Henderson County Can 111 Afford Unnecessary Delay in Establishing Cordial Working Relations With State Road Officials.
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Publishes More Henderson Covmty Mews Than All Other Newspapers Combined
PUBLISHED MONDAY, WEDNES DAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS
Vol. XXIX No. 115
Hendersonville, N. C, Wednesday, December 6, 1 922
One i ear Dy .nail 3.5j CO
Delivered hy Carrier, $4.00 -?C i er V-Cp
Coumty
Debts
3 m fe? ii 13
G. W JUSTICE HEADS ROAD TRUSTEES;
I P. FLETCHER THE COMMISSIONERS;
FOY JUSTICE AND W C. RECTOR NAMED
AS NEW ATTORNEYS FOR THIS COUNTY
J. P. Fletcher is chairman of the
oard of County Commissioners;
George W. Justice represents this
soard on the Board of County Road
Trustees of which he has been elect
ed chairman; and James Foy Justice
and Wiley C. Rector are the county
attorneys named by the commission
ers. This represents the county or
ganization to date under the new ad--r'nistrat?on.
'The News on Monday carried the
election of Mr. Fletcher as chairman
and the acceptance of oath of office
by other officers but the working or
ganization was not perfected until
yesterday,
"The county commissioners were in
-session Monday and Tuesday making
a general survey of the situation, re
newing the statement of affairs turn
ed over to them by the retiring board
.as prepared by the auditors and ac
quainting themselves with the busi
ness of the county as far as possible.
The board of road trustees met yes
terday afternoon and organized by
electing George W. Justice, th8 new
member from the board of commis
sioners, as chairman of the board.
"W. W. Wilfong, who has been acting
as secretary, was continued In this
capacity. Furman J. Jones is the
other member of the board. After
canvassing the situation in general
adjournment was taken until this
morning, when the trustees will visit
various parts of the county where
road work is in progress in order to
gan first-hand information with ref
erence to the road-building program
recently launched.
No action has been taken relative
to a re-organization of the county
Toad forces but general opinion is
that the organization will tend to
ward a reduction in personnel and
expense as a policy of retrenchment
in public expenditures.
Frame Work Up On
Federation Building
Fletcher. "Work is progressing rap
idly on the , Farmers' Federation
building despite the cold and rain of
the past week. The frame work is
up and work will begin on the roof
soon. It is expected to have the
bu'lding finished and ready for use
.by the first of the year.
The girls of the Fletcher Commun
ity club basketball team played the
girls of Oakley school on their
grounds on Friday afternoon, result
ing in a victory for the Fletcher girls,
the score being 12-3.
A "Negro Minstrel" was given at
the Community club house on Satur
day night by the members of the
club. The proceeds were applied on
the payment of the radio. While all
of the cast were good special men
tion ought to be given the work of
Elmo Stroupe as negro preacher, Ed
pressly as comedian and the song,
"Kisses," eung by Mrs. Rogers. Aft
er the minstrel part of the crowd
stayed to enjoy the radio, some espe
cially good things being heard from
Pittsburg.
Mrs. C. D. Cushing, Mrs. Dorothy
Grinnel, George Cushing, Marshall
Roberts and Allan Williamson of
Asheville made up a party attending
the Georgia Tech-Auburn football
game in Atlanta on Thanksgiving
day.
John Claude Sales, Jr., entertained
his friends, C. R. Sorrells, Carroll and
- Julian Sorrells, with a dinner on
-Thanksgiving, afterward attending
7the C. M-N. A.-Blue Ridge football
game in Hendersonville.
Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Poteate and
daughter, Idalee Poteate, are spend
(Continued on Page 5.)
.shoot
"3
New Committees On
Lay Activities Of
Methodist Church
Following is the committee of Lay
activities of the First Methodist
church, F. S. Wetmur being chair
man: Missionary Allen Rhodes, Kenneth
Bess, Mrs. G. W. Brooks, Mrs. J. F.
Byers, Mrs. Sallie Hart, Miss Ella
?IcLain, G. L. Steele, Mrs. J. Mack
Rhodes, Norman Miller.
Evangelism L. R. Geiger, Rey.
Raymond Browning, Rev. C. P. Curry,
Rev. W. S. Martin, Mrs. Katie Toms,
Miss Eleanor Plank, J. C. Coston, T.
R. Deshields, Reid Bixon, Fred Eng
lish. Social Service Mrs. H. I. Hodges,
W. S. Miller, J. D. Pullin, S. J. Har
ris, M. C. Letson, Mrs. G. W. Brooks,
Mrs. G. R. Allen, Mrs. Mabel Baugh
inan, Mrs. Raymond Browning.
Social Service Cent. Mrs. C. Few,
Jr., Mrs. J. Mack Rhodes, Mrs. H.
! Cannon, Mrs. S. J. Harris, Mrs.
I Salbesvan, Miss Ella McLain, Mrs.
W. H. Justus, Mrs. Lillian Smith,
Mrs. L. R. Geiger, Mrs. Bonnie
Brooks, Mrs. Sallie Hart, Mrs. M. C.
Toms, Mrs. V. C. V. Shepherd, Mrs.
Tom Shepherd, Mrs. G. L. Steele, Mrs.
Avery Justus, Mrs. W. C. Jordan, Miss
Florence Justus, Miss Lila Jordan,
Mrs. W. E. Tilley.
Christian Education Chas. Roz
zelle, Z. C. Byers, H. I. Hodges, Tom
Shepherd, W. E. Tilley, Miss Lois
Edwards, Mrs. C. Few, Jr., C. B. Cow
ard, Dr. G. E. Dixon, A. C. Glazener,
J. F. Stokes.
Stewardship and Tithing W. S.
Surratt, L. R. Chewning, F. H. Kin
caid, Mrs. J. H. Patterson, Mrs. T. R.
Parrent, W. F. Byers, S. H. Garren,
A. J. Henderson, P. J. Gilreath, W. H.
Plank, Mrs. Georgia K. Hunter.
Lay Speakers C. F. Bland, A. L.
Gurley, C. E. Brooks, A. W. Honey
cutt, J. Mack Rhodes, J. C. Waldrop,
Mrs. L. M. Colt, Mrs. Frank Siler,
P. L. Wright.
Mr. Forester Is New
Wesleyan Minister
Of Hendersonville
Rev. H. A. Forester of Tuscaloosa,
Ala., who is to be the new pastor at
the Wesleyan Methodist church for
the coming year, has arrived and will
conduct his first service next Sunday.
The former pastor, Rev. H. P.
Rich, has accepted a pastorate at
Altivesta, Va., and will leave this
week for his new pastorate.
Glover T. Orr Files
Bankruptcy Petition
Glover T. Orr, who filed voluntary
petition in bankruptcy last week, has
been adjudicated bankrupt and Ref
eree F. W. Thomas of Asheville serves
notice that creditors will meet in the
office of Judge O. V. F. Blythe on De
cember 15, when they may elect a
trustee, examine the bankrupt and
transact other necessary business.
Mr. Orr has been engaged in the
auto livery business.
W. H. WILLIAMS OBJECTS TO
POST-MORTEM OYER ELECTION
The News of November 27th con
tained a statement relative to rec
ords of J. W. Bayne, tax collector,
and signed by one Grace M. Drake.
In fairness to others, why could not
this have been written without cast
ing any reflection on Mr. Bayne's
predecessors or criticising the "stay
the homes." I understand that the
tax matters are in. court, and that
being true, the final results are far
from being known by any one.
When voters have a purpose in
they should be allowed to do so, as
anything else would not be perfect
freedom. No use of any one holding
a post-mortem over the election,
much ess a disgruntled tax clerk in
the employ of a defeated candidate.
WILL H. WILLIAMS.
Bear Wallow, N. C.
Pluck and luck look alike because
Ithey so around together.
HE CLIMBED
DOWN
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CONSTRUCTION WORK CEASES ON
STATE HIGHWAY
CITIZENS
Road work has been discontinued
on the state highway between Horse
Shoe and Etowah.
Two state highway engineers re
main of the former large forces to
tell the story. They intimate that
they know very little about the situa
tion and don't dare tell what little
they do know.
There is a good deal or speculation
among the citizens as to what will
be the outcome. It is generally be
lieved that the contractor was losing
money rapidly on the job and that as
a consequence he abandoned it.
In September there was a cessation
of activities for a period but shortly
work was resumed, but never on as
large a scale as formerly. Last week
COST OF STREET
PAVING UP FOR
HEARING TONIGHT
The mayor and city commissioners
will tonight at 8 o'clock at the city
hall give property owners on recent
ly paved streets a hearing as to the
statements recently furnished prop
erty holders relative to assessments
for. paving.
The property owners are invited to
attend the meeting and present their
case in the event of an error in the
estimates.
The statements, which were recent
ly sent out, gave the annual payments
due for the next ten years. No basis
of computation was furnished in the
statements, hence there has been
some speculation as to the price for
the curbing and the paving, once the
property holder estimated the num
ber of feet likely charged to him.
Some of the property holders ap
pear surprised that the cost should
run so high but their estimates and
those of the city will probably be
reconciled at this meeting unless the
differences are very serious.
SHAWS CREEK C0M3IUNITT
CLUB MEETS TONIGHT
(Contributed)
Shaw's Creek Community club will
have its usual monthly meeting Wed
nesday night, December 6, at 7:30
o'clock, and we hope to have a good
attendance. We invite any one wish
ing to attend these meetings and
welcome any new members.
At this meeting Miss Pearl Weaver,
our Red Cross nurse, will address us
on "Public Health Habits."
John Ewbank will have something
interesting to say to us.
There will be special music by a
male quartet, also piano solo by Mrs.
Otto Anders.
There is always an opportunity for
any one to tell us anything they have
in mind, as impromptu speeches are
called for at each meeting. The pro
gram for January meeting will be
announced soon.
RIGHT
THE CHIMNEY
y ..... y' '
to
5
i
" i
4.
AT HORSE S
DON'T KNOW
the teams and men were removed to
parts unknown, leaving the citizens
'n an atmosphere of curiosity and
ignorance as to the real trouble.
It is pointed out by the citizens of
the community that work progressed
well and that the Sam L. Davis Con
struction Company was evidently
making money until it struck solid
rock around the bluff about a mile
from Horse Shoe station. Days cf
effort resulted in little headway and
it is believed that the undertaking
was leading the construction company
toward bankruptcy.
State engineers have visited the
scene and it is generally ' believed
that the bondsmen of the construction
company will be forced to take the
situai 'on in hand.
f I'lSTC JM PIT
David F. Houston, former secretary
of the treasury and president of the
Bell Telephone Securities Company,
and W. S. Gifford, vice president of
the American Telephone and Tele
graph Company, were visitors in Hen
dersonville yesterday. They were ac
companied by Morgan B. Speir, divi
sion manager of the Southern Bell
Telephone Company at Charlotte.
Messrs. Houston and Gifford are
touring this section in the interest of
telephone developments and are gath
ering first-hand information on South
ern conditions. They found improve
ments unday way in Hendersonville
to the extent of several thousand dol
lars. This is Mr. Gifford's first visit to
this section of North Carolina. He
expressed himself as being well
pleased with indications of future de
velopment. Mr. Houston is familiar with this
mountain country, being a native of
North Carolina.
After dinner with A. S. Truex, the
local telephone manager, the party
motored to Spartanburg.
KOGS MOUNTAIN TO MAKE
BUILDING WATER SYSTEM
Kings Mountain. The contract has
been let and the work will go for
ward at once on the construction of
the half-million gallon reservoir and
water and sewer line extensions in
the town of Kings Mountain. The
sealed bids were publicly opened at
the town office Monday afternoon and
the contract awarded to Guion &
Withers of Gastonia for the complete
construction of the whole project, in
cluding the furnishing of all ma
terials. The amount of the award be
ing $59,768.76, which was about ?12,
000 lower than the highest bid. There
were in all fifteen bidders.
The stork Is voiceless but a man
with triplets tells us the bird is
dumb in more ways than that.
COMMISSIONERS WADE
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS SAID TO
TOTAL WELL OVER MILLION DOLLARS
Recent Road Contracts Aggregate Over $124,000;
Money Due cn 1922 Taxes Spent Before Col
lected. Declare County Attorneys Who Say
Present Tax Rate Is Too Low and Point Out
. Wisdom cf Rigid Retrsnchment Policy on Part,
of County.
tion thus far ascertained.
The records show that as late as
Saturday large contracts were made
by the county road trustees. The re
cent contracts total approximately
$124,000. It is generally understood
that the new board will make no ef
fort at repudiation of . any of these
contracts, work under some of which
ha3 been in progress for several
days.
It is estimated that during the past
two 3ears the public indebtedness of
the county was increased approxi
mately one million dollars.
The bonded debt of the county out
de the townships was represented
at about $208,000 yhen the last board
took the affairs of the county in
hand. The township bonded indebt
edness was represented at about
$129,500. The total bonded indebted
ness of townships and county is rep
resented at about $1,092,500, accord
ing to Mr. Rector.
The general tax levy of $1.10 over
the county is considered far too low
to meet the running expenses of the
county. Money has already been
borrowed and mostly spent against
the receipts from 1922 taxes and the
county will have to proceed to bor
row money against its 1923 taxes,
says Mr. Rector.
The minutes of the last session of
the road trustees on Friday show
that W. W. Wilfong, secretary of tho
board, voted against the letting o.
the last contracts for work on the
Green River road from the bridge
across Green River south of Tuxedo
by way of the Green River church
and Cedar Springs to a point near
the place of Tom Jones.
The minutes of the road trustees
contain a resolution from which the
following is quoted:
"Whereas the Board of Road Trus
tees for the County of Henderson
have with the approval of this board
let divers contracts to build and re
build certain roads and bridges of
J. E. Shipman and W. B,
Penny Become Partners
J. E. Shipman and W. B. Penny
have formed a partnership effective
next Monday, whereby they will unite
in the practice of law.
Until recently Mr. Shipman was as
sociated with Roone Arledge, who
has joined his brother, A. Yates Ar
ledge. Mr. Shipman has just closed
his services for the county as attor
-1
ney for the board of county commis
sioners.
Mr. Penny has had no partnership
since he joined the local bar.
The experience of Mr. Shipman and
the determination and youthful en
thusiasm of Mr. Penny will, it is be
lieved, develop into a combination of
great legal strength.
You may think your luck is bad,
but what about the Akron (O.) man
who pawned his false teeth just be
fore Thanksgiving?
Money, brings poise and avoirdu
pois. ,
INTO MAZE OF
vi.v-j v au v,j auiuuiiiuig III Lilt?
aggregate to the sum of $124,201.89
is nearly as same can be estimated
ht this time, which said contracts
-.nd the estimated amounts of each
ire hereinafter separately listed and
et out and whereas the special road
nd bridge funds over and above the
2G0,000 tied up by order and decree
n the case of Morris et al. vs. the
3oard of Commissioners et al. equal
find exceed the aggregate of all said
ontracts, now therefore it is ordered
hat said sum of $124,201.89 is here-
y appropriated and set aside to be
teld and applied to the payment of
ach and every of said contracts
'id that no part of said fund shall
e diverted or used for any other pur
cse until the liabilities of the coun
v of Henderson on each and every
;f sa;cl contracts shall be fully pa:d
and discharged."
The same order appoints M. A.
Case as inspector of the concrete
work to be done in the county and
empowers him to employ a competent
assistant if necessary.
The gross amount of the contracts
::n question are given as follows:
T. T. Piatt, work on Haywood
road $12,798
W. B. Arledge and W. F. Ca-
they, Mills River road 5,561
J. W. Case, road leading to
Sugar Loaf 8,147
J. F. Gibbs, Crab Creek road 4,674
T. S. Nichols, J. M. Crook, Mills
River township 1,640
Asheville Construction Com
pany 11,862
Luten Bridge Co., concrete
work, bridges, etc. 32,768
R. P. Staton, Saluda to Mt.
Page road 2,100
H. W. Vernon, D. A. Capp, 2
miles Green River road 1,173
L. D. Beddingfield, 2 miles
Green River road 1,173
J. A. Capps, one mile Green
River road 1,173
A A. McDowell 586
W. O. Waters, near Tuxedo 3,915
W. J. Turner, 5th avenue ex
tension and to gap of moun
tain 24,338
On these contracts there is added a
jontingent sum equal to 10 per cent
:o cover cost of work where it ex
ceeds the amounts given above as
based on . estimates.
Messrs. Rector and Justice are of
the opinion that nothing less than a
rigid policy of economy in public ex
penditures will be open to the com
missioners in order to save the coun
ty from financial disaster.
Mr. Rector, it will be recalled, was
for a while attorney for the former
board of commissioners and was
also a member of the board of road
trustees, which positions gave him a
keen insight into the public affairs
of Henderson county.
Prof. Maurice Karp
Opens Violin Studio
Prof. Maurice Karp, violin instruc
tor at Fassifern, who will be remem
bered by his various appearances in
musical programs here last summer,
has opened a violin studio in the Ew
bank building for Monday and Thurs
day afternoons and he hopes to make
this a year round institution.
Prof. Karp offers a scholarship to
the student showing the greatest
musical talent after 18 months of
study. The scholarship would be
come effective after a study of 18
months and would give the winner
sufficient training to prepare for the
stage without further cost for study
under Prof. Karp.
Prof. Karp expects to give a pupils'
rceital in February or March.
We have 65 per cent of the world's
telephones and goodness knows what
per cent of its wrong numbers.
A wise woman makes her husband
think ho thinks.