WATAUGA COUNTY
Farming and Tourist Region. First in Carolina
in Sheep Production.
WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
boone ly:
The Educational Center of WeaUrn North
Carolina.
P ? ^ ? An Independent Weekly. Newspaper ? Established in the Year Eighteen Eighty-Eight *** Pilihtin tffti
SIXTY-SlffTH YEAR? NO. 31. BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1#55 12 PAGES? TWO SECTIONS
KfNG
STREET
Bt 1
Rod Rivers
TOLLS NOTHING NEW
Rev. Walter K. Keys, in a letter
to the Democrat, points out that
"toll roads ain't nothing new" for
Blowing Rock, and sure enough
we are reminded that in the days
of horses and buggies and wagons
and sleds, and of oxens and mules
and surries and shays, there were
toll gates across most all the
roads "going anywhere." ... As a
matter of fact, these roads were
built and maintained by private
capital, by a corporation, as a
business venture, and in an effort
of public-spirited citizens to pro
vide graded roads upon which
could be moved a considerable
amount of tonnage in reasonably
good weather ... It hasn't been
long ? after the arrival of the auto
mobiles ? that the toll gate was
taken from the Boone and Blow
ing Rock turnpike . . . And many
readers will remember the two
gates between Blowing Rock and
Lenoir, one out on the Linville
road, where Bob Rivers, Sr., once
lost the top of a Babcock buggy,
when the horse got ready to move
on before the ascending pole was
out of the way . . . And we be
lieve there was a gate on the Ban
ner Elk and Elk Park road.
AND THE PRICE VARIED
Rev. Mr. Keys said it cost 30
cenU to come to Blowing Rock
from Lenair; 25 cents from Lin
ville, 15 cents from Boone and
10 cents from Shutls Mills . . .
We had in mind that there used
to be a sliding scale, according
to what sort of vehicle was be
ing used, now many beasts were
providing the motive power, etc.
Be that as it may, Rev. Keyei
is right in that toll gates are
nothing new to the area, but
they'd certainly be something
new to the new geaerattea, wh6
have discarded Old Dobbin in
favor of the fast jallopies of a
machine age . . . The ancient
road builders stood out in the
march of early day progress by
providing the "turnpikes", which
brought fine traveling when the
weather was good and the bosses
in proper fettle, and the spindles
of the buggy properly greas
ed. . . But we don't want toll
charges to ' come back, to the
Parkway or any other highway
where travel has been free of
tolls for a tolerably long life
time.
CHAINS
Used to be one carried a set' of
chains ? mud chains, we called
them ? under the back scat in the
T-model, and when the showers
came, we laboriously placed the
chains on the rear wheels, and if
the downpour was considerable,
went through all the contortions
which came with trying to put the
storm curtains up from the inside
when the fasteners were manipu
lated from the outside . . . Then
we clugged down the muddy aven
ues with reasonable security , . .
We were reminded the other day,
that the chains which were used
before the coming of asphalt high
ways and high speed automobiles
are just the same as they are to
day ? the fasteners are unchanged
and the fingers are skinhed and
the religion often abandoned dur
ing the torturous minutes a motor
ist spends in fitting the chains,
provided he has to act independ
ently of his favorite service sta
tion . . . The Asheville Citizen
aptly expresses the case for a new
type of anti-skid apparatus as fol
lows:
The '55 models are longer, wid
er, lower, faster, tonier. and they
come in 48 delicious colors.
They have power steering and
power brakes, automatic shift and
automatic dimmers, electric win
dow lifts and electric seat movers.
Some have double exhausts,
three-toned leather seat uphol
stery, plastic roofs and hundreds
of horses under the hood.
Fifty years of automobile prog
ress. .
But comcs winter.
And ice.
And snow.
And you have to wrestle with
the same old steel chains that Dad
knew. You lay them out and hope
to roll over them at just the right
spot Or you jack her up and try
to wrap the things around the
wheel.
Cut and bruised hands.
(Continued on pag* tour).
A STUDY IN CONTRAST . . . The smallest and the largest of the instruments and the players in the
Appalachian High School Band. From left to right they are Mary VanNoppen, flute; Robert Bingham, bass;
Rebecca Bingham, flute; Robert Agle, Jr., bass; Nancy Hollingsworth, flute; and Everette Lowman, bass
These students are but six of the fifty-eight to be featured in the band's Visual Music Concert on Febru
ary 10 at the new Elementary School Auditorium at 8:00 p m. The concert is open to the public.
Concert Of Visual Music Something
Unusual In Local Band Programming
Baptist Leader
Wade E. Brown, Boone attorney,
was appointed chairman of the
Education Council, a division of
the general board of the Baptist
State Convention, at a meeting of
the board held in Raleigh Monday
and Tuesday, January 24 and 25.
The appointment automatically
makes Mr. Brown a member of the
state executive committee.
C. W. Williams
Funeral Is Held
Funeral services for C. W. Wil
laims, 72, of Mountain Park, were
held at 2 p. m? Monday, January
31, at the Mountain Park Baptist
Church.
Mr. Williams died at 2:30 a. m.,
Sunday morning, in a Winston-Sa
lem hospital. He had been in de
clining health for six months and
seriously ill for several days.
in i p it, ne iounueu mountain
Park Institute, in Surry County,
which served as a finishing school
for students of that area before
the enlarged consolidation program
of the state high schools.
He is survived by his wife, the
former Bessie Pfaff, of Winston
Salem; three sons, J. Livingston
Williams, of Elkin, Charles H. Wil
liams of Suffolk, Va., and Joe Wil
liams, of Boone; two daughters,
Mrs. R. G. Taylor, Jr., of North
Wilkesboro, and Mrs. Graydon Eg
gers, of Boone.
Funeral services were conducted
by the Rev. Howard J. Ford, pastor
of the First Baptist Church, Elkin,
and the ftev. L H. Hollingsworth,
pastor of the First Baptist Church,
Boone.
Of' special interest to those who
like something unusual, is the com
ing concert of Visual Music pre
sented by the Appalachian High
School Band, it has been announc
ed by bandmaster J Perry Watson.
The program will feature music of
different moods and rhythms and
will have the "visual" to accom
pany each selection. It is believed
by Mr. Watson that this is the first
attempt of its kind and the pro
gram is designed with the entire
famity in mind.
The student teacher this quarter
is Patricia Sumrow of Charlotte.
Miss Sumrow attended Central
High School where she was a mem
bcr of the orchestra and band for
three years. Miss Sumrow present
ed her senior clarinet recital this
fall and will receive her degree
this spring. The band will play
three selections under her direc- ?
tion.
There will be no admission tar
the concert, but a good will offer
ing will be taken during the in
termission. This offering is to be
used to help equip the new band
room.
The program is scheduled for
Thursday night, February 10, at
8 o'clock, in the new Elementary
School Auditorium. Everyone is
invited.
National Guard Uirif
Ready F orOperation
Conley I. Clarke will be Com
pany Commander of Boone's new
national guard unit, which is now
almost ready to begin active op
eration
David Edmisten and James Had
den are Lieutenants First Serg
eant is Paul Edmisten and Supply
Sergeant is Duke Wood.
Twenty-six men, more than the
required initial number, have al
ready signed up, but Captain Gar
land Swanson and his associates
will meet again Wednesday after
noon to receive recruits at the
Honor Plaque For
Weed Growers Is
Available Here
Burley tobacco growers who pro
duced $100.00 worth of tobacco per
one tenth acre on 0.7 acres or more
land in 19S4 are eligible for an
"Honor Plaque", from the fJorth
west North Carolina Development
Association, if they apply at the
county agent's office before Febru
ary 10.
This is an opportunity for a
farmer who does a good job pro
ducing burley tobacco to receive
some of the honor he deserves.
The "Honor Plaques" do not cost
the farmer any money, and may be
displayed on the farm in any way
the farmer desires.
Investment company business in
1954 is best in history.
Plans For Scout Week
Are Being Made Here
Plans for Boy S|put week
other scouting activities were dis
cussed by the District Scout com
mittee suits regular meeting on
Jsnuary 77 in Boone. Boy Scout
week will he observed nationally
between February 8 and 12, with
plans for the observation in Wa
tauga district to be made by the
various local troops. Arrangements
are already definite for a father
and so#gct -together for Troop 109
of the Boone Methodist Church.
The d^rict committee voted en
dorsement of the rabies educational
campaign now under consideration
for the county under the auspices
of the Wild Life Club, the Medical
Society and other organiiations.
Joe Davenport, field executive
for the district, was present at the
meeting to discuss the district
camporee. set for April 29 and 30
and May 1. Mr. Davenport also an
nounced the possibility of explorer
Scout trips by canoe on the Yad
kin River and by biking on Grand
father Mountain.'
A leadership training program
for the Watauga district is alio in
prospect, with the definite tune to
, be set later.
Legion Hut Wednesday night from
7 to 9
Financial Aid Sought
Stanley A. Harris, President of
the Chamber of Commerce pointa
out that the people of Boone hav?
an obligation to prepare the Hut
so it will pass Federal inspection.
A strong room has to be built for
the arms and ammunition, an
8*10 structure of blocks and brick.
Racks and a closet for the storage
of guns and blankets, and addition
al lights must be provided at an
estimated cost of $1700 to $1800.
These improvements must be made
at once, Mr. Harris says, before
Federal officers will approve the
unit and start the pay of enlisted
men.
The National Guard unit will
mean an additional payroll for
Boone of about $1,500 per month. I
Tri-State Group Meets Here
To Protest Toll On Parkway
Two More Rabid
Dogs Discovered
In This Vicinity
The District Health Department
repot is that four more animal
heads were sent to the Tennessee
Laboratory in Johnson City Mon
day. Two of these dogs are known
to have been rabid. One was a
stray roaming in the area of Facul
ty Street, Blowing Rock Koad,
Oak, and Howard Streets. Any
dogs known to have been bitten
by this small, black cocker spaniel
should be killed or treated im
mediately, said a spokesman for
the department.
"It is cause for great concern,"
he continued, "that so many dogs
are running loose in Watauga
County. All dog owners are again
urged to keep their dogs confined.
All ownerless dogs should be kill
ed."
Services Are Held
For Norman Lindau
Boston, Mass. ? Norman C. Lin
dau of North Road, Bedford, Mass.,
died January 27.
Memorial services were held at
the home Sunday January 30 at
4 p. m.
Leo Mast I'ashw
Bar In Talahaftnec
LEO MAST
Leo Mast is among the 110 per
sons who passed the recent Florida
Bar examination, it has been an
nounced by Phillip J Fleming, ex
ecutive secretary of the Board of
Law Examiners.
The examination was held in
Tallahassee November 22, 23, and
24. Twelve of the 110 who passed
are from uotside the State of Flor
ida
Mr. Mast is at present employed
as a teacher at Kinloch Park Jun
ior High School in Miami.
FIGHT
POLIO!
March Of Dimes Campaign W ill
Be Extended; Response Lags
The March of Dimes campaign,
which uaually ends on January 31,
will be extended this year because
ihC drive ia lagging and more |
money muat be raiaod, according
to Mrs. Ruth Co e and Mrs. Vera '
Richardson, co-directors
A request program will be held
by WATA from 8:30 to 10:30 on the
1450 Club Wednesday night.
The Lion* Club arc planning
their annual Mile of Dimes drive
Saturday, and Mr. Allen Gragg is
making arrangements (or the Quar
tet Sing to be held In the near fu
ture.
? "If you have not yet donated to
polio, please do so at once." sfeid
Mrs. Cue and Mrs. tiicbardson.
t
HOSPITAL PERSONNEL USE NEW MACHINE
| J
jl. R. C. Donates Valued
Equipment To Hospital
It has been announced that the
local IRC plant, through the ef
forts of Mr John S. Kane and Mr.
Oliver Greenway, has made a size
able donation to Watauga Hospi
tal for the specific purpose of pay
ing for a resuscitator to be used in
the hospital emergency room and
other departments If needed.
The hospital has been in need
of this piece of equipment for
sometime now, but hasn't been in
financial condition to purchase it.
The gift from IRC has met a long
(elt need and it it known that c
many patients will benefit from *
this. ?
The type purchased was a Steph- 1
enson Hospital Mode) which is cap- '
able of handling the respiratory
needs of all ages for several hours '
if need he. The upit has controls j
for inhalation as well as suction. (
The hospital is truly grateful for j
this worthwhile donation and wish
es to express its appreciation to 1
IRC for the thoughtfullness.
T ax Money T aken
In Daylight Robbery j
Seven hundred and fifty-dollars
was taken from the cash drawer
of the county tax collector in a
noon tjme robbery Monday, while
Tax Collector Harry Hamilton was
out for lunch.
Entrance to the office was gain
ed through a window on the west
side of the building, leading into
Tax Supervisor Edgar Brown's of
fiae, and a lock was jimmied, pro
viding entrance to the adjoining
office of the tax collector.
The money, which consisted of
bills of various denominations, was
taken from a cash drawer. A num
ber of checks and coins were un
disturbed.
The break-in and theft occurred,
it was said, between 12:30 and 1
p. m.
Sheriff E. M. Hodges, whose of
fice is maintained in the county
jail, said he had visited the tax
collector's office during the noon
hour and left the building when fye
found the door locked.
Officers arc following up some
clues with the hope that the rob
ber may be apprehended.
5,083 Motor Vehicles
Operated In Watauga
Watauga county citizens own and
operate 5,083 motor vehicle*, ac
cording to a yearend report of
1854 registrations released by the
State Department of Motor Ve
hicles.
In the State, private passenger
car registrations exceeded one mil
lion for the first time in the de
partment's history and the State
climbed to 13th place in national
registration standings.
Broken down the year's total
represents: 1,028,4A0 passenger
cars, 335.354 trucks and trailers,
Boone Weather
By JOHN BOWEN HAMILTON
Date High Low 6 p. m,
Jan 24 35 19 26
Jan. 25 26 15 20
Jan. 26 41 13 32
Jan 27 30 23 24
Jan 28 29 8 17 (
Jan. 29 25 *12 20
Jan 30 22 12 15 I
Precipitation and snow as of 24- i
hour period ending 7:00 p. m.:
Jan. 27 ? Precipitation trace;
snow, trace.
Jan. 20 ? Precipitation .02 in.; 1 1
snow 1.0 in.
Jan. 30 ? Precipitation trace;
1 snow .75.
i
35,229 dealers, 29.295 public own
ed, 7,730 buses, and 1,735 motor
cycles.
The State's fleet of 7,200 school
buses is included in the public
owned or permanent tag classifica
tion.
The three top counties were
Mecklenburg (84.903), Guilford
(79,373), and Korsyth (59,749). Ty
rell had the fewest with 1.085.
Co. Tax Listing
Period Extended
To End Of Month
Edgar Brown, tax supervisor for
Watauga county, announces that
the ta? listing period has been ex
tended through the month of Feb
ruary.
The extension, says Brown,
is granted because of the unusually
bad weather existing during Janu
ary, and to give those who had
been unable to list a further op
portunity.
Books for all the townships in
the county are now in the Super
visor's office, where 'Utings will
be accepted through February
28th.
Resolution To
?
Be Forwarded
To Secy. McKay
Directors of the Blue Ridge Park
vay Associated Chambers of Com
nerce mM here in the banquet
oom of the Boone Trail Rectaur
int Thursday, January 27, and
inanimously adopted a resolution
>rotesting the admission fee the
National Park Service plans to put
nto effect along the Parkway be
[inning May 1.
The resolution will be sent to
Douglas McKay, secretary of the ln
erior, requesting him to rescind
he park service's recent order set
ing up charges for travel on the
?oad.
The meeting, presided over by
Douglas Kouns of Asheville, presi
lent of the association, was at
ended by representatives from
Sorth Carolina, Virginia, and
Tennessee.
Hugh Morton, owner of Grand,
ather Mountain, and member of
he North Carolina Board of Con
ervation and Development, read a
'esolution adopted the previous
lay by the board vigorously pro
esting the toll. He told the dele
jates at the Boone meeting, "We're
;oing to beat this thing. "I'm con
ident of it."
Grover C. Robbins of Blowing
lock, the ossociation's first prest
lent, moved that a similar resolu
Ion he adopted by the association,
ind the delegates present voted
inanimously in favor of the reso
ution.
A committee composed of Kouns,
Morton, Robbins, and Stanley Har
?is, president of the Boone Chanv
Mr Commerce, drew up the res
ilution immediately after the meet
ng.
Sam P. Wecms, superintendent
jf the Parkway, said the thinking
n Washington is until the Parkway
:an meet its operating costs there
will be some reluctance in appro
priating the necessary funds to
complete it. He said there are 30
niles of 255, uncompleted in Vir
ginia, and 85 of 337 uncompleted
n North Carolina.
Weems said he personally did
lot believe the admission fee would
appreciably curtail tourist travel
jn the Parkway.
Asked about the cost of collect
ing the fee, Wecms said it had been
estimated that the cost would be
ninety to ninety-five per cent of
the gross but that the five to ten
per cent realized would returi)
about $450,000 yearly. He added
that these funds would not be ear
marked for use on the Parkway,
but would go into a general fund
t>f the U. S. Treasury.
Kouns asked if the toll would
guarantee additional appropria
tions for the Parkway, and Weems
answered that it would not, but
that the trend of the last few
i-ears indicates that such an at
tempt to meet operating costs
vould carry considerable weight
?vith Congress when appropriations
ire asked.
In answer to another question,
kVcems said the Blue Ridge Park
vay is the first on 'the country's
Mght parkway roads to ask a toll.
Morton said the cost to collect
ind the cost in good will would
,ffset its use as an economy meas
ire, and suggested that the people
rf North Carolina write their Con
tressmen and protest the toll.
Ben Moomaw, president of the
loanoke (Va.) Chamber of Cooi
nerce and a former president of
he association, denied what he
ailed a published statement by
Morton that Virginia is not increst
?d in the Blue Ridge Parkway.
In a lengthy and fiery speech,
Moomaw, who said he is 77 years
>f age, traced the history of the
levelopment of the Parkway, in
vhich Virginia played a large part,
ind said, "Hugh Morton is mistaken
n saying Virginia is not interested
n the Parkway, and that North
Carolina must fight alone. Virginia
s interest."
Morton said he did not deny that.
>ut he still said in the present
era p North Carolina would have
o go it alone.
"But 1 hope you prove me
vrong," he told Moomaw and Jack
joodykoontz, executive secretary
if the Roanoke Chamber. Moomaw
esponded, "We don't have to prove
(Continue^ <? P**e *cvca)