Newspapers / Carolina Watchman (Salisbury, N.C.) / Aug. 6, 1931, edition 1 / Page 4
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The Carolina Watchman PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING BY The Carolin:. Watchman Publishing Co. SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA Established, in 1832 99th .Year of Publication E. W. G. Huffman_Editor S. Holmes Plexico_Business Manager A. R. Monroe _Advertising Manager •. . -- ’ PHONES: News and editorials _ 695 \ ' Advertising and circulation_ 532 Business ..._ 532 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Payable in Advance One Year _ 61.00 Three Years ___r.___ 2.00 Entered as second-class mail matter at the postoffice at Salis bury, N. C-, under the act of March 3, 1879. __2J£. "If the choice were left to me whether to have a free press or a free government, I would choose a free press.”—Thomas Jefferson. THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 6, 1931 POPULATION DATA CITIES AND TOWNS Salisbury --— 16,951 Gold Hill _ 156 Spencer - 3,129 Granite Quarry_ 507 E. Spencer _ 2,098 Rockwell _ 696 China Grove _ 1,25 8 Faith _,_ 431 Landis - 1,388 Kannapolis . 13,912 TOWNSHIPS Atwell _ 2,619 Morgan _ 1,327 China Grove_ 8,990 Mt. Ulla _ 1,389 Cleveland __1,445 Providence_ 2,589 ^Franklin_ 2,246 Salisbury _ 25,153 Gold Hill _,_ 2,642 S. Irish_ 1,251 Litaker_ 2,562 Steele _ l',142 Locke- 1,904 Unity_ 1,406 THE RAILROAD RATE INCREASE The principal difficulty besetting the rail roads was well set forth in their recent appli cation before the Interstate Commerce Com mission asking for a general 15 per cent in crease in freight rates. "If the carriers were permitted to partici pate in periods of prosperity equally with oth er business, they should equally sacrifice in periods of adversity,” the application said. "But they are denied such participation by law. Even in periods of prosperity the return on railway capital has been meagre and1 inade quate ...” Under such conditions, it is not strange that \ the lines have been wondering for a long time • how to make ends meet. The present business depression Has naturally further reduced rail bbv, •, Ek. Not since the could keep rates wen aown an reasonable profit for their services. L _ as we over-tax and over-regulate the inc to the point where its very existence is in dai. ger, we must pay the fiddler—in unemploy ment, business recession, higher freight rates. The 15 per cent increase may work a hard ship on some—but it is necessary to keep one of the most essential of all businesses from ruin. THE MAN AND THE PARTY Appointment of Cal Miller to fill the un expired term of Sheriff McKenzie by the coun ty commissioners has met with the approval of an overwhelming majority of the people in Rowan County. However, in some circles, it has been termed a piece of politics. Mr. Miller is one of the outstanding farm ers in Rowan County. He is also a leading busi ness man; His reputation is above reproach. He is a fine gentleman, a Christian, an active church member, and a man of clean habits. He has the qualifications of a sheriff. He is — trustworthy and capable. He is diligent and fearless. He is experienced in the operations and management of the county government. It is true Mr. Miller has long been identi fied in politics in Rowan County. Is that to his credit or discredit? It is the privilege and duty of every citizen to be an active partici pant in politics. It is also true he has held office _in Rowan County. The voters gave him hand lome majorities. Is that an honor or dishonor? He has also held an office with the state. He has served his party and the people well. Fur ther, he is a political power. He has many friends. He knows every pigpath in the coun ty and he knows most of the people in the county. Shall these things be chalked up against him? It is our opinion Mr. Miller is entitled to eredit for these accomplishments; for these honors conferred upon him by the people. It is our opinion these services have better quali fied him to hold the office of sheriff. It is our opinion few men in Rowan County could con duct the office as efficiently as Mr. Miller. If the appointment of Cal Miller is politics, then let us have more of it. WHAT ABOUT BUSINESS ? It is this time of the year when people in stinctively turn their minds along the line of future business prospects. It is the planning and harvesting time of the year, and business indications are, therefore, of significant nature. Financial, mercantile, and business agencies of all varieties are making a survey of the field to ascertain what future probabilities are and the reports that are being made are of a de cidedly hopeful tendency. Unemployment and the collapse of our ex port trade are undoubtedly two of the out standing causes of our present slump. These conditions emphasize the absolute necessity of intensifying domestic trade and predicating all expansions and developments upon this home business. Foreign trade, almost ruined by our tariff laws, falls out of the scope of an ticipation and what we do will have to be done largely among ourselves. But American business is cheered in this mid-summer season by a prospect of good har vests and a promise of renewed industrial ac tivities. In the government’s latest report on crop conditions, the wheat yield for the year is more than satisfactory although the price paid is indeed disappointing. The forthcom ing yield of corn, cotton, tobacco, and oats, according to government estimates, will show increases, while the outlook for other food crops is favorable. It is hoped that the prices for these crops will be such as to properly re imburse the farmer for his labors with a profit to which he is entitled. The vigor of industrial conditions is again being evidenced, after a long lapse. Iron and steel are active. Textile mills, in many sections of the country, are running on part and full time. Building operations show increases over the past year. These and sundry other advances in industry and trade are reflected in bank clearings, which must undoubtedly be accept ed as a barometer of the times. With bounteous harvests and renewed in dustrial vigor, let us hope the United States is on the road to its accustomed prosperity, and that the reports continuously sent out by government officials is not merely hodeepodce and camouflage. UP TO ALL OF US Statistics compiled by the National Boar{t of Fire Underwriters, covering the first fivV months of the year, show an improvement in, the fire loss ratio as compared with 1930. Ap losses were 4.88 per c pt below last year May 1.5 per ceijt low^l. ... 4 We^iust not, how^vetf^fecome too'Sing „ me because of the decrease. During May som $37,000,000 worth of property was destroyec, I; is safe to say that at least $30,000,000; could have been saved by reasonable, ion and care. In these days of good fire on and widespread knowledge con building construction and fire preven - unavoidable fire is a rare article. FeW ive building codes as rigorous as they; oe—and few builders go to the little cpense that would make their struc e-resistent to the highest degree. We have yet to learn that money spent in guard ing against fire is a good investment, paying a high rate of return. Real progress in lowering fire loss will nop be achieved until there is a general public realization of the duty of the individual to make his property safe. Laxness and ignorance and a false sense of economy are responsible for the annual destruction of thousands of lives and hundreds of millions of dollars in property values. A number of private and public organizations have done their best to instruct us in fire hazards and means of guard-l ing against them. The rest is up to us. WORK FOR PUBLIC SAFETY Every state should officially inaugurate a "Save-a-Life” motor vehicle campaign this year. Such campaigns have been tried in a num ber of eastern states with splendid results. Brakes, steering and lights are inspected and corrected and the need for safe and sane driv ing is brought home to the motorist. It is the common experience that the accident rate de clines during the campaign and the period fol lowing. Only organized effort can make progress against the increasing danger of our highways. The incompetent and the reckless have become j genuine menaces to the lives and property of all. The sad toll of deaths and injuries mounts day by day, in spite of modernization of traf fic laws in many states. We must, through rigorous examination, make sure that the driver is capable of safely operating a car. Then we must, through "Save-a-Life” campaigns or similar move ments, make sure that the car he drives is me chanically safe. Thereafter the problem comes down to individual responsibility and under standing. Education must be unremitting. The motorist, as an individual, must accept the re sponsibility that is his wh6n he. uses the public highways. • - • Y • • • ■ The Watchman Tower Mr. R. L. Rankin, ? Chief of Police, Salisbury', N. C. My Dear Chief: Recently, I have noted a perceptible reduction in the number of automo biles operated in the streets at night with only one head light, or none at all. I take it that this improvement is a result of the activities of your de partment, and I congratulate you and your men. Governor Matthew Rowan. Mr. W. G. Yeager, Master of Rowan Grange, Salisbury, N. C. Dear Sir: Few organizations in Rowan Coun ty have shown a unity of purpose, or have accomplished as much through co-operative work, as the Rowan Grange. I know of no farm organiza tion of recent times that has answer ed the call of the rural sections as has the grange. This fact was evidenced on no un certain terms at the picnic held at Peeler’s lake last week. It was an in spiration. To you, as master of the Grange, and to your capable, efficient and ac tive set of officers, goes the lion’s share of the praise, although I am not overlooking the .1100 members who have made your success possible and secure. I anticipate a continuation of this fine work. Governor Matthew Rowan. County Commissioners, Rowan County, Salisbury, N. C. Gentlemen: Please allow me to congratulate you upon a further reduction of the tax rate for Rowan County. I understand from Raleigh the tax rate of 5 7 cents on the $100.00 assessed valuation is {>robably the lowest in the state; at east, Rowan will have second or third lowest tax rate in^the sjjjlte. This will mean a 33 1-l^tf^jjKon for 1931.. For the readers, gs herewitl^^^^^Hk as prepar you gent^^^^B tty general141,872.75 ity debt 121,717.50 County levy _ eration of schools J—.>109.842.67 School debt service . >6,479.54 School capital outlay_ 3,600.00 School current expenses .. 8,215.00 Total ......$433,727.46 Comparison between 1930 and 1931 is indeed interesting: The tax rate for 1930 was divided as follows: County general fund_..15 County road fund . 1.6 County debt service_ .08 Schools, current expenses.. .37/z School debt service .07 School capital outlay _ .01 J4 Total . .8 5 The new low rate for 1931 is as followsK, County general fund .15 County debt service_ .17 ]A School levy for state___ .15 7-10 School debt service__06*4 School current expense _ .02 3-10 Total ..... .57 The tax payers trust you can stay within the budget you have prepared and assure you of their appreciation of your action in lowering the tax rate. Governor Matthew Rowan. Hon. Clyde E. Gooch, Judge Rowan County Court, Salisbury, N. C. Dear Sir: Permit me to say a word of com mendation about the manner in which you have conducted the County Court since you were inducted into office. You placed the court on a high plane and have maintained this policy. You have known neither rich nor poor. You have known neither white or black. You have not convicted a man because he is poor or inflicted a severe punishment upon a man because of his wealth, and the same is true of race or color. Your decisions have been guided by the evidence. They have been tem pered with mercy. It is good to see a man on the bench who believes in the "gospel of the second chance.’ The other night the following lines were called to my attention: In men whom men condemn as ill, I find so much of goodness still; In men whom men pronounce divine, I find so much of sin and blot, I hesitate to draw the line, Between the two, where God has not. While it may be true that poetry CATAWBA SHERIFF RECEIVES LETTER FROM HONEST MAN Hickory, Aug. 5.—According to an old saying there are two things a person can’t escape, death and taxes. Sheriff O. D. Barrs, of Catawba county, has just heard from a man who escaped his taxes, but he apparen tly failed to get away from his con ' science. The note, written on a ship ing tag and mailed from Lenoir, read as follows: "I lived in your county a few years ago and did not list or pay any taxes. I had an old car. I guess five dollars will pay it for me. (Signed) "A Child of God.’ There was a five dollar bill enclos ed. "I’d certainly like to learn whc this fellow is,” Sheriff Barrs remark ed. A freckled face and red hair were once political assets. Now-days any color hair and any sort of face will do. and justice may not mix, they are closely akin to each other. They botl smack of that certain thing callec justice. Governor Matthew Rowan AUTOMOBILE DESIGNS TO BE REVOLUTIONARY New York, Aug. $.—Automobile design is in for a radical change, re cent reports to the Society of Auto motive Engineers indicate. Through all the years of automobile history, the cart has been before the horse, many engineers think. Here is what, they say is going to happen: The engine will be put at the rear, possibly crosswise; the body will be streamlined with a rounded blunt nose at the front, tapering to a point at the rear. Results: Because of reduced wind resistance less power will be required and less gas used; a car of the same length will have more passenger room; the driver will be at the front where he can see better; the engine and trans mission will be more compact and ac cessible. Engine cooling and control connec tions are said to present two of the most difficult problems in the way of the change. CAUTIOUS Secretary—-A man has just called. He wishes you to tell him the secret of your success in life. Financier—Is he a journalist—or— or a detective?—Humorist. Raney - Cline Aspn|£ES9|iSSBar ^r ImmiM TrmntfHmHmm Leads Them All 24 HOUR SERVICE Except Sunday PHONES 1429 634 Say, "I Saw It in The Watchman.” Thank You! r-E" ■ '. .^ " = . A Complete I Close Out ON ALL LADIES Summer Dresses Regardless Of Former Prices Former Prices to $19.95 NOW $4.95 Can You Imagine A Sale ; Like This? Not A Dress Re served. All Dresses Reduced To One Price. Sport Frocks, Evening Chif fon and Georgette Frocks. Sunday Night Frocks. All Prices. Up to $19*95 Now at this Low Price. Conte Early Not an old style in our stock*. All sizes, all colors and all materials. Say, "I Saw It in The Watchman.” Thank Yaut t #
Carolina Watchman (Salisbury, N.C.)
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Aug. 6, 1931, edition 1
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