WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
% - ? ?
..XV
VOL. LVIII, NO. 8
An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established ill the Year I 888.
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23,^945
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II. S. TROOPS WILL
LAND IN JAPAN
ON NEXT SUNDAY
Nips to See Greatest Array of
Military Might Ever Assem
bled When American Troops
Start Occupation Operations;
Japs to Surrender by Aug. 31
Manila, Aug. 22 ? Allied airborne
troops will start the occupation of
Japan Sunday, the Nipponese gov
ernment announced yesterday, and
American sources said the Japanese
would see the greatest display of
military power ever assembled off
a foreign country.
The Japanese imperial headquar
ters and imperial government in a
joint communique said the airborne
troops would land at Atsugi airfield
20 miles southwest of Tokyo, with
ships and transports in the Yoko
suka area at the mouth of Tokyo
bay.
Domei, the Japanese agency,
broadcast the communique within
24 hours after Emperor Hirohito's
surrender envoys returned to Tokyo
from their conference at General
MacArthur's headquarters at Ma
nila. MacArthur remained silent on
occupation plans.
The communique said that air op
erations would be started over Ja
pan Saturday, with the airborne
landings Sunday and the entry early
Monday of "two allied fleets" on
Sagami bay, outside Tokyo bay,
with "one unit entering Tokyo bay
if conditions are favorable."
MacArthur already has announc
ed that the formal signing of sur
render terms will take place in the
Tokyo area by August 30.
Until the surrender is signed,
calling for Japanese troops to lay
down their arms, there remained
the possibility of Nipponese mili
tary hotheads attempting to obstruct
the occupation.
The Jap communique said that
?"in order to avoid any strife arising
from this landing," Nipponese arm
ed troops would be withdrawn "as
promptly as possible" from the
landing area to the south of Tokyo.
First areas to be occupied were
listed in the communique as "a por
tion of the mainland around metro
politan Tokyo, Chiba , Kanagawa,
Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefec
tures."
Meanwhile, fighting in Manchuria
has virtually ended, with Russian
forces in possession of nearly all
cities and strategic points. Jap
troops were surrendering to Soviet
units in Karafuto, southern half of
Sakhalin island, only 26 miles above
the northern Japanese island of
Hokkaido.
But the Japs continued sporadic
operations along the 300-mile south
eastern Burma front, and in one in
stance British planes were forced to
break up a Nip force which had
surrounded guerrilla units.
The fact that Tokyo jumped to
the microphone with the occupation
announcement was plain evidence
that Lt. Gen. Takashiro Kawabe,
leader of the Jap emissaries to Ma
nila, reported MacArthur's plans
and demands to top-ranking offi
cials within a few hours after his
return to Japan.
There was no official confirma
tion here on the Jap announcement
of the occupation schedule, but the
Nipponese emissaries were given
the precise landing dates before
they left Manila. So if Tokyo's
broadcast was not absolutely cor
rect, it nevertheless was prette
close.
19 ARE SENT FOR
ARMY INDUCTION
Wilmgi'i Litest Quota of Man
Lmt* for Induction into tha
Military Sirica
Nineteen Watauga county men
were sent by the local selective serv
ice board last week to an army post
for induction into the army under
the federal draft law. The names
of those going follow:
Dean Bruce Carroll
James Seldon Wright
Edward Douglas Herman
Ralph Harbin Henson
Jasper Grant Presnell
Clyde Eli Harmon
Roger Gold* ton Hayes
Spencer Robert Eggers
Ford Hollars
Tom William Miller
Glenn Ha^aman Tugman
Fred Lewis McLean
Raleigh Dean Wilson
1 Claude Watson
Charles Lindberg Michael
Richard Edward Parlier
Blaine James Shook
To Conduct Revival
I
Dr. Carey Barker, on* of the
south': outstanding evangelists,
who will conduct the annual re
vival meeting at the First Baptist
Church here, beginning Sept. 2
and continuing through Sept. 16.
SGT. NOAH J. GREER
DIES IN KENTUCKY!
Zionville Man Succumbs lo Brief
Illness at Fort Knox; Rites
Held Sunday
Sgt. Noah J. Greer, Jr.. 23 years
old, died at Fort Knox, Ky., on Aug.
15, from a sudden Illness.
The remains were returned to the
home at Zionville, where rites were
held Sunday afternoon. Rev. J. C.
Canipe, of the Boone Baptist Church,
was in charge of the services, and
was assisted by Rev. Mr. Graham, of
the Methodist Church. Burial was
in the Zionville cemetery,
Mr. Greer, who was a son of the
late Noah J. Greer and Mrs. Greer,
of Zionville, had been in the army
about two years, and prior to that
time had bean employed as a civil
service worker in Washington, D. C.
He is survived by the widow and
one small son, who were residing
in the vicinity of Fort Knox. A
sister, Mrs. Carolyn Greer Harrison,
of Zionville, also survives.
JACKSON NAMED
ON SCHOOL BOARD
Former Legislator Takes Place of
Late Dr. Deaton on Edu
cation Board
Tom Jackson, of Meat Camp town
ship, has been approved by the state
board of education as a member of
the Watauga county school board to
take the place of Dr. W. A. Deatson,
who died recently. Superintendent
S. F. Horton states. Mr. Jackson
will likely be sworn in on the first
Monday, it was stated.
Mr. Jackson, who represented
Watauga county in the state house
of representatives in the 1943 ses
sion, was formerly a teacher in the
county schools, and for a time was
connected with the Watauga county
board of charities and public wel
fare.
Prospect of Oil in
Zionville Area Noted
Mr. D. M. Wilson, of Zionville, has
placed on display at the Democrat
office some stone, which he states is
oil shale, and which geological ex
amination indicates to him, came
from the vicinity of petroleum de
posits.
Mr. Wilson states that he found
evidences of oil on his farm ten
years ago, and that he plans to de
velop the possibilities when con
ditions are favorable.
Wildlife Club To
Meet at Fish Fry
The Watauga County JiTildlife
Club will hold a fish fry afll meet
ing at Horton's camp on Winkler's
Creek Thursday evening, Aug. 23,
it is stated by Dr. R. C. Bus teed,
president of lhe sportsman's organi
zation.
casting contest will be held for
juniors and adults, with prizes be
ing given to winners in each class.
Baptist Association
To Meet Next Week
The Three Forks Baptist Associa
tion will meet with the Boone Bap
tist Church on Tuesday and Wed
nesday, Aug. 28 and 29. Each wom
an who is a member of this church
is asked to bring a basket of food for
lunch each day.
R. A. DOUGHTON
DIES SUDDENLY
AT SPARTA HOME
Governor Doughton Was Leader
in the Public Life of Mountain
Area and of State; Had Served
13 Terms in Legislature; Was
Lieutenant Governor
North Carolina's "grand old man
of the mountains," Rufus A. Dough
ton. died unexpectedly at his home
at Sparta Friday. He was 90 years
old.
"Governor Rufe" had just eaten
breakfast with his family and was
reading his morning paper when the
fatal attack struck him. His health
had not been good in recent years
but there was no warning that the
end was near.
Doughton, older brother of Con
gressman Robert L. Doughton, had
a record of public service reaching
far back into the last century.
He had served 13 terms in the
North Carolina legislature, was lieu
tenant governor, state revenue com
missioner, a district highway com
missioner, and chairman of the state
highway commission.
He played a leading role in the
good roads movement in this state
which came to fruition under the
governorship of Cameron Morrison
when North Carolina set the pace
for the south and most of the coun
try, by embarking upon a $50,000,
000 paved highway program.
As a member of the legislature,
Doughton introduced the bill to cre
ate the system and led the successful
.fight for its adoption.
Doughton started his career as a
lawyer in Sparta. He went to the
legislature in the 1880's and by 1891
he was speaker of the house. From
1893 to 1897 he presided over the
senate as lieutenant governor.
After creation of, the state high
way commission he represented this
district, and he was instrumental In
: having good roads brought to this
1 previously isolated region of the
state, sometimes referred to as "the
lost provinces."
Later came his service as revenue
commissioner and highway depart
ment head.
In addition to his' public career,
Doughton was active and successful
in law and business affairs, and was
an oustanding civic leader in his
home community. He was, among
other things, president of a chain of
banks in the northwestern part of
the state.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Susan Parks Doughton; a son, Kemp
Doughton, now a Baltimore lawyer,
and a daughter, Mrs. Sidney Thom
as of Sparta. In addition to Con
gressman Doughton, his survivors
also include a brother, Frank, of
Laurel Springs, and two sisters, Mrs.
T. J. Carson of Sparta, and Mrs.
Miller of Laurel Springs.
Funeral services were held at the
Sparta Baptist church at 11 a. m.
Sunday, with burial in Shiloah
cemetery.
Thomas C. Norris
Dies at Boone Home
Thomas C. Norris, age 59 years,
died on Aug. 13, at his home on
Boone Route 2, from a brief illness.
Funeral services were conducted
on the 14th, at the graveside in the
Jont Brown cemetery, by Rev. R.
C. Eggers and Rev. Mr. Fox.
Surviving are the widow and the
following sons and daughters: Miss
Virginia Norris, of Newton; Mrs.
Wilson Bryan, Boone Route 2; Rob
ert, Gene and Brenda Ann Norris
of the home.
Mac Arthur To Receive
Pipes From Local Plant
David P. Lavietes, president of the
D. & P. Pipe Works, recently mailed
to General Douglas MacArthur three
of his Trapwell briar pipes, which
-were hand-made in the Sparta plant
of the local concern.
The pipes which were carved
from rhododendron burl, are fashion
ed along the lines of the corn cob
pipes, which are most often used by
General MacArthur.
Closing Exercises at
College Fridav Night
Appalachian State Teachers Col
lege, at its summer commencement
Friday evening, Aug. 24, will con
fer degrees on 31 students, repre
senting 19 counties in North Caro
lina and the states of South Caro
lina ami Georgia.
Dr. Roy W. Morrison, of the Uni
versity of North Carolina, will de
liver the address at 8 o'clock.
New Council To Write Peace Terms
id
A council wu Ml up at the Potsdam conference to writ* the final
peace terms governing the defeated Germans a* well as the Japs.
Center show* James F. Byrnes, U. S. secretary of state; upper left.
Ernest Bevin, English foreign minister: upper right. Vracheslav
Molotor, Russian foreign minister; lower left. George Bidault, French
foreign minister, and lower right. Wang Shik-chieh, -Chinese repre
sentative.
BLOWING ROCK
BUYSPARK SITE
Coffey Property Bought; Re
creation Park as Memorial
to War Vttotani
A realty transaction was com
summated Saturday at Blowing
Rock which will vitally affect the
future of the town as a resort cen
ter.
For several years negotiations
have been under way, under which
the town acquired what is known
locally as the Coffey property. ' -
Former Mayor G. C. Robbins was
instrumental in getting this move
ment under way and he with the aid
of the town council, the Chamber of
Commerce and the residents ? both
local and seasonal ? worked untiring
ly to bring this to a reality. The
property has a 400-foot frontage on
jihc main street and extends back
to and around part of Mayview
Lake, with a total area of approxi
mately seven acres.
Mayor J. H. Winkler, in announc
ing the consummation of this im
portant transaction, states that the
town plans, with the possible aid of
interested people, to develop this
area gradually into a modern recere
ational park, as a memorial to the
men and women of this section who
have served the country in World
War 2.
Miss Matheson Is New
Assistant Home Agent
( ,
Miss Betty Matheson has been
appointed assistant home demonstra
tion agent for Watauga county. She
is the daughter of Ross Matheson,
of Conover, and graduated in May
from Flora McDonald College with
a B.S. degree in home economics.
Miss Matheson was on the cabinet
at college for two years and was
also a member of a number of clubs.
She was worked for the past two
summers for the Presbyterian Sy
nod of North Carolina as a daily va
cation Bible school teacher.
S tailings Fishing
Contest is Under Way
The bass fishing contest annual
ly conducted by B W. Stallings, lo
cal jeweler, has started, and Dr. R.
C. Busteed is leading in the senior
division, with Robert Busteed, Jr.,
ahead in the junior division. Billie
Crawford entered the first bass in
this year's contest.
A complete list of prizes will be
carried in a later edition of The
Democrat.
SHOE RATIONING LIKELY
TO END IN TWO MONTHS
WSkhmgton, Aug. 19 ? Shoe ration
ing is expected to end in two months
at the outside and may be lifted
within two weeks, it was disclosed
tonight
This prospect that still another
civilian necessity soon may drop
from the ration list came as the na
tion enjoyed its first day of unre
stricted Sunday driving since early
in the war. "Fill 'er up" was the
watchword as hundreds of thousands
motored to beaches, mountains and
other long-unattainable retreats.
Highways were jammed for the
first time in three years.
HUNTING RULES
RELEASED HERE
Squirrel Season Opens September
15th; Other Information
For Hunters
County Game Warden Walter Ed
m is ten has just received a copy of
the regulations for the 1945-46 hunt
ing season, and below is given in
formation concerning the open sea
son on such game as is hunted in
Watauga county:
Opossum, raccoon, Oct. 15 to Feb.
15. No limit.
Opossum, raccoon, mink and
muskrat, trapping, Dec. 1 to Feb. 15.
Quail, Nov. 22 to Jan. 10.
Rabbit, Nov. 22 to Jan. 31. 10 per
day.
Squirrel, Sept. 15 to D$c. 15. Lim-*
it, 6 per day.
Fox squirrel and boomer. No
open season.
Ruffed grouse, Nov. 22 to Jan. 1.
10 per season.
It is unlawful to hunt on Sun
day, and in all cases of conviction
under the state game law, the court
shall require a surrender of any
hunting license then held by the
person so convicted.
Some increases are noted in the
license fees this year. The new
schedule follows: Non-resident hunt
ing, $15.75; state resident hunting,
$3.10; county resident hunting, $1.10;
combination hunting and fishing li
cense, $4.10; guide's license, $5.25;
non-resident trapper's license, $25.25;
state resident trapper's license, $3.25;
county resident trapper's license,
$2.25.
George E. Hayes, 75,
Succumbs After Long
Period Failing Health
George E. Hayes, aged 75 years,
well-known citizen of Meat Camp
township, died at the home bn the
12th, following a long period of im
paired health.
Funeral services were conducted
from the Three Forks Baptist
Church on the 14th, by Rev. Ray
mond Hendrix, and interment was
in the cemetery in the Sands neigh
borhood.
Mr. Hayes, who was a son of the
late Wyatt Hayes and Mis. Hayes,
was reared in Watauga county,
where he spent his entire life. He
was a splendid citizen and held in
the highest esteem by the people of
this section.
Surviving are four sons: Thomas
Hayes, Lloyd Hayes and Oscar W
Hayes, of Boone, and Luther G.
Hayes, of Royal Oak, Mich. Mrs
Hayes died about three months ago,
Blowing Rock School
Opening is Delayed
The Blowing Rock high and ele
mentary schools will open this year
on September 10, at 9 a. m., it is an
nounced by Mrs. Sarah Gaither, the
principal, who explains that the de
lay is occasioned by so many of the
older children being employed in
connection with the resort business
at Blowing Rock.
The Blowing Rock district schools,
however, Penley, Bradshaw and
Cooir will open on Aug. 27, it is
stated.
RATIONING STOPS
ON GASOLINE AND
SOME FOOD ITEMS
Canned Fruit and Vegetables,
Fuel Oil and Other Ityns Lift
ed From Ration List Quickly
Following Surrender of Japs;
Some Rationing Still Exists
The OPA, acting speedily upon
news of the Jap surrender, ended
rationing on gasoline, canned fruits
and vegetables, fuel oil and oil
stoves, and promised the earliest
possible removal of every other item
on the ration list.
Civilians, bent on pleasure or
business can now order up a full
tank of gas arid OPA said it does
not care if they use their "A" and
"B" ration books to light cigars. The
petroleum administrator for war,
Harold L. Ickes, said: "Ample quan
tities" of gasoline are available im
mediately. That goes for heating
and fuel oil, too, and high-test gas
will soon return.
OPA Chief Chester Bowles said
it was too soon to predict when all
buying restrictions will end. He
said that meats, jitter and every
thing will go off the ration list "the
minute we hear that supplies are
anywhere near big enough to go
around."
Price controls, meanwhile, were
lifted on "luxury" furs, jewelry, low
cost toys, cigarette lighters, pipes,
some sports equipment, clothespins
and notions.
Bowles asked the 5,500 local ration
boards to stay on the job for the
present. "We will continue to need
their help at least until meat, tire
and shoe rationing can be eliminat
ed," he said.
OPA said rationing of meats, fats
and oils, butter, sugar, shoes, tires
and other commodities will continue
indefinitely until military cutbacks
and increased production can bal
ance supply and demand.
Rationing of tires, which early in
1942 started the nation on the ration
program, is expected to end quickly.
Automobile rationing will be con
tinued temporarily, for the first new
cars off assembly lines.
BANK DEPOSITS
NEAR 3 MILLION
Rar.iarkabla Growth of Boon* Bank
is Cltsd by Cashier W. D.
Farthing
Deposits at the Boone branch of
the Northwestern Bank have now
reached the sum of $2,900,000, and
Cashier W. D. Farthing states that
there is every indication that the
goal of three million dollars will
have been reached by the first of
October. ? Since June 1, deposits
have increased to the amount of
$200,000 per month.
Mr. Farthing states that loans are
very low considering the huge de
posits, and points out that the bank
could, at any time, pay all deposits
subject to check, certificates of de
posit, and one-half of the savings
accounts without forcing the collec
tion of a single note. He further
states that rjioney is available on
sound loans, and refers to the fed
eral guarantee of $5,000 for each
depositor. He points out that any
one skeptical of the government
guarantee, should know if the gov
ernment should e*r reach a con
dition where the depositors couldn't
be paid, the value of the currency
would vanish at the same time. Of
course, he insists that the notion of
a bankrupt nation is utterly absurd.
Eggers Gets Summary
Of Legislation of 1945
Representative S. C. Eggers has
just received from the Institute of
Government a 64- page issue of Pop
ular Government, summarizing the
legislation of the 1945 general as
sembly with particular reference Id
cities, towns, counties and state de
partments.
It is explained that a copy of the
edition is being mailed to each city
and county official in Watauga coun
ty, and Mr. Eggers' letter states: "It
will be a favor to us if you will call
attention to this fact in your local
newspaper and urge local officials to
read it to acquaint themselves with
legislative change* affecting their
powers and duties."
Mentorial Service
For Bertram G. Leake
. j
Th^re will be a memorial service
for Bertram G. Leake at the Meth
odist Church at Valle Crucis, on
Sunday, August 2ft, at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon.