and aspects of home improvement.
It provides a medium of organized
effort which seeks to help communities
and their families to have better
and more attractive homes. Its purposes
are to:
1. Provide pur citizens with information
on the best standards of home
building, home furnishings and
equipment.
2. Encourage families to study
their housing needs and to pian, build
and furnish their houses in accordance
to these needs.
3. Disseminate information on
home ownership, saving for home
ownership, methods of financing, and
to dujiisifit families with the benefits
to be derived from owning a
home of their own.
4. Promote and encourage the
building of single-family houses
5. Acquaint families with the best
methods of reconditioning old houses
and the improvement of home
grounds.
6. Make communities housing
conscious in order that al! sub-standard
housiug eventually may be eradi
I oaitu.
7. Supply knowledge on more
convenient methods of housekeeping,
the elimination of drudgery and
waste in household operation, and
the fundamentals of household management,
8. Encourage music, reading and
recreation in the home; the building
of character and better family relationships.
9. To develop an appreciation bf
all arts for the real pleasure to be
found in them.
Annual Better Homes campaigns
ore organized as a means of concentrating
public attention on the above
objectives of the various agencies
which are working for better homes
and better home life.
I. G. Greer Will
Address Graduates
Mr. I. G. Greer, superintendent of
the Thomasville Orphanage, will deliver
the baccalaureate address to the
graduating class of the Boone hign
school at the Baptist church Sunday
evening at 8 o'clock.
There will be service at the oth
cr tiiurcnes 111 roe town and tiie puD3ic
is cordially invited to attend.
Notice to Burley
Tobacco Growers
Every farmer in the county who
has not grown burley tobacco before
1938 and who has sown a plant bed
in preparation for growing burley
tobacco in 1938, should call at the
county agent's office immediately to
apply for a base, if they have not already
made application.
Those farmers who grew tobacco
before 1938 and who have not signed"
a work sheet should call at the county
agent's office immediately and see
that their tobacco acreage is listed
correctly.
W. B. COLL,INS,
Oounty AventREFUNDS
TO BE MADE
TO TOBACCO GROWERSj
Mr. W. M. Thomas is in receipt of
a letter from Mir. C. H. Robertson,
collector of internal revenue, in
wuiut it is Histea inai ulose who
sold tobacco under the provisions of
i the Kerr-Smith tobacco act, have the
privilege of filing a claim for the re
fund of taxes paid. Mr. Robertson
has furnished Mr. Thomas with a
supply of the blardts necessary for
i securing the refunds, and he will toe
. glad to render the farmers such as.
sistance aa he can in this connecl
tion.
1
Weekly iNewspaper?Esta
OONE WATAUGA COUNTY, NC
_. ,
Deceased Physician
Dr, Logan E. Farthing:, prominent
Wilmington physician, whose
death brought sorrow to a wide
circle of friends hi Boone, where he
was horn and reared.
imil inhnroa J
*?iL,L awuRiaa ;
LOCAL FARMERS 5
I
Control Measures for Cabbage ^
Diseases are to be Discuss- j
ed by State Authorities. S
J. O. Rowel!, extension entomolo- s
gist, and Dr Luther Shaw, extension >
plant pathologist, will be at the J
courthouse in Boone on Tuesday, j
April 19tli. at 2 p in., to talk to the C
cabbage growers of the county on
control measures for cabbage diseases
and Insects, County Agent W.
B Cnhins announced yesterday^ _ *
Every cabbage grower in the eoun- x'
ty should attend this meeting and
get the latest Inforanation" on controlling
cabbage diseases and Insects.
Sir. Collins says there are: a num- 0
ber of diseases and insects which r
cause considerable damage . do the "
cabbage crop In the county^ Tlie S
farmers of the county could ^wold >'
moat of thin damage if they would
find out liow to corttiol the diseases 1
and insects and then apply the meas- 11
ures required for control. n
It )3 hoped that ?. large number of q
cabbage growers will attend the U
meeting at the courthouse here on
Tuesday, April IBtJi at 2 p. m. I
Middle Fork To Be ?
Opened For Angling e
Much interest is being shown in P
the announcement that the Middle
FVirk of New River will be open to
fishermen April 20. and it is said C
that a large number of anglers from I
distant points have indicated that ^
they would be present when the ban v
is lifted from the famous trout V
stream. p
At the recent meeting of the Mid- F
die Fork Fishing Club, which con- 1
trols the stream from the power dam
to the Cone estate, it was stated by <
Mr. H. G. Cook that something like
50,000 trout have been released in
the stream during the closed season
of the past year. Many of the fish
were ten inches and longer, it was ^
said.
The club is a co-operative organi- t
zation, being formed by the land
owners along the stream. Daily per- ,
mits will be sold by 'Warden Earl
Colvard. Farmers Hardware & Supply
Co., Boone; H. C. "Hayes, Blow- t
ing Rook,_ or Wade E. Brown, Boone, j.
who is executive secretary of the a
club. t
On-the opening date it is proposed
to give a prize to the fisherman ^
landing the largest trout, and to the ,
one who gets the largest string of }
fish. :
!
New Lutheran Minister i
Will Arrive Soon ]
Rev. Edwin F. Troutman, who is c
the new .pastor of Grace Lutheran i
church, and the Boone-Watauga s
parish, is expected to come here i
with his family the last week in t
April.
Rev. Mr. Troutman is a graduate J
of Lenoir-Rhync College and a grad- .
uate of the Southern Theological
Scminarv. Columbia 5? P hM
been engaged in the ministry tor 12 J
years, 11 of which have been in home 1
mission work. He is said to be an t
excellent speaker and a splendid pas- l
tor. Mrs. Troutman is also a gradu- 1
ate of Lenoir-iRhyne. 1
FOOD SALE '
The ladies of the Laurel Springs i
Haptist church will conduct a food
sale at the Boone Bargain House 1
next Saturday. The proceeds of the ;
sale 'will go toward the erection of 1
a new church building. l
blished in the Year Eightf
-iRTH CAROLINA,'THURSOA S
TOBACCO QUOTA 1
PLAN DEFEATED
BYWATAUGANS
L.ocal Farmers Vole Against
Buriey Tobacco Quota; Crop
Control Plan is Carried in
Nation By an Overwhelming
Majority
Watauga county, hurley tobacco
;rowers turned thumbs down 011 the
>roposal of the federal government
o apply quotas to the product ion of
he weed, when they went to the
rails last Saturday. One hundred
uid thirty-nine votes were cast in
avor of the AAA measure, while 282
vere tabulated in opposition to the
>roposal.
Voting was conducted at three
>oints in the county. In Cove Creek,
he vote was 79 for and 171 against;
jaurel Creek 22 for and 08 against;
ieaver Dam, 38 for and 43 against.
The vote in the other counties was
is follows:
Yes No
llleghany 72 9
Ivery 25 12
luncombe 973 213 1
Jlay _..... 37 4 J
2ra.hfum ** > -100I
iaywood 886 41
lenderaon - : 32 12 tocon
.......... 23 2
fttebell 216 103 j
iwain 13 3 1
Yansylvanla _ 17 8
fancey 759 49
SadLson 1281 495
LShe ....! 300 388
ackson 40 1 '
aierokce -1 41 1 1
1
Washington, April 10.?The AAA
ranged today to apply marketing ,
ult of a referendum amor.g growers' ,
aturday. ;
In fourth election hejS. since i
rep ecntrol law was enacted in Feb- I
uary, the tobacco producer* voted by !
top-heavy majority to permit"'' ftie' <
ovcinmcrt to regv.lapc sales of. this <
eWa ccop- - . . 1
Virtually complete returns gave
36,507 for "and 19,497 votes against
be quota system, or an affirmative
lajority of 87 per cent. The lnw re- '
aires approval by two-thirds of
ieaa votinv 1
Under the quota, system, sales of
938 grown hurley tobacoo will be |
mited to 305 000,000 pounds, or (
bout 100.0G0.0O0 pounds less than (
te 1937 crop. Producers who sell in ,
xoess of their quotas will be subject
o a penalty tax of half the market '
rice. j
The unofficial returns by states:
For Against
Olio 3,340 1,862 '
ndiana 3,489 2,054 j
lissouri 410 264 .
'irginia 4,449 1,452 ,
'/est Virginia 525 178
forth Carolina 4,196 1,542 '
lentucky . 91,934 8,162
'ennessee _ 27,445 3,693
Safely Director
At Blowing Rock |
TJf-r Walfnr V I
.... . >? WVV.1 L . xxv/OJIi^, aulCLJT UUCUor
of the Carolina Motor Club, which
3 affiliated with the American Auomobile
Association, was a speaker
it the meeting' of the Chamber of
Commerce in Blowing Rock Tuesday
ivening, at which time plans were
nade for the inauguration of a safey
campaign, which will be featured
ly an address by Mr. Hosier at the
chool building at Blowing Rock on
tpril 19, at 10 a. m.
A branch of the Carolina Motor
Hub has been established at the
fob Nob inn at Blowing Rock, and
At. Rufus Coffey of the Shell servce
station will attend to the garage
vork which goes with membership
n the organization. Besides the
egular services which go with triple1,
the Hob Nob inn is distributing
olders giving full information concerning
all the resorts in the United
states, Canada and Mexico. This
lervice is free and will be of great
rame to visitors on the mountain
op.
IUNIORS HOLD MEETING
AT ELK PARK SATURDAY
The district class initiation of the
lunior Order U. A. Si, was held at
31k Park Saturday evening and the
hree degrees were conferred upon
L5 candidates toy the degree team
rom the Burkemont Oouncil at Morranton.
The attendance was the largest in
ecent years and a banquet was held
n connection with the meeting.
Those attending from Boone were:
I. E. Kellcy, W. O. Robertson, Howtrd
Shore, Russell D. Hodges, R. D.
dodges, Jr., N. C. Greene, T. A.
iVeaver ar.d Clyde P- Greene.
I*"1'
Benjamin J. Council!, the oldest sto
native-born citizen Gf Boone, who
died recently. Mr. Council! was a
member of Boone's pioneer family,
members of which had been lead- i LA^
ers in the development of this sec- **tion
since Revolutionary War days, tht
=.-=r-^r--r^i illg
FARM LOAN GROUP "
MEETS ON TUESDAY "'
El
Report Indicates 9G% of Federal
Loans in County in Current
Condition; Officers Named T
boe
The annual meeting: of the Sugar for
lirove National Farm Loan Associa- bol
tion was held on Tuesday in the pOS
eourlhouse here with a goodiy nura- aew
acr of the membership present. "ind
Charts showing the financial state ,vo
3f the association as of March 31st, n(11;
Miuwcu the tuuuumlnsr vo llave r.ct .
isseta of $17,268.27, und the operat- lhp
r.g statement showed a surplus for . t(
:he past year and the condition of
he loans were most gratifying, as ma
)6% of loan installments were paid sou
uid leans in current condition. Real
istate activities showed the associa- ,
iouat the present time owns hut; one ma
farm in the county and that the as- Suj
nidation now has a membership of vpt
UP. with ioans aggregating $360,- bjn
>00- the
The stockholders were well pleased ^
vith the showing made by their as- ^
ociatlon for the past year. The or;animation
offers ci-edit facilities to _,
he farmers of its territory for long it'
era loans at tile cheapest interest
ate ever known for long-term loans.
the charts also showed that there
vcre six applications for loans now 5
lending, aggregating more than daj
15,000. S.
The following officers were re- Ma
elected: A. G. Miller. Deep Gap, whi
resident; James T. Gross. Adams n
lice-president; O. H. Bracey, North the
Wilkesfcoro, secretary-treasurer, and the
the following directors: A. G. Miller, ser
lames T. Gross, Dr. H. B. Perry, Se:
Boone; S. C. Eggers, Boone, and R. As]
M. Ward, Sugar Glove, 1
Three prizes were given away at ing
this meeting to those holding ths J.
lucky number?$5.00 first prize, $3.00 riei
for second prize and $2.00 for third to
prize. These prizes were won by boi
Bonnie Greene, Vilas, first; Will Wil- All
son, Reese, second, and Mrs. Sarah Ho
Miller, Meat Camp, third prize. Gix
Postal Receipts p
sis
Show An Increase am
Receipts at the Boone pestoffice H
for the first quarter of 1938, as
compared with the same period of
1937, have increased 12.4 per cent,
according to a statement made to
The Democrat Monday by Postmas- to
ter W. G. Hartzog. to
The postal receipts during Janu- zei
ary, February and March of 1937, of
were $3,143.33, as compared with col
$3,532.83 for this year, it is stated, en
COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM A1
AT OAK GROVE SCHOOL
The commencement program at (
Oak Grove school will be rendered be:
Friday evening at 7:30 o'clock. One mc
of the most interesting features of Ar
the program wiii be the dramatiza- co
tion of the life story of Old Black At
Joe. A number of shorter plays and
dialogues will feature the entertain- ir.i
J"'
merit and there will be music by one art
of the largest and best string bands wi
in the county. tri
The public is cordially invited to ov
attend. There will be no admission
charge. hi
de
BENEFIT PLAY tu
Come see the play, "Farmer of
Brown's Conversion to the Doctrine pi;
of Stewardship," at the Boone De- re
monstration school Thursday night,
April 14, 8 o'clock. Ten cents to wi
everybody. Proceeds will go to di;
building r.ew church at Laurel C!
Springs. an
'^raSsfi
OSTOFFICE TO
?E CONSTRUCTED
OF NATIVE STONE
ading is Completed on Site of
federal Building and Contract
tor Erection of the Structure
Mav Bp I'Of Hi Far!v
Postmaster W. G. Hnrtzog receivn
telegram from Congressman R.
Doughton Tuesday, in which it
s stated that the procurement diion
of the treasury department had
initely decided to use native stone
the construction of Boone's new
>,000 postoffice building. The ac11
came after a concerted effort
the part of the local ciitzens to
.'e the structure built from the
ncs of the neighboring hills,
rhe lot has lieen brought down to
ide in accordance with the speciatior.s
of the federaj engineer, and
is thought that tile contract for
i actual construction of the build
will be let within the next few
cks
t is said that the building will be
; of the most imposing thus far
cted In any small city in the state.
lection Called Off
At Blowing Rock
Pile election, which was to have
hi held at Blowing Rock Tuesday
the purpose of passing on a
id issue of $85,000 for the pure
of extending the water and
lage system of that city, has been
efinitely postponed, according to
rd reaching The Democrat tVedday.
i meeting of ths tov.T. officials.
Chamber of Commerce and other
cicauw ciLiiGtrua waa ?eju ana it
3 decided that an effort would bo
de to secure aid from federal
rcea for the inuch-needed Imvemer.t.
A committee was apUted
to go Into ihe deiaila cf the
tier and La coinposed "of G. M.
IderUi, O. C. Brinkley, C. S. Prete,
G. C. Rol-.bins and George Robs.
It is stated that in the event
federal grant i3 not secured to
in the project the election will
held at a later date.
:tes For T. S, Coffey
Held at Blowing Rock
'inal rites were conducted Thurs'
afternoon at H:S0 o'clock for T.
Coffey, 56-year-old brother of
yor D. P. Coffey, of Blowing Rock,
d died Wednesday morning,
lie services were conducted from
home with interment following in
Blowing Rock cemetery. The
vices were conducted by Rev. G.
cton Buchanan and Rev. G. E.
tiley.
or. oofiey was a native of BlowRock,
being the son of the late
P. and Mlat'lda Coffey. He mar1
the former Miss Lily Hollars and
this union three children were
71, all of whom, survive, as follows:
'red of Blowing Rock; Mrs. Oscar
well of Granite Falls, and Mrs.
iver Turner of Morganton.
Uso surviving are one brother, D.
Coffey of Blowing Reek, and two
ters, Mrs. J. Lee Hayes of Lenoir,
i Mrs. M. C. Johnson of Blowing
ospital To Be
Open To Visitors
rhe Watauga Hospital will be open
visitors Sunday, April 17, from 2
5 p. m., according to Miss Hemling,
the superintendent. People
the community and county are
-dially invited to inspect ihe modl
hospital building.
WATEUR PROGRAM IS
ANNOUNCED FOR FRIDAY
_ ; ; . - - - .. ;
Clarence Shadwell, "the Old Sheprd,"
will be the master of cerernies
when the Young America,
nateur program is held at the
urthouse in Boone Friday evening
<ril 15. at 8 o'clock.
All amateurs in Watauga and adning
counties under the age of 17
e eligible for entrance. The four
nners in the contest will get a free
p to Charlotte and an audition
er radio station WBT.
The entertainment is sponsored by
e Boone high school band and the
partment of vocational agriculre,
and is given under the auspices
the Farmers Hardware and Supy
Co.. who sell the famous Norge
frigerators.
An admission charge of 25 cents
ill be made, and the public is corally
invited to hear end see "The
d Shephctd," WBT musical clock,
mouncer in person.