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Macontatt
PROGRESSIVE
LIBERAL
1NDEPEXDEXT
VOL. LX1I? NO. 51
fKANKI.IN N C, THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 194?
Si. 00 PER VKAK
SITE DONATED
FOR HOSPITAL
IN HIGHLANDS
I.iiss Eva G. Cleaveland
Gives Two-Acre Tract
On Fifth Street
?A site for the Highlands Com
munity hospital has Ijeen donat
ed by Miss Eva G. Cleaveland,
of Bridgeport, Conn., and High
lands, It was announced this
week by members of the board
of trustees of the proposed hos
pital.
Miss Cleaveland notified mem
bers of the board a few days
ago of heir decision to donate
a tract ol about two acres.
The property is situated on
Fifth street, immediately back
of King's inn, and members of
the board described it as one
of the most valuable and con
veniently situated pieces of
property for such a purpose
within the corporate limits of
Highlands. With a frontage of
360 feet on Fifth street and a
depth of 246 feet, the land
fently slopes from the center
o the rear and sides, and is I
an ideal plot for the T-shaped I
building that is planned, mem
bers of the board said.
It is wooded with white pine
and hemlock. In addition, sever
al large Oregon trees and a
number of others not indigen
ous to this region ? set out many
years ago by the late T. G.
Harbison in conjunction with
his forestry work for Biltmore
estate? are on the property. To
assure preservation of these
Tom C. Harbison has been ask
ed to do the landscaping.
Miss Cleaveland, the donor of
the property, is the daughter
of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wil
liam B. Cleaveland, of Bridge
port, who settled in Highlands
some 50 years ago. She is a
sister of Mrs. Henry D. West, of
Franklin. Mrs. H. P. P. Thomp
son and Mrs. W. M. Cleaveland
are sisters-in-law.
Miss Cleaveland, who lived in
Highlands with her parents
many years ago, recently re
tired after 37 years' service with
the First National Bank of
Bridgeport, and spent last sum
mer in her cottage on Fourth
street, - Highlands.
One section of the hospital
is to be named in memory of
Miss Cleaveland's sister, Mrs.
Mabel E. Hays (mother of W. A.
Hays, of Highlands) who for 17
years lived on the property don
ated. ,
/ ?>
Do You
Remember . . . ?
(Looking backward through
the files of The Press)
50 PEARS AGO THIS WEEK
The public school term closed
last Friday. Rev. J. R. Pender
grass, principal, set up the ap
ples and candy for the pupils
Thursday.
R. L. Porter left Thursday for
Clay county on a gauging tour
in the United States revenue
service.
Rev. J. J. Edes arrived Mon
day to take charge of the
Franklin circuit. He came from
Greensboro in his buggy and
returned to Dlllsboro yesterday
to meet his wife who came on
the train.
25 YEARS AGO
Mr. Robert Henry has been a
visitor in the Stiles section for
the past two weeks. Mr Henry
is putting men to flight and
has captured three blind tigers.
We the citizens of this com
munity welcome Mr. Henry in
every laurel thicket In the
county.
Efforts being put forward by
the Franklin board of trade to
have the official Atlanta-Ashe
ville highway routed through
Franklin are meeting with suc
cess. Advantages of the Frank
lin route were recently enum
erated in a letter to Georgia
state highway department.
16 YEARS AGO
Franklin is now all dolled up
in Christmas array and citizens,
are beginning to feel the stir of
the holiday season. Evergreens
have been twined around cables
ail up and down both sides of
Main street and hundreds of
red and green lights shine
among the foliage. These, to
gether with the lighted and
decorated window* of the mer
chant*, make the evening scene
one of wpMrtnf beauty.
$303 Raised So Far
In Drive To Bring
N.C. Orchestra Here
Approximately $300 has
been raised to date in the
campaign ti bring the
North Carolina symphony
orchestra to Franklin next
March, it was announced
this week by W. W. Sloan,
county chairman.
While this is slightly less
than half of the county's
quota of $7 SO, Mr. Sloan
pointed out that he has re
ceived no report fram High
lands and that a number
of workers in Franklin alsa
are yet to report.
Solicitation is to be dis
continued, he said, until
after Christmas.
LIONS TO SET
UP DIME BOARD
Will Seek Aid Fcr Needy,
Particularly Children
In Want Of Clothes
With a view to raising funds
to aid the needy? particularly
children? who need clothing in
order to attend school? the
Franklin Lions club plans to
set up a dime board an court
house square today. Passersby
will be asked to place dimes on
the board for the cause.
The decision to set up the
dime board was reached at a
three-hour meeting of the club's
board of directors and interest
ed members Monday night.
Meanwhile, it was decided that
the club will pay for lunches
for 15 needy children attend
ing the Cowee school from
Monday until the Christmas
holidays start.
During the long discussion
of the project, club member,
including Dr. G. B. Woodard,
Ernest Hyde, Elbert Angel, and
President R. R. Gaines, cited
cases of destitution which they
said had come to their personal
knowledge. The increase in the
cost of living was mentioned as
a major contributing factor to
the situation.
Meanwhile, President Gaines
asked that persons who know
of families in need of help
especially where school children
need clothing? notify Dr. Wood
ard, chairman of the club's
committee on welfare.
All cases will be cleared
through the office of the Ma
con County superintendent of
public welfare, Mr. Gaines said.
400 Enjoy
Cantata Presented By
Two Choirs
Approximately 400 persons
filled the auditorium of the
Franklin Methodist church for
last Sunday evening's program
of Christmas music, presented
by the choirs of the Presbyter
ian and Methodist churches.
The program was directed by
Mrs. Louis Manning, with Mrs.
Oilmer A. Jones at the organ
and Mrs. Henry W. Cabe at the
piano.
Preceding the cantata, "Come
Let Us Adore Him", Mrs. Jones
and Mrs. Cabe played "The
Holy City" as a prelude.
Solo parts in the cantata
were taken by the Rev. J. H.
Brendall, Jr., and Harold Lang,
while Miss Esther Wallace and
Mrs. O. A. Winstead sang "O
Fear Not" as a duet.
Other members of the chorus
were Mrs. Sam Alexander, Mrs.
John Bulgln, Mrs. Carl Cabe,
Mrs. Roy Cunningham, Mrs. C.
N. Dowdle. Mrs. Hoyt Evans, the
Rev. Hoyt Evans, Mrs. Earl Har
mon, Mrs. Orover Jamison, Mrs.
Neal Johnston, Miss Dorothy
Jones, S. W. Mendenhalt, Mrs.
Hyldah Shepherd, Mrs. Bob
Sloan, and Mrs. Harold Sloan.
HINT TO WIVES
Mr. Sprigglns (gently): My
dear, a man was shot at by a
burglar, and his life was saved
by a button which the bullet
struck.
Mrs. Sprigglns: Well, what of
it?
Mr. Sprigglns: Nothing; only
the button must have been on.
BEG YOUR PARDON
In its issue of December 11,
The Press Incorrectly reported
that Troy Potts was convicted
of driving while under the in
fluence of intoxicants. The
charge was reckless driving.
The error is regr?tf?d, and The
Preu la glad to make thU oor
rwtloit.
MACON FARMERS
INCREASE MILK
INCOME $43,435
1947 Progress On Farms
Summarized In Report
Of vuuity Agent
An increase iri milk produc
tion which has meant $4J, 435.62
extra dollars for Macon farm
ers, the establishment of a
weekly live&iocK market, and a
arge increase in the acreage oi
cover crops planted in this
county wtie am^ng the out
stanaing achievements m Ma
con County agriculture in 1947,
accoiuing to the annual re
port oi County Agent S. W.
Mendenhall
Total milk production during
the year increased by 775,16i>
pounus. Of this total, there was
an increase of 652,608 pounds
of grade "A" milk, and 122,547
of grade "C".
Since July 2, weekly livestock
sales have been conducted at
stock yards constructed this
summer by Verlon McCoy. The
sales have averaged 200 head
of stock a week and the re
ceipts have averaged $8,000 pei
sale. Previous to the establish
ment of the yards here the
nearest market had been Ashe
viile. Local saies have meant a
lot to the farmer in saving
transportation and time, Mr.
Mendenhall's report said.
Land Improved
During the past year 8,549
acres of land were sown to
cover crops, as compared with I
1,981 in 1936 Of the total acre
age for 1947, 2,061 acres were
sown in ladino clover, a com
paratively new legume in this 1
section, alfalfa, 316 acres; les
pedeza, 4,152 acres; vetch, 220
acres; red clover, 300 acres; I
Austrian winter peas, 910 acres;
and crimson clover, 590 acres.
The report also showed that
the average yield per acre for
corn climbed from 27 buSHels
per acre to 30. Six farmers re
ported yields of 100 bushels or
more to the acre. Those making
this high average were: Frank
Deal, 126 bushels; Fred Deal,
158.7 bushels; Bob Taylor, 121
bushels; Owen Ammons, 134
bushels; Walter Taylor, 121
bushels; and A. G. Kinsland, 113
bushels.
Objectives Listed
An interesting feature of the
county agent's report was the
listing of six objectives, which
were adopted early this year by
a committee of farm leaders,
as 10-year aims. The objectives
listed are:
AH cropland and pasture to
have lime and phosphate ap
plied; all cropland to have a
winter cover; all farmers to
have a definite source of cash
income from either poultry,
milk, livestock, or truck crops;
in as far as possible, all dairy
breeders to use artificial breed
ing; all farms to produce their
own supplies of meat, milk, and
a variety of vegetables; all
farmers to have water, lights,
and other modern home con
veniences and that all homes to
be improved in appearance and
comfort.
Other Facts
Some of the random facts re
corded in the report, indicative
that Macon farmers are work
ing toward these goals:
3,678 tons of limestone spread.
1,296 tons of phosphate dis
tributed.
2,052 tons of commercial fer
? Continued on Page Eight
Next Week's Pres*
To Be Put In Mail
Auiead Of Schedule
Both Christmas and New
Year's this year fall on
Thursday, the day The
Press ordinarily is delivered
tv> Macon County readers.
Since both these Thurs
days will be holidays for
R. F. D. carriers, rural
readers would not receive
their copies of the paper
until it was 24 hours old, if
the paper ' were published
on Wednesday.
Due to this situation, the
publication schedule for
next week and the week
after has been altered.
Next week's issue of The
Press will be published 24
hours early, and will be put
in the post office in Frank
lin Tuesday night, for de
livery Wednesday, Decem
ber 24.
Publication of the issue
?of the following week will
be psstponed 24 hours.
Week after next, the paper
will be published and placed
in the post office Thursday,
January 1, for delivery Fri
day.
80 ENROLL FOR
FARM TRAINING
Brings Total Number
Of War Veterans In
Classes To 180
Eighty more Macon County
veterans of World War 2 have
been enrolled for on-the-job
farm training, it was announc
ed this week by E. J. Whitmire,
who directs the program in this
county. The new men will start
their training early next month.
This brings to 180 the total
number taking on-the-job farm
training, under the govern
ment's educational program for
veterans.
Of the men enrolled, Mr.
Whitmire said, the average vet
eran is 28 years of age, has
about a fifth grade education,
and is entitled to three years'
?n-the-Job training.
Unler the program, each man
is required to attend a two
hour class each week, and a
field supervisor spends at least
two hours each week supervis
ing the actual operations on
the farm.
With the additional students
enrolled, it will be necessary,
Mr. Whitmire said, to break the
group up into three sections for
classroom work. Classes will be
held on Tuesdays, Thursdays,
and Fridays.
Under the federal set-up for
the program, the vocational
agriculture teacher in the coun
ty is director of the training
He is paid by the government
at the rate of $5 per student,
but with the stipulation that
his compensation may not ex
ceed $45 per month. In other
words, Mr. Whitmire receives
the same compensation for di
recting the training of 180 that
he would for only nine.
Assisting him are five part
time instructors, who conduct
the classes for a nominal com
pensation. They are Siler Sla
gle, Paul Nave, S. W. Menden
hall, Don Allison, and Dr. O. H.
Burnside. All . five are gradu
ates of N. C. State college.
The four men responsible for
field supervision of the students
on the farm are Robert Park
er, Harry Kinsland, and Max
Parrish, all graduates of the
? Continued on Page Eight
A and B Drivers' Licenses
Will Be Void After Dec. 31
Persons whose last names be
gin with A or B have a short
time left In which to renew
their driving licenses without
fear of penalty. The license ex
aminer will be In Macon Coun
ty only five more days before
January 1, the date for the ex
piration of licenses of A and B
drivers. The motor vehicle de
partment announced last week
that, out of the estimated 150,
000 A and B drivers In North
Carolina, only about 90,000 had
thus far obtained new licenses.
Presumably, a similar proportion
In Macon County have failed to
act.
Person whose surnames begin
with A or B, who are caught
driving after January 1 on an
old license, will be charged with
a misdemeanor and, If found
guilty, may be fined not let*
than $35, according to a atate
ment by Col. H. J. Hatcher,
commander of the State High
Way patrol.
Col. Hatcher added that he
plans to have the patrolmen
make spot checks along the
highways after the first of the
year for the purpose of catch
ing delinquent A and B motor
ists.
Beginning January 1 and
continuing through June 30,
1948, persons whose last names
begin with C and D will be re
examined. The Motor Vehicle
department is urging these per
sons to report to their examin
ing stations early in the year
so as to avoid the last minute
rush that is now prevalent with
A and B drivers.
At present, license examiners
are In the clerk of the court's
office In the courthouse here on
Wednesday* and Thursdays of
?ach week.
Macon Voters To
Ballot Feb. 14 On
Beer, Wine Sales
Many Persons
Disappointed
In Bowl Game
More than 50 Macon County
football fans journeyed to Ashj
ville last Saturday to see the
Optimist bawl game between all
star squads representing the
eastern and western sections ol
Western North Carolina. Harl
ey Moore Stewart and Larry
Cabe represented Franklin on
the western squad.
While the game was a close,
hard fought contest ending in
a 0-0 tie, many of the spec
tators who had acquaintances
or sons on the western squad
were disappointed because ol
the small number of men who
were given an opportunity to
perform in this section's iirst
oowl game.
Franklin, Bryson City, Sylva,
and Murphy all had representa
tives on the squad, but they
were afforded little opportun
ity to participate in the game.
The two Franklin representa
tives were a little more for
tunate than some of the other
boys from this end of the state.
Cabe was in the game for seven
plays and Stewart participated
in three or four. Other boys
did not get in the game at all,
or only lor one or two plays.
It was particularly ironical
to local fans, when the western
squad had the ball within the
ten-yard line, and a first down,
to see Cabe, one of Western
North Carolina's best running
backs, sitting on the sidelines.
The East took over on downs.
Among those attending the
game from here were: Howard
Reece, John Alsup, III, Charles
Thomas, Frank Henry, III, Bur
ton Leach, Cullen Bryant, Steve
McConnell, John Archer, III,
Frank Plyler, W. O. Crawford,
Harley Stewart, Mr. and Mrs.
Fred Cabe, Miss Mildred Cabe,
Wayne Stewart, Jack Tilley, Ly
man Gregory, Roger Sutton, Bill
Wilkie, Henry Wilkie, Jeff An
gel, Bill Cabe, C. N. (Joe
Dowdle, Kermit Dehart, Frank
Henry, Jr., Winton Perry, Wood
row Reeves, Pritchard Smith,
Jr., Miss Mary Slagle, Miss Mary
Ellen Higdon, Miss Freida Mae
Arnold, Kenneth Bryant, Paul
Plemmons, Charles Baldwin, Bill
Huggins, Pat Pattillo, Alvin
Stiles, Lee Guffey, Norman
Blaine, Bill Gregory, James
Stockton, Lewis Welch, Bill
Brown, Charles Conley, Edgar
Angel, Miss Agnes Dalton, Hard
ing Angel, Miss Lucille Hannah,
Miss Kathryn Long, Bill Sloan,
R. S. Jones, and Bob Sloan.
Crowd Jams
Auditorium For P. T. A.
Christmas Program
A crowd that overflowed the
seating capacity of the school
auditorium attended Monday
evening's meeting of the Frank
lin Parent-Teacher association,
which was given over to a
Christmas program by students.
Following the devotional, giv
en by Julia Hunnicutt, Carolyn
Nothsteln, and Elizabeth Jones,
Miss Esther Wallace's fourth
grade room presented a page
ant, depicting Christmas cus
toms in other lands.
In the course of the play,
Christmas carols of other lands
were sung by groups from the
rooms of Mrs. J. A. Flanagan
and Mrs. Clinton Johnson.
Among them was a Mexican
song, sung in Spanish by Juan
ita Allen, who wore an authen
tic Mexican costume.
A number of students not on
the program, helped with the
costumes and representations,
under the direction of Mrs.
Hoyt Evans.
Following the program, a
Christmas tea was given, under
auspices of the P. T. A. hos
pitality committee.
Mrs. Weimar Jones, president,
presided at the meeting.
The North Carolina Division
of Forestry and Parks now owns
and operates 107 lire towers In
78 eountlN.
Ejection Is Called When
Board Finds Petition
For Vote In Ordsr
Macon County voters will de
cide, at an election Saturday,
February 14, whether the sale
of beer and wine shall continue
legal, or be outlawed, in tnis
county.
The election was called by
the county board of elections at
a meeting it held in the office
of the register of deeds Mon
day afternoon. The board's ac
tion was in accordance with an
act of the 1947 general assemb
ly, authorizing the holding of
elections in counties and in
municipalities of the state to
determine whether or not wine
and beer shall be legally sold in
such counties and municipali
ties.
J. J. Mann, chairman of the
board of elections, announced
after the meeting Monday that
the board found the petition,
filed with Mr. Mann December
8, in order, and that it bears
the signatures of a sufficient
number of eligible voters of the
county, to authorize the calling
of the election.
The statute sets forth that, if
15 per cent of those who voted
in the last election for gover
nor sign a petition for an elec
tion on the sale of beer and
wine, the board shall call the
election.
No new registration is requir
ed, lyit the registration books
will be open in the various
precincts to enable those whose
names are not on the books
to register, Mr. Mann said. The
books will be open at the reg
ular polling places on the fol
lowing three Saturdays: Janu
ary 17, January 24, and Janu
ary 31.
Saturday, February 7, will be
challenge day.
As far as possible, the same
judges and registrars who serv
ed in the last general election
will be used for this special
election, it was said.
If the majority of votes cast
in the election oppose legal
sale of beer and wine in this
county, such sale will be ban
ned, starting 60 days from the
date of the election. If the ma
jority favor legal sale, licensed
dealers may continue sales.
In the event legal sales are
banned in a county, however,
the law permits a municipality,
within that county, if the last
federal census showed it had a
population of 1,000 or more, to
conduct its own election.
The February election will be
the first time since before en
actment < of the Volstead act
that Macon County voters have
had an opportunity to vote di
rectly on the legal sale of alco
holic beverages. Beer and wine
became legal in this county as
a result of legislative enactment
in 1933.
Fight Ends With
One Man In Jail,
One In Hospital
Following a fight which took
place in Norton's cafe last Sat
urday night, Fred Young was
admitted to Angel hospital for
treatment and James P. (Putt)
Hudson was arrested and plac
ed in jail.
Young received severe knife
wounds in the groin and side.
Both men were released under
bond. Hudson is charged with
assault and disorderly conduct, ?
and Young with assault and
disorderly conduct. The hear
ing is set for December 22.
Officers said the affair start
ed when the two men, both of
whom had been drinking beer,
became engaged in an argu
ment, and Young struck Hud
son in the face, breaking his
glasses. When Young seized
Hudson and began wrestling
with him, Hudson is said to
have got out his knife and cut
Young in several places.
Tom Phillips, night police
man, broke up the fight, and
Hudson was placed in Jail and
Young was sent to the hos
pital, but has since been dis
charged.
The U. 8. navy yard at Mare
Island, Calif., has an establish
ment covering approximately
MOO acres.