davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
GERMANY is OFFERING GREAT
RAIL SYSTEM
(By Associated Press)

In throwing her railroads into the
balance as reparations guarantee,
Germany is offering the biggest state
owned railway net in the world and
one which ranks fourth in mileage,
being surpassed by the United States
Canada, New Foundland and British
India systems. 1t is said to be the
greatest single economic establish
ment so far as operations are con-
cerned.
The tracks of the German railroads
cover 57,544 kilometers and it still
leads the European systems in size
despite the loss of 7,400 kilometers
through the war.
A liberal estimate by experts
places the present valuation of the
German lines at thirty billion gold
marks, a noteworthy. national. nest
egg, which they say is capable Of be-
ing developed into a much greater
asset. On the basis Of this valua-
tion the raising of five hundred mil
lion gold marks annually on the rail-
roads, as proposed in the German
memorandum, would mean an inter-
est rate Of only two per cent.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
TWO CLAIMING TO BE MAYOR
OF OAkBORO
STANLEY News Herald}

Stanley county can always be de-
pended upon not to drag behind ary
section Of the world. China may
ave il Oh IL q iS,;le in banj'- &s".-
out Mexi:e ana Russia have nothing
N the tou:, Of Ookboro, in this
county, waen It comes to having two
separate anC Instinct -hmetns.
;. ea, it is 81 .a"t that OakbJro actlt-
ally has Two mayors. That is Oak
Doro 2as two if we believe whut boti.
Of the mayor >ay. Mr.. c, p HAT
sell is one uf' tese mayors. lie has
served fo rthe past two wears and
claims ths. he was reelected by
plurality vote at the last election.
,!e has, 1neref IRE, again 5aken the
oath of office and is exercising the
nIerogativc1 uf Chief executive Of
GaGcofo. Or the other hand, Mr..
Solomon Honey cutt says he Is mayor
II Oakboro, and we understand that
h@ mas taken he oath of ofice and
that the o. ..y reason that he has not
lried some one is because no one
has dared to Jolate the I<.w in his
.ovn since ae was sworn in What
.,ic situation vii terminate il re-
mains to be ,een, but eaca mayor
s"ears th.i, he is going to pu tthe
other one IN all if he vic ates the
law The hOa,.t of aldermen is mix
ed, too, ST we suppose that they will
shortly havo : separate police force,
unless the mai er is amicaoly settled
shortly.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
GIVES $4,000 TO NORTH CARO-
LIMA VETERANS

State Treasurer B. R. Lacy has re-
ceived check for $4,000 from Miss
Katherine B. Blackwood, of New
York, formerly of Charlotte, as a
contribution to the Soldiers Home
Association, of which Mr. Lacy is
treasurer.
The money is ''to be used solely
for the purpose of clothing, food, del
icacies, medicines an dother comforts
for the veterans, and none Of it to oe
used for salaries or administration
expenses of any kind" Alfred W.
Haywood, New York, attorney for
Miss Blackwood, advised Mr.. Lacy in
a letter which accompanied the
check. ''She would like to feel that
her gift is providing extra comforts
for the old soldiers over and above
the necessities supplied by the
State"
miss Blackwood is making this
gift in memory of her beloved broth
er, the late Eli S. Blackwood, who
died on August 7, 1921" Mr.. Hay.
woods letter continued "Mr. Black.
wood was himself a Confederate vet
eran, who served with great distinc.
tion with the North Carolina troops
The welfare of his old comrades was
always close to his heart"
GAS North Carolinian and as a
man who had three brothers and 8
father in the Confederate army" Mr.
Lacy replied, in accepting the con
tribution, 81 want you to express
deep and sincere gratitude and ap.
probation to Miss Blackwood for this
gift"
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
VALE CRUCIS NEWS

Rev. Mr.. Kent and Miss Bulah
Dobbins, of Legerwood were visitors
at the Mission School Sunday, Mr..
: Kent preaching at the Sunday morn
ing service.
Rev. and Mrs. Burke went to
Blowing Rock for Sunday and are
spending few days there this week.
Miss johnson, Miss Windward and
Miss Hefner, left for their respective
homes Monday.
Miss Susie Taylor left last week
for New York and other points north
for few weeks visit.
Miss Gladys Taylor and Nina
Shulls went to johnson City last
Thursday and returned Friday.
Mrs. Julia Lewis left last week for
New York State to spend some time
with her daughter, Mrs. Van Duser.
Miss Annie Moretz has returned
home from Johnson City where she
has been student at the East Tenn,
State Normal for the past year.
Miss Alice Taylor has returned
from the State College for Women
at Greensboro, and entered the nor
NAL at Boone.
Mrs. Vickie Taylor and Mrs J. M.
Shull visited at Banners Elk Satur-
day night and Sunday.
Mrs. D. F. Mast entertained the
Women's Missionary Society last
Saturday afternoon.
Frank, son of Mr. and Mrs. John
E. Baird, cut his foot last week while
logging.
The following attended the dedica-
tion service at Boone last Sunday
Mr.. Andy Greer, Mr. and Mrs. N. N
Mast, Mr.. and Mrs. D. F. Mast, Mrs
Mack McKoy, Mrs. Anton Farthing
MIR. and Mrs c. D. Taylor, DR.. and
Mrs. H. B. Perry.
Gilbert Taylor visited at Leger-
wood last week.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
REPORT ON FOREST FIRES

The report on forest fires in North
Carolina for the year 1922, in most
counties based chiefly on informa-
tlon from voluntary correspondents,
has recently been made public by the
Geological and Economic Survey.
The nature of the replies sent in pre-
cludes the possibility of any great ac-
curacy, but the results are at least
conservative. They show a total for
the State of 1927 fires which burned
190,737 acres and caused a damage
of $642,442S0.
Reports from Watauga County
show that in 1922 thi scounty had 5
forest fires which burned over 1867
acres and caused an estimated
damage Of S2510. Usually only the
larger fires are noticed, and it is
more than likely that the numerous
small fires in the county did as much
damage as the. fires mentioned in
this report.
The five fires in Watauga County
were reported by forest wardens
during October and November. Prior
to this time the county was not
cooperating with the Geological and
Economic Survey in forest fire pre-
vention, and there are no records Of
the fires, although it is believed that
there were some. In an effort to still
further diminish the number and
size Of fires in the county the forest
wardens have been authorized by the
Survey to appoint wardens, thus
making sure that some one will be Oh
al fires while they are small. It IS
believed that this system and the con-
t1nuation Of the educational work
will result in fewer and smaller
forest fires,
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
JULY 4TH CELEBRATION AT
LENOIR THIS YEAR
American Legion Sponsoring Event
And Plans Are Very Near Com
plete-Address by Governor Cam
eron Morrison and State Com
mander James A. Lockhart. Ser
vice Men Requested to Come in
Uniform For Big Parade.

The Dysert- Post of the
American Legion at Lenoir is spon-
soring big celebration in their town
this year and from present plans the
program promises to be one of the
most interesting that any town has
had in many years. Mr.. F. D. Grist
who handled the Armistice Day Cele-
bration in Lenoir two years ago made
such a success of the undertaking
that his comrade in the American
Legion has again put him in charge
fthe festivities for the coming
fourth celebration.
There will be the usual Veterans
parade, and the parade will pass in
review before Governor Cameron
Morrison, and the State Commander
Of the American Legion, Mr.. James
4. Lockhart. After the big parade
Governor Morrison and Commander
Lockhart viii make short addresses on
Davenport College campus. Then
following the speech making big
dinner will be served-picnic style
and again Caldwell County will be-
come famous for the good eats that
ske always puts out on such occas-
sious.
There will be lots of circus style
lemonade-both red and white-also
3 lot Of other things to quench the
thirst. We suppose that some fell
lows will be looking for the "other
things" but this will not have much
kick in it.
The local service men will do extra
police duty in Lenoir on the fourth
and they have already adopted an
iron clad rule that no girl will be al
lowed to smile at any veteran unless
he has on his uniform. This may
seem hard, but the committee on ar
rangements is anxious to have every
man in the big veterans parade look
the part of the veterans. However,
if any man has outgrown his uniform
or who has worn it out cna have the
privilege of letting his BEST GIRL
smile at him side ways.
In the afternoon the Lenoir and
Marion League ball teams will cross
bats and this promises to be fast,
tight game as both clubs have good
teams and are working hard.
Every body is invited to come to
Lenoir and a good time will be had
on this occasion. There will be
plenty to amuse~every one.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
A WORD FOR ROADS AND
FLOWERS

Editor Democrat -
| have just read with interest your
article in this weeks paper, saying
the road work is progressing well on
the Boone-Blowing Rock Road. This
is indeed good news and do all you
can to "boost" the work along. Near
ly everybody who comes to Blowing
Rock, desires to make a trip to Boone
Cove Greek, Vale Crucis and other
points along the Boone Trail High
way and the disagreeable detour
near Boone has caused many persons
to refrain from making any of these
trips Now with the road made good,
between here and Boone, there will
be the biggest" travel ever experi-
enced over this road this summer, but
if it is not made good many people
will not take the trip. There is a
party here now, wanting to take the
trip, but fear to take a nice car over
that detestable detour. By all means
let US get that road in good condi-
ton and the sooner the better, for it
means so much to all this part of
the country. Again, let us beg the
travelling public to stop plucking the
beautiful flowers along our road
ways. The Flora of our mountain
country constitutes one of the chief
attractions of our beautiful section
and many persons, regardless of the
pleasure of others, pluck and des-
troy those beautiful flowers to an
extent bordering upon vandalism.
Yours truly,
H. c. MARTIN.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
BURLINGTON ACT is DECIDED.
LY DRASTIC
fStatesville Landmark)

"What WOULD you do if friend
invited you into his Office to have a
drink? inquired a member of the
local bar during the past week.
SIS this an invitation?"
Hypothetical question only" re-
sponded the attorney emphatically.
''I'd do the same thing you would
do"
"Well, you would be guilty of vio-
lating the law and you could get four
years for 1.-TWO years for having
liquor in possession and two years
for transporting"
''Where do you get that transport
ing count?"
"You transport it to your lips,
don't you?"
"You're serious about this, are
you?"
eyes, Pm serious" replied the at
torney; "and it's something the pub
lie ought to know about. If you take
drink of liquor anywhere but in
your own home, you have violated
the burlington act and you are liza
BILE on two counts, A prominent
judge ruled that way recently. And
what's more, the man who gives it
to you is liable on three counts
having in possession, giving and
transporting. The court can give
him six years."
cav, no court is going to pass any
such sentence as that"
''Well, Pm not talking about what
the court would do; Pm telling you
what the law is"
81 had no idea this new law was
as drastic as all that" He paused
deliberatingly. "There's this com.
pensation about it, it's going to make
the home more popular. It's going
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
A. T. S. NEWS

BOONE, June 1.-THE opening
of the Appalachian Training School
was the best in its history. The num-
ber enrolled at present is 500 with
several applications yet to be con-
sidered. The teachers, with few ex-
ceptions, are on the ground and the
work is starting off well.
The following were at chapel ex-
ercises of the Training School the
past week: Revs. F. NJ. Haggins and
G. c. Brinkman, the Baptist and
Methodist pastors of the town, who
conduc;ed devotional services on he
7th; on the St]s Rev. NJ. A. Adams,
Of rutherford on, conducted Ievo-
ticral service and made a strong talk
to the student body; Dr.. Vardeit. Of
Red Springs, was also present On the
>th and made & short talk, promising
10 return later; Mr. B. L. Jones rep
resentating tne Practical Drawing
Company, made a short talk on the
9th.
The new water system at the
Training School has been connected
up, giving the School one Of the very
best water systems to be found any
where. The water comes from spr-
ings near the top of Rich Mountain,
three miles distant, and the tank is
on mountain far above the town,
giving sufficient force for good fire
protection, when hoses are supplied.
Mrs. j. Moretz on the evening
of the Sth gave a suwptuous dinner
in honor of the birth days Of Profes-
sors Hillman and Downum, the for
mer's birthday being on the 9th ard
the latter's on the Sth This con-
sideration on the part of Mrs. Moretz
and her daughter, Miss Lucy, was
greatly appreciated by the Profess
sors and much enjoyed by all pre-
sent.
. 1t was a great day for the Bap-
tist people of Boone on the past Sum
day which was the occasion of the
dedication of their splendid Church.
DR.. r. T. Vann, of Raleigh, preached
the dedicatory sermon at II A. NJ,
and delivered lecture on Christian
Education at P. H., both Of which
were Of very high order, showing
Dr. Na:n 20 be . very strong speaker
and deep thinker. The Church was
indeed glad to have DR.. Vann as their
speaker and guest on this important
occasion. Dr.. Vann also spoke splen-
diGly at the Chamber of Commerce
on Saturday night. Prof. I. G. Greer
read history of the Baptist in
Boone just before the sermon was
delivered. At night Rev. M. A.
Adams, of Rutherfordton, preached a
searching sermon and Prof. D. D.
Dougherty made a fine talk on the
future of the Boone Baptist Church.
J. NJ. DOWNUM.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
NEW ENGLAND STATES SEEK
TO BAR NEGRO

| SCtLIi1S 1OI CA tIldI CiiS 4NCSIO VI IklS
South is not bettering himself any
by migrating to the New England
| States and that he is not improving
his condition by removal to this sec
tion but is in fact creating consider
able hardship not only for himself
but for the northern members of hi:
own race who really resent his arriv
al, officials of the New England
Chamber of Commerce brought the
matter to the attention Of the New
England governors in an effort to put
an end to the steady stream OF
southern negroes arriving in the
greater industrial centers.
That the migration of the South.
ern negro has actually become Sc,
rious problem to many New England
communities, is now recognized
fact. The recent statement issued by
Governor Mcleod of South Caro-,
lima, has received widespread circu.
lation in this section. Never before
has the position of the New England
States relative to the negro question
especially the Southern negro been
so ably presented.
Municipal authorities Of New Eng.
land, industrial chiefs and the press
concur with Governor Mcleod in the
statement 'that it is well fol
thoughtful colored people to bear in
mind that the exodus of the negro
from the South is by no means en-
tirely the Southern white man S prob
lens. He can of course in time re-
covre, and will. 1t is primarily the
problem Of the negro. He goes to a
new home, different occupation, diff
ferent surroundings, and must find
his way among another entirely diff
ferent class of white people than
those among whom he has been ac-
customed to live"
According to the labor department
of the several commonwealths, fully
forty per cent of the many thousands
of negroes who have arrived there
from the South this year are now
unemployed, and dependent upon
charitable organizations.
As pointed out by the South Caro-
lima executive, race prejudice pre-
walls in New England. A northerner
will readily deny this bat the treat
ment accorded the Southern negro
not only as an individual, but en-
masses, furnishes the proof. The
Southern migrants, out Of EN- ploy-
ment without subsistence has found
it useless to appeal to the northern
negro. Under the circumstances, the
attitude of the latter is neither sur
prising nor unexpected. Governor
Mcleod hit upon the existing New
England situation when he declared
that the Southern negro is wanted
only as laborer and is not welcome
by other than those in whose employ
ment he goes.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
GOVERNORS DEVOTION TO
DEAD DOG DIVIDES STATE
AGAINST ITSELF

The august state of Maine is divid
e dagainst itself over the matter Of
dog.
1t all started with Garry's illness
Garry, an Irish setter, was the in
separable companion Of Governor
Percival P. Baxter. The dog anG
his forbears had been in the Baxter
family for 81 years. When hi:
master moved over to Blaine Man
sion, the state white house, Garry
went along.
Each morning the dog would visit
the capitol, and drop in to see his
many friends in every office. In the
executive chamber there was spe-
scial couch provided for him, and or
it Garry would lie for hours at a
time waiting for the governor tc
finish his work. Then together they
would walk over the hills and thru
the woods.
Some of the citizens thought the
governor was paying too much at
tention to the dog. 1t was undigni-
fled, they said. But then President
Harding got Laddie boy, and they
modifea their views.
Garry became veritable shadow
of the governor. He trailed his
master wherever he went, even on
railroad trips, He enjoyed a spe,
cial permit to ride in the coaches
If the Maine Central railroad.
The governor, bachelor, is an
ardent lover of all animals. He
sponsored the first anti-vivisection
law by a legislature in the United
States. He recently made possible
new bird refuge.
''My dog and myself constitute my
family" he says.
Last September, Gary became ill.
He was sent to a Boston hospital and
given the best of care. But it wasn't
enough. The dog died.
The governor was heart broken.
He ordered the flag at the state
house lowered to half mast.
Immediately came a storm of pro-
test: The state commanders of the
G. A. R. and the Americas Legion,
and leaders of other patriotic groups
called the governors action clad
vised' and "unfitting". This was
answered by the governors friends.
81 seek to offend the feelings Of
none,' said. the governor, "but l
yield to no one the right to act ac-
cording to the dictate of my heart.
my human friends, never betrayed
or believed i'll of me-"
And so the flag was lowered while
Garry was laid away beneath a
mound of earth at the foot of a
granite boulder on little island
A copper tablet is imbedded in the
rock commemorating his memory.
Soone he will be forgotten by all
but the governor.
Yet the controversy, growing out
of the governors order, RACES on.
Some say it may even mount into
a political issue.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
BULL TURNS SLEUTH AND DES-
TROYS BIG STILL

II. Sldlh NlCIh VI tilC NONII VI
Patrick county, Va, is the proud pos
SCISSOR of what is probably the cham
pion prohibition bull of the world.
Not only is the bull a prohibitionist
but he has joined forces with the
officers of the land in inforcing the
DEGREES of the arid Mr.. Volstead.
At least one of Patrick's trans
gressors can testify to the fact that
Mr.. Bull is relentless in his des-
truction and throught in his
methods. And the world is prob
ably a little drier today, than it
would have been hau S. H. (Short
Horn) Bull been eaten as veal chops.
And one Patrick county blockader
has experienced the scare of his life
and suffered the destruction of first
class outfit for the manufacture of
"Nubbin juice" because Mr.. Bull was
allowed to live to this good year of
1928.
Mr. Clark, ignorant of the fact
that he was the owner of SO unusual
an animal, rented pasture from a
neighbor and put heard Of cattle,
including S. H. Bull, in to Craze. But
it seems that the short horn was not
satisfied to spend all his time eating
grass like his more ordinary COM
panions bat wandered of from the
heard. Wheather in search OF more
palitable food, drink, or merely on a
raiding party could not be ascertain
ed, as he was not in a hum0r to be
interviewed when seen by reporters.
So all the information obtained had
to be second handed. It was learned,
however, that during his wandering
he discovered deserted copper still,
full of meal, and preceded to inves-
tigate, bull fashion, with his nose.
Now for the benefit of those that are
reluctant to admit that they have
seen a still, it may be said that a
still is smaller at the top than it is
at the bottom. So it is very readily
seen that with solid foundation to
push against and keg of meal to
urge him on, bull might very easily
get his head into a place from which
he might have considerable difficulty
in extracting it. Any way, that is
evidently what happened, for when
the owner of the still stole through
the bushes to carry out the unlawful
act for which the stage was set, he
found what had once been an order
ly arranged equipment for the manu-
facture of moonshine whiskey, look
ing very much like it had been hit by
a cyclone. Everything was scattered
helther-skelther about the place; the
furnace was torn down and the cop
per still was gone, meal and all.
When the blockader saw the destruc-
ton that had in his absence visited
the secret domicile of his copper
treasure, the first thought that enter
ed his mind was revenue officers, and
his first and only prayer was feet
do your duty" He had not gone
very far, however, when his fears
were relieved for he encountered Mr..
Clark's bull, almost exhausted, stag
gering along with his still serenly on
his head.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
ANYTHING is POSSIBLE

A little boy in city school refus-
ed to sew, thinking it beneath the
dignity of 10-year-old man.
George Washington sewed," said
the principal, tax, 1g it for granted
hat a soldle, mus. land do YOU con-
>lloT yourself b, &C than George
asbington:."
don't knew time will tel said
the hoy seri -.y --I . E'.rdH;rc.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
w. S. JOURNAL TO BE DELIVER.
ED in BOONE EARLY IN
THE MORNING

Beginning next Sunday morning
The Winston-Salem Journal will put
On motor line from Salem
to Boone leaving Winston-Salem at
200 o'clock every morning, arriving
in Boone with the morning paper at
900 a. m. This will fill long felt
need, as it will give to the people
of Boone their morning paper at a
comparatively early hour.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14
AMERICAN LEGION

The American Legion will meet in
the Court House on Saturday night.
Some important business will come
up and all members are reoested to
be present.
P. G. SPAINHOUR,
Watauga Post Commander.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14

The veteran character actor. Theo-
dore Roberts Of "movie" fame, was
born in San Francisco more than fifty
years ago. He began his stage Ca
reer as soon as he finished the school,
ing. He was appearing in Broadway
productions when he was induced to
enter the motion pictures, and he has
come to be known as "the grand old
man Of the movies" Mr.. Roberts 10
six feet one inch tall, weighs 245
pounds. His hair, originally sandy,
now is snow white. His eyes are blue.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14

A baby's idea of heaven is place
where it is against the law for it's
father to sing.
Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-06-14

to revive the old custom Of calling.
Nice old custom anyway-ought to
be revived"