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* jV City Should Plan Ahead On Rail Proposals Some significant changes are in store for downtown Clinton. They revolve around the consoli dation of the CN&L railroad line with the ACL and Seaboard line through downtown Clinton. An official of ACL-Seaboard says that the CN&L station will be razed within the next few months. Also on the planning table is a proposal to eliminate the CN&L tracks through the downtown area. However, this may be a/ year or more away. Both offer opportunities for local BAUSON'S Pounds And Dollars BABSON PARK, MASS., — Not quite frur weeks have passed since Great Britain’s dramatic 14.3"# devaluation of the pound sterling. The relatively smooth adjustment oi‘ governments and financial institutions to the decline ought not to blind us to the fact that this is scarcely a sure-fire cure-all for the ailing British economy, or assurance that the dollar will escape unscathed. BRITAIN’S MOMENT OF TRUTH In many circles, the day on which England aanounced devaluation is referred to as “Britain’s moment of rtuth”, — and rightly so But it is much more than that. It is the beginning of a testing period which is likely to be prolonged. Devaluation was forced be cause the British Government was unable to make repayments of around $2 billion which were to fall due this month. The lower value at which the pound is set is aimed at increasing British sales abroad to offset deficits already incurred. Devalua tion came late — after the problem had j been comoounded — and it may well prove not drastic enough to save the day. For Eng-1 land to recover a good measure of what she has already lost economically and fiscally,; British labor must not only agree to live with | a lid on wages, but must accept a sizable j cutback in the buying power of the wages it now earns. Rising prices and labor excesses are two stumbling blocks upon which the success of Britain’s devaluation could be dashed unless reason and prudence prevail in the time ahead. BRETTON WOODS PACT Devaluation of the pound points up the need for new world monetary techniques. The monetary pact reached at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in 1944 was based on the idea that the world could maintain a fix ed system of foreign exchange rates. As such a system grew in stability and prestige, it was hoped that controls by individual gov ernments over the movement of capital abroad could be removed. And as capital movement expanded, it was calculated world trade would widen and the world economy would flourish. All these calculations were based on the assumption that the key currencies — the British pound and the American dollar — would remain stable. In the case of the pound, this has not happened. PRESSURE ON THE DOLLAR The fall of the pound put immediate pres sure on the dollar, the sole surviving major world currency. So far, the dollar has weathered the storm; but it would be folly to assume that the storm signals can be taken down. Although it should not be nec essary for the U. S. to strain so hard to help bolster a devalued pound, actually the abili ty of the pound to survive will not depend upon the credits England may get from Ter neighbors. . . but upon her ability to build up a trade surplus. . Ours is still the strongest economy in the Vorld and our trade with other nations has until now been trending up. While devalua tion will lead to increases in some imports •and make it harder for us to sell goods abroad 'and compete in world markets, our techni- ‘ ca l Ijnow-how is still tops, and if we move promptly and decisively to defend the stabil ity of the dollar all may yet be well. DEVALUATION OF ANOTHER TYPE However, we ought not to feel smug if we ;succeed from month to month, or even year ito vear, in preserving the dollar’s value in terms of other world currencies. It would be an empty (and short-lived!) victory if not ‘.bolstered by moves toward more responsible ,fiscal management. For, like the pound be fore November 18, our dollar has been un dergoing devaluation of another type. As the ,cost of living has gone up, the value of our ( d n llar has gone down. Obviously, the U. S. is overspending. . . jboth at home and aboard. The Vietnam war ,is hurting more and more and we are well ‘ on the fiscal road which Britain has been ,tiaveling. In truth, the dollar gap is every •bit as great a threat to our security and prosperity as is Communist totalitarianism, i — action to take advantage of the situ ation. The possibilities: (1) The CN&L station might be used for a Chamber of Commerce office. (2) Elimination of the tracks could provide for desperaately needed extra parking downtown. Admittedly, both possibilities would- require much preliminary work and cooperation between railroad officials and local authorities. However, now is the time to be thinking about it. THE CN&L station is in a poor- state of repair now but it could be made very attractive. It was built be fore the turn of the century and has such features as wooden pegs, long heart of pine beams, hand-made nails. The building is solid. It is centrally located. Once the CN&L tracks are re moved, there would be adequate park ing. What sort of arrangement could be worked out with the railroad officials is a matter to be discussed. However, the building is part of Clinton’s heritage and is constructed in such a manner that consideration should be given to its preservation. NOW ALSO is the time for city and Chamber of Commerce officials to start looking into what arrange ments can be made so that the city will realize some extra advantage from the removal of the CN&L tracks. The elimination of one of the two sets of tracks which now' go through the downtown area will be a boon in itself. It will eliminate one rail road crossing in the heart of down town. Another potential advantage is that removal of the tracks could provide extra parking space, if an agreement can be worked out with railroad of ficials. The railroad naturally would have to retain a certain amount of the^| land for right-of-way but there is a good bit of land involved and the po tential parking space is obviovia M 4 L<~ r -1. < m 18—THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, S. C., Dec. 14, 1967 Brings Don't Make Christmas Things don’t make Christ mas. Please don’t forget that. We need to be especially on guard against this too gener ally accepted idea, “I’m afraid we’re not going to have much Christmas this year,” said a young mother to me the other day. “There are a so few toys and things ;n the stores, I don’t know what we are going to do.’’ She was thinking in terms of things, forgetting that her »wo charming children would delight in nothing better than to have their mother sit down with them to read or tell some of the lovely Christmas stories which we are “too busy” to read. So many of us have taken up with the idea that Christ mas is determined by money and things. This year the Christmas EVERYDAY COUNSELOR By DR. HERBERT SPAUGH Whole Story Not ToM About Red Orbit Weapon ghost of his seven-year-dead partner, Marley. Follow Scrooge as the Spirit ,of Christmas-Past takes him back into his childhood, when he was a boy, and then a young man; lets him how his grasping appetite for money and things destroyed love in his heart and cut him off from the entire world. The Spirit of Christmas-Present shows him the opportunities which are still here. The most arresting warning comes when the Spirit of Christmas - Yet - To - Come points out to him the horrible rush seems to be more frantic- end which will be his if he By THE CHRONICLE’S Capitol News Bureau COLUMBIA — Relative >i!ence greeted the omnious announcement by Sec. of De- ense McNamara that the Soviets have an orbital bom bardment weapon. Where were the shouts of outrage cently signed by both coun-. Soviet intentions, then we tries. j have nothing to worry about. The treaty itself is not writ-1 If they are in error, the con- ten in the detail necessary to make distinction ‘ between fractional orbital and orbital weapons. To any reasonable man however, it would cer tainly seem obvious that even a fractional orbital weapon is from those who cry peace? *a violation. The least that can A Fine Parade The Clinton Jaycees must have ac complished a first in the history of Christmas parades last week. It start ed on time. The parade was well organized, en tertaining and attractive. Some of the floats were thought-provoking. All-in-all, it was an enjoyable pa rade, blessed with good weather. The Jaycees are to be complimented on their handling of the arrangements. Congratulations also should go to Mrs. Paul Muller who organized the Christmas carol service w’hich follow ed the parade. This should be an annual service. It adds a nice touch to the event which opens the holiday season. No chprus has gatherefcl to sing a condemnation of the Soviets for introducing this terror weapon. It is one more and perhaps the most dramatic example of a dou ble standard being procticed today. Rather than analyze the ir rationality of those • with double standards, the im portant questions revolve around the Soviet weapon it self and the surrounding cir cumstances. The first question is whe ther the orbital bomb really is a “fractional orbital bomb’’ (FOBS) as stated by Sec. McNamara. , The Soviets have reoeated- v claimed a capability of “orbital missiles whose war heads can deliver their blow on the first or any other loop around the earth.” The earliest public state ment took place in the latter part of 1985. Officially, the United States neither con firmed nor denied such statements. sequences could be dire. In any event, we have another case where the people are not being told the whole story. USE CHRISTMAS SEALS mm CHkKTMU I FIGHT TUBERCULOSIS EMPHYSEMA AIR POLLUTION CLINTON, S. C., THURSDAY, DEC. 14, 1967 dltntmt (HljrmttrlF DONNY WILDER, Editor and Publisher Established 1900 PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY THE CHRONICLE PUBLISHING COMPANY Subscription Bate (Payable in Advance) Out-of-County One Year, 34.00; Six Months, 32.90 One Year, 30 00 Second Class Postage Paid at Clinton, S. C. POSTMASTER: Send Form 3679 to Clinton Chronicle, Clinton, S. C. 29329 MemDer: South Carolina Press Association, National Editorial Association National Advertising Representative: AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION New York, Chicago, Detroit. Philadelphia NOTE that the Soviets have stated “orbital” and not ualified orbital capability by using a prefix such as fractional.” More conclu sive, however, is the fact that the Soviets have clearly demonstrated through their tests of ICBMs and space launches that they have com plete orbital 1 capability. Many civilian and military scientists believe the partial orbit approach was merely an effective and efficient way to test the system. Simply put, the system the Soviets have tested does have the inherent capability of being a fully orbital weapon and they have demonstrated through other tests that the capability truly exists. The next most important question is: Do we have the ability to detect such a wea pon in sufficient time to res pond? Sec. McNamara has stated that we have the “over the horizon” radar to per form this function. First, the “over the horizon”’ radar is not fully operationally de ployed. Secondly, this radar can detect a missile launch but does not have the capab ility to determine what kind of missile and whether or not it has a nuclear warhead. To date, there has been no pub lic indication that we have any kind of space inspection capability. After the launch of the first orbit, it is even a more diffi cult problem as the orbit keeps shifting with each rev olution and our anti-missile capability is neither that widespread nor mobile so that we can knock out an unfriendly vehicle precisely )vhen we desire. Another particularly im portant question is whether the fractional orbital weapon system of the Soviets violates the space treaty that was re- be said is that it violates the treaty in spirit if not in let ter. McNAMARA, however, clearly and emphatically stated that it does not violate the treaty. A prudent man would have at least said the matter would be looked into in order to grin psychological advantage. But even further insight in-, to the matter and the condi tion of our foreign affairs is revealed by what happened later that afternoon. McNam ara made his announcement on Friday morning. Rusk has a background briefing for members of the press on Friday afternoons. As one might expect, the back grounders lately have been largely on the Vietnam war. One correspondent, however, asked about the orbital wea pon and whether it violated the space treaty as stated by McNamara. Rusk asked members of the press about McNamara’s press confer ence and what was said, clearly showing that he had not been informed nor con sulted on this most important matter. In discussions with Rusk later, by members of the press, this condition was confirmed. One can only conclude that the Soviets are aggressively pursuing new weapons devel opment and they, therefore, are not cutting back or level ing off as hoped for by many influential leaders in our gov ernment. If McNamara and his supporters are correct about their assessment of Conservation Essay Contest Is Under Way “Wildlife conservation and its relationship to the con servation of soil, water and woodlaqd” is the topic for the 1967-68 Essay contest oo- en to fifth, sixth, and seventh grade students in South Caro lina schools. The statewide essay con test is sponsored jointly by the South Carolina Associa tion of Soil and Water Con servation District Supervisors and the South Carolina Bank ers Association. The contest opened October 15, and closes February 28, 1988. The essays should not exceed 1,000 words in length. The first place state prize is $75 and a plaque. Two sec ond place prizes of $50 and a plaque each will be provided: one for the Piedmont area and one for the Coastal Plains area. According to Ryan F. Law- son, chairman of the Laurens County Board of Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors, attractive cash prizes also will be presented by the Laurens County Soil and Water Conservation Dis trict. than last year. I haven’t talk ed to a person yet who. wasn’t behind schedule, fran tically rushing around trying to work in Christmas shop ping with their other pro gram. Charles Dickens wrote an eternal warning for those who hae “no room” for Christ at Christmas, as was the case with the inn-keeper in Bethlehem of old. He crea ted a character, Scrooge, who nersonifies the grasping greediness to which contin ued Christless Christmases >ead. The very name, Scrooge, has become a by word in the English language for the hard, frosty, skinflint. If you don’t reserve same time at Christmastime for Chritmas reading, telling to the children those superb old Christmas stories, you are walking the path, of Ebenezer Scrooge. If you want to see where this path leads, read Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol.” If you are “too busy” to read the book, be sure to read that one chapter where the Spirit of Christmas-Yet- To-Come takes Scrooge to a forgotten and neglected grave and points to his name. THIS STORY really ought to be read a few days before Christmas in order that one can profit by the warning re ceived by Scrooge does not alter his ways. Happily, the conclusion pre sents the old man completely changed as a result of his in terviews with the spirits, a friend to all, one who knows how to keep Christmas. Other stories which ought to be part of home reading at Christmas are: “The First Christmas Tree,” “Let Us Go Even Unto Bethlehem,” and “The Other Wise Man,” by Harry Van Dyke. Remember, this Christmas is preeminently the festival of the home and the church. Commercial interests are rapidly taking it away from them. Be on guard. The church and the home can be first in your Christmas ob servance. Beware that you merely celebrate Christmas. (Note: A new combined ed ition of Dr. Spangh’s books, “Pathway to Contentment” and “Everyday Counsel for Everyday Living” will soon be available. Copies may be ordered through your book store or from The Everyday Connselor in care of this newspaper. The price is $2.25, postpaid.) The new basic oxygen fur naces produced about 4pe- third of all steel made in the U. S. during the first eight from the 1 months of 1967. Since the body of the trunk- fish is encased in a hard shell formed by fusion and solidifi cation of the scales, the spe cies must depend solely on its small fins and tail for propulsion, say biologists at Marineland of Florida. FLORSHEIM turns ^ LIGHT on new IMPERIALS! Now, the elegance and longer wear of , , ' Imperial Quality in extremely „ ir , .I 1 *h t , an( I flf x, I>le shoe*. New kind of calfskin is hand-flexed in the tanning! «<* FLrikeim uyle, IJQQS to I2795/« W | Imperial UyU, t^9S Adairs Men' Shop Special Excitement Under The Tree... / \ in J>t! i / \ -H- 7l\ M \ -VS li *- 1 / ir 0v Vi J >: i ; ; 1 T As?//_ TO /V r When you want to give something very special to that important person in your life, put a fine Hamilton watch under your tree. There are styles and features for every taste, each crafted in the Hamilton tradition of elegance and excellence. Choose the gift of pride and pleasure from our wide range of newest Hamilton '^-styles. —'— Priced as low as $45.00. Use our lay-away plan—budgot poymoats A. DATELINE TM-6900, ultra-thiA calendar automatic $99.50 B. AMERICAN CLASSIC DD $95.00 C. CHARM A, 4 diamonds $160.00 D. CLAUDIA, bold elegance. $69.50 E. AMERICAN CLASSIC EE $99.50 F. BOATSWAIN III, weatherproof* $69.50 G. TITAN III, electric $130.00 *wiih teal intact J. C. Thomas, Jeweler CLINTON JOANNA