The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-01-28
WHY The ''BlackOut''?!

Throughout the world this seems to be
the age of 'blackouts' Heavily armed
bombers and the threat of them cause
these "blackouts'' in Europe, Africa and
Asia, but here in our beautiful, peaceful
mountains, one of the most fortunate spots
on the globe, sudden interruptions in cleo
trio power service produce "blackouts" and
peculiar action on the part OF the superln-
tendent of this power service creates Won
der and anxiety.
Thanks to a great extent to the power
dam on New River, the electric power SER
vice here in West Jefferson is good, but in
certain parts of Ashe county and over at
Sparta and in Allegheny county the SER
vice during recent weeks and especially
since December first, has been very bad.
There have been large number of day
and night "blackouts'', resulting in damage
and loss to farmer and merchant members
of the REA COOP
Criticism of this situation which vitality
concerns the public welfare has been
SCOII6O W UdCG CllS 11Io41 III SAlc@A 81 VI
the coop. In a very bold and perhaps
dangerous way, as we'll as extremely ex-
pensive, he has attempted to spread per-
sonal debase and to avoid direct issues in
volved. Why? We wonder and are anx-
ious to know the answer ourselves, and
we believe an overwhelming majority of
the members of the coop feel the same
way about it.
We have been accused of probably hav
ing an Interior motive for demanding bet
ter service, better management, better
billing and vital information as to the
financial progress the corporation is max
ing. But in his refusal to send out this
vital information or in his failure to re-
lease it for publication in news columns,
does this superintendent have an Interior
motive? Are there any "blackout" places
on which the light should be thrown for
the members who are and are going to
have to continue to pay the bills?
Perhaps there are none and we hope
that is correct, but nevertheless we would
like to know the TRUTH, rather than
propaganda. Over two weeks ago we
again asked for a copy of the co-op's latest
audit report, showing full information
about the corporations operating expenses,
it's Indebtedness and its ability to meet
these debts on the basis of the present
income, as they come due. In his lengthy
and costly bulletin, Supt. Messick stated,
''such audit reports shall be submitted to
the members at the following annual meet
ing. This has been the practice of the CO.
operative since its first annual meeting in
1899 The cooperative also submits month
ly operating and financial reports to the
REA and to it's board of directors. These
reports are on file and are freely accessi-
BILE to any of our members that care to
see them" Then he Estates that the coopera-
tive will gladly furnish our newspapers
with this data if we would publish it as
news We promptly asked for it and as
vet have not received same.
Why? We wonder. Last winter when he
promised, without any ifs or ands, that
regular information about the coop would
be carried in The Post and The News every
week, we thought the members would be
informed. The exact price was agreed
upon, $3.50 per week per paper, or S. for
both, the same that the Northwest had