SHE ENTERPRISE IS READ Bl
OVER 3,003 MARTIN COUNT*’
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEES
.• — —»•v'tft, > • ■ —•** , ■■■■■woiftft) •' • > — ——•♦not ..*•■**,
THE ENTERPRISE
THE ENTERPRISE IS READ II
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTS
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEES
VOLl'-HE LIV—^NUMBER 6
^srs=
Williamnlotu Martin County, North Carolina, Tiuiaulay, January Hi.
ESTABLISHED 1899
Can Reach CqUpb*
Old Boll Weevils
r-. viiier Ptwliiiotl RuAhm
Of Lint Colton On Five
Acres Lest Year
By S. A. Tuten, Jr.
Assistant County Agent
The removal of controls from
cotton production and the an
nouncement of a U. S. goal of
16,000,000 bales of cotton for 19b 1
have affected the plans of practi
cally every cotton grower in Mar
tin County. There has been con
siderable discussion among grow
ers both for and against a return
to pre-control or increased acre
age This observer has heard ar
guments on both sides This arti
cle, in part, is an attempt to sum
marize the opinions of those who
are deciding how much cotton to
plant this year.
Most growers agree that there
is a real need for increased cot
ton production. Knough cotton
must be produced vo make up for
losses suffered last year and to
supply increased defense needs.
There seems to be little doubt
about demand for the 1951 crop.
Also growers are confident that
Martin County can produce its
part of the national quota pro
fitably if. and this seems to be
the big question, boll weevils can
be controlled. Of course, no one
can say yes or no at this time. So
a decision must be made at this
time on the basis of past exper
ience.
Fewer boll weevils are expect
ed to survive the colder weather
this winter :however, even of
they do emerge in large numbers
and weather conditions are un
favorable in July - control is still
possible.
We don't have to go outside of
the county to find someone who
made a good yield of cotton last
year. Mr. Hassell Warren, Kob
ersonville carried out a very com
mendable cotton production pro
gram on his farm near Gold Point.
,Ie produced six bales on five
icres Gin weights wore 582, 594,
182. 524. 512 and 486 pounds. The
total weight is 8190 pounds which
iigures out a little better than
me and one-fourth bales per acre
(Continued on page eight)
Financial Report
On Paralysis Fund
—<*>——
Martin County's Infantile Pa
ralysis Fund has been depleted
tiViiv ■ *11<>i c, i rv.'£i.-■>ai ci' A.CevUi'
Cirifiin reporting this week that
the fund has a bill of $275 with
only $ 1 C>2.52 in the treasury.
At ‘he beginning of last year,
the lund had S3,107.18 on hand.
Hospital and professional care of
two patients who contracted polio
during the year called for ex
penditure of $2,548.05. Ambulance
services, including the transfer of
the victims and suspected vic
tims, cost $102.50. Expenses of
post polio cases amounted to $175
and miscellaneous expenses were
$59.11, making a total expense for
the year of $2,944.00. On the first
day of this year, the fund had
$162.52 with a bill payable in the
amount of $275 00, leaving the
fund overdrawn by $112.48.
One of the victims .u ,,
colored cnild of neat Oak City,
and the other victim was a small
~ ' efijiti “of "Cross Koacis i’uwiisfiip. "
Hear Drainage Case
]~m WON'T BE LONG
^
It won't be lone now be
fore Williamston's radio sta
tion, WIAM, will be on the
air. However, no definite date
for the opening has been fix
ed, the manaeetnent explain
ing that a few more techni
calities must he cleared before
the formal opening.
The transmitter tower has
been completed near the riv
er. A United Press teletype
machine has been installed
and the studios are ready, it
was learned.
Vital Meeting Of
P.-T. A. Planned
—-*
Problems vital to the very 1 ifc
[of Uu Williairston schools, and
I especially to certain departments
of it, will be taken up at the busi
ness session of the Williatnston
Parents-Teachers Association in
the Elementary School audi
torium Monday evening et T an
A program following the busi
ness session will feature an ad
dress by Di, Fred West, dean of
Religious Life at Atlantic Chris
tian College, Wilson, on the sub
ject, "Character and Spiritual
Education.”
Faced with a curtailment of
its program, the school needs the
attention and help of every citi
zen in the community and school
district, officials of the P. T. A
pointed out today.
Rece nt changes in the building
plgns of the county board of edu
cation are threatening to cost the
Williamston school its recently ac
quired agricultural and vocation
al department, according to some
observers and it may be that
othei curtailments will have to
he effected, also
Report On Boys
In The Service
Visiting several Martin County
boys in Fort Jackson a few days
ago, Sgt. C. E. Jenkins, Jr., asked
if they had anything to tell the
boys back home "Harry C Averr
was quoted as saying, "Tell ’em
.nothing Let , .them fieri, nut the
hard way as I am doing."
Sgt. Jenkins, who is stationed
at the- Fort, said he sees most of
the boys, from home often, that be
had just talked with Recruit
Ayers, Dillon Cherry and Buster
Modlin. "All the boys are doing
fine, except for being a little
| homesick at times. But'they'll
I get over that in time,” Sgt. Jen
jkins said.
Rniltlinf! and Loan (> roup
To Moot Horo Monday
The annual meeting of the Mar
tin County Building and Loan As
sociation stockholders will meet
in Attorney Wheeler Martin’s of
fice here next Monday morning
a1. ffvOO <•'( ;.,ck F.k-.cli‘s«(s .•*:„U be
held and other business is to be
handled at that time, it was an
nounced'' today. 11
Reviews Need for Drainage
(hi Farms in MartinCounty
Speaking before a farmers’
meeting m the courthouse a few
days ago, Howard F McKnight
of the Soil Conservation division,
reviewed the drainage problem in
Martin County.
While much progress has been
made to improve the drainage
situation, far more js yet to be
done before the problem is solv
ed according to the conservation
ist.
Engineers have estimated that
100 miles of open canals are ne
cessary under a modern and ade
quate program. In addition to the
canals, possibly nine million feet
of farm drain tile are necessary
to provide adequate drainage for
the county.
So far. approximately five and
lone-half miles of open canals have
! been dug, and nearly one-half
| million feet of farm drain tile has
i been laid, Mr. McKnight told the
I meeting.
Losses, especially where tobac
co production is concerned, have
I been greater in a single season
than the cost of some drainage
projects. Mr. McKnight suggests
that tobacco land be drained first,
and the program extended from
that point.
He explained that assistance is'
available, that machinery for lay
ing the drain tile and digging the
canals is right here in the county,
that now is a good time to push
the drainage work. ,
Many reimoneT?
Already Net The
First Assessment
Jmlpr \V. I. Halstead To
Preside Over Speeial
One-Week Term
With a special judge presiding
over a special one-week session
ol' the Martin County Superior
Com t, a settleinent is expected in
the Turkey Swamp-Bear Grass
Drainage controversy next week.
While the proposal has developed
a controversy, it has not mater
ially affected personal relations,
j The petitioners, numbering about
128. are in earnest with their sup
port of the project while the ten
or twelve respondents are strong
ly contesting the value of the
1 project.
Since the action was launched
I in early 1949, several respondents
have joined the petitioners, and
others chose to file no answers, it
i was learned.
As far as it could be learned,
ten respondents are opposing the
project, and two other parties,
,Luther Harris and Lillie Wynne
i are appealing from the land elas
I sifieations.
The respondents include M. D.
Taylor, B W. Leggett. Z. S. and
i S C. Cowin, Edmond Harris, J.
W. Leggett, B. A. Rogers, J. D.
Wynne, A D Terry and Chester
i Taylor.
The assessments, based on 217
acres of "A" land at $27.00 per
! acre, 802 acres of “B" land at $22
; per acre, 267 acres of "C” land at
! $16.50 per acre, 636 acres of ' D"
I land at $11 per acre, anrl 8,886
acres of "K" land at $5.50 per
acre, making a total of $72,886
Preliminary estimates placed the
expenses at $70.836 35, the peti
tioners explaining that potential
savings would possibly hold the
costs within the assessments.
Known as Martin County
Drainage Project No 1, the un
dertaking is commissioned by
Sidney Beaeham, elected for
three years; H. M. Avers, elected
| for two years, and Arthur Peaks,
elected for one year.
It. is understood that many of
the 128 petitioners have already
met then initial assessments, and
j if favorable a< tion is obtained in
I the'courts next week';'possibly ac
tual work on the project will get
1 under way within a short time.
A contract has been entered intft,
i subject to the action taken by the
i court
In an answer filed July 4, 1949,
j several of the respondents denied
I
School AsHv&es
BUI uiul fauAW
Goal of $4,000.00!
R»air»w« Hr-;
ports Fmul N«« Stands
At S 1010.00
A report from Chairman David ;
Davis yesterday revealed that the j
High School Activities Bus Fund
has reached $4010.00, passing the
original goal of $3,750.00 by a nice
margin and even going over the
revised goal of $4,000.00, While a
number of donations for $100.00
each were received and there were
some for $50.00 and $25.00, the in
dividual contributions of small
Amounts were responsible for the
fund passing the final mark.
Chairman Davis said the re
sponse to the drive was excellent
and after the Plymouth game and
special tag sales had sent the drive
off to a flying start, the contribu
tions started moving in and pro
I vided the rest ot the needed cash.
The vehicle has been ordered
and thcie is now sufficient money
to take care of taxes and insur
ance apd possibly add a heater
later
| "The Bus Fund Committee," Mr
Davis said, "wishes to express its
i sincere appreciation to the con
tributors listed below, whose gen
erosity made tin undertaking ,,
success."
The donors:
Rounoke Chevrolet Co., Woolard
Furniture Co., Margolis Brothers,
Dixie Motor Co.. B. S. Courtney
and Son, Williamston Band Par
ents Club, Harrison Oil Co., Har
rell Everett, Chas. 11. Jenkins Co.,
Town of Williamston. Mrs. .1 G.
Staton, Mat tin Elliott Co., Davis
Pharmacy, N C. Green, Belk-Tyl
er Co., Dr. ,1. S. Rhodes, Sr., W I
Skinner Tobacco Co., Employees
of W. I. Skinner Co., King Tobacdo
Co., W. H. Ross, Rov Ward, Wil
liamston Lions Club, Williamston
K i warns Club, Martin County
(Continued on page eight)
Exum L. Ward, Jr.
Buys Local Firm
...-—
Exum L. Ward, Jr., who has
been associated with Mr. George
Harris since 1943 in the opera
tion of the Williamston Hardware
Company on Washington ' Street,
announced today the purchase of
I the firm from Mr. Harris.
!, Mr. Harris., who Pitiiehased. the.,
i hardware store from the Whed
j bees of Ahoskie in 1939, will de
! vote his time to his recently es
j tablished used furniture business.
I Hubert Bland has been employ*
I ed by Mr. Ward to assist in the
direction of the store.
; Badly Hurl In
Fall Tuesday
While working on his’daughter’s
home near Jamesville late Tues
day afternoon, Mi William R
Price slipped and fell about ten
feet from the second to the first
floor, injuring himself badly
Eighteen stitches were required to
close1 cuts on his head and fore
head He suffered a shoulder in
jury, possibly a fracture, and
bruises about the body.
His daughter, Mrs, James Jen
nings, had him removed to a local
hospital for treatment, last reports !
stating that he continues quite ill. j
Band Again Wins
District Honors
—<®—
The Williumston High School
Green Wave Band amain won the
lirst place prize at the 5th annual
mid-winter convention of Lion
districts 31 E and K at Wilson on
Luanday a 1 lei 1100/1.
This is the second time that the
..)KiUwW.‘'*n band JjitSLJSfa,” i'tsL
place honor:; and in it:; third ap
pearanee came home with a tie
for second place. Among the
bands participating were those ol
Rocky Mount, Goldsboro, Tar
i boro, Wilson and Greenville The
Greenville band won honorable
mention for its part in the parade
A cash award of $10.00 was mi Veil
the Williamston Lions Club for
having the best hand in the pa
rade. A big item in bringing the
honor to Williamston was the
unusual routine given by the
band in front of the judge's stand
The Williamston Lions also had
a decorated convertible in the
parade. President James Bullui k,
Secretary Charlie Hamilton, Ho
uicr Barnhill anu James Bailey
Peele were in the car.
A large number of Williamston
people attended the parade and
the local club was well represent
ed at the two-day convention.
The band traveled in two char
tered busses and w;<, accompani
ed by several local cars.
Long Session Countv
“ J
Court Held Monday
Officials Ins/iecl I\civ
Texas Coin/tan y Terminal \
~ r~“
P. M. Isbill, assistant manger of :
tin* Texas- Oil Company of New I
York, R B Allen, dislnrl mana
ger for, the.., Norfolk Division, C
R. Frnhiin, assistant credit inan
ager of Norfolk, and W L. Lee,
manager of the company’s opera
tions m North Carolina, were
here this week inspecting the
company’s new terminal.
They were said to have been
well pleased with the new plant
land the operation set-up.
Tweniy-lwo Cases
Handled By Judge
Raymond Johnson
Kim's, luclmliiifj 1200 For
SpiMMlin^, A moo nl rd
To $770.00
-S'
In ari all-day session tile Martin
County Recorder's Court last
Monday just about cleared its
docket and made ready to give
way for a special term of the su
perior tribunal, beginning next
Monday.
Judge Raymond T. Johnson
handled twenty-two eases before
calling it a day Monday, the doc
ket carrying several jury trials
and two or three long, drawn-out
cases. Fines, including $200 foi
speeding .amounted to $770, but
payment in nn ...! is pend
ing the outcome id appeals to the
higher court.
Pro ■ceding"
Pleading guilty of drunkei
driving, Manuel Rdward Harris
was lined $100, taxed with the
i ost and lost Ins operator's li
cerise for a year.
I. G. Whitley pleaded guilty ol
violating the liquor laws and wa:
sentenced to the roads for six
months. The road term was sus
pended upon the payment of i
$25 fine and costs. The defendant
is to violate no liquor law during
the next two years.
Pleading not guilty, Rddic Mod
lin was found guilty of an assaul
with a deadly weapon, and wa:
sentenced to the roads for six
months. The term was suspender
loi two years upon tla payment
of a $50 fine and costs. Notice o
appeal to the higher courts wa:
i later withdrawn,
i Charged with an assault with ;
deadly weapon, Lin wood Rhode:
was found guilty of iiespassinj
and disorderly conduct, and wa:
(Continued on page eight)
>unrtv
Problem Until
Monday
* i
*
New Developments Pendi ng
In Recent Assault Cases
No official information has
boon released, but it was learned
today from reliable sources ihat
new developments are pending in
the case in which a 15-year-old
county girl was allegedly attack
ed late' last Sunday night and
early Monday morning.
Martin Deputies Raymond
Rawls and Wiley Craft returned
Samuel R Hardison and Clarence
McCoo! from Fort Bragg late yes
terday afternon. Hardison along
with his brother, James has been
formally charged with attacking
the girl, but it could not be learn
ed if or whether a warrant would
be drawn against MeCool or what
the charge is or w uld be if a
warrant is drawn.
MeCool is the young man who
was referred to as an army buddy
and who accompanied Samuel
Hardison from Fort Bragg to the
county for a visit last week-end.
t
Accompanied by James Hardison,
Meredith Cherry, Rachel Lee
Hailey, 14 years old, and the vic
tim of the alleged attaeks, were
returning to Fort Bragg when the
15-year-old girl was claimed to
I have been attacked near Wilson
by Samuel Hardison while James
held her in the front seat.
It was reported that the Bailey
girl's family was preferring char
ges, similar to those embodied in
warrants against James and Sam
uel Hardison. No copy could be
seen immediately.
It was also reported that spec
ial agents of the army were in
the county investigating the case,
but they could not be contacted.
A hearing has not been definite
ly scheduled, one report said pos
sibly it would be held either Fri
day night or Saturday, that likely
. it would be closed to the general
I public.
Sixty-nine Men Take
Pre-Induetion Tests
HANK HOLIDAY I
\_J
Loc;iI hanks will observe to
morrow, Friday, January I!»,
as a holiday m commemora
tion of that great Southerner,
General Itobert K. Lee.
No other business houses or
offices will observe the day
as a holiday here, it was
learned.
Twenty Others To
Report For Final
Induction Monday
| No K«‘|>oi*l AwiiluMc On the
IN ii in l>4‘i* \rcrplril Or
Hcjo'lril Wnliirxday
Sixtv-niiH' Martin County men
left Wednesday lot pre-induction
examinations at Fayetteville and
Fort Braun. They returned lute
last night, but no report could be
had on the number accepted or
i ejected.
The group, including thirty
white and thirty-nine colored,
was the largest to move out of
i the county at one time since the
I Army started calling men after
[World War II.
P- ..urmng here about 12:1)0
l o'clock last night, one el the boys
said he understood that right
; many of the group were rejected,
that about eight were held over
for futhcr examination
Those making the trip include
tlu following:
White
Johnny Franklin Scott, John
Haywood Rogers, Robert Saund
ers Rawls, (Mr. Rawls was leader
for the white group, it was learn
ed.) Henry Gray Corey, Daniel
Ray Wynne, Alfred Hollis, Mai
Edwin Manning, Dennis Raymond
Peel, Archie Allen Lilley, Perlie
Bembrulge, Jr., Marvin Holliday
Chester Emmett Mims, Tommie
Shelton Roberson, Clayton Earl
Manning, David Ray Gurganus
Coy Lee Bryant, Marvin Henry
Leggett, Jr., Tommy Rogers, Pei
lie Monford Ange, Jr., Jesse li
Edward Green, Car! Hugh Spru
ill. Jr., Clayton Grant Savage
Emtbetttt mdcr.s Clark, Bill Itotr
i erson, Kenneth E. Johnson, Ray
; murid Gray Mudlin, James Davit
Lilley, Winslow Morton Critcher
j James Darrell Wynne.
Raymond D Davis, Jr., wte
i transferred from the draft boarc
in Elizabeth City
William Robert Harris of RFL
1, was transferred to a board ir
Wake County.
Colored
Cary Flowers, Jr., Leon House
i veil Williams, Benjamin Frank
Bennett, Henry Brown, Raseot
Williams, Paul Williams, Thoma:
i Wilson, Jr., Prince Lynch, Almei
Biown, James Arthur Gorham
’ Arnard Lyons, Joseph Curtis
Odis Clark, James Edward Has
sell, Roosevelt James Russel
Woo lard, A i lander Stokes, Char
he Bullock, Jr., Lester Gotten
Alge Lee Wallace, James Raw
leigh, Zebedee West, Surry Mart
Whitaker, James Bell, Larrit
Dickens, Sherman Cecil Andrews
(Continued on page elg^t)
Approve Contract
For New County
Health Building
dun Finance the I'ropoNril
School Project Without
(•ciicrul Iton.l Ihxiio
--
Holding their first night ses- |
sion in years, the Martin County j
CorntYiissioners approved a new !
health renter for the county and |
delayed action on a fund request |
for schools in a special meeting
held last night.
Discussing for an hour and a
half the health center project, the
cost of which has increased ap
proximately $9,000 above prelimi
nary estimates, the commissioners
agreed to participate up to $18,
481.83 in the cost of the proposed
health center, leaving the State
and federal governments to fi
nance the remainder of the cost,
| or $36,319.00.
Commissioner C. C. Martin
made the motion to go ahead with
the project with net mure than
$10,461.85 to come from county
funds. Commissioner W, M. Har
rison seconded the motion and a
favorable vote followed.
The action was taken only af
ter costs of the projects had been
reduced by approximately $4,500,
cutting the entire project cost to
approximately $54,500. Approxi
mately $2,500 was lopped from the
general contract, $1,200 from the
electrical contract and $500 from
the plumbing costs, plus a reduc
| tion in the architect’s fees.
Clearing the health center pro
ject. the commissioners heard
representatives of the Martin
County Board of Education. After
i reviewing the school program as
planned and approved by State
school authorities, the representa
tives explained that th«» county
education board had approved
contracts for the construction of
a new Negro school in Williams
ton and a gymnasium in ftober
sonvillc, leaving approximately
$50,000 for a proposed addition to
the Williiniston High School
building. The residue from the
State fund falls about $65,000
| short of the amount needed for
j the project, excluding $73,000 ear
marked for a new Negro High
school building in Oak City
The representatives of the
board explained that all but $30,
000 of the needed $65,000 could be
financed from capital outlay
funds and by borrowing. The
finance problem then narrowed
itself down to $35,000 to be fi
nanced by othci means, and at
that point the county commis
sion! rs took over.
They discussed the problem un
til after 11:00 o’clock without
reaching a decision, the bourd up
on a motion at thut time, agree
ing to recess until next Monday
evening at 7:30 o'clock when the
discussion will be reopened.
During their meeting last night,
the commissioners virtually ruled
out the possibility of a bond issue
for financing the project. It was
considered possible that the
amount could be provided by :i
general lax levy ranging from ten
(Continued from page five)
to about fourteen cents on the
ftp 1' <•-»
Special Bill For _
ia
The Legislature
—r—'b—'T. , . .
\««ther Bill Would HTTTfffi®*™*'
Palmistry ami Stroam
Pol I ii I ion In Slate
By Scott Sumners
A bill that would put much
publicized ex-Superior Court
Judge Luther Hamilton ot More
head City back on the State pay
roll was introduced by nine sen
ators Tuesday.
The bill did not mention Judge
Hamilton, but one of the intro
ducers said it would have the ef
fect of putting the Morehead City
jurist back on the retired list,
giving him tin back pay that was
stopped last month and allow him
to continue collecting $550 each
month as a retired judge of su
perior court.
Heading the list of introducers
were Dunn Frink of Brunswick
and Junius Powell of Columbus,
10th District senators. Other co
introducers were Rivers Johnson
of Duplin, Alton Lennon of New
Hanover, Wesley C. Watts of Rob
eson, H. P Filer of Wilkes (a Re
publican), J R. Young of Harnett,
Donald Banks of Yancey (Re
publican), and Zeb Weaver, Jr..
of Buncombe
Noticeably absent from the list
of co-signers were the names of
Senators John Larkins, Jr., of
Jones and Carl Hicks of Greens—
senators from Hamilton’s own
Seventh District.
The bill states simply that when
any justice of the Supreme Court
or any judge of the Superior
Court (regular or special) “here
tofore has retired, or hereafter '
may retire . such judge shall
be entitled to receive the retire
ment pay" provided by statue. It
sets out that the pay shall con
tinue even if the judge cannot be
asigned to hold terms of court
"by reason and cause of the na
ture and cause for his retirement.”
TIh lull immediately vv^ix la.
beled the “Hamilton Bill" by tin
press. Hamilton was retired on to
tal disability and subsequently
held court The Supreme Court
ruled he could not legally hold
court after such retirement, and
Attorney General Harry McMul
lan ordered Hamilton’s rotirc
(Continued on page five)
Transfer County
Boys To Indiana
Declaring all were .doing all
light even though not altogether
satisfied, Ret. Harper M. Peel, Jr.,
in a special communication to
The Enterprise this week, said
that quite a lew ot the Martin
County boys were recently trans
ferred from Camp Rucker, Ala
bama. to Camp Atterbury, Indi
ana.
Included in the transfer were,
Rets. James W. Ward and Archie
Revels of Williarnston, Harper M.
Peel, Jr., and David Boyd of Ham
ilton, Dixie Green and Henry
Brown Winslow of Robersonville,
Ernest Wynne of Bear Grass,
Garland Bunting of Oak City,
William Martin of Jantesvillc,
and Asa T. Whitley of Griffins.
Rets. Peel and Ward were in
Indianapolis last week-end for a
special piano concert given by a
group of misplaced Latvians who
h.ivr . country only a
short lime.
March Of Dimes Drive Off
To Good Start In County
The March of Dimes fund drive
was off to a Hood start in most
parts of the county on Monday i
of this week, according to a pre- '
liminarv report released by one
of the fund chairmen this morn
•*
ing
Sending out 2,000 direct mail]
appeals, the chairmen said that
the early response was encourag
ing All of the schools in the coun
ty have been contacted and the
principals promised their best ef
forts for the drive. Nearly 2001
coin collectors have been placed
in b u s i n e s s establishments
throughout the county. The chair
men expressed the hope that no
personal solicitation for contribu
|tions from business firms in the!
county would be necessary.
Perfecting a working agree
ment with the town of Williams
toti whereby dimes could be eol
lectcd in parking meters and turn
ed over to the paralysis fund, the
chairmen said that the plan is be
ing widely accepted.
After reviewing the plans for
mulated for the drive, the chair
men explained that liberal dona
tions are necessary if the $ti,000
goal is to be reached
“We are convinced that the goat
should be reached, and we earn
estly hope that our people, white
and colored, rich and poor, will
take a prominent part in support
ing the drive,” Chairmen Bill
Gray and Hoke Roberson said.