davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
Let Contract on State Mess Hall.

Let Contract on State Mess Hall.
Contracts for new construction dou.
bling the capacity Of the dining hall
at State college were awarded by the
building committee Of the board Of
trustees, the main building going to
w. B. Barrow, Of Raleigh, for SIS, 400.
Seven bids were submitted.
The new dining hall will be an ex.
act duplicate Of the present building,
and the two together will form huge
letter H. with the Kitchens forming
the cross.piece Of the letter. The kitch.
ems will be enlarged. Together the
two dining rooms will have a seating
capacity Of 1900. The new section
will face on the drive leading past the
entrance to Riddick Field. The work
will be completed September 18th.
Bids will be received for the con-
struction. Of the new laundry building,
and for catering and paving the main
driveways on the campus on May 80
which VIII complete the expenditure
of the half million dollars appropriate
cd by the general assembly for i'm
provements in 1921. @. Murray Mel
son and Thomas w. Cooper were ar
chitects on the contract, and will pre-
pare plans for the laundry.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
o,UT OF
PERSONNEL
OPENLY DECLARES HIS
POSITION TO A GUT
BELOW S6,00O.
PRESIDENT WRITES LETTER
Says He Believes Country Will Be
Greatly Disappointed at>Pro-
posed Reduction.

washington. ~ President Harding.
In his first public utterance on the 1923
naval bill, declared in a letter present.
I'd to the house that while the decis-
ion must lie with Congress, he would
be greatly disappointed as he believed
the country would be, II the enlisted
force was cut below $4,000.
The opinion was not sent gratui.
tiously. It was given in response to
request for the Presidents view by
Representative Longworth, republi.
can, Ohio, one Of the leaders in the
fight to defeat the proposal in the
bill limiting the force to $1,000.
There had been unofficial statements
to the effect that he opposed dras
tic reduction in personnel, and that he
stood for the figures proposed in the
Macarthur amendment.
In presenting the letter toward
the close Of an all.day debate, Mr..
Longworth said he was glad to &C.
cept the challenge from friends OF
the measure as framed to find out
what the President wanted and to
let tho house know.
my Dear Congressman Longworth:'
II have to acknowledge your let
ter of inquiry addressed to me or
the tenth instant. II were to ad
dress the Congress formally could
say only what I have already sale
Informally, because am we'll per
suaded that 1t is not wise to make
so drastic q cut in the naval ap
propriations as has been proposed IL
the measure now pending.
Il do not doubt the good faith o
the committee majority in believing
a suitable navy can be maintained
under the limitations fixed in tn
pending bill, and I am heartily Il
accord with every consistent effor
to deepen the cut in governments
expenditures. At the same time
must believe In the good faith Q
advisers who say very emphaticall
that 1t is impossible to maintain
within the proposed appropriations
the standard set for our navy whic
was made the base of the intern'
tional conference, and which stan'
ard we have proclaimed to the worl,
"Of course the decision must II
with the Congress, but I should M
be frank in replying to your Il
quiry II l did not say that I sha
be greatly disappointed. and I b
: lieve the country will be greatly di
appointed, II the appropriation,
which the navy must and will a
here, is reduced to the point whel
the limitation of enlisted men ar
apprentices is below $4,000. No pr
sentation Of the situation, which hi
come to my notice, has served to ,
ter that opinion.
ultimately. perhaps, the low
figures proposed may be reached al
!. hope It will be possible throu,
II later international concert, but d
Q trend toward peace and securi
4 ought to be more firmly establish
o before going beyond the limitation
D. which we we're gladly committed
the international conference.
(. Every truly yours,
3, WARREN G. HARDING ''
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
,,r,,.d State. Owes Much Nancy.

Chicago.--The United States owes
q times as much money now as IN
1917. when the public debt was about
81 900 600. 900, Elicit Wadsworth, a.
sistant secretary OF the tressnry. o.
clared in speech here. !:
This huge debt we must pass O
10 future citizens no said. For
this reason 1t Is the intention q W.
financial leaders Of our government
pay all new debts .rom carrsat tane -!
| We are just standing stin dnAncle!
= osr sspsnsss n tsls !! 4! 3 ! ~ Z
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
VOLUME XXXIII
Four Oaks eond issua 10 Valid.


Validating = $4,000 bond issue for
the Four Oaks School District in john
SON county. the supreme court reat.
frmed its ruling that the legislature
can ratify and confirm the results Of
proceedings authorized by 1t under
an act rendered Intellectual by reason
Of some defect in its passage.
The point was raised in the case
Of the Board Of Education vs. Board
Of Commissioners, a controversy with.
out action. On April IL, 1921. a ma
jority Of the qualified voters Of the
township in Question authorized a
$4,000 bond issue under Article 80,
Chapter 95, Consolidated Statutes
Chapter 81, Public Laws Extra Ses.
sion, 1920, 1t was conceded, was not
passed in accordance with the ccnsti-
tltional requirements. 1t was conced.
ed further that Section 567S. Consoli-
dated Statutes, limits the amount Of
bonds for any township or school dis.
trict to $25.0O0. But the extra session
Of 1921 passed an act, valid in all re.
spects. specifically ratifying and con.
frming the results Of the election In
question and validating the issuance
of bonds up to $4,000. The only ques-
tion presented to the court was as to
whether or not the bonds in excess
Of $4,000 and up to $4,000 could be
validated by a curative act Of the 1921
General Assembly.
On this point Justice w. T. Stacy
writing the courts opinion, says:
Where the legislature has under
taken to pass law clearly within its
power to enact and by reason ol
some defect in its passage the stat
ute Is rendered Intellectual, we SCI
no reason why the legislature in th'
absence Of any opposite intervening
rights could not by subsequent en-
actmsnt ratify and confirm the re
suits Of such proceedings, as in goo'
faith have been taken and had unde
the prior defective act"
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
Station Fight is Postponed.

The battle Of Winston-Salem,
scheduled for fighting Wednesday,
April 10, before the state corporation
commission. was postponed by agree.
ment until the following Monday, April
"a. The point of disagreement is
where the new passenger station In
the tobacco city will be located.
Records for attendance and for We.
hemence OF presentation Of the case
bid fair to be fractured, II not broken
outright. in the opinion Of Commits
sioner Pell, who has recently return
ed from Winston Salsm. 4 /, s,.s
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

CONDENSED NEWS FROM
THE OLD NORTH STATE
SHORT NOTES OF INTEREST TO
CAROLlNiANS.

Charlotte.-Roy Page, son OF form
er Commissioner George A. Page, was
fined $500 by Judge Webb in the Unit
ed States supreme court in the case
charging him with having contraband
whiskey.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
Mortgage Debt on Owned Homes.

Washington. D. G .(SpeciaD. - Ac.
cording to preliminary report that
has Just been issued by the Depart
ment Of Commerce, through the Blu.
reau Of the Census, the total mortgage
debet on owned homes and farms in
the state of North Carolina in 1920
was $57,44s,s41 and the total Of these
mortgage homes and farms was $780,.
2s0.sSs. tho mortgage debt thus rep
resenting $50 per cent Of the total
value. Rented homes, tenant farms,
and farms that are partly owned and
partly rented, 1t should be noted, are
not included in this report.
The total number Of homes in the
state other than farm homes was $780,.
ITO. Of which 90,738, or 1913 per cent,
were owned by the occupants; and Of
these owned homes 1857, or 20.5 per
cent, were mortgaged. Information
regarding the value of the home and
the amount Of mortgage debt. was se-
cured from 10.1S7, or 54.s per cent, of
these inortgaged homes. The average
mortgage debt Of the home for which
mortgage reports were secured was
$1,373 and the average value. was So,
p 6s7; and on the basis of these aver
ages the total mortgage debt on the
mortgaged homes not on farms is es
timated as $25,4s1,S5s, and the total
value Of such homes at $e6,0 ,00S 1928
The ratio Of mortgage debt to value Ii
38.6 per cent.
On owned farms the total mortgage
debt. as reported in the census Of az
riculture, was $31,ssS,2S5. while the to
tai value Of these mortgaged farm
was $1o3, 1852, ,055, the ratio Of debt Il
value being $40 per cent.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION MAKES BRIEF
STATEMENT.
REGARDING new CONTRACTS
Criticism of Recent Contracts Made
on Mislnformatlon on Part OF
the Public.

NalclSn.
The fact that an erroneous impress
sion still prevails in the minds of
many people regarding the recent let
ting Of contracts for text books from
the schools Of the state led DIR. 4. G.
Brooks, state superintendent Of pub.
lie instruction., to make this brief
statement:
1.-THE previous contracts having eX.
pired 1t was absolutely necessary for
the text book commission to make
selections and award new contracts.
The best selections possible were
made from among the books examin.
ed, many old books being retained
and many new ones being selected to
take the place Of books that are now
either out of date or discontinued by
the publishers or that were inferior to
other books that were offered by the
same or other publishers.
"The contracts just expiring hat
been made in 1917 when prices were
low and II 1t had been possible to re
new all contracts in every detail ex
cept to pay prices that are beihl
quoted today on the same books th'
total cost to the pupils Of the stat
would have been approximately wha
it will be under the new contracts. Fo
instance, one speller that cost l
cents under the old contract woul
have cost 30 cents under the ne'
contract. Therefore the only adval
tage that would have been derive
from retaining all of the old tex
books would have been through tn
use of books now in the hands OF tn
pupils, and this matter is taken car
Of by a provision that the new book
shall not be required for two year
where the old ones are already avail
able.
"Such criticism as there has bee
Of the text book commission has r
suited. I think, from lack Of all 4
formation regarding the situate
that confronted the commission ar
of. the full intent Of It's action"
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Spencer.-Ground was brokenn for
erection of a new house Of worship
for the congregation Of Christ Luth-
eran church in East Spencer which is
to be built at a cost of $780, to $751;
900.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
Rouers Nominated for Postrss

Washington Especially. The high.
est three eligibles for postmaster at
Oxford with their grades follow:
Franklin w. Hancock, 78.
James s Rogers, 73.
John M. Pagan, 70.
President Harding has sent to the
senate the nomination OF James s.
Rogers.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Paroles Farmer to Make His Crop.
Governor Cameron Morrison paroled
Thomas HArgis Of Person county. serv'
ing . six months term ON the roads
for violating the prohibition law. The
Judge who tried him, the solicitor who
prosecuted him and virtually all the
county officials recommend pardon.
''The prisoner is a far,uer." said
Governor Morrison In his. statement
Of reasons. "and> has . lorge family
dependent ON him. II not given an
oyportnn1kx 70 make . GRIP this yeal
he conGeonsncss win be ieiy serioua
a Iii timily. y, 1, II 60. IN
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
Gin MiIllonalress Seeks Surgeon

0Ir1 WIIIIoHdIT0SS 0ccKo 0uVBcUU'
San Francisco Delora Angel
20, OF Pasadena, who will come into
possession Of $S5,OOO,O 900 left by John
w. ("Bet-a. .Million") Gates when she
Is ~, disclosed definite plans here
for using part of the fortune. She
says she expects to marry young
American surgeon. who has an -ambi
tion to maintain a hospital for the
poor.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Salisbury.-Tiring Of the office OF
solicitor of the Fifteenth district, after
eight years Of hard service, Hayden
Clement, Of this city, announced that
he will not seek reelection
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
Unemploymsnt Decreases.

The United States employment ser
vice, reporting industrial conditions
in North Carolina for the month OF
March, announces an increase in tex.
tile employees of TAT, workers in lum,
ber plants, 70, and fertilizer workers
of $50.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Winston.Salem. - The directors OF
the Wachovia Bank and Trust Co.,
elected Richard G. Stockton, secretary
and assistant trust officer to succeed
Gilbert T. Stephenson, who is soon to
be transferred to Raleigh to have
charge Of the new branch Of the com
pany to be opened there.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
Hospital Eaeilitls. Approxed.

Hospital Facilities Approved.
Washington.-The house bill, aD
thorizing an additional appropriation
of ST 900, 900 for hospital facilities for
disabled former service men, was
passed unanimously by the senate.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20
Senator Glass invited 10 Speak,

Senator Glass Invited 70 Speak.
Senator Carter Glass has been in.
vited to make the commencement ad
dress at the State university. He has
the matter under consideration and
will accept, II possible,
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Charlotte.-W. s. Creighton, traffic
manager Of the Charlotte Shippers
and Manufacturers association, has
been named by the Southern Traffic
League as North Caolina member OF
the finance committee charged with
raising $25,0OO for the South's fight
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission regarding southern rates.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Reidsyille. - The Reidsville Rotary
clubs worries over securing suitable
site for the proposed playground for
local children ended when the Reds
Vile school committee informed the
Rotarians that part Of the site OF the
proposed new high school building
would be gladly offered for use as q
playground.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Greenville June Rose, super
intendent of the Greenville public
schools, was elected vice-president OF
the North Carolina Parent-Teacher as
ISOLATION, according to a message he
received from Miss Catherine Albert
son, corresponding secretary
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

t Durham.-John Martin and, Gene1 a
Mcmillan, negroes, charged wath mu r
der and accomplice, respectively, In
connection with the death here Of w il.
liam Sloan. an aged white man sof
iJonesborc, were bound over to sur4 ,.
lrior court without bail. "a "a A W.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Troy.-At recent meeting Of the
directors Of the Montgomery county
chamber OF commerce the president
and secretary were authorized to Sc
cure a whole time secretary for the or
ganization. This organization recent
ly begun on a small scale, has grown
to the extent that such an officer is
! needed.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Wilmington-The fishermen are get
ting busy. A few beautiful white
shad and rockhsh have been caught
and few more warm days will bring
swarms of these fish to this mar,
ket.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Reidsville.- There Is considerable
activity in the building line here now.
Good progress Is being made in COM
pleting the Presbyterian church, and
the contractors on the Belvedere no
tel are rushing work In an effort to
complete the Job early in June.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Statesville. - DR.. Edward King. a
prominent physician Of Sharpsburg
township, who suffered a stroke OF
paralysis while attending a local the
ater four weeks ago. died in one of
the local hospitals. where he had bee'1
since he was stricken. r.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-04-20

Winston.Salem. - Group s Of the
Bankers association Of North Caro-
lima held business and social sessions
here at the Robert r Lee hotel. The
business session opened at 4 o'clock,
with a large attendance. The ad'
dress OF welcome was delivered by Col
w. A. Blair, of the Peoples bank.
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-12-21
CHAPTER III.

Tommy found Brinley out in the
shop giving specific orders to the fore
man of the stave department about
the handling of his material.
cts awkward to do it." the fore
man was protesting when Tommy
came up.
1T saved two haulings" Brinley in
sisted. you take them now from here
into the other building, finish and
shape the ends, bring them back to
have the edges grooved, and take
them over to the other building again
for assembling. BY growing the edges
before you take them out of here Wen
save two landings"
THAT'S what I've always said" de-
clared the foreman.
"You do as l tell YOU ordered
Brinley and very much disgruntled
foreman walked away to injure the
perfect workmanship in which he had
taken so mucn pride.
you're putting into effect one Of
Mr.. Ames suggestions" charged
Tommy.
tits something I've had in mind a
long time" denied the superintendent,
Then why didn't you do it,"
Tommy Immediately wanted to know.
Mr.. Spencer, I am supposed to an
swer leading questions like that to
only one man In thta concern" he
stated. II can't work for two bosses,
end WON'T
Ito be continued)
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-12-21
CHAPTER II.

The shop was apparently busy. The
shafting of the long, low room was
turning at a good speed, and in two
squat rows was heavy looking ma
chinery, about half of which, how
ever, was idle.
"Where's that lumber going?" asked
Ames
ITO the growing machinery in the
next ROOM" replied Tommy.
II see. what's that chap doing in
this upper corners"
Smoothing the tubs. It's an in
feresting process"
Tommy led the way over to the
corner A man surrounded by high
piles of the white-oak churn bodies
was clamping them, by turns, in
clumsy lathe, and scraping them, both
inside and out, first with steel shaving
tools and then with sandpaper. Ames
watched him interestedly for a few
moments, and walked away. An ele-
vator came down piled with slaves. A
boy unloaded them and carried them
back to grower, which stood near
the rip-saw. Another boy came down
the aisle pushing a huge box on
wheels 1t was filled with shavings.
where's that stuff going?" Ames
wanted to know. He stopped the boy
and reached his hand In the box.
"To the boiler ROOM" Tommy told
him.
Ames fished around in the shavings
He brought out a strip of oak two
feet long, two inches thick, three
inches wide at the butt and an inch
wide at the point. He found three
others just like it.
you send lot Of these pieces to
the Ere, l suppose, he surmised.
stacks and stacks Of them" wvI-
ried Tommy. TITS tie best oak we
can buy, and 1t seems a crimina!
waste: but it's apparently Iuavsia
4.,ssH
"SxeH =
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-12-21

able. They're trimmed from the edges
of the slaves, and the lumber can't be
! cut any more economically, because
we must have the grain running
! straight"
True enough admitted Ames,
"but something should be made Of
these pieces"
II suggested that" and Tommy
wrinkled his brow. 1.-The superintend-
ent and the manager laughed at the
idea. They claim we'd scatter our
force in making market for another
product. They've run this plant for
years and years, and they know all
about it. don't"
"They were i'm financial difficulties
when they got you, weren't theyT
"Yes, but there was a time when
they made good profit. They've
been cramped for capital here lately"
"WhyT' asked Ames.
81 don't know" unused Tommy.
"The big cramp came right after
they enlarged the plant. / guess
they oyerplayed themselves; then they
ran into heavy competition"
II understand it now" nodded
Ames. "They did all their big manu-
featuring in this room. When they
enlarged the plant they didn't re-
arrange the machinery"
AS they turned away, the superin-
tendent, a wrinkled-faced old man,
with a white mustache, came up to
+ them and Tommy introduced him.
Mr.. Ames is studying our methods
Of production" Tommy explained.
"Are you familiar with the churn
businessY inquired the superintend-
ent with ill-concealed resentment.
II never saw a churn factory be-
FORE" confessed Ames with laugh.
"Oh," said the superintendent with
a snort of amusement.
When Tommy and Ames returned
from their inspection Of the plant they
found the superintendent in the office
with the manager, a large, red-faced
man, who was addicted to shirt
sleeves and who chewed cigars. The
superintendent was leaning on the
corner Of the managers desk and both
turned with displeasure as Tommy
came in. The superintendent nodded
and returned to the factory. Tommy
introduced his caller, and explained
his present mission in life.
"Yes," acknowledged the manager,
giving Ames a thorough sizing up.
"Brinley has just been telling me
that you were giving Tommy some
expert ADVICE. What do you thinb of
our plant, Mr. Ames?"
Frankly, it's pretty bad" he began.
"You should shut down your shop for
about a month md rearrange all your
effective machinery"
The manager leaned back in his
chair and looked at Ames through
heavy-lidded eyes. .
do you like the color of the new
rug Tommy put down" he insolently
inquired.
Ames rose.
81 came here to talk business" he
stated.
"Who invited you?"
81 did," unexpectedly declared
Tommy "There's something wrong
with this factory, Lasset, and I'm 60
Ing to find out why the Reverse Gear
people can undersell u.s."
"Mr., Ames is as ignorant of q
churn factory as you are" retorted
Lasset "You look after the finances,
Tommy, and Wen tend to the fac
tory"
Tommy studied the manager I'M
smilingly
I've made an unfortunate impress
sion on you, Lasset," he presently OBJ
served. you think I'm saphead.
because you got my money into this
concern; but | want you to always
remember that l came along with the
money; and, by jinks, I'm going to
see that l get my moneys worth.
Come on, Ames, We'll take a spin.
want you to talk to me-"
Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-12-21
A Remarkable Lottery.

Perhaps the most remarkable lot
terry was that in France in 1850, when
the conclusion Of peace and the mar
rage Of Louis XIV we're celebrated. It
was drawn publicly and under the In
spection of the police, and the first
prize 100000 livres, was won by the
king himself. He would not accept 1t,
however, and 1t was left over to the
next lottery in which he had no ticket.