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VOL. LXVI
Number 34
Published every Thursday.by The Franklin Press
At Franklin, North Carolina
Telephone No. 24
Entered at Post Office, Franklin, N. C., as second class matter.
WEIMAR JONES Editor
BOB S. SLOAN Business Manager
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Obituary notice*, cards of thanks, tributes of respect, by individuals, lodges,
churches, organizations or societies, will be regarded as advertising and inserted at
regular classified advertising rates. Such notices will be marked "adv." in compli
ance with the postal requirements.
Ever notice how the .person who talks loudest
and longest often has the least to say?
The trouble about proving to a woman she is
wrong, you usually end up trying to prove she
isn't.
The peoples of other countries were free, too,
till they decided to let the experts do their think
ing for them.
Then there was the man who thought he knew
more about where the yellow line down the middle
of the highway ought to be than the fellow who
put it there. We said, "was".
So This Is Progress .
During World War 2, when we began enlisting
women in the service, our armed forces apologized
and carefully explained. It was the manpower
.shortage, it was said ; women were needed in
order to release able-bodied men from paper work
and other behind-the-lines jobs.
That apparently no longer is true, and the time
seems to have passed when it is considered neces
sary either to apologize or to explain, for a De
fense department release reports :
"During the early months of 1951 more than
35,000 women were serving on active duty with
the army, navy, air force, and marine corps. Cur
rent enlistments are increasing and thousands more
will be available through the reserve. No longer
are women considered as merely a source for re
leasing men to active duty, for thev have become
a vital and integral part of oitr armed forces."
That is an achievement, the tone of the release
suggests ; something to boast about.
Maybe so.
But we'd have felt better about it if the Defense
department had cited just one reason why.
"Save Face" Or Save Lives
Work has been started on a type of road in
Macon County which is wasteful and dangerous.
In the Testenta section gravel is being spread in
preparation for the construction of a 12-foot paved
road. This is the first of several such roads said
to be planned for this county. Last year a school
bus was operated over this road ; timber and acid
wood trucks travel the road.
Since these vehicles will be required to pull off
on the shoulder to pass, the edge of the pavement
soqn will be broken, creating a dangerous driving
situation. To build a 12-foot paved surface in this
day of increasing auto and truck traffic is not pre
paring for the future. Futhermore it is basically
unsound to construct hardsurfaced roads on road
beds which were laid out years ago without im
proving the alignment. The residents of the Tes
enta community, or any other community, would
be better served by the construction of a 16- or 18
foot gravel road with improved alignment, and
could travel it in greater safety.
The people of Macon Countv do not want 12
foot "black top" roads. This sentiment has been
expressed by people from all areas of the county
at road meetings which Highwav Commissioner L,
Dale Thrash said he was holding for the purpose
of determining how the .people wanted their bond
money spent.
Macon Countv was promised 90 miles of hard
surfaced road. Unfortunately the width was not
specified. Today we have less than a fourth oi
this mileage constructed, and the bond money i<
fast running out.
The people of the Holly Springs community
when they learned that a 12-foot surface was plan
ned through their .section, told highway official.!
they would rather have a 16-foot gravel roa<
which could later be surfaced than a dangerous
12-foot road. Although the highway commissioi
should be able to carry out its promise of the con
?traction of 90 miles of hardsurfaced road in thi:
county, we believe the people of Macon Count}
would eodww tiic tentiwem thatr ?Y?n4i4t-ffleanj
waiting a little, they would rather have their bond
money spent on safe, practical roads that are built
on sound engineering principles. They are more
interested in .spending their money wisely and sav
ing the lives of those who travel the roads than
"face" for the few public officials.
Can Taxes Be Just?
A bill pendirig in congress would lower excise
taxes on non-automotive commodities," while in
creasing the excise tax on automobiles by from 7
to 10 per cent, according to W. C. Burrell, local
area chairman of the National Automobile Deal
ers association.
Automobile dealers, of course, are opposing this
bill, and urging congress to consider other types
of taxation, as well as to eliminate tax loop holes
and reduce federal expenditures.
This newspaper does not pretend to possess suf
ficient information to have an intelligent opinion
about this particular bill. But it does seem worth
while pointing out certain fairly obvious things
about automobile taxes in general.
No. 1. The tax on automobiles already is high.
As Mr. Burrell points out, the tax on gas alone
makes up a very considerable slice of the retail
price.
No. 2. There is a time when the law of dimin
ishing returns sets in ? killing the goose that lays
the golden eggs just doesn't work out.
No. 3. It is high time taxing authorities recog
nized that the automobile has ceased to be a play
thing of the wealthy; it has become a necessity
for most people.
Beneath and beyond all of these considerations,
however, are two really dangerous situations as re
gards taxes.
The first is the ability of those who scream
loudest to get taxes reduced. We don't know, of
our knowledge, whether this particular tax is a
fair one or not ; but we'd venture that if the auto
mobile dealers fight it long enough and hard
enough, it will not be levied. That, we respectful
ly suggest, is not the way such things should be
decided.
The second and more serious trend is toward
levying taxes not on a l?asis of fairness, but on a
basis of "getting the money where the money is".
It is the natural and easy trend when vast sums
must be raised, but that does not make it a whole
enmn ntip
Our American Civilization
Working harder and harder, to earn more and
more, so we can buy more and more "diversion" ?
that is, he diverted from the necessity of ever
having to live with ourselves.
A few Americans enlisting under the banner of
free enterprise, when their real aim is by no means
the greatest freedom for the greatest number, but
the maximum license for th? smallest number ? the
unrestricted right to exploit and wastes
Demanding that we not give an inch in
our negotiations with the Reds ? that is, that our
men in Korea must be ready and willing to fight
on. Demanding, in the same breath, that there
must be no increase in taxes and no decrease in
the production of luxury goods.
Letters
CALIFORNIA TO MACON IN A DAY
Dear Mr. Jones:
I believe that, according to your definition of news, the
following constitutes news.
On the morning of August 11 at 1:40 my brother, J. R. Fer
guson, left Los Angeles on an American Airliner DC-6. At
4 p. m. they landed at the Knoxville airport. And in spite of
rain, a multitude of tourists, etc., we had him home and
ready for supper by 8:20. Quite a contrast between that and
the covered wagons taking a year to make the 3,000 miles. For
that matter, it takes three days and four nights on a train.
By the way, we saw our first helicopter at the Knoxville
airport and a bunch of "plain ole country boys" in overalls
flying Cubs, Cessnas and the like.
It reminded me somewhat of a large bus terminal to see
those big planes of Delta, Capital and American Airlines com
ing in and taking_off every few minutes.
Personally I believe it is a lot safer to fly across country
than to drive across Newfound Gap and have to dodge a few
thousand tourists. We saw five bears and only one of them
was not surrounded by tourists.
Yours very truly,
Franklin, N. C. CHARLES J. FERGUSON
August 13, 1951.
Others' Opinions
1
GRANDMA KNEW IT
s Milk offers a cheap, pain-relieving treatment for A-bomb
r burns, according to a report to the American Mediclal Assoc la
t tlon at Atlantic City. Burn* are the greatest single Injury re
OUR DEMOCRACY
> Mat
Ml I
Gri:i:n jjuht,
"H n< m a II
In OOR DEMOCRACY THe ROAD IS OPEN FOR INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE
AND ENTERMUSE TO DRIVE ON TOWARD THEIR. CHOSEN GOALS.
"THE HIGHWAYS TO YOUR. HOPES AND DREAMS OF STILL GREATER
OPPORTUNITY AND FINANCIAL SECURITY ARE BECKON I NO
AND THE GREEN UGHT OF DEMOCRACY SIGNALS "GO.*
suiting from an A-bomb, as in Japan 60 to 85 per cent of vic
tims suffered flash burns from the bomb explosion and fires <
set in its wake. Grandma knew the value and the efficacy of
milk, and cream skimmed off milk, as a healing and curative
agent for burns. Now the medical profession, by research and
discovery, is confirming what she knew a long time ago.
? Laurinburg Exchange.
GOOD NEWS FOR BISCUIT-EATERS
There should be, and I understand there is, plenty of sour
wood honey this year. The sourwood blossoms are out in full
force this summer, especially In the mountains, furnishing
plenty of sweet material with which the bees can store their
warehouses. They have already been at work and freshly
made sourwood honey is now being "harvested". During the
past week I have had two "frames" of it as gifts, and there
are few, if any, sweets that I enjoy more. There is nothing
better to eat than hot biscuits, buttered, and honey. "They
say" that honey is not fattening, but the catch there is that
the waffles, hot cakes, toast, pie, etc., for which It is the
perfect accompaniment, are "nothing else but".? Miss Beatrice
Cobb in Morganton News-Herald.
JOBS FOR TIIE HANDICAPPED
President Truman's appeal for the employment of physical
ly handicapped persons is eminently fitting. The occasion was
the fall session of the Committee on National Employ the
Physically Handicapped Week, when the President bestowed
a trophy upon a Chicago employer, himsalf handicapped, who
employs sixty persons in similar condition.
Noting that the public employment services found a hun
dred thousand more jobs for these unfortunates last year
than in the year before, Mr. Truman urged that "all our
handicapped citizens" be put to work in defense plants.
There are good reasons why this should be done. Cripples
and blind persons, as well as the deaf and dumb, performed
exacting tasks in industry during World War II with rare
skill, and so helped overcome the manpower shortage and in
creased production. This, in itself, is one sound reason for an
intensive campaign with the object of providing jobs for
everybody unable to hunt jobs for themselves.
But an even better reason, probably the best of all, is that
these people who otherwise would be a charge upon their
families or the state and whose morale is shattered by con
tinuous idleness, acquire a sense of independence which leads
to new incentives and creates real happiness.
x? Wilmington Morning Star.
1833 WAS THE. END
Then some one spoke of the man who resigned from his
job in the patent office in Washington, D. C. in 1833 ? not
1933, mind you, but 1833. His letter is still in existence, I
have been told. It is an interesting document, touched with
pathos. He hais found the work congenial, he said; he was
sorry to leave it. But his conscience would not allow him to
continue to draw pay under false pretense. There was no
more need for a Job like his, he said; every possible inven
tion had been conceived and patented; there was nothing left
to invent, therefore no need for a patent office; hence no
further need for his job. ??.
That was in 1833 mind you, and nothing left to invent.
Before railroads had come; before electricity was used for
lighting streets and moving street cars. The telephone had not
" been invented then, nor the wireless nor the steam shovel, nor
the dynamo. Without looking It up I would say that the
threshing machine had not come into use, nor the reaper and
the binder, though I may be wrong about that. But radio,
m radar, motion pictures, television? they are crowding in upon
us so fast It Is a brave man who will say what cannot be done.
Yet here was a man in 1833 who thought everything had
been Invented, and he must have been honest In his belief or
he would not have given up his Job.? John Bragaw In Wash
ington (N. 0.) News.
Do You
Remember?
(Looking backward through
the files of The Press)
50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
The horses attached to the
nail hack gave out about six
niles out from Franklin last
venlng and had (o telephone
o Franklin for fiesh horses,
hus delaying the mail till very
ate into the night.
A young lady dropped into
ine of our stores recently, re
ates and exchange, and said:
It is my desire to obta'n a
>air of circular elastic appen
lages, capable of being con
racted and expanded by means
?f oxellating burnhhed steel
ippliances that sparkle like par
ides of gold leaf set with Alas
ka diamonds, and which are
itillzed for keeping in position
-he habiliments o! the lower
ijctremities which Innate dellc
icy forbids me to mention."
rhe young man behind the
:ounter had just time to haul
>ut a pair of garters before he
'ainted.
25 YEARS AGO
The Camp Fire Girls, accom
panied by Miss Hattie Brendle
ind Mrs. B. S. Reavis, spent
Tuesday and Wednesday on a
lamping trip on Wayah Bald.
A 19 and one half pound
:atfish was landed at Burning
town recently by Carl Huggins.
Stephen Duvall caught its mate
ei few day later, the second
catch tipping the scales at 20
pounds.
J. J. Wilder, of Waycross, Ga.,
one of the leading bee keepers
of the South, will be here next
Wednesday where he will ad
dress the Macon Beekeepers As
sociation and other beekeepers
at the noon hour at the court
house.
10 YEARS AGO
Grand Jury Recommends Vot
ing On Courthouse Bonds,
(headline).
The Highlands Community
Theatre will close this season
with a production of "Escape
Me Never" on Wednesday.
Emmas Lou Hurst. Macon
county 4-H winner of the state
title of queen of health, made
a brief talk on the Farm and
Home tour program last week.
Name Saturday Wac-Waf
Day; Will Discuss Army
CareerW ithY oung Women
Saturday has been set aside
as "WAC-WAF Day" in Macon
County and women between the
ages of 18 and 34 are invited
to talk over enlistment in eith
er branch of the service with
recruiting sergeants from both
branches.
According to the local army
and air force recruiter, Cpl.
Clay Hensley, a sergeant from
the women's army corps and
one from the women's air force
will be on the town square at 3
o'clock that afternoon to dis
cuss opportunities being offer
ed young women interested in
a career in the army.
LEGAL ADVERTISING
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
NOTICE OF SUMMONS
NORTH CAROLINA
MACON COUNTY
LEAH JOSEPHINE REEVES
vs.
BILL C. REEVES
The defendant, Bill C. Reeves,
will take notice that an action
entitled as above has been com
menced In the Superior Court of
Macon County for the purpose
of securing an absolute divorce
for the plaintiff, Leah Josephine
Reeves.
Said defendant will further
take notice that he is required
to appear at the office of the
Clerk of the Superior Court of
Macon County, North Carolina,
at the courthouse in Franklin
on the 26th day of September,
1951 and answer or demur to
the complaint, in said action, or
the plaintiff Will apply to the
Court for the relief demanded
in the complaint.
This 7th day of August, 1951.
KATE McOEE,
Clerk Superior Court.
A9? 4tc? A30
ADMINISTRATRIX' NOTICE
Having qualified as adminis
tratrix, de bonis non, of H.
Orady Duvall, deceased, late of
Macon County, N. C., this Is to
notify all persons having claims
against the estate of said de
ceased to exhibit them to the
undersigned on or before the 27
day of July, 1952 or this notice
will be plead In bar of their
recovery. All persons indebted
to said estate will please make
immediate settlement.
This 27 day of July, 1951.
DONNIE DUVALL,
Administratrix, d.b.n.
A26 ? 8tp?