Watch The Label On Your
Paper. Aa It Carries The Dote
Your Subscription Expires.
1 'J
rHE ENTERPRISE
Advertisers Will Find Our Col
umns A Latchkey To Over l.flOO
Homes Of Martin County.
VOLUME XL1II?NUMBER 98 ffilliamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, December 6, 1944). ESTABLISHED 1899
First Draftees Will
Enter Gimp At Fort
Bragg Next Monday
Draft Board Making Ready
For Heavy Calls Early
Part of Next Year
? The first draftees from Martiirf
County will leave here next Mon
day morning at 11:30 o'clock for
rort Bragg where they will be in
ducted into the army for a year's
training under the Selective Service
men- Leslie Worth Pierce,
of Williamston Route 3, and Ellis
Clifton Wynne, of Oak City Route
1. are to report to the local draft
board at 9:30 that morning for their
shipping" papers, including free
transportation, spending money and
credentials. Julian Albert Roebuck.
Williamston young man, and Paul
Cleveland VanLandingham, of Wil
1 lams ton Route 3. are being held in
reserve They will be called into
service immediately if Pierce and
Wynne are not accepted at the in
duction station. If Pierce and Wynne
pass the final examinations at the
Fort, no other white men will be
called from this county until after
the holidays.
Next Friday, Walter Louis White
commonly known as Lightning at
the local hotel <where he is em
ployed, and James Earl Hyman, lo
cal taxi driver, will move into camp
at Fort Bragg White, said to have
volunteered on weak feet, still has
hopes for a return trip ticket. How
ever, reports state that there are
able foot doctors in the army
Advised some time ago that the
call for additional men would be
delayed until after the Christmas
holidays, the Martin County draft
board slowed down its work for a
while, but increased activities are
now underway in anticipation of
heavy drafts beginning the latter
part of next January The distribu
tion of questionnaires is being step
ped up. a Late report from the board
stating that 730 of the forms had
been mailed, and that classification
work would possibly be resumed
within the next ten days or two
weeks, the date for the work pend
mg a second call for men.
More physical examinations are
being ordered, and six men, three
white and three colored are to re
port to the board's examining physi
cian, Dr. J. S. Rhodes, here next
Tuesday. About six men will be ex
amined each week in the future
The draft registration was in
creased by one this week when a
delayed registration form was re
ceived from Tom Pitt, colored, out
in Pocohontas, West Virginia. He
was given order number. 368-A Not
Including four volunteers below lin
age of 21 years, the registration for
this county now stands at 3,273
To date, eighteen men, eleven
white and seven colored, have vol
unteered their services This group
will delay the call for those men who
hold low order numbers. The names
of the late volunteers are Brownie,
Whitehurst, Dennis Harding Which
ard and Charles Elbert Bullock, all
white of Williamston Route 3; John
Slade, colored, of Robersonville
Route 2; James Oliver Andrews, and
Daniel Williams, both colored, of
Williamston. Boys under 21 years
of age are acceptable, but they must
have their parents' permission thir
ty days before they enter the army.
According to an unconfirmed re
port, the federal authorities are on
the trail of King Lemuel Council
colored, of Oak City. Council is said
to be delinquent in returning his
questionnaire. Council, improperly
filling in his questionnaire, was late
in returning it. The form was re
turned to him for correction. Receiv
(Continued on page four)
Local Police Say
Thefts Increasing
???
Shoplifting and package thefta
from parked automobiles and steal
ing. in general, are on the increase
here .according to reports coming
from police circles during the past
few days.
The first shoplifting case in re
cent weeks was reported to the
officers last Tuesday afternoon, when
Mary Gladys Anthony, young col
ored girl, bagged and started walk
ing out of a local store with a pair
of shoes. Her arrest cleared up the
misuse of commodities distributed
under the supervision of the wel
fare department. The girl's mother is
an inmate in a hospital. Hie girl
was supposed to get commodities and
carry them to her father, a few miles
from here. It was pointed out that
the girl was not living with her fa
ther, that she had carried no com
modities to him recently.
Early this week, rogues raided the
car of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fitzgerald
and stole clothing and household
goods. Mr Fitzgerald, manager of
the new dime store here, and Mrs.
Fitzgerald, were moving some of
their household goods, including sil
verware, here. Mrs, Fitzgerald stop
ped the car on the street only a short
while.
A short time ago. robbers raided
the bulk plant of the Standard Oil
Company and carried away more
than 100 gallons of cylinder oil.
Last Tuesday night, two automo
bile tires, belonging to Mack Rob
erson, were stolen here.
Christmas Cheer Drive to Slow Start;
Caitvass for Toys and Clothes Tomorrow
Early reports from the spon
sors today point to a gloomy
Christinas period for quite a
few little folks in this commun
ity. While a movement its worth
ha vine been fully established in
years past, is again being ad
the movement is recelvinf a neg
ligible support to date. As we
would shop early for Christmas,
it is just as important that we
assume our community obliga
tions early and since there are
quite a few less fortunate little
tots facing a forlorn Christmas it
is vital that the more fortunate
of the community realise early
the necessity of meeting as ade
quately as possible the situation
as it exists at this time.
After meeting with little suc
cess in their first canvass early
this week, the Boy Scouts un
der the direction of Professor 1).
N. Ilix. will solicit toys and old
clothing tomorrow morning.
Bundle up the discarded toys
and old clollilif that can be
spared and have them ready for
the Scouts- Mothers are asked
not to bundle up a single toy
that will rob her child of a sin
fir pleasure, but she is cordial
ly urged to bundle UP the dis
carded toy that will afford some
other little tot a world of joy.
The canvass tomorrow Is the last
one planned. Won't you help
make It a successful one?
To date not a single penny has
been contributed to the move
ment to carry a few bites of
food, a small portion of candy
and fruit into needy homes. The
Christmas Cheer idea Is not
based on an insistent solicitation;
it is based on a ready willing
ness on the part of the good peo
ple of this community to meet
a need that should be and will
be met. Don't wait for some one
to carry this urgent appeal to
you in person; mall or send your
cash donation to Kev. John W'.
Hardy, treasurrr, or to The En
terprise office where each dona
toin will be achnowledced and
placed in the proper hands.
Success of the Cheer Move
ment will be measured in ex
act proportion to the response
given It by the people?of the
town. Surely, the rood people of
Williamston will not stand idly
by in a crisis when the happiness
of little children is at stake. Lend
your support today to a move
ment that has meant so much in
the past and can be made to
mean so much again at this time
to both the less and the more for
tunate.
Remember your own child
hood. Recall the excited antici
pation that keyed you in the
days before Christinas and send
in your donation to make a
bright and cheerful Christmas
morning for some unfortunate
child. Surely, such an art will
add to your own happiness at
Christmas time.
Greek Drive Against
Italians In Albania
Meets With Success
British Bomber* Haiti Import
ant 4Center* in Germany
Anil Occupied France
Little Greece, aided by England,
continues a successful march against
superior Italian forces in Albania,
late reports stating that Porto Ed
da, important Italian base, had been
captured by the valiant Greeks and
that all of Southern Albania had
been wrested from Mussolini's men
Following the continued reverses in
his Greek campaign, Mussolini to
day shook up his army staff and" re
placed an acknowledged command
er with a little-known soldier. Mus
solini, reasonably quiet on the hap
penings in Greece and Albania dur
ing recent weeks, now promises his
people that his new commander will
turn the tide and mop up Greece. He
also promises his people that the
drive to Suez will be resumed and
carried forward to - completion in
due time.
Unconfirmed reports now indicate
that Great Britain will launch an
offensive against the Axis line-up
through Greece, and that such ac
tion will swing into line Free Fernch
headed by Weygand. commander ol
the French forces in Africa. Greek
successes in Albania have renewed
British hopes for an ultimate vic
tory, and Britain is continuing a de
termined stand against a compro
-ftmecl peace. Yesterday, the British
parliament voted 341 to 4 againsl
peace negotiations.
Suffering tremendous losses or
the high seas. British shipping scored
early today when a German sea raid
er, disguised as a merchantman, en
countered the British patrol in the
Atlantic. The ship, after firing one
or two broadsides, fled, late reports
stating that she was being trailed
by British men of war.
Brazil today reported an_ anti
British sentiment among its people
when it was claimed that England's
patrol had been stopping and search
ing Brazilian ships. %
Possibly as a reprisal to the raidi
made on Coventry, Birmingham anc
other English cities in recent weeks
the Royal Air Force unleashed one
of its most devastating attacks of the
war against Dusseldorf, importan
armament center in Germany, dur
ing all of Wednesday night. Othei
centers were raided in Germany, ir
occupied territory and at Turin ir
northern Italy.
One of the chief targets of the
Dusseldorf attack was the big Man
nesmann Rohrenweer armanen
works employing 6,000 men night anc
day to provide shells and othei
equipment for the Nazi war machine
the air ministry said.
Quays, dockyards and coal gai
plants also felt the fury of the Brit
ish bombs.
Tension is said to be growing ii
the Far East again, one report stat
ing that a mobilization of Americai
police is likely in Shanghai.
TAG SALK SLOW
The sale of automobile license
tags for the new year is advanc
ing at a snail's pace, Miss Hul
dah Koberson, clerk at the bur
eau in the Willtamston Motor
Company building here, said to
day. Warned that there will be
no time extension for purchas
ing and displaying the tags, au
tomobile owners are certain to
create a big rush during the last
few days of this month.
Hp until this morning the lo
cal bureau had sold only {00 of
the 1941 tags. The annual sale
ordinarily exceeds 5,000.
Plan Program For
National Defense
The nation's defense program, now
underway on a tremendous scale,
! will be buttressed by the training of
| Martin County youths and thousands
j of others in ull parts of the nation in
the various trades vital to the suc
cess of the program.
Representatives of the vocational
departments in this State are meet
ing with about fifty vocational
teachers from this and surrounding
counties here today to work out
plans and methods for advancing a
training progarm for youths in this
territory.
I Under the new defense porgram
as planned by the Federal govern
ment, several millions of dollars
have been sel aside to train young
i {men in their own localities in the
trades of metal work, carpentry and
machinist.
The vocational teachers will not
I be the actual instructors but they
will be advisors and assistants. The
j local school authorities will select
? some man in the community who is
' capable and qualified to teach these
( trade. They will assist in the pur
I chase of tools and materials, and will
be paid so much an hour by the
government.
All young men between the ages
i' of 17 and U4 are eligible Tor train
ing in this program. The requirement
! is that these young boys sign up for
i this course which will meet five
times per week for three hours daily
or a total of 15 hours per week.
Martin County will likely have
three or four of these training cen
ters. All young men who are inter
ested in taking advantage of this
course are asked td contact the sup
erintendent of schools, a principal of
schools, or any of the vocational
teachers.
Sweet Potato Market Is
Overshadowed By Peanuts
Crowded into the background by
record peanut movements, the lo
cal sweet potato market is reporting
little activity at this time. A few of
the tubers have been delivered here,
but farmers are working night and
day to get their peanuts on the mar
ket before Christmas, leaving the
sweet potatoes to be moved next
January and February.
Williamston in Spotlight As
Big Peanut Marketing Center
Complete reports arc not avail
able Just now, but it is (airly certain
that Williamston will maintain one
of the largest peanut markets in the
world this season. That's saying a
great deal, to be sure, but old hands
on the market state that deliveries
are going forward on the largest
scale they had ever known. Deliv
eries this week will range between
73,000 and 85.000 bags, an all-time
peak having been reached yester
day when more than 15,000 bags
were handled by the combined mar
ket. Nearly half of the deliveries
were handled by the Growers' Pea
nut Cooperative at its two houses
here. The open market is not main
taining the pace established a few
days ago, but the goobers were said
to be moving in volume in those
channels.
Increasing their forces and rush
ing the work aa rapidly aa they
could, receiving atationa here yes
terday could hardly avoid a glut in
the market. Deliveries were being
made by farmers from twelve or
more counties, some of them travel
ing from points beyond Wilson.
Heavy deliveries moved out of Ber
tie until the rain at noon, but as the
river fill temporarily blocked the
movement from that territory far
mers from other sections filled in
to keep the market in a rush during
the remainder of the day. Activities
were again at a high peak today, and
warehouse operators started pack
ing the goobers near the roof to
make additional room. However,
farmers are assured that ample stor
age facilities are available to handle
the remainder of the crop.
It ia generally agreed that the pea
nut territory is producing its great
est crop.
fled Cross Chapter
Exceeds Its Quota
For The First Time
Total of $-153.81 Reported
To Murtin County Chap
ter Chairman
For the first time, the Martin
bounty Hed Cross chapter this year
xceeded its membership quota, ac
rording to a virtually complete re
>ort fil d this morning by Mrs. Jos.
Eason, chairman of the roll call
n Williamston for the Junior Wo
nan's Club. Possibly a few member
hips have not yet been turned in,
>ut in an accounting yesterday the
;uin of $453.84- $53.84 in excess of
he quota?had been placed to the
iccount of the National Red Cross.
Hearing the urgent calls from a
offering humanity over a world
vide front, members of the William
son Woman's Club under the direc
ion of Mrs. Eason handled one of
he most successful drives ever re
jorted in the history of the local
ted Cross chapter. They, along with
)thers, did an able work, and as the
>rganization extends its humane aid
;o the suffering surely the campaign
?rs and the members and contribu
ors will have much satisfaction in
mowing that they did their bit in
naking that aid possible. Few, if
iny, have been thrown off their fi
nancial balance by the aid extended
he Red Cros, and it is heartening to
hose who stili hold an interest in
heir fellow man to know that an ^
?ble canvass has been made, and to
x?int out that much credit is due the
funior Woman's Club, its roll call
rhairman, and the canvassers who
carried the appeal of suffering hu
nanity into the homes and business
daces and on the streets.
Special credit is also due the col
ored citizenry who advanced a wili
ng and liberal aid. Headed by Nora
Cherry Slade, Maude Alexander,
Vlattie Ormond, Mary D. Smith, Em
tm Harvey, Estelle Rodgers, Bea
ricr Rodgers, Hester Moran, Nellir
ilade and E. J. Hayes, the roll call
imong the colored citizenry netted
>104.17. The amount reflects the
gratitude of those members of the
colored race who were aided dur
ng the August flood here.
According to an unofficial report,
our communities contributed $453.84
is follows: Williamston, $410 29;
famesville, $23.81; Dardens, $18.49;
Farm Life, $1.25. Bear Grass, as fai
ls it could be learned, has filed no
complete report, but according to
jne source of information, 00 cents
lad been contributed there. Other
lowns in the county were canvass
ed at the direction of the Roberson
yille chapter authorities.
Memberships and contributions,
C
(Continued on page four)
Cotton Balloting
In Belt Tomorrow
Although a small vote ia being
predicted over much of the belt,
the cotton referendum tomorrow ia
expected to get the approval of far
mers. The greatest danger facing the
program juit now is the farmers' in
difference. Very few are againat the
program, but no overwhelming num
ber ia interested enough to record a
vote for it.
In thia county hardly fifty farmers
attended the aeries of meetings
scheduled for a discussion of the
referendum and the 1941 crop pro
gram. In two districts, Williams and
Hassalls, not a single farmer visited
the meeting places and no sessions
were held. Bear Grass reported 15
it its meeting, and Oak City had 18
farmers present there. As few as two
Dr three were present in other dis
tricts,
A year ago, Martin County voted
791 for and two against cotton mar
keting quotas The belt as a whole,
voted about 530,000 to 51,000 for the
program. It is now estimated that
less than 500 votes will be cast in
this county tomorrow. Two years
ago, more than 1,500 farmers par
ticipated In the referendum.
superior Court To
Open Short Term
Here Next Mondav
'ifteeii Criminal (Wh Are
Oil Docket; Judge Bur
nev To Preside
One of the Wrgest criminal dock
ts for December in recent years
all be placed before the Martin
lounty Superior Court when it
pens a one-week mixed term here
ext Monday morning. Scheduled to
loar the criminal docket and try
ne or two civil cases, the court or
inarily nears adjournment at the
lose of the first and certainly by
liddle afternoon of the second day
[ext week, the tribunal will likely I
old its longest December session in
pcent years
While there is a murder case and
ne or two other charges on the ;
ocket that will likely attract much
ttention, the calendar carries mosth
^significant cases.
Judge John Jay Burney, of Wilm
igton, is scheduled to return and
reside over the session.
The following cases had been
laced on the docket early today:
The year-old case charging Gus
'orrest with non-support is still on
he docket, the defendant having
ppealed from a judgment in the
ounty court. The case was contin- j
led twice in the higher court.
Appealing from a judgment in the
uunty court. HrlUary Ward Spruill ?
s to be tried next week for alleged J
runken driving
Ralph Duggar, appealed from the
he county court, and will face a |
harge of violating the liquor laws
The case charging Raymond and I
lam Powell with the murder of '
Villi** Walter Mitchell in Oak City
ast August is slated for trial next
peck, the September grand jury
laving returned a true bill against
he two men- Sam Powell was ncv
r arrested. His brother. Raymond. |
s at liberty under a $500 bond.
Richard Lee Girvin is charged |
vith forging a check endorsement
lirvin has admitted forging the sig
tature of W L Stotesbury to the
22.04 check after he was question
d by a State Bureau of Investigu- |
ion representative and Sheriff C B
luebuck. ?
N. S. Nichols and Tom Jones are
acing the court for alleged highway
obbery. They are charged with
tolding up and robbing Ollic Bland
n Williams Township last Sunday
vening
Mizelle Bellamy and Kenneth
rtoore are charged with carnal
;nowledgc. No probable cause was
ound at a preliminary hearing as
0 Bellamy, but probable cause was
ound as to Moore .and he is book
el for rape.
. Alliie WuliHce. mere youth with |
1 crime record bordering on tin
ensational side*, is booked for trial
?n four counts He is charged with
ueakmg into and robbing the Pur
?I Pilling Station here of $2 cash, the
Voolurd Hardware Company of two
ifles, a pistol and ammunition; Dav
s Pharmacy of $32 in cash und the
[rammar school building of a few
ans of fruit. In the last case he is
ilso charged with attempted arson.
A community organization per
ected for the larceny and sale of
obacco w+B take-up much of thr
?ourt's time. Robert Small. Herbert
ind I^oley Purvis and Richard and
lim Bennett are involved in scvei
d cases charging the larceny and
ransportation of tobacco stolen from
rarmers Robert Everett and Victor
Champion, Poplar Point Township
rarmers. The stolen tobacco was
/alued in excess of $500
Boston McNeill, alias James Allen,
s charged with stealing 10,000 Cam
?1 cigarettes valued at $02.50 from I
he Atlantic Coast Line Railroad |
Company at its station in William
iton.
Few, if any, civil cases will be
ried at the term next week
Work On River Fill l?
ProgreBtinfi Steadily
Despite recent rains, work is proc
essing steadily on the Roanoke Riv
?r fill here and traffic is moving ov
?r the road without much delay or
hfficulty.
INewly Elected Judge
Handles First Docket
CASH BASIS
v
The Martin C ounty Recorder's
Court went on a cash basis this
week, the authorities express
in* the opinion that leniency
while deserved in some cases
had beeu a costly policy. Where
a judge tried to accommodate a
troubled defendant and main
tain hope in his fellowman, it
was pointed out that those ac
commodated often boasted how
they left the county holding the
bag. so to speak.
Costs, amounting to $118.95.
were collected at the session last
Monday. One defendant, taxed
with a $25 cost, explained she
had only $15. At the direction of
the court, the defendant was or
dered jailed until the full amount
was paid. The entire sum was
paid and the defendant never
entered the jail.
Increase In Number
Marriage Licenses
Issued In November
Tvv.-iilVi.im- Coupltw \larrv
In Tlii* Count. During!
Tin- I'usl Month
The Martin County marriage li
cense bureau had its busiest month
of the year in November when li
censes were issued t ? twenty-nine
couples, twenty white and nine col ,
ored. While the number of licenses ,
issued during the period was the
largest for any month so far this
year, the issuance was just about
normal as compared with the bur
eau activities for November during
the past several years.
In November, 19.13, after Koose
velt had been m the White House a
few months, the number of marriage
licenses, unusually .small up until
that time, bounced t<> a record high
of 44
Licenses were issued in the office
of J. Sam Getsinger to the following
couples last month
White
Fred Wallace Andrews, of Tar- |
boro, and Mary Elizabeth Grimes, of i
Williamston.
Dallas Guy Cox and l>ns Virginia j
Jackson, both of Plymouth.
Richard Setnz Corey, of Williams |
ton Route 1. and Bessie Mahell liar !
dison. of Williamston. J
Coy Aiunzo Bullock and Louise
Wliitehurst, both of Pitt County.
Marsliall Cherry. Jr.. of Williams
ton, and Maggie N Manning, of
Robersonville
William A. While. of Hasscll, ant!
Nealie Rogerson, of Williamston.
James Hyman Clark, of Williams
ton Route 3, and Marjorie Terry, of ;
Willaimston Route 1
Lean Earl Beach, of Williamston 1
Route 3, and May Bow en, of Wil i
liamston Route 1 ______ I
?Eugene B. mmeTson and Kdua Karl j
Kdmondson, both of Robersonville.
Curtis Whitaker, of Williamston
Route 3, and Ruth Mizelle, of Beau
fort County.
James Willie Knox and Martha
Lucille Lynch, both of Hamilton.
Linwood Knox and Pauline Dail,
both of Hassell.
John Wheeler Cooper, Jr., of
Windsor, and Rachel Rogerson, of
Robersonville
Lyman Collins Johnson; of Rocky
Mount, arid Ruth Taylor Edwards,
of Williamston Route 2
William A Leggett, of Williams
ton Route 3, and Virginia Jackson,
of Williamston Route 2
John M Leggett, of Robersonville |
Route 1, and Sophie Jane Leggett,
of Williamston Route 2
Ellis E. Chesson, of Williamston,
and Marjorie M. Ward, of Rober
sonville
Macion Clyde Ward, of Williams
ton Route 2, and Lennie Cherry
(Continued on page four)
Judge Coburn Holds
Tribunal In Session
\fter Dark Monday
Court Co?l? Mum lt< I'uiil Or
Klsc. Jllll^t* Klllfn At
lli? F ir?l Sr^ion
??. ? -
Presiding over his first term of
the Martin County Recorder's Court
Monday, Judge W H Coburn meted
nut what was described as a fair and
just brand of justice. Tempering his
judgments with mercy, the recently
c for ted judge made it Quite cleur that
tiie laws of the land will be upheld
by his tribunal, and that the insti
tution will be run on a cash basis,
or else -the else possibly meaning
jail.
The courts delayed -by a late ap
pointment of Solicitor D E John
son. convened at 10 35 o'clock Mon
dqy.Jtjprning. Judge Coburn having
subscribed to the oath of office more
than an'hour earlier. Calling his
first cssr. Judge Coburn settled down
to his task, apparently anxious to
protect the falsely accused as well
as condemn those who would flout
the law. The Wheels of justice turn
ed slowly but steadily until well af
ter dark with the exception of a
short time for lunch.
Unable in a single day to clear the
docket of 24 cases that had'accumu
lated during a three weeks' idle per
iod, tiie court was very agreeable
when it came to granting continu
duces. Wlnle continuances will be
granted in the future, it is believed
that justice will not be dragged down
to defeat by uncalled-for delays. Ten
of the 14 cases'were continued, some
for the State and some for the de
fendants
Next Monday the court will give
over its quarters to Judge John Jay
Burney and his higher court, but
it will be back meting out more jus
tice the following Monday
Proceedings in tiie court
The casecharging Johnnie Peel ?
with non-support, was continued.
In the case charging Hen Biggs and
John Robert Lawrence with violat
ing the liquor laws, the court upon
the suggestion of retiring judge, H
C). Peele, found Lawrence not guil
ty Judgment as to Biggs is not to
be pronounced until Monday. De
cember 16th.
Will Modica, the Robersonville
colored man who prefers a term of
the roads rather than a year's train
ing in the country's armed forces,
got thirty days in the camps in the
case charging him with iin assault
with a deadly weapon Modica plead
ed guilty of simple assault, the sol
icitor accepting his plea.
Bryant Moore, charged with an
assault with a deadly weapon, plead
ed guilty of simple assault. The plea
was accepted and he was fined $20
and taxed with the cost.
The case charging Elmer (L ay w ith
non support was continued for the
defense counsel. Reports state that
Gray heat his wife unmercifully
11 Fh IT "Tie learned that she had im
dieted him for non-support
The case charging Samuel Wil
liams with bastardy was continued.
James Cole pleaded not guilty in
the case charging him with reckless
and careless driving, the court con
tinuing the action for judgment un
til January 6, 1941
In the case charging Thurman Hy
inan with larceny it appeared to the
court that the property involved was
worth more than $20 and it was re
manded to the J. P. courts for a re
hearing and for probable cause to
be bound ovec..tM the superior court.
(Continued on page four)
Offer S.u.OO For
Best Decorations
Liberal prizes, valued at $55 00,
will be given for the best holiday
decorations here this Christmas sea
son, Billy Clark, secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce, said today.
While the contest will include four
groups, homes, yards, public build
ings and stoics, no prizes will be
awarded the winning store decora
tions. They will be judged, however,
and recognized.
Four pirzes will be awarded in
each of the first two groups, as fol
lows: first prize, $10; second prize,
$5; third prize, $3, and fourth prize,
$2. Prizes will be trade coupons
which will be acceptable in nearly
every store in town Prizes in the
third group covering public build
ings such as the town hall, water
tank, courthouse or agricultural
buildings, will be offered in cash,
$10 first and $5 second
Considerable interest is being re
ported on nearly all fronts, and it
is now certain that the ole town will
be glitteringly attired before Christ
mas.
Judges will be announced and the
date of the judging will be deter
mined at a later date.
The town Is turning on its approx
imately 1,000 vari colored lights this
evening, and the spirit at the Ma
son will be advanced in lea pa and
bounds during the next two wtaka.
[jOtton and Peanuts Boosting
Income in County This Season
That the reduced income resulting
!rom a curtailed tobacco acreage will
re offset by greater receipts from
bumper cotton and peanut crops is
tow an almost certainty, according
lo incomplete reports coming from
recognized sources. It is now con
lervatively estimated that the cotton
crop will exceed 5,000 bales in the
-ounty this season, that the income
From the lint will be at least a quar
ter million dollars greater than that
received for the crop in the county
last year. Up until the middle of last
month, farmers in this county had
ginned 4,175 bales of cotton as com
pared with 203 bales ginned in the
corresponding period, a year ago
Income from the cotton crop in the
county this season will approximate
1250,000. Already several thousand
dollars have been put into circula
tion by those persons picking the
cotton, and that is certain to result
in improved trade conditions.
Complete reports are not avail
able at this time for the peanut crop,
but first estimates point to a crop
just twice the size of that produced
in 1939. The current crop, estimated
at 400,900 bags, will gross the pro
ducers approximately one and one
third million dollars. Possibly one
half of the peanut crop has been
moved in this section, and a greater
portion of the remainder will have
been moved by Christmas or early
January The marketing activities
now underway on a big scale are
certain to boost trade conditions in
this territory.
Aside from these two crops and
tobacco. Martin farmers are selling
more farm produce this year than in
some time with the exception of
sweet potatoes. The potato crop is
short, but bean, meat and other al
lied produce sales will add a sizable
amount to the farmers' income this
r?