THE ENTERPRISE
Mrarttoara Win ru Oa> <M
uua a Latchkey to Orar MM
?in oI Martta
VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 11 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina. Friday. February 7. 1936 ESTABLISHED 18%
TWENTY CASES
TRIED IN COUNTY
COURT TUESDAY
Docket Is Cleared of Cases
Accumulated Over Two
Weeks Period
Twenty case* were handled by
Judge H. O. Peel in the Martin
County recorder'* court Tuesday,
when several alleged violators of the
peace drew sentences on the roads.
One or two substantial fines were
imposed also, the court continuing
in session a greater part of the day
clearing the docket that had accu
mulated over a period of two weeks.
Charged with non-support E. D.
Harris was directed by the court to
pay M each week for the support of
his child for the next 12 months and
report to the court at the end of that
time.
George Roberson, charged with
non-support, was found not guilty.
The case charging Oscar Hagan
with violating the prohibition laws,
was nol prossed.
Prayer for judgment was contin
ued for one year in the case charg
ing Rachel Best with an assault with
a deadly weapon.
Albert Coffield was sentenced to
the roads for 30 days in the case
charging him with larceny.
Mary LitUe was found not guilty
in the case charging her with re
ceiving stolen property.
Judgment was suspended upon
the payment of the cost in the case
charging Roland Bunting with reck
less driving. His license to operate
a motor vehicle was revoked for
one year.
Jonh Clemmons was sentenced to
the roads for 30 days for reckless
truck driving.
Judgment was suspended upon
the payment of the costs and pro
curement of license in the case
charging Miss Glendora Ange with
driving a car without a driver's li
cense. The defendant successfully
passed the examination for driver's
license.
Charged with violation of the li
quor laws, Will Bell was found not
guilty. -
Calvin Hill, charged with larceny,
was sentenced to the roads for six
months.
Charged with carrying a con
cealed weapon, D. D. Hill was sen
tenced to the roads for three months
Adjudged guilty of drunken auto
mobile driving and carrying a con
cealed weapon, Edward Cecil Pierce
of Elizabeth City, was fined $100 and
taxed with the costs. His license to
operate a car was revoked for one
year.
Charged with trespass, Dean Ed
mondson and Arrington Hale were
found not guilty.
K. O. Rogers was fined $50 and
taxed with the cost in the case
charging him with manufacturing
liquor. The judge intimated that his
license to manufacture was revoked
for M years.
Herbert Ward, Robersonville msfri
charged with assaulting his brother,
was given a three-months sentence
suspended upon payment of cost.
Willie Roebuck was fined $50 and
taxed with the cost in the case
charging him with drunken auto
mobile driving. His license to op
erate a motor vehicle was revoked
for one year.
Herbert Brown was sentenced to
the roads for four months on a lar
ceny charge
Charged with carrying a conceal
ed weapon and disorderly conduct,
Nicodemus Barrow was sentenced
to the roads for four months.
Alexander Jones, charged with an
assault with a deadly weapon, drew
six months on the roads.
Case Charging Doctor with
Murder Goes to High Court
The case charging Oeo. R. Clay,
Washington osteopath and head of
the Pamlico Osteopathic Sanitarium
with murder in connection with the
death of Mrs. Kathleen Lilley there
the thirteenth of last month, was
today ordered sent to the Beaufort
County Superior court for trial
Judge Mayo, of the Beaufort re
corder's court, was reported to have
fixed the man's bond at $250, it was
reported. ^ n,
Work on the case charging Clay
with practicing medicine without
license is underway this afternoon,
late reports from the court indicat
ing that the trial would last well
into the afternoon. Only two wit
nesses had been examined just be
fore noon, and there were large
numbers to be called.
Christian Philathea Class
Meeting la Postponed
The regular meeting of the local
Christian Philathea class, scheduled
to be held this evening, has bean
called off on account of unfavorable
weather, it was announced this
First Poultry Car Loadings
Described Very Satisfactory
Approximately 18,000 pounds of
poultry were shipped from James
ville, Williamston and Robersonville
cooperatively by Martin farmers
this week, netting the raisers around
$3,000. Loadings are under way at
Oak City today, but no report on
the receipts there could be had here
this morning.
Considering the bad condition of
the roads and strong competition of
fered by hucksters, the cooperative
loadings were very successful. It is
estimated that the hucksters bought
between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, in
cluding about 1,000 at Jamesville
and about 4,000 at this point. The
truckers are said to have purchased
very tew chickens at Robersonvillc,
where the cooperative loadings were
under way yesterday. Three trucks
competed with the car at this point
Wednesday, but they operated out
side the corporate limits of the town.
They advanced the price by 1-2 to
1 cent a pound, and a goodly num
ber of farmers patronized them
Most of the farmers patronized the
car, however.
County Agent T. B. Brandon is
considering the operation of a sec
ond car some time the latter part of
this month or early March.
County Farmers Are
Invited To Meeting
In Greenville Monday
TO WIDEN STREET I
Bids for widening each end of
Williamston's main street are be
ing advertised this week pre
paratory to the letting of the
contract probably some time in
March. The proposed project
calls for the widening of East
Main Street from the intersec
? tion of Harrell Street, near the
home of G. P. Hall, to a point
almost to the river. The road
will be 30 feet wide. On the
west end of town, the street
will be widened from the Cow
en home to the town limits and
probably 100 or more farther.
The west end will be 24 feet
wide.
RECOMMEND CUT
OF 30 PERCENT IN
TOBACCO ACRES
Indications Now Point To
900,000,000 Pound Crop
In This Belt
A voluntary 30 percent acreage
reduction below 1936 flue-cured
contracts was recommended by the
flue-cured tobacco advisory at a
meeting held a few days ago in
Washington City.
The committee at that time ex
pressed the opinion the Supreme
court decision invalidating the AAA
also dill away with the Kerr-Smith
tobacco program.
Claude T. Hall, of Woodsdale, N.
C , said present indications were for
a 900,000,000 pound crop in 1936
whereas the committee believes
that only 640,000,000 pounds can be
sold at reasonable prices.
The committee made the follow
ing recommendations:
1. That flue-cured tobacco grow
ers reduce their individual planting
in 1936 thirty percent below their
bases under the 1936 contracts.
2. That all production credit
agencies including warehousemen,
fertilizer dealers and governmental
sources exercise extreme caution in
extending credit for tobacco produc
tion this year.
3. That all tobacco growers at
tend the program planning and
discussion group meetings now be
ing conducted in the counties and
put themselves in a position to take
advantage of the proposed soil con
servation program or any new pro
gram offered by the federal gov
ernment.
5. That as soon as Congress en
acts farm legislation the growers be
notified of its provisions and what
will be necessary for them to quali
fy for benefits.
Stockholders of
Warehouse Meet
The annual meeting of Roanoke
Dixie Warehouse stockholders was
held in the county courthouse here
Wednesday afternoon, the owners
reelecting Mr. Henry D. Peel pres
ident; S. C. Griffin, vice president;
and John R. Peel, secretary and
treasurer. No dividend was de
clared, the officials explaining that
the company was fortunate to be
frae of debt.
A rental committee, named by
the meeting Wednesday, meets to
morrow to consider leasing the
house, it was learned. According
to reports, three parties are trying
to lease the house, including Mr. S.
C. Griffin, operator of the house last
I ?
Farm Bureau Head
Is To Speak Al>out
Substitute for AAA
Edward A. O'Neal, Hutson
And Schaub Expected
To Take Part
A big meeting of farmers has
been scheduled in Greenville next
Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, when
Edward A. O'Neal, president of the
American Farm Bureau and nation
ally known farm leader, will speak
on a substitute for agricultural ad
justment acts. The meeting will be
held in the auditorium of the teach
ers' college, and large crowds are
expected. Special invitations have
been issued to Martin farmers, and
numbers are planning to attend, it
was learned today. The meeting is
being sponsored by the Pitt County
Acreage Control Board, an organi
zation just recently created.
Mr. O'Neal has been very active
in connection With farm legislation,
and, coming from Alabama, he
knows something of southern needs
and conditions. He is a fluent talk
ei, and farmers from 25 counties in
Eastern Carolina are invited and
urged to hear him. Dean I. O.
Schaub, of State College, is planning
tc attend the meeting and J. B.
Hutson has been invited to be pres
ent. County Agent T. B. Brandon
and assistant, Mr. M. L. Barnes, will
attend.
Just prior to the meeting that aft
ernoon, representatives from the 25
tcbacco-growing counties will hold
an executive session to prepare cer
tain resolutions and formulate ten
tative plans for advancing some
measure for the control of tobacco
production this year, it is under
stood. Messrs. J. A. Everett, of Oak
City, and C. Abram Roberson, of
Robersonville, have been named to
represent this county at the execu
tive meeting that will be held in
Greenville that morning.
Condition of Roads
Is Worst in Years
At no time in years have the dirt
roads of this section been in such
bad repair as they are now, accord
ingto reports reaching here. Travel
is at a minimum on the dirt roads,
farmers and others finding it next
to impossible to drive their cars on
the roads. Horse-drawn vehicles
are being used more extensively
than in many months, and only that
travel considered absolutely neces
sary in going forward. The county
schools were closed last Tuesday,
when the condition of the roads
made operation of the busses impos
sible.
Older citizens seem to think thai
the weather will not be very favor
able until after March, and that the
condition of the roads will continue
bad until that time.
Candy Factory Will
Begin Operating Soon
Williamston's newest industry, the
Clark Candy Company, will start
operations within the next twe
weeks, Mr. Clark, the owner and
manager said yesterday. Machines
for making peanut butter and sev
eral special candies are being placed
in the new building this week, and
preliminary tests will probably br
made some time next week.
The plant, housed in a new two
story building, is located on tha
railroad just off Smithwick Street
It will employ a dozen or more pee
Pi*
DECREASE SEEN
IN LIQUOR SALES
DURING JANUARY
$9,888 Net Profit Realized
By County in Past
Three Months
Martin County cleared $9,887.99
on its liquor sales during the months
of October. November and Decem
ber, according to a preliminary re
port of the auditors released by Mr.
V. J. Spivey. chairman of the coun
ty control board, today. The profit
was derived from sales totaling $38,
500.42 for the period. Mr. Spivey ex
plaining that the actual cost of the
liquor was $24,094.82. The county
paid the State $1,121.13 in sales tax,
and $494 39 was set aside for en
forcement of the liquor laws. Oper
ating cost was placed at $3,517.98
for the three-months period, the op
eration. including administration,
salaries and drayage figuring 9.41
per cent. The net profit figured
25.86 per cent of the gross sales.
The board chairman explained
that not all of the 5 per cent set
aside out of the profits had been
used for law enforcement, that the
fund was continually being built up
Certain premiums are allowed offi
cers for each still captured and each
arrest made.
During January sales dropped off
considerably, the total for the coun
ty falling under $10,000. an amount
considered fairly large for the par
ticular month, however The Janu
ary sales at the Williamston store
amounted to $4.997 40; Roberson
ville. $2,196.45; Oak City. $998.85;
and Jamesvilel, $867.80.
No turnover of profits has been
made to the county's general fund,
the officials explaining that the
profits were being used to discount
bills at the present time.
Changes Are Made
In Time for Fishing
The State board of conservation
and development in session at Ral
oight recently limited the days for
fishing in this and nineteen other
coastal counties from three to two
days each week between now and
May I.
At the session, the board voted to
allot $10,000 to a state-wide pro
gram foi increasing the wild tuikey
slock in the state.
The open season for hunting quail
and turkey was extended from seven
to ten days.
Suggest Horizontal Cut
In Tax On Cigarettes
Washington.?A $1.20 horizontal
reduction in the Federal excise tax
on cigarettes?now $3 a thousand
has been suggested by Representa
tive Frank W. Hancock, of Ox
ford. N C.
It is argued by some that a re
duction in the tax would reflect it
self in increased prices to the grow
er: of tobacco.
Local High School Band
To Meet Tuesday Night
The High School Band will meet
Tuesday night at 7:30, regardless of
the weather, Mr. Bobbitt announced
this morning. At this time the band
will begin work on the program for
the State Contest to be held in
Gieensboro in April. All members
are urged to be present.
Freight Truck Goes Off
River Fill Last Night
A large truck operated by a mo
tor freight line out of Norfolk skid
ded off the Roanoke River All just
Una side of the bridge early last
night, doing considerable damage to
the machine. Neither the driver
nor his helper, both colored, were
badly hurt, it was stated.
e
Carteret County, on the coast, is
developing a reputation in the pro
duction of early vegetable plants
along with its early truck crops.
[PEANUTS STRONGER]
at
la be a Mt ill eager this week,
with prices ranging aroaad S
cents. Cans pa rati rely few ?e
Fi ens $ ta It per eeat af the
la still la the Be Ids. the
H Impassible ta
Representative County Farmers
Expect Increases in Tobacco and
Cotton Crops in Coming Season
Patti)l Lists Series Questions
And Answers for Study by
Drivers Before Examination
New ami Simpler
Set Presented for
Lieense Applicants
Total of 30 Questions Like
ly To Be Asked by
Examiners
A now and far simpler set of
questions for applicants for drivers'
licenses has been just released by
the State Highway Patrol and the
questions and answer are listed here
for the benefit of those who plan to
apply for licenses The questions
and answers are as follows:
1 How old must you be to obtain
on operator's license' A.?Sixteen
years (and application must be
signed bj parent or guardian).
2 Who has the right to stop or
question the driver or owner of a
motor vehicle? A.?The Highway
Patrol, and any other peace officer
3. What is the cause of most ac
cidents'* A. ?Reckless driving, hog
ging the road, failing to give sig
nals. and pulling out of line.
4 Is it unlawful to use another
lierson's operator's license? A.?Yes.
5. How may a motor be used as
a brake when going down a steep
hill? A.?By shifting into first or
second gear
6 What should you do on ap
proaching a railroad crossing? A.?
Stop and look for approaching train
and do not shift into high gear un
til across tracks.
7. Is it lawful to stop a vehicle on
the driving portion of the highway?
A?No.
8. What is the best way to stop
th? skidding if you skid when you
apply your brakes'* A.?Release
brakes and turn in direction of the
skid, always having the clutch m.
9. To whom must all accidents be
rr ported? A To the Department
of Highway Safety on forms fur
nished by them or any peace officer
11. When a driver of a car behind
reckless driving? A.?No.
11. When a driver o fa car behind
you signals to pass, is it lawful to
increase speed"* A?No (move to
right and allow car to passt.
12 What should you do at the
sound of a siren, bell or whistle'*
A ?Pull over to the side of the road
and stop.
13. What is the fine for not stop
ping while a school bus is loading
and unloading passengers? A?Fif
ty dollars fine
14. Is it necessary to bring a ve
hicle to a complete stop when ap
pruaching an intersection marked
by a stop sign* A.?Yes (and un
lawful not to stop).
15. What are the three principal
violations for revocation of driver's
license* A.?Driving in toxica led,
failing to stop in case of accidents,
perjury in obtaining your license
16. Is it lawful to drive in the cen
ter of the highway* A -No (you
should drive on the right hand side
always).
17. Is it unlawful to mast down
a hill with gears in neutral* A.?Yes
18 What danger signal must be
placed on the end of a load that
extends beyond the body of a ve
hicle over 3 feet* A A red flag in
daytime and a red light at night
19 Does the law require all ve
hicles to be equipped with rear
view mirrors* A.?Yes. at all tunes.
20 If you are involved in an ac
cident. must you give your name
and address and show your oper
ator's license and registration card
to the person injured or the driver
or occupants of any vehicle collided
with and render assistance* A.?Yes
11. What safety equipment re
quired on all saoSnr vehicles should
always be in good condition* A.?
Brakes, lights, steering gear, tires.
muffler.
22 What la the proper hand sig
ral for a right turn? For a left
turn? For stopping or slowing up*
A.?Right turn, extend the hand and
and upward at a 90 degree
angle. Left turn, extend the hand
?e side of vehicle
nd arm out and downward
at a 99 ilsgiai aagta
22 b it lawful to operate a we
SCHOOLS CLOSE
Martia Caaaty stImmK rlusrd
surt UU T*r4it. will not re
offi west Mwiai as planned.
Snperinlrwdrat J. C. Manning
anonneed Ikis morning While
no dchmlr reop ning date could
he determined. M was intimated
that mm efwt U start the srhoots
again won Id he nude before
Monday week, or Febraary 17.
The operation of school bosses
is oat of the question in this
county now. and had weather
absences in nearly all of the
schools before they suspended
activities last Tuesday.
NOTE DECREASE
IN TENANCY FOR
M ARTIN COUNTY
Almost Half of Planters In
State Rent Lands
They Cultivate
While the state and nation were
reporting steady increases in the
number of tenants since 1^30, the
number of such farmers in Martin
Ccunty and a few other counties in
this section actually showed a de
crease during that time. However,
the 1.643 tenants last year consti
tute a large percentage of the total
number of farmers in this county
During the five-year period end
ing in 1935. the number of tenants
had decreased by about 4 percent.
Nearly all the counties report
ing decrease in the number of ten
ants are located in the tobacco belt
Most of the increases were in the
strictly mountain counties In 1930.
tenants ??perated 137.615 farms in
the State Last year the tenants
operated 142.158 farms
In only 864 cases did full owners
operate their farms in this county
last year There were 176 farms
operated by part owners
With practically half of its far
mers renting their land. North
Carolina heads a list of five South
ern States in the prevalence of
faim tenancy The figures revealed
that 47 2 per cent of all the farmers
ui the State wet e tenants last year
Final results of the 1935 census
of agriculture have not been tabu
lated for all states, but figures for
3t of them indicate an increase in
the number of farm tenants in most
sections of the country. Approxi
mately 43 percent of all farms in
the United States are now <?pefat^d
by tenants. Tenancy lias steadily
increased since the first count was
trade an 1880. when 25 percent of
all farmers were lasted as tenants
In the past tenancy has been con
sidered a stepping stone to owner
ship. Steady increase in the pro
portion of older tenants, however,
indicates that fewer men are mov
ing up the last rung of the ladder
U ownership of farms
Attempts to check the growth of
tenancy have been made chiefly be
cause of the instability of residence
associated with a farm tenant sys
tem. Although conditions vary
greatly throughout the United
States, studies show that the tenant
farmer moves on an average of
every four years.
Members of Legion
Plan To Build Home
A movement was advanced at a
ievent meeting of the Martin Coun
ty pool of the American Legion for
the construction of a Legion home
Every one of the legion members
will be asked to contribute 125 from
their bonus checks for the construe
m of the home, it was learned
There are IS3 members of the leg
in post m this county
Nest Monday evening, the post
ill be entertained by members at
Oak City
In the regular monthly bulletin,
released this week, the post an
nounced that Mrs Thomas Couse.
of the Legion Auxiliary, would
speak over the radio on the SOth of
About Same Peanut
Acreage and Drop in
Corn Are Looked for
15 Per Cent Increase in To
bacco To Raise Total To
13,888 Acres
An increase of approximately 15
per cent in Martin County's tobac
co crop was predicted at a meeting
this week of representative farmers
organized under the name of a plan
ning committee for agriculture. The
percentage of increase is estimated
tr? advance the 1936 tobacco to 13,
888 acres, the committee figuring
that on an average a yield of 850
pounds would be produced to the
acre.
The only other increased acreage
predicted by the committee was in
the cotton crop, the estimates plac
ing the increase from 6,144 to 6,655
acres. The yield was estimated at
300 pounds to the acre. The pea
nut acreage will likely be about the
se me as it was last year, when 17,
604 acres were planted to the crop.
A reduction of more than 2,000 acres
was predicted in the corn crop, the
committee estimating that around
20,000 acres would be planted to the
crop in 1936, or a decrease of about
10 per cent.
Representing nearly every com
munity in the county, the planning
committee is believed to have got
ten reasonably accurate estimates
or the planned acreage for the ma
jor crops in the county this year.
Members of the county committee
talked with local representatives,
who. in turn, talked with nearly ev
ery farmer in their respective com
munities. Assistant Agent M. L.
Barnes stated this morning that
much interest had been shown in
the organization, and that he felt
certain much good would result
from it. Similar organizations have
been perfected in other counties, and
preliminary reports indicate there
will be an increase in tobacco and
cotton production in the State this
year unless some control plan is ef
fected
?
Start Checking Up
On Driver Licenses
Beginning next Monday, mem
bers of the State Highway patrol
will start asking motorists to show
their driving permits, reports reach
ing here stating that those drivers
who do not hav licenses to operate
a car will be subject to arrest.
For the most part, all applications
for licenses have been filled, but it
is estimated tha thundreds have not
applied for the driving permits. In
those cases where applications have
been made and no licenses have
been received, the car operators afe
urged to see the patrolmen in their
district, enter another application
and sign an affidavit. No excuses
will be accepted from anyone not
having a driving permit, it was stat
ed
Traffic Delayed When
River Bridge Freezes
Highway and river traffic was de
layed at this point a short while to
day when ice and snow made it dif
ficult to open the bridge to turn
through a freighter. Highway traf
fic was held up for about half an
hour while Keeper Spruill shoveled
snow and ice from the bridge.
The mercury was falling rapidly
shortly before noon today, the wea
ther forecasters predicting continu
ed cold for tomorrow.
While another rise in the Roa
noke is expected within the next
few days, no forecast on the high
water could be had today, Mr. Hugh
Spruill, in charge of the weather
station on the river, stated.
Henry Harrison Moves
Office To Warehouse
?
Mr. Henry Harrison, representa
tive of the Standard Fertiliser Com
pany, has moved his office from
the Thomas Barber Shop to the
Dixie Warehouse. Mr Harrison has
employed Mr. P. H. 'Brown as his
Fertiliser deliveries will be made
to farmers from the warehouse,
making it unnecessary for fanners
to travel to the river for fertilizer.