The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-01-11

I
percentage of our people are now "pro-
gress-minded" and realize that by working
together many far-reaching goals can be
and are being achieved and that they as
individuals will be greatly benefited as
result of unselfish cooperation and unset
fish leadership.
1888 was banner year in this county,
but 1889 will go down in the records as
being perhaps an even more progressive
year for Ashe What were the major &C
complishments Of last year? Briefly, they
are as follows:
Nearly 200 miles of rural electric lines
were erected and are now carrying cleo
tricity, one of mankind's greatest servants,
into the homes of nearly 1000 of our farm
erS.
The Ashe County Memorial Hospital
Association was formally organized and
construction on what will be one of the
most beautiful little hospitals in the Caro-
linas, was over half finished in 1885,
A Blue Ridge Cold Storage Cooperative
was organized and an application for North
Cardinals first REA plant is now pending
in Washington and will probably be ap-
proved this month. In time this will no
doubt become one of the biggest institu-
tons in this section of the south.
For the first time in twenty-seven years,
an exceptionally successful county fair was
held and plans started to make it an annual
event
Final surfacing on the twenty-five miles
Of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Ashe was
completed and opened to traffic.
Extensive advertising was given to the
county in July when the Jeffersons Rotary
club acted as host to the district Assembly
of the 188th. district of Rotary Interna-
tional.
The State Highway Department i'm
proved the Negro Mountain road and
movement was started to get this road
surfaced-treated and the entire mountain
converted into a state park.
The county's bond refunding program
was declared operative This plan will
save the county several hundred thousand
dollars and spreads the past Indebtedness
over longer period of time which will
tighten the burden on taxpayers.
A beautiful new Community Building
was erected here in West jefferson.
A new $4,000 state prison camp was
built in the county.
Aver 5000 Ashe farmers received nearly
100000 from the AAA program and soil
conservation was practiced in the county
as never BEFORE Ashe led all other coun-
ties in the purchase of phosphate.
Work on the badly needed sewerage pro-
iect in West jefferson was resumed.
Construction on the Lansing high school
building was completed and work started
on large new building at Grassy Creek. A
program of school ground Identification
was launched and much Improvement was
made to various school properties.
Good progress was made on improve
ment Of county roads and work continued
throughout the year on the main highway
from Warrensville to the Tennessee line
Several new church buildings were con-
structed and additions made to Others
Church activities were expanded and
membership enrollments in many church
es showed increases
Progress was made in dairying and the
local cheese plant reported good year.
Banking institutions and the Ashe Build
ing and Loan Association enjoyed success
full years.
The county health department, which
had clearly demonstrated its usefulness,
was continued and it's services expanded.
The first eye clinic ever to be held in the
county, was sponsored by the Jeffersons