Watch the L*H On Your
Paper; It Carries the Date
Year Subscription Expires.
VOLUME XXX—NUMBER 42
County Tax Rate To Be $1.33
According to Budget Estimate
School Rate Decreased
Three Cents; Sinking
Fund Added to List
According to the county budget for
the year ending June 30, 15*28, there
will be a very .small change in tin
tux rate for the year. Last year the
rote was SI.OB on the SIOO valua
tion; this year it will be $1.33 on tlio
SIOO valuation. While the rate shows
an increase of 25 cents, the county
iff operating, or plans to operate, this
year at less expense then it did last
year. During the pait year, no por
tion of the rate went to care for in
terest and sinking fund, add should
it have been divided and not left over
for this year, th; rate last year would
have been $1.22 on the SIOO valua
tion as against $1.19 on the SIOO val
uation this year. But, since the inter
est and sinking fund was ahead last
year, no allotment was given that
fund; this year a 28-cent late is pro
vided. Dividing: the interest and
sinking fund by two, it will show that
the rate this yenr is 3 cents cheaper
than it was last year, the decrease
taking place in the school budget.
Outside of the interest and linking
fund and school fund, the rate re
mains the same.
The county guesses it need for
general purposes for the year ending
June 30, 1928, the gum of $45,874.
Ot this sum, $24,294 will huve to be
raised by direct taxation on tlie $15,-
765,000 worth cf taxable property,
which will require a tax levy of 15
cents on each SIOO valuation.
There will have to be a county
road and bridge fund of $7,500. This
requires a levy of 5 cents on each SIOO
property valuation.
The county bond interest, redemp
tion and sinking funds call for tho
sum of $52,680.98, of which sum $43,-
380.98 will have to come from taxes,
which requires a levy of 28 cents o:i
the SIOO valuation. This makes a to
tal rate of 48 cents.
The school levy will be reduced
fionv 88 cents, last year's rate, to bb
centfe this year; making a total for
all purposes of $1.33 on each $10(1
valuation. *
Leggrett-Thrower
Last night at 8:30 at the Methodist
personage, a wedding wa solemnized
which though txper.ot' in the near
future by their friends, came an a
surprise p.t this time when Misi
Dorothy Thrower and Mr,
James Robert Lcggitt were united in
marriage by Rev. T. VV. Lee, tin
bride's pastor.
Mrs. Leggett is the youngest daugh
fcfat Mr. and Mrs. Latham Thrower
t i this place- and is a very fine young
woman. She recently graduated from
th • Williamston high school and is
very popular among her young
friends. She is descended from soma
of the oldest families of this section.
Mr. Leggett is the son of Mr. ami
Mrs. Leggett of Cross Roads, but ha
has been living here for several years
where he has been connected with tha
local post office as rural carrier.
They will soon occupy their new
bungalow recently built on Hatton
street.
Sheriff and Deputy
Destroy Still Monday
Sheriff Roebuck and Deputy Grimes
destroyed a 60-gallon copper stil lo
cated on Bear Grass Swamp back of
the Mizell School house Monday.
The still was not in operatoin when
fcund. There were lots of buckets
kegs, and jugs around and five bar
rels of beer. The stand indicated a
plant of long standing." **"-
STRANH
THEATRE I
WEDNESDAY
808 CUSTER in
'The Fighting:
Hombre"
Lloyd Hamilton
Comedy
"THE MOVIES"
Free Ticket For the
Friday Show
Always a Good Show
THE ENTERPRISE
Boy Scouts Now
Outing at Nags
Change Plans Hurriedly and Left Here Sunday
Morning at 4; Boat Held at Special R^uest
The local troop of Boy Scouts
changed their plans ""hurriedly last
Triday evening and left even more
hurriedly Sunday morning, when they
pulled out for Nags Head shortly af
ter 4 o'clock. They went to Mackeys
where the boarded the ferry "for
Eden ton. The ferry trip was not on
the regulcr schedule and when it
camp time to pass several of the rail
road draws the bridge tenders were
not there. The Scouts were delayed
and when they reached Edenton they
only had 28 minutes to reach Elizav
beth City. By special arrangement
the boat to Nags Head was held up
45 minutes for the Scouts, but then
Petty Thievery
Is on Increase
County Citizen States
Laziness is Cause of
So Many Thefts
During; the past several months a
week has hardly passed without one
or two reports being made about
stealing. In most cases, the thefts
have been fmall, just an auto tire,
buttery, or some other auto part. In
ethers, houses have been broken into
and property removed by the auto
loud*. One or two automobiles dur
ing the period lost their identity
when rogues removed everything
save the frame and a few—engine
purts. v
While these thefts have been re
ported, number* of attempts at theft
l.ave been frustrated. The theft wave
has aliout reached that point where
there is nothing . left to steal or
where double protection has been
provided to prevent the rogues from
having an easy task.
Various reasons have been assigned
a.- causes for the large number of
theftsr Employees of several filling
.stations in the county have stated
thut they have been asked to trade
for groceries. One county man
assigned laziness to the thefts, stat
ing that some people have reached
the point where they preferred to
steal rather than work.
Kiwanis Club Votes to
Attend Special Service
At their last regular meeting, the
members of the Kiwanis Club voted
to accept the invitation of the pastor
cf the Memorial Baptist Church to
attend services at that church next
Sunday, July 31.
Accordingly, the chuiph is looking
forward to their present at the 11
o'clock service next Sunday morning.
Each member of the club is invited to
come and bring the members of his
fumily, or any friends.
For soma time the pastor of tha
.church has wanted to invite the club;
and, because next Sunday is the fifth
Sunday ,and because the Baptist
church is the only chuich having a
' morning service that day, it was
thought that this was the most op
portune time,- In this way, there will
be no conflict with any other church
service, and all Kiwunians who are
in town that day can be present
The will begin, as usual,
promptly and oft time. And, as usual,
i the service will not be lengthy.
I With no other morning service in
town, the general public is invited to
join in this service. Every one will
| tu welcome.
Peter Davis, Respected
Negro, Died Last Week
Last week another one of William
.ston's most respected colored citizens
died when "Uncle" Peter Davis passed
t'way following a four weeks illness.
He was a hard-working, kintf-hearted
old man aftd was well thought of by
both his own race and thi white peo
ple.
For years he did mill work and
then worked for the railroad before ho
started farming in his old age.
He is survivde by his wife, "Aunt"'
Frances Davis, and five children, all
rf whom ere good citizens.
r Funera services were held this af
ttmoon and interment made in tho
colored people's cemetery.. The serv
ices were conducted by ministers of
the Baptist Church, of which he was
a devoted member,
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, July 26,1927.
the baggage was left, and the truck
carrying it had to make a round-about
trip to reach Nags Head.
All members of the troop took a
liking to the Head except Buck Saun
ders, who declared it was unhealthy
anil turned back for home the sains
day they arrived. The latest reports
from the boys state that they are
getting along nicely and like the placo
real well. A large number of the par
erits will visit the boys at different
times during their stay at the beach.
Mr. J. W. Watts, jr., has the boys
in charge and is assisted by George
Harris.
Page Opposes
Toll Removal
No Mention Made as to
Reduction Present
Toll Charges
Anticipating an effort that will ha
made in the next General Assembly
to make the new bridge over tho
Chowan river erected by the State at
a cost of $465,tK)0 a free bridge,
Frank I'age, State J-lighwivy Commis
si ner, speaking before tin? Kotary
club yesterday at Rabigh took oc
casion to aim a blow at the proposal
Chairman I'age took the position
that the erection of such a bridga
at such cost represented an unusual
expenditure by the State in a partic
ular locality and- for this rouson tho
toll feature which will pay for tho
bridge in eight yearn is eminently
fair. It is altogether just, he said,
that those who make most use of thu
bridge shall pay most for it.
Chairman Page declared that step*
will be tnken at once by the com
minion U> put a temporary surface
oi the imcompleted section of road
way about which motorists have com
piciend in order that, pending its
flnal completion, it may be an alii
weather road. ,
No mention was made of the re
duction of toll charges now made (o
those crossing the bridge in Mr,
Page's talk to the club.
1927-'2B School Faculty
Is Almost Complet
The local school faculty for the
coming session is almost complete, ac
centing to Principal L H. Davis, who
is attending summer school at Wake
Forest, and who spent the week end
h re working on the coming year's
school program. He stated that the
n.embers of the faculty had been elect
cd in the most part and that contracts
had been mailed for the few positions
not yet filled. The list will be com*
plete and ready for announcement
within the next few days.
Mr. Davis stated that present plans
for the coming term point to a most
successful session, and that the chiU
dren should be advised to play hard,
for work was just ahead.
I). A. R. Edition Will
Have Big: Circulation
New Bern, July 26.—1n addition to
Laving a wide circulation among the
164,000 D. A. R. members of th 6
vvcrld, the special publicity edition of
the New Bernian, to be published
during the fall by the North Carolina
Society of the Daughters of tha
American Revolution will bo sent
free to a number of leading news
papers and citizens of the country,
including President Coolidge, Scores
tary Kellogg and others who have
written endorsements of D. A. R. aims
to be published in the forthcoming is
sue.
The paper will contain much infor
mation about the history of North
Caroina, with special emphasis on the
Revolutionary period, as well as re*
cent progress along many lines in
the State. Much D. A. R. newa will
also be carried and special articles
will be written by prominent D. A, K.
officials and members.
Infant of Mr. and Mrs.
Everett Dies Saturday
The infant daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. W. A. Everett, who reside near
Williamston, died Saturday and waf
buried Sunday at the Jqnes plot on
the Mack Taylor farm.
Brief Synopsis
Of Budget for
County Schools
Total Amount of Budget
for County Schools
Is $21f,580.80
The county board of education has
submitted its budget to the board of
county commissioners for their con
sideration at the next meeting. Fol
lowing is a brief synopsis of the
budget recommended for 1927-28
school term:
The total amount of the budget is
5214,58(1.80, divided as follows:
(a) For teachers' salaries, truck
operation, janitor fees, fuel, and all
o'her running expenses, $138,978.36.
(hi For capital outlay, which means
new buildings, new triirk>, or any
other equipment tiiat ha.s inventory
value at the end of the school year,
$.'2,584.84.
(c) For debt service, which means
inpayment of any incWHedness to
come due on building! and other
equipment during the yetr, $36,378.82.
(d) For ! inking fund on outstand
ing schoolhouse bonds, St, 135.76.
The budget proposes the following
items of revenue:
(a) Balanco brought over from
last year, $19,016.28;
ticn fund, $33,100.00; fines, $3,000.00;
Slate vocational fund, $2,135.00;
from county tax, sSo,9itr.Oß.
(b) balance from last year, $2,-
956.92; school property, $50.00;
pledged funds, special, '54,517.66; li
braries, $50.00; State loan, $15,000.00;
county taxes, #10,010.26.
(e) I>ebt service, $36,878.82; debit
balance, $4,503.03; county tax, $40,-
BSt!BS.
(d) Sinking fund, $2,135.75; coun
ty tax, $2,135.75.
The total couny tax items wilt
nrnount to $133,954.94, which added tt>
the available items, ofiier taxes, of
$80,625.86, makes up the total bud
get of $214,580.80.
The tux items asked are about $3,-
000 less than last year, while the op
erating expense item, listed under (a)
is about $13,000 more than for last
year. 
The increased budget demand 1*
said to be necessary on account, of
increases in salaries of teachers.
Masonic Picnic at
Coleraine Thursday
The' Masonic order will hold its an
nua! picnic at Coleralne Beach next
Thursday, according to announce
ments made several days ago.
year the picnic was held at Murfrees
boro, but it is understood the event
will fo back to Coleraine this year..
Since tho opening of the
across tho river here, many people
from this section have attended tho
picnics of the order, and each year
the number from this section attend
ing increases. The Masonic picnic la
(,ne of the larg.-st held in this section
each year, and thousands of people
a 1 ways attend. The proceeds' K> to
the Masonic Orphanage at Oxford.
J. R. Beach, of Cross
Roads, I)ied Sunday
J. R. Beach, of the Cross Roads
section, died Sunday after an illness
of several years, which caused him
t> be a partial invalid most of the
time.
He was nearly 68 years old and
leaves a widow and three sons, all
prown.
He was born, reared, and died in
the same neighborhood; a hard work
er and a gcod neighbor.
The funreal was conducted by El«
dei B. S. Cowan, and he was buried
beside his forefathers in the plot on
the farm where he had resided.
Chamber of Commerce
Dance Here Tomorrow
The chamber of commerce stupes
it* first annual dance here tomorrow
night in the Brick Warehouse. Mayoi
Coburn ntated that th' 1 dance will bo
a brilliant affair ami that a largo
crowd is expected. Bud Gwaltney's
orchestra, of Virginia Buach, will fur
nish the music.
The local organization, in startinß
a new year's work, is holding the
dunce in an effort to clear the book*
cf all indebtedness without increas
ing the assessments now standing
against its members.
Important Meeting of
Local Masons Tonight
There will be a regular communica
tion of Skewarkee Lodge, No. 90, A.
F. & A. M., at the lodge rooms to
night. All Masons in good standing
are urged to attend. Vlriting breth
ren are cordially invited.
C. D. CARSTARPIIEN, Jr.,
Secretary.
Prospects for
Tobacco Crop
Remain Good
Farmers Report Large
Growth of Suckejs
at This Time
Second and third curings of the to
bacco crop in this section are turn
ing out very good, according to re
ports from a large number of farm
ers. As compared with those of last
year, they are a little better in both
T?feight and quality. Not more than
fcur weeks ago the outlook of this
season's crop was most dishearten
ing to farmers in this section. An
unequaled improvement took place
and this year the erop stands a bet
ter chance to turn out good than it
has had in several seasons.
„ The season is about two weeks a
head of the one last year, and this
: is expected to cause the final curings
to turn out to bt good. The recent
heavy rains has not, it was reported,
affected the crop other than causing
an unusual amount of suckers to
I grow. Farmers are reporting the
I lurgest and fastest growth of suckers
this season than ever before. The
rapid growth of them has caused
many farmers to change their minds
as to the worth of the fertilizer used
in planting the crop. The first few
dnys after transplanting took place,
the slow growth of the crop caused
numbers of farmers to think that the
guano was of an inferior grade.
Last year tips turned out to be
soiry in most all sections, due to the
late season. This year, the last pull
ing is expected to be better. From
present indications harvesting of the
crop will be completed not later than
the middle of August, and many far
mers arc expected to be through be
fore then.
Enterprise Moving
To New Location
The Knterprise t'ubishing Co. will !
move its presses and business otiicu i
to the Higgs Building on Muin Street
just across from the Biggs Drug |
Store. Crowded conditions in tho 1
building new used by the company j
demand a change, and the manage- ■
meht has made arrangements to start'
moving its machinery within the next
few days.
Several days will be required to !
move the 25 tons of equipment to the
new location, and while no little trou
ble and confusion is expected, the
management hopes to effect tho
change without interfering with its |
regular publications. Machine and j
press erectors are expected here short I
4y tt> tnke care of the press moving I
end machine erection. All the lurga !
units of machinery will have to b* j
dismantled while a few of the small- I
er pieces weighing around a ton will j
be carried over without being taken i
apart.
Soon Be Riding Time
At Roanoke Fair Here
No person is ever really old until
tiiey no longer thrill when the merry
go-round starts and the hobby horses
begin galloping to the merry tune of I
the hurdy-gurdy organ. When one re- i
fuses to become excited as the ferris !
wheel goes round it's time to start
for the old folks' home. Hut, any
way, there'll be no old folks in Wil
liamston the waek of September 27th,
for that will be a week of youth, and
the-manager is bending every effort
to make the Koanoke Fair this year
a real big success. '
Mr. John L. Kodgerson, manager,
has announced thut the Nat JCeiss
Shows will furnish all the
ment features and will bring to Wil
liamston c complete "garden of rides"
with all the old familiar ones, and a
whole tlock of new thrillers. There
will also be twenty big shows, una
amusements to suit every decent taste
will be found on the long "Pleasure
Trail, Mr. Kodgerson states.
Rev* T. W. Lee At
. Christian Church
Itev. T. W. Lee preuched at the
Christian church Sunday evening, us
ing us his text, "1,0ve."
He delt with the subject in both a
practical und forceful manner, illus
tiating how eaay it i« to act the part
of the self-exalted priest and tho
proud Invite at the road side scene
where the man lay wounded after
being robbed. Yet, lu>w much bettei
to do some actual service as did the
hated Samaritan who did deny himself
by giving of hig own labor toward thfa
relief of the wounded man und then
gave all tlie money he had with th»
promise if it took more for the man't
cure he would also pay that.
Rev. C. "H. of the Baptist
church, will preach at the Chriatiai.
church next Sunday evening ut 8 o'-
clock. JiJYMM
Farms of Hamilton
Increase in Value
Child Swallows
Coin; Condition
Is Now Serious
Little Child Swallowed
Box Lye When Only
One Year Old
Thp little six-year-old daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. K. I). Haislip, of near
Halnilton, is in a serious condition
brought about when she swallowed a
five-cent piece lest Sunday. The lit
tle girl complained very little that
day, but yesterday the pain became
so great that her parents carried her
to the hospital at Washington. There
an X-ray was made, and doctors
found the coin in such a position that
they were afraid to try to extract it
and advised Mr. Haislip to take the
child to Raleigh.
The child was brought to Dr. York
here later, but when Ke"examined her
throat and found that it was in a tPf-"
rible condition as a result of swallow,
ing box lye a few years ago, he was
afraid to offer relief with the instru
merits he had. Under normal condi
tions, Dr. York stated, there would
have been no trouble at all in remov
ing the coin, but with the throat
filled with tissues, as was the case,
hp considered it a dangerous under*
ti'king.
The parents returned home with
the child yesterday afternoon',"and it
i-i understood they will carry it to Dr.
Kllen in Greenville today.
Mr. Haislip is a farmer living on
a farm owned by Slade Rhodes & Co.,
of Hamilton.
Car Backs Into Creek;
Negro Baby Drowns
Kdenton, July 24.—Lives of ona
man, two women and a boy, all of
tl'tm colored, were saved through the
heroism of Capt. Henry Jones, of the
ferryboat Von Nyvenheim, when their
automobile, a Ford touring car, back
ed off the ferry at Mackeys this af
ternoon. The fifth member of the par
ty of colored people, a four-months
uld baby, was drowned. *
The ferryboat, one of the two oper
ated by the Kdenton-Mackey's Ferry
company across the Albemarle Sound
between Kdenton and Mackeys, had
tied up at its slip at Mackeys and was
discharging passengers, when the col
ored man, starting up his engine to
leave the boat, threw his. car in re
vr rre. Four men on the boat grabbed
the car, trying to hold it, but it
plunged overboard before the bewild
ered driver could apply the brakes.
Captain Jones dived overboard and
brought up the occupants of the *ub
merged car one by one. The baby,
h wever, was drowned before he could
reach it. The colored family ara resi
dents of Washington county.
This was the first casualty on th«
record of the Edenton-Mackey's Ferry
company, and, according to officials of
the concern, the first accident of any
consequence in which it has been in
volved. The ferry company was or
ganized. about five years ago through
the efforts of the ESdenton Chamber
of Commerce, the franchise a little
later beinir taken over by W. A. Ever
ett, of the Edenton-Mackey's Ferrj
company, by whom it has since been
operated with an enviable degree of
success.
Trained Fleas One of
Features of Fair Here
Boyq of Williamston who havi.
I niuny times sworn vengeance on th»
tCtive little fl'>a when that parasite
caused "Fido" to forget his manners
will soon have the opportunity of
steing trained fleas perform.
[t is hard to beiieve, but if press'
agents ever tell the truth, and it i»
rumored they sometimes do, there
will be a well-regulated Flea Circus
here the week of September 27 to
take part in the
'I he Flea Circus, so the press agent
for the Nat Keiss shows avers,
is one of the attratcions that will be
brought h6re by his organization, en-
Kuged to furnish attractions on tho
"Pleasure Trail." ,
Spectators will be given ample pro
tection from possible attacks of tho
performers, and he also says that this
troupe of performing fleas are so well
bred they will not take up with
strangers.
The Nat iteiss Shows has been a
leading amusement organization for
the last quarter of a century, and it
has always made it a rule to be first
to present new and novel entertain
ment features. That is why Alexan
oer's Flea CircUß will be seen first
with the Nat Relss Shows.
Advertiser* Will Find Our Col
umn* a Latchkey to Over 1600
Homed of Martin Count jr.
ESTABLISHED 1898
Twenty Large Farms in
Hamilton Increase
1-3 One Percent
A continued comparison qjLiirgperty
values in. the county shows that val
ues of 20 large farms in Hamilton
township increased one-third of one
per cent. The comparison so far shows
that business property in Everett.)
made the largest gain, it being 10 per
cent. Values in Poplar Point dropped
10 per cant.
Kight of the farms in Hamilton
township were valued at the same a:»
lust year; 8 lost $5,800 and four gain
ed $6,530, making a n *t gain of $720.
The values are as follows:
J. 1!. Anthony, 1292 acre-, $14,500;
same as last year.
W. A. Beach, 385 acreu Cloman
land, $12,000; same as last jtcar.
Blount and Sons, f>4ti acres CI. F.
Koberson lahd7 $17,000; a loss of
SSOO.
S. M. Blacknall, 217 acres • Purvis
land, $ 13,6W?'ft'lws"t>f $ 1,500.
Mrs. J. B.* Cloman, 320 acres Tay
lor land, $9,500; same as last year.
G, W. Coltrain, 68 acres residence,
$4,000; same as last year.
Davenport Bros., »>>7 acres home*
stead, $23,000; same as last year.
N. . Kverett, 41!) acres homestead,
14l' acres Coffleld land, $25,000 .gain
of $1,300.
N. C. Everett, 165 acres J. A.
1 Hit-vis land, $7,500; same as la..t
year.
Mrs. Clara Purvis, 200 acres home
stead, $6,500; a gain of SI,OOO.
K. K. Kdmondson, 320 aeres resi
dence, $9,500; loss of SSOO.
1-. B. and C. 11. Fleming, 251 acres
Best land, $8,200; loss of $1,300;
1.. B. and C. H. Fleming, 100 acrea.
Thomas land, $4,400; gain of S4OO.
F. L. Gladstone, 125 acres J. T.
Davis land, $5,200; a loss of S3OO.
i 11. L. Hopkins, 100 acres Frank
Taylor land, $6,500, gain of $2,500.
Mrs. W. C. James, 150 acres Bard
en land, $6,200; loss of S2OO. 1
Don Johnson, 240 acres residence,
$6,700; same as last year.
Harvey Manning, 347 acres Griffin
land, $13,500; gain of $1,330.
H. L. Purvis, 234 acres A. J.
Purvis land, $10,000; a loss of SSOO.
H. L. Purvis, 4(K) acres Overton
land, $15,000; same as last year.
P. S. Purvis, 275 acres residence,
$12,500; loss of SI,OOO.
Poor Session of the
Recorder's Court
Judge Bailey and his recorder's
court with all the efforts of Solicitor
Hugh (J. Horten was a very non
productive session today, failing to
provide for its own keep.
The case against Joe Davenport,
charging him with wife healing, wa
continued one week.
The old case against Henry Sherrot'
stood for another continuance.
1 he third case and the one which
called for more swearing than any
ether case tried was agaiivst Gabriel
Wiggins, charging assault with a
ritadly weapon. In this case it ap
peared that it was by no means a
one-sided game but that several took
hend with the result that one colore I
damsel got sliced up with a knife
wielded by the hand of Wiggins. This
was according to her testimony. But
Wiggins had enough witnesses ti
raise the question of "reasonable
doubt" and Judge Bailey is hung on
the verdict.
(ius Koberson who j*ot drunk in Oak
City and resisted the town officers,
claimed for himself that it was thii
liquor and not he that refused to
obey the mandates" of the law.
Judge Bailoy thought a s'2s. fine,
the cost and a 6-months suspended
road sentence was not too much for a
fellow who lets liquor take full charge
of his faculties.
Norman Jones, the old time boot
legger of Ouk City, again faced th:>
court, charged with the same old
game. •
Judge Hailey had already hung a
6 months suspended judgment a
gainst him in the early part of thj
year. Then the new offense was tu
be considered, and Judjre Hailey stat
ed that when a man had an opportuni
ty to make good and keep the law
then refused that he had little ground
ti» ask for mercy. He gave him 1:!
months on the Edgecombe road;
Prom this sentence, Jones appealed
to the superior court and bond was
fixed at S6OO.
ATTENDING FURNITURE
EXPOSITION AT HIGH POINT
f 4 —v . ...
Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Courtney and
daughter, Miriam, will leave Wednes
day for High Point, where they will
attend the Southern Furniture Expo
sition. They expect, to tour through
the peach country in the Sand Hills
and to visit a number of places of
interest in the Piedmont section.