Beautification Plans Won't Work Until Free-Ranging Stock Eliminated in Boone, April 24, 1924

One thousand well-selected rose bushes, 500 hardy hydrangeas and hundreds of beautiful little balsams have been sold here by Mr. W.H. Gragg during the past week, the major part being purchased by our citizens for beautifying our town. And what will all this expenditure of money and labor amount to unless there is something done to prohibit the running at large of cattle, horses, etc. The citizen of Boone who allows his stock to run or, the commons is violating both state and municipal laws. A town ordinance provides that the minimum fine for such violation shall be $5 and costs for each and every offense, but there is no law to authorize the town marshal to impound stock for collection of same. To be sure the violation is open to indictment, but none seem willing to appear as prosecutor. Now nearly all the yards in town are open and to beautify them is impossible unless they can be protected from the nightly (and daily as well) intrusion of these roving menaces. It seems that our town aldermen are doing their best and the people should try to help them in the enforcement of the laws. More flowers and shrubbery and less stock running at large should be one of our slogans.

Lead editorial of the Watauga Democrat, Boone, N.C., April 24, 1924; R.C. Rivers, editor and owner