Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / April 26, 1956, edition 1 / Page 2
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(Jit* 3\tnnk[in attit ?1 xt 3Higltlan?t8 Jftaruttiatt Entered at Poet Office, Franklin, N. C., as second class matter Published every Thursday by The Franklin Press Franklin, N. O. Telephone 24 WKIMAR JONES Editor BOB 8. SLOAN Advertising Manager J. P. BRADY News Editor-Photographer MRS. ALLEN SILER Society Editor Office Manager MRS. MARION BRYSON Proofreader CARL P. CABE Operator-Machinist FRANK A. STARRETTE Compositor O. B. CRAWFORD Stereotyper CHARLES E. WMITTINOTON Pressman DAVID H. SUTTON Commercial Printer SUBSCRIPTION RATES Outbids Macon County One Year $3.00 Six Months 1.75 Three Months .... 1.00 Inside Macon Countt One Year * $2.50 Six Months 1-75 Three Months .... 100 Two Years Three Years 5.25 7.50 Two Years Three Years 4.25 6.00 APRIL 26, 1956 'Collecting Agents' Macon's school principals, in a letter to the editor on this page,. raise the question: "Should the individual schools and parent-teach er associations have as one of their purposes, 'fund raising' ?" The immediate reaction is to answer "Certainly not !" However, a positive answer does nothing to cor rect a situation unless coupled to positive* action. And the citizens of Macon County are fully aware that thousands of dollars annually are being raised through school and P. T. A. benefits to complete a job in education that should be financed through state-county channels in the first place. Indignant "certainly-nots" will not correct the situation, but with county budget time coming up soon, action by citizens who are against turning school children into "collecting agents" for their own education can tertainly head off the trend. 'Baby' Growing Up The "baby" of Burlington Industries' network of hosiery plants is now preparing to move into long britches while theoretically still in the "diaper stage". As announced last week, an expansion program ?of "substantial proportions" is to move ahead at the Franklin plant almost immediately ? even before peak production is reached with present facilities at the $3,000,000 unit. Happily, this accelerated maturing by the plant, which hasn't been in operation a year yet, points to the "something extra" Macon County and its people have to offer. And, at the same time, it re flects the effectiveness of the "good neighbor" at titude existing between employer and employe. Without any fanfare, Burlington officials have blended well into the community, adding much to it culturally, socially, and economically. The alertness of the people here and their above average ability to grasp the various skills of the hosiery operation have been prideful points of con versation among the company officials for some time. These attributes are largely responsible for Burlington's planned expansion. "It's in response to what we think of your com munity", is the way a company vice-president, John Harden, expressed it in a speech here last week. When Burlington decided to settle' here, on be half of the people of Macon County, this newspaper resorted to some Elizabethan English and heartily welcomed the company with: "Light, stranger, and come in !" .Vow that expansion virtually assures its perm anency here, we'll add the sincerity of another old phrase : '"Clad you're going to sit a spell." Answer To Problem The answer to many of the problems in the Macon County school system will he found in an increase in the property valuation. The following facts hear out this statement: The assessed valuation of taxable property per pupil in 1954 in Macon County was $3,905. The .average throughout the state is $6,162. In short, the taxable property per pupil in Macon County is $2,257 lower than the state average. At present, in Macon County, the appraised value ?of school property per pupil in average daily mem bership is $408.22. The .state average is $470.56. Already, Macon is dropping behind, but by 1960, it is estimated by the State Department of Public In struction that schools here will need a property valuation of $749.38 per pupil, if needs are to be met. Further proof of the need for an increased valu ation is found in the fact that Macon County ranks seventh among the one hundred counties of the state in percentage of school indebtedness of tax able property. The per cent for the county is 4.1, while the state average is 2.2. However, it must be remembered that other counties with a more realistic appraisal of property valuation have more money to spend for schools without having the indebtedness here. It's difficult to finance modern schools with horse and buggy property valuations. Here We Go Again! Here we go again ! Another Grand Jury has got its licks in on the old courthouse. And we're inclined to comment tartly, "So what !", 'cause this is nothing new. For better than a quarter of century, juries have been lambasting the old brick building and still nothing has been done. Like a citizen said on the street the other day : "The durn thing'll have to fall in and kill a couple of people before a new one's built." So, this latest recommendation that the 73-year old courthouse be replaced kinda reminds one of the toothless felfc>w trying to "gum" his way through a juicy steak. The flavor gets through, but the nourishment doesn't. Enrichment used to be something beneficial to both the mind and the soul. Today it seems the only thing getting much out of it is bread. ? Letters School 'Collecting Agents' Dear Editor: Considerable space has been used In The Franklin Press during recent weeks concerning the financial status of the Macon County Schools. It is evident that the parent-teacher associations of the different schools have united in an effort to "get to the bottom" of the financial problems that have evolved from administration of the schools without adequate funds. The Press is to be commended *for giving such excel lent coverage to the efforts that have been made by this group of Macron County citizens, who represent all the citizens of their respective communities who are interested in the dire needs of the schools. It is our purpose to raise a question for consideration by the citizens of our great county who are interested in having their sons and daughters, obtain the best education that can be provided. This is the question: "Should the -individual schools and parent-teacTier associations have as one of their purposes, 'fund raising'?" Many books have been written concerning the purposes of the elementary and secondary schools of America and we have yet to find one that lists? "taking money from youth", or using our youth as "collecting agents" to be a means of pro viding wholesome educational experiences. Nor do we find that the objects of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers imply in the smallest degree that parent-teacher associations will provide funds for the operation of the schools. Could it be that a major purpose of education has been overlooked these many years? Maybe through our fund rais ing campaigns in our schools and parent-teacher associations we are providing such inspiration, challenge, and enrichment for our youth that we should add "fund raising" to the "prin ciples and purposes of education"? We hardly think so? not only is it poor economy to lose as much or more money than is cleared in many of our fund raising drives, but our youth are missing valuable educational services that teachers could be rendering instead of using their classroom time for these drives. We are the first to realize that our many causes have been worth while and the funds desperately needed, but the "ends" do not always excuse the "means". We readily agree that it is beneficial for groups of people to work together toward specific objectives, but we believe it would be much more wholesome if the teachers and parents were not forced to have "obtaining funds" as one of their objectives in the schools of our communities. Yours truly, Macon School Principals Harry C. Corbin W. G. Crawford Z. Weaver shope R. A. Byrd Alex Arnold E. O. Crawford J. Norman West B. Harry Moses R. C. Pipes O. P. Summer Others' Opinions (Opinions expressed In this space are not necessarily those of The Press. Editorials selected for reprinting here. In fact, are chosen with a view to presenting a variety of viewpoints. They are, that Is, Just what the caption says ? OTHERS' Opinions.) A Costly Slide For 14th (Sylva Herald) The 14th highway Division, already harassed from badly deteriorating highways caused by rain, snow and freezing and with the maintenance funds depleted, was hit a hard blow at 3:45 p. m* Monday when several hundred feet of a fill on the new section of U. S. 23-441, just across the line In Macon County, slid into the valley below. The $75,000 or more damage, estimated by Division Engineer C. W. Lee, would have gone a long way In repairing some of tb^ roads in the division now badly in need of repair. The mountainous 14th, with many miles of secondary and primary highways for maintenance, has always been handi capped by lack of funds because of the costly type of con struction and maintenance and to the shortage of funds allo cated to this district. Although the slide knocked out the highway and blocked traffic, highway crews lived -up to their usual record of meet ing any and all emergencies and within an hour or so had a one-way detour In operation and traffic began flowing again with little interruption, as can be seen in a picture on page 1. It appears to The Herald that a mistake was made when this tremendous fill was built on such a steep slope without having built a retaining wall at the base of It. However, it would have taken a huge wall to hold back the weight of 50, 000 yards of rain-soaked dirt and- rock. We fear that there will be further slides on other sections of the new highway. The slide well could have been disastrous from the stand point of human life, as a number of cars and trucks had passed over the fill just a few minutes before it suddenly gave way. This was a fortunate stroke of luck. Mighty Strange Advice (Chatham News) The Raleigh meeting of the NAACP last week revealed one bit of political strategy recommended by leaders of the organ ization. Among six points stressed by spokesmen was this one: When Negroes find they have no choice between "equally bigoted" candidates for public office, they should vote for the challenger against the incumbent to prevent his building up power through seniority. Strange advice is this from an outfit that has proclaimed loudly against the evils of demagoguery. The Farmer Is Saved (Windsor, Colo., Beacon) American agriculture can sit back now and take it easy. Its economic troubles are a thing of the past. An Ohio congressman has proposed a bill to issue a postage stamp commemorating the American farmer. "The best and most important part of every man's educa tion is that which he gives himself."? Edward Gibbon. STRICTLY PERSONAL By WEIMAR JONES As a rule, a conscientious ed itor instinctively shrinks from pushing himself or members of his family into public notice through the columns of his newspaper ? so shrinks that he is likely to "lean over back ward" the other way. This once I am ignoring the rule. In this week's strictly personal column, the first work I have been able to do in several weeks, I am writing about my mother. I do so, though, without self consciousness, because it seems agreed, among all who knew her, that Mrs. George A. Jones was a remarkable woman; one who influenced the thinking, the standards, and, most of all, the spirit of this community over a period of nearly a cen tury. How long and how widely her influence will continue to make itself felt no man can say. * * * Her essential goodness and the sweetness of her nature were well known. Less general ly recognized, perhaps, were her strength of character and her courage. Members of her generation grew up in a time when handi cap, hardship, and penury were every-day experiences here ? al most as common and as taken for-granted as breathing. Mere ly to survive, they had to de velop resourcefulness. She was one of those who, in the pro cess, acquired great inner re sources, on which to draw In time of crisis. Perhaps it was that inner strength which gave her such innate dignity. She could be at once tolerant and uncompromising. The sin ner felt the warmth of her sym pathy (In her late 80's, she went to the county Jail, carrying flowers and reading matter, to visit two prostitutes incarcer ated there); but there was no tolerance of the sin. Nor was there compromise on standards, in any field of endeavor; she had little patience with shod diness, none with slothfulness. In all my barefoot years, never once was I able to persuade her, at sleepy bedtime, that there really was "no use to wash my feet ? they'll just get dirty again tomorrow." I still can hear her reply ? and still cringe a little at her sham ing exclamation: "The idea!" But I still, also, can feel the fondness of her goodnight kiss ? after my feet were clean. To her children? and, I am sure, to scores, perhaps hun dreds of others ? she was the embodiment of stability. For 61 years, she was always there (or, if absent, would soon return), in the home where her grand parents had lived before her; always there to comfort those who came in grief or disap pointment. And always, after the tears, they went away with new courage, ready to go out and try again. She had strong ties with the past, deep pride in her regional and family background. But, as the historian, Harry Commager Steele, recently expressed it, her pride was "not to pander to the sense of vain-glory", but grew out of confidence "that only those proud of their heritage can transmit it to the next gen eration, and that only those who know their traditions can create traditions in which their descendants will take pride". To her, though, the past was (See Back Page, 1st Section) VIEWS. By BOB SLOAN I I would idee to pay tribute to a man who I think has one of the tnost difficult and important jobs in our county. The job is difficult for various reasons. Although in this position you are constantly working with people, the work is lonely. In fact, because so many people will impose on a friendship If given an opportunity, the man must remain aloof and seem unfriendly. To gain respect in this position, there must be no question of this man's fairness, impartiality, and honesty. The honesty that is re quired of him is particularly de manding. It is more than just power to resist taking what does not lawfully belong to him. He must also be able to resist temp tation in the way of out right bribes, special privileges, flattery, and veiled inducements made to him by his fellow citizens. H. T. Ferguson, state highway patrolman, possesses the above characteristics to a high degree. Since, he more than any other law enforcement officer in this county, is responsible for the safe ty of those who travel the high ways, we, of Macon County are particularly fortunate to have such a man here. Another phase to consider is our youth. Just when they are at their most irresponsible age they start driv ing autos. With the increasingly powerful autos and the increased traffic this presents a dangerous situation. Since, in many cases, it is Youth's first personal con tact with the rules and regulations which society must have, it is im portant that these traffic laws be enforced by men whom the youngsters will respect. Again. I would like to say of Ferguson, we are fortunate to have such a man. Do You Remember? (Looking backward through the files of The Press) 50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK Mr. F. T. Smith has purchased Mr. E. K. Campbell's soda foun tain and has moved it to his drug storfc. Mr. Felix Kirkpatrick, of Ellijay Township, aged 91 years, went fishing one day last week and caught a four-pound salmon. The commencement exercises of the Macon County High School will take place on May 2nd and 3rd. Mr. J. H. Tucker, of Ashe ville, wil be present and deliver the annual address on Thursday, May 3. Mrs. J. C. Weaver, of Cartooge chaye, returned home Thursday from a two weeks' visit to relatives in Sylva. 25 YEARS AGO Mr. Dick Slagle, after spending several days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Slagle, at their home on Cartoogechaye, re turned to Cornell University last Saturday. Mr. Crawford Dalton, who is working in Gastonia, spent the week-end with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Dalton, on Cowee. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Deitritch and family, of Germantown, Pa., are visiting Mrs. Deitritch's par ents. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Rogers. ? Highlands item. 10 YEARS AGO A band mill of Zickgraf Hard wood Company was destroyed Sun day by one of the worst fires in Franklin's history. The loss was estimated at $35,000. Frazier Redden has returned to Highlands and is getting his gift shop. "The Jam Pot." ready for opening. ? Highlands item. Miss Louise Pendergrass, a stu dent at the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina. Oreensboro, spent- the Easter holi days here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Pendergrass, at their home on White Oak Street. The mercury dropped to 28 de grees Friday In Highlands with a light snowfall.
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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April 26, 1956, edition 1
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