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Homes el Martin Osnsdy.
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VOLUME XLI?NUMBER 83 Williamston. Martin County. North Carolina. Tuesday, October 18. 1938. ESTABLISHED 1899
Martin Farmers To
Name 27 Community
Committeemen Soon
Several Changes in AAA
Local Personnel Are
Expected
?
Machinery for executing the Agri
cultural Adjustment Administration
program in this county will undergo
an overhauling at nine community
meetings to be held within the next
two or three weeks when local com
mitteemen will be named and elect
ed by the farmers. Dates and places
for the meetings will be announced
by the county agent shortly, it was
learned today after the elections
were ordered by AAA authorities in
Washington.
All growers cooperating with the
1938 soil conservation program are
eligible to vote.
During the past several years, the
community committee elections
have, as a whole, attracted compar
atively few farmers. This year far
mers in considerably larger num
bers are expected to participate in
the elections, some predicting that
the personnel will be altered in
some districts. A few of those com
mitteemen now serving will not of
fer for re-election, it is understood.
The community meetings will elect
a delegate to the county convention,
an alternate delegate to the county
convention, three community com
mitteemen, one to be elected as
chairman and one as vice chairman;
one first alternate community com
l one second alternate
community committeeman. The com
munity committeeman receiving the
highest number of votes will be
elected as chairman of the commun
ity committee, and the one receiving
the next highest will be elected vice
chairman.
As soon as possible after the com
munity meetings are held, the dele
gates will be notified ta assemble in
convention for the election of the
county committee. The present
chairman, Mr. Jesse Crisp, will call
the convention to order, and the del
egates will nominate and elect the
county committee and first- ami sec?
ond alternates.
In connection with the action to
name the personnel for handling the
local features of the AAA program,
E. Y, Floyd, secretary of the State
committee recently issued the fol
lowing letter to farmers of the State:
"At this season of the year we
realize that you are well under way
with the harvesting of most of your
crops. With unfavorable seasons, dis
ease, and insect infestation, it has
made this a hard year for you, but
in spite of unfavorable eircumstanees
' for producing crops, we have lots
to be thankful for when we compare
our circumstances today with the
circumstances that existed in 1932.
"It is the custom of all farmers to
observe closely the growing crops
and also the crops at harvest time
with a view of producing better
quality and greater yield per acre,
and it is true this study lends en
couragement and enthusiasm for the
future. The farmer has to make fur
ther study of supply and demand of
cash crops and try to produce in
line with consumption. When bur
densome surpluses pile up as in 1932
prices go down to the producer.
"We have been very fortunate to
have access to Federal Crop Pro
grams administered by the Agricul
tural Adjustment Administration,
which gave us national guidance. It
is with deep regret that the lateness
of the 1938 program made it impos
sible to hold the community meet
ings and make individual contacts
as was planned to explain the de
tails of how the program worked for
each individual producer. We want
to express our appreciation for your
cooperation with the limited amount
of knowledge that you had in regard
to the programs for 1938. We can
readily understand how some of
you who did not understand how
the allotments were determined
would naturally be displeased. It Is
our hope that the 1939 program will
get underway early enough so that
you will be able to have a fuller un
derstanding of the program and its
meaning than you did in 1938. We
are sure that you fully appreciate
what can be accomplished by all
producers cooperating together in a
National program, and it is to this
end that your full cooperation and
support is needed. We therefore, not
only need your personal support, but
suggest that you use your influence
to get your neighbor to cooperate."
Suffers Broken Leg
1
Mr. Nick Daniel, Griffins Town
ship man. suffered a leg fracture
while working in the logwoods in
Washington County last week. Hii
condition is not improving very rap
idly, it was learned.
Recent Invention May Cause
Big Change on Martin Farms
The invention of the cotton gin is
today accepted as one of the great
blessings of mankind. The invention
of the mechanical cotton picking is
causing much concern in the eco
nomic world, and while all that is
going on, eastern Carolina is today
experiencing a revolution just as
far reaching as that caused by the
cotton gin or the cotton picker. At
last, tests show that the peanut dig
ger has been perfected.
Robert Griff, representative of
the John Deere company who was
brought here by the Lindsley Ice
Company, is demonstrating a new
peanut digger in Martin County this
week. Prelimary tests show the ma
chine to be perfect, observers stat
ing that they had seen variou? ma
chines demonstrated over a long
period but that the task had not
been solved until the invention of
the John Deere Company made its
appearance this week. It may not
be recognized as such, but the ma
chine demonstrated on the farmers
of Sheriff H. T. Roberson and Lu
ther Peel holds the dynamite of an
agricultural revolution for peanut
growers in eastern Carolina.
A description of the machine is
difficult, but suffice it to say, the
outfit is very simple. Special blades
were invented to cut the tap roots
and a special rake picks up, shakes
and piles the peanut vines in rows
John Tulloss, local representative
of John Deere, said the machine
would dig 25 acres each day and in
a day's time would do the work of
eight mules and 20 men When ask'
ed what the cost of operation would
be on the tractor he explained that
it would not exceed $1.00 per day.
Those who have seen the machine
in operation say it is next to perfect
and will probably be used in lttrge
numbers in this section of eastern
Carolina. Mr. Lindsl^y said the
digger would probably be demon- >
strated the rest of this week.
The invention will be demonstrat
ed Thursday afternoon at two o'clock
on the Godwin farm, near Skewar
key, just south of Williamston,
iNote Upward Trend In
Postal Receipts Here
BOND SALE
Willlamston will offer $72,000
worth of bonds for sale in Ral
ei(h next Tuesday, local author
ities believing that the bonds
will command a food price and
a moderately low interest rate.
"We are hopeful the entire is
sue can be floated for around 4
or 4 1-2 per cent," a local offi
cial said today.
Revenue from the bond sale
will be used to advance a gen
eral improvement program here,
the PWA already having agreed
to supplement the program with
a $52,200 grant.
Leaf Control Wins
In First Court Test
The legality of the 1938 tobacco
control law was upheld by a three
man court down in Georgia, unoffi
cial reports stating that the plain
tiffs will perfect an appeal and go
to the supreme court for a final de
cision. ?
Maintaining that the government'
i had no right to impose a penalty or
tax on surplus tobacco marketing, a
number of Georgia farmers asked
the three-man court to rule the law
invalid and give them the right to
market surplus poundages without
penalty.
The decision of the court was
handed down without comment.
Judge w. C. Harris is scheduled
to hand down a ruling in this state
next Tuesday in the case brought
by farmers restraining the collection
by warehousemen of penalties. At
the present time and under the pre
liminary restraining order, ware
housemen are said to be collecting
the penalty and placing it in special
accounts pending the outcome of the
suit brought by several hundred
farmers a few weeks ago. The gov
ernment representatives are asking
the court to dismiss the restraining
order. What action will be taken in
the case after Judge Harris makes
his decision will be determined la
ter. Unofficial reports declare, how
ever, that the losers plan to carry
the case to the higher courts.
I
Former Enterprise Editor
Returns For Short Visit
Alfred E. Whitmore, for eight or
ten years editor of The Enterprise,
returned here last Sunday evening
for a brief visit. He was accompan
ied by his daughter, and the visit
was his first here in more than a
quarter of a century. Mr. Whitmore,
inventor of the trade coupon sys
tem, left Williamston about thirty
years ago and is now making his.
home in Washington City.
LIMITS TRANSFER j
Not more than II per cent of
a farmer's fine-cured tobacco
marketing quota may be trans
ferred, according to a recent
AAA ruling. It was also an
nounced that in computing pen
alties for sales of scrap flue
cured tobacco marketed in ex
cess of quota a 3-cent a pound
allowance will be made for un
merchantable scrap tobacco.
Farmers In and around Dan
ville, Vs., are buying cards in
the county this week.
Second And Third
Quarters Show An
Increase Over 19H7
Postmaster L. T. Fowden
Predicts Best Year
For Office
After experiencing a slight de
crease in its receipts during the
months of January, February and
March of this year as compared with
income for the same months in 1937,
the Wilhamston postoffice staged u
comeback in the second and third
quarters to virtually offset the loss
and reflect no marked change in
general business conditions for this
particular section. The first quarter
receipts in 1937 set an all-time rec
ord for the period, and were great
er by several hundred dollars than
the income reported fo the first
quarter this year.
Postmaster Leslie T. Fowden, re
viewing the office records for Jan
uary, February and March of this
year, scratched his head and began
worrying over what would follow.
Checking the records at the end of
last June, the postmaster saw an
upswing in business, the receipts
during.the second quarter almost
wiping out the loss in the first three
months of the current year. The sec
ond quarter receipts constitute a rec
ord for that period. The third quar
ter just ended held its own and
showed a slight gain over the re
ceipts for the period in 1937
A comparison of receipts for the
first three quarters in 1937 and 1938
follows:
1st Quarter *4,724.81 I 5,197.34
2nd Quarter 5,00531 4,654.82
3rd Quarter 4,889.37 4,807.10
*14,619.29 *14,659.26
While Postmaster Fowden sees
receipts for the first nine months of
this year trailing those of last year
by a few dollars, his eye is centered
on the upward trend during the past
two quarters. On the strength of
that trend he is predicting one of
the best years in the history of the
local office.
Money order business during the
first nine months of this year, *75,
156.68, is several thousand dollars
less than it was in the first nine
months of 1937. Through September
of last year, the money order busi
nocc htrrtr fimo11ntoH tfll 007 21
lie oo r i"t C ajllUUIltvU ttl yuI|WTrsr.
"The difference is being spent at
home," the postmaster explains.
Handling free mail for the district
WPA office and that of other gov
ernmental agencies, the Williamston
postoffice is a busy place every hour
in the day, every day in the week.
Parents-Teachers Meet
Wednesday Afternoon
The Williamston Parent-Teacher
association will hold its second meet
ing of the year next Wednesday af
ternoon at 3:30 in the grammar
school auditorium. Mrs. A. J. Os
teen, president, will preside over
a meeting which will be featured by
special music from the sixth grade
choral group, and a solo "Wait with
the Dawn," rendered by Miss Jones.
"Mental Health" will be the theme
of a discussion by Mrs. John Coff.
Considerable interest was shown
in the first parent-teacher meeting
of the school term, and it is hoped
that a large number of patrons will
arrange to attend the meeting to
morrow.
Changes in Seasons
For Taking Game
Are Announced
Will Be Lawful to Take
Quail and Turkeys on
December 1
?*
Bringing pressure against limited
hunting seasons. North Carolina
sportsmen will now have a longer
time to take various game this fall
and winter, the Department of Con
servation and Development an
nouncing a few days ago new open
ing dates for several types of game,
County Game Warden Abbitt ex
plaining that these dates are final.
Earlier in the year the Conserva
tion department had announced De
cember 15 as the opening date for
both quail and turkeys. This result
ed in a number of protests, and af
ter hearing both sides of the argu
ment it was decided that the old
opening date of November 20 for
turkeys would remain in force this
year in certain counties, and the
opening date for shouting quail was
set at December 1.
Throughout the state the turkey
opening date was set at December
1 However, in the counties along
the Roanoke river?Halifax, North
ampton, Bertie, Washington and
Martin?the opening date was set
at November 20. Special exception
was made of these counties for two
reasons, viz: the Roanoke river of
ten floods later in the season and
a great portion of the hunting sea
son is lost to the sportsmen since
most of the turkey hunting in the
counties mentioned is in the swamps
aluug the RoailOKc; second, the num
ber of organized hunting preserves
add clubs along this river act as a
semi-official game warden system
aiding the department in protecting
the game, and postponement of the
opening put the turkeys at the
mercy of poachers and non-law abid
ing hunters in the woods after oth
er game for which the earlier sea
son would prevail.
Immediately qfter the announce
ment of the later season?that is,
December 15, for turkeys and quail
several weeks ago, protests were fil
ed with the department. Henry
Clark, of Scotland Neck took the
lead in formulating petitions for the
turkey hunters, and pointed out the
special conditions governing hunt
ing in the Roanoke River swamps
which made a later opening date
inadvisable. These petitions were
circulated in the counties mention
ed, and Mr. Clark got the enthusias
tic support of sportsmen, county of
ficials and legislators. Several of
these went to Raleigh, while a num
ber of others wrote letters or join
ed in the petitions requesting that
the season be put back to November
20. It was on the ball* of this special
information that the department re
considered its first action and chang
ed the dates.
As it now stands the quail and
turkey seasons will open December
1, and close February 15 except In
the counties -mentioned the tutki
season will open November 20.
The rabbit season will open No
vember 24 and. close February 15.
The grouse season will open Jan
uary 1 and close January 15.
The opossum and raccoon sea
son was ratified to open October 1
and close February 15.
In addition date for fishing for
shad were set at January 1 to April
25, and all zoning was abolished in
order to make this regulation uni
form throughout the state.
Complete Road To
Bear Grass Monday
The surfacing of the road from
Highway No. 17, near the R. L. Per
ry farm, to Bear Grass, was com
pleted yesterday, highway forces
having worked on the project a
greater part of the time during the
past year. The road is of rock and
tar construction. Thirty-four car
loads of rock and four cars of tar
were poured on the road.
Constructed entirely by highway
forces, the road is one of the first
fram-to-market routes surfaced in
this county. No estimate on the cost
is available.
Plans are now being formulated
for the surfacing of a road from the
Old Mill Inn on the Washington
Highway to Rome Corey's, via Hayes
Swamp. Unofficial reports state that
a survey of the nine-mile route will
possibly get underway some time
during November. However, it isn't
likely that a contract for the project
will be let before early spring. The
Griffins Township project, the first
to be proposed in that district, will
be partly financed with federal
funds, it is understood.
Dr. Grover Godwin, of Sanator
ium, is visiting relatives in the
county this week.
Death Claims Two Weil-Known
Local Citizens During Week-end
Charles 0. Moore
Dies At His Home
Saturday Evening
? p
Prominent Business Man for
Quarter of Century
Funera^Sunday
Charles O. Moore, prominent bus-|
ness man and a leading citizen of
th s section. died at h.s home on
Williams Street here last Saturday
evening at 7:15 o'clock following an
in"'. , r ,ha" tW? W?Pks dllra
?>?n. In failing health for possibly
more tha na vf?ar Mr ' ^
t . na yedr> Mr Moore was
tukui .eilouslr Tirrosur lw? weeks
er^ .COnd,"?n was not c?ns,der
ed critical, howcrer. until just a
ahort time before the end, and his
passing came as a decided shock to
Umo 'T aMd h'S nUnU'rous 'nods
throughout eastern North Carolina
Angina Pectoris was given as the
immediate cause of his death.
The son of the late Thaddeus and
p . M;,<,n' bom p?,
County f?y.five yi>ars ago thp
>f last January. When a young man
he moved to W.lliamston and start
ed a grocery business that was des
^tion 1. tHe 'arKeSt ,n thi*
section, He operated a bottling plant
and some years later he constructed
;a laj^o stor^on Washington and
haughton Streets to care for an ex
Pandmg business. His climb up the
adder of success was marked by
| long years of honest toil, but in his
I Work and in serving h,s fellowman
I P fnund baPI'iness. While he will I
be missed by persons in all walks of
bfc. possibly Mr Moore will be miss
ed more by the less fortunate who
appealed for an received aid dur
ing depression periods or tunes when
"dverstty theirs The example
*t during h.s long business career
was noble within iteslf, one that
others, young and old, would do well
to adhere to. He more than met h.s
obligations to society, and every
worthy cause received his support
and while h.s attention was center
'?<1 on merchandising, Mr. Moore is
remembered more in the role of a
friend, leading citizen and church
man, one who found time to lend a
helping hand to those in need, to
share the burdens of his loved ones
?*nd friends.
Soon after coming to W.lliamston,
Mr. Moore married Miss Martha
Thomas Brown, a member of one
of this section's oldest families. As
understanding husband and a
thoughtful father, Mr. Moore fitted
well into the pattern of an ideal
homelife. He was devoted to his fam
ily and home, enjoyed the fellowship
of neighbors and other friends.
Mr. Moore divided his time with
farming interests, his - simple but
beautiful ideals bringing him joy
and happiness in whatever task he
chose for himself
During five terms, he served us a
member of Williamston's board of
town commissioners. He was regard
ed as a ranking official, and his ad
vice was heavily relied upon when
puzzling matters presented them
selves for consideration. As a mem
ber of the town's official family Mr
Moore is remembered as one who
guarded the rights and needs of the
JOSS fortunate, and saw to it that
even the least were heard and had
a voice in their town government.
The town experienced a marked
growth during his service as a com
missioner.
Although quiet and unassuming,
I Charlie Moore was recognized us a
foundation pillar in the local Chris
Ltlan. church. The call u, worship iva*
anxiously answer^!, and the teach
ings of his Maker were exemplified
in his daily walk through life. He
was a good man, and because he
passed this way this community is
a better place in which to live. His
race in life while completed ut an
early age was well run, and from
it citizens of Williamston and com
munity will continue to reap re
wards for years to come.
Besides his widow, Mr. Moore is
survived by two daughters, Miss
Margaret Brown Moore, of Raleigh,
and Miss Doris Marie Moore, of Wil
liamston. He also leaves two sisters,
Mr*. Beulah Britton, of Williamston
and Mrs. Slade Gray, of Washing
??
Funeral services were conducted
from the late home Sunday after
noon by Rev. John L. Goff, his pas
tor, and Rev J. M. Perry, of Rob
ersonville, a former pastor. Inter
ment was in the family plot in the
local cemetery, the large number of
mends trt attendance attesting the
esteem in which Mr. Moore was
held.
PASSES
C. O. Moore, prominent busi
ness man, died at his home here
last Saturday evening following
a brief illness.
Rail Traffic Loses
Heavily To Other
Forms Of Travel
Bus. Transportation Is Mak
ing Steady Gains to Of
fer Competition
The heavy traffic losses of the
railroads in recent years have re
sulted from the inroads made by
other competitive forms of trans
portation, according to the maga
zine Steel.
In 1918, private automobile traffic
was estimated at 38,000,000,000 pas
senger miles, while rail traffic was
calculated at 43,000,000,000 passen
ger miles. Last year, automobile
traffic amounted to 471,000,000,000
dropped off to less than 25,000,000.
000 passenger miles.
Steady gains have also been made
in bus transportation which today
is cofnparable with that of the rail
roads. Statistics slufw that busses
accounted for 21,000,000,000 passen
ger miles in 1937
Domestic airplane passenger trav
el last year was 477 million passen
ger miles; in 1926, this traffic was
only one million passenger nnles
Railroads still out-distance all
freight movement, but here, too,
motor vehicles, pipe lines and water
carriers have made inroads. In 1937,
the railroads accounted for 362 bil
lion revenue ton-miles, compared
with 450 billions in 1929 Trucks last
year accounted for 27 hillmn ^ ton
miles.
Pipe lines last year handled more
than 42 billion ton-miles, against 36
billion in I93B. 20 billion in 1032 and
36 billion in 1029.
The railroads complain billions-of
dollars have been spent through
government agencies in the past few
years for improving highways and
waterways, and have enabled their
competitors to take away from them
at least ;i billion dollars' worth?of
business annually.
Railroad taxes have advanced
from $106,000,000 in 1016 to nearly
$370,000,000 in 1938. Wages which
in 1936 were 45 per cent of total in
come are estimated to be more than
51 per cent in 1938.
The net result is that for seven
months this year, rail operations
and traffic showed a $183,000,000
deficit, compared with $55,000,000
iod of 1937.
Messrs. Albert Cook, Jack Man
ning. Roger Critcher, Shelbon flail*
Robert Cowan and Hardy Rose at
tended the football games at Dur
ham and Raleigh Saturday.
RECHECKING
Calling for a recheck of their
land measurements, some few
Martin farmers are learning
that they surveyors did a pret
ty good job in measuring rrop
lands this past season. In those
easeswhere the initial measure
ments were cheeked, the sur
veyors found 95 per cent to be
absolutely correct, and the var
iations were negligible in the
remaining five per cent, It was
learned.
Compliance work has just
about been completed in the
county, but a definite review of
the surveys is not yet available.
Miss Thrower Dies
At Her Home Here
Sunday Morning
?t?
Last Rites For Outstanding
Citizen Were Held?
Yesterday
Miss Harriet Kate Thrower, one
of this section's most remarkable
women and a highly respected citi
zen, died at the home of her niece.
Miss Clyde Hassell, on Watts street
here at 6 15 o'clock last Sunday
morning, her dea/h bringing to a
close a colo
and religious life c\f this community.
Sevontv-fnur years old, she had been
in feeble health for some time,
death coming gradually from ure
mic poisoning.
The daughter of the late John Hil
liard and Carolina Thrower, she was
born in Halifax County. At an early
age, Miss Thrower moved to Wil
Uamston where she was later to be
i come an active figure in the civic,
I educational and religious life of this
I community. Educated in the Wil
liamston schools and in private
schools of Baltimore, Miss Thrower
ably advanced the cause of public
education and taught for a number
of years. Possessed of noble ideals,
and interested in llie-better things
uf life, she "effected a~1marked in
fluence upon the well-being and
general advancement of Williamston
citizens for a long number of years.
Her Christian-like character gain
ed and held the respect of everyone
who knew her, and she enjoyed a
large friendship circle throughout
eastern Carolina.
Miss Thrower was associated with
the late W C Manning in publish
ing the Enterprise Her ideals be
came a part of the institution, and
her work as a newspaper womaft^
had far-reaching effect in the var
ious phases of community life for
yeais. Miss Sct'ap, as she was favor
ably known by her many friends,
took a bold stand for the better
things m life, and gave freely of her
time and moans in advancing those
things of lasting merit.
She interested herself to a great
extent in religious affairs, and was
a devout member of the Church of
| the Advent here for many years. No
ble ideals and noble deeds marked
her life, and upon them the spiritual
development and civic improvement
of this community have progressed.
While secretary to the superinten
dent of Martin County schools for
several terms, Miss Thrower aided
to map plans for a greater system
of education in her adopted county.
Her efforts were untiring toward
that end, and her farsightedness hAs
meant much to-hundreds of youths
who were 10 reap the advantages of
fered by an improved public school.
Miss Thrower's life was a shining
light for persons in various pursuit!
to follow. Her counsel was welcom
ed by leaders of the Democratic
party in which she was greatly in
terested. Affairs of community, state
and nation received her attention.
She Was interested in development
and progress, and anxious that
Christian-like ideals be made to
live in all movements. Few people
have ever exerted a greater influ
ence, an influence for the better
ment of society, than she did in Wil
liamston Interested in clean gov
ernment and a great believer in wo
man's suffrage, Miss Thrower offer
ed herself as the first woman candi
date for mayor of Williamston. No
matter what her fate was, she found
satisfaction when lasting ideals
were made to live in public institu
tions and in the lives of individual*
Hers was truly a noble life well
lived.
Miss Thrower is survived by one
brother, Mr. Latham Thrower, of
Williamston. She also leaves three
nieces, Miss Clyde Hassell, with
whom she made her home, Mrs.
Maurice M. Moore and Mrs. Robert
Li ggett. ail at Williamston, end two
nephews, Joe David Thrower, of
Williamston, and John H. Thrower,
of Littleton. A nephew, Lieutenant
John Walton Hassell, for whom the
Martin County American Legion
Post was named, was the only offi
cer from Martin County to lose hit
life in battle during the great war.
Funeral services were conducted
from the Church of the Advent yes
terday afternoon at 3:30 by Rev.
John Hardy, rector, assisted by Rev.
Edwin F. Moseley, former local min
ister now rector of the St. Mary's
church, Kinston. Interment was in
the family plot in the local ceme
tery.
?
Mrs. W. Dave Daniel, of Farm
Life, visited here yesterday.