Leads All Other Paper* m This Section in Service and Circulation. Let it Serve Your ftiness and Your Home
VOL XVIII. NO.
WILLIAMSTON SOONTO
HAVE ANOTHER BANK
The Two Wilfiamston Banks
Have Consolidated ud Another
Bank to Be Incorporated In a
Short Tine—Handsome Building
To Be Erected Soon.
BIG THINGS FOR THE COUNTY
Financial circles in Williamston
% have been in a flurry for several
days, owing to the establishment
of another large bank.- Several
of the big stockholders in the
Bank of Martin County disposed
of their holdings, and will incor
porate another institution with
James G. Staton, President. The
new bank will be capitalized at
$60,000 and will have a surplus
of $25,000 to start with. There
. were ready takers for the shares
offered, and several hundred have
been sold. A banking house is
to be erected on some spot in the
heart of the business section,
and the new institution will be
gin under the most favorable
conditions. Charles H. Godwin
is to be Cashier.
There is general satisfaction
OKgP the enlargement of the
banking facilities of the town,
for it must mean great things
for the community and county
also. The incorporators of the
new bank, among whom are, J.
G. Staton, A. R. Dunning, W. J.
Whitaker and Clayton Moore,
are men trained in business, and
they bespeak for the institution
a successful future. No town in
North Carolina has as well-devel
oped financial institutions as Wil
liamston, and few larger places
have been able to forge ahead of
1 it in this phase of its material
prosperity.
At the same time as the for
mation of the new bank, comes
the statement of the consolida
tion of the Farmers & Merchants
Bank and the Bank of Martin
County, two of the strongest in
stitutions in this section of the
State, the Bank of Martin County
being the tirst organized in the
county. The capjfal of the new
organization w ill be $50,000 and
a surplus ol $25,000 or more.
One branch of the institution will
be the Martin County Savings &
Trust Co., and its home will be
in the Godard Building, where
the Bank of Martin County has
made its home for years. Here
will be done all kinds of business
for which a bank can be charter
ed, except commercial banking,
as the handling of estates,
guardianships, real estate, etc.
The name of the Farmers &
Merchants Bank will probably be
changed to that of The Farmers
Bank of Martin.
The prime movers in the con
solidation of the two banks are
Dr. John D. Biggs and Joseph G.
Godard. who have been at the
head of the respective institutions
and who are leaden in the bank
ing world. These two men with
others have seen a vision of an
enlarged activity and usefulness
to the business and farming sec
tions of the county, which is to
be the natural result of the con
solidation of the two strong in
stitutions represented by them.
■!
Though the weather was bad,
there was a crowd out to each
service to hear the Rev Mr. Eure
at the Methodist Church. His
sermons were greatly enjoyed by
all who heard him.
The roads are so muddy that
Williamston people have been al
most marooned at home. Gaso
line bills are not so large.
THE ENTERPRISE
Over One Million
Four of the Martin County
banks issued their statements
last week, and two more are in
these columns today. The call for
the statements was made on
December 27th, 1916, and a
glance will show that in these
six banks, more than a million
dollars of the people's money in
Martin County reposed in their
vaults on that day. To be exact
th£ sum was $1,003,498.11. Of
this sum, the two banks in Wil
liamston showed $668,964.38, or
over half the sum total of depos
its. Later on or at the close of
the year, this sum had been
greatly augmented. Somebody
has snatched the gold from the
soil, and put it in safe hands
The increase should be far great
er this year, if conditions are
conducive to crop production.
Ice Storms
All over the South beginning
with Texas, the Storm King has
reigned this week. Heavy snows
in Texas, ice storms with snow
at other places, ana even this
section received its coating of ice
Monday night. Last week, the
beautiful snow fell, but having
been preceded by rain, soon
melted. The sleet was not heavy
enough to produce damage to
trees and wires, but was the
most potent sign of winter that
has come for more than a month.
Truly, the "Sunny South'' is a
misnomer, for it has the appear
ance of having taken a trip up
North. Though all out-door wojk
is suspended, the soil will not
suffer as a freeze will help the
decay in vegetation, which is
good for the farm lands.
Mr. J. Ben Hopkins Dead
Death has entered another
home in Williamston and left
darkness there, where light once
was. The soul of Benjamin Hop
kins took its eternal flight on the
evening of January 16th, 1917,
after the body, once strong and
vigorous, had become emaciated
from the ravages of typhoid fev
er. He was born in Martin
County on February 25th, 1880,
being the son of th£ late Joel
and Louisa Hopkins. On May
sth, 1914, he married Miss Jesse
Brown, who with one child, sur
vives him.
Mr Hopkins came to William
ston ten years ago to work for
the Hoyt Hardware Co.. and es
tablished there a reputation for
honesty and untiring energy.
Later he went into business for
himself, carrying a stock of high
grade staple and fancy groceries
and it may truthfully be said that
he was one of the most popular
business men that the town has
ever had. In his every day life,
he was true in all delations, and
possessed a character which gave
him an honored position in the
esteem of the public. For years
he had been a member of the
Christian Church, and was con
stant in his devotion to its ser
vices. Though a young man, he
will be missed in the*town, in
his church and Sunday School,
and by the loved ones whom he
left
The funeral services were con
ducted from the residence on
Main Street yesterday at 2:00
o'clock by Rev. Asa J. Manning
pastor of the Christian Church.
The interment was in the Bap?
tist Cemetery, and sorrowing
friends aad relatives laid flowers
on the mound, as tokens of their
appreciation of hi s life here
among this people.
1 " - 1 i . .
, A partial eclipse of the sun on
Tuesday next Invisible here.
WILLIAMSTON, N. C., FRIDAY, JAN. IQ. rgi 7 .
Robbed Depot
Monday night was a fine time
for robbers, and so they decided
to snatch a few pints from the
A. C. L. depot and secured an
entrance by breaking the glass
;n one of the doors which leads
into the office, where the quart
packages are stored away until
called for. Evidently egg nog
was plentiful on Tuesday morn
ing with the sleet covering every
thing outside, and, no doubt, the
delightful concoction was extra
good on account of the fact that
it was purloined from the other
fellow. There is no clue to the
burglars, as Willianuton is the
one place in the world where it
is safe to rob and never get
"cotched."
Friday night last, "dope"
burglars entered Dr. Knight's
office again and also visited the
office of Dr. York. Booze and
morphine keep some folks busy
here walking around at night
seeking an entranoe to places
where they think some is stored.
Evidently the night watchman
has to walk the dock through
the hours.
"Romeo and Juliet"
Loverß of the beautiful in
movie art, will be pleased to
learn that on Januarv 26th (next
Friday night) FrancesX.Bushman
and Beverly Bayne will present
"Romeo and Juliet" at the Gaie
ty Theatre. The film is h classic
in eight parts, and a heart com
pelling drama with a sure appeal
to every man, woman and child
n the world. It was produced
at a cost of $250,000 with cast of
600 players. Truly, it is the love
story of the ages, and the screen
production brings the soul of
Shakesphere to the hearts of the
people. Williamston people have
not had such a splendid oppor
tunity to enjoy sn magnificent a
production since the Gaiety Thea
tre opened its doors. Remember
the dat». which is next Friday
j night. "
Agrfcultutal Lime
The State -Department of Ag
riculture is offering agricultural
lime in two forms, namely:
Ground Marl and Ground Lime
stone. Ground Marl at 551.50
bulk, *2.75 in hags in 20ton min
imum car lots with a freight
rate Robersonville to Jamesville
inclusive of 31.11 a ton.
High grade ground limestone
SI.OO bulk, 82.00 bags in 33 ton
minimum car lots with a freight
rate Robersonville $2.20, James
ville $2.25 a ton.
I am further advised, that
those who wish to buy marl
would do well to place their or
ders at qpee, as some time will
be needed to fill them on account
of unfilled orders now on hand.
Orders for ground limestone may
be filled and shipped with reas
onable promptness.
Lime for agricultural purposes
is offered to the farmer under so
many different names, that he is
at a loss to make decision about
which form to buy. In Section
Chap. 265 Public Laws of
North Carolina, 1915, we find
"that only unburned lime shall
be deemed lime for agricultural
purposes." Thus defining by
legislative enactment the form
of lime best suited for agricul
tural purposes. Since there is*
but one form of lime suitable for
crops, that is the carbonate form
the Legislature deemed it best to
suppress the long list of terms
and designate the carbonate
form of lime "limestone" and
"marl."
J. L. Holliday, |
County Agent
University Items
CfMpel Hill, N. C., Jan.—
Schools taking part this vear in
the High School Debating Union,
conducted by the University of
North Carolina, may now secure
from the Universitv a copy of
the question at issue—Govern
ment Ownership of Railroads.
The volume in all contains 92
page*, embracing a comprehen
sive brief on both sides of the
'question and selected articles
chostn from a wide field of pub
lication, giving due emphasis to
both tides of the question.
It is already certain that the
contest this year, which is the
fifth since the plan was inaugur
ated, will be the biggest yet held.
So far 325 schools have signified
their desire to take part, as many
as the entire number for last
year. The first year, 1912-13,
only 90 schools were enrolled.
The triangular debates will be
held late in March, and then the
winners will come to Chapel Hill
for the final contest for the Ay
cock Cup early in April. This
year there will be a High School
Week, with athletic contests as
well M the debates. The schools
will have a track meet and also
a tennis tournament on the re
cently constructed Varsity courts.
The renown of the North Car
olina High School Debating
Union has gone abroad. This
year both Alabama and Kentucky
will hold similar debates, and
furthermore will use the same
question and the same bulletin
that will be used in this state.
Secretary E. R. Rankin states
two states have ap
plied to him for a number of
copies sufficient for their needs.
In Kentucky the. work is under
the auspices of the University;
in Alabama, under the leader
ship of the agricultural college,
a Carolina graduate, W. R. Tay
lor, being director of the debates.
H. s.
'Twas the year nineteen and six
teen,
That we put out to sea,
We sailed on the good ship W.H S
Twenty-five souls and me.
Carrie Delle, Sylvia and Roland,
They were the Seniors with
me. ' *£_
Just nne year on our good ship
Ami they passed on tojanother
sea,
The Juniors, Ethel and Louise
Bessi* 1 , Ruth and James,
Two years with them I. sailed
And then I erased their names.
Three years the Sophomores rode
sthe ship,
Three Marys I had with me,
.Two Virginias, Ethel and Fannie
They all sailed out to sea,
Garland, C. D., William and Vic
tor
James, Bruce, Harold, Hermon
and Hugh.
Three years they sailed on the
! good uld ship,
And then they bid her a fond
adieu.
This ended the voyage of the
good old ship,
The crew, they went theft* way.
I wished them luck on their jour
ney, _
And I hope to see them some
day.
I have sailed on many a grand
old ship,
Of voyage I have had the best.
But the happiest voyage I ever
sailed,
Was on the good ship W. H. S.
W. H. S. stands for something
you know,
Something else with the Golden
Rule,
This rule and W. H. S. com
bined,
; Stand for our Williamston .High
School. , ; , - ,
V E. E. Bundy.
Robert Edward Lee
Born January 19th, 1807
• When the future historian
shall come to survey the charac
ter of Lee, he will find it rising
like a huge mountain above the
undulating plain of humanity,
and he must lift his eyes high
toward Heaven to catch its sum
mit.
He possessed every virtue of
other great commanders without
their vices. He was a foe with
out hate; a friend without treach
ery: a soldier without cruelty; a
victor without oppression; and a
victim without murmuring. He
was a public officer without vices;
a private citizen without a wrong;
a neighbor without reproach; a
Christian without hypocrisy, and
a man without guile. He was
Caesar, without his ambition;
Frederick, without hie. tyranny;
Napoleon, without his selfishness;
and Washington, without his re
ward.
He was obedient to authority
as a servant, and royal in author
ity as a true king. He was gen
tle as a woman in life; modest
and pure as a virgin in thought;
watchful as a Roman vestal in
duty; submissive to law as Soc
rates, and grand in battle as
Achilles!-Benjamin H. Hill.
Prohibition On The Move
If one has read the account of
the meeting of the prohibition
forces in Raleigh this week, he
must have been struck with the
strong personnel of the men who
attended that meeting. The
presence of Hon. William Jenn
ings Brvan, who delivered one of
his masterly addresses, gave the
meeting an impetus Which no
other man in America could have
given. The Anti-Saloon men of
the State are farsighted, and are
usinn the best material tocombnt
the whiskey evil. The Supreme
Court's decision on the constitu
tionality of the Webb-Kenyon
law clears the way tor the League
to bring about b t ter >'nforcement
of the prohibition law. The pres
ent session of the Legislature
will be asked to aid the movement
for the freedom of 'North Caro
lina.
Dr. William Louis Poteat, of
Wake Furest "College, one of the
strong men of the State, was
elected President of the Anti-
Saloon League, and will carry
into the work that intellectual
power which is needed to push
forward the movement. Men
are determined that the whiskey
force:; shall be put to flight in
their evil designs to corrupt the
manhood of the State and Nation,
An Apartment House
Mr. Joseph G. Godard is esti
mating the cost of an apartment
house to be erected on the lot
where the buildings were recent
ly burned on Smithwick Street.
If built, the apartment will have
every modern convenience, water
and steam heat. Williamston is
quite large and important enough
to have such a building, and at
this time is greatly in need of it.
The high price of fuel would
make steam heat much to be de
sired and then its convenience
would be greatly desired by
housekeepers. The lack of houses
here menaces the growth of the
town, and an apartment would
in a large measure help to bring
families here to live. It is ear
nestly hoped that Mr. Godard
will erect the building at an early
date.
Friends regret to learn of the
; indisposition of Retf". W. R. Bur
-1 rell, who was unable to hold ser
vices on Sunday.
si.oo a Year in Advance
ADMIRAL GEORGE DEW
EY DIES AT CAPITAL
After Distinguished Service* Ad
miral Dewey Dies at the Nation's
Capitol—Ranking Officer of the
World—To be Bnried Tomorrow
Hero of Manila Fay.
A DISTINGUISHED CAREER
There are millions of An ori
cans who remember that Sunday
morning, May Ist 1898, when
Admiral Dewey acting under
orders "capture or destroy the
enemy's fleet" entered Manila
Bay and performed one of the
most remarkable feats in the his
tory of naval warfare. Since
then, he has been the hero of
every man, woman, boy and rirl
with warm American blood flaw
ing in their veins. The govern
ment gave fitting recognition by
advancing him to Rear Admiral,
and then by special act, Congress
made him Admiral of the Navy,
and the grade died with him.
He was ranking officer of the
world, and had reached his
eightieth year, when death came
Tuesday at 5:56 o'clock at his
home i n Washington City.
Wherever the American flag flies
orders were flashed to lower them
to half mast in the dead hero's
honor. The body will be buried
at Arlington National Cemetery,
on the Virginia shore of the Po
tomac River. Mrs. Dewey and
son, George, survive the Admiral.
The Woman's Auxiliary
The Woman's Auxiliary of the
Church of the Advent held a
large and interesting meeting at
the home of Mrs. Alonzo lias - ell
on the eighth. The devotL.al
service was lead by the Rector,
Rev. C. H. Jordan, consisting of
a Litany for Missions After the
routine of business, came very
interesting questions un the h'3-
tory and life of the Auxiliary.
Members were acquaints! with
the fact that Miss.Julia C. Em. ry
the General Secretary at the
Church Missions House, New
York, had resigned after afa h
ful service of forty years. Her
work has been unique in the i.is
tory of Missionary societies.
While the first meeting in each
month will be devoted to Auxil
iary work and have a missionary
program, the second meeting
will be of the Guild. The ntxt
meeting will be on Monday after
noon from 3:30 to 5:(KJat the Par
ish Hall. The members will take
sewing and articles for the Baz
a&r which wiH be given about
Thanksgiving time. Any one
desiring to have special articles
made for next Christmas, please
hand the order to any of the
members.
Mrs. J. G. Staton, Pres.
Mrs. J. H. Saunders, Sec.
Jones-Williams
Miss Ada Williams and Mr.
Oscar Jones were married at the
home of the bride's parents, Mr.
and Mrs. W. B. Williams, in Wil
liams Township, Wednesday
evening, at 6:30, Rev. H. M.
Eure, pastor of the Methodist
Church, officiating. Immediately
after the ceremony, the wedded
pair went to the home of the
groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs,
Joseph Jones, on the Hamilton
Road.
The bride and groom are
among the most popular mem
bers of the younger set, and have
a host of friends, who wish for
them many long years of happi
ness. „ i