THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEES
THE ENTERPRISE
THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY
OVER 3.000 MARTIN COUNTY
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEES
VOLUME LI—NUMBER 52
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesduy, June 29, 1918
ESTABLISHED 1899
Farmers Battling
Tobacco Lice and
Other Problems
Hail and Diseases Also Tak
ing Toll; Damage Diffi
eull to Estimate Now
*
*
i
♦
i
J**r
Busy now with the harvest of
their tobacco end fighting off the
plant lice which are causing much
damage throughout the county,
Martin farmers are having other
difficulties as well. Some hail has
hit their fields in recent days and
there are cases of black shank and
Granville wilt in the county. A
little of these are found in many
fields while in some such as the
old Staton farm as much as an
acre at a time has gone down with
black shank.
The plant lice, a form of aphid
similar if not the same as the
green peach aphid, are all over
the county but the farmers are
getting them under control al
though they will not know until
they cure their crops just how
much damage has been done.
Agriculture officials explain
that the aphid did not suddenly
descend upon the tobacco this
year like a swarm of locusts from
another land but that they have
been here all along being kept
under control by their natural
enemies, the lady bug and the
braconid wasp which feed upon
the aphids. The same conditions,
cool, damp weather, which pro
moted the rapid propagation and
growth of the aphid this spring
also worked to the disadvantage
of their enemies the lady bug and
braconid wasp which thrive on
warm dry weather.
The aphids were first noticed in
the spring by gardeners and flor
ists whose flowers and shrubs
have suffered tremendously as a
result of the attacks of the tiny
creatures. They have been con
trolled to a certain degree by the
use of a nicotine solution. This
does not work, however, on the
aphid after he gets on the tobac
ojeaf for as he eats the tobacco
leaf he dev • a resistance to
ii' s-'tif-'
(Continued on page eight)
Countv Officers
Wrecking Stills
Martin County ABC Enforce
ment Officer Joe Roebuck and
Deputy Roy Peel raided and de
stroyed three copper stills and one
wooden (submarine type) plant
in the county last week, three of
the plants being 100-gallon capac
ity, the other a small 30-gallon
unit.
Raiding in Griffins Township
last Wednesday the officers found
a 30-gallon copper still and two
50-gallon fermenters with molas
(> ses mash.
The next day they found a 100
gallon still in Bear Grass Town
ship with a 500-gallon fermenter
and 100 gallons of sugar mash. A
gallon of illegal liquor was also
confiscated. The same day they
picked up another in the same
township, this one being a 100
gallon copper job with 6 50-gallon
fermenters and 400 gallons of sug
4 ar mash and other equipment.
Later in the day they raided in
^ Jamesville Township and found
a 100-gallon copper still, a 500
gallon fermenter and 300 gallons
of sugar mash. Investigations on
Saturday and Sunday failed to re
sult in the destruction of any
illicit plants. The officers noted
that the weather is mighty hot for
raiding in the thick woods.
* Colonial Store
Moving In Julv
C7 J
- . m
The Colonial Store will move
into their new location in the Tai
Heel Building on or around the
manager, announced today.
The new store, which will he
completely outfitted with new
equipment, has been painted and
all new ceiling fixtures have been
installed. Shelves are now being
eonstrueted and the installation
of the cold storage box is expected
to be completed today.
Meat cases and some of the
equipment are now in the new lo
cation ready for installation.
L
CITIZENS OF TOMORROW
The Enterprise takes much pleasure in presenting another
in a picture series of this section’s "citizens of tomorrow”. So
far none lias figured prominently in public affairs, but us fu
ture citizens they have a tremendous assignment to handle in a
muddled world. Certain they'll do a better job than has been
done or is being done, The Enterprise presents the youngsters
as the one great hope for the future.
Top row, left to right, Philip, four, Janice, thirteen months,
son and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. E Jenkins, Williamston;
James Russell, five and a half, Cherry Joyce, one and a half, son
and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Lee, Williamston; Margaret,
two and a half, Frankie, one and a half, daughter and son of Mr.
and Mrs. J 1’. Doherty, Williamston; Bottom row, Nancy, ten,
Billy, six, daughter and son of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Revels, Wil
liamston, and Nancy, seven, Diana, four, daughters of Mr. and
Mrs. E. C. Harrison, Williamston.
County Goes Back
To $1.20 Tax Rate
r- ' - — "N
| liSIlMi POTATOES |
Farmers in this county have
placed orders for 33 carloads
| of potatoes which the govern
ment is shipping in here pre
paid and free for us in feed
ing hogs and oilier farm slock.
Fight of the cars have already
arrived in the county and 25
are on the way. The deadline
for ordering expired last Sat
urday.
The potatoes are cooked for
•'"'feeding if fid■ t ■ ushed
■■■ !bm
takes 400 to 450 pounds of po
tatoes to equal 100 lbs of corn
feed value. Protein and min
eral mixtures are used to cor
rect the deficiency in these
two elements.
Hold In Death
Of Neighbor
-u
William Thomas Rogers of the
Palmyra community, was in the
Martin County jail this morning
in default of a $1500 bond charged
with responsibility for the death
of a neighbor, Moses Harrell, 55,
who died in a Tarboro Hospital
early Monday morning of injuries
sustained when he was slapped or
fell from a cart Saturday, June 12.
According to information re
ceived here Harrell died of a brok
en neck. One of the witnesses to
the incident said that Moses Har
rell and Rogers, along with two
others, were riding in a cart, all
of them drinking heavily, when
Harrell fell from the cart and in
jured his neck. Another report
was to the effect that Rogers hit
Harrell and knocked him from the
cart. A hearing was held in Oak
City last night and Magistrate
Whitfield held Rogers for superior
court, setting bond at $1500.
The two men, both colored, are
tenants on the old A. P. Hyman
farm between Oak City and Pal
myra.
* .., ..- .2-_
Magistrate Tries
Several Cases
Appealing before Magistrate R.
T. Johnson Monday night on a
drunk and disorderly charge, Lu
ther Bonds was lined $.>.00 and
taxed with the jail fees, taxi fare
iasA:
j to $10.06.
Fred McKenzie received a 30 ,
' day suspended sentence on a sirn-j
! ilar charge being required to pay
: fine and costs ir; the amount of
1 $12.50.
Emma Eide, white woman bet
, ter known as Duck Thomas, was
| ordered to leave the county for
at least sixty days. She was ar
rested on a charge of being drunk
I and disorderly.
Four Year Period
Of Lower Rates
Comes To An End
.■»—
Higher Cost Of Operating
All Departments Causes
Boost Of IS Cents
Four years of lower lux rates in
Martin County came to an end last
week when the board of County
('omimssioners ngcessary
to return to the $1.20 tax rate
MtHr;;.:. . —
Which was last used m
Rising costs of doing business
generally was responsible for the
necessity of increasing the rate
over the $1.05 in effect last year,
but the larger portion of the in
crcas' is to go to the poor fund,
the county welfare department,
including old age assistance and
aid to dependent children and to
the health program.
The need for increasing welfare
funds was pointed up during the
past winter and spring when sev
< ral cases of dire need were re
vealed and it was pointed out
that welfare funds were inade
quate
While the health department
and welfare department, includ
ing old age assistance and aid to
dependent children were responsi
ble lor the largest increases in the
county budget adopted last Fri
day, other departments added
their shares to the increase.
Despite the fact that valuations
increased approximately $1,500,
000 this year over 1947, the board
found an inc rease in the tax rate
necessary as some of the other
sources of revenue were showing
no promise of increase and, indeed
some of them were declining and
showing every indication of main
taining the trend. The new rate is
based on a nineteen million dol
lar valuation as against $17,818,
793 last year. It is likely that a
change in the rate will be made
again next year as there is to be
a county-wide revaluation of all
real estate next year for which the
county has appropriated $10,950.
The last time property was reval
ued it cost the county only $3,700
but the commissioners want a
proper and efficient revaluation
this time and do not anticipate
that it can be done so cheaply
under present conditions.
The budget for the Health De
partment was increased from $10,
500 to $15,000.
""To?1-BoSP^unTT^wasTfTiSSaseiT
from $5,125 to $0,250. For the
county welfare department, em
bracing da age assistance and aid
to dependent children, the com
missioners granted an increase
from $17,640 to $21,412.
The board also allowed a $2,000
increase in the budget to take
care ol an increase in operational
costs of the Recorder’s Court. In
(Conlinued on page eight)
Funeral Sundav
J
In Hamilton For
Henry S. Johnson
-—•—
Prominent Merchant And
Farmer Died Last Fri
dav Morning*
Funeral services were held in
the Hamilton Baptist Church last
Sunday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock
for Henry S. Johnson, Sr., 60, pro
minent merchant and farmer of
Hamilton who died Friday morn
ing at 11:55 in a Rocky Mount hos
pital. Rev. E. R. Stewart, pastor,
conducted the last rites.
Mr. Johnson was hurt in a fall
last January and had suffered
from complications of those in
juries since that time. The imme
diate cause of h’ls death was pneu
monia and he had been critically
ill for a week.
Born in Hamilton July 27, 1887,
Mr. Johnson spent his entire life
there. Prior to going into business
for himself about 35 years ago he
was connected with Salsburv
Brothers in Hamilton. He was a
member of the Hamilton Baptist
Church and of Skewarkey Mas
onic Lodge, the Masons having
charge of the rites at the grave
side in Hamilton Cemetery.
Regarded as an outstanding
business man of his community
and of the county, Mr. Johnson
was known as a square-shooter
in his business dealings and a
staunch defender of what he be
lieved to be right. He was faith
ful to his friends and his church.
He never aspired to public office
but always cooperated with those
in charge of his county and town
(Continued on page eight)
Firemen Answer
Couple Of Calls
The local fire department an
swered two calls over the week
end hut in both eases the damage
i was i, •gligible. Saturday alter
ta: fcrestisjSr#
company were called to the home
of Essie Clemmons, 401 Broad
Street. An oil stove went out of
control in the colored woman's
home with little if any damage re
sulting.
On Sunday the fire department
was called to the residence of
Henry Peel, colored, on 306 White
Street. Using a wood stove with
a pipe extending to the attic with
out a flue the building caught fire
The dwelling, owned by Wilson
Staton, was damaged to the ex
tent of about $25.00.
■o
Lions Hour Itoporl On
The Stale Convention
At their regular dinner meeting
last Thursday evening in the Wo
man’s Club, members of the loeal
Lions Club heard a detailed re
port on the recently held State
Lions convention by Delegate C.
J. Goodman.
Lion Goodman reported that
there are now 6800 Lions Clubs
operating throughout the world,
and that a total of 759 had been
organized in the United States
alone in the past nine months. He
pointed out that there are 157
clubs in North Carolina, with a to
tal membership of 9,000. He said
the Lions club is the largest of any
of the various civic organizations,
having a total membership of over
300,000.
Oiie new member, Lion J. B.
McGee, was installed into the club
by President K. D. Worrell. Lion
McGee is the manager of the local
office of the Civil Aeronautics Ad
ministration.
Due to the extremely hot
weather and a doubleheader base
ball program, the meeting was
adjourned early, but not until af
ter a delightful dinner was served
by the ladies of the Pi-icy Grove
Baptist church.
! ■ ■■■ll ..- 1 ■■ -v
I FIRST Rf.OOM I
-----
The first cotton blossom re
ported this season, or at least
the first presented to The
Enterprise this year, was
shown this morning bv Mr.
Will Griffin. Mr. Griffin
farms in the islands on the
Williamston-Jamesville high
way.
Six Injured When
Auto Forced Off
Road Bv Truck
Fatlit’r ami Fiv«* Fit i Mini
Sustain llruisrs. Lacera
tions in \ceiilent
Six persons were injured, one
seriously, when the ear of Leland
Roberson was forced off the high
way on the curve near No. 90 fill
ing station between Jamesville
and Williamston late last Thurs
day afternoon. The car turned
over and completely collapsed.
Roberson, 41. was accompanied
by his five children. James Gor
don, six, received serious injuries
about the back, legs and feet. He
had previously received injuries
to his head when, according to his
father, he had fallen out of an
open door to the car and lnt the
pavement.
Roberson received bruises on
his shoulder and back. Mamie l)i
ane. one and a half years old, was
scratched on the left cheek and
sustained bruises on her head and
back but her injuries were con
sidered minor ones. Robert
Wayne, 10, was bruised on the
head and back, Ed Saunders, 12,
bruised on the head and should
ers and Verona Blanch, Hi, sus
tained bruises on her shoulder
and back.
According to Patrolman ,1. T.
Rowe who investigated the acci
dent, a large truck forced Rober
son off the highway causing him
to lose control of his car and dam
age was estimated at $500, a total
loss. Roberson was not held re
sponsible foit tlie accident but was
brought into Magistrate Johnsonus
court last night and fined
and taxed with the costs for not
having registration plates for his
ear. It was recorded as his second
violation ot motor vehicle laws.
All of thi‘ injured have been
released from the hospital' Where
they were taken for treatment af
ter the accident.
There were no other accidents
reported iri the county over the
Band Concert
Draws Praise
A forty-minute ooncert by the
Williamston High School Green
Wave Band last Sunday afternoon
did not attract as large an audi
ence as might have been expected
because of the stormy weather,
but it drew considerable praise
from the people of the community
who attended and from visiting
experts of Greenville and Golds
boro.
While the local band’s forte has
been marching and the execution
of drill numbers, it is beginning
to improve in its musical showing
as well. This wa. the first formal
public concert the band lias given
since its re-organization last year.
For the concert it bad the assist
ance of two players from Green
ville who are majoring in music
at ECTC.
One specialist from Goldsboro
remarked that the local bund was
well ahead of the Goldsboro unit
although the Goldsboro group is
much older and better establish
ed.
After the overture, Golden
Glow, Director Jack Butler led his
charges through some difficult
numbers including Beautiful Gar
den of Prayer, trumpet solo, Miss
Marie Peele, soloist; Je.su, Joy of
Man’s Desiring, chorale, Bach;
Holy is the Lord, chorale; Queen
City, march, Boom; Tea for Two,
selection; Indian Boy, novelty;
111 See You Again (Coward);
American Red Cross, march.
Boilv Of (jointly Man
On ITay line I, To SIuIvh
Word was recei ed here* this
week that the body of Pvt. Dennis
i .111 ■ ‘ in.. tn
the county for burial. It is not ex
pelled \u reach the county b< lore
the middle of July.
Pvt. Harrison was wounded in
the battle of Luzon and died on
March 30, 1945. He was buried in
the cemetery at Santa Barbara,
Philippine Islands, and the body is
to be transferred to the Mobley
Cemetery in Bear Grass Town
ship. Funeral services will be in
Rose of Sharon church.
Inspection Lane Returning
July 13 for One Week Stand
According to the mechanical in
spection lane schedule recently is
sued the lane for inspection of
all motor vehicles in this area will
resume operations here July 13
lor a one-week stand.
Estimating that only 30 percent
of the motor vehicles in the state
which will have to be inspected
at least once prior to January 1.
1949, have come in for examina
tion at the state's 36 lanes, the
motor vehicles department is re
ported considering the issuance
of special regulations requiring
motorists to come in for inspection
of their cars or trucks at certain
times.
The last time the lane was in
Williamston it had a "fair" run
of inspections but was by no
means rushed. The first time here
it drew a large number of custom
ers anil passed a high percentage
of the vehicles inspected.
Automobiles, trucks or trailers
which fail to pass inspection the
week of July 13 to 20, unless in a
highlv dangerous condition, will
be able to continue in operation
until the lane returns tor its
fourth tour here August 3i to
September (i.
Authorities are pointing out
that those ears who wait until the
last minute for inspeetion will
probably be forced off the road
for a while as it will be impossible
to handle the tremendous number
of vehicles which appear to be
waiting for the last minute stand.
There is, of course, a number of
vehicle owners who feel that their
cars or trucks will not pass the in
spection and that they do not de
sire or feel justified in spending
the money it would take to re
place some necessary items and
they will probably wait until the
deadline and tin n junk the ve
hicle, hoping to trade it for a new
one m the jneantime or to get a
new one by the tune they have to
discard the old one.
Should regulations be passed re
quiring the older models to come
in for earlier inspection, tin. ,, will
have to make up their minds be
tore the December 31 deadline, of
course
Downward Trend In
Legal Whiskey Sales
Total of $1,251,566
Spent For Liquor
ESim*e July In I(),‘)f>
--
Sales In llu* l irsl Ouarter
Of I his Year 821,899
Less Ilian Year Afio
While still holding to astound
ing 1 y high figures, liquor sales
continue to maintain a downward
trend ,vo,', u;,,u -t\U estab
lished ill 'he lour legal stores in
this county the’latter part ol IsMlT,
according to an official audit re
leased just a few days ago by the
Martin County Alcoholic Bever
ages Control Board. Sales in the
last quarter of 1947 were nearly
$03,000 less than those reported in
the corresponding period in 1940,
and now the first quarter sales of
this year are $24,890.85 less than
those reported in the correspond
ing quarter of 1047. However,
sales in the first quarter of this
year were nearly seven times as
large as those reported in the
March quarter of 1040.
In the first quarter of this year
the four stores reported sales in
the amount of $107,930.00 as com
pared with $192,829.45 handled in
the corresponding period of 1947.
Profits, passing the million dol
lar mark, last quarter were over
$10,000 less than those reported a
year ago.
No depression has struck here,
but the fairly steady decline in
legal liquor sales clearly indicates
that conditions on the economic
front are gradually tightening up,
and it is believed that the day of
peak sales is come and gone.
While there is some traffic in
the illicit liquor trade, it is believ
ed that business in that quarter
is off, but with the money spent
for liquors, legal and Illegal, beer
and wine, this county could main
tain its operations, finance the
schools, churches and build and
maintain a hospital.
A review of the 1947 first quar
ter audit shows that the ABC
board has assets in the sum of
$110,350.82, ineluding $57,771.09 in
cash, $52,520.08 in inventories and
$53.05 in fixed properties. The
board at the end iH the period
owed $20,442.71 to distillers, $4,
505.48 in accrued tuxes, $202.75 ir.
accrued expenses, $42,820.37 to
Martin County, $5,870 71 to town
of Williamston, $2,840 88 to town
oTH^h^^nvi!K$12137diHi^u^i
$Ht■'!!/: The, reserve tci law
enforcement stands at $19,014.45
and there is a surplus of $12,000.
Expenses for the lirst quarter
wert listed as follows: cost of li
quor, $122,750.84; salaries and
wages, $3,515.50; rent, $388; store
I supplies, $10.57; heat, water and
I lights, $190.28; administrative and
| general expenses, $2,143.84; or a
(Continued on page eight)
II VII
S’
Hail struck several l'anns
between Willianiston anil
Hamilton Sunday afternoon
inflicting serious damage to
crops in some sections. Be
ginning at Mayo Hardison's
farm the hail rained down on
the farms of Johnny Holliday,
i Slade White and others. The
i
i crops on the Holliday larm
I were said to be the most seri
ously damaged.
Dies Here Early
Monday Morning
i
Funeral Services llii- Viler
noon Al l:.‘IO In I're*
I»\ lerian < lumli
Mis. Sarah Peel Keel, 73. wife
uf Bill Keel, cl led at I he In mie of
! a daughter on Hay Street Monday
morning at 11:30 o’clock after a
long period of declining health
The daughter of the lute Billy
| Peel and Jane Stalls Peel, Mrs
Keel was born in the Everetts
community September (i 18114. In
1111)2 she married Hill Keel, also
of the Everetts community, mov
ing to Williamston about 211 years
ago.
At tlie time of her death, Mrs.
Keel was the oldest living mem
j her of the Primitive Baptist
' Church at Bear Grass.
A devout Christian, Mi Keel
led an humble life and had many
friends throughout the county .
Besides her husband, survivors
j are, four children, Durant Keel of
j Plymouth, Mrs. William W. Mey*
: era of Williamston, Mrs. It. A
Taylor of Williamston and Mrs.
i (Continued on page eight)
Larceny Reported / »»
//t* Increasing llcre
Reports, official and otherwise,
indicate that larceny is beginning
to bod out here again and officers
have pointed out that it would be
well for property owners to be
as cautious as possible in protect
ling items that uie apt to attract
| thieves.
I The local police reported yes
I terday that two G. E, fans valued
j at $ 100.00 wen stolen during the
Skinner Tobacco Compary. The
thieves entered the place Uu<'Ugh
.1 window after cutting the screen.
Previously a bicycle had been
stolen from the yards of the Wil
liamston Lumber Company and
stripped of wheels and other
parts. Officers Charlie Moore
and John Roebuck later recovered
the remains of the bicycle in the
neighborhood of the null hut there
was little left of it.
Johnson Carries
Countv But Seott
\\ ins In the State
Maruiii for ,|olin*on (]ut To
1 I .‘5 \ In Second
l’rimar\ Salurday
Ma' t n County retained its re
putation of never going along for
tlie winning governor when it
gave Charles M. Johnson a ma
jority of 113 votes in the second
primary last Saturday while the
rest of the state was electing Kerr
Scott governor and upsetting the
old tradition that the top man in
tin- first primary always takes the
governorship in the run-off.
Contrary to expectations, the
\oto m the second primary in the
county was heavier than in the
first round on May 29. In the
first primary the county voted
3,033 for all the candidates for
governor but in the run-off the
total reach 3169.
Four precincts which went for
Johnson in the first primary had
changed their minds by the time
the run-off voting time arrived.
One which had gone for Johnson
in the first primary gave the can
didates an even split in the voting
last Saturday while one which di
vided its votes equally between
the two top men last time gave the
nod to Johnson the tins time.
The precincts which changed
from Johnson to Scott were Wil
liamston No. 1 and 2. Poplar Point
and Hassell Hamilton dropped
Johnson back to a tie while Goose
Ni >t broke a first round tie to
give the nod to Jol nson the sec
ond time around.
For all that was said about the
race in the first primary and all
that was not aid about it in the
econd. there seems to be no great
excitement about it in this section.
While it is cci tain that some de
partment heads will lull in Ral
i igh after the inauguration of
Scott local officials anticipate no
problems in handling business of
a mutual nature between county,
(owe ami or stale unices.
J amesville
W i Ilia a is
Griffins
Bear Grass
Williamston I
Williumstun II
Cro . Roads
Robersonville
Gold Point
Poplar Point
Hassell ‘
Hamilton
Goose Nest
Jhn
102
18
138
156
163
222
84
368
101
50
34
85
Set
245
101
82
88
188
244
95
133
40
79
53
85
95
Ttl.
347
119
240
244
351
466
179
501
141
129
87
170
195
Totals
1641 1528 3169
\ (Urinations Still
Bring Given Here
Reporting that the vaccinations
in the county l'or typhoid fever
had reached the usual 10,000 this
year, Mai tin County Health De
partment. officials yesterday call
ed attention to the fact that tho
office is open in Wilhamston each
Thursday afternoon from 1 to 5
o'clock and Saturday mornings, 9
to 12 for vaccinations.
State law requires all parents
to have their children vaccinated
toi whooping cough, diphtheria
and small pox before they reach
their first birthday anniversary
hut no prosecutions have been of
fered m this county ft was point
1 dout yesterday, however, that
some counties are beginning to
take legal action to compel par
ents to give their children this
protection. No child can enter
school until it has had these vac*
cinutions but by waiting until the
child is five or six years old the
parents rob it of several years of
protection which would be pro
vided by first year vaccinations.
Declaring that if it were made
known that a vaccine had been
found lor Polio the county would
IT'.-1 to toe office tor a •’shot", the
-"'•v- V -T- A-orr P’s- df-ASCS
for which there are preventative*
than from polio.
( ON SIKT'TION STARTED
The foundation has already
been poured and cement blocks
moved to the site along with Other
materials for the new building at
the Wilhamston High School. It
is expected that the building wilt
be ready for use by early fall.