Dedicated
To Service
For Progress
- (Uhe
VOL. M? NO. M
THE LEAD.NC WEEKLY NEWSPAPER 1N WESTERN north CAROLINA, COVERING A LARGE AND POTENTIALLY RICH TERRITORY
Our Aim: ?
A Better Murphy
A finer County
MURPHY. N. C. THl'RSDAY. MARCH 20. 1941
5r COPY? $1.50 PER YEAR
22 Workmen Rescued
From Tunnel Cave-In
Utah Employes are
Trapped 11 Hours
At NantaKnlj* Dam
A large crew of workmen labored
frantically for 11 hours Sunday night
clearing away earth and stone from
the Bcachcrtcwn tunnel to rescue 22
men who were trapped while work
ing on the construction of the Nan
tahala dam.
The men. employes of the Utah
Construction company building the
project for Nantahala Power and
Ljght company, were rescued at 4
o'clock Monday morning after being
sealed in by the cave-in about 40
feet from the entrance of the tunnel.
The trapped workmen remained
calm during the ordeal, although
they faced a real danger in the back
ing up of water in the funnel. Ray
Dickson, foreman of the afternoon
tunnel crew, said the water would
have drowned the men in a few hours
htlH thpr rinf twn
Finding the cold, damp air very
uncomfortable, the men tried build
ing a fire. However, the smoke made
breathing so difficult the fire was
soon extinguished. Attempts at sleep
were made despite the discomforts
caused by the cold, dampness and
smoke.
The telephone connection with the
outside was broken and the air shaft
was damaged but partially function
ing the tinio the men were entrapped,
i : elrcLiiC rower connection from
the outside was in perfect working
order and because of this the work
men had lights while the large crew
of men outsicie worked franctially
clearing away stone and earth for
their rescue.
Mr. Dickson, the foreman of the
trapped men, returned to work Mon
day afternoon after a few hours of
rest.
Those trapped were: Ray Dixon,
foreman, Larry Bittely, Frank Brooks
Wilburne Moore, Paul Padgett, John
Bradshaw, Dug am West, Roy Garrett,
B. Smiley Eckell Rowland, Troy
Crothers, Red Ramsey, Gar West,
Bunny Howland. Carl Flouquist.
Latham Pulliam, Willard Hanney,
Sum Crisp, Jake Cabe, Sonny Moore,
K. B. Russell and Neville Wiggins.
The Nantahala Power and light
company is a subsidiary of the Alu
minum Company of America.
o
A thief who took J. H. LeBeck's
corn planter In Chico, Cal., over
looked certain attachments, and Le
Beck advertised in a newspaper, in
viting the thief to return for the re
mainder of the equipment.
LAMP IN THE
VALLEY
A Novel of Alaska
ByArthur Stringer
Carol Coburn, ? Mfca?ferat'8n
daughter, while returning to her
native Alaska to teach and estab
lish an unproved claim, is rcscucd
from annoyance by Sidney Lan
der. Lander is an engineer for the
Trumbull Company, which is
fighting the Coburn claim. He
breaks with Trumbull, but re
main* engaged to Trumbull's
daughter, Barbara.
There is still another woman in
the cane ? and then there's Sock
?je Schlupp, the rip-roaring old
timer? all woven into this tbrill
-n* story of the Federal Colony on
latest American frontier.
Its great reading!
See Inside
Jackson Dav Diners
IV XlVrUi 1. Li. tauiuc
T. L Caudle. United States district ]
attorney has accepted an invitation
to be the principal speakci at the
annual Jackson Day dinner which
will be held in Murphy at the Re?al
hotel Saturday night. March 22. ,\t
7 o'clock.
Chairman Maitox has announced
that plans are complete for a Rood
program for the evening with several
local speakers in addition to Mi.
Caudle.
An invitation has been extended to
all democrats of the county to attend
this dinner which is staged annually
to supplement party funds to offset
campaign obligations and prepare
for future campaigns.
LETTER
TO THE EDITOR
Mr. Editor: Will you kindly publish I
the following?
MURPHY'S FUTURE
To The Citizens Of Murphy :
I do not know whether or not the
citizens of Murphy realize that the
geographical location of Murphy j
with its natural resources and what
different enterprises have done for
it, is one of the most advantageous
locations in Western North Carolina
for making it one of the leading
cities in the Western part of the
State.
X list a lew of its principal advan
tages:
We have superior climate. This is
a natuial gift.
Our scenery is not surpassed any
where in the Untted States. This is
a natural advantage.
We have the only town in the
State west of Charlotte that has
competitive railroad services, except
possibly Winston-Salem.
We have cheap electric power. We
have one of the most beautiful inland
lakes in the United States.
Murphy's business growth and up
build for the past fifteen years has
been phenominal.
With the railroad facilities and
the cheap electric power together
with our natural resources, climate
and scenery and citizenship, we
should make Murphy a center for
business enterprise and a place for
those seeking health, pleasure and
business. It strikes me that if we can
by some means advertise Murphy's
superior advantages we will see a
great growth in the next few years.
It has been reliably stated to me that
the TV A contemplates building an
other large dam near Murphy, and
it is a question of only a short time
until work will be started, either by
the TV A or Aluminum Company of
America of the Fontana Dam.
The Chamber of Commerce. Lions
and all citizens should contact lead
ing hotels and business houses in
South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama.
Mississippi. Tennessee and Florida
and Eastern North Carolina and seek
to get the tourists and business men
to come to Murphy. Let all citizens
get together and cooperate through
out this entire territory.
We should advertise our hotels,
tourist camps, and homes that will
accomodate tourists. Real Estate is
not getting any cheaper in and
around Murphy for the reason there
Is a steady substantial growth. Now
is the time to work to get people to
buy sites for business houses and
homes.
These are my views.
A subscriber
o? ?
W. L. Sumpter of Memphis. Tenn.,
is still wearing the pair of shoes in
which he married 22 years ago.
Six lital City and County Bills
Passed by State Legislature
1
Twelve Volunteers
To Leave Mar. 25
To Fill Draft Quota |
Twelve men are scheduled to leave I
Murphy on Tuesday. March 25. (or
Fort Bragg ior the current draft
call from this county. This group, as
in previous calls, is made up entire
ly ol volunteers.
The men to iea\ie Tuesday utc ?
Paul Burnatte of Andrews Rte. 1.
Clarence Brucc Carver of Andrews.
Warren Fred Taylor of Murphy Rte.
2. Woodrow Wilson Clayton of Mur- [
phy. Arthur Enoc.i Postell of An- 1
draws Rte. 1. Ernest Hughes of Mur
phy Rte. 2. Clarence John Hampton
of Ranger. Lewis Brendle of Murphy. ?
Hubert Ledford of Marble Rte. 1.1
Ray Pickelsimer of Patrick. Finlay I
Carter Nelson of Vests, and Charles ,
Walter Stuart of Murphy.
Another call for 13 men from this
county is expected around April 8,
the secretary of the draft board re
ports. Eight men have volunteered
for this detail but five more are
needed.
To date all men sent from this
county under the selective draft hove
been volunteers, the last detail mak
ing a total of 36 men.
Counting volunteers, a total of 475
questionaires have been mailed to
draftees in this county, which num
ber is expected to lake care of the
county quota through the month of
June.
I
Land Use Committees
Meet With Officials In
Planning Of Procedure
Meetings were held on Monday.
Tuesday and Wednesday of last week
in various sections of Cherokee coun
ty in connection with the land use
program now underway all over the
state.
John W. Crawford and J. W. Green
of Ihe land use staff in Raleigh, were
present art these meetings and at a
special meeting in the Martins creek
ares where efforts are being con
centrated as an example of develop
ment of this program. These men
will make the first report of pro
gress in this county.
The meeting at Martins creek was
held for the purpose of working out
a procedure to follow in the carrying
out of the program, including the
development of such problems as are
confronted in pastures, low farm in
comes live-?t-home program, soil
erosion control and community spirit.
The Martins creek meeting and all
other meetings of the week were at
tended by committeemen engaged in
the work of this program.
o
Agents Will Organize
3 Watershed Areas
Three meetings for organization
of watershed areas in the agricul
tural extension program of North
Carolina arc being held in communi
ties of this county during this week.
The first meeting was held in the
Hangingdog area Thursday. March
20. at the Grandview school at 1:30
o'clock. Two other meetings will be
held today 'Friday* , one at TJnaka
school at 10 a. m.. and the other <?t
Hopewell church at 1 :30 p. m. for
the organization of Upper Persimmon
creek area.
o
In the recorder's court at Kannap
olls. N. C.. a man was convicted of
driving a tractor while in an intoxi
cated condition.
New Measure Provides for Refunding
Tax Money Lost in TV A Acquisition
BAKER BEING HELD
AT BRYSON CITY
FOR THEFT OF CAR
Rilph Baker was taken to Bryson
City by a memc?r of the FBI Sunday
to stand trial in federal court for
the theft of an automobile allegedly
taken one night last week in Murphy
The Mr belonged to Richard How ell
of Murphy.
Baker was arrested in Towns coun
ty. Georgia, by Sheriff Townsnn Pa
trolman Smith and Sheriff Smith ot
HaNesville.
Only damagts to tiie c ir reported
u'pro a m|scj^g rpdlo wH HHd
a few hinges of! trunk which lie said
ho threw in a Georgia lake.
o
JIMMY LIVINGSTON
WILL PLAY DANCE
HERE THURSDAY
Local dance enthusiasts will have
an opportunity to swing and sway to
the rhythninic strains of the music
af Jimmy Livingston's orchestra in
the Cjiuu?3(uili Tiiui buay
night. March 27.
The dance which will last from
9 until 1 o'clock, is being sponsored
by the Murphy Womans club, the
proceeds to be given to the library
fund
Livingston, who is nationally
known from radio and recordings,
has played for Muphy dances several
times before and he and many of
his band have friends in the town.
It is an exceptional opportunity for
local dancers to have this prominent
band here. Admission charge will be
$1.00 per couple.
Annual Stockholders
Meeting Of Federation
The annual meeting of the stock
holders of the Farmers Federation
will be held Saturday. March 29, in
the Asheville court-house at 10:30
S. m.
Reports will be heard from Prof
Clapp, Guy Sales. Jack Gattis, Da
mont Clarke and the chairman of
the county committees. Amendments
to By Laws will be considered and
directors elected.
Music will be furnished by the fe
deration string band. Coffee and
sandwiches will be served after the
meeting.
o
FOLK SCHOOL VISITOR
I
Mrs. Theodora Ward of Alstead,
New Hampshire, was a visitor act the
John C. Campbell Folk school several
days last week. Mrs. Ward came to
study the experiment the school is
making in rural education and to |
consider the possibilities of applying
its principles in starting a folk school
on her New Hampshire farm.
OBSERVES ANNIVERSARY !
A. Q Ketner. county farrr agent,
observed his seventh anniveisary in
that office on March 17.
Ketner. a native of this county,
has served in his present capacity
since the resignation of Weaver
Gray, former agent. A great deal of
progress has been made since Mr.
Ketner took over this office and the
fanners and busineses people of
Cherokee county extend fellciations
upon his completion of the 7th year.
Duties And Salaries
Of Town Employes
Regulated By Bill
important bills concerning
Murphy and Cherokee rounty. intro
duced by Representative J. D Mal
lonee Jr . were passed in tile last
session of the state legislature which
adjourned Saturday niRht.
An act to regulate distribution of
fund* to replace taxes lost to the
i -tmty when the TV A came into
control of large tracts of land in the
Hiwnsset' basin : r.f r*' " it" i-rpr!*^
ance to local citizens
other mwtiro? mriudcu
one to regulate the duties and sal
aries of employes in the town cT
Murphy; an act to do away with
taxes against outside rural electrifi
cation service: another measure to
cut out penalties against delinquent
taxes in the county and its munici
fpMt'.rs; an act validating the re
funding of outstanding bonds and a
note of the town of Murphy.
Upon the acquisition of lands in
the Hiwassee basin by the TVA Cher
okee county lost approximately
?iu,uuu in tax collections, and the
state of North Carolina lost approxi
mately $3700 An act passed by con
gress relating tc a" lands acquired
by the TVA allowed about $33,000 to
replace these lost taxes to the state
but only allowed the county about
$3400.
The new measure provides fen
equitable distribution of this refund
so that this county will receive a
just amount for taxes lost. The meas
ure, in actuality, provides that the
state board make an accurate evalu
ation of the lands involved, deter
mine a fair tax as if it were owned by ?
a private corporation, and make a'
right division of the tax funds. This?
bill will, in fact, return to the county ?
its just income from this arrea. This
bill is now in effect.
A bill which probably received the
greatest attention of the citizens of'
Murphy was that which reorganized
and regulated the offices and duties
of certain city employes.
This measure provides that the
term of office of the mayor and
the board of town commissioners
shall be reduced from two years to
one year. It also provides that tho
collection of water rents, light rents,
etc., bo made by the town clerk who
shall make bond in the amount of
taxes to be collected, likewise for tho
new duty of collecting light rents.
The clerk's salary is set at a maxi
mum of $100 per month. In connec
tion with this act the office of tho
electric department will be cvmbinol
(Con tinned on Back Page)
The Weather Vane
Listed below are maximum and
minimum temperatures and precipi
tation for the past week compared
with similar data for last year:
Temperatures
194* 1941
Max. Mln. Max. Mln.
March 12 54 45 56 33
13 55 45 53 39
14 55 34 47 35
15 50 25 50 30
16 65 23 57 33
17 75 24 53 24
18 70 34 43 16
Precipitation
1?40 1*41
Total for week 1.88 0.73
Total for month to date 3.48 3.17
Total for year to date 10.76 7.4?