Watch The Label On Your
Paper. Aa It Carriaa The Date
Your Subacription Expiree
THE ENTERPRISE
Advertiser* Will Find Our Col
umn* A Latchkey To Over 1.900
Homes Of Martin County.
VOLUME XLIII?NUMBER 71
ff'illiamtlon, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuettlay, September 3, 19-W.
ESTABLISHED 1899
Prices Advance As Sales Progress on Local Market Today
Plans Call For Reopening Of
Roanoke River Fill To Traffic
Within Ten Days or Two Weeks
Coordinate Forces
To Speed Up Work
On Repair Project
Working to Run Highway
Truck* Bark and Forth on
Fill Early Next Week
*
ADD TO EQUIPMENT
*
Bridge Forces and Truckers
in Friendly But Heated
Race To Make Show
Their efforts well coordinated,
highway forces working in a spirit
of cooperation are now making real
progress in repairing the vast dam
age done to the Roanoke River fill
by the recent high waters. With fav
orable weather, the forces are plan
ning to open the route to traffic with
in the next ten days or two weeks.
After getting off to a slow start
the early part of last week, the forces
have now been united in one big ef
fort to get the route open to traffic.
That they are making progress in
that direction is evidenced by the
regular reports received direct from
the scene of action at the end of each
day's work Making little outward
advancement during the first several
days, the forces yesterday were es
tablishing some sort of record. Six
ty-foot bridges, apparently built for
heavy traffic, were literally slung
into shape as the truckers dumped
a load of clay into the vast crevices
every two minutes. Similar progress
was reported on the Bertie end of
the fill, and while no rules and reg
ulations have been announced, it is
understood that both sections are
creating a race.
Yesterday, shortly before the noon
hour when the sun was bearing down,
bridgemen, including Engineer Jack
Younts and Captains H. L. Snell and
H. M. Holbert, were slinging the
first bridge across a gapping wash
out, carrying the workers nearer and
nearer their goal. Perspiration damp
ened the clothing on the upper part
of their bodies and the muddy wa
ters, still rushing across the right
of-way soaked their shoes and pants,
but the men continued at their tasks,
apparently realizing that there was
much work to be done but at the
same time showing a determination
and action that it will be done.
While the bridge forces were busy
a short distance ahead, ths truckers
were moving closer to them with
their dirt, each apparently eyeing
the progress of the other. Hie dirt
lurces arc appairimj nuiuma i
advantage over the bridgemen, but
the latter group hastily created a
monument to their handiwork yes
terday even though that handiwork
is strictly of a temporary nature. ?
Large shipments of dynamite ?
possibly $500 worth ? have been
placed on location, and while -the
reports of the firings made local peo
ple think Hitler was dashing over
the damaged road, they registered no
complaint for they were convinced
that progress was being made on a
project that means a great deal to the
economic welfare of this entire sec
tion. Suffice it to say that the dyna
mite is being used to a marked ad
vantage, especially is that true when
the crude methods calling for sledge
early days of last week.
The first piece of machinery,
pile driver, was placed on location
yesterday, and a drag-line or steam
shovel is being placed in operation
today.
Ramps are being built to accom
modate the highway trucks, and it
is possible that those vehicles will be
able to travel from one end of the
(Continued on page sla)
Town Authorities
In Brief Session
In a thirty-minute session here last
evening, the town commissioners ex
empted the American Legion from
taxation on the fair the organization
is to hold the first week in Octo
ber, read a letter from Mrs J. G. Sta
ton and ordered an investigation of
the double listing of property by W
C. Bunch for taxation. Mayor J. L.
Hassell was directed to prepare res
olutions expressing the appreciation
of the town for the services rendered
by the Red Cross and the Coast
Ouardsmen during the recent flood
In her letter, Mrs. Staton comment
ed on Main Street parking, the safe
ty of school children, stop lights, and
the street paving program which is
about to be swallowed up by Old
Father Time. The letter was filed
without comment.
Victims of Flood Eligible for
Little Relief Reports State
Victims of the recent flood in the i
rural areas can expect very little
if any direct aid. according to unof
ficial reports coming from a meet
ing of relief agency representatives
and heads of various governmental |
organizations in Jackson last Friday J
afternoon.
No provision is made by the re
lief agencies to extend aid to a far
mer who has lost his crops. Howev
er, the governmental agencies in well
established cases will show the vic
tim every consideration possible.
Outstanding loans will not be fore
closed. the government readily agree
ing to extend the time limit for an
other season. At the same time addi
tional loans can be made, enabling
the farmer to purchase feed and plan
preparations for another crop year.
Representatives from four coun
ties were at the Jackson meeting and
a detailed study of the flood damage
was made. Those victims who lost
their household goods or had their
homes damaged are to expect direct
aid from the Red Cross. However, no
aid can be given in a case where the
farmer's loss is centered on his crops,
it is understood.
No official report on the loss has
been filed by the Red Cross, but a
fairly accurate estimate on the crop
loss has been completed by the Farm
Security Office in the county, and
that agency is making every effort
to rehabilitate the victims, most of
whom are located in the island sec
tion of Williams Township.
County Schools W ill
Start Term Thursday
CALL FOR HELP
Flood sufferers are pouring
into headquarters of the Red
Cross regularly in search of
something to wear. Many of
these people had every bit of
their wearing apparel swept
away except what they had on
their backs. The Red Cross is
now making a plea to the pub
lic to bring in any old clothes
which they see fit to part with
in this needy cause. A very ap
preciative acceptance will be
made at the Courthouse head
quarters.
Building And Loan
Association Opens I
47th Stock Series
New Stork Will Be Offered in
Bruneli Bunk Building
Saturday
The 47th series of the local Mar
tin County Building and Loan Asso
ciation will open Saturday, Septem
ber 7th. Operating here for the past
26 years, the organization has been
instrumental in building more
-homes and assisting in the growth
of the town more than any other one
agency or institution. Hundreds of
homes have been built through the
building and loan association and
for the past three or four year* if
has shown more growth than at any
time in its history.
For the benefit of those who are
not familiar with the building and
loan system, or those who have nev
er purchased stock, the secretary,
Mrs. Vella Wynne, will be glad to
explain in detail the operations of
(Continued on page six)
THE RECORD
SPEAKS . . .
After reaching a low point
during late August, the automo
bile accident rate is now, accord
ing to past records, due to in
crease.
With the return of thousands
of children to the public schools
this week an added danger con
fronts the motorist. Only one
thing can offset that increased
danger and that ja the exercising
of a greater precaution. In the
name of the thousands of little
tots, an appeal is directed to all
motorists to use greater precau
tion in the operation of their
motor vehicles.
To date, Martin motorists are
doggedly holding down ? the
highway dead column, but the
number of accidents and the
number injured continue to
climb ever upward.
The following tabulations of
fer a comparison of the accident
trend: first, by corresponding
weeks in this year and last and
for each year to the present time.
15th Week Comparison
Accidents Inj'd Killed Dam'ge
1940 2 3 0 ) 800
1939 0 0 0 000
Comparison To Date
1940 81 42 2 $7800
1939 39 33 7 $8475
Thirty-Four Schools
Have A Total Of 201
Teachers This Year
More Than 7,000 (Children To
Fnroll in the Thirty
Four School*
a,
Vacation days arc fast drawing to
a close for more than 7,000 children
in this county, education authorities
having issued a call to work begin
ning Thursday morning. Thirty-four
schools?ten white and twenty-four
colored?will swing open their doors
to welcome the little folks for anoth
er session. Plans for the new term
stand complete today, the* office of
the superintendent announcing all
faculty positions filled and the foun
dation laid for a great year in the
county's educational history.
Members of the several school fa
culties are already reporting for duty
and working organizations will be
perfected at meetings of the princi
pals and teachers in the various dis
tricts throughout the county tomor
row?
Thirty-nine busses are being de
livered today for the transportation
of the little folks in the rural areas.
The several buildings have been re
paired and made ready for occupan
cy through a Works Progress Admin*
istration project, the office of the
superintendent stating today thatjijl
was in readiness for a smoot$r~and
successful opening Thursday.
School?officials?were?
optimistic in discussing the outlook
for enrollment figures. Two years
ago, an enrollment peak was pre
dicted. Coming from every nook and
corner, the little folks expanded the
enrollment count that year and du
plicated the feat last fall. While a
slight increase is expected in the
high school figures at Jamesville and
Oak City, the other schools are ex
pected to barely hold their own, and
? slight decline is ouite likely in the
primary and elementary department
figures. "However, we can't tell, but
it is my guess that the enrollment
(Continued on page six)
Man Drowns Near
Hassell Sunday
Martin County counted its fourth
drowning victim of the summer last
Sunday when Johnny Council, 23
year-old colored man, lost his life in
a pond of water at the old Salsbury
mill site, one mile north of Hassell.
The other lives were lost, one each
at Sweet Water Creek bridge, Tar
Landing and Hamilton
Council with his cousin, Zeno
Council, started swimming in the
pond shortly after noon Sunday.
Johnny waded twenty-five feet into
the water and stepped into water ov
er his head. During the meantime his
counsin had turned back when he
saw the water was too deep for him.
Turning his head, he saw the man
struggling in the water, but "he did
not call for help," Zeno was quoted
us saying. Unable to swim very well,
Zeno did not go to the help of his
cousin, but left the pond to seek oth
ers. The man's body was recovered
about an hour later.
Investigating the case. Coroner S.
R. Biggs found no evidence of foul
play and rated the drowning as an
accidental one.
Former Resident
Of County Passes
In Lynchburg, Va.
Funeral Service# Here Thurs
day Morning For Mrs.
Jennie Yarrell
Mrs Jennie Calhoun Yarrell. mem
ber of a prominent Louisiana family
and former resident of this county,
died at the home of her granddaugh
ter, Mr*. W. P. Sweeney, in Lynch*
burg at 9 o'clock this morning fol
lowing a long period of declining
health. Her condition had been crit
ical for some weeks, and the end was
not unexpected.
Funeral services will be conduct
ed from the Biggs Funeral Home on
West Main Street here Thursday
morning by Rev. S. J. Starnes. pas
tor of the local Methodist Church,
and Rev. L. C. Larkin, a former pas
tor of Rocky Mount. Interment will
follow in the old Yarrell family cem
etery. near Wilhamston.
The daughter of the late Dr. Dab
ney P. and Ellen Neely Calhoun.
Mrs. Yarrell was born on her fa
ther's plantation. "Peachland." in
Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, on June
6, 1857. Her father was a member of
the well-known Calhoun family of
South Carolina, numbered among
whom were the South's greatest po
litical leaders and orators. In the
early 1840 s her father moved to
Louisiana where he married and en
gaged in cotton planting and the gen
eral practice of medicine.
Mrs. Yarrell spent her early life
on the family plantation, attending
the Whitwofth School at Brookhav
en, Mississippi, when a young wo
man. Mr. Samuel Yarrell, scion of a
family prominent in the affairs of
this section, left Martin County when
a young man to make his home With
an uncle, Noah Riddick, in Louis
iana. He met Miss Jennie there and
in 1884 they were married. Soon
thereafter, Mr. and Mrs. Yarrell
moved to Martin County to live on
the old family plantation, near Wil
liamston. During their stay in this
county, three children, Emma Belle,
Douglass and Mary, were born. They
returned to Louisiana where Mr
Yarrell engaged in planting, but on
account of ill health which was ag
gravated by the unfavorable climate
of the Deep South, the family return
ed to the old family plantation near
here. Mr. Yarrell died there inv!914.
out* was uiau pit'icuca in urum uy
her three children, Douglass, a boy
of eight; Emma Bell, the young wife
of J. B. Harris, of Warren County,
and the mother of Mrs. W. P. Sween
ey (the former Miss Emma Belle
Harris), and Mary, a young woman.
Following the death of her hus
band, Mrs. Yarrell made her home
in Williamston for a number of
years, later going to live with her
granddaughter in Greensboro, and
then to Lynchburg where Mr Sween
ey is prominently connected with a
manufacturing concern. Three bro
(Continued on page six)
?
Hurt In Accident
Here Early Sunday
Mr. Don Best, tobacconist, was
painfully but not badly cut on his
arm about 12:30 o'clock Sunday
morning in an automobile accident
just west of the local town limits.
Best was riding with Dr. E. T. Wal
ker, who was answering a call at the
early morning hour. Dr. Walker,
driver of the car, started to pass Bud
Crockett and Oscar Anderson who
were accompanied by Misses Mury
Laughlin and Libber Ruffin, of Tar
boro, when Mr. Crockett turned to
enter the Weaver driveway on the
left.
"I glanced in the rear-view mir
ror and saw no one," Driver Crock
ett was quoted as saying. The crash
followed a second later. None of the
others in the two cars was hurt, but
the machines were damaged con
siderably.
Two Are Hurl In Auto
Accident Sunday Slight
?
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Williams, of
Williamston, were painfully but be
lieved not seriously hurt in an au
tomobile accident on the Roberson
ville-Stokes Road, near Roberson
ville, last Sunday night.
Mrs Williams had an ear almost
cut off, and Mr. Williams was bad
ly bruised on his forehed when their
car and one driven by W. H. Roe
buck crashed. Both cars were bad
ly damaged.
?
Car Strike? Tree, Driver
Badly Cut On Hit Forehead
Cleveland Mitchell, distributor tor
a Norfolk paper, was badly cut on
his forehead early yesterday after
noon when his car went out of con
trol just outside the town limits of
Hamilton and struck a tree. Mitchell
Aulandrr man, stated that he was
crowded off the road, that in trying
to return to the hard-surface, he
lost control of the car. It was esti
mated that damage to the car would
approximate $200.
Inferior Quality Holds Early
Price Average Slightly Under
Opening-Day Figure A V ear Ago
Farmers A re Wa rnedAgai nst
Illegal Sale of Leaf Tobacco
A fair warning is being issued by
government authorities against the
illegal sale of tobacco as the mar
keting season gets underway on a
big scale in the Bright Belt today.
The possibility of irregular sales is
considered flight in this county since
more than 99 per cent of the farmers
held their plantings in line with their
quota allotments. There are a few
red marketing cards in use, howev
er. and those who hold that type of
card will do well to abide by the
consequences imposed by the mar
keting act.
Unofficial reports state that quite
a few farmers down in Georgia are
now facing charges in the federal
courts of that state for allegedly
selling excess tobacco on a neigh
bor's card The wheels of justice are
already in motion there, and the out
look is not at all bright for those
charged with the irregular sales.
One report states that a few^tarmorsr
sold as much as 7,000 pounds to the
acre. It was also pointed out that'
the average production was in ex
cess of 2,000 pounds per acre
The terms of the marketing act
have been explained to farmers in
this county .and it has been well
pointed out that the neighbor who
offers to accommodate the grow
er who planted in excess of his allot
ment is subject to prosecution in the
courts and a reduction in his own
allotment So far. no excess sales
have been made on the local market
and few are expected
Commissioners Order
Delinquent Tax Sale
Past Due Accounts
To Be Advertised
In Early October
County iUimmixKionerH Until
Itrief lingular Sriwinn
On l.nlinr Day
?
The advertising of county delin
quent tax accounts was ordered by
the board of commissioners in reg
ular session here yesterday, the
schedule having been advanced one
month. In accordance with the order,
the delinquent accounts will be ad
ivertised in early October for sale
tin- first Monday in Novembei II
I was pointed out by one official that
| the sale was delayed until Decem
ber last year, but the delay was or
dered to offset an emergency caused
by the tobacco marketing holiday.
An incomplete review of the tax
books shows that the delinquent list
this year is hardly as large ;is it
was a year ago, that collections in
August were considerably larger
than had been anticipated.
The order, calling for the land tax
sales, was passed in an extra session
after the regular meeting had been
adjourned at 1 o'clock.
Falling in line with the general
business program in this section, the
commissioners did not observe Da
bor Day as a holiday, but with little
business on the calendar they were
able to complete the work and spend
the afternoon as they chose
The calendar was routine in near
ly every respect, tne hearing of var
ious reports taking up a greater part
of the time the board was in session.
Receiving a petition from a num
ber of farmers who are going into
the cattle-raising business on a small
scale, the commissioners agreed to
cooperate in fl movement for the
eradication of "Bangs Disease" lit
cattle. Under tin- agreement advanc
ed between the State Department of
the county will furnish the services
of a common laborer as its share of
the costs.
W. C. Bunch, Wiliiamston proper-1
ty owner, was allowed $10 y" taxes
doubly listed.
The commissioners recommended
that the State Highway and Public
Works Commission take over a road
in Jamesville Township, beginning
at a point on the Jamesville-Wash
ington Road, near Cedar Branch
Chureht and extending to?Hortrm
(Continued on page six)
Sheriff On 1/mg
Call To Georgia
Starting at 2 o'clock this morning.
Sheriff C. B Roebuck is on a long
jog to Georgia for a man who aban
doned his wife and children. Accom
panied by Deputy Carl Wynne, the
officer is expected home late to
morrow or early Thursday with his
prisoner Charles Exum, who has
been visiting relatives in this coun
ty, is accompanying the officers to
Moultrie where they will pick up
Leonard Moore and return him to
this county for trial.
Moore is said to have abandoned
his wife and children in 1936. Dur
ing recent months the deserted group
has lived in a warehouse at Everetts,
the county contributing to the sup
port of the almost helpless ones.
I.IliK \in HOI KS
Effective tomorrow, new hours
will be observed by the local
public library, lender the new
.schedule, the library will be
open to the public from one to
five and from seven to eiKht p.
m. each week-day, it was an
nounced by Mrs. J. t\ Cooke,
chairman of the library commit
tee.
Prominent County
Farmer Dies Near
Here Last Sunday
Funeral Service* llehl For
A Ion/a Rogers Monday
\ flernooti
Alonza Rogers, well-known Mar
tin County farmer and a prominent
figure in the Primitive Baptist
Church for twenty-five years or
more, died at his home in Bear
Jrass Township Sunday afternoon
jt 4:30 o'clock. Enjoying his usual
lcalth, Mr Rogers was taken ill
while attending services at Hayes
swamp Church the latter part of
July Upon reaching home he retir
jally worse. On Wednesday of last
week, there was some improvement
n his condition, and with the help
? f others he wiis a hie to get up fur
< short while ^I'he following day he
suffered a second stroke, and his
?ondition was considered critical. He
emained conscious almost until the
?nd
The son of the late King H. and
Wary Rogers, he was born in Grif
'ins Township (it) years ago. About
1908 he was married to Miss Martha
Virginia Revels, and a few years la
:er established a home in the east
Small Number Of
Aliens to Register
In Martin (.aunty
With its population nude up
almmt entirely of nativr stock,
Martin (iounty is expecting i^nly
a small registration of aliens,
Postmaster l.eslie T. F'owden
said today. "We might scrape
up three or four over the coun
ty, hut Just now I don't know
more than one and that one is
my mother," Mr. Fowden said
Mrs. Fowden. who is well in her
eighties, has lived in this coun
try for about sixty years.
In accordance with law all
aliens who have not taken out
citizenship papers are required
to register at the postoffice. It
is reported that there are two
or three German families in the
county, but it could not be learn
ed whether they had met the
American citixenship require
ments.
Thisie persons entering the
United States from other coun
tries and who have not gained
their rights of citiienship are
asked to register not later than
December 26th. Failure to do so
subjects them to a prison sen
tence and a substantial fine.
Local Mart Looks
Much Better Than
The Reports Sound
\>eraiie ('.limit* from Wiout
15 LettU Karly Toxin v To
Vltoiit I 7 Vl Noon
UAKktT IS III.1H kkl)
Little Opposition KxpreHMfl
ll\ Farmer* W hen (Qual
ity Is ('.oii*i<lere<l
- ?
Tobacco marketing on the Bright
Belt swung into a fast pace at nine
o'clock this morning with varied
claims crowding the wires a few
hours later, reliable estimates point
ing to an average in the neighbor
hood of 10 cents for the fourteen mar
kets combined. Inferior quality leaf
predominated on nearly every mar
ket, and that factor is apparently re
flected in the price average. How
ever, it is to be admitted that tobac
co prices in the Bright Belt are not
high, that there is some disappoint
ment being expressed among grow
ers. It has been declared, following
a roundup of the preliminary mar
ket reports, that Georgia prices and
possibly those on the border were
stronger than those prevailing not
on one market alone but on nearly
all of them in this belt today.
Sales were off to a brisk start on
the Williamston market promptly at
0 o'clock thLs morning, but early
sales, centered am some of the |mh?i -
est quality leaf on the floors, were
not very encouraging. Early sales
ranged, slightly above fourteen cents
per pound, but the price trend
strengthened within a short tune and
a price average of more than 17
cents was certain for the day. Prices
ranged from four to 31 cents, with
Dale Harper figuring prominently
on the high price side for the Amer
ican. Jack Buster was quite active
for the Liggett Company, and the
other buyers were m the thick of
the bidding when they could grade
the offerings There were certain
types of leaf falling in the class from
10-20 cents that attracted very little
attention Sales in tin- 20 30 <?*??>?
group wort* numerous
Farmers expressed little opposi
Vnni. and comparatively lew tags
were turned One farmer summed
up ih. market Ph a few appropriate
words when lie said that it looks bet
ter than it sounds. "Look at the qual
ity. and you can understand why the
average will fall under twenty cents
a figure we had all hoped for "
It is estimated that there are more
than 400.000 pounds of leaf on the
market here today that?the?fmd?
sale will possibly be cleared before
quitting time It is possible that the
block will be cleared tomorrow. Last
year, farmers in this section placed
slightly more than half a million
pounds on the floors opening day,
but the season was not as late as it
is this year Quite a few farmers are
still harvesting the crop, and as a
general'rule comparatively little of
the leaf has been made ready for
market. When these facts are con
sidered, it is apparent that the open
ing here this year is larger than it
was a year ago However, the visit
ing crowds are not as large as they
were in 1939. a conservative esti
mate placing the number of visi
tors hardly in excess of 3,000.
Quite a few Bertie farmers, old
friends of the market, found their'
(Continued on page six)
England ^ ill Get
Sixty Destroyers
According to reports received here
today, a deal has been negotiated be
tween the United States and England
for the transfer' of about sixty old
destroyers to Britain in exchange
for concessions of military bases in
the Atlantic. The deal was reported
to have consumated by representa
tives of the two countries this morn
Ing
Late information received from
across the Atlantic states that Ger
many is subjecting Britain to heavy
air attacks, that droves of 200 air
planes were pecking at various ob
jectives. England was said to have
offered u stubborn resistance.
Unrest continues in the Balkan*
as Rumanians resort to gorilla war
fare as they ure being driven from
Transylvania territory, ceded to Hun
gary at the direction of Germany.
Tile defense program is gaining
momentum in this country. TTie Na
tional Guard has been called, and the
universal military training bill la
expected to pass in the Houaa this
week.