CIRCULATION Net Paid Last Week 3060 Wtl* ISiablanV Baconian ON THE INSIDE WHO'S BEEN WHERE AND FOR WHAT? Staff correspondents of THE PRESS keep the Inside pages of this newspaper alive with news about your friends and neighbors Read the Inside pages from top to bottom and you'll know Macon County. 74th Year ? No. 26 Franklin, N. C., Thursday, June 25, 1959 Price 10 Cent? Sixteen Pages GOOD LUCK TO all of you Smoky Mountain Cloggers on your trek to Hollywood. The blessings and best wishes of many Macon ians go with you kids, and we all hope you take the place by storm ? if for no other reason than to prove to some of the doubting Thomases that you can do it! THE CONCRETE is really pour ing at the culvert job at the foot of Town Hill. They're making every effort to get that detour out of the way just as soon as possible. If the weather will con tinue to cooperate, it will only be a matter of days before traffic will be able to use the highway once again. SOMEONE HAS been raiding the Babe Ruth refreshment stand at the East Frankiln ball field. Seems a little foolish for boys to risk a stretch at a reformatory for a soft drink or some candy. ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPHER of high repute has visited our area and sampled some of our many wares in the attractions field. Nationally-known Alan Oould visited the Cowee Ruby Mines one day last week and took several color pictures. Jim Brinkman is now cutting a ruby Mr. Oould found while taking time out for a little prospecting on his own. 'UNTO THESE HILLS' opened Tuesday night for the season. This is a tremendous drama, and one that every Western North Caro linian should see, if for no other reason than to be able to applaud its quality to visitors. COULD BE ABOUT time for the town to patch some broken places In the sidewalk. An elderly woman took a nasty fall Tuesday morning when she turned her ankle in a big broken place. IT'S GETTING hard to figure which set of lines to park between uptown. Of course, with the heavy traffic this day and time, a motor ist feels fortunate just to be able to get the nose of his vehicle pointed toward the curb. A FRANKLIN merchant has a letter from a prospective industry. It calls attention to the abandon ment of the railroad and says the industry would not be inter ested in coming here if the choo choo quit. Bye-bye industry; and a big ol' "I told you so" to some of you who couldn't get stirred up about the loss of the line. THAT TALENT show here last week was something. There's a lot of ability being covered up be cause no one seems interested in letting it be discovered. FIRST THEY were hollering about the rain, now about the dry spell. Next someone'll be saying a rocket might punch a hole in the sky and drain all the blue out. A LOT OF folks hoping the "Save the Railroad" committee can at best stave off the abandon ment of the Tallulah Falls line into this section. There's talk that it will continue to serve North Georgia, but that will be of little value here. ITS GOOD NEWS when they find those big gems out in Cowee Valley; even the local "rock hounds" start heading for the diggin's. WONDER WHY all highway construction has to be done during the busiest season of the year? Could blame it on the weather, we gueas. A CITY MANAGER could help head off some of these municipal problems cropping up almost be fore they start. TOWN FACES SHORTAGE OF WATER AGAIN All Nine Pumps Going, Tanks Stay Low Franklin is on the brink of an other water shortage, a municipal malady not uncommon here in re cent years. For several days, at the request of Mayor W. C. Burrell, the local radio station' has been asking resi dents to conserve water by not sprinkling lawns. Storage tanks have been empty, or near-empty, for several days, although the town's nine wells are all pumping. The tanks fill some overnight, but the reserve is soon gone. "They're just using water faster than it can be pumped," explained Prelo J. Dryman, chairman of the water committee. He attributed the problem to an increase in water customers. About 75 new customers have tapped on the lines in the past year, he said. At least one Franklin home, on a higher elevation, has been with out water, except during the night, for the past week. Pressure also has dropped considerably all over town, as the water level in the storage tanks drops during the day. Mr. Dryman said the town has "worked a trade" for John Hig don's private well on the High lands road and is now planning to turn this supply into the sys tem. The fligdon well produces about 50 gallons per minute. Aubrey L. Brown Is New Franklin Circuit Pastor Aubrey L. Brown, a native of Mississippi, is the new pastor of the Franklin Methodist Circuit. Mr. Brown, 33, attended West minister Theological Seminary, Westminister, Md., and received his A.B. degree from Albion Meth odist College, Albion, Mich. He did graduate work there, and re ceived his BJJ. degree from Can dler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Brown served in the UJS. Navy three years, and was employed by home Missions Division of National Council of Churches for two years. Before coming to North Caro lina, he served churches in Mich igan and Virginia. His wife teaches sociology at Western Carolina College. Mr. Brown succeeds the Rev. R. L. Poindexter, who has resign ed. Local Lions Bound For Convention In New York City Tiree Franklin Lions are head int for the Lions International Convention in New York City. Prelo J. Dryman and Harry C. Corbin, with their wives, plan to leave by automobile Sunday. H. Bueck will leave Sunday by train. They'll be in New York about a week. JO say J "MR. MACONIAN' Hi-ya Neighbors: I just knew you folks wouldn't let the youth center building project down ? although you had me a mite worried for a< while. All of you going out to work Saturday shows that the spark is still there and I'm mighty proud of your interest in the young people. While that spark is there, let's fan it with enougTf work to have a big lire burning until the youth center is built. A good way to kindle that fire wquld be for some of the young people not working this summer to volunteer a lot of their time on the project. And I thank you, Mr. Maconian PRACTICING WHAT THEY'LL 'PREACH' The fffur Macon ians above are going over their daily sched ules before going to their respective classrooms to teach at the training school at Western Carolina College, where they are practice teaching this summer. They are I.L to K) Earl Williams, L. B. Welch, Ray Young, and Grady Corbin. All but Mr. Wil liams, who is working on his master's degree in education, will be graduated from the college at the end of the summer ses sion. (Zeke Angel Photo) PLAYING HERE SATURDAY ? All-Stars And Georgia Team Are Tied For Top The Franklin All-Stars, one of the hottest ball tlubs produced here in recent years, is tied with Young Harris, Ga., for the top spot in the Tri-County League. Both teams sport win-loss records of four and one. This Saturday on the local diamond they'll play at 3 o'clock for first place. Sunday In Young Harris, the All-Stars stepped up to the tie by beating the Georgia team 5 to 1. On the mound for the All-Stars, Roger Seay pitched a four-hitter. and struck out 10. It was a m j e'cii ball game up to the seventh inning, when the Young Harris pitcher walked Harold Corbin. On a throw-away. Bobby Womack squeezed a two bagger into three and Corbin scored. Grady Corbin singled to left fiejd, scoring Womack. and the All-Stars started sewing up the game. Norman Seay got a hit and scored Corbin. The All-Stars got two more runs In the ninth. In this Saturday's tie-breaking clash, the All-Stars will send Nor man Seay to the mound. FOR THIS WEEK END ? Annual Station Meetings Scheduled In Highlands HIGHLANDS ? This week end, the annual meetings of the High lands ' Biological Station are scheduled. Saturday, at 10 ajn., the board of managers will meet in the Reinke Library of the Coker Build ing. Sunday, at 3 p.m., in the Museum of Natural History, the board of trustees will gather to consider the budget for the com ing year, evaluate the educational program at the museum, consider plans for expanding the research program at the laboratory, nomi nate trustees for the class of 1959 60, and elect officers for the com ing year. At 4:30 Sunday, the an nual membership meeting will be held in the museum building, with President Leland Shanor giving his annual report. At this time, citations of merit for distinguished service to the station will be pre sented to a number of individuals Expected for the board of man Valued At $3,000 ? 'ROCKHOUND' FINDS BIG UN A "rockhound" from El Dorado, Ark., Tuesday of last week found a large ruby in Cowee Valley. ^ So what? Okay, w a lot of people find rubles In Cowee Valley. But, the one found by J. Coy Davis hma been appraised by a local i?n cutter, Bob Daniel, as a perfect pigeon-Mood stone, with no risi ble flaws apparent. Mr. Daniel says it will finish into a rem of about one and thre??uarten carats worth a bout $3,00*. The cutter further said the stone was the best quality that had come to his attention in the 13 years he has been cutting gems from the Southeast. I ^earning of his valuable find, which came from Gibson's Ruby Mine. Mr. Darts said. "Why. I would hare been glad to hare sold it for $50, and would hare felt like I was cheating the buyer." He added: "Also, you know, I have cataracts on my eyes and can hardly see anything past three feet that is very small." To which Mr. Daniel replied: "Your e^es wil see as far under the ground as any." agers meeting, which also will be highlighted by a report by the executive director and a discussion of long-term research projects to be undertaken at the station, are J. R. Bailey, Duke University; Lewis Bemer, University of Flori da; J. J. Friauf, Vanderbilt Uni versity; R. K. Godfrey, Florida State University; J. W. Hardin, N. C. State College; E. P. Odum, University of Georgia; W. D. Bur banck, Emory University; Royal Shanks, University of Tennessee: and H. R. Totten, University of North Carolina. Trustees planning to be on hand include Leland Shanor, Florida State University; H. J. Costing, Duke University; Gertrude Harbi son, of Highlands; William D. McKee, of Cashiers; S. W. Farns worth, of Memphis, Tenn.; Lewis Anderson, Duke University; H. R. Totten, University of North Caro lina; A. J. Sharp, University of Tennessee; Elon E. Byrd, Uni versity of Georgia: Ralph M. Sargent, Haverford College; Mrs. W. C. Coker. of Chapel Hill; Mrs. E. M. Thomasson, of Chattanooga. Tenn.; R. B. Piatt, Emory Uni versity; Mrs. Irving Oumbel, of New Orleans. La.; H. M. Wright, of Highlands; Warren McA. Dea con. of Nashville, Tenn.; F. R. Dulany, of Savannah, Qa.; Mrs. F. M. Bird, of Atlanta. Oa.; Lewis Bemer, University of Florida: H. L. Blomqulst. Duke University: Mrs. Margaret Cannon Howell of Atlanta; and Judge Oeorge Jan vier. of New Orleans. , The executive director of the station is Miss Thelma Howell, of Wesleyan College. Square Dancing Being Sponsored ; Saturday night square dancing for the summer season will begin this week at Slagle Memorial Building under the sponsorship of the Franklin Jaycees. Hunter Young's string band will play. A small admission charge will be made to pay the expenses of the band. i. The Jaycee president, Roy M. Biddle. Jr., said his organization will continue to sponsor the Sat urday night dances so . long as Interest ' stays high. ATTENDANCE LOW, BUT TALENT GOOD $285 Is Raised For Team's Trip To Hollywood A chill in the air seriously hurt attendance at the "mountain talent hunt" here Thursday, Fri day, and Saturday nights, but those Mho attended were treated to some high-quality entertain ment. Held "under the stars" in the high school stadium, the event attracted entertainers from many sections of Western North Caro lina and North Georgia. $285 Cleared A total of $285 was turned over to the Smoky Mountain Cloggers to help with expenses on their trip to Hollywood next week for auditions at several major inovis and television studios. The Frank lin Jaycees, headed by President R. M. Biddle. Jr., assisted the local chamber of commerce with arrangements. While Bob Cox, of St. Peters burg, Fla., the talent scout who requested the talent hunt to search for possible mountain'acts suitable to make the trip to Hollywood with the doggers, did not find any of the acts adaptable to the type of program he Is planning on the west coast, he neverthe less "discovered" two excellent prospects and already has made arrangements to further the ca reers of both. Dancers Signed On the spot, just minutes after they danced Friday night, the talent scout signed a group of young Murphy square dancers, the Carolina. Sweethearts, to appear on a show in Florida in September Many considered the Friday and Saturday performances of the Sweethearts, whose average age is about 10, the hlghspot of the entire three-night show. Also tapped for possible star dom In the music world by Mr. Cox was a two-man act from Can ton. billed as "Ernie and Bill". Singers and guitar players, the two men, at the request of the talent scout, performed all three nights. Mr. Cox announced Sat urday night that he had made ar rangements earlier in the day for them to audition for a big record ing company at an early date. Hollywood Bound On borrowed money < mast of It scraped up by parents), the Smoky Mountain CloKiiers. Jimmy Luns ford and his string band, and Mr. Cox will leave tomorrow (Friday) for Hollywood by automobile. The talent .scout, who placed the Cloggers on the Ed Sullivan Show in March, 1957, says he is confident the young dancers will "click" and that movie-Roers and television viewers will someday see them in movie houses and on television screens, j He's so confident, in fact, he sold his most prized possession, his Cadillac convertible, to help finance the trip. "When a. talent scout takes a step like that, he's really sure of the abilities of his performers, he quipped here (ecently. Dr. LaDu Pins The Medal On Luke (,'hastain NATIONAL ONE, TOO ? Master Of 'Old Touse' Got Himself A Medal Luke dhastain has himself a medal. It's an unusual medal, too, because it's the oniy one of its kind awarded in the United States. Its for human service to animals. There are lots of medals given each year to animals for saving the life of someone drowning, or for barking and awakening the occupants of a burning house, and things like that. But, there's only one medal given to a human for service to an animal. That's the Walter L. Stiliman award of the Ameri can Humane Society, the high est recognition the society gives in this field of devotion. That's the one Luke Chastain got last Friday night at a special awards banquet in Ashevllle held by the Society for the Pre vention of Cruelty to Animals. Luke's love for his favorite 'coon hound, a blue tick and bulldog named "Old Touse", got him the medal. Back in De cember while 'coon hunting, the hound became trapped in a rock cliff in Georgia. For 13 days, Luke rarely left the scene as he and his friends worked against time to chisel their way to the trapped animal. Finally, on the 18th day the dog had been in his rock prison, Luke decided it was a hopeless task. Dynamite was the only solution ? and that might kill "Old Touse", who let Luke know he was still alive by whimpering. "But I figured if he had to die, I'd rather it'd be that way I than by starving to death," Luke told the banquet audience Friday night. A dynamite charge was set. When the dust cleared, out staggered "Old Touse", very much alive. The 'coon hound was wobbly on his feet. Luke picked him up and carried him down the mountainside. So, that's why Dr. Robert W. LaDu, an Asheville veteri narian, with a sincere measure of pride, pinned the William L. Still man medal on Luke over in Asheville Friday night, add ing Ids own appraisal of the situation: "The rest of the world could follow Luke's example of getting right to work on an impossible job. without first . . . considering if the job could be done or not . this is truly a case where a man was a dog's best friend." Gets 50- Year O.EJS. Pin Miss Lassie Kelly, of Franklin, has received a 50-year pin from the state organization of the Order of the Eastern Star. A member of the Nequassi chap ter here, she was presented the pin at East Lai port last week by the worthy matron. Mrs. Mildred Fisher, of Asheville. The occasion marked sin official visit by Mrs. FLsher with the O.E.S. chapters of Franklin. East Laport, Sylva, Highlands, and Glenville. FAIR WEATHER SPARKS WORK ON CULVERT Fair w?ather in the last week let workmen have a break on the culvert project at the foot of Town Hill In Franklin. Tuesday, half of the large double-barrel culvert had been poun-d. Forms are now bting erected for the second half. Weather cooperating, traffw should be flowing over the new structure in July. (Staff Photo) RAILROAD GROUP HIRES LAWYERS Will Represent Area At Hearing In Georgia Franklin's "Save the Railroad" committee has two legal voices to represent Its interests at this coming Monday's hearing in Quinesville, Oa? on the requested abandonment of the Tallulah Palls Railway. Money put by a number of local businessmen Interested in keeping the dead-end line here has been used to retain the services of lawyers J. Horner Stockton and O. L. Houk, who will attend the Oeorgia hearing, along with sev eral businessmen. Southern Railway, which owns the 57-mile line from Cornelia, On , to Franklin, has requested Its abandonment on the grounds the SEE NO. I. PAOE 8 Jaybirds Leading Little League piay ended the first half of the season last week with the Jaybirds leading with seven wins and one loss. 1 lie Wildcats were in second place with five and tour; Reddys. third, three and five; and Thun derblrds, fourth, two and seven. Teams are now engaged in the first week's play of the second half. Today i Thursday, the Thun derbirds and the Jaybirds will clash. Tomorrow, the Reddys and the Thunderbirds meet. The Weather "Hip week'* temiierature* and rainfall helow are j i*