North Carolina Newspapers

Watch the Label on Your Paper. As It Carries the Date Your Subscription Expire*. THE ENTERPRISE Advertiser* Will Find Our Cat- I tonne a Latchkey to over 1,880 J 1 'j Homes of Martin County. 1 r VOLUME XL1II?MMBKR 8 If illiamslon, Martin County, Korth Carolina, Friday. January 26. IV HI. ESTABLISHED 1899 Largest Snow Of The Season Falls Here Wednesday > Rain, Snow, Muonshinr And Smifthint* Reported. In Brief Period With the mercury leaning heavily on th^ low sid*s the- weather cut some unusual capers and in a brief period here this week. Measuring nearly one ^nd one half inches, rain fell hare last Tues day night. Shortly before midnight the moon was shining and hundreds of stars dotted the heavens About two hours later, the elements start ed covering the earth with a white blanket. The work was slow at first, the keeper of the weather bureau stating that possibly six inches of snow was sacrificed before a foot hold was gained. Out of the approx imately eight inches of snow that fell, the weather station recorded only two that could be counted On Wednesday morning the sun broke through the clouds for a brief per iod, but the snow continued to fall for quite a while. While this section was digging from under those two inches, other areas in the State were covered by a foot and one-half of snow In a few northern areas and also inland sections of Minnesota and the Da kotas. towns were snow locked with transportation systems blocked tight. No immediate relief from the cold assaults is promised, the weather that pom.ihly olc man winter would loosen its tight grip about next Monday or Tues day. Whipped by strong winds out of the northwest, the snow formed slight drifts here, but in the Oak City sector, drifts were deep enctagh to hide a grown man. The weather records Show that while the mercury stood at 28 de grees during the snow storm last Wednesday morning, it was down to 14 degrees at the same hour on the same day in 1936 But the recent reading was plenty cold especially when it is compared with the mcr cury activities on January 24, 1909. The mercury reached a high of 72 degrees in this sect inn on that day, thirty-one years ago According to predictions coming from Martin County farmers the snow has about snowed out for this winter. Claiming that for every fog in August there'll be a snow the fol lowing winter, the farmers counted about seven fogs. Weatherman Hugh Spruill has recorded five snows to date. The first inkling of a hard win ter in these parts t ame from Farmer j Jordan Peel last summer. Mr. Peel | was in town one day and said that he | had found a matured sheep bur. He explained that when the bur matur ed that early, a severe winter ordi narily followed. Well, apparently there is something to the signs, and if snows continue to fall a check on the number of fbfes back in August, will be in order Farm Operations Are Based On Size of Tobacco Acreage I One of the serious troubles with agriculture in this State is trace | able to the failure of "getting across" the soil conservation?pro gram to the individual farmers, ac cording to a statement made by 'E. Y. Floyd, chief state executive offi cer for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, during a visit to the county this week. Floyd admit ted that possibly ht; and other lead ers in the farm movement had not accompl^hfdjthat they.should have accomplished in pointing out the great value of proper farm prac licet. During recent years. Martin Coun ty farmers and those in other coun ties. too. have looked at the farm act as an agency for advancing various types of payments and dishing out allotments for various crops. Inter est was centered on how many acres a farmer could plant and how much "come-back money" he could get. Of course, there were minor arguments as to who was entitled to the pay Farm leaders, thus week pointed out. that the value of the program is centered around soil-building prac tices and a program calling for in dependt-n* f.?rm uniw Reports state that quite a few tenants have been cut adrift in this county by land owners who figured the extra fam ilies were not needed because the tobacco acreage had been materially decreased. "If those landlords would direct the tenant to raise a garden, and use him at a reasonable rate of pay in thinning timber tracts, clear ing ditch banks, repairing buildings and assisting in the hundreds of oth er duties on the farm that are gen erally neglected, the owner would profit and the tenant could live." it was pointed out. PASSES The picture above is a likeness of John L. Bailey, well-known f?nnty citizen, who died at his home near Everett* a few days ago at the age of 83 years. Mr. Bililfy wis held in high regard by hundreds of people in all walks of life throughout the county. Second Hatllvr Killed In C.ounty This Winter Apparently the dangerous rattle snake is changing its habits and is becoming active the year around Re ports coming from the Jamesville sector state that Farmer H. G. Mod 1 in killed a sizable rattler there a few days ago while preparing ground for a tobacco plant bed. The plot of land had been..plowed and harrow ed several times, Mr. Modlin stat ing that the snake had been badly bruised and battered but that it could rattle and sing Discusses Situation Facing Leal Farmers J. Con Lanier In Conference W i t h Washington Croup Statement Released Following This Week ? An encouraging note is sounded in a review of the tobacco situation re leased this week by J. Con Lanier, Pitt County man and former execu tive of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, following a confer ence held in Washington this week with farm 'leaders arid government officials. Mr. Lanier's statement fol lows: "I conferred with several mem bers of Congress this week in refer ence to the perilous position of flue cured tobacco occasioned by the re cent action of Great Britain in pro hibiting further imports at this time. I found that North Carolina's dele gation in Congress was taking a leading part in efforts to solve this acute situation, and nothing is be ing left undone by them to recover the British market for the flue-cur ed tobacco growers. casualties of the present war. Our crop is chiefly an export crop. Only about 6ne-third is normally consum ed In domestic markets, and there fore the very life of the flue-cured tobacco industry is dependent upon outlets to foreign markets. The per manent loss of the English market would be a major economic disas ter to the whole area. "It must be remembered that Eng land at this time is engaged in a life and death struggle, and the friend ship of Turkey and Bulgaria is vital (Continued on page six) FKOZKN A marked drop in water con sumption is being reported these cold days by the local municipal plant. According to the suporln tendent, local people are using hardly T25.006 gallons daily against a normal of more than 150,000 or about 65,000 gallons below the uaual summer-time consumption. Water pipes have frozen here in numbers, and the customers have been getting along with a scant supply in many rases. A marked increase In con sumption is anticipated when the weather moderates and pipes turning In a big way. Damage Caused By Storm In County A few trees were upset, commun ication lines were thrown out of or der and an old gin house on the Ham ilton Koad caved in during the bliz zard that struck this section last Tuesday night and early morning, but no great damage resulted in this Reaching a velocity estimated at 50-80 miles an hour, the wind kept many awake, but property was held intact. The cold weather exacted consid erable damage to state highways and roads, preliminary estimates placing the loss at nearly two million dol lars. Business progressed slowly dur ing the period here, and In some sections it was at a virtual stand atlll ???-??? The potato market virtually clos ed down here, and comparatively few peanuts have been moved dur ing the past few days. Judgment Recorded In $1,000.00 Damage b Suit Here Tuesday Kotale of Frank Keys Paid $350 liy tlir Miiirlirnil (loiiMriirlion Firm A judgment in the $1,000 damage suit brought in the Martin County MnyrrtTTr Ctmrt'hy William Kl*y?. administrator, against W B Smith and tin4 Muirhead Construction Com pany. was entered in the records here this week, the plaintiff" receiving a total of $350 in full settlement?of the claim The costs of the action were taxed against the defendants The suit was brought as a result of the killing of Frank Keys, near Hardens, last December 14 Keys,! about 50 years old. lived near James ville. He had started to visit in the Piney Woods .section of that town ship and caught a ride on a Camp bell Grocery Company truck Get ling off the Campbell truck near Hardens, Keys walked around the back of the machine and into the path of ihe Muirneaa construction Company truck driven by Smith Heath followed almost immediate ly Investigating the accident, high way patrolmen attached no legal blame on Smith, the truck driver, and its answer to the complaint, the defendant company pointed out that while it denied any legal obligation it did recognize a moral responsi bility, and the Judgment was reach | ed without the formality of a trial, I according to Clerk of Court L B Wynne. ? Keys was the father of a large number of children. He had farmed in the Jamesville section for a num her of years, Musicians Will Live Concert Next Week Messrs Herbert Bird, violinist, and . Donald Peery, pianist, will appear in a concert in the Woman's Club J hall here next Wednesday evening I at 8 o'clock, it was announced today : Mrs. Nellie Phillips Studt, professor of piano and organ in Peace College, Raleigh, will also appear on the pro gram which is being sponsored by the club's music department Mr. Bird* a recent graduate of Obertin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio, Is now making his liuim.1 111 Raleigh wlic'ic lie lias daws |n flu, /?ulli.flj.y f.rtH .r. hlu prl vate studio. Mr. Peery has studied extonnivi ly in Ohio jnd Ninth Cat olina. They havp a pea red frequent ly on radio programs A small admission fee of fifteen and twenty-five cents will be charg ed to defray the artists' traveling ex penses and to promote music in the public schools. Owners Lining Up To List Property Owners, lining up In fairly sizable numbers at various times during the day, are taking their turns in list ing their holdings with List-Taker H. M Burras In the county commis sioners' room in the coutrhouse here. With only four more days in which to complete the scheduled work, the list-taker anticipates an increasing business as each day approaches. The rush comes after a period of little activity during a greater part of the month. Possibly 78 per cm of the property owners have already listed, and the list-taker will have to work night and day to complete the schedule by the end of next Wednes day. Late lilting carries a penalty of )1, and when a property owner does not list at all he is subject to prose cution in the courts in addition to having his property values doubled. Several people were prosecuted in the county last year for not listing. No definite trend on property val ues is available, most of the list-tak ers stating that the lists will remain about the same as they were a year ago. Young White Man Is Facing Serious Charge In Courts! E , ! n?iuiU W Mini' ( li.ir?i <1 Willi| \ll?'iii|>t To kill ami Koli 1 l.ucal Mcrcliaul j Donni? Wynne. youns county white man who left a wide crime trail through several Sections of this county during the past few weeks, hud his troubles multiplied yester | day morning when Sheriff C B | Roebuck served a warrant on him charging "an assault with a deadly weapon C- a truck or automobile crank?by secreting himself in the rear foot of Charles Davis' ear and by waylaying him with intent to kill and rob" Wynne, released un der a $1,000 bond last Saturday in connection with the alleged rob bery of several filling stations in the county, was detained only a short while yesterday, the sheriff accepting a temporary bond for his appearance before Justice J. L Has | soil here this morning for a prelim inary hearing in the hold-up case Wynne, once recognized as a prom ising .young county citizen, is alleg ed to have attacked Charles Davis dry good merchant on Washington Street here, early on the morning of December 24 Davis reported the hold-up attempt to local police, but action was delayed pending an in i vestigation. Formal charges were in | corporated in a warrant issued just i about the time Wynne fell into the hands .d IK.. Uvy for alleged rob l bing of several filling stations. About 1 30 or 2 00 o'clock on the morning of December 24, Merchant Davis, after closing his business, went to a filling station cafe, near the warehouses, for u late meal While talking with acquaintances there. Wynne, who was nearby. to return to his store, that he had forgotten to lock |us safe According to the story told by bav'is. the Wynne boy left tlu' filling station and se creted himself in the hack seat of the Davis car. A few minutes later. the merchant got in his car and drove to his place of business just to the rear of the Atlantic Hotel build ing on Washington Street lie--start ed to get out of the car when Wynne raised up and directed a blow with the engine crank at his head, the blow went wild and Davis was struck on the shoulder, Irtit not bad ly hurt After missing his mark with the engine crank, Wynne is alleged to have Jumped out and knocked Davis to the sidewalk. A scuffle fol lowed but when Davis yelled so loud that police, several blocks away, heard him. Wynne is said to have run. Rushing to his aid. police said they found Davis ulpiosl white from fright. Davis, for several reasons which he later explained, did not tell the officers whom he thought ha(f attacked hun No developments were reported in the case until the early part of this month when Davis ap peared before the county sheriff and later swore out a warrant for Wynne's arrest. Davis told officers that after regaining his composure he returned to the filling station cafe, saw Wynne's car purked there, but did not see Wynne Davis did not say how much money he hud on his person at the time of the rob bery attempt, but he did say that he had the receipts from a good busi ness enjoyed the day before E. S Peel has been employed to assist the prosecution, and H. G. Hor ton was retained yesterday by the defense in the case. Wynne is charged along with his brother. Bill Wynne, and two color ed bbJN. LilUIUiy Pi'inbei Ion and Ixir ' loo Wiggiu.c "'til?nibbing III'1' Standard filling station here and the Standard Station in Plymouth. He is also alleged to have robbed a fill ing station in Griffins Township and one in Everetts. Farm Program l.s Offering Farmer A Sizable Income Martin County tarmrri, re gardless of embargoes, weather conditions, war or whatnot can, through compliance with the soil conservation program, earn a fairly sizable income In 1940, ac cording to J. C. Broom, Agricul tural Adjustment Administra tion representative, who ad dressed a two-day farm meeting here this week. On a farm of 150 acres, the far mer may earn 1257.80 under the Ten acres of tobacco, 8100; eight acres of cotton, 838.40; 20 acres of peanuts, 825; five acres of potatoes, 921 ? a total of 9184.40 which represents the amount derived in soli conser vation payments provided for soil-depleting crops. The soll buildlng practices will add 843.40 to the amount, and by partici pating In a forestry program, the farmer can earn 930. boosting the total to 9257.80. The county agent's office or agricultural committeemen will be glad to explain the plan. Farm Group Advances Tobacco Relief Plan Secretary Arnold Addresses Farmers Here Wednesday Strict r.iiforcniM'iil of Leaf IVimlU Is I rpMl IU Farmer* High tension following the an nounced embargo on eastern North Carolina tobacco a few days ago is being relaxed to some extent in the minds of growers as farm leaders and legislators undertake the task of relieving the serious situation fac ing the 1940 marketing season In an address to Martin County far mers here last Wednesday evening, E F Arnold, secretary of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, outlined a program now be ing pro posed to relieve the situation. Just back from a series of confer ences with agricultural authorities, congressmen and Statex Department authorities in Washington, Mr. Ar nold said that the problem ts receiv ing every consideration possible, and that he honestly believed the out look. while not any too bright, is not as bad as many would picture ll to be. -'There's a sympathetic feeling for the flue cured tobacco grower in done in the field," Arnold said, pointing out that the thousands of farmers must place their appeals be fore Congress, as a whole, and give the program support back home. He had reference to the referendum that will be called some time-next sum mer for control of the 1941 crop it Corporation this week. Farm Bur eau authorities were led to believe that a system for handling export purchases similar to the one in ef fect last fall would >bo arranged pro vided Congress takes no drastic ac tion to curtail the Commodity Cred lt Corporation activities. The peanut program is tied up with the same agency program. Arnold added Looking to the credit agency for handling the export situation, the Farm Bureuu representatives in Washington this week turned to members of Congress in an effort to get a reshuffle of the cards and bring tobacco farmers' income up?to parity or place it on an equal basis as that enjoyed by other farmers. "We are justified in asking Con gress to take 20 per cent of the $5H0, 000,000 tobacco tax money and help tin- tobacco farmer.' Arnold de i lured. A hill is being proposed along this line by Congressman Coo ley. The enforcement of the ten-cent pound penalty on excess tobacco plantings was discussed at length in the meeting here this week The far mers, while recognizing the rights of those refusing to participate in the program, were unanimous in their views as to a strict enforcement of the penalty provision. The farmer, planting in excess, should be requir ed to pay the entire penalty from the (Continued on page six) Schedules Special Picture In County The children of the public schools of the county will be treated-to_? rure privilege tin- week of February 5 !) when tii<* Rev 7. T. I'leohoff re sumes his schedule of picture screen ings with u snoUdhf,/ ni iihh leet of sound film on the Ni?w VorW Wnrld'M Fait The show will constat of the fair picture and two reels under the name of the "Pay Off" and three reels entitle^ "The Deneficient Rep robate." The show will run approxi mately one hour. If any of th? schools of the county which arc at the present time not in cluded in this schedule would like to have this picture shown to their pupils, please advise Rev Z T. Piep hoff. Following is the tentative sched ule: Jarnesvllle school, Mondhy, the 5th, at 1:30 p. m ; Oak City, Tuesday, Feb. 0, 10 a m ; Wilhamston Color ed school, Wednesday at 1:30 p. m.; Williamston High School, Thursday, Feb. 8, at 9:45 a. m. and the Boar Grass school, Friday at 9 30 a m ??? Low Mercury Readings Are Reported I,orally With no otf&jal readings avail able, local weather-obser vers liavr reported varied accounts on the cold weather front during the past week. The mercury has ranged well below the 10-degree mark several morn ings, one report stating that a read ing was recorded just a fraction of a degree above zero at one point in the rural section, near here. Several others said their thermometers re corded readings as low as seven and eight degrees. There was Tittle d ifferenae in the readings recorded here this morning and last Saturday. Seldom has the mercury traveled higher than 40 degrees during the period. Often Forums Tit llr Odd Weekly II v Form lliireuu Recognizing (tie value of a fuller understanding of (lie na tional program and of agricul tural problems confronting: the individual farmer, the Martin County Farm Bureau Federation this week planned a series of weekly forums for minute dis cussions of the program and the multitudious problems facing the farmer. Similar forums are being held in numerous states to a marked advantage, one re port stating that as many as 1, 5(H) farmers on an average are attending the meetings in some centers. "These meetings have meant thousands of extra dollars to our farmers down in my county in Alabama." John Ford, farm agent, said at a meeting here this week. The first of the weekly meet ings will be held in the agricul tural building next Thursday evening at 7 o'clock. The meet ings will last for ""'y ftnf hn"r staffing piomptl) at 7 ana end ing at K o'clock. Weather Interrupts School Schedules All Martin County schools were closed by frigid weather conditions Wednesday, local committeemen in several districts holding hurried meetings to order a three-day holi day Four plants, Williamston, Jamesyille, Farm?Life and Hear TJrass?reporting no si/able snowfall, were quick to reopen, reports from the office of the county superinlen dent stating that the attendance fig ures yesterday ranged from 7(i to 90 per cent of the enrollment lists No complete reports on attendance figures are available for today's ses sion Trucks serving the four schools operated on schedule yesterday with one except ion. Delayed schedules are anticipated just as soon as the wea ther ' breaks" and leaves the roads | filled with mud and water Colored schools, located in walk ing distances of their pupils, con tinue to operate, meager reports maintaining that the attendance fig' ures are . considerably below nor mal All schools plan to resume aetivi ties next Monday, the office of the .superintendent announced this morning Short Docket in the ('otmty Recorders Court On Monday jiiftpr ft. O. Peel Handle* Five Ilaws and Adjourn* Court Before Noon A short and uneventful docket rn.uk.'d t?regular session of the Martin County Recorder's Court last Monday. Judge H. O. Peel called five cases and adjourned the court be fore noon. Solicitor Don E Johnson prosecuted the docket which- was recognized m one of the smallest ever before the court in the month of Jan uary. Proceedings in the court are, as follows: Charged with larceny and receiv ing. Albert Stone pleaded not guil ty At the conclusion of the State's evidence, the defense advanced a motion for non-suit which was grant ed by the court. The case charging Oliver Whaley with non-suport was nol pressed with leave Charged with bastardy. William Gurkin failed to answer when call ed. and the court directed that pa pers be issued for his arrest. Aaron Lanier, charged with an assault with a deadly weapon, was adjudged guilty over his plea main taining his innocence and Judge Peel sentenced him to the jail for a term of sixty days to be assigned to the roads. Brought into court, under a capias for failure to a pear for judgment, ?charged with 'cted to pay $5 a month during the next twelve months for the use and benefit of his child. He was also directed to pay the costs of the case and reap pear at the end of twelve months for further judgment. Bond was requir ed in the sum of $85. Hehry~Balt Dies Suddenly Tuesday Henry," Ball, about 62 years of age. Township some time during last Monday night. He was found dead Mrs. Ball who detected the coldness of his body and summoned neigh bors Ho apparently died from an heart attack. For years bridgekeeper at Wash ington, he moved to this county about three years ago and lived near his daughter in Cross Roads Township. He first married a Miss Osborne of this county and three children sur vive that union. Their names are, Mi Karl Mobley, of Cross Roads; Mrs. Charles Whitehurst, of Beau fort County, and Joe Ball, of Flori da Some time after the death of his first wife, he married again, his sec ond wife surviving him. Funeral services were conducted from the home of his daughter Wed nesday afternoon by Rev. J. M. Per ry, Robersonville minister. Interment was in the. Osborne cemetery in Cross. Roads Township. E. Y. Floyd Speaks To Farm Committeemen Itllt I IIDAV IIAl.l. Chairman Pete Fowden this _m<LtlUii& - announced?arranger ments complete for MHinff th" President's Birthday Ball in the hixh school gymnasium here to nix lit. Reports from the advance ticket sale are encouraxinx. and the chairman is expecting an un usually large crowd. The x.vm will be heated for the event which gets underway at 10 o'clock and runs until 2 tomorrow morninx. Paul Moore and his State Collexe orchestra will play for the dance. Proceeds will go Into a united fund for the prevention of in fantile paralysis. Lions Club Holds Interesting Meet ?*? The local Lions club held an in teresting meeting last night at the Woman's club. Some twenty-five Linns and visitors were present for the regular supper get-together. The meeting was presided over by tin1 pnaldt'ii!, Mi. Charles Leimmtl The entertainment program consist ed of songs, music and an acrobatic act by three members of the cast of the showhoat now anchored in the Roanoke River near the Standard Fertilizer Plant. Talks were made by Mr. Irving Margolis and Mr. Leonard. Special emphasis was given the work among the blind people and children with defective eyes. This work is one of the main projects of the local Lions Club, and it has done outstanding work along this line. The local club is an auxiliary of the Uona Interna tional. Advises Farmers to Produce Domestic Types Of Tobacco I t Sirt'Hnt'n \ it I of Adopting Practices Suitable To This Section Musing his remarks on the present outlook for tobacco next fall, E. Y. Floyd, Agricultural Adjustment Act administrator in this State, advised farmers to lean toward the demes ne types >A leaf in carrying out their farm program this year. It is appar ent, judging from Floyd's statements, that the production of domestic types of tobacco offers the greatest hope fur tlie farmer this fall. But that was not the backbone of the advice advanced by the farm specialist who stressed the value of making our own living, seeing that every tenant has a farm and adopt ing those farm practices that are best suited to the individual farmer and to the county and section, as a whole. Extending his remarks In connec tion with the production of domeatic types of tobacco, Floyd stated that normal home consumption call! for around 375 to 400 million pounda of tobacco. Without the huge surplus stocks now on hand, the British em bargo would not be hanging as a sword over the head of eastern North Carolina farmers. While no farmer can set out to produce a type of tobacco with any degree of certainty, the farm load er pointed out such practice* as prop er fertilization and apaclng of plants. "The planta should be spaced, from 22 to 24 inches apart in rows rang ing from three feet and (Continued on peg