North Carolina Newspapers

VOLUME XLH ' ; FRANKLIN, N. t, THURSDAY FEBRUARY 3, 1927 .- " ' V- NUMBER FIVE ' ; ' . ; . " : " "" "1 T- T. 1 - T """ ." J : : r- 1 - . 4 y DEVELOPMENT rORIC TO START "Over $580 Acres on Cowee -., Included In Development Means Much to Frank lin' Future. Over 9,000 acres to the north of Cowee Gap, and extending to the top of Cowee Bald, which is included In the property, is to be subdivided, sold in half acre lots, for summer homes, and developed, according to an announcement just made here by C. T. Hodges, of Asheville, second vice-president, of the development company. The . property is to be known as Yalaka Mountain Estates. Mr. Hod ges explained thaf the Word "Yalaka" is an Indian term, meaning "home of the eagle." The property begins at Cowee Gap, eight tor nine miles from Franklin, where' Highway No. 285 crosses the , Cowees, and extends north avout 1 four miles to and including the top of Cowee . Bald, which stands 5,285 'feet in altitude. ' .Developments will include roads, water, and lights, Mr. Hodges stated. 'The property , has all been optioned, and first payments made upon the greater portion of it, Mr Hodges in dicated. , . Other officers of the concern, ac cording to the second vice-president, who also has the sales contract, are: Guy Weaver, Asheville attorney, presi dent and treasurer; G. J. Knobloch, district manager of Dunn's agency in Charleston, S. C, first vice- presi dent; and J. A. Patla, attorney, of Asheville. secretary. The directors are the officers named above and L. R. Abbott, of Lakeland, Fla., Zerni Barnes, of Lakeland, Capt. William Steitz, of Lakeland, R. S. Fslcrirlce. of Swannanoa. S. Sternberg. . of Asheville, E. I. JFater, of Asheyjlle, and Dr. N. Kosenstein, of Durham. Sale of the lots will begin shortly, Mr. Hodees stated. They will be placed on sale at first at $150 each, and he believes, many of, them, he said, will be purchased by Floridians, in which state - he' 'has connections and formerly made his .home. Mr. Hodges expressed the opinion that, in many instances, the property would be sold in 10 or 20 acre blocks, thus giving the purchase a five or 10-acrei estate for his summer home. People from Florida and other places who have been taken over the property, Mr. Hodges said, have been enthusiastic with reference to . the scenic beauty of this section of . the state. In addition to the officers and di rectors, there are other stockholders in the company, a number of local men having taken stock in the con cern. Development of the property and the building of summer homes on it would virtually mean an increase in the summer population of Franklin, for it is but a few minute's drive over the hard-surface of No. 285 be tween Franklin and Cowee Gap. ' The property will contain 18,260 half-acre lots, Mr. Hodges explained, and work on the "development is ex pected to begin within the next two months. - MACON COUNTY AIDED BY STATE Booklet on Furniture Indus try Calls Attention to Ma con's HardwoodCopies Furnished Chamber. Franklin, in its efforts to secure industries, for Franklin, specifically wood-working plants,, is being assist ed by' the State Department oL Con servation and Development. , In thtt department's latest booklet, economic paper No, 57, "The economic development of the furniture industry of the South and its : future depen dence upon forestry," by C F. Kor stian, a remarkable photograph of of Macon county hardwood appears. The photo was furnished by the forest esrvice; and ' beneath it appears the caption:, "Typical virgin hardwood forest in Macon county, North Caro lina, containing much timber suitable for the manufacture of furniture." , , Another photo shows "A fine stand of second-growth yellow poplar in Western North Carolina." The department ordinarily sells these papers, but has complied with the request of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce that that body be furnished a .number of copies - for distribution to interested inquirers. SOLESBEE SAYS PARK BILL SURE Home on Leave Macon's " 'Representative Talks In terestingly Legislature Introduces Local Bills. With the west and piedmont al most , unanimously favorable,' and the east not active in opposition,, the proposed bill for a bond issue for the Smoky Mountains National Park will pass the, legislature. Such is the opinion of the Rev. Alyin S. Solesbee, representative in the. lower, house from Macon county. Mr. -Soles-bee, 'was at' home for a few days, on leave, last week. The Macon county solon believes that the hotest fight of the present sessions will center around . Represen tative Poole's anti-evolution bill, and Mr. Solesbee, who is an anti-evolutionist .predicted, that, if the bill comes to a vote, the majority for cr against will not be more than seven votes, so close will the contest be. His statement was based, he seid, upon conversations with practically all the legislators. The bill, undoubtedly, will be amended, Mr. Solesbee stated, and if it is so amended as to make punishment for violation less strin gent, he indicated that he would cast his vote for Representative Poole's measure. Discussing the park proposal, Mr. Solesbee said that the western repre sentatives and senators were a unit on the matter, that sentiment was almost unanimously favorable to the ptoposal among legislators from the piedmont. The east will not, in his opinion, - fight the measure. "They recognize, he said, "that such a course would be against the interests of the state as a whole, and would appear little and selfish." . Mr. Solesbee discussed the anti evolution measure at some length. His personal attitude on the ques tion,' -he believes, is fairly represent ative "of other anti-evolutionists. , It would be all right, ' Mr.. Soles bee suggested, to teach evolution in the church schools, where the super natural angle is also taught and lis: cussed .giving the student the two sides of the question of natural phenomena. But in the state schools religion does not and cannot enter, and there the teaching of the theory results in the young people's getting only the natural side, with a re sulting biased outlook. The Macon county representative has introduced a number of local bills, as well as a bill with Representa tive Nicholson, of Jackson county, which would prohibit hunting in Jackson and Macon counties for two years. , That bill has been held up in the senate at the request of the Nantahala Sportsmen's Association, which believes the proper way to preserve the game is through a game warden system financed by payment of licenses which permit hunting in an open season. Another local bill of Mr., Solesbee's brough the Macon county representa tive into state-wide prominence, since it would amend the "literary gem" dog . log of the late J. Frank Ray. The Ray measure, a state-wide law, as explained , by Mr.- Solesbee, pro vides for a' tax of $1 on every dog, and, , to quote Mr. Solesbee, "$2 on lady dogs." ' Mr. Solesbee's measure would so amend the Ray bill, as it relates to Macon county, as to allow each family one dog free of taxation, arid tax each additional dog owned by a family $2. That measure is now in a house committee,, ; " .'. Other local measures introduced, by JMi. Solesbee follow: To amend the charter', of. the .Town c f Franklin, cutting the number cf Aldermen from six to three. The measure has passed the house, but has been held s up in a senate com mittee, Mr. Solesbee said, "because they didn't seem to want it" here t Franklin. He intimated that he had requested the senate committee to "pigeon-hole" it. To levy, a special tax, of six cents on each one-hundred .dollars property valuation to care for the county's infirm and indigent. The bill is in a house committee. To repeal the law providing for a bounty on wild cats. The measure has passed both houses. To take from justices of the peace juirsdiction to try the offense" of public drunkenness, and providing for such cases to be tried in the Superior court. This bill has also passed both houses..' :. i,,.;' , '.. To extend the corporate limits of the Town of Franklin, making the limits one mile each way Jrom the courthouse. The measure,- which is in a house committe, would exempt farm taxation farm lands brought within the town limits'. , The Board of Alderment would determine what constitutes farm lands. SENATOR ROANE TAUSfflERALS Committee on Mines Chair man Sees Big Future For Western Carolina Refers to Proposed Park. h Special to The Press Inestimable millions of dollars in mineral re sources await development to add ma terially to the income of North Caro lina, . declares Senator R. J. Roane of the , thirty-third district, chairman of the senate committee on mines. Since taking his seat this year in the Senate, Chairman Roane has been making a cuose study of the op portunity to the State through its mineral deposits. As a result of his efforts in this direction, Senator Roane declares that the outstanding need is for the State "to take the lead in pointing but the value of her assets in this line. Coming form the extreme south west part of North Carolina, one of the richest mining districts in the State, Senator Roane is taking an acute interest in aiding the develop ment of minerals of the State. He has expressed keen interest in the work of the Department of Conser vation and Development towrad this purpose, complimenting the Geology land Publicity Divisions on their ef forts toward research and placing the facts before th jJublic. ; "Mining and Forestry," says Sena tor Roane, "are two of our most valuable assets, and with the decline in our forest area, renewed interest is placed on our mines. Wrappe within the folds of the ranges of tlje Appalachians are huge sources of wealth that have never been touched. It is - true that North Carolina' has been active in bringing the facts be fore the world of this great potential wealth, but the surface has scarcely been scratched. We need to provide better for the needs of the State Geologist to meet the demands which are made upon . him in determining the quality, extent and value of va rious deposits. "In my district alone, which in cludes Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon and Swain counties, there is research enough' to occupy the entire time . of the, tate Geologist for a considerable period. "Some of our valuable minerals in this section include asbestos, building stones, gold, silver, kaolins, mica and many others. Recent years have noted material strides in the production of most of these minerals and the future gives still brighter promise for a greatly increased output." Senator Roane declares that the construction pf highways in the mountains is one of the most valuable aids toward the exploitation of r the minearls of the section. He pointed out that the experiences of rich mineral sections in greatly increased volume has proven this point. .Swain, his home county, he continued, is now constructing a highway to extend to the Tennessee border, which should be another stimulus to the develop ment of the county. Copper mining in Swain County, the Senator declar ed, is increasing, with the Fontana mines now shipping two car loads daiily and preparing to add to this. The Senator enjoys the : distinction of being the second democrat to be elected to the State Senate from his district in more thah a quarter of ' a 'century.""""'""" His ability has already been recog nized through his ,' appointment as chairman of the Committee of Minos, and a. member of 13 senate commit tees. For 21 years, Mr. Roane has operat ed a large mercantile establishment in Whittier; for four years he served as Sheriff of Swain 'County; and has served five years as a member of the school board of the county, resigining this office to assume that of State Senator. During the time that he was a "member of the school board, the schools " of the county have recorded,.' most progressive pe riod. He is a member of the Metho dist church in Whittier and has serv ed as superintendent of the. Sunday School for a Thumber of years. Senator Roane declares ' that the establishment,, of the proposed Great Smoky Mountain NatGnal Park will add one of the most, valuable features of interest to the State of North Carolina. 'These Mountains are among the most beautiful in the coun try," he declared, "and it is most fitting that we - should convert the area into a National Park to save to the nation unspoiled this wonder ful area." . . , PLAN FOR DAMS COST $15,000000 ' ' '.7 The' Aluminum Company Of 'America In Nantahala Scheme Lake Will Move Railroad Lines. Restless energy that for countless centuries has sent the Little Tennes see river and its tributaries roaring down through the Nantahala moun tains is soon to be harnessed by a gigantic hydro-electric development near Bryson City, it was learned last night. Plans for a series of dams on the Little Tennessee river that will in volve the removal of the Fontana branch of the Southern Railway Com pany, necessitate' the re-location of the main line tracks of the Murphy division between , Bryson City and Bushnell for a dozen miles or more, and fill the famous Nantahala Gorge with a lake, have reached a climax with the Completion by surveyors and engineers of several months work in that vicinity. - The development wihcih will prob ably be the largest in the mountains of Western North Carolina, will in volve the use of water from at least four streams, tributaries of The Lit tle Tennessee, and will cost approxi mately $15,000,000, it was learned.-, From Bryson City to Bushnell, a distance of approximately 12 miles, the lake will wipe out the rapids of the river that now roars in pictur esque freedom, and will cause the engineers .of the raoilway ' company to change the roadbed to a slightly higher level for a distance of several miles. ' . . The Aluminum Company of Ameri ca several years ago acquiered power rights in that section with the view to some day exercising those rights with the erection of a huge hydro electric plant. However the company has made no formal announcement of its plans and common knowledge reported from Bryson City, links the name of the Southern Power 'company with the project. A great many of the larger companies have affiliations that are. puzzling since the super-power idea was put into effect and some mystery still sur rounds the identity of the power be hind ' the project which is alreadv beginning to show with a number of manifestations in that section. The Fontana branch of the Souht ern Railiway company, originally plan ned to tap the marvelous hardwood forests of the Nantahalas has more recently been operated as both a freight and passenger carrier. This branch will virtually be done awv with when the huge lake floods the valley and overflows the roadbed. Inquiry in official circles in Wash ington reveals that no application for the power platn has been mnde but further inquiry led to the belief that such an aoplication is not neces sary as the Aluminum Company of America purchased the land in ques tion some time before the act eiv'n" the federal power body jurisdiction was passed. The presence of plants costing mil lions of dollars is not new to the basin of the Little Tennessee river. It is in that area that some of the Aluminum company's heaviest invest ments are located. The large plant alreadv complet ed on the Tennessee and North Caro lina line, was at the time it was finished, the lareest overflow dam in the world. The 'new plant, or series of plants, will be further up the river and the work of combining the waters of several rivers to feed the giant turbines is already under wav, according to reports reaching Asheville from Bryson City. From - the - Pigeon - river - develop ment, announced seeraly months aero by the Carolina Power and Litrht company, there will be a transmission line to the industrial se"tionv that centers around Greenville, S. C., it is understood, and the terrific power rancring down from the mountains will be harnessed to the industry of the Carolinas under present plans. The Asheville Citizen. ..'...-. LYLE BUYS INTEREST IN THE IDLE HOUR Mr. S. H. Lyle, Tr. has purchased half interest in. the Idle Hour theatre, it was announced here Mondav. This theatre 1 under the ownership and management of Mr. Steve Porter has had remarkable success in the past two or three years. It is understood that Mr. Lyle will have active management of the theatre in- the future. He is planning to sta?e all the best shows available nd, under his management, the pub lic may expect high class entert;n-1 ments. Mr. Lvle has announced that the names of th" shows to be placed on the screen' will appear each week in the Press. . SCOTT GRIFFIN IMLTOOPEN Franklin's Modern Commer cial Hotel About Read, For Guests Mrs. J. L. Farmer, Manager, Arrives, With the opening of the new Scott Griffin Hotel here early this month. Franklin will have a commercial hostelry with perhaps no superior west of Asheville. The new hotel is modern in everf respect, attractive inside and out, and nothing but the best ' has gone int the furnishings, according to the builders and, owners. Franklin ' has long felt the need for an additional commercial hotel, and there have been a number of unsuc cessful efforts to organize a stock company to build one. .The new structure was built and is owned by three leading business men here, Sam L. Franks, postmaster, W. C. Cun ningham, merchant, and H. W. Cabe, banker. . .. The new hotel stands on the north side of Main Street, 1n the verjrf heart of the business section. In-' eluded in it is the old Sloan's store building. Four stories in height, the new building has 36 bed-rooms, a dozen baths, steam heat, a circulating sys tem of hot water, hot and cold water in every room, and is attractively and comfortably furnished. , In addition to the office and lobby, on the first floor, are 'two store rooms, occupied by Sloan Bros. & Co., and Smith's Drug Store, and, a barber shop" to be occupied by Lester Conley. The bed rooms are on the second and third floors, and kitchen, dining room, ladies parlor, . etc., ire all on the second floor. One, of the new hostelry's most at tractive features is the roof garden on the fourth floor. It commands a remarkable view of the town, the surrounding hills, and the ranges of distant mountains. The roof; garden will be used for banquets, dances,' concerts, and other public and semi-public gatherings'. , The hotel has been leased for a five-year period by Mrs. J. L. Farmer, for four years connected with the Princeton Hotel, in Gainesville, Ga Mrs. Farmer arrived last Friday and has been busy supervising prepara tion for the opening. The formal opening date has not been definitely set, but will probably be February 8, the owners, state. A., dance in the roof garden in the evening and other events will feature the opening. 4 A BIG CHURCH RAinSUIMY Methodist In County to As semble at Franklin Feb ruary 6th In Prepratica For Campaign. With a view to preparing for the "Cultivation Campaikn" in the Metho dist churches of the county, represen tatives from all the Methodist church es of Macon county are expected to gather at the Franklin Methodist church, next Sunday, February 6,' it is announced by local church leaders. Services will be held both in the' morning and in the afternoon. At the ll o'clock service, the Rev. J. T. Mangum, pastor of the Waynes ville Methodist, church, .will ., preach. At the afternoon session,' speakers will include James Atkins, of Wav ncsville, lay leader of the Waynesville district of the church; Mrs. J. T. Mangum, conference superintendent of supplies of the Woman's Missionary Society of the denomination ; J. D. Kerr, of Canton; and others promi nent in Methodist circles in this district. .... ' , .. -'. . t At the ' group meeting, alsoi, ar rangements will be made for ex changes of pulpits among the minis ters of the district. The various Methodist preachers, according to the plan under . consideration, will occu py . different pulpits each Sunday during the remainder of February. . Large delegations from each Metho dist church in the county are ex pected, and they are being urged to come prepared to remain for the afternoon session. Dinner will be served, picnic style, in the church . basement. Visitors are requested to bring lunches, ; and ladies of the local church will serve hot drinks. The local church at first discussed providing dinner, but gave up the idea, it is said, due to the fact that there ' was no way of as certaining how many to prepare for, -