North Carolina Newspapers

|iiiiiiiimiMiiiiiimiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiMiii^ E A home newspaper dedicated e E to the service of Washington 1 E County and its 12,000 people. 1 fmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiimmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip The Roanoke beacon ★ ★★★★★★★★★ And Washington County News ★★★★★★★★★★ gimiiiiiiiiiimiiiiimiiiiHm!!iimiiiiiiiimmiiiimiiiiii;ni § Advertisers will find Beacon E and News columns a latch-key to j§ 1,100 Washington County homes. VOLUME 41—NUMBER 54 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, December 26, 1930. ESTABLISHED 1889 WILL DISTRIBUTE 100 BASKETS BY CHRISTMAS DAY -® Plans of Salvation Army For Christmas Relief Are Outlined Envoy and Mrs. VV. C. Brewer, of the local Salvation Army post, have been busy during the past week inves tigating cases that have been reported to them as needing help. It was stated that the Army plans to prepare at least 100 or more baskets by Christ mas Day for distribution among the poor in the county. The baskets will be prepared in the vacant store in the Brinkley Building, opposite the Wood ley Motor Corporation, and those wishing to make last-minute donations of food and produce are urged to take their gifts to this place. Arrangments have been completed for distributing the baskets through out the county. Volunteer workers will handle the distribution in the Ply mouth territory, Envoy Brewer said, while the work in the Roper section will be handled by Mr. and Mrs. Wil son. Mr. and Mrs. O. D. Hatfield have agreed to take charge of the distribu tion in the Creswell section. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer yesterday ex tended their thanks for the very liberal response of Plymouth citizens and for the hearty cooperation evidenced by ministers, churches, and fraternal or ders. They said that while the response to the appeal for clothing had been fine, there was still a pressing need for more, particularly of children's shoes. They hope to have their work well under way by Christmas Day and ask that all of those who have not yet contributed clothing and shoes to go over their wardrobes and send what ever they do not need to tile army headquarters. The Army workers also expressed their appreciation for the friendly spirit exhibited toward them since they arrived here, and stated that while conditions in the county were far from good the} are not as distressing as in some of the othe. sections they have visited. REDUCE SUPPLY CHRISTMAS RUM Sheriff Reid and Chief of Police Brown Capture Two Plants Sheriff J. K. Rekl and Chief of Po lice P. W. Brown have made a couple of raids within the past week or so that will undoubtedly have effect on the supply of Christmas “spirits’' in this section. Week before last they went down in Skinnersville Town ship and captured a nice 250-gallon capacity copper still, completely equip ped, with 40 barrels of beer just about ready to run. Last Friday night they made another haul, this time going out the Wood land Road near Roper, where they found a 50-gallon outfit and one bar rel of mash. The still was a very crude affair, being made from a kerosene drum, and it is believed that liquor made in such a plant would be highly poisonous. The beer found here was also just about ready to be run. There was no clue to the operators or owners ot either of the outfits. SPECIAL MEET COUNTY BOARD -® Pay of Tax Assessors Fixed At $4 Per Day; Other Proce:dings The Washington County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting here last Thursday morning for the purpose of authorizing the sale of tax anticipation notes, bids for which are to be received and considered at an other called meeting scheduled for Saturday morning of this week. All of the commissioners were present at the meeting last Thursday. The hoard also passed an order set ting out the time limits for reassessing property in the various townships of the county. The assessors were given 30 working days for Plymouth and Lees Mills Townships, 20 working days for Scuppernong Township, and 15 working days for Skinnersville. The board also fixed the pay of the asses sors at $4 per day, with an allowance of $3 per day extra for the use of an automobile when one is required. The county tax supervisor’s pay was fixed at the same figures. H. J. Furbee was allowed an additional $1 per day on ac count of the fact that he lives 20 miles from his work. A committee appeared before the commissioners asking for a pledge to the Salvation Army welfare work fund, the board unanimously passing an or der allowing the organization the sum o‘ $25 monthly during the months of January, February, and March. Even though the candle light burns dim, may the real spirit of this Christmas kindle a light that will afford each of you much joy and happi ness, and as Dickens’ Tiny Tim said, ‘God Bless Us, Every One’ THE ROANOKE BEACON. Electric Pump Equipment Ordered by Town Council; Water Meters Also Ordered EQUIPMENT FOR PUMPS COST LESS THAN EXPECTED Total Cost for Machinery Is $1,180, Delivered in Plymouth -® The Town Council finally got around to consideration of the water supply problem at its meeting last Friday night, and in a session that lasted until midnight, took several steps that it is believed will bring about more eco nomy in the operation of the system. The board ordered the purchase of an electric pump to supplant the steam plant now being used and also order ed that meters be installed through out the town as rapidly as possible. W. H. Corey, manager of a machi nery supply concern of Norfolk, Va., was present at the meeting and sub mitted a bid from his firm for the complete equipment for motorizing the pumping system. His bid of $1,180 in cluded a 250-gallon pump and electric mctor, a 500-gallon pump, 15 horse power gasoline engine, and all the otl’.er equipment necessary for making the change, delivered in Plymouth. This bid was considered remarkably low, as estimates previously made for the town put the cost of the complete equipment at nearly $2,000. The coun cil voted unanimously to accept the bid, on motion of B. G. Campbell, se conded by G. IX Davis. Delivery was promised in about four weeks by the Norfolk concern. The smaller pump, of 250-gallon ca pacity, will be powered by an electric motor, and will take care of the ordi nary requirements of the town, it was explained. The other pump, of 500 gallon capacity, is to be held in reserve in case of emergency. Power for the larger pump will be furnished by the 15 horsepower Fairbanks-Morse gaso line engine. It was stated that the emergency pump and two sources of power were made necessary by in surance requirements. Should the elec trie current fail for any reason during a serious conflagration, it was pointed out, the towm would be helpless unless there was another pump and source of power available. The large pump and gas engine takes care of this feature of the underwriters’ requirements. Order Meters Following the disposition of the wa ter pumping problem, the councilmen took under consideration the instal lation of water meters throughout the town. The matter was discussed fully, and on motion of Ci. D. Davis, second ed by H. C. Spruill, it was voted un animously to order the meters and have them installed as rapidly as pos-; sible. City Clerk M. W. Spruill stated yes terday that an order for the meters ( was being prepared, and that as soon as they were received installation would be begun. The work is to be done by the regular force of workman of the town, and will probably require several months for completion. The matter of rates was left open for future consi deration by the council. The installation of the electric’ pump is expected to effect consider-! able saving to the town, while having meters put in for every water con TOWN COUNCIL MEETS FRIDAY -Q A. E. Brothers Sworn In As New Member From First Ward A. E. Brothers was sworn in as a member of the town council at the regular meeting of that body last Fri day nigjht, and started right into work with the other members. There were a number of important matters up for consideration, and the new member found out that a council man’s job is not the softest one in the world at his very first meeting, the session lasting until midnight. Mr. Brothers was named to succeed Councilmen E. L. Owens, who re signed last month when he was elected judge of the recorder’s court. The first action of the council after convening Friday was to swear in the new mem ber, who represents the First Ward. Mayor R. P. Walker was out of the city, and the oath of office was ad ministered by Harry Stell, mayor protein, who presided over the meet ing. Councilmen H. C. Spruill, B. G. Campbell, G. D. Davis and A. E. Brothers were present. A. L. Alexander appeared before the board in the interest of the Salvation Army Community Welfare Fund, and asked for a donation to this cause, ex plaining the work that the army was attempting to do in the community. The council ordered that the sum of $25 per month for the next six months be appropriated to the fund. The council then took up considera tion of the water pumping proposition and installation meters throughout the town, covered in another article in this paper and adjourned about 12 o’clock. .-® Barton’s Soda Shoppe In Roper Victim of Robbers -® Barton’s Soda Shoppe, in Roper was entered some time last Friday night, and about $40 worth of merchandise stolen. Entrances was gained by break ing a glass in the back door. Authori ties are investigating the occurrence, although there are no clues to the robbers yet. Chamber of Commerce To Meet Next Monday -® Tliere was no meeting of the cham ber of commerce held Monday of this week on account of the fact that most cf the members were occupied in get ting ready for Christmas. The stores were all open Monday night and few of the merchants would be able to at tend, so officials called the meeting off. The next meeting will he held Monday night of next week. sumer is expected to increase the reve nue. There are a number of details in connection with the program out lined Friday night that will have to be worked out later, and it is believed that the changes to be brought about as the result of the council’s action will re quire the undivided attention of the members during the next several months. COUNTY COURT IS MORE THAN PAYING ITS WAY Figures Show That Annual Profit of $2,165.26 Has Been Realized Figures compiled by Carl L. Bailey, 1 clicitor of the recorder’s court, cover ing the operation of the court during the past three fiscal years, show that this ‘is one phase of government that is more than paying its own way. Mr. Bailey has been connected with the court in an official capacity prac tically the entire time since it was established in the fall of 1919, and is probably in position to know more about the work than any one else in the county. For the three-year period, beginning July 1, 1927, and ending June 30, 1930, the court has collected in fines and costs a total of $13,254.78, of which amount $4,866,28 was turned over to the general county fund and $8,688.50 to the school fund. The total cost of operation was $7,058.98, leaving a net profit to the county of $6,495.80 for the three years, or an average annual profit of $2,165.26. These figures re present the actual amount of money collected by the court, and does not include fees earned when defendants were sent to the county jail or roads. Figures for each of the three fiscal years follow: 1927-28, paid to general county fund, $1,692.21: paid to school fund, $2,035; total paid to county, $3, 727.21; cost of operation, $2,110.21; leaving a net profit of $1,617 for the year. 1928-29: Paid to general coun ty fund, $1,586.54; paid to school fund, $4,760; total, $6,346.54; cost of opera tion, $2,352.18; net profit, $3,994.36. For 1929-30: Paid to general county fund, $1,587.53; to school fund, $1,893. 50; total, $3,181.03; cost of operation, $2,596.59; profit for year, $884.44. The figures for cost of operation include fees, salaries, and every other item connected with the cost of maintain ing the court. Besides the annual profit shown by the court, a large sum is saved the county by the reduction in the length and number of terms of superior court. Without the recorder’s court, it is be lieved by local attorneys that at least twice as much superior court would be required, and it should also be re membered that the cost of litigation in the higher court is much more than when the matter is disposed of by the recorder. Established here in the fall of 1919, the recorder’s court has disposed of around 2,000 cases in the 11 years since that time. Mr. Bailey was the first judge, serving in that capacity until he was elected to the legislature in 1924. Zeb Vance Norman, who was prosecuting attorney while Mr. Bailey was judge, succeeded him and served as judge until 1929. After returning from the legislature in the spring of 1925, Mr. Bailey was appointed soli citor. in which capacity he is still serv ing. When Mr. Norman resigned as judge of the court in 1929, Jerry A. Sawyer was appointed, and he served up to December 1, of this year, when Edward L. Owens succeeded him on the bench. W. L. Whitley served as sclicitor for a few months in 1925, while Mr. Bailey was in the legisla ture. -$. Messrs. I7. C. and C. V. W. Ausbon, Mcsdames E. G. Arps and W. E. Ausbon and Miss Miriam Ausbon mo tored to Rocky Mount on Monday. TAX ASSESSORS HOLD MEETING HERE THURSDAY Methods To Be Followed Are Outlined by County Tax Supervisor The proper classification of all pro perty in the county will he the main task of the twelve tax assessors in this county, it was stated by Tax Su pervisor John W. Darden at a meet ing of the township assessors held here last Thursday morning. In mak ing the new assessment for the next , four years an entirely new system will be followed, and it was learned Thurs day that the proper classification of property would be the most important feature of the work. After the classification of property has been made by the assessors, they will meet here and determine the va lves according to the classification. As a result of the adoption of the new system the value of any piece of pro perty will not be determined until all the property in the county has been classified. It was Mr. Darden's opinion that the variations in the listings, so com mon in past years, will be practically eliminated under the new system. In other words, an acre of land in Ply mouth Township will be valued at the same figure as an acre of land in Skinnersville Township, classification being the same, of course. The assessors will begin their work on Tuesday, January 6, continuing un til all real property in the county has been gone over. The board of county commissioners has tentatively set the time for the work in the various town ships as follows: Plymouth and Lees Mills, 30 working days; Scuppernong, 30 working days; Skinnersville, 15 working days. It was the belief of those at the meeting Thursday that this time was not enough, several stating that Plymouth and Lees Mill Townships would require at least 45 working days. -Mr. Darden said that while there was a lot of equalizing to be done, and a number of inequalities to be leveled out, he did not believe the total valua tion of county property would be materially lessened by the work of the assessors. It was pointed out that should a property owner disagree with the findings of the township board of assessors, he had the right of appeal to the State Board of Assessment, from whose decision there is no ap peal. Mr. Darden outlined to the town ship assessors the plans for the reva luation as explained to the county supervisors at the State meeting held in Raleigh week before last. The Ra leigh meeting, the supervisor said, was the best one of any kind he had ever attended, and while he realizes that there is a tremendous task ahead of him and the township assessors, he believes that their work has been lightened somewhat as the result of the uniform plans outlined for the whole Slate at the meeting week before last. Two separate forms, one for town property and the other for farm lands, will be used, and each carries an ample number of questions. For instance, it was pointed out that the town proper ty owner will be asked to answer 326 questions, if he happens to own a half dozen houses. Information will he required as to the age of buildings, type of roof, kind of floor, how heated, location, and many other details. Blanks will be in the hands of the various assessors by the first of next month, and the work will begin on the sixth. It is expected that most of the property in the county will have to be visited by the assessors in order to obtain accurate information. Assessors named for the four town ships in the county are as follows: Plymouth: II. C. Spruill, O. H. Lyotl, and John H. Allen. Lees Mills: H. G. Furbec, L. E. Hassell, and C. E. Mizell. Skinnersville: J. C. Swain, M. F. Davenport, and H. A. Norman. Scuppernong: J. E. Belanga, E. S. Woodley, and T. E. Davenport. Community Christmas Tree A t C reswell -® Citizens of the Creswell community are having their first community Christmas tree Wednesday night of tin's week. All of the churches and Sunday schools of the town are coo perating in the undertaking, to the end that all of the children in the com munity may receive some Christmas token. A committee has been named tc sec that every child receives some present. The tree is located on the Hopkins lot at the corner of Main and Sixth Streets. -® P. L. Bryan of Garner, Wake Coun ty, made six bales of cotton on 18 acres in 1929 and 13 bales on the same 18 acres this year by using calcium arsenate to control the boll weevil, he reports to county agent John C. An derson. $271.75 Per Month For Relief Pledged FUNERAL OF MRS. W. B. DAVENPORT -§ Prominent Woman of Scup pernong Community Passes Away -® Funeral services were held for Mrs. Y\ . B. Davenport, of the Scuppernong Community, Sunday afternoon, Dec ember 14. Rev. \V. A. Davis, of Wash ington, conducted the services, which were held at the Scuppernong Chris tian Church, of which she had long been a member. Mrs. Davenport died in the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md.. on December 10th, following a serious operation. She had been improving so rapidly that her friends and relatives had great hopes for her complete re covery, and her death came as a shock to the entire community. Mrs. Davenport was a good wife, and mother, an untiring worker in the church, and a good neighbor. The large crowd of sorrowing friends who followed her to her last resting place attested to the esteem in whan she was held. Besides her husband, she is survived by nine children, five grandchildren, one sister, one brother, and a host of friends. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereaved husband and children. JUNIORS HAVE GOOD MEETING Barbecue Supper Enjoyed By Members at Meeting Last Thursday Night Plymouth Rock Council, No. 213, Junior Order United American Me chanics, gave a barbecue supper in the basement of the courthouse here last Thursday night, December 18, which was well attended and enjoyed by all the membership, there being about 65 present. Councillor W. E. Weede presided over the occasion and introduced the se veral speakers, all of whom made short and interesting addresses. Rev. J. R. Cantrell, pastor of the local Bap tist church: Rev. J. Bascont Hurley, pastor of the Roper Circuit, Methodist Episcopal Church; and Envoy W. C. Brewer, of the local Salvation Army Post, were the principal speakers of the evening. After feasting for an hour, the mem bers marched from the courthouse to the Masonic Hall, where they were dismissed after a short talk by Coun cillor W. E. Weede. IS HURT LNAUTO WRECK MONDAY Mrs. J. E. Riddick Cut and Bruised About Face As Result of Collision Mrs. J. F. Riddick, who lives about four miles from Plymouth, on high way Xo. 90, was cut and bruised about the face Monday night when a Ford coach, operated by her son, was struck by a truck driven by Richard West, the accident occuring on the curve just this side of \\ ard's bridge. Her injuries, while painful were no con sidered serious, and according to re ports she is getting on as well as could be expected. Xone 01 the other occupants of the car or truck were hurt. Hillary Riddick, driver of the Ford car, claims that he had stopped on the shoulder of the road, while one of hi I avengers was getting out, and that the truck, coming towards him, swerved across the road into his car, knocking it about 20 feet down the read, lie said that the truck, which is owned by T. C. Burgess, of this place, did not have any lights. Be sides his mother, who was the only one injured, his wife and six children were in the car. Mrs. Riddick was car ried to Plymouth by a passing mo torist for medical attention. Both the car and the truck suffered in the collision, although the extent of the damage could not he learned. Christmas Tree in Lodge Community Next Monday -@ The Sunday school of Lodge Com munity will hold a Christmas tree pro gram next Monday night, at 7:30, it was announced yesterday hv the su perintendent. Mr. J. C. Styron. Santa Claus will he there, and the children of the community are looking forward with much interest t<> the event. Be sides the program to he presented, there will be presents for all the smal ler members of the Sunday school. The public is invited to attend the exercises. COMMITTEE IS Y/ELL PLEASED WITH RESULTS -'.jr* Other Contributions and Pledges Expected to Increase Amount A final check made M.mday of the r suits of the one-da) drive staged in Plymouth last Thursday for dona tions to the Salvation Army relief fund shows that a l-'tal of $271.75 per in nth ha- been pledged for the next several months and that $26 in cash \.a- collected trnm individuals who did not care to make monthly pledges. The drive is considered a success in every respect, and it is believed that the amount raised will be sufficient to take care or the needy cases in the count)" at least until the summer months bring some relief from the dis tressing conditions now being report ed. It was explained by members of the committee that some prospects had not been seen and that others have promised to let them know later what they would do. The chairman stated that the committee would appreciate hearing from them and that proper .acknowledgment would be made of the donations. No drive has yet been -taged in the •e< unty as a whole, the work of the committee last week being limited to Plymouth. It is thought that there are a number of people in other parts of the county who will wish to con tribute to the fund, since the welfare work is to be carried on throughout the entire county, and it is probable that solicitation will be made later in tin other communities. Pledges were solicited by the com mittee on a six-months basis. the amounts ranging from 25 cents per month to $25. The county commis sioners pledged $25 per month for three months and stated that they would make a pledge for the other three months if the budget permitted. The Town Council pledged $25 a me nth for the six-months period. Other pledges for the six-months period are as follows: $10 per month: City post office em pb yees. $5.75 per month: Teachers of the Plymouth City Schools. $7.50 per month: Perseverance Lodge No. 59. $5.00 per month: A. L. Owens, Ply mouth Hardware Company, Mrs. A. H. Stier. $4.00 per month: Z. Y. Norman, R. A. Williford, E. H. Liverman, Roa noke Beacon. $2.50 per month: W. F. Winslow, ( ity Firemen. $2.00 per month: J. P. Sutton, H. E. Beam, Woman’s Missionary Society, f Continued on the back page* 4-Year-Old Boy Dies in Pleasant Grove Section Little Marvin Bagiev, second son >i Charlie Bagiev and the grand son <>i Mr. and Mrs. L. 1). Lamb of the Pleasant Grove neighborhood died fnesday night of membraneous croup. IB- was only four years old. but al ways wore a bright, little sunny smile. He had lived with his grandparents since the death of his mother about :wo years ago, who were greatly at tached to the little fellow. He was laid to rest in the family cemetery by the side of his mother, Thursday aft ernoon. He leaves one older brother, Charlie jr., and a baby brother, botli »f whom are living with their grand parents. Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Lamb. SNOWFALL FIRST DAY OF WINTER Monday, Shortest Day and First of Winter, Gets Off To Appropriate Start The winter season got off to a very appropriate start here Monday, with rain, sleet, and snow all falling during the day and sub-normal temperatures prevailing. According to the U. S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D. winter officially began at 8:40 o’ c 1* vk Monday morning, December 22. which was also the shortest day of the year. Rain began falling about noon, changing to snow and sleet later in the afternoon, and by nightfall the white flakes were coming down fast. Although conditions were not favor able for the snow to "stick,” house tops were soon covered, and roads be came slick. Visibility was poor, mak ing driving more or less hazardous, and several cars were in minor acci dents as the result of slipping or run ning off the concrete onto the soft shoulders.