ASHE COUNTY
is the air-conditioned section of
North Carolina whose altitude
ranges from 3,000 to 5,500 feet
above sea level. Twenty-five miles
of the PARKWAY run through
the county.
VOLUME IX NO. 19
Settlement Os
Coal Strike Is
Asked By FDR
Roosevelt Tells Labor Unions
That The Public Good Is
Now At Stake.
WASHINGTON, May 9. ln
language which sounded much
like an ultimatum, President
Roosevelt (announced today that
he had asked coal operators and
union officials for a quick settle
ment of the bituminous coal
deadlock.
The request was made at a
conference in his office, attend
ed by five leaders of the United
Mine Workers, five mine opera
tors jnd Secretary of Labor Per
kins. Mr. Roosevelt advised
newsmen later that he had told
the disputants that the public
good demands an immediate re
sumption of mining, and that by
tomorrow night they should
work out a method for reopening
the mines.
The President spoke with un
usual vigor and emphasis as he
informed the reporters of the
conversation, his voice rising to
an indignant pitch when he as
serted the two factions had agre
ed on every point at issue except
one, iand were agreed in princi
ple on that. They had, he said,
cnly to settle the details of that
one point to reopen the mines.
The deadlock, or failure to
agree on terms for renewing the
union contract which expired Ap
ril 1, has resulted in closing coal
mines in 26 states. It has made
some 460.000 coal miners idle
and raised the threat in many
sections of an early coal short
age.
A prime obstacle to agreement
has been the union’s insistence
upon what Lewis calls a “unioiy
shop” >and elimination from the
new contract of penalties in case
of strikes or lockouts. The ope
rators have insisted that the pen
alty clause was necessary to sta
bilize the industry. They also
contend it would deprive them of
protection against illegal strikes.
All School Bus
Routes In Ashe
To Be Inspected
Representative From State De
partment To Be Here Lat
ter Part Os Month.
A representative from the
State Department of Public In
struction will be in Ashe county
the latter part of this month to
go over the school bus routes
with the local school officials,
Supt. J. B. Hash announced this
week.
Mr. Hash stated that he is no
tifying all of the district com
mittees to send him at once the
names of the school principals so
that arrangements can be made
with them to inspect the various
school routes and to consider any
changes or extensions which they
want.
He also stated that he has not
received the new teacher ap
pointments made by the various
committees.
WILL RESUME WORK
ON SEWAGE PROJECT
Work on the completion of the
sewage project in West Jefferson
is expected to be started the lat
tre part of this month under
WPA since an allocation of $6,-
000 has recently been made for
this project. Around 40 men will
be used on this work. Engineers
are now completing preliminary
surveys so that the work can go
forward within a short time.
Grading On Road
Project Here Is
Speeded Up Some
Grading work on the West Jef
ferson-Baldwin road improve
ment project was speeded up a
good deal this week when the
State Highway Department as
signed a shovel to this job. The
WPA crew has been making
fine progress grading a more or
less new road bed, which will be
wider and will eliminate a lot
of unnecessary curves «and the
addition of the shovel will en
able the WPA to complete the
grading within a short time and
be ready for surfacing. Traffic is
not ; being interrupted by this
work.
She anti Wst
$1.25 a Year Out of County
Possible GOP Presidential Candidates
WASHINGTON, D. C. . . . Possible candidates for the Repub
lican Presidential nomination in 1940 were guests at the an
nual banquet of the American Society of Newspaper Publish
ers and Editors. Left to right: Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg
of Michigan; Thomas E. Dewey, District Attorney of New
York, and Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio.
Record Progress Is Being
Made On REA Construction
Zone Missionary
Meeting At M. E.
Church Monday
Special Program Planned For
All-Day Meeting. Lunch
To Be Served.
MANY EXPECTED
The women of the West Jef
ferson Methodist church will be
hostesses to the annual zone
meeting of the Women’s mission
ary societies of the Methodist
churches of this zone on Monday.
A full day meeting will be held,
with Mrs. T. V. Goode, of States
ville, district secretary in charge.
Two outstanding speakers will
discuss the work of the Methodist
women’s missionary societies and
other interesting features have
been planned for the program,
including special music.
Lunch will be served in the re
creation rooms in the basement
of the church by the local mem
bers of the missionary society.
All Methodist churches of the
county are particularly urged to
send representatives. The public
is cordially invited to the pro
grams.
Representatives are expected
from Boone, Sparta, North
Wilkesboro and other towns in
this zone. In discussing the pro
gram Rev. W. J. Huneycutt,
pastor of the church said that he
felt that the meeting would mean
much to the women of the
church and that he hoped that
every one who could would at
tend.
In addition to special features
and lectures on the program, re
ports and discussions regarding
the work will be given.
Claude Blevins
Buried On Mon.
Was Well Known Here. Was
35 Years Old At Time Os
His Death Sun.
The entire community was sad
dened by the sudden death of
Claude Blevins which occured
Sunday in the Wilkes hospital.
He was 35 years old at the time
of his death and altho his health
had not been good for some time,
his death was unexpected.
Funeral service was at the
Baptist church on Monday with
Rev. W. T. Whittington in charge.
The church_ was filled to over
flowing by a large number of fri
ends and relatives.
The deceased who was ;he
bottling business here w resl ? £ll
known among both the c .nd
young, and his capacity for mak
ing friends made ftim popular
with every one.
He is survived by his wife and
two children, James Catson,
Jackson, and Billie Joe Blevins.
Another son, Claude, Jr., died a
year ago. The following brothers
and sisters, also survive: John
Blevins, W. C. Blevins, Mrs. Eli
zabeth Emma Blevins,
and Mrs. Dell Ramsey.
A domestic wheat crop this
year of 685,000.000 bushels re
presenting a sharp reduction from
the 930.000.000 bushels produced
last season, is indicated by the U.
S. Bureau of Agricultural Econo
mics.
Average Os Two And A Half
Miles Erected Daily. Part
Os Lines Energized.
Record-breaking progress is
being made on the construction
of REA lines in Ashe and Alle
ghany counties, according to in
formation received yesterday
from the local offices of the
Caldwell Mutual Corporation and
Melvin Burgess, Inc., contractor.
Poles have been erected and
wire strung on the main line
through Ashe and nearly to Spar
ta and from the Watauga county
line to Clifton. Clearing of right
of-ways and setting poles have
been completed on several of the
branch lines and this week stak
ing and survey work is expected
to be finished on the 285 miles of
lines in the two counties, Harry
Dewar, project engineer of the
Caldwell corporation, stated.
Two lines in this county have
already been energized and the
people from Todd to Donation
and from Watauga line to Suther
and are now enjoying the use of
electricity. Mr. Dewar said.
A. L. Bowlen, general superin
tendent of the construction com
pany, stated that an average of
2 1-2 miles of lines have been
built every day since construc
tion in Ashe and Alleghany com
menced.
This is regarded as quite a re
cord for mountain country like
this section.
He stated that the company has
only had one serious accident in
the two counties, and that is re
garded as another fine record, as
the erection of poles and string
ing wire is hazardous.
He estimated that there are
around 150 men working on the
different projects in the two
counties at this time.
Sewage Plants
Must Conform
To Health Law
Due to building and remodel
ing of homes now going on in this
section, special attention has been
called to the state laws regard
ing the disposal of sewage by the
tri-county health department.
The following statement and
explanation was issued this week
by the department:
“It has been called to the no
tice of the District Health Offi
cer, Dr. Robt. R. King, that cer
tain contractors from out of our
district have been recommending
the installation of sewage dispos
al plants emptying untreated se
wage directly into streams. This
is strictly contrary to the laws
of North Carolina and all resi
dents are advised to confer with
our district sanitarians before
signing contracts for sewer sys
tems.
“Chapter 71 of the Public Laws
of 1919 covers the approved types
of sewage disposal and all con
tractors and builders of Arhe
County are advised to acquaint
themselves with this law so as
to protect their patrons from un
necessary annoyance and ex
pense.
“Mr. Walter Hart. Sanitarian of
Ashe County, will be glad to ad
vise with contractors and proper
ty owners as to their plans so
that the work done will meet
with the approval of the North
Cd State Board of Health/'
THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1939 WEST JEFFERSON, N. C.
Sewing Room In
Ashe Is Closed
Out This Week
Requirements Os New Project
Too Expensive, County
Commissioners Decide.
TRANSFER WORKERS
The Ashe county WPA sewing
room, which has been in opera
tion since November, 1935, was
closed Tuesday afternoon on ac
count of WPA’s general curtail
ing program and the lack of
funds by the sponsoring agency
tc meet increased requirements,
it was learned yesterday.
All of the sewing room work
ers who were physically able,
have been transferred to work on
the horticulture projects in the
county, sponsored by the board
of education. Joe Davis, of Lan
sing, is supervisor of this school
ground beautification project
which includes the planting of
shrubbery and flowers.
When the sewing room was
closed Tuesday, there were 13
women on the job. Mrs. Hattie
Gentry, county supervisor, stat
ed that for the past several
months an average of 16 have
been working in the sewing
room, which has been located on
the first floor in the George El
ler building in Jefferson for
some time.
J. F. Scott, chairman of the
Ashe county board of commis
sioners, said he was sorry the
valuable project is being discon
tinued.
As the sponsoring agency, he
stated that the county, in the
past, had only been required to
pay rent, fuel costs and furnish
thread and buttons. All of the
cloth and materials have been
supplied by the WPA, he said
and explained that the old pro
ject expired recently and that
according to the requirements of
the proposed new pro? ct. it would
be necessary for t v i t • nty to
furnish right much of the ma
terials used.
“This would naturally cost
(Continued on Page Eight.)
Garbage To Be
Collected Here
Every Tuesday
Garbage, trash and waste of
all kinds will be collected up
here each Tuesday in both the
business anh residential sections
and every family and every busi
ness is urged to co-operate and
to take advantage of this free
service which the West Jeffer
son town fathers have inaugurat
ed.
Each home and business should
have a large garbage can, box or
other container and on Tuesday
mornings, to have the garbage
placed next to the street so that
it can be picked up easily and
without too much delay.
“One of the biggest complaints
against our town is that it is dir
ty and unclean,” Dean McMilan
stated. “The tourist season will
open soon and let’s clean up and
keep it that way.”
Dormitory Site Picked As
Location For Ashe Hosiptal
The oH Jefferson dormitory
site, located c.7 « r TQ U rounded
knoll back of the home' >f V. V.
McConnell, a few hundred feet
from the West Jefferson-Jeffer
son highway and also a short
distance from the Warrensville-
Jefferson highway, was select
ed as the location for the propos
ed WPA Ashe county hospital by
the location’s committee of the
hospital association last Saturday
night.
The committee had tentatively
picked this location at a previous
meeting, but withheld final ap
proval pending upon an investi
gation to determine if enough
land were avaiable without cost.
Later the question wias re-op
ened and Saturday afternoon the
committee held a public meeting
in the American Legion hall
here and the various offers were
again presented. Several short
talks relative to the advantages
of the different prospective free
locations were made by interest
ed citizens, most of whom were
from Jefferson.
W. B. Austin and Charlie Neal
stated that Mrs. Neal had agreed
to give the two strips of land ad-
Fingerprints By Television
IBi
Mr Wwit XjW iJsi
LOS ANGELES . . . .Thomas S. Lee, owner of the West’s only
television station, with Otto Faulkner and L. E. Christiansen,
both of the Long Beach Police Department, are shown left to
right, in the broadcasting studio here recently during a test
to determine the advisability of transmitting fingerprints by
means of television.
Increase In County’s Public
Assistance Program Requested
Slight Change In
Rates Announced
All Subscribers Urged to Re
new Their Subscriptions
Promptly As Possible.
During the past week notices
have mailed to all subscribers
whose subscriptions have expir
ed.
In accordance with postal regu
lations, in the near future the
mailing lists of The Post will be
revised and it is hoped that ev
eryone will renew his subscrip
tion before that time.
Ashe county cook books are
still being given away with each
cne year’s new or renewal sub
scription. Be sure to get one of
them before they are all gone.
Printed elsewhere in this is
sue is an announcement of a
slight change in subscription
rates of The Post. One year sub
scriptions in the county will re
main the same, but effective June
1, there will be a slight increase
in out-of-county subscription
rates and also less than one-year
subscriptions in the county.
These revisions are being made
because of the increased cost of
paper and general production
cost. All out-of-county papers
have to be wrapped singly and
this requires a lot of extra time.
Thus this rate is being increased
from $1.25 to $1.50 per year.
To place a name on the mail
ing list for three or six months
takes just as much time and the
cost is just as high as it is for
one-year subscriptions. There
fore, these rates are increased to
60c for six months and 40c for
three months.
Subscriptions rates of The Post
are still below the average week
ly rates in the United States.
Most of them charge $1.50 per
year and $2.00 out-of-county.
joining the two acres of land of-
I sered by Roy and Guy Badger,
which had been requested by the
committee. Mrs. McConnell said
that she would give one acre
across the alley in front of the
dormitory site, on which a nurs
es’ home can be built
John Weaver reported that he
and J. W. Gambill would give a
fine location here in West Jef
ferson for the hospital. This loca
tion is on top of the hill back of
Rev. W. T. Whittington’s home.
Eugene Campbell again renew
ed his offer to give several acres
at the foot of Negro mountain
and Ed Jenkins offered to give
five acres on the highway this
side of Fred Colvard’s home be
low Jefferson. The offer made by
Capt. Doggett and E. E. Jones
was also mentioned.
At the conclusion of the pub
lic discussion, the committee ad
journed and inspected several of
the offers.
Following an executive session,
the decision was unanimously in
flavor of the dormitory site.
It was pointed out that the lo
cation here was perhaps a little
high and that the dormitory site
included more land.
SI.OO a Year in Ashe County PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
Applications Exceed Present
Quota. Application Is
Sent To Raleigh.
Ashe county’s old age assist
ance and aid to dependent child
ren budget estimate request for
the ensuing fiscal year beginning
July 1, which has been signed by
welfare board and county
commissioners and sent to
the state department, calls for a
substantial increase over the
budget appropriation for this
year.
For the current year, the
county’s maximum number of old
age assistance oases is 225 and the
request for 1939-40 is 300, with
the average monthly payment be
ing set at SB.OO and the total cost
running $28,000. of which the
county’s part would be $7,200.00
(The federal government pays
one-half and the state, one
fourth.)
This year the maxmium num
ber of aid to dependent children
cases is 125 and the new request
for 1939-40 calls for 200, with the
average payment ranging around
$4.00; total cost $10,200 and the
county’s part, $3,300.00.
The estimate set up the admin
istrative cost at $4,830.00, of
which the county has to pay one
half.
In other words, the total social
security program was set up for
500 cases, costing a total of
(Continued on Page Eight.)
Kerr Scott To
Speak To Grads
At Riverview
Rev. John Hoyle To Preach
Sermon Sunday. Finals
Exercise Next Wed.
PLAY SAT. NIGHT
On Saturday night, May 13, the
Riverview high school play will
be presented. The title of the
play is “The Red Headed Step
child.” It is a delightful comedy
in 3 acts and a cast of 12 mem
bers of the high school student
body, with Miss Margaret Lee
Ashley in the leading part and
supported by Phyllis Sharp, Da
na Eller, Nona Lee Roark, Gla
dys June Graybeal, Mae Rich
ardson, Maude Eastridge, Wayne
Hartsoe, Frank Roland, Wade El
ler Jr., and Few Oliver.
The commencement sermon
will be preached by Rev. J. W.
Hoyle, presiding elder of the
Statesville district. This will be
Sunday night at 8:00 o’clock,
May 14th in the gymnasium of
the school.
On Wednesday night at 7:30 in
the gymnasium the graduating ex
ercise will take place. The sen
ior class has 16 in it this year end
these young people have been
faithful students and loyal to
their school.
The address will be made by
Hon. W. Kerr Scott, commission
er of Agriculture of the State of
N. C. It is to be hoped that many
Ashe county farmers and citizens
of other vocations will attend
this exercise to hear the State
Commissioner.
After the address, the diplo
mas and several medals will be
awarded.
WANT A HOSPITAL?
If you want a Hospital in Ashe
County, JOIN the ASHE COUN
TY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.
Co-opei ation and support from
everybody is needed to put the
movement over. We now have
a Golden Opportunity!
Plans Started To
Re-Open NYA
In Ashe By July 1
State And District Officials
Visited County In In
terest Os Program.
NEED IS SEEN
Plans are now being worked
out to re-open the NYA program
in Ashe county, state officials of
the organization said Friday
when they came to here to make
a general survey of the needs and
possibilities of the development
program in the county.
John A. Lang, state NYA direc
tor said that he was quite anxious
to see a program carried out.in
Ashe county as he felt there was
a definite need for the type of
work NYA sponsors. “I feel con
fident that the program can be
re-opened here on or around
July 1.” he said. “We want to see
every county in North Carolina,
receive the aid and benefit of the
NYA program.” he added.
Mrs. Pansy B. Fetzer, State
consultant on girls work in con
nection with NYA, who was with
Mr. Lang here, made a number of
inquiries into the type of program
most needed by girls. Mrs. Fetzer
pointed out that a very practical
type of homemaking including
the study of feeds, canning, cloth
ing, and other home-making
problems could be taught under
the NYA program. She explained
that the needs of this particular
section would be studied before a
definite program was decided up
on.
Other NYA officials in the
group who visited here were J.
M. Smith, a r isor with
offices in Wilkesboro, wnom Ashe
county is directly under, and
Maynard Turner off the Afche
ville district headquarters.
The group pointed out that
NYA is proving very successful
in most of the counties of the
state and is not only giving
ployment to youths who other
wise would have no opportunity
to work, but is training them for
future service to themselves and
the community.
While in the county the group
contacted Supt. J. B. Hash, J. F.
Scott, chairman of the county
commissioners and other groups
and individuals interested in the
work of NYA. The NYA pro
gram was closed out here the
first week in April, due to lack of
funds, proper supervision, and
worthwhile projects.
NYA paid out a total of around
$15,000 to between 75 and 100
young men and women in Ashe
county last year.
Supt. J. B. Hash
Is Re-Appointed
On Welfare Board
Supt. J. B. Hash was re-ap
pointed last week as a member
of the county welfare board.
His term of office expired
May 1 and the re-appointment
was for three years. The other
two members of the welfare
board are Bryan Oliver and Mrs.
Mary kilby Jones, of Lansing.
Mrs. Jcnes was appointed last
summer for two years by the
State Department of Charities
and Public welfare and Mr. Oli
ver’s selection had been made a
year or two by the ether two
members of the board.
This board approves and super
vises all of the activities of the
county welfare department.
g I