North Carolina Newspapers

AArarthm Wffl Pud Oar Col ami a Latchkey to Over Sixteen Hundred Mirtm County Homes VOLUME XXXIV—NUMBER 45 PROPOSE 8-MONTHS TERM IN COUNTY Special Election Is Called For September Fire Has Destroyed Many Curing Barns FOUR REPORTED BURNED WITHIN PAST FEW DAYS Fleming and Roberson Lose Second Barn at James ville Last Sunday —->» After a period of three weeks or more and during which time there were few tobacco curing barns burned in the county, the tide turned over the week, farmers from various sec tions reporting losses. In addition to the four lost in the Robersonville community this season, at least four more are known here to have been de stroyed the latter part of last week and over the week-end. Tom Bullock, Bear Grass township farmer, reported a loss. The last fire had been placed in the furnace neces sary to curing the tobacco, and the barn had been visited only a few niin utes before it was next seen in flames. Mrs. Jim Tyre lost a nice bam at her home in Williams township, last Friday. J. F. Jackson lost a barn and s large amount of tobacco last week, the cause of the fire being unknown here. Roberson and Peel lost a large barn, containing 1,200 sticks, by fire on the Keith (arm, near here, Satur day morning. The keeper was not running vyy high heat and had visit ed the barn a few minutes before it caught and burned. He was at a loss to explain the cause of the blaze. Fleming and Roberson lost their second barn in the Jamesville com munity last Sunday, a first barn burn ing three days before. The total barns destroyed, as far as it could be learned, now number ten in this county this season. Reporting few fires up until last week, the bottom almost fell out over in Lenoir County, farmers stated. Four barns are said to have been destroyed within sight of each other at the same time. Lightniing struck and fired five other barns there Friday night, accord ing to reports received here. COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS MONDAY Board Agrees To Sustain Plan of Consolidation In This County Meeting in regular session at the courthouse here yesterday, the Mar tin County Board of Education voted to sustain the consolidation plans ad- 1 vanced by the State Board of Equali-' cation. the action following a long diawn-out discussion of the consolida tions of certain districts in particular. As a result of the official action, Mice- J donia goes to Bear Grass; Smith's I goes to Robersonville; Mannings, Pop lar Run and Ange Town go to Jame;- ville; Cross Roads and virtually all of Spring Green go to Everetts, and Sandy Ridge to Williamston. An election for a county-wide two months extended term was advanced in a petition from the board to the c unty commissioners, and arrange ments were completed for a registra tion and election. Mr. Charles Coltrain, mechanic, elec trician and plumber, was made super intendent of buildings and general overseer of transportation in the coun ty. Mr. Coltrain starts to work im mediately and will repair the heating nd plumbing systems in the various buildings throughout the county. Early i truck repairs will be handled in the various garages, Mr. Coltrfcin taking, active charge of this work u soon as he completes repairs to buildings, it] was stated that be will work in con junction with the various mechanics in the several gafeges. The board ordered that a number of tlie"rural scbdol buildings be insured! - the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company. ■ • Local Junior Team Wins Over Jamesville Juniors The Williamston Junior Baseball team downed the Jamesville Juniors here yesterday afternoon by a 16 to IS score. Raymond Matthews worked on the mound for tbe local boys. THE ENTERPRISE PRICES HIGHER IN SOUTH CAROLINA s According to a i pec ill wire re ceived from Mr. J. W. Berger at Timmoniville, S. C., good to bee cos there were aelling 40 per cent higher than they did last year, but common tobaccos were reported to be selling much lower than they did last seaaon.. Mr. Berger will operate the Roanoke-Dixie Warehouse here this year in par tnership with W. T. Meadows. SECOND FIRE AT RAY'S CAMP Mr. J. D. Ray, Owner Esti- mates Loss at About $1,250.00 Following the destruction of two buildings at Ray's Camp, near James ville, by fire Monday evening of last week, a person or persons unknown to the camp owner, went there and fired the remaining wooden buildings, several in number. With the excep tion of S2OO insurance on the first two buildings, Mr. Ray estimates the loss at $ 1,250. The crime, one of the lowest of its kind reported in this county in years, was committed while Mr. F. S. Dawes caretaker, was attending to business matters in Jamesville. The first two buildings were fired a few minutes aft er Mr. Dawes left for Jamesville, and the remaining ones were fired under the same circumstances and about the same hour. Mr. Ray, undecided as to whether he 'will rebuild or not, stated yesterday that he was at a loss to advance any reason why any one should have burned the camp. The camp has been used mostly for fishing parties, campers, and picnick ers, and has been very popular with many people here and from near-by Jtowns for several years. It is located ion Gardner's Creek and on Highway I No. MO, about f>ur miles from James ville. DEATH OF MRS. R. J. PEEL, JR. Dies at Home In Morris town, Tenn., Early Yesterday | Mr*. R. J-. Peel, jr., died Monday | morning at 5 o'clock at her home in Morristown, Tenn., where she and Mr. Peel have resided for the past several | months. An infant child died last I Tuesday. Previous to her marriage to Mr. Peel ,in December, 1929, she was Miss Wil ma Elizabeth Willis, of Mountain .City, Tenn. Her death occasioned much sadness in Williamston, she hav ing visited Mr. Peelfe parents, Judge and Mrs. R. J. Peel, several times. During her visits heJe she made many friends who were tfrieved to hear of her death. The funeral took place today at 21 o'clock in Mountain City, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Peel, Miss Eva Peel, and Mr. Elbert S, Peel attend ed the funeral. • Improve Highway No. 125 Near Halifax County Seat • High No. 125 from Halifax to Scot land Neck is being coated with tar and rock, which will be a great improve ment on the former sand clay road. I Traffic for the present is being routed by the Tillery road. ....... With the completion of the work .there, all of Route 125 will have been I improved with the axception of a few miles, the largest stretch unimproved probably being the 5 1-2 miles be tween Williamston and Hamilton, and that is of the sand-clay type. I Durham Insurance Man | Establishes Office Here Mr. H. J. Shaw, of Durham, dis trict manager for the Home Security Life and Insurance Company, of Dur ham, has established hit headquarters here and will occupy offices in the Lawyers' Building. His family will join him here about the middle of this month. Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, August 4, 1931 COUNTY BOARD HOLDS REGULAR MEET MONDAY Poor Call for Food and the "Rich" Ask For Tax Relief on Property The Martin County Board of Com missioners met Monday with all the members present. The most of the day was taken up by appeals from the poor and the rich —a goodly number of the helpless ask ing for food, while a number of the rich'were asking for help by lowering of tax values. Although many other things came up for discussion, such prominent matters as the tax levy had to be put off because the county and school au dits had not been completed. The board fixed the annual license to resident of the county dealing in horses and mules at $25. T. B. Slade was allowed the sum of $lO for expense in the burial of Knnna Williams, a pauper. J. \V". LcgKett, of Cross Roads, land value was reduced from $1,200 to sl,- 1160. Marie Chopick, of Jamesville Town ship, was relieved from the payment of taxes on SBOO worth of personal prop erty, listed by error. 1). B. Stalling*, of Griffins Town ship, land value reduced from $4,335 to $3,800. The following help was granted to the poor, outside of the county home: Coredlia Reddick, Williams Town ship, $2.00 per month. Bettie Rascoe, colored, Williams Township, $5 per nionth. Henry Baker, WiHiamston, colored, Willianiston Township, $2 per month. Sam Fulford, white, Cross Roads Township, $4 per nionth. Jesse „ Bowen, white, Jamesville Township, $5 per month. Carrie Moore, colored, Jamesville Township, $2 per month. Ton* Gray, cdlored, i Jamesville Township, $2 per month. Foreman and Blades Lumber Co., 4,254 acres of land, value increased to $5,300. Wicomico Lumber Co., Hamilton Township, 2,850 acres of land increas ed from $22,000 to $42,750. 2,480 acres in Griffins Township, raised from $13,- 500 to $22,200. 116 acres in Williams Township raised from $6,000 to $7,570, Railroad iron listed at SI,OOO and charged with back taxes. Mrs. Fannie S. Biggs, Dinah Hill land reduced from $4,500 to $4,000. Major-Loom is Lumber Co., 400 acres of Bagley land in Jamesville Township, reduced from $12,000 to $4,- 770, and they were charged with 2 1-2 miles of Railroad iron, 1 tractor, and 1 skidder, all valued at $1,500. Foreman-Blades Lumber Co., value of 92 acres of Modlin timber raised from S4BO to S7BO. M. J. Moye residence in Williatn ston reduced from $2,250 to $2,000. The board ordered a general schoAijh tax election for the county to be h«tflr September 14. FARMERS VISIT TOBACCO FARM Learn Much About Raising Tobacco; Plan To Visit Station Again Soon Four Jamesville Township farmers, Messrs. Jim Knowles, Perlie Modlin, Wendell Hamilton and Professor W. T. Overby visited the State Tobacco Test farm in Oxford last Saturday and made a brief study of the experiments conducted at the station. Commenting upon their visit, the' farmers stated that they learned many new things about raising tobacco, add ing that their visit was well worth while. The farmers were especially interested in fertilizer experiments and the several diseases common to to- Mcco. Several other farmers of the com munity planned to viftit the test farm but were unable to make the trip. It is believed that several of those going to the farm last Saturday will return for a second study of the experiments carried on there. ■ ■ ■ County Board of Health To Meet Here Thursday The Martin County Board of Health : will hold a meeting in the office of the superintendent of schools here next Thursday morning at 10 o'clock, it was announced today. Average on Bord This Morning About 7\ Cents Price* on the border tobacco markets opening today averaged around seven cents, according to reports received here at noon from Mr. C. D. Carraway, Roberson vifle tobacconist, and Sheriff C. B. Roebuck who were on the Lumberton market. Sheriff Roebuck stated in his meisage that there was a small break at Lumberton and that the sales would be completed shortly after the noon hour. Prices paid for the common grades were said to be much lower than they were last year, while the average price for the better grades waa about the tame thii year as it was lait season. He also stated that the Attempting to Raise Sunken Barge Here FIRST TRYING TO GET FERTILIZER OUT OF VESSEL Expect To Raise Sunken Craft by Thursday or Friday, This Week With scores of people from mile-, around watching the operations, the first attempt to raise the barge "I.ynn" and its cargo of 731 tons of fertilizer from the bottom of the Roanoke .Riv er here, was made early Sunday morn ing. Experiencing many handicaps ■work today was moving along slowly but steadily, operations being delayed for short intervals to give Diver Ever ett, an original Holander, time to rest. Under the direction of Captain Krank, of the Norfolk Lighterage Company, the firm contracting to raise the sunken craft, the barge hatches were removed early Sunday morning, and a large clam-shell scoop was put into operation removing the fertilizer and placing it in a scow near by. Un til Sunday afternoon, the scoop re moved the fertilizer to the scow, which almost went down when a side railing tore away and the fertilizer poured 'to one side. The old "John Haggerty," a master at many deep-sea recoveries, was brought into use and late that after noon pumps of several hundred gal lons capacity a minute were sucking the fertilizer material from the barge and dumping it into the river. These operations were continued for the re mainder of the day without the me of a diver. Yesterday morning Diver Everett took the suction pipe and went into the barge, .the fertilizer being sucked out rapidly along with hundreds of gallons of water every minute the equipment was in use. At 10 o'clock he came up and called for rubber gloves, stating Hiat the acid in the firtilizer was eating his hand*. Gloves were provided, and he went down a gain at 10:30 for another stay or 30 or 40 minutes on the river'a bottom, f'umping operations are expected to continue for many hours yet. It was the opinion of those in charge of the salvage work that the boat would be floated Thursday, but there is some doubt as to whether the work can be completed by that time. A large quantity of the fertilizer material had been removed from the sunken craft late yesterday, and the boat con tinued as deep in the water as it was when it settled several hours aftef it went down. Diver Everett, a Hollander but for years a resident of Norfolk, stated that he could see nothing under the muddy waters of the Roanoke, that it was the same as night when he was only a Tew inches under the wattr. Wearing shoes of lead and a weight ed belt, the diver felt his way around in the hold of the barge, carrying the suction pipe to the packed fertiliser material store at the sides and in the corners of the barge. The damage to the barge, caused when the craft struck a log or some object just as it wfs being tied up near the plant here, has not been de termined so far. "Mr Everett went dojprn three times Sunday alternoon, but was unable to reach the bottom of the boat for the yellow mud* It is understood that all the fertiliser .will be removed and that the boat will be prices ranged from one to twenty one cents. The Export Leaf To bacco Company was not repre sented at Lumberton and Reyn olds was said to be the heavy buyer. Mr. Carraway's message read. "First hour's sales averaged seven and one-half cents. Offerings very light. Quality much better than last year. Average practical ly the same as last year." , Sheriff Roebuck stated that he heard very few farmers complain ing about tihe prices paid this morning, that most of them ap parently received as much aa they expected to get for their offer ings. COURT OF HONOR FOR BOY SCOUTS Several Scouts Promoted; Merit Badges Given at Friday Meeting Here Taking part in a court of honor here last Friday night, Hoy Scouts from Robersonville and YVilliamston received a number of merit badges, advancing tlieni in the realm of scout ing. The meet was wvll attended in spite of unfavorable weather. Messrs. Bill Spivey, Wheeler Martin, Kevs. Z. T. Piephoff, W. F. Wiegtnann and C. 11. Dickey, members of the court were present for the ceremonies. Scoutmaster Wheeler Martin was made a life scout, and a goodly num ber of promotions was made among the two troops. Shelbotirne Hall was advanced to a first class scout. How ard Cone, Vernon Godwin and Fran cis Peel were raised to second-class scouts. Merit badges were awarded to the following: Lawrence Lindslcy, Billy Clark, Fnimett Whitley, Leslie I'owden, jr., Ben Hopkins, Shelbourne Hall, Wheeler Martin, jr., J. D. Bow en and Henry Harrison, jr. MRS. MARCILLA ROEBUCK DIES Funeral Services Held Sun day Afternoon by Rev. J. M. Perry Mrs. Marcilla Roebuck, 87 years old died at the home of her nephew, K. C. Roebuck, near Robersonville, early last Saturday night. She had been in [feeble health for some time, and death was attributed to infirmities common 'to old axe. Miss Roebuck was one of nine chil jdren and was the eighth one to die. Robert Roebuck, of Gold Point, sur jvives. One brother was killed in the Civil War, and only one other mem ber of the family died under 79 years |of age. Mrs. Roebuck had been a | member of the Christian church for 65 I years. Funeral services were conducted front the home Sunday afternoon l>y Rev. J. M. Ferry, of Texas, a former pastor of the Kohcrsonville Christian church. Interment was in the family plot 011 the old Thomas Roebuck plan tation, near Koberson'ville. t Cotf/ity Authorities Enjoy Special Dinner Yesterday The Martin County Home Demon stration clubs scored a big hit yester day when their members served din ner to the members of the county board of commissioners and educa tion, county officers and #ther invited guests at the Woman's Club .hall here. From all over the county, the club members came here to prepare the meal, offering the and in vited guests all the good things to eat | one could possibly ask for. Conducted rather secretly was the contest between County Agent Bran don and Sheriff Roebuck, one blushing, as the ,other told how much he ate. moved to make possible repairs. After they are made, the water will be pumped out and the barge made ready for a trip to a dry dock. END OF STRIKE IS SEEN AS NUMBER RETURN TO WORK Several New Men Report For Work, Agreeing To Company's Wage Scale The labor strike resulting at t'u Standard Fertilizer Company plant on Koanoke River here week before last, when .37 negro workman walked out, was partially; it' not-.completely, brok en" yesterday morning, when IS men reported for work. Several of the men walking out When the strike was ordered two weeks ago returned to their posts yesterday mooting, the company recruiting several others from parts lit Hertie and Martin Counties, especially from this poi|it The w age scale, against- which tin strike was directed, is still being main tained by the company with some doubt as to whether it can be con tinued under the working conditions at the plant. | Labor activities were centered yes terday on the barge "Potomac," work in the plant continuing at a standstill. Several hundred tons of fertilizer are in the barge, and unloading operations jwere going forward yesterday slowly hut steadily. Several of the strikers were at the plant yesterday morning,' hut refused jto work at the company's price and ithey soon left when they saw a few of .their fellow strikers and new laborers 'punch the clock and start to work, I'l hey went away orderly, .limiting any 'remarks to themselves. Since the strike was ordered at the 'plant allegedly by Lewis Williams and Wiley Joyner two weeks ago today, white labor, in tile main, has handled necessary operations, the unloading of about 35 tons of fertilizer material from a barge being included ill the tasks. Laborers leaving their places at the plant during the strike have found lit tle work since that time, a few find ing steady employment elsewhere. The majority, however, joined the ranks of the unemployed. . All the workmen occupying the 'company houses have returned except four; two, Williams and Joyner, hav ing vacated; ami it is understood that the others will IM' a-ked to vacate within a short time if they fail to re turn to work. 3 LICENSES TO MARRY ISSUED . , ■ Number Is Smallest Issued In This County In Many Many Months | There were fewer marriages in Mar- {tin County last month than there have jheen in any other one month in 'years, it was learned from the office of the Martin County Register of I Deeds this week. Only three licenses |Were issued, one going to white and .two to colored couples. The coloreds niaintained their June rate, hut the .whites dropped from four in June to one in July. | Since March of this year, there has ibeen a steady decrease in the number j of licenses issued comity, the 'month of July showing the smallest ,mimber of all. I Licenses were issued as follows; White Samuel Kee and Grace Stokes, both of Martin County. Colored Joe Bullock and Leoria Griffin, of Martin County. Leo George Sberroul and IRosalie Umphrey, Martin County. No Session of Recorder's Court Held Here Today With Clerk of the Court of R. J. I'eel out of town, the session of the recorder's court scheduled here today was called off. There were, very few cases on the docket for hearing at the session. Judge J. \V. Bailey took advantage of the holiday and moved his office from the one in the" Staton building on JJaltimore Street to the one on Main Street and adjoining the" Peet jewelry store. , . • Grows 99 Bushels of Wheat on Two Acres ' • . B. F. McCofii»U r Q( Moor* County, produced 99 1-2 of wheat on two acres of hkd been limed and grew last season. Watch the Label On Your Paper As It Carries the Date When Your Subscription Expires ESTABLISHED 1898 Would Reduce Rate of Tax in Many Districts > TO LEVY 15 CENTS Special Tax Levy Would Lower Rate In Thirteen Special Districts Petitioned by the Martin County Hoard of Education in regular meet ing here yesterday, the Martin County Commissioners, in their monthly meet at the same* time, ordered a' county wide school election, whereby every child in Martin County might enjoy the advantages of an eight-months school. After giving the problem much consideration, and after making a thorough study of the conditions t>urroumliuiJ- the Martin County schools, the educational body unani mously presented the to the • commissioners, and they, in turn, | completing a careful study of the peti tion unanimously ordered-the election, j The action of the boards yesterday, considered as one of the major steps taken in flic county recently for equal educational advantages for all, was ad vanced alter the members had consid ered three important factofs,'. namely, equal,educational opportunities for all 'children, the two mouths problem now *o prominent since>consolidations Were !effected in several school*, and trail - pollution during the last two,' or sev •■■itli ami eighth. months. j There were 20 white schools in the kounty, IS of the number, now levy ling a special tax. They are assured jail eight-mouths term in 1931-32. Only live district* have no special levy, and these have been consolidated with other units. The passage of ihe pro posed measure simply- means that all children will receive an efiual educa tional advantage in the schools, and that transportation will he provided during the seventh and eighth months as well as in the others. At the present time an averane lo cal tax of 22.6 cents is being levied in the IS districts already enjoying the eight-months term. The election calls for a county-wide levy of not more than 20 cents on the $l(K) valu ation, jr 2.0 cents below the present average levy. In other words, all lo cal tax levies would be suspended in (Continued on page tour) TOWN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IN SESSION HERE Impose SSO Tax On Each Chain Store Operating In The Town _The town, board, of commissioners held its regular meeting here last night, with very little business to transact except the usual routine of aproving current bills, and the like. Mayor Coburn and all the -members of the board except K. S. McCabe were present at the session. W. H. Carstarphen, representing the Norfolk, Baltimore and Carolina Boat Line, was present and requested the commissioners to either make some needed repairs to the municipal warehouses at the river or take under consideration the advisability of con structing new buildings. The matter was held in abeyance until a commit tee, composed of Commissioners L. Peel, L. P. Lindsley and N. C. Green could make an investigation and report hack at a special meeting to be held later. * AII ordinance was passed, levying a tax of SSO on each chain store operat ed in the town, the term "chain store" to be construed as any unit of an or ganization operating two or more places of business. The board made arrangements to have the 'town represented at a hear ing to be held in Raleigh next Thurs day in connection with the property valuation of the Virginia Electric and I'ower Company in the county and town, r •" v lii a discussion about the fiver warehouses, it was stated that the town had probably spept enough money repairing the old buHding dur ing the last three or four years to have built mew ones. It was consider ed probabte, however, that needed re pairs at this time would not coat very much and would likely be preferable to constructing new buildings, al though no definite action is,to be tak en until the committee reports.