The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-03-19
BIBLE THOUGHT
.WE ARE TROUBLED ON EVERY SIDE"
"AsLEEP AT THE SWITCH"

Under the above caption The Waynes-
vile Mountaineer has something to say
about the national park to park highway
which probably will be of interest to read
ers of The Times-News. Here is the COM
ment of The Mountaineer:
"For more than ten years, the citizens of Yves
tern North Carolina, and the state, have dreamed
Of the day when the federal government would take
oser the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
and develop it into the center of the garden spot
of the world
s.During the past FIVE years renewed interest has
been created by the Blue Ridge Parkway. Obsta-
cles of every nature were overcome and actual con-
struetion begun. The construction work, however,
has been done on the other end Of the parkway,
mainly because of the necessity of an act OF con-
sress which would authorize the exchange of park
funds for certain Indian lands for the rightof-way
of the parkway.
During the last session of congress, bill was
introduced which would authorize this exchange.
The bill was late in getting into congress and failed
to pass.
LAST June, the voters of the eleventh congress
sional district were assured by Congressman Zeou-
lon Weaver, then a candidate to succeed himself,
tbse as the present session of congress con-
vened that he would see to it that proper bill
authorizing this exchange would be introduced and
pushed TO ratification
-..The voters were confident that this would be
done by the congressman who had already served
the district for about 20 years Needless to say, he
wAs-elected by an overwhelming majority.
THE voters were apparently satisfied that their
Interests in Washington were being well taken care
Of but no assuring word received to substanti-
atstheir faith.
-'tOffcers of the chamber of commerce began
wtiing letters to Mr.. Weaver asking for the status
Of the park bills and related matters The letters
wAte courteously and promptly answered by Mr..
Weaver, as was the of the one received by the
paelident of the Waynesvile chamber of commerce
on February 90, which read in part: g. am
assured that the bill (the bill cabling for an ex-
change of land) will be favorably reported from
the Public Lands Committee, and | will keep in
tapch with you in regard to it.
s"As stated above, the letter was written on Feb
rvary %, and exactly two weeks later, Congress
MIN Weaver learned that the very bill he was so
confident would be favorably reported on, had
NEVER been introduced
tTtat is the story, in brief, of the bill, and the
lack of action it to date, except to say, that
Congressman Weaver, with his face wreathed In
bushes, and embarrassment introduced the neces
sal bill Just in time to get similar action in the
STAG legislature.
he Indian Tribal Council on Monday votet
down. the proposal of the parkway passing through
the reservation. No doubt their action was basel
largely on the fact that there has been lack o
interest shown in the matter by those who SHOULD
have led the fight
"The completion of the park will mean so nue.
to the State of North Carolina that the citizen
cannot afford to let the congressman from tn
eleventh district continue to doze at the switch
"a closer watch will be made on Viewers &C
tivities by the people back home and he Nigh
prepare to get into and stay in action to meet thei
requests-and to keep his obligations. This is n
time for man who has important work to do
'doze'."
The foregoing is passed on to our read
ers for what it is worth.
There has been all along, and now II
great interest in the Park and the building
of the parkway among the people Of TIN
city and section. but Developments hay
come so slowly and progress has been .
slow-especially in the matter Of 3selectin
a route for the pafkway-that the com
ment is frequently heard that the public
not only losing interest, but is gradual,
coming to the conclusion that this enter
prise, like number of other government
projects may be thrown into the discart
and never completed.
Among the rumors in circulation, whicl
baye come to The Times-News, is one t
the effect that the parkway will be cor
sFgcted to Asheville but no farther in tn