North Carolina Newspapers

mjgHiUtWrftim PRINTED IN THE INTEREST OF THE TOW N OF BELHAVEN AND THE PUNGO RIVER BASIN OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, N. C. VOLUME I! NO. 16 BELHAVEN, N. C, THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1950 Single Copy 1 DELEGATION SEEKS DRAINAGE FOR PUNGO RIVER BASIN AT MEETING. AT CAPITOL THURS. Aid of National Rivers and Harbors Congress Sought In Getting Federal Flood Control Project Which Would Make Possible The Reclaiming of Thousands of Acres of Farm ing Land In Beaufort And Washington Counties. A delegation from the Pungo River Basin last Thursday attend ed a meeting of the National Riv ers and Harbors Congress in Washington, D. C, to seek the aid of that organization in getting a Federal Flood Control project in the area. The proposed drainage project, it is stated, would make possible the reclamation of thousands of acres of farming land in Beaufort and Washington counties, many which were once in cultivation but had to be abandoned- Those attending the hearing from Beaufort County Included B. G. Carawan, Zeno Ratcliffe, A. D. Swindell, Walter Cannady and P. H. Johnson, The National Rivers and Har bors Congress Is not a government agency, it was stated, but an or ganization which has much influ ence with government engineers. According to P. H. Johnson of I'antego there are approximately 123,000 acres in the Pungo River Basin, 85,000 acres of which are in existing drainage districts. "What was judged to be ade quate canals were constructed and a large percentage of that land was cleared and has at one time been in crops," said Mr. Johnson. ''After these canals were con structed it was decided that while they were sufficient to drain the area involved they could not take care of a vast amount of water in the Wfest Dismal lying Immediately west of these projects," he contin ued. He said that in normal tiniei this water was held back by a ridge forming the western boun dary of the basin but that in per iods of excessive rain the West Dismal water overflows this pro tecting ridge and damages crops to such an extent that much of the land had to be abandoned. "It has been determined that the cost of providing an outlet for this over-flow water, in addition to the normal dunnage that would be required, is too great to be taken by individual landowners and they have requested the Federal Gov . ernment some assistance on the basis of flood control," Mr. John son said. He continued: "The Army En gineering Department at Wilming ton last year made a survey to de termine the feasability of the pro ject and we are informed that they have submitted a favorable report to the authorities in Wash ington. They are now studying that report and it is hoped that they will approve it." Regarding the National Rivers and Harbors Congress, Mr. John son said that the people of the area were indebted to the organi zation for their voluntary assist ance in securing the great inland waterway. He said that those who attend ed the meeting last week were hopeful of receiving a favorable recommendation of the project. The project, it is reported, in volves providing an outlet large enough to take care of the exces sive over-flow from the West Dis mal; the clearing out of Pungo River at Its source; and the clear ing out of Pantego Creek and Cuckolds Creek at their sources. The trip of the delegation to the nation's capitol on Thursday fol lowed a meeting In Pantego on Tuesday night, March 21, of some 40 Beaufort and Washington Coun ty farmers. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Swindell were named as delegates to represent the group in Wash ington. The flood project, should it be carried out. Is expected to make possible the reclamation of thous ands of acres of farming land and make the Pungo River Basin blos som. t ,. Lands now idle will be green with soybeans, corn and other crops bringing into the region thousands of additional dollars in farm income and providing . more jobs for farm workers. Communities In particular which would be benefited would be Pan tego, Wenona and Terra Ceia. Belhaven and Plymouth would al so be expected to benefit from the general prosperity it would create In the area. More than 5,000 industrial plants In North Carolina depend directly upon the forests lot raw material. and the value of their production is about 1150,000,000 yearly. UNGO OSTSCRIPTS By VANN LATHAM Let's change the subject and talk about the DDT (...... Ditch Trouble.) While to many people, the pro ject to make a small boat harbor by removing the bridge over Wyn nes Gut and widening and deep ening the gut may seem to be a purely local problem, the Implica tions therein really have national and even worldwide status. It is another case, and there have been many in the past histories, where a few who are strong enough have gone against the wishes and the best interests of the majority of the people to force through a pro ject which will best serve these few. In our case, the ones who wish to keep the bridge at any cost, called the bridge crowd, are spending the taxpayer's good mon ey to stop the Army Engineers project which would benefit the majority of the taxpayers. On the other hand, we have the harbor crowd, the ones who are interested in having a small boat harbor in Belhaven, even if it means removing the bridge. And it's quite a crowd too. While it Is my opinion that it is desirable to keep West' Front Street, open and retain some bridge over Wyut nes Gut, the benefits to be realiz ed by the construction of a snnil! boat harbor far outweigh the ad vantages of keeping a bridge. Another point to be considered is that our town has no place that serves adequately as a public dock. And that "ain't" good for a town which is bordered on several sides by water. But, all these arguments have been made before. Le"t us get to the cube root of the problem. It has always been my belief that a group of men is elected by a majority vote of the people In secret ballot and that these men,: acting as the Board of Aldermen and as the governing body of the town, are to direct their actions so as to carry out the wishes of the people who elected them and to whom the yare responsible. And a man who Is elected to the Board has a big rsponsibility. He is fac ed with the possibility of pressure which comes in many forms, from a certain group on the one side, and with the desireB of the peo ple who put him In office on the other side. It requires, a man who has a conscience and who Is real ly trying to perform his duty to be able to throw off the effects of pressure groups and to pay his debt to the people. A town that has on its board men who cannot accept this res ponsibility Is in a bad way. Such an administration can make all sorts of messes. BELHAVEN GIRLS TO SERVE IN MAY COURT Joyce Hodges And Peggy O'Neal Chosen by Pineland Faculty Salemburg Two Belhaven girls were chosen by the faculty to serve In the May Court at Pine land Coliege on May Day, Satur day, May 13th. The two -ve Miss Joyce Hodges, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Hodges, Sr., and Miss Peggy O'Neal," daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. P. O'Neal. The May queen for this year Is Miss Janice Butler, of Roseboro. The May Day festivities will In clude the queen and court, a color ful historical pageant, the tradit ional Maypole dance, and. other music and dance specialties. On the following day, Sunday, May 14th, the annual Mother's Day dress parade, drill and band con cert will be presented by the ca dets of Edwards Military Institute, brother school to Pineland. A large crowd Is anticipated for both avAnla iinfl the twn nflvs have been designated as Homecoming week end for all alumnae and a lumnl. About 6 million cords of fuel wood are used each year in North Carolina HYDE ATTORNEY SPEAKS BEFORE BELHAVEN LIONS District Governor To Visit Belhaven-Panteso Club Thursday Nieht "Life Is becoming a cheap thing.' says O. L. Williams, Swan Quarter attorney and candidate for the State SeiiHte, said in a speech before the Belhaven-Pantego Lions Club at Flossie's in Pantego Thursday night. The topic of Mr. Williams speech was "Cheapness of Life in a Ma terialistic World." He praised the Lions Clubs for I their activities in helping the blind and other misfortunates and I declared that what they were do i ing was fo;' a good cause. 1 Mr. Williams deplored the slangier on the highways and said these mounting deaths were a cause of concern for all citizens. Some of the problems facing the General Assembly dealing with human life, he said, are pro viding better care for the mentally sick, providing decent and safe jails for those held In connection with criminal charges, etc. Mr. Williams was presented by Walton Johnson, program chaii man. It was announced that Lewis K. Day of Rocky Mount, Governor of District 31-C would attend the weekly meeting of the club Thurs day evening, March 30. President Jimmy Hodges urged a f00 pet cent attendance. Visitors included Jack Harris of Washington and Walter Cahoon of Elizabeth City, guests of Jule Pur vis; Tom Spencer, guest of Bill Mann; George Fisher, guest of Gus Gaylord; and J. L. Eckenrode, a Lion of Baltimore, guest of Od en Radcliffe. NOW IS IDEAL TIME TO BED POTATO SPROUTS Farme1-? Should Crow Own Sprouts, Specialist Advises The last week of March or the first week in April is the Ideal time to bed sweet potatoes from which to obtain sprouts for setting the 1950 crop, says H. M. Coving ton, extension horticulturist of State College. Farmers who grow their own speouts stand a much better chance of producing top-quality, disease-tree potatoes, states Cov- at harvest, he says, are caused by diseased potatoes having been bedded. "If it becomes necessary to buy sprouts," asserts the horticultur ist, "know the source of seed and the conditions under which the sprouts are grown. Cheap plants usually are the most expensive in the long run." In selecting potatoes for bedd ing, the following points should be observed. Do not bed anything having rotten spots or shriveled ends. Select only those having a deep copper-colored skin. Nick each root near the stem end and save only those that are salmon pink to orange. Throw olt those that have a pale pink of white mett. Finally, bed only roots which are one and a half inches in diameter or larger. The larg er the seed, the ladger the sprouts. Strings (slips) make weak, tend er plants which result In poor stands. Covin eton also warns farmers against buying plants from ottt-of-State -ourees, especially from certain sections of Florida and against further spread of the sweet potato weevil. This pest, he says, has also been found re--ently In Charleston County, 'outh Carolina. The insect could pry ens'ly be brought In on rout Toiluced In weevil areas. Covington reminds farmers that there is a State law which prohi bits the bringing in of sweet po- Later a census enumerator will titled sources. PTA STUDY COURSE HELD IN BELHAVEN A district study rourse on "Child Guidance and Family Edu cation" was held at the Belhaven high school Monday with approxi mately 1-00 In attendance. The course was conducted by Miss Genevieve Burton of Gibson ville. state field worker for the P.T.A. The meeting was held from 10 a. "hi. until 3 p. m. Lunch was served in the school lunchroom. A movie was shown during the afternoon session. Representatives were present from neighboring schools. -COMMENT- By THOS. E. SPENCER i MAKE THIS A DAY .''ike this a day. There Is no ain In brooding over days to come; The rnesage of today is plain, The future lips are ver dumb. The work of yes terday is gone For good or ill let come what may; But now we face another dawn. Make this a day. Through yesterday we failed to see The urging hand and earnest face That men call opportunity, We fail to know the time or place For some great deed, what need to fret? The dawn comes up a silvery grey. The golden moments must be met; Make this a day. This day is yours your work is yours; The odds are not who pays your hire; The thing accomplished that en quire. If it be what the days require. He who takes up his daily round. As one new-armoured for the fray, Tomorrow steps on solid grounr. Make this a day. The Talisman TO BUY ... OR NOT TO BUY A man lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes so he read no newspaper. Hut he sold good hot dogs. He put up signs on the highway telling how GOOD they were. He stood by the side of the road and cried: "Buy a hot dog, Mis ter?" And people bought, He increased his meat and bun orders. He bought a bigger stove .to take care of his trade. , He got his son home Irdm ' col lege to help him. But then something happened. His son said, "Father, haven't you been listening to the radio? "There's a big recession o.n See COMMENT, Page Eight fpUNGO DISTRICT I HOSPITAL NOTES Birth of four babies at the Pun go District hospital in Belhaven this week highlighted the news at the region's health center. Births were as follows: Mrs. Earl Pugh of Lake Land ing, a baby boy. Mrs. John Tigoholaar of Terra Cisa, a baby girl. Mrs. Henry Boyd, Jr., of Belhav en, a baby girl. Mrs. Howard Voliva of Belhav en, a baby boy. Patients admitted during the past week, other than the mothers listed above, were Mrs. Howard Selby of Bath, Mrs. Lena Sawyer of Ponzer, Henry Everett of Wash ington RFD, and Mrs. Dora McKin ney of Fairfield. Those discharged during the past week included Charles Rose of Wenona, Miss Arlene Arnold of Engelhard, Mrs. Jennie Manning of Ponzer Mrs. Lilley Bailey of Belhaven, John Dunbar of Swan Quarter, Charles Rose of Wenona, Mrs. Ardie Gibbs of Lake Landing, and McLain Meekins of Stumpy Point. Colored patients included Del sie McCabe of Swan Quarter, Ron oln Credle of Belhaven, Marvin Lewis Connor of Belhaven and Carrie Braddock of Belhaven. THE TIDELAND TRAIL The OLD COUNTRY STORE Found Everywhere Along The yC"U TlJ.lonl Trail nf l-lurfk onH Rare .snuuvY. I luciaiiu 11111 vi By CARLTON MORRIS IN HELL WITH SOME PEOPLE . I had a dream the other night. I dreamed I was tired of walking to and fro on the fare of the earth and so I led the earth, as all peo ple are bound to do someday. I left the earth and went to hell. I was standing there looking at all the people, and I saw a group of pot bellied, well-dressed men and some of thera were slender and not so well dressed. The Dev il was a very busy man. He had a rrent ht.istinz furnace whiah he stoked with the people of different "ISusFof SLAYING WILLIS Ralph Midgette of Ocracoke Sentenced to Prison in Beaufort Co. Court Saturday Ralph Midgett, 12. of Ocracoke, a native of Buxton, got a sentence to prison of 25 to 30 years Satur day in Beaufort County Superioi Court in Washington, for the slay ing of Glenn Willis of January 25. He shot Willis owner of the ves sel Lindsay C. Warren, while It lay in port at Washington. Trial of the case had consumed most of the week. Judge W. I. Halstead of South Mills presided. A Beaufort County jury delibe rated almost four hours Friday night before tnding Midgett guilty of second degree murder. Midgett testified he argued with the Beaufort captain the after noon of the shooting. He said he had been drinking and remember ed nothing about the shooting un til the next day. Police said Midgett told them he shot Willis because the captain didn't pay him as high a salary as promised. When Midgett heard Judge W. I. Halstead pass sentence he did not change the expression that had typified him during the entire trial tnat lasted three days. Meanwhile the State's chief wit ness in the case, John D. Banks, 24-year-old cook who claimed he was held at gunpoint while Mir- gett, armed with a shotgun and cine awaited Willis arrival, was jailed on a forgery charge. ATT . . tie is cnargea with forging a check for $18 in the account of Mrs. L. C. Clark. It was endorsed "D. M. Smith." Banks on probation when he be came involved In the Willis slay ing case, was given preliminary hearing on the forgery charge. Probable cause was found and he was bound over to the June term of superior court under bond of $500. GARDEN CLUB OF BELHAVEN ELECTS OFFICERS MONDAY Mesdames F. P. Latham And Sara Latham Enter tain Club The Machapungo Garden Club Monday elected officers at a meet-1 ing at the Circle Grove Farm with Mesdames F. P. Lathm and Mrs. 1 Sara Latham, hostesses. The following officers were - e lected for next year as recom mended by the nominating com mittee: Mrs. Jessie Taylor, president; Mrs. Julve Purvis, first vice-president; Mrs. George Clark, second vice-president; Mrs. Hubert Wind py, secretary; Mrs. Andrew Hor ses, treasurer; and Mrs. W. E. Bateman, art chairman. New officers will be installed in June and assume offices in Sep tember. Mrs. James Younce, president, asked each member to recommend names for membership. They will be voted on at the April meeting. I he club decided to sponsor a game tournament In April at the Community House. The date will be set later. The program for the afternoon was given by Mrs. W. E. Bateman. She talked about the beauty and usefulness of driftwood. She had a collection of odd shapes that she had found along the river shore which was very interesting. She told how the "Chinese Ming Trees" could be made from drift See GARDEN, Page Eight KirTYMlV - U.S. 264 , mi iijww . . miwi 'a. groups. Finally ne niiea me iur- nace full of troublemakers and people who go around talking a bout their neighbors and he came over and shook hands with me. "I am glad to see you, Sir," he said. "Did you come to hell with that group over there?" And he pointed to the pot bellied well dressed group and some of them were slender and not so well-dres sed. "Well, you see, Mr. Devil." I re plied, "When I was on the earth I was married to a fine and good I See STORE, Page ige Eight PANTEGO CITIZENS PLAN TO APPEAL TO STATE PANEL IN EFFORT TO SAVE SiHOQLS Beaufort County Board of Education Approv es Recommendations of Survey Panel To Consolidate Pantego, White And Negro High Schools With Belhaven Following Hearing in Washington Friday Afternoon. ONE OF BELHAVEN'S NEWEST BUSINESSMEN EUGENE O'NEAL, 26-year-old World War II veteran and gradu ate of East Carolina Teacher's College in Greenville, is one of Belhaven's newest businessmen. Eugene and his brother, Mayor Prentice O'Neal, recently took ov er the Belhaven Pharmacy on the corner of Main and Pamlico Sts. and operate it as O'Neals Corner Store. Eugene spent four years in the Navy during the past war, coming out of service in 1946. He enter ed ECTC in Greenville and grar uated there in 1919, majoring In business administration and social studies. He attended the Univer sity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for one year prior to going into service. Young Mr. O'Neal is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walton O'Neal of East Main St. The O'Neal's are na tives of Hyde County. DEBNAM PRAISES BELHAV'N PEOPLE IN HIS BROADCAST Raleigh News Commentator ; Comments On Aid Given Negro Family A noted North Carolina ne-s-s commentator Monday praised the spirit of the people of Belhaven ofr helping a Negro family who had lost their home and belong ings in a fire. W. E. Debnam of Raleigh, who presents "Debnam Views the News" 6ver the Smith-Douglas network, said that he wished "the story of Jim Jones and his friends at Belhaven could be toid all ov ei the nation." But, he added, un fortunately this isn't the case. His commentaiy said in part: "Mrs. Eleanor Roo.-evell will never mention it in My Day. She ii continue to criticize economic ana social conditions in the South and weep crocodile tears over pov erty and unhappiness while she ignores even worse conditions in her own back yard. "You'll ever read the story of Jim Jones and his new home in Time Magazine or in Life or in any of the other national publica tions. You'll never read about it in ! Drew Pearson's column. "You'll never hear Winchcll any other commentator with coast-to-coast network mention it on the radio. ''You will, of course, read and hear a lot about those isolated in stances where s-mall bands of hoodlums in the South dress up in bedsheets and pillow slips and go charging about the countryside burning crosses and generally making a fool of themselves. "You'll read and hear a lot a- bout anything and everything that holds the South up to ridiciiie . . . but v hen an entire community . . white and Negro was the case in Belhaven rallied to the support of a deserving colored amily in time of need the wag ging tongues of southern critics make no mention of it." Mr. Debnam learned about the story of Jim Jones from the col - umns of The Belhaven Pilot and complimented V c tvippr for bring - i ing the story to the attention the public. I jili i . .... . . J Pantego citizens early this week were making plan3 to appear be- fore the State Building panel in Raleigh today (Thursday, March 30) and seen reversal of recom mendations of the Survey panel and County Board of Eduation calling for consolidation of the white and Negro high schools of the community with those in Bel haven. The Beaufort County Board of Education Friday night unani mously approved the recommend- ' tions of the Survey panel for the county which provides for consoli dation of the Pantego and Belhav en high schools at Belhaven. The action of the County board followed a public hearing at the Agricultural building in Washingr ton Friday afternoon at which time a Pantego delegation made a strong appeal for continuation of their schools. Spokesmen for the group includ ed D. W. Lupton. chairman of the, local school board; E. L. Slack, member of the board; and P. H. Johnson. John A. Wilkinson, Washington attorney and a alum ni of the Pantego school, also ' spoke In behalf of retaining the school at Pantego. The Pantego spokesmen pointed nut that their school was the first high school in the county and that since the beginning it had been noted fol its school spirit. The gioup asled the County board for three new classroms, a new lunchroom, a gymnasium and. modernization. Negro spokesmen from Pantego who appeared in behalf of their school were Lee Whitley and Will Farrow. They told the Board that the palrons of their school had worked hard and raised ' several thousands of dollars to buy land" on the promise that they would be given a new school. The Survey panel recommenda tion approved by the County Board calls for an expenditure of S'7"0 at ,he Shaven white scnooi, not including moderniza tion, and $4(1,000 at the Pantego white school, not including moder- n,zno" For the Negro schools the panel recommended an expenditure of f97,OOn at Belhaven. not including See CITIZEMS, Page Eight FARM CENSUS BLANKS BEING DISTRIBUTED Census Enumerators Wilf Call For Forms At Later Date A ropy of the Agricultural Cen sus 'iues' io.uuire for 1950 is bing placed in every rural mail box in t'.ie nation this month. tato plants other than from cer call for th fonii, che k the infor mation an.! help complete it if i r.ecesarv D. S. Weaver, assistant director of the State College Extension Service, says North Carolina farm families can hel: save consider able time and money by having in formation rend)- when the (ensus f ;i-esnta'i e cr'Is. Weaver points out that many de lusions ami policies, both public nic! private, -:rn' 01 accurate in 'oi'i'Mtion. Su'h information, he nWK is Usc ui the apportionment of funds for education, including or agricultural extension work and a in decisions ns to size and loca tion of business establishments, to mention only a few of the more Important uses made of it. Although the questionnaire is a formidable looking document, with a total of 1S1 separate ques tions, It really Isn't as difficult as It looks, says Weaver. Many items will not apply to all fanners. Many others require only a "yes" or "no" answer, t of Congress provide that individual Information given tu census entimerHtors must he h'eM 1 in ronfidence and cannot be use! for taxation. Investigation, or rg- ! u'ation : and that census questions - ' r.w.i b answered truthfully. jp ppn-id Weaver points out. Is one of he ol lest of American institutions The firM one a.i ! taken In '"Si, and others have hei taken eve- v lf,th vear sinr-e 1 tlien. Sui e 192'i an ;' "'"til of, census has been taken every five !yeai.