Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / June 24, 1954, edition 1 / Page 2
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i Hit t fflxnnkiin |Jresa attit i?k* JJigblfcitits Jfltarjmnro Entered at Port Office. Franklin. N. C.. M eecond daaa matter Publlahed every Tburaday by Tile Franklin Pti? Franklin. M. C. Telephone M HAS JONES Editor > B. SLOAN 1 . . . . Buelneee Manager t. P. BRADY . . News Editor toss BETTY LOU FOUT8 Office Manager CARL P. CABE Mechanical Superintendent FRANK A. STARRETTE Shop Superintendent OAVIO H. SUTTON 8tereotyper CHARLES E. WHmTNOTON Preeaman SUBSCRIPTION RATES OUTBID* MACON COUNTY ?e Tear $3.00 flte Months . . 1.7S ntm Months . 1.00 INSIDE MACON tOOim One Year $2.50 Six Months 1.79 Three Months 1.00 JUNE 26, 1954 The Important Question When a man goes to a grocery store to buy an item of merchandise, he wants to know the price, of course. But the price is not the only thing to be considered. More important is the question: "Am I getting my money's worth?" If the item, for example, costs 15 cents in a small size, and he can buy twice as much, in a larger size, for 25 cents, he is quite likely to buy the larger size. And, if he is a thrifty shopper, he will not com plain that 25 cents is too much to pay. It is more money, it is true, but it is buying more. Wouldn't the same reasoning apply to taxes? When we pay taxes, we are buying government services ? such things as police protection, roads, and schools. And buying government services is like buying anything else. The important qitestion is not, "How much are the taxes?" but "What do we get for our money?" If We got nothing in return for our tax money, even the lowest rate would be exhorbitant. The Macon board of county commissioners may raise the county-wide tax rate next month. If it does, it will be both natural and proper for the tax payers to ask questions about the increase. They are going to want to know why? and they are entitled to an answer to that question. But the really important question for them to ask, it seems to us, is not, "Is the rate too high", but "Are we getting our money's worth?" That is what they would ask if they were buying groceries. Bouquet . . . ... To the Veterans of Foreign Wars organiza tions hereabouts. They came home from the. recent V. F. W. state convention loaded down with hon ors. This district, headed last year by Franklin's R. E. <(Tony) Welch, won first place in the state, while ?the local post and the local auxiliary each won a third place in North Carolina. In all three cases, the awards were for community service. This V. F. W. district is one of the smallest, in popu lation, of the 20 in the state, but it outdid all the others. And the local post and auxiliary, in a small town, in a small county, each came out third. To illustrate their handicaps, the Macon post, with 170 members, was competing against posts with mem berships running as high as 1,500. The VFW-ers have brought credit to their home county. Even more significant, they have reminded us, <*nce again, of the moral of the David and Go liath story : Mere size isn't what counts ; it's the spirit with which the job is done, and the quality of the work. Mr Reese's Suggestions Because it is helpful to all of us, sometimes, "to see oursels as ithers see us", the suggestions of Air. Coleman M. Reese, in a letter appearing on this page, are appreciated by The Press. His comments set us thinking, and analyzing the job The Press is doing ? and that is always desirable. As a matter of keeping the record straight, here are the facts on Mr. Reese's second suggestion ? that The Press failed to give, final results of the recent primary election : In the issue of June 3, .the first following the primar^, a tabulation of the complete, official vote cast in this county, precinct by precinct, in every race, appeared on page 7. The result of one district race, that for solicitor, was not definite when that issue of the paper went to press. The result should have been cleared pp in the next issue. Our face is red as we confess it was not. (Thad D. Bryson, Jr., the incumbent, of Frank lin and Bryson City won over Grover C. Davis and Felix E. Alley, Jr., both <>f Haywood County.) ? Letters SUGGESTIONS TO PRESS Editor, The Press: .. In renewing my subscription, I would like to comment on a thing or two about The Press. First, I think more news about people In the county would be appreciated. i Second, complete the news. (For instance, In the recent re port of the primary election, the details were not complete, and there was in the next Issue not one word about the final results of that election, as far as I could find; so I dont know yet who was elected to certain posts.) Third, your editorials are fine In most respects, but I think something closer home would be more appropriate. Yours, Osprey, Florida. COLEMAN M. REESE BEAUTIFUL SILENCE' Dear Mr. Jones: // In your column, Strictly Personal, (issue of June 10), you touched upon an issue which is close to anyone who dines out, namely, the juke box. A couple of years ago, when "Goodnight, Irene" was at the top of the Hit Parade and everyone played that record all the time, the management of the restaurant here in Houston took matters in hand and added one record of silence ? nothing but three minutes of beautiful silence! The record became a smashing success and still remains so today; due to its popularity, it has to be replaced more often than any other record, as usage soon makes it scratchy. Since then I have observed other places which have taken the same action, and it is interesting to note that the silent record is the most popular ohe in almost every place. Perhaps this is the answer to the noisy and disconcerting problem. Sincerely yours Houston, Texas BERGEN B. HALL REAL CREDIT DUE PEOPLE Dear Weimar: It is only natural that I should appreciate your editorial in this week's Press with reject to approval of our building pro gram by the State Board of Education. Certainly, however, I am aware of the fact that I do not deserve the credit that you give to me. The real credit is due to the people of Macon County who have voted so overwhelmingly in favor of school building bonds and particularly to the county school officials who began to make plans some twelve or fifteen years ago for the building program which eventually materialized in 1951. Had it not been for the fact that the County officials in all their plan ning placed classroom needs first, and for the fact that the people of Macon County demonstrated their gre^t interest in providing better school facilities, I am confident that the state school officials would not have been quite so sympathetic to our present needs. Although there is much yet to be done before our school facilities are made adequate, I am proud of the progress that has been made and I especially commend all persons in the county who helped in any way to plan and construct the present new school buildings. Because of their wise planning, Macon County is now in position to have one of the best, if not the best, school systems in North Carolina. I am proud that I can have some small part in helping to build such, a school system here in Macon County. Sincerely yours, June 17, 1954. HOLLAND McSWAIN, Superintendent of Schools. Others' Opinions THE MAGIC WORD (Lancaster, S. C., News) According to tradition All Baba, the Arabian woodcutter, used the phrase "Open Sesame" to enter the treasure cave of the Forty Thieves. Lately there is some suspicion that the 40 collectors and their descendants unto the present generation have evolved a .magic word of their own to force the pockets of the average citizen. Not long ago when the problem of raising funds to make up the deficit of Marion Sims Memorial Hospital was being dis cussed someone said facetiously that the job would be easy If the hospital was only engaged In research of some kind. That is the word. Behind its mysterious facade the public Imagines a group of dedicated scientists probing the secrets of nature and evolving miracles In an atmosphere of Spartan frugality. Research Is a weighed word, the touchstone of Amer ican supremacy in science and Industry, it is atomic energy, penicillin, rocket power, electronics and modern medicine. It Is also the new magic in fund-raising, so powerful in its effect that professionals In the charity field regard it as pure gold. By association everyone believes In research as they do in salvation. No one would give a penny to help a man guess what Fourth Class postal rates should be on the planet Mars. But call It research Into the probable effects on the standard of living on that planet and millions could be raised with little effort. In fact the outpouring of money for research Is beginning , to nine concern amongst the raeucbtri thwmlm Dr. Oarl J. Wiggers, editor of the actontlflc Journal of the Ameiiran Heart Association , "Circulation Research, " raised the question on behalf of all legitimate efforts. i He notes that research productivity Is not keeping pace with Increasing expenditures and, probing for causes, came up with the conclusion that the greater availability of funds Is leading to wasteful practices and time-consuming activities on the part of scientists whose hours could be spent more profitably In their laboratories. If this waste of public donations holds true In legitimate research, what about its second cousins? Some accounting of funds should be demanded as a part of any drive for contri butions. And some research Into the possible usefulness of splinter research Itself. EFFORT AND NEED Here'e Story Of Macon's \ Efforts Toward Better Schools (EDITOR'S NOTE: Follow ing is a statement, prepared by County Supt. Holland Mc Swain, and presented by him and Allen Siler, member of the County Board of Educa tion, to the Review Panel of the State Board of Education, in Raleigh recently. The state ment is published not only for its significance in con nection with th? State Board's approval of Macon's "imme diate needs" school building program, but also because it is an excellent summary of the efforts of Macon County people to "lift themselves by their own bootstraps".) We are presenting for your con sideration a plan of school building constrution that has been adopted by the Macon County Board of Education. Before approving this plan, the Board held several meetings and discussed all phases of the program among themselves and with several members of the Division of School Planning. As you will note from the dates of proposed construction, the program provides for both the immediate needs and an ticipated future needs. Before explaining to you the various projects contained in the program, I would like to give you a brief history of school construction and school consolidation in Macon County. According to information, I have received from citizens of the county and from records in the office of the County Board of Education it appears that the consolidation of schools actually began about 1940. The school officials in Macon County constructed in 1940 and 1941 two school buildings with modern con veniences, such as central heating, water and sewage, and electric lights. One of these buildings, Cowee, was located ih the Northern part of the county and the other, Otto, in the Southern part of the county. As a result of the construction of these two build ings several one- and two teacher schools were consoli dated into each one of these new buildings. These two build ings are now in use and are in better than average condition. Delayed By War The outbreak of the Second World War In December, 1941, prevented any further school building construction at that time. After the close of the war, another modern building, Cullasaja, was constructed in the southeast section of the county about six miles from Franklin. Several small schools were consolidated into this school. During these years the schools officials continued to study and make plans for the complete consolidation (ft all the schools in the county. This was finally accomplished when the people of the county went to the polls in February. 1950 and voted overwhelmingly in favor of county bonds for school building construction. With the funds secured in this way and with funds from the 1949 State bonds, school officials have been able to con struct a total of eight new school buildings, thus com pleting the consolidation pro gram for the county. Although the amount of bonds voted In 1950 was the maximum amount that could have been voted at that time, the funds received were not adequate to provide the actual number of classrooms that were needed at that time. Voting Record In connection with the his tory of the school consolidation program in Macon County, you mighf be interested in knowing how the people in the county expressed thier interest with respect to providing better school facilities. In order to satisfy my own curiosity in regard to this, I checked the voting record on the bond election that was held in Feb ruary, 1950. It was of especial interest to me to find that the voters and taxpayers in Macon County voted approx imately 84% in favar of issuing $514,000 in county bonds for school construction. I have also found that the people of the county voted first on De cember 18, 1945, in favor of Is suing $400,000 in school building bonds. The favorable vote at that time was approximately 81%. For some reason, how ever, perhaps because of nec essary delay in preparing plans, these bonds were not- issued until the time limit expired and it became nessary to hold an other election. This second election was on the same pro position, but with an increase of $114,000, making the total $514,000, and an even greater percentage in favor. TJiis elec tion was held February 21, 1950. I believe you will agree with me that the results of these two elections, together with the overwhelming votes In favor of State bonds, both in 1949 and in 1953, indicate a strong desire on the part of the people of Macon County to provide better educational facilities for their children. Stopped By Law As I understand the situation, about the only thing that pre vents the people in the county from providing these facilities from local sources is the fact that they have about reached the statutory limits of their financial ability. In connection with this, I would like to give some figures on the amount of county funds provided by the people of Macon County since February, 1950. Ih checking on expend itures for school improvements I have found that there has been spent a total of more than $1,102,000 for the improv ement of the school facilities in Macon County. Of this a mount, the people of the county have contributed in county bonds, county taxes and local contributions more than $740,000. This is proof that the people of Macon County have put forth great effort to pro vide better school facilities for their children. 97% For Bonds I have previously mentioned the overwhelming vote In Ma con County for State school building bonds. With .respect to the bond election of October, 1953, you might be Interested ? Continued on Page 3 STRICTLY PERSONAL # ? By WEIMAR JONES I am indebted to an unknown Eastern North Carolina woman for this bit of wisdom, which came to me via Mrs. Florence 8. Sherrill. Asked why she and her fam ily worked so hard to improve their farm, their home, and their living conditions, this woman from down east replied they were "determined not to ije the backwardest family in tne forwardest county in the state." That's the secret of commun ity progress? family progress. "Determined not to be the backwardest family In the for wardest county In the state." If every family In Macon County ? If even half the fam ilies In Macon County should adopt that attitude, that de termination, things would hap pen here. Macon soon would cease to be "one of the best" counties In North Carolina ? as It is. It quickly would become "the forwardest county In the state" ? as It can and should be. News Making As ft Looks To A Maconite ? B J BOB SLOAN This past week-end Macon County had a floral display to offer the public which Is un matched In Eastern America, I daresay. I am thinking of Way ah Bald with Azalea at Its peak. Never have I seen It bloom In such profusion, with such striking and vivid color and In so many different shades. While the Azalea will be past Its peak perhaps by this coming Sun day the Mountain Laurel and White Honeysuckle will just be coming Into Its own. While the small white bloom of the Hon eysuckle can not compete with the ostentatious Azalea for bril liance Its fragrance Is some thing no one can ever forget. As one lady who Is approaching her seventies said as she filled , her lungs with the fragrance of this queen of the mountain per fumes, "Just to smell that White Honeysuckle makes me feel six teen again." ? ? ? The carnival Ms come and gone, but I would like to say this In passing. Sometimes at tractions of this type leave the county with an unpleasant taste in our mouth. I believe the re cent show or carnival was the cleanest run concern that I have ever had any dealings with. Something that impressed me was the way they left the area where they were set up. Sunday morning I saw the manager, doing the final police up job. He had not left it to any of his help to see that the trash was gathered. He was the last to leave the area and he personally saw that It was cleaned up. This is typical of the way the show was handled. ? * * Hats off to the Jaycees for staging the square dances on Main Street each Saturday night. Here is hoping it grows in to something big. In Hen dersonville, another tourist town they have been very suc cessful with this. Also it pro vides wholesome recreation for our young folks which is need ed here. Dinnes Passes West Point Examinations William D. (Bill) Dinnes, Franklin youth who was ap pointed to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point by Rep resentative George A. Shuford last winter, has completed his mental and physical examina tions for admission. This information was received here this week in a telegram from Congressman Shuford. The wire said young Dinnes is being accepted at West Point June 28. The young man, 17-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. William Dinnes, was a first-stringer on the Franklin High football team last season. Murray Takes Post In New Mexico City Frank L Murray, Jr., has ac cepted work with the Bank of New Mexico, at Albuquerque, N. M., and he and Mrs. Murray left Tuesday to make their home in the New Mexico city. Mr. and Mrs. Murray, of Frank lin, spent last winter in An drews, where Mr. Murray was a teacher In the Andrews schools. Two Girls From Macon Take Jobs With F.B.I. Miss Ruth Edwards, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Edwards, of Franklin, Route 3, and Miss Barbara Ann Crews, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nyle Roper, of Franklin, Route 3, are now working in Washington, D. C., with the F.B.I. Both were members of the 1954 graduating class of Frank lin High School, and Miss Ed wards was the salutatorian. They were cleared by the F.B.I, and received their acceptance in May, and began work June 1. Pfc. Avary Stewart Serving In Korea Pfc. Avary Stewart, of Frank lin, is now on duty in Korea, member of a battalion that is helping to construct a govern ment building for a village in Korea, according to an army announcement. Pfc. Stewart, who entered the army In Janu ary, 1953, has been in Korea since last July. His next of kin is listed as Mrs. Clara Stewart. GROWSBIG TURNIP A four-pound turnip, grown In hie garden patch, was dis played here last week by R. R. Ammons, of the Rose Creek sec tion (Franklin, Route 3.) The turnip is of the Purple Top va
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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June 24, 1954, edition 1
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