NEWS-TIMES OFFICE
*04 Ar.nd.ll St.
Monhttd City
i Phone 8-4175
CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES
10c
FULL PACE COMICS
42nd YEAR, NO. 20. TWO SECTIONS TEN PAGES MOREHEAD CITY AND BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, MARCH 10. 1953 PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS
Superior Court Judge Blasts Failure to List Taxes
Multi-Million Dollar Fire *
Hits Wilmington Waterfront
A wind -whipped multi - million ?
dollar {ire ravaged the Wilmington
waterfront yesterday with firemen
still trying to stop its advance at
1 o'clock nearly six hours after it
started in a warehouse of the Wil
mington Terminal company.
The fire started shortly before 9
a.m. and in the next six hours
wiped out the warehouses of the
Wilmington Terminal company and
two warehouses belonging to the
Seaboard Airline railroad but
leased to the Ileide company.
Products which were burned in
the storage buildings included
Chilean nitrates, tobacco, cotton,
and sugar. According to estimates .
more than $1 million in sugar was
destroyed in the Wilmington Ter
minal warehouse.
The State Ports Authority build
ing was not in the line of fire ac
cording to reports.
, During the early afternoon yes
terday. firemen were laboring to
gave a warehouse filled with ex
plosive nitrates. The Wilmington
business district was in the path of
the fire but did not appear to be
in danger.
Five firemen were seriously in
jured in fighting the fire and aev
eral other fire fighters received
minor injuries. The six fire com
panies and one fireboat of the Wil
mington fire department plus aid
from Camp Lejeune, Wrightsville
Beach, Wrightsboro, Southport,
Carolina Beach and Winter Park
battled the blaze.
In the early hours of the fire,
a 16-mile-an-hour wind whipped the
fire through warehouses. Late yes
terday there were indications that
the wind might rise to 25 miles
per hour.
Everyone yas evacuated from
the Cape Fear waterfront area in
volved. Clouds of heavy black
smoke covered all of the Wilming
ton area.
Freighter Discharges Cargo
Two stevedores at the Morehead City part terminal swing a clam
shell of potash into position for a fork-lift truck during the unload
ing of the S.S. Carl Fisser last week at the port terminal. The Carl
Finer was the first commercial freighter to dock at the port since it
was opened last summer. The potash was shipped by rail to the
Standard Fertilizer company in Willlamston.
Photo by Jerry Schumacher
Four Men Hi^*t Saturday Night
In Three Automobile Accidents
Four meh were injured Satur-'
day night in three automobile ac
cidents in Carteret county. They
were treated at the Morehead City
Jiospital.
Ilarry Fulcher of Sea Level and
Norfolk and Holiiiter Lassiter of
Norfolk were injured when the
car in which they were riding
missed a curve on the Gloucester
road. Kenneth E. Criss of Camp
Lejeune was injured in a similar
accident on the Harkers Island
road, and Roscoe Harris of Newport
was hurt when his cmr went off the
foad on NC 24.
: Fulcher received a lacerated face
and back injuries and Lassiter re
ceived head and chest injuries.
Fulcher told Highway Patrolmen
W. J. Smith that he was traveling
Muth on the Gloucester road when
Vie car failed to negotiate a curve
and overturned.
, Criss received minor bruises
when the car he was driving missed
the curve in front of Yeoman's
store on the Harkers Island road.
Two passengers in the car were
uninjured.
Criss told Patrolman Smith that
he was traveling at about 35 miles
per hour at the time of the acci
dent. He said that the car's steer
ing wheel locked and he could not
make the curve. Patrolman Smith
aaid that the car skidded 210 feet
tyefore coming to a stop.
Criss has been charged with
careless and reckless driving and
Beanfort Band *
Sponsors Dance
The Beaufort school band will
sponsor another dance Friday night
to raise money for the band's trip
to Wilmington March 28 to take
part in the parade which will open
the 1953 Azalea Festival.
C. F. Jones, bandmaster, an
nounced that the dance will be held
at the scout building at 7 o'clock.
The first dance was held last Friday
night following the school's stunt
night.
The money raised at the dances
will be used to charter a bus for
the band's trip to Wilmington. Ac
cording to present plans, the band
will leave Beaufort at 7 o'clock in
the morning and return in the
afternoon.
Mr. Jones revealed that a picnic
lunch in Wilmington may be plan
ned and alro a sight-seeing tour of
that city during the first day of the
annual Azalea festival.
4-HClnbs Study
Corn Production
A1 Newsome, assistant county
agent, has announced that the
county's 4-H clubs will study bet
ter methods of corn production at
their meetings this week. Mr.
Newsome sakt that he will show
slides at the meetings and will de
scribe the practices recommended
by the state college extension
service to increase corn production.
The Smyrna club met yesterday
morning. Camp Glenn will meet
at 9 a.m. today, Beaufort at 11:45
a.m. and Morehead City at 1:30
p.m. today. Newport will meet at
1:90 p.m. tomorrow, Atlantic at
9:30 a.m. Thursday and Harkers
Island at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
The county 4-H club council will
meet at 10 a.m. Saturday in the
home demonstration office at the
courthouse annex, Beaufort The
council, composed of the officers of
all clubs in the county will set up a
program for better club meetings
and to provide a stronger organiza
tion in the county.
In observance of 4-H club week
which began Saturday and will con
tinue through Sunday, all members
of the clubs have been asked to
wear their uniforms to school this
week.
will be tried next week in county
recorder'! court.
H*rri> received cuts on the head
and a lacerated right leg when his
car went off the road and turned
over three times. He told Patrol
man j. w. Sykes that he did not
know how the accident happened.
, He said that he was traveling at
about 55 miles per hour when the
s ear suddenly went off the road.
WorkBegms *
On Post Office
J. P. Betts. Beaufort postmaster,
has.announced that work has begun
on the renovation of the post of
fice building. Some minor repairs
ire also being made on the struc
ture.
Mr. Betts said that new tile floor
ing is being laid in the offices of
the county farm agent, collector of
Ems, railway mail clerk, pro
on marketing administrator
soil conservation agent He
Mid that repair* are also being
? fcade on the plaster of the main
#brk room in the post office.
' The postmaster said that the en
tire building will alae be water
proofed on the outside, and a new
flagpole will complete the work.
The work began last week and will
la completed in a abort time
. ^ iifiMi'ttfii yi'iiiln'ti'r H
Postal Receipts
Are Increased v
By Navy Ships
Morehead City Office
Now Does Five Times
Its 1940 Business
Navy ships docking at the More
head City port terminal during Car
ibbean maneuvers have boosted
the receipts of the Morehead City
post office, Harold Webb, post
master, reported this week.
"When the ships are in the
port," he said, "we're a small scale
New York fleet post office."
The Navy is using the Morehead
City office as a dispatching and
pick up point for mail to and from
ships in the amphibious fotce of
the Atlantic fleet.
During January, 1953, stamp
sales and other cash receipts at
the post office totalled $6,572.04
as compared with $5,352.52 in Jan
uary, 1U52. Included in both total
figures is $370.25 for box rents.
The February total this year a
mounted to $4,851.47.
Each year postal receipts at the
office have increased, Mr. Webb
said. The total 1952 business a
mounted to $71,171.30 as compared
to the 1951 total of $61,307.17. The
Navy mail has also been increasing
steadily, he reported.
When the present Post Office
building was first opened in 1940.
the first year's receipts amounted
to approximately $14,000. Each
year since that date the total has
increased with the 12 year increase
amounting to 500 percent, Mr.
Webb continued.
During the first year of the of
fice in the building, two regular
clerks, one substitute clerk, a reg
ular carrier and a substitute car
rier and the postmaster carried on
the work of the office. At the
present time the post office has in
aaaiuon 10 mr weoo one assistant
postmaster, three regular clerks,
two substitute clerks, two regular
carrier*, jane auniliary carrier, a
substitute carrier and a rural roifte
carrier.
Eastern Star >
Elects Officers
Officers for the year were elected
Thursday night at the regular meet
ing of the Morehead City chapter
Order of the Eastern Star. <
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Norwood were
elected worthy matron and worthy
patron, and Mr. and Mrs. Theodore
Phillips were elected associate pa
tron and associate matron.
The officers elected were Mrs.
Madge Jones, secretary; Mrs. Doris
Sawyer,, treasurer; Mrs. Ida Reyn
olds, conductress; and Mrs. Gladys
Nelson, associate conductress.
Officers appointed were Mrs.
Kate GeUinger, marshal; Mrs.
Novella Dunn, chaplain; Mrs. Lil
lie Edwards, organist; Mrs. Hazel
Chadwick, Ada; Mrs. Mary whittle,
Ruth; Mrs. Sybil Nichols. Esther;
Mrs. Mary Lear. Martha; Mrs. Vel
ma Gates, Electa; Mrs. Thelma
Danielson, warder; and Julius Nel
son, sentinel.
The newly-elected officers will
be installed Friday night, March 27.
After the business session, re
freshments were served with Mr*.
Mildred Ross, Mrs. Dorothy Mitch
ell and Mrs. Georgie Fulcher as
hostesses.
House Fisheries Committee
K
Took No Action at Hearing
No action was taken by the House
o{ Representatives Fisheries com
mittee after a public hearing last
Thursday on a proposed license
and tax bill (or commercial fisher
ies.
At the hearing representatives of
the North Carolina Fisheries asso
ciation and other cpmmerdal fish
eries group* opposed the multiple
tax character of the bill and cer
tain unit taxes.
Chairman Russell Swindell
named a sub-committee to study the
proposed bill and the objections
of the fisheries men and report
back to the entire committee Thurs
day, March 19. The sub-committee
will work with the commercial fish
eries division of the Department
of Conservation and Development
and commercial fisheries represent
atives to work out a suitable tax
bill.
Members of the fisheries asso
ciation pointed out to the eommit
tee that their principal intent waa
to eliminate the unnecessary con
fusions of the propwed measure,
not to reduce the amount of reven
ue now going to the commercial
fisheries division.
In proposing that unit or tag tax
es be abolished, the fisheries as
sociation representatives suggested
that tbe revenue loss be made up
with a higher dealer's license. Un
der the proposed legislation given
units of oysters, escallops, clams,
soft crabs, hard crabs, shrimp and
food fish would be taxed.
The task of the fish dealers
would be simplified v>d the state
agency's collections would be easier
if th^ unit taxes were eliminated
and the dealer's license fee in
creased, the fisheries men argued.
Strong objections were also voiced
to the proposed tax on catfish and
eel traps.
Tbe fisheries association also
asked that the law be drawn so
that all vessels engsged in trawl
ing would pay a license fee to re
place the proposed tax on trawls
snd nets. The fisheries men pro
posed a tax of 90 cents per foot for
all boats under 26 feet and 73 cents
per foot for all boats over 26
feet
After paying such s fee the vessel
could be used for trawling or dred
tint- '.J, ,
In order to encourage out-of-state
menhaden fishing boats to come to
North Carolina waters, the associa
tion is asking that the legiilation
be written so that such boats could
pay a proportionate share. of the
annual state tax on fishing tyoats.
At the present time such a boat
must buy a license for an entire
year. It was the feeling of many
members of the asaociation that
that was unfair since the menhaden
boats are in North Carolina waters
for only a few months each year.
Prior to the hearing, the North
Carolina Fisheries asaoci?tion held
two study meetings in Washington
to draw up ita proposals and study
the measure prepared by the com
mercial fisheries division. Meet
ing with the asaociation were mem
bers of the Albemarle Fisheries
aaaociation which is not a part of
the larger asaociation.
Attending the meeting from this
area ware Clayton Fulchar, jr.,
and W. H. Potter. It was reported
that the House sub-committee will
call the fisheries association rep
resentatives to appear before it
before making ita report to the
full committee.
Speaks Tomorrow
Dr. John D. Messick. president
of East Carolina college in Green
ville, will speak tomorrow night
to the Men's club of St. Paul's
Episcopal church in Beaufort.
He has been president of East |
Carolina college since 1947. Dr. ,
Messick will speak to the club
on "Religion in Public and High
er Education."
Lions Give $100 v
To School Band
The Morehead City Lions club
presented the Morehead City
school band with a donation of
$100 at its meeting last Thursday
night at the recreation center.
Attending the meeting were Paul
Lyman of Raleigh, district gover
nor; Earl Jourden of Goldsboro,
deputy district governor; and Les
ter Gould of Jacksonville, zone
chairman.
Ralph Wade, director of the
band, and H. L. Joslyn, superin
tendent of the Carteret county
schools, were visitors at the meet
ing.
Mr. Lyman presented $100 to the
club for the Morehead City band's
winning performance at a recent
cila' . ?ct convention in Rocky
Mount. Band regulations forbid its
accepting any prizes. ,
The club gave a plaque to Mr.
Wade and D. B. Webb, treasurer,
gave the band a donation of $100
from the club's treasury. During
the program Mr. Lyman spoke on
the principles of the Lions organ
ization.
Dinner was served to the club by
the women of the Christian church.
Fred Lewis, president of the club,
presided.
Red Cross Drive
Response Poor v
Says Chairman
Fund Workers Far Shori
Of $2,708 Goal as Drive
Enters Final Week
Ms. Alma Potter Howard, chair
man of the Red Cross drive in
Beaufort, reports that response to
the chapter's appeal for funds has
been poor. She says that little has
been turned in as the drive moves
into its second and final week.
Mrs. Howard said that fund work
ers will step up their efforts to vis
it every house in Beaufort this
week in an attempt to meet the
chapter's goal of $2,700.
Workers in the residential dis
trict of Beaufort are Mrs. R. N.
Hudnell. Mrs. B. E. Tarkington,
Mrs. Levi Beveridge. Mrs. Lance
Smith, Mrs. Vance Fulford, Mrs.
James II. Potter. Mrs. Hugh Salter,
Mrs. Ray Hassell, Mrs. Norwood
Fulcher, Mrs. Robert Stephens,
Kenneth Johnson, Mrs. David Hill,
Mrs. L. W. Moore, Mrs. E. A. Rush,
Mrs. Albert Chappell.
Mrs. R. W. Safrit, Jr., Mrs. W.
L. Rudder, Mrs. R. C. Slater, Mrs.
James Wheatley, Mrs. C. D. Jones,
Mrs. Grayden Paul, Mrs. C.L. Beam,
Mrs. Robert Tillett, Mrs. Ottis
Mades, Mrs. Dan Darling. Mrs.
Eric Moore, Mrs. E. H. Potter, Mrs.
W H Potter.
Mrs. Mary B. Williams. Mrs. Wal
ter Chipman, Mrs. Leslie Moore,
Mrs. Sam Chadwick, Mrs. Gene
Smith, Mrs. Wiley Taylor, Mrs. H.
B. Daniels and Mrs. George Lewis.
Mrs. Charles Harris of Marshall
berg is chairman of the drive in
eastern part of the county, and
Mrs. Rosalie Davis is in charge of
the drive in the Beaufort business
district. Mrs. Frank King is in
charge of contributions from spe
cial groups such as town and coun
ty employees and school teachers.
Braxton Adair, chapter chair
man, has stressed the importance
ji? tU*-JRe4 Cro? drive ip Carteret
ciVnty. He said -thai the work of
the tied Cross here Is moat notice
able In times of disaster such as
the tornado which struck Stacy last
fall. He said that in disaster re
lief alone, the Red Cross always
spends more money each year in
the county than is collected In the
fund drives.
Those wishing to send contribu
tions to the drive may mail thenT
to James Webb at the Morehead
City post office. He will mail mem
bership cards to those who con
tribute in this manner.
Carteret County's Financial *
Position Has Improved Greatly
? f _
Marines Prepare
Onslow Assault 1
The Second Marine division and
other naval and marine units have
completed the first phase of the
current Caribbean maneuvers and
are now preparing for the assault
on Onslow beach later this month.
Lieutenant General Graves B.
Erskine described the first half
of the maneuvers as the "most val
uable and effective" he had ever [
seen.
The present combined air, land
and sea operation is the largest
peacetime maneuver ever held by
marines in the Caribbean area. Dur
ing the second phase, the island of
Vieques, near Puerto Rico, will
serve as a base for operations to
launch the attack on the main
land of North Carolina.
In the first phase, a 48-hour bat
tle for Vieques was staged between |
assault troops and defending ma
rine units.
Led by Major General Randolph
M. Pate, the reinforced Second di
vision waded ashore to find every
inch of the island contested by the
defending Sixth Marine regiment
led by Colonel O.R. Simpson.
Throughout the two-day battle, the
hills of the island echoed with the
sounds of blank rifle and machine
gun ammunition.
Tide Table
Tides at Bcaafart Bar
HIGH LOW
Tuesday, March 1*
3:08 a.m. 9:43 a.m.
3:33 p.m. 9:53 p.m. I
Wednesday. March 11 .
4:16 a.m. 10:47 a.m.
4:41 p.m. 11:02 p.m.
Thursday, March It
5 19 a.m. 11:43 a.m.
9:41 p.m.
Friday, March It
.8:17 a.m. 12:03 ajn. I
Carteret county s financial state
has improved tremendously since
1937 when the county's bonded in
debtedness of $4,457,791.57 includ
ing defaulted interest was refi
nanced for $3,611,527.03.
On January 1, 1953, James D.
Potter, county auditor, reported
that the county's bonded indebted
ness had been reduced, to $1,972,
067.81. This figure includes $214,
000 in school bonds which have
been issued since the war.
The county first went into de
fault in 1928 when the last Repub
lican board in the history of the
county refused to pay interest on
the county's bonds. At the time
of the refinancing, the county
pledged all its uncollected taxes
prior to 1937 to the payment of the
interest which was owed.
In the last year, this interest
has been paid and more than
$500,000 in coupons were returned
to the county. Dr. K. P. B. Bon
ner, chairman of the county com
missioners, said at that time that
the "county is entering a new era
of financial stability.1*
In 1937 the county's total prop
erty valuation was $9,312,740 with
a rate of $1.50 per $100 of valua
tion. In 1936 the county records
show that only 39 per cent of all
the taxes owed the county by resi
dents were collected. Since that
time the valuation has increased to
$20 million and collection have
been running at better than 96 per
cent.
County officials have laid out a
plan whereby all of the county's
bonded indebtednea can b? paid
off within . the next 10-18 yeari.
This year's' budget calls (or a total
of $221,000 in debt service. Of
this amount $160,424.02 la sched
uled to be used to retire bonds
which are callable aqd $12,000 will
be used to pay the principal on
serial bonds which are due this
year. The remaining $48,575.96 is
for interest on the bonds still out
standing.
Mr. Potter reported that approxi
mately $102,000 had already been
spent on debt service by the end
of February.
Judge Orders Grand Jurors y
To Investigate 500 Cases
Judge Henry Stevens yesterday in superior court blasted
the "deliberate failure of more than 500 residents of the
county to list theft1 taxes for 1953." Judge Stevens told
members of the grand jury that James D. Potter, county
auditor, had told him that at least that many people had
failed to list taxes.
Judge Stevens told the jurors, "These are the same peo
Port Security -
Cards Available
To cut down on time lost by
Virginia and North Carolina com
mercial fishermen, longshoremen
and other waterfront workers in
applying for Coast Guard Port Se
curity Identification Cards, the
Coast Guard is planning to have
mobile card application units visit
seacoast areas in the two states,
Rear Adm. Russell E. Wood, USCG,
commander, Fifth Coast Guard dis
trict, announced today.
The plan will eliminate the need
for card applicants to make lengthy
trips to regular card issuing offi
ces.
Coast Guard group commanders
at Chincoteague and Virginia
Beach, Va., and Cape llatteras,
Morehead City and Southport. N.C.,
will provide assistance in filling
out applications and arrange suita
ble dates for mobile teams to inter
view applicants at convenient loca
tions within their areas.
Since the Coast Guard proces
sing teams are expected to make
only one visit to each community,
persons not processed by the mo
bile units will have to apply in per
son at Captain of the Port offices
in Norfolk, Va.; Baltimore, Md.; or
Wilmington, N. C.
For the past two years the Coast
Guard has been issuing the cards
to persons whose occupation re
juirei them to visit waterfront prop
erties which might be placed under
guard and restricted by the Captain
of the Pott a the interest of safety
or nation*) wcimty.
Admiral IWjoJ stated that the
Coast Guard is currently accep
ting applications for port security
cards from commercial fishermen,
who, in the course of their work,
go in ana out of bays, sounds, in
lets and rivers which might stand
the chance of being restricted.
The admiral cautioned that per
sons who may be required to pos
sess port security cards should ap
ply before restricted areas are es
tablished. A minimum of six weeks
is required to complete investiga
tion and issue a card.
Information concerning all phas
es of the port security identifica
tion card program can be secured
at any Coast Guard lifeboat station
on the Virginia and North Carolina
coasts, group commanders' offices,
or at Captain of the Port offices in
Norfolk and Newport News, Va.;
Baltimore, Md.; and Wilmington,
N. C.
?"*- "?W ??? l? IIICII IOA11 ?
year. They make it necessary for
county officials to seek them out
in order to complete the tax lists.
We must put a stop to ft."
The Judge told the grand jury to
investigate the matter and to take
whatever action it sees fit. He said
"You may wish to warn them that
they will be indicted at the June
term if they do not list their taxes,
or you may wish to take some other
action."
In his charge to the grand jury.
Judge Stevens defined the criminal
laws of the state in order to make
it easier for the jurors to study the
cases presented to them.
Judge Stevens said that he was
particularly interested in the laws
relating to the operation of motor
vehicles. He -aid, "We must do
something about these nitwits who
drive with no regard for the rights
of others. If the people who do
the dirty work would get killed it
might be one solution to the prob
lem. but they escape while killing
or maiming innocent people."
The judge said that he hoped the
court would be able to do some
thing to force compliance with the
motor vehicle laws. He said that
he believed that compliance with
the laws would reduce accidents
about 99 per cent.
Judge Stevens also told the jury
and everyone present in court,
"Every judge has his pet law and
mine is the perjury law. I have
no doubt that there are some here
who have come to court with the
intention of lying. I wish to warn
them that I can tell when someone
is lying to me. If I catch anyone
lying, Lord have mercy on them
because I won't."
The judge impressed the grand
jurors with the importance of their
duties and congratulated them
up?n being givan in opportunity
to become a part of the judicial
branch of the state government.
He said that they bore a great re
sponsibility and they should dis
charge their duties carefully.
He told the jurors that their first
duty would be to return bills of
indictment in the cases presented
to them. He reminded the Jury
that the court would not be able
to operate without those bills.
The judge then said that there
were some things that the law re
quires grand juries to investigate.
He said that they should investi
gate the performance of all those
having custody of the funds of
others. He asked the jurors to sub
mit a list of all such persons who
have not filed the reports required
by law.
He told the jurors to inspect the
jail to make, sure that the prisoners
See COURT, Page 2
Ocracoke Meeting Maps Plans
For Proposed Coastal Highway
Plans for promoting the comple
tion of the final link in the coastal
highway were discussed fast night
at a citizen's meeting at Ocracoke.
The group U advocating the con
struction of a paved road on Ocra
coke and ferries connecting the
island with paved highways in Car
teret and Dare counties.
Alvah L. Hamilton, Morehead
City attorney, is chairman of the
group's executive committee and
Joseph A. DuBois, manager of the
Morehead City chamber of com
merce, if the secretary. Other
members of the executive commit
tee are Clayton Fulcher, Atlantic,
R. S. Wahab, Ocracoke, and Dan
Walker, manager of the Beaufort
chamber of commerce.
Harold Midgett and M. L. Burrua
of Hatter as attended the meeting
to represent Dare county interesta.
The present paved highway along
the outer banks terminates at Hat
tar as.
Mr. Wahab said that Governor
Umstead will be asked to give his
support to the project to eliminate
the missing link in the coastal high
way by creating a paved road on
Ocracoke from Hatteras inlet to
the village of Ocracoke and by
starting ferry service between Hat
teraa and the island and between
Ocracoke and the Carteret county
mainland.
The petitions, to be signed by
midents of the coaatal area, have
been drawn up by the group. They
emphasize the need for the high
way and cite the benefits which
would be derived from it.
The aix-point petition follows:
"That a ferry route be estab
lished aa part of the state highway
system between Hatteras and Ocra
coke island and between Ocracoke
island and the Carteret mainland
terminus of U. 8. highway 70."
"As justification therefor, such
a route would be part of the pop
ular coastal highway filling in the
'missing link' between Hatteras and
U.S. highway 70 and would make
a complete highway from the beach
es of Dare county to Wilmington."
"The opening of this long stretch
of coastal or outer banks land by
vehicular traffic would add mater
ially U> the development of the nat
ural and recreational resources of
the section between Wilmington
and Manteo, particularly sportfish
ing, surf-bathing and other beach
and water sports."
"Commercial benefits ? more
fish, shrimp, clams and other sea
food products are brought into At
lantic and Ocracoke than any other
part of the coast of North Carolina.
The proposed route of highway and
ferries would mean that these prod
ucts could be transported to market
quickly and efficiently; thus ad
ding materially to the economic
life of the area."
'The new and great Cape Hatter
as National Seashore recreational
area now being created on Hatter
as and Ocracoke island would have
greater tourist appeal with the
"missing link" provided with ade
quate ferries and highways."
"The elimination of the missing
link would also aid materially in
the national coastal defense setup
of the nation here on the North
Carolina coast where enemy ac
tivity came close to the United
States in two world wars."
Mr. Wahab said that filling in the
missing link would.be responsible
for bringing thousands of addition
al tourists to the area each year
by eliminating dead ends.
He indicated that the proposed
improvement has already attracted
great Interest along the coast from
Wilmington to Manteo and a mug
state and government officials.