davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
THE WORST IS
OVER SAYSCASE
1921 Promises a Prosperity Mar
athon Says This Man
of Vision
BY LORENZO D. CASE
Secretary of the Elizabeth City Cha amber
of Commerce

| believe that business men and
the general public have every
reason for facing the coming year
with optimistic minds and cour-
ageous hearts. Reports to the
Chamber of Commerce from all
parts of the country indicate a
widespread feeling that the worst
of the business depression is
over, and that conditions will
greatly improve during the next
few months. 1t is universally
agreed that recent experiences
we're the inevitable results of ad-
iustments that had come after
the War, and the conviction
grows that an era of prosperity,
the like which the nation has new
er before known, is ahead.
What is the situation at home? We
are undoubtedly better off than any for
eign nation. We just harvested fine
crops, which, though at present largely
in storage, will soon contribute tremen-
dously to our wealth and enjoyment.
The railroads have been returned to
their owners, and, for the first time in
! years, are being efficiently operated. The
| transportation situation is not as Sc
rious as it was even year ago.
I The one, great problem facing us is
! liquidation and adjustment and it IS be-
| ing rapidly solved
! The liquidation of securities has gone
so far that even the uninitiated may pur-
chase for investment with the certain
CONCLUDED ON PAGE ~
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
KRAMER QUITS
POWER PLANT
Resigns as Superintendent After
Two Months of Hard
Work

After a little more than two months
hard work as Superintendent of the Ellz-
abeth City Electric Light & Power Co.,
D. Ray Kramer gives notice that he is
disgusted and will leave as soon as ne
can be relieved.
Mr.. Kramer took over the management
of the plant about the first OF Nov, up
on the designation of r. e. ew1s who
had been superintendent for about ~
wears. Ill health and overwork was TOO
great tax for the position and he was
glad to resign.
Mr.. Kramer IS .horol " efficient IN cleo
t,:-el c--r:neering. He s a hard "ofker
end when the company promised Dig
things in tie way of improvements Tor
the plant. he thought he could make
a go of it. The improvements promised
didn't come up to the mark, and he re
fuses longer to become the goat for all
the public il1-will against the power
company.
No successor has been named at pre-
sent, but rumors have it that mar
will be sent from Baltimore to take
over the management of the plant. AS
soon as he comes, Mr.. Kramer will be
glad to step out OF the managers shoes
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
MAKING OVER
The SOUTHERN
Mr.. Spence Starts Something In
Taking Over This Hotel

Contracts aggregating $4,000 in re-
pairs and improvements for the South
ern Hotel in this city have been award
ed by E. H. Spence who stepped into
the management of this hotel Saturday
Jan. 1, 1921, having taken over the
lease formerly held by Col. G. T. Ben
nett In addition to a $4,000 over
hauling of the hotel itself, Mr.. Spence
had previously placed orders for $4,000
worth of furniture. linen and tableware
and the Southern will look like new
hotel before he gets thru with it. Car
penters, plumbers and decorators are
already at work on the premises.
Besides overhauling and refurnishing
the hotel, Mr.. Spence is making many
changes in the matter of help. He has
put in B. r. Lea as head clerk. Mr..
Lea was with Mr.. Spence at the Var
borough. in Raleigh. and at the Central
n Charlotte He has also held down
the desk at the Carroll in Lynchburg
and the Malbon in Durham. He knows
the travelling public.
In a helf page advertisement in this
newspaper this week Mr.. Spence does
something that hasn't been done by any
of his predecessors in the hotel bust
ness here; he makes a nappeal for the
patronage and cooperation of the towns
people, He wants Elizabeth City peO-
pie to feel that it is their hotel, and not
just a stopping place for travelling men
| who come to town. Mr.. Spence will
cater to townspeople, putting on spe-
| cial dinners and suppers on Sundays.
with the cooperation of Elizabeth
City people T have no doubt the South
ern can be made one of the most desir-
| able hotels in the state,' says Mr..
! Spence. Elizabeth City has always ap
pealed to me as good hotel town; I
| have faith in the town and will do my
level best to establish a hotel here
that will be a credit to it, And with
his years of training under the Dodson
I Hotel Corporation of Norfolk, and with
his experience gained in the successful
management of several of the biggest
| hotels in North Carolina and Virginia.
Mr.. Spence will just about do what he
| has set out to do.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
JUSTICE SPENCE
SERVES NOTICE
BY w. o. SAUNDERS

In notice served on me thru
the sheriff of this county, Trial
Justice Geo. 7. Spence charges
that the articles published of and
concerning him in this newspa-
per on, Dec. "a and Dec. 81 were
false, defamatory and ibelous,"
and demands an apology and re-
traction of same.
In reply to this notice, I shall
have very little to say. This
newspaper published. a certain
statement concerning Spence's
methods, of handling the costs
due the city through his Court
and this statement was based up
)on information given to this
newspaper by City Manager ].
c. Commander and others. This
newspaper did not attempt or
intend to accuse Judge Spence of
crime or of misappropriating
public moneys.
In publishing the articles bas-
upon the statements of City Man
ager Commander and others, l
did only that which / believe it
III eduty of a newspaper to do.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
MERCHANISfOO
ARE OPTIMISTIC
Farmers, Bankers and Merchants
Pulling Together Can Re-
store Prosperity
BY J. T. McCABE
President of The Elizabeth City Retail
Merchants Association

The outlook for the year 1921 is not
as gloomy as most people yiewit. There
is spirit of good feeling among the
merchants of the city, all petty jealous
les have been >discarded and [ can state
that the merchants of this city are in
perfect harmony.
Elizabeth City is not like most towns
of its size, having one store that prac-
tically controls the business, but it Is
filled with thrifty stores in every line
that will equal most stores in the larg-
er cities 1 estimate that 25,000 to
so, ,OOO people trade in Elizabeth City, be-
cause it is the metropolis of northeas
tern North Carolina. We are justly
proud of our banks in Elizabeth City,
both of them most efficiently run by the
best business men to be found anywhere.
They have taken care of their customers
during the entire fall, even at loss
to the banks. There has not been a
single complaint from any merchant
in the way the banks have handled the
situation the entire fall. Money! has
been loaned in every instance so far as
I can learn when the party deserved
! credit or had proper collateral. The
| officials of the banks, from the cash
iers up and down. have shown the pub
| lie every courtesy that ccu,d be \ex-
| pected.
In my opinion many items have
| struck bottom prices for the next twelve
months and what we need is to show
| the people that the country is on a
s@1 AI,- l.
! to buying and fill our factories with
| men and women who are willing to work
and accept the present conditions in
regard to salaries and wages which will
enable the employe to make living wag-
es and return a safe investment for in
vested capital.
One thing the merchants of Elizabeth
City take exception to, and that is the
| propaganda many papers have spread
in glaring headlines that the retailer is
not taking his part in the decline of
prices. This we emphatically deny.
The merchants of Elizabeth City have
been taking loss for the past three
months and in many instances selling
merchandise below market value. BGt
there is always a silver lining to every
cloud and after the January inventories
! the merchants will be able to replace
much merchandise at lower prices. 1t
will only take three fourths of the cap
ital to do business with and with a
strong combined effort of FARMER
MERCHANT and BANKER, all pull
ing together, it is up to us to make
the year 1921 a prosperous year.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
PUGH COADS HIS
own BUF ] FALL.OES
c. Royden is Very Polite
Young GentIeman-Maybe?
By w. o. SAUNDERS

In bold black type displayed in a panel
and strung all across the front page of
last weeks issue of Pugh's paper, The
Herald was called civilian "Obscene"
Saunders, a descendant of "Buffalos"
This dirty, vicious, spawn of malice
The Herald has been going over my re-
cord with a fine tooth comb for two
long years trying to find something in
my past or in the past of my ancestors
to damn me. And now, at last, in bold
black type displayed six columns wide
am called a descendant of Buffalos."
1 suppose after that should lie down
and die of shame and be carted off to
a bOneyard, denied a Christian burial.
1 don't know what The Herald meant
by that talk about "Buffalos'' unless it
has reference to some of my ancestors
having served in the Union Army.
don't know whether they did or not.
But if any of my ancestors did serve
in the Union Army during the Civil
War, that was their privilege. I never
did attempt to dictate to my ancestors.
But what gets me is the brazen stu
pidity of c. Royden Pugh's paper hurf-
ing the word Buffalo at anybody.
What is a "Buffalo?'' A Buffalo in
this neck of the woods was one who
served with the Union Army during the
Civil War. There were lots of them in
Pasquotank, in Perquimans, and in Cam
den counties. And in Washington coun-
ty there are to-day many prominent
families descendants of these so-called
..Buffalos.' Most of them were oppos-
= to slavery and their.sy tties WENT
te the Union. And after the war was
over they voted the Republican ticket and
have voted it straight down to this day.
And here is this G. Royden Pugh, the
self appointed Republican leader and
publisher of the one Republican news
paper in this district yelling "Buffa-
10" at one of another political faith
whom Pugh has sought to destroy.
If calling folks "Buffalos'' damns
anybody, then Pugh has damned his own
followers in northeastern North Caro-
lima. 1 am surprised that he doesn't
find himself gored by his own "Buf
falos."
c. Royden Pugh comes from Dare
county Some of his own folk are
.'Buffalos'' G. Royden will probably
recall the late Capt Joe Etheridge, of
AIanteo. Capt. Etheridge was the big
gest Republican in the district in his
day He was the first Superintendent
of the Seventh District U. S. Life Say
ing Service. His appointment to that
important post was fought on the ground
the Capt Etheridge was Buffalo"
He got the appointment on his record
as a citizen and died from other af-
Elections than being called a Buffalo"
If any of my ancestors were "Buffa-
los 1 am at least grateful for the fact
that they didn't continue in the Repub-
lican column down into 1921 to be caught
under the leadership of G. Royden Pugh
who has made a speciality of herding
"Buffalos" for their votes; and respect
ing them about as much as he respected
the cotton mill hands and the cornfield'
Negroes he had planned to organize
down here in 1920 ''in the interest of
Republican success.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
Hathaway Saws

If you wear glasses, have
your eyes and glasses both
examined from time to time,
and go to the place where you
can afford to pay a reason
able price for real professio-
nal work. Remember your
eyes are your bread-winners.
Take care of them.
You have your teeth ex-
amined twice a year. Why
not you eyes? They are
more important.
DR.. J. D. Hathaway
Optometrist
Phone 099 Bradford Bldg
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07

struggle against these
can people are writ
1uman faith and CO.
ner in which they are
rapidly changing So
furnishes us with the
ton ever seen for
and Christian Civil
hood viii be the chief
great victory in 1921
feat. To sit and sigh
failures Of last year
class guarantee of
moaning the fact that
makes for an empty
great art in letting
we can lay aside the
'discards the decayed
to become a giant oak,
ties which may not be
in ones fellowman
the greatest element
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07

In their common
4vil forces, the Amer
ng a new chapter in
operation by the man
passing through the
cial conditions. 1t
finest recommends
Western Democracy
zatiOn.
This temper of man
factor in snatching a
from the jaws of de
over the losses and
would give us a first
failure in this. "Be
the big fish got away
creel." There is a
the past be past. If
old year as the sprout
acorn in its struggle
there are no difficul
overcome.
Faith in ones self,
and in ones God is
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
OFFICER TWIDDY'S CASE
LAID OVER UNTIL MARCH
Policeman George TWiddy Bound Over
Under ST 900 Bond for Man.
slaughter

Police officer George Twiddy who was
arraigned in Police Court here Friday
morning on a charge of manslaughter in
connection with the killing of Henry
Spencer, a colored man, whose home
was raided for liquor on Christmas Eve
was bound over to the March term of
Superior Court under Bond of $1,000.
The bond was signed by e. S. Chesson
and W. 4. Worth.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
a Christian Minister Speaks
Pastor of The First M.
BY REV. j. .sM.-ORMOND
First M. e. Church South of Elizabeth City

of M. e. South of EIzahetn tay
strike note OF pessnnsm
OF the outlook
we nave
which
better
have likewise been disturbed These
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07

Frederick Stansbury noted author
and journalist who has for Is years
made a study of the unexplored fastnes-
ses of the dismal swamp is now making
a series of explorations of the morass
by aeroplane.' This machine is of the
seaplane type and permits landing in the
water. Mr.. Stansbury expects to- pen
citrate parts of the swamp never be\
fore reached by white men, and will get
much data and photographs to add to
his already extensive researches on the
great swamp.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
POWER co. GETS
HALF OF CITYS
GENERAL FUND
Electric Lights and Water Cost
More Than Half of Money
Set Aside for City Rum
ming Expenses

Power and water bills of Elizabeth
City amounted to the startling sum of
S1,343.43, for the month of December
1920. This does not include the charges
fsr water in two cemeteries which are
paid on a quarterly basis. The charges
for water in this bill amounted to $685.
OF and for electricity $9S5.41.
This December bill taken as a month
ly average thruout the year multiplies
to the liberal sum of $16,121. This
does not mean that more power and
water was used in December than other
months of the year. AS a general thing,
more power is required to run the re-
frigerating plant of the city market
house during the hot summer months,
and more water is required, as well.
But December's bill taken as a SAM
pie shows that current and water is
costing the city about half the amount
set aside for the-general municipal run
ming expenses. The city set aside $685.
259.26 from 1919 taxes as "a general
fund for city expenses. These are fig
ures from the Office of the city auditor
and should certainly throw some light
on the subject. At the same time the
street lights were out more than So
hours of the time they should have been
on in December owing to the broken.
down condition of the electric light
Fplant 81
was brought out at the. regular
meeting of the Board of Aldermen Mon
day night that Elizabeth City>pays the
Electric Light Company and it's asso-
ciate companies over $16,OOOOO
year for water, lights and sewer
age, or nearly half of the . normal
revenue of the town. 1t is believed the
city could run it's own electric light
plant for what it pays the electric light
company for its rotten service
A report rendered the Board Monday
night by a committee of that body COM
posed of Messrs. P. c. Cahoon and b.
S. Sawyer corroborated the sensational
facts given the public last week by this
newspaper. Messrs. Cahoon and Saw
yer reported that upon investigation
they had found that the new boiler re-
emily Installed at the electric light plant
is utterly Inadequate to keep. the plant
going and the old boilers supplementing
the work of the new boiler will not en-
dure the strain. T.ley reported in their
opinion, based upon personal investiga-
ton and expert advice, that the city is
doomed to a long period of annoyance
and interrupted electric service.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07

THIS then is the new proprietor of the
Southern Hotel in Elizabeth City. MIR.
Spence took over the management of
the Southern Saturday morning, Jan.
I, 1921 and is rev0lutionizing the cuisine
and service of that hosiery. Mr.. Spence
was for several years with the Dodson
Hotel Corporation of Norfolk and has
successfully managed both the Lorraine
and Lynnhaven hotels in that city. More
recently he leased and operated the New
Central Hotel in Charlotte, which lease
he is said to have disposed of at hand
some figure before coming to this city.
The picture is from photo made be-
fore he cultivated moustache. Pencil
cute little moustaehe on his upper
lip and yonII have a down-to-date por-
trait OF him. sssss
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
WILT DOES ELIZABETH CITY WLLzL 70 BE w L92l2

financial commercial educational
religious asked number of leading citizens
contribute their the columns of this of THE
INDEPENDENTS the readers of this
what thew thought things for 1921 The
been gratifying contributions these should interest
of
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07
BANKS SHORTEN HOURS

After January s, the banks of Ellz-
abeth City will be open Saturday even
ings. only from seven to eight, instead
of six to eight as was the former GUS
tom.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07

Mr. j. T cCab President of
socatio MIR L D. Case
Commerce; Mr. P H. Williams of Savings
Co.. Mr. Marshall H. Jones' Assistant Cashier of
Rational Bank Prof Sheep,
Graded Schools; Rev j. NJ Ood,
these confident, hopeful EDITOR
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07

philosopher has said e Think we think we
Other animals live lived thousands of
because they
ad and making Of his because he thinks
Elizabeth Ctv will TO be IN
Jzl! Believing that the
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07

happiness, we shall see the breaking
of the dawn IL 1921 that forecasts the
greatest era of prosperity the nation has
vet enjoyed.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-07

FOR SALE:-Cabbage plants, 25c
hundred. Amply to w. II. F<NJGl1s..,.
zIo1tao n c-J7 1T
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-05
PERSONALS

j. r! ice d River Run lest this
tnornirs for IN extended visit WITH
relatives In Indiana
Miss Grace Fitzhngh left yester.
day for q two weeks visit with
Miss Lucille Hall at herS summer
camp on the Valley river.
Mrs. Stanley Cooper Of cinctn.
matt, Ohio, Is here for an extend.
ed visit with her mother Mrs. NJ:
B. Bartlett at her home on Field
street. ;
Mrs. Albert j Kern and Miss
Edna Kelley have returned from
Morgantown where they had been
guests OF Mrs. Elmer Jacobs.
I Mr.. and Mrs. Russell Clayton
and children Of Spring street and
MIR. and Mrs. George Hunsaker Of
ktngmont have gone on an auto
mobile trip to Greensboro, N. @.
Mrs.SVictor Levelle and daughter
Miss Mary Alice Of Carleton street
are visiting relatives in Manning
ton.
Ed. / Myers OF the Fairmont
Candy company, Is spending some
time with relatives in New York
and Long Island.
Mrs. W.,.J. Payne Of e03 Ogden
avenue, viii leave today for Web
ster Springs where she will remain
a few days. She will be accom-
panied there by her slster-in-iaw,
Miss Roxte Payne From there they.
VIII so to points in Maryland be-
fore returning home.
Frank Wade OF this city accom-
panied by his mother Mrs. Layania
Wade has gone to FrostBurg, Nd,
where they are spending some
time.
I. G. Moore and family have re-
turned from a several weeks visit
with relatives In Barbour county
Mrs. Minnie NJ. Martin is leay-
ing tomorrow for Pittsburgh where
she will spend several weeks with
her sister Mrs. John KingI.
DR.. Carter s. Fleming returned
yesterday from Baltimore where
he had been to see his uncle, John
Gould who is a patient at Johns
Hopkins hospital. Mr.. and Mrs.
Gould who came here several weeks
ago from their home at Nashville,
Tenn, for visit with IelntlleE
had been in Baltimore for several
weeks. Mr.. Gould shows little i'm
provement
Miss Mary Byrne has returned
from New York where she went on
a buying trip for the ready-to-wear
department Of Hartley's store.
Miss Mary Robinson of Monroe
street underwent a major opera
ton today at Cook hospital.
Creed Henderson has gone to
New York for a two weeks visit
with relatives.
Marion Hentzy Of East Park ave-
nue. Is spending a two weeks va
cation In New York.
Mrs. Lee N. Hsatterfield, wife Ct
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-05
After Another Bout
With theChamp

NEW YORK, Aug. 5-Tex Rick
ard, boxing promoter, and Ray AR
cher, manager for Jess Willard had
an appointment to confer here to-
day on the proposed return cham
pionship bout between Jack Demp-
sey and Willard.
Richard announced he had a tel
egram from Willard stating he was
ready for return match and that
Archer was empowered to discuss
terms. Given assurance that VIII
lard can get in shape for a bout,
Richard said he was prepared to
arrange such a bout.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-05
Funeral Saturday
For Local Woman.

Funeral services over the body
Of Mrs. L. M. Davis whose death
took place yesterday morning at
her home on Pierpont avenue will
be held from the residence tomor-
row afternoon at 2:30so.clock The
services viii be conducted by the
Rev. j. e. Gordon. pastor OF the
Central Christian church Of which
the deceased was q member and
burial will be made here. Mr..
Davis who was in Charleston at
the time Of her death arrived here
last evening as did also her son.
Earl Fishbaek Of Portsmouth,
Ohio.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-05
Classes WIN Meet

The Volunteer Bible class Of
Virginia avenue will meet with
Mrs. Frank Thompson at her home
at so CASTOR avenue this evening
at s o'clock. The Winona Bible
class will meet this eevning at
1880 o'clock at the home Of Mrs.
w. L. Fleming at 100 Fenimore
street. The 2lth chapter Of Acts
will be studied.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-05
, Enjoyable Dane.

The subscription dance given
last evening at the Fairmont Coun.
try club was n most enjoyable one
and was attended by a number CT
society young folks and a number
OF visitors in the city. The patron.
esses were Mesdames George e.
Peddteord. Kenna Clark, Frank
Haas, Morgan Chambers, ]. e.
Watson, Jr., and Brooks S. Hutch.
tnson. The Fleming Syneopatet
Seven lived up to its reputation
and furnished splendid music for
the dancers. =.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-05
on TrIp

Mr.. and Mrs. Earl McWhortet
OF Clarksburg and Miss Lucille
shain are on a motor trip to south
ern West Virginia cities. They
made the trip via Columbus and
Cleveland, Ohio and Miss shain
is now visiting friends In Hunting
ton while Mr.. and Mrs. Mcwhor-
ter are SPEEDING some time in
Charleston
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-05
MannInnton coupIe Wed

Herschel Tough and Miss Ethel
Rice of Warrington were united in
marriage at the parsonage OF the
officiating minister, the Rev. R, T.
Brown, pastor OF the Southern
Methodist Episcopal church.