North Carolina Newspapers

F- IT 1 irgMmDlhi JB t. -At Mr' r1" I 1 i i x- fe5 : lari 1 i : t,. 7 V VOL. XXVI NO 16 MY BUILD BIG SUGAR , Possibilities of a million dollar beet -sugar factory in Hendersonville with more than half a million dolars an- nually placed in circulation was the "v theme of an-interestlng talk given be fore the last meeting of the board of trade. Victor J. Garvin told the members of the civic body that one of the big - sugar companies ' had their attention fastenecF on Western North Carolina and that he had 200 pounds of free seed for distribution among the far .mers of . this county. If the beets '..grown; here analyze a satisfactory sugar content, it is believed the fac tory will be built. Mr. Garvin said that Western North Carolina was one of the few districts suitable for growing sugar beets and - spoke of the transformation of the country where the crop is a staple. . He thought the total returns to ,the , farmer would be $215 an acre, said . there was a certain market and. em phasized the soil improvement which follows a sugar beet crop. To be a success there must be 3,000 acres planted, he said. Mr. Garvin's address follows: "Although one of our newer agrx . cultural industries, sugar beet grpw ' ing has probably done more to 4ea-? courage agricultural development in certain sections of our country than any other one Industry. True enough its growth has been rapid, but in- FACTORY HERE stead of being of the mushroom TypeLC. R Whitaker, a room has been it is founded upon a sound foundation. Suitable Sections "There are only cerla l limited jrc tions of our country which, bcaus of climatic or soil conditions, c roth, are suited for the growth cf sugar beete. Generally speaking, the sugar beet districts of the countr lay north and west of a line drawn troxn south ern Ohio to lower Calif or.iU. True enough, sugar beets will grow south of this line, but with the except io;i or a few elevated sections, the cliiaatic conditions are not conductive to rl.e formation and storage of sugar in the .beets It is thought that Western '.North Carolina is one of these excep-1 . tions and it is because of this fact that tests are being made at the pres ent time to ctetenv-ine whether 'igar Beets can be profitably produced here. About eight years ago one of die rge sugar companies of the country had their eye on this section, but fori certain reasons, chief among which was the lack of transportation facili ties, they did not start development work. Now the eyes of certain out bide capital are again upon your coun try, and it is hoped that thorough tests and investigation will result in favorable action. What It Means. "To one not familar with this great industry, it is a hard matter to Xte ' scribe it in such a way as' to give you even, a slight idea of what it means to a community or to a state. Would ' that you might travel with me through . the great sugar beet producing sec tions of the north and west and see i' lor yourselves, at first hand, what it means to districts whlcn if has en . " tered. With your permiooion, 1 -hall endeavor to take you o: a hurried trip, starting in the State of Ohio, going westward into Indiana, 1 lino's, f and. then up through Michigan. WIs l5innesOta, which states compile W sugar beet area of the eastl-'Taking the Great Northern out of Minneapolis, we go through The Dakotas, into Wyoming and Montana and then into Washington and over in to Oregon. We get on the Southern , Facific and go down into Calif3.aa, then up Into Nevada over into the . states of Utah, Idaho, Colorado and finally jump over into Kansas and Nebraska. Continuing into Iowa we fin&the eastern extremity of the in dustry. The aforementioned states " comprise the great sugar beet area of our -country, which furnishes over two-thirds of the sugar made im this country. '. (Continued Next Week) REPORT OF THE WOMAN'S CLUB (Contributed) , J It kas been requested that a report be made and published, giving the work which the Woman's Club accom. plisked last year, which was irom October 1917 to October 1918. The work of the Club during this period was of course chiefly of a pa triotic nature the first work being the organization of a sweater league by Mrs. Kirk, through which twenty five sets of knitted jarnjents were made for the battleshij Sjnii Carolina In December 1917, at the request of the local Red Cross, the Woman's Club sent fifty-eight Christmas pack ages to the soldiers. The Club also, formed a unit of the Red Cross and took charge of the work room on Wednesday's. Other active Red Cross work was done by club members. , The Woman's Club co-operated with the National League for Woman's ser vice in furnishing kit bags for the soldiers. The committee from the Wo man's Club was Miss Edith Waldrop, chairman, Mrs. C. A. Hobbs, Mrs. A. S. Truex and Mrs. W. R. Kirk. About three hundred kit bags were given by the Club to the soldiers as they were leaving home and farewell services were held for them. Mrs. Hobbs furnished the chocolate for these kit bags while Mr. Hobbs fur nished the tobacco. There were a good many articles left over after making the last kit bags and these have recently been used in the re fugee boxes. In the Red Cross seal campaign or 117, $157.57 was made and sent to Dr. McBrayer to be used in helping tuber culous soldiers in North Carolina. Through-the instrumentality or Mrs. furnished at the State Sanatorium, named for the Woman's Club of Hen dersonville. Several donations were made by the Club during the year,-$5.00 was given to the Domestic Science Class at the High School, $10.00" toward the wool fund for soldiers, $3.00 towards.carry ing out the Thrift Stamp campaign. Active part was taken by club wo men in the Liberty Loan campaigns, and also in the sale of Thrift Stamps. A house-to-house .canvass was mace in the interests of food conservation. . During the summer of 1918, the Community Club was turned into a soldiers club by the Cluo women, a member being in charge every Satur day night. Books, magazines, games, writing facilities and show-.-r taihs were supplied to soldiers. A Dahlia Show was given, cut or I the proceeds of whicli $67.00 was con- tributed to the Red Cross. Altogether about S710.00 was ?-ai?3C by the Club during the fiscal year. The Club officers for 1917-1918 were: President, Mrs. E. W. Ewbank; Vice-President, Mrs. J. W. Bailey; Recording Secretary, Mrs. E. A. Mc- Millan; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. A. C. TeTieau; Treasurer, Mrs. Gor don , Garlington ; Parliamentarian, Mrs. A; H. Morey THE FIRST SAM) CLAY Sand-clay roads have fully demon strated their worth in Henderson county. The very first sand-clay road, 'cr piece of road ever so improved here was a part of the Edneyvillo road, the other side of the long bridge. The work was dane while. George Justice was road overseer, irt 1311-12. Mr. Justice co-operatol itb the peo ple of that section an3 a pie.e of road which was absolutely impass'ble in bad weather was transformed into -i fine highway. From that small be gin ning has come the fine system ? sand clay roads which has brought so many more tourists here. Mr. Justice, is just as ardent an advocate of sand clay roads now as he was when he first started them yers ago. CAROLINA TERRACE TO OPEN The. Carolina Terrace, under the same management which has made the Kentucky Home famous, will open on June .15. From the number of re servations already coming, in, Mr. Wooten, recent purchaser of the fine property, expects a capacity business business this season. J : HENDERSONVILLE, N. C. STORIES PR E OLD TOWN OF FLETCHER (By Patsy O'Brien) There is a fascination about old places, a mystery hangs over old houses the poet sings of old wine, old books', and old friends, he forgot, old house, or maybe he was not romantic enough to enjoy the creaking of old timbers and revel in the shadows of bygone ghosts that haunt the corners. But we in this ocuntry have no ances tral homes that have come down m the family for thousand ot year.s, the best we can hope far is a hall a doz en hundred. An Englishman came over here and was told by the true born American that that house was old, very old. "Why," said the American, "it must be a hundred years old." John Bull smiled to him the house was in its infancy. But we are proud of our old places, we think them old, and we try to create the atmosphere and coax the moss to grow on the roof. In our own county of Henderson the 'little town of Fletcher has a past worth learning about. When Ashe ville and Hendersonville were in the first stages of their upgrowth, Flet cher had already made a good start. When the railroad came through it found sizable little village. While Fletcher will never boast that it is a metropolis it has an age charm of its own, and the few old houses could ve late history if they could spcaK Sometime in the 18th century Dr. Fletcher, after whom ths pJaca is named, came down from Virginia. He loved the mountains an I having, z n adventurous spirit he welcomed the hardships that were CvVinftCtel -v.th making a home in the wilderness. The land he settled, on the soat'o. Lank or Mud Creek, dates baejc ta an old State grant in 1771. He buiT. on a hill commanding a good view of the creek bottom and the distant peaks. His son, John Fletcher, ran the old house as a stage stand after iris la ther's death and the wilderness bejran to disppear. The great lumbering stage changed horses here and the passengers supped. The drivers rll put up here at night when on their way south with hogs or cattle. It was, a famous old house known thi coun.ry rcund in those days and still is re membered by a dwindling few. Jv.hn Fletcher raised eighteen children ait of whom married in the neighborhood so that Fletcher can be said o oe six ty percent Fletcher. The eld li une stead has slipped out of. tie family, Dr. Egerton of Hendersonville came into possession and he sold it to a Mrs. Cushing, who lives there now. The Fletchers have been removed to another site. The late Br. G. W. Fletcher,, one of the eighteen children, put up a mo dest two-room house opposite where the station now stands, and began his practice there about 1880. He mar ried Miss Clayton and in a few years they raised the two rooms and built a stone wall under them forming a ground floor. It-was later added to j in the rear and the quaint rambling old house smiles on the hurrying, scurring automobile, that has taken the place of the ancient ox team of 'its early days. The house now be-; loners to Drl Hall F. Fletcher or ' Asheville who served during this war as a Major in the army. Squire Newton Lance, wliTae ola home is still standing on the Buo-c Shoals road, married one of John Fletcher's daughters. Ouo of his foc; married Miss Milloney Irom Lime rick, Ireland, who came to these mountains in quest of health. He waff overseer on Mr. Blake's large rice plantation in Georgia. He went through the civil war and. is now liv-J ing out the last years on his j farm which is part of the old homesteaC. Squire Newto i Lance has long hea gathered to his fathers. He losC four sons in the Confederate cause and left a fine old home as a memorial to a long, and busy life. On a gentle hill commanding an ex tensive view of the mountains and (Continued on Page 7) 01 TH THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1919 OFFERS LAND,judgec:m-pace FOR CITY PARK FOR $34,900 It is understood that the board of trade committee appointed for that purpose has induced W. A. Smith to-consider an offer of $34,900 for his property on Main street corner Fourth avenue, west, the property to be used as a city park. A rpal oftn - : . . I " HiUU' yes,erua w. tltlo was a 10wer price tt,an nad generally been anticipated would be asked for the. land, and that it is.lowar per front foot than that paid .by tiie Citizens National Bank for the corner lot of the property. It is generally believed that Hcu'.'or sonyille will soon have a city park au't it isf pointed out that to f ully meet the demands of a city -park it must be centrally located.' : The property now under consideration by the board of trade meets, it is said, not only this but all other requirements. The city already owns a certain part of the en tire block of which Mr. Smith's prop erty is a part . It has a frontage on three sides, the shade is abundant, and most of all, it is insisted by those desiring to see a suitable pUce se cured for the park, it is in the 'very heart and cert re of the city A board of trade committee was re cently appointed to secure from Mr. Smith, if possible, a price on his property. Mr. Smith, it is understood, has offered to take $34,900. One of the buildings on the land would be allowed to remain, it is said, for it would be admirably adapted to park purposes. here has, long been an agitation for a city park, but so far noth- ingmit agitation has resulted. At onetit was suggested that the olt? Hawkins property would be a desira- ble place, bt there were certain ob jections to it. Later the Noterman property h5.s$been considered, but nothing has come,, of it. There seems to be an almost universal desire that the city should secure property for a park, and at once. 1 TH! PRISON CAMP -v- The chaingang camp is oVthe out skirts of the city somewhere, below the foot of Fourth avenue. "Some where" is right, for it is hidden in a wooded grove in a place where but tew people go. The stockade, work on which is to soon begin, will be screened from all passersby, the woods mercifully con cealing the prison camp yet affording a pretty place for the men o' nights. It will really take some little search ing on the part of the curious to find the stockade when it is built. It's rather a curious place the con vict camp. Last Saturday the white tents gleamed in the sunshine, the long row of cots were awaiting their occupants, and a "trusty" was lazUy splitting wood preparatory to getting the evening meal. The great iron prison van, where some of the men are confined at night,, was the only ugly and discordant thing there. It had the peculiar and quite--nnforget- table odor Of all jails which even its lattice work walls did not 'permit the mountain breeze to. purify. On a hanging bough low over the van "a bird has built its nest Its 1U- tie head was cocked to one side and its tiny eyes contemplated the week end visitor without .dismay. Flutter ing fiercely overhead was its mate, prepared to die, if-need be in the de fense of its home and family. A queer place, .privat and secluded ahd4 surrounded by nature's gifts is the temporary home of the Hender son county chaingang. GOOD SHOW COMING Manager-Loop says the musical and .vaudeville show coming to the Opera House on Thursday, Friday and Sat urday of this week is one of the best on the road. The Asheville papers highly, commend it. There are 14 peo ple and ttiey present an absolutely clean, enjoyable ; vaudeville perfor mance. There will be no Saturday matinee. . - ; , . ..C MULUb COURT "The object of this court is to re formnot tp punish," said Judge C. M. Pace, Monday, in opening the first juvenile court ever held in Hen derson county. "The stigma attach ing to a conviction in the higher courts does not obtain in this court, whose sole object is to make better boys and better girls of those who may be brought before it.. It is a court for children not criminals." The first session of the court 'was held in the county commissioners room which was well filled with an in terested audience. Judge Pace pre sided with that judicial dignity' which is peculiarly his and. talked as a father to 'the young delinquents before him. Wilbur Phillips,- white, and Tim 'ByVd, coldred, were chatged with stealing the automobile owned by P. S. Wetmur. The boys told absolutely conflicting stories a$ .to which one ac tually took, the car from in front of the Methodist church. Wilbur is ninex years old and indicated a surprising knowledge of motor cars. So did Tim. The white child was released in cus tody of his' father. The colored boy was remanded to jail. Both are to appear at the higher court. Stanley F. Landrum, colored, was accused 'of taking $20 from a man's pocket. The case was investigated' and the boy released on probation to appear before the judge at stated In tervals . 9 HENDERSONVILLE A PORT Many will remember the time when John Grant, one-time congressman from thia district, was accused of in tending to have a navy yard here to make of Hendersonville a port. It was supposed to be funny at that time. However, in the following letter from Col. J. C. Woodward of the Georgia Military-Naval academy, to W. A. Smith, references will be ob served to a "fleet of cutters" and "boats of a lighter draft." Of course Mr. Grant never said anything about making Hendersonville a navy yard, but it is interesting to note what queer pranks Father Time does play, aZ'er all. Tho letter to Mr. Smith follows: "Please accept our hearty . thanks for your good letter. I am pleased to tell you that the United States Navy has granted us a fleet of cutters with sails, landing guns, etc., and that we iave just ordered a fleet of new boats Of the latest type, and of lighter draft, j This will give us a fleet of about fif- j teen boats on the lake this summer. ! We have also received from the War j Department absolutely new tentage and Gold Medal cots tor. our camp. Thus you will see thawe are making considerable headway, nd I hope we shall have great success'whiie there. I am trying to get the Carolina Mil: tary Naval Academy catalog fqgdy for the press this week. I trust 5 good people of Hendersonville ant$J North Carolina will help us this sum mer to place at least one hundred boys in the school as a beginning. . "L shall leave here Wednesday morning for Hendersonville by auto mobile, and I hope to pay you a per sonal visit sometime in the latter part of the week." JIETnODISTS GO OYER TOP The captains and their teams fo the Centenary drive began the drive on last Sunday afternoon, $17,000 was I the amount for the local Methodist church and over $18,331 was sub scribed to be paid within five years. Sam T. Hodges and his team were th victorious leaders. The sermon of Rev. M. F, '-Moore's oh Sunday morning was a strong one and showed' that much time and thought had been given to it. , Rev : Raymond Browning conducted the evening service. Miss Louise Hodges, who has recently returned home,sang "Oh, Song 'Divine," at the morning service and Miss Louise Browning at the evening service sang,"Where the Shadows Flee." - Both Voung ladies ifeave highly cultivated Toices.', , ' PRICE FIVE CENTS OLDIERS WILL PARADE HERE AND EAT, TOO Hendersonville and Henderson county will attempt to manifest'-its gratitude to the returned soldiers and sailors when, on May 30, there will be a basket picnic in their honor at Lan- rel Park. It is being norated around that already many of the plumpest, tenderest, juicest, young frying-size chickens in the county have a fore boding that something is going to hap pen to them in the near future. ' There will be a parade of the sol diers here at 11 o'clock in the morn ing. Dinner will be served in Lauret Park at 1 o'clock. All men in uniform y will be transported- to the park free of charge, and' when they get there they will be the guests of the city and the county. T y "The park is there's, for the day,' is the way W. A. Smith puts it. V Arrangements are being made for the suitable entertainment of the col ored soldiers in the park at the same time. These arrangements are being made by the colored pople. Everybody is asked to bring a welt filled basket, for it's going to be a basket, picnic, served under the great old trees there, where nature smiles and-everybody will feel free and at home. If it should be impossible for you to be there in person, by all means, the committee urges, send yourjblasket o the city hall, where Dr. and Mrs. L. B. Morse will care for lt The Meeting , There were 20 enthusiastic, business; men and women at the meeting in the Library, Thursday afternoon May 15, who decided that on Friday, May ?0, in honor of the returned soldiers, sailors, marines and ex-confederate soldiers of Henderson county an invi tation would be given to them to at tend a parade at Hendersonville which would be followed by a basket picnic dinner, etc., in Laurel Park. In the near future some central per manent memorial will be erected or established in thSir honor. Arrangements will be made where by the colored soldiers may be enter tained by the people at the same time in a section of Laurel Park. The chairmen of the following com mittees were appointed: ,- To look after getting the soldier!, together, Capt. Wiltshire Griffith. " Cars for transporation "of soldiers, Brownlow Jackson. .' Cars for transportation of civilians, Erie Penny. 1 To plan for the parade, Otis Powers. For entertaining, Mrs. Raymond Edwards. """o solicit funds, Mrs. Charles K. Whitaker, Ch'm., Mesdames C.'.N.; Allison and John Forrest, assistants. A RECORD-BREAKER ! Last Sunday there were 13S new guests registered at the Kentucky Home. This is believed to be a rec ord breaker and is a faint indication, of the popularity of this most popular hotel. .. The guests came mostly from South Carolina-, but there was a goodly bom ber from Georgia and many from Ashe ville. Motor parties added to the to tal, for the weather was fine ami the roads from the south no less.- The Kentucky Home management 'believes there' will be the largest , crowd ever in the mountains here this year. ' , NEW LAW FIRM Smith, Shipman and Arledge s the title of a new law firm in ll3xcron vHle. The firm will havs thlcc3 on Main street in a building occupied 'by a somewhat well "known llrm hre during the past many years Smith and Shipman,. t . .- f' In other words, then, A. Y. Arledge, of Columbus. Polk county, is now a member of the old firm of 'Smith ai;d Shipman ? Mr.' Arledge already has. a. -reputation" as a lawyer which ti:nc will but add to. He has rcmf.y re turned from overseas where be. gave4 a good account-of himself. He is the son of the Superior Court s clerk f ot Poik county and is by no muwi , stranger in Heridersbnville . ; -T Le new. -partnership la no2," ' fa