farmers warehouse
elects new officers
Stockholders Held Annual Meeting
Here Last Friday—A Ten Per Cent
Dividend Was Declared and Order,
ed Distributed Among the Stock
ho)ders—J. W. Stephenson Resign
ed As President and Was Succeeded
By E. F. Boyett Who Will Also Be
One of the Managers.
The annual meeting of the stock
holders of the Farmers Warehouse,
Incorporated, was held in the court
house here last Friday. The follow
ing directors for the fiscal year, 1920,
were elected:
J. W. Stephenson, C. M. Strickland,
J B. Hardee, E. F. Boyett, A. G. John
son, A. B. Atkinson, W. E. Barbour,
E. C. McLamb, G. D. Keen, R. E. Lee,
W. H. Brown, H. V. Faulkner, W. N.
Barden, J. F. Wellons, Zero Parker,
J Lib Lee, J. H. Lassiter, M. C. Bar
bour, J. F. Smith, Walter Batten, M.
C. Hooks, Joe E. Creech, G. M. Hin
ton, S. T. Liles and J. S. Boyett.
Mr. J. W. Stephenson, a well-known
business man of Smithfield, who has
been president of the company since
its organization, resigned and was
succeeded by Mr. E. F. Boyett. Mr.
Boyett will also be one of the man
agers of the warehouse. Mr. A. G.
Johnson was also elected as a man
ager. Mr. Boyett, Who lives in Sipith
field, is one of the best warehousemen
in this section of the State and will
continue to serve the best interests of
the company and the farmers. Mr.
Johnson who served very acceptably
as one of the managers of the compa
ny for the past year has made many
friends here who will be glad to have
him serve again in the same position.
Mr. N. L. Perkins was again elect
ed auctioneer and will continue to
give his best services to the company.
He is known as the original “Farm
ers Friend” and he will strive for the
coming year to live up to his reputa
tion.
Mr. J. C. Weeks, who has served as
assistant secretary and treasurer for
the past year, was promoted and
made secretary and treasurer. Mr.
Weeks is an accountant and has sev
eral years experienece in the ware
house and banking business. He is a
hard worker and as in the past he
will give his best services to the com
pany.
With Messrs. Boyett, Johnson,
Weeks and Perkins in charge the Far
mers Warehouse is in good hands and
will do an even greater business this
year than ever before.
Mr. Weeks informs us that the
front end of the warehouse wiy re
main as it is for this year. The com
pany has purchased the Will Futrell
lot on the south side of the warehouse
and will build a three story brick
building fronting on Market street.
This will be used for a grading room
and prize-house. This will be fully
equipped to take care of all the ware;
house tobacco and scrap.
A ten per cent dividend was de
clared and ordered distributed among
the stockholders this week. This com
pany has done a fine business the past
season and plans are now being made
to do an even larger business for the
coming season. The Farmers Ware
house is really true to its name—it
has hundreds of stockholders scatter
ed over the county.
Will Pay Nearly Billion Income Tax.
American farmers this year will
pay income taxes totalling nearly $1,
000,000,000, it is estimated on the
basis of earinngs calculated by the
department of agriculture.
This is roughly one-fifth of the pres
ent annual expense of operating the
Federal government. The bulk of it
will come from the owners, managers
and tenants of 6,000,000 farms who
comprise slightly morfe than one
twentieth of the nation’s population.
The farmers will pay 4 per cent, on
the first $4,000 of income above ex
emptions of $1,000 for single persons
and $2,000 for those who are married.
The estimate represents 4 per cent,
of $24,982,000,000, the value of all
crops, animals and animal products of
1919 as estimated by the agricultural
department. In growing crops and
stock of this value, American- farmers
experienced the best business year in
their history, reports show. It is $2,
500,000,000 greater than the value of
the 1918 crop.
Test your seed—it costs too much
to take a chance.
TO INVADE ISLAND OF
CANNIBALS IN PACIFIC
New York, 26.—Mustard gas and
machine guns are to be used by Capt.
Harry de Windt, an English explorer,
against the poisoned arrows of a
tribe described as “white cannibals”
on Tiburon island, on the Pacific coast
he announced here today. Captain
de Windt said he would leave New
York in a few days to lead an expedi
tion of six civilians and three score
Mexican soldiers to the island. Tibur
on is said to have rich deposits of
pitchblende from which radium is
made.
Tse island is about 40 miles from
Guaymas, Mexico, which in turn, is
only about 48 hours by rail from
Coronado Beach, Cal. The inhabi
tants are said to be descendants of
Dutch, Swedish and German prison
ers who escaped from Mexican pris
ons several centuries ago. Of sixteen
persons known to have visited the is
land in the past feV years, in parties
of two and three, only nine are said
to save returned alive, the others fall
ing victims to the flaxon-haired, blue
eyed, “white Indians” as the Mexican
peons call them.
“Four miles from the Mexican
coast,” said Mr. de Windt, “Tiburon
is easily accessible. Yaqui Indians,
who live on the mainland, call Tibur
on the ‘Island of Death’ for the rea
son that any person who lands on it
is shot by poisoned darts and then
eaten by the natives. The cannibals,
in addition to bows and arrows, use
an ancient blunderbuss. They are
supposed to number from 500 to 2,
000 persons.
“Besides myself, the erpedition I
will lead will consist of Mackenzie
Grieve, the companion of Harry Haw
ker wfien he fell during his attempted
transatlantic ight; an expert radium
mining engineer; Anton Gibbon, neph
•ew of President Carranza of Mexico,
in whose name the concession permit
ting the exploration of the island was
issued; a man servant and sixty Mex
ican soldiers, assigned to the party
by the Mexican government. I imag
ine the searchings on the island will
consume about three or four months.”
—Greensboro News.
Hogs in the Com Belt.
There are this year in the seven
com belt states about 7 per cent few
er hogs than a year ago. Outside of
the com belt, there seems to have
been an actual increase. The only
com belt states to show an increase
are Indiana and Ohio, both of which
states show an increase of about 2
per cent over a year ago. The big
gest decreases have been in Kansas,
with 30 per cent; Missouri, with 13
per cent, and Nebraska, with 12 per
cent. Iowa has had a 4 per cent de
crease and Illinois a 7 per cent de
crease. The western com belt states
are to be congratulated on the wis
dom they have shown in decreasing
their hog production in anticipation
of a year of losses, or at least very
low profits.
All of the corn belt states except
Kansas show a great increase in hog
production over the year 1914. The
increase in Iowa has been 49 per cent;
in Illinois, 23 per cent; Indiana, 20
per cent; Ohio, 20 per cent; Nebraska,
5 per cent; Missouri, 2 per cent, and
Kansas a decrease of 28 per cent.
Of course there should be more hogs
in the com belt today than there were
in 1914, in order to accommodate the
increased population. Nevertheless,
there has probably been more of an
increase in hog production than is
warranted by the increase in popula
tion, and once the European demand
dies down, there is prospect of there
being more hogs in the corn belt
than can be marketed at a price
equal to cost of production. In fact,
at the present time there seems to be
too many hogs in the com belt, in
spite of the foreign demand.—Wal
laces’ Farmer.
Reports Indicate More Early Potatoes
Reports from South Carolina indi
cate a larger increase in the early po
tato acreage this year than there was
last year* Transportation lines advise
that the amount of seed stock handled
to date is three to four times that
handled last year. Much of the seed,
however, is arriving more or less dam
aged from frost. The effect of this on
the final acreage and the ultimate
yield is somewhat uncertain, but it is
estimated that the Beaufort section
will have between 3,000 and 4,500
acres.—Extension Farm News.
MAN DIES FROM
DRINKING WHISKEY
We have learned of the death
of Mr. Preston Faulkner which ac
curred at a house at the Ethel Ctftton
Mills at Selma Saturday. The cir
cumstances surrounding his death, as
we have been able to learn them, are
about as; follows: On Friday night,
February 27, Mr. Faulkner and Mr.
John R. Johnson of near Selma went
to a blockader’s and bought one and
a half gallons of whiskey. They drank
freely Friday night. Saturday morn
ing about four o’clock Mr. Faulkner
seemed sleepy and was placed on a
bed at the home of a man named
Lynn at the Ethel Cotton Mill. Later,
about noon, he was found to be dead.
Mr. J. H. Krrkman, the county cor
oner, was summoned and found some
liquor still in the jug which was tak
en to Raleigh to be analyzed.
Mr. Kirkman empanelled a jury but
no decision has been rendered. The
matter is awaiting the analysis of
the State Chemist.
It does not yet seem to be known
whether the quantity of whiskey
drank by Faulkner caused his death
or whether it was due to some ingre
dient in the whiskey. It is said that
Johnson got rid of his whiskey by
vomiting.
Double Wedding in Benson.
A quiet double wedding took place
in the Baptist church here last Sun
day afternoon February 22nd, the
contracting parties being Mr. Ralph
Whittington and Miss Lettie Surles;
Mr. Rom Morgan and Miss Pearl Bar
bour. The vows were taken before
Rev. C. C. Wheeler, pastor of the
Baptist church, one ceremony being
used for the two couples.
Mr. Whittington is a son of Mr.
and Mrs. John M. Whittington, who
lives near town. He is a splendirf
young man and now holds a position
with the Farmers Commercial Bank.
His bricj^ is the attractive daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. A. E .Surles and has
taught in the schools of the county
for the past two years.
Mr. Morgan, the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Junie Morgan of near town, re
turned a few months ago from ser
vice with Uncle Sam and has since
held a position in the clothing stoi'e
of Mr. C. T. Johnson. His bride, the
only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orlan
da Barbour, also holds a position
with Mr. C. T. Johnson. They have
scores of friends who wish them
much happiness through life.
Each couple for the present will
make their home with the parents of
the grooms.—Benson Review.
A Million A Day.
Sometime ago a man from “off” es
sayed to speak for the farmers of
North Carolina before certain con
gressmen, upon the subject of con
tinued control of the railroads. When
he said the farmers of this state
wanted the government to keep right
along running the roads, a good many
men who know their North Carolina
were vastly amused. What do the
farmers of this state or any other
state want with public control or
ownership of transportation, in view
of Senator Pomerene’s statistics of
Saturday night, when he said that an
estimate put the loss of the govern
ment at one million dollars for every
day the government had been in con
trol of the railroads? And that in
the face of a 50 per cent increase in
passenger rates and about 25 per cent
increase in freight rates? North Car
olina farmers want public control or
ownership? Not on your life! No
farmer and no other citizen who helps
to pay the bills wante the government
to control the railroads a minute long
er than March 1, when, praise be, the
roads will go back, and may they
swiftly recover from the evils of gov
ernment control and speedily give us
service and plenty of it at whatever
may be a “fair return,” minus the
immense burden upon the public which
has been piling up at the rate of a
million dollars a day for every day the
government has been in control.—
Greensboro Daily News;
Governor Coolidge, of Massachu
setts, has wired President Wilsbn that
the fuel shortage in New England is
serious.
Estimates place the annual loss to
the South on sweet potatoes stored in
earth banks at $25,000,000.
GOING FROM TOYS
TO DEADLY WEAPON
The other day I saw a man ar
raigned before the bar for “toting”
a pistol. The judge fined him fifty
dollars and costs. I saw a man on
another day who was in jail. Some
day that poor helpless man will be
taken out of jail and tried for his
life. His guard said the man was of
good report and had never been in
trouble before in his life. But one
day he drank something hot and then
got mad with one of his friends. Just
then he felt in his pocket and there
happened to be a pistol handy. Out
he whipped it and shot his friend
dead at his own feet.
Now, the reports come from vari
ous parts of the county that there is
a certain type of toy-pistol that can,
by a slfght alteration with a file, be
changed from a toy to a ball-carrying,
deadly weapon. Mischief is being
done right along by these little toys
that have been so changed. Sporting
with these toys has become such a
practise with school boys that the at
tendance and general well-being of
the schools have been affected. Air
rifles too among school boys have be
come great nuisances. There is a boy
somewhere in this county today who
has but one eye. An air-rifle got the
other.
It is too bad for men to carry about
full fledged pistols in their pockets;
'the law says it is. And it is too bad
for our boys to make deadly weapons
out of play-things and go $bout aping
the wild-West man, shooting up
things.
Now is the time for parents and
teachers and everybody who has a
care for the welfare of children to
promptly put an end to children us
ing any such play-things as toy-j|js
tols that are capable of shooting a
.22 caliber bullet and air-rifles that
can carry a BB shot.
H. V. ROSE,
Co. Supt. Welfare.
MANY DEATHS REPORTED
FROM INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC
Two Hundred Cases of Malady In and
Around Village in the Last "Three
Weeks.
Middlesex, Feb. 29.—There has
been over two hundred cases of in
fluenza in and around this little town
for the past 20 days, and several
deaths as follows:
Mr. Harry Stijley, age 21 years.
Mrs. Gilford Lewis, who was for
merly Miss Dallie Stilley, who is sur
vived by her husband and three small
children, a mother, two brothers and
four sisters. She was a sister of Mr.
Harry Stilley.
Mr. Walter Narron, who is surviv
ed by his wife and several small chil
dren.
Mrs. Ira Johnson and her 13-year
old daughter. Mrs. Johnson was for
merly Miss Sallie Godwin. She is
survived by her husband and four
small children, mother and several
brothers and sisters.
Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Bissett lost a
child.
Mr. Ed Strickland and Mr. Har
rangton. Mr. Harrington is survived
by his wife and two small children.
His wife was in a hospital at the
time he died and just had undergone
an operation and is very ill.
These deaths are all reported for
the past week with influenza-pneumo
nia, but there are not very many new
cases reported at this writing and it
seems that most families are improv
ing some.—News and Observer.
Meets an Old Friend Miles from Home
He was 2,000 miles away from home
and didn’t kuow any one. He had
walked miles hunting for a room in
a crowded city and knew the meaning
of loneliness. Finally, all tired out,
he was shown into a parlor while a
little girl went to find her mother.
On the table was an old newspaper
that had, somehow, a familiar look.
Idly he picked it up. When mother
came into the room he didn’t see or
hear her, he was too busy reading his
Home Paper. The Exile did not know
her—but he found a room and a
friend, and life was happier, all be
cause of a copy of the Home Paper.—
Extension Farm News.
North Carolina now has 73 govern
ment accredited tuberculosis-free
herds. Only seven states have a larg
er number, and Virginia is the only
one of the seven in the South.
WORLD’S DIAMONDS IN
BULK NOT IMPRESSIVE
Chicago, Feb. 26.—If all the dia
monds mined in history and existing
today as cut and polished gems were
gathered from the ends of the earth,
they would form a pile {.bout as large
as a wagon load of coal dumped on
the sidewalk, say^ a Chicago statisti
cal expert. The pile would contain
46,355,474 carats and the gems would
weigh 101-2 tons. If the pile were
in the form of a cone, it w’ould have
a base diameter of eight feet and a
height of five feet. Reckoning the
diamonds at $300 a carat, it would
have a value of $13,906,642,200. It
would contain 7101-3 gallons worth
$5,539,023 a gallon; or 76 1-3 bushels
valued at $51,570,729 a bushel. All
the world’s diamonds could be packed
in an ordinary clothes closet or a
kitchen pantry.
This estimate is based on an ap
proximation of the total output of
rough diamonds in the world’s entire
history. India, it is estimated, has
produced, all told, 50,000,000 carats;
Brazil, 15,000,000; South Africa, 170,
574 000; Borneo, 1,000,000; British
Guinea, 50,000; Australia, 150,000;
China, 2,000; Siberia, 500; United
States, 500. This is a total rough
output of 236,777,374 carats, or 55 3-5
tons avoirdupois.
Only about 50 per cent, of rough
diamonds are cut into gems and lose
about 60 per cent, of their weight in
being cut and polished. Diamonds
are practically indestructible and the
first diamond ever mined may possib
ly still be in existence. But the esti
mate allows for the loss of at least
1,000,000 carats by ood, fire, ship
wreck and other disasters. These re
ductions and losses leave a total of
cut and polished diamonds at 46,355,
474 carats.
The estimate of $300 a carat is the
minimum price at which diamonds
can be bought today. The popular de
mand for diamonds was never so
great and they have become the gem
of working people as well as the
wealthy classes. They are worth
three times as much now as before
the war and sell at from $300 to $1,
000 a carat.—Greensboro News.
STATE NEWS.
Wilson reports a probable case of
sleeping sickness the patient being
Miss Sybil Brown, a school teacher.
The News and Observer says that
six blockade stills have been captur
ed in one section of Wake by the
revenue,officers in one week.
Dr. Parrott of Kinston says that
city is emerging from the influenza
epidemic with fewer “scars” because
the non-closing policy was pursued.
The youngest child of Mr. and Mrs.
D. T. Pickle, of Washington, was in
a critical condition Sunday due to
an unintentional dose of carbolic acid.
James M. Gudger, Jr., a prominent
political figure in Western North
Carolina died at his home in Asheville
Sunday, his death being due to heart
failure.
“Granny” Craig, of Cherokee coun
ty, although 74 years of age, is still
able to pick an average of 50 pounds
of cotton per day after the crop has
been picked over four times.
Walter Clark, Jr., a member of the
Charlotte bar, is to represent the Nat
ional headquarters of the American
Legion in the investigation of the
state of affairs at Oten.
Dr. Allen W. Holshouser, a Rowan
county physician, died in a Salisbury
hospital Friday from injuries receiv
ed Tuesday when the car in which he
was riding was struck by a freight
train.
Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, the not
ed English suffragist who has been
resting in Western North Carolina,
has gone to Cleveland, Ohio. From
this point she will tour the Middle
Western states.
A report from Goldsboro says that
the family of F. F. Harrell, a well
known farmer of Wayne county, is in
a deplorable condition. Mr. Harrell
is suffering with small pox while the
rest of his family are sick with influ
enza.
A snake farm is to be a new indus
try for Wilmington, if a place can be
secured. Kinston was considered as
a probable location. It is the pur
pose of the promoters to breed black
snakes, king snakes, moccasins and
rattlers for the market.
R. R. Clark, former editor and own
er of the Statesville Landmark, be
came postmaster of Statesville Mon
day. ’
CARRIERS GO BACK TO
OWNERS IN GOOD SHAPE
Government Operation Cost Public
Less Than Under Private Control,
Director General Asserts. He Be
lieves Deficit Will Fall Below $700,
000,000. -
The White House announced at
6:46 o’clock Saturday evening, says
an Associated Press dispatch, that
President Wilson had signed the Rail
road Bill.
The railroads, which have been un
der Government control since Decem
ber 28, 1917, will be turned back to
their private owners at 12:01 A. M.
Monday.
Before signing the Railroad Bill
the President issued Executive or
ders continuing the Fuel Administra
tion, the functions of which have been
exercised by the Railroad Adminis
tration, until April 30. A commis
sion of four was named to handle the
export and bunker trade and Director
General Hines will, under the second
order, handle domestic distribution.
The action was taken because of the
present fuel situation.
In ending the uncertainty regard
ing his attitude toward this measure,
President Wilson disregarded the pe
tition of organized labor and certain
farm organizations that he veto the
bill.
Officials of the Department of Jus
tice on returning the measure to the
White House yesterday expressed the
opinion that all of the provisions are
constitutional, and Director General
of Railroads Hines, to whom it was
later sent, informed the President
that it was probably the best meas
ure of its kind that could be obtained
at this time.
Walker D. Hines, Director General
of Railroads, in a report transmitted
to President Wilson Saturday, em
phatically denies the assertion made
by various railroad executives that
the roads are going back to private
control at midnight Sunday in a
brokendown condition.
The report covers every phase of
Government control from January 11,
1919, when Mr. Hines succeeded Wil
liam G. McAdoo as Director General,
until the properties go back to their
private owners.
Outstanding features of the Report
are assertions by Mr. Hines that:
1. Government control has cost less
than operation of the roads under
private control.
2. Had it been practicable to in
crease rates on January 1, 1918, in
stead of six months later, there would
have been no deficit or loss whatever
up to and including the end of Octo
ber, 1919. The actual loss is placed
at $480,200,000.
3. The apparent deficit will be a
relatively small amount and will fall
far short of the reported deficit of
$700,000,000.
4. Approximately $1,200,000,000
has been expended in the period of
Federal control for improvements to
properties.
5. In compliance with contractual
obligations the toads will be returned
in as good shape as when taken over.
Rev. J. J. Murray at Flora Macdonald.
Rev. J. J. Murray of Smithfield has
been the guest of the college during
the week of prayer and has been
speaking to the faculty and student
body at both morning and evening
services held in the auditorium.
Through all of his addresses has run
the strong note of appeal to service
whether it be in the foreign or home
mission field, in the school room or in
community life. Forceful and earn
est, emphasizing his talks with timely
illustrations, Mr. Murray has greatly
helped and benefitted his student au
diences.
On Friday afternoon Mr. Murray
was the guest of the Seniors of the
Domestic Science department at a
four course luncheon. Other guests
were Miss Cain of the department of
Physical Training, Dr. Vardell, Mr.
Chas. Vardell of the Conservatory of
Music and Mrs. Rice of the depart
ment .of Publicity and Promotion.
Mr. Murray left for his home on
Monday morning.— News Service,
Flora Macdonald College, Red Springs
Wireless telephone messages were
carried a distance of fifteen hundred
miles last week between Ossining,
New York and points in Kansas and
North Dakota, says a New York dis
patch.