Most Of The News
All The Time
THE STATE PORT PILOT
Volume No. 17
No. 31
_A Good Newspaper
6-Poges Today SOUTHPORT, N. C
W
h
EfJDAY,
A Good Community
FEBRUARY 13, 1957
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
The Pilot Covers
Brunswick County
SI.50 PER YEAR
Legislature Now
Ready To Tackle
Business Load
Brunswick County Repre
sentative Makes Report Of
First Week Of 1957 Ses
sion Of General Assem
bly
EXPECTS COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS SOON
Principal Activities During
The First Week Center
ed Around Inauguration
And Attending Social
Functions
(Editor’s Note: Represent
ative James C. Bowman says
that it is his purpose to make
a weekly report to the citi
zens of Brunswick county on
the progress of the 1957 Leg
islature, with particular em
phasis upon that phase of the
program that directly affects
residents of this area. This
is the first of his weekly re
ports.)
By JAS. C. BOWMAN
It is my intention to prepar
a report to the people of Bruns
wick County each week during thi
entire session of this legislature
These reports will, of course
cover matters of general interest
but will deal principally wit!
those items of legislation and oth
er of my activities that particular
ly effect oilr county, either direct
ly or indirectly. The purpose oi
these reports will be to keep oui
people as fully informed as pos
sible of matters before the Legis
lature that are of interest to our
county. In this way, it is my hope
that you will be in a position to
give me the benefit of your sug
gestions, ideas, and reactions to
matters before the Legislature on
which I will be required to vote.
The occasion will, of course, arise
when the, people of our county
will not agree among themselves
as to which course of action I
Bhould take on individual items
of legislation. In such instances,
I shall have to determine, from
all information available to me,
which course of action will bene
fit the greatest number of our
citizens. Accordingly, I hope that
you too, in advising me, will con
sider first the best interests of
the county as a whole and last,
your individual and personal likes
and dislikes.
Very little was accomplished
during this last week’s session,
the entire time being devoted pri
marily to social functions and fes
tivities relating to the inaugura
tion of Governor Hodges. I wish
that all of you could have heard
his inaugural address. It was most
inspiring and left little doubt of
the Governor’s sincere determina
tion to dedicate himself to the
Continued On Page Four
Brief Bitt Of
lnewsj
BACK ON DUTY
William Houghton, safety of
ficer at Sunny Point, returns to
duty Thursday, following a two
weeks sick leave.
IN AIRBORNE
James H. Ward, son of Mr. and
Mrs. James D. Ward of South
port, entered the service on Jan
uary 21, in the Airborne. He is
at Fort Jackson, S. C., for his
basic training.
CHURCH CENSUS
Persons from the various
churches in Southport who have
agreed to help with- the religious
census on Sunday, February 24,
are asked to meet this Sunday
afternoon at 2 o’clock at Trinity
Methodist Church for instructions.
DEAN’S I.IST
Miss Frances Ann Stanley,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Law
rence Vernon Stanley of Shallotte,
is on the deans list at Mars Hill
College for the first semester.
Miss Stanley is a sophomore at
the Baptist Junior College.
RECEIVES DISCHARGE
Agnew Fulcher, telephone man
2nd class, in the Navy, has com
pleted his four year enlistment
and is at home here with his
mother, Mrs. Maxine Fulcher. He
will work this summer and states
that he plans to go to Colorado
in the fall and enter school there.
OLD TAGS GOING OUT
Old North Carolina automobile :
tags, go out of style Friday of j
this week, according to patrol of- ’
ficers. In fact, they are already
out of style but owners of cars
have been allowed a bit of grace— 1
until Friday, February 15. After 1
that date cars with 1956 tags *
will be halted by the officers. 11
Winter Harvest
PULPWOOD—During the winter months many Bruns
wick county landowners supplement their income by cut
tmg and selling pulpwood from their farms. Thinninp
and culling processes result in a good supply of wood be
ing sent to the paper mills.
Camellia Blooming
Reaches Its Peak
Tr*P To Orton Plantatio
This Week Reveals Wea!
th Of Beauty From Thes
Exotic Flowers
NO SERIOUS COLD
DAMAGE THUS FA1
Flower Lovers Who Appre
ciate Camellias Urged To
Visit Plantation Gard
ens Within Next
Few Days
By W. B. KEZIAH
Orton Plantation Gardens hav
never before had so many per
feet camellia blossoms as the;
have in bloom this week.
With a fair idea of what thi
flowers look like after the pasi
few weeks of mild weather this
reporter decided to visit Ortor
Monday to get an on-the-scen<
report.
The new highway from th<
junction of the Sunny Point roac
on highway 87 around to highwaj
130 at Orton was a treat to rids
over, and approaching Orton thf
hundreds of wild ducks in the
lakes stood out as something re
moved from flowers, but decided
ly interesting.
At the ticket office Mrs. Joe
Ramsaur, the secretary, stated
that the ducks would be around
until late March. She pointed out
that in addition to the ducks we
had seen coming in there were
thousands of them in the marsh
in front of Orton and that some
of them would even be seen on the
grounds as we looked around at
the flowers.
This was no understatement. A
dozen or more black ducks or
mallards were seen in the flowers,
200 feet from the Orton House.
They did not bother to take wing,
just waddled off in front of the
visitors to the nearby water,
where they began swimming
around without showing a trace
of fear.
Naturally, there were no azaleas
(Continued On Page Pourj
Prominent Man
Dies In Raleigh
Benjamin Clyde Williams,
Former Superintendent Of
County Home And Mem
ber Of Board Of Commis
sioners, Passes
Benjamin Clyde Williams, “Mr.
Bennie”, to hundreds of Brunswick
county citizens who knew and re
spected him, died Monday in a
italeigh hospital where he had
ieen a patient for some time. He
vas 65-years old.
At one time Mr. Williams was
i member of the Brunswick coun
ty board of commissioners. Prior
.o that he had served for several
('ears as keeper of the county
lome. He was born and reared
n Shallotte township, midway be
:ween Shallotte and Shallotte
Village Point, spending his entire
ife there with the exception of a
:ew years at Southport.
Funeral services are being held
:his afternoon at 2 o’clock from
he Village Point Methodist
Church, where he held member
ship throughout his life. The serv
ces are being conducted by the
sastor, Rev. Travis Owens. Burial
vill be in the Gurganus Ceme
ery.
The deceased is survived by hie
vidow, Mrs. Annie F. Ludlum
Villiams, and by one brother,
Uexander Williams, ©f Village
>ohvt.
n
*
e Hungarian Relief
Results Reported
i
The Hungarian Relief effort
made in Southport through
the protestant churches re
sulted in cash donations of
$236.56 and 356 pounds of
warm, servicable clothing,
given during and subsequent
to the Christmas season.
Of the amount donated,
i $22 was used for postage for
the clothing and various ship
r ping costs. This left $214.56
that was sent to the Church
! World Service to aid in the
shipment surplus food, etc.
Since each $1 provided '
transportation for $44 worth
of food, the Southport people,
through their churches, paid
the transportation on $9,
440.64 worth of food for the
Hungarian refugees, accord
ing to Mrs. Joseph McLeod,
wife of the Presbyterian min
ister.
Numerous Cases
Tried In Court
Lengthy Docket Disposed
Of In Recorder’s Court
Monday Before Judge
Earl Bellamy
A long list of cases were dis
posed of here in Brunswick coun
ty Recorder’s court Monday,' with
the following judgements being
handed down:
Henry Edison Bozeman, drunk
driving, fined $100 and costs.
John T. Potts, speeding, fined
$10 and costs.
Andrew Landon Jenkins, im
proper equipment, fined $10 and
costs.
John Mack Young, drunk driv
ing, possession, fined $125 and
costs.
William R. Bellamy, carnal
knowledge, probable cause found
and defendant held for Superior
court under $500 bond.
Eleanor F. Williams, speeding,
fined $10 and costs.
Tommie C. Britt, improper
equipment, fined $10 and costs.
Aubrey Lee Bellamy, driving
too fast for conditions, taxed with
costs
Aj.nie Lee Bryant, imp oper
equipment, not guilty.
William Cade Blake, failing to
give proper signal, taxed with
costs, notice of appeal, bond set
at $100.
William T. Caison, speeding,
fined $15 and costs.
Joseph Hanson Gause, speeding,
fined $15 and costs.
Percy R. Hewett, driving too
fast for conditions, taxed with
costs.
Francis T. Hollis, no operator’s
license, fined $25 and costs.
Joseph B. Hickman, driving fco
fast for conditions and operating
on wrong side of road, fined $10
and costs.
Marcus K. Ennis, speeding, fined
$10 and costs.
John Whitman McEeachern, im
proper left turn, fined $10 and
costs.
Robert Milligan, assault with
deadly weapon, profane language,
six months on the roads, suspend
ed on good behavior for two years
and paying the eqsts of court
action.
Joe Neil Smith, reckless opera
tion, fined $25 and costs.
(Continued on rage Four)
Farm Economy
Brought Befi
Area Commil
Leaders From Seven
ties Comprising SENw
Development Councif t
In Wilmington On Fi
NEW DEVELOPMEN1
ARE IN PROSI
Columbus County L«|r
Stresses Importance
Industrial Expansion
Help Boost Income
Nearly a score of leaders:;
the seven county SENCland
velopment association's agjl
ture division tackled the fafjg
problems of the area at a
mg Friday in Wilmington
Henry B. Wyche, Whiteville
er, and William T. Chaffin,
gaw, assistant county ager
co-chairmen.
Pinpointed were the pro
of swine marketing and
marketing—-the problem, td
uniform payment on a
weight basis; eggs—develo^nt
of more production througian
association marketing unde* an
area brand name.
Out of the meeting can
information that things ca
better for the farmers in
eastern North Carolina if f j'l
work for it.
Wyche noted, “At least or
the big frozen food comf
wants to locate in this are
is ideal for them from a
portation and marketing
tion. But they need a guar
of 5,000 acres of truck.”
R. M. Lefler, Willard
farmer, reported:
“Sealtest in Wilmington vifcnt
to see, in the next five years 5
Continued On Page Two
Fire Protection
Is Emphasised
Controlled Burning Ch ;r
Portions Of Sunny Poi »t
Reservation Will He p
Prevent Forest Fires
Carrying out the now we 1
established system uf complete
ficency in fire protection, forces
at SPAT have cleared out a id
burned over 100-acres of bru h
and undergrowth during the pa >t
month.
The system that they are fc I
lowing is known as controls d
burning, and with ample work© s
it is carried on to a degree thi .t
the average landowner could hari 1
ly hope to use on his lands.
In brief, all trash and worthless
undergrowth is cut down, piled up
and burned at points where the
fire will do no damage to the
good growing trees. Things are
now getting around to where a
visitor sees a nice, thriving patch
of woods with the tract of land
on which the trees are growing
clean and having nothing on which
a fire can fed and spread to dan
ger points.
Lt. Col. W. J. Besser announced
this past week that to facilitate
getting about on the fire trailfc
and lanes, four new jeeps havte
just been received and are proving
very useful.
All-Star Coach
COACH T. M. LEE of South
port, whose record of being one
of the most successful athletic
instructors in Brunswick county
has earned for him a place on
the three-man coaching staff for
the East team in the annual Star
News all-star basketball tourna
ment, which is to be held in Wil
mington next month. Meanwhile.
Coach Lee is preparing his char
ges for the Brunswick County
Tournament.
Sign-Up For Soil
Bank Continues
In This County
It
Iireage All Gone,
It Applications Are
ing Recorded
: county farmers con
ike their way to the
it Supply to make ap
• Soil Bank payments,
he funds allocated for
been exhausted. How
,m officials invite far
vish to participate to
tames at the county
point out that there
itt-y that funds unused
by other counties for the Cotton
Acreage Reserve program may be
reallocated. If this is done, farm
ers will be signed in the order
that their names are listed at
the ASC office.
Participation in the Tobacco
Acreage Reserve program con
(Continued on page four)
Caswell Manager
Visits Southport
Fred J. Smith Says That
Plans Are Being Discuss
ed For Operation Of Bap
tist Assembly Here This
Summer
Activities at Caswell Baptist
! Assembly will begin about the
: first of March. The new general
! manager, Fred J. Smith of Ra
; leigh, was here this past week
| and he stated that he and Mrs.
! Smith and their two sons will be
i moved in by that time.
Asked regarding tne plans for
this year, he stated that he had
thus far not completed all of the
plans. However, he will write this
paper in detail in a few days, out
lining such matters as can be re
leased at this time. Smith also
(Continued on Page 4)
W. B.
Our
ROVING
Reporter
The writer of this column is al
ways pleased to hear from former
residents of Southport and Bruns
wick county, people whose voca
tions have called them to live
elsewhere. A great many such
folks are regular subscribers to
the paper and they are still in
terested in the town and county.
Hearing from them provides the
opportunity to say a few words
in tire paper and as we go by
the belief that everybody has
friends, we take it for granted
that there are plenty of people
back here at home who will be
interested in seeing something
about their absent friend or
friends. Address your communica
tions to either The Rovin’ Report
er or Bill Keziah.
For weeks various sources have
milt up gloomy pictures among
farm folks as a' result of tlie big
surplus of tobacco now existing
ind the evident necessity of cur
tailing the crop in 1957. It is
either that, or all out efforts to
produce only tobacco grades that
are in demand. Despite all of the
talk and the real need to do some
thing, our observation is that
Brunswick county growers are not
really worried. They have had bad
outlooks before at crop planting
time—and they always came
through all right. We have enough
confidence in Brunswick fanners
and tobacco growers to believe
they will come through again this
year.
The contrast between Bruns
wick county farm homes and
farms of today and those of a
dozen years ago is amazing to
those who take the trouble to
look back now and recall what
they found at the same places
just a few years ago. One seldom
finds an unpainted farm home or
one without good farm machinery
stored or in the fields working.
The farm lands, too, have under*
continued On Page Two
Winter Fishing
May Help Summer
Trips To Red Snapper Fishing Grounds May Result In
Improvement In Summer Sports Fishing
The greatest sport fishing
grounds off Southport may not
have been discovered and develop
ed yet and it may take faster
boats than we now have to do the
trick.
Out there in the warm waters
of the gulf stream fishermen say
they find everything in game fish
and really big specimens. Crew
men with Capt. Walter Lewis on
the John-EUen say that last week
they saw plenty of dolphin 5 and
six feet in length. They were en
gaged in commercial work, taking
the big red snapper and had no
time or tackle to fool with the
game fish.
Sharks were also abundant. As
one of the crewmen said, “Every
thing, including fish and warm
water, was out there.”
One boatman had a theory that
with winter the game fish just
move back deep in the gulf stream
from its fringes, where most of
the Southport sport fishing is
done in the spring and summer.
In the spring they come in again
and are ready for the sportsmen
from a closer distance. He was
sure they could be caught in win
ter if parties cared to go far oul
into the gulf stream.
In any cause, the red snapper
fishing that has been carried on
this winter has revealed what the
boatmen think is wonderful win
ter sport fishing grounds, in ad
dition to vast areas of red snap
per grounds for commercial fish
ing. The snapper grounds will not
provide just seasonal fishing. They
are good for the year round when
the weather will permit these fish
being taken and when there is a
market for them.
The market is pretty good right
now. The crew of one boat that
was out for three days and nights
last week say that they were paid
off at the rate of $150 for their
time.
The snapper fishing is not so
expensive as it is made out to be.
The boats must have fathometers
and some other equipment, includ
ing rigs. For bait they only need
a fish to start with. A grouper,
cut into sizable hunks, will pro
vide enough bait for hundreds of
pounds of red snappers. Any sort
of fish, including snapper cut into
hunks, provides a very acceptable
bait.
Town Of
Takes On
New System For
Reporting Fires
Ormond Leggett, chief of
the Southport Volunteer Fire
Department, has announced a
change in telephone calls that
will insure authorized persons
of receiving calls for the fire
trucks under all conditions,
day or night.
In reporting fires the num
ber is still 2671. However, this
number rings 3 phones, one at
the fire station, with an extra
large bell, one at police head
quarters and the other at the
city hall.
The number 2671 at the city
hall will ohly ring through
out the day, but the other
two will ring day or night and
will be answered. Calls can
not be made from any of the
three phones, but they will
all be answered, day or night.
Just call 2671 when you have
a fire to report. You will get
an answer.
Southport Club
Women On Tour
First Group Of Ladies To
Have Conducted Tour Of
Sunny Point Army Term
inal
About fifty members of the
Southport Woman’s Club were
guests of the Sunny Point Army
Terminal on Wednesday of last
week. Mrs. E. J. Prevatte, presi
dent, conducted a short business
session at the luncheon meeting
which was held in the Terminal
cafeteria.
A briefing session was conduct
ed by Col. W. F. Murphy, execu
tive officer, assisted by Major
Leslie R. Bellows and Col. W. A.
Besser, after which the ladies
were taken in official cars for a
tour of the holding yards, wharves
and the perimeter road.
The following club members
made the tour: Miss Lottie Mae
Newton, Mi's. Merle Hood, Mrs.
Worth Want—Mrs. Harry Weeks,
Mrs. E. J Prevatte, Mrs. A. E.
Huntley, Mrs. William Besser,
Mrs. C. Ed Taylor, Mrs. E. B.
Bin-son, Mrs. Roy Robinson, Mis.
Bobby Jones, Mrs. R. L. Jones,
Mrs. Guy Garrett, Mrs. Phi] King.
Mrs G. W. McGlamery, Miss An
nie M. Newton, Mrs. Rich St.
George, Mrs. H. B. Smith, Mrs.
N. M. Hornstein, Mrs. A. W.
Blake, Mrs. James M. Harper,
Jr., Mrs. Charles Aldridge, Mis
Christine Frink, Mrs. Harold St.
George, Mrs. Jack Reavis, Mrs.
E. C. Blake, Mrs. A. H. Cromer,
Mrs. Clinton Bellamy, Mrs. J. C.
Sanders, Mrs. F. M. Burdette,
Mrs. Robert Thompson, Mrs. Fred
Willing, Mrs. Eugene Tomlinson,
and Mrs. Vienna Leggett.
Guest9 for this occasion includ
Continued On Page Four#.
Shallotte
New Look
* Buildings Being Moved
Back Off Right-Of-Way
On U. S. 17 And Some
Landmarks Being Demol
ished
CONSTRUCTION CREWS
ADDING TO ACTIVITY
Telephone Construction Out
fit Moving In To Begin
Operations Through
out Area
Important changes continue to
be made in the appearance of the
town of Shallotte, particularly in
tlie business district, as right of
way clearance for widening U. S.
No. 17 progresses.
This week the Coast Road Serv
ice Station, long one of the land
marks in Shallotte, is being de
molished. Other smaller buildings
have been picked up and moved
from their former location to an
other part of town.
In several instances it was pos
sible to clear the right of way by
removing the front section of
some of the buildings and adding
new fronts. This has been done
at the D. C. Andrews store, the
Shallotte Hardware Co., at Shal
lotte threate and at the buildings
owned by Eli Kravitz. A similar
operation will be carried out at
the Red and White grocery and
at the Russ and Holden building.
The Woodrow Russ Service Sta
tion east of town has been torn
down.
Workmen have started clearing
the right of way for a portion
of the re-routed highway, which
will take off from a point on the
causway over Shallotte river and
Continued On Page Four)
Busy Schedule
At Sunny Point
Present Outlook Is For Con
siderable Activity At Army
Terminal During Latter
Part Of This Month And
In March
Activity in shipping circles is
picking up, according to a report
this week from Lt. Col. William
Murphy. Three ships are due to
arrive for loads during the re
mainder of this month and three
more are scheduled for the month
of March.
It is pointed out that ships
occasionally arrive on shorter no
tice than is the case of most of
them. It is always possible that
others may come in during the
time.
Ships definitely scheduled for
February are the USNS Petersen,
aue on February 15; the John
Surgent on February 18; and the
-AKL.-17 on February 20. The
March arrivals, not yet identified
by names or scheduled dates, are
three ships that will take on full
loads.
The indications point to much
more frequent shipping in 1957
than was the case in 1956.
Volume Increase
In Red Snapper
Fishing Occurs
Two Boats From Southport
And One From Carolina
Beach Came In Friday
With Large Catches
LOCAL BOAT GETS
NEW EQUIPMENT
Belief Expressed That Snap
per Fishing May Develop
Into Big Business Dur
ing The Off-Season
By W. B. KEZIAH
Nine thousand pounds of red
snappers were brought in to
Southport Friday for packing and
the wholesale price to the boats
is expected to be $30 per hundred.
Only two of the boats were un
loaded here, however, as a short
age of boxes forced the James
Howard boat of Wrightsville to
lave her mooring at the Dallas
Pigott packing house and take
her catch of 3,000' pounds on
home.
Another boat out from South
port, advised of the boxing short
age here, went direct to Morehead
City with a catch of 2,000 pounds.
Captain Charles W. Blades of
Ocean City, Md., pioneer of the
snapper fishing at Southport and
working out from here since No
vember, took advantage of there
being enough boxes here to unload
his 3,000 pounds. Captain Walter
Lewis, who is now using his
sport fishing boat for snapper
fishing, came in very early in the
morning. He had a catch of on.y
1,000 pounds. His boat was not
equipped with a fathometer and
his early trip in was for the pur
pose of having the boat hauled
cut and a fathometer installed
that afternoon.
XI1CXC WdCS JSLI1I ctilU UlCl UUdt OUU
fiom Morehead City fishing on tha
grounds off Southport and sched
uled to return to Morehead City
with its load Saturday afternoon.
Except for being caught with
-a shortage of boxes when the un
expected number of boats were
bent on unloading their catches,
the Dallas Pigott packing house
here is said to be admirably
equipped for handling snappers
and icing the boats for return
trips. A big ice crusher can giird
and pour many tons of crushed
ice into the holds of the boats
within a few minutes.
The fishing grounds are credited
as being 30 to 45 miles nearer
Southport than they are to More
head City.
The snapper grounds are 45 to
55 miles of Southport. The boat
men say that the grounds are un
limited in its area and that the
fishing can be a year-round in
dustry. When he first came to
Southport and had his run over
the grounds two months ago, Cap
tain Blades stated, “The prospect
for snappers here is something
terrific.”
He was attracted to Morehead
City early in the fall, did some
fishing there and conceived his
own idea that there is better and
closer fishing off Southport. He
followed up this idea and found
even more than he expected. He
has a well-established sport and
party boat fishing business at
Ocean City, Maryland and needs
to be back there in the spring.
Next fall, however, he plans to
be back here and hopes to see a
regular fleet of local and Ocean
City boats fishing for snappers.
More boats than are available now
would permit direct shipping from
here by trucks to the eastern
markets.
Continued On Page »>ur
Tide Table
Following Is the tide table
for Southport during the next
week. These hours are ap
proximately correct and were
furnished The State Port Pilot
through the courtesy of the
Cape Fear Pilot’s Association.
High Tide Low Tide
Thursday, February 14,
7:33 A. M. 1:18 A. M.
8:00 P. M. 1:50 P. M.
Friday, February 15,
8:25 A. M. 2:11 A. M.
8:53 P. M. 2:39 P. M.
Saturday, February 16,
9:15 A. M. 3:01 A. M.
9:45 P. M. 3:26 P. M.
Sunday, February 17,
10:05 A. M. 3:53 A. M.
10:37 P. M. 4:14 P. M.
Monday, February 18,
10:55 A. M. 4:44 A. M
11:30 P. M. 5:02 P. M.
Tuesday, February 19,
11:45 A. M. 5:36 A. M
0:00 P. M. 5:53 P. M.
Wednesday, February 20,
0:26 A. M. 6:32 A. M.
12:38 P. M. 6:46 P. M.