PRIZE-WINNING
NEWSPAPER
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TAR HEEL COAST
CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES ?"
46th YEAR, NO. 105. EIGHT PAGES AND COMICS MOREHEAD CITY AND BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1957 PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
Fire Ravages Two Beach Cottages
Value of Both Cottages
Estimated at $30,000
The fire loss yesterday was esti
mated by insurance men at ap
proximately 130,000 The Seashore
Club, a large d.veiling which con
tained apartments, was valued at
$20,000. Value of the Conekin cot
tage was between $9,000 and $10,
000. Both were partially insured.
Some of the furnishings in the
Conekin five - room house were
saved by the Atlantic Beach Civil
Defense rescue squad and auxiliary
poller The men got a refrigerator,
electric stove, table, and chairs out
of the cottage.
The Conekins came from their
home In Goldsboro yesterday morn
ing to appraise the damage.
Bill Moore, chief of police, and
the sheriff's department yesterday
were investigating details of the
fire to determine the cause.
Chief Moore, who is also lieu
tenant in the Atlantic Beach fire
department, expressed his thanks
to all fire departments and the
Coast Guard for their help in fight
ing the fire, and to the Civil De
fense units for their help, especial
ly in directing traffic.
Sparks Fly
Morehead City firemen were call
ed to 1409 Evans St., Morehead
City, at 5:45 p.m. Saturday. A
short in the fuse box had caused
sparks to fly and the residents be
came alarmed and called the fire
department.
Ikes Condition Will Have
Telling Effect on New Year
By ROGER W. BABSON
Financial Forecaster
Next to the Russian situation,
President Eisenhower's condition
will be of supreme importance.
What its influence upon Russia will
be, nobody knows. It probably will
Dot affect general business. I be
lieve that for some time our presi
dent has not been making import
ant policies and, much to his dis
appointment, his recommendations
have been largely ignored.
The major effect of the presi
dent's condition will be political.
Those close to the president, for
both friendship and political rea
sons, are hoping for his recovery
both in health and in memory.
Others in charge of the Republican
party, anxious about his possible
incapacitation or death, would like
to ace him resign a^d drop out 'of
thb picture in ordel to give Vice
President Nixon a good buildup in
the hope of re-electing the Kcpul^g
lican party again in 1960.
Not Yet!
For evident reasons, the Demo
crats are hoping that Vice-Presi
dent Nixon will not have an oppor
tunity to function as president be
fore the coming election.
Therefore, President Eisenhow
er's condition could greatly influ
ence the political situation during
tho next few years. This would
cause uncertainty and retard large
corporate expansion programs as
Well as consumer buying.
I cannot believe that Russia
wants World War 111; in fact, I am
confident that Russia will go to
some lengths to avoid World War
III. In case of any retaliation by
us, Russia would suffer great
losses. Moreover, if Russia has any
hope of conquering our country,
she certainly wishes to preserve
our cities, industries, and other
valuable assets. Russia baa land
enough now; it is our industries
which Russia wants. This also ap
plies to England and Western Eu
rope as well as the United States.
Therefore my forecasts for 1958
are as follows:
Cold War to Warm
1. The present cold war will be
intensified during 1958. This will
increase fear of war, which could
greatly affect retail sales.
2. Russian policy will be aimed
at securing control of the United
States, the countries of Western
Europe, and the Middle East by in
filtration.
3. The cold war costs the United
States billions of dollars annually.
This can be paid for only through
increased taxes or inflation, or by
the adoption of the Hoover Com
mission's recommendations for rad
ical economy.
4. Profits will be further
squeezed during 1958, as a result
of higher costs and pressure for
lower prices.
5. Competition at all levels will
increase during 1168.
8. Only more advertising by both
manufacturers and retailers will
enable them to keep up their pres
ent gross volume during 1(58.
T. Failures will increase in 1(58.
These will apply mostly to small
concerns, but some one of the big
companies in the Dow-Jones Aver
ages may collapse.
8. Predicting a lower total vol
ume of business for 1958, compared
with 1957, I forecast a moderately
lower trend, on average, for whole
sale commodity prices. Expect a
gradual decrease in the cost-of-liv
ing during 1958.
9 Wise labor leaders will hesi
tate to fight for higher wages, but
will try for shorter hours, pensions,
and other "fringes."
10. European countries will have
less lo spend for American goods,
andi foreign trade will decline in
1958 compared with 1957.
Money Outlook
11. Money will continue to be
"tight" during 1958 for new bor
rowers who have not established a
satisfactory line of credit.
12. Owing to declining demands
for funds, interest rates will de
cline in 1958.
13. Concerns with large numbers
of employees will receive first con
sideration both by banks and by
t*e government
1?. r?f tnt of World War HI,
and due to declining business,
many plans for expansion of plants
will be postponed.
15. Money rates may be "fixed"
during 1958 by an economic dic
tator.
16. Lower money rates will make
it easier lo sell long-term bonds
during 1958.
17. The supply of non-taxable
state, municipal, turnpike, and
other "Authority" bonds will in
crease during 1958.
18. I forecast higher prices for
many corporation bonds.
19 Investors will continue, dur
ing 1958, to switch from stocks to
attractive bond issues; fear of war
will rule all markets.
20. Bankers will fear that the
government ? as a part of the cold
war ? will appoint a dictator to
direct the policies of all national
banks, the leading stock exchanges,
and investment dealers.
Labor Outlook
21. There will be a general fear
that the government >-asa part of
the cold war ? will fix wages in
many industries and prevent
further increases during 1958.
22. The revelations brought about
by the investigation of the Team
sters Union may lead to important
new labor legislation.
23. The Taft-Hartley Law will not
be repealed in 1958, and may be
made more severe. Much, how
ever, will depend upon President
Eisenhower's physical and mental
condition.
24. Congressional attempt will be
made to eliminate the present ex
emption of labor unions from anti
monopoly laws.
25. 1958 will be a sad year for
labor leaders. I forecast that there
will be an increase of unemploy
ment during 1958.
26. I forecast that with the possi
ble exception of the auto industry,
there will be no national strikes
during 1958.
27. 1 forecast that automation
will slowly increase during 1958.
28. If wages should be fixed as a
part of the cold-war program, re
tail prices will also be fixed.
29. All workers, especially office
workers, will be more efficient in
1958. It will be more difficult for
the next group of college grad
uates to get good positions at high
wages.
30. For the past few years labor
has been sitting in the driver !
scat. Many industrialists and po
Ilticaf loaders have (eared that the
country is headed (or a socialist or
labor government. A cheerful sign
now is that such (cars may, tern
porarily at least, be (orgottcn. The
American working man is himself
becoming disgusted with too pow
erful labor leaders. This should be
good news to all honest employers
Outlook (or Real Estate
31. Land adjoining cities and
towns will increase in value during
1938 This especially applies to
small (arms.
32. Large commercial (arms will
continue to prosper during 1938, but
the small (armor will continue to
suffer i( dependent on (arming.
33. Under an economic dictator,
farmers would receive no increased
price supports. If (arm prices are
fixed, they will be at lower levels.
34 Large cities may continue to
lose in population. I.argr city reel
estate will sell for less, (or fear of
Russian missiles.
Suburban Growth
35 The growth of suburbs will
continue, although many houses
now occupied by Well-paid execu
tives will be forced on the market
as their owners lose their present
high-salaried positions.
36. Construction activity in many
communities will decline. Older
houses will come on the market.
37. In many sections of the coun
try there will be a greater demand
for co-operative modern apart
ments than for single houses, al
though old apartment houses will
sell for less. More young people
and old people will insist upon
every modern convenience and
upon locations not absolutely de
pendent on automobiles.
Timber Value Up
38. Well-located woodlands will
continue to increase in prico. This
certainly applies to pine wood
tracts, especially in the South.
39. Canadian oil reserves should
begin to recover in < price unless
there is rationing of gasoline in the
United States in late 1958.
40. The most important factor in
connection with real estate is the
parking problem, which is a curse
of almost every city. Suburban
real estate and farms owe much to
the automobile, but the automobile
industry is now reaching a stage
where it could revolutionize pres
ent real estate prices. We owe the
automobile industry a debt of grat
itude for our present prosperity. It
is a bellwether of general business
for 1958. It is. however, like every
thing else, subject to the business
cycle and may be a cause of the
next depression. Another probable
cause will be the failure of one of
the big corporations whose stock is
among the "30 Blue Chips" of the
Dow-Joncs Industrials.
Stock Market Outlook
41. The "bloom is off the stock'
market." We will have rallies and
reactions during 1958, but the broad
trend will be downward. This is
the first time for many years that
I have said this in my annual re
port. There is too much talk about
missiles, bombs, and fallout.
42. While the stock market has
been going up during the past few
years, the bond market has been
going down. The reverse will take
place during 1958. While the stock
market is going down, the bond
market will begin to creep upward.
This especially applies to tax-free
i bonds, the purchase of which I |
strongly recommend.
43. flood cumulative non-callable |
preferred slocks will also be in de
mand during 1958. Owing to the |
money market, they recently suf
fercd in price; but owing to lack
of supply, they will be the first
stocks to recover. Remember, 1
am now recommending only high
| grade cumulative non callable prc
i fcrreds.
44. The large fortuned made in
the stock market have come from
buying non-dividend-paying stocks
at $5.00 a share or under. These
will be the first to reach a buying
level. If you are to buy these low
priced stocks, you should seek com
panies without too much cumula
tive preferred stock outstanding.
This is the opposite of the "pre
ferred" recommendation ? in para
graph 43! j
Interest Up
45. Large bank balances will Con
tinue to be a good investment in
1958. Many savings banks are now
paying 3% to interest. These
balances, however, should not be
looked upon as permanent invest
ments, but rather as a means of
enabling you to have cash avail
able when common stocks reach a
low level. This time may NOT
come in 1958. Here again, much
depends upon President Eisen
hower's condition.
46. Although many corporations |
interested in atomic energy, elec
tronics, rare metals, and other
growth industries will become more
prosperous and profitable to in
vestors, some of these new com
panies will be wiped out. Hence,
investors should be very careful in
connection therewith.
47. Utility stocks should hold
their own with regard to dividends
and marketability. Electric power
will always be in demand.
48. Most railroad stocks should I
be avoided. Most passenger busi-1
ness is now being operated at
loss. Trucks, busses, airplanes, and
private automobiles will ultimately
force the government to take over
See BABSON REPORT, Page 2
Warm 70 Degrees
Heralds Holiday
A high of 70 degrees on the day
before Christmas ushered in the |
big holiday.
Nine one hundredths of an inch
of rain fell around midnight Christ
mas, according to E. Stamcy
Davia, weather obacrvcr. This was
followed by a deluge of 1.96 inches
between 4 a.m. and 16 a.m. Thurs
day, the day after Christmas, and
.39 inch on Sunday.
Otherwise, the sun shone bright
ly, discouraged only occassionally
by a few clouds. Winds were from
the east, northeast, or southeast
and blew from due south on Dec.
24.
Max. Mia. |
Dec. 23 69 43
Dee. 24 70 51
Dec. 25 62 47
Dec. 26 60 36
Dec. 27 56 36
Dec. 26 _ 65 39
Dec. 29 ? St 49
Photo by Jerry Schumacher
This chimney (see arrow) in the Seashore Club was the onlv part
of the building that did not yield to the terrific heat of the fire that
destroyed the club and the adjoining Conekin cottage Sunday night.
One corner of the cottage was left standing.
Spectators watch fire at Atlantic Beach
Firemen play streams of water on cottages. (Lower photos by
Clyde Coleburn, Morehead City).
British Airliner Makes
Forced Landing at Base
Fire Razes Net
Storage House
A net storage house at Capt. Dan
Guthrie's, 1109 Shepard St., More
head City, burned early yesterday
morning. The fire was first spotted
about 1:30 a.m. by Auldin Guthrie,
who lives at 1113 Shepard St.,
across the alloy from the net house.
He woke up Captain Guthrie,
who called the Morehead City Fire
Department. Captain Dan's broth
er. Norman, says the building
caved in while he was talking over
the phone to the firemen.
Stored in the house, in addition
to nets, were clothes, fishing
tackle, gyden tools and a lawn
mower, 'nic building was insured.
Captain Guthrie is skipper of the
menhaden boat Simpson Brothers.
Tide Table
Tides at the Beaufort Bar
HIGH I.OW
Tuesday, Dec. .11
3:3d a m. 10:22 a m
3:49 p.m. 10:25 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 1
4:30 a.m. 11:11 a.m.
4:51 p.m. 11:13 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 2
5:22 a.m. 1158 am
5:45 p.m. 11:58 p.m
Friday, Jan. 3
6 10 a.m. 12:45 a.m.
6:45 p.m.
A British airlines plane made a
forced landing at Cherry Point Ma
rine air base at 1:31 a.m. Sunday
morning. Twenty passengers and
the seven-man crew were safe.
The airliner was bound from New
York to Nassau. Capt. Norman
Williams of the DC7C, said the
plane had a runaway propeller.
A woman passenger, who spent
Sunday night at the Liberty Motel,
west of Cherry Point, said that she
was sitting over the wing. The
props were making a steady hum.
Then she said the hum on her
side was heard no more and the
passengers were told that they may
have to ditch in the ocean. Prepa
rations were made to do so, while
the pilot tried to get the bum en
gine operating again.
The plane made it to the air base
where all crash equipment was
called out. The plane circled sev
eral minutes before coming m safe
ty
Another plane was due at Cherry
Point at 7 Sunday night to take
the passengers to their destination,
but some said that after their ex
perience, they didn't know whether
they wanted to continue the trip.
The seven crewmen were billeted
at bachelor officers' quarters on
the base. The passengers were ac
commodated at the base guest
house or nearby motels.
To Attend CAD Meeting
C. G. Holland, state commercial
fisheries Commissioner, will at
tend the winter meeting of the
Board of Conservation and Devel
opment Monday and Tuesday at
Raleigh.
Four Fire Departments,
Coast Guard Fight Blaze
Hundreds watched Atlantic Beach summer cottages
burn to the ground Sunday night. The Seashore Club, di
rectly west of the Atlantic Beach Hotel, and a cottage
owned by Mrs. Bessie L. Conekin of Goldsboro were de
stroyed. It has not been determined how the fire started.
"All of Morehead City was over here from the looks of
me udiuc jarn we nau, saicr
Mayor A. B. Cooper. "The Civil
Defense personnel had their hands
full trying to keep a lane clear for
the fire trucks."
The Atlantic Beach, Newport and
Beaufort tank trucks had to shuttle
across the bridge to Morehead City
to load water. Traffic was so heavy
that it took a half hour or longer
for the trucks to make the trip.
Fire Reported at 7:30
Atlantic Beach Fire Chief L. N.
Moore says that the fire was first
reported at 7:30. "Gerald Smith
saw the flames from Mom and
Pop's Restaurant and ran up here
to tell me about it. The 7:30 tv
program had just come on."
Atlantic Beach Police Chief Bill
Moore radioed Morehead City and
asked for help. Karl Dunn of At
lantic Beach, called Newport, Beau
fort and the Fort Macon Coast
Guard station.
When firemen arrived on the
scene, the fire had enveloped the
west wall of the Seashore Club, a
two-story frame cottage. The At
lantic Beach tank truck held the
flames down as much as possible
until help arrived.
Coast Guardsmen from Fort Ma
con and from the buoy tender Coni
fer ran lines to the ocean and
pumped water on the ocean side
while firemen pumped water from
the sound. Morehead City en
gineers supervised the laying of a
half-mile long line from Sonny's
launching ramp on the sound to the
fire.
A strong north by northeast wind
carried flames from the club to!
the Conekin cottage next door. I
Mayor Cooper said yesterday |
morning that there was a distance
of only 6 feet between the two |
buildings
"The buildings were put up be-1
fore our present bnilding code to
effect. The Seashore Club was one j
of the oldest buildings on the |
beach," the mayor said.
Saieed Cottage Safe
The cottage next to Mrs. Cone
kin's house was not damaged by
the fire. It is owned by Mrs. Olga
Saieed of Greenville. About 10 feet
separated the Saieed and Conekin
cottages.
None of the cottages was occu
pied at the time, according to
Mayor Cooper. "Summer residents
usually drop by the police station
and 'check in' when they come
dowrf to spend a weekend during
the winter," he said.
The Seashore Club was owned by
a corporation, according to W. L.
Whcbbic of Greenville. Mr. Whcb
bie yesterday listed the other own
ers as Dr. K. B. Pate, J. Knott
Proctor, Mrs. S. T. White and Mrs.
J. B. Hawcs of Greenville, Mrs. R.
H. Wright, Norfolk, Loon Pcarsall, I
Charlotte, and Mrs. Eleanor Yel-1
verton, Goldsboro.
Mr. Whebbie said that the loss
was partially covered by insurance
but that he did not know the value
of the building or the amount of in
surance carried.
License Tags
To Go on Sale
This Thursday
First-Citizens Loan
Office, Morehead, Will
Issue Tags Locally
License plates will go on sale at
9 o'clock Thursday morning at the
First - Citizens loan department,
Arendcll Street, Morehead City.
Tags issued to this county are
of the following series, according
to R M. McClain, assistant vice
president of the First-Citizens
bank: TU 901, TV, TW, TX, TY,
TZ and U.
The total number is 13.315. Bro
ken down, the classification is 7.000
automobile tags, 5,300 private truck
plates, 200 farm truck, 700 small
trailers, 1(H) commercial tractor
trailers, and 45 motorcycle tags.
This year $1 is added to the cost
of all tags sold for $10 or more.
In other words, the charge for
plates will be $11 for smaller cars,
and $13 for Buicks, Kdsels, Pack
ards, Lincolns and cars in that
category.
The extra dollar is for a high
school driver education program.
The program was authorized, state
wide, by the 1957 legislature.
The only exception to this extra
dollar fee is on tags bought for
Urge commercial tractor trailers.
Forms Required
Motorists must take with tliern,
when they go for their tags, their
license renewal cards which they
receive in the mail from the State
Department of Motor Vehicles
PLUS the FS-1 Certificate of In
surance furnished them by their
insurance agent.
No tag will be issued unless the
driver can show that he carries
automobile liability insurance.
This, too. was made law by the
1957 legislature.
The First-Citizens loan depart
ment will be open daily from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and from
9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. All ve
hicles must have 1958 tags on by
Feb. 16. Sales at the loan office
will end at noon Saturday, Feb. 15.
The loan office asks that per
sons have their necessary forms
out of the brown envelope before
they appear at the window to get
their tags. Standing there and
fiddling with opening envelopes
causes unnecessary delay, Mr. Mc
Clain remarked.
He emphasized that the loan de
partment issues the tags as a pub
lic service. The department is not
See TAGS, Page 2
March of Dimes Campaign
Will Open Here Thursday
Plans for a vigorous March of
Dimes campaign to be held in the
county during January were an
nounced today by Mrs. John John
son, Beaufort, campaign director.
Opening day for the polio drive is
Thursday.
Mrs. Johnson, who is chief tele
phone operator, Carolina Telephone
and Telegraph Co., Morchcad City,
said the 1958 campaign will em
phasize the urgent task of caring
for those who have been disabled
by polio.
The object is to restore them to
lives as nearly normal as modern
medicine can make them. The
1958 theme, she remarked, is "Sur
vival is not enough'*.
Two persons were stricken with
non-paralytic polio in Carteret dur
ing 1957. They were Elton Horace
Rountree Jr., 4, Morehcad City,
and Manlcy Smith, 30, route 1 New
port. Elton had had (wo shots of
vaccine and Mr. Smith had had
During 1957 the Carteret Chapter
for Infantile Paralysis, which is
supported by the March of Dimes,
paid for braces for polio patients
stricken in prior years, helped with
the medical expenses of the Round
tree child, and purchased vaccine
for persons between the ages of 20
and 40
Mrs. Johnson said that there are
over 300.000 Americans living today
in the United States who have had
paralytic polio, according to a
study of hospital records made by
the headquarters of the National
Foundation. She added:
"In a democratic society we just
don't let people languish in hos
pitals or their homes, if something
can be dorte for them. We have
succeeded in saving thousands of
lives. That's why our theme this
year is 'Survival is Not Enough'."
Letters are going out this week
to persons asking them to mail
their checks to the 1958 March of
Dimes.
Bad. Cop J