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WEIMAR JONES
Editorial Page Editor
MORE WATER PER DOLLAR
Should Be Considered
Franklin's Board of Aldermen has ordered an
election on issuance of $350,000 in bonds for the
propoeed project to pet the town's water supply
from Cartoogechaye Creek.
Respectfully, we express the hope that the alder
men will reconsider that order ? until the pos
sibility of a watershed has been considered, serious
ly and carefully.
We do not believe the watershed alternative has
been given serious and careful consideration. Here
is just one of a number of evidences that it hasn't :
After months of study, Messrs. H. H. Plemmons
and W. Russell Cabe recommended the Wayah
watershed. Shortly after that, the town's engineers,
Messrs. Harwood-Beebe, conferred with the alder
men and then with the two local engineers who
had recommended Wayah
Five days later (including a Saturday and a Sun
day), Harwood-Beebe submitted its report on the
Wayah project. Seven days after that, (includ
ing a Saturday and a Sunday), the aldermen order
ed the election.
While Harwood-Beebe modified some of its ear
lier figures on the same subject, it came up with
conclusions wholly different from those in the
Plemmons-Cabe report. There was a wide differ
ence of opinion, both as to the amount of water
available at Wayah and as to the cost of that proj
ect.
It is a little hard to believe that Messrs. Plem
mons and Cabe were wholly wrong in every respect
and that Messrs. Harwood-Beebe were 100 per cent
accurate on every detail. Usually, in such a case,
the truth lies somewhere between the two extremes.
It seems reasonable that it may here. , '
But assume, for the moment, that the Plem
mons-Cabe report is all wrong and the Harwood
Beebe report is wholly accurate. That is, look at
the situation on a basis of the Harwood-Beebe fig
ures. Consider it in the light of their top figures
on cost and their bottom figures on quantity of
water.
The Plcmtnons-Cal>e report said 2,300,000 gallons
of water arc available from Rough Fork, adding
that three other tributaries of Wayah Creek could
be tapped later as needed. Harwood-Beebe con
cedes 2,300,000 gallons of water is available, but
says all four tributaries would have to be tapped
to get that quantity.
Harwood-Becbe's top figure for cost is $585,756.
Of that total, $6,000 is for an intake on Rough
Fork. Assuming it was necessary to tap all four
creeks, there would be the added cost of three
more intakes, at $6,000 each, or another $18,000.
That would bring the total cost to $603,756.
At Cartoogcchaye, again taking the Harwood
Beebe figures, the cost would be $340,000, but the
town would get only 1,000,000 gallons.
1 ,
Now, in each case, divide the number of dollars
by the number of gallons. The results will be the
costs per gallon.
The figure comes out 26 cents at Wayah, 34
cents at Cartoogcchaye. Put another way, at
Wayah you get four gallons of water for each dol
lar invested ; at Cartoogcchaye, only three. For
every dollar invested, that is, you'd get a third
more water at Wayah.
And these are Harwood-Becbe's own figures.
Franklin is fortunate to have on its board good
businessmen. They are much too good business
men to pass up, knowingly, the opportunity to get
a third more for each dollar invested, without long
and careful thought.
Franklin is fortunate, too, to have on its board
smart men. They not only know how to divide
dollars by gallons; they are much too smart not
to know, if they had given it thought, that cost
per gallon is vitally important.
Does anybody believe these smart businessmen,
had they done that simple problem in arithematic,
would have so blandly turned down the chance to
get a third more for the money? At the least, if
they had given the matter serious and careful con
sideration, they would hardly have taken a seven
day snap judgment on it.
Emphasis Shifts
The new administration of the Franklin Cham
ber of Commerce marks a pronounced shift in
emphasis.
The change was indicated by the choice, as a
speaker for Friday night's annual members' dinner,
of a man whose job is to bring new industry into
the state. It was spelled out in the 1960 Chamber
budget.
Whereas, in past years, the allotment of money
has put major stress on tourist promotion, this
year the emphasis is. on industry. In 1959, for ex
ample, $2,000 was budgeted for advertising for
tourists and $1,250 for seeking industry; this year,
the figures are more than reversed ? $2,500 for in
dustry and $1,200 for tourists.
In his talk at the banquet, as it turned out, Mr.
Richard P.. Mauney, Murphy native whose work
with the Department of Conservation and Develop
ment is to induce industry to come to North Caro
lina, devoted almost as much attention to tourists
as he did to industry, with considerable discussion
of the importance of highways. Too, he emphasized
this state's healthy policy of refusing to seek in
dustry bv offering special concessions, such as ex
emption from taxation for a period of years. Such
special inducements, he said, not only would be un
fair to the industry already here; really desirable
industry doesn't expect or want anything resemb
ling bribes.
And Mr. Woodrow Reeves, the new Chamber
president, emphasized that, in seeking new indus
try, his organization will not forget or lose interest
in the industries we have.
While he did not say so in words, no doubt Mr.
Reeves also had in mind the Chamber's interest in
and willingness to help organize new, small indus
tries locally.
Locally organized small industry ? as a few
of that kind we already have have shown ? pos
sesses two advantages. Home-owned business of
any kind always is preferable to that controlled by
absentee owners ; and it is likely to fit in with our
natural resources, our native skills, and our acces
sible markets ? such as the market afforded by
the tourists who come here.
After all, industry has to originate somewhere.
Why not originate some of it right here at home?
Two Unusual Persons
Two persons who died recently ? persons of
wholly different backgrounds ? represented in
their characters and personalities much of the best
of the old Macon County.
The Rev. Robert L. Poindexter's entire life was
a long, stubborn battle to overcome obstacles, to
make the best of his opportunities. Combined with
that was a desire to serve his fellow man. We here
in the mountains, with our respect for the ministry,
are slow to give nicknames to preachers ; so the
affection felt for Mr. Poindexter was doubly evi
dent in the fact that, to many, he was "Uncle Bob".
Mrs. Mary Lyle Waldroop, growing up under
quite different circumstances, was given what, in
that day, was considered an excellent' education ;
yet, thorough democrat that she was, there was
never any hint that she took credit to herself for
this advantage. She, too, served long and well, if
in less conspicuous positions. And though she was
affectionately known as "Aunt Mamie" to many
who were not her' kin, and despite her jollity, no
body would have dared over-familiarity ? her quiet
but innate dignity was too evident. In her case, the
rare combination of characteristics was great
strength of character, overlaid with a sweetness of
nature that, unhappily, was almost quaint in this
atomic age.
Helpful Wives
(Wall 8treet Journal)
Many a wife has helped her husband. to the top of the lad
der and then decided that the picture would look better on
the opposite wall.
Ulco Park
Dear Mr. Jones:
When the Bonny Crest subdivision was surveyed In 1908, a
public area was reserved and named Ulco Park. It Is not a
large area, but It Is situated next to a stream and does, or
did have a nice eover of tall hardwoods with some dogwood
and laurel understory. With development, It could be a beauty
spot for the neighborhood
However this section of Franklin has not developed as fast
as some, and the Town still has not gone to the trouble of
taking title to the land, much less developing It.
This winter several of the larger, nicer trees have been cut
from Ulco Park for firewood.
Regardless of who Is cutting the trees, should we allow
this piece of land, which Is reserved for the benefit of future
citizens of Franklin, to be laid bare for the benefit of Indi
viduals? Already there are portions of Franklin that would
have far more appeal to residents and visitors alike If they
were converted to public parks or gardens. In the future, we
may well regret our present lack of vision.
The city fathers of the town where I was raised reserved
I
twenty years ago all undesirable building sites along creeks
and streams for future parks. Now Arlington, Va., Is a model
of the success of the city manager form of government and
Is also a beautiful and desirable place to live. Those homes
adjacent to the park areas bring premium prices on the real
estate market and what might have been unsightly gullies
and muddy backyards provide playgrounds for children and
adult* alike.
In the city where I went to school, seven hills were par
chased by the local government and water tanks erected as
part of the local fire protection and household supply system.
Instead of allowing these purely functional sites to go to bush
and weed, each was made a park, with grass and ornamental
plantings. The women's club took one site and made a public
tulip and rose garden, which Is now a spring- and summer
long floral display that Is famous throughout the region
We like to think of Franklin as a tourist town. It can be a
home town, too. In either case, we should be adding to our
natural beauties, not Ignoring or removing them.
FLOYD W. SWIFT, JR.
Franklin.
Why Necessarily 180 Days?
Editor, The Press:
Tour invitation for readers' ideas Is commendable. I suspect
that there are a good many readers with exceptionally good
ideas but who are afraid to send them In lor fear of being
socially ostracized. But when the time comes that we can no
longer express Ideas, then we will have lost one of our basic
freedoms. I submit the following Idea and hope it will stimu
late debate on the subject.
The truth now clearly confronts parents, students, teachers,
educators, and others that children must begin sitting in
Macon's schools six days a week while flowers, birds, and
other beauties of nature unfold out of doors. This means that
the seats of pants will become worn from spring restlessness.
Worn pants may be repaired or replaced. But what about
worn out minds? As anyone who has been to school knows,
springtime school ? even though It Is only five days a week ?
gets a person hot and bothered.
There is a limit to the amount that children can learn;
Indeed there Is also a limit to how fast children can learn.
Too much of anything taken In too fast often does more
harm than good. I remember that one of our fine milk cows
on the farm once ate too much clover and died Even I once
ate too many bananas too quickly and have hated them
ever since. Too much was eaten too fast. Can people become
foundered on school and books as well? I think so. I am
teaching some of that kind right now.
To "get In 180 days of school" seems to be the important
thing to do. It's the law. But many people become discour
aged at times when snow, cold weather, and other forms of
God's creation pay no heed to their laws. Then the tendency
Is to take drastic steps to correct the mistake of nature ? even
if it runs people ragged.
We seem to have become slaves to the written law, the tick
ing clock, and the calendar; we Jump when the clock, buzzer,
and red light say to do so. It seems that we obey these arbi
trary rules and robots regardless of snow and regardless of
whether It Is good for children to sit for long weeks into the
late spring with books, pencils, and paper
Education has been going full blast In recent decades Edu
cation has made It possible for us to produce gadgets and
robots at a fantastic rate; we suddenly realize that we have
also developed our potential destruction: atomic bombs may
blow us away at anytime now! Do we need more of the same?
Hardly!' It now seems that we need to learn just plain sense.
However, to condemn education often runs Into opposition
from parents who literally hate the thoughts of their chil
dren's staying at home all day. In tact, many parents seem
to hate the thoughts of children; they take all maimer of
precautions to keep from having them In the first place. And
families are getting smaller. Yet this wasn't always the case.
For example, my great-grandfather and great-grandmother
each came from very large families and had 14 children them
selves. He lived to be 93 and she lived to be 95.
One would think, with all the modern time-saving devices,
that It would be the other way 'round ? that parents would
raise more rather than fewer children. But it Is gadgets rather
than children that are filling the homes. Parents seem to
prefer gadgets; and to get gadgets, they hope the weather
doesn't disturb their money-making routine And they hope
their children will be gone 180 days.
Although I am not building up the Alaska school system,
it seems that the tourist season, farming, summer school for
teachers, and a normal routine If possible during all seasons
of the year take precedence over a predetermined number of
school days ? Alaska tries to get . In 172 days of school, but
any days lost because of bad weather or epidemics are gone
forever. The school calendar is decided before school starts
so that teachers and others Gan make future plans that will
not be Interrupted.
WILFORD W. CORBIN
Anchorage, Alaska.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
Lookinf Backward Through the Files of The Pre?
65 TEARS AGO THIS WEEK
(1895)
Jule Jacobs moved a mile out Into the country last Friday.
Eleven bags of mall were delivered to the Franklin post
office Monday evening.
Mr. J. Lee Barnard's family moved to town yesterday, and
are occupying the Mrs. Bell residence.
The last Legislature taxed doctors, dentists, and lawyers
ten dollars each, but let the precious dogs go free.
' 35 YEARS AGO
(1925)
Contract for construction of Franklin's municipal dam and
power house on the Little Tennessee River will be let today.
Competition among the many bidders is expected to be keen.
15 YEARS AGO
(1945)
Instruction in Civil Air Patrol courses is going forward at
a rapid rate for the 70 cadets enrolled! in the Franklin School.
Mrs. Curtis L. Pearson has received word that her husband,
Pvt. Pearson, has recovered from a slight wound in his right
eye, while fighting with the Marines on Iwo Jlma.
5 YEARS AGO
(1955)
The Macon County Board of Education Is being reduced by
legislative enactment from five to three members, and C. C.
Sutton, Erwin Patton, and O. F. Summer are being appointed
to replace the five men nominated in last spring's Democratic
primary.
Features of Franklin's upcoming centennial celebration in
June are shaping up.
STRICTLY
PERSONAL
Br WHMAB JONH
That's a good question The
Charlotte Observer raised the
other day: How did the rural
people of Western North Carolina
survive the deep snows of earlier
days?
It's a question that a moment's
recollection will heavily underline.
For as late as the 1920's, there
were virtually no paved highways
through the mountains, and the
best of such roads as there were
often were well-nigh Impassable In
winter, even when there was no
snow. Furthermore, organized
crews and machinery to quickly
clear snow from highways were
undreamed of. The difficulties of
travel and transportation, in short,
were far greater a single genera
tion ago. Then the difficulties
extended all the way from rural
home to town: now they extend
only to the nearest cleared high
way.
It's an Interesting answer, too.
that Clyde Osborne, Observer rural
life editor, comes up with in the
piece reprinted on this page: The
mountain farm of an earlier day
was very nearly a self-sufficient
unit as to focd and fuel.
True as that Is, I suspect it is
not the whole answer.
Another Important factor was
the difference in modes of trans
portation. Before the days of
highways, and the rubber-tired
motor vehicles they brought, the
mountain man depended on the
more sure-footed horse or mule,
or, earlier, ox.
And few mountain farms were
without sleds. Sleds, mind you, not
the fancier sleighs; horse- or mule
or ox-drawn sleds for the purely
practical purpose of hauling things
where no wagon would go ? or
hauling things or people over
snow.
Another difference is that we
were mentally greared to a far
slower tempo. The rural resident
didn't expect to be able to get
to town every day or so, or even
every week or so. He made one
all-day shopping trip do for weeks
or maybe months.
And when there was Illness in
the family, it was taken for grants
ed that the doctor would not ar
rive for hours, even after someone
had gone to summon him ? and
maybe not till the next day or
even the day after that. Mean
while, there were facilities for
home-nursing and considerable
knowledge. In the neighborhood if
not in the immediate family, of
h.5w to do it.
Another moment of recollection,
along a different line, suggests
still another aspect of the situ
ation. While this rear's snow has
stayed on the ground a long, long
time, you don't have to go back
to "the old days" to find records
of much heavier ones; there have
been several as recently as since
the coming of paved highways.
But who remembers, on those oc
casions, there being any necessity
for any such heroic efforts at
rescue as have filled the news
papers in recent weeks? How
come? '
Well, all of us like to be con
quering heroes: there's one thing,
though, all of us like even better
to be ? rescuing heroes. And
the fellow who drops supplies from
a helicopter is something of both!
Beyond that, we live In an age
of rescue. Everybody is constant
ly bent on rescuing everybody
else; anbody who doesnt have all.
and exactly, what we have, we
are quite sure, needs rescuing.
Add to that atmosphere the
vested interest that the modern
highly organized rescue agencies
have in making a good showing,
and you have the perfect set-up
for the dramatic rescue efforts
that have been so publicized.
I am not suggesting there was
no suffering, or that some of
the rescue efforts were not worth
while. Nor am I discounting the
warm human sympathy that trig
gers the rescue impulse.
What I am suggesting is that
the plight of the mountain people
may have been exaggerated, and
that there probably was some
rescuing that wasn't needed, or
even wanted.
That, likely to be true anywhere
today, is doubly probable when
this region is involved; because
there's long been combined with
stubborn ignorance about the
mountains a certain romantic '
glamor about saving the poor and
benighted mountaineer.
Here's a good Illustration of
that combination;
It has been relatively only a few
years since a Chicago business
man, who had been contributing
to a mission school In Macon
County, wrote the N. C. superin
tendent of public Instruction to in- '
quire if the state couldn't sup
plement his and others' philan
thropic efforts to bring some en
lightenment to this county.
That was at a time when North
Carolina was paying a large share
of the cost of this county's public
school system, and when Macon
was credited with having the
largest proportion of college grad
uates in its population of any
county in the state!
NOT FIRST BIG . SNOW
How'd We Survive Earlier Ones?
CLYDE OSBORNE
In Charlotte Observer
How did mountain farmers sur
vive deep snows in pre-helicopter,
pre-weasel days?
That's a question hundreds of
persons, including those farmers
themselves, have been asking since
the pressing need for emergency
food and supplies was manifested
in Western North Carolina's high
hills. Many of those farmers saw
the whirlybirds and the Army's
half tracks for the first time.
Others of these fiercely proud
folks may have accepted handouts
of food and fuel for the first time.
And they have asked themselves
for the first time: We've had these
deep snows before. If we got by
then, why not now?
Those asking themselves this
question find an inescapable
answer ? hard to accept, maybe,
but nonetheless as certain as the
snow: the farmer of 1960 is not
the self -sufficient one of other
years. He is as dependent on the
urban areas for goods and services
as the city apartment dweller.
In the old days, the first snippy
weather of fall found the moun
taineer with a smokehouse full of
hams, sldemeat, sausage, and other
goocies for the long winter months
ahead. In the chicken house, hens
cackled as they laid eggs, or
clucked as they steered budding
fryers to food.
Inside the farmer's home, the
pantry overflowed with canned
beans, soup mixtures, okra, corn,
squash, and other luscious feeds
from the summer garden.
There were sacks of flour, others
of ground corn meal, and rye
flour. The only overtures to the
outside world were sacks of salt,
coffee beans, sugar, and some
spices.
A 20-foot snow would have found
the family ready, foodwise, to a
wait the spt^ng thaw.
And out in the barns, there was
enough hay and silage to carry the
fanner's stock through the winter.
If he had mere stock' than food,
he'd have sold the excess animals
in the fall or slaughtered them
TWO SOLUTIONS
There're two ways to solve most
problems: Strengthen your will
power or weaken your conscience.
? Greeley, Colo., Booster.
for his own use.
Fuel? A shed was filled to the
rafters with firewood the tiller
of the soil had cut during spare
moments In the summer and fall
schedule of chores.
This farm and others like it
comprised the family farms of
former years. The farm was an
economic unit within Itself, grow
ing all the food for the family and
the stock.
What's changed? First of all. the
farmer himself, His children have
gone away to school and brought
home stories of wonders such as
television and warm clothing. The
mountaineer, like all parents,
wants these things for his family.
So he may take a Job off the
farm to bring home added cash
for these "luxuries." Or he may
contract with a canning firm to
grow a particular crop ? say po
tatoes ? for a guaranteed return.
It has been estimated that in
80 per cent of the mountain
families one or more persons works
off the farm at least 100 days a
year.
And with cash coming in, elther
from public work or from contract
farming, the farmers are inclined
to grow less of their food supply
and to depend more on their ur
ban cousins for some items of food
and fuel. They frequently buy a
large share of their food from
the neighborhood crossroads store.
The farmer's cash is welcome in
country and city stores. He is no
longer self-sufficient, taking money
from the cities and spending it
back there just like other citizens.
I TWO WAYS
TO GROW OLD
"We must begin at school and
in college to learn to absorb life
so that when we grow old we
may be filled with Its colors,
thoughts, and sounds and so spend
our last years In the melodies of
sound,' of color in flower, tree,
and costume, and the lovely songs
sung In poetry, story and play.
If we don't, then the old seek
relaxation In being a misery to
themselves and a damned nui
sance to others." ? Sean O'Casey
in Harper's magazlDe.