North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon ****** * and Washington County News VOLUME LIII NUMBER 7 Plymouth. vVashington Countv. North Carolina Thursday, February 12, 1942_ESTABLISHED I S8Q A home newspaper dedicated I to the service of Washington } County and its 12,000 people Town OPICS The Major Louis Charles Latham Chapter, U. D. C.. will meet at the home of Mrs. Edgar Bateman, on the Washington Highway, Friday after noon at 3 p. m.. according to Mrs. Abe Adler, who urges all members to attend. The Plymouth Box & Panel Com pany here will receive a refund of $657 in income taxes that were as sessed against it for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1941, according to a list Issued this week by a congres sional committee. John L. Loell. personnel director of the North Carolina Pulp Company here, said Tuesday that he enjoyed awaking in the morning to look out his widow at the country club and see trees instead of large apartment buildings, as do city dwellers. He came here from Detroit, Mch. Twenty-four persons have failed to call at the office of County Agent VV. X. Hays and sign applications for 1941 conser vation payments, according to Nick Porter, chief clerk, who said it was urgent that they call at once In order to avoid delay in receiving their payments. A. G. Fairwather, general manager of the C. A. Woolsey Paint and Color Co., Inc., of New York City, was here this week with L. W. Gurkin, local salesman. The paint company offic ial was with Mr. Gurkin for several days on trips in this section. Mrs. Maggie Swain says she has heard from her son. Ray Swain, sev eral times since the Pearl Harbor attack. He has been in the Navy for 16 years and has the rating of a first-class pilot. At the present he Is believed to be in port and may pay her a visit within a few weeks. Survey Made Here To Secure Housing For 100 for Array No Information Yet Avail able as To Exact Reason For Request A survey of housing facilities avail able for 100 or more men has been, made in Washington County by W. M. Darden, chairman of the county civilian defense council, at the re quest of the Army made through Theodore S. Johnson, state director of Civilian Defense. Mr. Darden reported that the old Brinkley Hotel, the high school gym- i nasium and possibly other places in I Plymouth could be made available; I and that Thompson’s hall, in Roper, i and the Collins’ house at Pettigrew Park, near Creswell, probably could be secured also. No information was given as to why the housing was needed or for what group of persons the facilities were required. It was believed that similar telegrams had been sent to other towns for the puropse possibly of finding temporary locations for se lective service men who had been inducted and room for whom was not available in army camps for pre liminary trainln. The text of the telegram received by Mr. Darden last Saturday was as follows: “Army requests immediate survey to determine location places suitable for housing 100 or more persons, such as abandoned hotels, park buildings, county homes, and similar places not now occupied where adequate facilities exist or can easily be installed.” Mitchell Will Speak To Negroes Monday Colored school teachers and preach ers of Washington County will gath er at the Roper High School audi torium Monday afternoon at 1 o’clock to hear Prof. John W. Mitchell, of A. and T. College, Greensboro, speak on the subject, "What Negro Preach ers and Teachers Can Do To Help Win the War.” The visiting speaker is reputed to be one of the most brilliant Negro orators in the country and is recog nized as a splendid citizen and leader of his race. The meeting was made possible through the cooperation of H. H. McLean, superintendent of schools, and W. V. Hays, county agent. Test Blackout In This Section Monday Night Said To Be Successful Old Fire Engine Figures Wanted Mayor B. G. Campbell is anx ious to locate pictures of the old fire equipment used in Plymouth before the present motorized trucks were bought years ago. If anyone has a picture of the old hand-operated pumper used here before 1903, he will be do ing the mayor a great favor by lending it to him so he can have reproductions made. Following the old hand-operated pumper, the town had a hand-drawn ve hicle with a gasoline engine to operate the pump. Pictures of either piece of equipment will be appreciated by the mayor. Town of Plymouth Tax Collections So Far Above Average Three-Fourths of Levy Col lected; Penalty Now Effective -<*> Taxpayers in the Town of Plym outh are urged by Tax Collector P. W. Brown to pay their 1941 taxes now. since unpaid taxes are already subject to a 1 per cent penalty, and the penalty will be increased to 2 per cent after March 1st. It was stated that tax collections during the current fiscal year, which began July 1, 1941, had been good. Mr. Brown said he had already col lected $22,194.28 out of the total levy of $27,000, and he still has five months to go. Tire tax collector said that the first month of the new fiscal year, July, had been the best month for collec tions, due to the discount allowed t'.-.cse who paid during that time. Tire smallest month was August, when there was a considerable drop in the collections. Of the $22,194.28 collected so far during the current fiscal year, about $4,000 was for back taxes, some for several years back. The money came in at a good time, however, as the town is buying new fire and trash trucks, and making other improve ments, which cost a great deal of money. In the remaining five months, in cluding February, March, April, May and June, Mr. Brown hopes to col lect as much of the current levy, as well as delinquent taxes, as he pos sibly can. Each month payment of 1941 taxes is delayed, the penalty will be in creased, and the taxpayer will be forced to pay the penalties this year, as the town council has ordered the collector to comply strictly with the law in this respect this year. The council has an agreement \ with the law firm of Norman and Rodman for the collection of 1939 and prior years taxes. Those who owe taxes that far back can save the expense of foreclosure by getting In touch with the tax collector or Nor man and Rodman and settling up their back tax accounts. -$ Sales of Crop Land Should Be Reported at Office Here -® Farmers who have sold or bought crop land should notify County Agent W. V. Hays’ office here im mediately, so that changes may be made as early as possible in the Ag ricultural Adjustment Administra tion contracts by March 1, according to Nick Porter, chief clerk. Both parties interested in such transactions should come to the county agent’s office in person, Mr. Porter said, so that farm maps may be changed before the land is meas ured. In urging immediation action, the chief clerk said that such trans actions affected crop allotments. Growers of Sweet Potatoes Will Hold Meeting Here Thursday of Hext Week Growers of sweet potatoes arc urged to attend a meeting which will be held in the Agriculture Building in Plymouth Thursday of next week, February 19, at 10 o’clock in the morning, when a discussion of growing and mar keting this crop will be held, ac cording to County Agent W. V. Hays. The light demand and low price received for sweet potatoes during the past season Indicates that something is drastically wrong in the situation, Mr. Hays said, and officials in the agri culture department believe that something definite should and can be done about the matter. At the meeting here Thursday iaorning of next week, there will be a discussion of various prob lems facing the growers, includ ing best varieties for this sec tion, diseases, grading, packag ing and marketing of the crop. Leading the discussion will be representatives of the extension department at State College, who will make definite recommenda tions on certain specific prob lems; while representatives from the State Department of Agri culture will speak on packaging and marketing, giving visual dem onstrations of their answers to potato problems. The sweet potato crop, Mr. Hays said, can be so handled that it will constitute an import ant source of income to farmers of thin section. Lasted 45 Minutes; Lights Turned Out And Traffic Halted All County Towns Join in Blackout; One Accident Reported Here Thousands of people in Washing ton County and other surrounding counties and towns took part in the first test blackout last Monday night, and Civilian Defense Council offic ials, local and state, said later that the test was a complete success. Plymouth. Creswell and Roper, in Washington County, as well as many rural homes up and down the high ways. either turned off all lights or erected blackout screens over their doors and windows, and all along the streets and highways automobile traffic was stopped by state highway and other police officials and head lights turned off. W. M. Darden, chairman of the Washington County Civilian Defense Council, said today that he wished to thank Mayor H. S. Everett, of Roper; Mayor C. N. Davenport, sr., of Cres well; Mayor B. G, Campbell, of Plym outh; Chief Air Raid Warden P. W. Brown and Fire Chief Miller War ren, also of Plymouth, for their splendid cooperation in making the blackout a success. The fire alarms in Plymouth. Rop er and Creswell sounded a few min utes after 8 o'clock, and immediately thereafter practically all lights were turned off and traffic halted. It was believed that any “enemy” plane which might have been overhead would have had a difficult time in locating an objective in this section. In Plymouth the alert signal was given about 8:10. and the blackout lasted for about 45 minutes, with the "all-clear”s sounding a few minutes before 9 o’clock. A train shifting cars on the tracks near the union station halted and doused its lights. Cars and ti -ks were stopped on the streets and on highways leading into the town and ordered to cut off their lights. The only exception to the blackout here was the plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company, which is engaged in work on defense or ders, and which did not shut down. The organization here included an air-raid warden for each two blocks in the town, and they visited all res idences and business houses in their respective districts to see that the regulations were complied with. The fire trucks moved to the union sta tion, where they were ready to do their part in extinguishing fires. The small truck here was manned by a junior fire department organization, headed by Clarence Ayers, jr., as chief. There are about 20 young men and boys in this group, organ ized as an auxiliary unit to the reg ular fire department. There were no reports of accidents or failure to cooperate in the black out from Roper or Creswell, but George Askew was arrested here when the car he was driving struck the cars of Ben Robinson and Jos eph S. Norman during the test. Observers said the town and coun tryside were the quietest they had been in many years, and about the only light visible anywhere was that from the stars, which shone bril liantly overhead. W. F. Nufer, of Goldsboro, assist ant state director of civilian defense, was here Monday afternoon to make preparations for the blackout, and he said afterwards that the organiza tion in this district functioned ex ceptionally well and he declared the test was a complete success. Laymen's Week at Methodist Church Rev. O. L. HARDWICK, Pastor The local Methddlst church will join with other Methodist churches in observing February 15-22 as Lay men’s Week. The Rev. O. L. Hard wick will preach Sunday morning on the topic, “Laymen in the Church,” and on Monday, Tuesday and Wed nesday evenings at 8 o’clock the church will meet for study, using a guide, “The Methodist Church,” by Dr. Charles E. Schofield. Z. V. Norman, L. S. Thompson and George Barden are members of a special committee to invite the mem bers to the school, but members and others are urged to attend without a personal invitation. C. G. Morris, prominent layman from Washington, will speak Febru ary 22, which has been designated as official “Laymen’s Day” in the churches. Mr. Morris will have as his theme to close Laymen’s Week, “Methodist Men and the Mission of the Church.” With our county changing to war time, our Epworth League will meet at 7 p. m., and evening worship will be at 8 p. m. Sunday school and morning worship are at 9:45 and 11 o’clock. Dredge Sound Bed For 100 Tons Sand In Ilmenite Tests Crew Now Engaged in Se curing Supply for Ex perimental Work A dredging crew is scraping the bottom of Albemarle Sound for 100 tons of black sand to be sent to lab oratories of the Dupont company for experiments in extracting ilmenite, according to reports reaching here from Mackeys, where the work is in progress. Dr. W. L. Gillson is understood to be in charge of the operations now underway, and it was said that the 100 tons of sand would be shipped in 10 railroad cars if routed overland. It was also said that the company would spend several thousand dollars in their experiments connected with extracting ilmenite ore from the sand in the hope of developing a new domestic source. The Dupont company uses large quantities of ilmenite, the ore of ti tanium, formerly imported from In dia. Since the war began shipping has been limited, and the Duponts are turning to experiments with the sands of Albemarle Sound in the hope that ilmenite may be extract ed in such quantity to justify large scale development. It is understood that the laboratories of several uni versities are helping in the tests. Carl L. Bailey brought the atten tion of the Dupont Company to the possibilities of ilmenite production in this section, and W. R. Hampton, of Plymouth, as a member of the State Board of Conservation and Develop ment, is chairman of the committee which gave the permission of the state for the experiments now be ing conducted with the sand from Albemarle Sound. The State holds title to the bottom of the sound by virtue of it being navigable waters. It Ls also reported by a reliable but unofficial source that the Dupont Company is transferring some of the sand to their headquarters in Wil mington. Del., for the purpose of de signing machinery for extracting the ilmenite from the sand, should it be possible to handle the development on a large scale. County ABC Stores Earn Over $8,51)0 in Profits Last Quarter -<3> $5,000 of Amount Is Turned Over To County; State Gets Big Cut Net profits of the Plymouth and Creswell legal whiskey stores were $8,253.25 during the quarter ending December 31, 1941, it was learned today from J. R. Campbell, chair man of the Washington County Al coholic Beverage Controll Board. The profit was divided as follows: $645.89 set aside as reserve for law enforcement, including payment of salaries to L. L. Basnight and others engaged in prosecting illegal whiskey sellers and manufacturers: $2,232.74 paid to the state of North Carolina as taxes: and the remainder of $5. 732.25 was designed as surplus, $5. 000 of which was turned over to the county. Gross sales of whiskey for the quarter amounted to $30,228.60. The stock and sales expense was $20,175. 35 and gross profits on all sales were figured at $10,053.25. Operating expense of the stores, including salaries, wages, rent light, water, heat and supplies, taxes and depreciation for the quarter amount ed to $1,260.51: administrative costs including legal advice, bags, per diem for board members, office sup plies, taxes, insurances, and supplies were $439.49 bringing the total ex pense of the quarter to $1,800. Assets of the ABC board on De cember 31 lists cash on hand at $6,460.81: warehouse stock and stock in stores $12,820.79; furniture and fixtures and other fixed assets bring ing the total to $19,469.46. Income Tax Man Here March 4 - 5 Jack Hinton, deputy collector for the State Revenue Department, will be in Plymouth Wednesday and Thursday, March 4 and 5, to assist taxpayers in filing state income tax returns. He will be at the office of the county auditor in the courthouse all day each day He said that he would be glad to assist taxpayers in any way possible at any time and that it was not necessary to pay the tax at the time the return was filled out. However, payments must be made by March 15. The deputy col lector will be at his office in the courthouse at Wiliiamston from March 9 to 16. to assist late fliers, but he recommends those who need help to see him earlier in order to avoid the last-minute rush which al ways develops. A representative of the U. S. Col lector of Internal Revenue will be at the police station February 25 and 26 to assist with Federal returns. Everything Said Ready For Registiation Next Monday Issue Lasi Warning To Those Who Are Without Town Tags Chief Says Officers Will Begin “Crack Down” This Week -<s» With only slightly over 400 Town of Plymouth 1942 license plates for motor vehicles sold to date. Chief of Police P. W. Brown said today that the period of warning and coaxing residents to purchase them has been concluded, and those who have not already bought them are now subject to arrest and fines. The officer wanted this last warn ing brought to the attention of the scores of motorists who have dis regarded the town's order to date and have not bought the plates, which cost only $1. It is emphasized that it is neces sary for Town of Plymouth officers to enforce this ordinance, just as it is necessary to enforce other regula tions governing automobile traffic on highways and streets. Chief Brown issued the last and final warning before launching a drive this week-end to see that the plates have been put on all cars and trucks owned by citizens of the town of Plymouth. Money derived from this source is used to defray expenses of the town in the same manner as funds com ing from other methods of taxation. The towns needs the money, and of ficers will make every effort to see that those who have failed to buy their town tags do so within the next few days. Salvage Drive Nets 126 Tons of Scrap Metal for Defense Local Dealer Says January Purchases Three Times. Over December A tatal of 256.200 pounds of scrap metal has been collected for national defense from the farms and homes of Washington County, according to Ft. D. West, manager of the West Junk Yard here, who said that the above amount represented his total purchasees made during the month of January. It was reported by Mr. West that he purchased about three times as much metals in January as he did in December, due principally to the wide publicity given the campaign among the farmers for turning the discarded metals from the homes and farms into channels for natio nal defense. Mr. West said that during the month of January he purchased a total of $1,000 worth of scrap mater ials in the collection campaign, as againest only $300 worth during the month of December. A committee representing farm ers met with Mr. V, cot and they agreed a schedule for prices for the metal, and then wide publicity was given throughout the county to the collection campaign and 126 tons of the materials were sold to Mr. West by the people in the county. j Coming into the Beacon office this week, Mr. West ordered the size of his weekly advertisement in the pa per doubled, and explained that he was well satisfied with the Beacon is an advertising medium in Washi ngton County. , William T. Phelps Funeral Tuesday Funeral services were held at the home near Roper Tuesday afternoon for William Taft Phelps, 34, who died Monday at noon at his home after a week’s illness caused by appendicitis. The Rev. Mr. Wood, of Roper, offic iated, and interment took place in a cemetery near Roper. Son of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Phelps, he was a native of this county and well known and well liked by a large circle of people in his section. For some time he has been employed in the plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company here. He was a member of Zions Chapel Christian church. Surviving are three children, Mag gie, Doris, and Rebecca: his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Phelps: one sis ter, Mrs. W. O. Edwards: and two brothers, Theodore and Nathan Phelps, all of Roper. Double-Header Basketball Game Here Friday Night The boys’ and gills' basketball i teams of the Plymouth High School will play a double header here to morrow' night at 7:30 with teams from the Ahoskie school. Coach Louis Trunzo, of the boys’ team, and Miss Irene Dixon, coach of the girls, hope to win the two games, ON VALENTINE'S DAY... Remember Uncle Sum, too! Also Give U. S. DEFENSE BONDS .STAMPS Launch Drive Here iTo Increase Sales of Bonds and Stamps -e> H. E. Beam and W. L. Gar rison Head Two Local Committees Sales of Defense Bonds and Stamps are expectly to be greatly increased in Washington County within the next few days as members of two local committees begin a campaign designed to bring the bonds and stamps to the attention of every workman and business man in the county. One of the committee is headed by W. L. Garrison, vice pres ident of the State Federation of La bor, and will be comprised of union men and men in the management of the North Carolina Pulp Company here; while the other is a commit tee of business men headed by H. E. Beam, cashier of the Branch Bank ing and Trust Company. The committee of which Mr. Gar rison is chairman is composed of the following: W. O. Kelly, electrician; D. J. Hudson, operating engineer; W J. Jack, paper maker; J. W. Rath i emolovee of the local unit of thr American Fork & Hoe Company; Rasser Edwards, office worker; Ed gar Spruill, chemist; C. L. Morrison auditor; and J. L. Loell, personnel director at the pulp mill. Mr. Beam's committee is to be or ganized during the coming week-end It will be composed of school officials merchants, town officials, and coun ty employees. The campaign is scheduled to start some time next week. It was said that the drive would be extended to Roper, Creswell and Mackeys, and other communities in the county. An effort will be made to impress upon everyone the necessity and patriotic duty to supply funds for the Govern ment’s prosecution of the war. The payroll allotment plan, by which a stated sum will be deducted from each employee’s wages at regular in tervals for the purchase of bonds and stamps, will be recommended. Funeral Tuesday of Mrs. Mary J. Elliot! Funeral services were held Tues day in Suffolk, Va., for Mrs. Mary Jane Eiliott, 91. who died tnere Sun day afternoon at the home of her sen, M. S. Elliott, with whom she has been living. Interment was made in a Suffolk cemetery. A number of people from this county attended the last rites. Mrs. Elliott was born in Washing ton County, near Creswell, in 1850. and she lived in the county until a few months ago. when she went to Suffolk to live with her son. Mrs. Elliott was one of the oldest ciJ zens of the county and was sick only a few days before her death. She owned considerable property in this county. Mrs. Elliott is survived by two sons. M. S. Elliott, of Suffolk: and Josh Elliott, of Flemington, N. J.: and one daughter, Mrs. Clingham Mitchell, of Richmond, Va. Men Beflwen 20 and 45 Are Required To Register for Service Does Not Apply To Those Who Have Previously Registered Complete plans were announced to day for Washington County’s part In the third registration under the terms of the amended selective service act, which will be held throughout the nation next Monday. February 16. to secure a complete listing of all men between the ages of 20 and 45. inclu sive, who have not previously regis tered, for possible military service. All men not already registered who became 21 years of age on or before December 31. 1941, and who have not reached their 45th birthday by next Monday, February 16. 1942. are re quired to register. Those who registered in the first registration on October 16, 1940, or in the second registration July 1, 1941. are not required to register again. The hours of registration next Monday in this county will be from 7 a. m. to 9 p. m. It is believed these hours will make It possible for J everyone affected to register without losing any time from their work. Registration places and persons in harge throughout the county are as follows: Plymouth: Selective Service Boards headquarters in S. A. Ward’s office on Washington Street, with E. S. Blount, chairman of the board, in charge; Roper: High school auditorium, with Mrs. Eva Harrell in charge; Creswell: High school auditorium, with Clyde Smithson, a member of the county selective service board, in charge. Mr. Ward said that while the persons in charge of the work in the three communities would not be able to do the entire job of registering, volunteer workers have been secured to assist, and no delay should be ex perienced in getting all names on the list'during the day. It is estimated that about 960 per sons will be registered in the county next Monday. This is based on cal culations made by the national head quarters. which figures that about 60 per cent of the number registered October 16, 1940, wil be affected this I time. Around 1.600 men were reg j istered in the county in the first reg istration, while there were only 67 registered last July 1 at the second registration. Six Cases Called in Recorder's Court -- Six cases came before Recorder W. Ronald Gaylord and Prosecuting At torney W. Blount Rodman in re corder’s court Tuesday, but only two cases were cleared from the docket by final decisions. The proceedings were as follows: Edison Wilkins was find $10 and costs after ne had entered a plea of guilty to obtaining advancements and merchandise from J. J. Bunch upon promise to pay for them by fishing operations. It was charged in the warrant that Wilkins intended to defraud Bunch and refused to work and pay for the advances agreed on. Wiltz Norman was assessed the costs of the court on a charge of as saulting Minnie Norman. George Askew, charged with oper ating an automobile while under the influence of intoxicants, had his case continued. Charles A. Hough, charged with having improper lights on a trailer and with parking it on the highway, had prayer for judgment continued until next Tuesday. James Bias, jr., charged with speeding, had prayer for judgment made in his case until next Tues day. Wiley Peyton, charged with speed ing, had prayer for judgment in his case continued until next Tuesday. Ernest J. Davenport, of Creswell, First Man From This County To Die in War The first definite news that a young man of Washington Coun ty had laid down his life for his country came last week, when Mrs. Pauline Clifton, of Creswell, received a telegram from the War Department, informing her that her son. Private Ernest J. Dav enport, had been reported as “missing” at sea. The message received by Mrs. Davenport was as follows: “The Secretary of War desires me to express, with deep regret, that your son, Private Ernest J. Dav enport, has been reported miss ing at sea since about December 7. The vessel on which he sailed from Seattle has been overdue since December 10. Letter fol lows.’’ It was signed by General Adams Edgerton, of Washing ton, D. C. Private Davenport was 23 years of age and enlisted in the United States Army in June, 1939, and was in the medical corps. Surviving is his mother, Mrs. Pauline Clifton, of the Newland section of Washington County; one brother, Silas Davenport, of the U. S. Army, now stationed in Florida; three sisters, Mrs. Fred Tyson, Mrs. Ben Twiddy and Mrs. Aaron Clifton, all of Creswell; and two half-sisters, Misses Olean and Sabra Clifton, of Cres we|L