THE ENTERPRISE
VOLUME XXXIX?NUMBER 35 ~ Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday. May 1.1936 ESTABLISHED 1899
BUND SURVEY IN
COUNTY TO GET
UNDER WAY SOON
Distribute Cards To School
Children Over County
Early Next Week
The turvey which wu to have
been conducted through the Martin
County schools for the State Com
miaaion for the Blind has been un
avoidably delayed several weeks.
However, Supt. Manning will dis
tribute the survey cards to the prin
cipals at their meeting here today.
An effort will be made to send a
survey card to practically every
school home by the children. Par
ents should write the names and ad
dresses of every one they know who
has seriously defective sight or is
blind on the cards and return them
to the schools by the children. It
is hoped that this will be done
promptly, as the cards will be re
turned to Supt. Manning's office in
a week or 10 days.
The commission classifies as
"blind" any one who is unable to
read ordinary newsprint, even with
the aid of glasses. Those with "ser
iously defective sight" may still be
able to read, though sight is rapid
ly failing. Or, they may badly need
treatment for cateract dr similar eye
disorders.
The survey includes both chil
dren and adults from the youngest
to the oldest, and both races. Since
the commission has services to of
fer all economic groups, one's abil
ity or inability to provide for him
self financially should not be s con
siderstion in reporting his eye con
dition. ,
The returns from the survey will
be followed up as soon as possible,
and the commission's program of
work for this county based on the
findings. The commission can train
blind persons in trade* and profes
sions in which they may make a
living and supply machinery and
materials for those already trained,
if these help them in their work.
It also can arrange clinics for those
badly in need of eye treatment and
can have operations performed
when they are likely to improve or
restore sight
Should anyone fail to receive a
survey card, he may report cases of
seriously defective sight at)d blind
ness by writing: State Commission
for the Blind, 405 Agricultural
Building, Raleigh.
Start Transplanting
Tobacco In County
Early Part of Week
No Great Damage Caused
By Blue Mold So Par
. In This County
Tobacco transplanting got off to
an early and (airly good start in
this county this week, reports from
Robersonville stating that the far
mers in that section were among
the flrst, if not the first, to start the
work. Transplantings were report
ed in the county as early as last
Tuesday, and since then farmers in
Qrlffins, Williams, Cross Roads and
possibly one or two other districts
have started transplanting the crop.
Fearful that the blue mold will
damage their plants, many farmers
are making every effort possible to
get the transplanting work done as
soon as possible. It is believed by
the latter part of next week, trans
planting will be underway on an
extensive scale.
Blue mold nas already been re
ported in nearly every section of
the county, but the damage so far
is not considered serious. While
the disease is not expected to re
sult in a curtailment of the crop,
unless it proves worse this year
than it was in the past one or two
seasons, transplanting activities will
likely be delayed a week or ten
days as a whole, fanners say.
Representative reports now indi
cate there'll be no increase in the
crop In this county this year. There
are a few exceptions, however. It
must be remembered that a bumper
crop was produced last year, mak
ing any increase unnecessary and
unwanted, but there Is a world of
reasons why the crop should be
considerably reduced.
Respected Colored Man
Died Here This Week
Ed Ormond, agad colored man,
died at his home here last Monday
evening. Funeral ? services were
conducted yesterday afternoon.
. M years old, was highly
among all people. He
was an Industrious and hard work
er, and despite afflicition he con
tinued active until lust a short
while before his death.
Listing Period Ends; No
Provision for Extension
Tax-listing tune in this county
closed yesterday, with from S to 10
per cent of the property owners
failing to give in their holdings for
taxation, according to estimates
coming from several of the list
takers late yesterday. Those who
failed to list their property are sub
ject to certain penalties under laws
governing the work, Tax Supervisor
Joshua L. Coltrain stating yesterday
that no provision had been made
and none would be considered for
extending the time for listing prop
erty. While action rests with the
board of commissioners, the taxing
authorities are considering asking
that those (ailing to list their prop
erty be penalized. Each year, the
listing work drags and drags, and
when an extension is granted many
wait for another delay.
Accurate reports on the trend of
values listed this year are not avail
able, bur Supervisor Coltrain stated
yesterday that he was certain the
values would be decreased by 10
per cent over the county and pos
sibly the loss would be even great
er than that. Williamston and Rub
ersonville were said to be holding
their own, with a possible increase
in values at Williamston and Rob
ersonville.
Bear Grass Section to
*
Secure Power Service
GUANO MOVING
Delayed by unfavorable wea
ther and bad road* during the
early part of the year, the fer
tiliser season came into Its own
a few days ago and reached a
climax this week, unofficial re
ports state.
The three-unit plant of the
Standard Fertiliser Company
here has had a huge task Ail
ing thousands of orders over
North Carolina and sections of
other states during the past few
days. At one time this week the
company had 100 trucks run
ning, and the vehicles were
loaded and sent away on an av
erage of one every minute and
a half during the day and night.
Large shipments were being
handled by rail in addition to
deliveries by truck and wagon.
PRE-SCH00L AGE
CLINICS CLOSE IN
COUNTY TODAY
Examine Colored Children |
In Schools of County
Next Week
The last of a series of pre-school
clinics in the white schools of this
county are being held in Oak City'
and Hamilton today, reports stating
that most, if not all of those already
held were very successful. While
the attendance upon any of them
held prior to today was not as large
as it was a year ago, the findings
have been very encouraging. In ad
dition to the pre-school clinic work,
more than 100 regular school pu
pils have been vaccinated against
smallpox.
At Bear Grass Wednesday morn
ing, 18 children were examined, 12
of them having one or more physi
cal defects. Seventeen of the num
ber were vaccinated. Thirteen had
defective teeth and 12 had diseased
tonsils, according to a report filed
by Mrs. Sloan, who is heading the
valuable work in this county.
Wednesday afternoon, 18 children
were examined at Everetts and on
ly 8 had physical defects. All of
the little ones were vaccinated. Four
had defective teeth and 8 had dis
eased tonsils. No defective vision
was found among any of the chil
dren either at Bear Grass or Ever
ett#.
Reports from other clinics held at
Robersonvnie yesterday, Oak City
this morning, and Hamilton this aft
ernoon are not available at this
time.
Next week examinations will be
held in the colored schools for pre
school children.
W. T. Thomas Dies
At Hamilton Home
W. T. Thomas, prominent farmer
of this county, died at his home
near Hamilton last night at 8 o'
clock from paralysis of the throat.
Ha had been in failing health for
some time.
Mr. Thomas, M years old last
March, was born in Edgecombe
County, the son of the lata Rome
and Annie Stalls Thomas. He mov
ed to this county a number of years
ago, and was highly regarded by
all who knew him. Mrs. Thomas,
Miss Gertie Everett before mar
riage, survives with Ave children,
W. F. and H. T. Thomas and Mrs
Clancy Carson, of Hamilton, Mrs.
Garland Baker, of Oak City and
Mrs. M. F. Stalls, of Parmele.
Funeral services will be confluct
ad at the lata home Saturday aft
ecnoon at 2 JO o'clock by Elder Wm
Grimes Interment wUl- follow in
the Hamilton Cemetery.
Citizens Contract
With V. E. P. To
Furnish Current
Definite Plans for Project
Pending Action On Part
Of Other Groups
An electrification program for the
town of Bear Grass was virtually
assured last Wednesday evening,
when citizens of that town and com-!
munity met in the schoolhouse there
and contracted with the Virginia
Electric and Power Company for
service. Plans for the program are
still underway, however, and it will
be probably some time next week
before details in its connection arf
completed.
The Bear Grass Town contracted
around $90, leaving c tber prospect
ive customers along the William
ston-GrifTins-Bear Grgss . route to
raise around $120, a problem that
is receiving attention by those along
that road. Pending a decision of
those prospective customers on the
proposed Washington road line ex
tention, Bear Grass citizens and sev
eral oiffer home owners joined to
gether to contract sufficient revenue
to guarantee the construction of an,
extension from the Everetts trans
mission line, near the town of Ev
eretts, to Bear Grass via what is
known as the Bailey road. Ease
ments are being obtained along that
route by interested parties at the
present time, but a definite route for
the line is being delsyed pending
action by those people living along
the Washington road and others in
Griffins and Bear Grass Township,
it is understood.
Work on the proposed project is
being advanced by interested par
ties in each section, and definite ar
rangements for constructing the pow
er line will likely be handled some
time next week.
Possible line extensions are pos
sible either from the Everetts trans
mission line, near Everetts, to Bear
Grass, and then from Bear Grass
to the hard-surfaced road near R.
L. Perry's, and on to Lilley Broth
ers' in Griffins Township. An ex
tension from the line at the Wash
ington-Bear Grass road to Corey's
store has been mentioned. The oth
er proposal is to run the line from
Williamston to Bear Grass, via R.
L. Perry's, with extension to Lilley
Brothers and Corey's Store or cross
roads.
News of Interest at
School in Everetts
On Monday night, April 27, the
Everetta parent-teacher aaaociation
had a very interesting talk by Mr.
W. C. Manning, of Williamston. He
?poke on the subject of his recent
trip to the Holy Land. The larg
est attendance of the year was pres
ent to hear Mr. Manning tell of the
many interesting places and people
vialted on his trip. One of the most
interesting things related by Mr.
Manning was the fact that the Holy
Land, once a scene of many wars
and much bloodshed, is now enjoy
ing more peace than at any time in
the past thousand years.
Preceding the talk by Mr Man
ning waa a short business meeting,
at which plans were discussed for
a school picnic and pre-school clinic
Work on Street Project
la Progressing Rapidly
Work on widening Williamaton's
main street at both ends is going
forward rapidly. The contractors
are expected to complete pouring
one-half the concrete this week, and
complete the project within about
two weeks' time.
20 PLAYERS SIGN
UP TO TRY OUT
WITH TE AM HERE
Eight Pitchers To Bid For
Places on Hurling Staff
Here This Season
Selecting playeri from five states,
Mississippi, Virginia, Georgia, Okla
homa, and North Carolina. Manager
D. C. "Peahead" Walker, of the lo
cal club, will be ready to start play
ing ball when the curtain rises on
the Coastal Plain season the 2nd of
next month. Twenty players have
been tentatively signed, club Presi
dent Pete Fowden explaining today
that he was certain Williamston will
find a cracker-jack team of 1$ men
from that number. The return of
several contracts is expected daily,
and just as soon as they are re
ceived, announcement of the line
up will be made, Mr. Fowden said.
Eight prospective pitchers are bid
ding for places on the local club's
hurling staff. Five bids are in for
the infield positions, and five more
are ready for try-outs in the out
field posts, the prospective line-up
carrying a number of new faces.
Manager Walker and several play
ers are to report here the 18th of
this month, when final arrangements
will be made to start playing ball
at the start.
New suits for the players have
been ordered, and plans for sup
porting the organized sport are
moving along rapidly. A canvass
for funds will get underway next
Monday, and it is the opinion of the
leaders that a substantial support
will be freely offered.
Hydrants and Hose
Here Changed To
Standard Thread
Southeastern Underwriters
Aiding In Nation-wide
Standardization Plan
Continuing a nation-wide move
ment to standardize the size' of
threads on Are hose couplings and
hydrants, Mr. Ballard, of the South
eastern Underwriters, Atlanta, was
here Wednesday and yesterday sup
ervising the change in the local sys
tem Handled at the expense of
the Southeastern Underwriters, the
change was made at very little cost
to the town. Special machinery and
tools were brought here to rethread
the couplings and hydrant connec
tions, the underwriters representa
tive employing a number of men to
handle the work rapidly.
Questioned as to the advantage of
standardizing the threads, Mr Bal
lard explained that there were sev
eral hundred different threads, that
it was very difficult to maintain uni
formity and that considerable prop
erty had been destroyed by Are
throughout the country when new
hose was purchased and a difference
in threads was discovered too late.
He added that when all Are com
panies had standard threads on their
hose couplings it was possible for
one town to send its Are-Aghting
equipment to another and render
aid when necessary.
The threads on hose couplings
here were not uniform, the repre
sentative found, but the difference
was only slight. He explained how
ever, that it was more difficult to
effect connections unless the threads
were strictly uniform.
Snake Bites Young
Man at Jamesville
Bitten by a snake while paddling
a boat in the Roanoke at Jamesville
yesterday, Harry Martin, young
Jamesville white man, is reported
very ill in a Washington hospital
today. The snake, believed to have
been a poplar leaf moccasin, struck
the young man on the^hand, pierc
ing two Angers, causing the hand
to swell to a large extent. He was
removed to a hospital several hours
later, and while his condition is
a bit serious, he is expected to re
cover, reports reaching here today
indicated.
e
Town Commissioners Call
For Survey Timberlands
Meeting in special session here
last Tuesday, the local town com mis
sioners ordered a survey of the a
vailable supply of pine timber and
pine timber acreage in this section,
the action being taken in the inter
est of a large pulp mill that is said
to be considering locating a sizeable
plant here. Attorney H. D. Hardi
son was employed to make the sur
vey, and the information desired
will be available early next week.
Reconsider Agriculture Building
Project; Commissioners Buy Lot
And Structure Will Be Erected
County Board Expected
To Delay Sale for Taxes
An uneventful session of the Mar
tin County commissioners is in pros
pect for next Monday, reports from
the courthouse stating that only rou
tine matters are scheduled for con
sideration A jury list for the one
week June term of superior court
will be drawn, but so far no import
ant matters have been placed on the
business calendar.
But for a local law passed by the
last legislature, the county?and
town, too?would be directed to or
der the advertisement of land for
delinquent taxes. Martin County
and the town of Williamston were
exempted from early land advertis
in^ and sale, but as far as it is
known the provision is limited to
these two political divisions. Un
der the terms of the law, the com
missioners have authority to delay
tax sales until the first Monday in
November. However, it is possble
for the authorities to order the sale
of land for delinquent taxes the
first Monday in June, but it is pot
likely that they will take any action
before next September or October,
at the earliest.
The use of the profits derived
from the sale of legal liquor will
get consideration if too much time
isn't required in handling other
business, it is understood.
SOIL PROGRAM IN
COUNTY MOVING
ALONG STEADILY
Time for Sign-up Ordered
Continued Through
Next Monday
The campaign for participation
in the federal government's soil
conservation program, started in
this county last Monday, continues
at a steady but fairly slow pace,
according to reports coming from
the office of the county agent here
today. Approximately ' 25 ,percent
or about 4000 farmers had already
signed up until yesterday, indica
tions pointing to a sign-up close to
50 percent of the farmers by late
tomorrow. Considerable time is re
quired to handle the applications or
work sheets" and the committee
men have asked that the time for
handling the sign-up be continued
through next Monday. The exten
sion has been granted for the day,
but after Monday, it is planned to
handle the work only in the office
of the county agent here.
Up until noon yesterday, Jatnes
ville, Bear Grass and Williamston
were leading the county in the
movement. Robersonville was re
ported trailing at that time, but it
is expected to come across and oc
cupy a position close to the top in
the program. Reports coming from
the several districts yesterday give I
the following number of signers up
to that time:
Jamesyille, 45; Griffins, 30; Bear
Grass, 40; Cross Roads, 20; Ruber- 1
sonville, 20; Williams, 20; William
ston, 53; Hamilton, 20; Hassell, 30;
Oak City, 30 In addition to that
number more than 50 contracts of
a combined nature have been pre
pared in the office of the agent.
Arrest Second Man
On Burglary Count
Rufus Andrews, young Roberson
vilie negro, and partner of Charles
Howard, jr., in staging a robbery
at the home of John Stephenson,
county farmer living near Rober
sonville, last week, is being held in
the county jail for trial next month
in superior court. He was denied
bond at a preliminary hearing.
Andrews, arrested in Tarboro just
as he was said to be boarding a
train for other parts, has admitted
his part in the crime, and Mr.
Stephenson reoovered his trousers,
stolen from his home by Howard.
?
Probation Officer Starts
Work Here Next Week
e
Appointed probation officer for
this county, Miss Glover, ot Salis
bury, is expected here some time
next week to begin her work, it
was learned from the Martin Coun
ty Welfare Department.
_ The officer will handle juvenile
delinquents in their running helter
skelter without proper guardian
ship. It is generally agreed that
a valuable work can be done in this
Held in Martin County. The officer
was interviewed by Mesdames J
W. Andrews, Wheeler Martin and
Superintendent J. C. Manning, of
the county welfare division, in Ral
eigh yesterday.
Rev. Luther Ambrose To
Preach At Maple Grove
Rev. Luther Ambrose, of Roper,
will preach at the Maple Grove
Christian Church Sunday afternoon
at 3 o'clock, it was announced to
day.
SPEAKER LATE
Detained in Washington this
morning, Wm. H. Griffin, can
didate tor a seat in the United
States Senate, arrived here too
late (or a scheduled address to
the voters of this section in the
interest of his campaign.
The man would have had a
lair sized audience of those who
are anxious to vote against the
present senator, Joslah Bailey,
it was said.
A strong supporter ol the
President, Mr. Griffin and his
wile spent a short while here
speaking personally to a num
ber of local and county people.
)
SaiIl>oat Comes L[
River To Return
With Load Lumber
Skipper Brings Two Mast
Boat Up Crooked River
Under Own Power
The old windjammer, "Maine,"
traveling under the same power
used by Columbus in plowing the
Atlantic in 1492, loaded out with a
large lumber cargo at the Form
ville-Woodward dock here this week
The old sailboat, with one of its
two masts reaching 120 feet into the
air, carried away about eight car
loads of- lumber for the Philadel
phia market Captain Harris, with
a crew of three?and one of those
was his wife?sailed the boat up
and down- the crooked Roanoke
with one mishap. He grounded the
schooner at Jamesville for a short
while, but no serious damage was
done other than delaying Hshing
operations at the Jamesville fishery.
Battling high and swift water in
the Roanoke on his trip up week
before last, Captain Harris reached
a point in sight of the fertilizer
plant when the wind suddenly
changed and he had to anchor for
two days. Early on the third morn
ing a favorable wind pushed him
around the bend and to the lumber
company's dock. *
While a few sailboats continue to
come up the Roanoke, it is a rare
thfng for one to use its sails to nav
igate the stream. Ordinarily this
type of boat is towed in and out of
the Roanoke and then left to use
its own power in the sound and on
the Chesapeake, but Captain Harris
employed his many years of exper
ience to snatch power for his ship
out of the air.
Several Cases Tried
In Mayors Court
Mayor John L. Hassell handled
several cases in his court here this
week, but the actions, for the most
part, were of very little conse
quence.
Floyd Briggs, charged with as
saulting Elisha Mitchell with a
deadly weapon and then closing the
man's eyes with his bare fists, was
bound over to the county court un
der $100 bond.
Judgment was suspended upon
payment of costs in the case charg
ing Geiyge R Brown with assault
ing William Rogers.
Said to have maliciously indicted
Walter Brown for an alleged attack
upon her with a deadly weapon,
Annie Brown was taxed with the
cost and the man was freed. Evi
dence in the case indicated there
were not sufficient grounds for the
action against Brown.
Cost, Including Site,
To Be About $11,800;
To Begin Work Soon
One-story Structure To Be
Located on Knight Lot
Next To Courthouse
Hope that was abandoned a few
days ago for an agricultural build
ing in this county was renewed yes
terday with bright prospects for
approval of the project on a larger
scale than was first anticipated.
Members of the Martin County
Board of Commissioners announced
the project cancelled early this week
when they were unable to get a site
for $1,800. The authorities later
found it possible to purchase the
Knight lot next to the courthouse
for $1,800, and the WPA represen
tatives reconsidered the project, and
late reports state the plans for the
$10,000 building have been proper
ly approved. Preliminary construc
tion work is expected to get under
way within a short time, it is un
derstood.
It could not be learned just what
type of structure would be built to
house the agriculture division for
this county, but the cost, including
the site, will be around $11,800. The
county has agreed to furnish the
skilled labor, the employment bu
reau explaining that only common
labor is available on the relief rolls
just flow. The skilled labor will
cost approximately $1,200, that fig
ure plus the site cost amounting to
$3,0007 which the county will ad
vance as its* part in the undertak
ing.
The delay and near cancellation
of the whole project came kbout
when ' federal authorities turned
down at the last minute the plans
for an addition to the county court
house for use by the agriculture
workers.
Democratic Precinct
Meeting To Be Held
On Saturday, May ()
Foundation for State-wide
Organization Will Be
Started in Districts
-< ?
Plans for holding Democratic
precinct meetings in the 12 voting
districts in this county are being
formulated by the Martin County
Democratic Executive committee
this week. The district meetings
will be held on Saturday, May 9, at
2 o'clock, the county convention to
follow the next Saturday morning
at 11 o'clock. A state-wide conven
tion of the Democratic party will
be held in Raleigh on June 12.
While the precinct meetings at
tract very little attention in this
county, Attorney E. S. Peel, chair
man of the Democratic Executive
Committee in this county, explains
that the foundation for the county,
state and national organization is
laid at these meetings and that they
should be well attended. Mr. Peel
further explained that the precinct
meetings should elect a committee
of five active Democrats, one of
whom shall be a woman, and that
the committee elected should then
elect a chairman and a vice chair
man, one of whom shall be a wom
an. The placing of women on these
committees is required by the plan
of organization as amended by the
state committee. Following the pre
cinct organization, delegates to the
county convention are named, the
number being determined by the
size of the vote cast for governor
in the respective precincts at the
last general election in November,
1932.
When the county convention is
held, business of the party is han
dled, and delegates to the state con
vention are named.
Editor To Speak In Local
Colored Church Sunday
W. C. Manning, Enterprise edior,
will address the people of the col
ored race Sunday, May 3, at 3 p. m.
in the A. M. E. Zion Church on
Rhodes Street. He will speak on
his visit to the Holy Land. F. L.
Allen, steward of the church, said
he hoped a large number of the col
ored people would attend to hear
the address, and in behalf of the
church he extended a cordial invi
tation to every one to hear Mr.
Manning. .