North Carolina Newspapers

VOL. LVII, NO. 46' An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year 1888. BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTy, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1946 WATCH the LABEL r*ut pap?i u U itf ? row* Hp*f mmd " Th? "" ?trictfy os ? JS? .?5? 5 CENTS A COPY NEW BUS STATION NOW IN PROCESS - OF CONSTRUCTION ; H. W. Wilcox Proceeds With Erection of Modern Bu& Ter M minal: Structure to Be Along Modern Lines; To Be Ready This Summer A modem local bus terminal, transportation and communications building is now being erected on the site of the former bus terminal by H. W. Wilcox, to meet the grow ing needs of motor lines operating into Boone, and no expense is being spared in making the plant thor oughly modern in every respect. Mr. W. G. Hartzog, local building contractor, is in charge of actual construction work, and it is hoped to have the structure ready for use before the end of the current tour ist season. The structure is occupying the lot previously used, the old office and waiting room having been mov ed a short distance away for use during construction ?activities. Mr. Wilcox, who will handle the agency for the Atlantic Greyhound Corporation. Queen City Trailways, Western Union Telegraph Company, Bailway Express Aency, Bush Transfer Company and Buckner Transfer Company, states that the building is approximately 50x78 ieet. The front and south side fac ing Depot and South streets, are be ing constructed of native granite, the other sides of brick. Interior -walls will be of tile, plastered, the floors to be of concrete finished with terrazo and asphalt tile. The rear of the building will have iour tracks for loading and unload ing buses, passengers to enter the terminal directly from coaches by the use of a loading gate leading directly from the waiting room, thus eliminating the congestion and con fusion resulting from discharging and receiving passengers at the front of the terminal, as is now the case. Sufficient steel has already teen delivered for the structure, and is so fabricated that any pSltion Tfin be removed at any time, if it is found advisable to change the interior ar rangement. Mrs. Pearl G. Curtis Dies in Plainfield, N. J. Mrs. Pearl Gragg Curtis, 38 years old, died at the home in Plainfield, N. J., on Monday afternoon after a long illness. The body is being returned to the native home of deceased in Watauga county and funeral services are to be held at the Brushy Fork Bapti't Church Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock, by Rev. W. D. Ashley, and interment will be' in the Gragg cemetery near Boone by Reins-Stur divant Funeral Home. Surviving are the husbnnd, Ber trand Curtis, and one son. Bertram, of the home; the mother, Mrs. J. H. Hayes, Lovill; one brother, Ira Gragg, of Fernandiana, Fla. There are two sisters, Mrs. Lewis Hodges, of Lovill. and Mrs. Hollie E. Young, Stv Petersburg, Fla. jvlrs. Curtis, who was born and reared in Watauga county, had lived in New Jersey for the past ten years. B. A. Foster Succumbs After Lingering Illness Beverly Arney Foster, aged 76, of Shelby, a former resident of Boone, died Tuesday after a linger ing illness of six month. Funeral services were held Friday at 4 o'clock at Union Baptist Church, Shelby, with Rev. Mr. Crow, the pastor, and Rev. Mr. Kyser, former pastor, conducting the rites, assisted by Rev. E. C. Hodges of Hendrix, and Mr. C. G. Hodges of Boone. In terment was in the Union church cemetery. Mr. Foster is survived by the widow and the following children: Howard Foster and Mrs. Finley P. Hodges of Boone; Mrs. Odell Baker, Culpepper, Va., and Herbert, Wil liam, Robert, Ralph, Paul, Margaret and Annabel Foster, of Meadville, Pa. Also one brother, J. M. Foster of Blowing Rock, and one sister, Mtb. Robert E. Lee of Greenville, S. C. The following from Watauga at tended the funeral: Sheriff C. M. Watson, Harrison Baker, Rev. E. C. Hodges, Mr. C. G. Hodges, Mr. and Mrs. V. J. Honeycutt, Mr and Mrs. W. R. Clawson, Mr. Russell Greene apd Mr. Newton Greene. Demonstration On Yeast Bread Coming Miss Thomas, extension foods and nutrition specialist, 'Will giv> a yeast bread demonstration in the home economics department of the Boone high school May 23 at 1:30 p. m. She will give a demonstration on the variations of yeast breads that are best suited for sale on the curb market Donates Corn Check Mr. and Mrs. Claude Canady, of Bloomfield, Neb., are greeted by Secretary of Agriculture Clinton P. Anderson, left, as they arrived in Washington. They presented a check of $1,030, profit from the sale of their corn crop, to UNRRA to aid starving people of the world. FOREIGN WAR VETS ORGANIZED Charles T. Zimmerman Heads New ly- Organised Veterans' Group; Other Officers Elected , Charles T. Zimmerman, local at torney, and a war veteran of Pa cific naval service in the last World War. was named commander of Daniel Boone Post No. 7031, Vet erans of Fereign Wars, at an organi zation meeting held at the court house Saturday. Other officers named are: Seni or vice-commander, Max Noms; quartermaster, James W. Norris; junior vice-commander, Lyle Cook; post advocate, Charles Youncc; chaplain, John T. King; adjutant, Max Robbins; surgeon. Dr. R. H. Harmon; trustees. Max Robbins, Weldon Teague, Boyd Cook. Mr. George B. King, district com mander of Kannapolis, was here and assisted in the organization of the new post, which has a paid-up mem bership of fifty veterans. It is pointed oUt that the aims and purposes of the Veterans of For eign Wars are similar to those of the American Legion, but that mem bership in the former is limited to those veterans who have seen serv ice outside the United States and possessions. West Carolina Keeps Pace With Nation in Automobile Deaths Rolls of deaths and injuries due to automobile wrecks and accidents on highways of the 21 mountain counties of Western North Carolina are keeping pace with those of the nation at large, which are nearing all-time records, according to fig ures and estimates of the state high way patrol. Troop D of the patrol, command ed by Lt. W. B. Lentz. covers 30 counties as well as 36 ' men can cover them. The troop strength is 47. but it is short 11 men. It is pointed out that in 1946 an average of one American will die on every 75 miles of the three million miles of roads in the United States, and an average of one person will be injured and maimed for every | three miles of roads throughout the entire country. Troop D figures for January, Feb ruary and March of this year, cover ing 30 counties and including Alle ghany, Wilkes, Iredell and Mecklen burg as the counties farthest east in this area of the troop, show 67 dead and 388 injured on the high ways. A breakdown in months for these 30 counties shows that in January there were 27 deaths and 118 in jured, seven of these deaths and 43 of the injured being in incorporated cities and towns, in February, there were 15 deaths, two of these in cities and towns, and 152 injured, 86 being in cities and towns. In March, there were 25 deaths and 1 18 persons injured, seven deaths and 42 injuries being reported in cities and tow.ns. During the three months, a total of 31 deaths and 92 injuries were found in the records as having ha|0 pened in the 21 mountain counties. Of these, six deaths and 22 injuries were reported in cities and towns. Puring the three months, it is re vealed, no deaths or serious acci dents occurred on the highways of Watauga county. Wataugara Are Selected To Serve on Federal Jury The May term of Federal court for the Middle District will convene in Wilkesboro May 20, with Judge Johnson J. Hayes presiding The following Watauga county men have been summoned for jury duty: Bert Mast, Mabel; Noah Sto ne, Boone: Frazier Horton, (color ed) Boone; Sam S. South, TamarAck; James A. Hodges, Shulls Mills; C. W. Crawford, Boone; Elbert V an noy, Shulls Mills; J. Allen Gregg, Boone; M. L. Herman, Vilas; A. B. Craig, Blowing Rock; Richard Olsen, Vail* Crucis. NATURE CENTERS ARE PLANNED AT BIRD CLUB MEET ? Large -Number of Visitors Gath er for Two-Day- Session of State Bird Club Held Here Saturday and Sunday; Bird Hikes Feature Meeting Plans for the establishment of n??ure centers* in the various sec tions of the state were formulated during the afternoon session of the annual meeting of the North Caro lina Bird Club at Appalachian State Teachers College Saturday. The two-day session opened here Saturday at 11 o'clock with regis tration, included a Saturday after noon program, a Saturday night banquet session, and a program for Sunday. More than 100 persons from various sections of the state were in attendance. The Saturday night session was featured, following the banquet, with an address by Randolph Ash ton, noted authority on bird 1 ie. A dance in the college gymnasium fol lowed. The program for Sunday included a number of bird hikes in the vi cinity of the town. Members of Girl Scout organizations and others join ed the visitors on these hikes. Miss Clara Hearne, of Roanoke Rapids, is president of the State Bird Club, and Dr. R. C. Busteed, of the college faculty, is president of the Boone Bird Club. Highway Program Is Overcoming Obstacles Raleigh, May 12, ? Despite al most every obstacle known in the construction and engineering fields, exactly $16,732,711.67 has been clipped off the promised postwar $100,000,000 highway building and betterment program in North Caro lina since the end of the war. This was revealed today by A. H. Graham, state highway and public works commission chairman, who said a necessarily slow switch-over from engineering work on primary roads has been completed and that [emphasis of the commission now was on secondary and farm-to market roads. Since last July 1, when restric tions on materials were lifted, con tracts calling for the construction, betterment or general improvement of 1,362 miles of county, secondary and primary roads have been left. The projects represent 75 per cent of all the state's counties and ev ery one of the 10 highway divisions. In addition, 207 miles of county roads scheduled to be surfaced in the commission's general better-! ment program have been included in the next big "letting" scheduled for May 23. Only one primary and eight secondary federal-aid projects are to be included in that letting. The same will be the case in most of the future lettings, although plans are to continue as fast as possible the letting of contracts involving federal funds on primary and secon dary roads. New Primary Roads The $16,732,711.67' total of con tract which have been awarded in the 10 months since last July 1 ? on which work in many cases is well underway ? included 185 miles of new primary roads, costing $8. 662,065. 71 miles of secondary fed eral-aid roads, calling for expendi ture of $680,060; 665 miles of state seconday roads scheduled for re tratment at a cost of $2,197,377.44; 81 miles of country road scheduled to be resurfaced at a cost of $277, 014. 33; and 162 V4 miles of country roads which will be bettered and improved through bituminous or asphalt treatment at .a cost of $2,0557,904.53. ? To these projects can* be added a I similar amount of mileage now al most ready to leave the engineering and drafting tables to be included in "lettings" in the near future, Graham said if the freight embar go doesn't hold up badly needed shipments of materials and ma chinery, which have been on order for months, another $25,000,000 will ?;o on the contract books before the alL NORTHWESTERN BANK GETS BANKS AT NEWTON, MAIDEN The Northwestern Bank, which has home offices in North Wilkes boro, and branches in 13 other cities and towns, including Boone and Blowing Rock, has purchased the assets of the Merchants and Farm ers Bank at Newton, with branch at Maiden. The consolidation became effec tive May 1. With the merger, the Northwestern Bank assets were in creased to more than $30,000,000 and the capital, surplus and undivided account to more than one million dollars. GET CITATION Mrs. W. ML Grubbs states that the Red Cross Women and others have received a citation from the Wom en's Volunteer Service organization "on behalf of war distressed people of Britain and Northern Ireland for generous help given during the long battle against Nazi tyranny." TODD MAN GIVEN CITATIONS Seven citations are given Julian F. Ragan, of Todd., by Captain Paul J. Brown, USMC, at the Winston-Salem postoffice. Mr. Ragan, a former sergeant and gunner on a dive bomber, was awarded the air medal, five gold stars in lieu of five other air medals, and the Dis tinguished Flying Cross.. He participated in 140 active combat mis sions during the period Feb. 1 to May 31, 1945. The citations were awarded him "for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Philippine Islands area." Local Visitor James C. Farthing, of Lenoir, candidate for solicitor of the 16th judicial district, who visited Wat auga county recently in the inter est of his candidacy. Mr. Farth ing, a veteran of the last war, i? a son of the late A. C. Farthing, na tive Wataugan, and Mrs. Farthing. He is a grandson of the late Rev. H. H. Farthing, of Braver Dam township. COUNTY SINGING ON FIRST SUNDAY Plans Are Made for Semi- Annual Event; Vocalist* From Axes Ard Invited The Watauga county semi-annual singing convention will be held at the Gospel Tabernacle in Boone on Sunday, June 2, starting at 1 o'clock, it is stated by S. C. Eggers, chair man of the association. ( Mr. Eggers extends a cordial in vitation to all vocalists, choirs, quar tets, duets and classes in Watauga and adjoining counties to come and participate in the singing of Gospel hymns on this occasion. Veteran of the Week This veteran needs a job: White, age 25, male. ? U. S. Army experience: 3 years, carpenter general: performed vari ous carpentry tasks in connection with construction, repair, and main tenance of buildings, drainage systems, airports, and related structures. Civilian experience: 7 years as sisted in preforming various carpen try tqsks in the construction of houses, farm buildings, etc. Ex- i perience in the use of all carpenter tools. Comments: After IVt years over sea* this veteran prefers work in our local area. If an employer should like to interview this veteran for a possible pSition, or has suggestions where he might secure employment, contract the USES dffice, or tele phone 220. Civil Service Openings Attention Veterans! U. S. Civil Service openings. I Veterans who are interested in Civil Service openings should con tact the USES office at an early date. A lift of vacancies and special openings from the 4th U. 8. Civil Service Region office are now avail able for your information. LOCAL ROADS TO BE SURFACED Sections of B?aver Dam Road and Gap Craek Road to Hare Bi tuminous Treatment Two sections of Watauga county roads are included in the $1,700,000 worth of farm to market road sur facing on which bids are to be re ceived today by the State Highway and Public Work commission, Chair man H. A. Graham reveals. The local projects involve bitu minous surfacing of 4.25 miles of the county road leading from near Sugar Grove to Hagaman's store in Beaver Dam township, and K3 miles of road from U. S. 421 at Deep Gap to the Ashe county line. The commission is receiving bids today involving the surfacing of more than 207 miles of county roads as one of the first steps in thy gi gantic state road building program, which is expected to gain momen tum, as fast as machinery and ma terials can be secured. Rural Carriers Meet On last Wednesday, the Rural Mail Carriers of the county had a dinner meeting at the Gateway Cafe in Boone. Mr. A .W. Smith of Boone was a special guest and talked very in teresting of his experifences as one of the first rural carriers in Wat auga. ' having been appointed ear ner on route one at Zionville in 1905. Mr. Smith said that peaches were not plentiful in those days and one i of his patrons presented about a gal lon of nice peaches to tlim as he traveled his route. He had planned for sometime for Mrs. Smith to ac company him on the route and de cided to leave the peaches until the following day and have a surprise for his wife. Next morning Mrs. Smith saddled her horse (with a "side" saddle) <tad rode around the route with her husband and they en joyed the peaches for miles and miles. Mr. Frank Isenhour of Blowing Rock, president, presided, and paid special tribute to Clyde Winebarger of the local organization who is vice president of the North Carolina As sociation. Others who spoke briefly were Mrs. Addie Clawson, who was elected secretary for the year 1946 47, H. S. Steelman, and Mrs. Wine barger who is a member of the ex cutive committee of the state Auxi lis convention which will open in Sir Walter Hotel, Raleigh, on the even ing of July 4th and the main speaker is expected to be Hon. Jesse M Donaldson who is First Assis tant Postmaster General. His add ress will be on the morning of July 5th. As 1946 rounds out fifty years of rural mail service in the United States, all the rural carrier organi zations pie planning Golden Jub liee Convention in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 13, 14, 15 und 16. Record attendance is expected at all conventions. There are 32,112 rural carriers serving approximately thirty million people in traveling 1,428,475 miles daily. were discussed for the state TRUMAN INTERVENES TO AVERT RAILROAD 8RIKE Washington, May 14, ? In an effort to avert a tie-up of the nation's railroads scheduled to begin Satur day, President Truman today lnts? I vened personally and got both side* to resume negotiations. The action did not mean that 290,000 trainmen and engineers had abandoned their plans to walk out this week-end but it did revive officials' hopes that a settlement wouM be reached before then. ANNUAL MEETING OF FARM BUREAU SLATED FOR 24TH R. Flake Shaw, Executive Sec retary of the Farm Bureau Federation to Deliver Princi pal Address; Reports to Be Heard and Officers Named Mr. R. Flake Shaw, executive sec retary of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, will deliver the principal address at the first annual meeting of the Watauga County Farm Bureau which will be held in the courthouse in Boone, Friday May 24, at 7:30 p. m., it is stated by Clyde R. Greene, president of the local farm organization. Mr. Shaw is known as one of the best informed men in this nation on farm problems and their solution, and his address will be of particular interest to the people of this section. Mr. John East Director of the east central region of the AAA will also be present The principal business of the meeting will be to elect officers of the Watauga farm bureau for the ensuing year. Reports of the past year's activi ties will also be heard. Mr. Greene in a letter to the mem bers of the organization, telling of the meeting, says: "Please permit me to urge that you attend this meeting and that you brine at least two of your neighbors with you- It is very vital at this time that the farmer take all possible steps to strengthen his position in the natio nal economy. Other groups are taking advantage of every opportunity to make gains which will give them a larger part of the nation's income. Of course, the farmer must be alert to also keep what we have and add there to from time to time." Banner Elk Man Loses Life as Truck Plunges Into Congaree River Banner Elk ? Funeral services for Charles VonCannon Guignard were held in the Banner Elk Presbyter ian Church on Monday at 2 p. m. The service was conducted jointly by Father W. C. Leach, rector of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Valle Crucis, and tne Rev. Thompson B. Southall, pastor of the Banner Elk Presbyterian Church. Interment was in the Banner Elk cemetery. Young Guignard lost his life on Monday, May 6. when the truck he was driving plunged through the Bates ferry bridge near Wateree, S. C. His body was recovered from the Congaree river on Saturday, May 41, almost a mile from the site of t)ie accident. Sfon of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Guignard of Banner Elk, the young man was born Aug. 25, 1922. He was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal church. He went into the army on May 10, 1943, and served with General Patton's army in the 160th Engineer Combat Battalion. Young Guignard is survived by his parents, three brothers and one sister. April Farm Prices Higher Than March Raleigh, May 14, ? Prices re ceived by North Carolina farmers fpr all products except dairy, showed increases last month over March, the statistics division of the State Agriculture department , reports. The grain index advanced two [points, going to 169; cotton and cottonseed 10 points, to 201 ; meat animals seven points, to 235; poul try products three points, to 178; and miscellaneous products two points, to 245. The dairy products index at 176 showed a decline of one point over the previous month, but was still higher than for any other April dur ing the war years. Prices received for both wheat and rye averaged $1.90 per bushel showed an encrease of one cent per bushel over March. Corn averaged $1.45 per bushel, an increase of three cents per bushel, while oats and barV" averaged $1.02 and $1.47 per busnt. respectively, the same as a month earlier. . The Bureau of Agriculture Eco nomics reported that major ad vances in meat animal, fruit, and cotton prices carried the general level of prices received by farmers throughout the nation up three points over March. At 212, this was the highest index since July, 1920. M. A. Short New Police Chief at Blowing Rock M. A. (Happy) Short, who served for some years on the police force of Hickory, is the new chief of po lice for Blowing Rock. Chief Short took on his duties at the summer resort community last Friday. He delivered an address to the school children at chapel exer cises Wednesday morning, when the high and elementary school 'chil dren assembled to hear him dis cuss "Safety and Juvenile Delin quency.' w Chief Short specialized in school safety work while a motorcycle of- i ftaur in Hickory.