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1 County and its 12,000 people, g
iiHHumHfliHiiHiHmiHnflniHHiinimimNiraHmmiJ ★ ★★★★★★★★★ And Washington County News ★★★★★★★★★★
1 Advertisers will find Beacon
E and News columns a latch-key to
1 1,100 Washington County homes.
anmimmiiimiiimMimmimiimmimmiiimimiiiMiimi!
VOLUME 42—NUMBER 9
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, February 27, 1931.
ESTABLISHED 1889
Tiiiiiiiimiiiitmmi:
MANY FARMERS
BEGIN PLANTING
IRISH POTATOES
—*—
Will Continue for About 10
Days; Less Fertilizer
Being Used
A large number of Washington
County farmers are busy this week
planting irish potatoes, especially in
the lower end of the county, where
there will be considerable acreage de
voted to the crop. Many farmers
were engaged in hauling seed and fer
tilizer last week, and although some
have already completed their planting
the peak will probably be reached the
latter part of this week or the first
of next, weather permitting. The
planting will probably continue for
the next ten days.
Potatoes constitute one of the ma
jor crops in this county although far
mers in the section do not go in for
them on an extensive a scale as is
done in Tyrrell county. Columbia is
the center of one of the largest irish
potato producing areas in the State,
and many farmers in the lower part
of Wasihington market their crop
there. Creswell also ships a consider
able quantity during the season.
Last year potato farmers did fairly
well with their crop, prices ranging
from $3 to more than $5 per barrel,
depending upon the time of market
ing. Some farmers who got their
product on the market early in the
Season realized averages of $5 per
barrel, although it is thought the gen
eral average throughout this section
was around $3.50. This is considered
a fair price, and practically all who
made even average yields realized a
nice profit.
According to a number of obser
vers, less commercial fertilizer than
usual is being used, and although a
larger acreage is expected the yield
may be held down to about the same
as it was last year. However, if the
acreage is materially larger than it
was last year, the price may be af
fected, particularly early in the season.
FATHER AND SON
FEAST TONIGHT
m> ■ ■■■
Young Tar Heel Farmers
Club of Creswell Plans
Barbecue
■ ■ -
The Young Tar Heel Farmers Club,
of Creswell, composed of members of
the agriculture class in the school
there, is planning to give a barbecue
Friday night of this week in the school
building. The affair is to be in the
nature of a “father and son” get-to
gether meeting, special guests being
fathers of the boys in the class, mem
bers of the Creswell school board, and
Coujity Superintendent J. ^V. Nor
man.
Mr. C. H Rabon, teacher of the
class, in making the announcement of
the barbecue, stated that the food is
to be prepared by members of the
Creswell school board, and County
Superintendent J W. Norman.
Mr. C. H. Rabon, teacher of the
class, in making the announcement of
the barbecue, stated that the food is
to be prepared by members of the
Parent-Teacher Association of Cres
well, while the members of the club arc
providing the finances. An enjoyable
event is anticipated, both by the boys
and by the invited guests.
TWO COUNTY
BILLS PASSED
One Relates To Drainage
Districts; Other to Town
Of Plymouth
Two bills introduced by Represen
tative Zeb Vance Norman were pass
ed in the legislature last week, both
of them being purely local measures.
The bill to empower sale of drainage
district lands for delinquent drainage
assessments in Washington and Hyde
counties was passed by the senate
Friday, it having been previously
passed by the house.
The other bill, introduced by Mr.
Norman last Wednesday, repealing
the law creating the Plymouth Power
and Light Commission, was passed by
the House Friday. It now goes to the
Senate, where prompt passage is ex
pected. This bill was introduced by
Mr. Norman at the request of the
towft council, there being no work for
the commission to do since the sale
of the power franchise. Members of
the commission resigned several
months ago.
---
Roper Boys Lose First
Game of Present Season
Last Thursday afternoon, the Roper
quint lost its first game of the season
by a score of 20 to 15 to the Farm
Life School, of Martin county.
It was a blow to the Roper boys to
lose their first game of the season at
the hands of the Farm Life cagers as
they had previously defeated this
team by a score of 22 to 2. The boya
have won twelve games this season.
Complete Reading of Local
Water Meters for First Time
The first reading or the recently
installed water meters was com
pleted last week by City Clerk
Moye W. Spruill. The meters will
again be read on the 16th of
March,, and bills will be mailed
out the first of April based on the
amount of water consumed in
i stead of at the old flat rate.
Water consumers ’ will then be
given a 10 per cent discount if the
bills are paid by the 10th of the
month, while service will be dis
continued if they are not paid by
the 15 th.
Mr. Spruill stated that practical
ly all water consumers had made
needed repairs to water lines, al
though there were a few who had
to be warned to have leaks re
paired within the next 30 days.
The consumption of water has
fallen off considerably here since
the meters were installed, this be
ing the first opportunity many of
them had ever had of checking up
on the amount of water they were
using. Formerly it was impossible
to keep the water tank full with
the pump running at full speed 24
hours daily. The pumps are now
shut down entirely 4 to 6 hours
each day, and are kept running
at minimum speed the balance of
the time.
Ice Plant Will Begin
Operation in March
Concern Will Pay 29c
Pound for Sour Cream
■ —*
Miss Pratt Covington, coun
ty home demonstration agent,
announced yesterday that she
had received an order from a
creamery concern offering to
buy sour cream at 29 cents per
pound. She is anxious to opt
in touch with all who are in
terested in this offer and asks
that they see her at once so that
arrangements for shipping may
be made. All transportation
charges will be paid by the con
cern making the offer, and
checks will be mailed on the
10th and 25th of each month.
ERECT BUILDING
FOR NEW PUMPS
■ .4fc i «.
Installation of New Equip
ment Here Will Require
About Three Weeks
—*—
. Work was started this week on a
building to house the new water
pumping equipment recently ordered
by the town. The building is to be
located between the water tank and
the river, and a crew of workmen is
engaged in digging a pit for the foun
dation. The machinery and equipment
arrived Monday, and it is believed
that the pumps will be working with
in the next three weeks.
The floor of the pump house is to
be about 8 feet below the ground |
surface, this being necessary in order |
to keep the level of the water above,
the pumps so that no priming will be
necessary when the pumps are start-^
ed. The house is to be about 10 by,
12 feet in size. The floor and walls i
below the ground are to be of con-|
crete, while brick will probably be!
used for that part of the walls above
the level of the ground.
The equipment includes two pumps, [
one of 250-gallon capaity and the other j
of 500 gallons, one motor, and one j
15 horse-power gasoline engine. The
motor-driven pump will be used to |
keep the water tank full under nor-1
mal conditions while the gas engine |
pump will be available for any
emergency should the power fail for
any reason.
The new equipment can be operated
much cheaper than the steam pumps
now being used, particularly so since
water meters have been installed
throughout the town and considerably
less water is being used than hereto
fore. Mr. Dan Bassinger is supervis
ing the installation of the machinery
and equipment, which it is estimated
will require about three weeks.
SEAPLANE OVER
HERE SATURDAY
-•
Local People Turn Eyes to
Sky To See Latest
Type of Aircraft
Local people turned their eyes sky
ward last Saturday afternoon when an
airplane, of the latest amphibian type,
circled the town and continued west
ward, toward Williamston.
Although the ship flew low enough
so that her type could be easily de-j
termined by the large pontoons under
her fuselage and the unusual type of
"tail” the numbers on the under
wings were not visible.
Local citizens who saw the plane as
it passed over, expressed the opinion
that the flying machine was probably
from Hampton Roads, and was on
a scouting flight. The ship was of
a considerably larger size than the
ordinary land plane.
i
IS MODERN AND
COMPLETE IN
EVERY RESPECT
• —
Installation of Machinery
And Equipment Almost
Completed
-•
Work is being rushed to completion
on the ice plant being constructed here
by Mr. A. J. Riddle, and he stated yes
terday that the first tests of the equip
ment would probably be made by the
latter part of next week. He hopes to
be ready for operation on a large scale
by March 10, and is making plans to
begin supplying ice throughout this
section by that time.
Eight men, comprising the crew
from the York Parnell factory, which
is furnishing the equipment for the
plant, have been engaged for the past
two months in putting in the ma
chinery, brine tanks, etc., and super
vising the construction of the build
ing. Mr. Riddle has also had a force
of workmen erecting the building for
some time. When completed, the plant
will be the most modern in this sec
tion of the State, and represents an
investment of around $30,000, it is un
derstood.
lhe building is constructed ot oricic,
and is about 40 by 50 feet in size. It
is located at the south end of Adams
Street, just one block from the Union
Station, on the Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad. Besides being an ideal loca
tion from the standpoint of distribution
tests of water from wells on the lot
have shown up better than any ever
before sent from Plymouth, according
to official reports made by the de
partment of hygiene of the State Board
of Health.
The plant has a capacity of 20 tons
of ice every 24 hours, which it is be
lieved will more than care for the
needs of this immediate section, Mr.
Riddle planning to dispose of the sur
plus in near-by towns as well as by
icing refrigerator cars for the railroad
companies. Despite the capacity of the
plant, only two men will be required
to operate the ice-making machinery,
the owner stated, as the equipment is
practically automatic throughout.
Power for the plant is furnished by
seven electric motors, one of 75-horse
power, and one of 1-horsepower. Sur
plus ice will be kept in an air-tight
cork-lined storage room, which has a
capacity in excess of the daily output.
Very little loss will be experienced by
melting when the ice is kept in this
storage room. There are six wells on
the lot, although only one pump is
used, water being drawn from all six
simultaneously.
Mr. Riddle plans to distribute ice
daily in the town and to that end he
purchased the wagon and harness for
merly used by the municipal ice plant.
It is expected that the wagon will start
on its routes about the 10th. He stated
that he would probably add a truck
delivery later on. Although no name
for the new enterprise has been de
finitely decided upon, Mr. Riddle
stated that it would probably be call
ed the Plymouth Ice Plant.
The municipal ice plant will con
tinue to supply ice to local consumers
until the new one is ready to begin
operations, it was stated by City Clerk
M. W. Spruill yesterday. The city
plant shut down about a month ago
and although no ice has been made
there since a supply, made in near-by
towns, has been kept on hand. Town
officials hope to be able to dispose of
the plant, although they have no pros
pective purchasers in view at present.
Woman’s Auxiliary To
Serve Supper Tonight
• ■■■
The Woman’s Auxiliary of the local
Episcopal church will serve a fried
chicken supper at Mrs. Martin’s Din
ing Room Friday night, Feb. 27,
starting at 6 p. m. The public is in
vited to patronize them.
TOTAL RECEIPTS
AT POST OFFICE
HERE INCREASE
-®
Small Increase in 1930 Over
1929; Month of January,
1931, Also Better
-®
Despite “hard times” and 'business
depression” talk general in this sec
tion last year, the Plymouth post of
fice showed an increase in business
over the previous year, the last quarter
■of 1930 was better than the same
'period in 1929, and receipts during the
month of January, 1931, were larger
than they were in January, 1930, all of
which would indicate that calamity
howlers are at least partly wrong, any
way.
The increases registered were small,
it is true, but then they were in
creases; and that fact alone will doubt
less come as a decided shock to those
who take a particular delight in wear
ing long faces and spreading bad
news. During the quarter ending Dec
ember 31, 1930, the total revenue from
i stamp sales, envelopes, etc. was $2,
j 585.85, against $2,535.15 for the period
lending December 31, 1929, an increase
! of $50.70, or about 2 per cent.
Revenue in 1930 showed an in
crease over 1929 of $31, the total being
somewhere around $8,400. This amount
Was over the minimum required of
second-class offices, and the local
post office will retain its same rating
another year. Receipts during Jan
uary, 1931. were $747.53, against
$709.83 for January, 1930, an increase
this year of $37.70, or a little over 5
per cent.
! The showing of post offices generally
reflects the true condition of business
in a community. There were a number
of offices that lost their rating last
year and dropped back a classification.
Therefore, the increase in business
here, small as it was, would indicate
j that conditforts are /fairly sound in
this section. Mr. A. L. Alexander, the
postmaster, stated that some of the
northern mailorder houses were hold
ing their own, as evidenced hy the
number of money orders issued by the
local office. It is generally felt that
there is business to be done, but com
petition is much stronger now than at
any previous time, and the man who
profits most is the man who goes af
, ter business the hardest.
COUNTY HAS BUT
169 MILES ROADS
SHOWN ON MAP
--<$>■■■ —
42.15 Miles at Present Are
Maintained at State;
Few Unimproved
According to a map published re
cently as a part of the report of the
State Tax Commission, only five
counties in the State have fewer miles
of roads than Washington. The map
was prepared by the United States
Bureau of Public Roads in coopera
tion with the State Highway Com
mission, and shows that Washington
county has a total road mileage of
169.45, of which 42.15 miles are main
tained by the State and 127.3 miles by
the county.
The 127.3 miles of roads maintained
by the county are divided into three
classes, according to the type oi traf
fic served. There are 23 miles of class
A highways, the major purpose of
which is to serve inter-community
traffic; 32.6 miles of class B roads,
which serve approximately equal pro
portions of farm and inter-commun
ity traffic; and 71.7 miles of class C
roads, the major purpose of which is
to serve traffic between farms, mills,
camps, etc., or "feeders” ot classes A
and B roads.
Only 7.2 miles of roads maintained
by the county are listed as the unim
proved type, with 120.1 miles coming
under the heading of "graded.” Of the
42.15 miles maintained by the State
Highway commission, 30.45 are hard
surfaced, while the other 11.70 miles
are of the sand and gravel type. A
number of local people have express
ed the opinion that the map is not
correct in showing all of the roads
maintained by the county, as there
are several unimproved roads left off
ertirely.
The map was made in connection
with the proposed law whereby the
State will take over all the county
and township roads in North Caro
lina. This bill passed the house this
week by a large majority, and little
opposition is expected in the Senate,
j The State now has 8,920.80 miles of
road to maintain in North Carolina,
of which over 6,000 miles are hard
surfaced. The 100 counties are main
taining 45,091.9 miles of roads, ac
cording to the tax commission, 11,
752.60 of which are of the unimprov
ed type and only 912.7 miles are hard
surfaced. If the State takes over all
roads, the total mileage will be 54,
012.7, with 6,912.4 paved and 11,752.6
unimproved, the balance being grad
ed, sand gravel, etc.
The five counties that have fewer
Norman Amendments Included
In Road Bill Passed by House
1,785 POUNDS OF
POULTRY BRING
OWNERS $280.05
Agent Believes Car Next
Month Will Bring
Better Prices
-*
While the offerings at the first poul
try car of the season, which was load
ed here Monday, were not so large
in comparison with the number of
pounds that mght have been brought,
County Agent R. E. Dunning stated
Tuesday that he considered it a fairly
successful event, especially so in view
of the prices prevailing at this time.
Colored hens brought only 16 cents
per pound this year, is or as against 21
cents at the first car loaded last year.
There were 1,785 pounds of poultry
sold at the car door for a total of $280.
05, or an average price of 15 1-2 cents
a pound.
Colored hens constituted the bulk of
the offerings, about 1,500 pounds be
ing loaded. There were only 17 pounds
of broilers, the price for which was 25
cents.
Mr. Dunning stated yesterday that
he was planning to secure another car
about the latter part of March, when
it is believed the prices will be much
better. Poultry is usually worth more
when marketed just before Easter than
at any other time during the season
when poultry cars are loaded in this
section.
DRAW JURY FOR
FEDERAL COURT
Names of Ten Washington
County Citizens Drawn
For April Term
Ten Washington County citizens
were selected this week to serve as
jurors in the spring term of the
iFederal ^ouift, Washington division,
to be held in Washington beginning
April 6. Sixty names, representing
seven counties, were drawn in Raleigh
this week, Mr. W. M. Bateman, of
Roper, deputy clerk United States
court, forwarding the list to the Bea
con here.
The names of the ten men selected
from this county are as follows:
J. B. Willoughby, L. W. Gurkin, M. j
G. Darden, L. L. Bowen, C. J. Nor
man, Plymouth: W. T. Phelps, H. G. I
Walker, and H. R. Davenport, Cres
well; Frank D. Wilson and Jas. A.
Chesson, Roper.
-»
CHANGE MADE IN
CLUB SCHEDULES
Home Agent Plans to Take
Her Vacation During
Next Month
The county home demonstration
agent, Miss Pratt Covington, is plan
ning to take her vacation about the
middle of March which necessitates
some changes in her regular schedule
of club meetings during the coming
two weeks. Her schedule for the week
beginning March 2 is announced as
follows:
Monday, March 2, Pleasant Grove
Club; Tuesday, Hoke Club; Wednes
day, Roper Club; Thursday, Chapel
Hill and Alba Clubs; F'riday, girls’
clubs at Creswell and Cherry, and
Creswell Woman’s Club, the latter
meeting being held at 2:30 p. m.;
Saturday, curb market.
For the following week, beginning
Monday, March 9, the schedule fol
lows: Monday Scuppernong Club;
Tuesday, Cherry Club; Wednesday, '
Albemarle Club; and Thursday, We
nona Club.
Miss Covington stated that meet
ings will be held in April for the
Swain, Zion, Beech Grove, and Piney
Grove clubs to make up the March
meetings, which the agent will not be
able to hold before going away.
The home agent also announced
that Miss Helen Eastrebrook will hold
a leaders’ school at the courthouse
here April 3rd, the meeting starting
at 10 o’clock in the morning. All
leaders are expected to be present so
that they, in turn, can hold the April
meeting at their clubs during the j
agent’s absence.
miles than Washington are Dare, with
122.5 miles; New Hanover, 146.15;
Tyrrell, 158,05; Currituck, 161.35; and
'Camden, 164.75. Robeson county has
the largest number of miles of roads
in the State, with 1,298.90, followed
by Wake with 1,236 miies.
The average miles of various types
roads per county is as follows: Total,
540.01; under State control, 89.2; un
der county control, 450.91; paver,
69.12: unimproved, 117.01
Prices of Tobacco
Continue To Drop
Tobacco prices have dropped
as much as 75 per cent on some
grades, and even more on others,
since the markets in this section
closed last month, it was learn
ed from a comparison of prices
and samples gathered on the
Warrenton market last Friday
just prior to its closing. The
samples are now on display at
the Beacon office, and they are
declared to represent the trend
of the market prices now offer
ed by the tobacconist who obtain
ed them in Warrenton.
JAIL EMPTY; NO
COURT TUESDAY
-®
Sheriff Considers Hanging
“For Rent” Sign
On Jail
There was no session of recorder's
court here last Tuesday, not a single
case being scheduled on the docket,
and the High Sheriff of Washington
County, J. K. Reid, stated Tuesday
the he was seriously considering hang
ing a “for rent" sign on the jail.
There has not been a single prisoner
in the cells since Wednesday of last
week, when the three colored boys
convicted of larceny were sent to the
reformatory at Jackson.
However, Sheriff Reid does not ex
pect the jail to remain empty very
much longer as he has several war
rants to serve as soon as he can find
the parties “wanted.” The warrants
are for minor offenses.
While this is not the first occasion
that the jail has been empty and there
were no cases for the recorder it has
been several months since it happened
last. The favorable weather of the past
few weeks has probably had some in
fluence in keeping down lawlessness
in the county, as it has made much
out-door work possible, particularly
on the farms, and when folks are busy
they seldom have time to get into
meanness.
OYSTER ROAST
HERE TUESDAY
-$
Local School Trustees Are
Hosts to Teachers and
County Officials
-®
An oyster roast was given Tuesday
night of this week by the hoard of
trustees of the city schools to members
of the county hoard of education, coun
ty commissioners, teachers in the lo
cal schools, and a few invited guests.
The event was held in the municipal
building, where two long tables had
been improved for the feast and Mr.
A. H.‘ Stier acted as toastmaster for
the occasion. Besides oysters and the
usual “trimmings” club sandwiches
and soft drinks were served.
There were several brief addresses
made by the various school officials,
but the feature of the evening was a
‘pop-drinking” contest staged between
a representative of the faculty and an
other of the board of trustees. Mrs.
R. G. L. Edwards, for the faculty,
captured honors in this event by
drinking three "cokes” in 16 seconds,
while D. V. Clayton, who did his best
to uphold the honor of the trustees,
I
finished a close second.
-e
Regular Meetings of
County Boards Monday
—<*>
Regular meetings of the county
board of commissioners and the coun
ty board of education are scheduled to
be held in the courthouse here Mon
day. The board of commissioners will
be faced with the appointment of a
county attorney to succeed Jerry A.:
Sawyer, who was killed in an auto- j
mobile accident early this month; and
outside of making this appointment,
the boards will probably have only
routine matters to deal with.
-«
Albino Raccoon Attracts
Considerable Attention
An albino raccoon, which has been
on display at the Horton Brothers
service station for the past week or
two, is attracting considerable atten
tion, several hundred curiosity seek
ers having called to look the animal
over during the past few days. The
'coon is solid white all over and has!
pink eyes, very much like a white rab
bit. It was caught near Jamesville, ini
Martin county, by a Mr. Holliday,
who presented the animal to Mr. Hor
ton here.
TO REFUND TAX
ON GAS USED BY
FISHING BOATS
Act Will Provide for State
Maintenance of All
Public Roads
-3
The first State-wide measure of any
importance that will directly affect
the tax rate in Washington County
was acted on by the lower house of
the General Assembly this week when
it passed the administration road bill,
providing for the State taking over
and maintaining all county roads,
about 19 or 20 cents of which is for
debt service, which . will not be af
fected if the bill becomes law. The
measure will therefore mean a reduc
tion in the county tax rate of about
7 or 8 cents, it is believed by local au
thorities.
Representative Zeb Vance Norman
is a member of the house committee
on roads, and he was particularly ac
tive in securing several amendments
in the committee which will be bene
ficial to the county. One of his amend
ments provides for the exemption of
gasoline used by fishing boats, in farm
tractors and for manufacturing pro
cesses from the 6-cent gasoline tax
levied by the bill. The bill as original
ly drawn made no provision for re
funding the tax on gasoline, regard
less how it was used, and Governor
Gardner brought all the pressure he
could to bear to have the measure
passed without change. However,
Mr. Norman and Representative
Hamilton, of Carteret County, made
a determined stand in behalf of fisher
men and tractor owners and succeeded
in having their idea incorporated in
the bill.
Another amendment secured by Re
presentative Norman that will affect
the county very materially was by hav
ing the language of the bill changed
so that the State will take over “all
legally established and county-main
tained roads” instead of only the roads
shown on maps prepared by the U. S.
Bureau Public Roads, the State
Tax Commission. The map of Wash
ington County prepared by these or
ganizations left off approximately 30
per cent of the roads in the county,
and the bill as originally drawn would
not have saved the people in this sec
tion a penny on their tax rate. Both
of Mr. Norman's amendments are in
cluded in the bill as it was passed by
the house, and it is believed that the
measure will go through the senate
in the same form, although there is
a possibility of change.
Representative Norman has been
confined to his home this week with
an attack of influenza, and hence was
not present at the sessions Monday
and Tuesday nights, when the road
bill was passed. However, he was pres
ent at all of the sessions of the com
mittee on roads, which framed the
measure, and after securing the two
amendments exerted his influence in
favor of the bill. He expects to be able
to return to Raleigh by the latter part
of the week.
TOMATOES NOW
BEING PLANTED
Seed Delivered Will Plant
About 1,300 Acres; 700
In This County
John W. Darden, who is in charge
of the Crockett cannery interests here
at this time, stated yesterday that he
had practically disposed of all the to
mato seed received last week, with in
dications pointing to an acreage in this
section devoted to that crop of about
1,300. Interest in the crop is spread
ing to other sections, particularly in
Bertie County, where Mr. Darden
spent last Tuesday. Ho was there for
only one day, but contracts were sign
ed and seed delivered for 400 acres,
the crop from which will be delivered
to the cannery here.
In addition to the 400 acres in Ber
tie, Mr. Darden said he expected to
have about 200 in Martin County
which, added to the 700 acres pledged
in this county, gives a total of 1,300
acres. Those who received the seed
this week are busy sowing their beds,
the planting of which should be com
pleted before March 5th to 10th, he
said. When interviewed Wednesday,
Mr. Darden said he had about enough
seed remaining to care for 150 acres.
s
Program of Services at
Grace Episcopal Church
Sunday School at 10 a. m.
Holy Communion and Sermon at 11
a. m.
Litary Service every Wednesday
evening at 8.
Woman’s Auiliary every Friday at
3:30.