• - ~ ' —-'JT-t= , .-i. 1. - THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3,008 MARTIN COUNTY * FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE THE ENTERPRISE IS READ ■* OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNT? FAMILIES TW'ICE EACH WEEP VOLUME LVII—NUMBER 25 U illiamston, Martin County, Morth Carolina. Tuesday, March 30. 10 ' / ESTABLISHED I 89* Downard Trend In •County Tax Values Seven Townships Show Little Gain Over 1953 Listing Marked Variations Are Found In Listings In Several Townships Only preliminary figures are available in seven of the ten coun ty townships, but enough infor mation has been gained to reflect a marked decline in the 1954 tax listings for 1954. The seven town ships list a gain of approximately $66,000 as compared with million dollar gams annually for the past several years Complete listings are expected to boost the total to some extent, but the day of million dollar gains in assessed property valuations is about spent, according to a study of the incomplete listings now on file in the tax supervisor’s office in this county. Supervisor M. Luther Peel would offer no guess on the final . figures, but he is not at all opti- i mistic; in fact, the figures now j available are not encouraging. Only an isolated report has been j received from Jamesville Town- j ship, and one of the largest prop- i crty owners there reported a de-1 crease in taxable holdings. The j supervisor had expected a fairly sizable gain there. No reports are yet available from Williamston and Hamilton Townships. A fair ly sizable gain is expected in Wil liamston and possibly Hamilton will tyoost the gain a bit. It was explained ihat the listings had not been completed in Williamston a few days ago, creating the possi bility that a penalty will be in- j voked on the procrastinators. ^ Little Williams Township strug- j gled to g>ve the tax pietuie a fav- • orable look when it boosted its j listings by approximately $14,500 The listings there, however, took i an irregular or shaky trend. Real estate listed by white owners/ell in value by $1,436 while real prop f erty listed by colored owners gamea $1,2291 hite ov. run $17,333 more in personal property than the> did a year ago, while ‘.he listings submitted by colored owners dropped by $2,642, leav ing an over-all gain for the dis trict of approximately $14,500. Griffins came through with a consistent gain in both real and I personal values, the white owners boosting their listings by $24,270^ and the colored adding $10,035 to their combined totals for an over all increase of $34,305. Bear Grass white property own ' ers added $38,345 to their real values, but lost $37,429 in their personal property listings, com ing through with an over-all gain of $10,916. The colored owners re ported a loss of $1,723 in real listings and a decrease of $2,060 in personal property values, leav ing the township with a $7,133 over-all gain. * ♦ V The report for Cross Hoads is incomplete, but there was a loss of $6,218 in real property listings i and a drop of $29,783 in the per sonal property values, making a ! total decrease of $35,981 there. It was explained that some listings were credited to Cross Roads in 1953 when they should have been listed in Bear Grass, that the cor rection accounts for part of the drop in values there. While late listings are expect ed to alter the figures. Roberson viile white owners reported an increase in real property holdings of $49,517. but personal property listings by white owneis fel $39, 917, leaving a net gain of only1 $9,600. Colored property owners reported a gain of $11,770 in their real property holdings and went on to show a gain of $24,563 in i their personal property listings,1 making an increase of $36,333, or a combined increase of $45,933 in the township. Poplar Point white owners had a gain of $6,048 in their real prop erties. but lost $36,450 in their personal property values. The real property listing for the color ed remained unchanged, but there was a reduction of $2,792 in their personal property values, leaving the township with a $33,194 in the 1954 assessed valuation. In Goose Nest the white owners reported an increase of $10,527 in their real and $22,902 in their per (Continu^d on Page Eight) I WINNER V. Wilbur Stewart, senior in the local school, is a win ner of the Angier B. Duke scholarship. The scholarship is valued at $1,000 annually. The young man is a son of rincipal and Mrs. B G. Ste wart. Calling Sixteen Men For Physical Exams This Week Next Call For Final Indue lion To Be Answered Middle Of Month -* Sixteen Martin County young men, including a few married ones and a father or two, are be ing called to answer a preinduc tion call on Thursday of this week They will leave Williams ton that momma on a charter bus and return that evening. The next call, one for final in 'bamon. *s tr> he answered by five men on Wednesday, April 14, ae cording to unofficial information gained here. No other calls are pending. were called to answei the pre-induction call Thursday have asked for trans fers. it was learned. Eleven of the sixteen men being called for pre-induction aie white. The names of those include in the current call are: White William Thomas Johnson, RFD 1, Williamston Robert Edward Bland, Wil liam.ston Walter Louis Leggett, Jr., Has sell James Louis Leggett, RFD Wil liamston Marvin Holliday, RFD 3, Wil liamston Coy Lee Bryant, RFD 1. Bethel Henry Frederick Bullock. RFD 1. Oak City, who transferrs to Boone. Wiley Woolard. Jr.. RFD 2. Wil liamston Guilford Herman Hollis, Oak City Larry James Bullock. Williams ton John C. Kirkman, Jr.. James ville, who transfers to Raleigh. Colored James Henry James, RFD 1, Hobgood. who transfers to Philadelphia Harry Woolard. Williamston. who transfers to Bel Air. Mary land. James Norman Davis, RFD 1, Oak City Sylvester Brown, Jr., Williams ton James Oliver Rodgers, RFD 2, Williamston, who is transferring to Brooklyn. Badly Hurl In Plant Accident John Gentry, 42-year-old local I colored man, was badly but be lieved not seriously injured in an accident at the Standard Fertiliz er plant last Saturday morning about 10.30 o’clock Gentry, operating a powered “digger”, lost control of the ma 1 chine and it ran off the platform. The heavy machine pinned him underneath it on the ground. The man, removed to a local hospital by ambulance, suffered a broken left leg, a bruised hip and pos I sibly internal injuries. William H. Adkins Died Early Today Ai Robersonville -- Funeral Arrangement; For Prominent Tobacconist Incomplete William H. Adkins, prominent' tobacconist and a leading citizen j in this county for many years,, died suddenly at his home in Rob ersonville early this morning. He had been in declining health for several years, retiring from active business some time ago. Mr. Adkins was born in Iredell County 85 years ago' on March 5, 1869, a son of the late Thorns^ and Sarah Elizabeth Adkins, and "was the last oh a family of six chil dren When a mere lad he locat ed in Winston-Salem. While there he became interested in the to bacco business and located in Robersonville in 1901, forming a partnership with the late Robt. A Bailey and opening the first warehouse in this county for the auction of leaf tobacco in Rober sonville. During almost half a century, he built an enviable re putation as a tobacconist, citizen and religious leader. His reputa tion as a warehouseman and to bacconist was recognized through out this entire belt, and he fig ured prominently in other lines of endeavor, all designed for the promotion of his community and county and for the welfare of his fellowman. Possessed of a quiet character, he never sought the spotlight, but his work was found ed on basic ideals and a tender compassion for others. He was one of the oldest memb ers of the Robersonville Methodist Church, contributing liberally to its support and remaining faithful to its teachings down through the years. He served as superintend ent of the Sunday School for a long period, and was on the of ficial board for about fifty years. In early manhood he was mar ried to Miss Lina Knight of Co lumbia. Mrs. Adkins died in 1940. Since that time he had made ex tended visits in the home of his daughter in Williamston. Surviving »ve a son, Mi. Robert j K. Adkins of Robersonville; and ' two daughters, Mrs. John Henry ! Edwards of Williamston, and Mrs. Murphy Smith of Red Springs. Fun-ra! ai ra>>.tfMMM» ». t.wt been completed shortly before noon today. Man Drowns In Roanoke River Buck Darden, 56-year-old farm ^ supervisor of Northampton Court-1 ty was drowned in the Roanoke! j not far tiom Scotland Neck while fishing late last Sunday. Parties are searching for the body as far down the river as Williamston. It was the second drowning re ported in the Roanoke or its tri butaries during the current fish ing season. No trace has been found of Johnnie Hall, Whitakers farmer who was drowned in Gardner’s Creek on March 20 An amateur diver searched the creek last week-end, making four or five dives without success. On the last trip down the diver was almost swept under- a log and he aband : oned the search. A watch is still ; being maintained along the stream. | False Fire Alarm Herr Last Suturday Volunteer firemen went chasing a false fire alarm in raw weather last Saturday afternoon at 4:00 | o'clock. After a hurried search, the firemen returned to the equip ment to the station. The '-ail directed the firemen | to 407 West Main Street, 1 the informer explaining that it | was near the underpass. Firemen, realizing the 400 block was some distance this side of the under pass, decided to make the run anyway, thinking the call war, possibly confused. i ROUNDUP J r Six persons were rounded up and detained in the coun ts' jail over the past week end, Sheriff M. W. Holloman said. Two were booked for isHiinf worthless checks, and one eaeh for assault, drunken ness, drunken driving: and still another on an old charge. Four of the six were white, the ages ranging from 16 to 35 years. Fanning Operations Move Into High Gear In County Hampered by cool weather for ' a short time, farming operations are rapidly moving into high gear in the county this week. A large portion of the land has been brok en and made ready for planting, late reports stating that consid erable acreage is being planted to corn this week. A few daring farmers planted some corn as long ago as two weeks, betting against the frost. Fertilizer shipments, after get ting off to a slow start are now ap proaching a pre-season peak, and seed dealers are busy loading out their products. A limited acreage was planted tf> irish potatoes this year, most of the farmers choosing to stay clear of the commercial markets. Farmers are encountering their first pests in tobacco plant beds, and the- DPT is being spread I rapidly. No blue mold has been reported in the county so far, farmers explaining that the plants, for the most, part, are too small for the mold to attack them. The cold spring has held back the growth of the plants as a rule, but a few farmers say theirs will be large enough for transplanting about the middle of April, the work depending on weather con ditions during the next two weeks. Present indications point to a peak transplanting between May 1 and 10. With few excep tions, farmers in this county are reporting an ample supply of plants. No great delay in spring plant ings is expected to follow the 1.29 inches of rain that fell during last night. r WITHDRAWS J County politics went into reverse last week-end when Willie L. Ausbon, prominent Cross Roads Township farm er, withdrew from the race for county commissioner from the Robersonville - Cross Roads District. His action leaves the field open to the incumbent , Commissioner Herbert L. Roebuck. Announcing his withdrawal from the race, Mr. Ausbon stated that his health would hardly permit a campaign just now, adding that pos 1 sibly he would consider mak ing a bid for a seat on the board two years from now. Young Nan Jailed For Mean Assault -<9b In a state of frenzy, Arthur Nicholson assaulted lus aged mo ther and inflicted serious bodily injuries at their humble horn'- just across Sweet Water Creek in Wil liams Township last Saturday aft ernoon. The victim was removed to Brown’s Hospital for treatment of a fractured left arm and mul t’ple bruises about the face and head. Mrs Nicholson was able to •■■■a mane nei way to .1 iieTglTWWWr home for help. Sheriff M W Hol loman, answering the call, order ed an ambulance to remove her to the hospital where she is re sponding to treatment. Nicholson, said to have been drinking and who is well manner ed and behaved when sober, ag I gravated the ease bv assaulting Sheriff Holloman when he went to investigate the assault. Jump ing into the officer’s face, he was out to scratch his eyes out. Ugly and deep scratches were left all over the sheriff's face. Using no arms or blackjack, the officer subdued the young man and plac ed him in jail where he is being held pending the outcome of his mother’s condition. --^--—. One Accident Last Week-End With one minor exception the highways and streets in tiiis county were without accident during the past few days, accord ing to reports coming from police and highway patrolmen. It was the safest week reported on the highways in this eounty so far this year. No one was injured and prop erty damage was limited to about $100, or about $50 on eagh of two vehicles involved in the accident. Driving toward Williamston on Highway 04, Nathan Ml/elle start ed to make a left turn into Fair view Avenue in West End just as Herbert Everett started to pass in his 1953 Ford. The Everett chi I struck a eai fender of Mizelle’s I 194! Dodge, the investigating pa j trolman reported. Suffer» Hroken Arm In Fall Satuday Evening Mrs. Dolores L. Beaird suffered a bad fracture of the left arm near j the wrist in a fall at the home of her sister, Mrs. Mary Hlizabcth Holliday, in Jamesville about 6:30 o’clock last Saturday evening. She was also said to have been bruis ed and possibly suffered some in ternal injury. She was reported today to be responding to treat ment in Brown's Community Hos pital here. Democrats Plan Conniy Heelings Complete arrangements have not beer, announced by Jas. H. Gray, chairman of the Martin County Democratic Executive Committee, but it is understood that plans will be made for hold ing party meetings in the coun ty during May. The meetings at the precinct level are scheduled for May 8, followed by the county conven tion on Saturday, May 15. The State convention is to be held on May 20. It has been customary for most of the thirteen precincts in this county to forego their meetings, and handle their organizational work just before or during the county convention. A few, how ever, meet, handle their business and name delegates to the county pow-pow. Progress Parade Slops Overnight I ~ j— General Motors’ “Parade of Progress , Pawling (ruin Wil I mington In Norfolk, moved on through here early today after pausing overnight at tourists t courts near the town. in the convoy, including ten ultra! i modern freighters and a dozen or ! more large trucks and tractor-j trailers, The modern freighters.1 i the driver perched in a stream lined cah about ten feet from the | ground, have dual front wheels and are constructed after a strict ly modern fashion. The convoy is handled by about fifty men, and included all makes of G-M types, all attired in red dress except the Corvet. Following a week's showing in Norfolk, the parade will move in to Richmond in its itinerary across the country. Nan Badly Cut Sunday Night Nathaniel Pitt, 27-year-old colored man, was dangerously cut about the head in a lightning fight at Oak Cit*y last Sunday evening. Reports from a local hospital where the victim was treated, stated that he almost lost his left ear, that he was cut on the head and neck. Eighteen stitches were needed to "tack.” the ear back in place and close the other wounds Apparently in a drunken stupor or dazed condition, Pitt placed his head on the table and slept while he was being repaired. Asked how it happened, Pitt said he was drinking a bottle of beer, and that the next thing he knew some one attacked him. Pitt, his face hid behind a coating of blood, said that Edward Lee Coffieid agreed to pay the repair bill I inline Minintrr iI The Smithnick Creek Chart'll -*— Elder C. T. Mabe, visiting min ister, will occupy tin pulpit for two special services in the Smith wick’s Creek Primitive Baptist Church tliis week. The first ser vice will be held Thursday eve j rung at 7:30 o’clock, and the sec ond at 2:00 o’clock Friday after noon, The minister is from Lawson ville, Forsyth County, and the public is cordially invited to hear him at both services, the pastor, the Rev. P E Gctsingor announc ed. Make Appeal For Support Oi Slock Show April 8 & 9 ll Is Pointed Out Tlml Buy ers Will (sain By Their Pureliases I With thirty-five pretty beef j calves on their hands, 4-11 and j FFA club members in this eoun- | ty, through representatives of the county agent’s office and others, are appealing to the general pub lic to support the Martin County fat stock show in the Carolina warehouse at Williamston on Thursday and Friday of next week, April 8 and 9. The youths are asking a lot, but they have worked diligently and their ef forts, it has been pointed out, should be rewarded to the great est extent possible. A similar show and sale were held in Wilson last week and the ehampion steer brought 50 cents a pound, the average of the show holding to about 58 cents. It is true that only 15 calves were off ered for sale there, but the people of Wilson got behind the event and made it a successful one. It has been pointed out that buyers can participate in the fat stock sales without losing a great amount. In fact, they can pay con siderable in excess of the market and make money, and, at the same time, get some top grade meat, to say nothing of the help extended the youngsters who are selling the steers. Martin County is not in the cat tle business in a big way, but the club members are laying the foundation for a greater industry right here at home. The quality of the cattle now being raised on many farms is far superior than it was just a short time ago. There is much to be paid in gaining experience and eliminat ing costly practices. Some of the youngsters have been misled, il is understood, by conflicting re commendations in feeding prae t. e- While the recommendations may have been offered in good faith, they have proved costly in -nine install-. . It is u period any new industry has to experience, | nid it is said that this county i making progress in developing ar *copied methods in raising meat mmmmm**..' ' ■'< ? serub stock to the improved breeds, but the youngsters are ■onvineed that serub stock is out of the question now Last yeui the firms and indi viduals named below supported the sale. Many of them plan to be back in the bidding again next week, and it is hoped there'll be others. Last year’s buyers in clude: Worrell Appliance Company, Enterprise Publishing Company, Margolis Brothers, Colonial Stores. Lindslt y s, Roanoke Chov rolot Company, House Chevrolet Company, Sunnyside Market, Wheeler Manning Insurance Agency, Belk-Tylcr’s, Slade Rhodes Company, Dixie Motor Company, C. U. Rogers, Williams ton Motor Company, Wa r’s Cof fee Shop, Robersonville Packing Company, Williamston Packing Company, Farm Bureau Insur since Company, Williamston Ki wanis Club, Robersonville Pack mg Company, Roanoke Lockers. Some of the motor firms and the Roanoke Lockers bought more (ConMnued on page eight) Smaller Sweet Potato Acreage —♦— North Carolina farmers report then intentions, as of March 1, to decrease their sweet potato acre age 11 percent this year If these intentions are carried out, ap proximately 40,000 acres will be planted compared with 45,000 last > i-iii and the 1943-52 average of 56,000 acres. f-^ 11 CLUB PROJECT J V.I/ Members of Ihc Williams ton Garden Club will meet at Skewarkte Cburcli, near Wil ! iiainstou, tomorrow, Wednes day, March 31, for the pur pose of planting 173 dog wood trees on the church ground. All members are urged to be at the Church at 1 o’clock and other interested citizens are also invited to assist in the planting program. Dr. James S. Rhodes Died Lasl Thursday DIES IN HOSPITAL I)r. Janies S. Rhodes, great ly beloved local physician and a prominent citizen, died in a Richmond Hospital last Thursday afternoon follow ing a long illness. The funer eral service was belli in the Church of the Advent Satur day afternoon. Skewarkey Lodge Nasons Guests Of Orphans Sunday -'.$> Tliirl> Masons Imprrssrd By What Tliry Saw Al 'Ihr Inslilulion —<» Thirty Skcwurkey Lodge Mas- . mis got a pretty good idea of what their contributions are accomp lishing when they visited and in spected the Masonic Orphanage in 1 O '' id last Sunday. The Mason-' were definitely and tavorab’y im pressed l>v what they saw and ' heard. Soon ot the group were even thrilled by the trip, and talk ed about it after the fa: hi on of ex cited children. It was a real era opener for all, one member ot ..e h. vke'.vve.: To see a little fellow accept a iii ee of chewing gum and then divide it with his nearest com panion, impressed Henry Handy. Table manners made some think it was another generation. The visitors were pleased with everything they saw, the child ren, the plant, the training pro gram. Traveling by charter bus, the jroup left Williamston at 11:00 o' clock Sunday morning and reach ed the orphanagt at 11:00 a. m. Dinner was enjoyed, the visitors occupying end seats at the tables with the children They were greeted by Assistant Superintendent K T Kagan, and were guided over the property by Misses Sheila Simpson, Jean Rob inson, Elvira Frederick, Margaret Warren, Clara Lamb, Hubv Neth ereutt, Helen Alford, Hetty Mc Lendon and Rosa Lee Ales Those representing the Ske wai key Lodge were, Paul Bailey,! Marvin Britton, A. E Browder, Ernest Capps, Hilton Forbes, W B. Gaylord, Jr. V D Godwin, Sr., George II Gurganus, M K. Herrington, Mack D Leggett, Mack H Leggett, Cecil Lilley, .1 E. Manning, Arthur Ferry, I) L. Roberson, W. M. Telterton, R. L Ward, P. C Blount, It E. Brown, Jim B. Holliday, W O Hamilton, Paul Hyman, Eli Bowen, C. W Coltrain, John Roberson, M. A Price, li.i Hog i-sun, H. O. Handy, Luther Peel and It I) Elliott. Representatives of the gioup said that the several children who are there from this county were 1 development was re ported during the week-end when Harry C. Jones filed to succeed himself as constable fur Janies ville Township. There’s little talk on the politi cal front these days, representa tives explaining that they seldom hear politics mentioned. Funeral Held In Church Of Advent Here On Saturday -# Prominent Lucal Physician Had Been In Declining Health For Months Dr. James Slade Rhodes, Sr., prominent Williamston physician and a leading citizens in this sec tion of the State, died in a Rich mond hospital last Thursday aft ernoon at 4:50 o’clock. He had been in declining health since last June but continued active until the fall. Since last October he had spent much of his time in various hospitals, going to the Medical College of Virginia Hos pital in Richmond more than two months ago. His condition had been serious for several weeks and became grave last Wednes day night when members of the family were called to his bed side. The son of the late trank A. and Helen Slade Rhodes he was born in Williamston 72 years ago on June JO, 1881. After complet ing the courses offered in the lo cal schools, he was employed about two years by his uncle, the late William Slade, in I the mercantile business. In 1002 he entered the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond and was graduated there in 1906. Return ing home that year he formed a partnership with the late Mr. Wil liam E. Warren, the even mark ing the beginning of a long and successful practice. In 1913 he did post-graduate work at Johns-Hop 1 kins University, Baltimore, and Harvard University, Cambridge, ■ Mass. A!'hough he hud planned to g> 1 into semi-retirement, he was pressed into full-time dutv during World War II, possibly working l harder m that period than at any other time in his life In recent years, after turning his offices 'over to his son, he devoted his interest and much of hr time to farming and advanced one of the town's largest single i >1 estate developments Bast summer when tin position of a county health officer was made vacant by the death of Dr. John W. Williams, again Dr Rhodes was pressed into the service of Ins fellow man. He altered lus plans and devoted con siderable time advancing the health and welfare of the general public ll was during that period that his own health began to fail him, but he carried on just as long as he was physically able to do so, and on occasions directed the ; flairs >>l the department from his own bed. While he never held a political office, he was vitally interested in all phases of politics, and was ac tive in promoting the welfare of Ins native town and its people. He launched progressive move ments in various fields, including 1 his own profession, civic better ment and agriculture. He was a member of the Church of the Ad | vent for years, serving it in vari ous capacities, and exemplifying its teachings in his daily walk through life He was a Skewarkey Lodge Mason, having served as Master, and priest of Canoho | Chapter No, 12, R. A F„ and a member of St. John’s Command cry No. 10, K. T , and Sudan Tem ple, New Bern. He also held I membership and active in the Martin County Medical Society, the North Carolina Medical So jcicty. The Seaboard Med'cal As jsociation and the American Medi cal Association. He was married January 8, 1914, at Atlanta, to Miss Carrie Alex ander. Surviving besides his wife are i a son, James S, Rhodes, Jr., three grandsons, a!! of Williamston, arid j a brother, Frank A Rhodes, of North Hollywood, California. The funeral service was eon (Continued on Page Eight) !\u Program I'or Youths Due to a conflict, there will be 'no recreation program for teen agers in the Woman’s Club here j Saturday evening of this week, it | was announced today. Plans are being made to have the club hall open to the youth the following Saturday, April 10.