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VOLUME 41—NUMBER 51
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, December 5, 1930.
ESTABLISHED 1889
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
OF TOWN TAKING
CARE OF NEEDY
Several Worthy Cases Are
Reported; Most Pressing
Needs To Be Cared For
A number of needy cases in the
community were brought to light last
week by Sunday school workers, and
steps are being taken to care for them
until some form of welfare organiza
tion is perfected to look after the
work. Three baskets of food were fur
nished deserving cases by the Episro
pa! Sunday school on Thanksgiving
Day, and since that time officials of
other Sunday schools in the city have
agreed to do what they can to assist
in local relief work .
One case was reported here in Ply
mouth where there was a family con
sisting of the mother and six children,
ages of the latter ranging from 2 to
14 years, which did not have a par
ticle of food in the house. The father
of the family is out of town trying to
secure work, and the mother was al
most at her wit’s end to secure food
fer her children when the Sunday
school came to her rescue. Her child
ren were also described as lacking
warm clothing, one little tot w'earing
a short-sleeved dress in tile near-zero
weather the early part of the week.
There are also a number of other
really pathetic cases in the section, it
is reported, where need for immediate j
relief is pressing.
It is understood that the Christian
Sunday school has agreed to take care
of two families, the Methodists two
more, the Episcopalians one, while
Baptist officials stated that they would ,
take care of as many as possible
through the church and Sunday school
organizations.
Children in the Episcopal Sunday
school are being asked to bring an ex
tra 5 or 10 cents each Sunday to be
used, in purchasing a basket of food.
It is being impressed upon them that
they should deny themselves some
luxury in order to provide the extra
contribution and that it should not
simply be an additional gift of their
parents.
With all of the Sunday schools tak
ing part in this work, it is felt that
the most pressing needs of worthy
cases can be supplied until some form
oi organization can he perfected to
take over the work.
GIVES FIGURES
ON SCHOOL BUS
COSTS IN COUNTY
County Operates 16 Trucks
At Average Yearly Cost I
of $354.65 Each
County Superintendent J. W. Nor
man recently compiled figures giving
facts relative to the cost of transpor
tation of school children in Washing
ton County that should prove of in
terest to the taxpayers. The county
schools arc operating 16 trucks this
year, 5 Fords, 7 Chevrolets, 2 Inter
nationals, and 2 Whippets. An aver
age of 768 chidren are transported to
and from school each day at an aver-|
age cost of less than 5 cents each, the
exact figures being 4.61 cents.
The total cost per year per truck is
$354.65,' while the average daily cost
per truck is $2,215. Each truck trav
els an average of 30.80 miles each
day of the session at a cost of 7.19
cents per mile. Each of the 16 trucks
carries an average of 48 pupils daily at
the per student cost of 4.61 cents.
The county superintendent has
worked out the average costs accord
ing to the makes of the cars. While
the names of the trucks are not pre
sented here for obvious reasons, they
will he furnished upon application to
Mr. Norman.
The operating cost per truck per
year ranges from $298.88 for one
make to $394.14 for another. The aver
age of the other two groups is $3S7.88
and $333.84. Miles traveled per year
per truck, according to make, ranges
from 4,415.4 to 5,938 miles, while the
other two groups traveled 4,919 and
5,251.5 miles each.
The cost per mile of Make No. 1 is
7.516 cents: Make No. 2, 7.885 cents;
Make No. 3. 6.638 cents; and No. 4,
5.691 cents. The average age of group
No. 1 is 1.2 years; group No. 2, 1.71
years; group No. 3, 1.5 years; and
group No. 4, 1 year. I he age is fi
gured as of June 30, 1930.
The number of pupils transported
per day per truck, by groups, follows:
No 1, 39.8; No. 2, 52.5; No. 3, 52.4:
No. 4, 41.9. The average number of
■miles traveled daily by each truck
ranges from 27.1 for Group No. 2 to
37.3 for group No. 3. Group No. 1
averages 28.4 miles each day and
Group No. 4, 33.2 miles.
Halifax and Hertford
Go In For Beef Cattle
Two shipments of heifers and baby
beeves from Halifax and Hertford
counties topped the Baltimore market
last week.
Musical Comedy for Benefit
School To Be Staged Tonigh t
Rehearsals have been in full
swing ail week for the production
of “Oh, Doctor,” a big hit musical
comedy to be staged at the high
school auditorium here tonight
'Friday) under the auspices of the
high school. Funny lines have
been learned, humorous stage sit
uations have been perfected and
everything is in readiness for the
curtain, which will be rung up
promptly at 8 o’clock for the per
formance. The cast of characters
includes some of the best dramatic
and musical talent in town, and
if the amount of interest mani
fested is an indication, “Oh, Doc
tor will be presented to a packed
auditorium.
Proceeds from the production
will be used for the benefit of the
school. Among those taking part
are Pauline Lucas, Sydney Ward,
Robert Bowen, Mildred Spruill,
Harry Lyon, Elizabeth Davidson,
William Vail, Evelyn Arps, On
ward Leggette, Robert tConkl/n,
Lyman Mayo, Bill Clifton, Cle
tus Cantrell, Gladys Kemp, Mild
red Waters, Madeline Davis, and
others. There are also a number
of choruses, the entire presentation
being under the direction of Miss
Greenlee, representing the Trian
gle Producing Co., of Greensboro.
It has been said that the costumes
are some of the most attractive
ones that are being used in ama
teur musicial comedies.
W. Fletcher Ausbon, One of
Leading Citizens of Section,
Died Suddenly Last Saturday
FUNERAL HELD
AT METHODIST
CHURCH SUNDAY
-®
Heart Failure Assigned As
Cause of Sudden Death
Saturday Morning
William Fletcher Ausbon, one of
Plymouth's best-known and most-be
loved citizens, died suddenly'last Sat
urday morning shortly before 10 o’
clock in the drug store of his son-in
law, E. G. Arps. Mr. Ausbon had
answered a fire alarm as a member of
the volunteer company of firemen
here, and after returning from the
fire station, he stopped in the drug
store where he complained of a pain
over his heart. He went into the rear
of the store and sat down, rapidly be
coming worse, death occurring before
medical assistance could 1 e summon
ed. Heart trouble was assign'd as
the cause of his death.
Mr. Ausbon was born just over tne
Washington county line, in Martin
county, on February 17, 1867, the son
of W. J. and Priscilla Ausbon. His
parents lived on the Martin county
farm for about a year, however, and
Mr. Ausbon was reared and spent
practically his entire life here in Ply
mouth.
In 1890, about one year after the
Roanoke Beacon was established, Mr.
Ausbon and his brother, C. V. W.
Ausbon, formed a copartnership and
purchased tbq paper from D. O.
Brinkley. They operated it together,
“Fletcher,” as lie was better known
to the people here, acting as editor,
while his brother was business man
ager of the newspaper. After about
five or six years he sold his interest
to his brother, C. V. W. Ausbon, and
entered the insurance and realty busi
ness here, in which he was engaged at
the time of his death.
By his unfailing courtesy and
friendliness he built up a large pat
rona’ge, also serving as justice of the
peace for nearly a quarter of a century
having first been appointed by the
legislature in 191)7. In his capacity as
magistrate he handled about 90 per
cent of all this type of work done in
the entire county. He w'as a member
and faithful worker for the Demo
cratic party, although he did not al
low his partisanship to interfere with
his friendship of members of the op
position party, and to the day of his
death he was held in the highest es
teem by members of all the factions
of both parties throughout the sec
tion. Mr. Ausbon was also deputy
clerk of the superior court and was
very active in public and civic af
fairs of whatever nature, freely giving
his services to all worth-while causes.
He was married in 1889 to Miss
Mattie Johnson, of near Plymouth,
who, with seven daughters and two
sons, survives him. The daughters are:
Mrs. E. C. Caton, Mrs. W. Allan
Crockett, and Mrs. Harry R. Livers,
all of Hampton, Ya.; Mrs. E. G. Arps,
Mrs. Marion Ramsey and Misses
Miriam and Hazel Ausbon, of Ply
mouth. His sons, Messrs. Frank C.
and Hampton Ausbon also live in
Plymouth.
Mr. Ausbon joined the Methodist
church while very young, and was a
very faithful member, taking an ac
tive part in the work of the church
and serving in several official capaci
ties at various times. He was also
one of the most active members of
the Plymouth Fire Department, and
despite his advanced years he answer
ed practically every alarm with the
j company. It was his request that the
members of the department have
charge of his funeral, and the big
truck was used as a conveyance for
the body front the church to the grave
Sunday afternoon, members of the
(Continued on page six)
County Finances Are
In Satisfactory Shape
-®
Washington County finances,
according to reports certified
to the county board of commis
sioners Monday, are in very
satisfactory shape. Of the total
tax levy of $175,428.79 due for
1929, the report showed that the
entire amount had been collected
except $1,384.93 insolvents and
$811.05 released by the board of
commissioners on account of er
rors in listing, disabilities, etc.
The sum of $436.18 was collect
ed by the sheriff and auditor on
unlisted items and added to the
total amount of taxes due. Land
sales for non-payment totaled
$20,450.14, this amount having
since been paid down to about
$17,000. There was a good
sized cash balance on hand re
ported at the session Monday.
ACTIVITIES AT
LOCAL SCHOOL
Total of 38 Children Being
Furnished Milk; All Are
Underweight
It was learned yesterday from
Principal E. H. Hicks, of the city
schools, that 38 undernourished and
underprivileged children were being
served with crackers and milk each
morning here. The milk is being fur
nished only to children who are as
much as 10 pounds underweight.
The schools has also supplied cloth
ing to a number of children, the prin
cipal said. There is need for still more
especially shoes and stockings, and
there are a few children who are with
out books. It was pointed out that in
the first grade, 13 section, this week,
there was only 73 per cent of the
class present. Most of the absences
were caused by the weather prevailing,
and some had no books. Mr. Hicks
said that he would like to have a few
more regular contributors to the milk
and book funds, so that the unfortu
nate children could be given a chance
with the others.
I The attendance average as a whole
is running about 93 per cent, the prin
cipal said, while there are some clas
ses that are holding up around 100 pei
cent of their total enrollment.
The percentage of children in the
local school attending some form oi
religious worship last Sunday was 67
A few weeks ago the figure was
around 50 per cent, it was stated.
County Commissioners
Hold Meeting Today
i The Washington County Board of
Commissioners is holding a special
meeting at the courthouse here this
| morning. There were still a number ol
matters to consider after the all-day
session Monday, and the meeting wa
l adjourned until today.
CHRISTMAS SEAL
CAMPAIGN GETS
UNDER WAY HERE
-
Seal Sale Being Sponsored
Here by Literary Club
Members
-®
j The annual Christinas Seal cam
paign was begun in Plymouth this
week, when workers started canvass
ing local business houses. The -ale of
the seals in Wahington county is be
ing sponsored this year by the Thurs
day Afternoon Literary Club, and is
I being handled by a special committee
appointed at a recent meeting. Mrs.
J. S. Norman is chairman of the com
mittee, which also includes as mem
jbers Mrs. Henry Midgette and Mrs.
R. W. Johnson.
Besides making a canvass of busi
ness houses here, the committee mem
bers plan to have the seals on sale
jat the drug stores, and it is also
i probable that some will be sold
| through the schools. The use of the
seals is being urged in place of the
'■usual little Christmas stickers on en
! velopes and packages between now
and Christmas. A large sum is rais
ed annually through the sale of the
seals to be used in connection with
the war being waged on tuberculosis.
Mrs. Norman stated that 75 per cent
oi the funds collected through the
sale of the seals is retained for use
in the county. The other 25 per cent
is forwarded to the State Sanitorium
for use there. Last year the proceeds
from the local sale were used to buy
a brace for a child near Roper who
had tuberculosis of the bone. The
money raised can only be used for tu
berculosis work.
Miss Pratt Covington, county home
agent, has also assured the committee
of her cooperation, and it is under
stood that committees are to be ap
pointed in each of the home demon
stration clubs to assist in the sale of
the seals. While no definite amount
has been set as a goal, the club is
hoping that the sale this year will
surpass the record of former years,
and it is considered likely that most
of the outgoing letters from now un
til Christmas will have the little seals
CAR OWNERS FAIL
TO OBSERVE LAW
Many Complaints About
Cars Passing School
Trucks
County Superintendent J W. Nor
man stated yesterday that he was still
receiving complaints from drivers of
school busses about cars passing
them while they were receiving or dis
charging children. The county superin
tendent said that he was loath to re
port the drivers who were violating
the law, but that unless conditions
very materially improved he would be
forced to turn their names over to the
scdicitor who will institute actions
against them in recorder’s court.
The North Carolina traffic laws are
very specific in saying that cars ap
proaching a school bus while it is in
the act of receiving or discharging
passengers shall come to a full stop
and remain at a standstill until the
bus is again in motion. Drivers of the
school trucks have been instructed to
report the name of the person or num
ber of the car violating this regulation.
Several warnings have been given
drivers in this section, and it is expect
1 ed that arrests will follow continued
violations.
I „
I Dr. Bray Elected Health
Officer at Recent Meet
At a recent meeting of the Wash
I ington County Board of Health Dr. I .
1 L. Bray, of Plymouth, was elected
county health and quarantine officer
to succeed Dr. W. II. Ward, whose
death occurred several weeks ago.
Dr. Bray is well known throughout
1 the county, and his selection has met
I with general popular favor.
The County Health Board is com
posed of Drs. J. W. Speight, of
Roper, and W. H. Harrell, of Cres
well; Messrs. R. P. Walker, J. W.
Norman, and J. C. Spruill, of Plym
outh. Mr. J. C. Spruill, as chairman
of the county hoard of commissioners,
i was ex-officio chairman of the board
' of health.
Geo. W. Hardison to Succeed
J. C. Gatlin as County Auc itor
20 Per Cent of Tax Levy Is
Collected So Far by Sheriff
Sheriff J. K. Reid last week
turned over his first installment
of the 1930 tax levy to the coun
ty treasurer, the amount totaling
about $35,000, or about 20 per
cent of the levy. While this may
sound good on the face of it,
Sheriff Reid stated that the
amount represented only about a
dozen accounts, and it includes
the taxes of the largest single
taxpayer in Wasfiington county,
the Norfolk-Southern Railroad
Company. This company pays
annually about $32,000, which
means that only about $3,000 has
been collected from other tax
payers.
The sheriff is beginning his
long uphill fight against time, and
his job means that he must try
to collect the other $140,000 due
from about 3,600 individual tax
payers by next May 1st, when de
linquent property will be adver
tised. The amounts due range
from about 10 cents to approxi
mately $7,000, and the individual
taxpayers are located in almost all
of the States in the Union. The
largest amount of collections will
probably be received in the next
two mon'hs, although there are
always a number who just man
age to get in "under the wire” on
May 1st.
Local Chamber of Commerce
Perfects Its Organization and
Prepares for Year’s Activities
WILLIFORDS BUY
LOCAL MARKET
Will Open “Yellow Front’’
Market Latter Part of
Next Week
I The market and grocery business of
C. M. Tettcrton, located on Water
Street, opposite the Branch Banking
& Tuist Co., was purchased this week
by Williford’s, who will continue to
operate the store under the firm name
of the Yellow Front Market. The
' new owners are now engaged in rear
ranging the stock and repainting the
building, and they plan to have the
store ready for reopening by the lat
ter part of next week.
It was announced that the new firm
would carry a complete line of native
and western meats in addition to
staple and fancy groceries. D. A. Hur
ley will be manager of the enterprise,
which will be operated entirely apart
from the original Williford's store, it
was stated yesterday by H. A. \\ illi
ford, one of the firm members. The
business will be conducted strictly on
a ’’cash and carry” plan, and low
prices and quality products are expect
ed to feature the offerings of the
store under its new management.
JUDGE OWENS
HOLDS COURT
-<$> -
New Recorder Had Only
Two Cases for Trial
Tuesday
Edward L. Owens, the new judge
i of the Washington County Recorder’s
Court, and perhaps one of the young
est judges in the State, being only 26
years old, occupied the bench at the
session here Tuesday for his first time.
While there were only a couple of
minor cases brought before him,
Judge Owens made a very favorable
impression ol the court attendants
and dispatched the work of the court
in a very businesslike manner.
Five colored people were called to
answer assault charges. The first, a
man, was found guilty and a road
sentence of two months was imposed
after the defendant had stated that
he was unable to pay a fine of $50.
The second case called was against
two colored women charged with as
asult. The court found them all guilty of
participating in an affray, and during
the presentation of evidence it was
brought out that the men were armed
with pistols, which added charges of
carrying concealed weapons to their
offenses. The women were required to
pay fines of $10 each and one-fourth
o! the court costs, while the two men
were given road sentences of four
months each.
$6,000 Mailed to Savings Club Members
Approximately $6,000 were mailed
c ul to members of the Christmas Sav
ings Club of the Branch Banking and
Trust Co., of Plymouth, on Wednes
day of last week. There were about
165 members of the clubs who receiv
ed the checks, which varied in amount
from $12.75 to $500. Mr. H. E. Beam,
the cashier, said that originally the
plan was to mail the checks out early
in December, but it was later decided
to mail them out on the eve of
Thanksgiving in order to make that
day brighter for many folks.
The Christmas Savings Club plan
< f saving is looked upon with favor
by many people who otherwise would
not have a very bright outlook at
Christmas, bank officials said, and it
i is expected that an even larger num
ber will join the club for next year.
The club for llJ31 is now forming, and
practically all who received checks
last week are planning t>> join in again,
j Small amounts may lx- paid in week
ly for the SO weeks the club operates,
and at the end of the period checks
are mailed out for the total paid in,
(plus interest. Members of the 25
cent club pay in 2a cents each wuk
ar.fi get back $12.50 plus interest.
The 50-cent club members pay in 5 '
cents each week and receive $25. and
so on up to $20 weekly, the la'.ter
amount returning $1,000 plus interest.
Merchants here are beginning to
benefit by the checks mailed out last
week, several of them commenting
Monday on the fact that they had had
the Christmas Club checks presented
to them in payment for goods bought.
It is expected that the $6,000 will
prove a decided stimulant to trade in
this section.
DIRECTORS NAME
GROVES TO HEAD
GROUP FOR YEAR
A. H. Stier Elected Vice
President; L. W. Gurkin,
Secretary-Treasurer
-.it
The election of directors for the
coming year was the chief business be
lt, rc the Plymouth Chamber of Com
merce Monday night of this week.
Eighteen members were nominated by
a committee at the meeting held the
previous Monday night, and ballots
containing these names were mailed to
each member of the body with ins
tructions to vote for nine. The bal
I lots were canvassed at the meeting
Monday night and the following were
declared elected: E. H. Liverman, J. F
Winslow, Leland Thompson. A. H.
Stier, A. L. Alexander, J. W. Norman,
C L. Groves, Z. V. Norman, and W.
II Booker.
A number ot matters were discussed
at the meeting, including welfare work
in this section, the milk fund for un
dernourished children sponsored by
the local schools, and the erection of
the "tin can" for a community civic
center. A committee was appointed to
cooperate with Prof. E. H. Hicks in
the last- named matter. The milk fund
for the undernourished children was
heartily endorsed, and it is expected
that further aid will be given this pro
ject by the body.
Xo word had been received at the
meeting Monday from the Salvation
Army officials relative to their propo
sal to establish a post here to take
care of welfare work in the county,
and this matter was deferred until
something definite was heard from
them. The secretary, Mr. L. W. Gur
kin, received a telegram from the ar
my officials Wednesday asking for a
conference here Saturday morning re
lative to this work, and it is expected
that some action will be taken by the
chamber of commerce at its meeting
next Monday night. The meeting Sat-j
urday will probably be attended by j
the officers of the body and the Sal- 1
vat ion Army workers, and a definite j
proposition is expected to be made at
that time.
A special meeting of the newly
elected directors was held Wednesday
afternoon and officers elected for the
ensuing year. The new oficers are C.
1. Groves, president: A. H. Stier, vice
president; and L. W. Gurkin was re
elected secretary and treasurer.
At the meeting of the directors, the
question as to whether weekly or
monthly meetings would be more sat
isfactorily was discussed at length,
and the board, by a vote of 8 to 1,
decided to recommend to the full
body at its next meeting that meetings
be held once each month, on first
Mondays. It is hoped that this plan
will result in increased interest and at
tendance by the officers, and a full
representation is urged at the meet
ing next Monday, when the plan will
be accepted or rejected by the chamber
of commerce as a whole.
It was decided by the directors that
all of the old membership would be
carried over to the new year, and new
m mbvrs are to lie solicited by the
officers and directors. It is possible
that a membership drive w ill be staged
later on in the year.
Program of Services
At Episcopal Church
Rev. A. H. Marshall, Rector
Church school, 10 a. m.
Holy Communion and sermon, 11
o’clock a. m.
APPOINTED BY
NEW BOARD AT
MEET MONDAY
Office of Chairman Put On
Full Time Basis; Salary
Is $125 Per Month
One of the largest crowds ever at
tending the sessions of the county
board of commissioners was present
Monday, when the old board was re
tired and the new one inducted into
office. Commissioners J. C. Spruill,
chairman, and E. R. Lewis were pre
sent when the meeting began, and af
ter hearing the minutes of the previous
meeting read turned the reins of the
county government over to the com
missioners elected early last month.
E. R. Lewis was the only member of
the retiring board to be re-elected.
The new commissioners, George W.
Hardison and O. It. Armstrong, took
the oath of their office before C. V.
W. Ausbon, clerk of the superior
court, and the new board then pro
ceeded to organize by electing George
W. Hardison, of Plymouth, chairman.
The most important action of the
beard, from a standpoint of county
wide interest, was the appointment of
a county accountant. Mr. J. C. Gatlin,
who has held the office for the past
four years, was an applicant for the
position, and there were several peo
ple present urging his retention in the
office. After a discussion, however,
the commissioners voted to make the
chairman of the board a full-time of
ficer, and the duties now performed
by the county auditor are to be
handled by him. This action was taken
as an economy measure, it was ex
plained the full-time chairman being
paid a salary of $125 per month,
against $200 per month formerly paid
the county auditor.
It is understood that the new plan
will be come effective January 1st,
when Mr. Hardison will take over the
duties now performed by Mr. Gatlin.
It was explained that the board's
action was in no wise a reflection on
the past performance or ability of the
present auditor, and a letter was read
from the firm of J. M. Williams & Co.,
certified public accountants, of Ra
leigh, wherein it was stated that the
office of county accountant as handled
by Mr. Gatlin was handled “more ef
ficiently than any other county we
have ever audited.” This firm makes
an annual audit of the books of Wash
ington and several other counties, and
(Continued on page six)
ASKS GOVERNOR
OPPOSE CHANGES
OF TEXT BOOKS
Z. V. Norman Says Change
At Present Would Be
Hardship to Many
The proposal of the State Board of
Education to make sweeping changes
in textbooks used in the schools of
North Carolina has not met with a
very hearty response in this section.
In fact, educational authorities gen
erally condemn the proposal, as it will
mean that parents will have to buy
new books, and at this particular time
any added expense is hardly to be
countenanced, especially if it can be
avoided.
Zeb Vance Norman, of this city, re
presentative from Washington Coun
tv in the legislature that convenes in
January, this week made public a let
ttr^he had written to Governor Gard
ner protesting against any general
change in the textbooks now u-ed. Mr.
Norman’s letter, in full, follows:
“I desire to approach you about a
matter of much interest, which, I
think, is very vital to a number of peo
ple in North Carolina. There seems to
be a proposal by the State Board of
Education to change the textbooks
used in the public schools covering
arithmetic, drawing and writing. 1 am
always in favor of providing the best
possible methods for teaching and
training children, but owing to the
present financial depression I think
that it would be unwise to introduce
new textbooks on these subjects when
those used at present are sufficient.
The cost to the people of North Caro
lina, if I am informed correctly, would
probably be in excess of $?00/'00, and
there are many families in this com
munity, and we are not unlike others,
who were unable to buy school books
.for their children at the beginning of
tin. present school term, and to re
quire them now to buy new books
would, in my opinion, be an unneces
sary burden.
“It is hoped that you will use your
influence to oppose any unnecessary
changes in the school facilities at pre
sent that would impose further bur
dens upon the people of this State.”