Advwtfeon Wffl Fnd Oar Col am a Latchkey to Over Sixteen Hundred Martin County Homee VOLUME XXXIV—NUMBER 93 REPORT OF 1931 VITAL STATISTICS FOR BEAR GRASS District Has a High Birth Rate; 62 Births and 23 Deaths Reported With 62 births, and a rate of 39.3 per 1,000 population, Bear Grass Township people are the most prolific in the county, according to vital sta tistics so far filed in the office of the register of deeds here. Forty-four of the births were white, the township being one of the few reporting a larger number of white births over colored ones. There were 23 deaths in the dis trict last year, an average of 14.6 per sons dying for every 1,000 population. With the whites outnumbering the blacks by an unusually large majority, white deaths numebred 18 to 5 for the colored people there. Thirteen of the deaths were report ed among children at birth or before the little tots were a year old. Seven deaths were recorded among citizens over 50 years of age. Very few peo people died in middle age there dur ing the year. Bear Grass led the State birth rate by nearly 14 persons per 1,000 popu lation, but its death rate was slightly higher, being two persons per 1,000 population greater. Three illegitimate births were re ported during the year, all of them being among colored people. Present indications point to a large crop of rascals in this county, two townships, Williamston and Bear Grass, report ing 25 children born out of wedlock. SPECULATION AS TO SIZE OF 1932 TOBACCO CROP Commercial Fertilizers Are Beginning to Move; Sowing Plant Beds Hardly before the 1931 crops aft marketed and surely before the low prices received last year are forgot ten, Martin County farmers are fast preparing for 1932 plantings. Com mercial fertilizers are moving to the farms, and farmers are cleaning and treating seed for another tobacco crop around the size of which there is, right now, much speculation. Downcast, discouraged, and disheart ened* at marketing time, the average farmer* always stages a marked come back early in January and begins"prep arations for another crop. Hundreds of Martin County farmers are now planning their tobacco beds, and a few have already planted their seed. A few turning plows have been seen in the fields, but the most noticeable, and probably the moat important, work is centered around the''ditch banks and hedge rows. More farmers are mov ing- dirt from the ditch banks and hedge rows and broadcasting it over their lands than has been the case in many years before. Very little new land is being cleared. have already been cleaned and treated by the county agent so far, indicating that Martin farmers are planning to grow as mtich tobacco as they possibly can. It is believed that there will be a reduction in the tobacco crop this year, but very few voluntary acreage decreases are ex pected. The inability of some fann ers to procure fertilizer and to finance the general production of the crop is expected to partially determine the acreage this year. Sunday Services at The Local Christian Church James M. Perry, pastor. Bible school at 9:45. Morning wor ship, 11 o'clock. Senior Christian Endeavor at 6:30 p. m., and evening service at 7:30 o'clock. Inspirational music and helpful, Biblical sermons at all services. The pastor will preach at the morn ing service on "Christ's Conception of a Sensible Man," and at the evening service he will preach on "Apostolic Conception of Spiritual Security." Take your friends out. Take the family. Ask those who attend how they enjoy it. Ask th"ißPW»at you are missing. , Two weeks is a long time between preaching services. How we long for the day for communion, great singing, fine fellowship, and inspira tional sermons. Remember we have the same old regular Lord's days, sec ond and fourth. Mark them on your kitchen calendar. Public cordially in vtied. Schedule of Curb Market Prices For Tomorrow The following prices will be in ef fect at the curb market in the court house tomorrow morning: • Eggs, 14 centa a dozen; cabbage, 2 to 4 cents a pound; collars, 3 cents a pound; iriah potatoes, 1 1-2 centa a pound; sweet potatoes, 1 1-2 centa a pound, turnips, 5 cents a pound; corn meal, 2 cents a pound and cream 25 (enta a pint THE ENTERPRISE Unpaid Taxes Subject To Penalty After Martin County property owner* will find it to their advantage to aettle 1931 tax account* before next week i» spent, for after that time a 1 per cent penalty will be added to the amount The par period, in effect since December 2, will end February 1, when the penalty goes into effect and in creases 1 per cent each month thereafter. Individual collections have con tinued remarkably well during the past few weeks, even {hough pay ments were made at par, it waa learned from the aheriff'a office Name J. W. Eubanks To Board Education [ TOWN TAG SALE With the sale of town automo bile tags hardly half complete, of ficer* will start a drive after Feb ruary 1 in an effort to have car ownera purchase and display the little yellow-black plate* on their cars. Up until this morning, 133 tag* had been sold, it was report ed to the treasurer'* office, leaving about that number of car* with out town licence*. ARMY CLOTHES RECEIVED FOR USE OF NEEDY ■ • ~ Small Charge To Be Made; „ Matter Handled by Miss Sleeper A sjjpply of army clothes, old but serviceable, purchased through the county home agent, Miss Lora E. Sleeper, was recently received in the county and is now rvady for distribu tion among the county needy. Miss Sleeper states that the two boxes packed at Fort' Bragg with blankets, shoes, trousers, trench coats, and fatigue coats cost $5.88, including express charges which were more than the cost of the clothing. A nominal charge will be made for the articles, in some cases, according to Miss Sleeper, who outlines the prices as follows: "There are IS blankets which can coats at 10 cents each 'tfve trench coats at 10 cents each, ten pairs of shoes at 10 Cents each", army trousers, 20 pairs, at 5 cents each, and coats to go with the trousers, 25, at 6 cents each. "In many cases'it will be necessary to mend a few places in the garments, but they are all very good for the small charge. Those in actual need are the ones to receive these garments in the county. Wherever the person in need is without available money, either work or food will be appreciated in exchange for the garments received. The foodstuff obtained in this manner will be used in furthering relief for those in need in the county." School Men Hold Meeting j In Oak City Last Night Meeting in Oak City last night, the athletic committee of the Martin County Schoolmasters' club announc ed a schedule of basketball games to be played in the county during the next five weeks, the schedule to be made public within the next day or two. Teams, representing the Oak City, Robersonville, Everetts, Farm Life, Jamesville and Williamston schools, are scheduled to play their first games next Friday. Mrs. J no. Nicholson Died at Home Near Here Tuesday Mrs. John Nicholson, daughter of Mr. Stubbs Lilley, died at her home on the Whitaker farm, near here, early last Tuesday night of Bright's Disease. She had been in failing health for some time. Funeral services were conducted on Wednesday afternoon by Rev. C. T. Rogers, pastor of the local Methodist nhurch, and interment followed in th« Baptist cemetery here. Mr. Nicholson and several children survive. Announce Sunday Service At Riddicks Grove Church Regular preaching services will be conducted Sunday afternoon at 3 o'- clock in the Riddicks Grove Baptist church, it was announced yesterday by the pastor, Rev. W. B. Harring ton. The public ia invited to attend. Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, January 22, 1932 this week. The reports show that individual property owners are settling their accounts more rap idly than they did on the 1930 levy, and it ia believed that the county's financial atanding will be maintained. Martin County, it ia understood, is one of the few in the State that has met its pay roll, bond and in terest payments promptly. Its credit haa not been impaired, thanks to the property owner* who are making one of the most noble efforts in history to meet their obligations promptly and square ly. HASSELL MAN IS CHOSEN AT MEET HERE THIS WEEK Committee Would Abolish Hassell Voting Precinct. The Martin County Democratic Ex ecutive Committee in special session here Wednesday afternoon unanimous ly appointed John W. Eubanks, Has sell merchant, to finish the unexpired term of Javan Rogers, as member of the Martin County Board of Educa tion. Three names were mentioned in open session, the members of the com mittee, in private meeting, voting S for Mr. Eubanks, 3 for Mr. Urbin Rogers, son of the late member of the education board, Mr. Javan Rogers, a-nd one for Mr. B. M. Worsley, of Oak City, whose nomination was support ed by Committeeman J. W. Hines and a petition carrying the names of 47 Goose Nest citizens. Following the 5-3-1 poll, the committee unanimously supported Mr. Eubanks for member ship on the board. Mr. Eubanks, a leading citizen of his section of the county, will take the oath of office at the next regular meeting of the Martin County Board of Education. In a brief nominating speech, Mr. L. T. Fowden mentioned the name of Mr. Rogers, stating that it had been customary in this county to have son follow father in public office when it becomes the sad (Juty of those in au thority to appoint successors. |Mr, Rogers, he declared, was competent, and that following his college gradua tion he had gained rapid promotion in a Boston insurance firm. Mr. Plenny Peel, Griffins Township committee chairman? seconded this nomination, later explaining (hat the voters of Martin County were responsible for the lop-sided representation noticeable on both the county governing boards, and that he was of the opinion that the committee should follow the dictates of the voters and let them make any changes they so desired in the primary next June. Mr. Worsley's nomination! offered by Goose Nest Committeeman John W. Hines, was seconded by Mr. John A. Davenport, of Hamilton. Pointing out the unbalanced sec tional representation on the two boards Mr. Paul Salsbury asked that the old customary rule of having brother fol lowing brother and son following fath er be abandoned. He nominated Mr. Eubanks, Mr. J. W. Hines seconding the nomination. Following a poll of the members and the unanimous selection of Mr. Eubanks, the executive committee unanimously recommended the dis continuance of the Hassell voting pre cinct, which was created by the county board of election shortly before the last county primary. The recommen- I dation will be placed before the coun j ty election board, which body will act I At the beginning of the meeting held in the courthouse, Mr. R. J. Peel made a motion for the preparation of resolutions of respect for the late Javan Rogers as a member of the board of education, citizen, and Democrat.' Mr. Plenny Peel seconded the motion, County Chairman Elbert S. Peel ap ' pointing Messrs. Plenny Peel, John W. Hines, and A. B. Rogerson to draw up the resolutions and forward copies to the family, to Elder J. N. Rogers, The Enterprise and Roberson ville Herald for publication. All but one of the established pre cincts, Poplar Point, were represent ed as follows: R. O. Martin, James ville; Plenny Peel, Griffins; A. B. Rogerson, Bear Grass; L. T. Fow den, Williamston; J. S. Ayers, Cross Roads; Ed James, Robersonville J. L. Croom, Gold Point; John A. Dav enport, Hamilton; J. W. Hines, Goose Neat; and Joshua L. Coltrain, Wil liams Township, the latter having en tered too late to take part in the poll for a new board member, however. | TEACHERS AND PARENTS HOLD REGULAR MEET Principal Believes Schools Will Run Full Term In This County The Parent-Teacher Association held its regular meeting yesterday after noon with the teachers of both schools and less than a dozen mothers pres ent. It is surprising how little inter est the parents of our school children show in the work of the association. Little is commplished because there are so few present that no spirit or interest to do much can b« aroused. It is hoped that all the patrons who possibly can will attend the remain ing three meetings.of the year. After the meeting was called to or der and regular reports were made, it was decided to buy seats for the lunch room of the grammar school. Mr. Wat son reported that tables and seats were arranged for the high school, and he also asked the civic committee to make arrangements for the planting of oak trees on the campus in memory of those who have been connected with the the school in the past. Mrs. Clayton Moore, chairman of the program committee, asked Mr. Watson to make a talk. His remarks were worth much to the few parents present, and many more should have heard them. The school man told of the drastic cut made by the last legislature in appropriations for schools, the amount being practically twenty-five per cent of the whole. He assured the patrons that the schools would run the regu lar eight months as Martin County heads all the counties in the State in the percentage of taxes collected, but he also said he was certain that if it were necessary the teachers would work the full time and wait until the money was collected for their pay. The sad part of this situation ac cording! to Mr. Watson is that there will be little to run schools with aft er two more years and another cut will be made when the next legislature meets unless the depression ends. For this reason he emphasized the need of the children taking every ad vantagep ossible of their epportuni ties. In the face of these facts how ever, he said there had been an a larming increase in failures in the school and that both teachers and parents should make every possible effort to correct this situation, the blame for which was probably to be found at both doors. During exami nation week, a list of the children seen on the streets one night at a certain hour was taken and out of the fifteen children seen at that time, only one passed his examinations. When education is costing so much, and, when opportunities to get it may~T>e limited in the future, it was the plea of the school principal that children take advantage of every opportunity offered them.—Reported. PRIMITIVE BAP TIST SERVICES Elders W. B. Stadler and D. A. O'Brien, To Hold Services Here 1 Elders W. B. Stadler and D. A. O'- Brien, prominent Primitive Baptist i ministers, of Keidsville, will conduct a series of services in the several Prim-i litiveI itive Baptist churches in this county and at Flat Swamp next week, it was 1 'announced yesterday. The first of the series of services will be held at Flat Swamp next Tuesday,' where many Martin County church J people hold their membership. That 'night the ministers will conduct serv ices in the Robersonville church, go ing to Spring Green the following day. I Thursday, services will be held at Smithwick Creek, and from there the ministers will go to take part in the Skewarkey Union during Friday, Sat urday and Sunday. i Presbyterian Services In The County for Sunday Sunday, January 24, 1932 "The Church with an Open Door" Church school at 10 a. m. Worship service and sermon at 11:15 a. m. Bear Grass Sutiday school at 9:30 a .in. Worship service and sermon at 7 o'clock p. m. Roberson's Farm Sunday school at 3 p. m. Prayer meeting at 7 p. m. each Thursday. ' . Christian Missionary Croup Plans Silver Tea Tuesday The Missionary society of the lo cal Christian church invites the ladies of Williamston to a silver tea next Tuesday afternoon from 3:45 to 6 o'- clock at the home of Mrs. CT H. Harrison on Main Street. The tea is (or the benefit of foreign and home missions, it was announced. Farm Outlook Meet Held in Courthouse Here Yesterday Farmers Can Cut Machinery Bills in Half by Proper Care County Agent B. E. Grant, of Bertie, offers the following useful information for farmers: Is your farm machinery prop erly house? Would you like to cut the cost of your farm machinery in half? 1 Most farmers can do this, yet farmers generally state that farm machinery has not come down along with farm products as it should, and it seems that they are right. On the average, south ern farm machinery rusts out more than it wears out. The U. S. De partment of Agriculture says the LOCAL BANK IS DEPOSITORY OF POSTAL FUNDS U. S. Government Deposits $17,500 In the Branch Bank This Week Trustees of the United States Post al Savings System recently selected the Branch Banking .and Trust Com pany here as a depository for U. S. Postal Savings fund, the government making a single deposit this week in the sum of $17,500. All postal sav ings accumulating at the local office will Ix; deposited in the bank here, it was learned from Cashier C. I), Car starphen yesterday, and when an own er wishes to withdraw his postal sav ings, the local office will Hive him a check on the local bank. Heretofore all postal savings accu mulating at the local office were for warded to outside banksf The Branch Banking and Trust Company submit ted its statement to the trustees of the United States Postal Savings System, and, finding the institution's financial condition to be safe and sound, they recognized it as a depository for Unit ed States postal funds. 5 CASES HEARD BY RECORDER Last Tuesday Session Did Not Pay Its Expenses; One Fine Imposed j The county court in session here last Tuesday hardly paid its expenses, only one small fine resulting from the , trial of five cases. Little importance surrounded the docket, and the court completed its work in a comparatively short time. • Seven cases were called, two of which were continued, and two others being entered on the superior court docket on appeal. Probable cause appearing in the case charging J. C. Clemmons with larceny and receiving, the defendant was bound over to the superior court under a S3OO bond. Clemmons was the young colored boy alleged to havt been illegally married in Robersonville several weeks • ago, About a week | ago, he was jailed for the alleged theft | of a mule in Cross Roads Township. I Pleading guilty to illegela possession of liquor, Stanley Hollis was fined S2O I and given a nine-months suspended ' road sentence. | Ralph Bonds appealed his case when he was sentenced to the roads for a period of three months for alleged theft. Bonds" was required to give bond in. the sum of SSO. I The case charging Grant James with manufacturing liquor and Charlie Hodges with an assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed weapon, were continued. William Dawes, the victim of a "Hoot Gibson" stunt, was unable to appear in court as a witness in the case against Hodges. Hezekiah Briley was found not guil ty in the case charging him with lar ceny and receiving. Pleading guilty of a simple assault, Joe Eborn was sentenced to the roads for a period of 30 days. Everetts School Pupils Visit Raleigh This Week A number of Everetts School pu pils visited Raleigh this week with their teacher, Mrs. D. N. Hix. While in the capital, the young boys and girls were shown the several State in stitutions and other places of interest. Gets $1.04 Per Bushel For Corn Fed To 137 Hogs Records kept on 137 hogs in Curri tuck County showed that they paid $1.04 a bushel for all corn fed during a period of 66 days. The market price of the corn as grain was 73 cents a bushel. average farmer can double the life of hia machinery by properly greasing and oiling parts subject to rust and storing it under sheds after it is through with for the season. Would it not pay in these times when money is scarce and farm products are low to cut some logs, carry them to the ■ saw mill and have them sawed into planks for building an implement shed so that greater service can be secured from the implements on hand rath er than leaving them where they were unhitched from the last time. MARKET TO CLOSE I The local tobacco market will close next week, warehousemen here expressing the belief that the remaining tobacco in this section can easily be marketed by that time. Other markets in the East are closing next week, bringing to an end one of the most unsuccess ful seasons ever experienced by warehousemen and farmers. Sales have been light here since Christmas, but all companies were represented, and the buyers will continue here until the market closes. MUCH POULTRY SOLD IN COUNTY DURING WEEK Farmers Load Over 24,000 Pounds at Three Points During This Week The operation of a poultry car in the county this week left 'lonely l»arn yards all over this part of the country. Roosts were cleared, many farmers even selling the last old rooster that once served as a reliable alarm clock. The cooperative shipment is one of the largest ever made in the county, {three loading points reporting a sale of 24,026 pounds of chickens, geese, and turkeys for $3,699.99. Final hid ings are Ix-ing made in Oak City to day. l.ast Tuesday, at Jamesville, 4,700 pounds of poultry were sold for $776, farmers here filling the car Wednes day with 12,473 pounds, for which tliey received $1,868.70, Robersonville loaded 6,853 pounds yesterday, the farmers there receiving $1,055.29. I'rices announced for loadings sched uled in other counties next week are I from one to three cents below those received by Martin farmers this week. Certain types of poultry commanded unusually low prices here this week, roosters selling for only 6 cents a pound, and stags for nine ' cents a pound. But prices scheduled for negt week are still lower. Colored hens commanded i fair price, and nearly the whole Wnpment consisted of that type of barnyard inhabitants. There is still much poultry scat tered over .the county, but it is not known at this time whether another car will be run next month or not. "White Sunday" at The Local Methodist Church C. T. Rogers, pastor. You are invited to' worship with us morning and e/ening at the usual hour. Sunday will be our "White Sunday." livery fourth Sunday our people are asked to give what they have >aved through the month, maybe at a sacri fice, to help those who are in all kinds of need in'many parts of the world. This money is to go to our conference benevolence fund, which represents a bout 15 different causes. The col lection will be taken in the usual way. Sunday school at 9:45. Come this Sunday and bring your little folks. Epworth League, Monday, 7:30 p.m. Hi League, Tuesday, 7 p. m. Mid-week service, |W«dnesday at 7:30 p. m.' Marriage Licenses Issued by Register Here Recently Marriage licenses were recently is sued by Register of Deeds J.-Sam Getsinger to the following white cou ples: J. Leroy Griffin and Essie Elizabeth Mardisop, YVilliamston, R. F. D. 1. Patrick Henry Brown and Annie Stalls, Robersonville, R/ F. D. 2. George D. Ward and'Mintie Rogers, Robersonville, R. F. D. 1. It is believed that colored couples are out to establish a new record this year, the register reporting 11 licenses told to them so far this month. Watch the Label On Your Paper Aa It Carries the Date When Your Subacription Expire* ESTABLISHED 1898 SMALL CROWD IS TOLD CASH-CROP SYSTEM DOOMED "Live-at-Home" Farmer Is Fast Coming To The Forefront in State Ihe cash-crop grower is doomed, an, l live-at-home farmer is fast coming into his own, agricultural lead ers told seventy farmers and i:;rn women assembled in the courthouse here, yesterday afternoon to hear 'the farm outlook for the year 1932 dis cussed. "But if you made money raising 7-cent tobacco, "2-cent peanuts, 6-cent cotton and cheap potatoes last year, it will be all right to plant them again this year; if you lost money at those prices, don't plant those crops in 1932, because 1932 prices will.be equally as low, if not lower, than they were last season," the agricultural lead ers warned the interested farmers and farm women. It was explained at the meeting that Martin County s salvation rested in a continued live-at-home policy on a greater scale, and the reduction of acreagj to cash crops, especially to bacco and peanuts. It the policies advanced by Miss I'auline Smith, dis trict home agent; Mr. I). Troy Fer guson, district farm -aKent, and Rep resentative Green, of the Federal Farm Hoard, no doubt Martin County agri culture and industry would be well on toward recovery within a short time, but those farmers who would be most benefited were not there. Their absence assures Sontinued heavy plant ing of tobacco and peanuts in the. face of below-cost-of-production prices. j But regardless "Of what the masses do this year, those attending the meet ing were advised to look upon the | problems from an individual stand point; to follow the live-at-lionie pro gram, plant only a few acres to cash crops and tend them well. They were asked to follow this policy regardless of what other farmers' did. If there is a big reduction in cash-crop acre age, well and good, but Mr. Green said that no one could look for more 'than a IS per cent drop in production, and that this would be more than off set by a greater decrease in consump tion, he believed. I Following a short opening prayer by Rev. 11. Dickey, Miss l'aulinc | Smith was introduced, and she dis cussed living at home from the stand ! point of the housewife and the home. | "During the past, thoiiome has not been considered, we have worked with the idea of living to make money and not making money to live," Miss Smith j said. "We must turn to the home, establish family ties, limit our waste fulness and provide conveniences in our own homes. Millions are spent fur chewing gum, lipstick, for gaso line tlfat we might ride up and down the roads, while, back at home, con veniences and even bare necessities are not provided. Martin County ranks third from the top with its varied farming program, yet there are a few people in it who have only a small collard patch and still others I who have nothing," the agent said. And then Miss Smith advised a more extensive use of cotton goods, advice that has been heard with scorn, but which is now being driven to many homes by actual want and hunger. The use of cotton goods in the kitchen and in the grammar and high schools will be of great aid in lifting us out of this alleged depression, which she said- was a godsend in that it devel oped a saner, fairer, and sounder mode of living for all. i A year-around garden, a milk cow, fruit, conveniences and many other! things that are possible even though money is scarce, are necessary and must be provided before we can hope for better conditions. | "We have not met our obligations i we have worked for the almighty dol lar, neglecting home ties, and failing I to produce what we needed," declared Mr. 'Ferguson, when he opened a frank discussion of the farm situation in Martin County, and in North Car olina as a whole. "We had just as well start now on a firm foundation," he advised. "We will receive no more for peanuts in 1932 than we did last year. Tobacco prices will be no high er, price of |Jotatoes* will re main about the same," he predicted. The law forbids agricultural workers making price predictions on cotton, but the agent pointed out that there, are 26,000,000 bales of the staple on hand now, and asked his hearers to draw their own conclusions. '""What are we going to plant, then," he asked. Answering, he s»id "sow your land to and build up your soil." "There isn't an overproduction of many crops, but the unemployment of eight millions of people is destroying Continued on back page) L.._— : — ■ » ■" - • '■ ~

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