P? interest. | Volume IV—Number 29 Government Aid For Edenton School Improvement Now Seems As Assured Every Report Points to! Quick Action By Last Os This Month S74,SOOTOTAL Congressman Warren Writes Hopefully; In spector Here Edenton school officials felt more .confident than ever this week that their hope for federal aid in furth ering the project for town school im , provements would go through, when word came from Congressman Lind say Warren that Edenton was on the preferred compromise list, restric tions against which have been lifted by Presidential mandate, and if any PWA allotments are made Edenton may depend Absolutely upon getting its request showed. And as evidence that Mr. Warren is correct in his surmise that action can be expected quickly was the ap pearance here on Tuesday of G. S. Brown, traveling inspector for the Works Progress Administration at Raleigh. Mr. Brown was volumi nously equipped with documents from Washington calling for a quick sur vey of the local situation, especially with a view of reporting if the new improvement plans have provided for all fire hazard elimination. Mr. Brown came here in the ab sence of School Principal John A. Holmes, who is visiting his family in Graham this week. He saw W. D. Pruden, of the local school board, and President Thomas S. Chears and later made an effort to catch up with Frank Bpnton, the architect, of Wil son. Later, he also, visited the school and made an examination of the premises and of the proposed fhavg-a' while more or less non igmnjltsl Mr. Brown did say he unommtogi that Edenton’s grant was 'srweiiiuttrtyphw ■*-* o., Edenton in canoots with a Chowan cohnty anticapatory- bond sale has I actually bound the government to a part in the proposed project by lay ing something like $41,000 on the line as its 55 per cent share in a grant of which the federal authori ties would advance around $33,500 on the customary 65-45 per cent PWA basis, making a total soon to be available, for the Edenton school work of about $74,500. And it is in this connection that ;Mr. Warren has written in to Supe jijmtendent John A. Holmes, who has ! been fighting from the start for the • federal grant, as follows: : i “I a> in receipt of your letter of ' July 9 in reference to the PWA appli ‘ cation for Chowan county school. ’ tou referred to an item, in an Eliza j beth City paper statin£"th»t ajstreet F project there had been approved-tor^. • that town by the PWA. I did not. ; See the article in question, but if it Said that it is entirely incorrect, -tlizabeih City had a WPA applica i tion for streets and that was approv-. j ed but has nothing whatever to do yrith the PWA. “If I .can it say it very modestly I i think I had a great deal to do with working out' the PWA compromise. . Chowan county’s school application is included in that. The President has already lifted his executive order but he has not called for the projects from the PWA. We are hoping that within the next week or ten days he Will release these projects that have been approved and come within the compromise. Until he does we can only patiently wait.” To get the full trend of Mr. War ren’s letter a word of explanation may be in order. The PWA has been a great functioning government agency under Secretary Ickes. It has made grants unrestricted as to the type of labor employed. Direc tor Harry Hopkins, of the Works Progress Administration, has fought it, however, on the ground that all labor on work projects should be taken from welfare channels. Ickes has been unsuccessful in this fight and Hopkins prevailed upon the pre sident to issue an order winding up the PWA and transferring its func-j tions tq the WPA. Ickes, however, convinced the president that there were a number of PWA projects in the countfy totaling many millions where communities and common wealths had pledged their share of the 55-45 basis of grants, and that ment in what has been called “a ‘Srfth its 55 per cent pledged money lying idle hens is clearly within that THE CHOWAN HERALD A HOME NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF CHOWAN COUNTY ♦ ■ Improvements Under Way In Many Places Town Building Changes Total High Cost; Dr. J. A. Powell to Move Into New- Quarters In Citizens Bank This Month Building improvements that may run well up into the SIOO,OOO figure before the summer is over, are al ready under way in Edenton, and in addition to the work will ultimately provide for several changes in the location of some professional firms. Naturally the largest prospective item will have to do with work on the Edenton High School, told of in another column. Os the other improvements, that being made on the ground floor at the Citizens Bank Building is, per haps, attracting the most interest. This site is being entirely changed and made over to accommodate Dr. Jesse A. Powell and his recently ac quired associate, Dr. Martin R. Wisely, of Waynesboro, Va., who will move from the present Powell office on East King Street before the month is out. While no details are being an nounced as to this change it is un derstood Dr. Powell is making it be cause of crowded conditions where he is which make it impossible for him to give emergency aid treat ments to his liking. Dr. Wisely has specialized in surgical work before coming here, and is said to be espec ially able in the removal of tonsil cases. It is understood to be Dr. Powell’s plan to establish facilities in the bank building for such work, such as the placement of beds for temporary rest after operations—a sort of emergency hospital on a snaall soak*, following: Eva By rum, Juanita White, Lena Leary, Goldie Layton, Ruth Privott, Dolly Spencer, Gene Bunch, Elizabeth Hurdle, Adelaide Tuttle, Brownie Cox, Hazel Goodwin, Helen Swanner, Margaret Swanner, Helen Byrum and Ethel Haskett. Basement Citizens Bank Filled With Nine Feet Os Water A rather unusual accident occurr ed in the Citizens Bank building Mon-! day when a main line water pipe j burst and before it was known the , basement of the building was filled with nine feet of water approximate ing almost 100,000 gallons. Workmen for T. W. Jones, plumber were making alternations on the first ■ floor which is being fitted up for of fices for Drs. J. A. Powell and Mar tin R. Wisely when they discovered what was thought to be a small leak ! in a water pipe. However, as pump- 1 ing was resumed and the supply 1 failed to diminish an investigation J was made which revealed that the < basement was filled with water. i The town’s pumping machine was ; put to work, pumping all afternoon ] and until after iO o’clock at night 1 before the cause of the trouble was i discovered and necessary repairs made. ] - I As a rule, old age instead of ] charcater should get the credit for i the decision to “eut it out.” < COMING TO U. S. j jpg^H tlllll|a«G General Evangeline Booth Ernest I. Pugmire, of Atlanta, Territorial Commander of the Salva tidft Army in the South, announces that General Evangeline Booth of London, world leader of the Salvation Army, yvill come to Atlanta, October 1 for a four day visit, during which she will deliver a public address at the new City Auditorium. General Booth will speak in only three cities during her stay in the United States, Atlanta, New York ! and Chicago, and two cities in Can- I ada, Winnipeg and Toronto, Com ! mander Pugmire states.' Igeddes potter PICKED AS HEAD OF LOCALLEGION Named Commander to Succeed John Holmes; Other Officers ELECT DELEGATES Selections Develop at Enticing: Fish Fry And Ball Game Abandoning a hot and stuffy room, j Ed Bond Post of the American Legion i took to the outdoors last Thursday night and held their meeting under the flood lights at Hicks field. The meeting was in the form of a fish fry, with members of the auxiliary as special guests. After a general getjjtogether and up-to-the-minute meal the Legionniaires held a busi ness meeting, the principal item of business being of new officers. In connection with the' meeting and adding to the pleasure of the affair a number of selections were played by the Edenton High School Band and the evening was climaxed by a soft ball game by two picked teams from Edenton’s soft ball league. The post's new officers, who will prior to the state c'On vlK. in Durham, follows Holmes; adjtrtaiit and finaiMse*af?: ficer, 0. H. Brown; guardianship of-t ficer, M. L. Bunch; sergeant-at-arms, W. H. Parker; chaplain, F. I. White; historian, C. D. Stewart; athletic of ficer, J. A. Bunch; child welfare of ficer, 0. E. Duncan; Americanism of ficer, C. E. Kramer; employment of ficer, W. E. Baker; membership chairman, J. W. White; publicity of ficer, R. L. Pratt; service officer, W. W. Byrum; graves registration, M. ! P. Whichard; chairman Sons of Le | gion, R. D. Dixon. R. L. Pratt and J. A. Bunch were elected as delegates to the state con vention, with N. Bunch and E. L. White acting as alternates. Methodists Called To Assist Collegre A meeting in connection with the SIOO,OOO Louisburg College Forward Movement was held in the Edenton Methodist Church Monday when Dr. D. E. Earnhardt, president of the college, presented the purpose of the movement. J. W. Foreman, of Eli zabeth City, district chairman, and Rev. D. M. Sharpe, of Hertford, dis trict director, also emphasized the need for helping the college. Sponsor for the movement * in Edenton is John A. Holmes, who to gether with Dr. W. A. Leggett, Mis. J. W. Cates and Mrs. John G. Small, will present the Louisburg cause to the local church. . Police Force Supervision Hereafter By Commission NEW GUARD GATES ON CHOWAN BRIDGE Practically Same Type of Protection, But Placed Back 180 Feet From Draw What may at least afford better protection for careless motorists on the Chpwan River bridge was pro vided last week when the State Highway Commission changed the location of the guarding gates on both sides of the bridge draw. Practi cally the same type of one arm gates as before, although strengthened in several ways, have been erected 180 feet east and west of the draw, which will undoubtedly make it possible for anyone who may crash them to stop before sliding through to death in the open draw. Heretofore the gates were but 40 feet each side of the draw. The num ber of fatalities during the past few years have all proved they were of small protection at this short dis tance. Last year four young folks in two automobiles crashed through them to a drowning death, one of the victims being Essie Bunch, a local high school girl. The highway commission made no move to change the gates until last week, however, when the new ones were put up. Captain Pat Bell, bridge tender, believes their purpose will now prove effective. Three Local Lawyers Attend Bar Meeting John W. Graham, J. N. Pruden and William S. Privott composed the group of Edenton barristers to at tend a meeting of the State Bar for the First District held in Washing ton, N. C., Friday. The principal speaker at the meeting was Judge I. M. Meekins of Elizabeth City. Mr. Graham was re-elected as sec retary for the district and Mr. Pru den was made a member of the exe cutive committee. Vu SI,OOO FINE FOR OSCAR IUSONCH Bootlegging Conviction Brings No Judicial Leniency A full session of Recorder’s Court was held Tuesday morning, extending over into early afternoon, in the course of which Judge J. N. Pruden imposed the heaviest fine during his tenure of office and probably the big gest fine ever handled out in Chow an’s Recorder Court. The victim of the fine was Oscar Bunch, who faced two charges, possession of intoxi cating liquor for the purpose of sale and aiding and abetting Johnnie Bell Smithwick in the sale of whiskey to one Alberta Anthony. Bunch was found guilty on both counts drawing a sentence of six months on the roads .on each charge, which was reduced months on each count upon I each of suspended sentelriSi since April 9, which wars Suw nHHI sarily revoked, making his sentence" stand 21 months on the roads or pay ment of SI,OOO fine and costs and serving 15 months on the roads. He took an appeal with bond being set at $1,500. John Privott plead guilty to driv ing an automobile while under the influence of liquor and being his sec ond offense Judge Pruden imposed a fine of SIOO and costs and his driv ing license was revoked for 12 months. Della Brickhouse, white woman, was cleared of the charges of posses ing intoxicating liquor for the pur pose of sale and transporting liquor on the streets of Edenton. The case was dismissed on the grounds that the warrant for her arrest was ille gally served. Judge Pruden was lenient with Johnny Bell Smithwick, charged with possession of intoxicating liquor and selling liquor, giving him a six months’ road sentence, suspended up on payment of a fine of SSO and costs and showing good behavior for 12 months. , Consuming a considerable amount of. .the court session was the case against Alec Long, Perquimans Coun ty Negro, who was charged with altering a check from S. Hobowsky. (Continued on Page Five) This newspaper is circu lated in the territory where Advertisers will realise good results. $1.25 Per Year <* Perry, Bond and Bufflap Selected as Members Os Commission MEET SHORTLY Department Most Like ly Enlarged By New Patrolman Convinced that there had long been a need for some sort of active regu latory supervision of the Edenton police department, the Town Council Tuesday night went on record as favoring a police commission to act in this capacity, and . immediately afterward Mayor McMullan named Councilmen O. B. Perry, J. Edwin Bufflap and W. E. Bond as such com missioners. This step, somewhat revolutionary in away but incited by much recent criticism, is an initial one for the community and much good is expected to result from it. Coincident with the new commis sion’s selection came the determina tion that the present permanent po lice force of two officers was inade quate and that a third patrolman should be appointed. At the moment no one has been named for the job, the question being left entirely with the commissioners for consideration after the regular town audit, now under way, is completed and the town’s budgeting for the ensuing year has been cleared up. The purpose of the new commision will be manifold. It will not be a gum-shoe body to spy on the force and see that activity takes the place of somnolence. Rather it will be a modern commission with up-to-date ideas for police improvement. The various functions of the police, such as traffic observations and the en forcement of motor violations, will be under the direct control of the commissioners, but in no other sense, of course, than supervisory. It was brought’'' out that the n n mission would not be expected to usurp the duties of Chief Helms or his force but would have full power and liberty to note and correct any shortcomings that might be hereafter apparent in the operation of the de partment. One thing in particular that was discussed had to do with a frequent ly officerless police headquarters, due largely to a minimized force of but two men save on Saturday nights when an additional officer does spec ial work. Citizens have complained that they have often gone to head quarters and found no one there, in stead locating the officiating officer in-a barber shop or at a drug store or restaurant recreating and cooling off. Reference to the recent motor theft almost next door to police headquarters was made, and Fermor Hobbs appeared to say that at the present time Night Patrolman Bob Pratt goes off duty at 5 A. M. aiid that Chief Helms does not go on un til two hours later, leaving the town unpoliced in that interval. This, he thought, emphasized the need for another member of the force. The entire council seemed in sym- I pa thy with this idea and the matter commission : * work. The third selec tion.""WlmHiMpr *ew appointee should be what is "known as a plain clothes man or a regular uniformed patrolman was not settled upon. Nor have the commissioners decided who the appointee may be nor what salary should be recommended for him. As the town knows the present force is made up of Chief Helms, Night Patrolman Bob Pratt with young Carroll Boyce serving as a special officer week-ends. Wayland Moore has also officiated in the latter capacity often. The new commissioners will meet later this month and give a consider ation to what recommendations they may wish to make. In the meantime they will use their eyes and see what improvements they can suggest to Chief Helms should be made. Masons Call Off Meeting Tonight The usual Masonic meeting tonight has been called off by W. M. Wilkins, master of the lodge. Mr. Wilkins took this action in order to allow those who so desired to attend the soft ball game between the Edenton and Gatesville girls’ teams which be gins the same time as the lodge meeting.