ELIZABETH
CITY'S
SEMI-WEEKLY
BJAS J
I75TF770UTI
PREJUDICE I
PAPER
ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 29, 1916
NO 17
'-J I ' IVTE
v I J i 7 I L
OF
University I News Letter
Ml.
Points Out Reason Why
North Carolina Farm
X lands are Untilled
- The subject considered - by the
.'North Carolina Club at the Univer
sity tie other night was Our
Twenty two Million acres: Why Idle,
the Consequences and the Remedies
The discission was led by Mr.
Lawton Blanton of Cleveland coun
ty. A brief report follows.
Seventy one per cent of all the
ia Ji in North Carolina is a wilder
ne.j of Idle acres. Twenty two
million acres are In scrub pines,
broomsedge, and like growths. Only
nine million acres are under the
plow and in pasture. Our waste
areals more than double our cul
tivated area. There is enough
idle land in th? State for 250,000
' new farm families, allowing 75
acrefe to each family and reserving
50,000 acres iu each county for
wood lot uses.
The per cent of waste land
ranges from 34.19 per cent in Al
amance to 98.4 per cent in Dare.
Tliare ar-. more people engaged in
farming in North Carolina than in
tooth manufacture and transporta-"tim-rcmWTretf?ndcTeliaTe"
enough idle acres to increase our
country population 100 per cent.
This is the more important when
we consider that North Carolina
produced in crops alone in 1915
wealth amounting to $218 000,000 or
about one and a Tourth times as
much wealth as the banks of the
State have accumulated in 250
years. And mind you our farms
-created this enormous wealth in a
single year.
North Carolina needs more peo
ple not more tenants but more
home owning farmers. The pop
ulation of the State is too sparsa.
'Our rural population in the State
at large is only 39 to the square
mile. We have nine counties with
fewer than 20 people and three
ownties with fewer than 15 to the
square mile. In these" ' twelve
counties there are' nearly 4 000,000
wilderness acres. The' idle land
In the lower Cape Fear region alone
almost exact'y equals the entire
i&rm area of Belgium.
If otfr farm population were dou
tied our country wealth would be
Increased $407.000 000. This in
crease is reckoned in our present
small per capita rural wealth of
$322. . Their productive power
-would add $175,000,000 a year to
our rresent total of crops and ani
mal r-roducts. It would mean
"larger support for churches, schools,
Toads, and public health. Denser
population would help to decrease
'illiteracy, social aloofness, and the
Taw Individualism that now retard
trgrnt7at!on and cooperative coun
try enterprises. -
About three million neres are at.
present too stumpy, steep and
rocky, wet and acid to cultivate.
Hut fcr the. most part our wlldpr
ness area Ib dun to bad social and
political conditions, such as Illiter
acy, spnrstty of population, mixture
of ra ,
speculative Interest in
rising id values,
and a vicious
tax system.
Mr. Blanton next showed how,
1n obedience to the natural law of
segregation, white people tire sell
ing out and leaving districts where
negroes are en Increasing majority,
while ct the same time negroes are
seeing necro settlements. And
former, according to Mr. Blanton,
the land speculation Is another
great factor that Is largely respon
sible for the vast area of waste
land In North Carolina and through
out the entire 8outh. The farm
lands of North Carolina Increased
in value $202,000,000 in the Inst
census period, and land owners
MM
STREET NAMED FOR
GERMAN SHOEMAKER
The following "communication re
(eived at The Advance office last
week may be as interesting and en
lightening to many Elizabeth City
people as it was to this newspaper
staff:
"Persse Street not Purse is the
name of the street beginning at
Main street (J. Q. A. Wood's and
Ed Pappendlck's corner) and run
ning to Ehringhaus Street or Rutu
Road.
"Very few people in Elizabeth
City know how to spell this street
or its name. It was named for
Thomas Persse. a German shoe
maker, who lived on the lane
which it was at. time, or many
years ago, About one third or
the street is now paved and some
very nice homes adorn the thor
oughfare. So do not spell it
Purse any more, though thai is a
good thing If filled with coin and
bank notes. V
RECEIVES MESSAGE AT DEEP
CREEK
Rev. J. T. Ragland of Manteo
was in the c'ty Friday bavin been
called home from Deep Creek Va.,
by & message statin;; that his moth
er was at the po'nt of -death.
are holding their lands not to Im
prove them but to roup this great
i.roiit iu steadily rising land val
ues .
A large pirt of the blame for
this .state ot affairs should be laid
of tux Uion. The big land owucr
lists his land ,'ioin 'i to $5 per
it re despite the fact J hat be is C-x
pectins to get from $50 to $60 per
acre for it. In one township in
the State 85,000 acres appeared on
the 1915 tax list at 57 cents per
acre. Our rule is low tax values
and high market prices. ,
On the other hand, the small
farmer on his 50 acre plat works
hard, Improves his land and equips
his farm. As a consequence his
taxes increase and he is punished
for his industry and thrift. He has
been an active, productive citizen,
adding value to is own property
and all other property .In the com
munity. And he Is punished by our system
of taxation, while the owner of the
idle lands la rewarded. It Is pro
foundly immoral to punish industry
and reward idleness.
The consequences of such a con
dition in the State, are far reaching.
For instanee, the tenants and ren
ters in our town and country re
gions in 1910 numbered with their
families 1.158.000 souls.
They are landless and homeless
In a State that contains 22,000,000
unoccupied and unused acres. And
they cannot buy farms and homes
because the r prices are too far be
yond their means..
It is useless to advertise North
Carolina abroad so long as the own
ers of Idle land are allowed to
bulid around the State a Chinese
Wall of high prices for town snd
country real estate. . ,
New Zealand's Way
Twenty years pro New Zealand
folvfd the problem of home owner
ship, by a graduated land tax.
Henry Demorest Lloyd's account of
this experiment ought to be famil
iar to thouchtful people every
where. A wise adaptation of New
Zealand's law Is demanded in
America. In this land of the free
55.000 000 of our P2 000,000 people
In 1910 were landless and home
less.
In North CirotTna our homeless
people numbered In the Census
year 1.158 000. They were B2.5
per cent of our entire population;
In the United States they were AO
per cent.
Home and -farm ownership is a
fundamental condition of safe civ
llazatlon; and our present tax sys
tem promotes increasing homeless
ness both in our city and country
regions.
HAS CONFIDENCE
III PATIERS!
Dr. B. C. Henning Knotvs
Ex-Governor of Tennes
see Personally and Be
lieves Him Sincere
Ex-Governor Malcoln R. Tatter
son of Tennessee and Dr. Madisou
Swadenrr of Indiana will speak
Thursday evening at the Alkrama
Theatre lor Natt nal prohibition.
Governor Patterson and Dr.
Swad ner are working under the
auspices of and are sent here by
the Ant! Saloon League of America,
tepresen'afvea of this organization
were In the c'ty recently 'and secur
"d the coopeiat'on of friends of
Temperance who agreed to ad
Ex-Governor Malcolm R. Patterson
of Tennessee
ertite the rally. The choir of
Jhr.st Cnurch has alto agreed to
take charge of the musical pro
gram for the occasion; but all the
3pinsea are to be borne by the Na
tional Anti Saloon League There
will be no admission fee and the
public generally aie invited to be
present.
r special, interest attaches to the
iddress of Governor Patterson
who is a sensational figure in the
Nnii nl , prohi ilion morement.
Many will be led to wish to hear
trm not only on account of his
na' onwide reputation as an orator,
ut abo beciuse thy remember
h'm as at o:e time numbered
among the strongest foes of prohr
bitlon.
Then are some in Elizabeth
C t ', too. who have clear recollec
tion cf the fact that it was Gov
ernor Patterson who pardoned a
n'an c nvic'etl by the Courts of
Tenpe'see of the assisslnatlon of
Kx Senator farmack, who through
his newspaper at Nashville had at
tacked the l'quor and corrupt pol
itics Ingres' s in that State. The
,'dv;inre reporter hnvln but hazy
recollection of the facts in the case,
md 'remembering th'it Governor
Patterson will be the guest, while
'n the c'ty, of Dr, B. C. Hennlng,
called cn Dr. Henning and obtain
ed 'he following statement:
" ' 'So far as the pat is concerned
cn'oss you were pres"nt to learn
air the details it Is Impossible to
ascerta'n with accuracy the exact
trufh about anyth'ng.
'.'Ex Governor Patterson was,
prior to his conversion, the pro-
i ounced advocate of tho sale of in
tpxicHt'ng Pquors under legal regu
lations. There Is no reason to be
1'eve that he was Insincere In his
position.
"His conversion came about, as
's the case of every truly converted
man. by repentance toward God.
faith fn our I-ord Jesus Christ and
regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
This brought transformation not
only In his. attitude to the liquor
traffic but In all his relations to
Cod and men.
"Whntever we rosy concede as
TEMPERANCE UNION HOLDS
FR A NCES WILLARD SERVICE
W.t I r preseutitives i resent
from all the churches of the city
i.ervkes w re held in the
i'irst Baptist Church Sunday after
oon by the local AVomuu's Chris
tian Tempersme I'n on, the ollkers
presiding over the meeting.
Dr. Cunning m of the First Me
thodist Church was the speaker of
the evening. He reviewed briefly
:he life of Frances Willard and
spole of her excellent educational
ork and her earnest efforts in the
"emjerance movement. Dr. ('tin
ninglm also spoke of the progress
)i the tenip-Tance movement in all
lines. Special music was arrang
?d for the occasion, the features of
hich were a violin solo by Mr
Davis, a violin duet by Messrs
Skinner and Davis and a quartette
)y Messrs Skinner, Burgess, Allen
and Peal. ,
MRS. ANNIE H.. FORBES DEAD
Currituck, Feb 28 Mrs. Annio
II. Forbes died Tuesday niht at
the home of her daughter, Mrs. 3.
J. Forbes1 at Currituck and was
found in her bed .next morning
dead .
Al ho'igh e'gb'y three years or
U'e Mrs:. Forties appeared to tie
veil and in her usual good spirits
ru sday nteht, and her sudden
b ath was a sb n k to the family and
'o her frieiuis.
Tho funeral was conducted
rinir diy afternor n ut the hunie of
Mrs Forbes bv Rev. Hester of
ypyrck - riTul htonne nl' took 1 1 1 ace
"p thra family bury'ng ground at
'j'roirory. Mrs. Forbes is survlv
ed by three (iiiugbfrs: Mrs. .1. J.
''orbes of Currituck. Mrs. I. aura
feary of Gregory, and Mrs. N.
Hathaway of Currituck; and by one
son, W. L. Forbes of Camden.
THEATRE TRAIN TUESDAY
A special theatre train will leave
Elizabeth City next Tuesday,
March 7th, at 5:40, for the benefit
cf the people of the city and section
who wish to attend the" Norfolk
theatres.
The round tr p f re Is one dollar
and the train returning leaves
Norfolk at 11:59 Tuesday night.
WEDDED ATI ROANOKE
The announcement of the mar
rlage of Lieutenant Andrew L.
I'mdleton to Miss Mary Minnis
Layman at Roanoke, Va., th's
week will be of Interest to friends
In the city.
Lieutenant. Pendleton is the son
of Mrs. Rose Pendleton of this
c'ty. and is now tt itloned at Key
West, Florida,
to one's past sound and unmistaka
ble evidence of conversion and ac
ceptance by thr Almighty leavet.
no other .alternative for Christian
people but to forgive.
"I know Governor Patterson per
.iWfr:.
Dr. Madison 8wadener of Indiana
sonally and have absolute confi
dence In his Integrity and sincerity.
So fir as I know he has been uni
formly consistent at any and all
cost."
f .
V :
REPUBLICANS ELECT
DELEGATES-TO CONVENTION
In convention here Saturday the
iiepuM cans of the County elected
the fo'lowin; delegates to the Re
publican Conven'Ion at Raleigh
which begins on Wednesday: I. M.
Meek ns, C. R. Pugh. J. W. Mark
ham; al'err.ates G. G. Meads, W.
O. Morse, J. Q. A. Wood.
J. W. Jonhson. C. R. Pugh, IL
T. James, with I. M. Meeklns. C.
P." Whlte,and Victor Meads as al
ternates were elected delegates
to the c mgressional convention and
also to tin senatorial convention if
such is called.
Officers for the county were nom
inated as follows: S. S. Overman,
sheriff; V. E. Meads, register of
deeds; R. E. Chesson, auditor;
W. N. Price, coroner; N. W. Dal
ley, trial Justice; C. E. itramer.
F. M. Newby, B. T. James, Jno
S. Morr's T. S. Ownley, Jerry
Sawyer, Frank Jones, commission
ers! W. G. Poole, legislator.
The following executive com
mittee was elected: C. R. Pugh,
chairman; J. C. Munden Secre
tary; E. W. McDougal, First
Ward; J. W. Wilcox. Second
ward: D. R. Scott, third ward;
M. Sedgewck, fourth ward; J. M.
Payne, H. C. White Nixonton; ,
J. F. B-others. T. S. Ownley;
Vt. H rmon; J. F. Jones, New
land; Jerry Siwyer, Providence.
MRS. CHAS BREWER
ENTERTAINED
Whl! the., guest of Miss Lillio
Grundy on Main street last vci?k
M'-s. Charles Brewer ;,of Meredith
College was th? gu."st of honor of
two attractive social affairs.
A five course daffodil luncheon
given by Miss Grandy Included
the following guests: Mrs. G.
W. Ward, and her guest, Mrs.
Vodrey of Pennsylvania; Mrs. J.
H. White, Mrs. Noah Burfoot,
and Mrs. Charles Brewer. The
gold and white color scheme was
effectively carried out with a pro
fusion of daffodils, yellow candles,
and in the courses of the luncheon.
Mrs. J. H. White gave a pleas
ant morning party in Mrs. Brew
er's honor, which Included the fol
lowing guests: Mrs. Chas Brewer,
Miss Llllle Grandy, Mrs. George
W. Ward, Mrs. Vodrey, Mrs Sel
by Harney. Mrs. Walter Small,
Mrs, W. O. Allen, (formerly of
Raleigh, Mrs. I. M. Meeklns, Mrs
D. N. Jones and guest, Mrs. Cox,
Mrs. C. H. Robinson. A dainty
salnd course was served.
Mrs. Hrewrr, visited her old
home at Shawboro w hlle In this
section and left this week to visit
friends . In Norfolk before return
ing to Raleigh.
FOR SALE White Orpington Egs
One dollar per setting of fifteen
eggs. O. L. BUNDY. Okisko, N.
C. ! . ... . 3tpd
, CLASSES ENTERTAIN
TO-NIGHT
The organized ndult classes , of
Plaekwell Memorial Sutwluy School
will meet tontht. In the nnne for
en evening cf pleasant and profita-
ile entertainment. The addresses
of the even'ng will be made by
Hev. I). P. Harris and Rev. N. N.
liOftln.
The Sunday school orchestra
will play a number of musical se
lections and there will be vocal
solos by MIpsor Ronu Ward, Mar
garet D'twson and Mr. Arthur E.
Burgess,' piano solos by Mrs, I. N.
Loftln, a duet by MIsrcs Margaret
Dawson and Nannie Hanks and a
quartette by Messrs Skinner, Peal,
Burgess and Newbold.
At tho close of th evening's pro
gram refreshments will be served.
The nrrnnired classes of the Sun
day School number as many as
two hundred and fifty members, or
nearly a third of the entire school.
A large gathering and a pleasant
evenlne are anticipated.
Frank M. Harris left Monday
for Wanchese on business.
VAIITS WORKERS
F
T. J. Markham Has Plan
to Open Y. M. C. A. at
Once and Issues Call for
Helpers
A plan fcr the organization of the
Y. M. C. A. is on foot which seem
to have more promise of immediate
resuit than anything which has been
proposed within the last five years."
This plan will not involve an Im
mediate campaign for money but
looks toward a vigorous campaign
for members. It Is believed that if
as many s three hundred member!
can be secured the Y. M. C. A. can
be opened this spring and that once
opened the problem, of the debt on
the building can be met with much
greater ease.
Attorney T. J. Markham has work
ed out. the plan and he Is asking the
young men of the town who are
ready to cooperate with him, to meet
him at the Y. M. C. A. building to
morrow night. Quite a number of
young men have bren expressing re
cently the'r desire to seo a Y. M. C.
A. opened h're and Mr. Markham
wants to show them how they can
go to work toward that end.
At the meeting tomorrow night Mr
Markham hopeB to be able to see
mid enlist in a campaign for active
work forty or fifty young men. These
will be put to work toward arousing
Interest in the movement and it Is
hoped that a little lat r a big mass
meeting of the young men of the
town can be held at which It will
be possible to definitely enroll very
nearly the required number of
members.
Mr. Markham has observed that
a considerable number of young
men are asking for a Y. M. C. A.
He wants to meet tomorrow night
every young man in the city who
is williang to work for one.
BOX 8UPPER AT PEARL 8TREET
On the evening of March seventh
beginning at 7:30 o'clock a hot
supper will be served at Pearl
Street Methodist church In the an
nex of the church. Mr. Flood'8
Sunday School class is in charge
of the evening's entertainment,
and preceedlng the supper a short
program will be rendered, consis
ting cf fonpis and recitations. Ice
cream and cake will also be served.
The public Is cordially invited.
BETTERMENT ASSOCIATION
AT INDIANTOWN
ind'aritown, February 25 Super
intendent R. W. Isley visited tha
school here Wednesday and assis
ted In the organization of a Wom
an's Betterment Association. The
following officers were elected:
Miss Annie Sm'th, President; Mrs
Wl'l am , Berry, . Vica President;
Mrs. Mack Smith, treasurer; Mrs.
Lewis Roberts, secretary. Com
paratively few members were pres
ent at this first meeting but Is be
lieved that a much larger number
will attend now that the organiza
tion has bern effected . The next
meefng will bo held on the first
Friday In March and the parents of
the children In school here are es
peclally urged to attend.
TO GIVE MASQUERADE PARTY
Miss Bessie Morgan's class wilt
give a masquerade party In the
basement of Blarkwell Memorial
Church next Thursday night at 7:19
A. B. Lipscomb of High Point
was In the city Thursday.
G. H. Heath of Camden passed
through the city today on his war
to Morsevllle In Iredell County ta
work, with a construction gang.