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Affording
Advertisers
Thorough Coverage
Of Macon County
PROGRESSIVE
LIBERAL
INDEPENDENT-
VOL. LVII, NO. 39
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, SEPT. 24. 1942
$2.00 PER YEAR
Mica Industry In Macon
Grows To Meet War Needs
Many Uses For Mineral
In Various Forms
Described
(By THAU D. BRYSON, Jr.)
Macon county has long enjoyed
a reputation for its mineral tie
posits and is now coming into its
rightful heritage as a result of the
tremendous demand for mica. Here-
tofpre this resource h,as been de
vekned on a small and dubious
scale due to the competition from
foreign sources, especially India.
There the famed "Bengal Ruby"
mica contributed a large per cent
of t-hat utilized in this country,
and only the recent invasion of
the Japanese forces in Singapore
and other points in the Pacific
stopped this source of supply. Now
the domestic sources are being
called upon to supply the tremen
dous demand the present war has
brought about. Probably the rea
son foreign imports heretofore far
exceeded the domestic supply was
because of cheap labor, and fur
ther, it was commonly supposed
that the "India" mica, was of a
superior grade. It has been proven,
however, that the "Rum" or "Ruby"
mica produced in this country is
equal in quality to that produced
in other parts of the world.
Types Of Mic,a
The types of mica produced here
are classified white, ruby and
black; the first two types are
used in the production of prac
tically all important military equip
ment, such as tanks, trucks, air
planes; as a matter of fact, each
bomber that is sent to harass and
ultimately destroy Hitler and Com
pany contains approximately $500
worth of mica. Its uses in the
electrical industry are almost
countless. It is used in highly im
portant items such as radio trans
mitters, condensers, high-tension
magneto condensers, which are in
dispensable to the functioning of
squadrons of airplanes, tanks, ships
and other mobile mechanical in
struments of modern warfare. Thus
under present conditions it is read
ily observable the great impor
tance of the development of mica
mines, and the recovery of this
important product. Foreseeing this
fact, the United States Govern
ment has set up the Colonial Mica
Corporation, with offices in Ashe
ville, for the purpose of assisting
mica miners to increase their field
of operation by supplying neces
sary machinery at nominal lease
rentals, and also, stabilizing the
market so that a reasonable price
may. be obtained from the sale of
their product. This is an important
.. t I .1 Ml
Mep iiurwaru anu win exert a
tremendous influence upon the de
velopment of this industry in Ma
con county. The prices now being
paid for mica are practically
double that paid in the latter part
of 1940. Punch then selling at an
average of eight to ten cents per
pound, now brings twenty-two
cents; one and one-half by two
then bringing forty-five cents to
sixty cents per pound, now is
quoted at one dollar and ten cents,
and all sizes liave increased pro
portionately. Six by eight formerly
quoted at four dollars and twenty
five cents, now is eight dollars.
Thus the facilities for mining are
available and the market a guar
antee of a reasonable return for
labor expended.
P. T. A. GREETS
NEW TEACHERS
Mrs. Carl Slagle And J.
F. Pugh Address
Gathering
(Coutinued On Page Six)
The first meeting of the Frank
lin Parent-Teacher's association
last Monday afternoon was well
attended. J. F. Pugh, new principal,
addressed the gathering, welcoming
their cooperation and pledging his
every efifort to sustain a high
standard for the school in the dif
ficult days ahead.
"The task will be heavier for all
of us, and there will be hard
problems to solve," said the speak
er, "and we will have to learn to
do more with less under the re
strictions of war. The organization
which always helps to maintain
standards is the P. T. A."
Mrs. Carl Slagle, the new pres
ident, read the P. T. A. objectives
for the year and appealed for
united interest of parents and
teachers to uphold the standards
of home and school for the young
people whose lives are bound to
be disrupted by war conditions
Mrs. Lola Barrington, chairman
of the program, led in the pledge
to the flag. She paid high tribute
to Mrs. John Wasilik, whose effi
cient administration through sev
eral terms as president has laid
the foundation for the strong or
ganization which exists today.
Rev. J. L. Stokes welcomed the
new principal and the teachers,
and Mr. Pugh responded. Rev.
Philip Green led in prayer arid in
the signing of the National Anthem
and "God Bless America," and Rev.
Hubert Wardiaw sang a solo.
New teachers were introduced;
Miss Mildred Cable B.S. from Ken
tucky State Teachers College,
mathematics teacher; Miss Mary
Griggs from Uemorest, Ga., who
holds an M.A. degree from the
University of Georgia, is teaching
mathematics in Mr. Hawkin's
place. Miss Naomi Derrick holds
an A.B. degree from the Univer
sity of South Carolina and a cer
tificate in Library science, and is
teaching English and faculty ad
visor for the Journalism club.
Mrs. Boesser and Mrs. Gilmer
Crawford are new teachers in the
elementary school.
Mrs. Cantey Johnson presented
the War Information center now
maintained in the Franklin Library
as a WPA project.
Mrs. Carl Ty singer, the new sec
retary, announced that Mrs. Hen
derson Calloway had consented to
serve as treasurer.
The' following committees were
appointed :
Membership Mrs. T. W. Angel,
Jr., chairman; Mrs. Lester Hen
derson, Mrs. Thad Bryson, Mrs.
Charles Bradley, Mrs. Tom Mc
Collumn, Mrs. Joe Setser, Car
toogechaye; Mrs. Will Parrish,
Otto; Mrs. Jim Gray, Hickory
Knool.
Ways and Means Mrs. John
Wasilik, chairman; Mr. Horner
Stockton, Mrs. Thad Bryson, Mrs.
Henderson Calloway, Mrs. Albert
Ramsey.
Education and Health Dr. J. L.
Stokes, chairman; Mr. Pugh, Mrs.
Clyde West, Cowee; Mrs. John
(Continued To P Six)
High School Principal
-MM 1 'ft
Statewide Blackout Will
Be Held Tuesday Night
33 MACON MEN
LEAVE ON 29TH
Order Of Eastern Star
To Give Sendoff
To Group
Jesse Forbes Pugh, of Camden county, who succeeds W. H. Finley.
Mr. Pugh is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and
Columbia University, New York, with M. A. degree. He has taught
four years at Central High School, Charlotte; principal of Craven
County High School for four years; superintendent of Red Springs
City Schools and supervisor of practise teaching of Flora MacDonald
College for ten years until coming to Franklin.
Gigantic Scrap Metal
Statewide Campaign
ATTENTION, people of Macon County!
There will be important news for you in next
week's issue regarding a gigantic statewide scrap
metal campaign. This patriotic drive, requested by
the United States government, will start October
1 and run for three intensive weeks.
This campaign will require the best effort and
cooperation of every man, woman, boy, girl, civic
organization, business institution and industrial
plant in this region.
There will be a great statewide contest in con
nection with this campaign with many fine prizes
offered. There will be special awards for counties,
business firms, individuals and units of junior boy
and girl organizations. The prizes for the coun
ties will be based on the amount of scrap metal
collected per capita population.
The county salvage committee in each county
Will be in charge of this program.
Full details about this campaign will be pub
lished by all newspapers throughout North Caro
lina next week. Watch for the news of this cam
paign and be getting ready now to play the fullest
possible part in it.
Thirty-three of the group of Ma
con men who were examined re
cently for induction ut Camp Croft,
S. C. will leave for Fort Bragg
on Tuesday morning, September
29.
The Nequassa Chapter of the
Order of the Eastern Star have
prepared going-away gifts for the
group and will be present to give
them a send-off.
The following volunteered for
service : Robert Howard Shook,
Harvey Cabe, Rufus Lee Holland,
Chahners Hill Mashburn, Judson
Charles Cunningham, Otto Gibson,
John Richard Tyler, Robert Lee
Dillard.
Selectees were as follows; Jesse
Lee Morgan, Furman Daniel Hol
land, William Nelson Cabe, Char
lie Wilburn Franks, Arvin Lin
coln Duvatl, John Robert Jones,
Thomas Logan Scroggs, Robert
To JLast 45 Minutes;
All Asked To Stay
Off Streets
Final arrangements are complete
for the test blackout ordered v
be held on Tuesday night through
out North Carolina by the Army
through the state organization of
Civilian Defense. Guy L. Houk,
county chairman, attended the
meeting of Civilian Defense offi
cials in Raleigh last week, called
to receive final and detailed in
structions for the blackout and for
civilian protection.
Mr. Houk states that the black
out will be observed on Tuesday
night, September 29, the town siren
sounding the alarm and the all
clear sometime between the hours
of seven and twelve, midnight. He
took a trip to Highlands Tuesday
afternoon to arrange with tit
town authorities for the blackout
there.
Air Raid Warden On Duty
Auxiliary policemen and the fire
department will be on duty to as
sist the regular law enforcement
officers in traffic control and any
other duties ; also 24 air raid war
dens will have special patrol duties
throughout the municipal area. All
( :r. ,.,il.. IT.. 1.1..., I T .. f
Rass Justice, John Cheek, Thur- a b " WIth'n .sound of th
mora Henry, Joe Brown Jones, Rus
sell Thomas Ramey, Dennis Vertel
Amnions, Oscar Glen Stiwinter,
Jerry Carson Gibson, Olan J. Brad
ley, Elbert Houston, Thomas Mar
tin Jones, Andrew Evans, James
Crawford McCoy, Elwood Bailey,
Chne Roane, and Franklin Donan
Dowdle.
Transferred to other Local
Boards were :
John Joseph Whitesides, and
Ernest Benjamin Beck, Jr.
The following men enlisted in
the Navy, prior to induction i
Robert Woodrow Wild. David
Lawrence Griggs, aird John Frank
Shope.
Blackout Siren
Signal Will Be Tested At
Noon Saturday
Legion Demands Drafting
Manpower And Industry
Goes On Record In Favor
Of All-Out Support
Of War Effort
The American Legion at its
three-day weekend national con
vention held in Kansas City de
manded that both capital and la
bor be drafted and the lowering
of the draft age to 18.
Koane Waring, Memphis utility
executive, chosen national com
mander by acclimation, in a blist
ering speech, assailed those ham
pering the war effort as saboteurs
and traitors, pledging the legion's
fullest support to the president in
the war effort.
Almost as one voice the 1,500
delegates passed resolutions em
bodying the following demands :
Conscription of both manpower
and industry for war production.
Lowering of the military draft
age to 18.
Compulsory military treuoiof for
youth after the war.
. Job security for returning vet
erans. Fewer deferments from the arm
ed forces for young mem whose
jobs in vital industries might be
filled by older men and women.
A navy and an air force strong
enough to meet successfully any
foe or possible combination of
foes.
Continuation of enlistments in
the navy, marines and coast
guard.
Full utilization of elementary
training facilities of the civilian
aeronautics administration's civilian
pilot training program.
A superior merchant air fleet for
all forms of transport in both
peace and war-time.
Re-establishment of civilian con
servation corps for veterans of
both world wars with vocational
training offered.
All-out support of the president
e the war effort.
Franklin will hear the siren
signal for a blackout test on
next Saturday, September 26, at
12 o'clock, noon, according to an
announcement made by Chief Carl
Tysinger, of the Fire Department.
The town siren, located on top
of the jail, will sound five blasts,
with an interval between each
blast. Five minutes later the all
clear signal will be sounded, which
is one blast lasting two minutes.
The same signals will be given
when the state-wide blackout is
observed on Tuesday night.
Chief Tysinger states that fire
fighting training is being given
every Wednesday evening at the
fire station at 7 o'clock. This course
requires five hours for the com
plete course. All citizens interested
in this vital training for home de
fense are urged to avail them
selves of this opportunity.
C Of C Dinner To Be
Postponed On Account
State Wide Blackout
The Chamber of Commerce din
ner announced to take place next
Tuesday evening, September 29,
has been postponed to a date to
to be announced later.
The reason for this postponement
is that the state-wide blackout is
ordered to take place on that
night, said Lee Guffey, secretary.
Mr. Guffey reported that Sep
tember has bean a much better
REPUBLICANS
SELECT TICKET
Paul Potts, Chairman,
Announces List Of
Candidates
John Dills Arrests
Graham Robbery Suspect
Deputy Sheriff John Dills re
ported the arrest by him of "Dock"
Kruknel, one of the three men
wanted in connection with the rob
bery of a store in Robbinsville
several weeks ago, and who has
been reported as dodging the saw
ever since. Kruknel was arrested
near Sam Waters' wood camp in
the Nantahala section of Macon
county last Monday night accord
ing to Sheriff Dills.
siren are requested to turn off
their lights and pull in on the side
of the highways and streets. State
highway patrolmen will also be on
duty, receiving their orders and
warning directly by short wave
radio in their cars from iolice
stations.
Mr. Houk states that the black
out will last 45 minutes after the
alert has sounded. He stated also
that it is probable that there will
be blackouts from time to time.
These alarms will be given by the
Army and will be unannounced
from now on.
"Stay Off Street"
All persons are urgently request
ed to stay off streets except air
raid wardens and those employed
in civilian protection. During the
last blackout, considerable confu
sion was caused in some places by
the presence of people on the side
walks out of curiosity. It can
readily be seen that this is dan
gerous and has in the past been
the cause of casualties and acci
dents. The full cooperation of all
citizens is requested by the com
mittee of civilian defense and the
town authorities.
AH cars coming into town will
be stopped on the outskirts of the
town area.
Corporal Shuler's Death
First Fatality Reported
Soldier From West s Mill
Died In Auto Accident
In Puerto Rico
Republicans of Macon county
have selected their candidates for
county offices and representatives
in the general assembly, it has
been announced by Paul Potts,
chairman of the Republican ex
ecutive committee for Macon
county.
The candidates and the offices
they are seeking include; The
Rev. George A. Cloer, a well
known farmer and a minister of
the Baptist denomination, for rep
resentative. J. Perry Bradley, farmer and
dealer in livestock, for sheriff.
Alfred R. Higdon, owner and
manager of the Franklin Hard
ware company, for clerk of su
perior court.
Wiley Clark, who operates a fill
ing station, for register of deeds.
W. T. Tippett, N. Buford Downs,
and Thomas C. Harbison for county
commissioners.
J. N. Dills for county surveyor.
R. Glenn Ray for coronor.
month for tourists than was ex
pected, the booth giving in forma -
I tion of various kinds to visitors
who have been passing through
daily and others who have spent
their vacation here. He announces
that the booth will close September
30.
The death by automobile acci
dent of Corporal Carl Shuler in
the Puerto Rico area in August
is the first death of a Macon
county man in the armed forces
that has been reported since the
war began.
Sam D. Shuler of the West's
Mill community has received full
details of his son's death from his
commanding officer, and copies of
the Caribbean Sentinel of San
Juan, P. R., official publication of
the Armed Forces in the Caribbean
Area, with tribute to his service.
Mr. Shuler first received a wire
from the office of the War De
partment, Washington, announcing
the death of his son on August 7,
at 7:15 p. m. Later he received a
letter from the Adjutant General
stating that the accident occurred
on the Ponce Guayama Highway,
near Postillo, one mile east of
Losey Field, when the automobile
in which he was a passenger over
turned after striking a truck. One
other soldier was killed and four
injured in the accident.
The letter related that military
funeral services were held on Aug
ust 9 in the Post chapel, and the
body interred with full military
honors in the National cemetery
at Borinquen "Field, Puerto Rico.
The letter expressed sympathy and
regret concerning Corporal Shuler's
death, adding "We would like for
you to know that we at the head
quarters and of the headquarters
squadron, 36th Fighter Group, will
long remember the hard working
end good natured Corporal Shuler
that attached himself so closely
to all of us in the short time he
spent with us." Signed, Major
Arthur R, OeBolt,
An article in The Sentinel gave
a full account of the accident,
which stated that the calamity left
Major DeBolt's squadron "shocked
and stunned for a long time after
ward." It described the impressive
services for the two fatalities, and
said: "It is with a deep sense of
loss that we part with them. Both
men were very popular in the
Squadron. Their conduct and char
acter were beyond reproach. We
offer sincere condolences to the
parents of these men and wish
them to know that we hold them
in the highest esteem."
Corporal Shuler was a member
of the Ridgccrest Baptist church.
Surviving are his father, Sam D.
Shuler, his stepmother, three
brothers; Charlie, of Hopewell,
Va., Everett Lee, who was inducted
into the service on September 1,
Sam D., Jr., of West's Mill; one
sister, Miss Inez Shuler of Hope
well; five half brothers, Howard,
Vance, John Weaver, LeRoy and
Ray, of West's Mill.
Red Cross Official
To Be In Franklin
On Next Monday
Mrs. Katherine Stewart, district
field representative of the Amer
ican Red Cross has notified offi
cers of the Macon county chapter
that she will arrive in Franklin
next Monday to assist in the or
ganization of the chapter's stand
ing committees and to help them
plan their wartime programs for
the coming year.
The Rev. Hubert G. Wardlaw,
newly elected chairman, has seat
out notices of a meeting to be
held at his home Monday, Sep
tember 28, at 8 p. m. All officers
and chairmen are requested to be
present