The Roanoke Beacon * * * 4 * + * and Washington County News ******* VOLUME LII NUMBER 36 Plymouth, vVashington County, North Carolina, fhursday, September 4, 1941 A home newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington County and its 12,000 people. ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics John N. Carr, president, and J. H. Newkirk, of Local Union No. 356, will spend this week-end in Toronto, Can ada, where they are delegates at the annual convention of the Interna tional Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers. R. E. Tarkenton, of Windsor, who was here several years ago as an em ployee in the post office, has returned to Plymouth again as parts manager for the House Chevrolet Company. He is well known and has many friends here who are glad that he has returned to Plymouth to live. Effective next week, all full time employees of the Pender stores will work only five days a week. B. Gray Willis, manager of the local store, said that com pany employees were very grate ful for the consideration shown in giving them a day off every week. Abe Adler returned last week-end from New York City, where he bought fall and winter merchandise for his store here. M. Adler is the oldest merchant in Plymouth in point of service, having been in business here since 1907. A. J. Byrd and Cleveland Cratch went to northern markets last week to buy the fall and winter stock for Byrd's Clothing Store. Mr. Cratch said he purchased some excellent bar gaisn for his customers despite the rising costs of merchandise. Regret was expressed today by J. H. Newkirk and Johnny Jones for omission of Dave’s Cut-Rate Store and Bill Sitterson’s Place from the list of merchants contributing to the successful celebration of Labor Day by the local unions Monday. The names were unintentionally left off the list given to the Beacon for pub lication. Frank E. Bratten, one ol' the oldest residents ol' the town, said today that there were 58 widows living within the corporate limits of Plymouth. He did not divide them according to their status. He said that he took the town street by street to arrive at his estimate. Howard M. Carr, manager of the A & P Food Store here, this week re ceived instructions to reduce the working hoars of employees of the store to 48 hours per week. The store will be open six days each week as usual, but full-time employees will get one of the days off each week. F D. Ce rstarphen, a deputy c un missloner of the State Department of Revenue located in Durham, and his wife were here visiting friends during the week-end. For years, Mr. and Mrs. Carstarplien lived at a hotel in Durham, but they have recently moved to 412 West Markham Street, where they are now residing. -p No Deaths Reported In County as Labor Day Is Celebrated • Not Even Fender-Scraping Accident Reported To Local Police --® Despite the fact that there was a total of 486 swift and violent deaths in the nation during the Labor Day week-end, Corporal T. B. Brown and other enforcement officers said that not even a minor traffic or other accident was reported in Washing ton County during the entire three days of the holiday period. There were very few arrests, and officers stressed the fact that only one or two of them were made for excessive drinking. No drowning or other form of vio lent death was reported to Sheriff J. K. Reid or any other officer in the county. It was reported that there were 10 traffic fatalities in North Carolina alone, but local officers stated that although there was more traffic on the highways of the county than there had been for years, so far as they could learn, not even a fender was scratched. It was estimated that about 2,000 persons were at Albemarle Beach last Monday, and L. W. Gurkin, owner of the resort, said it was one of the most orderly crowds he had ever seen and all of them seemed to be having a good time. Tobacco Prices Are Holding Up Well and Farmers Generally Pleased With Average Tobacco farmers in Washing ton County, as well as in the re mainder of eastern Carolina, had no cause for complaint with to bacco prices this week, as they continue to hold up well, many of the markets showing an in crease in averages since the open ing Tuesday of last week. Offic ial averages in the new bright belt have been ranging from $25.98 to $28.91, with large offer ings of tips and inferior quality leaf reported. Average prices for the same period last year were from 17 to 19 cents a pound. Two years ago the first week of sales brought an average of about 16 cents. Better grades of tobacco are beginning to move to the markets now, and some of them have brought up to 46 cents a pound. It is estimated that county farm ers have sold about 10 per cent of their crop, or 100,000 pounds out of the million or more pounds produced. Tobacco is being made ready for market about as fast as possible, and it believed that over half the crop will be sold by the last of this month. Wednesday the Robersonville market sold 220,912 pounds for *59,962.72, an average of *27.14; Williamston sold 246,210 pounds for $68,150.93, an average of *27.68. No other officials figures for markets in this section were available, but it is understood that the averages are about the same throughout the belt. Labor Day Celebration Here Was Largest and Most Successful Ever | EURE HONORED Secretary of State Thad Eure was last Friday elected president of the National Association of Secretaries of State at the an nual convention in Los Angeles, Calif. This is the first time the honor has been given to a North Caro"-iar> 4 Only Fourth of Dog Owners Here Have Paid Special Taxes -- Police To Crack Down on Strays This Week-End In Enforcing Law -® To date, only 73 of the approxi mately 300 persons listed as owning dogs in Plymouth have applied for the dog tags, and Chief of Police P. W. Brown said today that Joe No bles, who has been assigned to this work, will begin impounding the un licensed animals this week-end. The police chief said that an or dinance passed by the Town of Plym outh Council some years ago, requir ing the annual payment of $1 for male dogs and $2 for female dogs, would be strictly enforced; with the unlcensed dogs impounded and kept for five days, after which time they will be destroyed unless called for and all costs paid by the owners in that time. It was stated that the owner of a dog can get the animal back after it has been impounded by paying the taxes due, a 50 cents fee for the dog catcher, and board for the dog at the rate of 25 cents per day while it is kept in the pound. It is expected that there will be a big reduction made in the dog pop ulation here when the officers crack down this week-end, as there are a large number in town whose owners do not care for them and they are permitted to run at large. One owner has been arrested for permitting a female dog to run at large, and it is possible that others will suffer the same fat — Congressman and Represenlatives of A. F. L. Speakers Program Here and at Albe marle Beach Continues For Whole Day -® “Business and professional men, farmers and other groups, have their representatives at the Nation’s Capi tal to protect their interest, and 1 am glad to see that labor has organ ized itself into a strong and distinct ive group and has its representatives in Washington to protect its inter ests,” Congressman Herbert C. Bon ner told a crowd of 400 Labor Day observers gathered in the Plymouth Theatre Monday morning The Congressman’s speech high lighted the Labor Day celebration, which began with a parade in which about 200 white and colored members Df the unions here participated, fol lowed by floats and led by the Plym outh High School Band. Homer Humble, of Mobile, Ala., and Charles Coles, of Charleston, S. C„ both representatives of the American Federation of Labor, shared speak ing honors on tl c program with Rep resentative Bonner. John W. Carr, president of Local Union No. 356, In ternational Brotherhood of Pulp, Sul phite, and Paper Mill Workers, pre sided. State Senator Hugh G. Hor ton, of Williamston, represented Mar tin County on the program, and Re corder’s Court Judge W. Ronald Gay lord represented the Washington County Commissioners. Postmaster John W. Darden introduced Mr. Hor ton and welcomed the visitors for the town. Walter H. Paramore, chair man of the county board of educa tion, made a short talk and led the assembly in singing. Rev. R. H. Lu cas made the invocation. In the afternoon the union mem bers and their friends went to Albe marle Beach, where they enjoyed 470 pounds of barbecue, heard Messrs. Humble and Coles speak at night and watched boat races especially arrang ed for them. Representative Bonner, in his talk at the morning meeting, emphasized that there is no discrimination be tween labor and capital, rich and poor, white and black in legislation in North Carolina or in the Federal Government. He also welcomed the newcomers who have come to Plym outh in recent years to his district and to the state. “As an organize non,” Mr. Bon ner continued, "labor has its respon sibilities to government, to society, and to the public; and labor should see to it that its leaders do not abuse the privileges enjoyed by labor, be cause they may lose much of the ground gained in the last few years.” Speaking for a few minutes at the noon-day session here, Mr. Humble (Continue on page four) Miss Pennie Ella Davenport Passes Creswell.— Funeral services were held at the home at Creswell Mon day morning for Miss Pennie Ella Davenport, 36, who died in a Raleigh hospital Sunday as the result of pneumonia. The Rev. R. N. Pitts of ficiated, and interment was made in the family cemetery. Daughter of Alexander and Mrs. Malissa Davenport, Miss Davenport was born in Washington County on December 19, 1904, and lived prac tically all her life here. She became a member of Wodley Chapel Metho dist church at an early age and re mained a loyal and devoted member until her death. The floral offering was large and profuse, attesting the esteem in which she was held. She is survived by her mother and father and four sisters: Mrs. Herbert Spencer, Mrs. D. H. Phelps, Mrs. J. C. Walker and Miss Ida Davenport, all of Creswell: and two brothers, W. A. and A. V. Davenport, of Cres well. _ Active pall-bearers were Elwood Davenport, Ellis Phelps, Ralph Sex ton Jim Davis, Ernest Phelps and Moses Mann. Joseph Spencer. Wil liam and Abe Davenport, Jr., car ried the flowers. Fire Does Damage Of $3,000 at Panel Plant This Week Drag Saw Department Hit Hard by Early Morning Blaze Yesterday -9 Fire of undetermined origin dam aged the drag saw department of the Plymouth Box and Panel Company plant here Wednesday morning at 12:30, causing an estimated loss of about $3,000, according to E, F. Still, president and general manager. Mr. Still said an investigation is under way to determine the cause of the blaze, but that nothing definite had been found out yet. Stark Bowen, a foreman, and At wood Tetterton, an engineer in the power plant, discovered the blaze at about the same time, and with other members of the night crew they brought the fire under control within a few minutes, but not until a large amount of damage had been done to the equipment. Drag saws, motors and other equip ment and some material were burned by the blaze, which spread very rap idly. It required quick work on the part of employees to prevent even farther spread of the fire. It was learned from Mr. Still that the damage was partially covered by insurance, and he said workmen will soon begin replacing and repairing the damaged equipment. A. W. Davenporl Dies ai Creswell -<*> Creswell.—Funeral services were held at the Mount Tabor Free Will Baptist church Sunday afternoon for Alexander Wilson Davenport, 86, who died Saturday following a short ill ness. The Rev. R. P. Harris, of Eliz abeth City, conducted the last rites and interment took place in a ceme tery near his home. Mr. Davenport was well known and well liked in the Scuppernong sec tion of the county, where he spent most of his life. A large crowd at tended the funeral. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Sarah E. Holmes, of Creswell, and two sons, L. E. Davenport, of Creswell, and R. W. Davenportf, of Belhaven. Pall bearers were Howard Ambrose, John Alexander, Arthur Furlough, Winton Oliver, David Furlough, and Raymond Davenport. -c, Famous Explorer Is Scheduled To Speak Here in November Charlotte Teacher Won Re nown for Trip Through Panama Jungle Richard A. Tewkesbury, school teacher and explorer, of Charlotte, will be guest speaker at a luncheon meeting of the Thursday Afternoon Literary Club on Saturday, November 8, it was announced today by Mrs. J. Robert Campbell, at whose home the meeting will be held. Mr. Tewkesbury is probably the first white man in history to explore the unknown wilds from the Panama Canal to the Colombian border in Central America. According to of ficials of a Pan-American organiza tion which hopes to have a highway built eventually to link the North and South American continents, "Mr. Tewkesbury, by conquering alone and unarmed about the toughest and meanest jungle left in the modern world, brought within reach the dream of an unbroken highway link ing North and South America. He has proved for the first time that the Panamanian jungle is not impass ible and that the natives are not un friendly to the road.” During the current month. Mr. Tewkesbury will go to Mexico City to present a paper before the delegates of the 21 American republics, to be gathered there for the fourth Pan American Highway Congress. ‘ The American Magazine" in its April is sue carried an article concerning the explorer’s experiences in the jungle, and “Time” magazine also recently carried an account of his trip. Club officials here say that Plym outh is very fortunate to secure Mr. Tewkesbury as a speaker. He will use as his subject, “Jungle Experi ences.” Installments Firms Here Comply With New Credit Ruling Reserve Board Is Requiring Larger Down Payment Shorter Terms Most of the merchants and busi ness men in Plymouth who do in stallment credit business this week began complying with the ruling by the Federal Reserve Board calling for larger down payments and shorter time for deferred payments on arti cles bought on the installment plan. Automobile dealers, under the new ruling, are required to get a down payment of at least one-third of the cash price of the car and contracts must call for the balance of the de ferred payments to come due within 18 months. Heretofore, car owners have had their cars financed on plans extending as long as two years in some cases. A down payment of 20 per cent is required on electric refrigerators, washing machines, eledtric ironers, cook stoves, ranges, heating stoves, room unit air conditioners, radios, phonographs or combinations, and musical instruments composed prin cipally of metals. A down payment of 15 per cent is required on household furnaces, in cluding both coal and oil-burning types, water heaters for household use, water pumps for household use, plumbing and sanitary fixtures for household use, and home air-condi tioning systems. Only 10 per cent down payment is required for new household furniture, including ice refrigerators, bed springs and mattresses, but excluding floor coverings, wall covering, drap eries and bed covering. Pianos and household electric organs will also call for a 10 per cent down payment. Materials and services in connec tion with repairs, alterations or im provements upon urban, suburban or rural real property, in connection with existing structures, provided the deferred balance does not exceed $1, 000, are not limited as to down pay ment but payments must not run over 18 months. Enrollment Records Broken Monday as Local Schools Open Total of 683 Boys and Girls Registered Here at Two Institutions A record-breaking opening-day en rollment of 683 boys and girls was re ported by the white schools of Plym outh Monday, when they opened for the 1941-42 term. Seventy boys and girls were forced to stand in the aisles at the first chapel exercises held in the auditorium Tuesday morning. Included in the enrollment this week, there were 196 children in the first three grades at the Hampton school building. They were divided into six classes with a half dozen teachers available to work with them. There were also 284 boys and girls in the elementary grades at the high school building, leaving a total of 203 in the high school at the opening. Principal R. B. Trotman said the total enrollment of 201 in the high school department gave promise of the possibility of securing an addi tional teacher there provided the at tendance holds up as well as pros pects indicate. The total enrollment of 683 pupils this year compares with 613 regis tered at the beginning of the 1940-41 term. For the year before that. 1939 40, the enrollment was 400 in the ele mentary department and 167 in the high school, a total of 567. Mr. Trotman said today that he expected a gradual increase to be re flected in the enrollment figures, and he believes that by the end of the fall semester, or possibly before, there will be about 700 enrolled in the two institutions here. No report was available yesterday from the colored school here, but it is understood that it also had a rec ord enrollment opening day. -® Organize Ruritan Club Next Week Plans are being made for complet ing the organization of a Ruritan Club at Roper next Thursday night, according to Mayor Henry Starr Ev erett, who has been active in promot ing organization of' the club there Those signing so far include Dan I. Marrow. Wade S. Hardison, Henry S. Everett, W. Barton Swain, Raymond A. Tarkington, J. A. Chesson, T. W, Norman, A. R. Phelps, R. L. Stillman, Charlie Watts, C. L. Walker, L. S. Brey, J. E. Phelps, N. G. Chesson, J. M. Clagon, J. E. Oliver, C. H. Floyd, T. E. Gaylord, L. E. Hassell, D. E. Poole and Gerald Gaylord. Principal B. L. White, of the Sun bury school, in Gates County, is un derstood to be planning to attend the meeting next Thursday night to help in the organization of the club. Mr. White has been taking an active in terest in the organization and has worked with the Roper men in their efforts to sign up members. Increased Enrollment At Opening Shown by Three County Schools Put Off Meetings Of County Boards Neither (he Washington Coun ty commissioners nor the Wash ington County Board of Educa tion held their usual monthly meetings on the first Monday, be cause that day fell on Labor Bay, which was observed locally as a general holiday. Instead, the two boards will be in session at the courthouse here next Monday morning at 10 o' clock. Those who have business with either group are asked to be present at that time. Says Farmers May Gel Lespedeza Seed Thru Soil Program Cost Will Be Deducted from Conservation Payments Due Producers Farmers in Washington County this year can avail themselves of the opportunity of securing lespedeza seed to be distributed by the Agricul tural Adjustment Administration In connection with the conservation program, according to County Agent W. V. Hays. The Commodity Credit Corporation has purchase Kobe, common and sericea lespedeza seed for distribution in this region, according to the agent, for the purpose of encouraging soil conservation and development of new crops which will contribute to soil improvement. Mr. Hays said farmers will this year use even more legumes than formerly as a source of nitrogen for their soil, and he stated that lespe deza has proved especially popular in this county as a soil-building crop by reason of its adaptability to a wide range of soil types and conditions. The cost of the seed, including any storage, cleaning and handling charges, will be deducted from agri cultural conservation payments due the farmer. -® Wailing Booths for Children Who Ride Buses Are Favored Proposed That Lions Club Take Action To Secure Them for County Past President P. W. Biown said this week he would suggest to the Lions Club that the organization sponsor a project for the erection of booths at various places in the county for the convenience of school children who have to wait at desig nated points away from their home for the arrival of school buses. Mr. Brown pointed out that many of the children were forced to wait on the roads along the routes of sschool buses without any protection from the elements except the clothes they wear. It was aid there are funds available in the Work Projects Administration program for such projects, and all needed in this area to get the work done would be a sponsor to put up a portion of the money for the job; and it was believed that the Lions Club could shoulder this burden. Reports have reached here that these conveniences and protection for school children have been erected on the roadsides of many counties in the western part of the state but that there are few, if any, of these booths in the eastern part of the state. The booths are small and have only a top, two sides and a back. The fronts are open. However, they pro- j vide protection from snow and rain | and a dry place even in cold weather. | -- Creswell Was Only While School With Decrease in Pupils Drop There Due to Families Moving From Scupper nong Farms Project Checked Wednesday, opening en rollments at the four white schools in Washington County showed increased registrations in the Plymouth, Roper and Cherry schools and a loss at Cres well. The schools opened Monday, and officials said removal of a num ber of families from the Scuppemong Farms project was the reason for the drop in enrollment at Creswell. Plymouth, with a total enrollment of 683, showed a gain of 70 over last year. There are 480 pupils in the elementary grades and 203 in the high school. It was believed an ad ditional teacher would be secured here if the attendance and enroll ment continues to show an increase during the first two weeks. The enrollment at Roper was 360, an increase of 23 over last year. In this school, there were 263 in the ele mentary department and 97 in the high school. Cherry, with no high school, had an increase of 9 students over last year, the total enrollment standing at 130. The Creswell school had a total en rollment of 467 this year, 323 in the elementary school and 144 in the high school. This was 64 less than last year, and school officials immediately started an investigation to determine the cause. It was believed that the removal of a number of families from the Scuppernong farms was the causa of most of the loss. Enrollment at the opening of the schools last year was as follows: Plymouth. 613; Roper, 337; Creswell, 534; and Cherry, 121. - Frank Heyward, jr., general man ager of the Southern Pulpwood Con servation Association, will be the speaker at a supper meeting of the men's club of Grace Episcopal church next Wednesday evening, September 10, at 7 o’clock in the American Le gion Hall. Mr. Heyward is an expert in tire field of timber conservation, and hi his position as manager of the Sou them Pulpwood Conservation Asso ciation is actively engaged in this work throughout the 14 states of the South. The speaker will illustrate his address with motion pictures deal ing in a graphic manner with meth ods of timber conservation. He was formerly state forester for the State of Georgia. His experience well qual ifies him to lecture on all matters per taining to the timber resources of this section. P Bruce Bateman, president of the men's club, urges all members of the organization to make reservations in advance for the supper and meeting. “I feel that we are very fortunate in securing a man like Mr. Heyward as speaker for our initial fall meeting," he said. "As Christians, we should all be concerned with the preserva tion of the God-given natural re sources our land possesses; as Amer icans faced with a national emer gency we must make it our business to conserve and utilize all resources which make us a strong and demo cratic peaple.” T. W. Earle, R, A. Duvall and P. B. Bateman are in charge of arrange ments for the meeting, and members of tile men's club are asked to get in touch with one of these commit teemen at the earliest possible date. Begin Advertisement of Delinquent Tax List Next Week; Sell in October The list of property on which 1910 taxes have not been paid has been placed in the hands of printers and will appear in next week's paper, J. F. Davenport, tax collector, said today. Real estate on which the unpaid taxes total approximately §20,000 will be advertised during the month of September and sold at the courthouse door on Monday. Oc tober 6, for unpaid taxes, inter est. penalties and costs. The list this year will carry about 775 names and parcels of land. In 1937 there were 887 names and in 1938 the list had 923 names. The 1939 list sold on the first Monday in October. 1940 carried 923 names on which $28, 982.96 was due the county in un paid taxes, interest, penalties and costs. Taxpayers have only a few more days to pay their amounts due and save the expense and embarrassment of having their property advertised. The names will not appear in next week's paper if the taxes are paid be fore 10 o’clock Wednesday morn ing, but after that it will be too late to remove names from the list, it was said at the court house. Tax Collector Davenport today urged those who wish to pay tax es to see him immediately so there will be plenty of time to remove their names from the list before the list appears in the paper next week.