ft
SHE ENTERPRISE IS READ BT
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT™’
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK
THE ENTERPRISE
THE ENTERPRISE IS READ Bl
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTl
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEE1
VOLUME LIIIt-NUMBER 86
Williams ton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, October ill, 1950
ESTABLISHED 1899
Tickets On Sale
• For Community
Concert Series
I'.igcllly Kr|)ri'*i'llt;i11w~ X«
Handle Sale In This* ami
Neighborin': Tokiis
Promised the services of at
least three noted artists, eighty
representatives from Williamston
and several surrounding commun
i ities virtually agreed at a meeting
in the Woman’s Club here last
evening to promote a series of
community concerts during the
next several months. Memberships
were placed on sale this morning,
and Chairman B. G. Stewart and
his executive committee are con
fident the series of entertainments
can be advanced without trouble,
that the membership canvass can
• be completed by Saturday eve
ning of this week.
Mrs. Marjorie Lee, representing
the Community Concert Service,
a division of Columbia Artists
Management, New York City,
talked briefly to the meeting last
evening, explaining that there
were 1,045 concert associations
functioning in the United States,
Canada, Mexico and Cuba, that
some of them had been operating
* continuously for more than twen
ty years. She declared that some
of the finest artists in the country
will be made available to the peo
ple in this section and at a reason
able cost.
While it is hardly possible for
the top-flight artists to tour the
smaller centers, Mrs Lee explain
ed that every entertainer is re
commended, that many of the
‘t great artists in the nation today
were atone time on the communi
ly concert programs
It was pointed out that the re
sponse to the membership drive
will help determine the entertain
ment selections in this area, that
if the people in this area support
the project possibly four or more
concerts will be arranged during
the 1950-51 season. The selections
9 will be made in a meeting of the
executive committee and direr*
tors to be held in the Woman's
Club Saturday evening following
the close of the membership cam
paign.
It was also explained that a
member of the local association
(Continued on page eight)
^ ! CHAIRMAN
l/
Mr. W. G. (Rill) Peele lo
cal business man, has been
named chairman of the 1950
Christmas Seal Sale for Mar
tin County according to an
announcement loduy by Air.
Edgar Gurganus, President of
the Martin County Tuberculo
sis Committee which will eon
duct the Seal Sale in the
county from November 24 un
til December 25. Mr. Peele
succeeds Charles Manning
whu served as Chairman for
the past four years.
County Has 100 Percent Farm Bureau Family
J J
Martin County has a 100 percent Farm Bureau family in Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Cratt and
their children. Ten of them are members of the organization. Mr. Cratt explaining that
the Farm Bureau had helped him a lot, that "it was only fair, in return, to help the Farm
Bureau all he could. Residents of BeaFGrass, they have supported the organization all
along the way. The Farm Bureau now has 1,483 paid-up members and the drive con
tinues for a goal of 2,000. A few more families like' the Cratts could carry the drive over
the top with the greatest of ease. In the above picture, seated, left to right: Mrs. Naomi
Burnette, Mrs. W. R. Cratt, Mr. Cratt and Mrs. Vernon Harrison; standing, left to right,
Wesley Cratt, James Cratt, Luther Burnette, Vernon Harrison, Jasper Cratt and Luther
Cratt.
Town Calls For New Bids
On Sewer Line Extension
Declaring the proposed cpn
I tracts, submitted by contractors
j on October 17, were too high, Wil
liamston's town commissioners in
■ special session last Thursday eve
ning rejected all the proposals and
j instructed the engineers to call
1 for new bids.
It is proposed to break the pro
jects down into classifications,
, one to include the laying of fif
j teen-inch pipe, another would in
' elude the construction of man
1 holes, and so on. The bids are to
: be opened at a special meeting of
j the commissioners to be held on
. Wednesday, November 15.
It was first estimated that the
i sewer line extensions would cost
I $110,000, the engineers explaining
I they had based their estimation
on contracts let by a municipality
for the construction of a similar
project last June. The engineers
also explained that their estimates
allowed for increased costs.
Bids, submitted on the 17th,
ranged from a low of $14!),000 to
$209,000. Where one contractor
was low bidder on certain types
of work, he would be high bidder
on another class. Bids will be ask
ed on the over-all project and also
on the individual classifications.
The town board was advised at
the meeting that the contract
price on the construction of a 300,
000-gallon water tank had been
lowered by $1,040 to $49,350 The
reduction in cost was made possi
ble by a minor change in construc
tion plans, it was explained.
Slightly Hurl In
Accident Friday
Harry C. James, son of Mr. and
Mis N. C James of Arlington, Va.,
playing lag football with school
chums here last Friday afternoon.
The injury, an examination dis
closed, was not as serious as it
was first thought to be. A blood
vessel burst when the ball hit him,
it was learned.
Able to be up, the young man
who recently entered school here,
SEE COUNTRY 1
v*---i
Most, if not all, the twenty -
five Martin County young
men who entered the Army
last Friday are already "see
ing the country.” They had
hardly reached Fort Bragg
helore they were transferred
to Fort Jackson in South Car
olina.
Some of the boys were not
perfect physical specimens,
but as far as it could be learn- I
ed all were accepted.
was advised to "take it easy" lor
several days.
Judging Canned Goods At Harvest Festival
Pictured above, left to right, are Miss Evelyn Hancock, home service director for the
Virginia Electric and Power Company; Miss Elizabeth Parker, home agent, and Miss
Sarah Wobbleton, the agent’s secretary, judging canned foods at the recent harvest festi
val here. . -
Large Crowds Al
Church Meetings
In County Sunday
N«*w (Hum'll l)«‘(li«'alril Ami
Onliualion Service Al
(iruitft KouiIh
Religious services featured sev
eral special events in this county
during the week-end, and with
'ideal weather prevailing the pro
grams were attended by capacity
' crowds.
In addition to the regular ser
vice schedules, there were several
Primitive Baptist unions, a church
dedication and an ordination ser
vice at Christian Chapel, Cross
| Roads.
After preaching the first ser
mon in the new church at Cross
I Roads Friday evening, the pas
! tor, Rev P. E. Cayton, turned the
I property over to the Roanoke Dis
trict Convention Saturday morn
ing. The first sessions last until
mid-afternoon. Following the ded
ication Sunday morning, two
oung men of the community, Jack
Roebuck, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Herbert L. Roebuck, and Dallas
Ayers, son of Mi- and Mrs. Oscar
Ayers, were ordained. The Rev.
Roebuck was graduated from At
lanta (Ga.), Christian College,
and Rev Ayers studied at John
son Bible College, Tennessee.
No estimate on the size of the
attendance upon the services
could be had, but it was reported
the church was filled to overflow
ing well advance of the services.
One Primitive Baptist Union
Was held at Spring Green, and a
service was held at Lilley’s Mali,
.reports stating that both events
were largely attended.
The Union at Smithwick Creek
attracted more than 1,000 mem
bers and friends .Sunday After
attending the opening sessions
Saturday, Elder A. F Sudduth
(Continued on page eight)
Katie A. Jones
Died Here Sunday
Katie A. Jones, respected color
ed citizen, died at her home here
on East Main Street Sunday eve
ning at 6:20 o’clock. She had been
in declining health for about two
years and her condition had been
critical for about a week following
a stroke of paralysis. She was born
here 411 years ago. She faithfully
served in the Cornerstone Bap
tist Church of which she was a
member since girlhood, and was
active in the Queen Easier Lodge
until declining health forced her
retirement. Her life, humbly liv
ed, w?s marked for its good
woi ks.
She was married to Essie Jones ,
who survives with a sister, Violet
ta Singletary of Burdock, Pa., and I
a brother John Henry Ashley of I
Newport News. '
Ten Men Leaving
County Thursday
For Army Center
Final linluction Fall Is llir
Soroml To lie Ansum’d
In This Comity
Ten Martin County young men |
are leaving this county for the |
Army induction center at Fort
Bragg Thursday morning. the
draft board office announced this
week. It is the second induction
call to be answered in this coun
ty. Twenty-five men answered
a call last Friday and they are
now at Fort Jackson, South Caro
lina, for further examinations and
processing. Those finally accept
ed will be assigned to various
camps throughout the nation for
their basic training.
The second induction group is
to report to the draft board office
at t>:30 o'clock Thursday morn
ing and will leave by regular bus
at 7:30 o’clock. There'll be a stop
in Rocky Mount for a meal, the
group reaching Fort Bragg about
1:30 o'clock that afternoon. It is
likely the men will be transferred
almost immediately to the pro
cessing center at Fort Jackson
where the first inductees from the
county are said to be making the
most of it
Twelve men were called for in
duction this week, but only ten
have been formally cleared. Sev
en of the ten are white.
Names and addresses of the ten
are, as loljows:
White
Arthur Nichols Brown, Oak
City.
William Archie Johnson, RFD 2,
Rohersonville.
Linton Eugene Roebuck, Wil
liamston.
Gordon Ray Hinson, RF1) I, Oak
, City.
Sylvester Leggett, RFD 3, Wil
liamston. .
Daniel Marvin Perry, RFD 1,
Jamosville and Lynnhaven, Va.
Russell Dat'd Roberson, RFD 2,
Williamston.
Colored
Albert Greene, 112 Center
Street, Williamston.
Mack Junior Cherry, RFD 1,
| Bethel.
i John Lester Robertson, Wash
ington Street, Williamston.
i _
No One Hurt In
j Accident Series
In This County
—
Property Damage in llie Six
j Itoail Accidents I*1 I
At Nearly $700
Nii line was hurl and property
damage averaged just a little over
JH100 per accident in the series of
six vehicle wrecks reported on
Martin County highways and
streets during recent days.
W. L. Chesson, the early part of
the week, damaged Ins 11)41 Ford
to the extent of about $150 when
he struck a mule in Highway 04
just east on the Collie Swamp
bridge. The animal, belonging to
Farmer Clinton House, ran into
the highway, Patrolman B W
Parker said following the investi
gation.
A State dump truck, driven by
Darrell Simpson, and a 1040 Chev- I
rolet, driven by Sidney Hay Lew
is, crashed at the MeCaskey Hoad
Highwav 04 intersection last Fri
day morning at 7:00 o’clock, caus
ing $100 damage to the ear and
$20 damage to the truck, accord
ing to Patrolman John T Rowe,
who made the investigation.
Early Saturday afternoon, Lee
V. Cochran, colored man and a
Jehovah’s Witness, was driving a
pick-up truck, towing a 1033
Chevrolet coupe on Highway 04,
about two miles east of Rober
sonville Cochran slowed down
for the railroad and the coupe
with Linwood J. Peel of Bethel
at the wheel, ran up on the truck
and the baling wire, used for tow
ing, became entangled in the front
wheel and caused the coupe to
turn over. Damage to the car was
estimated at $150 by Patrolman M
F. Powers who made the investi
gation. Not certain about the val
idity of his Washington, D. C.,
driver's license, Cochran asked
permission to retreat and pray
(Continued on Page Seven)
Final Hearing Held
In Drainage District
To Start Work On
Bear Grass Swamp
Project Shortly
During The Meantime Sev-i
era I Ohjcclors Will Carr)
(liioes Into (iourt
I Holding a final hearing in the
I courthouse last Friday afternoon,
1
Martin County Drainage Project
No, 1, embracing portions of Bear
Grass and Turkey Swamps, en
countered some opposition, but a
large number declared in favor of
the undertaking and it is now ex
pected that work on the project
can be started the early part of
January. During the meantime,
approximately eighteen objectors
have recourse to the courts, but it
is possible that only a few of that
number will push their cases, ac
cording to unofficial reports heard
following last Friday meeting.
Assessment statements were dis
tributed a short time ago, offer
ing cost estimates The direct and
general benefits have been out
lined, and the engineers are mak
ing ready to call for bills on the
project, it was said.
Definite cost figures are not to
be had until the bids are received
and opened, but engineers are
(Continued on page eight)
' * ~
Takes Over Store
Management Here
Ernest C Carraway, until re
cently a resident of Chase City,
Va., yesterday assumed the man
agership of Leder Brothers' store
here, succeeding Sterling (Bill)
McCombs who has been tranter
red to Plymouth.
Mr, Carraway, the oldest em
ployee from the standpoint of ser
vice in the Leder organization,
| went with the firm in its first
I store at Whiteville seventeen
I yearn ago, continuing there until
he took over the management
of the Chase City Store.
A trained expert fn the field
of merchandising, Mr Carraway
is a native of South Carolina, but
has spent much of his life in this
State. He was married in Clinton,
and Mrs. Carraway and their
| three children two sons and a
daughter will join him here just
as soon as living quarters can be
1 found.
Keports from Chase City state
I that the people there regretted the
move, that he was a leader in the
Lions Club and active with Mrs
Carraway in civic work and m the
Presbyterian church
Mr McCombs who has managed
the store here since It was opened
m August of last year, is return
ing to Plymouth, succeeding Jul
ius Segcrman who has been nam
ed assistant to President Herman
Leder with headquarters in
Whiteville.
nkw vi\\v(;i;k
_J
Mr. Ernest Carraway entcr
iilit>ii his new duties as mana
ger of l.eder Brothers Depart
ment Store here yesterday,
succeeding Bill McCombs who
is now in Plymouth. Mr. Car
raway will move his family—
wife and three children—here
from Chase City, Va„ just as
soon as he can find living
quarters.
Propose Changes
In Constiiulion
At Next Election
|One Would Safeguard Tin*
I Fuudh of Slalt* Kiiiploy
«'<>*’ Krtironu'iil Plan
Five amendtments to the Con
i stitution of North Carolina will
bo submitted to popular vote on
November 7 The adoption or re
lection of each amendment will
be determined by the majority of
| the votes east lor or against each
amendment. The legal signifi
jounce ol the proposed No 2
I amendment is briefly explained
as follows:
2 Safeguarding the Funds of
Teachers’ and State Employees’
Retirement System.
Since July 1, 1941, there has
been in operation a Teachers' and
State Employees’ Retirement Sys
tern. Funds for the system are de
rived from contributions by teach
ers and employees and by match
ing funds supplied by the State
At present there is no constitu
tional prohibition against appro
priation by the General Assembly
| of the funds of the Retirement
System for purposes other than
: payment of retirement benefits
j The proposed amendment would
add a new section 111 at the end
of Article II which would prohibit
the use of funds of the Retire
ment System except for Retire
ment System purposes Chaptei
921 of the Session Laws of 194!)
^ (Continued on page eight)
Tobacco Market
Holds Its Final
Sale 01 Season
\lionl Niue and llircr
Chiarlrr Million Pounds
Sold During Season
Williamston s Tobacco Market
is holding its final sale of the sea
son today, preliminary reports
stating that it is a mighty small
one. Yesterday, the market sold
only 9,470 pounds, the average
standing right at $50 per hundred
pounds. "If there are any farm
ers in this area who have not sold
their tobacco, we don't know
them," a representative of the
market said this morning.
With a very small poundage on
the floors this morning, tobaccon
ists, including buyers, bookkeep
ers and others, made ready to
leave for their respective homes
i
in several days to spend a short
time before reporting to markets
in other belts.
I The final sale here today marks
the close of the market’s most suc
cessful season While the pound
age set no new record, it was far
greater than was expected back
yonder when rains were washing
the life out of the crop. Although
the poundage set no new record,
the cash income this year was the
! largest in the history of the mar
ket. Official figures foi today
could not be had. but the market
up until today had sold 9,703,902
pounds for a total of $5,559,756.96.
The income is $1,196,594.96 greater
than the amount received last sea
. son.
Following is a comparison of
sales and prices with the average
1 for each of the past five years:
Year Pounds Money Avg.
1945: 11,278,890 $4,978,413 $44.14
194® 10,874,674 5,515,721 50.72
1947 12,205,114 5,026,962 41.10
1948: 9,185.020 4,449,356 48.44
1949 8,910,898 4,371,162 49.05
1950: 9,703,902 5,559,756 57.29
| The 1950 figures are not quite
I complete The figures are based
on reports furnished b> Mr. C). S.
Anderson, representative of the
Tobacco Branch of the Production
land Marketing Administration.
While they may vary a bit from
i the agriculture department fig.
I ures, they are substantially cor
I rect.
A government report release/
j tins week show that South Caro*
lina border markets sold 301,627,.
! 557 pounds during the 1950 season
(Continued on Page Kight)
KOI MM I*
j
Fiquor .iixl fights K r |»*
stale, county and local offi
cers busy last week-end, the
county jail record showing
that eight persons were ar
rested and detained in the jail.
Four were booked on drunken
driving charges, two for pub
lic drunkenness and two for
assaults.
Three of the eight were
white and the ages of the
group ranged from 2(> to 47
years.
Street Dance At Harvest Festival
Pictured above i.-> a portion of the large crowd estimated at 3,0(»0 in attendance
upon the recent harvest festival street dance. The crowd was so large that the dancers
were almost pushed out of the street from Mam to the railroad on Washington. ^