THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3)000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME L—NUMBER 9 W'illiamstaR, Marlin County, North Carolina, Friday. January .?/, 1917 THE ENTERPRISE IS READ OVER 3.000 MARTIN FAMILIES TWICE EACH ESTABLISHED Prifl^pal Reviews Foundations For A Real Education • Offers Startling Figures About Absences In Local Schools -» Principal B. G. Stewart, one of the speakers addressing the regu lar monthly meeting of the par ent-teacher group in the grammar school building here last Monday evening listed the foundation stones for education, and went on to cite a few startling figures in connection with absences in the local schools. Mr. Stewart stressed the need of the right kind of environment, and went on to say that while the three R’s are important the edu cational program must be broad ened to meet greater problems. Education’s foundation must be based on fundamentals, the prin cipal explaining that character building is necessary, that one’s personal conduct and one’s health must be considered. “We must know and appreciate democracy, and better our personal relations, to learn how to get along with our neighbors," Stewart said. ‘‘The child should become inter ested in community improvement, and taught to appreciate the meaning of world citizenship and develop a greater interest in in ternational affairs,” he added. Continuing the school man pointed out that personal eco nomics must be given a place, that the child should be taught to I be thrifty, to appreciate culture and the beauties of life. The pupil must learn how to use modern ma chinery and understand a few of its fundamentals. He also stressed training in the practical arts, including the use of tools, and training should be pro vided in the various vocational fields. Recreation was also cited as a prerequisite to a well balanced life. "We must learn how to use our leisure time by developing hobbies and learning to play as | well as work together.” (Continued on page six) •o Complete Repairs To Local Streets l Local street, badly damaged when conduits were laid for un derground telephone cables the middle of last month, have been repaired. While the damage sears art* vpiiic prominent f.s affic i> agism moving without interrup tion. Travel was a problem on the streets for weeks, but a climax was reached last Tuesday after noon when traffic filled the main street from Watts to Haughton, got wedged and remained there the greater part of an hour. A few vehicles broke over and ran on the newly laid asphalt, but ap parently caused not great dam age. The attack on the streets has been committed and the wounds are healed, but many local people are still puzzled to understand why the telephone cables could not have been hung on poles in alleyways and back streets. Equipment for switching the local telephone exchange to the dial system has been placed in the office here, but it could not be learned when mechanics would report to handle the installation and pull the cables through the newly laid conduit in the business section. GRATIFYING || --* Canvassing the first returns from the direct mail appeals for contributions to the pro posed $100,000 Martin County war memorial, the finance committee of the Memorial Foundation this week an nounced that more than $2, 000 had been received as a re sult of the direct appeal. “We are greatly pleased,” Mr. W. L\ Dunn, a member of the committee said in describing the response so far as being “very gratifying.” The committee is urging others to cooperate in creat ing a fitting and lasting mem orial to those men who fought and died in past wars for homo and country. f Big Bn rfie Wrecks Bridge A mi Blocks 1 rafftc'TJere Tearing loose from its mooring ^ eighteen miles up the Roanoke late Tuesday night, a large barge loaded with thousands of feet oi logs and belonging to the Mengel Corporation tore into the tempor ary river bridge here about 5:00 o’clock Wednesday morning. The structure, while stopping the loose barge, was badly damaged and engineers estimated that two days would be required to repair the bridge and restore traffic. Barely missing the draw span, the barge crashed into the bridge approach, knocking the span al most three feet out of line. The accident was not immediately dis covered, and some traffic moved over the bridge before engineers ruled the structure was unsafe. Most of the fender guards were torn away or shattered and two of the main pilings supporting the bridge were pushed several feet out of linm In addition to blocking high way travel across th& Roanoke at this point, the accident held through traffic on the river at a standstill during most of Wed nesday. Through highway traffic was diverted at Edenton and Washington and local traffic de toured around by Scotland Neck, but there was little visiting from one county to the other. It was six hours after the crash that powerful tugs belonging to the Wells-Oates Lumber Co. and the Wiggins Towing Co., were dispatched from up the river to the bridge. Both of the tugs, their power combined, were bare ly able to pull the heavy barge free of the bridge. Previous ef forts to pull the barge clear with a steam skidder failed. With the foundation repaired, workmen were replacing the floor and guard rail at 2 o'clock Thurs day. making ready to reopen the bridge to traffic within two or three hours. N egligible Reduction In Tobacco Acreage [ SMOKEHOUSE KEY v-1 Dipping: into the rushing: yellow waters of the Roanoke Mr. Ira Coltrain netted the first herrings of the season at Jamesville last Tuesday. The dean of Roanoke fishermen caught nine nice size her rings, the catch equaling the finding of a key to smoke houses in this section. No more than two or three herrings were ever dipped from the stream this earlv in the year, but tbe summer-like weather made conditions ideal for the catch. According to all signs the 1947 fishing season promises to be a good one. Hubert Smith Died Suddenly Tuesday At Sisters Home Fiiitrnil Services Art* Held Tliiirsihiv Afternoon At 3:00 O’clock —-—* Hubert Smith, chief mechanic for the Stair Highway Patrol in this district, died suddenly at the home of his sister, Mrs. Clayton Davenport, in Robersonville, Tuesday morning of a heart at tack. Suffering the attack at 5 40 o’clock that morning he died for ty-two minutes later. On Feb ruary 28 of last year he suffered a heart attack and underwent treatment for several months. His condition improved rapidly and he returned to his duties and ap parently was getting along very well up until a short time before he died. The son of Mrs. Lizzie Ross Smith and the late A. C. (Tart) Smith, he was born in Gold Point 43 years ago last July. An able mechanic, he lived for a number of years in Williamston where lie was employ by the Williamston Motor Company. In recent years he headed the Highway Patrol garage at the radio station near Williamston but made his home with his sister. Wiien a young man he was mar ried to Miss Pattie Wynne of Wil liamston who survives with one son, Hubert Davis Smith, who has been attending a special sports school in p'loridw for several weeks. Surviving besides his w ile and son are his mother and sister with whom he made his home and three brothers, Roy Smith of West Point, Va., Milton Smith of Wash ington, and James Smith of Rob crsonville. He was a member of the Junior Ordpr for number of years. Funeral services were conduct ed at his late home in Roberson ville Thursday afternoon at 3:(X) o’clock by Rev. James M. Perry, and interment was in the Rober sonviile cemetery. Members of the Highway Patrol and associates at the highway ra dio station served as active pall bearers. Farmers Doubtful If Decrease Will Maintain Prices ■—®— No Kcdiiction for Growers With Allotments finder 2.I Aeres Making a token reduction in 1947 tobacco acreage allotments, agriculture department officials, farmers in this cuunty believe, set the stage for a fairly large price drop on the markets next fall. The reduction was placed at 2.3 ! percent of tho ltMti crop, meaning | that farmers will be allotted 7.7 J more tobacco acreage this year than they planted in 1945. After all the figuring is done and all the explanations are offer ed, farmers are fairly well con ; vinced that cheaper tobacco is in j sight. It has been pointed out I that the British are having a heck of a time trying to maintain dol ! lar exchange, that tobacco is not a top priority, and that lower prices are in the making to help relieve the trade block. The gov ernment is pledged to support to ! bacco prices at 9!>. percent.of par ity. That promise, while wel comed, can mean, in the long run, only bankruptcy. Parity last year was around 33 cents, and 90 per cent of that figure does not sound very encouraging. In reality, the 1947 crop will not be reduced 2.3 percent. The grower with an allotment of only 2.1 acres or less will not have his quota reduced. According to the schedule released this week, the following acreage reduction is to be effected: growers with allot ments from 2.2 to 6.5 acres will have their quotas reduced by one tenth of an acre, those with 6.6 to 10.8 acre allotments will be reduc ed by two-tenth of an acre; 10.9 to 15 2 acres reduced by three tenths of an acre; 15 3 to 19.5 will be cut by four-tenth of an acre; and so on down the line until it reaches fifty acres which will be cut by only 1.2 acres. According to reliable estimates the crop in this county will be re duced 'w about 300 acres, leaving the approximately 1,600 tobacco farmers an allotment of about 14, 700 acres. In announcing the 1947 market ing quotas, Acting Secretary of (Continued from page five) | BAND MAN J Jack Butler, popular band Instructor and teacher in the local schools before he enter ed the armed service, is back in civilian clothes, school of ficials were advised here this v celt. Butler, just out of the service, is catching up with civilian life during a current two weeks’ vacation, and plans to report here at the end of that time. Definite plans for reorgan izing a local high school band will be announced shortly. Parents-Teaehers In Meeting Here On Monday Night —•—.— Parents, School People and Pupils Have Parts In The Program Holding their regular meeting in the grammar school last Mon day evening, local parents and teachers and a pupil participated in an unusual program which stressed the responsibility of the school, the parents and the pupil. Previously the county superin tendent and local principal had discussed school finances and edu cation foundations. The treasurer reported a bal ance of $83.50, and Mrs. Herbert Taylor, presiding in the absence of the president, Hugh G. Horton, and the vice president, Mrs. J. W. Watts, announced a project com mittee, as follows: Mrs. D. R. Davis, Mrs. W. H. Everett, Mrs. M. M. Levin, R. L. Coburn, P. C. Holloman and J. H. Edwards. Members of the local organization were asked to attend a special meeting Thursday for the organi zation of a county P.-T. A. Coun cil. Mrs. John L. Goff, chairman of the program committee, an nounced the speakers. Speaking as a parent, Mrs. I. M. Margolis outlined what parents expect the schools to do for their children. Assuring the school peo ple that parents were indeed grateful for what is being done, the speaker frankly stated that the schools have a grave responsi bility, and admitted that parents often criticised certain acts before they get all the facts. “Leaders should have interest in their work and in their pupils,” Mrs. Margolis said. “The schools,” she continued should guard the healtli of tlie children by having them examined, by properly heating and lighting the build ings, keeping the buildings cleun, serving nutritious meals, provid ing adequate playground equip ment and maintaining a physical education program for all the children.” The speaker suggest ed that the schools should have an attendant in keeping the build ings clean. Offering the teacher’s position in the education program, Miss Mary Whitley cited the parent’s responsibility, and urged parents to carry their problems direct to the teachers. She urged the par ents to be concerned about school and their children, and asked, “Are parents glad when school starts so they will have some place to send their children? I have heard some parents say they were happy to have some place to send their children. “Are parents interested in what is being taught their children’” she asked, adding that it should be the business of parents to know what is being taught their chil dren and that the teachers arc competent. “Are parents concerned about their children? Is the child allow ed to look upon school as a side issue? Do parents demand the child to do t/horough work? How much does the child study at home?” Miss Whitley asked. “I am of the old school. 1 used to have to study and I believe chil dren should study at home today.” Absences without bona-fide ex (Continued on page eight) Lodge Installs Officers Here —-*>—— New oificcs were installed by Skcwarkey Masonic Lodge here at a recent meeting of the organi zation. George Harrison, Jr., succeeds Ben D. Courtney as master. Other officers include: Henry Griffin, senior warden; Roy L. Ward, jun ior warden; Paul Bailey, senior deacon; W. Clyde Manning, jun ior deacon; R. E. Cowan and Joseph Edmondson, stewards; J. D. Woolard, treasurer; J. C. And erson, secretary; Ben D Court ney, tyler, and K. D. Worrell, his torian. - . a Plan To Open Hunk In Oak City Soon —1 • According to unofficial infor mation received here yesterday, the Edgecombe Bank and Trust Company is planning to open a branch in Oak City next Wednes day with a big program. Residential. Area j Expanded Almost j Over Night Here - .■» — Two Hundred Forty-Two Persons Living In West End; Many New Homes Confined to farming for years and years with an occasional shift toward business undertakings, in cluding a fair, more or less agri cultural, that section lying just west of Williamston's town limits, has, almost overnight, been de veloped into a thriving residential community. Approximately fifty new homes have been constructed there within the past twelve or eighteen months, and the popula tion count as of January 29, this year, stood at 242, according to a census survey conducted by “Mayor” Exum L. Ward, who pointed out that ten homes are under construction. Operating a sandwich shop, Mr. Ward said that the population figure is increasing rapidly, that business enterprises are spring ing up from time to time, that there is a possibility that Wil liamston will be {he suburb in time. Most of the buildings in the old Martin County fair grounds have been moved away or torn down and fifteen or more new homes constructed there. Five new homes are under construction on the Martin property while still farther west the gaps are being filled in rapidly with new homes and business houses to form a solid front almost to Mickey’s Inn. A generation ago traffic moved into Williamston from the west via Skewaikey Church. Mr. Wheeler Martin granted a right of-way across his farm, but for years the new route was thought of as a country road right up to the intersection of Sycamore Street. Now, the route is known as West Main Street. Develop ment was slow down through the years. An occasional home was built, and then several individuals constructed homes for rent. Prior to that time the old Martin Coun ty Brick Company operated a brick kiln at what was later known as Poe’s Siding. The busi ness suspended operations more than a quarter century ago. D. M. Roberson years later established a slaughtering business there, and the area gradually developed. Filling stations were built. Groc ery stores were opened. Repair shops, garages and other business projects were developed. A crc osoting plant on the railroad is in the making, and plans call for the construction of other business quarters and structures, including a community church. Less than a year ago, the fail grounds were sold to Jesse Whit ley for a reported $30,000. Build ing contractors moved in and the area was converted almost over night from a scattered settle ment into a thickly populated community. Rumors about incorporation either as an independent unit or as a part of Williamston have been heard, but no official action has been taken in that direction. The people there and Williarr.s ton’s citizens are content not to disturb the status quo. The community’s first census lists 242 residents as of C p. m., January 29, as follows: Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Banks, Wal ter Banks, Charles Banks, Elean or Banks, Sadie Banks, Mr. and Mrs. Bud Black, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Bellflower, Robert Bellflower, Jimmy Bellflower, Etta Bellflow er, Mr. and Mrs. I). W. Brady, Dur. Brady, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Bailey, Brady, Jane Brady, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Bailey, Julian Bailey, Bill (Continued on page eight) Firemen Called Out Wednesday .♦— Local volunteer firemen were called out for the first lime this week when a grass fire just off Grace Street went out of control early Wednesday afternoon aim threatened property. A pile of lumber back of the Dr. J. S. Rhodes home caught fire and a hedge was damaged. The proper ly loss was negligible, firemen reported. Two hours later the firemen were called to a gras's fire on West Main Street at the underpass. No damage was done there. Half Million Dollar * Over $116,700 Is Paid Out Of Fund Raised In County —«— County, .Slate ami Federal Cooperate In Financing education Program ——* Speaking to members of the Williamston Parent-Teacher As sociation in the grammar school auditorium last Monday evening. County Superintendent of Schools J. C. Manning stated that a total of $482,048.49 was spent in financ ing public education in Martin County during the 1945-46 term. The superintendent'? talk was one of several heard during the regu lar meeting of the organization. Discussing the school finances, the superintendent stated that North Carolina is the only state in the union with a state-support ed program. “But that program makes only minimum provisions,” he explained, adding that the county is charged with the re sponsibility of expanding its school plant, carrying insurance on its property, employing addi tional teachers, supplementing a niggardly fuel supply, bettering transportation and purchasing books. In addition to that offer ed by tjie county and state, other support is derived from the feder al government for the employ ment of vocational teachers, and financing lunch room projects and farm veterans' training. Still an other source of revenue is center ed in special taxation in the sev eral districts. North Carolina, according to the county superintendent, spent $334,426.35 for education in Mai tin County during the 1945 46 term, including $7,412.39 for the superintendent's office, $288. 845.22 for teachers salaries, $11. 746.46 for fuel, lights and water and janitors’ salaries, and $26, 422.28 for transportation. The transportation costs, the school man pointed out, amount ed to exactly 5 cents a day per pupil. Costs to the county for educa tion that term were listed: $1, 615.til for thi‘ board of education, $22,397.92 for instructional serv ices, including salaries paid to commercial teachers and one third of the salaries paid to voca .1 O -ichc ■ y*.f>74'."r '-,r [drill* operations, $14,585. 4 for plant maintenance, $8,781.34 for insur ance and $282.92 for special trans portation. In addition to those items, other funds financed by the county include: $65,749.59 for cur rent expenses, $27,244 78 for cap ital outlay including the purchase of a school site, and $23,709.10 for debt service. Commenting on the debt service, the school man said that it hud been reduced from right at a half million dollars to $99,900 in recent years. Last year the county levied at the rate of 48 cents on the $100 property valuation for its schools. While most of the income came from advalorem taxation, $12,864 was received in fines and forfeit ures from the various courts, $1, 500 from tuition paid by pupils in commercial classes, $1,400 teach erage rents, $111 from the sale of property, and $12,284 from the state for the vocational programs. At the present time the county has $775,000 invested in school properties. In addition to paying one-third or the salaries received by voca tional teachers, the federal gov ernment last term spent $15,203.81 for lunch room, and at the present time is maintaining farm veter ans’ training program in the vari ous agricultural departments, the superintendent said. The Uoards of Commission ers for the county and town and Education will hold regu lar meetings here next Mon day morning and evening. Reports from the chairmen state that very little new business is scheduled for con struction at any of the three sessions. A few requests for roads arc to be expected by the county commissioners. TAX LISTING 1| v. . ..../ Tax listing is just about completed in most of the ten townships in the county, Tax Supervisor M. I,uther Peel announced Thursday after noon. While no extension has been allowed by the county authorities, several of the list takers plan to be in their re spective offices on Saturday of this week to complete the work. No official statement has been released, but indications point to an increase in both personal and real property values. Judge j. (. Smith Has Twelve Cases In County’s Court -— Fines Imposed In Yinomil Of $150 \l Session Last IVlomlay -* Judge J. Calvin Smith culled an even dozen cases hi the Martin County Recorder’s Court last Monday when fines were impos ed in the amount of $150 and sev eral defendants drew sentences on the roads. A comparatively small number of spectators attended the session which lasted hardly more than two hours. Proceedings: The case charging David I! Harrell with non-support was continued until March 10. Pleading guilty in the case charging him with assaulting a fe male, Joe Taylor was fined $25 and required to pay the costs. Junior Warren, charged with larceny, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to the roads for sixty days. The sentence was suspend ed upon the payment of the court costs and on the further condition that the defendant he convicted of no criminal law violation during one year. Charged with assaulting a fe male, Klton LeRoy Ruffin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to the roads for sixty days. The sentence was suspended upon the payment of a $25 fine and costs, the court ordering the defendant confined to the county jar1 .tvto days James Turner w is 'fined $25 and taxed with the costs when he pleaded guilty of the .ndecent ex posure- of tiis person. Judgment was suspended in the ease charging Joseph Taylor with issuing a worthless cheek when the defendant reimbursed the prosecuting witness, Henry Jones, and paid the costs. The check was issued in the sum of $5. Charged witli being drunk and disorderly, Allen Warren pleaded guilty and was fined $25 and tax ed with the costs. James Bannerman, charged with an assault with a deadly weapon, was adjudged guilty over his own plea of innocence and was sentenced to the road for two months, lie appealed to the high er courts and bond was required in the sum of $200. Bond was not arranged immediately. Charged with being drunk and disorderly and damaging personal property, Lollie Williams pleaded guilty and was sentenced to the (Continued on page six) Child Painfully Burned This Week A Her Hicks, 13-year-old color ed girl, was painfully and possibly seriously burned at her home here on East Main Street Wednes day morning. Removed by the welfare department to the local hospital, she was said to be get ting along Thursday afternoon us well as could !**' oxoceted Few details could be had from the welfare office, but one report staled that the girl, attired in a glass skirt, was doing the hula hula dance in the yard and got too close to a In c around a wash pot and the dress caught fire. She was burned on the back and arms, one report saying the girl receiv ed second degree burns. Linir Progress "TTe| juried So Far la ihc Legislature ISiIk Oealing Loral Flrrtioi Primary Expected In V Few Days -*-' Although nesring the end of i first month, North Carolina’s General Assembly has accorm plished little in the way of legis lative enactments, but a great stage has been set for a whale of a lot of wrangling. State employes have been as sured a bonus, but a salary sched ule for them is yet to be fixed. A few minor bills and a number having to do with local political subdivision have been introduce and passed. Several bills of state-wide nature have been of fared, some of them having bee aimed at drunken diving. It it proposed by some of the lawye legislators who apparently iiavi an eye on their chances in thi courtroom, to leave it in the diS' cretion of the trial judge whether a drunken driver’s license shoul be revoked. Another would plac dJ. unken driving charges in th inferior courts. Still anothe: would demand jail sentences an $2(M) fines for drunken driving. It is also proposed to shift th farm census from the tax liste to designated census takers whc( would be paid 10 cents by the; State and 10 cents bv the county! for each report. A proposal to take insurance business out of the hands of money lenders has been altered | and the measure will be left up to tin’ law makers. Still another law is being pro posed to ban the sale of fireworks' but to permit their manufacture, in North Carolina. An issue• almost certain to be hotly contested was dropped irr, (Continued on page six) March Of Dimes Nearing The Top The March of Dimes, advanced! ,11 support of the Inf;,null I’araly-j sis Fund, is rapidly moving into! big money in this county, Drive Chairman L. 15, Wynne announce ed Thursday. “The goal is it sight, and I believe we will ej eeed it by a comfortable margin when the canvass is completed Friday afternoon of this week,’1! the chairman added. Led by Bigns School which1! Ua! r_h I1' -,:, :. itil $11.15 this week, the colored schools have given the drive liberal .■ ipport. the chairman said.-! Seven coluied schools the first report, contributed $111.45 ind eluding the $41.15 Biggs donation,! as follows: Dardens, $14.50; Ey* eretts, $25.50; Hamilton, $17.30 Williams, Lower, $13.50; Bea Grass, $5, and Poplar Point, $4.2 The Maple Grove Sunda School forwarded $10 this week and $247.01 was collected in til Williamston theaters. So# far a total of $1,411.13 hs been raised and reported. It wi pointed out that few of the larg er schools have reported, thg possibly the local schools wott| contribute $450 or $500. Contributing almost $1 eaeS the six pupils in the Hassell whit school boosted the total rais there to $12.00, it was repof Wednesday The six sixth grg ers donated $5.80 to the cause. ’ The county was assigned quota of $2,120 this year. I SIGHT IN THE CAJ "It’s getting to he one sight in the camp," an observe, er allowed this week when) was apprised of the trend in accidents on sea, I and air right here in Mg County. Automobile accidents numbers ha vs been aece unfortunately, as a mutter i be expected, Itut last w« an airplane crashed near] in Urii'lins Township, then a large log barge out of control on the oke, drifted eighteen down the stream in seven hours and eras!! the temporary bridgft blocking river traffic I hours and highway ( better part of two j