davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-09-11

First Reader, and then proceeded
TO the Second, Third. and 50 on.
When he was twelve his father
died, leaving large family for his
mother to support. He and an older
sister went to work in South Bos-
ten for the Virginia Wagon Com
pany
Noticing his welding ability. the
Shop foreman gave Watts more and
more blacksmith work The Virgin
ia Wagon Company was an impor-
tant industry in those days. en-
ploying about one hundred people
Watts stayed with them twelve
years learning the fundamentals of
blacksmith work.
In 1912 he came to Lynchburg
70 work for the Thornhill w n
Company "a larger plant, which
EMPLOYED three hundred persons.
Here he stayed for seven years. In
1918 he resigned and went to work
in q glass factory which failed after
a year During the next four years
he was employed by the old Ma
tlonal Carriage Company.
On December |. 1924 he came
with the HIGHWAY Department and
has Deeu there ever since
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-09-11
Commercial Exhibits and Evening
Program Added To Jr. Farm Show

9 p. m.
A favorite with the boys is the
tractor driving contest. which vii!
be held in the morning. at 10 a.
m.
All exhibits must be bona fide
1856 projects OF FLA. FILA or All
club members. except the flower
exhibits The best exhibits will
be displayed in the Five County
Fair TO be held September 24-29
in Farmville.
Glasses of competition will in
clude garden exhibits. best home
made handy display. best forestry
exhibit best safety poster corn
small grain, sheaf of small grain
or hay and beef yearlings and
calves.
Also dairy heifers. canned pro-
ducts, clothing. baked goods.
dresses flowers. and others.
The exhibits will be in the gym
at the high school except those
too large which will be placed out
side
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-09-11

Plans are just about complete
for the annual Buckingham coun-
ty Junior Farm Show.
Those planning the event are
lining UP commercial exhibits and
an evening show for the first time
in the history of the Junior Farm
Show.
Thus far commercial exhibits
have been planned by Bucking-
ham Farm Supply, Nelson Tindall
Equipmen. Co.. Vepco, Saay Mill
ing. Rocco Feeds. and P NJ. Jones
Sons. This is not a complete list
and many others are expected re-
ported Gordon Baldwin. Bucking
hams Vo-Ag instructor There
will also be commercial exhibits
for the various homemaking de-
partments
All exhibits for the participating
All. FLA and FILA boys and girls
must be at Buckingham Central
high school by 9 y. m. Septem-
Der 2l The judging VIII be done
in the morning. said Baldwin, and
should be completed by noon
The public is invited from noon
until 4 p m. and also for the
evening show The exhibits may
be seen starting At p m. that
evening.
The evening show viii feature
dress revue. music by the school
bard. and the awarding Of prizes
for exhibits as we'll as door prize.
for the guests,
Money for THE exhibit prize
was approved by the board o
supervisors at the August meeting
The door prizes viii be PROVIDE
by the m archants who viii hay
commercial exhibits at the show
The evening show viii begin a
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-09-11
September Term OF
Court Starts Tuesday

The September term Of the cir
cult court of Buckingham county
VIII start this week, with Judge
Joel w Flood presiding
The routine docket includes the
trial OF Hubert Tippett, who is
charged with armed robbery He is
charged as being one Of the gang
that stole s82 from Gene Elcan S
ESQ Station last Dec. 7.
Four men have already been
tried and convicted in connection
with the crime. They were found
guilty at the April term OF the
circuit court, and received SEN
fences ranging from to Is years
IN the penitentiary.
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-09-11
Two Cannons Keep Lonely Vigil
Over Monument At Buckingham c. H.

Two cannons solemnly guard the
confederate monument at Bucking-
ham Court House, Silent now. un-
less they get run into by some
careless driver. the cannons recent
ly received beauty treatment.
The cannons We're completely re-
worked by w W Watts, Lynchburg
blacksmith with the Virginia De
partment of Highways. Practically
the only original parts that are left
are the barrels which have proba-
bly, seen considerable action in the
good old days.
The monument was given to the
county by the United Daughters of
the, Confederacy The inscription
reads, To commemorate the de-
votion and heroism Of the confeder-
ate soldiers of Buckingham county
who value principle more than life,
and fought for cause they knew
to be just 186l-l865"
The monument with its two guard
ing cannons is attractively located
en- a plot Of ground across the high
way from the court house.
The cannons were made by Re
we're Copper Company in 1862. One
OF the cannons weights 1886 pounds
and has the initials T.J.R. on the
barrel. The other cannon weighs
1927 pounds and is also made by
Revere
The cannonS as they stand today
are the product of the work of W.
". Watts blacksmith in the Lynch
burg District shop A short sketch
Of him follows taken form the
Highway Bulletin" July a95l. by
c. B Leech. il.
When asked how he got into the
blacksmith trade Watts answer
was Through ignorance This is
hardly the truth but is is charac-
teristic of his good humored toler-
ann but realistic outlook on life
Watts was born in 1887 at his old
homtplace a few miles south of
Glover His early schooling was in
the consolidated schools Of those
days, in which one started with the
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-09-11
Buckingham Board
Provides Money
For County Use

Highways, approprlatlng money
for the county and routine pay
ments occupied most Of the time
CT the Buckingham board of sup
ervisors at its monthly meeting
Tuesday, September 4.
In keeping with its policy of
appropria ting money for opera
ton of the county on a month
to-month basis. the supervisors
provided money for the operation
OF schools, health department and
the welfare department for tie
month of September.
the schools are TO receive SlO.-
600, the health department, S3l2.-
SO, and the welfare department
1894 for the month of September.
Highways
Upon motion of M F.. LeSueur,
the board recommended to the
State Highway Department that,
as soon as funds are available
they take into the secondary svs-
tenn that section OF road beginning
at point on 1T. 666. so feet
northeast of II. GIT. along a pri-
vate road .95 miles to end of
maintenance. Right Of way 40 feet
VIDE being guaranteed together
with necessary widenings and
fills.
Alien Seay and other Interested
citizens appeared before the board
With reference to Improvement of
KIT. b46 between routes "a and so.
Willis Adock and other interest,"
ed cltizens appeared with a petit
ton requesting the treatment and
hafdSurfaclne OF highway 1913
from route 655 to the private road
OF Mrs. Bessie Baber.
Mittle Walker and Bonnie Wal
ker appeared 10 request help on
the road leading to their respectful
homes.
Routine payment of bills was
made including 5000 to VIRGINIA
Division OF Forestry for forest fire
prevention, and 500 paid for
sheep and chickens killed by dogs.
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-09-11
Scottsville School
Opens With $50
Pupils Enrolled

ScottsVille school opened Tuesday
September 4 with a total enroll
ment of $50 pupils. There were 81
enrolled in the high school. There
were 80 enrolled in the high school
last year on the first day
There will be no senior class due
to the change to the y year system.
Spencer said that he and MI s.
Eldridge hoped to go to Lynchburg
soon to lind cases suitable to house
the documents. Also room in the
courthouse must be made to proper
ly display any old items.
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-09-11
Home For Old Documents Approved

AT the recent board meeting
Buckingham Supervisors approved
what may be the initial step to ac-
cumulate and to preserve valuable
documents that have reference to
the history OF Buckingham county
Mrs. Rebekah F.. Eldridge ap-
peared before the board and offered
several items Of historical interest
to the county The board then ap-
pointed committee composed of
Mrs. Eldridge and john C. Spencer
clerk OF the county. to secure suit
able eases where these records can
be filed.
MIS-. Eldridge exoerssed the hope
this will be just the beginning of
old documents that will be preserv
ed at the county court house. There
are already framed pictures and
many items of interest at the court
house but this and other donations
viii make the history Of the county
more accessible.
Mrs. Eldridge pointed ont that
the court house burned in 1869 and
most OF the records have been lost
prior to that time. Therefore any.
thing dated before 1869 is of value
Such a project will also be of in
fQrpCt tn thnco ,,L
nlze tie booth anniversary of the
county which viii come in 1861. The
county was formed in 1851. and was
carved from Albemarle county.
Mrs. Eldridge expressed the re-
greet that her gift could not be
greater but the items should be
preserved for the generations to
come.
She has an old account book
dated 1916 that was kept by B. F..
Word. Ii has many rotations of in
terest. anC refers to some of the
work Of the old court house. It also
makes ere C e to Maysville.
which is what Buckingham c. H.
was called years ago, when ii was
an lnco, pCrated town.
Mrs. Eld.idge also plans to have
Two pieces of confederate money
framed with an old engraved invi-
tation. The invitation was to party
to be given by the Buckingham
Troop February 10, 1864. The invi-
taton was extended under the
names OF 1t. W. A. Moss, Sgt. j
S. nicholas. Sgt r. j. Baldwin.
and c. M Walker.
Other items that Mrs. E,ldridge
would like to have copied is a group
OF miscellaneous papers left by
John Bernard, and now in the State
Library in Richmond. Bernard was
one time clerk of the county. and
later became sheriff His papers
deal with public and private affairs
from l752-l800. The papers were
given to the State by Mrs. Thomas
Nelson Williamson a descendant of
John Bernard.
Mrs. Eldridge is the former treas
urer OF the county. She was deputy
treasurer tor q years. and served
one term as treasurer. She declined
to run in the election last year.
Mrs Eldridge's great grandfather
and her great great grandfather
served as clerks of the county for a
total of SO years They were Rolfe
Eldridge and Rolfe Eldridge, Jr.
john {. Spencer, clerk of the
county, reported two other items of
interest in the clerks office. They
are roster of names of men who
served in Ihe Confederate Army.
and book of plats that are dated
1862. Just one year after the county
was formed The latter has been
photOstated by the State Library.
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-09-11
Sc PIC CROP

This years spring pig crop total
ed 50 O85 900 head. drop of 8 per
cent from last years big spring
crop according to the Agriculture
Department The department also
forecast The 1856 fall pig crop at
IS 600 900 per cent smaller than
the fail crop of last year This
means that the supplies of pork dur
ing the coming fall, winter and
spring season will be smaller than q
year earlier and that hog prices are
likely to average considerably above
the depressed levels of year ago.
The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-09-11
Curdsville Square
Dance To Be Held
Friday Night

A community square dance ha :
been arranged for Friday night.
September 4 at the Curdsville
Community Center The Beale Bros.
VIII provide the music and the dane
ing will be from 8 p. IN. to a. m.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24

cost of Oxbow is estimated at $685.
$4,000.
A 1929, 1929, 900 SUBSIDY
Dr. Clay L. Cochran, director of
NRECA's Legislative, Management
and Engineering Department, esti-
mates that if Idaho Powers applica-
tions are approved they would re-
ceive an interest-free loan of $780,
$4,000. The interest-free loan pro-
jected over the 50-year life of Idaho
Powers proposed projects present
Idaho Power with a total subsidy of
1929, 900, according to Cochran.
Cochran explained that interest
free loans would become part of
Idaho Powers rate base and the
company would earn their regular
rate of return on the subsidy.
Monopoly corporations are normal
ly allowed so return.
Cochran's system of computating
tax amortization subsidies is used by
the federal courts, the Federal Power
Commission and the Ebasco Services,
Inc, which is the power company
consulting firm.
The letter from the ten members
of Congress questioned the honesty,
reliability and the objectivity of the
of Interior as an agency
to recommend the approval of subsi-
dies to Idaho Power because it's prof.
ects care related to national defense"
Alex Radin, general manager of
APPA, charged that ODM's consid-
Grafton of approving the Idaho Power
subsidies compounds travesty"
The members of Congress included:
Senators Wayne Morse (Ore.), War
rem G. Magnuson (Wash.), Henry
M. Jackson (Wash.), Richard L. Neu-
berger (Ore.), James E. Murray
(Mont.) and Mike Mansfield (Mont.).
Representatives Oracle Pfost Ida
hoy, Lee Metcalf (Mont.), Edith
Green (Ore.) and Don Magnuson
(Wash.).
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24

NRECA General Manager Clyde L..
Ellis, in letter to Office of Defense
Mobilization Director Arthur Elem
ing, declared, "This organization is
opposed to the use of subsidy in pro-
noting the tragic, wasteful and abso-
lutely unjustifiable scheme of the
Idaho Power Company to develop half
the potential of the Middle Snake to
sell at rate almost three times as
high as the power that could be pro-
duced by the federal Hells Canyon
project"
Continuing, Ellis admonished,
'"Tax subsidies are already under at
tack, and we believe that if the Idaho
Power certificates are granted-if
ODM authorizes tax subsidies to
Idaho Power in excess of the total
cost of federal self-liquidating Hells
Canyon project, which would produce
twice the power at slightly over one
third the cost per kwh-the American
people will be sickened with the whole
tax amortization arrangement and de-
mand that this kind of fragrant waste
of the peoples money to subsidize
power monopolies be stopped once
and for all. Such action, however,
could not undo the injustice and
waste which would result from your
granting the certificates"
The Ellis protests received strong
support in similar letters of protest
prepared by group of ten members
of Congress, and another by the
American Public Power Association.
The protestations were precipitated
by ODM's announcement last fall that
Secretary of Interior Douglas Nc
Kay, had endorsed two of the three
small run-of-the-river dams proposed
by Idaho Power as at the Brownlee
and Oxbow sites. The little Hells
Canyon Dam was not mentioned.
ODM announced that, as result
of Interiors endorsement, the two
small Idaho Power dams are "certi-
fable" and asked that any objections
to approval of the two small dams be
presented to ODM on February 6.
Idaho Power has applied for tax
write-offs for $50 of the Brownlee
Dam and 500 of the cost of Oxbow
Dam. The total cost of Brownlee Dam
is estimated at $67, 5000, the total
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24

MISSOULA = Larry K. Petit
Lewistown, has been elected presi-
dent of the Montana State University
Young Democratic Club, according to
a press release issued by the organi-
cation this week.
Other officers of the club are
Howard A. Vollmar, Jr., Toledo,
Ohio, vice president; Roger Murray,
Jr., Helena, executive secretary;
Roberta Prevol, Glendive, recording
secretary, and Loren Arthur, Fish
tail, treasurer.
University students appointed to
various committees include:
Publicity mmittee-Frank Sand
Wig, Denver, Colo; Loren Arthur,
Fishtail; Lowell Svennungsen, Big
Sandy; Bruce Thompson, Oilmont;
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24
YOUNG DEMOCRATS AT M.S.U. ELECT
Permanent OFFICERS

David Werner, Chester; Jerry Cooper,
Lewistown; Mary Ann Arras, Cut
Bank; Joyce Copenhaver, Conrad, and
Carroll O'Connor, New York City.
Political Analysis Committee -
Howard Vollmar, Jr., Toledo. Ohio,
chairman; Larry K. Petit, Lewis
town; Sally Shipman, Lewistown;
Joyce Copenhaver, Conrad; Larry
Gaughan, Missoula; Lowell Sven
nungsen,. Big Sandy, and Bruce
Thompson, Oilmont.
Membership Committee Roberta
Lazzari, Butte, chairman; Jean Ross,
Missoula, cochairman; David Wood
ard, Conrad; Mrs. James ]. (Tennie)
Bottomly, Helena; Mona Lee Osborn,
Butte; Kay Alexander, Glasgow;
Ruby Eggebrecht, Butte; Roger Mel
lem, Kalispell, and Mel Knoyle, Butte.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24

Zone operator for Standard Oil of
Indiana reported that his company
forced him to reduce his margin FL
cents. That means the major oil COM
panies reduced the price to the dealer
10 of a cent" states Vance.
The Trade Commission has report
ed that the major companies used this
same trick in Great Falls. Since the
price of gasoline was increased $40
of cent after the investigation was
ordered, the major companies have
caused a reduction in the price of
gasoline of 2.5 cents at no cost to
themselves over the price last March.
The neighborhood filling station op-
orator, already hard pressed to make
a living, has absorbed the reduction.
"The local station operators are
constantly intimidated by major
company representatives" Vance
points out. "For the first time since
the investigation was ordered the
MTG ran into a blank wall when
trying to question two operators in
Butte.
MARTIN Seymour and Chuck Pen
mock, operators of a Conoco station
in Butte, refused to talk to MTG
investigators without first referring
the matter to the Continental Oil
Company.
$50 once again the major oil COM
panies have made mockery of the
statement by J. A. LEM, spokesman
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24
PUBLIC POWER
REDUCES RATES
FOR FOURTH Time

Some time ago, LABOR reported
how the coal mining town of Fred
erick, Colo, switched from high-cost
private electric power to public pow
er, after long and bitter battle
against obstructive tactics by the
Public Service Co. or Colorado.
Now the Denver Post reports that,
for the fourth year in a row, the mu-
nicipal power system at Frederick has
reduced it's rates. The total reduction
in the four years has been from $3.50
to 81 for the first 100 kilowatt-hours,
with still lower rates on larger
amounts of electricity.
A number of other public-owned
power systems have announced rate
reductions recently. That almost
never happens with private power
companies. Their rates go only one
way-up.-LABOR.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24

his hourly pay amounted to only Sd
cents-or slightly more than one
| fourth the average wage in all Mon
tana manufacturing which is current
ly running at $2.15 an hour. If the
farmer and his family had paid the
going factory wage to themselves,
the average loss per farm would have
exceeded one thousand dollars in
1854.
Looking at the matter from yet
another angle, the average industrial
wage in Montana at present is run
ming at $4,725. On the other hand,
the average farm wage amounts to
slightly less than twelve hundred
dollars.
Given purchasing power, Montana
farmers represent also q huge poten-
tial market for consumer goods of
all kinds in addition to those men
toned above, the GTA survey re-
veals. Automobiles are an example:
VERY FEW CADILLACS
Most Montana farmers-67.8 80
drive cars of the low price range
Fords, Chevys, Plymouths, etc. Only
1850 drive such medium-priced
vehicles as Dodges, Pontiacs, Mer-
curys, etc. Twelve and seven-tenths
per cent are financially able to own
higher priced automobiles. Cars on
most Montana farms are three years
Or older-72.5 per cent. Of these,
Ill per cent are 1949 or earlier
models. Only 27.5 per cent are 1854,
.55 or '56 models.
Continued on Page Four)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24

JIi1IIdl
The survey, covering six Montans
counties, and representing exhaustive
investigation of the financial condi
ton of more than twelve per cent OF
the farms in those counties, may be
considered fair guide as to the
economic condition of Montana farm
ers generally.
The six counties surveyed by GTA
were Chouteau, Teton, Judith Basin,
Golden Valley, McCone and Sheridan
Total farms surveyed were 499 of
the ALA farms in the six counties.
Total number of farms in Montana
at the end of 1855 was approximately
$4,000.
The GTA survey showed that on
an average, farms in the six counties
are in need of expenditures for farm
production averaging $4,135 per
farm. A further breakdown shows
that for repair and painting of farm
buildings the average outlay would
be 1902 per farm if income were
available. For new farm buildings,
the average outlay would be $1,707,
and for new farm equipment, $1,626.
Taking in to account that farm
units in the western part of the state
are smaller and possibly would not
require as heavy expenditures as the
larger spreads in eastern counties,
it is another safe assumption that
the state over the average farm needs
an outlay of upwards of $4,000 TO
put the farmstead in good order, pro-
vide needed new machinery, etc.
State-wise, repairs, new farm build
ings and new equipment, would cas-
lily call for in excess of one hundred
million dollars-if the farmers only
had the purchasing power to do the
job. (GTA estimates this total at
$119 million for Montana.)
ONLY A BEGINNING
But, repairs, new buildings and
new equipment, represent only por-
ton of the potential market Montana
farmers represent if they were to
achieve parity of income with other
groups.
The average Montana grain farm
er in 1854, figuring in a five per
cent return on his investment, made
an hourly wage of $1.67. Without
five per cent return ON
an average investment of $67,914,
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24
Kefauver People To Meet

A statewide organizational meet
ing of kefauver supporters will
be held in Helena, March at the
Placer Hotel at 10 a. m. according
to word received in the VOICE
office.
The purpose of the meeting is
to plan organizational procedure
for the coming presidential primary
in which the Tennessee senator
will be entered.
Representatives will attend from
all over Montana, and anyone in
terested in helping in the organi-
cation is invited to attend.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24
Unionists Seek Ways To
Aid Employers

KANSAS CITY-Workers have
vital interest in the welfare of their
employers. That's shown here by at
tendance at unique course in on
the-job productivity offered at the
University of Kansas City under the
sponsorship of local 124, Interna-
tional Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers.
More than SO members of the union,
most of them journeymen electricians,
are enrolled in the twice weekly
classes, which tackle problems as
much designed to help electrical con-
tractors as workers.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-24
Henry Hoffman, Helena
Labor Leader, Succumbs

Henry Hoffman, SO, longtime
Capital City labor leader, passed
away last Thursday following an i'll
ness of several weeks.
Mr.. Hoffman, for a number of
years, had been president of Helena
Trades & Labor Assembly. He was
Northern Pacific railway machin-
list, and had long served as local Sec
rotary and business representative of
the lam local in Helena.
Mr.. Hoffman is survived by his
widow and several children.