North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon » » » * » » » and Washington County News ★★★★★★★ VOLUME LI— NUMBER 29 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, July 18, 1940 Advertisers will And Beacon and News Columns a latchkey to 1,500 Washington County homes. ESTABLISHED 1889 \ Town opics The Rev. Griffin Hamlin, a student of Atlantic Christian College in Wil son. who has been preaching here for the last two Sundays in the Christian church, has been employed as supply pastor for the summer months, ac cording to S. D. Davis, chairman of the church board. The young min ister will preach at the local church again Sunday, and the public is cor dially invited to hear him. The Men's Club of Grace Episcopal church will meet at the community hall Monday night at 7 o'clock. Fea tures will include speeches, music and discussion of church and club affairs. A large attendance is urged by Secre tary R. A. Duvall. The Methodist Sunday School will enjoy a picnic at Albemarle Beach next Wednesday afternoon, July 24, according to James W. Norman, superintendent. Those attending will meet at the church at 2 o’clock. Members with cars are asked to report at the church to help transport those who do not have a way to go. Mr. Nor man said. Harry Parison, the flower-growing partner in the Eureka Cafe, left last Sunday for New York, where he will spend about a week at the World's Fair. He said that among the oth er places he intended to visit there were the floral parlors and exhibits. Mr. and Mrs. Edward T. Harrell and son. of Newton, brother to E. E. Harrell, of Plymouth, visited here this week. As does tire local Mr. Harrell, liis brother operates a furniture store in Newton. In the group of visitors also was Mrs. E. J. Harrell, mother of the two furniture men. Walter Burgess, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Burgess, was employed this week at Abe Adler's store. The young man is a ministerial student at Emory and Henry College in Vir ginia, where he is pursuing his studies in the Methodist ministry. He will return to college in the fall. Carlisle Uoughtie, a mechan ic at the Plymouth Motor Com pany, which donated the engine, lias been giving his time free in installing the motor in the Sea Scout boat here. The cral't will be put in the water Sunday, ac cording to Skipper A. Papineau. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Latham, of Spartanburg, S. C„ are visiting Mr. and Mrs, Latham’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. A D. Basinger. Mr. Latham was formerly an accountant here for the old Wilts Veneer Company. He is now an inspector for several states for the soil conservation program of the aaa. 1 '• Rev. Walter R. Noe, of Wilmington, executive secretary of the Diocese of East Carolina, will celebrate Holy Communion in Grace Episcopal church at 8 o’clock Sunday morning and will preach at St. Luke’s church in Roper at 11 o’clock. Miss Mary Gardner, local post ofl'ice employee, is credited by the superstitious with having brought on the much-needed rain which fell last Friday. She killed a snake and hung the carcass up a tree, and those who believe in omens say that this is sure to bring rain. George M. Scott, local insurance man, recently was awarded, a trip with several other agents of his com pany to Washington, D. C. A ves sel was chartered by the company for the event. It lasted for five days. Mr Scott said he enjoyed the trip very much. W. C. Jones has completed a small fish house at the Norfolk Southern station, where a number of fishermen are delivering and cleaning catfish for shipment tu northern cities, where it is considered a delicious sea food Painfully Burned Ai Plant Tuesday -® Charles Ellison and Penn Cahill Trogdon, white, were severely burned Tuesday in the electrical department of the North Carolina Pulp Company. The men did not know what caused the flames which leaped from some of the electrical devices, burning them about the head and arms and setting their clothing on fire. Dr. T. L. Bray, who treated the two men, said that while they were painfully burned their condition was not serious. f— -—---- \ PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED THIS WEEK The partnership existing between J. B. Willoughby (left) and J. R. Manning in the operation of the Plymouth Motor Company here for the past seven years, was dissolved yesterday, when Mr. Manning bought out the interest of Mr. Willoughby in the business. Mr. Willoughby will continue his work with the firm, however, which holds the Ford fran chise for this section, and the business will be carried on at the same lo cation and under the same name, although Mr. Manning is the sole owner. Plans Complete for Farmers’ Field Day July 25 at Wenona History of County May Be Recorded In order that unwritten history of Washington County many be recorded for the files of county schools, H. H. McLean, superin tendent of public instruction, has advanced the idea that prizes be ararded high school students who write the best papers on any historical subject they choose. Individual business men or firms may offer the prizes, which, it is hoped, will be large enough to induce a large number of stu dents to submit essays. In this way all the historical data gathered by boys anS girls can become the property of the school officials for permanent files. Mr. McLean said he hoped something would be worked out regarding this matter by the time school opened for the fall term. 11 Shares Paid-Up Slock in Building & Loan Sold Recently -$ Represents $1,100 Addition al Money Available for Home Loans -$ While the sale of installment stock in the eleventh series of the Plym outh Building and Loan Association is progressing very slowly, it was learned today that 11 shares, repre senting $1,100, had been sold as full paid stock, making this sum of mon ey available at this time for loans to repair or construct residence here. It was said today that the num ber of installment shares actually sold so far was only about 20, but that many others had been inquiring about the operations of the organiza tion and that the total sale would likely vun about 50 shares if the di rectors, officers and stockholders continue an active campaign. The sale of the 11 shares of paid up stock during the past week brings to $4,800 the total amount of this class of stock now outstanding. The total active shares of installment stock at this time is 1,455 shares. Twenty-seven thousand dollars have been loaned to about 40 persons for the construction and repair of local homes in the last two and a half years since the organization be gan functioning. Building and loan stock is attract ive from an investment standpoint, and the local people are waking up See STOCK SALE, Page 4 528 Employees on Payroll at Plant ol Plymouth Box & Panel Co. This Week Payroll records at the Plym outh Box and Panel Company to day showed that there were 528 persons employed in the office, plant and logging operations, which is said to be the largest number ever employed in this plant at any one time since it has been here lor about 25 years or more. Alton Harrison, secretary and treasurer of the organization, said today that the business of the firm was good and that the plant was running regularly on a schcd ule which called for operation of the dryers in three shifts, the spreaders in two shifts, and the nailers and sawmill crews in one I shift. Back in 1929, when the Chi cago Mill and Lumber Corpora tion took over the plant from the Wilts Veneer Company, there were about 500 or more employees engaged In work at the mill for a time, but a large number of them were engaged in construc tion work which increased the in vestment in the plant to well ov er $1,000,000. Eugene F. Still, president of the company, is on vacation this week with his wife and son. They are visiting his home in Senatobia, Miss., and her home in Blythevifle, Ark. Dr. Frank Graham And Others Appear On Program for Day Upwards of 2,000 Farmers Expected To Attend Annual Event Preparations were announced com plete today for the 15th annual Farm ers’ Field Day at the Blackland Test Farm at Wenona, Thursday, July 25. when Dr. Frank P. Graham, presi dent of the University of North Car olina, will be the principal speaker. Between 1,500 and 2,000 persons are expected to attend if the weather is fair, according to those in charge of arrangements. Other speakers will include: Dr. E. R. Collins, State College, on "Apply ing the Results of Experimental Work to the Home Farm”; Prof. Earl H. Hostetler, State College, on "Live stock Possibilities;” and James Abrams, of Macclesfield, district win ner of the Young Tar Heel Farmers' public speaking contest, who will be presented by E. N. Meekins, district supervisor, vocational agriculture. R. C. Holland, of Edenton, presi dent of the Peanut Stabilization Co operative, will be chairman for the day. He will be instroduced by F. E. Miller, director of the test farms di vision, State Department of Agricul ture. A ladies’ program will be presented in the afternoon under the super vision of Mrs. Frances Darden, home agent of Washington County; with Miss Pauline Gordon, State College specialist in Home Management and House Furnishings, and Mrs. Effie Vines Gordon, Nash County home agent, as speakers. Features of the field day will also include a number of contests and ex hibits on tobacco judging, egg grad ing, livestock, agronomy, and farm machinery. Tours of the experiment al plats will be conducted under the supervision of J. L. Rea, jr.. assist ant director, in charge of the farm. Tables will be available for those who bring picnic lunches and barbe cue and soft drinks will be sold on thae grounds. Music and the various contests will be among the entertainment features. 3-Year-Old Child Is Critically Hurt in Accident Yesterday Son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Smith Given Chance To Recover Today Three-year-old Bruce Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Smith, is in a serious condition in a Rocky Mount hospital, where he was taken yester day afternoon following an accident which occurred in the yard of Mr. Smith, when Tom Hedgepeth, col ored driver for T. C. Burgess, deliv ered a load of wood there. Both Mr. Smith and Mr Burgess said today that they did not know exactly how the accident happened, but reports were that the child came to the rear of the truck as it was backing into the yard, while another report said that the child darted in front of the truck and was run down. It was said that the colored driver had not been accused of negligence in connection with the accident. Dr. Alban Papineau. who examined the child before he was taken to a hospital, said that the little fellow suffered concussion of the brain, se vere bruises about the head and pos sibly internal injuries. A report from the hospital today said that the lad had a chance to recover. Town Closes Fiscal Year With Surplus Of $3,189.94 on Hand Result of Excellent Collec tions During Period Ended June 30 It appeared today that the tax rate for the Town of Plymouth for next year will be fixed at $2 on the $100 valuation—the same as it has been for several years—although the town now' has a surplus of $3,189.94 as the result of excellent tax collections dur ing the fiscal year ending July 1. The councilmen. in session Monday night. reviewed the report of the town's finances during the year and totaled the surplus, but they were reminded by officials that the audit had not been concluded and that a sinking fund of considerable propor tions must be built up to take care of bond retirements of $26,000 in 1944. Total receipts for the year were $40,502.42, which came from the fol lowing sources: $21,941 from ad va lorem taxes (the budget called for $22,527.58i; $1,970.50 from privilege taxes 'budget estimate was $1,500); $2,116.32 from paving assessments 'budget called for $1,500); $390 in rents; and $7,769.84 from the water department. The budget called for a total of $39,843.09, and the collections were $40,502.42. This revealed how close the collections were made by Chief of Police P. W. Brown, tax collector, and M. W. Spruill for the water de partment. The total receipts were $3,189.94 above the budget require ments. The budget for the year was underspent by the amount of $39.16. Expenditures for the year were di vided as follows: $9,000 paid in in terest; $7,000 turned over to the sink ing fund to care for bond retire ments; $900 for new truck for street department; $1,100 for repairs and repainting of water tank; $1,400 for extension of water and sewer lines; and the remainder. $20,403.93, for op erating expenses of the town. 22 Fined Lasl Week Following Raids on Illegal Slot Devices -<s> Thirty-Two Machines and $383 in Nickels Were Confiscated The coffers of Washington Coun ty were enriched by several hundred dollars last week, when Superior Court Judge J. J. Burney ordered of ficers to assemble illegal slot and pin ball machines and place them in the custody of the court and to issue war rants for the arrest of state distri butors, local distributors and local operators on a charge of violating the state gambling law. Thirty-two machines were brought in by officers and the only defendant examined in the recorder’s court hear ing said that the total valuation of them was about $2,000. Joseph Calcut and J. P. Edwards, charged with distributing the ma chines in the county, were assessed $50 and the costs each at a special session of recorder’s court Friday by Recorder John W. Darden. Thus the county received the fines and part of the costs in these cases. Twenty local operators were assess ed with a portion of the cost in each case, with no witness fees, no solici tor’s fees, and no recorder’s fees in cluded in the costs. Actual costs in each case was $5 38. The operators paid total costs aggregating $107.60, In a lengthy decision, Recorder Darden ordered the local operators and all distributors ‘ to pay the costs of the court as assessed, upon suspen sion of judgment.” and added that the defendants were to "appear In court one year from date to show that they had not operated or distributed any illegal machines in this county." There were no witnesses because all of the 22 defendants entered a plea of guilty and the only evidence was by J. P. Edwards, one of the distri butors. oince licenses on uie iiiaenuies ex pired July 1, the distributors had paid about $1,000 to the county for new licenses for another year and they also paid to the Town of Plymouth about $400. It was indicated to the court that the distributors would pay the fines and costs assessed against them and would also pay the small costs assess ed againt Uie local operators. A total of $383 was recovered from the machines and this money was di vided among the raiding officers with half allotted to public charity. Disposition of the machines will not be made until a ruling is obtain ed from the Attorney General. It was indicated that the machines could either be sola or destroyed. They may be sold and the money received turned over to the county as is done with othehr confiscated property. Two Creswell Boys Attend State Meeting in Raleigh Creswell, Carol Van Davenport and H. Alhgood were named delegates from the Creswell vocational agricul ture class to attend the state con vention of the Young Tar Heel Farm ers’ Clubs in Raleigh this week. A total of 24 students attended the meeting at which the delegates were chosen last Thursday, night, County Farmers Vote Saturday On Proposal To Apply Quotas For Tobacco for Three Years E. Y. Floyd Points Out Salient Fads in Control Referendum Says Farmers Will Be De ciding Price of Crop This Fall Flue-cured tobacco growers will go to the polls Saturday and decide whe ther they want three-year marketing quotas, one-year quotas, or no quotas at all. They also wil be deciding to a large extent the price they will re ceive for their 1940 crop of tobacco, it is pointed out by E. Y. Floyd. AAA executive officer of N. C. State Col If quotas are approved for a three- ' year period. 1941 through 1943. the Federal Government has promised to protect prices of the 1940 crop "at or slightly above last year's 14.9 cents per pound level." The Triple-A of ficials also have announced that if three-year quotas are voted, the al lotments in 1941 will be the same as in 1940. Recent amendments to the Crop Control Law provide that no quota can be reduced more than 10 per cent from the 1940 allotment during the next three years. If one-year quotas are voted. Floyd said .the Federal Government will not be able to protect prices at the 14.9 cents level the 1939 crop brought, and allotments for 1941 will be reduced 10 per cent. Without any quotas, pre dictions of the price the 1940 crop would bring ranges from 5 to 10 cents per pound. Floyd said that any person who will share in the proceeds of the 1940 crop of flue-cured tobacco is eligible to vote in the referendum Saturday. Community polling places will be set up. to be opened not later than 9 a. m. and to close not earlier than 5 p. m. It will require a vote of two-thirds of those casting ballots to put three year quotas in effect. If two-thirds or more of those voting do not favor three-yeaf quotas, but the total of the total of the three-year and one-year votes is two thirds or more o! Lhe to tal vote cast, then one-year quotas will be in effect. Club To Boost Vote For Republicans Is Formed in County -® First Willkie-McNary-Mc Neill Club Organized Last Thursday -$ With the nation’s leading Demo crats attending the national conven tion in Chicago, where it is predict ed that President Franklin D. Roose velt would be nominated for the third time, probably by acclamation, lead ing Republicans, in Washington County particularly, were working on a plan of organization to affect ev ery precinct. Getting the jump on the Democrats, a central Willkie-McNary-McNeill Club was organized at a meeting held at Louis Bateman’s Service Station in Skinnersville last Thursday night. J. Richard Carr, of Plymouth, was named chairman. Next Thursday night, July 25, clubs will be organized in all five precincts of the county, it was said. On the following Thursday night, August 1, a watermelon feast will be held at Bateman's Service Station, with John Wilkinson, of Washington, Republican candidate for Represen tative from the First District, to be the principal speaker . J. C. Tarken ton, chairman of the county execu tive committee, said that everybody was invited to join the clubs and at tend the watermelon feast, "regard less of their past party affiliation," The club name is derived from the leading candidates of the Republican party in state and nation, as follows: Wendell L. Willkie, for President; Senator Charles L. McNary, of Ore gon, for Vice President; and Robert H. McNeill for Governor of North Carolina. Lengthy Session of Town Council Held In a meeting that lasted until al most midnight Monday, the Town of Plymouth Councilmen instructed the town attorney, Z. V Norman, to ad vise G. K. Harris that the the build ing under construction on his prem ises on Jefferson Street must be moved five feet inside the line to com ply with an ordinance Mrs. M. W. Spruill was employed to compile the tax books fot the new year. James W. Norman, C E A i re. and E. H. Liverman were named on a committee to confer with t.' r County of Washington officials relative to a portion of the profits of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from the store in Plymouth. Many How Seek Birth Certificates Frequent calls for birth certifi cates are now being made in the five counties of this health dis trict, it was learned today from Dr. S. V. Lewis, health officer, who said the demands on the of fice had been increasing steadily in the last three years. One of the main reasons for the demand is that the Federal government is now requiring all its employees, as well as some employees of manufacturing companies and operators of amateur radio sta tions to furnish proof of their birth dates. Births were not recorded in North Carolina until 1913, when the State Bureau of Vital Statis tics was established in Raleigh. Prior to that time, a few records were kept in churches, family Bibles, and some counties which required birth registration. A person born before 1913, in order to have his birth registered, is required to have a delayed birth certificate form signed by two people who knew when he was born. J. R. Manning Buys Partner's Interest in Plymouth Motor Co. However, J. B. Willoughby Will Continue His Work With Firm -$ Purchase of the business interest of his partner. J. B. Willoughby, in the Plymouth Motor Company, was an nounced today by J. Roy Manning, who took over both the sales and service departments of the Ford agency here Wednesday morning. In the announcement issued by Mr. Manning, he said that there had been no disagreement or friction between himself and Mr. Willoughby during their seven years of business associa tion, but that the growth of the bus iness and the divided interests of the partners outside of the business ne cessitated dissolution of the partner ship. Mr. Manning, in the announce ment, said that Mr. Willoughby would continue in the employ of the firm and urges all of his friends and pa trons to continue their patronage of the local Ford agency as they have done in the past. The continued success and steady growth of the business during the seven years they were in partnership was said by Mr. Manning to demon strate the close harmony in which the two men had worked. They en tered business together here in 1933. At one time the firm was incor porated, but later the charter was surrendered, and now the partnership has been dissolved, leaving Mr. Man ning in sole charge of the organiza tion. although Mr. Willoughby’s good will and ability is being retained in the new set-up. Program of Services at Local Baptist Church A Rev. P. B. NICKENS, Pastor Regular services will be held Sun day at the church with the pastor preaching at both the morning and evening hours. The subject for the morning hour will be "Conquering Defeat,” and Vor the evening hour the subject will be "A Word of En couragement." Attendance for the summer has continued to be splendid, and it is the hope of the pastor that this fine attendance will continue on through the entire summer. Also we urge you to join us at the regular mid-week prayer service, held each Wednesday night at 8 o'clock. Polls Open From 8 To 6; Three Polling Places Designated Names of Eligible Voters Registered and on Rec ord at Voting Places Preparations had been completed today in the office of County Agent W. V. Hays for the tobacco control referendum to be held in the tobacco producing belt Saturday, with 500 persons in Washington County regis tered and eligible to vote. Names of the eligible voters have been registered and placed on rec ord in the three voting precincts set up in this county, where the ballot casting will get underway at 8 o’clock Saturday morning and stopping promptly at 6 o'clock in the evening. The three polling places have been designated as follows: the agricul tural building in Plymouth for grow ers of Plymouth Township: Phelps and Freeman's Store in Roper for Lees Mill Township as far down as I the forks of the Edenton road, or Pritchard's store: W. D. Phelps’ store in Creswell for Scuppernong Town :ship and the entire lower end of the county, including the Pea Ridge sec tion. Mr. Hays said that if a person’s name was not on the register at the polling place, it would not mean that he would not be allowed to cast his ballot, but his vote will be kept sep arate and the county agricultural conservation committee will investi gate the case and determine if the vote is legal. The register is com piled of names taken from AAA com pliance sheets; if a challenged vote is found to be eligible, the name of the person casting the ballot will be transferred to the compliance sheet of the farm from which he will share the 1940 proceeds. ’’Any person who will share in the 1940 flue-cured tobacco crop,” Mr. Hays said, "and not only landowners, will be eligible to vote in the referen dum Saturday.” This means opera tors, tenants, sharecroppers, or any one who receives a share of the 1940 crop, the county agent explained. Questions on the Ballot Growers will vote on three ques tions : tli Do you favor three-year quotas; (21 Do you favor quotas only for 1941; (3) Are you opposed to quotas for 1941, 1942 and 1943? Mr. Hays explained that the three year program will enable the govern ment to protect prices of the 1940 crop "at or slightly above the 14.9 cents per pound level established in 1939,” and also allotments will not be reduced next year. However, if one-year quotas are approved, there will be a 10 per cent reduction in al lotments for 1941 and prices will pos sibly be 2 or 3 cents per pound lower than the 1939 level. iwo-thirds of the growers must favor the control program to make it applicable. It is estimated here that the required two-thirds of votes in Washington County will approve some form of quotas and it is likewise believed the three-year program will be favored. However, a general in difference on the part of many pro ducers in many sections of the to bacco belt is said to be threatening the success of the movement. A true picture, according to the county agent, reveals that 60 per cent of the market for some tobacco is doubtful and without help from the tobacco administration in the way of loans, prices cannot be very good; in fact, they cannot be up to the cost of production. It is generaly said that if two thirds of the producers favor the three-year plan Saturday, there will be no reduction in acreage next year and the AAA guarantees prices equal to or better than last year. A vote for one-year quotas would necessi tate a reduction of 10 per cent in allotments for 1941. Prices, as well, would be less stable and less support in Federal loans would be available If the third option of no control whatever is approved by the voters, farm leaders say that it is doubtful if anyone could predict the conse quence. j »| Wage Increase Granted Employees of Pulp Plant in Negotiations Last Week An increase in the hourly wage and other considerations were granted employees of the North Carolina Pulp Company last Fri day at noon, when officials of the American Federation of Labor and the management of the plant reached a working agreement for next year, following negotiations which started June 20. The blanket wage increase, ap plying to all workers, is said to bring the level of wages paid here to a point higher than the aver age paid by other pulp mills in the South. The management of the plant here and union workers have al ways settled differences in an amicable manner, and tbe negu- \ tiations leading to the new con tract signed last Friday were said to have been conducted on a mu tually friendly basis. Present at the conference last week were H. M. Kieckhefer. of Delair, N. J., secretary and treas urer, and L. J. Meunier, sr., vice president, of the Kieckhefer Con - tainer Corporation, of Del&ir. N. J„ parent company of the local firm; George M. Snyder, resident plant manager; J. H. Malin, a representative of the Internation al Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers; Mr. Clary, representing the electrical engineers: and Mr. Hoary, repre senting the boiler and power de partments. _ ..