npift Iff
IjiaWattV jRacontnn
TOfc. JUVUI-NO. W
FRANKLIN, N. C? THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 1953
TWELVE PAGES
NANTAHALAS
CLOSED UNTIL
RAINS COME
Dry Weather Prompts
Issuance Of Order;
Two Blazes Reported
An increasing number of for
est fires and continued dry
weather Monday forced the
closing of the Nantahala and
Pisgah National Forests to all
but through travel and lumber
operations. Ranger John Was
ilik, Jr., has announced.
The order will remain in ef
fect until it rains, he said.
Meanwhile, two fires broke
out this week in this county ?
one on Nantahala forest land,
the other on county land. Both
are now under control.
The fire on government land
broke out Saturday afternoon
on the southwest side of Nan
tahala Lake in the Laurel
Branch section. Crews dispatch
ed by Ranger Wasilik had the
fire under control by 1 a. m.
Sunday after approximately 50
acres had been burned over.
County Fire Warden J. Fred
Bryson reported a small fire
was brought under control early
Tuesday night in the Watauga
sectior. near the Ridgecrest
Baptist Church. The fire, which
burnec about an acre, was re
ported at 6:20 and by 7:30 some
23 volunteers from the com
munity had it under control,
the rar.eer said.
ine closing oraer rar ine na
tional iorests reads, in part:
"Whereas, the lack of rainfall,
drying winds, and other causes
have rendered forests within
the Nantahala and Pisgah Na
tional Forests highly inflam
mable and subject to great loss
by fixe, and whereas, forests
and tr.e resources, develop
ments, and products thereof
are a valuable and vital asset
to the welfare of this country,
and whereas, it is imperative
that the forest be protected by
the prevention of fire and the
elimination of all possible
sources of fire, now, therefore,
pursuant to the authority of
existing regulations made and
promulgated by the Secretary
of Agriculture, an emergency is
hereby declared to exist within
the Nantahala and Pisgah Na
tional Forests, and all lands of
the United States within the
Nantahala and Pisgah National
Forest are hereby ordered clos
ed to use by the public except
as to those specifically permit
ted by a duly authorized forest
office; and the right of those
who actually and permanently
reside or have settled within
the Nantahala and Pisgah Na
tional Forests to ingress and
egress ordinarily exercised by
them in connection with such
occupancy or residence. . .
Fire Chief Asks
For Cooperation
Witn fire danger mounting
daily iecause of dry weather,
Frank. in Fire Chief A. C. Ty- j
singer yesterday (Wednesday i |
urgec citizens to exercise the
utmost caution.
The chief asked that no leaves
be burned except in a cleared
area and when there is no
wind.
Pointing out that overheated
oil heaters have caused four
fires within the past two weeks,
the chief also suggested that
chimneys and flues be checked
and cit aned. A burning chim- j
ney it difficult to extinguish
and can burn a home quickly,
he added.
The past four alarms have
cost the town approximately |
$200 -proving that fire can not
only be expensive to the home
owner but to the taxpayer as
well. Chief Tysinger said.
RATE DECISION UPHELD
The State Supreme Court has
upheld Superior Court Judge
Allen H. Gwyn's decision to re
fuse a rate increase to the Nan
tahala Power and Light Com
pany. which has home offices
in Franklin, against its indus
trial consumers. The supreme
court reviewed the Judge's ac
tion :.nd handed down Its de
cision Wednesday of last week.
The rate Increase request was
appealed to the courts earlier
In the year by the Mead Cor
poration, of Sylva.
Contest Winners, Raleigh Speaker Mark Dinner
s. ? Slcff Photo by J. P. Brady
Saturday night's awards dinner for the 1953 Macon County Rural Community Development Contest featured the announce
ment of the contest winners and an address by F. H. Jeter, of Raleigh, extension service editor. In the photograph at left, Mr.
Jeter (center) is shown looking over the scrapbook of the first place Patton community with Western District Farm Agent Bryan
Collins (left) and Morris McGough, executive vice-president of the Asheville Agricultural Development Council, Inc. In the pho
tograph at right, the presidents of the winning communities are shown receiving checks from John M. Archer, Jr., president of
Nantahala Power and Light Company: (L to R) Roy Potts, West Union; J. Fred Bryson, Carson; Calvin Roland, Oak Grove; Mr.
Archer; Charlie Sutton, Clark's Chapel; Erwin Patton, Patton; Wallace Morgan, Bethel; and Woodrow Teague, Prentiss. The din
ner was given by the 13 communities in the contest in honor of local business and professional men who contributed money to
the contest fund.
Franklin Hi
Homecoming
Set Friday
i
Tomorrow (Friday i night will
be homecoming at Franklin
High School as Coach R. A.
Byrd's Panthers meet Clyde
High School on the local field
for the final game of the 1953
54 grid season.
Last Friday afternoon in
Bethel the Panthers' win-loss
record for the season became
3-6 when the Bethel Blue De- j
mons handed them a 20 to 12 j
defeat, in a game which saw
the locals almost upset the
Bethel heavyweights in the last
half.
A stiff contest is now going
on at the high school to select
a "Homecoming Queen", who
will be crowned and entertain
ed royally during half-time fes
tivities tomorrow night. The
queen contest is being sponsor
ed by the Franklin Band.
Band members also reported
they have a colorful and un
precedented performance plan
ned during the half while the
queen is being extended the
courtesies of homecoming. The
program will include a trumpet
solo by Band Director S. F.
Beck.
In the Bethel game the Blue
Demons banged across all their
scores in the first half, leav
ing Franklin the last half to
register an upset. And the
Panthers tried.
Trailing in the first half, the j
Panthers caught fire and ran ;
and passed to the first score ?
a handoff from Bobby Womack
to Vic Teague. Their second
tally came in the third quarter
when a pass interception by
Junior Dills set up the paydirt
play ? a 28-yard pass from
Bobby Jack Love to Doyle
Clark.
At intervals the Panthers
threatened to tie up the game,
but time ran out before they
could get up a good head of
steam.
DEPUTIES GET
2 STILLS HERE
Over The Week-End
Units And Equipment
Destroyed In Raids
Still-hunting Macon deputies !
had a field day over the week- j
end.
Saturday afternoon Deputies
Newell Pendergrass and Van
Frazier destroyed a 60-gallon ;
unit and 220 gallons of mash
in the Chatuge River section of
the county.
Then Sunday afternoon, a 35
gallon still and "one of the big
gest barrels of mash I have
ever seen", fell under the axe,
according to Deputy Pender
grass. This find was in the
Buck Creek section. The deputy,
who was assisted by Deputy A.
V. Garrett, reported a big wood
V.> Garrett, reported a big
wooden vat at the still site held
at least 300 gallons of mash.
Neither still was In operation
at the time.
LABOR SURVEY
IS SUCCESSFUL
Estimated 1,800 Fill
Out Blanks; Committee
Now Compiling Results
An estimated 1,800 persons
filled out labor survey blanks
Friday and Saturday during a
county-wide maneuver by the
Macon County Industrial Com
mittee to obtain an inside pic
ture of the county's over-all
labor picture.
Although complete reports
have not been received from
some sections of the county,
Chairman Frank B. Duncan
termed the survey "'highly suc
cessful" and expressed his ap
preciation for the fine spirit of
cooperation shown.
Members of the committee
are now busy tabulating and
classifying results that have
been received. When the entire
job has been completed, the
labor facts and other pertinent
information covering the entire
economy of the county will be
printed in illustrated booklet
iorm for distribution to indus
tries Interested In moving
South.
In announcing unofficial re
sults, Mr. Duncan gave the
thanks of his committee to
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 12
Maccn's Record In Recent
Bond Election Now Known
[Annual Red
Cross Meet
I ?.<??? ?.? *?? *c* - ?<?>' v*
The olectioft of new officers
for the coming year will be the
chief item of business at the
annual meeting of the local j
American Red Cross chapter on i
No* ember 20.
Mrs. Elizabeth McCollum, sec- ,
retary, this week urged all
members to attend the session,
which is slated for Kelly's Inn
at 8 p. m. The secretary said
no cards will be mailed this
year to notify members of the
meeting.
Present officers of the chap
ter are Z. Weaver Shope, of
Franklin, chairman; W. R.
Potts, of Highlands, vice-chair
man; and J. C. Jacobs, of
Franklin, treasurer. The chap
ter's executive board is compos
ed of James L. Beale, Frank B.
Cook, Stacy Russell, Charles
Anderson, Lewis Edwards, and
the Rev. Robert E. Early, all of
Highlands, and John M. Archer,
Jr., Dr. A. Rufus .Morgan, the
Rev. C. E. Murray, and the Rev.
M. W. Chapman, all of Frank
lin.
Eagle -Eyed Housewife Watches
Meteor Streak Across County
A phenomenal daylight meteor ? reported seen in various
sections of the state ? was spotted here Monday afternoon by
an eagle-eyed housewife, Mrs. W. T. Jenkins.
Standing in front of Reeves Hardware Company about 5
o'clock, Mrs. Jenkins saw the unusual "blue ball of fire" streak
north-south at an altitude of several thousand feet.
"At first I thought it wa.s a roman candle", she said.
The object is reported to have exploded somewhere in the
vicinity of Dillard, Ga., but The Press was unable to confirm
this.
Now it is known what a rec
ord Macon County made in lasl
month's school bond election.
Unofficial returns indicated
soon after the October 3 ballot
ing on the $50,000,000 North
Carolina school bond issue, thai
Macon was one of the leader;
in piling up the majority bj
which the bonds were favored
but it took 'the compilation o]
the official vote in each of thf
state's counties to reveal hofl
good a showing this county die
make.
Analysis of the State Boarc
of Election's official figures
county by county (and compari
son of those figures- with the
1950 populations of the coun
ties) shows:
1. Although 77 counties have
larger population than Macon
in only 12 of the 100 countiei
were more votes cast for the
school bond issue.
2. In only three counties were
the bonds favored by a largei
percentage of those voting.
3. Macon ranked 2nd in the
state in the proportion of iti
population that went to the
polls and voted. It was toppec
only by neighboring Clay.
Sixty-five North Carotins
counties that have more people
than Macon cast fewer vote:
far the bonds. The only 15
where the vote for the bond is
sue was larger were Carteret
Duplin, Johnston, Stanly, Surry
Wilkes, and the counties con
taining the state's larger cities
? Buncombe, Durham, Forsyth
Guilford, Mecklenburg, anc
Wake. Eastern Carolina's Cart
eret, the smallest among the 1J
in population, has 23,059 peo
ple, as compared with Macon'i
16,174.
Among the counties that trail
ed .Macon in total vote cast foi
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 12
Top Showmen And Reserve Champion
? staff Photo, by J. P. braay
For the fourth straight year. Macon County swept the field at the W.N.C. Fa.t Stock Show
and Sale. The F.F.A. ar.'U' 4-H club member* thl< year collected the reserve champion, 27 blui
ribbons and one red, took 1st and 2nd places In showmanship, and won both county events. In
the photograph at right, Charles Gregory, son of Mr. and Mrs. Parker Gregory, of Franklin
Route 4, is shown -with his reserve champion. At left are (L to R) Bill Foots and Johnny Killlan
who placed 1st and 2nd. respectively. In showmanship.
Patton Wins Rural
Development Event
Patton, Carson, Clark's Chapel, Oak Grove, West Union, and
Bethel-Prentiss ? that's how the communities placed in the 1953
Macon County Rural Community Development Contest.
The winners, who received a total of $1,050 in prize money,
were announced at a special awards dinner Saturday at the
Franklin High School cafeteria, given by the 13 communities
entered in the contest in honor of Franklin business and profes
MACON SWEEPS
SHOW AND SALE
Youngsters Give Credit
To Supporters; Names
Of Winners Listed
For the fourth straight year,
Macon County Future Farmers
of America and 4-H club mem
bers returned home from the
annual W. N. C. Fat Stock
Show and Sale with the lion's
share of honors.
At the show and sale, which
was held at the Hominy Valley
Horse and Hound Pavilion, near
Enka, last Wednesday and
Thursday, the local youngsters
turned in another impressive
performance? nothing new with
them ? by having:
(1) the reserve champion ? a]
1.150-pound steer owned by!
. Charles Gregory, son of Mr. ;
' and Mrs. Parker Gregory, of
Franklin, Route 4,
< 2 1 27 blue ribbons and one
" | red,
' 1 3 > 1st and 2nd place in
; | showmanship, and
;j (4 1 1st places both in the
'i'best county group of three
? | animals" and "best county
f group of five animals".
? | With the exception of the
' grand champion, which has
' ! been from this county lor the
last three years, there was lit
' tie else they could have won.
? This year's grand champion was
[ a Haywood calf.
: The credit for their sucuess
at this and past shows, the
youngsters feel, goes entirely to
' local citizens who have thrown
? their support behind them.
' At Thursday's sale, these local
boosters turned out In force to
; support the price of the calves.
1 The 28 Macon entries, which
tipped the scales at 26,305
, pounds, brought $7,991.11 ?
' slightly more than 30 >3 cents
j per pound.
[ Young Gregory's reserve
champion was purchased by the
t Bank of Franklin for 40 cents
per pound.
i SEE NO. b, PAGE 12
Draft Board
: Inducts 11
i Men Monday
'? Eleven Macon County men re
? I ported to Knoxville, Tenn.,
> | Monday for induction into the
army in the largest induction
call here since June.
Reporting were Lloyd B. Greg
ory l volunteer i, of Highlands.
[ Kenneth M Dills, of Franklin.
Miller S Norris. of Otto, Harold
D. Gregory, of Franklin. Weav
er L. Shuler. of Route 3.' Ken
neth R Bleckley, of Prentiss,
Buster M Thomas, ol Route 1,
James R. Barnes, of Scaly,
I Charlie C'. Gibson, of Highlands,
| Thomas T. Guy. of Route 3. and
: Norman A. Seav. of Cullasaja.
Another local registrant,
| Jam??s Peal, of West's Mill, re
' portvd for induction in Youngs
town. Ohio, the board secre- \
tary. Mrs. Gilmer A. Jones, said.
Five men went to Knoxville
for prr-induction examinations,
the secretary added.
Cruising Crane
Ends Cruising
A crane? feathered variety ? >
brought his migration plans to j
an abrupt and shocking halt j
here last Thursday night about
10:30 when he flew into a
power line in the East Frank
lin area.
Some homes were without
power for about half an hour
while power company crews re
placed a blown fuse.
' The blue and white crane,
> which had a wing span of about
i six feet, was found on the
, ground under the wires ? dead.
. It was a 2,300 volt wire he
cruised Into.
sional men who contributed to
the prize fund.
John M. Archer, Jr., president
of the Nantahala Power and
Light Company, presented
checks to the seven winners,
who were selected last week by
two out-of-county judges. Be
cause of a tie, duplicate prizes
were awarded to Bethel and
Prentiss in 6th place.
In addition to the announce
ment of the winners, the high
light of the dinner was an ad
dress by F. H. Jeter, of Raleigh,
extension service editor.
Mr. Jeter, who was introduced
by Western District Farm Agent
Bryan Collins, of Asheville, prov
ed to his audience he is a
master of the joke as a means
of driving home the pertinent
facts he wishes to emphasize.
For nearly an hour the exten
sion service editor kept dinner
guests laughing almost con
stantly as he put across a
Speech studded with thought
provoking points and sound ad
vice.
The winners of this year's
rural contest were selected by
Mrs. Velma B. Moore. Clay
County home agent, and Homer
Gilliland, head of the commun
ity development program on the
Cherokee Indian Reservation.
The judges spent Monday. Tues
day. and Wednesday of last
week touring the 13 communi
ties and devoted the nights to
studying scrapbooks submitted
by each community.
In making their decision, the
judges paid special recognition
to: Tellico for effort and vis
ion; Smithbridge for handling
a large, unwieldly, and widely
scattered community; Mulberry
for originality and enthusiasm
for future projects; Cartooge
chaye for runner-up position in
the contest; Longview for am
bition to "do more next year";
and to Holly Springs for setting
the pace for the entire county.
Prize money for the contest,
which was formed here in the
spring, was contributed by local
businessmen. The awards sched
ule was $400, 1st; $250, 2nd;
$150, 3rd; $100, 4th; $75, 5th;
and $50. 6th.
Saturday night's awards din
ner was a joint "thank you" by
the 13 communities for the sup
port received from the business
men.
Erwin Patton, president of
the winning Patton community
and head of the county contest
council, presided at the dinner.
The welcome was given by
Walter Taylor, president of the
Holly Springs community, the
first to enter the contest. In
his address, Mr. Taylor remark
ed. "Holly Springs couldn't have
placed where it did in last
year's area contest (tie for 5th t
without the assistance of the
businessmen of Franklin, and
wp are grateful for their help
. . . and the 13 communities
now in the contest feel that
when businessmen in a town
the size of Franklin can raise
more money than a city the
si/e of Asheville, they deserve
a ;;ood .supper."
In responding for the busi
nessmen. W. W. Reeves, who
was one of the leaders in the
movement, declared "the busi
ness and professional men of
SEE NO. 6. PAGE 12
The Weather
1 e week's temperatures i rainfall, u
recorded in Franklin by Manson Stiies,
I*. S. wtather observer, and at t!ie Coweeia
I ( \ dr 'logic Laboratory:
FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low Rain
71 31
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
55 40
51 37
54 17
58 21
62 16
59 15
COWEETA
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wednesday 67 33
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
53
49
53
57
61
Tuesday 58
44
35
16
25
18
16