ESTABLISHED IN 1866
A NEWSPAPER FOR THE PEOPLE
Terms of Subscription—$2.00 Per Annum
VOL. LXIV.
WELDON, N. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1930
NUMBER 36
STAGE BIG RALLY
■- FOR FARM FOLKS
More Than 500 Farmers Are
Present At Live At Home
Dinner At Weldon
FOOD GROWN IN COUNTY
By Mrs. E. L. HAYWARD
One of the most delightful ban
quets ever held in Weldon was the
•'Live At Home Dinner" Friday
evening at the Coca Cola plant un
dei the auspices of the Federated
Home Demonstration Clubs of Hal
llax County. Under the efficient
leadership of Mr. W. O. Davis,
County Farm Agent for the upper
half of Halifax County, and Mrs.
Hazel Irvin Wheeler, County Home
Demonstration Agent, who had
been tireless in working out each
vjfc. detail, the affair was a huge suc
cess. The three course dinner was
prepared by the Home Demonstra
tion Clubs of the County and the
food was grown in Halifax County.
The dinner was served by the mem
bers of the Halifax Junior Club.
Five hundred and six farmers,
their families and guests were
present. The long tables were most
attractive in their color scheme of
red and white in keeping with the
Valentine season.
Mrs. N. L. Stedman of Halifax,
president of the County Federation
of Home Demonstration Clubs,
acted as Toastmistress and pre
sided with much ease and grace.
The invocation was delivered by
Rev. J. H. Shore, pastor of the
Weldon Methodist church. Mr.
Chas. R. Daniel, acting Mayor, de
livered the address of welcome,
which was responded to by Mr. M
W. Perry of Dawson’s, who said he
was a farmer by choice.
The members of the Board oi
County Commissioners and Coun
ty Board of Education were asked
to stand.by. and be introduced, as
were each President of represent
ative of the different clubs in the
, county.
Delightful music, both the old
and modern variety, was furnished
by the Saunders-Mohorn Orches
tra of Heathsville. The young peo
ple played with zest and vim and
their music was enjoyed.
Mrs. Jane S. McKimmon of Ral
eigh, State director of Home Dem
onstration work, was present and
won the hearts of all by her grac
ious manner and fine talk. She
stressed the importance of the
garden the year round, plenty of
% milk, lean meats and fruit in order
T to build and keep healthy bodies.
Her suggestions were most helpful.
W. O. Davis then thanked the
banks, merchants, supply men and
other stores who had aided in any
way and expressed the apprecia
tion of those present to Mr. D. W.
Seifert, manager of the Weldon
Coca Cola plant, who had grac
iously let them use the building
and helped in every way to make
the affair a success. While giving
the farmers their just dues, he said
they were buying far too much of
the things that could be raised at
home. Under his wise leadership
and co-operation the farmers of
the county this year should plan
and organize their work so as to
~,‘jbring in the very best results. He
then in a few well chosen words
presented J. M. Gray, formerly as
sistant director of extension work
of State College, now with Chilean
Nitrate agencies.
Mr. Gray’s address was very in
structive. He said the farmer
6hould feed the soil, feed his fam
ily and feed his livestock. The
proper feeding will develop the
family physically and they will be
in better condition to develop men
tally. The thing ot first import
ance is to raise plenty of foods for
his family and his livestock and
bring him in the best return. He
then to raise such crops as will
stressed the interdependence of
(farm and town and urged a closer
co-operation for the best interests
of all.
Mrs. Wheeler stated that last
year there were 265 present at the
dinner and the attendance had in
creased this year to 506. It was
voted last year to make this an an
nual affair.
A feature that received much
favorable comment from the visi
tors was the parking of cars,
handled by the Boy Scouts of Wel
don. The boys handled the park
ing situation like veteran traffic
cops.
Oakes Would Put
Unemployed Men
And Land to Work
Calling attention to unemployed
men and boys lying around the
mill village and acres of land that
might be made into good gardens,
Albert W. Oakes Jr., superintend
ent of the Weldon public schools,
writes a letter to The Roanoke
News and suggests that both the
unemployed men and the untilled
land be put to work. His letter fol
lows:
"Will you be so kind as to give
me a little space in your columns
before we get away from the sub
ject of “live-at-home week” that
we have just observed throughout
the state? Every time I go over in
the Audrey Mill Village on some
mission in connection with my
school work, I am impressed with
two facts: (l)a dozen or more men
and large boys lying around doing
absolutely nothing; and (2) dozens
of acres of land near these mill
houses that are not being utilized
at all.
“I do not think that any one
whc knows anything about the
amount of vegetables that can be
grown on a small space will doubt
that 25 per cent of the grocery bill
cf these people could be easily
grown on land about the premises
that at present is not being utiliz
ed. I am wondering if those in
charge of the mill property could
rot take the Initiative in seeing
that these people plant and look
after a garden. I cannot conceive
of anything that would be more
beneficial to the inhabitants of the
mill houses, and I believe that with
proper encouragement some of them
would grow a garden.
1 am imormea uiu me lium
aptment of the mills at Roanoke
Rapids employs an overseer to
supervise the gardens of the mill
people. They are required to plant
a garden and to look after it after
it is planted. The overseer visits
every family; and advises the peo
ple how, when, and what to plant.
This serves more purposes than
one: it takes care of a consider
able portion of the grocery bill of
the mill village; it gives them a
wholesome and profitable diver
sion from the mill work; and final
ly it gives them an interest in
something about their premises.
Largely because of their gardens,
as I understand from some of their
social workers, they have a much
smaller percent of abject poverty
than we do, and a much less trans
ient mill population.
“Our people have been very gra
cious about contributing to the re
lief of families in distress, but I
think many of them are tired of
the same families always coming
to them as a bunch of mendicants
begging food for themselves and
their families. If we could seize
upon this as an opportune time to
help them to help themselves, to
j encourage them to assume their
own responsibility, I think it would
be the finest thing we have done
yet. This would be welfare work
I the effects of which would be far
reaching. I do not think some
local club or organization could do
a finer thing than to lend its unit
ed support in this direction. I
would be glad to co-operate to the
fullest extent possible with such a
movement.”
Weldon Quint Enters
Winning Column
Weldon high school boys' basket
ball team broke into the winning
column on Friday night by defeat
ing the strong Woodland quint by
a score of 26 to 21. This was the
first win for the local lads.
Captain Johnny Partin with 14
points and his running mate, John
son, with 12 points, led the Weldon
attack. Dixon, Hux and Draper
put up a strong defense, with Dixon
playing an especially good floor
game. Griffith and Morris were
visitors’ stars.
NEGRO SENT TO JAIL
Robert Jones, young negro of
Weldon was arrested here Tuesday
afternoon by Police Officer J. P.
Thorne, charged with stealing a
pistol and pair of trousers from
Gus Thomas, a negro also from
Weldon. Jones plead guilty and
waived a preliminary hearing. He
was unable to give $150 bond and
was placed in the Halifax jail to
await trial at the next term of
criminal court.
T & T. CO. PLANS
TO BUILD AT ONCE
4th and Elm Street Is Pro
posed Location; To In
stall Dial System
CONTRACT IS AWARDED
The Carolina Telephone & Tele
graph Co. has purchased the Mose
ley lot on the corner of 4th and
Elm streets and plan to erect either
a brick or stucco building at once.
The building which will house
equipment of the local exchange,
will be approximately 50x60 feet and
will be of a one story nature. Work
will be commenced within two
weeks and the building should be
ready to be occupied by August 1st,
E. H. Dixon, group manager, stated.
The Telephone Co. will also build a
smaller building at Roanoke Rapids.
Dial systems are to be installed at
Weldon, Roanoke Rapids, Garys
burg and Halifax at an early date,
and although operators will not be
required at the other stations, Wel
don will have nine or more here to
take care of the toll and repeater
work that will come through this
exchange, it was announced.
The equipment for this exchange
will be new throughout, and will
enable the Telephone company to
give the best of service, commented
Mr. Dixon. The contract for the
buildings was given Rose & Son,
contractors, of Rocky Mount,
Suggests Methods
Of Garden Work For
The Present Season
“Tender garden plants started in
the hotbed must have constant care
during their early life. The bed
must be ventilated on warm, sunny
days and protected on cold nights.
Hardier plants growing in cold
frames will allow the covers to be
removed in the day and on warm
nights. These plants should be
gradually hardened as the time ap
proaches to set them in the open
field or garden," says E. B. Mor
row, extension horticulturist at
State college.
If early garden plants are forced
too quickly, they will have spind
ling tops, poor root systems and
will not survive so well as those
that have been gradually hardened
off.
Mr. Morrow suggests planting of
asparagus, beets, carrots, kale, mus
tard, lettuce, onions, peas, Irish
potatoes, spinach and tomatoes for
this season. One-year roots of the
Mary Washington variety of aspara
gus are recommended for planting
in February and early March. The
first plantings of beets and carrots
are advised at once and run the
risk of the plants being killed by
cold weather. Kale and mustard can
be planted now to keep up the sup
ply of Spring greens. The new mus
tard-spinach recently developed is
good and is sometimes known on
the market as tendergreen.
Lettuce may be planted in the
partially spent hotbed or the cold
frame and set in the open as soon
as the plants are of sufficient size.
Seeds of onions may be planted for
a crop of bulbs and plantings of
English peas may be made at once
and again about March 1. Thomas
Laxton and Telephone are good
varieties for the early garden.
The early crop of Iirish potatoes
may be planted with safety by the
middle of February in the coastal
and eastern sections of the State.
Use plenty of seed and fertilize
heavily. The Norfolk Savoy variety
of spinach is best for the early
garden. Plant tomato seed in the
window box or hotbed before March
1, says Mr. Morrow.
W. C. Willey Dies
At Rosemary Home
William C. Willey, well known
citizen of Halifax county, died at
his home near Rosemary on Satur
day, February 15, following an at
tack of influenza. Mr. Willey was
49 years old and spent the greater
part of his life as a farmer. Funeral
services were held in the Methodist
church here Sunday afternoon at
4:30 with Rev. Thrift of Rosemary
conducting the services, assisted by
Rev. John A. Shore. Interment was
in Cedar wood cemetery.
Mr. Willey is survived by his wife
who before her marriage was Miss
Annie Smallwood of Weldon, five
sons and two daughters and the
following brothers and sisters: A.
C. Willey of Enfield, J. E. Willey of
Rosemary and J. J. Willey of Wel
don; Mrs. J. L. Parker and Mrs.
Willey BamhiU of Enfield and Mrs.
Gardner of Baltimore.
Forester Condemns
Wood Burning To
Control Weevils
One of the most used arguments
in favor of the annual burning over
of our forests or woods lands has
been that to do so would materially
aid in the control of the boll weevil.
The Division of Forestry of the De
partment of Conservation and De
velopment has always said that this
argument was basically wrong in
that tlie vast majority of boll wee
vils that live through the Winter
do not hibernate in the woods.
In order to settle this argument
an inquiry was sent to a number of
County Farm Agents and to the
man who heads the United States
Department of Agriculture’s inves
tigation of cotton insects by Dis
trict Forester L. A. Carter of Wind
sor, N. C.
The following replies have been
received by Mr. Carter and speak
for themselves in condemning this
practice.
Mr. B. R. Coad, Entomologist in
Charge of Cotton Insect Investiga
tions for the U. S. Dept, of Agricul
ture, makes this statement. “This
Department has never recommend
ed the widespread burning over of
woodland as a weevil control meas
ure, since we are sure that this
would generally do more harm than
good. Most weevil hibernation is
confined to the margins adjoining
cotton fields and the population in
the general woodland is so light
that it would be absurd to attempt
burning as a control measure. The
only places where burning is worth
while, are those immediately ad
joining cotton fields, that is, within
50 to 100 feet or so, and here the
greatest benefit can be derived from
burning out ditch banks, hedge
rows and similar places of dense
growth,"
Mr. Zeno Moore, County Agent at
Large of Edgecombe County. “If all
the evidence could be presented to
an impartial jury, I think that the
damage the boll weevil has wrought
in the Northeastern part of North
Carolina has been greater as effect
ing our woodlands than has that
done to the cotton crop, would be
LI1C VCIUlUl.
“Some have claimed to think that
burning the woods would destroy
the weevil. Does it break the seed
of other insects? Of course to burn
a barn would inconvenience a few
rats. But, first can you afford it?
Second, would you still be likely to
have rats on your farm? This much
is sure, when a fire goes through
a wooded tract it is destructive to
natural insect enemies including
young birds, terrapins and others.
No need to say more.”
J. B. Britt, County Farm Agent
of Halifax County: “I am glad in.
deed to make a statement as to the
burning of woods to destroy the
weevil. Only wish I could make it
strong enough that the idea would
be forever obliterated from the
minds of landowners that burning
woods destroy the boll weevils. It
is true that there are a few destroy
ed, yet there are sufficient left in
other places to do serious damage
to cotton, and what few are de
stroyed will not make any difference
to cotton production. What if there
were quite a few destroyed by fire?
There is no economy in saving a few
cents worth of cotton and destroy
ing several dollars worth of timber.
A fire retards the growth of timber
from two to eight years, depending
upon the amount of covering that
is on the ground and age of trees
at time of the fire. This is true
to say nothing of young trees that
are killed outright. Burning the
woods to destroy the weevil reminds
me of the old saying, ‘penny wise
and pound foolish.’ If this is the
only way that we are able to grow
cotton, eastern North Carolina will
have more money in it at the end
of twenty years if the farmers will
let their cotton fields grow up in
pines and keep fires out, than to
burn the woods and grow one-half
bale of cotton per acre. I know that
this idea has been advocated by
some of our department men in the
past, but I hope that they too have
seen the error and are willing to let
trees grow into dollars, forgetting
a few cents that might be made on
cotton by burning our forests.”
B. E. Grant, County Farm Agent
of Bertie County: “I wish to advise
that woods burning for boll weevil
control is not advised by the lead
ing authorities on boll weevil, and
is not, under any circumstances, to
be recommended.
“While some weevils may be de
stroyed through woods burning, this
will not give effective control of
them and the damage to our timber
lands would be far greater than the
benefits secured,"
THREE MILLIONS
SPENT FOR FOOD
Shortage of Food and Feed In
Halifax County Runs Into
Tremendous Amount
SURVEY REVEALS FACTS
By F. H. JETER.
State Department Agriculture
Farmers of Halifax county did
not produce a single item of food
and feed in quantity sufficient to
care for the requirements of the
population of Halifax county in
1928. according to a survey made
by the agricultural extension ser
vice of North Carolina State Col
lege in connection with the "Live
At Home" program of Governor
O. Max Gardner.
The total value of the countywide
deficiency in food and feed pro
duction in Halifax county in 1928
was $3,058,973, and tne total value
cf the farm food and feed defic
iency was $1,834,695,
These figures represent the value
of staple food and feed items which
people of Halifax county either
purchased outside the county or
else did without and in doing with
out lived below the standard of the
average American citizen.
It is the belief of Governor
Gardner and the leading agricul
tural authorities of the State that
the surest way to restore the basic
agricultural prosperity of North
Carolina is for tne farmers to be
persuaded first to raise enough food
and feed to take care of them
selves and their families and their
ivestock and the populations of
their communities and then to put
their surplus land Into the “money
:rops” of cotton, peanuts and
tobacco.
This system, not only would en
able the farmer to “live at home”
absolutely independent of the price
>f cotton, peanuts or tobacco, but
t would increase the value of these
products on account of the acreage
reduction that woulu be effected
and the farmer would probably gi
almost as much for his small crop
as he has been getting for his big
The Halifax farmer who wants to
start increasing his production of
;ood and feed can start almost
anywhere along the line for not
line item is produced in quantities
;hat meet the demands of the Hali
;ax home market.
A list of the deficiencies in some
if the leading food and feed crops
n Halifax county follows:
Corn, 315.000 bushels short; oats.
J77.000 bushels short; hay. 24,855
;ons short; Irish potatoes, 36,000
jushels short; sweet potatoes. 47,000
oushels short; beef and veal, 2,920,
)00 pounds short; mutton, 217,000
pounds short; pork. 102,000 pounds
short; milk, 4,271,000 gallons short;
poultry, 554,000 pounds short; eggs,
316.000 dozen short.
These deficiencies do not mean
that the farmers of Halifax county
have not made progress during the
period between 1920 and 1928 in
the pioduction of food and feeds.
The production of milk in that
period was increased from about
350.000 gallons in 1920 to 1.360,000
gallons in 1928; the production of
pork was doubled from 1,204,000
pounds to 2,413,000 pounds, the
pioduction of corn was increased
from 518,000 bushels to 761,000
bushels; production of oats was in
creased from less than 3.000 bushels
to more than 13,000 bushels; pro
(Continued on page 3)
E. D. Purnell, 63,
Dies On Saturday
E. D. Purnell, 63 year old citizen
of Weldon, died at his home here
Saturday afternoon following a lin
gering illness of several years. Mr.
Purnell was well known in Weldon
and this community, having lived
here for a number of years where
he followed his trade of printing
with the Harrell Printing Co.
Funeral services were held at the
Methodist church here on Sunday
afternoon at 3:30 o’clock with the
Rev. John A. Shore In charge, as
sisted by Rev. R. S. Fountain of the
Baptist church and Rev. D. G.
Moore of the Episcopal church. In
terment was in Cedarwood ceme.
tery. Active pallbearers were H.
Smith, C. S. Vincent, Camn Tilgh
man, W. F. Dyer, W. B. Joyner and
Frank Williams.
Mr. Purnell is survived by his
wife, one daughter, two sisters and
two brothers.
Duke Shearin Is
Caught By Officers
At Elizabeth City
Duke Shearin, reputed bootlegger,
would be bad man of Weldon and
toiler of the officers of Halifax, was
caught by Elizabeth City officers
Saturday night following a tele,
phone call from Chief Crewe of
Weldon and is now in Halifax
county jail under a $1250.00 bond
awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Duke and Earnest Shearin, broth
ers, who seem to delight in speed
ing through Weldon quite frequently
and who thus far have been able
to evade all attempts of the officers
to catch them, had their car parked
near the Weldcn Motor Co. here on
Friday afternoon with the motor
running. They were in the car ready
to start any minute when Chief
Crewe drove up in front of them.
They put the car in reverse and
backed a block or so and made a
get-away. The officer was unable
to catch them and notified officers
at Elizabeth City to be on the look
out for them.
Chief Crewe was notified over the
phone Saturday by Elizabeth City
officers that they had captured one
whom they thought to be one of the
two men wanted, and stated that
the other got away. Shearin told the
officer who caught him that his
name was Carlisle but the Weldon
officer asked to speak to the cap
tured man, who tried to disguise his
voice over the phone and said “This
is J. J., Chief, you haven’t any
thing on me, so tell the man here
to let me go."
The Weldon officer w'asn’t sure
and had the officer hold him. When
he arrived in Elizabeth City, Chief
Crewe found “Carlysle” to be none
other than Duke Shearin, one of
the men he had chased the day be
fore. Shearin was carried to Hali
fax and placed under a $500 addi
tional bond, a $750 bond having
been placed upon him by Judge
Devin in the past court when he was
recognized at a still, but who had
evaded all efforts of officers of
Halifax to capture him. Shearin
will be given a hearing the latter
part of the week, it is said.
Negro Placed Under
$3500 Bond As A
Result Man’s Death
ROSEMARY, Feb. 20.—Under
bond of $3,500, set by Coroner W.
C. Williams after a preliming hear
ing here last night, Clarance Bush,
negro truck driver for the Caro
lina Service Corporation, awaits
trial under a charge of manslaugh
ter. B. B. Higgins, a white man of
Rosemary, was run over while rid
ing a bicycle last Saturday night
on the main street of Roanoke
Rapids at the corner of Patterson’s
Store, and Bush, accused of the
crime, failed to stop.
Just before dusk Mr. Higgins was
peddling toward his destination.
He was on the right side of the
road and away from the ribbon of
concrete when the truck ended his
journey. D. M. Chestnut, L. H.
Hansley, Frank Thomas ana Char
lie Fade, who saw the smash, said
that the driver kept moving on.
Mr. Higgins was carried to the
hospital by P. C. Luter after Coro
ner Williams and P. L. Harden had
arrived. Examination there dis
closed that his right shoulder
blade, collar bone and several ribs
were broken.
Reachig the scene of the accident,
Mr. Harden followed the truck to
Weldon where he and Deputy
Sheriff W. C. MitcheU described
the truck to an employe of the
Carolina Service Corporation. He
told them where they could find the
truck and its driver. Hair and flesh
were upon the radiator of the ma
chine but the negro, arrested- soon
after, denied striking anyone.
With Bush at the time of the
fatal crash rode Charlie Clements,
another negro. He told the officers
that when he first saw the man
(Mr. Higgins) that he was about
ten feet from him and was riding
off of the concrete, he judged, about
four and a half feet.
“I’m gone from here,” he said
Bush told him after the ride took
fatal consequences as a fellow pas
senger, and he cautioned, “Don’t
you say a damn word about this.”
The deed spoke, the officers be
came active, and a jury will look
further into the facts.
F. R. Stimson of the Smithtowr
community in Yadkin county will
grow 15 acres of tobacco according
to extension recommendations this
season.
LETS CONTRACT
TO BUILD BRIDGE
State Highway Commission
Accepts Bid of T. A. Lov
ing & Co. of Goldsboro
$204,438.13 AMOUNT BID
The contract for a bridge over
tile Roanone at Weldon was yes
terday awarded to T. A. Loving &
Co of Goldsboro. The award calls
for an expenditure of $204,438.13.
While no definite information has
been secuied, it is expected that
work will begin on the project at
r.n early date and citizens here are
jubilant that at last months of ef
fort on their part to have the
bridge constructed has terminated
in success. It is felt here that the
Chamber of Commerce was large
ly instrumental in securing this
structure at Weldon at this date,
although the fact that high flood
waters of recent years clearly
demonstrated that the old bridge
was unsatisfactory and the natur
al advantages for a bridge here was
no doubt the chief factor with the
highway commission in awarding
the contract.
A local business leader yesterday
expressed his gratitude that the
award had at last been made, and
pointed out that this work in con
junction with the telephone build
ing to be erected here and the
giant power company dam on the
Roanoke near here would do much
lo provide employment and bring
better times in upper Halifax.
BOY SCOUTS HOLD REGULAR
MEETING AT HUT FRIDAY
The Weldon Troupe of Boy
Scouts held its regular meeting at
their hut on Friday afternoon at 3
o’clock. After the roll call and
minutes, a Tenderfoot badge was
presented Ben Block. The scout
master appointed the following
scouts to assist in parking the cars
at the Coco Cola plant during the
live-at-home banquet here last
week, and it is understood they
made a good job of it: Sam Dixon,
John Ben Trueblood, Fred Rabil,
George Harrison, Travers Daniel
and Robert Dixon.
Under the direction of Alex Har
dison, as chief engineer, the boys
are building a new bridge to their
camp, while Scout Master Moore is
busy looking after the building of
a kitchen.
METHODIST CLASS MEETS
The Young Women’s Wesley Class
of the Methodist church held a
business and social meeting at the
home of Mrs. W. B. Joyner on Elm
St. Friday evening, February 14th,
with Misses Blanche Johnson and
Clyde Hux acting as hostesses. The
business session was presided over
by Miss Mary Anderson, class presi
dent, after which Mrs. W. G. Suiter,
chairman of the Social committee,
took charge. The Valentine Idea
was carried throughout the entire
program beginning with "Cupid's
mail bag" in which fortunes were
found for all. This was followed by
a heart questionnaire and later the
game of hearts was played. Delicious
refreshments were served by the
hostesses at the close of the pro
gram.
MRS. TURNER HOSTESS
Mrs. J. S. Turner was hostess to
the Elizabeth Montfort Ashe chap,
ter of the United Daughters of the
Confederacy at her home here on
Thursday afternoon, with Mrs. Fur
gerson, regent, presiding.
After the roll call and the minutes
of the last meeting several reports
were read telling of the many ac
tivities of the organization, which
were enjoyed by those present, as
well as being very instructive and
helpful. The chapter contributes
very generously to these activities.
Following the regular business of
the chapter of which 12 members
and several visitors were present, a
delightful program was rendered by
Miss Kate Garrett at the piano,
with Mrs. R. T. Daniel giving two
voice selections and a very appro
priate reading by Miss Virginia
Vinson. After delightful refresh
ments the meeting adjourned to
meet with Mrs, Moorehead in
March.
Two cars of fat hogs shipped
from Craven county brought the
top price of over ten cents a pound
on the Richmond market.
More than 1,000 hens have been
blood-tested in Forsyth County
this winter preparatory to their
use as breeders.