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VOLUME 18. NO. 32
$2.50 a Year in Ashe County
WEST JEFFERSON, N. C.
ASHE COUNTY IS ..
Leading Livestock and l>a*r'
County in North Carolina
Population: ZZ.tHH jj
THURSDAY. SEPT. 11, 1947 $3.00 a Year Out of County
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
Turkish Tobacco Program To Expand Next Year
Hearing Granted
W. J. Merchants
Ass*n On Phone
Local Merchants Association
Will Secure Cooperation
Of Other Croups
Following widespread dissatis
faction over the telephone ser
vice as well as the proposed in
crease in rates asked for by the
Central Telephone company, the
West Jefferson Merchant's As
sociation has been granted the
privilege of a hearing before the
N. C. Utilities Commission, be
fore the raise in rates is granted
the local company.
The Merchant's Association has
invited other groups, who have
voiced objections to the service
and rates, to join with them in
the hearing. These include of
ficials of the town of West Jef
ferson. the Rotary club and other
civic organizations.
Tire town of Sparta will also
unite with this group at the hear
ing in order to present the facts
before the Utilities Commission in
a unified effort to secure better
service and to stop the proposed
increase in rates.
In a letter to the association.
Edgar Womble has stated that
he will advise, when the case is
set for a hearing so that repre
sentatives may be present. The
merchant's association will relay
information to other interested
groups as soon as the date is set.
Mrs. West.
Dies At Draper
Former Ashe County Woman
Dies At The Home Of
Her Son In Draper
Funeral service for Mis. Theo
sia Blevins West, 87, native of
Grassy Creek, was held Monday
afternoon at two o'clock at the
Pleasant Home Baptist church.
Officiating were Revs. W F.. Den
ny. Cicero Ashley and C. A. El
ler. Interment was in the church
Cl metery.
A Mrs. West, who had been mak
• ing lie: home here with her son,
Geo. E. West, only recently mo
ved to Draper, where she sue-1
cumbed Friday night.
Tite wife of the late R. F. West,
she ts survived by four sons. G.
E West, of Draper; Roscoe, of
Havre de Grace, Md.; James, of
Port Deposit, Md.; and Arthur,
of Darlington. Md. Also surviving
are three brothers, M. F. Blevins,
of Newton, Pa.: and B. L. Blevins
and Rev. J. C. Blevins, of Gras
sy Creek, and 28 grandchildren
and several great-grandchildren.
Rotarians Hear
Musieal Program
A musical program was pre
sented at the meeting of the Jef
fersons Rotary club last Thurs
day when Coleman Payne was
in charge. Special selections were
rendered by a local quartet.
Two members of the club, who
had been absent for sometime,
were w< loomed back Rocc Cutri.
who has been spending the past
several weeks in Europe, was
present, as was Wade E. Eller,
who has been attending summer
school at the University of North
Carolina.
The Rotary membership gave
100 per cent to the National Paul
Harris Memorial fund, which is
to be used to promote good will
among foreign nations. Ihe club
also supported 100 per cent the
sending of the Rotary Internation
al magazine abroad.
Rocco Cutri will speak to the
group tonight. L. P. Colvard is
in charge of the program.
Perkins Is Part
k Business Owner
Paul A. Perkins, prominent
West Jefferson business man, has
bought out E. O Woodie's interest
in the Firestone Store and will op
erate it together with Forrest Mc
Millan, the other owner.
Mr. Perkins, former Ashe coun
v high school principal and m
;urance representative has/"a"?
riends here who will be happy
o learn of his new connection.
Iron Lung Bought
By Veterans;* H elp
From Public Sought
PROPOSED MEMORIAL
Sketch of proposed memor
ial to Ashe county's war dead
10 Ik erected on courthouse
lawn.
Cooperative To
Elect Directors
Next Saturday
Congressman Dough ton Will
Speak: Ballots Sent To
Members This Week
Announcement has been made
through the office of the Blue
Ridge Electric cooperative at Le
noir, that the annual meeting for
for the election of directors would
be held there on Saturday in the
courthouse at 10:00 A. M.
According to the announcement,
reports will also be heard and
the guest speaker will he Con
gressman R. L. Doughton.
A ballot witn the list of the
present directors has been sent
out to the stockholders. No re
port as to the nomination of these
is made. Also on the ballot card
is a place to check approval or
disapproval for group purchase
plan. The approval of this plan
would mean that the cooperative
would continue to sell appliances
in competition with tax-paying
electric appliance dealers
The list of present directors is
as follows:
A. C. Reach. Lenoir: D. R.
Moore. Granite Falls. C. C. Poo
vey. Granite Falls: C. L. Mast,
(Continued on pngi 4)
Contributions Are Asked For:
Will Be Kepi At The Ashe
Memorial Hospital
The people of this area now
have available for use, an iron
lung, which arrived this week.
The purchase of this needed
equipment is being sponsored by
the three organizations of war
veterans and public contributions
will be sought by them to cover
the cost, which is around $1500,
it was announced.
This iron lung is a part of the
memorial to the war dead, it is
pointed out. The drive is now
underway to raise funds for the!
monument to be erected on the
courthouse grounds, a sketch of -
this, drawn by Joe Garvey, is
shown at the left. The monument
to be built of native stone, will
bear three bronze tablets com
memorating the county's dead of
World War I. another of World
War II and the third, for the dead
of all other wars. This proposed
monument will be around tour;
feet square at base and approxi
mately nine feet high, it was ex
plained. It was estimated that
the cost of it would be around
$1500.
The iron lung is an Emerson
and is modern in every respect.
It has many new features in
cluding a head-end plate with
sloping collar allowing the maxi
mum chin room: stand and open
ing on head-end plate for extra
venous therapy and special in
side support for paralyzed arms.
Both the monument and the
iron lung are to be financed
through the memorial fund now
being solicited under the sponsor
ship of three veteran’s organi
(Continued on page 4)
Farm Bureau To
Have Meetings
Farmers Urged To Attend;
Flans To Be Made To Or
ganize Permanently
A series of community meet
ings have been planned in efforts
to organize a Farm Bureau in
Ashe county. All farmers are ur
ged to attend these community
meetings.
The schedule as announced by
H. D. Quessenberry is as follows:
(Continued on page 8)
Woodie ^ ontli Is
Held In Rohlu*r>
George Woodie. West Jefferson
youth is being held in jail on
failure to post a bond of $1,000
following a hearing in connection
with the recent breaking and en
tering of Graybeal's drug store.
Considerable damage was done
to the building, and some cash ta
ken.
Woodie was identified with the
crime after a finger-print ex
pert was called in on the case.
Cutri Will R e t u r n To IN. \,
Plant Will Continue Operation
• *
Rocco Cutri, operator and man
ager of the Carolina Briar cor
poration, briarwood importers
and producers of domestic and
imported briar stummels, who
has just returned from a survey
trip to Europe to study condi
tions there, has anonunced that
he will leave soon for New York,
but that the plant will continue
here.
Mr. Cutri made the following
statement to a representative of
this paper:
“My recent trip to Italy for the
purpose of studying the bi'iar
I wood market has convinced me
! that it is a futile effort on my
! part to continue the manufacture
' of domestic briar. I regret from
I the bottom of my heart that ec
onomic conditions force me to
discontinue my operation. But
II will continue here the imported
briar stummels operation, under
the direction of Jennings Rader.
My activity must be devoted to
the importation of .briarwood.
Therefore, I am compelled to
leave this beautiful mountain
section that I love so much and
return to the hustle and bustle
of the great city.
“The past six years of my resi
dence here have beer, the happiest
years of my life. I have enjoyed
my work and the fellowship of
my many dear friends. I can state
with all sincerity, that the com
munity of Ashe county will re
main endeared in my heart as
long as I live.
“This trip also convinced me
that we must do our utmost to
assist the European people to get
back on their feet. At present,
the economic conditions of Italy
(Continued on Page 4)
No Juvenile Delinquency In Dunn. Knee Pantsers Play Ball
Juvenile delinquency does not live at Dunn, X. C-. any more. The youngsters are too
absorbed in the joyful pursuits of the Knee Pants baseball league, and are under rigid
contract to be little gentlemen- Herbert 15. Taylor, former mayor, organized the league
27 years ago. The candidates—ages S to 11—must sign a regular "hig league" contract,
which among other things, obligates the player to be at home not later than 10 o'clock,
attend Sunday school, refrain from bullying and respect property, etc- The contracts arc
generally fulfilled and enforced and juvenile delinquency is unknown, thanks to the
Knee Pants baseball league. Photos show the members in action — and getting "mo
ther's’’ signature on the contract.
Shoemaker Will
Head Merchants:
Plans \r<* Mailt
Directors Chosen: Group
Takes Action On Telephone
Service; Parking Meters
The accomplishments of the
West Jefferson Merchants As
sociation during the past year
were briefly reviewed and some
of the plans for the coming year
outlined at the annual business
meeting, held at Graybeal's Cof
fee Shop Monday night, when
Sharpe S. Shoemaker was unani
mously elected president. Other
officers chosen to serve with Mr.
Shoemaker were Jake C |idill.
vice president; Mrs. Ed M. An
derson. secretary and treasurer,
Mrs. Elizabeth Oliver Weaver, as
sistant secretary and treasurer.
Plans for the erection of the
tobacco warehouse and opening
(Continued on page 8)
\\ eek Pud Scores.
Schedule Given
Tc ative plans are now under
way to begin the series for the
Mountain Baseball League on
September 20. W. L. Hughes,
president of the league, stated
this week. There art still several
games to be made up before a
schedule can be worked out.
There will be an important
meeting of all baseball Lam man
agers at the Man’s Store, tomor
row night at 7:30 o’clock. The
president has asked that all be
present.
Week end games and scores are
(Continued on page 8)
N. C. GETS $2,241,509
FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES
Washington—The Agricul
ture Department .Monday alto
cated S48.750.00 for this year’s
national school lunch program.
That amount, the depart
ment said in an announcement,
came out of the $05,000,000
oongresstonal appropriation
for the school lunches.
It will be used in the 48 sta
tes, the District of Columbia,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Vir
gin Islands and Alaska.
The department said the
funds will be used by state and
territorial educational agencies
to pay schools taking part in
the program for part of their
purchases of food for school
lunches.
North Carolina was allotted
82,241,509, South Carolina 81,
390,016, Tennessee 81,530,603,
and Virginia 81,328,044.
Good Attendance Expected
At Dairy Slimv Here Friday:
\\ ill (Jo To Lexington ()n Sat.
llunliiiii Season
Will (IjX'ii N<\1
Mondav. Scpl. 1.)
Hunters Reminded That Li
censes Are Necessary:
Many Squirrels
Next v lay, Septembei 15
squirrel hunters of Ashe county
will have yurt unity ;
their skill as the hunting season
officially opens. They are remind
ed by game p-utector, Roland
Koontz. that they must secure
licenses.
The squirrel season will remain
open until December 15 and from
all indications, it should be . hup
py one for the skillful hunters,
as there seems to be a good sup
ply of this small, bushy - tail
animal. Hunters are reminded that
(Continued on page 8)
Town Officer
INol To Report
According to town officials.
Melvin Short, m' Forest City, will
not assume duties here as police
man for the town of West Jef
ferson as announced last week.
Plans are now underway to
obtain the services of another of
ficer and additional information
will be announced at a later date,
town officials pointed out.
F. R. Farnum Will Judge;
Kraft To Give Prizes; t
Classes Open To All
A good representation from the
various sections of the county is
expected for the coun'y 4-H dairy
show, scheduled to open here;
tomorrow morning at 10:00 o'
clock on the W st Jefferson
school grounds a preliminary
to the district .-'a w t> he held in
Lexington on Saturday.
Prizes for the local show will
be given by the Kraft Foods Com
pany. while Cob Dairy Pro
ducts company will finance the
district event. H. D. Quessenberry
announced.
In discussing the local show.
Agent Quessenberry pointed out
that F. R. Farnum. extension
dairy specialist would be the
judge and that the Danish system
would be used.
The following classes will be
awarded prizes to 4-H members:
Junior calf, dropped January
1 to June 30 this year inclusive;
senior calf dropped July 1 to De
cember 31 last year inclusive:
junior yearling, dropped January
1 to June 30 last year inclusive:
senior yearling, dropped July 1
to December 31, 1945 inclusive
Open to all dairymen and far
mers will be the following classic:
grade cattle over one year, but
under threi : grade cattle three
years old or nldei, and the same
classes for purebred.-.
The public is cordially invited
to attend.
Two Chain Driven \\ at Hit
Are Owned B\ Local Men
Time marches on, at a rapid
pace according to many, but not
ancient chain driven watches,
according to information reveal
ed recently by two local people,
who own these unusual time
pieces.
Following a newspaper article
which appeared recently in the
Charlotte Observer, concerning
these ancient watches, it was
learned here that one is owned
by Russel W. Barr and another
by Carl Jackson, of Jefferson.
Wound by a key, these time
pieces keep perfect time for
slightly more than 24 hours with
out re-winding. The chain is very
flexible and winds from one
smooth drum to another cone
shaped groved drum.
These watches were hand made
in London and were among the
first to be used. According to the
best information available, there
are very few of them in exis
tence and fewer of them run.
since few modern watchmakers
know how to repair them.
Carl Jackson, Jefferson watch
repairman, brought his by for in
spection and it was revealed by
information in the case that this
time piece was made by C. Co
brier in 1600. Mr. Jackson point
ed out that it would not run when
it first came into ins possession,
but after working on it for some
time, it would keep time now.
Since most modern watches
are being guaranteed for one
year, it is considered quite a
phenomena that this one more
than 300 years old will still run.
It is also considered unusual for
a watch repairman to be able to
repair such a watch in this mo
dern age.
This Year’s Crop
Declared Very
Good By Leaders
More Farmers Expected To
Be Included In Program In
Ashe And Alleghany
The experiment of growing
Turkish tobacco in this area, now
in its third year, has possibilities
ol further expansion and may
include more farmers next yeai.
John Wilkins, agronomist in
charge of the project in this
area, said, this week.
This year there are 33 fat met s
in Ashe and Alleghany countie
cooperating with the project a i
the crops this season have been
more successful than ever befo:
Mr, Wilkins said. He stated th; '
while the project is still in the
experimental state, the yield has
been increased each year and has
been unusually successful this
year. “We do not know yet as ti
the extent of the expansion of
the program, but we feel that it
will definitt ly be enlarged." Mr
Wilkins said He also pointed ou‘
that a company was being formed
to handle the output and as soor.
as more information was av li
able it would be passed on to the
growers He also said he expert
some limitations on the prograr
for sometime, however.
It was pointed out that the
farmers like the experiment an t
that several have grown this to
bacco since the experiment was
started three years ago.
Farmers in Ashe and Alle
ghany, who grew Turkish tobacc
this years are as follows:
J. W. Bledsoe, R H. Bled, -
E. L, Vanony; L. J, Moretz, By
num Holman, Fleetwood; G V'
Phillips, Idlewtid; J. W. Gant
bill. West Jefferson; G. C, W >odte.
Robert Join.s, Everett Hendrix
Everett Taylor, C. S. Wyatt, \\-s
’-*r Mai, Major Mabe, Ge<* go
F, Tayl-Ji. Laurel Springs.
Ray Hash, W. R. Barr, J. L
ter Phipps, T. E. Brown, Claud.
Berchett, John G. Brown, K> i -
W, Cox. C. V. Hoppers. N /.
Sturgill. Pa .1 1 ermedy, W F
(Ct n page 4t
\\ a<> 1 l e s
><kl !or Totlav
Father of Mrs. Hayden Good
man. Of West Jeffer
son. Succumbs At Home
Funeral service for Georg: Ru
fus Wagoner. 7-4, of Turkey Knot;,
well known Alleghany county
farmer, will be held this after
noon at two o'clock at the new
Hope Baptist church. Rev W H
Caldwell, of Sparta, and Rev
Charlie McKnight, of Indepen
dence, Va., will officiate. Inte •
ment will be in the church ceme
tery.
The deceased succumbed at his
home near Turkey Knob, Tuesday
morning, after an illness of seven,
weeks He has recently returned
home after undergoing treat
ment m the Baptist hospital ir.
Winston
Ho is survived by his vote.
Mr, Etta Wagoner and tl; v a
lowing children: Mrs. C. H Ec.
wards and I. W. Wagon r S' arU:
Mr David Osi-o. ne. Glade Val
iev : Bruce Wagoner. High I’••In*.:
Rex Wagoner. Asheville: F.oscve
Wagoner. Galax, Va.. M s. Clyde
Goodman, Catawoa: Mrs. R. L.
Billing.-. Winston-Salem; Mrs.
Hayden Goodman, West Jeffer
son.
Two brothers, B. F. Wagoner,
of Sparta; J. H. Wagoner, of
Nathan's Creek; and three sisters,
Mr-. Mandy Edwards. Galax. Va.:
Mrs. Glenn Warden. Stratford;
and Mrs. Mattie Mitchell, also
.survive.
Well Drilling
INow (.ompletecl
| The actual drilling on the new
well for the town of West Jef
ferson has been completed, Ralph
Campbell, town clerk, stated this
week.
An abundant water supply has
been struck and approximately
80 to 100 gallons of water can be
secured each minute. The well
i is not completed, however,
and work continues on the ap
proval of bonds before money
can be secured to complete the
job