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Independent Weekly Newsf>aper?Established in the Year 1888
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VOL. LVII, NO. 27 BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA JANUARY 4, 1945 $1.50 A YKAR?6c A COPY
POSTAL RECEIPTS
REFLECT GROWTH
LOCAL BUSINESS
Brown Reveals In
Figures Relative to
Lacal Portal Establishment;
Placet of Outgoing
Mail in December
Postal receipts at the Boone office
during. 1944 showed a marked in
crease over those of IMS, according
to Postmaster John E. Brown, Jr.,
who gives out some very enlighten
ing information on the business of
the local postoffice, indicating its
growth as well as giving some idea
of the status of business conditions
generally.
The revenue, it is pointed out, at
the local postoffice during the year
1M4 was $25.381.60. as compared
with $22,289.10 during 1943, or an
increase of $2,692.50. The quarter
<tnded with December, 1944, indicat
dicated business of $1,272.10 more
than that of the corresponding quar
ter of 1943, said Postmaster Brown.
- An idea of the business at the lo
cal postoffice during the Christinas
period can be gained by the fact
that 42,283 letters were mailed dur
ing the week ending December 23,
1M4. while an estimate of the num
ber of pieces of mail handled dur
ing December is 250,000.
Interesting is the fact that the
Christmas card business brought the
local sale of 40,000 1V4 cent stamps
in the two-weeks period prior to
Christmas day. During the same
tim* there were 20,000 3-cent stamps
sold.
Concluding his recounting of the
postal figures, Postmaster Brown
says:
'The public has been considerate
regarding the changes in rates of air
mail, insurance and registry during
the past year. The Watauga Demo
crat has published from time to time
information relative to the mails,
both domestic and for the members
oi the armed forces, which has
jiaoven invaluable to the postoffice
arid the puhlic interest. " Y/J'.
"The information given as to the
revenues of the postoffice does not
reflect the trend of business of this
establishment only, but has in the
past proven to be representative of
the; business conditions locally."
?.??
AAA REPORTS TO
BE FILED SOON
t-i' *i:Wv .? '?
i J? rr
'r?-1 Tripl?-A CommtttM Bar*
| Farm*? Should Fife by Fab.
? 15 for Payment
February IS, 1945, is the last date
on which performance reports may
be filed as a basis for making a net
payment to producers on 1944 ap
plication* for payment, W. W. Mast,
chairman of the Watauga County
AAA Committee, announced her**
Monday. ? ?
"Payment of 1944 applications is
to be completed during the early
months of 1945, therefore, it is ne
cessary that performance reports be
fUad early in order to provide op
portunity tor timely preparation and
audit in the county and state of
fice*, * he stated.
Mr. Mast pointed out that appli
cations for payment based on per
formance reports filed after the
closing dcte may be processed for
payment only if It is determined by
the state oommittee, on recommen
dation of the county committee, that
the producer was prevented from
filing within the specified time (1)
because he was a member of the
armed force*, or (2) because of pro
longed illness. "All eligible farmers
who have not alroady filed perform
ance reports and signed applications
for payment, are urged to do so at
once," he
Week of Prayer To
Be Observed Here
The Universal Week of Prayer is
observed simultaneously throughout
it the world during the first full week
fen January. The date fixed tor 1046
is Jan. 7-14. The Week of Prayer
will be sponsored this year in Boone
in a series of union services In the
different churches. The union serv
ice for Monday night will be held in
the Methodist church, Tuesday in
the Lutheran church, Wednesday in
the Baptist church, Thursday in the
Advent church, Friday in the Pres
byterian church. These services will
' p'be held at 7 JO p. m. The public *
cordially invited to attend any pnd
Mall of these service*. Let us begin
the new year with fervent prayer
jXj for the progress of the kingdom of
nd ths l'"
T.
Form Ihaoby Club in France
>? .\'yi '--vx :.4Vr:
.......
Charter m*mb?rt 01 th* Ihsoby (I Htrtnt'l Seen Our Btbf Yet)
club com par* picturaa of tbeir offspring at th* Brittany R*d Croaa
club. MBMwUrt ia Franca. Left to rifhi: Prt Fr*d D. DavU, Jr..
Pin* Bluff. Arlu CpL Gustare Slowa. n*rfi*I<l, Wis.; Sfft. Jam** W.
Mason. &n*l*y, AU. and Pet. Robert S. Anderson. St. Petersburg. Fla.
WARNS PEOPLE OF
OVEROPTIMLSil
Sgt. Culler Back From 29 Months.
Sayi Germans Are a
Tough Lot
Staff Sgt. Baxter Culler, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Culler, of Zion
ville, who has just returned for a
30-day furlough with his parents
from 29 months in the European
fighting area, warns the people that
"when the news seems good at
times, don't get too optimistic, the
Germans are ? tough lot, and it's
going to take some time to finish
them off."
Sgt. Culler, true to army tradi
tion, tells little of what is taking
place, but he does .state that the
American troops are accorded the
very finest treatment, have the fin
est medical cate in the world, plenty
of good food, good clothing, etc.
Sgt. Culler was in England for 10
months, served in North Africa for
ten months, and the balance of his
29 months, with travel time out, was
spent in fighting the Germans on
the western front. He states his
health is excellent, that he suffer
ed no wounds, but refrains from dis
closing where he will go or what
his orders are afetr his furlough
ends. He intimates, however, that
he hasn't yet finished his ) a t of
the fight.
AAjA Commttiee Makes
Announcement As To
1945 Price On Burley
"The OPA has announced that the
proposed ceiling prices at the grow
er level for sales and purchases of
burley tobacco of the 1945 crop are
the same as the ceiling prices in
effect for these sales and purchases
for grower tobacco of the 1944 crop,"
W. W, Mast, chairman of the Wat
auga County AAA committee, said
yesterday.
"According to OPA, the advance
notice of the proposed ceiling prices
for burley tobacco of the 1941 crop
is made for the benefit of growers
in planning their 1945 payduction
and is in compliance with the emer
gency control act of 1942, as amend
ed," Mr. Mast stated.
Mr. Mast pointed out that the pro- i
j posed prices are on the basis of
Federal grading and are the same as
the prices now in effect for the 1944
crop of burley tobacco.
Preachers and Deacons
To Gather On Monday
The regular monthly meeting of
the preachers and deacons cI the
Thre* Forks Baptist Association will
be held at the Boone Baptist Church
next Monday at 2 o'clock.
All preachers and deacons are
urged to attend this meeting.
Chrolonogy of Year
Is Being Published
For a number e< |**n The
Democrat has used tfcfa page, and
as a
a
In Assembly
Representative S.
who has assumed his duties in lb*
State Legislature, which is tx
pected to hold ill fint session at
noon today (Wednesday).
E BOND QUOTA IS
SAFELY PASSED
Chairman Greene's Estimates Indi
cate That County Has Done
Share in Sixth War Loan
Watauga county has safely passed
her E bond Qptot?r%tpording to es
timates of Clyde R. Gj*ene, chair
man of the War Savings. Staff for
Watauga county. Mr. Greene stated
this morning that although final re
turns hadn't been received from the
Federal Reserve Bank, It seemed
that Watauga coounty people, had
bought $84,500 or mote in E bonds.
The quota was $84,000.
The county had long since passed
her overall quota of $117,000. It
now appears that overall sales of
bonds during the campaign Just
closed are about $483,000.
In the next edition of The Demo
crat a full statement of the Sixth
War Loan campaign in tt>e county
wil be published.
THREE WOUNDED
IN BATTLE AREAS
Watauga's Casualty List Mounts aa
Hew If times Added to
Long Roll
The list of those from Watauga
county, who have suffered wounds
in the present world conflict contin
ue* to grow. This wec)c there is in
formation of three others who lwye
suffered injuries, but in neither case
is the details given.
Sgt. Bynum H. Harrison, son of
Mrs. Lelia M. Harrison, of ItFD 1,
Blowing Rock, has been wounded in
the Mediterranean theatre.
Pvt. Max L. Mityer, son of Mr*.
Minnie J. Miller, of Zionville, was
wounded in the European area.
S-Sgt Finley R. Watson wax
wounded in the European theatre,
according to Information received by
his wife, Mrs. Mary S. Watson, who
resides on Banner 0k Route.
< "rt* United States array has its
own navy, largest fleet at small
eraft in the world. There are 1?,000
bottoms in this fleet, many made ef
steel, and they cruise in coastal abd;
and wafa
buy!
island waters in most parts of
world.
CHERRY DELIVERS |
USUAL INAUGURAL
ADDRESS TODAY
Governor of State to Be
ix During Wartime in
Stirring Message to the Mem
bers of tke General Assem
bly! His Proposals
Raleigh, Jan. 4?R. Gregg Cherry,
of Gastonia, lawyer, legislator and
forrfer soldier, today took his oath
of office as Governor of North Caro
lina and delivered an inaugural ad
dress that embraced his recommen
dations to the general assembly. The
legislative body, in joint sessi- m,
heard the address.
Emphasis was given to matters of
finance, health, education, highways,
agriculture, welfare, labor and the
handling of veterans and their af
fairs at the close of the present war.
Governor Cherry is the second
Governor of the state to be inaugu
rated during wartime. Zeb Vance,
the other such governor, took his
oath of office while the Civil War
was in progress.
Financ*
In his statement of fiscal policy,
Governor Cherry said that appro
priations for the coming biennium
"must be kept within the availabili
ty of revenues estimated to be re
ceived during the biennium." The
present general fund surplus he add
ed, will amount to $70,000,000 by
June of 1945, because of abnormal
wartime business conditions. "This
surplus must not be dissipated in
current expenditures," he said. He
added that this money should be
used to provide for the retirement of
state debts, to come due in future
years.
His recommendations along this
line are for the setting aside of a
sufficient portion of this surplus to
meet all general fund bonded debt
payments as they come due, both
principal and interest. He said this
would take $92,000,000 and would,
by this provision, also reduce cur
rent levies of taxation by $5,000,000.
The remainder of the surplus should
go into a" postwar reserve"fund, Tie
continued, to serve as a cushion
against a sudden decline in revenue,
or for other possible needs and pur
poses that might arise.
Education
Turning to education, he sugges
ted an eight-point program to stren
gthen the public school system. He
wants: a base pay of $125 per month
for A-grade teachers just starting in
the profession, with increment for
experience; an expanded program of
vocational training; free text books
through the eighth grade and rental
fees on high school books only high
enough to maintain the rental sys
tem; 10 months pay for principals to
provide for time on the job before
school opens and after it closes;
raising compulsory attendance age
from 14 to 16 years; a program of
additional compensation for excep
tional teachers; state aid in supply
ing better sanitation facilities in con
nection with schools; and better fis
cal control of public school funds.
He pointed to future highway
needs and said that as men and ma
terials are available he wanted all
weather roads for all communities.
Veterans
The address also called for sup
plying the needs of 300,000 war vet
erans who will return to the state.
This should be cared for from the
postwar reserve fund?"when the
needs of the veterans can be deter
mined."
The governor said a grateful state
should provide new educational op
portunities for these men and wom
en, and should acquaint them with
their rights. The children of thc*M*
Who gave their lives in battle are
deserving of ample protection at the
hands of the state.
PfThe governor also advocated: A
strong department of conservation
and development; bettor care of th*
state's leas fortunate; adequate rep
resentation of labor on all state com
missions and boards dealing with the
problems of labor; a constitutional
amendment that will make women
available for Jury service and re
move all other discriminations that
exist against than in the starte con
stitution; the establishment of ?
t of state police to include
several now existing state law-en
forcement agencies; a state-wide ref
erendum on the liquor question; and
further assistance for libraries
throughout the state. 1
TUB WMEATHoir AVAhJUHLE
The Watauga County
Conservation Association
If received two cars of
to be sold to livestock
- of this wheat
?MfeMp $1.46
Eat First Hot Meal
The china pUttm nm out of
plac* aa Staphan Long?tr*ih, Car
negie, Pa.. Infantryman. Mia hi*
first hoi maal altar 18 dtyi of atoga
of th* town of Hurtgeo. Germany.
Sherwood Nan Is
Killed In Action
Pfc. Ernest L Pr*sn*ll. 20 t?ui
old. a midnt of Sh*rwood. was
killad in action in Franc* on D*
c*mb*r 1, Information r*c*hr*d by
relatives reveal.
Pfc. Pr**n*Il. who wai a ion of
Mrs. Maggie Pr*tn*U and th* lat*
John H. Pr**n*lL *nt*c*d th*
service of his country in June.
1943. and had h*an In th* Euro
pean th*atr* of operations sine*
May. 1944.
Surviving is th* mother, four
brothers and on* sist*r> Ralph
PresnelL Sugar Grove; Glenn
PresnelL Blowing Hock; Bynum
Pr*sn*U. Wilmington. H. C.J Con
rad PresneU. Sparta; and Mrs. L
C. Millar. Boon*.
Lt. David F. Greene, Jr.
One of Seven to Get
Distinguished Cross
?A
The War Department has announc
ed the award of the Distinguished
Service Croas to seven North Caro
linians, one of wham is first Lieut.
David F. Greene, Jr.; of Greensboro,
formerly of this city. All given the
high air force award are members
of the 10th Army Air force.
Lt. Greene, who was reared in
Boone, and who is a grandson of
Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Greene of this
city, has seen air action in various
theatres of war for a number of
months. The family moved to
Greensboro several years ago.
Snow Masonic Lodge to
Hold First Meeting Here
The Masons of Snow Lodge Ma
363, will hold tWnr fint communi
cation in Junior OrdeijHall in Boone
Friday evening at 7:30, it is an
nounced by T. M. Greer, W.' M., and
J. E. Clay, secretary.
The Lodge, which was established
at Sugar Grove, and which has
functioned throughout the years, is
one of the oldest Masonic organiza
tions of this immediate section. Re
cently it was decided that for the
convenience of most of the mem
bers, Boone would be a more desi
rable location, and arrangements
were made for using the Junior Or
der Hall until such time as property
could be acquired.
The property at Sugar Grove was
sold to Mr. A. C. Mast.
Installation of officers will ?fea
ture the, Friday evening r.ieeting,
and there will likely be work in the
second degree.
Winter Shows Little
Sign of Relaxing Grip.
The relatively mild
of Supday, which aroused belief to
many that there was to be a respite
from the frigid wave of the pest sev
eral weeks, were replaced Monday
evening by another fall of snow,
driven By e terrific gale, which far
a time interfered with travel, and
tod some to the belief that Boone and
environs were in for an aid-time
blizzard. However, the storm soon
spent its fury, but Tuesday morn
ing the mercury hovered dose to the
zero mark ki one of the coldest pe
riods of the winter.
Tuesday afternoon, however, the
weather is bright and there are again
hope* that there will be a continued
change fcfr the bettoML^
* Latin American fxotrere will pro
duce a substantial supply of Manila
Iriemp, which was cut off by,4jhe ad
vance of the Japanese In the Paci
m&JF?
as*
SALES OF
fASjpO _ , ?
MARKONTUESDAYij
?
Houses Now on New Schodnie;
Prices Continue High WMk
Steady Receipts. ShOttM^'- a'/
Hours Caused by Labor Short- f;
wkm
Sales of tobacco at the Mountain
Burley Warehouse* went far beyond
the two-million mark with the auc
tions of Tuesday, when 131,043
pounds of weed were auctioned for
an average price of $46.84 per hun
dredweight. This brings the sea
son's total to 2,044,103.
On Monday 118,000 pounds were
sold for an average of $46.53 in the
first sale of the post-Christmas sea
son.
Tobacco continues to arrive at the
local houses and this morning ware
housemen say there is about 130,000
pounds of weed on the floor ready
for the Start of the sale.
Pr?-Christn?s? Totals
Final figures indicate that in the
pre-Christmas period 1,703,180
pounds of tobacco was sold tor
$839,33659, or an average of *46-42
per hundred. The big day of the
current season came on December
18, a check-up of the figure* re
veals, when 362,240 pounds were
sold for $172^77.34, or an avenge
of $47.50.
Falling in line wltfe a schedule
adopted throughout'the burley belt,
the market went on a two-hour sales
day with the opening of sales Mon
day.
The new schedule was adopted by
the Lexington, Ky., Tobacco Board
of Trade fend is being adopted by
other markets in the bait in an ef
fort to relieve labor shortages, caus
ing congestion in factories, it was
learned. The schedule is expected
to be temporary.
RICHARDSON IS
HOUSE SPEAKER
Most Opinion is For Short
Raleigh, Jan. 2?Representative
Oscar L. Richardson, of Union coun
ty, who served his first term in 1939,
received the Democratic nomina
tion for speaker at the house tonight
over Representative George Uzzell,
of Rowan. The vote was 70 to 31.
A total of-102 of the 106 Demo
cratic representatives attended the
caucus, which saw the somewhat
unusual speakership fight taken to
the floor. Generally, where then
are only two contestants, one with
draws prior to the meeting. |
The 14 Republicans, meanwhile,
nominated Representative T. Edgar
Story, oI Wilkes, for speaker, and
his name will be presented tomor
row before the full house by Rep
resentative J. H. Hutch ins, at Madi
son. The Resignation automatically
made Story the minority leader.
The consensus of early arriving
legislators was that the session
would adjourn sine die by March
15, and some of them predicted that
the first week In March would sac
the end. The task of raising addi
tional revenue, they said, would not
confront this assembly. A continu
ing revenue act eliminates the ne
cesity of a section-by-sectkm study
of the money-raiaing laws.
The state's tax structure, a liquor
referendum, intrs??d appropria
tions to mental institutions, post
war highway construction, schools
and assistance tb war veterans wll
be high among the assembly's con
siderations.
The assembly will get down to
business in earnest .Friday, faced
with the task of handling an un
precedented surplus expected to to
tal *70,000,000 at the end of the cur
rent biennium, and to meet appro
priations requests and recommenda
tions which, if granted, wll set a
new record. ?. r. ??
Knitters Are Needed, H
For Red Cross Quota
Ma t M. Burwell, chairman of
the Watauga Chapter, Red Crow,
states that a new local knitting quo
ta has been assigned which consists
of M armgr v-neck sweater*, and
volunteer knitters are urged
in get the material, so V
quota may b?- met quickly.
ft. Due to the heavy demands
armed fortes in keeping
quickened tempo of the
mm
new^quota.
ari^
of n*