Newspapers / The Franklin Press and … / June 20, 1957, edition 1 / Page 2
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Site Jflntttklitt Cite Jiigltlanbs Jltarxjnxajt Second class mall privileges authorised at Franklin, N. C Puollahed every Thursday by The Franklin Preaa Telephone 24 # VmiAR JONBS Editor BOB S. SLOAN Advertising Manager i. P BRADY News Editor -Photographer mOLFE NEILL Reporter ? MRS ALLEN 81LER Society Editor Office Manager MRS MARION BRYSON Proofreader CARL P. CARE Operator-Machinist PRANK A. STARRETTE Compositor CHARLES E. WHITTINGTON . . * Pressman O E CRAWFORD Stereotyper DAVID H. SUTTON Commeiclal Printer SUBSCRIPTION RATES Outside Macon Cohntt On^ Year ... $3.00 atx Months ..... 1.T5 Three Months , 10? Two Tears 5 25 Thief Years 7.50 INSIDE MACON COUNT T One Year $2.50 Six Months . 1-75 Three Months .... 1.00 Two Years , 4-25 Three Years 6 00 JUNE 20, 1957 It's Curable * ? As many persons have observed, a major weak ness of the one-way streets is that they invite speeding. Unfortunately, in Franklin, the invitation has been accepted. Speeding, especially on Palmer Street, and notably on its eastern end, constantly grows worse. There are more and more speeders, and they drive faster and faster. From Maple Street east to the intersection of Palmer with Main (at the foot of the East Town Hill), the prescribed speed limit is 20 miles. Well, in broad daylight, when traffic is heaviest, the automobile that keeps within that limit is the rare exception. Forty miles is probably the average, with 50 or. 55 not uncommon. And at night, resi dents of the street say, the speedihg is far worse. This weakness of the one-way traffic system, happily, is not incurable. Three things are required to remedy the situation: (a) determination on the part of town officials; (b) enterprise and energy on the part of the police; and (c) strong medicine for those convicted of speeding. It can be cured. And the penalty for failure to cure it is sure to be one Or more deaths. It is all a question of time ? whether the authorities get busy before or after a needless death. What's The Answer? Is the 3,000-foot pass in the Cowee Mountain Range, between Franklin and Sylva, Cowee Gap or Watauga Gap,? In a letter in last week's Press, Mr. I). Hiden Ramsey, of Asheville, raised that question. To many people hereabouts, it came as a sur prise that there was any uncertainty about the name, because it generally is called "Cowee Gap". Mr. Ramsey points out, however, that some Forest Service maps and a recent one issued by the Stephens Press call it "Watauga Gap". And in quiry reveals that more than a quarter-century ago a Jackson County mapmaker ? the late Thomas A. Coxe, of Cullowhee ? so listed it. Since the Rap is a break in the Cowee Mountains, it is easy to understand why it should be called "Cowee Gap". But why < do the mapmakers call it "Watauga"? Does the "Watauga" come from the creek and the community of the same name on this side of the mountain? As suggested by Mr.* Ramsey, this gap is too important and too historic for there to be un certainty about its name. Who can throw light on the subject? Happens All The Time When disaster befell the Porter Thomas family, they were far away ? it was not something right on our doorstep. Futhermore, the victims were un known to many persons here. * But the people of this community were quick to realize that the aftermath of the automobile acci dent. with its heavy toll of death and injury, was a terrific financial burden. Here were people in deep trouble; people who, though they did not ask for it, could use some help. Well, they got help, almost immediately. All that was necessary was facilities for help ing. The ready sympathy of the people of Macon County did the rest. The money poured in : it came mostly in relatively small amounts; hundreds donated. Within hours, nearly $1,500 had been given. It was a moving example of the kindliness, the generosity that is characteristic of Macon County people. But it was unusual in only one way ? this was a somewhat spectacular instance of something that happens here all the time. Ask anybody, native or stranger, who has ever been in trouble here! This kindliness, this good neighborliness, this generosity is one of* the things that make us a great people. They are traits we must, at all odds, hold on to. Others' Opinions (Opinions expressed In this space ere not necessarily those I of Ths Press. Editorials selected for reprinting hsrs. la fsct. , I srs chosen with s view to presenting s variety of viewpoints They ars. that Is. Just what ths caption says ? OTHER? Opinions.) Strange Creatures AtvThe Zoo (Wall Street Journal) A zoo is where animals look through the fence at some very strange creatures. Only Knocks (Lion Magazine) Opportunity knocks, but it has never been known to turn the knob and walk in. Remember! You're A Guest (Sylva Herald) In planning your vacation trip this summer, will it in clude states other than North Carolina? If so, you should sharpen up your driving manners. People In the places you visit will judge you and North Carolina largely by your behavior. North Carolina vacation motorists can do a good public relations job for our state if they remember that they are guests in other states and - will observe the same courtesies they observe when they are guests in a friend's home. Being a tourist gives one no special privileges. You are expected to obey all local traffic laws and regulations and be as courteous on the roads as you would be in the homes of your friends. $10 In A Bottle (St. Petersburg, Fla., Times) There are few sights more discouraging in a large city than that of scraps of paper, discarded candy and gum wrappers, cigarette butts and other trash, blowing about the streets In a dreary, dirty dance of neglect. St. Petersburg, fortunately, has been fairly successful in combatting this problem. Most of our citizens seem to use the trash containers on downtown streets. The St. Petersburg Garden Clubs, and the Women's Serv ice League through their Litter-Bug Campaign in elementary schools, have developed an excellent educational program among tomorrow's citizens. Still, we might borrow an idea or two from San Antonio, Texas, where beautification groups have done a great deal to make the public litter-conscious. In a recent experiment, $10 was placed In a "discarded" bottle laid some five feet from a street corner trash receptacle. Five hundred and seventy-nine persons passd by the bottle. The 580th picked it up and put it where it belonged ? and re ceived the $10 as his reward! Where the courteous approach fails, the city puts additional push into the drive by enforcing some of the highest fines for littering in the nation. ing what name shall be established as official. St. Petersburg more than most American cities owes it to herself to live up to her "beautiful place to live" reputation. We suggest that San Antonio's example may be well worth following. SOUTH AND STEREOTYPES WILL CHANGE DESTROY OLD STRENGTHS, DISTINCTIVENESS? Greensboro Daily News Dr. George Gallup has been sampling opinion north and aouth of the Mason-Dixon Line, and he finds familiar stero types still prevail. Yankees think Southern women are Deautiful but in clined to be lazy, physically and mentally. The mental por trait varies from Scarlett CHara to Pearl Lester. Southerners think Yankees are always "In a rush" and spend too much time trying to stir up trouble in the South. Yankees consider Southern men well-mannered, but not as aggresdve and energetic as Northern men; they stick to old customs and don't like to change. Southerners like Job oppor tunities and wage scales in the north but only one-half as many Southerners would like to ?tore North as Northerners would Hke to move 8outh. ?Most of the images are flat tering North and South ? with the South, as usual, carrying the edge a bit In that depart ment. Southerners still have a way with words, and when it comes to flattery, they can't be beat. Old stereotypes still have power. They stem from many sources ? songs, travel movies, stage plays, books and personal qpntact. The South, as Bill Polk wise ly noted in "Southern Accent", is fast-changing. It is caught between the cloud cuckoo land myth of magnolias and moon light and the New South's in dustrial revolution and urban migration. This is draining it of old strength and old weak ness. Lost, Increasingly as the new suburbia takes over, are the lovely tree-lined streets still the hallmarks of old towns like Warrenton, Edenton and SalUbury. And under the trees on the broad piazzas only a handful of the South's color ful personalities remain, most ly old widows waiting to die. There are not many left like Lem Bingham who visited the Southern depot every day and later rattled off from memory numbers of all the 100 cars of a passing freight train. Along with the Old South's leisurely pace, its graciousness and cultivation of beauty, went a strong strain of dissoluteness and dissipation, a product of heritage and climate, and a sometimes cruel and rigid caste system. To be "accepted" In the small town of the Old South made life easy, almost too easy. The New South says "pooh pooh" to this, and builds its own social groups around exe cutives of the new mill and the new country club. In the crumbling of the old patterns the South loses much of its distinctiveness ? In its Tobacco Road and Coon Hill poverty and in its Ashley Wllke grandeur. What the New Soutl will become is still undetermln ed, whether a mediocre replic; of U. S. Urbla and Suburb!: Inc., or something finer. Many factors are working t bring the South Into closer con formlty with the mainstream o the nation? the U. S. Suprem Court decision, television, ml gratlon, travel and most lm portantly new industry. For as new Industry replace old agrarianlsm, even In small-farm state like Nortl Carolina, it produces its ow: cultural patterns. And thes may be like the patterns In a! the new suburblas across th nation, Or they may have distinctiveness all their owr The least that can be said wltl certainty Is that old ways ar departing, and that somehow the South must cope with th changes, or lose even more o its strength and resources li the bitterness of partisan strlft "Sail On, O Head Of Stale! Sail On, O Luther, Strong And Great!" STRICTLY Personal What newspaper people do. whether it's good or bad, is spread out for all the world to see ? and talk about. It is only natural, therefore, for newspaper folks to get their full share of praise and criticism, of boosts and boots. Well, we on The Press welcome both. Not that we enjoy the boots; far from it! we're much too hu man not to wince at criticism. But we've found our critics can be helpful ? If we'll just let 'em. For no matter how prejudiced and unreasonable, no matter how vic ious even, a critic can give us a slant on the job we're doing we'd never get otherwise. All we have to do is ask ourselves, honestly: "Well, now. Is there some truth, maybe, In what the fellow says?" Then, too there s nothing like a little humility to help a man keep his sense of proportion; and there's nothing like a thorough bit of tongue-lashing to bring a fellow down off the "high horse" most of us usually are astride. We get our share of boots, of course. But we get our share of boosts, too ? far more than we deserve. We've found that people, as a rule, are most charitable, and more than generous with their praise. VIEWS . . . By BOB SLOAN The Sidewalk Carnival, to be conducted by the merchants of" Franklin on Friday, June 28, tan be a big thing. If it is a success, it can mean something to all of us. "What?" and "How?'' I am suie you will be asking. In the first place, perhaps the Sidewalk Carnival needs a little. _ explaining. It is another promo tion by your local merchants to try to make Franklin grow into a bigger and better trading center. To attract attention, local mer chants are going to literally line the sidewalks with bargains on June 28. It is hoped that, in s addition to creating local buying interest, many people from neigh - boring towns will come over "Just a to see what is going on." '? Where do you stand to gain? The more trade we can get here 0 locally, the better the selection - of merchandise our merchants will if be able to offer. e The Sidewalk Carnival is Just - another step toward making - Franklin grow to be the best shop ping center west of Asheville. Let's a back it ? with trade, a ? ? ? h Rankin Square, which used to n be quite an eyesore, is now one e of the most attractive spots in our " town. Thanks and congratulations ? to the ladies of the Franklin Qar a den Club. However, I am sure i- they get their greatest reward ti each time they pass the Square, e ? Also. I think the flower boxes v which some merchants have e placed in front of their stores f add a great deal to the attractlve 1 ness of our town. The more the s. prettier, however. Dozens of times, (or example, we've heard this unintentional, and therefore completely sincere, bit of flattery from a person re newing his subscription to The Press; "I don't know why I take the little old thing, but somehow I just can't seem to get along without it." Then there was the man, sev eral years ago, who paid us this supreme compliment: "You know, they used to say about The Press: 'If you want to sleep at night, read The Press just before you go to bed; then you'll have nothing on your mind.' Well, that just ain't so any more." - And we especially prize one that came just the other day. In a let ter, Mrs. George E. Anderson, of Franklin, Route 1, had this to say: "If we miss a copy of The Press, it's like expecting an old friend and having them fail to come." "An old friend . . ." What more could any newspaper ask! * ? ? I'm not one to pine for the "good old days". I don't think they were so good. On the other hand, I get fed up with politicians, industrialists, and like gentry who rhapsodize about the wonders of our present day civilization. I don't think it's so hot, either. By WEBWAB JONES For how can you admire a society that daily proves itself infinitely stupid? To cite just four widely vary ing illustrations: We take the most vital part out of a grain of wheat, when we turn it into flour. Then we kid our selves into thinking it has been "enriched" ? and pay extra for it. * We measure prosperity in terms of the number of persons working. But, ostrich-like, wa fail to count the cost of social work, juvenile crime, and mental break-downs caused by the fact the ever-greater financial strain on the family forces more and more mothers of small children to work outside their homes. We find ourselves impotent ? or we are told we are ? to check the trend toward bigger and big ger business, bigger and bigger fanning, bigger and bigger labor, and bigger and bigger government ? with the individual, infinitely more important than any of them, counting for less and less and less. And we take a big share ? ? probably a third to a half ? of our people's earnings in taxes, and then spend four-fifths of the taxes for things related to war. DO YOU REMEMBER? Looking Backward Through the Files ?( The Fre? 65 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (1892) The creamery will cost, house, engine, appliances and all, $3,000 to $4,000 and should pay a return on the Investment of 25 to 33 and Vb pet ? From a letter urging establishment of a creamary in Franklin. "Waynesville. This is the county-site of Macon county, \ thirty miles west of Asheville." ? Statesville Christian Advocate. Bro Wilson should look up his old geography. But, then, you know, .Macon is a very familiar name, even where Hay wood is not heard of. ? EM. If a railroad would be put through to Franklin, that town wtrnld get much of the Highlands' business which now goes to Walhalla, the terminus of the present road. That business is estimated to be worth four or five thousand dollars an nually. ? Highlands item. 25 YEARS AGO (1932) 1 The Macon County baseball league came into full glory Saturday when all eight teams played regular games. One of the thrills of the afternoon was a home run made by Bill Green of West End in the game with Mountain Cove. The game was played on Holly Springs ground, which is located on th^ farm of C. L. Ingram. The Franklin team now has a place to play, due to the kindness of M. L. Dowdle, who has permitted the use of the grade just south of the depot. Franklin lost to Sylva by only five points in a bowling tournament Tuesday night, Bowling for Franklin were Howard Barnard, Benny Reece, Phil McCollum, Tom Hunt, and Ralph Freeman. Messrs. Raymond Dalrymple and Britt Carpenter, of Frank lin, who are camping here this week, are sick. ? Highlands item. Miss EHolse Ramsey, of Coeburn, Va., is the house guest of Mr. and Mrs. Wade Moody. ? Iotla item. 10 YEARS AGO When .Macon Superior Court convenes in August, women may be drawn for duty on petit Juries for the first time in the county's history. , Next year's county-wide tax rate probably will be the same as this year's ? $1.10 per hundred dollars' valuation.
The Franklin Press and the Highlands Maconian (Franklin, N.C.)
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June 20, 1957, edition 1
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