* *9- »• «*■» tm • * •■.
THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BT
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT*
PAAflLIES TWICE EACH WEEK
THE ENTERPRISE
THE ENTERPRISE 18 READ B1
OVER 3.000 MARTIN COUWVS
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WB|
YOJLjUME LI—NUMBER 13
W illiamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday, February 12, l 94S
ESTABLISHED 1899
Highway Engineers
Accept Bridge Here
Two Years Spent
On Half - Million
• Dollar Structure
Last Of Contracting Finn
Representatives Left
Last Thursday
Costing nearly one-half million
dollars and two years almost to
the day in the building, the Roan
oke River Bridge project was for
mally accepted by highway engi
neers last Thursday afternoon.
The acceptance was without fan
fare of any kind, but came follow
ing a detailed inspection and a
minute check of the records.
The committee, representing
the North Carolina State Highway
and Public Works Commission,
was composed of J. B. Broach, as
sociate construction engineer for
the commission's bridge depart
ment; T. J. McKim, division engi
neer; J. D. Miller, assistant divis
ion engineer; J. C. Parkin, resi
dent engineer, and Electrical En
gineer Furtado.
Awarded the contract for $456,
640.00, the Bower* Construction
Company of Raleigh drove the
first test pile on February 6, 1946.
Actual work was delayed several
weeks, pending the delivery of
materials and the location of ma
chinery and equipment for hand
ling the project which cost almost
as much as the original bridge and
fill.
The contract called for the
maintenance of traffic and a tem
porary structure, including ap
proaches and a draw span, was
built about 250 feet above the
bridge. The old draw span was
removed and replaced with a
wider one and the concrete bridge
was widened.
‘ No final audit of the contract
figures has been completed, but
up until a few days ago, the con
tractor had earned $468,497.34, the
increase representing extra work
added after the original bid had
been accepted.
A bottom rail is yet to be added
to the fender in the middle of the
river, but the contractors had al
ready waited eight months for low
water and it was decided to go
ahead and accept the structure
with the understanding that the
contractor would return and
handle that work when low water
is in the river.
Making their inspection last
Thursday, the engineers found
everything in order and all the
mechanism, including warning
bells, safety gates, traffic barriers
and the draw span working per
fectly.
The project represents a mass of
concrete and steel. Reviewing
hurriedly the material records,
Engineer Connor estimated that
there are 7,274,450 pounds of raw
concrete in the bridge and pivot
pier, that the steel used in rein
forcing the concrete weighs right
at 354,000 pounds. The steel draw
span and the girders used in wid
ening the concrete bridge weigh
right at 756,000 pounds. The black
(Continued on page eight)
»
THE RECORD
SPEAKS . . .
Only two accidents were re
ported on Martin County
highways last week, but the
record will show that the av
erage was more than pulled
' up during this, the seventh
week of the new year.
, Surprisingly enough, only
two persons were injuied and
none was killed in the first
six weeks of 1947.
lire following tabulations
offer a comparison of the ac
cident trend: first, by corres
ponding weeks in this year
and last and for each year to
- -the-present time,
Accidents Inj'd Killed Dain’ge
Sixth Week
1948 2 0 0 $ 75
1947 4 2 0 825
Comparisons To Date
1948 15 2 0 $ 2,375
1947 19 14 2 4,075 I
| HOUR OF PRAYER |
i ■<
Local people, white and col
ored, are again reminded of
the World Day of Prayer Ser
vice to be held in two
churches here Friday after
noon at 4:00 o’clock. The col
ored citizens have completed
plans for their service in the
Shiloh Baptist Church on Elm
Street, and the other service
w'ill be held in the Memorial
Baptist Church.
Those business houses that
cannot close during the serv
ice are asked to release as
many of their employees as
possible that they may attend.
Auto Firm Plans
To Rebuild After
Disastrous Fire
B and H Willy** Company Is
Seeking Temporary
(Quarters
Their physical plant destroyed
last Tuesday noon by one of the
most disastrous fires this section
has had in recent years, the own
ers of the B. and H. Wilys Com
pany in West End were said to
day to be considering rebuilding.
During the meantime the owners
are seeking temporary quarters to
carry on their business, it was
stated.
While no official inventory has
been reported, it is estimated that
the damage caused by the fire last
Tuesday will approximate $50,
000, including a $14,000 stock in
ventory. A later report stated
that eleven automobiles, including
a Cadillac, were burned.
It is believed that the fire start
ed when snow blew into the build
ing, wet electric wires and caused
a short circuit in the wiring in the
old radiator shop. One of the
owners, Mr. W. R. Banks, had just
inspected the property and found
everything in order hardly more
than an hour before the fire was
discovered by James Staton Ay
ers who was passing along on the
highway. Mr. Banks had return
ed to his apartment and was talk
ing with Mrs. Banks and their
three children when Mr. Ayers
sounded the alarm. The family
escaped with only the clothes they
were wearing at the time. A few
items, including possibly half
dozen tires and one or two office
items, were saved from the motor
company’s office and a jeep was
driven out of the building ahead
of the fire. Several of the cars
lost in the fire were parked out
side the building but were stuck
in the snow and could not be mov
ed.
Mr. and Mrs. Banks and child
ren are now at home with Mr. and
Mrs.. Ex um Ward, but it was
learned today that they had been
promised a new house by Mr. D.
M. Roberson.
Mr. Ward said this morning that
the fire threatened his sandwich
shop, The Martin, that it was sav
ed by throwing snow on it. "It was
a close call for the Martin,” he
said.
Mr. Banks this morning express
ed his great appreciation for the'
efforts made by neighbors and1
other friends, including members
of the volunteer fire department,
in trying to save the property.
"And that goes for me, too,” Mr.
Ward said.
Lions Postpone
Regular Meeting
The regular meeting of the local!
Lions Club, scheduled for seven
o'clock tonight at the Woman's I
Club has been postponed.
The postponement was made be
cause of the fact that the ladies
i!*\f y.ing 'the slipper can- net- snake *
arrangements to be here because
of the condition of rural roads.
Ail Lions and members pf Boy
Scout Troop No. 29 who vere to
have been guests of the club, are
urged to note the postponement.
Judge J. C. Smith
Handles Nineteen
Cases On Monday
•
Fines and Forfeitures Total
More Than $500 In
Short Session
Judge J. Calvin Smith handled
nineteen cases in the Martin
County Recorder’s Court last
Monday during a session that last
ed until about 1:00 o’clock. De
spite the threatening weather and
the subsequent snowfall, a goodly
crowd heard the proceedings.
Fines and forfeitures amounted
to $545.
Proceedings:
Adjudged guilty of bastardy
over his plea of innocence, Thurs
ton Cherry was sentenced to the
roads for six months, the court
suspending the sentence upon the
payment of the costs and on con
dition that the defendant pay $10
a month for the support of the
child during the next two years.
Samuel Manning, adjudged
guilty of non-support, was sen
tenced to the roads for twelve
months.
Charged with violating the li
quor laws, Hubert Alfred Perry
and V. L. Peel, Jr., pleaded not
guilty. Peel was adjudged not
guilty. Perry, found guilty, was
sentenced to the roads for twelve
months, the court suspending the
sentence upon the payment of a
$100 fine and costs and on condi
tion that the defendant violate no
liquor laws within one year. When
the defendant, L. William Spear,
charged with speeding, failed to
answer when called, the court
ordered his $50 bond forfeited.
Pleading guilty of drunken
driving, Carl Matehin was fined
$100 and taxed with the cost, the
court recommending that the de
fendant's license to operate a mot
or vehicle be revoked for one
year.
Pleading guilty of an assault
with a deadly weapon, Willie
Yancey was fined $25 and taxed
with the costs.
George H. Alexander, charged
with an assault with a deadly
weapon, v/as found not guilty.
Pleading not guilty, Charlie E.
Flanagan was adjudged guilty of
asaulting a female and was sen
tenced to the roads for four
months. The sentence was sus
pended upon the payment of a $10
fine and costs and on the further
condition that the defendant vio
lates no law for two years.
The case charging Joe Brady
with allowing an operator to leave
the scene of an accident, was dis
missed.
Charged with careless and reck
less driving, Willie Brady was ad
judged guilty and judgment was
suspended upon the payment of
the costs. i
(Continued on page eight)
Body Of County
Bo v on Way Home
•—■
The body of Cpl. William Free
man Haisiip, II, who made the
supreme sacrifice in the Pacific
theater in October, 1942, is on its
way home. Riding in the U. S.
Army Transport, “Cardinal O’
Connell,” the body reached San
Francisco yesterday along with
the bodies of 2,784 other service
personnel.
It could not be learned when
the body will reach home, but it is
hardly expected within three
weeks. Funeral arrangements
are pending, but burial will be in]
the cemetery at Hamilton beside j
his mother and father, Mr. and]
Mrs. Hannibal J. Haisiip.
The first Martin County man to
lose his life in the Marine Corps
in World War II, he was fatally
injured in the fighting on Guadal
canal on October 22, 1942. He died
the following day and was buried
in a U. S. Cemetery on Guadal
canal where it rested until disin
terred for the final journey home.
Mrs. Haisiip, in ill health for a
long time, wanted to live long
enough to see her son’s body re
turned home, and before her death
lfv/as among her last requests to
have it brought back and laid to
rest in his home county.
He is the fourth body of Martin
County men who paid with then
lives in World War II to be
brought back home for burial.
i
Continuing Mass TB
Survey Fourth Week
SCHOOLS I
“While it is not impossible,
the reopening of the schools
in this county is not probable
next Monday,” the county
superintendent said this
morning. Weather and road
conditions will determine the
reopening date, it was ex
plained.
If the sun comes out and
there to a strong wind, it
might be possible to reopen
the schools next Monday, but
today the prospects were not
encouraging for such action.
Seven Injured In
Head-on Crash At
Skewarkey Today
Extent of Injuries Could
Not Be Learned at Onee
But Thought Serious
Seven persons were hurt, three
of them believed critically, in a
head-on wreck at Skewarkey on
U. S. Highway 17 near here this
afternoon at 2:15 o'clock. Com
plete details of the accident could
not be learned immediately.
One of the cars, a Chevrolet
owned by the North Carolina
Highway and Public Works Com
mission and driven by Martin
Luther White, formerly of Hamil
ton, was moving south. The other
car, a Pontiac, driven by Jules
Taylor, 17, of RFD 1, Box 626,
Valrico Hills, Florida, was travel
ing north. The Pontiac had its
right front smashed, the impact
knocking the rear wheels out of
line. The left front of the Chev
rolet was smashed.
Taylor, believed to have suffer
ed fractures of both legs, told Pa
trolman W. E. Saunders that just
as they were meeting, the high
way car started to cut in front of
him, that he (Taylor) tried to cut
to the left, that if he hadn’t cut he
would have hit the Chevrolet
headon.
White, suffering head injuries
but apparently not seriously hurt,
said he did not remember what
happened, that he did not know
what struck him. Both of the
drivers said it was foggy.
Taylor was accompanied by his
mother and father, Chas. J. Sout
ter, Milton Ryder and George Jen
kins, all of Camp Mae Courthouse,
New Jersey. The extent of their
injuries could not be learned im
mediately, but it is thought that
Ryder suered a fractured skull,
first reports from the hospital in
dicating that his condition was
grave. Mr. Edgar Taylor, father
of the driver, suffered a back in
jur yand severe shock. Mrs. Tay
lor had a compound fraettr. e erf
one leg. Jenkins was not hurt
very badly, it is thought.
Described as one of the worst
(Continued on page eight)
Could Win An Easy War
From Yankees This Week
Without animosity but express
ing the situation as it existed, a
local observer said that a war
could have been won easily
against the Yankees this week, ex
plaining that all the Yankees were
down this way and that a march
on the North could have been
pressed without opposition. The
observation was made about 3:15
o’clock yesterday afternoon when
exactly 100 New' York, New Jer
sey. Pennsylvania and Massachus
etts cars, loaded with tourists,
passed through Williamston’s
Main Street in an unbroken row.
Street walkers were puzzled and
it was thought that the tourists
had been turned around by patrol
order. An investigation revealed
fhat Bridgekeeper Hugh Spruill
was responsible for the traffic
deluge. He turned the bridge for
a boat to pass, and while the draw
was open eighty foreign cars
formed a line on the east side of j
the river. A traffic snarl follow- j
cd on the town's main street, but!
>
officers finally unraveled it and
the travelers continued south.
On the last day of January and
on the first of this mont! , the
Yanks invaded the town, but that
maneuver was a small one com
pared with the invasion during
and just after the near-record
snow fall last Monday and Tues
day. It was conservatively esti
mated that between 350 and 400
tourists were stranded here dur
ing that time. Nearly 150 wen
crowded into the hotel, tourist
homes were filled to overflowing
and private homes were opened
to the weary travelers. Worn to
a bitter frazzle by miles of hoc |
tic travel, one couple, reaching
here late Tuesday night, crawled
through snow to reach a haven of
lest, and finding refuge they de
clared they did not mind the
crawl.
As far as it could amed-jvS
stranger found it necessary to
sleep in a car, hut seven d tour
ists, finding the town crowded,
moved on.
Abandon Schedule
In Just About All
Centers This Week
-o
Survey Equipment to Move
From Here *o Cuntlier
land After Next Week
Plagued by bad weather condi
tions during most of the three
weeks it has been under way. the
mass TB survey will be extended
through Friday of next week, it
was announced yesterday by
health officials after the project
was literally snowed under last
Monday and Tuesday.
In addition to the unit which
will continue operation at the
Clark Pharmacy stand on Wil
liamston's main street, the survey
will go forward according to the
following schedule:
Monday, February 16: Rober
sonville and Hamilton.
Tuesday, February 17: Rober
sonville and fertilizer plant in
Williamston.
Wednesday, February 18: No. 90
filling station in Williams Town
ship, and the North Carolina Pulp
Company mill in the lower part
of the county.
Thursday, February 19: James
ville and Dardens.
Friday, February 20: Jamesville
and Robersonville.
Weather permitting, X-rays will
be made at the two units in Rob
ersonville and Williamston on
Saturday of this week.
Those persons, fifteen years old
or older, who did not have an
X-ray made when the mobile
units were in their communities
are invited to visit the nearest
unit next week.
The schedule for this week in
just about all the center . in the
county was abandoned when
snow started falling early Tues
day morning. So far, 8,397 per
sons have been X-rayed in the
county.
The clinics schedule for each
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
are being maintained for further
study of some cases. However,
only one person reported yester
day. Three clinics will be held
on those days next week, and Dr.
R. F. Bell will continue here for
several days week after next to
complete the reading of the X
rays and handle cases cited for
further examination.
Health authorities hope, by ex
tending the survey into next
week, that it will include between
14,000 and 15,000 persons, and fer
ret out every case of tuberculosis
in the county.
Advised of the weather difficul
ties experienced in this county by
the survey forces, health officials
in Cumberland yielded when re
quested to delay their schedule
one week to allow more time for
the survey in Martin.
Fewer Marriages
Are Reported In
Month of January
-o
Decline In Number Marri
age Licenses Maintained
For Fourth Mouth
I
Although the Martin County]
marriage license bureau in the of
j fice of Register J. Sam Getsinger
did a fairly rushing business last
month, the number of marriages
during the period was slightly un
der the count a year ago. The de
cline in marriages was maintained
for the fourth straight month.
Licenses were issued to eleven
; white and twenty-two colored
] couples last month in this county,
' as follows:
White
j William C. Gerard of Hunters
I Bridge, N. C., and Theresia Stimp
fle of Darmstardt, Germany.
William E. Buck and Frances
Ayers, both of Bethel.
| Turner Carter Leggett, Jr., RFD
; 4, Windsor, and Fannie Elizabeth
Bowen of Williamston.
Charlie Hassell Bailey and Shir
ley Faye Taylor, both of RFD,
Willia mston.
Kater Benjamin Hardison and
Mary Frances Stalls, both of Oak
City.
LcRoy Merritt and Mildred
Perry, both of Jamesville.
Raleigh Wilbert Gardner, RFD
1, Williamston, and Marjorie Har
rison, RFD 2, Williamston.
Lee Herman Wilson, Jr., RFD 1,
Bethel, and Sally Leona Everett
of Conetoe.
Leamon Bullock and Allie Ma
rie Roberson, both of Oak City.
Oscar Tice and Sarah Trulah
Hardison, both of RFD 1, Wil
liamston.
Joseph Ray Leary, RFD 2, Wil
liamston, and Colleen Engle of
Greenville.
Colored
■* Woodrow Marrow and Mary E.
Locke, both of Oak City.
Paul Lawrence Slade and John
nie Belle Hardrick, both of Wil
liamston.
Theodore Williams and Hebert
Williams, both of Everetts.
James Edward Rollins and Sar
ah Street, both of Robersonville.
James Peterson and Bertha
Brown, both of Oak City.
Stephen Griffin, Jr., and Nellie
Louise Tyner, both of Williams
ton.
Robert R. Carter and Elena
Bunch, both of V/indsor.
James Ramsey, Jr., and Nancy
Ann Butler, both of Williamston.
Joseph Noah Godard, RFD I,
Williamston, and Fannie Idell
Griffin, RFD 2, Williamston.
James Elmon Arthur Baker and
Sarah Lucy Coburn, both of Wil
liamston.
Elijah Dixon of Hamilton and
Christine Baker of Oak City.
Sandy Worsley and Velma
Jenkins, both of Robersonville.
Joseph Biggs and Ella V. Wool
aid, both of Williamston.
Peter Lawrence Godard of Wil
(Continued on page eight)
Volunteers Aid
In Emergencies
—.»— ■
When emergencies presented
themselves during and right after
the snowstorm last Monday and
Tuesday, individuals volunteered
their services to doctors and the
fire department here and in other
parts of the county.
Called to an emergency case
Tuesday morning, Dr. Jim Rhodes,
Jr., was helped there by James
Staton Ayers on a jeep. The town
tractor picked the doctor up a:
short time later, but perched on
a fender without windshield or
top the medic could get little con
solation out of the ride other than
that he was completing a trip.
Highway forces picked up a
local doctor near the Beaufort
County line and delivered him to
a home in Griffins Township to
handle an emergency case.
Any number of volunteers re
ported when the fire department
received a call from West End
just before noon Tuesday. Jim
Eta ton Ayers, making an emer
gency trip at the time, discovered
She fire and an alarm.'
In Robersanville, doctors were
shuttled back and forth on auto
mobile wreckers in handling
emergency eases. ,
Area Digging From
Under 1'5-Ineh Snow
SHORT
While reports have not been
received all schools in the
county, the contributions sub
mitted so far show that the
Infantile Paralysis drive in
this county is several hundred
dollars short of Its goal, that
unless very liberal donations
are made in the yet unreport
ed centers the campaign will
fall below its §2,600 quota.
It will be another week, at
least, before final reports on
the drive can be expected.
Swine Production
And Pastures Are
Discussion Topics
-«»
Jack kelly ami Sam Dnltsoii
Speak to Farmers At
Two-Dav Selmol
By I). W. Brady
Assistant Farm Agent
Jack Kelley and Sam Dobson, of
the State Extension Service offer
ed some timely pointers on swine
production and pastures at the
two-day school conducted in the
courthouse last Thursday and Fri
day for Martin County farmers.
Mr. Kelly listed six points ne
cessary in the production of hogs.
1. Breeding:
A Select good mothers that are
good milkers that have large lit
ters of pigs, using the breed you
like best.
B. Always use a purebred boar
produced by a good mother that
has largo litters.
2. Feed:
A. Feed the hogs a balanced ra
tion consisting of the following:
a. Yellow corn.
b. Fish meal or tankage which
can be mixed with 2/3 of plant
protein such as cotton seed meal,
peanut oil meal and soybean oil;
meal.
c. Ten pounds limestone, 5 lbs
bone meal, 2 lbs salt.
d. Good pasture.
3. Water Plenty of water at all
times is absolutely necessary.
4. Shade: In hot weather hogs
will suffer without adequate
shade.
5. Housing: In rainy and cold
weather hogs should have some
kind of a house to go in to keep
warm and dry. It may also be us
ed for shade in tin- summer.
6. Sanitation.
In order to have good health,
pigs free from worms and disease
sanitation must be practiced. This
may be done by rotating pastures
and not using the same pasture
(Continued on page eight)
E Bond Silcs In
County Increase
.
—«—
According to a report released a
few days ago by H. A. Bowen, i
chairman, Martin County U. S.
Savings Bonds Committee, the j
people of this county purchased
$388,639.50 in “E" bonds last year, j
an increase of $-17,583.80 over the
$331,175.70 purchased in 1046. In
addition to their "E” bond pur
chases, the people bought $14,- j
097.00 in "F" bonds or $13,209.00!
mure than they bought the yearj
before. The purchase of “G”
bonds, however, dropped from;
$70,700.00 to $51,000.00. The total,
purchase of all types of bonds last J
year amounted to $453,736.50
against $403,303.70 the year be
fore, it was pointed out.
Mai tin County was one of eigh
teen in North Carolina to show in
creased purchases ol' "E" bonds
last year over 1946.
The buying of series E govern
ment savings bonds last year was
$155,298,000 greater than sales by
the holders it is announced in fin
al treasury figures for 1947. As a
result the public holdings of these
bonds—formerly known as War
IjuuU., . <. a Tied a nigh record of I
$30,996,938,000 on December 31.
The previous record was $30,938,
000,000, attained at the end of Jan
uary, 1946.
Business Slowly
Getting Back To
Normal Schedule
I'ublir ServicoH Admit They
Could Not ( ope With
Conditions
Blanketed by a fifteen-inch
snow lust Monday and Tuesday,
this section is gradually digging
itself out. While business is slow
ly returning to a normal schedule
it will be days and possibly weeks
before industry recovers fully
from the blow. In fact, future
schedules for many activities con
tinue uncertain, and the area is
resigned, more or less, to the pa
tient task of waiting and letting
time battle the wrath and fury of
the elements.
Feeling the full blow of the
snowstorm, this immediate section
was poorly prepared to cope with
the problem. Public service forces
admitted their equipment was in
adequate for the task, that it was
bogged down for hours, creating a
traffic bottleneck with its centei
right in the middle of Williams
ton's main street. Other than the
Scotland Neck area, this county
reported the largest snowfall in
this part of the country. Hugh
Spruill, keeper of the United
States Weather Bureau rain and
snow gauge, said 14.9 inches of
snow fell here during the 24-hour
period ending last Tuesday morn
ing at 10.00 o’clock. Very little
snow fell after that time. Other
communities in this section of the
State reported less than half that
much snow, but sleet and ice on
the highways offered u traffic
hazard almost equal to the block
caused by the snow here.
All schedules were shot to
pieces last Tuesday. There was
very little traffic of any kind. Mail
and bus m hedules were cancelled.
Passenger bus schedules were re
sumed on a limited scale Wednes
day, but mail schedules were
hardly dragging back to normal
this afternoon although traffic on
the main highways was moving
freely late Wednesday. The News
and Observer, after missing deliv
ery Tuesday morning, was back on
schedule the following morning,
and picture film and other deliv
ery trucks were off the highways
only a few hours.
ftural mail delivery service, sus
pended in its entirety for two days
was resumed on a limited scale
this morning, the carriers trying
to effect deliveries along the main
highways. Postmaster W. E.
Dunn said he did not know when
complete deliveries could be
made, but there is little prospect
that the routes can be covered in
their entirety before next Mon
day, if at that time. City mail
service was suspended Tuesday
and delieveries were limited yes
terday to the business sections. It
isn’t likely that all the town will
be served before Saturday or pos
sibly Monday.
A majority of the business firms
closed all day Tuesday and a few
extended the holiday into Wed
nesday, some few observing short
hours today. Business held to a
low figure in some stores, but the
boot business was brisk in others.
Grocers reported unusually large
(Continued on page eight)
V.
DAMAGE
While no extensive proper
ty damage resulted from the
weight of the 15-inch snow,
several root's gave away in
this section early last Tues
day. The boiler room roof
and the shed near the steam
cookers caved in at the basket
factory here. The cave-ins are
likely to delay the reopening
of the plant a week or ten
days, it was learned unoffic
ially.
A storage warehouse, fill
ed with a large quantity of
tobacco belonging to W. I.
Skinner Co, here, caved in at
mm
Windsor Tuesday. Ng> nff.'
mate oti the damage
had.