North Carolina Newspapers

VOLUME XLI?NUMBER 57 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, July 19,193S. ESTABLISHED 1899 Marked Upswing In Autumn And Winter Trade Is Predicted Interesting Summary of the Happenings in the Business World New York, July 18.?Business ? Merchants, farmers and industrial ists saw a number of signs in this week's news pointing toward a good business upswing next fall and win ter. Retail furniture dealers, buying and talking ahop in Chicago, issued aa optimistic forecast of the next six months' trade. Farmers, ready to sell a bumper wheat crop at higher prices ' than they had expected, watched with interest the Interna tional Wheat Conference in London, where a plan to help stabilize prices in all producing countries was pre sented. In spite of all rumors to the contrary, no formal action has been taken by any major steel companies to cut wages. Abroad, one needle of a usually reliable barometer of world business also pointed to fair weather. The number of telephones in use in nine nations made a sharp gain during the first half of this year Washington ? President Roose velt's announcement of the revised budget, showing a deficit of $3,984, 000,000, met with a mixed reception. Foes of the government's lending spending policies pointed out that the 19S9 budget showed a record in plus a sharp drop in revenues, crease in peace-time expenditures, Friends defended the budget as an investment in more employment and better business, from which John Q. Public would more than get his money's worth. The budget an nouncement had a quieting effect, but failed to put a damper on the general feeling of optimism. Why Accidents? ? The automo tive industry examined closely last week a series of studies on the rela tion of car styling to driving safety. Surveys of the cause of traffic acci dents shed a constant floodlight of valuable information on the prob lem. Yet "sudden death" on the highways takes a bigger toll of lives each year. Why? Arthur W. Stevens of the Society of Automotive Engi neers, answers with the statement that many auto accidents are attrib utable to the faulty styling of mod em automobiles, which obstructs a full vision. "Stylistic whimsies," he says, are to blame. He urges motor makers to take steps toward, lower ing the hood, raising the driver's seat, allowing larger window areas and constructing thinner window partitions. Mr. Stevens says that bet ter visibility is inevitable, because "man for a million years has walk ed with eyes in the front of his head where they belong, and there is no (Continued from page one) Decrease In Births Continues In N. C. The preient slump in North Car olina births continued in June, when the total was 287 less than for the corresponding month in 1937, ac cording to the report issued by Dr. R. T. Stimpson, director of the State Board of Health's Division of Vital Statistics. The 399 gain reported for January and February was more than wiped out during the .succeed ing four months. With half the year gone, the number of births for 1938, so far, is 320 below the corre sponding period a year ago. De creases were reported for March, April, May and June. Deaths so far this year stand at 37 under the corresponding six months in 1937, while there was an increase of 241 in June, when tha number of deaths among infants un der a year old was 812, as compar ed with 491 in June, 1937. Deaths from enteritis and diarrhea among children under the age of 2 number ed 232, against 183 a year ago. Tu berculosis deaths dropped from 160 to 140 tor the month, whUe there was a gain of one in cancer deaths, the total of June, 1938, being 165. Deaths from preventable accidents stood at lit, the same figure as was reported for June a year ago. Suicides numbered ten more than in June, 1937, with 37 reported last month, while homicides dropped from 27 to 18. Automobile accidents claimed tt lives, against 62 in June a year ago, while deaths from rail road accidents jumped from 10 to 11. Than were 11 fewer deaths from drowning Through June, there were 39,659 births la North Carolina, as compar ed wMt 89.979 a year ago. Deaths totaled 17,641, against 17,596 the same period in 1937, Dr. Stimpeon's figures show Register of Deeds Reports an Upswing in County Business A marked upward swing in busi ness In the Martin County register of deeds' office during recent weeks was reported yesterday by Register J. Sam Getsinger. In a single day last week more than 100 papers were placed in the hands of the reg ister for entry upon the books. "That was an unusually large num ber," Mr. Getsinger said, "but at the rate they have been coming in during the past few days we will handle more than 600 papers this month," he added. In June and July of last year, the office reported a brisk business, but the volume during June and this month will be at least one-third greater than it was in the same two months of 19S7. ?Tin rcglstei uf Uerds?explained that quite a number of electrical re frigerators and a few automobiles are being sold, the buyers giving mortgagee until the (all months. Most of the papers are in the font of crop liens, the borrowers finding that extra money was needed to fi nance the harvesting of tobacco. Most of the papers represent loans of less than $100, a few running as high as $500. Ordinarily there are few papers entered for registry in the county at this time of year, but this is one period that is an exception to the rule. The register of deeds turned from a stack of papers and glanced into another corner of his office where the 1938 tax books are awaiting at tention. Many long days of work will be required to set up the indi vidual accounts and prepare the re 1 ITlpUi lor the 1938 Uk accounts, "buf we'll be starting on the big annual task within the next few days," Mr. Gctsinger said. POOL Work on Williamstou's swim mlnf pool la going forward slowly, observer* estimating that the WPA diners will reach the bottom some time in the early fall. The project engineers would not guarantee digging would be completed by that time. The old swimming hole is tak ing shape, however, and the prospects are bright for swlm ming?next summer. Nearly all the material for the project has been placed on the lot. Mr. L D. Lindslev Dies At Oceana, Va. Mr Lawrence D. Lindsley, father of Messrs. Lawrence P. and Kenneth P. Lindaley, of Williamston, died in a Norfolk hospital last Saturday night at 10:20 o'clock- following a four weeks' illness Eighty-one years old, Mr. Lindsley was taken ill about a month ago and underwent an op eration, his condition gradually growing worse during the weeks that followed. A native of Palaramo, Kansas, Mr. Lindsley located at Oceana, Va., be tween Norfolk and Virginia Beach about 34 years ago where he suc cessfully managed a large truck farm. He was very active all during his life and was operating his car just a day or two before he was tak en ill. He married Miss.Nellie Pres cott, of Ticonderoga, N Y , who died about six years ago. * Mr. Lindsley often visited his sons here and made many friends in this community. Besides his two sons here he is survived by a son, Edwin B. Linds ley, of Virginia Beach, a daughter, Mrs. George W Boush, of Oceana, and an aged sister, Mrs. Carrie V. Stone, of Portland, Oregon. Funeral services were conducted this morning at the late home by Rev. Laughton, Methodist minister, and interment was in the Eastern Shore chapel yard overlooking Ches apeake Bay. Mrs. J. Sam Scott Dies Near Hamilton Mrs. Catherine Scott, wife of J. Samuel Scott, well-known fanner of near Hamilton, died at her home there last Saturday morning. Her death was sudden and unexpected. She was 48 years old. Funeral services were conducted at the late home Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, and interment was in the Scott Burial Ground near Gold Point. - Besides her husband she leaves the following children, Reda Scott, Mrs. Katie Adams, of Hassell; Susie Julia, Sallie, Nettie, Alice and Jesse Scott. Ocean Beaches Are Now Hour Removed From Here Nags Head is just an hour remov ed from Williamston. members of the local airplane club having made several trips to and from the resort in recent days. William Thomas Crawford, jump ing into the flub's plane after work evenings, has cruised down to t coast in time for a swim before dark. An early start the following morning puts him back here in time for work. Tenneyson Ayers, pilot, and Bruce Whitley "flew" down Ikst Sunday: Starting home that afternoon the propeller struck a stump just as the pilot" was turning the machine around and delayed the flight until repairs could be made the following day. People To Vote On Proposed Change State Constitution Propose Longer Terms for Sheriff's and Justice Department Martin' County voters will cast their ballots?for?m against?twui amendments to North Carolina's con-| stitution .which will be submitted to Tar Heel voters at the general elec tion of November 8.. One would authorize the general assembly to'set up a State depart ment of justice, as a unit of the at torney general's office. The other would increase the terms of offices of county sheriffs and coroners from two to four years. Roth amendments, as required by the state constitution, were drafted by the legislature and passed by the house and senate in 1937, by the pre scribed three-fifths majority. They will become a part of the constitu tion if approved by a majority of voters in the general election. In the hubbub of the primary campaign, the proposed changes re ceived scant attention. Sheriffs and coroners, however, soon are expect ed to start stumping for the amend ment which would increase their terms of office. State Peach Crop Sells Below 1937 Oeapite good quality and size of North Carolina peaches, growers are now receiving between 30 and 40 per cent less per bushel for this year's crop compared to last season, the State Department of Agriculture's markets division reported today. A. B. Harless, chief of the de partment's markets news service, re port* that U. S. No. 1 peaches (two inch minimum size) were bringing from $1 to $2 per bushel July 7 in New York while in July last year "virtually the same peaches" were bringing from $3.00 to $3.25 per bushel. The North Carolina peach crop on June 1 was estimated at 2,480,000 bushels compared with a 1937 pro duction of 1,984,000 bushels and a past five-year average crop for the state of 1,813,000 bushels. "North Carolina ranks ninth among the states of the Union in the production of peaches, Califor nia being the leading stpte," reports Chief Statistician W. H. Rhodes of the Department of Agriculture. "Utere are approximately 26 coun ties in the state having commercial peach orchards of considerable size. Three counties have commercial -or chards containing more than 100, 000 trees?Montgomery county with 422,000 trees, Moore county with 383,000, and Richmond county with 523,000. Anson county reported 69, 000 trees while all other counties were considerably less than 50.000." With a season regarded as one week earlier than last year, Tar Heel growers had shipped 176 car loads of peaches to northern mar kets compared with 32 cars through July 7. Checking Bus Route* Professor D. N. Hix, of Virginia Beach is spending a few days here making plana tor the coming school term. The school man is checking the 1038-39 school bus routes in this nns? Mr. S. B. Harrison, one of Martin County's oldest formers, was a busi ness visitor here this afternoon. De spite his advanced age, Mr. Har rison is very active. Scrap Tobacco Law Sustained By Judge J. Paul Frizzelle E. B. Picklen Tobacco Com pany Appeals to Su preme Court - The North Carolina law requiring| a $1,000 license of all dealers in scrap tobacco stood its first test in the courts last week when Judge J Paul Frizzelle handed down a ruling fa voring the license tax. J. Con La nier. representing the E. B. Ficklen Company, of Greenville, who are testing the constitutionality of the $1,000 license ot\ tobacco scrap deal ers, hits announced an appeal would be made to the North Carolina Su preme Court for a final decision ? ?It in hurdly possible mm Uif Wlll'l machinery will turn rapidly enough to get out a final decision in the case before the markets open next month but it is believed action will have been taken before the bulk of the scrap is offered for sale during the latter part of the marketing sqgson The Ficklen Company paid the $1,000 tax last year under protest and brought suit testing the consti tutionality of the license. The meas ure was sponsored' by the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and other farm organizations with the idea of restricting sales in scrap Tobacco and thereby boosting the price of the better grades in East ern North Carolina. The act originally " j*" pp?H?in. 1935, but was held unconstitution al in the case of State vs. Morrison. It was amended in 1937 and Attor ney General Hairy McMullan, who upheld the validity of the measure in a hearing before Judge Frizzelle in Snow Hill July 2. said "the de fects in the former act pointed out in the Morrison case were correct ed in the 1937 enactment." Promise Study Of Water Pollution Appearing recently before a meet ing of the North Carolina Depart ment of Conservation and Develop ment authorities, a delegation rep resenting approximately 1,000 fish ermen were promised a thorough study of alleged pollution in fish ing waters of the eastern shore ter ritory would be made soon. The representatives claimed that i pollution of the Roanoke and Cho wan Rivers had caused a marked de crease in the number of fish, that nearly 1,000 fishermen were affect ed by the new conditions which the delegation declared were traceable to the pulp plant in the lower part of this county. Roanoke fishermen experienced their Wbrst season in 1938 than in many years, but the rock and shad catches were larger than usual. L. D. Perry, of Colerain, told the board that the annual catches of herring had dropped in the last six years from an average of eight to ten million fish to five and one-half million in 1938 Engineers for the department stated that there was little in the way of relief the department could do immediately but that the situa tion would be studied. He explained that laws would have to be chang ed to afford the relief sought. Several Injured In j - Wreck Near Here Isabella Williams, colored, suffer ed a broken arm, and Queenie Bell Allen, alio colored, was painfully hurt about the knee and several others were slightly bruised in a car-truck accident on the Everetts road, near the county home, last Saturday noon. Driving toward Williamston, Mur iel Jean McLauchlin, of 311 S. Juni per Street, Philadelphia, and Chapel Hill, started to pass a truck driven by Mr. S. C. Griffin and ran off the concrete. In trying to turn back on the hard surface Miss McLauchlin lost control oY the car and in an ef fort to avoid a crash, Mr. Griffin ran his truck off the road and into a ditch, injuring the Williams and Al len women. Mr Griffin and several others on the truck escaped unhurt, and very little damage was done to the ma ? The injured were treated in the offices of Drs. Saunders and Brown and are getting along very well. * More Cultivated Hay Crops Produced^ By N. C. In 1937 North Carolina produced more cultivated hay crops in ltS7 <834,* 000 tons) than in any year in its his tory, reports the State Department of Agriculture. Town Authorities Preparing Application for Loan-Grant Town authorities are now prepar ing an application grant and loan from the federal government to finance a proposed $65,000 im provement program here. Two days or more will be required to offer all the information required in detail, it was learned yesterday from Engi neer Henry Rivers. Starting out with a proposed $73, 000 improvement program, the town has already effected a contract with WPA authorities for the construc tion of a swimming pool costing $8, 000. The town is now turning to the Public Works , Administration for a grant of 45 per cent and a loan for the remainder. Town authorities are considering entering an applica tion for approximately $118,200. the amount representing grant and loan, With the town furnishing $65,000 or 55 per cent, the government is ex peeled to donate outright around $63.2tH^ or 45 per cent. The tOWft Is1 also asking to borrow its share from the government, the bonds to run for a period of 25 years at four per cent interest. I Thousands of applications have I been received in the PWA's region-1 al office in Atlanta during recent days, and it may be some time be fore Williamston's bid will receive recognition.'There is also the possi-j bility that the money will have alii been contracted by the time Wil-I liamston's application is placed be-i fore the regional director. The town proposes to pave sev eral streets, extend its sewer andj water lines and sink a fourth deep well for an increased water sup ply. In addition to its improve ment program to its plant, the town! is advancing a recreational center Chicken Evidence Is Offered In Case In County Court Two Men Caught Saturday In Second Chicken Coop Raid Arrested early last Saturday morning, Collin Smith, 21, and Ira Clark, 2T, both colored, had little defense testimony to offer when their case was called in Judge H. O Peel's recorder's court Monday morning They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to the roads for six ty days each. Smith and Clark went to the coop of Farmer Fate Everett, near Kob ersonville, about one o'clock Satur day morning. Unable to break into the coop, the two men are alleged So have takeiLdhm: setting hens -and. one biddie hen near the coop. From there they went to the coop of Far mer Leman Robersonvon the same farm. They placed two chickens in a sack there and had others under their arms when Mr. Roberson heard a noise and frightened them away. Sheriff C. B Roebuck was called and after making a hurried investigation he went to the home of Smith on the Everett farm. Smith, in hurrying from the Roberson coop, ran through a field of beans and got his feet and overalls wet, and when the sheriff entered, the man threw his shoes under the bed and wrap ped the wet overalls up in the bed clothing. Clark was arrested soon thereafter and the two of them were placed in jail. Returning to the Everett farm la ter that morning, officers found the chickens still sacked and in the woods. Roberson identified his two chickens, but Mr. Everett was not quite sure the other four chickens were his. In court, Sheriff Roebuck stated that in order to determine ownership of the chickens, he turn I ed them loose a short distance trom the house. All of them went to the usual watering place, and after drinking water, three of them went around the house to their nests, the fourth one going to another cornet of the yard where she gathered her biddies and went under a grapevine and started scratching for worms. The raid was?the second reported during the week and one of several reported in the county during recent months. More than 500 chickens have been stolen in this county this year, one raid some time ago net ting the thieves over 100 fancy hens. The arrests of Smith and Clark were the first made recently as a result of chicken thcfU. ? Must Register To Vote In Special Bond Election j To vote in Williamston's special bond election on August 9, one must register on or before July 30. One who is qualified to vote in a state or municipal election, will not be _ablfc Ifl?vote in the special election unless he registers again, Registrar C. B. Hassell pointing out that quite a few citizens were under the im pression that because they had reg istered and voted in previous mu nicipal elections they would not have to register again. ?This is an entirely new registra tion," Mr. Hassell said, adding that around thirty people had registered so far. The books are open each Saturday in the town treasurer's of fice in- the town hall, but citizens may register at the office of Mayor J. L. Hassell on other days in the week. The vote will be against the reg istration. In other words, if a citi zen registers and does not vote in the election the opposition will gain the vote. DOG VACCINATIONS Beginning next Saturday a last opportunity will be made available tor all owners to have their dogs vaccinated, the coun ty authorities issuing an order recently warning that prosecu tions are to be expected by own ers who have not had their dogs vaccinated already and who (ail to have them vaccinated during the next few days. Vaccination stations will be held at Oak City beginning Saturday, followed by others at Poplar Point, Roberxonvllle. Jamesvilie and Williamston. Young Men Fake Trip On Roanoke Starting out from Steel Bridge, Va., on Monday of last week, two young men paddled their canvas ca noe more than 200 miles down the muddy Koanoke, reaching here last Saturday afternoon tired and weary of the long trip. They had planned to paddle their way to Manteo but the old Koanoke whipped them down and they were ready to call the trip off when they reached here. There was no argument when one of the travelers suggested stopping, and they wired relatives to come for them here The trip was made in the frail lit tle boat without serious mishap, one of the young men stating that they were thrown out twice while "shoot ing" the rapids a few miles above | Koanoke Kapids. The water wasn't j deep, and they regained the boat without much difficulty Two nights they camped in hunt ing lodges. On the other nights they slept on the river bank in folding | cots covered with mosquito netting. On the first day they traveled about fifty miles, but from then on they began to lose mileage rapidly Last Friday night they camped near Hamilton, and despite an earlv start the following morning they were a long time reaching here. While waiting for relatives to call for them the young men camped and slept on an oil company's wharf, near the river bridge. Much game, especially wild duck I and deer, was seen by the two boat men as they traveled quietly down the crooked stream. Meat Stolen Near Hamilton Saturday While f/iends held an all-night' watch" oVer fii?~wife's body in ffiil I home, thieves raided the Smoke j houses of Farmer J. Sam Scott,i near Hamilton, some - time during i laat Saturday night. No official report had been filed with county officers yesterday, the husband and other members of the family having little time to think about the dastardly act during their time of distress. It as reported, how ever, that the thief or thieves stole eight or ten hams and a quantity of side meat. .?? Officers are expected to investi gate the case shortly, but no prog ress has been made toward running down the guilty party or parties up until now. Hunters To Protest v Short Quail Season The-ah?ft season irt tor taking QUkil hY tl"' Slat? WoarH nl ron.ar. vation and Development laat week ii' almost certain to meet with ob jection from sportsmen throughout this section, it has been rumored that a number of hunters will pro test the change for taking quail from Thanksgiving to December IS. Martin Jail Is One Of Thirty-two Up To U. S. Standards Federal Prisoners From Number of Counties Confined in It The Martin County jail is one of " the only thirty-two in North Caro lina measuring up to federal stan dards according to Dr. J. Wallace Nygard, director of the division of institutions and corrections of the State Board of Charities and Public Welfare, who has just completed a survey of jail conditions in the state I just a few days ago. Martin County handles quite a number of federal prisoners in its I jail each year, the government pay mg for their keep at a higher rate than is allowed for eounty prison ers. j "There are too many jails in the 1 state," Nygard said, following his recent survey, "because the counties are not taking advantage of the leg islative provision allowing two or more adjacent units to maintain dis trict jails. "Counties with small financial re sources cou)d provide socially satis factory institutions in district jails with a great saving of money to the taxpayers of the cooperating coun ties. "Seventy-eight thousand commit tals, many of them repeating offend pr< wrp maHu?in North Carolina? jails in 1937, and at any stated time during the year one could find some 1,600 persons confined " "About 30 pel-cent ofThe iairpop ulation was serving sentence, while the rest was awaiting trial or sen tence, or being held as witnesses. Sixty-five per cent of women con fined were serving sentence, al though they comprised only eleven per cent of the total jail population. "Despite the fact that there is a statute requiring medical examina tion of all prisoners within 48 hours after incarceration, about half the jailers in North Carolina call in a physician only on complaint of ill ness from a prisoner. "Under the present practice sy philitica, insane, tubercular, feeble minded, juveniles accidental offend ers and vicious criminals often are herded together, although the re cently constructed units have made other provisions. "Under the law now, plans for new jails must be approved by the state fire marshal, the sanitary en gineering division of th# Board of Health, and by the Board of Chari ties and Public Welfare. "Five separate apartments must be provided with accessible toilet and bath, adequate air, light and heat, exercise space, and quarters for an attendant to be on duty at all times. "A separate juvenile section in the jail does not meet the require ments as ruled by the attorney gen eral calling for segregation of chil dren from adult prisoners. "Too many children are being confined in jails and there should be more cooperation between the local welfare departmnts and juvenile court officials in finding disposition other than jail detention for chil dren." Deed Is pending For Postoffice Site A deed to the Main Street site for a proposed $70,000 postoffice build ing here is awaiting acceptance in the United States attorney's office in Washington, unofficial reports reaching here this week stating that title to the property should change hands within the next few days. The property ownership was trac ed back more than 100 years, but lowed when the property could not be definitely identified Affidavits, identifying the property as that mentioned in the old original town maps, have been forwarded to Washington, and If they are not ac cepted. it Li likely condemnation - proceedings, will follow. It is now believed that work oh the building will possibly get under way in early fall. ? Locates Here For The Practice Oi Medicine Dr. R. C. McAllister, graduate of the Medical College of Virginia, has located here tor the general practice of medicine and will be associated with Drs. Rhodes and Eaaon. Dr. McAllister, e native Virginian, Juat recently completed a year's work in the McGulre Clinic, Richmond, where he gained recognition as a young doetsf.' The young doctor and lira, llc Alister are at home in the Tar Heel pent houae on Baltimore street