North Carolina Newspapers

i A home newspaper dedicated §§ 1 to the service of Washington 3 1 County and its 12,000 people. j| iuiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiniiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiniinir The Roanoke Beacon ♦ * * * * * * and Washington County News ******* JKiiiimiiiiiHiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiMiiimr I Advertisers will find Beacon § | and News columns a latch-key to f | 1,100 Washington County homes. f rfUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIllllllllllimiiiiiiiiiMIllilllllllilllillhT VOLUME XLVI—NUMBER 9 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, March 1, 1935 ESTABLISHED 1889 BELIEVE POTATO CROP IN COUNTY TO BE OFF THIRD -® 700 Acres Planted To Crop Last Year; About 550 Indicated for 1935 Washington County's 1935 Irish potato crop will be reduced 35 per cent or more from the 1934 crop, ac cording to A. L. Alexander, who with H. G. Walker and A. L. Owens, is the foremost potato grower of spuds in this county. Tabulations revealed that there were '580 acres planted in 1933 but in 1934 this acreage was increased close to 700 acres but now it has been drop ped back to about 550 acres for this season and this is the prediction here at planting time with people putting their seed potatoes into the ground daily. In nearby Tyrrell County there were 2,356 acres planted to the crop back in 1933. It has been reported that farmers in Tyrrell have reduced their crop by 50 percent for 1935, but many think that 35 percent would be the better prediction as the first seems much too large a drop. The yield in Washington County for the last three years has been 110 bushels per acre in 1931, 154 bushels in 1932 and 139 bushels in 1933. There is no way to determine the weather ■conditions nor predict the yield for this season. There were 37,530 bush els produced here in 1933, a little over half as many as in 1931. In 1933 they brought about 65 cents a bushel while in 1934 they dropped to as low as 30 cents a bushel. The value per acre in 1933 was $90 while in 1934 they went down to as low as $40 and $50 an acre in valuation for the spuds. This crop is not included in the group of basic commodities by the Tederal Government and, therefore, there is no parity payments or con tracts on them. BRIEF REVIEW OF CRESWELL NEWS Meetings Held by Young Farmers, Auxiliary and Episcopal Vestry “Summer and Winter Pastures” was the subject of a talk by Gordon Chesson at the last meeting of the Young Tar Heel Farmers Club in Creswell. Whitford Swain provided the jokes for the occasion. Special music was featured by Robert Wood ley, Thomas Davis, and LeRoy Phelps Mrs. A. S. Holmes made an inter esting report on the money made at a bridge party on February 14 at a meeting of the Woman’s Auxiliary at Christ Episcopal church, which met at the home of Mrs. T. C. Holmes. "Orientals in America” was the topic. Plans for a banquet to be held on March 4 were made at a meeting here of the vestry of Christ Episcopal church. The meeting was held with Rev. H. W. Harding, rector. Attend ing were J. W. Starr, C. A. Swain, H. G Walker, Sidney Smithson, Clyde Smithson and the rector -® Legion Membership Here Is Increasing —9 At their regular meeting Friday night, February 22, Janies E. Jethro Post, No. 164, of the American Le gion, received two new members, bring in* the total membership up to about SO in good standing. At each meeting for the past few weeks there have been one or two new members enrolled. There has been quite an increase in attendance in the past few w’eeks, showing that members are taking an active interest in the work of the post. At the meeting Friday night, the gold-plated buttons were given to the members who gave an order for them two weeks ago. Owing to an increase in attendance, M. W. Spruill was instructed to or der another dozen chairs, also plans have been made whereby the post can purchase more equipment and furni ture for the hall. -- Local Juniors At District Meeting —♦— About 14 members of Plymouth Rock Council, No. 213, Jr. O. U. A. M., attended the district meeting held in Williamston Thursday night, Feb ruary 21. After supper was served in the lodge hall those attending went to the gym nasium, where about 30 candidates were initiated into the order. They’re in the Money! From the workers listed below will be chosen the winners of the Roanoke Beacon’s $600 in cash, which is divided up into five prizes. Winners will be determined by the number of votes earned, and these votes may be had only through paid subscriptions. The contest will close at 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon with the awards following about one hour after. Miss Callie Davenport Mr. J. Richard Carr Mrs. iS. F. Darden Mrs. R. E. Dunning Miss Margaret Hooker Mrs. H. M. Peele Miss Esther Knowles Miss Winona T. Gardner Miss Elizabeth Vail Mr. Hersey L. Pritchett Mr. Claire Wilson Creswell Plymouth Plymouth, Route 1 Plymouth Plymouth Roper Roper Plymouth Plymouth, Route 1 Creswell Plymouth THE ABOVE IS NOT THE ACTUAL ORDER OF STANDINGS CHARGES MADE AGAINST REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR GIBBS IN PETITION DRAWN UP BY CITIZENS OF BERTIE Prominent Pastor To Spend Summer With Father Here Rev. Timothy M. Bowen, of Augusta, Ga., Is Here On Visit -® Rev. Timothy M. Bowen, a leading minister in the Christian denomina tion and for nearly six years pastor of the First Christian church in Augusta, Ga., is at home on the Long Acre road with his father, Henry Bowen. The distinguished minister who is a graduate of Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, and who holds degrees 'from the University of Georgia, will “farm” this summer. He will help his father till the soil, as he did in his youth. But it will be for the sum mer only. It is the intention of the minister to enroll in Yale University in the fall semester where he will major in theology and kindred subjects. He is with his parents here to rest and to prepare himself physically for en trance in the higher institutions of learning. The minister was very successful in his ministerial endeavors, as the church, the pastorate of which he has just resigned, was one of the largest in his denomination with the enroll ment number close to a thousand. Rev. N. A. Taylor, pastor of the local church, and Mayor Gilbert Da vis, also a minister of the same de nomination, will urge Mr. Bowen to preach for them some and they hope that he will not hold too rigidly to his intention to rest and will appear before local congregations. Play To Be Given at Cherry Friday Night Cherry.—A comedy-drama in four acts will he presented in the Cherry school auditorium Friday evening, March 1, at 8 o’clock. This play, “Happy Valley,” is a heart-gripping tale with plenty of laughs to offset the tears. You will fall in love with Polly, the girl who made a mistake; Pete is a typical East Side boy; Jim Camp is the crooked one. You will be in sym pathy with Charlie Burt, the boy who was sorry. Rose and Harry Steele are the devoted brother and sister. Malinda, the “cranky” old maid aunt, and Sara, the countrified hired girl, furnish the laughs. The play is given under the auspices of the Cherry parent-teacher associa tion. A small admission will be charged. Is Disturbed by Man Talking To Himself The mumbled tones of a monologue came faintly to the ears of Mayor Gil bert Davis last Sunday night. It sounded like a conversation was tak ing place between two men on the street. His investigation, after he had been disturbed for quite a while, revealed that Bruce Rice, young white man, was standing at his front door talk ing. He told Mr. Davis he was only looking for a relative. It was found that he was a cook on the shanty cars here of the Norfolk Southern. His relatives lived here some time ago. Mr. Davis says he shambled off down the street when he inquired what he wanted. It was said he was drinking. Claim They Aren’t Getting “Fair or Adequate Relief Or Recognition” 500 Signed Protest —«— Charges that Julian C. Gibbs, of Plymouth, regional administrator of Federal Emergency Relief Adminis tration, “is impractical” among other things are 'Contained in a letter in the form of a petition that is being sent to Mrs. Thomas O’Berry, State ad ministrator, by 500 irate citizens of Bertie County. Some of the citizens claim that the local regional office is not giving Ber tie people “fair or adequate relief of recognition.” Others are agitating that as the interests in the county there are different from this section and that Bertie should be included in he Hertford and Northampton dis trict. The petition reads as follows: “That the district in which Bertie County is embraced consists of the counties of Washington, Tyrrell, Mar tin and Bertie, and that of these coun ties Bertie is the largest in area and population; that at the time of the consolidation of the various counties into the present district, it was un derstood that said county of Bertie would be represented in the district office and that it would be alowed to retain its pro rata case-workers, farm foremen and other relief workers. “That we are informed and believe and so aver, that prior to the consoli administration in the county of Ber tie was well administered and should be commended. “That under the consolidation we find that the district administrator, one Julian Gibbs, who in the opinion of the undersigned (500) citizens of Bertie county, is impracticable, does not understand the needs of the coun ty of Bertie, and that under his ad ministration Bertie not only has no representation in the district office, but that the most competent case workers, farm foremen and other em ployees have been removed in the said county; that in charge of the 'office has been placed Miss Elizabeth Tolbert, who, we are informed, is a native and citizen of South Carolina, and is entirely unfamiliar with the people of Bertie County and their needs, and while no attack on her personal character or integrity is made, she is utterly unfitted to be in charge of the work in this county. "We, therefore, request that an in vestigation be made of the adminis tration of the relief work in Bertie County by parties entirely disconnect ed with the relief administration in this relief district to the end that said work may be placed on a more efficient basis, and that the citizens of Bertie County may have their propei representation in said relief work.” Farm Supervisor For A. L. Owens —<*>— John Alford, of Wiggins Cross Roads, near Tarboro, has moved on •the Bateman farm in the Long Ridge section, near Plymouth. He will be superintendent of certain portions of the farms and agricultural interests of A. L. Owens, who owns much land in this section. Mr. Alford will take care of the im plements and supervise the workmen who are employed on land not operat ed by tenants. Mr. Owens is well pleased with Mr. Alford, who comes well recommended by his former em ployers. Edenton Folks Are Interested in Bridge To Link Up County —®— Propose $950,000 Structure To Be Financed by Federal PWA -. — Visions of a bridge across the Albe marle Sound connecting Washington and Chowan Counties, costing upwards of $950,000, has been caught by a group of Edenton folks, who will join local people in trying to secure this span. This would be a PWA project for the Federal government. The Edenton group wish that the span be built font Sandy Point in Chowan County to Leonadr’s Point in Washington County. This is a distance of 3.4 miles. It would be three miles from highway number 64 on the south side of the sound and four miles from U. S. Highway Num ber 17 on the north side. The southern end of the bridge •would be 19 miles from Plymouth, while the northern end of the span would be 23 miles from Columbia. Now Columbia is 90 miles from Eden ton, and over the bridge it would be 28 miles. This excepts the use of the Edenton-Mackeys ferry in totaling the distance between the points. Mayor E. W. Spires, of Edenton, has sent to Capus Waynick, chairman of the State Highway and Public Works Commission, a letter with data on this proposal. Interested parties in Washington County are endeavor ing to get a bridge through Plymouth or near by to connect with the north side of the Sound. But they are watch ing with interest the efforts of the Edentonians and will probably render such aid as they can. -® Electric Signal Is Being Installed at Lucas Crossing -9 Automatic Signal Expected To Reduce Number of Accidents Here ——<® A crew of workmen resumed work on the crossing signal at the Lucas crossing Monday morning. The signal will have eight lights, four on each side of the track, operat ed by batteries contained in a con crete base near the tracks. The lights will begin to flash as a connection in the rails is made by the train at a distance of 1,320 feet from the high way and continue to flash until the train has cleared the crossing. The signal will not be put into op eration for a few weeks, due to delay in arrival of some of the material needed for the insulation of the rail joints. -$ May Buy Tickets At Either Station Tickets can be purchased and the train boarded now at the old Atlantic Coast Line Station here on Water Street, it was announced today by J. B. Edmundson, agent. However, those wishing can stil catch the train at the union station before it leaves. No matter at which station the tickets are purchase the price will be the same. This affords the neople in the down town area an opportunity to board the train without a trip to the union sta tion. In oher words, service is avail able at both stations. Open Season on All Game Closed 20th -e Hunsmen may clean up the old gun and put it away, as the hunting season is closed, according to Miller Warren, game warden of Washington County. The season was out on animals and birds on February 20. Trappers must obey the laws prohibiting the taking of animals or birds now also. However, sportsmen of the field and stream may now turn their efforts to fishing. Licenses can be obtained for fishing, says Mr. Warren. PLEASANT GROVE -* Mrs. L. D. Collins, accompanied by Mrs. Bill Liverman, of Columbia, spent the week-end in Norfolk. W. B. Chesson and daughter, Fran ces Chesson, drove to Henderson on Thursday to attend the funeral of Mrs. Chesson’s aunt, Miss Addie Rice. Nathan Everett, of Windsor, was the week-end guest of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. T. Everett. Mrs. J. C. Tarkenton, and daughter, Virginia, and Mrs. N. T. Herrington left Tuesday for Norfolk, where they will spend several days. Last Week’s Work Best So Far In Prize Contest of Beacon "Lucky* Joe Jackson Not Bothered hy Mishaos to Several Other Joe Jacksons Former Plymouth Man Now in Revenue Service Has Been Reported Shot, Bitten by Rattler, and Run Down by Car, But It Is Always Another “Too bad about Joe Jackson’s death. Just when we learned to like him. He hasn't been here but a short time. But in this business you never can tell who is next. Such is life.” Comrades of Joe Jackson in Plynt out were in Greenwood, S. C. bewail in Greenwood. S. C , bewailing his misfortune as he was reported shot by a mountaineer down in the hills of North Carolina while investigating the prohibition condition under the orders of the Federal Revenue Tax Bureau. Joe turned up next day and it was learned that it was not Joe VV. Jack son, of Plymouth, but W. Joe Jack son of another section that was kill ed. Later it was reported that a poiso nous snake had bitten Joe Jackson and his comrades thought that he had been taken to tiie hospital with death threatening, but it was found that this was E. Joe Jackson when the lo cal Joe turned up next day. Down in Charlotte a member of this organization was run down by an automobile in the hands of a reck less driver. “Too be sure he got it this time,” said comrades when the item was chronicled that Joe Jackson was ijnjured. But Lucky Joe of Plymouth turned up again and the boys were dumb founded to learn that this was R. Joe Jackson who was injured by the car driver. The local lucky Joe Jackson was in Plymouth this week. He will prob ably return to his work as Federal in vestigator some time soon. Total of 792 Cases of Measles Reported in County To March 1 —®— 415 Cases Are Reported Since Early in Past Month -®-— There lias been a total of 792 cases of measles reported in Washington County to date. Early in February a total of 377 cases had been reported to Dr. T. L. Bray, health officer, but prior to the first of March, 41S addi tional had been reported, making the total 792. It was learned that in the family of Thomas Gaylord, colored, 10 children were in bed with the disease at the same time. It is understood that he had more children than these but the exact number could not be ascertained. A child of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. John son in Plymouth was taken with the measles. Then the mother was seized dry the disease and gave birth to a boy that was born with the measles. Lat est reports are that the three are re covering. -® Former Resident Is Here on Visit -9 Bob Hendron came to town Thurs day to visit friends. Bob is known in business circles as R. L. Hendron and is employed with the Southern Pine Association. He was visiting lumbermen here in regard to the code and its operation in this industry and met many old friends here whom he knew while here as a boy. Not in 42 years had he been here. Frequently he had passed through on the train, but he never before last Thursday stopped to see or talk to the people that he knew while he was employed here with the old Roanoke Lumber Company. For hours he and a friend, P. W. Brinkley, talked over old times recall ing tragedies, humorous incidents, and acquaintances of other days. Limb From Cork Tree on Display —®— A limb from a cork tree that was grown in Washington County is in the display window of Blount and Davenport’s hardware store here. It was grown on the farm now owned by John Halsey in the Skinnersville section near J. C. Swain’s place. The tree was blown down during a severe storm. Edison Davenport brought the limb of the tree in to be exhibited to passers by. It is rather unusual for a cork tree to be found in this section. -——— Marriage Licenses Issued by Register -s Edgar Oliver Hopewell and Annie Bell Mizelle, of Jantesville, were mar ried at the parsonage by Rev. N. A. Taylor, pastor of the Christian church, Monday afternoon. License to wed was also issued to James L. Jarvis, Ransomville, and J Mary Etta Pegram, by Mrs. Mary O. Sawyer, register of deeds. FARM NOTES By W. V. HAYS, County Agent A number of tobacco growers, as well as the county committee and the county agent, attended the tobacco meeting in Raleigh Monday. Reasons for the plans and methods of han dling the 1935 crop were discussed briefly by both the Secretary and Mr. Hutson. The growers present voted for the continuance of our tobacco program as now outlined. There are some exceptions in special base con tracts. These are limited to 3 per cent of the county allotment and will be granted strictly upon the merit of the case. Present plans do not per mit allotments of tax-exempt war rants to non-contracting growers as •of last year. These applications and forms will be available at the county office by March 11. Cotton forms have been promised the various counties by March 4. These contracts will be available to all and will be made out by commit teemen in the various townships. Stewart J. Woodley, at Cherry, will make out applications for Scupper hong Township; F. L. Everett, Skin nersville; J. E. Davenport, Mackeys, for Lees Mill Township; and Ply mouth Township applications will be made out at the county office. -(f> The seed loan is not yet available to farmers, but is expected to be ready early in March. The amount of the loan is increased over last year, but regulations or qualifications for securing a loan are supposed to be somewhat more rigid. -® Peanut contracts will not be accept ed after March 1. This is done in order that contracted acres may be adjusted and growers notified in time ,to make necessary plans for the next crop. Some few have not measured their land and returned the cards. Please do this and avoid trouble for yourselves and inconvenience to the other fellow. Growers will be noti fied the acres to plant by March 18. We have the names of farmers in the county office who have for sale milk cows, pigs, hay, soy beans, and corn. We will be glad to furnish these names to any prospective buyers. We have inquiries for seed peanuts and good cottonseed. -<*> J he corn and hog contracts are now ready for the growers who wish to sign for another year. Mr. R. B. Dav enport will be at the county office on Monday and Tuesday of next week for making out these applications for growers of Plymouth Township. He will be at Roper on Wednesday for receiving ‘Lees Mill signers; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, he will be in Crcswcll. Please sign up in your re spective townships. Silas Holton Died Last Wednesday j —®— Funeral services were held Thurs day afternoon for Silas Holton, 75 years of age, who died at his home near Wenona Wednesday afternoon He had been sick for some time. He was well known in this county and in adjoining communities. Surviving is a widow and the fol lowing children: B. M. Holton, Mrs. L. D. Barr, of Wenona; Dewitt Hol ton, of Pungo, and a daughter in Ro anoke Rapids whose name could not be secured by press time. Race Grows Warmer With Lead Changing Often During Week Actual Winners of $600 Still In Doubt With Only Week To Go Looking over the records for the past four weeks of the subscription and prize campaign now in progress the campaign manager for the Roan oke Beacon finds that the results ob tained by the various workers enrolled were the best by far this past week than for any other week of the con test. This is encouraging, indeed. Luring the early stages of the drive it looked for a time as though the winners were going to have it mighty easy. It looked like the winner of the paper’s leading award of $300 was going to take over that big prize on March 9th without much effort in the way of securing renewals and new subscriptions. The four other win ners were going to do likewise. But now all this is changed. Those who seemed for a time to be running far out ahead have taken on competition. Workers Out To Win Here’s the names of the workers who have a splendid opportunity to win the leading awrds. Jaust what they will win depends solely on their efforts during the closing two weeks of the contest, which includes the results obtained this week and next week, the final week of the contest. To begin with Miss Callie Daven port. of Creswell, had her best week this past one. This worker turned in piore JiUbsdriptions than the three previous weeks of the campaign. The same may be said of Miss Elizabeth Vail, of route 1, who not only turned in a good report but sent in a five year subscription, which counted 5,000 extra votes in addition to what the schedule provides for such an order. One of the biggest surprises of the whole week, however, was the work accomplished by J. Richard «Carr, of Plymouth. Mr. Carr, by his fine work in signing up new and renewal sub scriptions to The Beacon finds his name right up among the leaders for the big prize of $300. Other prizes include $150 for second place, $75 for third, $50 for fourth, and $25 for fifth and last. Non-winners of courses are paid a commission of 20 cents on every dollar turned in. In this way no one taking an active part will lose by their efforts. Other workers who had a big week were Mrs. S. F. Darden and Miss VV inona T. Gardner. A good week’s work was nothing new in the case of Mrs. Darden, for every one of her weeks has been good. The only weak spot in her campaign seems to be the lack of anything over a one-year sub scription. Long-term subscriptions count heavily in votes, and, as stated several times before, votes win the prizes and not the number of subscrip tions or the amount of subscription money turned in. Miss Gardner, on the other hand, has had one bad week, but has partly made up for this by three or four two-year subscriptions tmd one for three years. The contestants at Roper are still to be considered strong contenders for the leading awards and are repre sented by two good campaigners in the persons of Miss H. M. Peele and Miss Esther Knowles. A lot of things may happen during the last few days of the contest. What the winners need are votes, and the only way to secuie votes is through paid subscrip tions to the Beacon. Two candidates right here in Ply mouth, Mrs. R. E. Dunning and Miss Margaret Hooker, could win almost any prize on the list that they set out to win during these closing days. The high candidate has not any great amount of votes when the large num ber of votes given on three-year sub scriptions are taken into consideration. 5,000 Extra Votes 1 lie first period of the contest, in which the maximum number of votes given on subscriptions were issued, is now a thing of the past. That period closed last Saturday. Candidates are now working in what is called the sec ond period of the contest, and this period will close with the end of the contest on March 9th, just one week from this Saturday. Before the close of the contest comes another decrease in the vote value of subscriptions. This takes place in accordance with the voting schedule as published on the front cover of each subscription receipt book on Wednesday, March 6th, just three days from the contest close. After this date the 5,000 votes given on ev ery $20 will be discontinued. One other way to earn a large num (Continued on page tour)