VOLUME 39
SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1920.
Number 3.
YEAR IN SMITHFIELD
BEST IN ITS HISTORY
Many New Concerns Show the Pro
gressive Spirit of the town—Smith
field Building Syndicate a Great
Factor in the Town’s Growth for
1919—Veneer Products Company
Building Automobile Wheels of
Veneer—Ivanhoe Mills Planning to
Build No. Three—Austin-Stephen
son Company Erecting A Large
Three Story Department Store
Building—Other Signs of Progress.
The widespread move of prosperity
which has rolled over the entire coun
try since the war did not leave this
section untouched. The year 1919 has
been the best business year for Smith
field and this vicinity' in its history,
and the year 1920 will bring to frui
tion plans now on foot which will
mean much in every way to this com
munity.
One of the biggest propositions be
fore Smithfield early last year was
the housing proposition. There were
not enough houses here to house the
folks who wanted to come and make
their, home in our progressive little
city. This situation was met by sev
eral of our wide-awake and progres
sive citizens getting together and or
ganizing the Smithfield Building Syn
dicate. This organizatibn was formed
on Jan. 17, 1919, and was the first of
its kind in the State., The object of
this concern was to provide neat lit
tle homes at a reasonable price. No
time was lost in securing several sui
table residence lots and the contract
for the first lot of houses was let on
March 19, with the understanding that
they were to be finished by the first
of August. Up to January 1, 1920,
twelve nice five and six room bunga
lows had been built by the corpora
tion and occupied, while nine others
were under construction.
-A very important factor in provid
ing more houses here is the Smith
field Building and Loan Association.
At the beginning of 1919, this enter
prise had in force 2,273 shares. At the
close of the year there were 4,614
shares in force. Too much cannot be
said of the worth of a live and proper
ly managed building and loan asso
ciation for a good town.
In addition to the homes built in
the town during the past year by the
Smithfield Building Syndicate, there
have been something like twenty-five
or thirty nice homes built here. Some
of these homes are very nice ones,
costing all the v^ay from twelve thou
sand to twenty-five thousand dollars.
It has been a great year for the town.
What this year will bring forth re
mains to be seen. • All signs point to'
another great year. Since Christmas
a number of people have moved to the
town and community and today the
high school has ftn attendance of
. 110 pupils.
The chief new industry established
for the town during the year now past
is the Veneer Products Company. This
was organized a little more than a
year ago and has been the means of
attracting the eyes of the people of
the North and West toward Smithfield.
The capital stock of the company is
$175,000. Large brick buildings have
been constructed on the site of the
Rand and Lawrence lumber plant and
much costly machinery has been in
stalled. The company began building,
before the war closed, a large hydro
plane for the United States Govern
ment. This was finished during the
year and accepted by the Government.
Few people realize that a great big
flying machine that could stand the
test was made right here in Smith
fielS. Mr. Harry Atwood, aviation
engineer, planned the hydroplane
which was built under his supervision.
Mr. Atwood is president of the com
pany.
This company’s biggest interest is
to turn out veneer products. They
are now busy at work filling many
large orders for veneer automobile
wheels. The interest in these wheels
is growing. Tests have proven that
the veneer wheel is stronger than
many other kinds of wheels. Large
orders have been received for these
wheels from the big auto factories.
The tobacco interests have grown
by leaps and bounds. Two of the
warenouses greatly enlarged their
floor space during the year. The Ban
ner increased by almost one third.
The Farmers doubled its. floor space
last spring by building a large brick
addition at a cost of about twenty
thousand dollars. More tobacco has
been sold here during the present
season which is now drawing to a
close than was .ever sold here before.
The prices it has brought has been
astonishingly high and almost four
million dollars have been paid out
here for tobacco alone during the past
year.
The T. S. Ragsdale Company have
begun work on the new addition to
their large drying plant and stemmery
w’hich when completed will double the
capacity of the plant. One of the
large warehouses will soon add an
other brick section to their house.
The past year has been a prosper
ous one for the cotton mills of the
town. A few weeks ago the directors
of the Ivanhoe Manufacturing Com
pany met and ordered the erection of
a new eight hundred thousand dollar
mill between Smithfield and Four
Oaks to be known as Mill No. 3. The
machinery has already been bought
for this plant.
The Austin-Stephenson Company,
general merchants, have been com
pelled to make provision for larger
quarters to handle their large and
growing trade. A few months ago an
architect made plans which were ac
cepted for a three story department
store. The building which will face
Third street is to be 85 feet front and
210 feet deep. It is to be built of
steel and brick and is to be fire-proof.
This building will be the largest and
most complete in all its details of any
store house in the county. It will cost
about $125,000. Mr. Junius Peterson,
the contractor in charge, is already
pushing the work along as. rapidly as
he can with the present labor condi
tions. A large part of the material
is already on the grounds.
The organization of the Scotton
Motor Company marked a new step
for Smithfield. Several enterprising
men organized this company here
during the late summer with a capi
tal of $100,000. They have secured
a lot and plans and specifications have
been accepted for a $75,000 garage
and sales-rooms which will be built
during this year.
The Sanders Motor Company have
greatly enlarged their business dur
ing the year and have now under
course of construction a large and
commodious garage on the site of the
old Riverside Warehouse.
The wonderful progress of Smith
field during the past year has very
naturally had its effect on the prices
of real estate and property in the
town has more than doubled during
the year. The Union Auction Com
pany, owned and managed by citizens
of the town, has been organized, and
has sold more than three-quarters of
a million dollars worth of property,
town and rural, since October 1st.
Property in Smithfield is higher today
than ever before and the great de
mand for residences and store rooms
indicates that it is going to continue
high. ? •
One of the events of the year was
the Spring Ceremonial for Oasis
Temple of the Mystic Shrine which
was held hei'e last May. It was a big
success from every standpoint, more
than two thousand Shriners being en
tertained here. Since that day wher
ever you find a Shriner you find a
man who sings the praise of Smith
field.
Not only has the commercial inter
ests of Smithfield grown, but the
t school has grown to spell proportions
that a new building is imperative. A
number of the grades are working a
double session this year, and this sys
tem will prevail throughout the
grades next year. Plans are under
way for a new building.
This review just hits the high plac
es. One has only to visit this little
city to be convinced that this—the
center of one of the big.agricultural
counties of the state, with its manu
facturing interests, with its tobacco
market, with its splendid school, with
its five or more churches, and with
its fine citizenship, is the garden spot
of eastern Carolina.
PROHIBITION WINS VICTORY.
Supreme Court Decides That Congress
Has Right Define Intoxicating
Liquors—Court Decides Five To
Four for Prohibition Act.
By a margin of one vote the su
preme court Monday upheld the right
of congress to define intoxicating
liquors, in so far as applied to war
time prohibition.
In a five to four opinion rendered
by Associate Justice Brandeis the
court sustained the constitutionality
of provisions in the Volstead prohibi
tion enforcement act prohibiting the
manufacture and sale of beverages
containing one-half of 1 per cent, or
more of alcohol. Associate Justice
Day, Van Devanter, McReynolds and
Clarke dissented.
Validity of the federal prohibition
constitutional amendment a»d of por
tions of the Volstead act affecting its
enforrement was not involved in the
proceedings, but the opinion was re
garded as so sweeping as to leave lit
tle hope among “wet” adherents.
The “wets,” however, received a
brief ray of hope when shortly after
wards Associate Justice Day in an
unanimous opinion sustained the dis
missal of indictments brought under
the war time prohibition act against
the Standard Brewery of Baltimore
and the American Brewing company
of New Orleans for manufacturing
2.75 beer before the Volstead act was
passed.—Associated Press.
Under government encouragement
Korea’s cotton crop was increased to
nearly 80,000,000 pounds last year and
an annual production of 250,000,000
pounds in a few years is expected.
TO AID CAUSE OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Governor Bickett Issues a Proclama
tion Setting Apart Sunday, January
18, As Law Enforcement Day and
Calls on the Ministers to Cooperate
With the Officers in Enforcing the
Prohibition Laws.
The question of law enforcement is
to have special emphasis during the
next few weeks. The Nation will be
declared a prohibition nation on Jan
uary 16, by the Amendment to the
National Constitution which has been
adopted by the union of States. The
great campaign for the enforcement
of the prohibition laws is now on and
Governor Bickett is lending his aid to
this movement by issuing a proclama
tion declaring Sunday, January 18, as
“Law Enforcement Day.” His proc
lamation reads as follows:
“On January 16th, 1920, according
to the action of the citizens of this
nation, the fundamental policy of this
Government regarding the liquor traf
fic will change and, according to pur
Federal Constitution, it will be un
lawful to manufacture, sell, transport,
import, or export intoxicating liquors
for beverage purposes in the United
States. Under the provisions of the
law-enforcement code passed by Con
gress October 28th, 1919, the Internal
Revenue Department *is charged with
the enforcement of this law, and Mr.
Roper, the head of this department,
is appealing to citizens and State of
ficers to give the Federal officers full
co-operation in this work.
“Now, therefore, I, Thomas, Walter
Bickett, Governor of North Carolina,
by virtue of the authority vested in
me, do hereby proclaim that Sunday,
January 18th, be set apart as “Law
Enforcement Day,” and I request that
the ministers of the State, on that
day, read this proclamation to their
congregations and call on them to co
operate with the officers for the en
forcement of our National and State
anti-liquor laws.
“Done at our city of Raleigh, this
the 6th day of January, in the year
of our Lord, one thousand nine hun
dred and twenty and in the one hun
dred and forty-fourth year of our
American Independence.”
ANTIOCH NEWS.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hogg and daugh
ter, Miss Mamie, and Mr. Riners Gai
ney of Hartsville, S. C., spent last
week m this community visiting rela
tives.
Mr. and Mrs. Loomis Strickland of
the Emit section spent Monday night
in our community the guests of Mr.
and Mrs. ft. H. Creech.
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Creech and fam
ily of Kenly spent the week end in
this community visiting relatives.
Mrs. C. H. Freeman is spending this
week with Mrs. Julius Williams near
Wendell.
Miss Jessie Narron who has been
in school at Hemp has returned to her
home in Dixie.
Mr. Donnie Godwin and Miss Willa
Hinnant of Archer Lodge were marri
ed last Sunday, January 4, Mr. G. R.
Whitley, J. P., officiating.
Our community was overwhelmed
with sorrow last Wednesday morning,
December 30, 1919, when it was an
nounced that Mr. J. R. Hocutt was
dead. We had seen him at the close
of the day, well and strong, going
about his daily routine of work and
long before the midnight hour, he was
locked in the cold embrace of death.
His death was almost instantaneous.
He died without a struggle. No one
had even heard him complain. Mr.
Hocutt was born July 24, 1863, thus
being in his 58th year. ' He was in
every walk of life honest, pure and
clean. He was a member and deacon
of Antioch church, and lived consis
tently with his profession. He will
be missed in his home, in his commu
nity and in his church. The funeral
services were conducted under the
auspices of Junior Lodge of the Sandy
Spring Council of which he was a
member, after which his body was laid
to rest in tl*e cemetery at Antioch
where a large concourse of sorrowing
friends and relatives had gathered to
pay him a last tribute of respect. Mr.
Hocutt leaves a wife, one daughter
and three sons, as follows: Miss Mam
ie Hocutt, Messrs. J. H., Joe and Jes
se Hocutt. The bereaved family has
the deepest sympathy of the commu
nity.
Middlesex, No. 3.
One hundred and thirteen individual
associations, representing close to 5,
000 citrus growers have wired Attorn
ey General Palmer, head of the com
mission to devise ways and means for
reducing living costs, the governors of
twenty-five states and mayors of fifty
large cities in the east and middle west
pointing to the food value, and at
prices much below last year, of the
greatest crop of grape fruit ever
grown in this country, says a Tampa,
Florida, dispatch.
PROHIBITION MEETING
HERE THIS AFTERNOON
Will Be Held In Baptist Church This
Afternoon (Friday) at three O’clock
—Dr. W. E. Fotch of Ohio to Direct
Meeting—Miss Augusta Anderson
Of Smithfield Named as County
Director.
The World Prohibition Movement is
now on. The campaigners are at
work in many sections of the State
of North Carolina and are beginning
their work in Johnston County. Rev.
N. E. Cotton, of Red Springs, the Dis
trict Organizer, was here Tuesday and
made arrangements to hold a meeting
here in the Baptist church this af
ternoon and night. Dr. Fotch, of
Ohio, will be on hand to direct. He
will make an address at the night
session of the meeting.
The State Director, Mr. C. H. Meb
ane, former State Superintendent of
Public Instruction, who is directing
the campaign in North Carolina, has
appointed Miss Augusta Anderson, of
Smithfield, to be Director for Johns
ton county. Miss Anderson has ap
pointed a number of lieutenants to
aid her in this work in this county.
She has sent out letters to them from
which we take the following para
graph:
“On January 9, at three o’clock, in
the Baptist Church, we will hold a
conference, at which we will map out
the work for each one to do and give
information as how to do it. A speak
er of national reputation and much
experience, Dr. W. E. Fotch of Ohio,
will be on hand to direct. At night,
Dr. Fotch will also make an inspiring
address filled with information, to
which the public is invited. Be sure
to come prepared to stay for the night
service. No collection will be taken
at these meetings.”
GLADYS NOTES .
Miss Myrtle Bailey made a busi
ness trip to Goldsboro Monday.
Miss Rosa Sasser has. returned to
Kings Business College, Raleigh, af
ter spending the holidays with her
sister, Miss Essie Sasser.
Misses Bennie and Vick Godwin
have returned to Elise High School,
Hemp, N. C., after spending the holi
days with their parents. They were
accompanied by Misses Leon Godwin
and Maud Stilly who will spend the
Spring term at Elise School.
Several of our people went to
Smithfield to go before the Eoard of
Education Monday in the interest of
building a new school building here.
Miss Mamie Hocutt has the sympa
thy of our community in the sudden
death of her father who lived near
Dixie.
Mr. R. M. Pittman has killed tHc
largest hogs of any or.c in our sec
tion so far as we have heal’d. Four
hogs eighteen months old weighed
two thousand one hundred and thirty
two pounds. The largest hog weighed
six hundred and seven pounds.
Miss Malissie Hoover, of Newport,
Tenn., has accepted the school at
Stillys and will begin teaching Wed
nesday.
The Christmas tree at Mizpah Sat
urday evening was a success. Every
Sunday school child received a pres
ent, and several presents were put o*
for parents, children and friends. Rev.
C. E. Clark, pastor of the church, was
present and made a talk, and- Mr. and
Mrs. Clark received a nice pounding.
County Superintendent W. H. Hipps
of Smithfield will be here Wednesday,
January 14, to talk to the people con
cerning a new school building. He is
expected at 11 o’clock and will talk in
the church as the school rooms are
very small. Everybody in the com
munity is expected to be present as
this is very important to the people
of this community.
Mr. Atlas Pittman, son of Mr. S. A.
Pittman, and Miss Mittie Allen,
daughter of Mr. C. W. Allen, were
married at the home of Mr. Paul
Boyett Sunday night. Mr. and Mrs.
Pittman will make their home with
the groom’s parents.
While Mr. Argo Johnson was pass
ing the school house Tuesday after
noon immediately after school had
closed Ollie Narron, son of Mr. Vance
Narron, attempted to jump on his
truck while running and was thrown
under the truck and run over. It was
thought for several minutes the boy
was killed,-but he recovered and Dr.
Woodard of Kenly was phoned for
and came to him. He was examined
and no broken bones were found. Dr.
Woodard s6id without he contracted
pneumonia he would recover. No one
blames Mr. Johnson as he was run
ning very slowly and did not see the
boy until the accident had happened.
He rendered every possible aid for
the help of the boy, and seemed very
much grieved over the accident. They
all have the sympathy of the commun
ity and all hope for the early recovery
of the boy.
Kenly, R. 2, Jan. 6. SEE S.
AT THE CAPITAL OF BEULAH.
Kenly, Jan. 7.—Miss Sadie Morris
left Monday afternoon for the Con
servatory of Music atvDurham after
spending the holidays with parents
and friends.
Miss Jessie Perry of Washington,
D. C., is visiting Dr. and Mrs. J. B.
Woodard for a few days.
Miss Faye Barnes of Smithfield
spent New Year’s here with parents.
Mr. H. M. Grizzard has recently re
turned from a business trip to Rich
mond.
Mr .and Mrs. F. A. White spent
Sunday in Wilson visiting friends.
Mr. L. Z. Wrfodard left Tuesday on
a business trip to Richmond.
Mrs. J. H. Kirby left Monday night
for Baltimore to visit her husband
who is undergoing treatment at the
Mercy Hospital. We are glad to know
Mr. Kirby’s condition is so much im
proved and hope that he will be able
to be out soon.
Mrs. J. H. Barnes, of Dunn, is
spending some time at the home of
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Kirby.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Edwards, of
Princeton, and Mr. and Mrs. J. F.
Revell, of this section, were the guests
of Mr. and Mrs. L. Z. Woodard Sun
day.
Mr. Luther Etheridge who lives
near here, has accepted a position
with the Farmers Bank here.
Mr. Marvin Revell who has been
one of the school faculty as principal
in the Kenly high school, has resign
ed, and Prof. Peele of Elon College,
has accepted the place.
Mrs. R. A. Turlington has recently
returned from a stay of some length
in Roseboro where she visited rela
tives and friends, and reports a de
lightful trip.
Mrs. L. C. Wilkerson will entertain
the Priscilla Club Thursday afternoon
from 4 to 6 o’clock.
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Barnes, of Dunn,
were guests at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. J. H. Kirby Sunday.
Mr. Yates Edgerton from Charlotte
has recently been on a visit here with
Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Edgerton and left
to attend the automobile show in New
York.
Mrs. Dora Gilbreath has accepted
a position in the store of G. G. Edger
ton and Son.
Mr. H. F. Edgerton made a busi
ness trip to Wilmington Tuesday.
Mr. A. D. Underwood from Rose
boro was the fcuest of Dr. and Mrs.
R. A. Turlington during the week end.
Miss Lucile Holden returned to
Louisburg College Monday afternoon.
Misses Grace Harper of LaGrange
and Ida Sledge of Wendell stopped ov
er during the week end as the guest
of Miss Inez Edgerton, and those
three girls left Monday night for
Greensboro to resume their studies
at G. C. W. College.
Mrs. Martha Mathews and Mr if. J.
J. Edgerton are visiting the family of
W. J. Edgerton in Wilson for a few
days.
Mr. Dobbin Bailey has returned to
Chapel Hill after spending the holi
days at home.
Mr. Howard Grady has returned to
school at Wake Forest after being at
home for the holidays.
The reception which was given the
returned soldiers and sailors of Beu
lah township last Friday night by the
Red Cross Chapter was quite a suc
cess and enjoyed by all.
SELMA COTTON MILLS SOLD.
Bought by New York Corporation,
Which Will Spend $500,000 ip En
largement.
Raleigh, Jan. 5.—The Selma cotton
mills, at Selma, have changed hands,
the consideration being about $500,
000. The mills, which were owned
principally by N. E. Edgerton, form
erly of Selma but now of Raleigh,
were purchased by the Standard tex
tile Produce Company, an Ohio cor
poration, whose principal headquar
ters are 320 Broadway, New York
City.
Vice President and General Man
ager H. E. Andress; General Coun
sel J. T. Broadben, manager of agen
cies and other officers of the Stand
ard Textile Products Company were
here and effected the deal through
Mr. Edgerton. J. Crawford Biggs,
attorney for the Selma mills, figured
prominently in the transaction. Mr.
Biggs will continue as attorney for
the mills under the new ownership.
The new owners will spend a half
million dollars at once in enlarging
the mills. Weaving machinery is to
be installed, thus adding cloth pro
duction; additional houses are to be
built for operatives and a model mill
village is planned. Streets will be
laid; water and sewerage put in and
electric lights installed.—W. H. Rich
ardson.
OIF to New York.
Four Oaks, Jan. 6.—Leon A. Adams
of Leon A. Adams & Co., left Mon
day night to attend the Automobile
Dealers’ Association now in session
in New York City. While away he
will visit Washington and Baltimore.
TO HOLD Y. M. C. A.
BANQUET NEXT WEEK
County and Rural Work Specialist to
Be In Smithfield and Johnston
County Next Week.—County Con
vention January 16.
The organizer of the Johnston
County Y. M. C. A. reported yester
day that .arrangements had been made
to have Mr. Hugh Maydole, of New
York City visit the county next week.
Mr. Maydole has given considerable
time to rural work in other sections
of the United States and comes to us
highly recommended as an expert in
County Problems among boys. He is
one of the International Secretaries of
the County Work Department. Con
ferences have been arranged to be
held in several towns of the county
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
nights of next week at which time Mr.
Maydole will speak explaining all
phases of the County work of the Y.
M. C. A. On Friday night, January
16, beginning at 7:00 o’clock, a Coun
ty Convention will be held. This will
be for men invited from several towns
and communities of the county. Mr.
T. S. Ragsdale, the Provisional Coun
ty Chairman, is inviting representa
tive citizens and it is expected that a
large number of men will be present.
The Woman’s Club of Smithfield has
kindly offered to serve the banquet
dinner. Mrs. L. G. Patterson, Presi
dent of the Club, will have charge of
this feature of the entertainment. In
teresting and capable speakers will be
present on this occasion.
NEWS IN CLAYTON.
Clayton, Jan. 7.—Miss Barbara Gul
ley and Miss Della Austin left Mon
day morning for Charlotte where they
will enter Queen’s College for the
spring term.
Misses Eloise Turley, Alta Dedham
and Mi-. Bill Ellis visited friends in
Four Oaks last Sunday.
Miss Sulou McCullers after spend
ing the holidays here with her parents
left Monday night for Mary Baldwin
Seminary At Staunton, Va.
Messrs. Devan Barbour and Percy
Young of Raleigh spent Sunday here
with Mr. Barbour’s parents.
Miss Telza Barnes left Sunday night
for Wakefield. She goes to teach
music at the Wakefield High School.
Miss Genie Thomas and Doris Jef
frys returned to Meredith College
Monday after spending the holidays
here with parents.
Miss Elsie Poole has accepted a s
position as stenographer with J. G.
Barbour & Sons. During the past year
she has been with the Clayton Bank
ing Company.
With the coming of 1920 we find
lots of people moving from place to
place. Houses are scarce in town and
many people are finding it hard to get
places to go.
Mr. Harvey StanciJ of Selma was
in town last Sunday afternoon.
Mr. Tom Vinson and family from
Smithfield have moved into the house
on second street where Mr. Coats has
been living. Mr. Vinson has purchas
ed the home and we hope them much
happiness and welcome them to our
town.
The graded school opened again
Monday after two weeks vacation for
the holidays. The attendance was
good, a few changes made in teachers.
Mrs. Miller White is filling the va
cancy made by Miss Bessie Jackson of
Garner.
Messrs. Herman Duncan, Bill Ellis
and Bennette Poole have returned to
Wake Forest after spending the holi
days here with their parents.
I Misses Donchka Barnes and Thel
ma Yelvington left Monday for the
Conservatory of Music at Durham,
after spending the holidays here.
Mr. James Hall of Norfolk is here
for a few days visiting Mr. and Mrs.
C. W. Carter.
NAVY IS HOST TO JELLICOE
—
British Admiral Entertained by the
American Navy.
Washington, Jan. 5.—The American
navy was host tonight at a reception
given to Admiral Viscount Jellico, of
Scapa, commander of the British high
seas fleet in the battle of Jutland. The
reception, which closed a busy day for
the visiting naval officer, was at the
residence of Secretary Daniels, who
headed the receiving line. Also among
the guests were members of both
houses of congress and naval attaches
of the various embassie and legations.
Viscount Jellico, who arrived here
yesterday from New York, started the
day with formal calls on Secretary of
State Lansing and Secretary Daniels.
Later he called on Vice-President
Marshall, and was received on the
floors of the senate and house. The
outstanding feature, however, of the
day was an official inspection of the
Washington navy yard.
Extensive deposits of titanium ore
in Norway will be utilized for the
manufacture of dyes and pigments.