MARION PROGRESS
A WEEKXY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896 MARION, N. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1929 VOL. XXXIV—NO. 5
PRINCIPALS HIGH
SCHOOLS HOLD MEET
Program Proves Interesting
and Profitable—The Larger
Schools to Open Sept 2.
The meeting of the principals of
the schools of McDowell county held
in the court-house on Tuesday and
Wednesday was well attended and
proved to be interesting and profit
able to those attending.
The first day’s program was in
charge of Supt. N. F. Steppe, who
recently lesigned as county superin
tendent of McDowell county schools
after serving twelve years in that
capacity. The principals who took
part in Tuesday’s program had prac
tically all served the schools of the
county under Mr. Steppe’s leader
ship for a long number of years, and
gave further evidence of their whole
hearted spirit of co-operation and
interest in the welfare of the schools
by their response and their manner
of handling their various parts on
the program.
W. B. Harrill, principal of the
Glenwood High School, interestingly
and ably discussed “Transportation
Problems and How to Solve Them”;
R. B. Phillips, principal of the Pleas
ant Gardens High School, presented
with telling effect the subject of
“Beautifying the School Grounds.”
The subject “Athletics” was well
presented by Fred Abernethy, prin
cipal of the North Cove Consolidat
ed School; “The Daily Schedule”
was discussed by A. V. Nolan, coun
ty superintendent, in his usual clear
and forceful manner; Miss Mamie
Stacy, principal of the East Marion
School, spoke on “The Use of the
School Library,” and handled this
subject with her accustomed way of
saying much in a brief but highly
interesting way; “School Supplies,
^nd How to Get Them,” was the
subject presented by Miss Ruth
M. Greenlee, principal of the Clinch-
field School, which she handled in
her characteristic, direct and force
ful manner; and “Care of the School
Building and Equipment” was N. L.
Wessinger’s subject. Mr. Wegsinger
is principal of the Nebo High School,
and knows his subject from first
hand experience, and presented its
problems so clearly, yet briefly, as
to win the closest attention of his
hearers. William H. Noah, principal
of the West Marion School, spoke
on “Science in the Elementary
School”; “Community Organiza
tion” was briefly outlined by S. B.
Smithey, recently elected as princi
pal of the Old Fort High School, and
“Professional Ethics” was the sub
ject which F. R. Richardson, super
intendent of the Marion High School
presented witJi interest and profit to
the principals.
Mr. Steppe, who will retire from
active school work on Augnist 15th,
addressed the meeting, delivering
his farewell remarks as superintend
ent to principals, and expressing his
great and lasting appreciation for
the loyalty, co-operation and devo
tion given to him and the cause of
education in McDowell county for
the many years spent together in
this service. He reviewed the work
at some length and thanked each
principal for the genuine and worth
while service rendered, the results
of which only the coming years can
reveal. Sincere and appreciative re
sponse to Mr. Steppe’s speech was
shown by the principals, who, at the
close of the program, presented him
with a parting gift, as a token of
their regard and esteem. Mrs. Gafr-
land Williams, chairman of the com
mittee, who presented the gift to
Mr. Steppe, expressed the senti
ments of the principals and teachers
generally when she said: “Mr.,
Steppe, we, as principals and teach
ers of the schools of this county,
wish to express to you ur deep ap
preciation of your services during
these past years. You Tiave been, not
only our superiritenflent, but our
• counselor and adviser as well. You
have continuously helped us over
rough places and helped us solve
hard problems; you have stood
squarely behind us at all times and
at the same time you have had the
best interest of the children at heart
The real depth of our appreciation
cannot be expressed in words. In
this spirit we wish to give you this
little gift.” The gift of the principals
(Continued on last page)
SEE AND LEARN TOUR-
PROVES INTERESTING
A party of some fifty people, con
sisting of farmers and business men,
some with their wives, sons and
daughters journeyed through Mc
Dowell, Burke, Catawba and Lincoln
counties Tuesday on a “See and
Learn Farm Tour”. The stops were
made as follows: L. G. Hollifield,
near Marion; Sterling Poultry Farm,
Valdese; D. & D. School Farm, Mor-
ganton; Howard Hickory Nursery,
Hickory; Catawba Creamery, Hick
ory; R. L. Shuford’s Dairy Farm,
near Hickory; Luther Yount’s and
\T. A. Warlick’s farms near Lincoln-
ton, and M. S. Rudisill’s farm near
Crouse.
A very fine example of diversifi
cation was observed at Mr. Holli-
field’s. Some twelve years ago he
began farming in the woods near
Nebo, and today has a farm of some
30 acres in a high state of cultiva
tion. His field crops consist of corn,
soybeans, alfalfa, oats, vetch, etc.,
grows considerable truck crops,
keeps from 200 to 400 hens, has
some six to eight acres in pasture
grasses and clovers, milks from 3 to
4 cows, and produces practically all
food and feed crops required on the
farm. In a short talk Mr. Hollifield
told of the importance of living at
home, and of having something to
sell throughout the year produced
at a cost below market value. He
had secured a good pasture by
clearing his land and sowing grass
and clover seed on the surface of the
ground in February and allowing
the seed to be covered by the thaw
ing following a freeze. He empha
sized getting good breeding stock in
poultry, and giving the proper atten
tion to feeding, sanitation, culling
and housing.
The Sterling Poultry Farm gave
an example of what can be accom
plished by one having a vision, with
a determination, and giving the farm
proper management. The owner
started only a few years ago, with
poor health and only about $100.00,
and today his farm is worth some
$8,000, which he has paid for with
his poultry work, and has regained
his health. R. L. Sloan, County Ag
ent of Burke, met the tour at this
farm and told of the work being
done. From here the tour went to
the D. & D. Farm at Morganton,
where Mr. Sloan and Mr. Parks,
manager of the farm, told about the
growing of alfalfa. From the middle
of August till the middle of Septem
ber they sow about 20 pounds of al
falfa seed per acre. Some four to
five cuttings are secured each year,
or a yield of some four to five tons
per acre. They recommend it as a
fine feed for dairy cows, and for oth
er livestock on the farm.
John W. Hendricks, County Agent
of Catawba county, met the tour at
the Howard Hickory Nursery Com
pany. A tour was made over this
150 acre farm on which more than
200 varieties of shrubs and orna
mentals are being grown, as well as
some fruit trees. A fertilizer demon
stration was studied and Mr. How
ard, the manager, gave a demonstra
tion and a talk in showing how fruit
trees are budded. A visit was mode
through the greenhouse where Mr.
Howard showed how various cut
tings of the ornamentals were being
rooted, and later showed how these
cuttings were transplanted to pots,
then later to the fields.
A visit to the Catawba Creamery
showed the operation of a creamery,
the making of butter, ice cream,
and also purchased various products
from the farmers such as poultry,
eggs, hogs, truck crops, etc. Delici
ous ice cream was served by the
Creamery.
The noon hour was spent at the
dairy farm of R. L. Shuford, near
Hickory. Lunch was served “picnic
style”. After lunch the herd of dai
ry cattle was observcdy and their
records told by the official tester,
Mr. Jackson, and commented upon
by Mr. Hendricks. According to
some statistics giveii by Mr. Hen
dricks, the average cow in North
Carolina gives 350 gallons of mils
and 150 pounds of butter fat per
year. In some official tests made
during the past two years in Cataw
ba county in which 39 cows’ records
are completed, ranging in ages from
yearlings to 15 years old, the aver
age production was 4.3 times great
er in milk production and 5.5 times
greater in fat production than the
average North Carolina cow. The
importance of breeding, feeding,
care and management was brought
out at this farm.
Graham Morrison, County Agent
COIMY TAX RATE
' REDUCED 21 CENTS
County Commissioners Fix
Rate for the Coming Year
at $1.24 on $1(K) Valuation.
The board of county commission
ers at a meeting last week adopt'ed
a new tax rate for McDowell county
effecting a reduction of twenty-one
cents less than the rate of the past
year’s taxation. The rate in 1928
was $1.45 on the hundred dollars
valuation, while the reduction plac
es the rate for this year at $1.24 on
the hundred dollars. The rate is bas
ed on a levy of $20,042,252.
The new general county rate for
the year is made unp of the follow
ing figures: General county fund
(same as last year), 15c; schools,
57c; highway bonds and bridges,
17%c; highway bonds, interest and
sinking fund, 17c; funding bonds
and interest, 2^c; court house
bonds and interest, 10c; health and
poor fund, 5c.
The levy for health and poor was
increased one cent, while a ten cent
decrease in the rate was made in
highway and sinking fund. This de
crease was made possible by the ap
plication of $23,460 which McDow
ell county will receive from the
state’s extra one-cent tax on gaso
line.
The tax levy for schools was re
duced ten cents on the hundred dol
lars valuation. This reduction was
made possibly partly by the allot
ment to McDowell county of $27,-
558.67 from the state equalization
fund for schools, as compared with
$11,760.08 last year.
The township-wide rates for the
various townships of the county will
be as follows: Bracketts, $1.50;
Crooked Creek, $1.64; Dysartsville,
$1.61; Glenwood, $1.41 j Higgins,
$1.54; Marion, $1.42; Montford’s
Cove, $1.45; Nebo, $1.34; North
Cove, $1.56; Old Fort, $1.43.
MARION STRIKE CASE
SET FOR NEXT FRIDAY
Burnsville, Aug. 13. — The hear
ing in the injunction against the
striking employes of the Marion
Manufacturing company, of Marion,
will come up again in Superior court
here Friday, following its continu
ance late Monday afternoon.
The continuance was granted to
give the strikers opportunity to se
cure affidavits to offer in rebuttal to
affidavits introduced by attorneys
for the Marion mill. The hearing is
to determine whether the restraining
order against picketing the mill,
granted about three weeks ago by
Judge Harwood, shall be made per
manent.
The continuance followed a delay
in the hearing, when attorneys dis
agreed as to the date of the signing
of the original order. When the disa
greement arose, Judge Cameron F.
MacRae dispatched an attorney to
Marion to secure the original order.
of Lincoln county, and some of his
farmers met the tour at Shuford’s
farm, and directed the tour through
Lincoln county. The first farm visit
ed was that of Luther Younts.
has a field of Korean Lespedeza
that is nw “knee high” which was
sown in the wheat during February.
This field made a fine appearance
and made a fine impression on tho's6
present. This clover does not require
lime or inoculation nor any special
preparation of seed bed.
T. A. Warlick’s farm sfeOw^d an
other fine example of diversification
He is growing the principal feed
crops in rotation, milks some 8 to 10
cows, keeps 300 to 400 hens, raises
some 50 to 100 turkeys, keeps about
2 to 3 brood sows, and a flock of
sheep.
The last stop was at the farm of
Milton S. Rudisill, Crouse, N. C.
Here the visitors saw some crop ro
tation work that was very interest
ing.
At the close of the tour, expres
sions of “gladness"’ could be heard
from many lips, expressing them
selves as being glad that they made
the tour.
Don’t fail to see “THE KING OF
KINGS” at Marion Theatre next
Monday or Tuesday. Pronounced by
ministers, and people in all walks of
life as being the finest moving pic
ture yet made.
PLAN INDUSTRIAL
SURVEY OF MARION
Expert Engineers Secuised For
Making Survey of Condi
tions and Possibilities.
The Chamber of Commerce has
secured the services of the Craig P.
Gilbert Co., Inc., Industrial Engin
eers of Washington, D. C., to make
a complete and thorough survey of
Marion and surrounding terriltory.
The survey was started last week,
August 7th, and should be comple
ted by the 17th of this month. There
has been a long felt need for an in
dustrial survey of this city and it is
expected that this survey by expert
engineers will greatly add stimulus
to industrial development here, for
the survey will not only serve to ac
quaint the people of this city with
the advantages and opportunities
offered locally, but a definite piece
of authentic literature will be secur
ed to send to parties interested in
locating in this section of the state.
B. G. Curtis, representative of
the Gilbert Company, is in the city
this week to consult with officials of
the Chamber of Commerce concern
ing the survey. A\; a meeting held
last week a special industrial com
mittee was named to work with the
Craig P. Gilbert Co. This committee
is composed of Mayor H. H. Tate,
L. E. Neal, C. F. James, and J. S.
Goode, chairman. The Gilbert organ
ization specializes in securing suit
able factory locations for manufac
turers of every kind and in this
connection they are in a position to
render Marion an incalculable ser
vice by using the survey of this city
with national advertising and other
sources of contact with manufac
turers.
EVICTION CASES GO
TO SUPERIOR COURT
Twenty-two textile workers from
Clinchfield mill appeared Friday
before Magistrate Conley to resist
efforts of mill officials to have them
ejected from mill houses. Attorneys
for the mill refused to accede to the
request of D. F. Giles, attorney for
the mill workers, that the hearing be
postponed on account of the death
of a child in one of the homes affec
ted.
Jury trial was demanded in the
case of all defendants after J. L.
Lamb was ordered evicted. Mr. Giles
appealed the case to Superior court.
The 21 other cases, all to be tried
separately, will also be heard in Su
perior court.
The Clinchfield Manufacturing
company’s two large mills remain
closed, having shut down two weeks
ago. Prior to that time more than a
hundred of the employes of the
company had been discharged, the
discharged men claiming their dis
charge was brought about because
they had joined the local union.
Twenty-one of the discharged men
are the defendants in the ejectment
proceedings.
GREAT REVIVAL CLOSES
AT BROAD RIVER CHURCH
Dome, Aug. 10.—A thirteen day
revival, one of the most progressive
series of meetings known in the
Broad River section for many years,
has just come to a close at Broad
River Baptist Church. The services
were conducted by the pastor Rev.
R. L. Crawford, and Rev. R, Buck
ner, two young Missionary Baptist
ministers of Spindale, N. C.
Thirty-five professions were made
of which fourteen were baptized and
received into the Broad River church
li^e interest increased daily and was
so great at the close of the meeting
it would have continued longer ex
cept for the obligations of the
preachers to fill other appointments.
CHARGE THREE STRIKERS
SHOT AT SHERIFF ADKINS
Charging that three striking em
ployes of the Marion Maunfacturing
Company, T. L. Carver, Randolph
Hall and J. Will Roberts fired at
him while his automobile was park
ed in the mill village. Sheriff Oscar
F. Adkins late Thursday brought
charges of assault with a deadly
weapon against the three men at a
hearing before Magistrate Conley.
They were held under bond for
September term of McDowell coun
ty Superior court.
TESTS IN LIFE SAVING
TO BE GIVEN HERE MONDAY
Mr. Ramone S. Eaton, field repre
sentative of the American Red Cross
First Aid and Life Saving Service,
will be in Marion on Monday, Au
gust 19th, to give instructions and
ecessary tests to pass the life saving
examination. Mr. Eaton is sent here
by the American Red Cross. All per
sons wishing to take the tests should
get in touch with J. S. Goode, chair
man Life Saving, Marion Chapter.
Red Cross.
Mr. Eaton has played an activd'
part in First Aid and Life Saving
work for many years, having to his
credit many rescues performed un
der hazardous conditions.
While a life guard at various At
lantic seaboard resorts, including
Miami, Florida, he had extensive ex
perience in general water safety
work, and is a recognized leader in
that field.
Mr. Eaton’s experiences include
a 3,000 mile cruise in a 50 foot
power boat, during which he res
cued several persons from drowning
at various points enroute.
He was for some time recreation
director of the city of Alexandria,
Virgfinia, and has had extensive
training and experience in Red Cross
Life Saving and First Aid Methods.
Each day 20 persons drown at
America’s beaches, lakes, ponds and
rivers. This month will claim a total
of more than 600 lives—^the next 12
months will reveal 7,300 deaths by
drowning. This tragic loss of life
each year has caused the local chap
ter of the American Red Cross to in
stitute one of the most far-reaching
campaigns for water safety that has
been attempted in this locality. In
classes, by demonstrations, and in
dividual instruction, every swimmer
enrolling for the course will be gfiven
an opportunity to become a Red
Cross Life Saver—qualified to care
for himself and to protect others in
the water.
Red Cross officials state that
through the enrollment of a large
number of local swimmers here in
the course, it is hoped to approach
the Red Cross goal of “Every Swim
mer a Life Saver.”
TO START CREAMERY
ROUTE NEXT TUESDAY
A cream route will be started in
McDowell county on Tuesday, Au
gust 20th. W. M. Conley of Dysarts
ville will be the routeman on this
route. Mr. Conley will make the trip
each Tuesday, leaving his home
about 7 a. m. From his home he will
go out by the home of J. W. Jarret,
Will Laughridge, Bob Laughridge,
Fulton Kirksey, R. H. Cowan, Ben
Landis, Nichols Suttles, and Bob
Upton into Dysartsville. From the
Allen place he will go out by Hobie.
Ellington’s to Ivey Crawley’s and
W. B. Biggerstaff’s, Fred Jackson’s
at the Rock Pass Road to Rex Wil
son’s, Joe Craig’s and Tom Hall’s,
then into Marion. All those living on
this route will be served, as well as
anyone who will place their cream
on the roadside of this route. Cream
and eggs will be purchased on the
first day. Later it may be arranged
to pick up other products.
VEIN MOUNTAIN NEWS
Vein Mountain, Aug. 10.— Mrs.
J. W^ Booth of Forest City is the
guest of Mrs. W. R. Stone.
Miss Mildred Drake of Hendrson-
ville. North Carolina, is visiting
Miss Eva Stone this week.
Miss Elizabeth Flack of Union
Mills was a week-end guest of Miss
es Billie and Genoese Flack.
Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Freeman, of
Hendersonville, visited the latter’s
mother, Mrs. W. R. Stone, Sunday.
The following young people, chap
eroned by Mrs. U. S. Drake of Hen
dersonville, had a very enjoyable
week camping near linville Falls:
Miss Mildred Drake of Henderson
ville, Miss Eva Stone of Vein Moun
tain, Miss Annie Laura Proctor of
Chapel Hill; Messrs. Frank Proctor
and George Smith of Chapel Hill.
Misses Celia Nanney and Ives Up
ton of Marion, and Genoese and Bil
lie Flack spent the past week in
Washington, D. C., visiting their
aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. J. S.
Upton.
‘ Miss Kent Flack, who has a posi
tion with the Southern Methodist
Assembly at Lake Junaluska, is ex
pected home soon.
The big Cecil B. DeMille Special
“THE KING OF KINGS” will be
at Marion Theatre next Monday and
Tuesday.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
WORKERS MEET
McDowell Convention at Nebo
Is Well Attended — A. V.
Nolan Re-elected President.
The McDowell County Sunday
School convention convened at Nebo
Baptist Church Friday, August 9. It
was a success in every respect. It
was well attended by Sunday School
workers from the various churcheg
over the county. There were about
forty Sunday School teachers, offi
cers and pastors present during the I
three Sessions of the day. The talks
made by the two state workers.
Misses Flora Davis and Daisy Magee,
of Raleigh, were inspiring as well as
educational. Those who heard the
talks on the different phases of Sun
day School work were made to feel
that, after all, the developing of
Christian character is the greatest
work of the day. Miss Magee
brought out in one of her talks the
fact that our jails and penitentiaries
are filled with people who have nev
er gone to Sunday School or receiv
ed relibious training anywhere. On
the other hand, those who have gone
to Sunday School and received re
ligious instruction in the home from
childhood are the leaders of today.
They are the backbone of our coun
try, and constitute the good citizen
ship. The fact that about one-half of
our people, on an average, are in
Sunday School is a sad situation.
The great need of today in our Sun
day School is more earnest and bet
ter trained leadership.
The Old Fort Baptist Sunday
School received the attendance pen
nant.
In working out the county or
ganization, it was decided to com-
•bine some of the townships and let
them try working together. The fol
lowing is a list of the county officers
for the ensuing year:
A. V. Nolan, Old Fort, president;
Miss Ruth Greenlee, Old Fort, vice-
president; Miss Maggie Taylor, Ne
bo, secretary.
Division Superintendents
Children’s — Mrs. M. H. Wither
spoon, Marion.
Young People’s — Mrs. Garland
Williams, Old Fort.
Adult^R. O. Wilson, Nebo.
Administrative — T. G. Stump,
Old Fort.
Township Presidents
Crooked Creek and Old Fort—H.
R. Early, president; D. P. Pyatt, vice
president.
Dysartsville and Bracketts—MjSss
Mamie Goforth, president; Mrs. M.
P. Flack, vice-president.
Glenwood and Montfords—W. M.
Wilson, president; Oscar Morgan,
vice-president.
Nebo and Higgins—G. W. Wilson,
president; J. M. Parker, vice-presi
dent.
North Cove—J. M. Lonon, presi
dent.
Marion—H. H. Justice, president.
AUTOMOBILE SALES
SET UP NEW RECORD
Raleigh, Aug. 8. — Automobile
sales made a new record in North
Carolina last month when Tar Heels
purchased 7,795 new automobiles
at a cost of approximately $5,846,-
000, according to Sprague Silver,
head of the motor vehicle bureau of
the state department of revenue
July sales, in addition to setting
up what Mr. Silver believes to be a
new high mark in volume, set up
another record in the number of
cash transactions, he said. More
cars were sold for cash during July,
he continued, than since the titl»
law went into effect in 1923.
July sales brought the total for
the year to 47,243 vehicles. At an
estimated average price of $750
per vehicle the sales figures, includ
ing automobiles and trucks, would
total an investment of about $35,-
500,000 for the first seven month»^
of the year in North Carolina, not
including the amount spent for used
cars.
CLINCHFIELD TO RESUME
OPERATION NEXT MONDAY
Announcement was made yester
day that the Clinchfield Manufac
turing Company, which has been
closed for the past three weeks, will
resume work next Monday.
The fir tree is used as a symbol of
long life in China.