CHRISTMAS 1 WATAUGA DEMOCRAT TOBACCO I
Shopping in Boone IN BOONE
An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year 1888
VOL. LXU ? NO. 23 BOONE. WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1949 16 PAGES? 2 SECTIONS
111 * I il.
KING STREET
BY
ROB RIVERS
? i
WOMAN'S CLUB accepting
contributions to the empty stock
ing fund, with which it is expect
ed Christmas cheer in generous
proportions will be provided for
more than a hundred children,
whose economic status would
normally prelude goodies, and
toys, and some new items of
clothing even at Christmas time
. . . The clubwoir.t-n are doing a
good job with the project, and the
folks are urged to share from
their bounty with the little tots
who are not getting along so well
. . . They too, love the peppermint
sticks, the bon bons, the f ruits,
the jack in the box, and the hund
reds of other things wnich go
along with happpy childhood,
and it is a community responsi
bility to see to it that they are not
to be disappointed come Christ
mas day . . . Contributions may be'
left with us, or sent direct to Mrs.
F. E. Warman, who is the chair
man of the empty stocking fund
. . . Sunday's rain perhaps saved
the day for farmers who had been
unable to grade their tobacco, and
prospects are now that the weed
can be sold before the Christmas
shopping season is over . . .
. . ? ? * -
OUR SHARE of the parking
meter problem, was we thought,
solved . . . No more pennies and
nickels needed, no more tick
ets in the offing . . . for we had
found one of the gadgets at a
fairly convenient spot, which
stayed "cocked" right on, . . .
about the most accommodating
thing we'd found in many a
moon . . . Since the parking
problem is not too bad in our
vicinity, 'cept on Saturday*, we
could generally slide in along
side the meter which asked
nothing, and all was well . . .
till one day Patrolman Coy
Greene came along with that
little screwdriver and made of
our pet a regular money grab
ber. same as all the rest . . . He
must have fixed it well, for we
have watched it closely and
never again has it reverted to
its generous tendencies of yore.
m * ?
ALONG THE WAY: Dink Ber
ry visits along the street after his
serious illness . . . Lawrence
Payne substitutes for him down
at the grist mill . . . Mr. Inabinet
of tht Southern Bell Telephone
Co., drops by, and tells us his
company is doing everything
possible to .supply expanded
telephone service to both rural
and urban dwellers . . . Coot
Haigler gives us the low down
on the political situation with a
few sidelights on matters spiri
tual . . . Eddie B. Hagaman,
leaves us a cojiple of oversize
apples while we are off to the
postoffice . . . Big yellow cat,
tired of being chased by mongrel,
takes contrary spell, and holds
his ground right in the middle
of the road . . . Puppy dog barks
a while, thinks the matter over a
spell, and retreats from the
realms of the shiny claws, and
bared feline incisors . . . Prof.
Howell telling us that he has his
elementary school children . . .
the needy ones . . . warmly cloth
ed, through the aid of the peoplej
of the community . . . Virginia
Wary Linney preparing her
choir for the annual presenta
tion of the Christmas section of
Handel's immortal Messiah . . .
church choral groups putting
final touches on Christmas pre
sentations . . . Youngsters' eyes
grow bigger and wider, as they
flatten their noses against the
panes of the show windows, and|
speculate on what's going to be
in Santa's pack . . . Merchants)
report gradual pickup in trade asi
Christmas nears . . .
BY SPECIAL arrangement
with Santa Clam, the Demo
crat, year after year, publishes
? lot of letter* the kiddie* in
this community dispatch to the
arctic habitat of the kindly
old gentlemen with the twink
ling eyes, and the bottomless
pack . . . We are always Inter
ested in these letters, which
happily do not contain the
tales of misery and want,
characteristic of these miasilee
in the old day* . . . For the past
several weeks we have been
impressed with the utter frank
ness, and more so, with the ab
solute lack of deceit and
selfishness in these missiles
from the trusting little child
ren of the area . . -Most of
them, to be sure, say they have
been good boys and girls,
while candor compels others to
add "most of the time." . . .
Some suggest that they have
made the effort toward per
sonal rectitude, but that Santa
will have to be the Judge and
Jury, and many go down the
line hi their plea for aid for
other kiddies, and for grown
ups . . . Writes one "Remember
mother and daddy and all my
grandmothers, and especially
the poor and needy." . . . and
another says. "I'd like a type
writer and a blackboard, rd
like lots of other things but
mother says you cannot bring
them this year. I understand
you have lots of boy* aad girls
to take toys to. I will be plaai
ed with whatever you bring
(Continue^ on pafe four.) ^
MESSAGE FOR THE FUTURE
?mhbhw* .^?L
'
The documents that received awards from the Freedom Founda
tion were deposited in a "freedom capsule" to be buried at Valley
Forge, Pa. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower is about to cut the rope
with an ax. releasing the capsule.
Hospital is Approved
By College Surgeons
Stocking Fund
Leaders Named
The following committees
have been appointed for the
Empty Stocking project of the
Worthwhile Club, the first men
tioned being the chairman.
Finance: Mrs. Bert Ellis, Mrs.
Herman Wilcox.
Clothing: Mrs. Wiley Smith,
Mrs. Dempsey Wilcox, Mrs. Lyda
Tatum, Mrs. Len Hagaman.
Toys: Mrs. Carlos DeLima,
Mrs. Julian Yodet. Mrs. J. C.
Cline, Mrs. E. F. Coe.
Candy: Mrs. Lee Reynolds,
Mrs. Ralph Greer, Mrs. E. L.
Payne, Mrs. Ralph Mast, Mrs. W.
G. Bond.
Packing: Mrs. Gordon Wink
ler, Mrs. Hale Vance, Mrs. Vera
Tunnell, Mrs. B. W. Stallings,
Mrs. James Winkler, Mrs. Ralph
Winkler.
Labeling: Mrs. A. E. South,
Miss Elizabeth Bridge, Mrs. W.
A. Graff, Mrs. L. L. Bingham.
Several letters have been re
ceived by Chairman, Mrs. F. E.
Warman, asking for Christmas
gifts for needy children. If any
Soup or individual would like
e name of either a family or of
one child to whom they might
send a Christmas donation, these
letters will be given to them and
the names taken off the Empty
Stocking list.
Mrs. Edwards
Speaks To ACE
Mrs. Elia Edwards, state presi
dent of the Association for Child
hood Education, was guest
speaker at a dinner meeting of
the Watauga Branch of A. C. E.
at the Daniel Boone Hotel, Fri
day, Dec. 9.
Miss Kathleen Eudy, who is
chairman of housing committee
for the National A. C. E. conven
tion to be held in Aaheville.
April 9-14, 1950, accompanied
Mrs. Edwards to Boone and
spoke briefly regarding the hous
ing of convention guests. Both
Mrs. Edwards and Miss Eudy are
first grade teachers in the Ashe
ville city schools.
Mrs. Sarah B. Horton, presi
dent of the local branch, presid
ed. She recognized Mr. Wade
Eller from the health depart
ment, Mr. Dave Mast from the
welfare department, and Mrs.
Myrtle Wilson from A. S. T. C.
(continued on page eight)
Enrollment At
College Now 1289
Enrollment for the winter term
at Appalachian college has reach
ed 1289. according to H. R. Eg
gers, registrar, making the larg
est regular-term enrollmment
ever reached by the college. This
term total is not final, however,
since registration of all students
on the campus has not been w>m
oleted.
Twnty-eight students were]
graduated, and twenty-eight new
students enrolled. There arei
thirteen students in the campus'
who have not completed registra
tion The one hundred extension
students will be registered for|
spring term sometime afterl
Christmas. I
Local Institution Meets Rigid'
Requirements of National
Medical Group
The Watauga Hospital has
been approved by the American
College of Surgeons, as fulfilling
their standards for hospital care,
it was announced Tuesday.
The approval Of the local hos
pital plant came following a
visit by Dr. Dorothy Bartels, who
made a through inspection of the
physical properties and all ac
tive departments of the institu
tion.
Dr. Bartels' report stressed the
urgent need for finishing and
equipping the kitchen, and a
number of minor suggestions
were made, which can be taken
care of before the next inspec
tion, thus improving the point
score of the hospital.
Dr. Bartles commended the
Progressive program which ^iad
een carried on during the seven
months prior to her inspection,
and stated in her report, that
the program could hardly have
been improved upon.
The steel needed in the con
struction of the new kitchen, has
at last been delivered, and with
favorable weather this phase of
the hospital expansion program
will soon be completed.
Reese Man Is
Corn Champion
Lewis Norris, Reese, won the
county one-acre corn growing
contest with 13X.1 bushels per
acre. The contest is sponsored
by the County Farm Bureau and
the USDA county council. Wil
son Hodges won second place
with 125.5 bushels and Lynn
Norris third with 116.1 bushels.
Lewis Norris used the U. S.
282 hybrid yellow com on land
that had been in corn in 1948.
He used ten tons stable manure
per acre, 450 pounds 6-8-6 ferti
lizer in the row at planting time
and side dressed with 200 pounds
14-0-14 at first cultivation and
350 pounds 32.5-0-0 at third cul
tivation.
The corn was cultivated shal
low while small with no cultiva
tion after corn was two feet tall.
Corn was spaced ten inches in
35 inch rows.
Tho cost of producing the acre
was as follows:
450 lbs. 6-8-6, 210.13; 200 lbs.
14-0-14, 7.60; 350 lbs. 32.5-0-0
$13.83; 15 lbs. U. S. 282 hybrid
seed, $2.70; total cash expense,
$34.26; 10 tons manure, $20.00;
labor preparing land, $8.00; labor
cultivating and harvesting,
$20.00; total cost $82.26; cost per
bushel 63 cents.
Schools Close for
Christmas 21st
All the schools of the county,
both elementary and high, will
close for the Christmas holidays,
Wednesday, December 21, and
return to work on Monday, Janu
ary 2, it was revealed Tuesday by
W. H. Walker, county superin
tendent of schools.
_#
The Worthwhile Club is still
accepting gifts for the Empty
Stocking Fund. Have you done a
share in this work? Ir not, please
act today!
Rocket fuel held readily avmil
able in United Stuea.
CITY STORES
BUSY PLACES
AS YULETIDE
DRAWS NIGH
/ j
? ? v'l
Shopping Activity on Increase
as Festive Season Draws
Near; Retailers See Good
Business During Remaining
Ten Days; Gift Stocks Are
Large.
With Christmas only ten days
away, the business district ' of
the city is taking on new acti
vity, as an increased number of
shoppers are daily making the
rounds of the stores and shops,
filling their lenghty gift lists,
and extra salespeople have been
employed in many instances to
take care of the expected rush
in the last days before the ar
rival of St. Nicholas.
Most merchants report grati
fying sales of Christmas mer
chandise so far, and opinion
seems to be rather general that
business will be good from now
on in.
Although the stocks of mer
chandise are unusually compre
hensive, merchants are renew
ing their pleas to their custom
ers, to do their shopping before
the grand rush of the day before
Christmas and indications are
that buyers are talcing their ad
vice in increasing numbers. Like
wise the postmaster, who has
added considerable extra help
for the holiday rush, predicts a
record number of Christmas
cards, and parcel post packages,
and voices the hope that the
folks will do their mailing now,
before the congestion becomes
worse.
More and more people are
coming to realize that Boone is
the principal retail outlet of the
northwestern mountain area, and
local merchants are doing every
thing possible to expand their
?stocks and services. This year,
their stores carry the largest
lines of merchandise in history,
and it appears that business is
going to be good.
Farm Bureau
Groups Named
At a meeting of the board of
directors of the Watauga Farm
Bureau held last week, a number
of committees were appointed,
and a set of resolutions passed,
outlining the "proposed activity
of the organization in the future.
The committees are as follows:
Livestock: Grady Farthing,
Frank Taylor and Ted Clawson.
Farm crops: Glenn Howell,
Marshall Farthing, Carl Storie.
Dairy: I. B. Wilson, E. B. Har
din, Dewitt Barnett.
Tobacco: W. R. Vines, Stewart
Simmons, Henry Hagaman.
Fruits and vegetables: J. B.
Greene, Alfred McNeil, C. R.
Wilson, Don Elliott.
A special telephone committee
was appointed as follows: Clyde
R. Greene, Clyde Perry, Robert
Shipley, Tom Jackson, Aubyn
Farthing.
Roads: Roby Greer, Frank
Baird, Howard Walker.
Resolutions
Resolutions were passed as
follows:
That the Farm Bureau take a
stand against rump tobacco sales.
That the Farm Bureau con
tinue to support sound soil con
servation programs.
That support be given a sound
price support program.
That the organization sup
port all necessary appropriations
for all necessary agricultural
agencies.
That the bureau sees that the
State road and school program is
carried out.
That the Bureau develop a
program of automobile insurance
for members only.
Do your Christmas shopping this
year with the home merchants
Next Edition of
Democrat To Go
To Pre?? Early
Next week's edition of the
Watauga Democrat will be
printed on Tuesday morning,
rather than on Wednesday,
to that the stall may get all
in readiness for their Christ
mas vacation. This means that
all ads. etc.. for the early
edition must be in hand by
the end of the current week.
Moat business men take
advantage of this edition for
Christmas greeting ads. The
publisher gladly supplies
both copy and Illustrations
for these messages, which are
being widely used by badness
firms.
The help of oar customers
will be appreciated in pre
paring this early edition, since
at no other time in the yew
do the workers at the Demo
crat office take time off from
their labor*.
SHEEP SHEARING CHAMPIONS
________
Ciuu neeie, 18. right, of Reese, Watauga Countv. who look the
national 4-H sheep -shearing crown at the International Livestock
Exposition in Chicago recently, bv out-shearing 26 competitors.
Left is Elmer Latl. 49. Rockford, 111., who won the international
open title as he outsheared 29 professional shearers. Scoring was
based on speed, technique and quality of workmanship.
Rains Bring Receipts
Tobacco To Normal
Clint Reese Is
Guest C. Of C.
Clint Reese, who won the 4-H
club national sheep shearing
championship at the Internation
al Livestock Exposition in Chica
go recently, along with five other
Watauga boys, who competed
in various phases of the big
agricultural event, were guests
of the Chamber of Commerce at
luncheon Tuesday.
Clint told interestingly of his
trip to the windy city, and of his
success in standing at the top of
the list of 26 shearers from dif
ferent sections of the nation.
Others, who placed well in
livestock judging and other com
petetition at the Chicago show,
were recognized as follows:
Glenn Reese, Ben Norris, Bobby
Gene Norris, Vance Vines, Hugh
Hagaman. Mr. C. H. Kirkman
who accompanied the local boys|
on the trip, was also recognized
and spoke interestingly of the'
attainments of the 4-H group.
Jim Taylor, local attorney, de
livered a factual address on the
wage and hour law as applies to
Watauga industry.
Candidates for membership on
the new board of directors of the
Chamber were voted on by those
in attendance, but the results
are not realeased for publication,
due to the fact that the consitu
tion provides for absentee mem
bers to have an opportunity to
vote. The results of the ballot
will be determined and the win
ners announced on January 2.
The new directors will be instal
led January 10.
Farm Loan Assn.
Pays Dividend
Mr. S. C. Eggers, president of
the Sugar Grove National Farm
Loan Association, has received a
check of $1,614.50, to be distribut
ed as a 5 per cent dividend to the
members-borrowers of the as
sociation. In forwarding the
check, Mr. Julian H. Scarborough
[president of the Federal Land
Bank of Columbia, tells Mr. Eg
gers:
"It gives me a great deal of
pleasure to enclose the Bank's
check payable to your association
in -the sum of $1,614.50, repreuent
ing a dividend of 5% on the stock
owned by your association in the
Bank as of November 30.
"The officers and directors of
the Bank have been working to
ward this objective for many
years and It is a great satisfaction
to bring the Bank to a dividend
paying. position. This objective
has been reached with the splen
did cooperation and assistance of
the officers and directors of the
NFLA's in the district. The mana
gement of tfie associations has
' layed an important part in
uilding the reserves and iurplus
of the Bank to the point where
it is now in the strongest finan
cial position of its more than 30
year history . . . We hope that
next year's earnings will justify
the payment of another dividend
equal to if not in excess of this
one." I
Farmers, Long Hindered by
Dry Weather, Deliver .
Weed; Prices Good
Warm week-end rains, which1
extended through Mon., brought
delayed conditioning to the crops
of local hurley growers, and
farmers worked frantically get
ting their leaf ready for the mar
ket, with the result that today
receipts on the local market are
normal, and full sales are ex-l
peeted for the remainder of the
pre-holiday auctions. 1
Despite unfavorable weather
conditions which prevented the
grading of much of the crop, the
local market will have passed
the one and a half million pound
mark at the close of the sales to
day, and warehousemen state,
that although the quality of the
offerings so far has been poor,
the prices? grade for grade, have
been as good or better than
those of a year ago.
I In fact, says R. C. Coleman,
.manager of the three local ware
houses, according to grade, bur
ley is selling as high as it has
(continued on page eight)
Returns From
Tour Of No. 421
I
Mr. S. C. Eggers, who was
named the North Carolina mem
ber of the Lakes to Ocean High
way Association, organized to
promote the improvement and
nationalization of highway 421
from Fort Fisher, N. C. to Mich
igan City, Ind., has returned
from a tour of the North Caro
lina portion of the highway, and
states that he finds some sections
of the road excellent and' others
"not so good."
It is the purpose of the new
organization to nave 421 conver
ted into a strictly first rate high
way from the lakes to the sea,
and make of it one of the most
outstanding north to south high
ways in the nation.
Soil Conservation
Supervisors Named
The results of the election held
in Watauga county during the
week of December 5th to 10th
for the purpose of electing super
visors for the Watauga Soil Con
servation district is reported as
follows:
Will N. Wellborn, 3 year term;
D. F, Greene, 2 vear term; Henry
Taylor, 1 year term.
These officers will meet on
January 3 to elect a chairman
and transact any other business
that may come before them.
Gifts Still Sought
For Orphans' Home
Those who haven't contributed
to the Christmas fund for tha
children at tha Grandfather
Home, Banner Elk, are asked to
leave their contributions with
either Guy Hunt or Rob Rivers
at the earliest possible time, so
that the gift may be forwarded
to the home in ample time for
Christmas preparations.
CHRISTMAS TO
BE USHERED IN
WITH SERIES
BY VOCALISTS
Mrs. Linnev Will Again Di
rect "Messiah" To Highlight
Musical Observance; Choral
Ensembfe, Church Groups
In Varied Programs.
College musical groups and
church choirs are now busily en
gaged in their preparations for
presenting programs of Christ
mas music and details for a num
ber of these special entertain
ments have been released.
Of particular interest to music
lovers of the community is the
announcement that the Christ
mas portion of Handel's "Mes
siah" is again to be presented by
the Appalachian College music
department, under the personal
direction of Mrs. Virplna Wary
Linney. The oratorio will ? be
performed in the college audi
torium Sunday December 18, at
7 o'clock.
Other Christmas musical pro
grams being arranged are noted
below, and there will doubtless
be additional ones to be reported
in the next edition of the Demo
crat.
Choral Ensemble
In Yule Program
The Choral Ensemble claai at
Appalachian High School, under
the direction of Elsie H. R.
Erneston, will present a Christ
mas program December 19th, at
eight o'clock in the college audi
torium.
The program will consist of
two parts, the first being secu
lar and the second being of sacr
ed content. For the first part,
Patty Hodges will read "Twas
the Night Before Xmas" by Cle
ment Moore, and the mixed
chorus will interrupt the narra
tion with appropriate songs, such
as Jingle Bells, Cradle Song, Up
on the House Top, Santa Claus
is Coming to Town, White
Christmas, and Deck the Halls.
The second part has as a
background the story of the na
tivity according to St. Matthew
and St. Luke, read by Coaker
[Triplett. The chorus will sing
familiar Christmas carols, includ
ing Silent Night, We Three Kings
.of Orient Are, Adeste Fideles,
Away in a Manger, O Little Town
of Bethlehem, Gentle Mary Laid
Her Child, and The First Noel.
Joan Phillips and Betty Burkett
will sing the solo parts of O Holy
Night.
The program will be conclud
ed with thev singing of three
carols, sung by the Choral En
semble class and the audience.
The 'public is cordially invited
to attend.
Lutheran Choir To
Use "Messiah" Theme
The Choir of Grace Lutheran
Church will present a candle
light service on Tuesday even
jing, December 20, at 7:30. Solo
[selections from "The Messiah",
by Handel and the Christmas
I Cantata, "The Shepherds Chriat
Lmas", by Marten J. Luvaaa will
ibe given under the direction of
jHoyt Safrit of Appalachian State
Teachers College.
The soloists will be Miss Ruth
Smith contralto, Mrs. Clyde
Winebarger, Miss Betty Lee
Burkette, sopranos, Mr. Jimmy
Westbrook tenor, and Hoyt
Safrit baritone. Mrs. Edwin
Troutman will be at the organ
and Miss Betty Horton at the
piano. Pastor Troutman is Litur
gist.
The following compose the
Choir: Mrs. Benjamin Horton,
Mrs. Clyde Winebarger, Miss
Betty Burkette, Miss Irene
Troutman, Miss Maggie Moretz,
Miss Ruth Smith, Miss Lois
Townsend, Mrs. Arlisa Town
send, Miss Monica Brown, ?Ern
est Miller, Edwin Troutman,
Benjamin Horton, Charlie John
son, Mickey Casey, Boyce Orr,
Hal V annoy, Jimmy Westbrook,
Bobby Coe, E. W. Harper.
Baptist Choir in
Program of Nativity
The annual Christmas music
of the choir of the First Baptist
Church will be given Wednes
day December 21st at 7:30 p. m.
The choir under the direction of
Mrs. Graydon Eggers will have
the assistance of the junior choir
under the direction of Miss
Martha Quails. The public is
cordially invited to hear this
program.
Cantata
Recitative for Bass, "The Pro
phecy", T. F. Hollis.
Organ Pastorale, "The Holy
Night."
Stopherds Abiding in the
Fields, Chorus. .
Recitative and Aria, "And The
Angel Said", Rachel Vance.
Male Quartet, "What Is This
Which W* Have Hoard", T. F.
Hollis, Ted Barnett, Sonny Wil
liams, J. T. C. Wright.
From Distant Eastern Lands,
Chorus.
O Bright and Wondrous Star,
,Chorus.
Tenor Solo, "The Wondar