o
ESTABLISHED IN 1SSS
Oldest North Carolina Newspaper
West of Asheville
DEDICATED TO MACOII
County and the Welfare
of it Good People
(
H V iJ M rt r
n
PROGRESSIVE LIBERA L INDEPENDENT
VOLUME XLVI, No. S
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19. 1931
$150 PER YEAR
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Demonstration Agent and
Extension Specialist
Touring County
itinerary" mapped
Many Meeting&Scheduled
To Be Cciiducted
Next Week
Fred S. SIoaivrtQunty farm dem
onstration agent, is holding a se
ries of district farm meetings
throughout the county at which he
and experts from Kaleigh are as
sisting the farmers in mapping
their crop plans for the year.
Mr. Sloan,., accompanied by F.
R. Farnham, dairy specialist of the
North Carolina State, college ex
tension service, held district meet
ings Tuesday, at R. C. Sutton's farm
near Clark's Chapel, and at Robert
Fulton's farm at Cullasaja.
On Wednesday three meetings
were held, at Elbert Bryson's, Cul
lasaja; at C. W. Henderson's place,
Gneiss, and at Will Higdon's farm
at Higdonville.
Other Meetings
Other meetings scheduled for this
week follow: " '
Thursday, 10 a. m., Jake Deal's,
Rabbit Creek; 1 p. m., Ed Kerr's,
Watauga;. 4 p. m., C. H. McClure's,
Otto.
Friday, IV a. m., Maxwell School,
Cartoogechaye; 1 p. m., John
Roan's, Cartoogechaye; 4 p. m.,
Ledford's store, Rurniugtown.
On : Saturday, each week, Mr.
Sloan will 'be in his office at the
courthouse.
Next Week'. Schedule
Mr. Slpau will be accompanied
at the meetings to be held next
week by C. G. Filler, beef cattle
and sheep specialist of the State
Department of Agriculture. The
schedule follows : - -
Monday, 10 a. m., Gribblc's store,
Prentiss; 1 p. m., Walter Gibson's,
Iotla; 4 p. m., Sam Sweatman's,
lotla.
Tuesday, 10 : a. in., Morrison's
tore, West's Mill; 1 p. m., Doc
Hall's, Etna; 4 p. m., Robert, Ram
sey's, Tellico.
. Wednesday, 10 a. m., J. D. Bur
netfe's, Scaly; 2 p. m., Frank Hill's,
Horse Cove. ;
Thursday, 10 a. m.,' general store,
Aquone ; 1 p. m., store, Kyle ; 4
. p. .m., store, Flats.
Friday, 10 a. m., Henry's store,
Ellijay; 2 p. m Potts store, High
lands. '
R. D. SISK NAMED
SENIOR WARDEN
BY EPISCOPALIANS
Following the service on Sunday
morning conducted by the Kt. Kev.
Junius M. Horner. D. D., Episcopal
bishop of Western North Carolina,
the cOnerreeation of St. Agnes
church held an election of officers
for the year 1931. In the absence
of a minister in charge,' the bishop
called and presided at this meet
ing, announcing that he hoped that
ihe efforts to secure a" minister
for the chinches of Franklin and
Highlands would be Successful in
the near future. x
The following officers were elect
R. D. Sisk, senior warden; B.
W. , Johnson, junior warden ; , Mrs.
Mangum, secretary and treasurer.
"'Mrs.' J. W. C. Johnson was elect
ed delegate to the Annual Conven
tion to be held in Asheville, March
12 and 13. .-"
ERVIN TO GIVE
SPECIAL LENTEN
SERMON SERIES
Next Sunday morning. Mr. Ervin
will begin a series of Lenten ser
inoiis on the life of Christ. This
scries Will end on Easter Sunday
Tlii' scene from the life of Christ
which will be presented next Sun
day "morning will be that of the
"Temptation," the subject being
"'Wilderness Hours.
At 7:30 p. ni. Mr. Ervin will de
liver a biographical sermon on
"George Washington." Are the
"deburikers" right in their estimate
of him or not? Come and hear
Mr. Ei vin's opinion.
Mr. Ervin will preach at Car
son's Chapel as usual next Sunday
MEETINGS HELD
.afternoon at 3 o clock.
Azalea Festival
By Miss Elizabeth Kelly;
Would Attract Thousands
Asheville has its rhododendron
festival, Charleston its magnolia
gardens, which attract thousands of
people from far and wide. But
Macon county, in"' the opinion of
Miss Elizabeth Kelly, has in its
profusion of ; azalea, especially on
Wayah Bald, a gift of nature which
outshines Charleston's vaunted
magnolias and Asheville's far-advertised
rhododendron.
Miss Kelly, believes that it would
be a wise and gracious thing for
Macon county to make known to
the world the beauty it possesses
and to broadcast an invitation to
the people of North Carolina and
other states Jo " visit us early in
June and see for themselves the
marvelous sight of a whole moun
tain top clad in beautiful, fra
grant flowers. She suggested that
it might be desirable to set aside
period, when' the azalea blooms
are at their best as "Azalea Week"
and to put on a special festival,
possibly a pageant, for the enter
tainment both of visitors and home
folks. -
Road To Be Ready
The Forestry Service soon is to
begin work on the grading of the
road from highway No. 28 through
Nantahala Gap. The work, at least
as far as the gap near where the
road leading to the top of Wayah
Bald turns off, probably will be
finished by azalea time, according to
Supervisor A. A. Wood of the
Nantahala National forest. Mr.
Wood commended the proposal of
Miss Kelly arid added his opinion
that Wayah Bald with the azaleas
in bloom is one of the most beau
tiful sights to be found in the
mountaips of eastern America.
"Charleston's magnolia gardens,
nor Asheville's rhododendron fes
tival, with their thousands of visi
tors, can compare in sheer .beauty
to Macon county's wealth of white
azalea in season," Miss Kelly declared-
"Early in June this rare
variety of azalea is at its best
with rich green foliage and masses
of fragrant flowers. At this time
Wayah Bald is indescribably beau
tiful with its rugged, treeless top
clothed with acres of this fragrant
FRANKLIN DEBT
ONLY $54,000
Town's Tax Rate of $ .75
On $100 Valuation Is
Unusually Low
Franklin has a bonded indebted
ness of approximately $54,000, ac
cording to a survey of the town's
financial affairs made public this
week by George Dean, town clerk-
The total outstanding bonds ot
the Town of Franklin amount to
$353,500, Mr. Dean's statement
shows, but of this amount $W9,MJU
were assumed by the Northwest
Carolina Utilities. Inc., in the pur
chase of the town's hydro-electric
power plant. .
Approximately $12,000 has been
accumulated, the clerk said, to take
care of payments on the town
debt. About half of this sum, which
constitutes the bond sinking fund,
is tied up in the closed Bank of
Franklin. The other half has been
let out on loans. The town board
Bad Man from
Is Back in
Troy Ingle, bad man from Bun
combe, is back in the Macon coun
ty jail, from which he escaped
over a year ago.
Authorities in Asheville notified
Sheriff Slagle last week that they
were holding Ingle for this county.
The jail breaker was picked up
and brought back to Franklin Sun
day night by Sheriff Slagle and
Deputy George Mallonee, who were
returning from Winston-Salem with
another prisoner.
Ingle, who was originally arrest
ed here on a charge of transport
ing whiskey, escaped from jail in
the autumn of 1929 while he was
awaiting trial in the superior court.
Proposed
shrub.- No other place does it
grow and bloom so luxuriantly
Warns of Vandals
"We natives know the beauty of
the Wayah decked in its exclusive
robe in June and we want others
to share it, provided they come to
enjoy and not - to despoil. The
fear of vandalism has made us
loth to tell others of this beauty
and has made us a bit fearful of
results since good roads have made
this heretofore secluded place
available to the automobile prowler
and plunderer..
"Our wish is to show folks the
way to this beautiful place that it
may bring joy to them and not
that its beauty might be broken,
tramjiled and destroyed.
Describes Beauties
"The road to Wayah Bald winds
through virgin forests and banks
of fern. From the mountaintop
there spreads for miles in every
direction magnificent views of bil
lowy green mountains, hills and
valleys. Nowhere in North Caro
lina is there an accessible place
with a view to equal this in extent
and beauty. Of course, this state
ment will be challenged by backers
of Mount Mitchell, -Grandfather,
Caesars' Head, Rhone, I'isgah and
many other lovely and favorite
North Carolina peaks east of the
Balsams. We have in Macon coun
ty Whiteside, Satula, Scaly, Stand
ing Indian, Siler Bald and others
with which to meet all coiners and
contenders, and still have left Way
ah Bald with it's twin peak,. Wine
Spring Bald, as the loveliest arid
most .desirable of all in azalea time
in June.
"Would it not be a gracious thing
for us mountain folks -of Macon to
give to North Carolina and sur
rounding states a neighborly invita
tion to come along in June and
enjoy with us the wonderful beau
ty of azalea time on the Wayah?
"We have the roads, we have the
flowers, we have the scenery! Have
we the foresight and the 'will to
plan a, safe and sapc festival that
will satisfy and compensate visitors
who may come', to share the gifts
which Nature has so lavishly be
stowed upon us?"
held a called session Monday and
voted to authorize signing in be
half of the town of an agreement
to allow its deposits in the Hank
of Franklin to remain intact until
October, 1933. Besides the sinking
fund money the town had a check
ing account in the bank.
Separate and apart from the in
debtcdness of the Town of Frank
lin -there are outstanding $66,001 in
bonds for the Franklin school dis
trict and $90,000 in Franklin town
ship road bonds. These bonds are
to be paid by the school district
and township, respectively, not by
the town. '
Mr. Dean pointed out that Frank
lin has a remarkably low tax rate,
75 cents on $100 valuation.
Have Valentine Party
More than 30 youiig people were
entertained last Thursday evening
at the Epworlh League valentine
party at the home of Mrs. J. S
Coriley. Games were led by tin
Rev. G. Clifton Ervin, pastor of
the Methodist church, after which
refreshments were served by the
hostess. The young people" report
ed a most enjoyable time.
Buncombe
Macon Jail
He broke through the ceiling of
his cell, knocked the bricks out
of a liable and lowered himscll to
the ground. Four other prisom rs
escaped with him. Two were later
caught.
Ingle now faces charges-of trans
oortinu whiskey and breaking jail
The jirisoiur brought back from
Winston-Salem was Arnold .Mac
Means, charged with abandonment
of his wife and .two. children, who
live in Cowce township. Alter a
preliminary hearing before Magis
trate "Carpenter Monday M ae Means
was bound over to Superior Court".
The sheriff and his deputy ex
perienced no trouble with the; iris-oncrs.
JOHNSTON BILL
STIRS COMMENT
Editorial in Asheville
Newspaper Commends
Proposal
TO H ELPTAXP AYER
Measure Seeks To Lower
Tax Foreclosure
Expenses
The bill drawn by Thomas J.
Johnston, attorney for the Macon
County Board of Commissioners, to
reduce the cost of legal advertising
in tax foreclosure proccdings, is at
tracting considerable comment here
and elsewhere. In almost all quar
ters yet heard from the proposal
has been favorably received.
Mr. Johnston's measure would
make. useless repetition unnecessary
in advertisements of tax foreclosure
sales, paving the way for savings
to the county, the tax delinquent or
the person bidding in the property
of about 50 per cent. .The attorney
pointed out that in many instances
the amount of legal costs, togeth-
er wiin penalties, frequently
amounts to more than the past due
taxes for which property is adver-
lised for sale.
The bill was sent to Dr. W. A.
Rogers, Macon County's represen
tative in the General Assembly, last
week. Dr. Rogers, here for the
week-end. said he had not yet re
ceived it but expected he would
find it in his mail when he return-
til to Raleigh. He reserved com
ment on the measure until he had
had an opportunity to study it.
Asheville Times' Comment
Commenting editorially on the
proposal, The Asheville Times says:
"lu these troublous days the fore
closure oftax certificates touches
almost as many people as does the
possession of certificates of bank
deposit. Increasing the burden of
the burdened taxpayer, the pres
ent legal requirements for sale of
property for taxes result in a lagc
lill of costs.
"Thomas J. Johnston of.Franklin,
ittorney for the, Macon County
Board of Commissioners, finds that
. . -.. - i ... -
in some cases tne costs incident 10
tax foreclosures are greater than
the amount of delinquent taxes.
Mr. Johnston has therefore pre
pared a bill to reduce these costs
and his measure will shortly be in
troduced in the Legislature.
"This bill aims particularly to
limit- to smaller proportions the
newspaper space now required for
publication of the foreclosure no
tices. Looked at from another
angle, it is a bill to reduce the
advertising revenue of newspapers.
"But the Johnston bill, enacted,
will contribute to the public inter
est by saving taxpayers much mon
ey in the course of the fiscal years.
For that reason all the newspapers
iriav be expected to favor its adop
tion. Money devoted to excessive
costs in tax suits will do com
munities, including the newspapers,
much more good if circulated in
other ways." .
UNION SERVICE
HELD SUNDAY AT
BAPTIST CHURCH
One hundred and fifteen attend
ed. Sunday school last Sunday
morning at the Baptist church,
about one-half of the - enrollment
Dr. Abcrnethy used as foundation
for his sermon Sunday morning,
John 1 1-6, "Jesus said I am the
life." He ai(iiea-"d at Ins best de
!i ciii'ig a "fine .s.nn.nin' a well
filled house.
Dr. C. ' 'E. .Cunningham, of Angel
Brothei s' hospital, rendered a yio
lin solo, Cavitina, by Raff, to the
delight, of the congregation. Dr.
Cunningham is to play again bun
day. March 1.
A union service was held at the
llaiitist church last Sunday night
.j'he pastors of the Methodist and
Presbyterian churches and their
rial feature of the service Vfw
congregations took part. As a
snecial feature of the service Kev
Mr. Avery, pastor of the West
Asheville Presbyterian church, gave
a stenoiiticion show of the Holy
land t'o a capacity house. He was
assisted by his wife.
The Franklin quartet, Rev. Clif
ton Ervin, Roy C. Daily, Thos.
Johnston, Jr., and Roger Dalton,
rendered two selections, 'Swing
Low Sweet Chariot" and "Now the
Day Is Over."
Urges Reopening of Bank
Franklin, N. C.
February 16, 1931.
Editor, Franklin Press,
Dear Sir:
Franklin, N. C.
At this time it may or it may not be best for me to say a word
or two about the banking situation in Franklin. Soon after the bank
closed, it was generally understood on what we thought was good
authority, that it would require something like $130,00 in cash to
reopen the Bank of Franklin. I considered that, and still consider
it, a requirement that we could not meet. Since then we have had
information from the Corporation Commission which leads me to
believe it possible to -reopenu the Bank of Franklin. I do not think
anyone interested iri the welfare of Franklin and Macon County
believes that it would not be very -much better to reopen the Bank
of Franklin than it would be to establish a new bank. One of the
objections that I hear urged by some depositor against opening the
bank, is the lack of interest they would receive upon their money
during the time they agree to leave it untouchd. This is an ob
jectionable condition, if there were any way to avoid it, but there
is unfortunately no way". -The question the people muist decide
for themselves is whether they can get their money out of the
bank quicker by reopening the Bank of Franklin and letting it liqui
date the assets up to December 16th, or leave it as it is and let
the Corporation Commission continue the task in which it is now
engaged. .
Referring again to the matter of the loss of interest on the part
of depositors, 1 wish to call attention to the fact that the stock
holder too, will receive nothing on their stock in the way of
dividends until the depositors are paid in full. This is to some ex
tent an offset to the objection 1 have referred to above. My very
candid judgment is that if the Bank of Franklin can be reopened,
the depositor will receive their money in a shorter time than if
the present system is continued.
The depositors signing a contract for their deposits to remain in
the bonk for any stated length of time does not mean by any
means, that the stockholders will be released from their assessment,
but on the contrary, no stockholder is relieved of his assessment
until eVery depositor has been paid in full, regardless of the date
set for ich payment. The agreement prepared for the stockhold
ers to sign postpones payment until October 1, 1933. This does
not mean that the depositors will not receive their money until
that date. A collections are made, and so soon as 10 per cent is
available, this amount will be immediately distributed among the
several depositors.
The community a a whole is vitally interested in this question.
Anything done now, except in a spirit of the most hearty coopera
tion, will ba an injury to the town and the community. After hav
mg been connected with the affairs of the bank for sixty days as
liquidating agent, 1 do not hesitate to say that it will be decidedly
better for every member of this community and for all persons
interested, either directly indirectly, in the Bank of Franklin, to
reopen it if it is possible to do so.
Yours very truly,
M. D. BILLINGS.
Gainesville Motorcade To
Come To Franldin Tuesday
ALE MOORE'S
B0Y1PR0VES
Lad Struck by Auto Last
Saturday Seriously
Injured
Alex Moore, Jr., 10-year-old son
of Former Sheriff Alex Moore, was
reported Wednesday to be recover
ing fom injuries received late Sat
urday afternoon when he was
knocked down by an automobile re
ported to have been driven by
Daniel West, 18. .
Young Moore was returning from
his father's farm -on the Georgia
highway in a wagon with his fath
er and others. Near the residence
of Dr. W. A. Rogers he jumped
from the wagon and started across
the street. The automobile struck
him before the driver had time to
halt his machine.
The lad was rushed to' Angel
Urothers'. hosnital. where it was re
ported his injuries were serious al
though no bones were broken.
West was placed under a $2()0
bond pending a hearing.
Main Street Undergoing
An Early Spring Cleaning
Police thief IJob Henry, among
whose duties is that of seeing that
Franklin's streets are kept pre
sentable, doesn't wait for paint-up
week to do his spring painting.
Already the chief has started get
ting things ready for the crowds
that warm weather and the open
ing of the Georgia highway prom
ise to bring to I'ranklin.
Early this week he had all of
the trash cans and paper recp
tacles along Main street painted
in a bright, fresh coat of red.
Now they stand out like red-coated
sentinels.
Yesterday workmen began white
A motorcade of citizens from
Gainesville, Ga., , is planning ' to
come, to Franklin next Tuesday,
if the weather is good, to cele
brate the opening, of the last link
of paving on the Atlanta short
route, which links Asheville and
the cGorgia metropolis 57 miles
closer than any other highway.
Letters received by hranklin busi
ness men announcing the coming
of the motorcade said that it was
merely a. .neighborly good will trip
and that no special entertainment
would be expected. However, it
was requested that public officials
and others be on hand for the
sake of getting acquainted.
Tourists coming through Frank
lin Wednesday reported that the
road already is open all the way
from Atlanta, with no detours, al
though it was not scheduled to
open until. Sunday.
3 Negroes Charged
With Stealing Feed
Three negroes are' being- held in
the Macon.' county jail awaiting
hearing before Magistrate Carpen
ter Monday on a charge of steal
ing a sack of cottonseed meal.
The feed, it was' reported,- fell off
Gary" I'ation's .automobile on Main
street Saturday 'and "the negroes,
Tom Gibson, Hob Chavers and
George MacDonahl, picked it up.
washing the trunks. of Main street's
trees. This will be finished in a
day or so and by the time the
motorcade from Gainesville comes
here, next week . Chief Henry hopes
to have things looking spic and
span. Me has 'requested that in
dividual property owners help him
in the task by having an early
spring cleaning at their homes tand
places of business.
The chief especially urges that
people have ashes and other trash
removed from their yards. He will
have the garbage ami trash re
moval truck call upon notice that
it is desired. ,
BIG SHARE OF
FUNDS FROZEN
650 Depositors Agree To
Terms for Reopening
Franklin Bank
MASS MEETING HELD
Rogers Thinks Creditors
Will Be Paid Quicker
Under Reopening
With 400 agreements to freeze
deposits signed following a mass
meeting in the county court house
Saturday afternoon and others
coming in every day, prospects are
encouraging for the reopening of
the Hank of Franklin.
A total of 050 of the contract
forms being circulated among de
positors had been returned with
Urge Prompt Signing
Of Contract Forms
The committee in charge of
activities looking toward reviv
ing the Bank of Franklin re
quests that all depositor who
have not yet signed agreement
for freezing deposits, upon which
reopening of the institution de
pends, to do so immediately.
Prompt action on the part of
depositors will hasten the -reopening.
On the other hand, de
lay may jeopardize the whole
pioposition. Blank contract
-forms setting forth the agree
ment . necessary for depositor
to make have been circulated
throughout the county. If you
have not received one, a copy
can be obtained from almost any
business man or attorney in
Franklin.
signatures Wednesday night. In
cluded among those who had signed
it was stated, were practically all
of the largest depositors. Well
over 50 per cent of the deposits al
ready" have been frozen, it was
stated, but the exact amount could
not be determined without a check
against the bank's books.
Rogers Urges Reopening
Dr. W. A. Rogers, president of
the bank, came all the way from
Kaleigh, where he is representing
Macon county in the General As
sembly, to preside over the mass
meeting held Saturday. He told
the gathering that officials of
the "Corporation Commission, which
has supervision over state banks
had advised him that it would be
necessary for the depositors to
agree to leave their funds intact,
until October, 193.1, before any
further steps could be taken look
ing toward reopening the bank. lie
also said he had been informed
that it would not be necessary to
raise anything like the sum of
$1X,(HK), stipulated by Bank Ex
aminer Henson several weeks ago,
to reopen the bank. The necessary
funds, he announced, will be forth
coming as soon as the depositors
sign the agreements to freeze their
accounts.
Dr. Rogers expressed the opinion.
that if the bank is reopened the
hpositors will get their money
quicker than if liquidation con
tinues on the present basis. He
also explained that interest will not
be, paid whether the bank is open
ed or not and that, if it is re
opened, the few who may refuse to
ign agreements to freeze their
deposits will not get their money
any earlier than those who do.
Loudly Applauded
A loud round of applause fol
lowed Dr. Rogers' address.
Committees are now going about
the county circulating the forms
for freezing deposits. Within a
few days it is expected that nearly
all of the depositors will have
been reached. Some of the de
positors, however, must be reached
by mail, and this may occasion
some delay.
ENTERTAINMENT
TO BE PRESENTED
BY BIBLE CLASS
The members of the F. S. Johns
ton Bible class of the Franklin
Methodist church will entertain
with a "Community meet" in the
basement of the church on the
evening of Friday, February 27
from 7:30 until 9 o'clock. A nom
inal admission fee will be charged.