ssPl Hertford County Herald
^ ~ A PAPER WORTHWHILE ?/
Volume XIII. Eight Pages Ahbskie, North Carolina, Friday, April 13, 1923 One Section , No. 49
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ROAD BOARD MEETS
HERE TO RECEIVE
BIDS ONJGHWAYS
Called Session For Friday Will
Be Time To Decide on
Method of Building
V %
Roads In County
.FOUR CONTRACTORS
ALREADY ON HAND
' Regular Meeting Last Monday
Taken Up With .Approving
Bills Against. Forces
Road commissioners of Hert
ford bounty will make some de
cision about how the roads of
Hertford County shall be built
with the residue of the half
million dollar bond issue, at a
meeting called especially for
that purpose, Friday, April IS,
at 1 o'clock, in Ahoskie. Upon
that date, the fates which are
usually pretty much disinclined
to offer any favors on "Friday
The Thirteenth" will either
cast its lot with the contractors
who are bidding for county
work, or will say to the individ
ual commissioners build - your
own roads.
""I??" a townsl"P system
of road construction and doing
it by outside contract lies a de
c fieri I0' th* b?aTd " not in"
chned to a system of building
roads themselves under county
supervMion and with a county
upenntendent of roads. They
have already relegated that
system to the junk heap from
whence it will probably never
th* compexion
of the board membership re
mains the same.
u.PS b^*Fd met ln tegular session
Winton ?nd finished
mid! !! T !. Winst the county!
G Hi?. "* *dmini?tr?tion of F
' ? resigned superintendent
^l,awPP0 P*y roU? 'or the six!
townships. Four road contracted
ah * bu8ine? was wound up
All sBbmitted bids, which wen seated
* d deposited in the secretary's sate
awa!t the called meeting Friday !
Qthenaay submit bids in the meai-l
time. Tw0 of the bidders are at pres
:n'W?:k'n* in Hertford County, on
doing work in "Itte^iitrhe^
IKSi Durh-m -nd *#?]
Kofnokf^irf'. Td en*ineer ,r?J
^e hnar^ i aW**t*d before
to?UUined ? P**Position I
Ser t> d ^ C0unty r?*d engi
neer to the road" administration hJ
"otainM h.. ?xx x
builHe88enti*1 * intelligent road
do? T' ?d to,d ot the work he had!
done ln Northampton and Halifax
HeUn.Siian ?
espplied for a similar position in
Hwtferd County. ln the meantime
J*",* submitting of bids and'
' J. " ,!1"' Proposition, the commis-l
*32 ^ VOt*d * P*y "o more bill,!
^ Unle? okehed
oy either the road commiaaioner or
tte township foreman and adopted
r^ e special forms for property keen
ing record, of prisoncam^ and
township road forces.
in/tta0??^ *i*? pM"d suthoris
pie ted and which is in the 1...J ?
u? ,0,'
males in the six townships belonrinv
twehT township, having
twelve each and the other three hav
When th. new mi
nWitd tOWn,hiP ?>? fur
^P^Tot"ngoo<imu,e'
tionel rinTniC
cussed, ail of which indicates the ro
ment vdiTiTbte*^"d.,"W ?<n,,P" I
K woaoiy S, held up until
the meeting is held in Ahoskie, to
consider the contrsetori' bids. All
bids submitted were baaed upon the
cost per mile, of the different types of
roads. Each contractor making a hid
agreed to take over the mules as well
as all equipment they could use.
Attendance upon the meeting last
Monday was so large that the road
board sesataA was convened in the
main auditorium of the courthouse.
BAKER ESTATE WAS SOLD
HERE SATURDAY, APRIL 7
Included in Reel Estate Was
Some Choicest Property In
Town of Ahoslde
i
The estate of R. J. Baker, sold at
public auction for division among the
heirs last Saturday, brought a total of
about 129,000. It consisted of the
home place on Church street, six
building lots on Main jtreet, the poet
offlce and barber shop building, and
several warehouse lots north of the
J. N. Vann peanut storage warehouse.
C. H. Mitchell was high bidder for
the home place, offering $7,800. He
later transferred it to A. M. Browne,
of Union, for the sum of $8,000. Mr.
Browne and H. S. Basnight offered
several bids on the place.
The six lots on Main street were
sold in a lump for $5,080, and were
bid in by Pembroke Bake, adminis
trator. ' They were first offered sep
arately and later sold as one tract.
H. S. Basnight was high bidder on the
corner lot, and John Haleges was high
bidder on the other five. Sold sep
arately, the plot brought only
$4,200, the bids being declared off
when it was bid in at ^ higher price
by the estate.
More buyers offered for the post
office building, and bidding became
spirited as the figure ran above
$9,000. Beginning at $8,000, pros
pective purchasers kept up the bid
ding until it reacher the high water
mark?$10,000. It was wold at that
figure to H. S. Basnight.
On account of the relatively cheap
figures at which the warehouse lots
sold, purchasers of this property
were easy to find, and bidding was
strong on the entire tract. J. N.
Vann bought the choicest lot, next to
his present warehouse. Both H. S.
Basnight and son, W. H. Basnight
bought some of the property. The
total figures J* n around $8,000.
HIGHWAY AUTHORmESOF
VDtGDOA HEAR ARGUMENT
Meeting In Suffolk To Decide
Upon Route To North
Caroline Line
Suffolk, Va., April 12. ? Four
routes from the North Carolina line
were urged by attorneys representing
the interests of the citizens of these
routes before the members of the
State Highway Commission, H. G.
Shirley, State Highway Commissioner,
tfade Massey and I. WaUce Truxtum,
this afternoon in the Nansemond
County courthouse; and, after hear
ing all their arguments, Commissioner
Shirley announced that the decision
of the Commission would be made
known later through the Nansemond
county clerk.
Lee Britt represented the route out
of Suffolk by Saratoga street, Somer
ton road, Meadow road to Cypress
Chapel and thence the White Marsh
road to Corapeake. J. R. Saunders
represented those who want the road
to go by Whaleyville, Somerton and
to the North Carolina line near Rod
uco and Winton. W. R. L. Taylor of
Norfolk spoke in behalf of the resi
dents of the White Marsh road, the
line to connect with North Carolina
at Corapeake.
J. H. Corbitt represented the
Hosier road which also connects with
North Carolina at Corapeake. Lee
Britt read a message from the North
Carolina State Highway Commission
er Hart telling that the road from
Sunbury to Corapeake had already
been allocated. Mr. Hart in Otis
communication advised that link be
tween Roduco and Virginia State line
has not been let.
Sentiment in this auction is divided
between the Whaleyville-Somerton
route and the route by Meadow road,
Cyprees Chapel and Corapeake.
VtSITING RELATIVES
Mrs. H. 8. Basnight and daughter,
Miss Ethel Basnight left Thursday to
spend some time with relatives in
Elisabeth City and Creswell.
Drainage Is blow
A Big Problem
Hertford County Becoming In
terested in Reclaiming
Uncultivated Lands
Ahoslrie persons, and landowners
throughout the county are interested
in any scheme to provide intelligent
drainage of swamp and lowlands to
the point where the acreage becomes
profitable farming lands. There has
been more or less agitation from time
to time for the undertaking of a few
drainage projects in the county, es
pecially along the run of Ahoslde
swamp, but no concerted action has
been taken.
Over in Gates County and the
other counties beyond the Chowan,
several large projects are already
under way, some of which have been
completed, and the land turned into
profitable farming lands.
Increasing interest in the drainage
movement will result from the an
nouncement published below, and
which was furnished to the HERALD,
by Hon. Jno. H. Small, president of
the Drainage Association: ?
"Through your courtesy I am tak
ing this opportunity of calling atten
tion to the meeting of- the North Car
olina Drainage Association in New
Bern next week on Wednesday the
18th. Every intelligent owner of
land appreciates the relation of effi
cient drainage to crop production, to
public health and to the construction
of public roads. A large portion of
our lands in Eastern North Carolina
require drainage and consist of some
of our most fertile soils. We have
been accustomed in the past to think
of drainage only in connection with
cut-over swamp lands, but these con
stitute only a part of the problem.
Many farms, some of which have been
cultivated for generations, have never
been effectively drained, with the re
sult that crop production is very fre
quently impaired, with occasional to
tal destruction. Under a wise drain
age law, districts have been formed
and more than five hundred thousand
acres of waste, lajids have been re
claimed and made valuable. But the
movement is only well started. Just as
the drainage law contemplates co
operation between a number of land
owners, so can this movement be ear
ried forward successfully only by co
operative efforts of intelligent citi
zens. The State Drainage Associa
tion furnishes the means for this civic
cooperation. There should be a large
attendance at New Bern. A most
interesting program has been arrang
ed."
SCHOOL EXERCISES
' BEGIN HERE APRIL 29th
Rev. Q. C. Devi., Albermarle, N. C.,
Will Dtliw Commencement
Addresi
After two weeks and two days,
there will be no more going to school
in Ahoskie until the 1923-24 session
opens next September. Commence
ment exercises will begin at tha. Ahos
kie High School, April 29, and will
cover a period of four days, ending
May 2mi.
Rev. Q. C. Davis of Albemarle,
formerly pastor of the Wiindsor Bap
tist church, will deliver the address
to the graduating class. Professor
Raynor tried to prevail upon Dr. W. L.
Potest, president of Wake Forest Col- ,
lege, to come here, but owing to other
engagements Dr. Potest could not
come. Reverend Davis is one of the ,
State's popular commencement speak
ers.
For the first time in several years, '
the boys will divide honors with their '
sisters in the number in the senior ,
class. Sixteen boys and girls will re
ceive their diplomas during com
mencement, and the number is equally '
divided between boys and girls.
Further announcements of the ex- '
ercises to be given will appear in |
subsequent issues of the HERALD. '
CYRUS BAZEMORE HERE
Cyrus Basemore, young Univer
sity student, dpent last Saturday and
Sunday In Ahoskie, leaving Sunday
for Chapel Hill, to resume his work
after the Easter holidays. Cyrus 1
formerly worked in the HERALD of- i
flee. He is now attending the State I
University, and during the odd times
is working in a newspaper office in 1
Chapel HilL A few weeks ago, the <
"little" finger onjiis right hand was i
amputated on account of being caught <
in belting. i
BUILDING AND LOAN
TO BEQNJUSINESS
Meeting Being Held In Richard
Theater Today for Stock
Subscription
o'? ,
ASSOCIATION STARTS
OFF VERY FAVORABLY
More than 250 shares have el
ready been assured to the first
saries of stock issued by tho
Hartford Couaty Building A
Loan Association. About forty
business man attended tha moot
ing hero Thursday afternoon,
and practically every one pres
ent became stockholders. Mr.
Ceghill explained tha features of
tho association thoroughly, fol
lowing which a canvassing com
mittee was appointed to solicit
further stock.
Tha committee is composed of
Roe. E. J. I son bower. Dr. L. K.
Walker, Frank Moadows, R. H.
Jernigan, V. D. Strickland, J as.
1. Crawford, Dan P. Boyette.
The books will bo open until
tho last day of this month for
subscriptions.
A permanent organization will
not ha effected until five hundred
shares have boon subscribed.
When the shares have been sub
scribed a mooting of all stock
holders will be called and the di
rectors elected.
T^he Hertford County Build
ing & Loan Association, with its
principal offices at Ahoskie, is
now a body corporate and is
functioning in high gear. The
initial series is now open for
subscription, and tW certifi
cates will be dated April 1,
which throws it right at the be
ginning of thje calendar quar
ter.
This afternoon, Mr. C. W.
Coghill, an authority on build
ing and loan association work,
is in Ahoskie speaking to a
mass meeting of citizens and
those who expect to be future
citizens on the why and where
fore of stock in a Building &
Loan Association. The meet
ing is being held at the Richard
Theater, and the publicity giv- >
en the gathering is expected to
bring out- large numbers.
Ninety-five shares have already
been subscribed to the first aeries, by
the eight incorporators, and two
others who are non-residents of the
town and who did not want to miss an
opportunity to get a share of the first
stock issued. The subscription books
will be formally opened today and ;
stock solicited from all those who at- i
tend the meeting. Later a canvassing (
committee will be appointed to work j
among those who did not have the op- |
portunity to attend the meeting, giv- ,
ing all a chance to subscribe to this ,
distinctly home enterprise, which is
working for home interests alone. ,
Directors will be named at today's ,
meeting, and they will be twelve in |
number, according to the provisions ,
of the tentative by-laws and constitu- ]
tion. Immediately after their elec- j
tion by those who subscribe, a direc- ,
tor's meeting will be held, and officers j
of the association elected. The di
rectors will also probably choose a j
secretary-treasurer of the association, (
make arrangements for an office, and ,
otherwise get things in shape for a
properly functioning building and ,
loan association. j
The association is county-wide in i
Its scope, and it is very probable that I
subscribers from other towns in the (
county and among the farmers will t
he sought. The interest in Ahoskie <
Is growing stronger, and the associa- t
don is beginning business nnder the |
most favorable circumstances of any 1
local organisation of recent date.
-? ?? ?
FREIGHT RECEIPTS LARGER >
_____ 4
According to reports made last '
week of the receipts and disburse- 1
ments at the local A.C.L freight of
Sce, the total business fdr March,
1923, exceeded that of March, 1922, 1
by mors than 318,000. Clerks in the I
office say business is growing steadily, I
ind the increases are larger than any <
other "period during the life of the i
office. 11
Will Select Candidates
By Convention, April 19
'' i _________
Three Councilman, A Mayor and Constable, and Three School
Trustees Will Be Elected May 7?Two Highest Candi
dates at Convention Will Run It Off in Election
?Little Interest Has Been Shown
There will be an old-time nominating convention in the
W. O. W Hull, Thnrn^fiy n!ghtt April tt*, Ht, Which lime voters
of the town of Ahoskie and also those of the Ahoskie school
district will select candidates for the town and district election
called for May 7. At a joint meeting of the town council and
trustees of the school last Friday evening, the convention method
was unanimously chosen.
To give every qualified voter an opportunity to vote and to
make the race for office more competitive, the two nominees at
the convention receiving the highest votes will be certified as
candidates for the election May 7, and wifl run it off then. In
other words, there will be six candidates for the council, two for
mayor, two for constable, and six for trustees declared nominees
at the convention. All persons otherwise qualified to vote for
members of the General Assembly and who have resided in the '
town six months are entitled to vote at the convention.
***#? + + *? + #**#*?**
* MONUMENT FUND *
* STILL GROWING *
* ______ ?
* Mrs. R. C. Bridger, U. D. C. *
* District Leader, announces the *
* receipt of $8.45 addition to the ?
* fupd bow being raised for erect- *
* ing a monument en tbe court- *
* bouse lawn at Wiaton, in mem- *
* orjr of Hertford County's dead *
* in tbe World War. Thefellow- ?
* lag persons contributed te tbe *
* fund mentioned abovei *
* Rot. i. L. Saunders $1.00 *
* Miss Julia Cobb 1.00 *
* St. Johns School 5.00 ?
* Holly Spring School 1.45 ?
* Last Saturday was Tag Day *
* in Ahoskie, the proceeds from *
* the sale of 250 printed tags go- *
* ing to tbe fund. The Abosbie *
* chapter fostered the Tag Day *
* program, and readers of yellow *
* tags were much in evidence on *
* streets of Ahoskie last Saturday. *
* Tbe exact amount raised here *
* has not been make known to this *
* office, but it is safe to say $10 or *
* 15 was raised by the sale of tags. *
* August 23rd is the day the *
* U. D. C. wants to unveil this *
* marker, and those wlm expect *
* to give something to tbe fund can *
* help the cause along by doing it *
* now,-to insure tbe cost of erect- *
* ion. ?
lessee eeeeeeeeeees
ROBBERS WERE BUSY
HERE WEDNESDAY
Robbers of a discriminating kind
twisted four iron bars encasing the
rear window of J. L. Perkins A Sons'
store here Wednesday night, and
prizing np the window which was
locked, entered the building to in
spect the stock of men's furnishings
snd shoes carried in that place of bus
iness. Mr. Hite, manager of the
store, was in Greenville at the time
and had left the store in charge of
T. C. Jenkins.
When Mr. Jenkins came down
Thursday morning, he found the win
low up, bars twisted, and several
pairs of shoes strewed about the
lloor, with a suit or two of clothes
lying about on the counters. Close
inspection of the stock on hand has
revealed an approximate loss of about
(150.
The robbers evidently were seek
ng only a few choice articles, as they
lid not make away with much of the
itock, although it was badly deranged.
This is the second or third attempt
it robbery of this store, their ef
forts having been thwarted at prev
ous trials through watchman placed
here to discover the whereof of
racks soon around the rear of the
itore. Mr. Hite is offering a reward
?f $100 for the capture or informa
he exact amount taken.
Jon leading to the capture of the
obbers.
On the same night the local store
if Pender's was burglarized, and an
indetermined amount of groceries
sainwd off. An inventory of the
itock ts now ia progress to ascertain
he exact amohnt taken.
Of the 1S10 students enrolled at
he North Carolina State College,
151 are taking some of the agricul
sural courses. This is over 42 per
sent, and looks good for the future of
irogreasive farming in North Caro
ina.
Paul W. Hollo man is acting regis
trar for the town and school district
and the books are open for new reg
istrant*. There are many women in
the town who hare not registered and
who would be entitled to rote for
both town and school officials. An
effort will he made to get the women
on the books, and elicit their interest
in the affairs of town and school.
Three trustees will be elected this
year, all to serve six years. The terms
of Dr. Paul Mitchell and Mr. a J.
Dilday expire this spring; and the of
fice vacated by L. C. Williams, who
resigned to become mayor of Ahoskie,
will be filled. This vacancy will be
for two years, or the unexpired term
of Mayor Williams.
With a convention already called,
an election in prospect, and registra
tion ^ooks open, al| the fixings for the
.selection of officers are in shape. A
scarcity of candidates is the only
proposition now facing the town and
district, and in that respect, there la
plenty of conjecture, but no avowed
candidates who want the places. Net
a single person has announced a can
didacy, and none of the present offi
cers, of town and district, has stated
whether he will accept or decline the
tender of office, were it made to him
at the convention. .
In the meaptime, a few names
have been suggested for the town
officers. There have been no new
names suggested for the councilmen
places, except those mentioned in a
previous issue of the HERALD. Be
sides the present members, H. S. Bas
night and J. Bailey Barnes were ad
vanced. If they want the places, lit
tle indication has been made by them.
L. C. Williams, incumbent, R. H. Jer
nigan, attorney W. R. Johnson, and
J. R. Garrett have all been mentioned
as possible candidates for mayor.
Mr. Garret says he can accomplish
more by holding to the office of
county road commissioner, and there
by is eliminated from the race. Mr.
Jernigan is at present holding office
as school trustee, and to become
mayor would relinquish the former
office. Whether he would swap
places is not known, butfentiment for .
him as mayor has grown since the first
intimation of his being nominated.
Attorneys Williams and Johnson
would be eligible to the office upon
the grounds of nomination.
Who the constable will be is little
discussed, although the office has be
come an important one, in which the
voters should take an interest.
Turning from the municipal offices
to the trustee election, there appears
little or no interest in selection of
candidates. It is highly probable that
the present incumbents may be re
nominated and elected. However,
there ie seme reason to believe two
or three women will be nominated
next Thursday night at the conven
tion.
Women voters have heretofore
shown more interest in .the school
election and at the election two years
ago, women candidates were on the
ticket Six. years ago, or before the
constitutional amendment providing
for equal suffrage, Mrs. C. C. Bog
gard was a nominee; but her right to
hold the office was ruled unconstitu
tional.
MISS WILLIAMS HERE
Miaa Mary Willams, county rural
supervisor, apent Wadneaday In
Aboakia, obaarrlnjt work of the
teacher* in the local school.