Advertiaera Will Pod Our Col
nma a Latchkey to Owr Sixteen
Handled Martin County Homea
VOLUME XXXIV—NUMBER 51
TOBACCO MARKETS OPEN NEXT TUESDAY
★ *★★★*****★★**]*******★★ ******
Williamston 9 s Three Big Warehouses Are Ready for First Sales of 1931
COUNTY SCHOOLS ALLOTTED $112,275
SUM CONSIDERED
INSUFFICIENT TO
SUPPORT TERM
Two or Three Thousand
Dollars More Expected
For Transportation
Martin County will receive from the
State of North Carolina $112,275.04
for the operation of its schools during
the first six months of the 1931-32
term, it was Warned at the office of
the county superintendent of schools
here yesterday. In reality, the county
receives only around $89,000 front the
State, as approximately $23,000 is
raised in the founty by the 15-cent
levy imposed by tin: legislature on the
basis of the 1930 valuation.
In short, the allotment is not suf
ficient to operate the schools on a con
servative plan, not even mentioning
an efficient standard, It is believed.
Official estimates have not been made,
pending the next meeting of the coun
ty board of education, but it is under
stood that to operate the schools in
an efficient manner and at the same
time on an utlra conservative plan, a
supplementary budget calling for ail
H-cent additional tax will be absolute
ly necessary. This problem will likely
be discussed, and it disposition will I"*,
in all probability, determined at the
next meeting of the county board of
education and the county commission
ers.
Subtracting the approximately $23,-
000 the county will pay for the opera
tion of the six months school term,
the State will pay around $89,000 this
year, or approximately $43,000 more
than the county received last year.
The allotment advanced so far by the
State Equalization Board is not com
plete, as it will care for the transpor
tation of pupils in those consolidated
districts which was not included in
the allotment recently made. There
are around 300 children in those
schools that were consolidated this
year, and at the rate of $H per child,
the Stale will make an allowance of
$2,400 more, making the total sum
about $114,675.04. Then there are a
few other items to be cared -for by
the State from the emergency fund set
up for the operation of the six-months
tiHW. - • . ■
Mr. Leroy Martin, secretary of the
State Board of Equalization, said, "In
making the allotments to the various
counties, this lytard has endeavored to
set up such standards and make such
division of the fund under its control
as would enable the schools to be
operated in the best manner possible.
That the allotments will not be suffic
ient to operate the schools, in many
instances, upon as high a standard as
has heretofore been the case is to be
expected. It is useless for any apol
ogy to be offered for a failure to allot,
in many instances, what appeared to
be necessary for efficient operation.
The total amount appropriated, with
the exception of a small emergency
fund, has been allotted.
"It is the hope of this board that
every one who receives a dollar from
this fund will, at this time, endeavor
to see to it that the maximum amount
of service to be expected from
(Continued on the back page)
W. J. BENNETT
HOME BURNED
♦
Fire of Unknown Origin
Results In SI,OOO Loss
To Owner Jos Chefty
A five-room tenant house, occupied
by Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Bennett and
belonging to Mr. Joe Cherry, was de*
stroyed by fire early yesterday after
noon on the McCasfcty road, about
five miles from here. All the con
tents with the exception" of a few ar
ticles were destroyed with no insur
ance either the dwelling or the fur
niture.
Mrs. Bennett, said to have been
alone at the home at the time, was
near the woodshed and when she first
discovered the blaze it had gained
-I much headway. The origin of the fire
could not be learned, but it is under
stood that the bouse had barely es
caped burning once or twice before.
The loss is estimated at more than
11,009.
THE ENTERPRISE
11 Per Cent Drop
In 1931 Tobacco
A decrease of 66,400,000 pounds,
or 11 per cent of the total 1930
crop, is predicted in North Caro
lina this year, it was learned from
an estimate advanced by C. A.
Sheffield, assistant extension direc
tor at Sute College, thia week.
Basing his estimates on August
10 figures of the United States
Bureau of Agricultural Economics,
and upon experience, Mr. Sheffield
say there was a reduction of 57,000
acres this year, or 7.3 per cent.
The reduction in total tobacco
yield in the .State will be from
574,000,000 to 517,000,000, or a re
■ J —— .i-iml
f WHAT A MEMORY 1
V _ s
Norfolk, Va., Aug. 23.—A long
memory has N. B. Bacon, who yes
terday applied for a 50-cent bounty
for killing a chicken hawk in 1925
when he turned the remains over
to the Norfolk County clerk's of
fice, but, for some unexplained
reason, did not wait for payment.
Yesterday Bacon appeared in the.
clerk's office and asked for his ,
money. Records revealed that the
remains of the hawk jfrad .been
duly turned, over to county authori
ties, so a certificate for payment
. of the bounty was iasued.
CATTLE RANCH
INCORPORATED
♦ ,=t-
Incorporation Believed To
Be Limited to Side-line
Operations
•
The 15,000 acres of land, common
ly known as, the old J. and W. or
Dytnond City tract, was incorporated
last Saturday by Messrs. Peter Mil
tenberger, of Pint-town, and John A.
Mayo and W. L. Caughan, of Wash
ington. Details of the incorporation
proceeding* art- not known here, but
according to information released by
ithe-Secretary of- State, the tract will
be known as "Diamond Ranch." Au
thorized capital mentioned was $40,-
000, the incorporators subscribing
$l5O of that amount.
In the proceedings made public,
it was learned that the main office of
the corporation would be located at
Washington, N. C., the incorporators
seeking the right to "own and operate
all kinds of eating places, filling sta
tions, repair shops, etc." A
The tract of land was recently J>ur
cliased by Mr. L. A. Thompson, of
Wisconsin, and it is believed that the
incorporation proceedings are separate
for the operation of the ranch itself.
ABOUT TO RAISE
SUNKEN BARGE
■ ■ ♦
Pumping Operations, Start
ed This Morning, Halted
For A While
While uncertainity surrounds the |
operations, it was believed by those in
charge that the barge, "Lynn", sunk I
in the Roanoke River here several (
weeks ago, would be floated late to
day or early tomorrow. However, un
forseen hindrance might present them
selves and delay the raising of the 1
sunken craft several more days.
This morning, pumps were started
and the water was lowered two feet
in the coffer-dam, but pumping oper-|
atioi) were checked when logs and
trash, brought down by high waters,
nearly wrecked the coffer-dam piling. |
Repairs were underway at noon- to- {
day and as soon as they are completed
and the pumps are re-set, it is believ
ed that the boat can be floated in a
very few hours.
The barge, loaded with 731 tons of (
costly fertilizer material, went to the (
bottom of the Roanoke the 22nd of j
last month. The fertiliser waa lost,
and much money has been spent in
the attempt to raise the barge. High
waters have delayed the operations
several days, and other handicaps
have been experienced during the time
that salvage crews started their work.
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, August 25, 1931
duction of 11 per cent, Mr. Shef
field estimate*.
Mr. Sheffield figures that type
11, in the 21 old belt counties, will
be reduced this year by IS per
cent, or 32,900,000 pounds. The
acreage was reduced S per cent, or
15,000 acres. In 1930 the 21 old
belt counties planted 300,000 acres
yielding 221,000,000 pounds.
Type 12 tobacco, produced in 22
new belt counties, will be reduced
6 per cent, or 18,680,000 pounds.
The acreage has been decreased 8
per cent, or 32,000 acres. In 1930
the 22 counties planted 399,000
acres yielding 297,600,000 pounds.
LOADED TRUCK
DIVES OFF FILL
INTO SWAMP
—♦ —
More Than 125 Baskets of
Irish Potatoes Are
Scattered
♦
A two and one-half ton Republic
truck tore through the guard rail on
the Roanoke River fill, near Conine
Creek, last Friday afternoon, and
turned over in the swamp, scattering
its cargo of 125 baskets of irish pota
toes. No one was hurt, but John
Dixon, colored driver, stated that a
telephone pole in the path of the truck
"was the—onliest thing that #avvf our
lives." It is believed the truck would
have turned bottom upwards instead
of landing on its side had it not been
for the pole.
According to N. 11. Brown, colored
passenger, something went wrong a
bout the steering gear, and suddenly
the heavily laden conveyance swerved
to the right, tore through the guard
railing and hit a telephone pole.several
feet from the top of the dani. Re
bounding from the pole, which still
stood in its place, the large truck
turned on its side, emptying its cargo
of potatoes, and the two men on the
truck came out unscathed.
A noticeable thing about the wreck
was the promptness with which the
loaded freighter went sideways
through the fence. It didn't seem to
have skidded at all, but to have side
swiped, tearing out only a - few feet
of the panel. Viewing the wreckage,
one wonders how it was possible for
two men to have been in the seat and
to have escaped death.
The Peel Motor Company contract
ed to salvage the wreck, employees of
the company removing the truck late
Saturday after several hours' work.
The truck, owned by Mr. F. R. Alfred,
of Aurora, and bound for Weldon, was
one of the largest vehicles to dart
through the bridge fence since the
causeway was built.
NAME FACULTY
FOR CfAK CITY
Four New Members Are In
Faculty of Eleven
Teachers
——♦ T
The Oak City schools open the
1931-32 term Monday, September 14,
with four new members in its faculty
of eleven teachers, it was announced
yesterday by Principal H. M. Ainsley.
The faculty includes Miss Leona
Newton, first grade; Miss Alice Mal
lard, second grade;' Miss Adeline Tew,
third grade; Miss Ruth Pittman, fourth
grade; Miss Julia Holloway, fifth
grade; Miss Fannie Woodward, sixth
grade; and Miss Elizabeth Whichard,
seventh grade. The four teachers in
the high school there are Misses Myr
tis Zetterower and Ruth Williams and
Messrs. W. Ray Latham and H. M.
Ainsley. Miss Ruth Pittman,. Fannie
Woodward and Ruth Williams • and
Mr. W. Ray Latham are the new teach
ers.
•
Skewarkee Lodge Masons
To Hold Meeting Tonight
There will be a regular meeting of
Slctfwarkee Lodge, No. 90, A. F. and
A. M., at the lodge hall tonight, at
8 pr inT~"Work in the third degree.
CHANGES ASKED
BY PETITIONS IN
SCHOOL SYSTEM
Macedonia and Cross Roads
Citizens Carry Requests
To State Authorities
Ihe various school consolidations
advanced in this county by State
school authorities are in line to be
changed in two instances if ix'titious
prepared by- citizens and school pa
trons in the Macedonia and Cross
Roads school districts are considered
and approved by the State head, it
was learned yesterday.
Macedonia patrons, approximately .'0
of them, representing seventeen high
school and 46 elementary pupils, are
asking that their school be annexed to
the one in Williamston and not to
Hear (irass, as arranged by -the Stat"
authorities. It was stated by the
Macedonia petition 'holder yesterday
afternoon that he and other patrons in
the district are asking the State to
school their children at Williamston,
the State paying the transportation
costs. If this, request is not favored
by the State, the school district repre
sentative stated that they would pro
vide transportation facilities at their
own expense and feml their children
to Williamston.
The Cross Roads representatives, a
large number >f them, went before the
county superintendent asking that
their school he maintained as a sep
arate unit and that the action consoli
dating it with Kveretts be rescinded.
- As- all school —consolidations —were
effected by State- authorities, these two
perplexing problems rest with them.
It is understood that the two petitions
will be received by the State authori
ties, but just when a settlement will
he reached is a matter for specula
tion at this time.
The method of operation of several
schools during the coming term rests
upon these consolidations, it is under
stood, and just how changes can I*
made is a real problem for the authori
ties.
•
Autos Sell for 75c Each
In Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne, Aug. 22.—An auction lot
consisting of two comparatively new
automobiles and five fowls were.Sold
on a farm near here for $1.50.
Other bargains included sheep at
6 cents each, a player piano for sl,
a prize Friesian bull for 12 cents, a
stack of 42 bags of new season's
wheat for $1 ainl a brand new power
chaff cutter for sl.
TJie auction was a bailiff's sale on
a farm. The farmer's neighbors for
miles around attended and permitted
no strangers to bid.
After the goods had been bought at
absurd prices they were handed back
to the x farmer.
Albemarle League Creates
Much Interest In Bertie
With the season fast approaching a
close and with keen competition in
the league, baseball fans in Bertie
are much interested in the games to
be played in Windsor, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday, of this week.
Hertford plays there tomorrow and
Elizabeth City goes there for 2 games
Thursday and Friday.
Many Martin fans have been at
tending the games this season, an.l
the last contests of the scheduled sea
son are expected to attract many
from this side of the river.
Patrolman* Braswelt Takes
Up Duties If ere This; Week
Mn,/R„ L. Braswell, of Wilson, rt
cently added to the State Highway
I'atrol force, started his work here this
week. He will move his family here
next week and will be at home on
West Main Street.
»
Revival Starts at Vernon
Church Monday Night
Starting last night, Rev. A. E.
Brown, Methodist minister of Rober
tonville, is conducting a series of re
vival services in the Vernon church,
near here on the old Everetts road.
I Services are held each evening at 7:45
o'cloclc. The public is cordially invit
ted to attend.
•W-- >
All Tobacco Firms Here Are
Headed by Experienced Men
"Misplaced Arctic Breezes"
Cause of Recent
Yesterday was reputed to be
about the coldest day since sum
mer officially began, fires were
kindled and summer suits ran for
shelter. But there will be some
more warm days, the Weather
prophets stating that the cool spell
was attributed to 'misplaced arctic
breezes," and that another change
can be expected shortly.
As temperatures dropped an av
erage of five degrees below normal
throughout the territory east of
the Mississippi River, with scat
tered continuous cold rains and
Oak City Community Making
Preparations To Take Care of
Needy Children Next Winter
SECOND CANNING
DAY ARRANGED
FOR NEXT WEEK
Preliminary Investigations
Point to Need of Relief
For 15 Children
In an effort to rare for the needy
children in the .(>ak City School dis
trict during the coming winter, pub
lic-spirited women of the community
there are canning quantities of foods
this summer, I'rinripal 11. M. Ainsley
stated yesterday morning. Meeting in
the school building there several days
ago, Miss l.ora K. Sleeper, county
home demonstration agent, assisted by
Nlrs. VV. I>. llynian, Mrs. VV. I'.
Smith, and Mrs. H. M. Ainsley 'canned
more than 2(1 quarts of soup mixture
and vegetables, it was state I.
v . Next week, a second canning day
has been arranged, and an urgent ap
peal is being directed to all citizens in
the sej4ion for assistance iu making the
wnrtt sttt't eTsl.olv Send -in- all -t be—sur
plus vegetables you have, ami it liti
manly possible go to the school build
ing and assist the canning work that
the little undernourished children may
be cared for during coniing school
term. The day will be announced lat
er, but make, arrangements now to
lend a helping hand. .
Making a preliminary survey la*t]
week into the existing conditions in
I the Oak C ity School district, I'rofes
sor H. M. Ansley stated yesterday
that there will be no less than 15 cliil
dren in the school this year who will
be entirely dependent upon charity.
Approximately that number was cared
for last year, the women of the com
munity, "donating foods and money to
provide lunch two days each week.
PACK HOUSE IS
BURNED FRIDAY
m
H. H. Cowen Loses Barn
And Several Hundred
Bags of Peanuts
-*
A farm packhouse and several hun
dred hags of peanuts, belonging to
Mr. Herbert H. Cowen and located
on his farm one mile west of here on
the Kveretts road, were destroyed by
fire last 1 Friday night. The blaze was
discovered by Mr. Exum Ward, who
lives near by, but too late to save the
structure or any of its contents.
The loss, estimated at about $l,lOO,
was partially offset by insurance. The
origin of the fire is unknown.
Mr. Cowen, only a few months agn,j
lost his new country home, just a few!
yards from the spot %hcre the pack-j
house burned last Friday night.
♦
Ford Caravan of Seven
Units Here tor the Week
—• • |
♦ The Ford caravan, sent put by the
Norfolk branch of the Ford Motor
Company, arrived here yesterday t>
spend the week with the Williamston
Motor Company, local dealers. There ;
are seven units with the caravan.
TUESDAY
chill northern winds, forecasters
of the weather- bureau said "an out
break arctic air" was the explana
tion.
"There has been a sudden drift,
probably from extreme northern
Canada," the forecaster "Continued,
"causing an area of high pressure
from eastern Quebec southwest
ward to Texas. This brings the
northeast breeze. The effect is
intensified because simultaneously
a low pressure area exists over a
wide strip centered over North
Carolina, causing cloudy weather."
f
I NO FIRES )
Since June 15, the local fire
company has not had a call, the
volunteers enjoying one of the
longest holidays since the com
pany was last organized, it was
learned from Fire Quel H. D.
Harrison at a regular meeting of
the members held last night The
last call came from the county
jail when a prisoner fired the bed
ding in his cell.,
TOTAL 8 ARRESTS
MADE IN COUNTY
OVER WEEK-END
Young Negro Boy Jailed
For Peeping in Window
Of Local Residence
p ——
A number of arrests were made in
this .futility uver the week-end, local
and -county- rttfTrrr^"jailing eigli'f 'peu
.pie, it was learned front the cbuntv
jail records.
). W. Stokes, white, was jailed for
being drunk lie bought five'gallons
|of gasoline fur his truck and started
j to leave without paying for it. Charlie
, Moore, station attendant, reached for
the switch key and called for the ofti
j cers.
j t barged with an assault, l.eandcr
; Knight was placed in the lioosegow.
After a short stay fur being drunk,
John lloggard, white, ufis .released
[yesterday from the jail.
(barged with adultery, Charlie
Brunson and FmiiiH Moore were put
in the jail Friday.
Theodore Watson, 12-year-old negro
boy, and known as "Sunshine," was
locked up for trespassing on the prop
erty of Robert Taylor. Secreting him
self in a porcb vine, the boy was
caught peeping in a window at the
Taylor home.
Charged With violating the prohibi
tion law, I.uther l.inton remained in
jail for a short while arid was later
released under bond.
Arrested in Jamesville, Kraijk Arm
strong, colored, was placed in jail on
a charge of transporting liquor.
J. C. Freeman, Windsor
Man, Commits Suicide,
♦
J. C. Freeman, 41-year-old farmer
of Windsor, committed suitide at the
home of his sister, Mrs. W. T. Tad
lock, there this morning at 9 o'clock
by firing a shot from £ 22-caliber pi-.' j
tol into his brain. He died instantly.
Despondent and in poor health, Mr. ■
Freeman attempted to end his life a
few weeks ago,, but failed to secure a
I pistol at that time. This morning he
went down town for a short while,,
jflid returning home he went to hi->|
room and taking a stand in -front of
a mirror, he fired the shot. '
Funeral services will be held »n
Windsor tomorrow afternoon.
Mrs. Freeman with three
survive.
Watch the Label On Your
Paper Aa It Carriea the Date
When Your Subacsiption Expirea
ESTABLISHED 1898
•>
BORDER MARKET
PRICE IS SAID TO
BE HIGHER
Highest Average of Season
18 Cents, Reported at
Lumberton
With the opening of the William-
I -toil Tobacco Market an,| sixteen
"tilers' in riff- "Bright Melt next Tues
day, S til to .and e # ven nation wide at
| tention wi|J center,on Ka stern North
.Carolina, and the prices it > growers
will receive lor what is claimed to
he one of if,,- best crops g£own in
ve.irs, particularly in tins immediate
Lsection,
l.ocal business is tuning for the
i opening here next lucsday morning,
;.ind an encouraged look is found a-
I as tin \ prepare lor
L«iie pattern Carolina's greatest
| yearly events, ilie opening of the to
j h.icco markets.
*
Warehousemen are ready for a s'uc
| cessful season, iiuny of them advanc
ing as their belief that the poundage
will he less (INS year. hut thai prices
will Ix- equally as hinli it not higher
than t+iev were last ••season. 'Hi ■
three warehouses here, with their three
. aire* t«l lloor spaee.- are' in a position
to handle the u.ddcu weed to • everv
J advantage, and the proprietors have
made every arrangement .possible to *
| oiler the grower s a prompt and reliable
service, I' llic ient forces—have been •
Unnploveil at e;n It in the Win idiouses")
I storage houses have been put in or
der aii«l repairs to the large plant of
the W. I. „Skinner Tobacco Company
! have been made preparatory to a big
| season here this "y ear. r
Kvery large company will he rep
| resented on the local market this
| M'ar, including the Export company,
| it was learned from advices receive I
Iby the Folia ecu Hoard of Trade re
cently.
As to prices that will he paid, it is
a matter for speculation. But judg
j tug from reports from Georgia, South
Carolina, and the border markets, poor
■«|Ui4 llly tobacco' will sell low, with
I prices for the better grades offering
| more encouragement than they ili«| Iwt
jyeS.
I opening clay last year, Eastern
t atolina prices averaged around $7..5,t
per Ittl) pounds, hate next Tuesday,
lthe l'J.ii, opening day average will he
determined. Visit the Williamson
i market that day and on throughout
jtjie season. Highest market prices arc
assured, and courteous and fair treat
ment are always-present for the grow
ers ami visitors here,
j Reports received" late last night for
| the sales on three border markets,
read as follows:
$15.69 at Chadbourn
j t'iiadboiirn, Aug. 24 ; The Chad
bourn tobacco market experienced the
'largest sales of the season today with
a most satisfactory price for good to
jbacco. The market sold I(iH,.WB
■pounds at $15.09. The,sales continued
'until The hank re
mained open and waited on all grow
ers, who were all well pleased
'the prices and the satisfactory meth
ods of handling the market.
Blocked Sale at Lumberton
Lumberton, Aug. 24—Lirmberton's
tobacco market today experienced the
biggest day of the season, with an
estimated poundage of from one-halt
to three-quarters of a bullion pounds
at an .average of from sl7 to $lB,
Prices were "most satisfactory of the
[season. It -waf the first blocked sale
here this year,
Fairmount Breaks Records
I'airniouiit, Aug. 24.— More loads of
tobacco were in town today and few
ier rejections by the farmers than,
ever before in the history of the mar
ket. Notwithstanding the great vol
ume of tobacco prices remained firm
throughout the whole today.
Today's sales were estimated at
900,000 pounds with an average for
the whole of between $15.25 and $16.25
The quality was slightly better than
that of last week. It is predicted to
morrow's sales will be fully as large
as today's sales. The same selling
date one year ago the average was
| $14.45.