davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
Referee Hearing OF Miller Suits Expected To End This Week
Ashe County Tax Rate Will
Be Increased This Year
Budget Not Been Adopted but
"A Rate of Nearly $500
Is Now Estimated.

NO budget has been adopted
and no levy has been set, but
according to a tentative budget
estimate, worked out by L. P.
Coward, county accountant, and
the members of the board Of
county commissioners, who were
in session Monday and Tuesday,
the Ashe county tax rate for
1939-40 will be somewhere in
the neighborhood of $500 per
hundred dollars valuation.
In accordance with the require
ments of the bond refunding pro-
gram, the county's budget esti-
mate has to be submitted to the
Local Government Commission
for approval before it is adopted
by the commissioners.
Mr.. Coward said they planned
to complete study and work on
the budget this week and to send
it to the Government Commits
sion Immediately. He said the
budget estimate must then be
published and adopted and tax
rate set the first part of August,
according to law.
In discussing the proposed bud
get, the commission said the levy
was being based on a tax valua-
ton of approximately $3,5OO,OM.
It was pointed out that the tax
rate will be increased this year
because of the extra cost OF con-
tinuing the health department by
a lew. because Of the increased
cost of the public assistance pro-
gram which still is not adequate
to take care of all eligible appll-
Giants. and because of the debt
service requirements of $40,OOO,
plus $4,000 for bond suits IN ted
eral court.
For the past two or three
wears we accumulated a surplus
because of the recess in bond and
interest payments while the re-
funding program was beng
worked out and for that reason
we could hold the tax rate down
even though our valuation was
only S3,5OO,OOO," Mr.. Coward
stated. The refunding program
is now operative and we have
got to live up to it and pay ope-
rating expenses.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
Picnic Outings Led Other
Celebrations Here July 18th

were made by several of the
guests.
Mr.. Messick announced that a
bulletin had just been received
from the government stating that
REA had been taken over by the
Dept. of Agriculture and that
Secretary Wallace. declared that
every farmer who wants electri-
city in the future can get it. He
intimated that this change would
mean a further expansion of the
program.
Wade Eller and Rev. w. J..
Huneycutt were present to re-
ceive contributions for the Ashe
County Hospital.
In the afternoon, the guests
were entertained with string
music and ended the celebra-
ton with a wiener roast.
The summer showers did not
keep the people off of the Park
way and the hotels at the springs
throughout the county reported
many visitors. Now that the sea-
Continued On Page Eight
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
IA Ashe County
Boys Enroll For
CCC Camp Duty
Enroll at Laurel Sp'gs Camp.
States Quota Reduced
This Quarter.

Fourteen Ashe county boys
were enrolled at the Laurel
Springs CCC camp yesterday
morning, Miss Ruth Tugman
welfare superintendent, announc-
ed.
This number represented Ashe
county's quota for the third quar-
ter. The figure was lower than IN
previous enrollments, due to a
big cut in the state allotment
quota which was only 1857 Tor
the 20 camps in the state.
Those enrolled at Laurel
Springs were: Charles Albert
Carly, Lansing; Lass Handy
Wagner; William Harriet Houck,
Todd: James Elmore Jones, War
rensville; Oleen Clinton Lam
bert, Glendale Springs; Hunter
Wayne Miller, Todd; Milt Hayes
Miller, Glendale Springs; Don
Mullis, jefferson; Woodrow Ray
mond Perry, Tree Top; Hardin
Severt, Jefferson; Ralph Tester
man, jefferson; Davis Testerman'
He1ton: Leonard Paul Tomlinson,
Idlewild and Clayborn Wagner.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06

Ashe county's tax valuation for
the ensuing year will be about
the same as last years figures
nearly $3,50O,00O according to in
formation obtained from a recap
of the tax listing records.
The total personal property
tax valuation for 1939-40 is ST.
146,713, a gain of about $4,000 ov-
er last year and the total real es-
tate valuation is $2,O55, 1892, a
gain of nearly $4,000 over last
year. The total personal and real
estate is $3,202,OO5, an increase
of around $13,000.00.
Figures on the corporation val
uation are not available yet, but
it is estimated that the amount
will be about the same as of
last year, which was 268,537.O0,
making a grand total of nearly
three and one-half million.
Only 90 more persons will pay
poll tax. This number for 1889
40 is 3,467.
The recap shows that the coun-
ty has 272,639 acres of land list
ed for taxation and the value CIV
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
State AllOts TO
Teachers To Ashe
County This Yr.
w. Jefferson High School To
Have Additional Teach
er. Mrs. Barr Elected.
MAY OPEN AUG. 81

The State School commission,
through Lloyd Griffin, executive
secretary, has allotted total of
"a 1856 teachers for the state
which represents a new high re-
cord.
Ashe county's quota, however
dropped from 179 to 176, because
of slight decrease in average at
tendance. Supt. J. B. Hash said
that he attributed this to the ma
ny epidemics, bad weather, and
impossible roads.
West jefferson high school was
the only high school in the coun-
ty to earn an additional teacher,
due to increased attendance, and
Mrs. Edith Barr was chosen to
fill this position. Mr.. Hash said
that the county now has 81 high
school teachers, 1856 grade teach
ers, and three colored teachers.
At the meeting of the Board of
Education, on Monday the tenta-
tive date for the opening of the
schools was set for Thursday,
Aug. 81. He explained that these
two days would give the teach
ers an opportunity to organize
their classes and for the pupils
to find out their books needed
and secure them on Saturday in
order to be able to start serious
work the fClloing week. These
two extra days will also take
care of the two extra days need
ed to complete the first semester
this year.
Following the meeting, the
county Beard of Ed. sent out
requests to all school commit
teemen to send in their list OF
teachers elected at once in order
that the county's list may be
completed.
The total allotment of teach
ers for systems of counties near
Ashe are as follows: Wilkes, 26l;
Watauga, 112; Alexander, IS;
Caldwell, 1871; Surry, 259.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
Highway 10 Is
Closed Now For
Final Surfacing

Highway number Is between
Warrensville and Creston was
closed this week and will remain
closed for the next 20 to 80 days,
while final surface treatment is
being applied on the four-mile
section constructed in contract by
the Blythe Bros. Construction
Company.
Traffic had been maintained
over the improved portions of
the road for the past several
months, but Monday it was clos
ed and the work of pouring of
tar and gravel will be pushed as
rapidly as possible, it is stated.
B. w. Jones, county WPA sup
ervisor, states that good progress
is being made by the WPA work.
ers on construction of the addi-
tional two-mile project which ex-
tends up to the Mouth of the
Laurel
Plans for continuing this work
on up 16 to the Tennessee line,
are now being discussed.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06

The 1853 observance of Ameri-
cas- declaration of independence
was celebrated in a quiet man
ner here Tuesday when most of
the business establishments were
closed for the day.
Picnics took the lead over 9TH
err forms of entertainment rang
ing from small family groups to
a crowd of more than 800 which
gathered at Buffalo tavern as
the guests of REA Contractor
Melvin Burgess. Intermittent
showers prevented the food from
being served on a picnic table
under the trees, but plates were
heaped high with friend chicken
and other seasonable delicacies as
the group marched through the
house.
C. F. Messick, superintendent
of the Caldwell Mutual Corpora
ton greeted the crowd, and in
troduced Mr.. Burgess who ex-
tended a welcome to his many
employees and other special in
vited guests. Brief talks concern
ing the REA construction work
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
Full Time Health Department
To Be Continued In County
Decision Made by County
Commissioners Tues. Will
Increase Tax Rate.

The Ashe county health depart
ment, a part of the tri-county
district unit, will be continued
another year, the board of com
missioners decided during thei1
tWo-day meeting this week.
The board was in session Mon
day and Tuesday, making a tho
rough study of budget esti-
mate for the ensuing year and
throughout the day Monday, cit
liens from various parts of the
county, including a delegation OF
Methodist ministers. headed by
Rev. w. J. Huneycutt, pastor OF
the West Jefferson Methodist
church, appeared before the
board and asked that the tax le-
Wy be increased to take care OF
the health department. Several
school principals also expressed
keen interest in having this de-
partment continued and two or
three petitions were submitted.
Il know this department is do
ing a splendid work, but didn't
realize before that there was
such a strong sentiment in the
county for it," J. F. Scott, chair
man of the board, stated Tuesday
1t was decided, however, that
the services of a full-time sani-
tartan would be discontinued and
save the county about
$500. The new levy will include
ST, 300 for the health department.
1t is understood that DR.. Ro-
bert King will continue as health
officer and that the staff will re-
main the same.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
.224 Lambs We're
Pooled Last Sat.
Sale made Wed. in Jersey CT
ty., Expect Them to Bring
Around II Cents.

A total of 224 lambs were
shipped out of here last Satur-
day by rail to the Jersey City
market and were sold yester-
day afternoon, Assistant County
Agent H. D. Quessenberry stat
ed this week.
This was the second lamb
pooling conducted in the county
this year by the farm agents Of
flee and the lambs brought II
cents per pound top price.
Twenty-seven farmers partici-
pated in the pool and the average
weight Of the animals was 80
pounds. There were "a choice
lambs, 1870 good grade and 80
medium grade.
The third pooling will take
place the first week in August
and all farmers are invited to
participate in it, Mr.. Quessen-
berry stated
Poolings were also held in AL
leghany and Watauga last week.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
Ex-Sheriff States
He Does Not Owe
County One Cent
Was On Stand Three days
Past Week. Erasures On
Tax Books Is Reported.
INVESTIGATION ORDERED

The referee hearing of the coun-
US four suits against Ex-Sheriff
Henry M. Miller and his bonds
men, charged with an indebted
ness to the county of approx
mately $4,000, is expected to be
completed tomorrow or Saturday.
Before adjournment yesterday
afternoon, Judge C. H. Hastings,
of Winston-Salem, who is referee
in the case, announced that it
would be impossible for him to
continue the hearing next week
because of previously arranged
legal engagements and that it
would be necessary to complete
the hearing this week even if
night sessions have to be held in
order to do it.
Two outstanding developments
took place at the hearing during
the past week. The first one was
the discovery of erasures made
on some of the county tax books
and the complete denial on the
part of Ex-Sheriff Miller that he
owes the county penny. On the
other hand he contends that the
county still owes him several
thousand dollars.
Judge Hastings ordered that
evidence of the erasures be turn
ed over to the district solicitor
and the grand jury for inveStiga-
ton.
This unusual and unexpected
development in the case took
place last Thursday when E. w
Smith, certified public account
ant, and Robert Maxim, an audi
tor of the National Surety Cor
poration, reported to the referee
that erasures had been made on
some of the county's tax books
since they examined them last
spring.
To determine the exact amount
of the alleged Indebtedness in
volved during the different bond
ing periods, auditors for both
sides in the cases were instructed
to make a re-check of the form
er Sheriff's books.
AS the county is claiming that
Miller owes several thousand dol
Continued on Page Eight
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
S. S. Convention
Sunday, July 80

Announcement was made this
week that the Ashe county Sun
day School convention would be
held on Sunday, July 80.
c. M. Dickson, president, said
the place for the convention had
not hAo" decided upon yet, but
would be announced in the near
future.
GAS previously announced ev-
cry year, this is nor-sectarian,
and it is hoped that each and ev-
cry Sunday School in the county
will hold, if possible, township
conventions, make reports of the
work done during the year, and
let's have the best convention in
the history of the county," Mr.
Dickson said.
A. D. Goodman is secretary of
the convention.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
Gibson In County
Making Plans For
Rotary Assembly
New District Governor To
Speak to Club Tonight.
Officers Installed.

Rev. A. V. Gibson, of Sanford,
district governor of the 188th dis
trict of Rotary International, is
in the county today working with
the local club in making final
preparations for the Assembly
which will be held at the Bro
mine-Arsenic and S h a e y
Springs the last week in this
month.
Tonight he will discuss pro-
posed plans at the weekly meet
ing of the club and committee
appointments will be made.
Ed M. Anderson will be in
stalled in office as president of
the club, succeeding Levern
Johnson. The clubs other new
officers are A. B. Hurt, vice pres
ident and Langdon Scott, secre-
tary and treasurer.
Last Thursday night Dean Nc
MILAN, retiring secretary, pre-
sented Mr.. Johnson with a "past
presidents button" in recognition
of his fine service and leadership
during the past year. A zone
hundred percent attendance but
tom was also awarded OF GWyn
Price who has not missed a sin
gle meeting since the club was
organized.
Horatio Quessenberry, assistant
farm agent, was welcomed into
the club as a new member last
Thursday.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
Construction On
Prison Camp Is
Nearly Finished

Ashe county's new state prison
camp will be completed and rea-
DIV for occupancy between the
first and fifteenth of August, 1t
was learned this week.
Construction on this modern,
$4,000, fireproof camp, located
on Buffalo Creek, has been un-
derway since last March and is
now nearing completion.
It is scheduled to be erected
by August II, but Walter Wea-
yer. foreman of the big project,
stated Tuesday that he hopes to
finish it by August l.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
LEGION AUXILIARY
WON RECOGNITION

At the recent state convention
held in Raleigh, the Ashe county
unit of the American Legion
Auxiliary won the historian prize
for auXiliaries of the state with
less than so members. Durham
was the winner in the larger
group.
Mrs. P. C. Wright is President
of the Ashe county unit and
Mrs. A. B. Hurt is historian.
Frank E. Johnson of North
Wilkesboro, succeeded P. G.
Wright as commander of the 18th
district.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
Large Number On
Waiting List Of
Public Aid Plan
Welfare Dept. Has About 800
More Applicants Than
Funds Available.
PROGRAM INCREASED

Nearly S4O,OO0.00 in federal,
state and county funds will be
spent during the next fiscal year,
which started July l, on the
public assistance program for
the needy aged and the depen-
dent children, according to state
approved allotment figures which
have just been received by the
Ashe county welfare department.
In spite of this large sum, how
ever, the allotment is not suffi-
cient to pay old age assistance
and aid to dependent children to
all eligibles. Miss Tugman, well
fare superintendent, stated
The new allotment will allow
an increase in old age assistance
of 40 cases, making a total of
28O, while the aid to dependent
children families will remain the
same as last year, 125. The orr
glnal request was for 200 aid to
dependent children and 300 old
age.
For some time, the county's al
lOtment for both of these social
security programs has been fill
ed and no others have been add
ed except as cases are terminated
by death or other conditions.
The new allotment will allow
40 more old age assistance cas-
eS. Miss 1ugman said that there
are now $50 of these applications,
including the 240 that are on the
pay list, now on file in the well
fare office.
Each application has to be in
vestigated by a case worker to
determine age, need and correct
residence, in accordance with re-
quirements of the law, she said.
About Is of the 300 or more
applications now on the waiting
list have been approved and 9TH
erS will be approved and placed
on the waiting list as rapidly as
investigations can be made, she
said.
Approval is made by the well
fare board which meets every
month. Old age assistance cases
receive monthly checks { about
$500 and the aid to dependent
children checks average nearly
$40O
The federal government pays
half of this amount; the state and
county each pay one-fourth and
the county pays around forty
percent of the administrative
cost, it is stated.
For the ensuing year, the coun-
tvs total cost of this program
will be around $4,000 and the
law provides that special levy
be made for this particular pur-
pose. When this levy exceeds
1Oc per 500 valuation, the county
is eligible to participate in the
states public assistance equali-
cation fund.
AS announced in Raleigh this
week, Ashe will receive $5,257.-
600 from this fund, the largest
amount of any county in the
state. This, of course, will reduce
the county's cost that much
However, the money is not avail
able until next spring, Mr.. Col
ward states.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
FOURTH DEATH TOLL
PASSES 600 MARK

The holiday toll increased to
nearly 900 Tuesday night as mil
lions of the nations motorists
moved homeward over traffic
bound highways from beaches,
picnic grounds and resorts after
celebrating a grand and glor-
ious Fourth"
A United Press survey show
ed that $50 lives were taken by
traffic accidents, drownings,
shootings, railroad accidents,
fires and other forms of violence.
Violent death struck at least
once in every state.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06

Out of the total of 1887 North
Carolina prisoners in 1887 and
1888, only 313, or less than one
out of every hundred, had been
to college.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06

Shown above is view of the home of Congressman r.
DOughtOn at Laurel Springs where appropriate
giving ceremony held last Wednesday when current
turned Allegheny county REA lines Congressman Dough-
ton highly praised for his assistance in getting the REA
projects approved Standing the REA sign G. F. Mes
SICK superintendent of the Caldwell Mutual Corporation
photo by Staff photographer
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06

DR.. and Mrs. L. o. Gibson of
Statesville visited at the home of
Mr.. and Mrs. R. w. Hardin July
4th.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
ASHE COUNTY

Is tne unconditional section of
North Carolina whose altitude
ranges from 5000 to $500 feet
ABOVE sea level. Twenty-Five miles
Oh the PARKWAY run through
the county.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-07-06
WANT A HOSPITAL?

WANT A HOSPITAL?
If you want a Hospital in Ashe
County, JOIN the ASHE COUN-
TY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.
Cooperation and support from
everybody is needed to put the
movement over. We now have
a Golden Opportunity!
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-06-12
CLUBS PICNIC
TO Be SUNDAY

GIG HARBOR - The Olympic
Rod and Gun club Of Port Orchard
will honor the Gig Harbor Sports
mems club at picnic Sunday at
Horseshoe lake. The Port Orchard
group has charge of the program
of games.
The Lions club will hold the an
nual election OF officers at a closed
business session Monday at the
Lions Den in the Gilcich building.
Rev. and Mrs. Arthur J. knut-
zen of the Peninsula Lutheran par
ish will leave Monday for Los An
geles. where they will attend the
Pacific District convention and
National Luther League convention
to be held there June II TO %.
The Knutzens will remain until the
last Of the month and will be at
the Commodore hotel.
Mrs. Peder Ross WAS the hostess
Thursday afternoon to the Ladies'
Aid society OF the Emmanuel Luz
theran church OF Cromwell.
Miss Delpha Deyo is a guest Of
her grandmother. Mrs. l.. J. Deyo
of Tacoma, for few days.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-06-12
THREE HELD ON
AUTO CHARGES

Auto theft charges were filed by
Deputy Prosecutor Bill Goodwin
Saturday against Portland and Ia
coma youths who are held in the
county Jail.
Gordon Rose, 23-year-old laborer.
Of S11 So. Frace st, was charged
with taking the car OF Douglas
Fitzsimmons without his permits
sion.
Charge against Ted Burkhart,
20, Portland truck driver, is lar
ceny by baillee," in his case failure
to return a loaned automobile.
Burkhart, Goodwin said, borrowed
a car from a Tacoma restaurant
cook. Frank Cameron. to drive
to Seattle in search of job. He
did not return until picked up in
Portland a month later. The pris-
oner told Goodwin he did come back
to Tacoma but couldn't find the adj
dress of the man who loaned him
the car.
Awaiting arrival Of officers from
Linn county. Iowa, John Perone,
23-year-old Madrid, Ia, truck driv-
er, was held in the county Jail here
Saturday. Released only Friday
from the federal road camp at Fort
Lewis, Perone faces an auto theft
charge in the midwestern state.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-06-12

ing degrees from the College Of
Puget Sound.
Allen. pastor ~ Methodist
church al Redmond. obtained his
degree when DR.. Todd xss imam
cisl agent % the school Mrs.
Allen. daughter 81 the late Rev.
J. +. Aarlatt. for many years
pastor Of First Methodist church.
obtained her degree during The
same period. When their children
grew up. they attended the college
and one after another received
their degrees.
Besides Mr.. and Mrs. Allen
there were present today Miss
Euniee Allen. Foster Allen and
Miss Edith Alien. who received her
degree today. Richard Allen. ar
other slumnas. vsz unable 70 be
present.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-06-12
Urges Reopening
Of St. Paul Mill

Continuing to urge the return to
work pending negotiations for a
new labor agreement, President
f. C. Griggs II of the st. Paul e.
Tacoma Lumber Co., Saturday
wrote Local 9 of the Sawmill g.
Timber Workers union that he
would be ready to negotiate with
the local at his office, beginning
Tuesday.
Meanwhile, he repeated his offer
of June 1 to reopen mill operations
at once and logging operations as
soon az cars could be provided by
the railroad.
This offer IS made again be
cause IL seems TO us waste Of
time and money to all concerned
that the operations should remain
down while we negotiate" Griggs
wrote Freeman l.. Cochran, union
secretary. "Our crews have been
under agreement with us for a
long time and all of these agree
ments have been arrived at
through negotiations while operat-
ing. We believe this could be done
at this time and TO the mutual
benefit of all concerned"