The Alleghany News
AND STAR-TIMES
The NEWS established February 16, 1940—
The TIMES, 1926 and The STAR, 1889.
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
At Sparta, N. C.
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1947
ED M. ANDERSON -Publisher
MRS. ED M. ANDERSON---Associate
SUBSCRIPTION RATES PER YEAR
In County, $2.00 - Outside County, $2.50
The News is glad to publish letters, not
too long, on matters of general interest. But
such communications must be accompanied
by the real name of the writer, even when
they are to be published under a nom de
plume.
Entered as second-class matter at the post
office at Sparta, North Carolina, under the
Act of March 3, 1879.
“If the choice were left to me whether to
have a free press or a free government, I
would choose a free press.”—Thomas Jef
ferson.
*
Easter 1947
Easter 1947 finds many problems of the
world still unsettled. Hunger, fear and a
spirit of uncertainty is felt in many parts
of the earth. Easter is a time of new hope
and a promise of a more peaceful world.
But it is also a time of rededication to the
principles of Him, who gave us new hope
at .Eastertime. Until the world can come
nearer to carrying out His principles there
wil always be fear, hunger and unhappi
ness.
We have much to be thankful for this
Easter; but along with all that we are
thankful, for, we have added responsibili
ties as individuals and as a nation. As indi
viduals1 we should feel more keenly the
meaning of Easter. As we attend sunrise
services and. other church services through
out the day, let us again rejoice for the
triumph; of good over evil and continue to
work and pray that individuals and the
world may rise to new heights of under
standing and appreciation of Him, who
gave us Easter with its hope, joy and
-oOo
Free Enterprise
The hope of the world lies in the Amer
ican government—and the American pri
vate enterprise system which underlies it.
As our international commitments grow,
more and more peoples in nations which
bore the full physical brunt of war look
to us for succor.
Already, American industry has brought
new vistas of prosperity and progress to
remote parts of the world. The work of
the Arabian-American Oil Company in
Saudi Arabia is a dramatic example of this.
The company is financed and operated by
a group of four United States oil com
panies. It is pouring gigantic sums—the
total may run as high as $300,000,000—into
Saudi Arabia to develop hitherto untouch
ed' oil resources that are there. In the
procetes* it has brought modem medicine
to the peoples of the region. It has started
great agricultural experiment projects. It
has built modem villages and good roads.
Thus with free enterprise at the helm,
social progress and economic development
go hand in hand— precisely as they have
always done here at home. <
. In the coming years American industry
in many fields will carry on the work of
this nature. The techniques developed in
the new world will be applied to the re
sources—and the rehabilitation—of the old.
Millions of people, who know little of
American ideals of liberty, will see the
superiority of the free enterprise system
aver the totalitarian system—regardless
what name it wears. The American
oil industry is a product of free opportun
ity upon which our nation was built’.
-oOo-—
The National Board of Fire Underwriter?
recently analyzed the causes of the dis
graceful and menacing increase in fire
bss in the tTnited States—a loss that came
near the $600,000,000 figure last year. The
following principal reasons were cited:
E The increased value of property, mer
chandise and large inventories.
2. The use of substandard housing.
3. Overcrowding of buildings, with a
resulting strain on electrical circuits and
heating plants already in disrepair be
cause of wartime shortages.
4. A tendency to build factories and
other high-value properties in outlying
areas where water supply for fire fighting
purposes may be inadequate.
5. Shortage of fire department equip
ment.
6. A great increase in carelessness at
the end of the war.
Most of thfe causes of fire are correct
able. Substandard housing must be pre
vented by local building and safety ordin
ances. Communities will soon be able to
obtain needed fire equipment. Adequate
repair and maintenance of electrical and
heating facilities can be obtained now. The
last cause, human carelessness, is probably
the most important—and it is likewise the
most indefensible. So long as we take
chances with this great destroyer, lives
and property will continue to be needless
ly sacrificed. That is the message which
must be brought home to all the American
people.
oOo
Better Feed, More Food
\
• Our nation is great because it enjoys the
highest standard of living—and the highest
nutritional level—of any Nation in the
World. One of the principal reasons for
the energy, drive, and imagination of the
American people is the relatively high
quality of their protein diets. And the pro
teins on which we rely most are supplied
largely through meat, milk and eggs—the
products of livestock and poultry feeding.
A' great deal of credit for maintaining
and improving the Nation’s high level of
nutrition rightly belongs to the feed manu
facturing industry which has done much
to bring the age of scientific feeding to
American farms.
About thirty years ago the hens in this
country laid an average of 110 eggs a
year. Today they are averaging 150. Cows
now give an average of 265 quarts more
milk apiece each year than they did in
1925!
During the past quarter century tne pro
duction of livestock has increased 44 per
cent per acre of land, and 27 per cent per
unit of feed available.
These remarkable increases have been
due to improved breeds of livestock and
poultry and to improved feeding and man
agement methods. It is vitally important
that we have had these production in
creases and that we continue to improve
livestock raising efficiency, for the popula
tion of this country t has been increasing
at an alarming rate.
Scientific feeding, as we know it today,
is based largely on fundamental knowledge
developed during the past 50 years at our
agricultural colleges and experiment sta
tions. The feed manufacturing industry
has utilized this basic information, sup
plementing it with the findings of its own
laboratories and experimental farms.
Then, through applied research, the feed
industry has converted this knowledge
into a practical, workable form for the ben
efit of the greatest number of people in the
shortest possible time. Thus farmers and
feeders, large and small, have had the
full advantage of latest research, experi
ments, and accurate blending of feed in
gredients, as scientific feeding progressed
during recent years.
' These improved feeds, produced by the
feed industry, have greatly promoted ef
ficiency in livestock and poultry product
ion, with resulting higher profits for the
farmer and a higher nutritional level for
Americans. i II ’?•!**
——- —-oOo
Retailer Worries
The consumer is not alone in worrying
about high prices. The manufacturer and
merchant are definitely disturbed too.
Their interest is plain enough. Con
sumer resistance is strong and it is in
creasing. When people think prices are
too high, they go without or purchase
cheaper substitutes. Markets decline. And
goods languish on store shelves.
The retailers of the country are devoting
intense attention to this problem now.
They are going to the mat with manu
facturers, seeking ways and means to pro
duce better goods for less money. The
chain stores have taken the lead in this
and their buyers are turning skeptical
eyes on offered merchandise which may
be over-priced or of less desirable quality.
On top of that, all kinds of stores are
cutting overhead in every way possible.
Most of the sayirigs find their way, directly
or indirectly, into the pockets of the con
sumer. Prices are brought down—or, of
equal benefit, price increases that would
otherwise be unavoidable are prevented.
SPARTA
SPECTACLES
By Mrs. Ed M. Anderson
Vt,, -i*
. I7
Spring has c^me again, so we
hope and what’s more, we hope
to stay. The heaviest snow of the
season, last week, cut short the
opening of the Spring.
Speaking of the snow, there
were a lot of people and things
slightly inconvenienced by it. We
were particularly sorry the rob
ins who had already arrived in
large numbers. We were re
minded of the old nursery
rhyme:
“The North wind doth blow
Then we shall have snow
And what will poor robin do
then?
He will sit in the barn
And keep himself warm,
Poor thing, poor thing!
Just where all the robins went,
that arrived here is hard to say.
Some shivered under the ever
greens, grapevines and other
shelters. Some probably found
barns -and according to some
people, others got discouraged
and went South again.
When Spring arrived again
this week the best story we heard
about it was from a minister, who
told of a small boy, who had
memorized a poem about Spring,
the grass and flowers. When he
arose to give it, the poem was
forgotten, but the thought re
mained and he said:
“Spring is sprung
The grass is ris
Tell me where the flowers is.”
We have an idea they will
make their appearance on hats
as well as in corsages on Easter
Sunday!
Along with Spring came Mrs.
J. T. Carson, known to hundreds
of her friends as Miss Cora. She
has been away for several months
spending sometime in Washing
ton, D. C., Richmond, Va., and
Charlotte, N. C. Mrs. Carson
said she encountered snow prac
tically everywhere she went. Of
course she also encountered many
old friends too. Among them
were the Dwight Greenes of
Kensington, Maryland, near
Washington. Mrs. Greene will be
pleasantly remembered as the
public health nurse here. Mrs.
Carson said, while she visited
them, their s6n celebrated his
first birthday and took his first
steps. Mrs. Carson has been miss
ed during her absence and her
many friends will be happy to
welcome her back again.
Rack from Washington is the
Honorable Floyd Crouse, who re
ports that among other things he
had the opportunity to hear the
distinguished” Congress—an R. L.
Doughton in his memorable
speech against the drastic reduc
tion of taxes at this time. Mr.
Crouse remarked that the speech
was something to be heard and
that our Congressman could hold
his own with any of them.
An Election is coming up in
May for the town of Sparta and
already we have heard several
suggestions for Mayor along with
the present incumbent, Amos
Wagoner. Among these are Bob
Randolph, Kemp Doughton and
Dr. Fox. Of course it is not
known whether any of these will
be candidates, but whoever the
candidates are, we imagine the
dry issue will play some part in
the election. And by that we
mean the water shortage!
“Flu” here and there and we
are npt talking about the birds
or those who travel by air, but
the unpleasant influenza which
has hit Sparta in almost an epi
demic during the past week. The
B. and T. Drug Store was dealt
a heavy blow. At fir^t Dr. Bur
giss came down with it, then Mrs.
Burgiss and Tommy were vic
tims. And in the meantime Ern
est had both flu and measles.
And to him the measles proved
to be no measly disease. Ruth
Caldwell was the only one that
escaped and stayed continually
bn the job.
Sweet music is In store for
those who attend the Woman’s
club dance on Friday night when
the rioted Paul Webber will play.
Mr. Webber, who was featured
at the Sheridan Hotel last sea
son, was one of the most popular
attractions in New York. We
took time off from a meeting to
go look him up and took along
some other North Carolina
frieiids, who agreed that His mu
sic was nil that we claimed it to
■ ■* #
At The Sepulchre Weeping
^MILLIONS OF J
STARVING, M
HELPLESS,
hopeless, m
WAP-SICK ■
PEOPLES Kg
Your Tri-County
Health Dept.
By Robert R. Kin*, Jr.
District Health Officer
Reportable diseases are diseases
which are required by law to be
reported by the physician making
the diagnosis to the local or state
Health Department. It must be
admitted that this takes a great
leal of the physicians valuable
time and has little to do with the
;ure of the patient concerned,
but there are important reasons
why this procedure is important
enough to have become a state
law and to be customary through
out the United States.
In North Carolina there are 35
reportable diseases although of
course many of these are only
rarely seen, and a great many
eases of the more common of
these diseases are not reported
because they are not seen by a
physician or the diagnosis is not
definitely proved or for some
other reason.
The reason for reporting is to
■-all to the attention of the health
department the presence of these
diseases all of which are con
tagious and are apt to be spread
from one sick person to one or
many well persons. This can be
prevented if the proper effort is
made to keep well people away
by quarantine and by isolating
the patient as nearly as possible
from his family and those who
wait .upon him and by properly
disposing of his waste products
and properly washing his dishes
and bed clothing.
Five of these diseases are
known as the venereal diseases
or “social diseases.” They ar§
chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma
inguinale, lymphogranuloma ven
ereum, and syphilis. They are im
portant enough to occupy a great
deal of the time and effort of
the public health department. .
Tuberculosis has always stood
bigh among the causes of death
in North Carolina, and its control
is set up under a distinct branch
>f the state government as the
North Carolina Tuberculosis As
sociat’on.
Malaria control through sani
tary engineering and typhus con
trol by rat proofing campaigns
fall under the department of San
itation of the State Board of
Health.
Many of the so called child
hood diseases are on this list.
Whooping cough, diphtheria,
measles and scarlet fever are
most notable in this group, and
the first two can be prevented by
oroper vaccination. Two of the
The Federal Crop Insurance
Corporation has discontinued
payment of 1946 crop cotten loss
slaimg under the crop insurance
program.
Moore, of North Wilkesboro, will
be the guest speaker at the club
meeting today. Mrs. Moore is
the chairman of the American
Homes Department of North
Carolina Federation of Women’s
Clubs. She has long been a lead
er in club work, church work,
the American Legion Auxiliary
* - ~ - - “ while or
_,. ,
WASHINGTON, D. C—Pres
ident Truman's victory in his
“fight to the finish” over John L.
Lewis, as a result of the decision
of the U. S. Supreme Court up
holding the contempt conviction
of the United Mine Workers' boss,
and the subsequent influence of
the decision on future lobor leg
islation and labor disputes high
lighted the Washington front.
And coincident with the Sup
preme Court decision, the Presi
dent’s stock with tite people,
which started to come-back im
mediately following his deter
mined stand against Lewis last
November has again started on
the upswing, making him more
popular with the people, accord-,
ing to the polls, than ever’ before
All Washington is agog over
the fight within the Republican
leadership and the attempt of
National Chairman Carroll Reece
to bring about harmony among
the membership 1 of both house
and senate. Indications are that
Mr. Reece’s attempts at peace
making and pouring oil on the
waters backfired, for sixteen of
the GOP freshmen Senators have
signed a round-robin letter di
rected at Sen. Eugene Millikin,
Colo., chairman of the senate
finance committee, in which they
deplore the fact thgt they are not
consulted in the party policy
making and ask that they be tak
en into the confidence of the*
leaders.
It is commonly known here'
that the younger GOP senators
and the group headed by Sen
ators Morse, of Oregon and Aik
en, of Vermont are champing
against the leadership provided
by Senator Taft, of Ohio. The
Ohio senator has, unfortunately,
been unable to lfrin a single fight
in the senate to date and the Re
publicans are now looking to
Senator Vandenburg, of Mich
igan for their leadership. On the
other hand, Speaker Joe Martin
and Majority Leader Charles Hal
leek, in the house, have main
tained party dicipline on most
issues and the house Republicans
have “gone down the line” to
gether on all partisan measures.
On tiie other side of the politi- •
cal fence, there is a shake-up |
going on within the headquarters
of the Democratic National Com
mittee with Gael Sullivan, for
mer third assistant postmaster
general, pulling the levers. The
wise ones here profess to see in
Sullivan the sucessor to Chair
I man Robert Hannegan as boss of
I the Democratic committee when
Hannegan is ready to step aside,
probably within 'the next few
months. The resignation of Sam
O’Neal, St. Louis newspaperman,'
as head of the committee’s pub
licity set-up is regarded as only
| starter in a list qf resignations
which are to come. • ■ •
In the meantime, the endless
the crumbling of the British em
pire and the role this nation will
play in bolstering our former
ally . . .the Palestine question . . .
aid to war salvaged countries . . .
The entire Middle-East question
including the control of the Dar
danelles, of Suez .. . and the en
tire question of international
trade and our reciprocal trade
agreements . . .all these questions
are bound together in a package
which this congress must unravel
and solve and along-side which
whether we pay one billion or
three' on the national debt or ten
or twenty percent less taxes next
year, are considered trifling. It
is readily agreed within the lead
ership of both parties that if
even one of these questions gets
out of hand, it will have adirect
bearing on the future peace, and
upon a proper settlemetnt de
pends almost entirely the out
come of the Moscow conference
now just getting underway.
Economists here profess to see
in present high food and clothing
prices the last sharp raise before
prices start on a decline of per
haps twenty percent or more.
And that means, these experts
say, a drop in farm prices of a
like amount. The reason is, they '
say, that prices cannot go higher
now without corresponding wage
increases. For instance farm pro
ducts, at wholesale, are up 159
percent over 1939; food is up 129
percent for the same period;
building materials, 91 percent;
textile products at wholesale, 94
percent .. . .so prices must come
down gradually op the top will
blow out of the inflation ther
mometer and then . . .depression.
The house has just voted a
committee to conduct an “in
spection” of the Veterans Admin
istration and given them $25,000
to do the inspecting. The senate
w£r investigating committee has
just asked for and received an
additional $150,000 to continue
its probe.
Uncle Sam Says
Love on a dime aonnde sweet on
St. Valentine’s Day, but lave on a
stack of United States Savings
Bands rests an n firmer foundation.
Ton can get your stack of bonds ■
through the payroll savings plan
where yen work or by baying bonds
regularly at yonr bank or post office.
Savings Bonds are a sweetheart af
an Investment—fid for every filln ifi
years' time.
V. S. frrsjary Dtttrtmn* __