A horn* newspaper dedicated
to the service of Washington
County and its 12,000 -
peopl£
The Roanoke Beacon
******* and Washington County News *******
5
BER 22
Advertisers will find Beacon
and News columns a latch-key to
I 1.100 Washington County homes.
... ■
VOLUME XLVIII—:
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, May 28, 1937
ESTABLISHED 1889
- —
Revaluation Work
In County Vi ill fie
Completed June: 15
—*— »^
Expect Property Valupg To
Be Raised About 10/Per
Cent Over County*.
Indications are now that.^the re
valuation of real estate which- start
ed on April 1 with the tax listers
serving as assessors, will not be
completed before June 15t accord
ing to Henry Spruill, of Plymouth,
who is supervising the tak-listing
in Washington County.
Information available at the pres-,
ent leads Mr. Spruill to believe that
90 percent of the real estate in the
county will be effected by the re
valuation with the value either in
creased or decreased at leapt a few
dollars to the opinion of the asses
sors. §
Valuations here have be|n lower
ed as much as 20 percent in the
period since 1927 and it ij the in
tention of this general reviewing of
the property to raise this Valuation
up about 10 percent in general, thus
getting back about half ivhat has
been lost in the downward^ trend of
values. $
Real estate for taxable?,purposes
in Washington County is qpw about
$5,500,000, and it is expected that
this will be increased to about $6,
500,000. The valuation has been as
high as $8,000,000 in past years. An
increase of $300,000 in Valuations
might reduce some the $l.fco rate.
Seventy-five percent of the own
ers of personal property in this
county have listed their holdings.
In most cases the abstracts have
not been completed as real proper
ty valuations go on the same sheet
and the assessors have not had time
to visit each piece of real property.
The assessors are considering the
following points in revaluing: Im
provements, earning value of land,
location, size, distance from town,
kind of road located on, number of
buildings, merchantable timber,
frontage, adjoining propeAy condi
tions, whether land is cleared or
used for pasturage, waste and such.
Some ineqaulities and discrepan
cies have been found but they will
be remedied this year and the as
sessors will endeavor in every way
to see that every landowner is giv
en a square deal with every one
bearing his equal share of the tax
burden on property.
After the assessors finish their
work then the board of equalization
will meet and every person will be
given in due and proper time their
opportunity to plead their cause of
injustice if they feel like their
property is not valued in accord
ance with that of similar state.
These men must have their work
done soon as the budget for the
county for next year must be pre
pared in July and as there is likely
to be an increase in valuations, the
rate will be effected and these two
must be adjusted. April is used
generally for the listing of proper
ty but this work this year will take
the entire two and half months al
lotted by the authorities.
The law prescribes that property
should be revalued every four years
but it has been exactly 10 years
since this has been done in Wash
ington County. Although Mr. Spruill
believes that there will be an in
crease of 10 percent in general, this
does not mean horizontally, as every
piece of property will be considered
individually and the valuation as
sessed on its believed value.
$5,000 Damage Suit
Started As Result
Of Injury To Foot
Delbert Patrick Brings Suit
Against Coppersmith
And Company
A suit for $5,000 has been insti
tuted in Washington County Super
ior Court by Delbert Patrick against
Mrs. Attie Coopersmith and M. H.
Jones, trading as Coppersmith and
Company, charging negligence in an
accident that caused the mangling
of Patrick’s left foot.
The complaint alleges that the de
fendant company is engaged in the
lumbering business and he was
working at a sawmill at Stumpy
Point in Dare County for the com
pany when Mr. Jones sent him to
Sligo to work on a steam skidder.
On October 15, 1936, the complaint
alleges, Patrick was working on the
skidder that was on the same track
as a “jitney,” alleged to have been
operated by Joshua Baum.
Baum was charged with careless
ly and negligently releasing the
chains or brakes on the “jitney,”
which rolled down the track to the
car upon which he was working on
the skidder, mangling his left foot.
About Town
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Smith have
filed suit in Washington County Su
perior Court against O. A. Chesson,
charging trespass on lands, cutting
down trees and destroying fences.
From the complaint filed, it appears
that this case involves a controversy
of boundary, as the families live
near each other and their property
adjoins.
D. G. Matthews and W. S. Rhodes,
of Martin County, owners of the
Plymouth Brick Works, who pur
chased it from Maurice Poteat and
relatives, have now leased the plant
to W. H. Clark for as long as five
years if he so desires. This began
on March 9.
The old lodge building of the
Charitable Brotherhood, a fraternal
society, located in the fork of high
way number 97 and Morrattock
road, has been sold to S. C. Bowen.
The grand lodge arrested the char
ter sometime ago and in turn sold
the property.
Mr. and Mrs, A. L. Davenport
have sold 207 acres of land in Scup
pernong Township to the Betty Lum
ber Company in Asheville for $2,
000. It is near the property of Seat
on Phelps and Wiltz National Ve
neer Company. The purchase was
principally for timber.
“The opportunity for growth has
been thrust upon Plymouth. This
town is talked of all over the state.
And the churches have a wonder
ful opportunity for growth along
with the town,” said Claude R.
Wheatly, of Beaufort, who was here
last week to speak at a dihner.
_ 4 t
' “Factory whistles of Plymouth do
not blow long enough at the time,”
according to Joe Leggett, of Balti
more, who was visiting here last
week. It would make a good im
pression on the stranger who stopped
over to hear the sound of so many
whistles of industry.
“Acidity in oranges that give them
a “biting” taste is sometimes traced
to the soil in certain parts of Flor
ida. where they are grown,” accord
ing to Charles F. Collier, owner of
Silas Green Minstrels, which was
here last week. Mr. Collier owns
an orange grove himself.
“Yes: my ads in the Beacon are
different, and I believe that this
promotes interest in them,” says
Sam Adler, local merchant. “And
advertising in the Beacon is effect
ive, as I have had numbers to men
tion the ads to me when they cams
in to buy,” he saict.
“Plymouth now has a Scout troop,
a pulp plant, Lions Club, and what
is really needed now in the growth
of this town is a building and loan
association,” said Wheeler Martin,
of Williamston, here the other day.
He is a building and loan official.
“Appreciate very much the re
sponse to the picture, ‘Draegerman
Courag,’ which was shown here this
week, with Priscilla Lyon, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Lyon, of Holly
wood and Plymouth,” said Shep
Brinkley, manager of the New The
atre. “I appreciate the cooperation
of local merchants who mentioned
this picture in their ads,” he added.
Legionnaires are urged to attend
a memorial rervice at the First Chris
tian Church Sunday at 11 o’clock,
when Rev. N. A. Taylor will preach
on “Sword or Cross.” Loyalty will
be the evening topic with the sub
ject: “The Greatest Sin Spoken of
in the Bible.”
Phillip Liverman, Roy Manning,
and Duncan Getsinger will attend
Camp Charles, 3 miles from Bailey,
the eastern district camp headquar
ters for the Boy Scouts of Ameri
ca, during the week of May 30.
Others are expected to attend later.
The Grand Club of the Christian
church met Tuesday evening in the
community hall. In the absence of
Dr. C. McGowan, who was to speak
on social diseases, a business session
was held, at which time Mr. Bow
ers was received as a member and
made many suggestions for the ben
efit of the club. R. Beall was a spec
ial guest.
W. V. Hays has been in Manteo
this week attending a farm agents’
conference. Speakers were present
from State Collge. Plans were out
lined for the new crop year. Mr.
Hays was to return Thursday.
Washington County was repre
sented among the 100 shippers and
growers of potatoes who met in
Washington, D. C., this week and
heard talks on grading and brand
ing this crop for markets. This may
be done this year. Department of
Agriculture experts talked.
W. H. Paramore Is
Named To County
Board of Welfare
Is State Appointee; County
Board To Name Second
Member This Week
Machinery to aid in
handling the old-age
assistance and de
pendent children fea
tures of the social se
curity act was started
with the naming by
Mrs. W. T. Bost, Com
missioner of the State
uucii u ui v^uai Hica aum
Public Welfare, of Walter H. Para
more as state appointee for a term
of one year on the Washington Coun
ty Board of Public Welfare.
The county commissioners will
meet sometime this week and will
name their member to the board and
the third member will be named by
the two members to serve with them
as soon as possible thereafter so that
the board will be organized by June
1st.
The duties of this board include
that of supervision of the general
welfare work and also to aid Miss
Ursula Bateman, county superintend
ent of public welfare, in the opera
tion of this needed service to the
county.
Assistance can be granted to per
sons under the act who are 65 years
of age; a citizen of the United States;
has no other income to provide sub
sistence compatible with decency
and health; is not an inmate of a
public institution; who has not made
an assignment of property for the
purpose of rendering himself eligi
ble for assistance; a resident of the
state five out of nine years and for
one year immediately preceding the
date of application.
Applications should be made to
the board in writing in duplicate on
forms which will be provided by
Miss Bateman. And all those want
ing information should see or write
to Miss Bateman. It appears now
that it will be about June 10 before
much can be done.
Seek State Jobs
North Carolinians are State job
conscious, according to Chairman
Charles G. Powell, of the N. C. Un
employment Compensation Commis
sion, in announcing that fuly 2,000
residents of the State have applied
for jobs with the commission, which
will have not more than 100 jobs to
give, even when operating at full
force. Wake County leads the list
with almost exactly one-fourth, or
about 500 applicants; Guilford has
56 applicants, Durham 50, Pitt 59,
Granville 44, Johnston 40, Buncombe
Wayne, Franklin, and Edgecombe 35
each.
Washington County had 9 applicants
for jobs on May 3, when the State
total was 1,937. Some of these prob
ably duplicate the 2,800 who applied
for examinations held in eight North
Carolina cities several weeks ago for
merit ratings for applicants for jobs
with the Employment Service Di
vision of the Commission, Chairman
Powell states.
The commission will recruit its
force on a basis of scattering the
employees over the State as equi
tably as possible,
“The Greatness of Christ” will be
the subject of Rev. C. T. Thrift at
the Methodist church Sunday morn
ing. No services will be held at
night. “The pastor and members ex
tend a cordial invitation to all new
comers to attend Sunday school and
worship, to get acquainted,” said
Mr. Thrift.
9 From
Miss Virginia Cahoon was at home
tljis week-end from Greensboro,
with W. W. McGowan, of the A.
Reeves beauty supply house of Rich
mond, who is installing the equip
ment in the new beauty salon that
she will operate in the rear of E.
H. Liverman’s store. She is now
head of the commercial department
at the senior high school in Greens
boro.
The Economy Cleaners have in
stalled a tumbler in their shop on
Water Street. It is the only shop
in this county having this equip
ment that adds to the haste in quick
delivery of suits that have to be dry
cleaned. Jack Peele, owner is en
thused with this new device.
New bath houses with showers,
new spectator stands and seals, with
an entirely new dance pavilion are
the improvements that are featured
at Albemarle Bach this year. Open
ing date is given as June 1. Paul
Jones will play for a dance on open
ing night.
! -
Home and
ciubNews
By Mary Frances Misenheimer
Club meetings are not held th<
week following a fifth Sunday.
June 5th is camp time for Wash
ington County 4-H club girls.
Boys and girls from Beaufort anc
Bertie County will join us at Cami
Leach Saturday. June 5th, and re
main until June 9th. A nurse anc
life guard have been secured so tha
the campers will have the best at
tention.
We will leave the courthouse al
1 o’clock Saturday, June 5th.
All girls planning to go. let the
home agent know immediately sc
transportation can be provided.
County Bridge Club met witr
Mrs. Barnes on Tuesday night. The
regular club program was held and
a social hour was enjoyed.
Mrs. Mary Cotton Davenport, the
president of the Pleasant Grove
Club, is to give the report at the dis
trict meeting which is to be held
Friday, May 28th. The report is to
be given in the form of a radio pro
gram.
Swain Club reaches the top when
it comes to having a good monthly
report on club work done:
35 garments made, 5 homes im
proved, 452 flowers and shrubbery
set out.
Each leader keeps right after the
members to increase the work done
monthly.
Every club members is asked to
bring a half gallon of sweetened tea
to the meeting Friday.
The members of the Creswell Club
enjoyed a meeting in Tyrrell County
with Mrs. Joe Cahoon Thursday aft
ernoon.
The following leaders were pres
ent for the meeting:: Mrs. W. D. Peel,
Food; Mrs. R. H. Stillman, Canning;
Mrs. W. C. Owens, Garden. Mrs.
Bill Liverman was elected secretary
Of the Club.
The Alba Club increased its mem
bership Friday at the regular club
meeting. Mrs. C. R. Gaylord and
Miss Marjorie Bowen were the new
members. The members decided to
have a flower fund started in the
club.
-.— —<t
Legion Auxiliary To
Sponsor Poppy Sale
Saturday is “poppy day,” the day
Df personal tribute to the men who
gave their lives in the nation’s de
fense, it was announced today by
Mrs. C. McGowan, poppy chairman
of the American Legion Auxiliary.
“On that day everyone can show
that he still remembers and honors
the sacrifli js of those who lost their
lives in the war. The poppy is their
lower, made in their memory by
their disabled buddies,” said Mrs.
McGowan.
No set price will be asked for the
poppies, as everyone will be asked
to wear one and contribute as they
can. Contributions will be used for
the work of the Legion and auxil
iary among the men who lost health
and strength in the war.
Children whose fathers are dead,
or disabled will be remembered also.
Most of the money will be spent
right here in Washington County a
mong the needy veterans, wives and
children.
“Peeping Tonr Is
Given Two Years
—*—
James Ellis, young negro, was sen
tenced to two years in jail in re
corder’s court here Tuesday on a
charge of “peeking into the rooms
of white people.”
The warrant was sworn to by W.
VI. Darden, who was at the home of
Dr. C. McGowan, when Ellis was
said to have been caught in the act,
Mr. Darden identifying him.
Mr. Darden said that on other oc
casions the negro had peeked into
his car at night while parked on
the street.
Garden Club Is Organized
By Moore County Negroes
Negro farmers in Moore County
have organized a garden club to
promote the growth of a home sup
ply of vegetables among members
of their race.
<s
As a result of the Agricultural
Conservation program, Union Coun
ty has more acres of cover crops to
turn under this spring than ever
before.
County To Vote Tuesday on
Legalizing Sale of Whiskey
«
Some say wet; some say dry;
but no one today can safely pre
dict the outcome of the referen
dum that will be held in Wash
ington County next Tuesday, at
which time every qualified voter
will have an opportunity to vote
for or against legal liquor con
trol stores.
The drys have conducted a
forcible campaign, and, so far as
has been learned, the wets have
been somewhat indifferent, but
information today tends to show
that both sides will be hauling
the voters to the polls next
Tuesday.
There has not been a great in
crease in the registration. Only
a few newcomers have entered
their names. The law does not
require a special registration,
and all whose names were on
the books, as well as the new
ones, will be allowed to vote.
Saturday is challenge day.
The precinct aides who have
served in recent elections held
in the county will serve on this
day also. The polling places will
be the same.
Economy Program
Endangers School
Project at Creswell
Officials Still Hopking To
Get Federal Aid Before
Next Term
i
Waiting and hoping is the policy
forced on officials of Washington
County who have manifested every
possible effort to get a new or im
proved school building in Creswell
before the new' term opens in Sep
tember.
They must wait for more money
to be made available by the United
States Congress to be distributed to
the counties through the WPA or
some other agency and they hope
in the meantime that the Resettle
ment Administration at Scuppernong
Farms near Creswell will help in
the matter.
When the PWA and WPA were set
up applications for grants were made
by the commissioners and county
board of education. Plans were
drawn and expense estimated. The
application was approved by State
officials but was delayed by officials
tn Washington, D. C.
Last fall the commissioners here
borrowed $25,000 from the State Lit
erary Fund to be used in this work
on the idea that a grant would be
made by the Federal government of
about $22,000. This grant has never
been received, and the $25,000 re
mains in the coffers here.
During the present session, Pres
ident Roosevelt guided through the
Congress an economy bill that al
most sent the hopes for the Cres
well school a-glimmering. But the
officials here have not given up and
they are trying to find another meth
od of approach to the governmental
agencies for help.
The economy measure provides
the following arrangement: The
county must put up the entire $50,
000 for the building. A contractor
is urged to use unskilled labor taken
from relief roles. Then the WPA
will refund to the county 15 per
cent more than the total amount
paid to this relief labor.
Contractors do not incline to relief
labor, and even if they did it may
be that not enough could be em
ployed to make any appreciable a
mount due from the government for
their work. It is estimated that in
the entire $50,000 project they could
get a refund of only about $3,000 for
relief labor.
It may be that the roof will be
repaired and the interior worked
over in the school building during
this summer, so that school can be
resumed in the fall. This expendi
ture is not expected to reach above
$3,000. And then the officials will
wait and hope for help.
H. H. McLean, superintendent of
schools; C. N. Davenport, jr., chair
man of county board of education;
R. J. Spruill, auditor; Frank L. Brink
ley, commissioner, were in Raleigh
and Chapel Hill Monday, talking
with officials in an effort to get
something done.
They took with them from Ra
leigh to Chapel Hill Clyde Erwin,
state superintendent of public in
struction: W. F. Credle, of the di
vision of schoolhouse planning; W.
A. Kietrich, architect; L. O. Moore,
assistant director of refunding di
vision of the local government com
mission; and George Witchell, state
director of Resettlement Administra
tion.
In Chapel Hill these men confer
red for hours with Stanley Wright,
state director of WPA; and Charlton
Chute, financial adviser to the WPA.
Every avenue of help that could be
thought of was discussed and the
local men were advised to wait and
hope.
Increased Interest in Bees
Shown in Transylvania
Increased interest in beekeeping
is being shown in Transylvania
County this year. Transferring
from box hives to modern hives and
the purchase of queens constitute
the principal improvements.
I NO HALF-HOLIDAYS )
v-/
Stores in Plymouth will not
be closed this summer for half
holidays. Merchants and busi
ness men decided this in a called
meeting held in the council room
in the municipal building Wed
nesday afternoon. Usually Wed
nesday afternoons have been
holidays.
It was decided that the busi
ness houses would alternate a
mong their employees in giving
half holidays this summer in
stead of closing their doors. So
every week day the stores will
be open this summer for those
who wish to shop.
John D. Rockefeller
Died Early Sunday
At Estate in Florida
Small But Liquid Estate Is
Left by Builder of Great
“Dollar Dynasty”
John D. Rockefeller, sr., founder
of the world’s greatest “dollar dy
nasty,’’ died last Sunday morning
at his winter home, "The Casements”
down in Florida, where he had been
since last fall. The renowned finan
cier would have been 98 years old
July 8, his death cutting short by
a meager 26 months his wish to reach
the age of 100 years.
Today the aged man’s body is
at Pocantico Hills in New York
State, where private funeral serv
ices were conducted Wednesday
Burial followed the next day in
Cleveland, where he trudged the
street as a lad for six weeks before
landing his first regular job as a
bookkeeper’s assistant.
The aged financier’s death was at
tributed to the hardening of the
heart muscles. The end came sud
denly and unexpectedly for the one
time master of billions, and no im
mediate members of his family were
present. He drifted off into a coma
about midnight, and roused only
once to whisper something to his
valet and personal servant for 20
years. The words were not audible.
Despite his advanced age, Rocke
feller had enjoyed comparatively
good health all winter. He had out
lived 20 physicians who had attend
ed him, and he was pronounced “a
fine physical specimen” for his age
when examined last June.
Following the policy of “make all
you can and give all you can,” Mr.
Rockefeller exercised unscrupulous
power in crushing the weak and in
building up one of the greatest for
tunes ever to fall into one man’s
control. At the same time he was
recognized as the world’s greatest
philanthropists, the size of his ex
tensive donations shocking Harry
Biggs, local man. It was said he
gave away more than half a billion
dollars, the amount not including
the hand-out dimes. Death found
him with a “relatively small but
very liquid estate.” Much of his for
tune had already been distributed
among his people, and the federal
interitance tax will be “quite small.”
-®-—
W. P. A. Completes 1,029
Public Projects In State
At the end of the week April 10,
2,368 W. P. A. projects had been ap
proved in North Carolina, with 1,038
under way and 1,029 completed. On
the same date, 25,084 persons were
employed by W, P. A., 24,059 of
that number certified as eligible,
and 1,025 not certified. On the
same date 31,794 persons were em
polyed by all agencies under the
Works Program in the State; of
that number 27,222 were certified as
eligible, with 4,572 not certified.
Replanting of Cotton Crop
Forced by Rainy Weather
Cleveland County cotton farmers
have been forced to do much re
planting because of cold, rainy wea
tehr. The supply of good seed has
become a problem.
Plans Go Forward
To Form Building
& Loan \ssociation
--
Added Impetus Given by
Wheeler Martin’s Talk
To Lions Club
--
Impetus was added to the move
ment for a building and loan asso
ciation for Plyomuth last Thursday
night, when Wheeler Martin, an of
ficial in the Martin County Building
& Loan Association in Williamston,
spoke to the Lions Club here and
Z V. Norman, chairman of the com
mittee, promised that something
would be done immediately.
Mr. Martin pointed out that since
1914 his association had loaned a
bout $250,000 in Williamston and
Everetts, and that 70 per cent of the
homes built since that time had been
built through the building and loan
organization. Seven men are re
quired to start it.
There are two classes of members;
one who invests and the other who
borrows. Capital can be obtained
through 4 per cent paid-in stock or
through the Federal Home Loan
Bank at Winston-Salem. A building
and loan organization is under sup
ervision of the State Insurance
Commission.
A popular kind of stock is that at
25 cents a week, which matures in
336 weeks, or 6 1-2 years, where the
stockholder pays into the organiza
tion S840 during the period and re
ceives $1,000 at maturity. There is
another which sosts 12 1-2 cents
weekly for 11 1-2 years, where the
stockholder pays in $747 and it ma
tures into $1,00.
No one can borrow' unless they
are stockholders. A note is issued
to the organization, secured by a
deed of trust and assignment of
stock. The note is due on maturity
and on $1,000 in the 12 1-2 cent se
nes the borrower pays $1.25 weekly
on principal and $1.16 weekly in
interest.
Four per cent is paid on full-paid
stock or stock purchased for invest
ment, payable each six months. A
reserve of 5 per cent is required to
be held by the organization. A bor
rower can pay the balance due at
any time.
After the information by Mr. Mar
tin, Zeb Vance Norman made a
short talk explaining that Mr. Mar
tin came at the request of the build
ing and loan committee and through
the information provided by Mr.
Martin that the committee would im
mediately take action to organize a
building and loan association here.
June 12 Is Last Day
For County Farmers
To Sign W ork Sheet
—•—
Those Who Signed Last
Year Not Required To
Sign Again
June 12 is the last day on which
North Carolina farmers will be al
lowed to sign work sheets for the
1937 soil conservation program, said
E. Y. Floyd, of State College, this
week.
The county offices have been in
structed from Washington not to
accept work sheets after that date,
Floyd pointed out.
However, growers who sign work
sheets in time will be eligible to
earn soil-building and diversion
payments by complying with the
terms of the program this year.
Those who signed work sheets
for 1936 are not required to sign
again for 1937. Floyd continued, but
if they have bought more land or
otherwise made changes in their
farms, they should notify their coun
ty agents at once.
Work sheets are used in prepar
ing information that will help far
mers plan their farming operations
so as to take part in the program
and get all the benefits possible.
The work sheet is not a contract,
Floyd added, and when a grower
signs one he does not place himself
under any obligation whatever. But
a work sheet must be filed with the
county office if a grower is to re
ceive any payments.
He pointed out that there are two
reasons why work sheets must be
signed on or before June 12. First,
information prepared from work
sheets signed after June 12 would
be too late to be of use to growers
this year. Second, the task of check
ing up on growers’ compliance with
the program will start in June in
some counties.
Jones County Farmers Lay
Plans for Big Turkey Crop
Jones County farmers have be
gun the production of turkeys by
starting a number of pure bred
fllocks this season.