Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1919-02-06


/ have been a, citizen Of Boone
for the past ten. years, during
which time her every sorrow has
touched my heart, her every plea
sure has filed me with JOY. I de-
fy any town or community topro.
duce better neighbors, .truer
friends or morepatrioticc iccitizens.
She has laid her. whole upon the
altar of her country. with unstint.
ed devotion; She has not only
done her bit but her best. This
being the case, will not each. one
of you, lay aside all prejudice,
selfish interests, or motives, and
sit quietly with me for a few mo-
ments and let us, study very Sc
riously some things about our
town, and, if need be, about our
own homes andpersonalities, that
are very, pertinent at the present
time? Are the streets Of Boone
any better than they were twen-
ty years ago? Are the side walks
any betterS Have we a sufficien.
cy Of the right kind of laws, and
are they sufficiently enforced?
Do any of US want or. expect our
posterity to spend their days in
Boone and Watauga county? If so,
now honestly, dear people, do
you not want to have better invi-
ronments-better streets, walks,
schools, law enforcement, safer
surroundings, than youhad while
you were herer When the final
summons shall have come, can
we conscientiously say Fare
well friends, neighbors, children,
/ have done ALL for you l could,
and I know thereby you are bet
ter OFF,"
Do you like Boone? Do youlike
the people? Are you willing tc
Join hands and help US in the
time of need, and thereby help
yourself also9 If Boone isn't the
kind of q town you like, bunch
your .duds and take a hike. Il
you do like Boone, are you will
ling to 60 to some troubleand ex
pense, it need be, to help t h
town? How many towntaxes have
we paid in the last ten years.
How many times have we grum
bled and found fault when asked
for the taxes, or for any little do
nation towards making condi
tions better9 How much have We
ever secured for our own person
al interests or gains; for our nei
ghbors or for any personor thing
without there being some effort
or cost attached thereto? The an
swer Is plainly written nothing
Here then, my friends come.
the test, and that is that anything
that is worth having,'or that will
better ourselves and communit!
must be secured with price.
once hauled lumber, and over
very rough road, and it took me-
long time to see that I was LOSING
money and time by reason of sucl
conditions. I soon discovered
however, that | was paying a mu'
tax instead Of q road tax. I be
lieve you will agree with me whe1
l say that perhaps the worst piec
of road in the entire community
is the streets Of Boone, which |
caused, III admit, to a great ez
tent, by reason of more travel O
them than elsewhere. But tn
point am trying to drivehome il
are we willing to let such condit
ions continue, and even grow fror
bad to worse when we never hav
had a better time or opportunit
to remedy these evils than nov
We can get crushed stone lai
down here for a very little cos
cement is now released and o
the market, labor conditions al
improving, and there is no bette
time than now. More people al
looking this way than ever befor'
Shall we rage at their denunci'