PAGE TEN
THE FRANKLIN PRESS and T HE HIGHLANDS MACON IAN
THURSDAY, OCT. 18, 1934
MELLON OR TVA?
(Continued from Page One)
TVA jobs, but the development of new industry
has been successfully encouraged. The beneficient
effects have been so outstanding that many com
munities are clamoring for TVA projects. One
of our neighbors, Cherokee county, is doing its
uttermost to induce TVA to build a $13,000,000
dam on the Hiawassee river. Asheville is en
couraging entry of the TVA into its territory.
Yet many people of Macon, Swain and Graham
counties are being hoodwinked into the idea that
should TVA come into these counties it would
bankrupt all of us. We challenge anyone to show
a single instance where TVA has damaged the
present or future prospects of any community to
a greater extent than it has improved them.
Should TVA come into Macon county, we
venture the opinion it would, as William Jen
nings Bryan once said, "blossom as the rose."
It might even do that if TVA does not enter the
field, but there is noFavery bright prospect of
such a come-to-pass unless the influence of the
TVA is exerted so as to persuade the Mellon
interests to develop their holdings rather than
let them stay idle.
Concerning this question of taxes, let us point
out just how much taxes the Nantahala Power
and Light Company pays Macon county. The
company's listed valuations in this county, as of
April 1, are shown on the county tax books as
follows :
Franklin township $ 85,000
Millishoal township 90,000
Cowee township 8,629
Nantahala township 160,629
TOTAL $344,258
The company's total tax bill from Macon
county for 1934-35, including special district tax
es in Franklin township, amounts to $3,655.09.
The municipal power plant and distribution
system which the Nantahala Power and Light
company bought last year from the Town of
Franklin for approximately $288,000, is Hsted
at a total of $175,000. The company endeavored
to have this greatly reduced last spring, but the
county commissioners held they were not author
ized to do so.
It would be fine if the power company should
proceed with the "development of the Nantahala
or Needmore projects and increase its valuation
in this county, but we have no assurance that it
will do so any time in the near future. Neither
have we any assurance that it would have the
effect of reducing taxes to the extent some peo
ple are attempting to lead the public to believe.
There is one thing certain, TVA electricity
rates are appreciably lower than those charged
by the Nantahala Power and Light company.
We venture that on the basis of present consump
tion of electricity in this county, TVA rates
would save consumers far more than the loss in
county taxes. Furthermore, the TVA, a social an.!
economic planning agency as well as a develop
er of hydro-electric power, would do a great
deal to attract new industry and to raise the
general standard of living. Certainly it would
not allow a hardship to be worked upon any
community.
We do not know the immediate purpose of
the TVA in buying the Fontana basin tract.
Neither do we know whether the TVA has ne
gotiated with the Nantahala Power company
concerning this power basin, or discussed with
the Nantahala company its plans for future de
velopment, plans which of course will have bear
ing on the TVA program in the lower reaches of
the Tennessee valley.
Before any of us should criticize the TVA
for its action in the Fontana case we should first
find out what, if any, discussions have taken place
regarding the matter, and what was the purpose
of the TVA. We have a sneaking suspicion as to
what the result will be earlier development of
this and other power projects in this country, per
haps by the Nantahala Power company itself,
than we might have expected had the TVA never
been created. And, too, we can look forward
with hope to the day when electricity rates will
be based on actual costs of production and distribution.
help wondering why the campaign to obtain sig
natures to the petitions was hatched up in such
secrecy and sprung so suddenly. And one won
ders, too, who is paying the bill for the campaign.
If it were merely a private matter, we would say
nothing about it. But the public is vitally con
cerned and it has a right to know who, where,
what, why and wherefore.
Although the petitions are politely phrased
and, in the wind-up, state "we do not send this
petition with any intention of expressing dis
favor with the policies of the TVA," they, never
theless, do criticize the TVA and," in effect, say
"We don't like the looks of you keep away."
How else can this paragraph from the Frank
lin petition be interpreted:
"We look with disfavor upon any action of
our government, or its agents, that would in any
way hamper or discourage the company from
carrying out its plans to completion."
Who knows but that the plans of this com
pany are to hold some of their power sites merely
to maintain their throttle grip on this entire sec
tion, without any intention whatsoever of de
velopment in the next generation ? Yet those who
signed the petitions, if they knew what they were
doing, said give the Mellon folks carte blanc to
do as they please, when they please.
We are confident they did not realize it at
the time, but many Democrats yes, Democratic
candidates for office, who are sworn to support
their party stepped into a pretty mess when
they signed a TVA petition. They virtually said
they did not approve of TVA, one of the shining
gems in the crown of achievements of the present
Democratic national administration. Won't their
Republican opponents have fun out of this? The
political significance is inescapable.
There is one bright spot in the whole picture.
Any political significance is purely local, although
the instigators of the petitions doubtless felt that
it would be more far reaching. The TVA is one
government organization which is influenced lit
tle, if at all, by politics. In one sense it is a gov
ernment agency ; in another it is an entity of it
self.. It is an "authority," which means that it
is created by the government, has capital sup
plied by the government ahd possesses the right
of eminent domain ; but, once created, it can func
tion without further reliance upon the govern
ment. TVA officials doubtless will courteously
hear the bearers of the petitions when they go to
Knoxville, read them, file them away and proceed
with their original plans.
After looking into this situation one cannot
TVA REQUESTED
TO STAY OUT
(Continued from Page One)
certained from where the money
was to oome.
Although it requested informa
tion concerning the movement from
Mr. Conley, The Press-Maconian
received none from that source.
The petitions carry the inference
that the Nantahala Ppwer and Light
company plans early development
of proposed hydro-electric dams and
power plants in the Fontana basin
in Swain and Graham counties, the
Needmore and Nantahala projects
in Macon county.
No Projects Assured
The Nantahala Power and Light
company, however, has mad no
announcement when it would start
work on these projects.
The petitions are addressed to
Dr. Arthur E. Morgan, chairman
of the Tennessee Valley Authority;
Franklin D. Roosevelt, president of
the United States; and Harold S.
lckes, secretary of the Interior. It
is understood that a delegation of
residents of Macon, Swain and
Graham counties is planning to go
to Knoxville in a few days to pre
sent the petitions to Dr. Morgan.
How It Started
The petitions were prompted by
purchases by the TVA of two small
pieces of property in Graham coun
ty which lie in the Fontana basin,
one from G C. Loyd containing
1,500 square feet and the other a
tract of 12.6 acres- from W. C.
Welch. The parcels are on the Lit
tle Tennessee river and about four
and a half miles apart. Tne pur
chases were made in August, it
was reported, by an agent of the
TVA. It is also reported that a
TVA agent has obtained an option
on a small tract of land in the
northern end of this county lying
in the flood area of the proposed
Needmore dam.
Highlands
THE MARTIN CLOSES
Recent guests at The Martin
included Miss G. B. Davies and
Miss G. Harris, of the University
of Cincinnati; Mr. and Mrs. Pel
ham Lockwood and Misses Mable
and Frances Lawrence, of Atlanta.
The Martin closed on October 14.
Mrs. M. McA. Martin has returned
to Florida for the winter.
J. C. Bittjeman, who has been in
Highlands all summer, returned to
Jacksonville, Fla Tuesday.
Among those from Highlands at
tending the baseball game in Ashe
ville Sunday were Fred and Dew
ey Hopper, Gene Potts, Herbert and
Luther Rice, Mrs. Mary Rice, Char
lie Paul, Steve Potts. Jack Potts,
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Reese, Mr.
and Mrs. Joe "Reese, Roy Potts,
Charlie Potts, George Wilson, Wal
ter Bryson, Mr. Brown, Charlie
McKinney.
Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Apply and
family left Highlands Tuesday for
Coral Gables. Fla., after spending
several months here.
A number of young folks en
joyed a delightful party given by
Miss Louise Watkins at her home
here on Saturday evening. ' The
party was in honor of the birth
day of Prof. Bill Lippincott, of
Gemson College.
Louis Edwards, Gemson College
student, spent last week-end with
his parents here.
J. M. Bruner, of Westminster,
S. G, was in Highlands recently.
Mr. and Mrs. N. T. Ragland
hare returned to their home in
Miami after spending several days
here.
Mrs. C. A Sesson left for Atlan
ta Wednesday after spending sever
al days at her cottage here.
Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Cook of
Highlands, Mr. and Mrs. R. S.
Jones, of Franklin, and Mrs. Mill
ing, of Greenwood, S. G, left for
Chicago Wednesday to spend a
week at the fair.
Mrs. McAlister, Miss Natalie
Hammond, Mr. Newsom and Mr.
Fowler, of Atlanta, spent the past
week-end at the Central House.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hodgson at
tended the University of North
Carolina-Georgia football game in
Athens last Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Cobb went
to Greenville. S. G, Tuesday.
Classified
Advertisements
West's Mill
Mrs. Vinnie Carter and Miss
Pallie Allen, of Bryson City, spent
last week-end here visiting Mrs.
W. S. Allen, and Mr. and Mrs.
Elbert Allen.
Edwin Sheffield, small son of
W. C. Sheffield, has returned home
after spending four months in De
troit, Mich., visiting his sisters, Mrs.
Terrel Bryson and Mrs. Grady
Reno.
Carl Sorrels, of Oklahoma, arrived
here last week for a visit with his
uncle, Mr. A. L. McClean. and Mrs.
McClean.
Rebecca Ray, of Woodrow. N. G,
is spending two weeks here visiting
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. R.
Ray.
Mrs. J L West, Sr., spent a
week in Bryson City visiting her
daughter, Mrs. V. A. Browning, and
Mr. Browning recently.
Mrs. Florence Gibbs, who under
went an operation at Angel hos
pital last week, was reported to be
getting along nicely.
Miss Vonnie West, who is teach
ing school at Highlands, spent the
week-end with her mother. Mrs.
J. L. West, Sr.
Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Gibson and
children, of Bryson City, were visit
ing Mr. Gibson's mother, Mrs. B.
R. Gibson, here last Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Oxford
and four children, of Atlanta, Ga.,
spent Saturday night here visiting
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Matlock.
Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Shepherd
announce the birth of a daughter.
Mrs. Hebron Mason, of Moultrie,
Ga.. is spending some time here
visiting relatives and friends.
FOR SALE Two used Heatrolas,
good as new. One large, one me
dium size. Will sell right. BRY
ANT FURNITURE. CO.
018-1 tc
LAST CATTLE SALE of season
at Franklin stock pens will be held
Wednesday, Oct. 24. Good prices
in prospect. See BOB PATTON or
BOB DAVIS.
018 ltc
FOR SALE Six-room house on
White Oak street near Angel Hos
pital. Has large lot with good gar
den. Easy terms to right party.
See MRS. W. H. SELLERS.
011-4tp Nl
LUMBER FOR SALE
Boards or framing. Air dried
three months. See or write 1. T.
PEEK, Peek's Hotel, Franklin, N. C.
04 3tp 018
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FRANKLIN SHOE SHOP SAYS:
WE ARE STILL MENDING
SHOES
When you get sore
And doubled down
As never before,
We'll stop your frown.
Troy Horn.
FRANKLIN SHOE SHOP
Opposite Courthouse
"We Buy and Sell"
Box 212 Troy F. Horn
i