THE ENTERPRISE
VOLUME XLI?NUMBER 40 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, May 20, 1938. ' ESTABLISHED 1899
Urge Improvements
To Roanoke River
At Cost of $323,000
Representative Lindsay C.
Warren Makes Vigorous
Arguments to Board
Representative Lindsay C. War
ren this week appeared before the
Board of Engineers for Rivers and
Harbors and made vigorous argu
ments in behalf of two important
projects in his district.
Three years U? Mr. Ws'rren se
cured a resolution for the survey of
Roanoke River from its mouth to
Hamilton and from Hamilton .to
Weldon. The report approved by
both district and division engineers
was heard bgfore the board. It calls
for a channel It feet deep and 180
feet wide from Albemarle Sound to
one mile above Plymouth. From
that point the channel will be 10
feet on up to Williamston and Ham
ilton and the snags and shoals will
be removed in that area. From Ham
ilton to Palmyra the project calls
for an 8 foot channel, 80 feet wide.
The total cost of construction will
be $823,000 with $8,000 per year
maintenance. That part of the proj
ect from Plymouth to Albemarle
Sound calls for $85,000 and from
Palmyra to Hamilton $238,000 which
will Include a cutoff. That part of
the project from Palmyra to Weldon
was disapproved. This is one of the
largest waterway projects that has
been up in North Carolina for many
years and should the board approve
same Representative Warren states
it will be of inestimable value to
the Roanoke River section.
Mr. Warren also argued in behalf
of the project for a breakwater at
Belhaven. This was approved by the
district engineer but was disapprov
ed by the division engineer at Rich
mond. Mr. Warren asked that the
division engineer be over-ruled, litis
project calls for an expenditure of
$53,000 for the construction of two
creosoted timber breakwaters 1900
feet long.
The board is expected to hand
down its decision within a week. In
tha- meantime the rivers and har
bors bill has already passed the
House and is pending before the
Senate committee on Commerce.
Hoping that he might get favorable
results from the board af engineers
Mr. Warren has contacted Senator
Bailey who has promised to hold the
senate bill in committee for at least
a week trusting that these projects
may be approved and forwarded to
the senate within that time. If that
should happen it would save at least
three years time as otherwise they
would have to wait for some future
rivers and harbors bill.
The director of the budget today
sent to congress budget approval of
$540,000 for construction work on
the Coast Guard Air Base located
at Elizabeth City. Mr. Warren con
ferred with the president about
this matter three weeks age
Judge H. 0. Peel
Calls Eight Cases
In County Court
Failing to Support Family,
Man Sentenced to Roads
for Six Months
Found guilty of non-support, Burt
Gorham was sentenced to the roads
for six months, and his family con
tinues without support, the action
featuring the proceedings in the
county court last Monday. Oorham,
probably unable to offer support,
made no appeal to the higher courts.
Judge H. O. Peel called eight cases
in the court, continuing two of them
and finding the defendants not guil
ty in two of three others.
Clyde Knight, charged with non
support, was directed to pay into the
court $4 each month for the support
of his illegitimate children. No num
ber was given.
Pending in the courts several
weeks, the case charging Perlie Lil
ley with disorderly conduct was fi
nally cleared from the docket when
Judge Peel found him not guilty.
The defendant had appeal for a Jury
trial, but waived that right at the
The case charging Dorothy Brown
with aiding and abetting larceny
was nol prosssd.
A continuance was granted in the
caee charging Joarflopkins with vio
lating the liquor laws.
Torn May, charged with assaulting
his wife, Lena May, was ordered to
pay |lt for doctor's fees and IS a
week during the next six months for
the support of his wife and their
adopted child. May's wife is said ts
have left him.
In the civil action brought by Sol
Mob ley against J. Bynum Roberson,
the court granted a Judgment in the
aun of IM.7I to .Mobley
Prominent Merchant
Dies At Home Here
c
SUCCUMBS
Lovet B. HirritM, pioneer la
aster* CuollBt buriaw dr
at this
I away at his haoe
oa Haogfcwn 8 trad here this
moraiac at 1 tM o'clock.
Registrations Show
Increase In Number
Of County Precincts
Interest in June Fourth Pri
mary Is Said to Be
Increasing
Jumping from a low point during
the first few days the books were
opened in this county, new registra
tions for the coming June i Demo
cratic primary are now welt over
the 100 mark, unofficial reports
heard this weeic indicate.- The add
ed interest in the registration is not
expected to approach the record
established in 1936 when 452 new
names were added to the books
principally as a result of the heated
contest waged by Hoey and Mac
Donald for governor. Possibly the
present registration will approxi
mate 150 or 200 before the books
close on Saturday, May 21.
With the registration period draw
ing to a close tomorrow, the local
precinct today reported around 30
new registrations against 150 two
years ago. Registrar O. S. Anderson
is expecting a fairly busy day be
fore the books close at 5 o'clock to
morrow afternoon. The books are
open in the agricultural building.
Roberaonville Wednesday reported
two newly registered voters and one
transfer. Cross Roads has had three
new electors added to its books.
Bear Grass reports a fairly large
registration, unofficial reports stat
ing that thirteen were offered for
registration in s group a day or two
ago. JamesviUe reports about a doz
en new voters. Griffins is hardly up
to normal with its registration, but
quite a few are expected to get
their names on the books before five
o'clock tomorrow. Precincts in the
upper part of the county are re
porting light registration.
Not including the new registra
tion, this county has a voting
strength of around 6,131 ballots. Just
how many will vote two weeks from
Saturday is a matter for speculation.
Reports from the field indicate that
the vote will not pass and possibly
not reach 3,000 votes. A vote that
size is to be recognized as a large
one since only 3,132 votes were cast
(Continued on page six)
Funeral Services For
Lovet B. Harrison
Tomorrow At 4 P. M.
Death Marks End of Active)
Career in Section's r
Business Life
Lovet Biggs Harrison, pioneer in
the business life of this section and
one of eastern North Carolina's most
prominent citizens, died at his home
on Haughton street here this morn
ing at (0:20 o'clock following an ill
ness of only four days' duration.
The end came peaceably with mem
bers of his family at the bedside.
Mr. Harrison was sfrlcken with
a stroke of paralysis last Monday
night shortly after 9 o'clock, and his
condition was considered critical by
attending physicians. Members of
the family were summoned "to his
bedside where they watched a pa
tient put up a gallant fight for life I
until shortly after one o'clock this |
morning when he lapsed into uncon
sciousness and all hope for his re-J
covery was abandoned.
The son of the late Cushing Biggs |
Harrison and Martha Taylor Har
rison, he was born in Bear Grass
Township, near Williamston, on
May 30, 1876. Mr. Harrison spent his
early life there where the founda
tion of a noble Christian career was
laid by thoughtful and understand
ing parents. He attended the free
schools in hil community and later,
after several years as a clerk in the
employ of the firm of Peel and
Watts, he studied at the Turlington
school in Smithfield. Completing his
courses there, he returned and
clerked until 1903 when he formed
a partnership and entered the mer
cantile business with his brother.
the N. S. Peel building now occu
pied by the Virginia Electric and
Power Company offices and Israel's
store. The untiring work of the two
young men, the strong friendship
for their fellowman formed the
foundation of a business that was
destined to become one of the larg
est and most successful in the coun
ty
In addition to the mercantile busi
ness, Mr. Harrison conducted ex
tensive farming interests to which
he gave long hours of study and
work, enjoying the breath of life
found in growing plants and in the
open fields.
On November 18, 1903, he was
married to Miss Hattie Harrell, of
Williamston, the union bringing 'un
told happiness that ever increased as
the years passed In the home he
was an understanding husband and
a considerate father, remaining al
ways thoughtful of others. His voice
he never raised in anger, and his de
meanor was marked by its quiet
ness. While he shunned the spot
light, he, in his unpretentious way,
extended charity and help to hun
dreds and gained a friendship that
expressed itself in the hundreds of
anxious calls inquiring after his
condition during the few days he
was so critically ill.
In 1902 he joined the Methodist
church, and was recognized as one
of its most valuable members for
his noble walk through life and the
fine Christian examples that stood
out in his living day by, day. Punc
tual and faithful in the schedule of
religious worship, Mr. Harrison was
a pillar in the church, and in that
worship he found contentment and
(Continued on page six)
Little Attention Given Air
Mail Week by Local Patrons
Williams ton's first direct connec
tion with the main air mail system
was effected yesterday morning
when William Thomas Crawford,
local young man driving a William
ston Aero Club plana, delivered a
special pouch to R. E. Lee in Rocky
Mount for delivery to the big air
liners in Raleigh.
The event attracted little atten
tion, and air mail week is going by
almost unnoticed by local postal pa
trons. Clerks F. Earl Wynne and
Arthur White met the plane here
and checked it out to the minute.
Forty-six pieces of air mail were
dispatched from the local office, a
report stating that no letters were
received from offices in' near-by
towns for handling over the tem
porary air routes.
Starting in Plymouth at 9:M the
special pilot reached the landing
field here eighteen minutes later.
After signing on the mail weighing
about four pounds, he lifted his
plane at 10 o'clock and was off to
Tarboro, reaching there ahead of
schedule. From that point he con
tinued to Rocky Mount where the
mails of several planes were com
bined and carried on to Raleigh by
another pilot. Several planes con
verged on Raleigh shortly after noon
to make connection with the regu
lar gir mail liners, postal authori
ties explaining that letters mailed
hare yesterday morning were de
livered in New York late yesterday
afternoon. -
Air mail patronage is increasing
at a rapid rate throughout the coun
try, local postal authorities pointing
out that on an average ten letters
are handled over the air system each
day. I
The flight yesterday was only a
temporary one, the pilot offering
his service without cost to the gov
Australian Makes
Weed Crop Survey
In Martin County
Visitor Shocked by Condi
tions Surrounding
Tenant System
"We grow about the same type of
tobacco and very much under the
same pattern as your farmers do,"
Mr. D. H. Malcolm, Australian to
bacco specialist who is in this coun
ty studying the American system,
said while on a survey here yester
day.
Experiencing many handicaps in
the cultivation of the crop, Aus
tralia will not within the next few
years grow its own needs, Mr. Mal
colm pointed out. Blue mold, a new
disease in the tobacco sections in
this country, has given the Austral
ian farmer trouble for years, the
specialist explaining that the great
est handicap to farmers there is ex
perienced after the plants are plac
ed in the fields. "We have perfect
ed a control system for the mold
whije the plants are in the beds, but
we have made little progress in
combatting the disease aftec the
plants are placed in the fields," the
specialist explained.
Mr. Malcolm explained that ex
tensive experiments had been con
ducted with electricity, sprays and
gases, that the benzol treatment
has proved most effective. "Your
experiment station is making mark
ed progress in the development of
benzol for the control of blue mold,"
Mr. Malcolm said, pointing out that
he believed the plan would effect
better results than the system em
ployed in his own country
Backed by the government, the
farmers in Australia receive around
40 cents a pound for their tobacco,
the representative stating that im
ports carried a 75-cent levy per
pound.
It's winter time in Australia now,
but the farmers are making ready
to sow their plant beds. They will
start transplanting in October and
WnvmhSr and harvest the crop
(Continued on page six)
??
Bible School Finals
This Evening at 7:30
Tonight at 7:30 the Daily Vacation
Bible school will have its com
mencement program at the Christ
ian church. Having finished a two
weeks' course, the faculty feels that
the school has been decidedly
worthwhile.
The children have been divided
into groups according to ages as fol
lowing:
Beginners department, ages 3 to
5, supervised by Mrs. J. Paul Simp
son, assisted by Misses Katherine
Manning and Helen Lindsley; pri
mary department, ages 6 to 6, super
vised by Mrs. A. J. Osteen, assisted
by Mrs. Garland Woolard and
Misses Marjorie Grey Dunn and
Nancy Biggs; Junior department,
ages B to 13, supervised by Mrs.
Francis Barnes assisted by Mrs. Wil
liam Hunt, Mrs. Albert Coltrain and
Miss Thelma Griffin; Intermediate
department, ages 12 to 15, supervis
ed by Mrs. William Harrison, assist
ed by Mrs. Trahey and Miss Marie
Hardison.
The attendance has been good
and through the faithful work of
the supervisors and their assistants
and the cooperation of the children,
the following program will be pre
sented: ,
Song by the school.
Call to worship.
Pledges to Flags by school.
Prayer by beginners.
Duet by Sara and Mary Ann
Manning.
Song by beginners.
Song by primary group.
Memory drills by primary group.
Memory verses by junior groups
Dramatization of Bible story by
junior group.
Group singing by Juniors.
Bible sword drill by intermed
iate group.
Character story by Jimmie Ward.
Synopsis of Story of Acts by Shir
ley Booth.
Song by school.
TRIBUTE
As a tribute te the memory of
Mr. L. B. Harrison, local aaor
chants and basin eas men will
elaoe their establishments to
morrow afternoon at S:45 o'clock
for the duration of the funeral
service, It was announced this
afternoon. f
Wishing to express their ap
preciation for the friendship and
business amoelation of Mr. Har
rison for ataay roan, badness
operators woleoniod the oppor
tnnlty to affix their nemos to
it Wl
Proposed Improvements to Town
Streets, Water and Sewer Systems
To Cost Approximately $65,000
Outside Boards Will Review
Tobacco Quota Complaints
The United States Department of
Agriculture this week took a defi
nite action to effect fairly and
squarely the administration of the
new crop control law when it an
nounced that independent boards of
review from other counties will be
set up to review individual pound
age allotments that are to be made
possible during the month of July.
Apparently anticipating many
complaints, the department officials
hope to handle the allotment of
poundages to the satisfaction of the
tobacco growers.
The poundage quotas, a part of
i the compulsory control features of
J the 1938 act, will not be made by
the same county committee which
I recently made acreage allotments
under the voluntary soil conserva
tion act unless the committeemen
are ree'ected by the growers. New
electioi s of county committeemen
will be held before the poundage
quotas ate made.
The board of review probably will
be sele ted from adjoining counties,
but none of the members of such a
board will be residents of the coun
ty in which it functions.
Experience Delay
In Advancing Plan
For Swimming Pool
Purchase Price of Lot Will
Necessitate Relocation
of Pool
Plans for the location of a swim
ming pool and recreational center
on the Knight property between
Watts and Biggs Streets were in
terrupted this week when the pro
moters declined to pay gzau tor a
small piece of property back of the
lot purchased by the county for its
agricultural building. Proceeding
with the belief that the small piece
of property could be purchased for
$200, the promoters had advanced
plans for locating the pool, but now
those?plans have?been?virtually
abandoned and estimates are being
asked for locating the pool at a
spot just back of the old county jail.
Completing a survey a few days
ago, Engineer Henry Rivers estimat
ed that it would cost the town ap
proximately $6,000 for its part to
build the pool on the property in
question. Promoters, virtually aban
doning the idea of buying the prop
erty, state that another survey has
been ordered to determine the cost
of locating the pool in the new lo
caion near the old county jail. There
is the possibility that the pool will
not cost as much if placed near the
old jail, but the location is not con
sidered as desirable as the one first
proposed, it was pointed out.
Plans have been completed for
tiling the ditch between Watts and
Biggs Streets with a 30-inch pipe.
The cost of this project will approx
imate $1.50 a foot and total more
than $600.
It had been proposed to use the
dirt from the swimming pool in fill
ing in the deepest ravine, but since
a change in the pool location is be
ing considered, there'll be little dirt
made available.
The first estimate released this
week by the engineer, placed the to
tal cost of the recreational center at
$19,000, the town to pay approxi
mately $6,500 aB its part, leaving
WPA to pay the remainder. No fur
ther action will be taken toward
starting work on the recreational
center until a new survey of the
swimming pool is completed, pro
moters of the project announced to
day. During the meantime, more
children are flocking to the tem
porary recreational center on the
grammar grade school grounds
where Miss Nancy Glover is super
vising the activities.
CANDIDATE I
J
Mrs. Mary Hardy Purdy, ar
dent supporter of the New Deal,
is the first woman to run for
the State Senate from this dis
trict. She Is the wife of Dr. J.
J. Purdy, well-known Pamlico
County physician.
Cross Roads Farmer
Dies Early Thursday
Henry Walter Leggett, well
known Cross Roads Township far
mer, died suddenly at his home
there early yesterday morning. Suf
fering a light stroke of paralysis a
week ago, Mr. Leggett continued
fairly active until the day of his
death. Arising about 5:30 o'clock
yesterday morning, he went to the
porch of his home and then return
ed to the bedroom where he appar
ently suffered a second stroke and
died a short time later.
The son of the late Jerry and Wil
lie Leggett, he was burn in this!
county 56 years ago and farmed all
his life, making his home in the
Cross Roads community where he
enjoyed a large circle of friends.
Besides his wife he leaves two
sons, Hubert and John Bell Leggett,
and four daughters, Misses Sophia
Jane, Charlie Frances, Dessie Mae
and Essie Mae Leggett, all of Cross
Roads. He is also survived by five
brothers, Messrs. C. L., J. D., W. B.,
H. W , and J. W. Leggett, ?,and one
sister, Mrs. Bettie Fulford, all of
Cross Roads.
Funeral services are being con- ]
ducted this afternoon at 2 o'clock
by Rev. J .M. Perry, Robersonville
minister. Interment will follow in
the Leggett cemetery in Cross Roads
Township."
Half of Dogs in County Are
Vaccinated Against Rabies
Receiving a report this week from
Veternarian Osteen on the progress
of the anti-rabies drive, the sher
iff's office today looked with ask
ance on the whole dog situation.
The doctor's report shows that 1,614
dogs in the county have been vacci
nated, leaving approximately 1,459
to be vaccinated, killed or other
wise disposed of within 90 days af
ter the vaccinating schedule was
launched the 2nd of last month.
The sheriff!" office is checking
the vaccination records, and is urg
ing owners to have their dogs vac
cinated at once. Arrangements have
been made to have dogs vaccinated
at the office of the veternarian here
torn rfr row, and it is passible that oth
er vaccinations will be scheduled
before the time for handling the
work expires.
This is the fourth year that a cam
paign against rabies has been con
ducted in this county, reviews of the
activities during the past three and
especially in the first two years
showing that the work was highly
successful. Few dogs have feel vic
tims of the disease, and fewer per
sons have found it necessary to
take the Pasteur treatment during
that period than in many years.
Directed by law to indict owners
who fail or refuse to have their dogs
vaccinated, the sheriffs office is
preparing its records in anticipa
tion of issuing necessary warrants
to support the anti-rabies campaign.
The only defense the owner may of
fer following indictment is to prove
that his dog has been killed or was
vaccinated by a private veternar
ian.
Few warrants have been issued in
the past three years, but a whole
sale issuance is expected this Ma
ton.
Program Calls For
Installation Of A
Fourth Deep Well
Propose Surfacing of Six
Streets and Several
Sidewalks
Cost estimates tor the surfacing of
six streets and several sidewalks
were released this week by Engin
eer Henry Rivers, representatives of
the town explaining that a survey
for an extension to the town's sew
er system had been completed but
that the cost estimates will not be
available yn that project before
some time next week
Engineer Rivers advanced the
guess while here this week that the
entire improvement program, in
cluding the proposed recreational
center, street surfacing, sidewalks,
addition to the sewer system and a
fourth deep well should not cost in
excess of $65,000
The proposed improvement pro
gram, recognized as urgently need
ed, is in its preliminary stage. While
nearly all the property owners on
the streets included in the improve
ment program are said to favor the
improvement plan, they will be re
quired to sign necessary petitions.
Then the proposal will have to be .
to a vo'? of the people in the
' , , "f -? bond issue.- .It is under-?
stood that the bond issue? will be ap
proved by the North Carolina Local
Government Commission. It has al
so been pointed out that the cost of
the proposed recreational center
will not be included in the bond is
sue, that the rate of interest should
be materially lower than anv other
"sue ever advanced by the town.?
Pending the completion of the
surveys and the submission of-reli?
able cost estimates, no action will be
taken by the town authorities to
launch the program. However, defi
nite action can be expected some
time during the early part of June.
Its water reserve rapidly dwindl
ing in the face of increased con
sumption, the town is now forced to
| boost the supply. The improvement
I program includes $15,000 for the
sinking of a fourth deep well and
the purchase of a new pumping
unit, It is proposed to balance the
present system by placing the new
unit east of the municipal water
plant and effecting a system to pump
water direct into the main lines.
The proposed addition to the
sewer system will provide connec
tions on North Haughton street just
beyond the cemetery and on Frank
lin, Grace and Smithwick streets A
disposal plant will have to be built
about half a mile east of the high
school property not far from the
river.
In the paving program are includ
ed six streets. Warren, Marshall ave
nue, Elm street from Church to
Main; Hassell from Simmons avenue
to Church; Smithwick from Sim
mons avenue to the high school
building at the intersection of
Franklin; and Grace Street from
Haughton to Smithwick. Sidewalks
on both sides of Marshall avenue,
and Grace Street are also included
In the list of proposed improve
l?its
Irish Potatoes Are
Moving to Markets
?
The first Irish potato movements
from this section got underway in
the Aurora section today, reports
reaching here at noon today that
the first shipments were compara
tively light and prices slightly high
er than many expected. The mar
ket was reported uncertain, how
ever.
While some potato areas report
small yields, Martin County far
mers are expecting a production
slightly in excess of normal. Har
vesting activities will likely get un
derway within the next few days in
this section.
Pamlico County farmers state
their crop is below normal, that ?
marked decrease in production is
certain there.
Prices were quoted yesterday at
$2.65 a barrel.
?
Pastor Will Conduct
Riddick's Grove Service
Rev. W. B. Harrington, the |
will conduct the regular preaching
services in the Riddick's drove Bap
tist church Sunday afternoon at I
o'c