WATAUGA DEMOCRAT iil"
An Independent Weekly IS etc*paper . . . Eighty-Second Year of Continuous Publication
BOONE. WATAUGA COUNTY, WORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JUNE 4,1970
10 CENTS
24 PAGES—3 SECTIONS
SUNRISE—This demy early morning scene was captured by photographer John mnidn. on tbs
University campus before the commencement crowds began to arrive.
German-Bom Teacher
Says “Too Much Land”
iA German-born professor of
biology at Appalachian state
University believes that the cur
rent alarm about over
population in America la, in hla
words, "just a little bit
ridiculous,”
Dr. F. G. Schroeder, an ex
change professor here bom the
Udversity of Gottingen in
Germany, explained that when
compared to Europe, the United
States has too much land and
too tew people.
“That la why Americana are
able to waste their land,” he
i ■sateKT’dRanB
HUGH HAGAMAN
Will Receive
Doctorate At
Virginia U.
Hugh Hagaman, aoo of Mr.
and Mr*. Hear; Hagaman of
Sugar Gram, will receive Ml
Doctorate in education in
exercises to be held Sunday,
June 7, at the University of
Virginia in Charlottesville.
He was a Dumd Fellow while
at the university of Virginia and
Ma field of specialization la
aullorlaual Instruction,
A graduate of Core Creek
High School, he received Ma
S. and l4 A. dagreea from
Appalachian State Urtreratty am
did graduate work at But Car
olina University and Indiana
University.
Dr, Hagaman baa accepted «
Mcletant professorship In tt*
Mehnnj of Rflncattay university
of North Carolina at Greens
boro and wm be returning to
North Carolina with Ms tunny
tide summer.
He Is married to the former
Peggy Beeee of Beech Creek ant
they have tour daughters. Hi
served tour years In the Air
Fores and taught In MooresvOle
N. C. tor U years.
ms ... .
Germany, Dr. Schroeder
pointed out, occupies about the
same area as the two Carolina*
and Georgia. But its population
at 75 million is six times that
at the three Southeastern states.
"And the Netherlands,” he
added, "has 12 million people
living in an area about the else
of North Carolina mountain
region. It they threw away pro
portionately as many beer cans
as Americans do, Holland would
be nothing but a trash can.”
Schroeder does maintain that
over population is a grave prob
lem when viewed on a world
wide scale, but he believes that
if population control is enforced,
"it should begin in Europe, China
and India, not in America.”
The real danger tor the United
States, he indicates, is a poor
distribution of population and the
mass wasting of natural re
sources.
"There is so much pollution
here in America that could be
easily avoided,” Schroeder be
lieves. “But all people have
more freedom over here,
especially in the use of their
land.
"And it is understandable that
In a tree economy, the private
industrialist will look at Us
profit, not at what he is doing
to the environment,” he said.
The geobotanist points to tUs
country’s forests as an example.
"The forests in the IMted
States are now at the point of
devastation, lust as the forests
were In Germany In about 1750,
And when Germany was wholly
out of timber, the government
bad to begin forest manage
ment,"
Pointing to a need for more
strict environmental controls in
America, he said, "People here
are accustomed to doing what
they really want with their
property—it works well for a
long time, but when the popu
lation becomes more dense and -
the intensity at the economy
becomes greater, then it be
comes dangerous."
He stressed that the point of
danger has been reached In
Europe and in America, but
({Continued on page two)'
DR. F.G.SCHROEDEK
Based On $80 Million Valuation
Watauga Tax Rate Set
At $1 In New Budget
’■'■X
Adoption
Is Set For
July 6th
The Board of Corner Com.
mtaalonera Monday night ar
rived at a proposed budget tor
tbs fiscal year ending June 30,
1071.
And in placing the advertise,
meat of the budget. Tax Sup.
erviaor James C, Lyons said
citizens may see the full break
down at the budget by making a
request at Ms office.
The new budget Is figured on
the basis at an estimated total
property valuation of $80 million
and reflects a decrease at 10
cents from $1,10 to $1) per
$100 valuation.
Final adoption at the county
budget la set tor the first Mon.
day In July.
The advertised total valuation
for the current fiscal year was
only $69 million. But Lyons
said “the development of farm
land Into building lots,” the
growth of resort areas, addi
tion of summer homes and ex
pansion of year-around homes
and businesses account for the
additional $11 million on which
the proposed budget has bean
based.
He nld also tint theooui*y*»
new method of letting taxpay
ers either list personal pro
perty, item by Item, or pay 10
per cent at their house value
has meant much additional tax
inoome.
He Judged that between 85 and
98 per cei* at the people are
using the percentage method
rather than listing. When only
the listing method was used,
Lyons said, many people did not
present an accurate picture at
their personal holdings. The new
way Is equal for all, he feels.
The present commissioners
are up for re-election in No
vember to their second two
year term. When they took
office In 1968, the tax rate was
$1^3 per $100 valuation, Lyons
said. But the assessed ratio of
taxation was 45 per cent.
Last year, the commissioners
reduced the per-hundred-dol
lars rate to $M0 while setting
up the ratio to 65 per cent, Lyons
said state law required that per
sonal and real property be taxed
at the same assessed ratio.
Formerly, personal property
was taxed at 100 per cent, he
said.
The revaluation of real pro
perty Is “about 50 per cent
complete,’’ Lyons said.
The contract calls lor It to be
finished Jan. 1, 1971 and Lyons
said the new figures will be
posted to the oouiSy books after
that time.
O—ft—'ft "ft
* BOOMTIMES AT SHULLS MILLS—View at the band mill and
lumbar yards at tha Boone Forte Lumbar Co, at Shulli Mills,
Right center la tha Robbing Hotel, Behind, to the rlghtof the
lumber hacka, the L-shaped building la the offloe and hospital
operated by Dr. R, H. Hardin, and McKinley Ayere, lived In the
adjacent building. Lower center la the movie house, operated by
Ira and McKinley Ayers, across the road la the site at Barber
BUI Hodges’ shop; behind la the company comndaaary and supply
house; to the right the poetoffice. Behind the mill Mr, 0, L, Coffey
ereoted a number ct bousesforthe mill people. The lumber plant
*■* established about 1916 and operated urtU all the Boone Folk
timber owned by the company was cut and the lumber shipped out
on the Linville River Railway which was built to Shulls Mills from
UnvUle primarily tor that purpose, William S. WMtteg of Phila
delphia was president of the company which employed several
lundred people during the vast lumbering operation. The picture
was loaned to the Democrat by Mrs. B. G. Teams of Boone, who
says it was made in 1918, Mrs. Teams also Identified the build
ings.
Plans Being Made For
Opening Horn In West
The manager of Hern In the
West, Boone's outdoor drama,
Monday told the executive com
mittee of the Southern Appa
lachian Historical Association
that the Daniel Boone Ampt
theater Is being readied for the
opening of the production late
this month,
Everetts Wldener told the
luncheon meeting he plans to
distribute more brochures In
the area this week and he con
firmed that tickets will again be
sold by local motels in exchange
per cent of those sales.
Safer Place To Live
From the stsnrtpolrd of ssfSty, It I* much better to
be living In Watauga Count? than In moCt place# In the
South Atlantic States.
For the average local reaidant, life appears to be
lace hazardou*. The chancea at becoming Involved in
an aeddert—fetal or otherwise—are not as greet as they
arc else where, according to government statistics.
The local accident record is reflected, along with
those of other communttiee across the country, In the
latest vital statistics survey tor the U.S. Public Health
Service. The surveys are made oo an annual basis.
The findings are of particular Importance at ibis
tlms because of the approach of the holiday season
whh Its osoally Ugh toU, both on the highway and in tha
homo.
Tie report shows a total of 10 fetal accMarta in
the year among residents of Wttauga County.
And this Is only part of the toll, the National Srfety
K sett mates that, tor every fetal
100 ottars of
-<?«*£**
The figure* in the survey taka into account accident*
at all sort* that affected local people, whenever they
may have occurred. They do not Include, however, local
accident* involving non-residents.
Watauga County's accident toll, in term* of popula
tion, was at th* rate of 58 fatalities per 100,000 people.
It was lower than the rate reported for the rest
of the South Mantle States, 61 per 100,000,
It was better, also, than the State of North Carolina
rat* of 67 per 100,000.
The nu«nttude of the problem is evident from figure*
compiled by tbs National Safety Council. They show that
116,000 Americans died as a result of aocidert* in th*
past year.
Th* overall cost of aoddants in 1969 counting medical
expanses, lost wages, property damage and the like, is
estimated by the council * 133.5 billion. v
Watauga Coiady*a share of this cost, based upon -
th* average amount par aeddant, ooroe* to approximately
. i*-'y-s
Aa usual, special rates will
be effective for camps and
church groups.
Wtdener suggested that Wa
tauga Night, for which free
tickets are available to local
people wanting to see the play,
be extended from opening nig It
to two days In the following week.
He said this would give all
comers an opportunity to see
the production and suggested
haviii 2,500 to 3,000 Watauga
Night tickets printed.
Widener's earlier suggestion
was to honor the tickets on the
following Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday nights also, but
treasurer Stan Harris thought
they should mark off Tuesday,
which he termed “the best paid
attendance night of the week
except Saturday.”
And the manager said he will
be visiting filling station opera
tors and leaving brochures with
them,
James Marsh said he planned
to encourage local business
houses to get all of their em
ployees out to the Horn this
year. He said he would bring
UP the subject at Tuesday’s
meeting of the Chamber of Com
merce directors.
The group discussed ordering
promotional hats and/or badges
which could be distributed to
service personnel In the area.
A board of directors meeting
was set up for Monday, June 15,
at the Cardinal Restaurant. The
executive committee will con
vene after the directors’ meet.
Marsh reported a new roof
has been put on the concession
stand and that contractor L. R.
Aldridge thought tho roofing of
tome of the older buildings
ibould be repaired soon.
The Town Board of Akkrmea
had offered to put dumpsters at
the Boone Playground as well as
on the Horn in the West grounds.
But Mrs. B. W. Stallings said
the large dumpsters would be
near the picnic area of the play,
ground and would be a mecc a for
Auditions
Auditions will be held on
stage at the Daniel Boone Amphi
theater Saturday to All four
remaining positions in the
company ot Horn In The West,
D, Ward Haarbauer, director
of the outdoor drama, said that
one actor-technician, one fe
male and two male dancers will
be hired.
Auditions will begin at 10
a, m, and continue to noon.
The Horn begins rehearsals
June 11 and opens its 19th
consecutive season on June 26,
Performances will continue
nightly except Mondays through
Aug, 22.
flies and bees. Also, she felt
they would Interfere with the
(Continued on page two)
To Intern In
Washington
Brenda L. Dix, an Appalach
ian State University junior from
High Point, has been selected
as a summer intern with the U.
S. Civil Service Commission In
Washington, D. C.
One of 400 honor students
selected in the nation, she will
work with a federal government
agency under an experienced ad
ministrator.
Meeting in weekly seminars
with other interns, she will use
her governmental wrk experi
ences to supplement her studies
in social sciences at Appalach
ian.
Brenda is the (faultier at
Mr. and Mrs. David Dtx Sr.
of High Point.
Democrats To Have
Precinct Meetings
Watauga County Democrats
are asked to hold their pre
cinct meeting at their respec
tive polling places next Satur
day June 8 at 1 o’clock to
elect their precinct officials
fai to transact any other per
tinent business.
The convention call Is made
by Mrs. Rachel Hartley, act
ing chairman ot the Democratic
Executive Committee and she
urges all Democrats to attend.
and young woters areaoked to
dtend and tala part In tfao pro>
The meeting la held aider the
now plan at organisation tor the
Democratic party In North Caro
lina which also prOTideathet the
Couidy Comretdion will be held
In each oounty In the Side on
Saturday Jure 20th, at which time
party ^n«»«ia will be eleohod
aid other biatneas traneaotad.