North Carolina Newspapers

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.