Watch The Label On Your
Paper. Aa It Carriea The Date
Your Subacriptian Expiree
THE ENTERPRISE
Advertisers Will Find Our Col
umns A Latchkey To Over 1.800
Homes Of Martin County.
VOLUME XL1II NUMBER 103 ff'illiamtlon, Martin County, \orth Carolina, Tunmlay. Itrrember 2 /, /'> 10. ESTABLISHED 1899
Farmers Applying For
Soil Benefit Payments
Nearly $150,000 To
Be Distributed In
County Next Year;
Claim To Bonefit Payments
On Poamitrt Forfeited Bv
Martin Farmers
Arrangements are being made in
the office of the county agent for
paying out nearly $150,000 in soil
conservation payments to Martin
County farmers early next spring,
T. B. Slade, assistant to Agent T.
B. Brandon, stating that quite a few
applications had been filed by farm
ers, both landowners and tenants,
and that applications would be re
ceived as rapidly as possible after
the holidays. Application forms for
more than 600 farmers have already
been prepared in the office of the
county agent, and 100 of them have
been signed and sent to the State of
fice in Raleigh.
Briefly stated, Old Santa is now
busily packing his sack and making
ready for a special trip tu Martin
County farm homes in lute February
or early March. While the payments
come from a thoughtful govern
ment, they are not gifts by any
means. The special payments only
partially offset the inequality be
tween the prices farmers receive
and the actual cost of producing
crops. Then, too, he earns the pay
ments by following certain soil
building practices, enriching the
land for those who will follow in
the next generation.
Going back to a tobacco control
program this year, Martin County
farmers are increasing their soil
conservation payments from $52.
000 received from the 1939 crop, to
almost $150,000 for the 1940 crop
year. Martin farmers broke over the
traces when it came to the peanut
crop and forfeited virtually every
claim to benefit payments provided
for peanuts. A few farmers will re
ceive conservation payments on
their peanut crops but, as a whole,
Martin County has forfeited claim
to around $27,000 that could have
been earned by peanut farmers.
According to Mr. Slade, the to
bacco farmers will receive approxi
mately $95,000 in parity payments.
This income is figured at the rate
of a cent a pound, the poundage be
ing based on allotments rather than
actual sales, it is understood. Cot
ton payments, figured at the rate
of about $4 an acre, will amount to
approximately $25,000. In addition to
that amount, cotton farmers will re
ceive approximately $25,000 in price
adjustment payments.
The peanut payments are figured
at the rate of about $1.35 an acre.
To get the payments, landowners
and tenants must sign the applica
tions. The proper forms are being
prepared in the office of the county
agent, and farmer are being notified
direct when to report and affix their
signatures.
Distributed to farmers in early J
spring, the payments are of great
value in financing operations for
many farmers, and serve to offset
the seasonal decline in business ac
tivities for the agricultural sections.
Santa Ringt The Bell On
Man'? Head Here Saturday
Robert Harrell, pitying well the
role of Santa Clau* for Washington
Street merchants here last Saturday
afternoon, rang a Christmas bell ov
er the head of Bill Raynor. Hie blow
was not a damaging one, but served
its purpose. Raynor was said to have
kept pestering Santa and ignored
kindly warning for a greater part
of an hour.
Coming in on a Norfolk bus, San
ta was met by a crowd of nearly
100, Including quite a few grown
ups and the mayor.
TWO-DAY HOLIDAY
Kwonsiderinjs their announc
ed plans, Williamston merchants
and other business operators
have now agreed on a town
wide two-day holiday. Closing
late Christmas eve, the stores,
business houses and offires will
not be reopened until Friday
morning, giving the employees
a two-day holiday. The action
was taken following the circu
lation of a petition Monday
morning.
An holiday, almost air-tight,
will be observed here Christmas
day. Thr filling stations even
will remain open for only three
hours, 9 to 12.
Two Cars Turn Over
During Week-End
No one was hurt and no great
property damage resulted when two
automobiles turned over near here
during the week-end, one on the
Washington Road early Saturday
night, and a seeond on "the Ever efts
Highway, just this side of the. coun
ty home, Sunday afternoon.
Jimmie Watts, just home from
school, lost control and the car he
was driving turned over on the
Washington Road about 8 o'clock
Saturday night. The car ran off the
concrete and went out of control as
the driver tried to turn it from the
soft shoulder. The young man was
not hurt and the car belonging to
Ernest Cox was not badly damaged. |
Going out of control just this side
of the county home Sunday after
noon, the car belonging to Stallis
Morgan, Elizabeth City Negro teach
er, turned over twice. The driver
and occupants were slightly bruised
and damage to the car was estimat
ed at $100
Holiday Crowd* Larger
Than They Were Y ear A$o
?
Holiday shopping crowds in Wil
liamston are described as being much
larger than they were a year ago.
Early reports state that heavy pur
chases of serviceable merchandise
are more evident than they were a
year ago. It is apparent also, that
old Santa is packing a full sack for
the little folks.
The holiday trade is being sup
ported by- a bumper peanut crop.
67k
eaee o/t
Son Asks Court To
Set Aside ^ ill Of
William H. Rogers
< .lai 111- Itrolltcr Obtained Sijt
iiaturi' hv l iuliir ami lm.
J llaywood Rogers, son of the
lutt- William Henry Rogers, has ap
pealed to the superior court of this
county, asking that the will of his
father be put aside. The caveator
alleges that the signature of his fa
ther was obtained by Frank Lester
Rogers, the propounded by "undue
and improper influence." The will
dated in November, 1935, gave the
caveator $5. a brother, Minga E.
Rogers $5. and five' grandchildren
$50 each, the residue of the estate,
including the homcplace inherited
from his mother, Henrietta Rogers,
and containing 130 acres, to his son.
Frank Lester Rogers.
The caveat, recently filed in the"
courts, read, in part, us follows:
"J. Haywood Rogers, Caveator,
respectfully shows to the ronrt the
following facts:
"That on the Bill day of February,
1940, W. H Rogers died in Martin
County, North Carolina.
"That thereafter Frank Lester
Rogers presented to the court a pa
per writing purporting to be the last
will and testament of the said W
H. Rogers, and, as the caveator is
informed and believes, the said
Frank Lester Rogers alleged and
alleges that the will was and Is the
last will and testament of the said
W H. Rogers, and procured the
same to be admitted to probate in
common form as the last will and
testament of the said W H Rogers.
"That Frank Lester Rogers has
obtained from this court letters of
administration upon the estate, of
the said W. H. Rogers
"That the caveator is the son of
the said W. H. Rogers, deceased.
"That the paper writing was not
and is not the last will and testa
mint of the said W 11 Rogers, de
ceased .for the reason, as caveator
is informed, believes and so alleges,
that the signature of the said W II.
Rogers thereto was obtained by said
propounder hv undue und improper
influence amounting to duress upon
the said W. 11. Rogers in that said
will was prepared at some place
other than in the presence of the said
W. H. Rogers and its contents not
explained to him to his thorough
understanding
"That the said paper writing was
not and is not the lust will and tes
tament of the said W. H. Rogers, de
ceased, for the reason that at the
time of the execution thereof and
continuously thereafter until his
death the said W. 11. Rogers did not
have the capacity to make and ex
ecute a will for and in that he was
not of sound mind und disposing
memory at and during the said
time."
Announce Service* In The
Loral Lhritlian C.liurch
Bible school, 9:45 a. m.
Morning worship, 11 a. m Sub
ject, "Running for the Prize."
Young People's service, 6:30. Sub
ject, "We Fniish to Begin."
Evening Service, 7:30 p, m Sub
ject, "A New Road."
Junior Choir meets 7:15 and the
Senior choir meets at 8:00 Monday
evening.
Mid-week service Wednesday,
7:30 p. m. Subject, "The God Who
Dared To Be Man."
<;ruktin<;s
v
Appreciative of the patronage
and friendship they have enjoy
ed during 1940. local merchants
and other businevs operators are
extending cordial greetings to
the people of this section through
the little messages appearing
elsewhere in this paper.
Wtthotrt^ 4hese^H4reelings.. the
Christmas season would some
how or other appear a bit emp
ty. Read the little messages and
know that the local merchants
and other business men are in
terested in your welfare and
hope for you a joyous season this
Christmas time.
County Registrants
To Get Reports On
Recent Blood Tests
llt'iillli Officer Slides !\Varly
2(H) !\Vw Cam'k of Syphilis
Koiiml in C.ouiiiy
By OR. JOHN WILLIAMS
Martin County Health Officer
From the two thousand blood sam
ples we took of the draftees we have
the laboratory report on eighteen
hundred. About ten per cent of them
are reported as positive, many of
them reported as dyubtful or unsat
isfactory.
We are requesting all parties in
terested to call at the health depart
ment after Christmas for the re
ports.
Those whose report is positive,
doubtful or unsatisfactory should
have another blood test made at
once as a check before any definite
conclusoins are drawn.
If after a recheck the positives
run ten per cent it means that we
have found in this survey more than
two hundred new eases of syphilis
in this county. Many of these men
have families which this survey will
lead to an examination ??f their
blood ' ?
No matter how many eases are
found. Martin County is well pre
pared to take care of all cases who
are not financially able to have the
services of -a private physician.
The reports \y 111 be made in all
confidence. No report will be given
to any messenger and it is particu
larly necessary that all positive or
doubtful cases have private intei
views with the health officer.
Robber Holds Up
Station Operator
Henry Harris, operator of a fill
ing station on the road leading off
(J S Highway 17 at the Old Mill
Inn, was held up and robbed about
10 o'clock last Friday night at his
station. The rubber, believed to have
been a colored man and wearing
i mask, walked into the station and
ordered the station operator to hand
>ver his money. Working a hit slow
n getting his money out, the station
operator was advised by the robber
o hurry. A grandson, fearing for the
itation operator's life, was quoted |
is saying, "Doggone it, grandpappy, (
vhy in the world don't you hur
?y?"
The robber lifted $4 in cash off
he station operator and left.
Sheriff C. B Roebuck and Patrol
nan Saunders investigated the case,
>ut no clue has been found that
vould lead to an arrest.
Hitler Ami Company
Are Definitely On
The Defensive Now
^ , ?? 1
l)r\astatine Raid U Mmle On |
Hritisli (lit> ll\ Nazis
Ijisl Night
Scoring decisive victories in Africa
and Albania, England and her gal
lant ally. Greece, are now believed |
to definitely have Germany and
Company on the defensive Hitler,
jeering United States efforts to aid
Britain in the past, is now getting
angry, and the mad man indirectly
has suggested that War be declared
on this country Japan, warning the
United States to use precaution, is
said to be studying our program of
aid to England with the possibility
that she will declare it equal to
aggressive warfare and actively join
Hitler
It is generally believed that Eng- .
land has passed one great crisis, that
the outlook this Christmas time is J
far brighter than it was a year ago.
Kussta has approved the resistance
offered Mussolini, and Germany has
been warned to change her bearings |
as they relate to the Balkan coun
tries,
The war, however, is still going |
strong on land, sea and in the air.
England and Germany have been
trading telling blows in the air, a
report Monday afternoon stating
that the industrial city of Manches
ter, England, had suffered a devas
tating raid. It was described by some
as being more devastating than the
one made on Coventry some time
ago. Many people were killed and
large sections of the city were re
duced to ruin. Blows were- traded
by the British airmen and costly
damage tolls were exacted on Ger
man centers
In Africa, the British forces are
just about to wipe out tin- Italians.
Early Monday. 40,000 Italians bad |
Veen trapped in Libya and reenforia
ments were being . rushed to the '
front by the British to take over '
he important base of.Bardia' Hitler's
ittempt to relieve the hard-pressed
Italians in far-off Africa by bomb- '
ng men, women arid children in '
England apparently had no effect ?
>n the plight tTie Italians are how"
hiding themselves in
The gallant Greeks continue then
narch against the Italians in A1
>ania. The sun is shining in the A1 1
>anian mountains following days of
mow and storms, and the Greek
drees are again seeing the light and 1
naking progress against their
vould-ln' captors.
In tlie Far East, Kngland and Ja
)ui\ are mailouvermfr1v a n t ag
?ous positions, reports stating that | '
itrong fortifications are being cm
(?red by the British at Singapore.
A four-man defense commission
las been named in this country to
peed up the program in this conn
rv, and a 24 hour schedule is lu
ng predicted. President Roosevelt I '
oil I discuss the present emergency I v
n a fire-side chat to the nation next '
iunday evening at 9:30 o'clock.
In a fifteen-minute address Mon- 1
ay afternoon, Winston Churchill, 11
Ingland's prinlb minister pleaded
/ith the Italian people to overthrow *
lussolini and stop the river of blood
lowing between the two nations,
fhurchill assured Italy that it would
e torn to shreds if it insisted on
urrying on a struggle that the Ital- 1
in people did not want. He traced a
le cause of the war to Mussolini |C
(Continued on page four) ? f?
Tax Assessors I Man for
Property Revaluation
WOVT III I MM.
(Mkt measured in lorn; days,
the IfMO Christmas shopping
season is now to he measured
only in hours. Ami although it
won't he long now until the day
of days comes into being. let's
remember the home merehant
during our shopping activities in
the few remaining hours.
Reports from the carriers
clearly indicate that goods even
at this last minute, are moving
into Williamston stores in large
quantities hourlv
Robbers - Thieves
Velive In Seel ion
Several roli|>erite> and attempt, d
robberies and* number ..| petty
thefts have been n polled til tins . t
ion djjVjjhg tee. lit d.i y A Idling
datum operator in Beat (it as
ihip was held up, attempts
.wo filling stations on the
on Highway and eveia
hefts were reported in the
luring?the'?week-end The?t
obbery of the Jaim s\ die liquor
do re remains unsolved, off ice i tat
ng that they nr. of ihe opinion that
lie same part it's continued tin Li
vork last week at Crewell IvLele
? liquor si ore was robbed. A t..te in
<obel\sonv tile Via lobbed K'l iday
ught.
The theft nt gasoline fioin tat u.i
cported m Williamston Sunda.v
norning,?the?tlneve-. draining?-det
anks and throw trig the tank caps
iway Numerous bundles have I urn
Hatched from eat parked tin local
treels. Police in other eountn ale
(?porting a stealing wave, centered
nostly oh petty theft
Clouds, stolen from th. I, B Wil
iams Company store in Kulin.-nn
die Friday night were recovered
?y a warehouse watchman, Fd Bui
?ck, win n he saw Ihe lohher cat
ylng a sack on his hack late that
ight
tin lata \\ rll Hareivvd
llrra 1.11 si Friday \iylil
The Christmas C.nitata, directed
y Mrs Louie I1 Martin, was well
rceived by a fair-si/.cd and highly
ppreciative audience in the Baptist
!hurch last Friday night The pro
ram was described as the best of
?red by the local choral club.
Ileal Property To
He 17isie<l \t (>()
Percent Of Value
r? NX ill Star I Work on
\?>w Kcvaliiatinii Karly
\?'\l Month
Moling n: i j''int s> ssion with tin
t'i iiii'ii11.~->sioiu? r>, Mart in County prop
lei'ty assessors Monday made plans
im- handling a complete revaluation
, 11 ;11! real i state, in the county, the
I work to get underway on Thursday,
.1.mo,n x l! Briefly " stated the re
| v aluation program will be based on
i actual -ale.. Villm^witb the listings
i i,, gj[| -a. 111 ? ? I k ? at 00 per cent of
! that -figure, the assessors to use
"common 1 rise m handling the
work
| The meeting, held in the court
huiiit: autUktf+WH, w-a.i opetied with
,i prayer hv Farmer Charles L,. Dun
lel, who... led lUvinc aid in handling
the 'revaluation vvqrk and in effect
ing a just ami equal listing for all
property owners
I, I'eirv i hairnian <>1 the board of
commi ioiu r-. stated that the pur
pose of the order calling for a re
vuluatiun' of all properties was not
ili. ai ily to raise the total assess-.
? d valuation but t" smooth out ex
i. tnig incqnalit i? "It these inequal
.ities can be ironed out, I believe the
total li Tings will show an increase,"
Mr Berry added Continuing. he
sirtrlr "Fa111u rs ha ve about all they
ea11 earry, hut we don't w ant to un
iluly burden anyone, and 1 want you
in. n to study tie problem and give
il i 11ous thought As for personal
property, -ome have given in fair
h t Imt othci have gotten by just
a low as th? \ could," Mr. Perry said
in stressing the need for equalizing
tlie tax burden rather than trying
to a lie i the total valuation.
Tax SuperVisoi S. H. Grimes, stat
ing that be knew there was room
foi improving the assessment struc
tuie m tin- county, pointed out there
wen inequalities as they,existed be
iwc ii town lops and between in
dividuals, hut no specific cases were
cited livery effort to eliminate the
inequable will be made, he declar
id Kacli township board of assess
or will be charged with determin
ing the values in its respective dis
trict. but on Thursday of next week,
tin a essoin will meet in the court
house receive their revaluation ab
^ti acts and make a joint survey of
properties in all of the townships.
Tin- assessors will travel id u body
during Thursday and Friday of next
week and possibly a day or two in
the following week until they are
satisfied that they can maintain a
unifoim schedule of values in their
respective districts.
Fach buar4 of assessors is to visit
\ ery piece of property, the tax sup
i visor pointing out a few things for
the assessors to consider, such as lo
ation of property, type of land, con
dition of buildings and so on. No
schedule of values was mentioned,
iContinued on page four)
Dpeninfi* For Yourtft Men
Announced In CCC damp*
?
Seven openings have been an
muneerl for young Martin County
Tie.) in the Civilian Conservation
Jorps, and application for places
O (he camps are now being receiv
ed by the welfare department.
So far five white youths and 25
colored youths have filed apptica
ions for places In the camps. Oth
;r applications will be received dur
ng the remainder of this year. "n?e
luccessful candidates will enter the
?amps sometime in January.
N
(CliriHtmaa ? 194D
In every eru do we huve grout men . . . und so, in ??very age. is
ineteen liundred and forty yearn ago, three men were jour- greatness the inspiration to tearh the truth.
neying towards Bethlehem, when the radianee of a star jl jl jl a a . ? i ? i
eame to them front afar, lighting their way to the humble
manger where lay the infant Jesus, most blessed of halies. Christmas . 1940 und still the stur of Bethlehem easts
. . , its inightv beams of light over ull the world.
Over him bowed the Virgin Mother, starry-eyed . . . uwed by
her Gift. Mary . . holy Mother of Jesus . . . Great is the spirit of Christmas that ran wipe awuy the years and
change grave men und women into smiling children, ready to serve
The miracle of His birth has been the wonder of all men on earth nn(| he M.rvi.,| j? ,he Hwcet simplicity of childhood . . .
for generation upon generation. Yet still more wondVous is the ? , , , .
, , , Strong is the spirit of laive that can bring us all to understand that
conception of life as He lived it. there is none less, none greater, none rejected his blessed
A simple carpenter by trade, He wus, by inspiration, u simple Christmas Day . . .
philosopher; by practice, the greut teacher, and in truth, the noble We ure all children of one family, ul peai c in the of a t liihl . .
Merry Christmas ? und may the New Year bless you imnieasiiruhly.
The Enterprise Publishing Company
sufferer