North Carolina Newspapers

€ Q UiqfiU! Hcmg/ Glcndon , Jori VOLUME 28. NO. 10 16 PAGES THIS WEEK Southern Pines. N. C.. Friday, January 31, 1947. 16 PAGES THIS WEEK TEN CENTS Trucks Supplant Moore Central, Now Defunct Sharpe Declares Application Filed To Abandon Railroad Van B. Sharpe, president; and operator of the Moore Central railroad, told The Pilot Wednes day morning that his railroad has suspended lopeuations, with all employees given terminal notice; that he is operating a fleet of nine trucks for freight delivery from Cameron to Carthage, in lieu of the railroad service; that all freight is being delivered as fast as it comes in, and that he plans to continue this service in definitely. He has made application to the North Carolina Utilities commis sion for abandonment of the rail road, he said, and the Seaboard Air Line, of which it is a spur, has made similar application for him to the Interstate Commerce commission. These developments followed fast on events of last week, when the Carthage Junior Chamber of iCommerce.j the Ccyidhage Mer chants’ association, the Citizens’ committee of Carthage organized to promote good operation of the railroad, and W. H. Currie, legis lator, sought aid in Congress to prevent closing down of the line, deemed essential to the county seat’s business and industrial economy. With their good offices sought in the town’s behalf. Senator Wil- lianvB. Umstead and Representa tive C. B. Deane respond-td that they would give their support, but could do little until applica tion for abandonment of the rail road was filed with the ICC, which had not been done at the time. Applications, however, are merely formalities “when the money gives out,” said Sharpe, and a railroad without funds is necessarily a railroad abandoned, ICC or no ICC- Whether or not the trucking service will answer Carthage’s needs, and quiet the citizenry who saw in the railroad (Continued on Page 5) Lodge 484, Marking 50th Birthday, Recalls Doughty Scotchmen of 1798 Masons from Southern Pines and a number of surrounding towns, some 125 in all, gathered at the Masonic hall here at 7 p. m. Wednesday for a barbecue supper and special program in honor of the 50th anniversary of the chartering of Lodge 484, Southern Pines. William J. Bundy, of Greenville, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, was the principal speaker, addressing the assemblage in mingled light and serious vein, relating the story of the progress of Masonry, and its benefits to mankind. Following the supper, which was supervised by Stanley Tobin of the host lodge, and served by Daughters of the Eastern Star, Past Master Ralph Chandler gave a history of Lodge 484, going back to the beginnings of Masonry in Moore coupty 150 years ago, and the founding of the local lodge as a countywide organization, centered at Aberdeen, a half cen tury ago. He described how, at that time, members came from Pinehurst by trolley line, from the Cameron section by train, from other towns, as far as 40 miles away, by horse and buggy. The lodge was moved to Southern Pines in 1902, and has since be come the parent of another lodge at Aberdeen. Past Master J. N. Steed spoke words of welcome, and Master J. W. Causey recognized the vis iting grand lodge officers—Grand Master Bundy, Grand Secretary Wilbur M. Mclver; of Raleigh; and District Deputy Grand Mas ter W. L. Allen, of Rockingham. Veterans Grand Master Bundy presented a 50-year veterans’ medal as a courtesy to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, to Henry F. Lesh, of Dalhousie Lodge, Massachu setts, who is wintering at Pine hurst; and recbgiiized other long- service veterans as follows; Charles Leach, of the Southern Pines lodge, 49 years; John Bow- kar, Massachusetts, 49, years; Tom Benson, Massachusetts, 49 years; and C. W. Kellam, New Jersey, 51 years. The last named three are now residing in Pinehurst. Mason Kellam, at 92 years, was reported to be “oldest in years but young est in spirit” at the meeting. During the evening the Masons enjoyed vocal solos by Jean Olive and William Dale, accompanied at the piano by Irene Olive. (Continued on Page 15) Moore County Hospital Announces 11 Additions To Its Nursing Staff With the prevailing shortage of nurses, the Moore County hos pital is singularly fortunate to have secured 11 additions to its nursing staff during the past six months—but these are still not enough, according to Miss Ellen Bruton, superintendent of nurses. The hospital shares with others of the nation « great need for more women trained for general duty nursing, and also in specialties of the profession. According to an announcement by Mis Bruton this week. Miss Rose E. Fiske, a native of Kings ton-on-Thames, Surry, England, came latp in the summer to be head of the operating room. Miss Fiske graduated from Kingston High school and, professionally, from Connaught Training school in Western Ontario, Canada, and saw service in World War I. Assisting Miss Fiske in the op erating room is Mrs. Willie Mae Valentine. Mrs- Valentine, a 1941 graduate of thje Ru,therfordton hospital, is from High Point, and came here October 1. Miss Ann Nelson, of Florida, a graduate of Charity hospital, Nev/ Orleans, joined the staff early in September as anesthetist, and a second anesthetist is Miss Lottie Edwards, of King, who came January 15. Miss King graduated at City Memorial hospital, Win ston-Salem, and took a course in anesthesia last year at Bowman Gray Medical college there. Among new general duty nurses are two from Carthage— Miss Virginia Hough, a gradu ate of Mercy hospital, Charlotte, and Miss Marie Levitt, who com pleted her training last year at Rex hospitall, ip Raleigh. Miss Levitt, born in Sanford, a grad uate of Pinehurst High school, is the daughter of C- L. Levitt of Carthage. Another Mercy hospital gradu ate is a Charlotte girl. Miss Betty Davenport, who joined the staff October 1. Arriving just this month were Mrs. Lula Johnson Black, a na tive of Benson, a 1946 graduate (Continued on Page 5) Valentine Contest To Be Held Next Week The second annual Queen of Hearts contest to choose the high school beauty queen of Moore county is to be held at a Valen tine Dance on February 8, in the Pinehurst High School gymna sium. Contestants have been in vited from all schools in Moore county. The chosen Queen and her escort will rule over the dance. Judges for the contest will be sel ected from various towns. The dance is sponsored by the Junior and Senior classes of Pine hurst High School. It is to be semi-formal and begins at 8:30. HOSPITAL AUXILIARY The February meeting of the Moore County Hospital auxiliary will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tues day morning at the Nurses’ home. Mrs. M. G. Nichols, president, calls attention of all members to the change of day from Wednes day to Tuesday, as approved at the January meeting. School Building Program Awaits Further Study The delegation from Southern Pines which attended the joint mpeting of the county commis sioners, county board of educa tion and the various school groups of the county in Carthage Tues day returned with the feeling that, though a few forward steps had been taken, the question of school buildings for Moore county was still unsettled. Debate on the proposed bond issue resulted in another call of “Time out!”, with next Monday set as the hoped- for day of final decision. Tuesday’s meeting, however, cleared up .a few points. It w5b found !that the proposed bond issue would have to tie reduced somewhat according to the law which prohibits to the county such a high indebtedness. When this was pointed out by the Com missioners, the school delegates agreed to strike off from their requirements the five teacherf ages listed. It is believed this need .yrhich, i^;Stili urg^jj^.^n, bp, met in other ways, ahd that the need for classroom spate predom inates. The feeling in school circles is that the commissioners wish to postpone decision on the bond is sue until next week, by which time it is expected that the state’s share in the schools’ programs will be clarified in bills now pend- in the legislature. Attending .jthe jdlint meeting from Southern Pines were Schools Superintendent P. J. Weaver, Dr. G. G. Herr, chairman of the local school board, and N. L. Hodgkins, member of the board. Campbell To Head Red Cross Drive William D. Campbell will be chairman for Southern Pines in the Red Cross fund raising drive to be held in March, with $4,200 as the quota for this community, it was announced this week by Moses C. McDonald of West End, Moore County chairman for the 1947 drive. Mr. Campbell, a major in the army for four war years, a Kiw- anian, district commissioner of Boy Scouts, a director of the Citizens’ Bank and Trust com pany, has been active in commun ity affairs since moving to Sou thern Pines a year ago, and the Red Cross appointment will mark another milestone in his civic usefulness. He will set up a local organization shortly. Other Moore County chairman and quotas announced by Mr. McDonald are: Aberdeen, J. D. Areyl, J4., $1,200; Addo(r, Mrs. Henry Addor, $40; Eagle Springs, Mrs. Fletcher Best, $125; Eureka, Miss Marie Shuffler, $85; Halli- son, Tracy Parks, $35; High Falls, John Currie, $125; Pinehurst, Col. John T. Ellis, $5,000; West End, W. A. Johnson, $325. The county quota,, sharply re duced from those of the war years and the one previous postwar campaign, is $13,906. DOUBLE MEANING? SB stands for "salary bonus," in the language of our legislators, (or does it?) Anyway, SB 11 is the bill about which we have all been shouting these last weeks. Now the measure is passed and the shoutin's over and 53,000 state employees and teachers will receive bonuses on through the year till June 30th, with payments ranging from a total of $144 up to a total of $270. First payments will be in the February pay check when one-half of the bonus wiij be given each employe who was on the State pay roll last November 1, with those who have joined since getting a pro-rated portion. Other bonus payments will appear in pay checks each month through June. Streets Now Clear Of Taxi Stands Given 30 days by the town council at its December meeting to find other parking places be sides the streets, local taxicab owners did not fail of the dead line by much and practically all are reported to have found new headquarters from which to op erate their businesses. J. C. Caudle, operating five cabs under the name of Red Fox Taxi, and C. L. Smith, operating two cabs, j'Oined forces to lease a lot on West Broad Street, be tween New Hampshire and Con necticut avenues, and have had ^ spacious jijlatffV’Ki, y/ith .plrnne quoth,' erected tor the cabs (fay j. D. Arey. The lot is owned by L. V. O’Callaghan, who purchased it recently from C. N. Page. The platform was built at a cost of between $800 and $900, it was reported, and incoming calls to phone number 6222 are shared by the two cab companies. Two cabs owned by Bryant Poe have, as before, their permanent stand at Poe’s Service station, with phone 8481. Other independ ents, most of them one-cab men, have not been so Jlucky, and some are said to have had considerable difficulty in locating a stand. However, most are now off the streets, with permanent or tem porary stations in and around the business area. Southern Pines has 23 licensed cabs, whose parking, until the recent ordinance, constituted something of a problem in the congested business district. Their cooperation should be an aid to all local business, including their own. NEW TERM Midyear tests were scheduled for Thursday and Friday of this week at the Southern Pines school, with the new term begin- ing Monday, said Philip J. Weaver, district principal. Gymkhana Sunday Al Country Club Workmen have been geting the track in fine shape for the gym khana to be held at the Southern Pines Country club at 2 p.m., and everything is expected to be in top form for events in the follow ing classes—working hunters, handy hunters, green hunters, knock-down-and-out, bareback and children’s horsemanship. Members of the North Carolina Press Photographers’ association will be special guests at the gym khana, following their' annual luncheon meeting at the club house. CAR DAMAGED A ‘37 Buick belonging to H. P. Johnson, of Manly, and driven by Dunk McDonald, also of Mmly, suffered considerable dam age to its radiator and front bum per Saturday afternoon, when its brakes failed to work at the intersection of Connecticut ave nue and U. S. Route 1, and it col lided with a truck heading along Route 1. No one was injimed, and the truck was rmdamaged. The John son car was hurt to the estimated extent of $250, uncovered by in surance. Pilot Feature Wins First Place At Press Meeting Governor Cherry Presents War Bond To Mrs. James Boyd Another journalistic honor came to The Pilot last week, when the first award in Classifi cation 5, “best news, feature story or column of purely local ori gin,” was presented to the editor, Mrs. James Boyd, at the Duke University dinner meeting concluding the annual Press In stitute of the North Carolina Press association. Mrs. Boyd, attending the Insti tute with her assistant, editor, Valerie Nicholson, received the awkrd, a $25 war bond, from Governor Cherry, who presided over this phase of the meeting. The prize winning story was an Armistice Day feature called “Taps”, from the November 8 is sue. The association has honored The Pilot at two previous Insti tutes, when it won first palce for general excellence among papers of less than 1,500 circulation, for the years 1943 and 1944. The cir culation is now around 1,700. The Institute began Thursday evening, and was preceded by a meeting of the North Carolina Weekly association, at which all officers were reelected. Al Resch, Siler City editor, is president. Friday’s events included a clinic for non-daily newspapers, at which problems of advertising, circulation and general news- (Continued on Page 5) Three Injured In Weekend Accidents George Terney, of Pinehurst, kept his head in an accident last week—in fact, he held it in both his hands all the way to the Moore County hospital, knowing something was bad wrong but not knowing his neck was broken until X-rays were made. His left collarbone was also practured. He was to be pllaced in a cast this week, and his condi tion was described by the attend ing physician as “satisfactory.” The accident, which occurred between Southern Pines and Pine hurst near the hospital crossroad last Friday, was a freak one. Ter- ney’s car wouldn’t start, and he got a friend, BiU McCaskill, to give it a shove with his car. The bumpers became locked, and Terney climbed up on his to try to separate them. They parted abruptlj^, and Terney fell be|- tween. Kirby Patterson, of Jackson Springs, was also a patient at the Moore County hospital Saturday and Sunday, suffering from bruises and abrasions resulting from a wreck when he lost con trol of his car Saturday night near Rockingham. With him was (Continued on Page 5) TALE OF DEFEAT Hard work may be the way to success for some, but it wasn't for an enterprising thief, or thieves, who jim mied a back window into the Southern Pines Motor com pany, broke open the front door also to get a '39 Ford out. then found the car wouldn't run. The car, taken in as a trade-in Saturday afternoon, was found by Police Chief Newton Sunday morning be hind the bus station where it had had to be abandoned, after being pushed for three and a hd'tf blocks. Southern Pines Motor com pany folk could have Sold them the starter was a dead one—but they didn't ask. Police are investigating the case, and the car pushers may have some questions to answer themselves. Grand Jury ’-' '''^orts Present Statt^^^Moore County Iimitutions SHAW HOUSE The official opening of the the Moore County Historical tea room at the Shaw House, restored and renovated by association, wifi be held Monday, from 3 to 6 p. m.. and the public is invited to drop in for a cup of tea any afternoon except Sunday. The tea room has been op erating informally for sevf- eral days for association members |and tl^-sir guests, and has been adjudged a suc cess and ready for its public debut. After Monday, it will be open daily from 3 to 6. Press Cameramen Meet Here Feb. 2 The N. C. Press Photographers will meet at Southern Pines coun try club Sunday, February 2, with Emerson Humphrey, local photographer, as host, assisted by John Hemmer, photographer for the state advertising bureau and for Pinehurst, Inc. The group, comprising some 35 camera pro fessionals, will be guests of the Town of Southern Pines at a luncheon, to be followed by a horse show with special events arranged by Louis Scheipers of the equestrian committee- June Glenn, of the Asheville Citizen-Times, is president of the organization, and Jean Cunning ham, of the Winston-Salem Journal-Sentinal, the only woman member, is secretary. The meeting will bring to Southern Pines other distinguished figures in this field, s^uch as Jake Hous ton of the Charlotte Observer and “Bugs” Baer of the Rocky Mount Telegram. BiU Sharpe, head of the state advertising bureau, is also ex pected to attend. TO HONORABLE WILLIAM G. PITTMAN, PRESIDING JUDGE: We, the Grand Jury, submit the following reports and recommen dations: BiU of Indictment Twenty-Two (22) Bills were presented to the Grand Jury and acted on as follows: Twenty (20) Bills were return ed as true bills. One (1) BiU was returned as not a true bill; one (Continued on Page 5) Her 25th Novel Out, Mrs. Burt Recalls First As Greatest Thrill by Valerie Nicholson With some authors, the publication of a 25th novel, with its confirmation of long success in the writing world, might be an occa sion for celebration, and for sinking back gracefuUy upon literary laurels, to do nothing more strenuous than greet admirers and sign royalty receipts. It’s not thus with Katharine Newlin Burt, whom Southern Pines has claimed for its own some 18 years. “Close Pursuit,” published by Scribners January 13, is “somewhere around” her 25th—she’s lost exact count—and, pausing only to give it an incidental nod, she’s already hard at work on another novel keeping those regular work ing hours to which may, in large measure, be attributed her suc cess. For writing is hard work, a job hke any. other. It grows harder as you go along and as the au thor, to whom at first any idea seems wonderful, grows more critical and more exacting of his efforts. Also, declares Mrs. Burt, the thrill diminishes. The 25th book isn’t anything like as excit ing as the first! Right now she is far more delighted over the pros- pec{ of the spring publication of a Book of poems by her son, Na thaniel, his first, than over any achievement of her own. Nathaniel Burt will carry on the writing tradition of ■ his dis tinguished parents with “A Room In A House,” also a Scrib ners publication. Best Seller Mrs. Burt’s first book, “The Branding Iron,” was, to her sur prise, a best seller of its day, go ing into many editions and also the movies. Pouring tea before the glowing fireplace in the book-lined! library of '"Hibernia,” the Burt home, one wintry after noon last week, her eyes sparkled as she recalled its acceptance. “It was during the first World War, and, Struthers”—^to her au thor husband, relaxing at the fire side—“you had gone off to war, and here I was with the children, both so very tiny, and the money mattered so terrifically—^what a thrill that first check was! There’ll never be anything again so wonderful! Though I give you all the credit for making me write it.” Striking the popular fancy im mediately, there was no strug gling literary apprenticeship for her. She had begim her writing as a girl, living in Germany. A friend there wrote stories for an English children’s magazine, “Little Folks.” “The editor wrote, ‘How about a story about chil dren and the carnival?’ and she passed the idea along to me. I wrote a little story called ‘Black Noses,’ and a check came at once. Such fun! I kept right on writing them, then and after I was mar ried, perfectly satisfied with the checks for $10 and $15, and prob ably would still be doing it if Struthers hadii’t said, ‘Look here, why don’t you write a novel?’ We had homesteaded out West and were living on a ranch, and I got an idea and wrote a Western (Continued on Page 2) Careful Survey Made By Jury With Harrison Smith As Foreman Grand Jury, Howard E. Harri son of Eagle Springs, foreman, made its customary yearly inspec tion last week and reported on the condition of the public build ings and properties of Moore County. While in general praise was the rule, criticism was not withheld, especially where conditions re ported on by last year’s jury had not been remedied. This was the case as regards the heating fa cilities of the Health Department, where, as is common knowledge, the secretary and nurses are still frequently to be found wearing their outdoor wraps in the freez- * ing top-story rooms. Again, in 'the basement the “unsanitary, offensive condition” of the toi lets was condemned and the sug gestion made that they be in spected by ‘"a competent sani tary engineer,” and improvements made. The County Clerk’s records, however, one of the main points of criticism last year, were found to be in excellent order, with all delinquent records now entirely up-to-date. With no mention made of the entrance road to Samarcand Manor, one object of last year’s recommendation, it is presumed this also has been improved. The complete report of the Grand Jury, da^Sd January 20,. follows: