University of South Carolina Libraries
4 THE CLINTON CHRONICLE Babel Revisited The national highway program initiated In Congress in 1 is not, as frequently represented, the most ambitious public works _ undertaking'o'f all time. The most ambitious public works undertaking of all time was the Tower of Babel. Its designers meant for it to .reach from the earth to heaven. No doubt they claimed that this project was scientifically planned and perfectly feas ible if their recommendations were followed, step by step. The same claims were made for 1 the national highway program, and were used to answer any skeptics who questioned the fairness of its financing or objected to "the 50 per cent increase in the federal gaso line ta\ with which it was* inaugurated. H"W smoothly initial work on the Tower of Ba!«o! progressed the Bible does not record. But the national highway program was in deep trouble within the space of two years. The estimated cost of completing the heart of this, program—the 41.000-mile Interstate System—was boosted 45 per cent over the projections presented in 1056: the program was saddled with a $2 billion debt, from pre- 1956 federal highway aid grants; the reces sion u.r- used as an excuse for adding a $1.2 billion pump-priming outlay to the program: and a pay-as-you-go safeguard in the law-was suspended. Naturally, the program was running in the reti. and that was the excuse for increasing the federal gasoline tax again last year—to 4 cents per gallon. But this was represented as a temporary increase, pledged to expire in 21 months. Now Congress is being asked to forget about last year’s promise to the motorists, and to retain that “temporary” one-cent per gallon gasoline tax increase past its sched uled expiration date, even adding to it still another 1 cent levy. This would boost the federal gasoline tax rate to 4 Vs cents per gal lon. The most ambitious public works under taking m history broke down in complete confusion. Disaster also threatens the second most ambitious program. The Tower of Babel project collapsed from a confusion of lan guage. Catastrophe looms for the national highway program from a confusion of slip shod financing. “Take It Easy” ■ • / The world image of the American is that of a hard-hitting, fast-acting go-getter, chock full of tireless energy. Well, maybe so. But did you ever think of how many expressions we have that indicate the need for an easier tempo? “Take it easy.” "Relax, you’ll live longer.” “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” And then there’s the old in- tantryman’s axiom, “Don’t walk, if you can ride: don’t stand if you can sit; and don’t sit if you can lay down." The tact is that while Americans are used to living at a fast pace most of us are also aware of the need to restore strength and vigor through proper rest land recuperation. I he wise ones pamper themselves, using the creature comforts available so abilndantly here to Irecharge their batteries whenever possible. ' ~ ~j That’s why you’ll find no punily padded bucket seats in the American automobile. Instead, Mr. America heads for home on toam rubber cushions that absorb the day’s tensions as he drives—or keeps them from developing while he’s on the road. Similarly, a before-dinner cat-nap on a man-sized sofa or a big, comfortable lounge chair filled with fatigue-easing latex foam is a better prescription than barbiturates, and much more pleasantly habit-forming! y GOOD QrrsriON ! G0AHAM Mu«mn , gq^, I Kll 6*°' DO WE REALLY NEED ALL THIS HELP? -esc |^ ES Clinton Davidson Babson Discusses 1960 U. S. Crop And Gas Prospects This Week in Washington Your daily life and almost every- of enforcing his wishes even though the business man should deckle to appeal to the commission. He A Salute To A Scoutmaster In almost every community in America, you will find this man. He is engaged in one of the most exciting tasks known, hr works with boys—and in case you haven’t worked with youngsters lately, they are still the most energetic, imaginative, enthusiastic animals ever to grace the earth. He is an indoor worker who teaches how to get along in the outdoors. A practicing ex- per*t--m / 'a multitudinous variety of minute- sized details. He arms his charges with ideals, tents, cooking kits, and fervor and guides them into adventures to prepare them for life ahead. He leads U>ys by arousing their enthus iasm ’til they run ahead of him to do the job. He comforts them in perilous times withfi his presence and stability. He teaches citizenship by letting them run a camp in the wilderness. If he quits, moves away, or dies his is one of the most difficult jobs to fill. Vet if he does his job well, his only pay will be the deep personal satisfaction of knowing that he jiaa .contributed immeasur ably towards developing the kind of citizen which we consider ideal. A strong man, who knows where he’s go ing. and an extremely popular man in the eyes of the future generation — thts is the Scoutmaster. Government By Regulation Babson Park. Mass.. April 14—Outstanding in the „ e arly 1960 crop outlook is the fact that the govern- thing you do is governed by a Fed- ment s recent report on prospective plantings shows eral. State, County or city regula six increases and ten decreases, with the total for tory agency. There are more than' simply presents his views privately the sixteen crops covered only moderately under a 100 such agencies either in Wash- to a majority of the commission and year ago. Here are some highlights of the outlook for ington or controlled by Washington, persuades it to authorize him to the farm situation in general. You may seldom hear of them make an investigation of that busi. FEED GRAINS and you probably do not know that | ness. Farmers intend to plant only many of them even exist/ but at The business man is not notified slightly more acreage to corn than least one °f them is constantly look that the department head intends a year ago, when a record crop of ' n £ over . vour shoulder, pry’ing into to make his request, he is not per- 4.361.000,000 bushels was harvest- your business, telling you what you milled to be present when the re ed. A la; of this old-crop com is still can and cann °t do Quost is made, and he knows noth- hanging around. Thus, barring se- Government regulatory agencies ing about k until the investigation vere damage to the 1960 crop there exercise more power and influence starts and he is shown a letter au- should be plenty for 1960-1961 needs over our lives than 60 the thorizing 1,16 ‘"voshgaGon- Sorghum grain also should be in eleited officials of government, in- If he thinks the investigation is eluding Congress, state legislatures uncalled for, is unfair aid will harm and city officials. his business, even though he has acreage, which produced a whopping 579.000,000 , ^ y K ° f ^ agenc Jf art ‘ C0 4 n ’ ^ t n ° ,*' r0ng ’ ^ decid « 10 a P* bushels s trolled by so-called public servants peal to the commission, he is m_ , . r u 1 j j who exercise dictatorial power to formed that the commission cannot a 8 , , •' ^ d0wn investigate, harass, intimidate and discuss the matter with him until ‘ ' an . ° ‘\P\ r um 1 from a dictate to virtually every kind of the investigation is completed. He il i?* eU r’v. 'f LS t 00 cause < for alarm - at business in the country Such tac. also is informed that it would not in , aSt ° r e ' , st year 5 crop was 32 tics can force you out of business be proper for him to discuss the ,h cen axne a\erage. and total stocks recently even though vou have violated no matter with any commissioner or were well over the five-year average. In the case of law ' official of the commission, oats, the 19n9 crop was the smallest since 1939. and COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS Tie agency investigators, unlike otal stocks are sharply under a year ago and the of the regulatory agencies , a court, may proceed on the as- f e>t ? r , a ' er f 8e 1 Crop progress of thls grain sh °uld are governed by boards, such as sumption that the business under in- 00 s ' a,cht ' d closely this year, since any extensive . he civil Aeronautics Board, and vestigation is guilty until proved in- **** T W ‘ generous supply, since planting in tentions are down only 0.4 per cent from the 1959 FARMS,;. AND FOLKS By I. M Eleazer Clenuon College Information Specialist GRACIE LONG REMEMBERED The storm Gracie of last fall will be long remembered. Not only by floks who had their homes damaged and electric and telephone service out, but more acutely by farmers who also largely lost their harvests. County Agent Bowen of Sumter, tells me it took about a third of their cotton, heavily damaged corn, and ruined just about all of their pecan crop. The fall harvest of truck crops had just started along the coast. County Agent Livingston of Charleston, re ports it totally runted their snap beans, cabbage, collards, and other greens, and cut their cucumber crop 98 per cent. Same from John son of Beaufort. Grainger of Clarendon says it damaged cotton 15 to 50 per cent there. And so the story went on up state. Even where the winds did not blow as hard as in the low country, the heavy rain and the month of it that followed did great damage clear to the mountains. And lands stayed so wet that little early fall grain or grazing was got in. And that will tell mightily in the feed bills to come. Yse, Gracie was decidely a bad girl. Farming is subject to many haz ards. Drought is one. We had that, too, back in the summer. But the later planted crops and those ir rigated largely grew out of that and a good harvest was all but in the bag. Then the storm and rains came! I know of no other calling car-| rying the dangers farming does We fight the frosts, insects, diseases, and droughts. But we can’t do much about the storms nor the prices we receive. Yet it is in the very nature of many men to like it. And they fight its hazards with all that sci ence provides and usually do weH at it. It is good for all of us that they do, too, for we all must eat and be clothed. But when the storm comes,- the farmer’s income is at its mercy. • * • GRAPES Well over 100 years ago E. W. Bull Collected a lot of grape seed near Concord, Mas., and planted them. They came into bearing in 1849. One .of his seileclions was named Con cord. And to this day it is the lead ing grape here in the East. The manufacturers want no other. And it is the one we are planting for the juice plant that seems assured for the upper part of the state. It is a strange quirk of nature how such good things show up. Like the' Elberta Peach. It, too, has long ruled the roost in its field. Much work has been done and is still being done of crossing, select. Thursday, April 14, I960 ing, and breeding grapes. And some good ones have been produced. But the Concord still marches on, leading the pack. They are being planted mostly in the up coun.rv and mid-state. But County Agent Livingston tells me they have planted 35 acres in Flor ence. and some are as far down as Barnwell and Allendale The experts tell me they have yet to prove them- selves as a commercial crop down- state. But long experience at Ctem- son shows, with proper attention, they can be made to boar long and well in the up-country. It is is grape-planting time now, and on up to the time the buds begin to swell. Plan to do the grape job right or not at all, our Roy Ferree tells us. He can help you through youn county agent. * * * BOYS ARE THAT WAY As a kid, I dreamed of flying. Not only night dreaming. But day dreaming, too. Our house had two stories. Once I climbed from the cellar Mied into the kitchen. And from there I crawl ed on up to the top of the house. I went to the very end of the comb, held on to the Lighlining rod, and looked down on the old apple tree that grew just out of the parlor win dow. A mocking bird flew from k, and I wished so that I could do that, too. But it made me dizzy and 1 had to crawl back dwoo. I contemplated jumping from the kitchen roof, which was lower. But my heart failed me there, too. From there I descended to the cellar shed. That looked more reasonable. It was about 6 feet high. I got ig> my nerve, spread my arms like wings, and stepped off. IF YOU DON'T READ THE CHRONICLE YOU DON'T GET THE NEWS damage could result in a tight supply situation. FOOD GRAINS. BEANS AND POTATOES Intended plantings of all spring wheat are down 4.6 J others by commissions, such as the tiocent. Federal Communications Commis- ( Editor’s note; This is the second saon In theory the Board or the three columns dealing with gov- per cent from a year ago Including acreage planted Commission is the real authority. ernment by regulation.* to winter wheat last fall, total acreage will be down if this were actually true the situ- less than 1.000.000 acres from that planted for the a tion would not be so bad because 1959 crop, which was well under the 1958 outturn, but members of the boards and commis-! somawhat above average. Given favorable weather, sions are each appointed for only the 1960 crop, plus the carryover next July 1, should;five years ^Actually, however, the provide ample total supplies for 1960-1961. Growers i agencies are ruled in practice by a 1 intend to-plant a little more acreage to rice than a small group of staff members who ! have worked together for many years and who frequently, through group action, manage to block the desires and decisions of the board members and commissions. In some commissions the head of a department has life and death power over the businesses regulated by his department. This department head can say to business “We do not approve of this and if you go ahead without our approval, w r e will instantly bring suit to enjoin you.” The president of this business may have the right to appeal to the com mission itself but he often hesitates to do so because he is convinced _ , , that if he goes over the head of the The star performer, as (ar as ptamme .nUmUoos ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ to ,, is the versatile soybean, with an increase of 6.« g( , t al00g ^ ^ bureaucrat year ago. Any production increase should certainly not plut the market. There should be no dearth of dry beans next sea son, even though growers plant to cut acreage 1.3 per cent. Last year’s crop was large and competition from other protein foods will continue keen. Sum mer and fall potato acreage, which accounts for the bulk of the total crop, may be upped 1 per cent over 1959 Potatoes, however, will retail higher. FLAXSEED DOWN—SOYBEANS UP The acreage trend in U. S. flaxseed has been stead ily downward since 1956. The indicated cut this year is a negligible 0.4 per cent. However, since the 1959 crop was relatively small and remaining stocks re cently were only about 50 per cent of the five-year average for the date, supplies for 1960-61 should cause higher prices. go per cent: this would be the second highest acreage > wanls ^ after aU ^ * La*.n-American expert Edward Tomlin son. in his shocking report on “Appeasement in Panama" in the April American Legion Magazine, quotes from Article III of the isthmian Caiiial Convention, signed in 1903: “The Republic of Panama grants to the US all the rights, power and authority within the z^ne . . . which the US would possess and exen i>e if it were the sovereign of the ter- ritor . to the entire exclusion of the exer cise * he Republic of Panama of any such sovereign rights, power or authority.” H« w’s that again—about flying two flags over the f'anal? on record. Soybean growers evidently have faith in their product, despite cuts in the price-support level. Even though a record crop could be produced on this acreage, it probably need not prove burdensome. The longer-term trend of total consumption still ap pears to be upward. CATTLE AND HOG SITUATION The number of cattle and calves on farms hits a record high of 101,520,000 head—up 13 per cent from •the 1949-1958 average. Consumers should buy be& for less during 1960, although no runaway liquidation is likely this year. Outstanding in the hog situation is an indicated 11 per cent cut in the 1960 spring pig crop compared with a year earlier. This could mean higher pork prices. 1 realize, of course, that acreages actually planted may turn out to be larger or smaller than indicated in this report; but 1960 could be a fairly good year for U. S. farmers. One thing readers may count on , is lower gasoline prices, tax excluded. This is owing to a surplus of oil and the increased demand for small “compact” foreign and domestic cars which can operate 35 miles to the gallon. does have to live with him. STAR CHAMBER PROCEEDINGS The department head of the agency, however, has another way CLINTON. S. C„ THURSDAY. APRIL 14, 1966 illjp (Ulintnn GUjrnnirlp Ectablkhed IMi July 4, 1889 — WILLIAM WILSON HARRIS - June 13. 1955 PI .BUSHED EVERY THURSDAY BY THE CHRONICLE PUBLISHING COMPANY Subscription Rate (Payable ih Advance) Out-of-County * One Year $3.00, Six Months $2.00 One Year $4.00 Second Class Postage Paid at Clinton, S. C. The Chronicle seeks the cooperation of its subscribers and readers — the publisher will at all times appreciate wise suggestions and kindly advice. The Chronicle will publish letters of general interest when they are not of a defamatory nature. Anonymous communications will not be noticed. This paper is not responsible for the views or opinions of its correspondents Member: Sooth Carolina Proas Association. National Editorial Association . AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION Philadelphia MIDWAY DRIVE-IN THEATRE LAST TIMES TONIGHT INGRID BERGMAN In “INN OF THE 6TH HAPPINESS’ Cinemascope and Color FRIDAY-SATURDAY 2 — Sexational Hits — 2 No. 1 ELIZABETH TAYLOR “CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF’ Cinemascope sad Cslor No. 2 DIANA DORS In “TREAD SOFTLY STRANGER” SUNDAY THRU TUESDAY MAMIE VAN DOREN la “GIRLS TOWN” Girls, Heading Down the Road to Nowhere ROCK HUDSON “Written On The Wind” Technicolor STARTS WEDNESDAY Double Feature Program “ROCKET ATTACK U. S. A.” “RED PLANET MARS” Ahragrs A CUsr 1272 m. long Trtmondous Value! HAMILTON’S Blue Nile Diamonds Hillerest Watches l-il•-1 qi; !*( • | ’U..V Ik % & Where you plant your money does make a difference! 24 million people can’t be wrong. They plant their money at Insured Savings and Loan Associations like ours. Your savings grow fast with us because they earn excellent returns. And they’re safe...insured up to $10,000 by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. Start your spring planting ... and planning...now. Open a savings account with us today. :ViW Look for the April issue of Coronet Magazine... read why it does make a difference where you save. wAPWTV* Of* TO if .•§• 11 CITIZENS FEDERAL SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION CLINTON, S. C. TELEPHONE NO. 6 220 W. MAIN ST. New Buick “Easy-Ownership Plan” tailors terms to your budget : ■ % m - - / Mo ■■■■*& mu m YOUR NEEDS COME FiRSiT You Mt the monthly payment and jt'z up to the Buick "Easy-Ownership Plan” to make L your Buick Dealer 1 dream come trau. With R, your Buick Dealer will mays to put you behind dm wheal «f a proud new You can’t lose—it doesn’t cost you a penny to find 01 may well be the most rewarding few min.*— you’re 1 Quality Buick Dealer la Laureaa Cauaty Is: to make your exfionauthe CASQUE BUKX CO. $46 North Harper St LAURENS. & C. ft h—