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KEY C IT if OF THE MOUNTAINS
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FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY, 16, 1928
VOLUME XLIII
NUMBER SEVEN
M.
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TOLM! CORRECTS
NEWS MUCH
' i -, i
Principal Corrects Report as
Published in Atlanta Con
stitution and Reprinted in
The Press.
N "M o u n t a i n School Flourishes
Through Atlantan's Efforts," was the
headline given to a short newspaper
story recently printed in The Frank
lin Press, the latter newspaper hav
ing reprinted the story in paraphrase
from The,' Atlanta Constution.
The content of the story stated
that W. A. Sutton, superintendent of
schools, Atlanta, - was given -a-letter
written by Miss Margaret Harry,
Highlands Red Cross nurse, to Miss
Emily Harrison, Atlanta, tp the effect
that Miss Harry was acknowledging
the receipt of money and other com
modities from certain benevolent At
lantans in behalf of the Highlands
Public . school. Then, The Franklin
Press, in all propriety, reprinted the
story from the Atlanta paper.
The .writer s purpose, as principal
of the Highlands Public school, is to
correct this mistake through The
Press, as made by the Atlanta Con
stitution in a recent issue of its paper',
and, as reprinted in error by The
Franklin Press.
Benevolent Atlantans have, respond
ed nobly and generously to the needs
have been expended in promoting
the work, fulhhng the needs, or tne
Red Cross chapter of the town. The
money has not been. used to pro
mote, or, assist directly the work of
the public school of Highlands.. Miss
Margaret Harry has and is using some
of the donated money to assist worthy
jstudents through college, who other
wise Would be unable to finance their
Way . through college. This could
possibly be interpreted as neiping me
work of the Highlands Public school,
in. that it makes it possible for more
of its graduates to attend college. In
a spirit of prudence, the Red Cross
chapter in Highlands wants it clearly
understood to the public that the
public school here is not supported
by benevolence of private donations,
but by the , State of North Carolina,
and District number two, Highlands
township.
The Highlands Graded school is
modern in every respect. It is sur
prisingly well equipped for a town the
size of Highlands. Visitors' first re
marks concerning the school are us
ually' inquiries as to where the stu
dents are obtained to support a school
the size in question. Last year-- a
Jarge two-story wing was added to
the main building, and, if the sur
rounding small schools are consoli
dated with the Highlands school, it
will be necessary to build another
large two-story wing in the" south
west side of the main building, lcavr
ing a court space between the two
wings, thereby well proportioning
the appearance of . the building in
whole. Then, las year several hun
dred dollars were expended in buying
and equipping the school with even
more modern conveniences.
The large campus has been beauti
fied under the personal supervision
of Mr. H. W. Sloan, landscape gard
ener by hobby. Mr. Sloan has thus
far planted eighteen hundred plants
on the campus. A mountain variety
of foliage deck the campus in its
esoteric mountain beauty. This gentle
men is further contemplating the
building of a concrete or stone wall
around the large campus to further
protect the foliage and campus from
further washing and deterioration by
excessive rains. On a pretty moon
light night while one is walking up
the stone steps from the" campus en
trance to the frout building entrance,
a distance approximating two hundred
feet, the foliage ', verdure makes a
pretty exhibit in the light shinging
from the several light standards, cap
ped with frosted large globes, orni
mental standards lighted, by the muni
cipal lighting plant. .. ' . ,
Every year )he school receives ap
proximate, five hundred dollars in
royalties for the summer use of its
auditorium, tentatively used until the
community house is completed.. The
school library is now endowed. Miss
Kaoul, once a residence of Atlanta,
shortly before her death made an en
downmcnt to the school library. Then,
this year, a gift of twenty-five hun
dred books was given to the High
lands school. Mr. H. W, Sloan has
assured the principal here that he
is going to try -to have a .gift of
twenty-five thousands of dollars made
to the school, in order tfor it to be
possible for a . large dormitory . fo be
built on the campus to accommodate
Franklin to Have Landing
Field in Heart of Town
HEI
FRO;,! HIGH LAUDS
Interesting Locals and Oth
er News from Macon
County's Popular Moun
tain City, -.loaaw
" On Tuesday, February 7, the P.
T. A. Held its Monthly, meeting in
the auditorium xf the school house.
The- subject-underiscussionlwas-the
consolidation of the smaller schools
around Highlands with, the Highlands
school, but owing to the inclemency
of the weather not much was accom
plished. ,
On Wednesday, February 8, the
Community Club met in the directors
room of the Highlands bank. There
was quite a large attendance and
plans were discussed as to the ways
and means of raising the rest of "the
required amount towards, a Womans'
Club -House in Highlands. It was
decided to begin work toward a bazar
to be held next summer.
The friends' of ' Mrs.' Irvin Rice
were all 'sorry to learn of her death
which occurred at the home of her
daughter Mrs. Bennett, in Hender-
sonvule- on Wednesday,,,. February 8.
lanas ror'DiintjrantrneOT-vvcisa iuur-to
rest on Friday' in our little cemetery
on the hill.
'Mrs. Rice has been an invalid for
several years and has borne her suf
fering with .patience and cheerfulness.
She leaves besides her family many
friends who will miss her very much.
I am told that Highlands now owns
a rock quarry of its own and with
our up-to-date rock crusher we will
have some real hard-surfaced roads
soon.
Our mayor and town council are
doing good work and wc are all
justly , proud bPthern.
'i County Agent At Highlands
Mr. Lyles Harris, county agent,
paid Highlands a visit on Friday of
this week. He gave a ' talk at the
school house on Saturday morning.
There were a number of people pres
ent to- hear him, but owing to the
postponment of the meeting from Fri
day until Saturday it was not gener-
allv known.
Prof. T. G. Harbison acted as chair
man of the meeting. Mr. Harris made
a most interesting talk and after his
address Mr. Harbison also spoke.
A vote was taken to start a boys
and gorls 4-H club. Mr. Harbison
was given charge of the boys and
Miss Durgin of the girls.
Mr. Harris" is , doing ,a wonderful
work and, it is hoped that the people
of Highlands will co-operate with him.
Presiding Elder Tucker
Preached Last Sunday
Presiding Elder W, T. Tucker
preached an interesting sermon at the
local Methodist church last Sunday.
A large congregation was present to
hear him.
students unable to attend school oth
erwise. It would be possible and
convenient for children who live out
side of district number two then to
attend school in Highlands rather
than to have to attend boarding high
schools" far away from home
Eleven, grades are taught in the
Highlands' school. Sixteen units are
required for" graduation from high
school. High school graduates have
not had trouble thus far in entering col
lege, when the Highlands High school
diploma, is presented. No student
thus far has failed the state eleventh
grade examination. Seven stutdents
are in line for. graduation this1 year.
Eight teachers are employed to teach
these grades. Two sessions arc held
daily, morning and afternoon.
The writer of this notice docs not
believe that it was the purpose of
the Atlanta newspaperman to convey
the idea that Highlands is beyond re
demption in census. The little town
has had constructed recently a hydro
electric plant, at a cost of about $150,
000 and, to date is recipient in the
building bv an Atlanta syndicate of a
$350,000 golf course. Three years will
be required for the completion of this
project. For years Highlands has
had a inodern system of municipal
waterworks. The town road and street
machinery facilities 'are most up-to-date.
A large tractor and street
scraper has been purchased. The
sum total -of public utility valuation
is phenominal for a town so small'.
SOFRfS
T. W. Porter and Chas.Mor
gan Back Proposition
Aerodrome to Be Erected
For Three Planes.
Realizing that the day of the aero
plane has arrived ' and that every
town, no matter "how .small, .should
have a landing field two public spirit
ed men of Franklin, T, W, Porter
and Chas. Morgan, have decided to
prepare a place for planes to land
in Franklin and to build an aerodrome
of sufficient . size to accomodate three
plane sJtwasnnouncedJieieSaturday.
The field decided upon is owned by
T. W. Porter and is located in the
bottom lands on the west bank of
the Little Tennessee river adjacent to
highway No. 285 and about three
blocks from the business section of
town. The field is bounded on the
east by the river, . and on the west
Tjy the hill on which rests Franklin,
North and south of the field along
the course of the river there are ' no
obstructions to interfere with taking
off and landing. The field in ques
tion is 600 feet wide and 1,200 feet
long, level as a floor and well sodded.
Such slight uneven places as exist
will - be- leveled- The- site. js of. suf-
of .any size excepting the largest.
Some weeks ago a three passenegr
plane , that had brought two citizens
of the town , home on- a visit was
wrecked in v attempting to take of fi
Chas. Morgan made repairs at Frank
lin after which the plane remained
here for three or four days making
several flights each day. This plane
at that time made use of the new
landing field and in rising from the
ground barely a third, of the field
was used; It is said that the pilot
of the plane was well pleased with
the site as a landing field.
An effort will be made to have the
Town of Franklin light the field so
that landings may be made at night.
Mr. Porter states that the new field
will be ready for use in the early
spring .though small planes can easily
land there now.
The citizens of. the town are highly
enthused over the prospects of ac
commodations for visitors who may
come to Franklin by way of the air.
Mr. Morgan has announced that he
will soon purchase a plane and make
use of it in a commercial way.
Explanation of "Mountain
School Flourishing Thru
Atlantan's Efforts"
I have been asked by a few citizens
of Highlands, to correct an error pub
lished, in an article appearing in la"st
week's issue of The Press, entitled
"Mountain School Flourishes Through
Atlantan's Efforts."
After reading this article over, 1
find no error. But, I shall be glad
to offer explanation to the few in
terested people.
A school which according to Web
ster, is any means of knowledge, has
been established in the Blue Ridge
Mountains. ' This school is not; the
Highlands school, Scaly, Broadway,
Clear Creek, Horse Cove, Flat Moun
tain, Shookville, Short Off, or any of
the others. It has no name, therefore,
1 shall refer to its as a school.
This isntitution was instituted
through the efforts of 'Atlanta people.
The word institution as- used in this
instance, according to Webster, means
to establish. In other words, the At
lanta people have established an in
stitution or ways and means for mc
to educate a number of "rural boys
and girls of the Blue Ridge. This
"Mountain School Flourishing Through
Atlantan's Efforts," docs flourish to
the extent that new pupils are fre
quently added to, our list.
As a token of interest in the High
lands school, the Junior Red Cross
of Atlanta, has, given a complete set
of the Child's Book of Knowledge,
which, I am told, is used extensively
by the Highlands school children.
My post office address is High
lands, N. C. This has been my
HQME for a long time, f live with
in the town limits. But, this docs
not mean that the school referred to,
is entirely within Highlands.
If this explanation is not satisfactory
to the few .interested people demand
ing it, would that they would dig up
Noah Webster and hang him instead
of me!
Signed,
MARGARET HARRY. .
RANGER SOUNDS
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4 IKK
Ranger Z. B. Byrd Makes
Valuable Suggestions Con
cerning Methods of Pre
venting Forest Fires.
Shall we have a forest with plenty
of game or fire charred mountains
devoid of wild life?
There is an old saying "Prepare for
war in time of peace," and right now
is-a good time for us to begin pre
paring for the spring fire season
while the winter rains have dampened
the leave sand bef or e"thespring "comes
with dry winds, and,, the brush burn
ing preparatory spring plowing
starts. :r Let's begin to" think and - plan
ahead in order that we may again, re?
gardless of dry weather, go through
a spring without a fire in our forests.
Fire in , the woods is a public and a
national menace. Every year millions
of dollars worth of property in the
United States goes up in smoke and
no man profits thereby millions of
dollars- lost and no country however
rich, can afford the enormous losses
that this country is annually under
going. It just means that tax payers
are going to have to go down in
their pockets and dig up the extra
money to -pay the bills that might
have 'been paid without . any extra
burden if every citizen had realized
his responsibility. .
Macon county and the North Caro
lina-- districtof -the NantahalaJorest I
very "little "loss trd"in';tre"na"WTwnaw
attracted , the attention ot tninking
people far and near. They are giv
ing our section of' country credit fof
the wonderful record. 1
The North Carolina Department of
Conservation and Development, the
United States Forest Service, and
many other organizations in our state
all working toward, the same goal, the
death of the red enemy,-fire in our
forests, have spent thousands of dol-t
lars in this section. The citizen tax
payers have paid the bills and natur
ally should be proud of the results
of -the expenditures. But just a little
carelessness could undo a great deal
of the good work a match carelessly
thrown down in dry. leaves, a camp
fire left smouldering, a cigarette drop
ped without being put out, a :. brush
pile .burned on a dry windy day, could
start a fire that would sweep our
mountain sides and do untold damage,
cost thousands- jcifb dollars and per
haps human life, arid would mar our
fair record that has been so laborious
ly established.
How can we be prepared to meet
the emergency?
The best time to fight a fire is
before it starts. LeVs resolve to
keep our mountains in all their beauty,
free from charred snags and barren
hillsides. Before the spring fire seas
on let's get all those brush piles
burned, let's warn our neighbors who
gre cnclined to be careless about
broush burning- Remember that a
match in its place is one of the most
useful things, and out of its place
one of the most dangerous weapons
in the hands of man. Smoker, before
you throw your match down see that
it is out break it into.. Know1 that
your cigarette stub is cold before you
turn it loose, empty your pipe ashes
in your hand if it burns you you may
be sure it would burn dry leaves.
Camper, put your camp fire out; you
will want to go back and camp again
and a smoldering camp fire may spoil
the beauty of.ymr camping ground.
Hunter, you want game in the woods
game and fire do not go together.
Fisherman, the stream depends upon
the wooded slopes for existence;
wooded slopes are made-bare by fire
the ram rails and ru-hes off in a flood
and the streams. dry. up. If you want
good fishing you must do your part
in keeping fire from the woods,
farmer, when you burn off your
new ground and let your fire run
wild you not only do great damage
to yourself and yoiir neighbor by
wasting valuable timber your care
less act may cause the flooding of
farm lands in the vallevs below VU
you destroy the most valuable ferti
lizer on your tarm, the Icat mold.
The organic matter in vour soil that
is derived from rotting vegetable
matter is burned and destroyed, ..leav
int? von onlv the naked mineral soil
to ,vork 'in ask1 vuf county agent.
there is one other agency to wnicn
niini-rnic Intunsiarc rharvoA thf-.firt"
bug the man who has no responsi
bility or principles of honesty the
man more dangerous ' than all other
""enrip to which fies ar charged.
He deliberately Starts a fire in the
woods for some diabolic reason and
never stops to consider the damage
his act may cause. Millions or
dollars worth of proper ty and a great
FIRE
LOCAL DOCTOR IS
HIGHLYJOHRED
Gov. McLean Appoints Dr.
W. A. Rogers as Delegate
to The' Annual Congress
of Medical Education. :
v '
The Gov crnof of North Carolina
recently appointed Dr. W. A. Rogers,
tf Franklin, a delegate to The Annual
Congress 'of Medical Education and
Medical Licensure and Hospitals. This
congress convened at . Chicago on
February 6 to 8. Epidemics of flu
and measles which have recently
beenrevalentHnMaeottcounty-prei
vented Dr. Rogers from attending the
congress.The.governotoiachstate
annually appoints one or more of the
leading doctors to attend this con
gress. The congress in equestion out-,
lines' plans and makes suggestions to
be followed, by medical institutions in
the United states as . to, the courses
of study and the number of years re
quired for a diploma, etc.
The fact that Governor McLean
appointed a physician from Franklin
as one of the delegates is not only
an honor to the doctor chosen but
to the town and" county as well. The
many friends of Dr. Rogers are high
ly pleased that he has been so honor
ed. W PAR TO
Sylva-Cashiers Line Added
to Holdings of Local Co.
New Line Cashiers to
Highlands.
D. G. Stewart, general manager of
the Western Carolina Telephony com
pany, with headquarters at Franklin,
announced here Tuesday that his com-'
pany has acquired by purchase the
lines of the Sylva-Cashiers Telephone
company extending from .Sylva to
High Hampton, the deal having been
consummated Monday of this week.
A new line will be built from Cash
iers, to Highlands. Money for this
purpose is already in hand and work
will begin on the new line in the
near future.
In keeping with its policy of giving
the best telephone service possible in
the area served by it the Western
Carolina Telephone company has just
established instantaneous service be
tween Franklin and Sylva, the an
nnouncement said. To make this service
possible the second complete metallic
circuit between the two towns has
been completed. In so far as tele
phone service is concerned, Mr. Stew
art states that 1 Franklin and Sylva
are now one.
On and after April 21 Sylva will
become a toll checking center rating
in this respect with Asheville and oth
er large telephone centers. Sixteen
toll circuits will have their termina-
tions in the sylva board, a new switch
board having been purchased to ac
commodate and' expedite this service.
Making Sylva a toll checking center
will expedite service on all lines
served by the local company to all
parts of the country, it is said.. ;.
In the interest of better telephone
service in this section of the state,
and in northern Georgia the Western
Carolina Telephone comuany is now
negotiating for the purchase of , other 1 .
telephone properties in this territory.
The company owns the exchanges at
Franklin, Sylva, Bryson City and Clay- .
ton, . Ga., in addition to the Sylva
High Hampton line. This company,
also has under construction a ljnc
along highway No. 10 from Bryson
City to Sylva to better accommodate
the communities of Vhitticr, Bel
mont and Barker's Creek. Another
line from. Dillsboro rp Savannah
creek is now practical complete to
better accommodate tha:, populous sec-'
tion of Jackson 'county.
Former Citizen Here
. i.
Mr. H. W. Conley, of Andrews, a
former citizen of Macon, but who
had not been to Franklin for 22
years, was here last week, having
brought his boy to a local hospital
tor an operation.
toll of human life is taken annually
by the criminal fire bug. It is the
duty of every citizen to help catch
such criminals and put them where
they belong behind the bars.
Let's every citizen get behind our
local state and federal organizations
and do a citizen's part to destroy the
Red Enemy.
, -,. Z. B. BYRD.