EDITORIALS:
RIEGEL: WORK AND WAGES
When John Leidy Riegel converted
his grist mill at Finesville, N. J. into a
paper plant in 1862, neither he nor
anyone else in the neighborhood had
the faintest idea that 100 years later
his venture would provide work for
1,000 people in Southeastern North
Carolina with a payroll of some $7 mil
lion annually.
This, essentially, is the story of one
facet of the Riegel Paper Corporation
plant on the Cape Fear river near
Acme. The plant marked its 10th year
of production in the state December lo
and we are proud, like thousands of
others here and throughout the state, to
join in the celebration.
What the plant means to the area
and the state would be hard to esti-v
mate. Its benefits are felt in just about
every home and business in Columbus
county as well as others near and far.
New churches, new roads, larger
schools, new homes in new communi
ties, new one-man merchandisers along
the roadside and heavier stocks on ex
isting shelves have been created by the
presence of this industry, the smoke
stack of which, seen from afar, beckons
workers who see work and wages in it.
Although the Riegel firm owns in
excess of 140,000 acres of timberland
in the immediate area, private landown
ers provide about 85 per cent of the
needed raw product to turn out its hun
dreds of items used here and abroad.
Some weeks past Farm Agent Char
les D. Raper, reminding landowners to
put their idle acres in trees, told them
that it was good farming, good man
agement and that the trend of the
times indicated they would reap
profit from the investment.
Riegel’s growing contribution to the
area is pretty good evidence that Mr.
Raper was right.
'LOW-CAL' COW A RESPONSIBILITY
If the trend toward weight-watching
continues to grow among Americans,
veterinarians and agricultural scientists
may find themselves called upon to ad
vise dairy farmers how to breed a “low
cal” cow. Such a possibility was raised
recently by a New York Health Depart
ment veterinarian at a meeting of the
state association of milk sanitarians.
The dairy industry has been answer
ing the needs of calory-conscious, nu
trition-wise consumers by gradually
changing its milk-merchandising prac
tices to favor protein instead of butter
fat.
The veterinarian said it is quite possi
ble to see the development of a cow
that produces low fat, high protein
milk—a “low-cal” cow—if you will.
Such a cow might present problems,
but any change produces its attendant
problems. For example, at one time the
development of larger cows and the
trend toward greater use of larger
breeds contributed to a problem that
had sanitary significance.
As cows became larger, existing
stanchions in barns became more cram
ped and this condition produced cuts
and bruises among the cows. If the
right bacteria is present when this hap
pens disease might result.
Authorities on the subject feel that
the increasing demand for protein, re
sulting from the growing recognition of
its importance in health and nutrition
may well make development of the
“low-cal” cow a desirable objective.
Don’t sell the scientists short. They
may reconstruct the cow. Already, they
have relegated the bull to a lonely life
and the cow’s daily routine is just one
hen party after another.
FLOOD CONTROL ON CAPE FEAR RIVER
The flood control dam under con
struction on the Yadkin river above
North Wilkesboro is not finished but it
has already paid a dividend. Better
than four inches of rain fell in the
upper reaches of the river a few days
ago but the dam held back all but a
normal flow downstream and the low
lands escaped damage.
How encouraging it would be for
farming people on the Cape Fear river
to know that such a dam were in pro
cess of construction on that powerful
stream to protect fields and timber
lands in Brunswick, Pender and Colum
bus Counties.
The Corps of Engineers has said a
big dam just below the mouth of the
New Hope river on the Haw river
would do the job. But the recommen
dation has gone no farther than the
Atlanta office. It must go to Washing
ton next for approval, or disapproval,
before the long journey through Cong
ress starts to obtain the money.
Let’s us hope, justification already
established, that Congress will budget
the funds quicker than the four years
it took to get out the report.
A man without a woman to keep
house for him is like a dog without a
master.
Getting an early start is just as im
portant in life as it is in racing.
THE OLDER WORKER
Many thousands of business firms
have either written or unwritten poli
cies of not hiring- older workers. In
some cases the age limit is set as high
as 55 or 60, but in others it’s far below
that . . .
Now some jobs do require great phy
sical stamina, and these cannot be filled
by older workmen. But mechanization
has continually trimmed the volume of
this type of work. Unfortunately,
though, there remains a tendency to
demand Charles Atlas types for jobs
that can be adequately filled by mature
but less muscular hands.
It’s doubtful how long we can afford
this type of folly without serious trou
ble. According to the U. S. Labor De
partment, America’s work force is ex
pected to increase by 13.5 million per
sons between 1960 and 1070. And be
The State Port Pilot
Published Everv Wednesday
Southport, N. C.
JAMES M. HARPER, JR. ........ Editor
Sintered as second-class matter April 20, 1928
at the Post Office at Southport, If. C., and
other Post Offices, under the Act
of March 3, 1879.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Brunswick and Adjoining Counties
and Service Men . $2.00 per yea?
Six Months ...„. $1.50
Elsewhere in United States — $3.00
Per Year;—4 Months_..._ $2 00
cause of the low birth rate in the
1930’s, there’s going' to be a smaller
number of workers in what’s been re
garded as the prime age bracket, 35
to 44.
At the end of the decade, two out of
every five persons in the potential labor
force will be over 45.
What these figures add up to is this.
We’ll have to stop our present practice
of age discrimination in employment or
the country will face a serious and arti
ficial labor shortage.
The job future of our growing num
ber of older workers is important to
the economy in another way, too. If
they have jobs and continue to draw
pay-checks, they will remain consum
ers of our national products, steady
users of our services. If they cannot
find work, they will become dependent
upon savings, the earnings of their chil
dren and very likely on public welfare
funds. Instead of contributing to the
economy, they will reluctantly be forc
ed to become a drain on it. . . .
The first step toward improving the
situation is to shatter some of the dam
aging myths of the past. The U. S. De
partment of Labor, along with some
business and labor groups, have done
research in this field. This shows that
hiring qualified older workers for many
jobs is a sound and profitable manage
ment policy.
Not to succeed when you think you
have talent must be gruesome to you
and your relatives.
Though pride is not a virtue, it is the
parent of many virtues.—Churton Col
lins.
“I Keep Dreaming There’s This Big Whale Named
Jonas Who’s Trying To Swallow Me!”
I
Qp\
GREENSBORO DAILY NE\VS
Time and Tide
Continued From Page One
Own Fault”, teased a front-page headline story which reported
that official census figures showed there were 327 more men
than women in Brunswick.
In our issue for January 8, 1947, the front page picture
proved that the war wos over. Three of Mr. Willie Halmes’
boys were out of service and back at Shallotte and they
were opening a business in what had formerly been the old post
office building. Proudly waving out front was a big American
flag.
Even in the month of January there was fishing news. A Ice
land man had been “taken for a ride” by a 19-Lb. roc.kfish which
he had hooked while plugging from a small boat in Town Creek.
Crawford Rourk of Southport had also hit the front page with a
9 -Lb. trout which he had hooked while casting in the ocean.
The front page picture for The Pilot for January 2, 1952,
showed the USE Dredge Lyman, whirh was here for maintenance
dredging on the Cape Fear River bar. It was homecoming for her
skipper, Capt. John G. Swan. The Dosher Memorial Hospital fund
drive had topped $6,000—about three-fourths of its goal.
The editor took inventory of the year’s events and decided that
announcement of the plans for Sunny Point was the big story
of the preceeding 12 months; tobacco canvas—hard to come by
during the years of World War II—once more was in good sup
ply; and Mrs. L. J. Hardee had won first place in the Christmas
lighting contest with her doorway decorations.
Five years ago this week announcement was made that the
Health Center Building would be located at Shallotte. G. C. Kil
patrick had been named coroner to fill the unexpired term of the
late Sam T. Bennett.
Bids had been opened for construction of 225 pole miles of line
for the Atlantic Telephone Membership Corporation; a railroad
flat car equipped with a tank had been added to the firefighting
equipment at Sunny Point, the idea being to carry water to re
mote areas for use in case of fire "and the editor had an optimis
tic outlook for 1957.
Annual Banquet
Set For Scouts
The Annual Recognition Ban-*
quet of the Cape Fear Area Coun- j
cil, Boy Scouts of America will I
be held Thursday, January 11 at
7 p. m. in the Elementary School
cafeteria, Bladenboro.
D. M. Calhoun, council presi
dent of Elizabethtown, will pre
side over the meeting.
Details for the meeting are
announced by Charles Gardner of
Lumberton who is chairman of
the Arrangements Committee for
the banquet.
The presentation of the Silver
Beaver Award will be made to
several Scouters of the Area for
their outstanding efforts in the
interest of boys of the Council.
This award is the highest that
a local council may bestow upon
an adult scouter. The ceremony
will be under the direction of L.
R. Bowers, vice president of
Wliiteville.
BANK OFFICIALS
Continued From Page 1
In addition to President Tate,
bank officials include Ben Ne
smith, L. R. Bowers, V. P. Grif
fin and W. B. Garrell.
Representing the City of South
port was Mayor Eddie Hahn, City
Manager C. D. Pickerrell, D. C.
Herring, Harold Aldridge and
Johnnie Vereen, members of the
board of aldermen.
COMMENDATION IS
Continued From Page One
have reached our Incentive Goal,”
Post Commander Gore said.
"There are many more eligible
veterans who have not yet joined
our Post, and we invite them all
to become members.”
BAPTIST BEGIN
Continued From Page 1
in the study of "Men Who Told
His Story”, by Mrs. J. H. Ed
wards and Mrs. Reece Swan. The
Primaries will use as their text,
"The World We Live In,” taught
by Mrs. O. W. Carrier and Mrs.
Andy Troll. The Beginners will
study, “Sounds That Sing,” led by
Mrs. Bobby Smith and Miss Mary
Anne Russ.
AMBULANCE ggJS Ph. GL 7-6161
GILBERT’S FUNERAL SERVICE
GILBERT’S MUTUAL BURIAL ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 94 SOUTHPORT, N. C.
A nursery will be provided for
the children of those attending
the classes. The public is extended
a cordial invitation to attend
these services.
FUNERAL CHAPEL
Continued From Page 1
this work complete within 60
days, weather permitting.
Powell explained that his pur
pose in adding these facilities is
to be able to offer complete fu
neral services to residents of that
section of Brunswick county.
ACS SIGN-UP IS
Continued From Page 1
servation planting, the gains made
by cooperating farms as yet fail
Not Exactly News
t™* "**>***' ip iiihhwm——■
These parafin-coated paper cartons which have replaced the
old-fashioned bottle as a milk container for retail sales has an
other use almost as practical. They make the best kindling ma
terial for starting a fire in the fireplace that we have seen since
the days when light wood was plentiful. We recall that a long
standing substitute for fat pine splinters was a splash of kero
sene; but we always frowned upon this method. For one thing,
we think it is one of the most dangerous practices ever used in
or around a fireplace or wood stove; for another, we always felt
that we were giving up our amateur standing as a fire-fighter
when we were tempted to reach for the kerosene can. But back
to the milk cartons: We like the way they sputter and fuse off.
And speaking of fire in the fireplace, something of a modern
record may have been established at the Garrison House during
the Yuletide season. Mrs. Johnnie Duffie said that fire in the
fireplace had not gone out for two weeks straight running.
Shades of the days when houses were heated by open fires! . . .
And while skirting around the subject of pine products, we saw
a colorful Christmas recipe which advocated the use of pine
needles in roasting beef, game meats and fowl. It may be as good
as they said, but the way we remember it, pine wood was best
when split and used in the kitchen stove. Only blackjack oak
and hickory ever gained much of a reputation for smoke flavor
ing where we were raised.
Southport must be the point of departure for New York to
Miami planes as they take off over open water on their trips
South. Anyway, there is an awful lot of air travel routed over
head. Lately we have missed the droning sound of the big four
motored transports as they passed high in the sky, and occas
ionally we have been conscious of a shorter period of sound of
a different category as big jets have taken over much of the
passenger load. But during the past week there have been plenty
of these airplane noises of both kinds as the great Christmas
New Year rush got underway from Manhatten to the not-so-sun
ny clime of Florida . . . Rarely do we see a pelican in the Cape
Fear river, but there was one flopping around and doing a little
fishing in local waters Friday. When a pelican stops in his flight,
sets his wings for a downward plunge into the water from a
height of from thirty to sixty feet, that is the most awkward
effort we have ever seen made by a bird. And we always are
fascinated when we have a chance to see one in action.
A final Christmas note is our observation that we doubt that
any town in North Carolina of comparable population did a bet
ter job of decorating its business section than they did at Shal
lotte this Christmas. There were more than thirty strings of
colored lights across the main street, covering a distance of more
than a mile . . . One place where a Christmas tree lasts a long
time is at the home of Mrs. Bertha Bartels in Southport. Her
children insist on keeping it up until after her birthday on
January 13.
to balance the losses suffered on
non-cooperating farms. It is the
old bugaboo—same crop, same
fields, year after year depleting
the soil.
Manager Price strongly advised
county farmers to “play it safe
and sign up early” in reference
to the ASC sign-up now in pro
gress.
ASSIGNED DUTY
Continued From Page 1
Lieutenant Corley’s first duty
assignment was as a student at
the Transportation School at Fort
Eustis, Virginia, and upon com
pletion of the Transportation Of
ficers Orientation Course, was as
signed to Sunny Point Army Ter
minal.
Lieutenant Corley, who is un
married, is presently residing in
Southport. He is a member of the
Baptist Church.
JAYCEES SPONSOR
Continued From Page 1
plans to meet its quota for the
Home. The new Jaycee cottage is,
said Clemmons, "a state-wide pro
ject.”
>■1
Your Savings Will Add Up
During The Year If You
Will Start Now and
Save Regularly.
f
We invite you to
friendly, home-owned,
make use of our
home-operated
facilities for helping to solve the financ
ial problems of our town and county.
COME IN TO SEE U5 THIS WfctK !
Save It Steady...
Have It Ready!
INSURED
Southport Savings & Loan Asso.
W. P. JORGENSEN, Sec’y.-Treas. SOUTHPORT, N. C.
FINANCED BY SAVINGS AND LOAN