North Carolina Newspapers

Watch the Label on Your Paper, A* It Carries the Date Your Subscription Expires. THE ENTERPRISE Advertisers Will Find Our Col umns a Latchkey to over 1,800 Homes of Martin County. VOLUME XLII?NUMBER 97 ff illiamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuetday, December 5, 1939. ESTABLISHED 1899 Issue Twenty-One Marriage Licenses In Martin County November l^iiunee 1* l^irp?sl For Any Month So Far This Year ? The issuance of marriage licenses in this county approximated a nor mal figure for the month of Novem ber and ranked as the largest for any month so far this year. For the fifth successive month, the number of li censes issued to white couples has equaled or exceeded the number is sued to colored couples. Last month eleven licenses were issued to white and ten to colored couples as com pared with thirty issued to both races in November of last year. The issuance last month was virtually the same as it was in November. 1937, and larger than the number for November, 1931 and 1932 So far this year 132 marriage li censes have been issued in this coun ty, 65 to White and 67 to colored cou pies, as compared with 228 issued in the first eleven months of last year. Licenses were issued last month to the following couples: White Benjamin Thomas Wynn. of Ev eretts, and Thelma Griffin, of Wil liamston. Willie Wynne and Hazel Edmond son, both of this county. Gordon Howell and Nellie Fay Wynne, both of Martin County. Joe Hollis. Jr., $nd Velma Ret Holliday. both of the coupt> Lloyd B. Whichard. of Grimesland. and Dorcas N Jackson, of Green ville. Milton Mendenhall and Mrs. Sarah Hadley Alexander, both of Martin County. Alfred Thomas Tice and Mittie Brown Manning, both of Martin County James Otis Bullock and Nellie Faye Stalls, both of this county. Benjamin F. Dixon, of New Bern, and Jane Sessoms, of Bertie Coun ty Charles C Martin, of Jamesville, and Leyta Faye Manning, of this county. Joseph S. Sitterson. of Columbia. S. C., and Louise Martin Johnson, of Hamilton. Colored William Joseph Spruill and Naomi Duggins, both of this county J. D. Swanner and Mildred Cof field, both of Martin County. Robert Richardson, Jr., and Rrtha Richardson, both of this county. Abell Purrington and Catherine Biggs, both of Martin County. Robert Whitaker and Li I lie Mae Powell, both of this county. Roy Cherry and Isolene' Ryan, both of Bertie County Julius Crandell and Doretha Knight, both of this county Singleton Moore, Jr., and Karro Bell Williams, both of this county. Willie Andrews. and Marjorie Ampie, both of this county. William Frank Spruill and Mary Delia Jones, both of Martin Coun ty 1941) Auto Tags Are Moving Fast Here ?*? Commenting on the sales of the new 1940 auto license tags, Mr. N. C. Green said the tags were moving much faster than they did for the same period last year. The total sold during the season, through Monday, totaled 206. 20 of which were tags for trucks. TTte new license plates went on sale here in the Williamston Motor Company, Friday, December 1. Sales will gradually increase as the dead line, January 1, approaches. Last year no extension of time was grant ed by the State, and Mr. Green said he was of the opinion that the same ruling would prevail this year Town Commission In Meeting Monday In their meeting here Monday night the town commissioners dis cussed everything from fireworks to the alley adjoining the properties of Messrs F. U Barnes and C. G. Crockett, but no definite action was taken on anything other than the de cision to place the Christmas lights on the local streets Wednesday night Complaints were registered with the commissioners by several local citizens relative to the promiscious shooting of fireworks, but the board did not take action feeling that it is the duty of the parents to curb the nuisance. The fire department reported that several links of hose needed to be replaced. The commissioners order ed the clerk to write for competitive prices before placing the order BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT ? Mr. and Mrs. Harry Barnhill, of Colerain, announce the birth of daughter, Betty Jane, on Monday, December 4. Mrs. Barnhill is the former Miss Irma Gurkin, of Wil liamston. Annual Sale of Christmas Seals Gets Underway Here i The annual sale of Christmas seals, to be us?*d in continuing the fight against tuberculosis, began ht re yesterday under the sponsor ship of the Junior Woman's Club The drive will continue until Christ- i mas. Of the funds derived from the saje of the red and blue seals, 75 per cent will remain in Williamston for local use, while the remaining 25 per cent will be given to the state sanator- ! ium. Mrs. H. O. Peel was named gener al chairman of the seal campaign and has as her sales committee, the following: Mesdames Irving Mar golis, I T. Walker, J H. Saunders, Jr. G H. Gurganus. W. G. Peele, William Glover, A J. Manning. Jr., Arthur Bertolet. K I). Worrell. Charles Leonard. Joe Glenn, J. A j Eason. Edwin Peele. John Wier, Hu- ; bert Coburn, Ernest Etheridge, Sam I Woolford, Leslie Smith Harold Har gett, Marion Cobb, George White hurst. Herman Seawelt. D. R Davis and Edwin Trahey, and Misses Ju lia Everett. Ruby Harrison, and Mar tha Leggett. Funds derived from the sale of these seals will aid in finding new cases of the dreaded disease, tuber culosis. by paying for examinations, tests. X-rays, free clinics. They also buy milk and other supplies for needy tubercular persons and un dernourished children and provide a year-around program of education of tuberculosis, its prevention, care and cure. With the approach of the holiday season, everyone is urged to use these seals this year for decorative purposes on packages, letters and cards This symbol is one of beauty and one of health. Suggests Painting ol Samuel Johnston Be Placed in Post Office Trailing a I Home Hays Hotter Than Ever at Christinas With the Christmas season now in the offing, everyone is urged to take advantage of the oppor tunities offered right here in Williamston by the local mer chants, before going elsewhere to make their Christmas pur chases. This year, local stores have a more elaborate display of toys for the kiddies than every be fore, numerous gifts for father, mother, brother and sister, and everyone is invited to look these selections over well before doing their shopping out of town. Trade at home and make this a strictly community Christmas. ChamlxT (Commerce To Meet Next Week Hit* Not i eil ll\-l.au* of (?roii|? Ah YYl In a recent meeting of the local chamber of commerce a committee was appointed to draft the constitu tion and by-laws for the association. The committee, composed of Messrs. C B Clark. B. S Courtney, Frank Margolis and Charles Bowers met Friday night and decided on the by-laws in part but they are not ready for a meeting which will like ly be called some time next week. The meeting next week will be preceded by a Dutch supper which will be held in the Woman's Club dining hall Edmund Harding, of Washington has been invited to come over and speak to the newly organized chamber Thi^k'ommittee has been very ac tive for the past few days and work ing plans for the organization are virtually complete. Branch Bank Offers Savings Department The Drank Bank and Trust Com pany offers its patrons an excellent way to save money for Christmas with its savings account, announced Herman Bowen, who recommends this department to those who- wish to put away some each week or month in order to make the holiday season more happy. In this savings account, one may draw on his account at any time, and should something unexpected turn up, this savings will be very helpful. Begin right away with a savings account at the Branch Bank, and have this money on hand for your vacation, for any holiday or for your chosen purpose. A small amount invested each week does not work a hardship on the investor, yet accumulates into a sizable amount. Firnt llinloruf^ Marker /a Erected Ui Martin County A series of historical markers are being placed in Martin County, the first of which was erected today to Mr. Asa Biggs, others to follow in the near future. The marker, placed on the corner of Smithwick and Main Streets, reads as follows: Asa Biggs-U. S. Senator, 1855 1858, Congressman, Member of Slate Conventions, 1835 and 1881. Federal and Confederate Judge. Home, one Block N. Was Instrumental in Establishing This as Postal Point in I7W \Im? Leader in Formution of I out iiieiilul (iu\rrumnil Ami Fir^l IN. (!. Senator By WARREN It. BIGG'S In the year 1779 there was a "bill" ; introduced in the General Aasem I bly to incorporate the Town of Wil | Jiamston on the lands of Thomas I Hunter. From this date until 1793 there was no post office in the town. In the spring of 1793 Samuel John ston, finishing his term as the First | United States Senator from North I Carolina, purchased from William McKenzie a tract of land, contain ing about 70 acres, partly in the town of Williamston, up which he established his residence, calling it, "My Little Hermitage." The town, at this time, contained only about twenty families and for- | ty houses. Governor Johnston, real izing the need of a post ofice for the convenience of the people, secured from the post office department per mission for its establishment, and on March 4. 1793, Postmaster Gen | eral Timothy Pickering forwarded | to Gov. Johnston papers to that end, with instructions that the person se lected by Gov. Johnston as postmas ter might enter upon his duties as sd^on as he had taken the proper oath. It appears that Thomas Jones was selected and he became the first postmaster, rendering his first ac count to the general office on Octo ber 1. 1793 Thomas Hunter succeeded Jones in 1797, and Richard Williams was appointed in 1800, holding the office until 1808 Those serving since 1808 were as follows: James Bernet, appointed July 1, 1808; Samuel Hyman, appointed April 1, 1809; Joseph Biggs, Sr., ap pointed October 1, 1812; Joseph D. Biggs, appointed March 1, 1828; Wil liam B. Bennett, appointed Septem ber 20, 1833; William Watts, appoint ed February 26, 1834, Gilbert L. Moore, appointed May 1, 1850; Wil liam B. Lanier, appointed February 2, 1853; William Brenan, appointed June 11, 1858; John R Lanier, ap pointed December 13, 1859; Nathan Thomson, appointed September 4, 1865; Alexander Jackson, appointed May 21, 1866; Benjamin Goodman, ap pointed April 15, 1869; John G. Watts, appointed September 19, 1870; William T. Watts, appointed Febru ary 11, 1874; B. B. Watts, appointed March 24, 1875; John R. Lanier, ap pointed June 1, 1885; B. B Watts, ap pointed April 18; 1889; Joshua L. Ewell, appointed June 17, 1893; B B. Watts, appointed July 20, 1897; Jo (Continued on page four) Christmas Lights And Decorations Being Placed Here ? V. K. I\ Compuiiy Will Ileum Work in Hiimiioh Dis trict Tomorrow The holiday spirit, creeping over this town and community, during re cent days, will be given an elaborate boost tomorrow when the Virginia Electric and Power line crew will be gin placing hundreds of vari-color ed lights throughout the business section of the town. Quite a few home owners will soon turn to individual decorations, and in a short time, the town will be gaily attired for the Christmas sea son. Last season the home decora tions were considered the finest ever staged here, and already it is under stood many are planning to make them mine elaborate than ever this year. The street lights, with vari-color- I ed bulbs, will be criss-crossed over Main Street from the new postoffice building to the Haughton Street in tersection. and on Washington Street from the Main Street intersection to the railroad. It is tentatively planned to have them ready and turn them -on for the first time tomorrow night No word has yet been received from the City Hall boys or the court house gang, hut something may be stirring on those fronts before many days pass Year before last, there was considerable rivalry between the contending forces and extended ar guments relative to which was the better decorated, Last year the City Hall hla/.ed forth in all its glory, but thi' courthouse crowd did not offer much competition. Pageant Presented At Auxiliary Meet Holding their regular monthly meeting in the American Legion Hut Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock, the Auxiliary was entertaned with a lovely pageant entitled. "The Holy Birth," with the Williamston mem bers in charge of the program. Mrs. James Ward directed the pageant and Mrs. W C Manning, accompan ist. was at the piano. The stage was set as a stable scene portraying the manger and the Christ child, Virgin Mary. Joseph, and the angels. Eighteen boys and girls in vestments with candles burning, sang Christmas carols dur ing the entire pageant. A blue flood light made the tableau most rcalis 1 tic. Completing the pageant was the approach of the Shepherds and the | three kings carrying gold, frank in cense and myrrh to the Holy Child. The entire program follows Prelude, Processional, O Come All Ye Faithful, Scripture, Luke 2 8-14, Trio, The Ixird's Prayer, Poem, Star of Bethlehem, Chorus, Holy Night, Silent Night; Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Chorus, The First Noel, Trio, Brahms Lullaby, Chorus, There's a Song in tin* Air; O Little Town of Bethlehem, Recessional, Joy to the World Approximately one hundred gue sts and members witnessed the pageant with a cast of more than thirty peo pie: Mrs. Arthur White, first vice president, had charge of the meet ing The auxiliary plans to help sponsor Christmas cheer for the underprivileged children in the county. A veteran's family is being aided and a Junior Activ*y depart ment is soon to be organized. Window shades for the entire hut and a curtain was furnished for the hut this month. The fourth district meeting will be held in Windsor on December Pth and a large attend ance from this auxiliary is hoped for The calendar for the year was read by the secretary, with 25 members responding to the rolf call .Older Youth (Hub Formed Ry Rertie Roy it And (*irl? An Older Youth Club, composed of farm boys and girls beyond the 4-11 age limit, has been organized in Bertie County, reports Assistant Farm Agent R D. Smith New Toy or Bag of Fruit Admission Cost To Benefit Show at Watts Theatre December 22 Sometimes in the hustle and hustle and general excitement attending the Yuletide season one loses sight of the real mean ing of Christmas Day. The meaning goes deeper than mere giving and receiving of presents among friends, feasting and good fellowship. It is the celebration of the birth of Christ who preached that charity stands high In the eyas of Heav en. "It Is more blessed to give than to receive," He said. And so, the Klwanh and Lions Clubs have undertake* the task of playing Santa Clans to the less fortunate in and around Wil liamston during the Christmas season. David Ilia, superintendent of the local schools, with the aid of the local Scouts, will canvass the town early Saturday morning soliciting toys for the Christmas campaign. Mr. Hix said he would make an announcement in both the high school and grammar schools Friday asking that the children inform their parents of the toy canvass. Parents are re quested to have their packages of old toys ready when the Scoots arrive as It will take moat of the morning to cover the town. Cooperating with the cluhst J. W. Watts has consented to run a show at 10 a. m., December 22 for the children of this town and section. No one will he admitted for cash?any child bringing a new toy or a hag of fruit will he admitted to one of the best chil dren's programs ever hooked by Mr. Watts. . The following program will be shown at the Watts Theatre: 3 color eartoons, 2 "Our Gang" comedies, Betty Hoop, Popeye, 2 Terry Toons. Krazy Kat, Scrap py, Merry Melody and Looney Am. Hen I th A dvisory Com m it tee Is Formed in County Last Week Fully appreciating the services of. the Martin County Health Depart ment a group of local civic minded ! people have sponsored the depart-' ment in a nation wide contest for the determination of /fie' best health facilities and services to the people of a county or district. The first award is a bronze plaque to that' health department which renders the best service to its people, however, the main purpose of the contest is to obtain an analysis of the various departments so that a substantial progress can be made in public health The local health advisory commit tee is composed of Mr George Har rison. chairman; Mr. J. L. Hassell. Mr Elbert Peel. Dr. J S Rhodes. Dr. W. C. Mercer. Mr J E. Pope. Mrs. K P. Cunningham, Mrs Jamc Manning and Mr Robert Everett, of Palmyra. This committee met in the office of the health department last Wed nesday to review the work of all health agencies m the county They advanced many plans whereby the health facilities of this county could ? auvu be advanced, namely an increased effort to make health know ledge available on a broader scale A picture, now in the making, was shown of many of the services of the local department rendering health services. When finished the film will be shown throughout the county and it is believed that a greater vulur will be placed on the health services of Martin County Board Commissioners Perfect Organization For New Year's Work Tax Listing Begins r r Januan 1st: S. II. (irimes Supervisor <# J. I'.. Krrlichd Cliair iiiuii ami I.IIm rt S. IVrl Count* \ltornr\ Meeting in regular session here Monday, the Martin County board of commissioners reelected J K Pope, chairman of the board, and Elbert S Peel, county attorney, for the coming year. S. It. Crimes was appointed tax supervisor for 1940 The board gave Mr Crimes authority to select the j tax listers in the various townships] throughout the county These ap ! pointments will probably be made within the next day or two, Mr. ! Grimes said In former year,, all : taxes were listed in April hut a special act was passed at the last sos j sion of the State legislature chang j ing the listing date from April 1st to January I After approving the lulls, the hoard passed a resolution petition- j ing the State Highway Commission j to build a nfw road, 2000 feet long, in Washington County near the Neath Carolina Pulp Company Vance Norman, Plymouth attor ney and representative of the N C Pulp Company, stated to the board that due to an expansion program now underway, the old road circling the plant would, of necessity, have to be closed, causing the closing of a section of the present road. John Kubanks, representing the town of Basse]}, asked the hoard to petition the State Highway Commis sion to complete that section" of Highway No. 11 which remains un paved between Bethel and Oak City According to the resolution passed by the board, highway officials were asked to run the paved load through the town of Hassell, serv ing a territory that has long need j (Continued on page four) Children's Books Still On Display The Junior Woman's club an nounced today that the 2,000 new children's books were still on dis play at the local library and that or ders would be taken all during this week. Realizing the need for a . larger collection of books for children, the club is sponsoring a Share a Book plan. This plan is designed to enable a parent or friend to provide a book for a particular child and at the same time provide a book for hundreds of others at no additional cost The 2,000 books now on display were sent here for examination only by the North Carolina Library Com mission. Local Hoy Sam is Seek Permanent llall fttr Meetings The local troop of Boy Scouts is in need or a permanent hall to hold their weekly meetings. For the past several weeks they have had to hold their meetings on the steps of the postoffice. Anyone knowing of a vacant building or hall which could be used for the boys, please get in touch with the Enterprise, Mr. Wheeler Martin, or Horace Kay Industrial Type Of Insurance Runs Into Millions in Our State ? Cstimatc,I That More Hum S 1.000 Sent Out ?f W j|. limiistoii Much Week Hubert K Williams, writing in the News and Observer a lew days ago, offered some interesting inform;/ lion oti the industrial insurance bus mess in North Carolina and incident ally pointed out that the Securities and Kxchungt- Commission is now collecting detailed information ahout the vast business Not solong ago. a local agent stat ed that approximately $1,0(1(1 was sent out of Wilhamstoii each week in the form of industrial insurance premiums t| was estimated at one time that 200 women and a few men working in the Columbian Peanut Company plant before the wage and hour law Went into effect would make during one week just enough to pay the industrial insurance prem ium for that week Williams reviews the business in this State, as follows Neartryhi- firth or all the proplr in North -Carolina, men, women, children and babies, buy industrial insurance policies each hut the aver age buyer, or the average person to Whom It is sold, keeps his policy only about two years North Caro '""ails pay annually $12,11(111,(1110 ,n premiums on 1,700,000 industrial poltries hul few of them keep the policies but few of them keep the benefits. That in brief tells the story of a type ol insurance which affects more people than any other an about which the Securities and Exchange Commission is now collecting detail <'<J information. North Carolina is one of the irn pnrtant states from the standpoint of industrial insurance The amount of industrial insurance written in North Carolina exceeds the amount Of ordinary or regular insurance, hut tin re is three times as much of the latter in force Technically ,tho differences be tween the two types of insurance are that industrial insurance is written m smaller amounts and premiums are collected at more frequent in tervals. Growing out of these differ p-nccs is Ihe difference in cost. The amount of money which will hi(y an | ordinary life insurance policy ?t $1,000 for one year, will, if spread hover weekly payments, buy between $500 and $000 in industrial insurance j for the same period. The most striking fcuture of in dustrial insurance is the high per centage of lapses In 1937, Jhe last year for which statistics arc avail able, there were 720,504 new indus trial polities written aggregating ?JSt'"94'!!49; "r "" "f about ?200 each. In the same year 020,253 policies aggregating $124,591,985.00 were terminated, leaving in force at the end of the year lk7I3,778 policies aggregating $319,175,200. The latter figures represent only\ little more than two years of new harness ,nd (Continued on page Cotton Growers Will Vote Saturday On Control Referendum W ill I(<ci<lc W Iwllicr They W ill <lonlinue Kfforls To ( orilrol I'roiluclion Cotton growers of North Carolina will join thosr of tho i? ; t of the na ? ti jo m a vote Saturday. December 9, on marketing quotas for 194U. They will decide whether to con tinue their efforts to balance produc tion with consumption and reduce surplus supplies piled up - from the enormous crop of 1937. which was produced without i marketing quota system- to control sales K V Floyd. AAA executive offi e? r of State College, said that all farmers who produced cotton with a staple of less than 1 1 '.I inches in It ngth this year will, be eligible to vote in the referendum Me urged i\?1 eligible growers to vote at com n unity polling placs set up by the county' AAA committeemen. Floyd explained that when mar k 'ting quotas are in effect, the co operator's marketing quota is the total production of his cotton acre a;;c allotment, and he can sell all he p oduces on his allotted acres with out penalty Fvery cotton grower in tl c State, has been mailed or other wise notified of his individual al lotment If this information has not 'been received, communcate immed iately with your county AAA office and you will be told your allotment, the Triple A official advised farm ers A non-coopri atoc. or a glower who o1. ci plants, can soil without penalty ati cotton on his allotted acres, or the normal production of the* allot ted acres if that happens to be k?rg r Hut he will have to pay a penalty ?f 3 cents per pound on all cotton sold from the 1949 crop in excess of. his quota' Marketing quotas for the 1939 crop were approved last fall by 34 1 per cent of the farmers voting Approv al by two thirds of the growers vot ing is necessary to put quotas into effect Loci il l?ank Sends Out Savings ( .lurks P 1) V. Clayton, cashier of the .Guaranty Hank and Trust Company, announced yesterday that the Christ mas Savings cheeks were mailed to members of the club, and that a de cided advance was made in. the growth of the local club this year Approximately 2(H) checks were mailed ranging from $12 50 to $1, 000.00 to people with Christinas sav ings With this outlay of Christmas momy, business will jjo doubt take a forward step, and many of those who have been saving a certain amount each week, will now use these savings to buy Christmas gifts which otherwise would have been impossible. Some idea of the popularity of Christmas Savings clubs in tin- Unit ed States may be l^ad when it is realized that this year $250,000,000 will be distributed to members which total more than seven million. The amount distributed is about sev en per cent in excess of last year. The 1940 series opens this fiVOHth, and Mr. Clayton urges everyone to put away a little each week and pre pare for .Christmas m 1940. Editor Attends IJ. S. Farm Bureau Meet F. M Manning, editor of The En terpri.se. will return Thursday or Friday from Chicago, where he has been for the past week attending the American Farm Bureau Federation. In the convention this week dele gates asked for long range crop con trol programs and will ask for na tional support for the proposed farm law changes. The State Farm Bur- 1 eau's executive committee directed North Carolina's* delegates, before they left last Saturday, to submit a resolution favoring a special fed eral tax to finance the program. They will also ask amendments to the A A A . which will permit far mers to vote to have crop control for three to five years, or longer, in stead of only a year-to-year basis. Erirgr !\itmln>r Enjoy I . S. (lovernmenl I'ostal Display ? A large- number of citizens view ed the government's postal display truck at the local postoffiee here today and unusual interest was shown in the stamp collection, which included postage stamps dating from 1847 to the present time. Also of great interest was a minia ture rotary-type stamp printing presa in operation, with dies, rolls and plates used in the production of postage stamps. Wilhamston was very fortunate in being a stopping point of this truck, and Ralph A. Davis, in charge of the truck, was glad to see that such interest was taken in the dls pl?y.