Smallwood Recalls Boyhood Days Here (Continued from page one) liamston* days, and afforded occupa tion to quite a number of what was termed "river men." They made them "dug-outs" by hewing off one side of a huge cyprus tree-truck, sometimes the cut being near forty feet long, or shorter as need be; then sharpening prow and siern alike, and burning I out the bulk of the interior while | carefully tending the blaze, finally chiseling the sides and bottom to a desired thinness, and putting in cross boards for seats. The cargo capacity of these dug outs was enormous. The motive pow-1 er was paddles, not oars: the pad- i dlers sitting astern and facing the bow. The dug-out's bottom being round and roily, made them as "tick lish" as an Indian's. birch-*bark; but the river-man "knew his equilibrum" ^ind seldom upset the cargo Bui "Mi 1 all of whom had been visiting my I sister Portia, plus two Negro pad dlers and a two-horse "* wagon load of freight, all being stowed into one of these dug-outs. After the passen gers had "gingerly" taken their places, and the paddlers a half-doz en strokes by that strong, deft ac non of no movement ol the body ex cept the ^arms, that dug-out raced up the rushing waters towards Spell er's Ferry, like a herring skimming the foam. Roanoke swamp through Martin County, averages something like two Novice"?look out Fishing and trapping, ahd wwip times logging, occupied their full time. There were the herrings and the sturgeons in the spring, too num erous to mention. There were the iaccoon and the weasel; the muskrat and the mink; with otter and beaver occasionally; and bear not a few. The pelts were cleaned, stretched, cured and marketed by the trnpp' p;?; and big money ensued when catches were good Among the river-men I recall wen Mr Aaron Roberson, Jim Bonds, Cliff Bland and Jack Gurkins Tin last named I can mentally see today. Red hair, red face, red whiskers, hip high rubber-boots, oilskin coat, and southwester; the whole making as awesome an appearance as would an ocean pirate of old. But so far as my knowledge went, he may have had a heart as big as his head There were many others that I do not recall. As stated, tin- carrying capacity of tehse dug outs was astounding. 1 recall, upon one occasion. Sheriff Bond, of Bertie; his wife, cousin Min nie, daughter of my father's first cousin. Robert Smallwo<>d. of Bertie's "Indian woods"; their-two daughters, miles wide, creating a vast region of silence and solitude (except for sounds of its swamp life) amidst the business and bustle of a busy world Those who follow'' the river: live next to nature and self reliance, as did Daniel Boone of the nation's early days. Most often alone, and out in - ly dependent upon their own caution and ability, they attain a quiet, sub dued mannerism.-dominated by self reliance and precision. No doubt these conditions arc much tin- same now, as in tin- days of which I write, for the river is still there, with its "guts" and its .pools, and the "var mints" still thrive in the still vast swamp; With pelts'even more valu able today than then; therefore the incentive for river-men to still be. As the swamp nears the high lands it is be-sprinkled with .elevated spots of varying acres which are not over flown by ordinary "freshets" and which are called "islands". These an often cleared and cultivated, produc ing enormous yields, when the snows of the mountains are not so rapidly melted in the spring-time as to cause abnormally heavy freshets, which wrap up and destroy the island crops ?but in doing so. these overflows leave a new coating of fertile sediment for the benefit of future crops. One seldom hears a Martin Coun ty man speak of "the -swamp," he terms it "down in the islands." and everybody knows, likewise, a steam boater may say "Williamston Wharf." but Williamston says "riv There was one incident emenating from the "big fire" which gave me an insight of Mr. Biggs which I had Judge R. L. Coburn Working Over Time In Recorder's Court (Continued from page one) deadly weapon. Jodie Haislip entered no plea. He was adjudged guilty and sentenced to- the roads for a period , of sixty days The sentence was sus- 1 pended upon payment of the cost and a $50 fine. Mahssie Purvis, charged with vi olating the liquor laws, pleaded guil ty and was sentenced to jail for thir ty days, the court suspending the sentence upon payment of the costs. Charged with obtaining money un der fa 1st? pretense, Charlie Mabry pleaded not guilty. He was adjudg ed guilty of a simple assault and was cr.tenced to the roads for a thirty lav period. uid no occasion to observe before. As far as I recall there kwas no ?esident insurance agent in William toh at that time I think all insur ance was procured by correspond ?rif . ?r with what companies. Quito like ly one on the store, and another on he stock. It is my impression that insurance carried was slight, and that he lost heavily by the fire. In the course of a week or so af ter the burning, an "adjuster" called ufxiii him in reference to his claim, and he came to the home, where 'were the salvaged diugs. and when we were filling, as best we could, prescriptions for the ailing. Sister Sal lie used her bedroom as a family it ting room, having a company room across tin hall, and to which the "ad juster" had been invited All man tels in the house were a(/?ut shoul der high, and Mr. Biggs raised a fam ily uf I111 lithe n with a loaded pistol lying constantly >?n the bedroom mantel, and not once did one of them ever bother that pistol. Upon the occasion which I mention, Mr Biggs was in the company room with ?he "adjuster", and I was in the bed room. After some time Mr Biggs aime in the bedroom, walked to the mantel, took the pistol, put it in his pocket, and went back to the com pany room; saying nothing to me I immediately followed him, finding the "adjuster" seated at a table, and Mr Biggs standing opposite, saying Yes I did give you that policy for vou to look over, but you mixed it m with your other papers and you ?ire going to find it or you do not Va\ > this room. Now get busy." I ould see that the "adjuster" had la ?nii a little nervous, by the way he handled his papers, and judged he ad presumed Mr Biggs had not "one out of the room for nothing. Pu tty soon lie found the policy. Af tor Mi Biggs got possession of it. he told the "adjuster" "Now I'm not going to dillydally with you any longer 1 have uikeji occasion to as certain that your company has no le gal right to do business iji North Car "lina. That places you here on an ill* gal., mission, and the whole of you subject to both state and federal laws including using tin- mails for fraudulent purposes, and if you don't get things straight to my satisfaction I will hold you in jail here until your j company does. I do hot recall if the ."adjuster" 1 had the authority to pay up that *juy. hut all was satisfactory when he left 'the house, and 1 know Mr. Biggs got his insurance money without further trouble There is an episode relative to Mr Biggs which occurred during the . days when lie was coming over "sparking" Sister Sallie. which would have fitted in with my earlier narrative of how Mr John Hatton ? li- 1; ,out the castor oil glass, and call it "sweet ars?honey," but it (did not occur to me at that time, j Once, when 1 was in the parlor with him and Sister Sallie. he said ?Charles, one of tliese days I'm go ? ing to take this sister of yours over to Williamston and forget to bring her back; what wifl you do then? And I replied (with a kind of re don't care, cause then she can't make me take no more castor oil," which left me master of the conversation. ANOTHER Carload Fine Mules NOW IN STOCK The mule* Mere pernonully M'leeted hy our Mr. Evant from the bent mule* in the West. Every mule puraVrnl to lie ju?t a? represented. Don't buy u mule un til you mm* our fine M>leetion. Remem ber, the best in always the cheapest. HOLT EVANS WILUAMSTON, N. C. Local Happenings In The Enterprise Forty Years Ago JANUARY 3. 19H2. Then will be another wedding in town soon. A young lady arrived at Prof. Hud gen's home last night. We extend congratulations. The delay ir^etting out the paper this week is due to not getting our papers in time. There will be several new firms in town in the near future. The handle factory is shipping a great many handles now. Our lawyers have been extreme ly busy for the past few days. A great deal of building is expect ed to be done this Spring Some of the lumber for the tobac co warehouses lias arrived. The Williamston Land and Inv' provi rrvent company have disposetf of several lots recently. There have been many changes in the business circle here this week and several more are expected. Mr A. A Coburn has sold out his interest in business here and left for Rocky Mount Wednesday morning. We wish him much success How many of our business men are willing to contribute to the much talked of ferry We need it badly. It is one of the essentials toward mak ing a permanent tobacco market in Williamston. S. F. Williams is in the city. Miss Annie Peel is visiting in Rocky Mount. George Knox, of Norfolk, is visit ing his parents on Church Street. Rev. J W Guthrie, bf Raleigh, was here Sunday. Hurras Critcher returned to Wake Forest Tuesday morning. Mr IVrly Brown, of Jamesville, is clerking for Eli Gurganus. Miss Ifattie Thrower spent Sunday 111 Mildred visiting friends. Miss Emma Pultz left for Balti more Wednesday morning. S. R. Biggs, Jr., and J. E. Moore left W? dnesday morning for A and M Mr. K. U. Crawford is quite sick at his home this week. Mr. T. J Latham is now Consta ble, Mr. S. W. Harrell having resign ed to go into business. Automotive Taxes Reach A New High Figure in Past Year (Continued from page one) years automobile .owners have in creased their annual mileage by ap proximately one third Thus, in creased average use of automobiles i as important in pushing up the stale's gasoline lax receipts as is ine gain in motor vehicle registrations. Warning that the present high level of automobile taxes will not continue indefinitely was sounded by Mr Sparger "A few years hence when tin post-war re-adjustment' comes, there may be a sharp drop in highway user taxes," he said. "For example, 111 the years 1930 to 1933, when incomes of millions of families in the United States declined, one out of every lCcaVs in this country was forced off the roads because ! owners could not afford to operate | their cars In some states automo bile registrations dropped a third. Because car ownership among the i lower income families is far more j?xtensive than it-was in 1930, a | sharp decline in employment dur ing the |x)st-war readjustment per iod may bring a reduction in automo bile registrations of 25 per cent or moie This should be kept in mind by state highway officials in plan ning road improvements over a per iod of years. "The great expansion in automo bile ownership and use in this state shows the growing importance of highway transportation to the wel fare of the people irt this emergen 4 v pi'i-inH fliwid* needed by indtis tries producing war materials are moving in large quantities from plant to plant over the highways. Workers in plants the country over get to and from their jobs by cars. Soldiers, equipment and supplies for military operations are transported by motor vehicle over the roads, for which motorists of the nation have paid $18,000,000,000 and now are paying $1,500,000,000 annually in special taxes to the states. "Highway transportation is a vi tal and an integral part of the activ ities of a democratic people ? in peace, in preparedness ,or in war," said Mr Sparger "For that reason it is in the public interest to encour age highway transportation so that flft, times it will serve adequately the hasic needs of the people inT the" movement of persons and goods. Fair principles of automotive taxation, recognition of the ability to pay as a basic factor in determining tax rates, reasonable rules for the use of the highways, wise planning of road improvements, and sound ? of the revenues accruing from hig way users should be followed in th state. Only in this way can tl greatest good be given to the gres est number at the lowest possib cost, thereby assisting to maintain high national morale which if viti ly necessary in assuring success the government's and the people i war efforts." During those days, gold coins we pretty frequent among pocket chani and on one occasion Mr. Biggs "ti pod" one of the colored boys with five dollar gold piece, for caring f his horse while he made his vis The boy showed it to us later, ai Father took charge of it, giving tl boy a quarter, and had Sister Sail return it to Mr. Biggs his next tri (To be continued) CCC Cam|)s To Be Evacuee Centers Red CroHH and CCC Agree ment Signed by Davis And McEntee Washington, D. C.?Civilian Con servation Corps camps across the na tion have been designated for use as emergency refugee centers in the event of mass evacuation caused by enemy action in any part of the country, it was disclosed here in a joint agreement between the Ameri can Red Cross and the CCC. Tiie agreement, bearing the signa tures of Chairman Norman H. Davis, of the Red Cross, and Director Jas. J. McEntee, of the CCC, calls for im mediate training of key CCC per sonnel in Red Cross disaster-fighting techniques. In time of need, neces sary equipment belonging to the CCC would be made available. All rolling equipment and trained personnel of the CCC shall be made available to the Red Cross for res cue of evacuees and their transpor tation with their personal belongings to concentration points; for trans portation of medical personnel and medical supplies; for distribution of relief rations; for transfer of cots, blankets, kitchen and feeding equip ment; for service in preparation of food, either in CCC camps or on oth er premises operated as mass shel ters: for emergency and housing fa cilities on CCC premises; for assist ance in carrying out fire, sanitary and police regulations for mass shelters; supplying storage space for Red 'Cross or other snnnlies and* equipment, the agreement states. Farmers Assured Of Price Floor For All Basic Crops (Continued from page one) message to Congress, said he had signed the continuing legislation "in I view of the urgency of the need for extending" both programs and the | "desirability of giving assurances at this time to producers of basic agri cultural commodities." Then he protested addtion of pea nuts to the 85 per cent parity loan list that included cotton, wheat, corn, rice and tobacco. He said there had been substantial changes in the pro duction and consumption of peanuts since the base period of 1909-14 and therefore the loan rate on this prod uct would be "excessive in relation to the loan on other commodities." The President suggested that the peanut loan provision be modified before government loans are made on the peanut crop next fall. Senator George said this matter would be considered by the Senate agriculture committee before then, while Senator Russell said that the mandatory loan would apply "only to edible peanuts and not to peanuts grown and processed for oil." "I anticipated some objection from Agriculture Department officials who believed the loan on peanuts would be too high," Kussell added. "I believe they are misinformed." Radical Upsets Are "Expected to Follow Rationing System (Continued from page one) than that number he would have to search out his customers. When one I stops and thinks there are several i thousand cars in the county and that the several dealers could fill all their orders if they had an average of ten [cars each, the automobile shortage cannot be classed as serious In fact curtailed production has not even slowed us down one bit as yet. Of course, if the war lasts ten years it may be the horse will come back and that people will run to the doors and strain their eyes to see an occasion al motor vehicle, run by. It'll be just a rough duplicate of those days when Rome Biggs and Harry Biggs and the late J. Paul Simpson drove through , town in their motorized innovations at the record speeds of 10 and 15 miles per hour. Some one is going to entertain the idea that he should have a tire or a tin roof and that soma one else does not need either. Some o'ne who needs one or both will- be unable to get either, and some one who needs neither will get one or both. Mistakes were made in the rationing system in the last war, and it is fairly cer tain that mistakes will be made in this war, but one thing is fairly cer tain and that is that there will be lit tle mumbling and grumbling and that little in none will be tolerated. Martin County's rationing boards, officially appointed this week, are in a group meeting at Windsor today receiving instructions for handling the work. Plans for rationing will be announced very shortly Firemen Are Called Out Here New Year'* Eve Local volunteer firemen answer ed their last call of the year at U:S7 o'clock New Year's Eve when fir* threatened the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. R White on Simmons Ave nue. Sparks falling from a blazing chimney fired a few shingles, but the damage was slight. ONE SPAYED MALE 8HOAT, weight ITS pounds, has been in my field for three weeks. Mark in left ear, square 8. Owner can get him by paying for this ad and cost of feed ing. C. C. Jones. Williamston. Jl-tt TWO MULES AND TWO PUSH I milch cows for sale. See It L. Co burn, WlQiamston. jJ-Jt This Week In Defense Labor The President's industry-labor con ference to plan uninterrupted war production agreed: (1) There shall be no strikes or lockouts; (2) all dis putes shall be settled by peaceful means; (3) the President shall set up a proper War Labor board to han dle these disputes. The President ac cepted the plan without reservations and said he would act at once. The U. S. Conciliation Service re ported settlement of 28 labor dis putes. Labor Secretary Perkins an nounced that during the past year hourly earnings of factory wage earners increased 14.7 per cent; av erage hours rose 4.8 per cent; and average weekly earnings of both full and part time employment rose 20.6 per cent. Agriculture The Agriculture Department an nounced a favorable economic out look for agriculture in 1942 despite entry of the U. S. into war, due to the expanding war effort and pros pective accompanying rise in-indus trial activity, employment and wages. Agriculture Secretary Wick ard said 1942 production goals-caiT for more milk, eggs, pork, beef, can ned vegetables, peanuts and soy beans, and a cut in production of wheat, cotton and tobacco. Mr. Wick ard also said the millionth ton of American food shipped to Great Brit ain under the lend-lease system has arrived safely. Civilian Defense OCD announced Youth Auxiliary Committees will be put in operation about January 1 for participation in the work of local and state defense councils. OCD Director LaGuardia said he may ask Congress to approve funds for 50,000.000 gas masks for civilians in tin- three coastal areas. He reported some manufacturers were selling World War I masks no longer approved by the Army. The FBI announced civilian defense courses will be conducted for police on the West coast and later will be expanded to include 260 cities and 30,000 regular law enforcement of ficers in rural and metropolitan areas. . Janlesville All Stars Defeat Martins 47-27 The Jamcsville All Star basketball team made it two in a row over Wil liamston teams by defeating the Martins 47 to 27 in a game there last Tuesday night. Jamcsville Jed 24 to 10 at half time. Ange with 12 points, was high scorer for the All Stars. Winter was tops for the Martins with nine points. The fast and furious attack of the All Stars proved to be too much for the Martina.?? ~ The lineups and points scored: All Stars?J. Holliday. f, 5; E. Martin, f, 4, Ange, f, 12; T Martin, c, 10; Walters, "g, 9; D Holliday, g, 7. Martins Winters, f, 9; Wallace, f, 6; Corey, c, 3; Diem, g, 6; Manning, 3. Official Notice Of Ten Percent Boost In Crop Is Awaited (Continued from page one) cured tobacco used in the United States, was said to be running 18 per cent higher than for the same period last yqar. The department said consumption was at a new record level. Officials estimated that more than 750,000,000 pounds of flue-cured to bacco would be needed from the 1942 crop to supply domestic demands and exports No official word of the proposed increase has been filed with the of -fice of the farm agent in this ooun ty, and no details or comment could be had from that quarter. It is gen erally believed, however, that the in crease will be effected on a hori zontal basis, the farmer with ten acres bein gallowed to increase his plantings to 11 acres and so on. Strangely enough the North Caro lina Farm Bureau, apparently re membering the huge surplus that was piled up to become so burden some at the close of the last war, has directly or indirectly advised against quota allotment increases. But just a short time ago, leaders of the State Grange went on record asking or de manding an increase in the 1942 plantings. Granted a ten per cent increase, it is fairly reasonable to expect all la bacco farmers to plant to the limit. ADMINISTRATRIX' NOTICE North Carolina, Martin County Velma H. Coburn, having quali fied as Administratrix of the Estate of W. H. Coburn, deceased, this is to notify all persons having claims against the said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned within twelve months from the date of this notice or this notice will be plead in bar of any recovery. All persons in debted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the un dersigned. This the 2nd day of Jam, 1942. MRS VELMA H. COBURN, Administratrix of the Estate of W. H. Coburn, deceased. R. L. Coburn, Atty. Williamston, N. C. j2-6t Fountain To Oppose Bailey For Senate Unless some other strong liberal enters the race against Josiah W. Bailey for the United States Senate, Richard T. Fountain will enter the | race in the forthcoming primary, ac- \ cording to an announcement made \ by the Rocky Mount man this week. While Bailey by his stand on the defense and war possibly has im proved his position in the eyes of the people, there are many who still re member his ul^ra-conservative posi tion and big business leanings in the past. In connection with his possible candidacy, Mr. Fountain, former lieutenant governor and speaker of the State House of Representatives, made the following statement: "I think the people of North Car jolina should have jm opportunity to say whether or not they endorse Senator Bailey's record. "Unless Senator Bailey has opposi tion, the people won't have an op portunity to express themselves at the ballot box. "In my opinion the people of North Carolina would better off for the-last 12 years if Mr. Bailey's seat in the Senate had been vacant. "North Carolina suffered worse from the depression than any other State. Through the liberal policies of the Democratic administration un der the leadership of President R^sryrlt, this State mnrlr Hir In11;! comeback from the depression. "Yet Senator Bailey has had no part in these liberal policies, except to hinder and delay them. "He has opposed all progressive labor and agricultural legislation and fought the amendments to the neutrality act. "I am willing to support an out standing liberal candidate, and I think that candidate should be the Hon. Josephus Daniels, of Raleigh. I am willing to go into every county in the State and work among my | friends for his election. "But if Ambassador Daniels can not be induced to run, then I will be la candidate." HOG LOST ? MALE. 75 POUNDS. Red and black spotted. Left home Dec. 27th. Mrs. Lewis Peel WANTED: FAMILY TO WORK ON farm. Can have small crop. J. W. Green, Williamston. 35-ACRE FARM FOR RENT, OR good man on farm. L Thompson. Pinetown, N. C. j2-2t BAGS WANTED ? ONLY GOOD clean bags desired. Abbitt's Mill. d30-4t TENANT WANTED: FOR ONE- OR two-horse crop. Good tobacco and peanut allotments. T. W. Holliday, Jamesville, N. C. d30-2t FOR RENT ? 3 ROOM AFART ment, West Main Street, first floor. Also for sale, light trailer. J. W. Green. d30-2t WE PAY CASH FOR CORN. HIGfl est market prices paid. Manning and Gurkin Peanut Company at the New Carolina Warehouse, Williams ton. dl9-6t WE PAY CASH FOR CORN. WIL liamston Hardware Co. dl2-tf SOLID CARLOAD LION SALT AR rived. Get our prices before you buy. Lion salt Is known for its fine ? < quality. Farmers Supply Company, y Mrs. Robert Harrell. Modern Beauty > -Shop. Williams Lull. dl2-at ADMINISTRATRIX1 NOTICE Having qualified as administra trix of the estate of A E. Downs, de ceased, late of Martin County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the -estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned at Oak City, N. C., R.F.D., on or before the 29th day of December, 1942, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immed iate payment. This 29th day of Dec., 1941. MRS. SARA DOWNS, Administratrix of A E. Downs. B A Critcher, Atty. j2-flt Jo Rtlievt MUtry rtV?s (RTui ^^UQUAUaUlS. ULVl. NOS4 MOfS Friends of Miss Marie Peele will regret to learn that she is ill in a Raleigh hospital. Miss Peele had her appendix removed Thursday night. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Peele, have gone to Raleigh to be with her. Wants OPEN TOP REFRIGERATOR FOR sale. Electric and good as new. Will sell cheap. See Mr. Phelps at Hall's Barber Shop. RADIO REPAIRING llriug us your Radio for Repairs. All work guaranteed. Reason able Charges. Western Auto Store W. J. Miller, Owner COLD wigElia WMe CarloadChanneldraln ?JUST ARRIVED? LAST CAR WE WILL BE ABLE TO BUY! Limited Amount To Each C.iittomer Williamston Supply Co. Plant Bed rraa fimxfco IFOR QUALITY TOBACCO^ Armour's & V-C t FERTILIZERS SEE US FOR YOUR 1942 FERTILIZER ? NEEDS ? ARMOUR'S OR V-C FER TILIZERS WILL CROW THEM BET TER AND LARGER. Martin Supply Co.