MASS KTZBT
PAT DAT
WAS
BOND DAT
nr sramr—uvt mturn
THE
NTERPRISE
over the tor
FOR VICTORY
critk
UNITED STATES WAR
BONDS-STAMPS
. „ ' *
HiTiKl l&lU'Xt .AJttifl.
Believed Big Moves
In Europe's Theater
Are ’ In The Making
Sicilia^n Campaign Just About
Cotonpleted; Russians
r°U8h Forward
With tljjie Sicilian campaign jus
about completed, attention has beer
shifted fo>(^' the moment, at least, t<
anticipate! 1 moves that will possib'j
include an i nvasion of the continent
There’s not# mg certain about suet
plans as far Pas the general public i:
concerned, ^but the atmosphere ir
England carries the feeling thal
something l#,g is brewing. Some ob
servers beKieve no invasion of Italy
will be undertaken at this time, anti
now that' the work in Sicily is vir
tually cor ipic-led, they are- guessing
that plan.w will be made for a direct
strike against the Hitler fortress on
the Conjrment.
Amyfrican soldiers marched into
Messina on the island of Sicily late
of fehe campaign there. The Ger
mans are said to have made a good
job (in evacuating their troops and
equip ’ent, but sizable forces of the
enemyf/we been trapped and evac
uation V\.s are over for them.
While a lull exists on the land
front for f the Americans and British
in the European area, the air war is
being slipped up against Italy and
Germa* Turin in northern Italy
was si/y-essfully pounded last night
and l\j( air is a second Hamburg. The
Turin raid as prompting the common
people in Ita,ly to revolt, and they
are coming oait in the open demand
ing the abdication of Emmanuel, the
maronicb king, so called. Occupied
France fend airfields in the lowlands
have bee>n attacked repeatedly dur
ing the past few days, and Berlin
got another dose from the air.
In England, non-residents have
been ordered out of certain coastal
areas, and there is the belief that an
invasion . will be launched possibly
"before jthe autumn leaves fall.” On
the enemy side, the Germans are ap
parently anticipating an invasion of
Norway.
Fkc Rooses tfei -Churchiii confer
cnee, tentatively scheduled some I
time this week, wiii likely discuss j
second front plans along with the j
Italian situation, including the semi
official announcement declaring
Rome an open city.
The Russians have developed their
drive against the Germans around
Kharkov and Bryansk into a great
offensive, late reports stating that
another big battle between the two
forces is underway just north of
Kharkov. The Russians are within
twelve miles of Bryansk and appar
(Continued on page four)
Last Call Issued
For Farm Plans
Virtually completing the classifi
cation of farm registrants in this
county, the draft board recently sent
out a last call to those farmers who
had not filed their farm plans with
the war board in the count\ agent’s
office. In substance, the notin' states
that unless the required inf< mation
is submitted immediately—b> Thurs- j
day r>.f this.. ssiui'b in some . ises—
“eligible men on those farm will
be made subject to induction after
that time.”
A short time ago, it was est; ited
that farm plans for nearly three un
dred farm registrants had not been
filed in the office of the county
agent for review by the war board.
The classification of farmers has
been going forward slowly for
months, and the work is about com
plete except for those who have i
no farm plans filed for them.
V. E. £? P. Employees First To
Pledge Ten Percent In Bonds
Rising and falling with the sea
son’s financial tides, Martin County
folks have not subscribed their war
bond quotas since the second big
drive was completed a few months
ago. However, with the marketing
season at hand, it is sincerely believ
ed that the people of this county will
make up the deficits and go over the
top from about August 24 on.
Employees of the Williamston Dis
trict of the Virginia Electric and
Power Company have already set the
pace by signing up every one of its
employees in the bond buying pro
gram. At the present time, the group,
working on a one hundred per cent
basis, is investing more than ten per
cent of the monthly income in war
bonds The group includes all work
ers, the manager on down to the jan
itors. Several other firms in the
county have fairly large percentages
of their employees^participating in
'He bond-buying program, but the
v E. P. group is the first to gain of
ficial recognition. The award, pic- 1
turing the minute man and stars on
a blue background,^ on display in 1
th'1 company’s office here.
bast month, the county invested
■ "me over $23,500 in war bonds. This
month, the people are being asked to
invest over $52,600. But the big or
der will be received next month
vi hen the government is calling upon
th< little people of the nation to in
vest fifteen cold billion dollars in
the war fund. Martin County’s quo-1
ta has not been announced so far,
and while it will be in the hundreds
of touSaini.s of dollars, it is believ
ed tha the quota will be met, and
more. Definite plans have not been
made public, but the drive will not
be neg acted. During the meantime,
every i.an, woman and child in the]
county s urgently asked to make i
ready toparticipate.
Town Orders Twenty
Cent Decrease in Rate
Howard B. Cone, son of Mrs.
I*. B. Cone of Williamston, is in
an Army hospital somewhere in
the South Pacific. He is believed
to have been hurt or wounded
during the recent campaign on
New Georgia Island.
Death Rate In The
County Smaller In
1942 Than In 1941
--
Review of Vila! Statisties in
County for the Pawl
Two Years
A review of vital statistics for
Martin County during the past two
years reveals that the rate of births
in the county , is far in excess ,of the
Truth her of deaths for these consecu
live years. Last year there were 692
births in comparison to 159 deaths, j
showing more than four times as
many births as deaths. In the prev
ious year, 1941, there were 685
births and 205 deaths, a rate of three
times as many births as deaths.
For the year 1941, the birth rate
stands at 26 3 compared with the
death rate of 7.8 per 1,000 popula
tion. For the year 1942 the birth
rate is shown at 27.0 per 1,000 popu
lation with the death rate for the
same year as low as 6.1.
The statistics for both years show
the colored race possessing the high
est figure for the two years. In 1941
reported births for the colored race
was 386 in comparison to 299 births
reported by the white. For the same
year 101 deaths were reported by
the whites and 104 reported by the
colored. Last year the white race
reported 319 births and 73 deaths;
the colored race reported 373 births
and 86 deaths.
There were 73 illegitimate births
in the county in 1541, four among
the white and 69 among thi» colored, i
In 1042 there were 48 illegitimati
Orths with three among the white
and 45 among the colored Cff the 685 i
airtlu- in 1941. there were 19) at
tended by mid-wives and 494 by doc
(Continued on page four)
-<*>
Representative To Explain
Drive Fur War Relief Fund
Representative Avera, of Rocky
Mount, will explain plans for a war
relief fund drive before a group of
interested citizens in the courthouse
tonight at 8:30 o’clock. The meeting
is open to the public.
Reduction Is Rased
Mainly on Decrease |
In Bond Fund Debt I
— <g>
Figures for Most of!
The Departments Are
Left Uneliaiige.-I
One of the biggest single reduc
tions ever effected in the local tax
rate was announced during a meet
ing of the town authorities last night
\> lien . they adopted the proposed
budget for the 1943-44 fiscal year
Toe proposed rate is twenty cent'
under the 1942-43 figure and now
stands at $2.20. The rate is still on
the high side, but since 1933 it has
beer, brought down-from
i an ail-tune peak of $2.70 on the $100
assessed property valuation! fPwas
pointed out that, the bonded debt
reached its peak last year, that the
pi incipal and interest payments will
reflect a small but steady decrease
from year to year in the future.
The reduction comes with very
little change in the over-all budget
with the exception of the bond fund
account. A $4000 decrease in bond
principal requirements along with a
$2,000 decrease in bond interest ac
counts for the reduction for the most
part. Tiie $32,135.00 increase in as
sessed property values was hardly
large enough to affect the rate eith
er way.
About the only changes in the new
budget was an increase in the salar
ies of employees in two departments
—fire and street and water. The sup
erintendent and assistant were al
lowed $5 increases per week, and
the firemen’s pay was boosted from
$2.50 lo $5 a month, the budget mak
crs conservatively estimating that
the $5 would just about pay the fire
men's pressing bills and replace in
I pai l clothes damaged by the volim
I tt'i l S fit lilt\S.
The library appropriation was in
creased from $300 to $600, but the
increases combined will not boost
the total figures by hardly $1,500.
A new department—the cemetery
—-is included in the budget figures
for the first time, the figures show
ing a proposed appropriation of $3,
770 for the upkeep of the grounds.
With a cash balance of $17,594.00
to start off with, the authorities es
timate that $35,851 in current taxes
plus the revenue from other sources
will run the town for the new fis
cal year II is estimated that $9,000
will he collected on old taxes, that
profits from the County ABC store
accruing to the toe wii: amount to !
$2,500 and that water sales will add
$14,000. These figures plus income
from the sale of auto tags, privilege
licenses, mayor’s court and swim
ming pool will boost the total reve
nue to $82,645.
General administrative expenses
will approximate $15,150.00, includ
ing $3,770 for the cemetery, $4,500
for the contingent fund, assistant
clerk’s salary of $1,560, and $1,000
for legal and audit and a few other
items. It is estimated (hat the swim
ming pool will cost $2,452.00, that the ■
street department will require $13.
300, the water department, $10,890 1
and the police department, $8,745. :
Debt service, requiring $29,442, I
boosts the grand expenditure tottal i
to $82,645. I
(Continued on page four)
Funeral Fur Small Child
Held In County Monday
———<*—
Funeral services were conducted
by Rev. B. T. Hurley yesterday af
ternoon at 4 o’clock for Ruby Cath
erine White, five months old daugh- j
ter of Mr. and Mrs. William White,!
at Hit home of" her grandparents !
Mr. and Mrs. Slade White, in Poplar ]
Township. The little th<id, an
victim of pneumonia, died in Norfolk
at 12:15 a. m. Sunday. She had been
nick a very short time.
Besides her parents, she is surviv
ed by a brother, William Randall.
Burial was in the Spring Green
Cemetery.
ROUND-UP
Following a busy and hectic
period on Saturday night, a
week ago, local and county offi
cers had it unusually quiet last
week-end. Only one person was
arrested and jailed locally, the
county officers boosting the to
tal to three when they detain
ed a couple of men of their own.
One of the group was white.
One was charged with drunk
en driving, a second was charg
ed with non-support and a third
was charged with disorderly con- |
uct. i
TOWN - FARM
IN W ARTIME
-1
(A weekly news digest from
the rural press section of
the OYVI news bureau)
'I— —1
Agricultural Payment Rates
‘ A revised scale for payments to
farmers under the 1943 agricultural
^ conservation program has been set
up by WFA to adjust available funds
to the increased number of eligible
F farmers. The revised rates (with the
former rates in parentheses) are:
Cotton, one cent per pound (1.1
cents), corn, 3 cents per bushel (3.ti
cents), and wheat, 8.5 cents per bush
el (9.2 cents). Rates remain un
changed for rice and tobacco.
Kqual Shr ift of Fathers
Drafting of fathers with children
born before September 15, 1912, will
begin at snproxiniatelv the same time
throughout the Nation, the Selective
Service Bureau of WMC said recent
ly.
August Crop Report
The following comment on the An
j gn..t trap I vp.uh a a:- iri;iiii’r«w fti'V
| by Marvin Jones, War Food Admin
istrator: “The July crop report mad
it clear that farmers in the face of
many difficulties had substantially
met, and in some cases exceeded, the
crop acreage goals. During July,
growing conditions were favorable
| and current indications are that!
yields per acre in 1943 will be the1
second largest on record. The prog
ress of the year’s production so far
is gratifying. The hard work and the
determination of farmers have plac
ed us in a position to meet essential
food needs, given average weather
from now on.
“However, the crops are still to
be harvested, marketed, and process
ed, and, in the case ol the fei d crops,
fed to livestock. Farmers will need
additional workers for harvest, and
food processing industries are short
handed. The wartime food problem
is not solved, though present produc
tion prospects are encouraging.”
War Ballots for Army
Blank forms are available to all
officers and enlisted men of the
Army to enable them to apply fori
war ballots for eleelions to be held]
this year, the War Department re- j
poits. Public Law 712 requires these I
forms to be available in years when i
officers of the national government
are elected. The forms will also en
able legally qualified soldier voters
to participate in state elections.
Food Prices Down
“Retail food prices as a group — 1
representing about two-fifths of to- !
tal living costs declined by 2.0 per
cent.” Secretary of Labor Frances
Perkins said recently in discussing *
changes in the cost of living from
June 15 In July 15. “Clothing costs !
rose 0.5 per cent. Other costs, in ;
eluding house furnishing:', utility |'
rates and services, were stable orl'J
increased moderately.” With meat I,
prices cut back by OPA and vegeta
bles seasonally lower, the cost of '
living for eitv workers dropped 0.8 I'
per cent. I r
Howard B. Cone In
Pacific Hospital
—-«—
Following si vtoen. “memorable
atici miserable" days spent in a South
Paeifie campaign, supposedly on NftW
Georgia Island, Howard B. Cone,
young son of Mrs, P. B. Cone of Wil
liamston, was evacuated and is now
in an Army hospital somewhere in
the South Paeifie for treatment of a
finger . nfection. In a letter, written
by a hospital companion, Upward
told his mother not to worry, that
he was being well cared for and that
he would likely be confined to the
hospital two more months. The let
ter was written on August 3rd.
Commenting on the sixteen days
he was on the front lines, Howard
said, "During the last few weeks I
have endured the most memorable
and tmserabl*' period of uny life":
Although he was unable (o write, he!
declared:to -r r -i, 1
dition was not serious.
Asked to be remembered to bis
friends, the young man who left
Williamston in January, 1942, ex
pressed the hope that others will
never have to face the horrors of
war as he had experienced them.
_<t>
Mobilization Meeting h
Postponed For Feiv Days
-<%,
At meeting of the Martin County
Labor Mobilization Board tentative
ly scheduled for the latter part of
this week has been postponed, Chair
man Hugh G. Horton stating this
morning that tne board members
would be called together the early
part of next week.
Mr. Horton explained that he was
being called to Raleigh on Friday
af this week at which time it is
thought the duties of the board
would be explained in detail. Dur
ing the meantime, the groundw ork |
for an effective drive against va- i
srancy and loafing is. being bandied, j
-...-— -.-.
air-Sized “Break* 01 Tobacco
Expected On Local Warehouse
Floors For Opening-Day Sales
Enterprise Reviews
A Few ‘'High Spots*’
In County’s History
——
I’apor Indebted to Miss l.eaeli
Ami Messrs. Hassell and
Biggs For Aid
11
! I
After ;i struggle- bordering at
tunes on the hectic side, The Enter
' ; prise is issuing its annual tobacco
edition today, adding a little to the
j bit °f recorded history for the town
• ut : coyjity. Wh111■ n^ :\n<>1 n t^y j\ gj.
; l*i’ett Uit- rti dries think
. it only fitting to peini out that the
regular personnel in the offiee was
materially reduced hy the draft, that
it was under a strain approaching
the terrific at times during the re
cent hot days that the “skeleton"
force remained at its task to throw
together the edition in time for dis
tribution today.
Out for the aid of Miss Doris
Loach, teacher in the local schools,
and that of Messrs. Warren Biggs
I and (. B. Hassell and a few others,
j it would have been next to impos
sible for the paper s force to issue the
edition. Their gracious aid is duly
acknowledged here.
Numbering right at 3,000 copies,
tin' edition is now on its way for dis
tribution in forty or more of the
forty-eight states, in the far reaches
of the frozen north, in the jungles of
the South Pacific, in Africa, Sicily,
England, and other countries and
territories It is the sincere wisli of
•he publishers that the readers will
| find the contents, both the ads and
j I'Hle stories, interesting, informa
tive and enjoyable. Comments are
i i)v t i ..pet iatly ...-bi ded, but any and-.
jail Vv iIt !>*- appreciated.
I Turning to the tabloid section one
| will ! nut a varied list of stones. On 5
• ibe first pay, Mayor John L. lias- I
sett extends a hearty welcome to all |
visitors, and Mr. C B. Hassell offers
a brief historical sketch of the town.
Then further on, Mr. Hassell recalls
early baseball history in Williams
ion. The accomplishments of the
Williamston’s Woman’s Club are re
viewed in a brief history of the or
ganization, Brief biographies of a
low of the well-known citizens of
the lown of years gone by are of
tored by Mr. Hassell. Included in
the list are sketches of the lives of I
John Dawson Higgs, John I?. Lanier,
Martha Maria if,, .,<-11, S. Romulus!
Biggs and Stephen W. Outterbridge, j
well known county education. Most)
of the sketches were written from !
memory, but in the main they are 1
substantially correct.
Then there’s another story dealing
with the county courthouses. It is
pointed out that the first courthouse
was built on the lands of one John
Griffin somewhere on Conoho Creek. !
James L. Pritchard, Hamilton man, !
recalls some of his experiences in1
World War i. Tnrres a brief review
of the history of the Hamilton Bap
The last hanging in the county is j
recalled in a story by Miss Leach.
A roster, apparently incomplete,
of men from this county who serv
(Continued on page four)
Fire l)mn a firs Wurehoune
In Hiii'lilot llern Friday
Its origin unknown, fire damaged ‘
the small storage warehouse of the 1
Harrison estate back of Rose’s dime
'tore here late last Friday afternoon. I
No estimate on the loss could be had *
it once, but one report plared the! ‘
Tannage at less than $150 I '
Hu Lie had MiiiiiJ Ci.nsidtyahre
leadway when it was discovered,
jut it had hardly broken through
he side of the building before1 it
vas brought under control. A few
howcases and counters were dam
ped.
CARDS
Over 1,500 tobacco marketing
cards are being placed in the
mails today for Martin County
farmers. They should be in the
bands of all the groweis with
few exceptions by Thursday or
i'riday of this week.
Approximately 50 cards are
being held in the office, a few
because the owners did not sub
mit field measurements and the
others, or about thirty, because
the owners overplanted their al
lotments. In the latter case, the
farmer will be asked to report
direct to the agent’s office for 1
hi# card and he’ll get a red one. !
uiWMt unit~.i- .
OFFICE HOURS
|v
The attention of the general
Public is again called to the
schedule of office hours observ
ed by the Martin County War
Price and Rationing Board. The
office is opened each morning
at 8 o'clock six days to the week
; and closes at 5 o'clock in the af
ternoon ijxcept on Monde ys,
Tuesdays and Saturdays when it
closes at 12 oYlock noon. The
board members tie generally in
the office each Monday evening
along with the members of the
several panels.
It was pointed out that the of
W-ic* ia handing ttt***-.
I lion work by mail directly with
I the general public, making it
necessary to close each Monday,
I Tuesday and Saturday after
i noon.
Seventy-Four Tires
Allotted in County
By Rationing Board
--<§.
1^1 "f Applications that Can't
He Filled ({caches New
Uijjli Figure
Drawing to the limit of its quota,
the Martin County War Price and
Rationing Board last Friday allotted
seventy-four tires, the list of unfill
ed applications reaching a new high
figure. Unless an extra allotment is
allowed, it is fairly certain that some
vehicles will be forced off the high
ways in this county.
Two,, cars, were , allotted, bv tb
hoard last week, one to Herbert Tay
lor, drug salesman of Williamston,
aiul one to Roland Lilley, farmer of
RFD 1, Williamston.
Grade f tires and tubes for pas-i
senger cars and pick-up trucks were I
allotted to the following:
J E. Copeland and Son, RFD ],
Palmyra, one tire and one tube,
O. G. Carson, Jamesville, one tire '
and one tube. 1
11. G. Harrison, RFD 2, Williams- \]
ton, one tire.
N. W. Worsley, Oak City, one tire. | 1
H A. Bowen, Williamston, one '
tube. I
h. C. Bailey, RFD 3, Williamston, j
one tire and one tube
Miles R. Lillev, RFD 1, Wilhams
ton, one tire and one tube.
I’. C. Edmondson, Hassell, one tire 1
and one tube.
K. S. Bunting, Oak City, one tire
and one tube. ,
H C. Roberson, Williamston, one |
tire and one tube.
R. L. Whitehurst, RFD 3, William
•ston, two tires and one tube.
H P. Mobley, Williamston, one
tire.
Georg Haislip, Hassell, two tires.
Lurry Bunting, Robersonville, two L
ires. s
Nathan Bullock, Everetts, one !]-'
tube. ! -
a
(Continued on page four)
—-®—
/ obarco Burn Burns In
County Lust Snntlay Noon
A tobacco barn, located on the Eli
Roberson farm in Cross Roads Town
S'UP and belonging to Farmer J. S.
Ayers, of Everetts, was destroyed by
fire last Sunday noon
It is understood that the barn was
the only one in that section lost by
fire during the 1943 season and one
of very few lost in the county I
* -•
Bist Of Buyers On
Market This Season
Is Released Today
-®
Mouses | o Start Mereivin^
I'irsi of Current Crop Cal
ler Part of Week
'reparations were announced vir
,i- lor the opening of
the Williamston Tobacco Market
next Tuesday morning. Already "To
bacco Town" is buzzing with activ
ity. Farmers are coming in in fairly
t*w mfflgbns
for delivering then first graded leaf
for possible sale the first day. A
few tobacconists, drawing assign
ments on the local market, have al
ready reported or duty. Those jobs,
so often left to be handled at the last
minute, have been or are being at
tended to at this time, and ware
housemen declare they will be all
set for the first loads the latter part
0 fthe week and for the big day next
Tuesday.
WillianisUm’s warehouse operating
personnel remains the same as it was
last season, but quite a few changes
have been made in auctioneers, of
fice men and buyers, the warehouse
men pointing ou* the changes are for
thi' best.
At this time, it is impossible to pre
dict with any degree of accuracy
what size the opening sale will be
next Tuesday. Reports from the
country state that packhouse doors
sre wide open, that grading work is
underway on a large scale. We are
looking for a fairly large sale, 'but
10 record one, ’ a warehouseman was
looted as saying this morning. With
trices laidv well stabilized indie-a
non* point to orderly marketing ac
tivities from the start. That the
market will possibly block is fairly
•ertain, but no glut is being predict
'd at this time.
lb-bin Rogers, returning as the
narket’s supervisor of sales, an
tounced today that the market will
lave possibly the strongest set of
>uyers in its history Mi-. A. C. Mc
Clure is returning for the R J. Rey
nolds Company along with Messrs.
I'homas “Timbo” Jeffress for the
imperial, Norwood Thomas for the
I. I'. Taylor Company, Arthur Beale
or ttie Washington Tobacco Com
>nny, Iverson Skinner for the W. I.
ikinner Company The lb; for t|1e
easuii includes lour new buyers, in
ddition to several representatives
1 llUl<‘>Jt'ailt'llt companies. The
(Continued on page four)
New Case Fending
o
Against V iolator
-<♦,
Milton James, Jamesville Town
ship colored man unci invalid, is
staring the courts in the face again
after a hectic round with Judge J.
C Smith in the county tribunal hist
a lew weeks ago. Making him an
impromptu visit last Sunday morn
ing, Sheriff C. B. Roebuck found
James with company and a gallon
of white liquor on hand.
The man was fined $500 and taxed
with the costs by Judge Smith for
alleged violation of the liquor laws
on three counts.
Advised by the sheriff that a sec
ond trip to court was in the offing,
James stated that he could be found
at home any time.
No warrant has been issued in the
case, but one is pending, it was learn
ed.
Postal Receipts Reach A New
High Figure In Past Quarter
An all-time high point was reach
ed in postal receipts in the local of
fice during the quarter ending last
June 3c .according to a statement
released a few days ago by Assistant
Postmaster F. Earl Wynne. A year
ago. the office reported a record
business when the receipts amounted
to $5,576.90 during the months of
ApiiJ, May and June. Last quarter
the receipts amounted to $6,801.44.
No single factor supporting the big
increase could be offered, but Mr.
Wynne did say that many stamps
both the regular anti air mail type
were being bought by persons writ
ing to service m-n.
The money order business also
showed a fairly large increase de
op‘ti. shortages. A year ago, the out
going money amounted to $25,143 08
ior the quarter. Recently, the a
mount jumped to $34,217.41. At the
same time, the'office reported an in
crease in the amount of money or
ders cashed locally. The figure was
increased from $14,898.18 in the
second quarter of 1942 to $22,867.49
last quarter.
Along with the increased business
has come a certain amount of con
fusion and delay in handling letters
and other types of mail improperly
addressed. The assistant postmaster
points out that if the patrons of the
office will advise their correspond
ents of their rural route and box
numbers or street and house num
bers the mail c-n be hai.uled more
effectively. “We are having a fairly
large volume of misdirected or Im
properly addressed ma-ii. a&d mmh
of »t we au having io ittunr ta-y* -
sender,” Mr. Wynne explained.