North Carolina Newspapers

( 1 0 Pa§ es ID Today Population VOL. 65 NO. 2 Established 1889 Kings Mountain, N. C., Thursday, January 13, 1955 Sixty-Fourth Year KKICE FIVE CENTS Local News Bulletins ON DEAN'S LIST Miss Faylene Falls, daugh ter of IMr. and Mrs. Craig Falls, was listed on the Dean’s list for the fall term at Appalachi an State Teacher’s college, Boone. A senior, Miss Falls is majoring in physical educa tion. AT CITY HALL Mrs. Gary Sarvis, of Battle; ground ave., has ibeen em ployed (by the City of Kings Mountain as a stenographer in the business offices. She be gan her new duties last week. FIRE ALARM City firemen answered a fire alarm Thursday to Kings Mountain Beverage Company. No damage resulted from a motor flare-up at the compa ny, firemen reported Wednes day. OPTIMIST CLUB Kings Mountain Optimist clulb will hold its regular meet ing Thursday night at 7 o’ -cl©Ck at Kings Mountain Wo man's Club, according to an announcement made by Neal Grissom, president. METER RECEIPTS Net meter receipts from city’s parking meters for week end ing Wednesday at noon were ’ $143.55, according to Mrs. Frances Sarvis, of city clerk’s office. i TAG SALES A total of 327 city auto li censes for 1955 had been sold through Wednesday morning, according to Miss Grace Car penter, of city clerk’s office. One hundred and ten of the total had been sold this week, she said. MASONIC MEETING An emergent communication for work in the first degree will (be held (by Fairview (Lodge A. F. & A. M., 339 on Saturday night at 7:30 at the Masonic Lodge, Secretary J. ,H. McDan iel, Jr., has announced. IC'sToNameDSA Winner Tuesday The Junior Chamber of Com merce will announce its “Young Man of 1954” at the regular meet ing of the club at Masonic Hall Tuesday, with Lambert Swartz, Charlotte businessman and 1953 DSA winner in that city, to make the feature address of the occa sion. The dinner meeting is to be gin at 7 p. m. R. G. Plonk, Jr., chairman of the club’s distinguished service award committee, made the an nouncement and the program was arranged by Dr. N. H, Reed. Chairman Plonk also pointed out that nominations for Kings Mountain’s “Young Man” will be accepted through Friday and may be made by anyone in the city. Nominees must be between the ages of 21 and 35 inclusive and do not have to bp members of civic clubs. Nominations should be made to Mr. Plonk. Several nominations have al ready been made, he said, and the winner will be chosen by a secret local committee of men ove£ 36. Names of nominees, oth er than the winner, will not be announced. Winner of the DSA award, to be given annually by the Jaycees, will be presented a key and a cer tificate and will be entered in the state contest. The project is a part of the club’s observance of National Jaycee Week, which begins on Friday. Child Little Hurt When Hit By Car Gene Martin, five-year-old son of Tommy Martin, of South Pied mont avenue, received slight in juries as a result of toeing struck toy a car Saturday morning, a round 10 o’clock, on W. Mountain street. The car was diven toy Everette (Lee Hill, of route 2, Park Yarn Mill. The child, reported toy police to have run in front of the car, was dismissed by Dr. j. E. An thony after receiving first aid treatment for injuries to the lip and foot. The accident was investigated toy Officers P. A. Hawkins and R. G. Ware. LITHIUM CORPORATION OFFICIALS — On hand to formally open the new Bessemer City plant of Lithium Corporation of America last Thursday were, left to right, Herbert W. Rogers, president Walter M. Fenton, sales manager, aud Fremont F< Clarke, vice-president and production manager. All are of Minneapolis, Minn. (Photo courtesy of Gastonia Gazette.) NewLithium Plant Begins Production Official Says Annaal Payroll To Top Million Lithium Corporation of Ameri ca’s new $7,000,000 chemical plant on Bessemer City road was officially put into operation fast Thursday, in a cferemony at which Herbert W. Rogers, president, presided. Other officials present from the Minneapolis, Minn., home office of the company were Fremont F. Clarke, vide - president and pro duction manager; Walter M. Fen ton, sales manager; Dr. K. B. El lestad, director of research; Ric hard A. Hughes, comptroller; and John W. Douglas, director of purchases. In a press interview prior to the ceremony, President Rogers outlined plans of the company for operation of the new plant, announced management person nel assignments, and praised the building contractors for their di ligent work in erecting thte huge plant in the short period of four months. Vice - President Clarke said the company would employ about 125 people in its chemical plant and estimated an additional 75 would be used in mining opera tions and in office work. He es timated the potential payroll in excess of $1,000,000. He said that Lithium Corporation completed December 31 its business year which had been “our best yea*- if: history.” Lithium Corporation is a cor poration with authorized capital ization of one million shares of common stock, of which 727,500 are outstanding. It had no pre% ferred stock, with none authoriz ed. Mr. Clarke said Lithium Cor porationjowns or leases 24 pro perties in the Grover-Lincolnton Continued On Page Eight Bloodmobile Visit Set For Grover The Red Cross Bloodmobi e will make its next Kings Moun tain area visit at Grover, chap ter blood program officials were informed Tuesday. The Bloodmobilfe will visit Grover on January 31, under sponsorship of the ’Grover Lions club, chapter officials here reported. Mrs. E. W. Griffin, publicity chairman, said Kings Mountain people will be urged to donate blood during the Grover visit, as well as Grover citizfens. She said arrangements will be made for transportation, if needed. Further announcement con cerning the visit will be made in the near future. / Retail Group Naming Officers Members of the Kings Moun tain Merchants association are currently balloting in a mail e lection to choose officers for 1955. Nominees for president are Fred W. Plonk and Sam Collins. Nominees for vice-president are Paul McGinnis and Fleete McCurdy. - Director nominees, from whom members are to vote for four, are Jonas Bridges, Dan Weiss, Bill Jonas, Fred Haithcox, Charles Dixon, W. L. Plonk, Richard Bar nette and Richard Spencer. PRESBYTERY Rev. P. D. Patrick, R. G. Plonk, and Dan Wells will attend a meeting of Kings Mountain Presbytery in session at First Presbyterian church, Shelby, on Tuesday. They are delega tes from First Presbyterian and Dixon Presbyterian churches. City To Tap Natural Gas Pipeline This Weekend; Deposits Invited i me city 'board of commission- ' -rs held a long, but largely rou- 1 tine, regular monthly meeting i last Thursday night, with many items of (business relating to the natural gas system, which En-. glneer Gilmore reported about 35 aercent completed. «- - ■ The 'board also named Harold °hillips to a one-year term anc T. H. Patterson to a two-year term as trustees of the Fireman's relief fund, and approved fire department election of Chief Pat1 Tignor and Assistant Chief Hun- ! ter Allen as trustees from the lepartment,. J. H. Thomson is the auiblic representative, appointed >y the State Commissioner of Insurance. »* * On the gas work, the hoard passed a technically required resolution confirming sale of the natural gas bonds, changed specifications on its gas system contract to provide for use of 400 different ibr&nd meters, cancell ed an option on an additional 400 due to an unfavorable price differential, and agreed to con tract with Smith Welding Com pany for repairing damage to streets. Engineer Gilmore, of Barnard & Burk, had stated that Smith Welding had released A. P. Warlick from contract for the work and would ipay the city to handle It. The 'board also agreed to allow J. W. Webster, gas in stallation inspector, to work with Gilmore up to three, hours daily in inspecting lines and tap-ins. Barnard & Burk is to pay for the service. In addition, the hoard members received a boiled down version of requirements relating to operation of the gas system. In other actions, the board: 1) Voted to employ Mrs. Fran Continued On Page Bight Red Cross Names Harris; Ncisler Fund Chairman J. Ollie Harris was elected chairman of Kings Mountain Chapter American Red Cross and Henry Neisler was elected fund chairman at the annual meeting at City Hall courtroom last Thurs day night. Mr. Harris succeeds I. G. Pat terson. Mr. Neisler succeeds W. K. Mauney, Jr. Other officers elected were Miss Mary McGill, recording sec retary, succeeding Mrs. Grady King, who has been recording secretary for Kings Mountain chapter for the past 17 years; and Ben H. Goforth, Jr., disaster chairman, a position which has been vacant for several years. New directors elected were C. G. White, George Houser, Dr. P. G. Padgett, and I. G. Patterson. Retiring directors are J. L. Mc Gill, Henry Neisler, E. E. Mar lowe, and W. G. Grantham. Officers with unexpired terms are Rev. P. D. Patrick, first vice chairman, Mrs. C. E. Neisler, se cond vice-chairman, Mrs. P. G. Ratterree, treasurer, J. H. Thom son, auditor, Mrs, J. N. Gamble, executive secretary, and B. S. Neill, fund treasurer. Hold-over directors are Mrs. J. E. Herndon, Eugene Patterson, V. L. Neal, of Grover, Dr. D. P. Hord, Mrs. G. D. Blanton, Mrs. J. E. Mauney, Mrs. Harry Page, and Aubrey Mauney. Miss Antoinette Beasley, Red Cross field representative from Southeastern Area office, Atlan ta, Ga.' was guest speaker at the meeting. Opening prayer was by Dr. P. G. Padgett. Mrs. King, re tiring recording secretary, read the minutes, and a report of the treasurer was made by Mrs. Rat terree. Reports were also made by Dr, Padgett, chairman of Red Cross Blood program, Donald Crawford, chairman of Red Cross life, saving, and J. Neal Grissom, chairman of Red Cross first aid. Mrs. J. E. Herndon gave the nom inating committee report. The meeting was closed with prayer by Dr. W. L. Fressiy, Danacott Plans Woodruff Firm J. G. Darracott, Kings Moun tain citizen since 1938, will go to Woodruff, S. C, soon, where he will open a new wholesale auto part firm,. Mr. Darracott said he comple ted arrangements for renting a building at 17 N. Main street. Woodruff, on Tuesday and ex pects to open Darracott’s Auto Parts about February 1. Mr. Darracott came to Kings Mountain from Abbeville, S. €., to open a Western Auto Associ ate store in 1938. He sold this business to Haywood !E. Lynch in 1950 add has heen associated since with Bridges Auto Parts. At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Lions club, Mr. Darracott, a past president, was presented a gift from the club in token of his long service in which he com piled a record cf perfect attend ance over almost 17 years, and held various club offices and committee posts. He is also a past president of the Kings Mountain Merchants association. Mr. and Mrs. Darracott will live in Woodruff at Poole Apart ments, West Georgia street. Rastus B. Dixon Rites Wednesday Rites for Rastus Bettis Dixon, 78, of route 2, were conducted from Bethlehem Baptist church Wednesday afternoon at 4 o’clock. Services were conducted by the Rev. R. E, Robbins, pastor of the church, assisted by the Rev. W. G. Camp. Burial was in the chur ch cemetery. Mr. Dixon, a retired farmer, died Monday at 12:10 p. m., at Kings Mountain hospital after an Illness of three weeks. He was a son of the late Walter and Sally Bridges Dixon. His wife, the for mer Ella Blanche Blalock, died several years ago. He is survived by one son, Wal ter B. Dixon, of Cramerton; fivie daughters, Miss Emma Dixon, of the home, Mrs. Dixie McDaniel, Mrs. Edgar Bell, Mrs. Charles Lail and Mrs. Delia Howell, all of Kings Mountain; five brothers, Ben Stroupe, of Cherryville, Gai ther Dixon, of Petersburg, Va., Clarence Dixon; and D. A. Dixon, both of Charlotte, and Kelly Dix on, of Roanoke Rapids; three sis ters, Mrs. Ida Watterson, and Mrs. Harvey Funderburk, both of Charlotte,, and Mrs. Nora Hord, of Waco; 22 grandchildren, and 17 great - grandchildren. Postmaster Blakely Resigning Position Effective January 15 First National President Sees "Good 1955" First National Bank enjoyed a prosperous year in 1954 and anti cipates a “good 1955”, President F. R. Summers reported Tuesday at the annual stockholders meet ing. • Following reports of officers, stockholders re-elected all direc tors who include Mr. Summers, B. S. Neill, P. M. Neisler, M. A. Ware, Dr. L. P. Baker, G. A. Bridges, W. K. Mauney and R. L. Mauney. Following the stockholders mfeeting, directors re-elected all officers, who include, in addition to Mr. Summers, B. S. Neill, exe cutive vice-president, R. L. Mau ney, vice-president, R. S. Lennon, vice-president and cashier, James C. McKinney and Mrs. Helen R. Blanton, assistant cashiers. More than 80 percent of the bank’s outstanding stock was re presented at the meeting, either in person or by proxy', a modern record, Mr. Summers said. In his report, published in brochure form for distribution to stockholders, other banks, indus trial and business firms, Mr. Sum mers called attention to the great growth of the lithium industry in the Kings Mountain area, the construction of a modern brick and tile company, and other in dustrial development. He also noted bank service im pfovements during the year, in eluding inauguration of walk-up window service, and said the bank is installing an IBM proof ; machine and a Burroughs Micro Twin photo machine to further speed accounting service to de positors. He reported that the bank had made 1,924 loans in the install ment loan department and 3,307 loans for general business needs during 1954, with total outstand ing at December 31 of $1,172,320. 26. During 1.954, the bank showed I net income of $25,798.55, repre senting earnings of $2.58 per share, and paid dividends of $10, 000, or $1 per share. More than $15,000 was added to the bank’s undivided profit and reserve fund, to bring this total to $105,913.43 He reported that salaries and vva^es claimed 42 per cent of the bank’s gross earnings, while taxes claimed eight percent, divi dends eight percent, depreciation three percent, and other expenses 17 percent. Sixty percent of earn ings were derived from interest on loans, 30 percent from invest ments, and the remaining ten per cent from other sources. The bank’s year-fend statement showed total assets of $4,266,028. 62, deposits of $3,910,115.19, capi tal, surplus and undivided profits at $330,913.43, investments of $1, 801,099.07, and a contingency re serve of $25,000. During 1954, the bank handled more than 740,000 checks repre senting transactions in excess of $50 million. “The definite business upturn in the past three months, the lessening of world tensions, and the striking business improve ment abroad, especially in Eu rope, give promise of a good 195^,” he concluded. Tilman Pearson Lives In Ward 2. Not 3 _ Tilman Pearson, reported Iasi week as a likely candidate for a commissionership in the com ing city election, was inadver tently listed as a possiible can didate from Ward 3. Mr. Pearson lives in Ward 2. He called to note the error and to state he was receiving en couragement to run in many quarters. Mr. Pearson’s brother, former Commissioner Olland Pearson, resides in Ward 3, and is also re ported to be a likely candidate in the spring elections. -. KIWANIAN MEETING Members of the Kings Moun tain Klwanis cluto will hold their regular weekly meeting at Masonic Dining Hall Thurs day evening at 6:45 p. m. Ma jor W. B. Lentz, executive offi cer of North Carolina State Highway patrol will be guest speaker. PLANNING POLIO CAMPPAIGN — W. J. Fulkerson, left, and Ben H. Bridges, Jr., right, are shown looking over some of the publicity materials as they begin work on the 1955 March of Dimes campaign. The two are co-chairmen of the Kings Mountain area fund-raising I effort. Polio Fund Drive To Begin Friday Solicitation Organization Is Announced Kings Mountain annual March of Dimes campaign for the bene fit of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis will begin Friday. Ben H. Bridges, Jr., and W. J. Fulkerson, co-chairman of the fund-raising effort, this week completed a large organization which will handle the campaign. Goal in the township is $6,000. Chairman at Grover is Charles Harry, while Hill Lowery is han dling the Bethware community campaign. Mr. Bridges, who is in charge of business and individual dona tions, said Wednesday that sever al organizations and individuals plan special functions to raise funds. The Kings Mountain Jun ior Chamber of Commerce will conduct its roadblock on January 23, and will sponsor a benefit j Gospel Sing on January 30. The Kings Mountain Optimist club will handle business district so Yule Club Potential More Than $100,060 Memberships in First Nation al Bank’s 1955 Christmas Sav ings club totaled 810 this week, with a potential pay-out to members next December of more than $100,000, President. F. R, Summers said Tuesday. If the contracts are carried through, the resulting payment will much more than double the 1954 club total. Memberships are still being accepted, and Mr. Summers said he anticipated member ships will reach 900 before the scrolls are closed. licitations, and the Junior Wo man's club will conduct the fami liar Mother’s March. ^The city schools P-TA council will conduct the campaign thorugh the schools, and Dr. Nathan H. Reed will handle solicitations among professional men. W. J. Fulkerson, in charge of the industrial division, announc ed these committee chairmen for individual industrial firms: B. S. Peeler, Jr., Elmer Lumber Com pany and J. E. Herndon Com- | Continued On Page Eight "Kings Mountain’s Natural Gas Department expects to be in the gas selling business this weekend. Plans call for tapping the Transcontinental Pipeline Cor poration’s big line on York Road Friday or Saturday, with natural gas service to be available to ma jority of residents, business and industrial firms in the eastern portion of the community after the tap-in. Line installations have been virtually completed in all of ! Kings Mountain lying east of the Southern Railway’s mainline, with the exception of the Wjiite sides development. The city natural gas depart ment is now receiving deposit fees for gas service, which are $5 for residential customers, $10 for commercial users, and $25 for industrial users. Vincent Bfeechum, gas depart ment superintendent, noted that the deposit lees are in addition to the $10 tap fee which the city has been collecting to run a 50 foot service line from the street to residences and firms. The deposit fee is refundable when a person ceases to use gas service. The tap fee is not. Tap-in by the city to the natural gas pipeline will culminate ef forts to obtain natural gas begun some four years ago. City per mission to sell natural gas was assured with final allocation of 1,365,000 cubic feet of gas per day by the Federal Power commission last year and subsequent issuance of a certificate of convenience and necessity by the North Caro lina Utilities commission. Natural gas proponents con tend the fuel, usable for heating, cooking, refrigerating and air conditioning, Is cheaper than competing fuels. Weir Expected To Get Acting Appointment W. E. Blakely, Kings Mountain postmaster since 1936, has resign ed his position, effective Satur day, January 15. W. T. Weir, Kings Mountain grocer and coal dealer, is expected to be named acting postmaster momentarily. Mr. Blakely said he is resign ing under disability retirement provisions of the Civil Service, tie tendered his resignation to the postoffice department in Washington on December 27. Mr. Blakely’s resignation opens a patronage plum to the Republi can party. According to present pay scales, the postmaster here receives base pay of $5,470 per annum, Mr. Blakely said. Under department procedures, an acting postmaster will be ap pointed soon and will serve until appointment of a permanent post master, following civil service examinations. Republican leaders here have considered the possibility of the vacancy for several months, since the inauguration of Presi dent Eisenhower, and several have indicated that Mr. Weir has been recommended for the acting postmastership appointment. Mr. Blakely succeeded J. S, Ware as postmaster on June 16, 1936, on appointment by Presi dent Franklin D. Roosevelt, and on recommendation by the late Congressman A. L. Bulwinkle. At the time Mr. Blakely be came postmaster, annual receipts oi tne ivmgs Mountain postotxice totaled approximately $15,000 per year. The postoffice was located in the building now occupied by Friendly Billiard Parlor. Therte were ten employees, including one city carrier. Receipts for the calendar year ended December 31 totaled more than $60,000. Today there are 22 employees, including three city carrier routes and one auxiliary route. The postoffice has been housed in its own building at the southeast corner of Piedmont avenue and Mountain street since 1940. Receipts for 1954 set a new record and kept the postoffice well into first class status, which it has enjoyed since 1950. Mr. Blakely said he was resign ing in the interest of his health. “I have been ill, and am now better, but I feel relief from the growing responsibilities of the office will assure a complete re turn to health,” he continued. Mr. Blakely said he expected to rest for a few weeks, then would seek private employment. He is 57. He is an elder of Boyce Memorial ARP church and a Ki wanian. After postmasterships were placed under civil service by the Ramspeck - O’Mahoney Act, Mr. Blakely scored a grade of 99.6 out of a possible 100 on his civil ser vice examination in 1940. Mr. Weir is a son of a formbr Kings Mountain postmaster, S. S. Weir, who held the office more than nine years from 1922-31, un der appointment by President Harding. A one-time dairyman, Mr. Weir owns and operates Weir’s Coal and Grocery, and is a partner in S. & T. Grocery. He is a Kiwanian and a member of First Baptist church. Bank Promotes Miss Summers Miss Virginia Summers, of Charlotte, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Summers, of Kings Mountain, was elected assistant cashier of Charlotte’s Union Na tional Bank, by the board of di rectors Tubsday. Miss Summers has been asso ciated with Union National since 1949. Miss Summers is a graduate of the high school division, Gulf Park college, Gulfport, Miss., Salem college at Winston - Sal em, and took graduate work for two years in the School of Com merce, University of North Caro lina. She recently completed the course of instruction offered by the school of the American Insti tute of Banking. MOOSE MEETING The regular meeting of Moose Lodge No. 1748 will 'be held Thursday night at 8:15 at the lodge on Bessemer City road.