i spujspw not mean that * the ax we will. le ten or twelve. Sy Ivan News ONLY NEWSPAPER IN ^NSYLVANIA COUNTY -A. HOME IPAPER FOR HOME PEOPLE—ALL HOME PRINT VOLUME—XVI BREVARD, NORTH CAROLINA; fRIDAT, DECEMBER 8. I91L NUMBER-49 NO IMPROVEMENTS FOR FRENCH BROAD engineer finds plans are impracticable Work Proposed by Former Con gressman Grant Gets Adverse Report The people of this cotinty have been awaiting with considerable interest the action the government experts would take with reference to the improvement of the Frentth Broad river. It will be readily re called that former Congressman John Gr. Grant obtained an appro priation of $20,000 for the purpose of having a survey made to deter mine whether or not it would be practicable to make the French Broad navigable. Recently a party of government engineers came hete and made the ;,trip from here to Asheville on the river, gathered facts about the river, the lands along it, its flow, and the like, and returned to headquarters. Within the past few days several local people have received letters from the chief engineer in charge of the work giving the opinion that nothing can be done for the river except at a cost far in excess of the amount of benefit which would ac crue. That the people of the county may know the conditions as found, and the further course of procedure in case there should be any inclina tion to continue the fight to have something done, the News here- reproduces the letter fi*om the office of the engineer ; “It having come to the notice of the undersigned that you are^un- derstood to be ijit+^rested in the question of the iuiprovement of the French Broad river in North Caro- hna, you are hereby informed that the preliminary examination of the locality named authorized by the act of congress approved June 25, 1910, has been made, and that the report submitted thereon is un favorable to the improvement. The principal conclusions upon which the rej)ort was based are as follows: •‘1. There is very little naviga tion on this section. “2. The cost of a satisfactory im provement would not be warranted by present commerce, or by any in crease in the same at present pros pective. “3. A stretch of river impracti cable of improvement at present at cost commensurate with the commercial interests involved in tervenes between the French Broad river in North Carolina and the lower portion of the river, ^liich is a navigable tributary of the Tonnf^ssee. Th(‘ question of the develop- liient of water power was also con- sidrned, but the physical and eco nomic (Jonditions appear to be such this develoi)ment could not ]>e economically combined 'vith tho improvement of the river for nfiYjfrjition. ]>amage is periodically carsd V floods in the river, but the cost of an elficient flood protection sys- \V(uil(l at the present time be out of proportion to the amount of d;nn!i«fe caused. “Yi»n are further notified that ^11 int( rosted parties have theprivi- of un appeal from this conclu sion to the Board of Engineers for and Harbors, a permanent sitting at Washington, D. C., ^0 which all examination and sur- 'Gy r(‘])orts of this character are ^^ferrcHl. Parties desiring to do so be heard on appeal by the ^^rd either orally or in writing, statements, views, or argu- concerning the necessity for MEDICAL SOCIETY OF COUNTY MEETS DOCTORS FOREGATHER FOR DISCUSSION PYTHIAN €FFI($RS ELECTED Adopt Resolutions in Regard to Better Sanitation and Health Laws. The Transylvania County Medi cal Society held its regular monthly meeting on Monday with a full at tendance. A number <^f matters of interest to the society were dis cussed, and the question of the pub lic health in the county occupied considerable attention. On this question the following resolutions were adopted by the society. “Resolve, that we hereby heartily endorse all of the resolutions passed by the Board of Health of Transyl vania county at its meeting on November 25, 1911. “Resolve, that we as physicians urge upon the people of Transyl vania county the ever increasing need of sanitation and their co-op eration with the health authorities that the laws for the prevention of disease are laws made by the people for the benefit of the people, except the Physicians, that the Medical Profession is the only self sacrific ing profession or business as ap pears when the profession advises as xfe now do the observance of all health laws to prevent sickness it is depriving each member of the profession of a certain amount of income. The prevention of an epi demic of fever, diphtheria, oCarlet fever, etc., is that triucli money out of the individual Doctor’s pocket and as a rule, instead of the people appreciating this fact and giving to the medical profession the honor and credit deserved, they often an tagonize the good work. Miss Gos- sipbox talks with a maximun of tongue and minimum of brains, and Miss Know-all, raises a hue and cry against sanitation and quarantine and Mr. Grouchey is all upset if the medical profession does not take his diagnosis in place of it’s own in a given case of disease. “Resolved further, that we here by recommend and endorse the ef forts of the Board of Health, Supt. of Schools and County Supt. of Health for the proper business like manner in which they are serving the best interest of the public in preventing disease. “Resolved further, that we urge upon all good citizens to report the existance of all contagious diseases at once to the Supt. of Health, and co-operate with him as to quaran tine, this prevents disease in their homies and death in their families, probably the death of the most be loved and cherished child. “The foregoing resolutions are adopted and published for the ben efit of the people, and not for the benefit of the Board of Health or the County Supt, of Health, or any special one, but for the people as a whole, and individually.” the proposed improvement which niay wish to present for the p^>idoration of the reviewing ^ ^ers should be forwarded to the oaid of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, Southern Building. Wash ington, D. C., in time to reach the board within four weeks from the date of this notice. If oral hear ings are desired, dates for the same may be arranged for by corre spondence with the board. “Should you desire further in formation in order to assist you to prepare your argument on the sub ject, you will be allowed access to the report on file in this oflSce. It will be understood, however, that all information so furnished will be for personal use only, and not for publication. ‘ ‘You are requested to communi cate the foregoing to any person known by you to be interested in the improvement, and who, not being known to this office, did not receive a copy of this communica tion.” 3revard Lodge Knights of Pyth ias No. 224 at its n^eeting Tuesday night elected the following officers for the ensuing These offi cers will be instiiiled at the first meeting in January: Past Chancellor—J. S. Bromfield. Chancellor Commander—M. M. Chapman. Vice Chancellpr^i^R. B. Wilson. Prelate—D. D. iB^cken. Master of Work-’-^T. L. Shelson. Keeper of Records and Seal—Ora L. Jones. Master of Finance—W. L. Wiley. Master of Exchepuer—E. W. Carter. Master at Arms—W. M. Bradley. Inner Guard—R. L. Gash. % Outer Guard—G. H. Paxton. Lodge Deputy—R. L. Gash. Trustees for One Year—W. H. Harris, Welch Galloway and J. S. Bromfield.* Following the business of the ses sion the members of the lodge ad journed to the Royal Lunch Room where a light supper was served and an hour pleasantly spent in social intercourse. ANOTHER SOLDIER GONE Robert H. McFaul was born in Virginia June 14th, 1833, died in Brevard, N. C. at the home of his daughter, Nov. 24th, 1911. His wife met a tragic death in Aug. 1909, having been killed by a train near Knoxville, Tenn., since which time and event, he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. H. A. Plummer, she being one of seven children. His family is widely scattered. Ohio, Tennessee, TexwrR, North ;0*trolina claim them as citizens. Mr. McFaul came of sturdy old Virginia parentage and moved to Tennessee more than 50 years ago, where he reared his family. For more than a half century he was a consistent member of the Methodist church. He was a close student of the Bible and was one of those old-fashioned types of men who felt that the plain simple Gospel was the crying need of the world. He was a plain, honest, honored citizen and a Christian gentleman of the old school. In the troubled jeursof the“storm cradled nation that fell” he shirked no (iutT, but was a faithtul soldier. He filled a soldier’s prison, he fills a soldier’s grave. In prison life he contracted diseases that followed him to the end. He rounded out nearly four score years before laying dowm life’s burdens. An extremely active man he was impatient during his last illness because he was not able to follow some honest toil to be self- sustaining. The home in which he spent his last years, Mrs. Plummers, was one where every want of his was satis fied so far as it was possible to make it a pleasure for him, and the filial devotion shown him in his last sickness was such as to con vince the world that there are those who honor their father and their mother. The body was carried to Knox ville, Tennessee and laid to rest in the Old Grey cemetery beside his wife, his life-long companion. A good man, a faithful soldier, a loving father, a Christan gentleman has gone to his reward. Peace to his ashes. “When the sun’s grown cold> And the stars grown old, When the leaves of the Judgment Book unfold,” he shall surely hear the comforting words: “Thou hast been faithful, enter into the joys of thy Lord.” A Friend. Brevard, N. C., Nov. 28th, 1911. BOARD OF ALOERMEN IN REGOIAR MEETING OAVIDiiON RIVER ROAO IS CLOSED \ FIRE CHEIF DOYLE OFFERS RESIGNATION Mayor Breese Presides Over } Board Which Has only Routine Business. Thfe board of aldermen of Bre vard met Monday night at the council hall in regular monthly session with a full attendance of the members of the board, presided over by Mayor W. E. Breese, Jr. Owing to the fact that he will soon move beyond the town corpo rate limits, C. M. Doyle, chief of the fire department, tendered his resignation to the board, and the same ^vas accepted. Mr. Doyle will continue to fill the position until his removal to his new residence, and his successor will not be elected until the next meeting of the board. • On the recommendation of the chief of the fire department the board ordered that five hundred feet of fire hose be purchased as soon as the funds of the town will permit. The present supply of fire hose is insufficient for fire fighting purposes, and the new purchase will provide the necessary means of protection required by the insur ance regulations. J. M. Kilpatrick tendered to the board his resignation as building inspector, a position recently ere ated, and in his stead the board elected O. V. Summey. By order of th3 board a riumber of residents on North Caldwell and Whitmire streets were required to connect with the city sewer sys tem. The town clerk was ordered t > serve \v7’i ten notice of this ac tion upon the said residents, and to see that the order is complied with at once. The monthly analysis of the water in the reservoir showed that same is pure and free from any contamination, and the report of the water committee showed that the supply is abundant. The board ordered a payment of $2 monthly from the town fimds towards the special electric lights around the square. The balance is paid by private subscriptions. A number of bills were presented and ordered paid, and -there being no further business the board ad journed. DEATH OF MRS. SEARCY Christmas is only three weeks away, and the stores in the town are already beginning to have special displays displays of gifts for the holidays. One of the most notable and attractive is the win dow of England’s store. COMMISSIONERS SO DECIDE ON MONDAY Opposition Fades Away and Re quest of Mr. Vaad«rb|]^t is Granted. Many friends and relatives in this county will learn with regret of the recent death of Mrs. John Searcy in South Carolina. The fol lowing account is taken from a re cent issue of the Easley Progress. “Mrs. Lizzie Waldrop Searcy, wife of John Seacy, died last Tues day evening, 21st of November 1911 at six o’clock, after an illness of nearly three weeks of intense pain and nnusual suffering. All that could be done by willing hands and loving hearts was done, but God saw fit to transplant her in the beautiful city. “Mrs. Searcy had been a consist ent member of the Baptist church for twenty years, “Mrs. Searcy was before her mar riage, Miss Lizzie Waldrop of Selica N. C., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Waldrop of Selica. She leaves father, mother, husband and sev eral brothers and sisters, and eight children to mourn her death. ‘ ‘Mrs. Searcy was about 40 years old, her faith was strong, and her last days were spent in calm and repose waiting for the call of her Master. .“Her remains were interred in Corinth cemetery, the funeral ser vices being conducjted by Rev. W* J. Sheriff.” The Davidson river road will hereafter be closed as a public road by order of the board of county commissioners made at the regular December session on last Monday. There were a number of speeches made in favor of the granting of the petition for the closing of the road, and at the conclusion of the discussion Chairman Brooks turned to Commissioner Miller and asked : “What do you say, Mr. Miller?” “Yes,” came the answer. “What do you say, Mr. Lyday?” “No,” said Commissioner Lyday. “I say yes,” said Chairman Brooks. Whereupon the following order was directed entered upon the minutes of the board : “It is ordered by the board of county commissioners that the Da vidson river road be and is hereby closed as a public road from the Davidson river mill to its termina tion on the property of George W. Vanderbilt upon the condition that the said Vanderbilt shall at all times permit the following parties to freely use said road without any charge to them: “First—Owners of the Pickel- simer tract of 60 acres and the own ers of the Johnson cabin tract, and 4heii^helr« and assign^^. “Second—Public officials of the federal, state and county govern ment while upon official business. “Third—The minister and con gregation of English’s chapel while passing to and from religious wor ship.” This question of allowing the petition of Mr. Vanderbilt for the closing of this road has been be fore the board for some months. It has been postponed from meet ing to meeting for various reasons. At first there was considerable objection to allowing the request made in the petition, but as the reasons for the closing of the road have gradually become known all opposition has apparently died away, and at the meeting of the board on Monday there was no one present to voice any objection. In fact, several of the men who had originally opposed the closing of the road were present to speak in favor of the granting of the pe tition. Among those who were present before the board to speak in favor of the petition for closing were T. L. Gash, T. T. Patton, J. C. Deav- er, W. E. Breese, Jr., R. L. Gash, J. L. Bell and others. These gen tlemen explained to the board that the road as it now exists is of little benefit to the county, and that if the petition for its closing be granted as requested by Mr. Van derbilt without any conditions at tached, then there is every chance that Mr. Vanderbilt win within the very near future build a magnifi cent automobile road through the property from this end which will eventually mean an hundredfold more to the county than the main tenance of the road as at present. Several of the gentlemen speaking before the board stated that they had been told in confidence by Mr. Vanderbilt or his agents that <^reat things were under way for that portion of the Vanderbilt estate lying in this county, and that in order for these things to.be carried out as planned that Mr. Vanderbilt must be given a free hand. It was also urged that the proposed de velopment of this end of the estate would more than likely be the con trolling factor as whether or not a railroad is built through this sec- Continued on page 3. ii iMlDI