PAGE FOUR .
The Franklin Press
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
S. A. HARRIS Editor
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Entered at the post-office at Franklin, N. C,
for transmission through the mails as second
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Foreign Advertising Representative
THE AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION
THE FRANKLIN PRESS
THURSDAY JUNE 30. 1927
THE FRANKLIN PRESS PLATFORM
Extension of the sewer lilies.
Beautify the school grounds.
Two hundred summer cottages.
A sewage disposal plant.
More official activity in the sale of sur
plus power.
The construction of business blocks.
Plant trees along the State highways of
the county.
Make a white way of Main street.
An excellent school library.
Courteous treatment for visitors.
Improvement of county roads connecting
with State highways.
A fish ladder at the municipal dam.
Co-operation, vim, push, work-everything
for the good of Franklin and Macon county.
New court house and jail combined.
How About It?
These days the streets of Franklin arc filled
with strangers. Welcome to each.
Another Firm handling builders supplies is
an indication of Franklin's growth.
.
The shfiners were delighted with Franklin's
hospitality. Come again, nobles: .
'
Franklin badly needs an up-town telegraph
officel Having to .go to the station to send
a prepaid telegram is very inconvenient.
On . the Fourth of July the . Boy Scouts will
do their level best to entertain you. Help
them by seeing Rosetime, a delightful musical
comedy, which will be staged at the court
house at '8:00 P. M.
Altitude., climate, water and sewage systems,
lights, 18-bolc ' golf course what more can
Ilighands want? Whatever it may ,be one can
bet his last peso that . the ictizens of that
town will have it. .
Why do some of the good ladies of ' the
farms persist in selling . their surplus butter
in Franklin when they can .get more for their
butter : fat - at the creamery ? - Perhaps ' their
men folks just naturally like that good ' cold
butter milk and would raise Cain unless the
churn were kept in daily use. Yea, Verily!
. The stock holders of the local cannery met
at the office of the county agent on June.
28, and perfected the organization. The can
nery will soon be ready , to can your produce.
It will even can corn. The management wants
500 tons of produce suitable for canning. Don't
disappoint those in charge.
'':',
A year ago or perhaps somewhat before the
town purchased a street machine at a cost of
around $2,000. This machine has not been
used but very little since it was bought. There
is plenty of " work for the machine to do,' but.
nobody, apparently, to see that the work is
done.
, : ' ' . ,
In the recent eaxamination for entrance to
high school at : Franklin four pupils from
Fine . Grove District - No.;-1, took the test and
all passed. .The citizens of that district had
made up sufficient money to have a school
term of seven and a naif months. ' This ap
pears to be another argument in favor of long
er scho61 terms.
In our opinion Macon county wil never
have any feeder roads to our system of high-,
ways to amount to anything until the whole
matter is taken over by the county. It has
been proven that the township as a road
unit is a failure. The county should have the
necessary road machinery and appoint a road
superintendent to build . and keep in repair
feeder roads all over the county. This will
possibly require legislation..
v. ,vv ;..
, Certain firms in the larger cities are send
ing packages of neckties and other merchan
dise to our readers with the request that the
money be sent or that the goods be returned.
If you use the goods the sender can probably
collect for them. , However, you are under
no obligation to return the merchandise or
to send the money., Just notify the sender
that the goods arc being held until he calls
for them and that "'you intend to charge a
certain amount for storage and that on a
certain date you will sell the goods for stor
age charges. The ties, etc., are usually worth
less and not worth half the price requested.
We see where a citizen of Highlands gently
chides the editor of the Charlotte Observer
for his failure to mention Highlands in his
many editorials on the mountainous section
of the state. ' We suggest that the citizens
Of Highlands kidnap the editor of the Observer
arid carry him, to tHeir mountain stronghold.
In that case we feci assured that the next
issue of the Observer would carry an en
thusiastic editorial concerning the beauties of
Highlands. Not that Col. Harris would be
compelled to write "such an editorial, but ho
living man can visit Highlands without be
coming enthusiastic. 1 .
tThe profit on one acre of tomatoes will equal
the profit on twelve average acres of corn
in Macon county. Like wise with some other
truck crops. According to those in a position
to 'knew there is plenty of land in cultivation
in Macon county, but seldom in, a, high state
of 1 cultivation. Tend less land and make it
produce more and better -stufj-'to the acre is
the verdict of experts. Our fanners might
well follow the example of the old German
who came to America and bought ten acres
of land. When asked if he though he could
make a living on ten acres he replied: "Veil
if I can't, I sell five acres.'
According to reports from the Missippi val
ley the, chances of raising any kind of a corn
crop there are exceedingly slim. As a result
farmers in that large section of the country
are selling their brood sows for slaughter.
Consequently there will be a shortage of hogs
in the. fall and pork prices will be high. Our
farmers should take advantage of these pros
pective high prices and prepare now to raise
all the hogs possible and to , feed their surplus
corn to their swine. This week the county
agent is demonstrating the Shay method of
feeding hogs.. Under this method 777 hogs in
18 counties were recenty prepared for market.
The corn' fed these hogs brough't $2.08 per
bushel.
Stirred Up Hornet's Nest
IN ITS EDITORIAL last week under the.
caption of Cow Vs. 40 Acres the ' Press
has Itirred up a veritable hornet's nest.. Some
there are who would like to shoot the editor,
at sun rise. Even the county, agent who
furnished the figures on which the, editorial
was based has come in for criticism. Why
all the hullabaloo? The Press offere4 an
opportunity to any and all who disagreed with
the conclusions reached to submit their views.
We even, urged them to do so. But for some
reason no communications have been received
concerning the relative income from 40 acres
of corn or one thoroughbred cow. What's
the matter with the critics of the editorial
in question that they do not rip the hide off
the editor in the columns of his own paper?
Is it by means that they haven't the proper
kind of skinning knife in the form of facts-
no ammunition suitable for the occasion?
We do not claim to be infallible. If our con
'clusions were based on false premises in the
question at issue no one is in a better position
to correct us than the farmers themselves,
Some claim that our estimate of 15 bushels
of corn to the acre is too small, but nearly
all agree that the average yield will not run
over 20 bushels " to the acre. The general
consensus of opinion among the farmers seems
to support the estimate of 15 bushels. The
government figures for 1924 give an average
yield of 18 bushels per acre for the entire
state and an', average of approximately 26
bushels for the entire country. This of course
.includes the states in the , Mississippi ..Valley,
where they pride themselves on growing corn.
But strange . to say the New England states
have the highest yield per acre of any states
in the union, Massachusetts making an average
of 47 bushels." South Carolina had an average
yield pf only 11.5 bushels in 1924; , Florida,
14.5; Mississippi, 12; ' Louisiana, 11.5, and
Wyoming, 14. But take the average yield of
the state, 18 bushels of corn per acre, and
we find that one thoroughbred cow, will pro
duce as much income as 34.5 acres planted to
corn. 'This ought to be an eye opener to those
who plant corn, talk corn, eat com, think corn
to the utter abandonment of . every other
phase of farming activities and to the detri
ment of their incomes. '
Some of our critics claim that it is bad for
the county to spread th,e news, even if true,
over the county and state that one thorough
bred cow will produce more income than 40
average acres of corn in Macon county. The
Press does not think so. If the Press can
deliver a jolt that will jar our corn growing
farmers loose - from their smug complacency
and bring them to a realization of the im
portance of diversification, then it will have
accomplished a distinct service.
This issue carries an1 editorial under the
caption of Cow Vs. Three Farms! Watch out
for the fireworks! The Press office is located
only 14 miles from, the Georgia line. There
,is a perfectly good concrete road ana the
editor in a fast car can make the distance
in 20 minutes. .
A Landing Field
COL.' CHAS. LINDBERGH has mentioned
a close-in landing field as one of the
pressing needs of every city. But when
these cities were bing built aeroplanes were
not considered.. As a result there are no
fields available within reasonable distance of
most' of . our cities. New York, for instance,
has its landing field many miles out on Long
Island. And so' with other cities. Coming
closer home. Ashcvillc seemed to have consider
able difficulty in locating a landing ficd.
Likewise Atlanta. -Landing' fields seem to be
the; crying ' need. Hardly a. daily ' paper in
any fair sized city but what -is 'stressing this
need. We recomend ' one for Franklin while
there are plenty available near the town.
"Bosh," we hear you say, and so would have
said, with much more reason, the men who
laid out the cities of America if told that
the coming of the automobile would necessitate
wider streets. Five years hence the sight of
a .plane over Franklin will be .no novelty.
Ten years from 'now the farmer wil not even
glance up when he hears the rdar of one's
motor. There is no reason to believe that
the aeroplane industry will not-equal that of
the automobile, and that in the very near
future. When that day arrives, say . within
10 or J5 years, every little town will need
a 'landing' field. - And now is the time' to
provide one. The plane is' destined to super
sede, to a considerable extent, the automobile
as a means of travel. Regulare schedules be
tween cities will be maintained just as bus
schedules are at present. And the little town
that has a landing field availabe is bound to.
profit by the arrival of visitors by the air
route. A man or his family wishing to come
to " Franklin through the air must have a
closer place to land than Ashevillc. Again.
We ' must remember that Franklin is growing
rapidly and will in time spread out over many
of the fields now available. A combination
of landing, field and golf course might be
the solution to the question. At any rate
our citizens might well consider the necessity
for a landing field.
. ..... ttn .,,! ner acre. Taking forty
twetit .p.iu " t--
dollars as the average wc (havc $50 clear
profit per' acre. Tomatoes can be set any,
time before the 15th of July and produce a
crop. The cannery will solve the market diffi- (
culties. It might be a good idea to investigate
the growing of tomatoes and other truck
crops. Or would you prefer to grow corn at
a profit of $4.00 per acre?
Letters
Cow vs. Three Farms
THERE ARE approximately 2,000 farms in
' Macon county averaging' 10C) acres to
the farm. Of the 106 acres only 15 acres are
in actual cultivation, the remainder being
iq pasturage or woodland. : Suppose that the
fifteen acres on the average farm were planted
to corn and an average crop of fifteen bushels,
to. the acre grown. Hi that case . one., thor
oughbred cow would . produce more - income
than three average farms planted to corn.
Don't - believe it ? Neither did we until wc
began investigating the matter.
But with the cannery in operation there
ought to be an entirely different story to
tell. Two or three acres planted in certain
truck crops should produce more income
than one good cow. . Again just a plain case
of headwork plus labor. It is not our in
tention to minimize the importance of grow
ing corn.' This is an important Macon county
crop. Especially when fed to hogs. We make
these comparisons merely to invite attention
to the necessity for diversification and to the
importance of having thoroughbred cows on
the farms in this county.
Wanted: 500 Tons
THE CANNERY wants 500 tons of green
. stuff to go in cans. This is 1,000,000
pounds.. Canned stuff jU'eragesabout one and
a half pounds to' the can. ' Af terdeducting
for loss of weight in cooking , we find 500,000
cans, of food- as the program for the first
year of the cannery.' Lazy farmers cannot
supply the demand, but Macon county farmers
and those from adjoining counties can and
will. A : market for everything suitable f6r'
canning is now assured. Who will furnish
the first ton of the 500 wanted? Whether or
not any particular farmer can read his "title
clear to mansions in the skies" may be a
matter of specuation, but there is no doubt
that he can read his title clear to his home
and farm provided he will take advantage of
the cannery and creamery. Not only that
but son and, daughter will soon want to go"
to college. Let them save the money by
growing stuff for the cannery.
An Acre of Tomatoes
AN ACRE .OF tomatoes when properly
tended should grow six tons. They will
sell for $15 or $20 per ton. At the minimum
pnee of $15, an acre should produce a gross
income of $90. The cost t)f production is be-
HIGHLANDS
Mountain Resort That Claim, to Be Finest
in the State
To the Editor of the Observer:
As a reader of. your paper for years, I
know how: ardent an. admirer you are of the '
mountains, of our. , state, and how much yon ,
have done to enlighten your many readers 1
concerning' the .beauties of these mountains. ,. :
What wonder, though, is that you have never
found your way here, to the. finest climate and . .
natural attractions of any mountain resort m .
our state. "
You . sing the praises of High Hampton,
Sylva and Franklin Mnit' never a word aoout
Highlands. While -those towns, are a within
from 12 to 30 miles -of us, we must travel far
down hilt to reach either of them. Our
business section is 3,823 feet altitude and many
of our residences several hundred feet higher.
Whiteside Mountain', which you name first
in a list of the 10, most beautiful views in
the state, we claim ' as our own as it is only
four mics, 30 minutes from here to its peak.
Satulah Mountain, 4,560 feet, and' one and
one-half miles 'south, has one of the finest
views bf any mountain in the state. The
mountains of Georgia, South Caroina and Ten
nessee can be plainly seen from its top.
Like our. sister town, Franklin, we were more
or less a Georgia community until the good
roads put us back into our own state.
While our winter population is only about
450, there are many summer homes here owned
by some of the best people in Atlanta, Charles
ton, New Orleans and many Florida towns.
The. taxable property in our town is about
$285,000. We have issued bonds to the amount
of $150,000. We have a gravity water system
from mountain springs four mies distant, and
4,100 feet altitude which gives a pressure in our
mains- of 90 pounds to the square inch.
Tucker & Laxton, of . your ctiy, have just
completed for us at hydro-electric plant on
the Cullasaja . River two miles distant. A 25
foot concrete dam holds back a lake of .90
acres of clear, deep water, and an 18-inch
flume takes the water 200 feet down tq the:
power house.
Our streets are brilliantly lighted and in our .
homes we are enjoying many of the convenien
ces which electricity has provided for us. Our
Main street will b a part of Highway No. 2K, "
which is now being built from Franklin to this
town. The wild grandeur, the scenic beauty
of that 21 miles on No. 28 .will surpass that
of any other ' mountain road in the South,
when completed.
One of our best assets, however, is an 18
hole golf course which -wc 'are' to" have" within
one year. Arrangements have just been com
peted for the construction of this on 400 acres
of land quite near the .town which has" just
been bought. A $50,000 35-room club house
will be built. A 20-acre lake will be on the
tract, and new roads , will make available a
number of building lots or small: estates,
which will be sold to members of the club. ' .
Golf enthusiasts of , Atlanta, New York, Lcx-
ington and other cities, and citizens of our
town are the subscribers;
Our Chamber of Commerce has requested
me to cordiaily invite you ;and any friends
who may accompany you to. be our guests on
one of your mountain trips, and let us- show
you our town and surroundings. J. A; HINES..
Charlotte Observer. .
OUR COUNTY AGENT
Editor Press: :
Our former county agent, Mr. . Arrendale,
was a man of good educational gear, practical,
and wrought well, but he resigned "and was
called elsewhere.
Our present county agcrlt, Mr. Harris, is a
man of ripe views, as is evidenced by his, '
published articles in the Press. He invites
co-operation, and prudently challenges farm-
ers to test his propositions. Nothing is crovtn
beyond a doubt until verified. As a pledge I
'of faith, why should farmers not stand beside
Agent Harris while he tests the value of his
demonstrations? The idea here intended to
be. conveyed is couched in a military term,
familiar to Major Harris, "All together,
aheave !"
A. man who performs honest labor, either
with his hands or brain, must not be forced
into hermitage. To drop gentility would
eclipse enlightenment and be not a' whit better
than heathen ostracism. These reflections are
not intended to criminate, but to be left in
the background while the noble-hearted Macon
citizens plead not guilty. , . '
t Agent Haris veils his degree from the
public eye, but I shall call him professor, be
cause of his excellent intellectual culture." ' '
J. K. B.
I