CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES I
Carter** County's Newipeper ||
EDITORIALS TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1954
Saturday Will be a Big Day
The Newport I^rent-Teacher Asso
ciation and Newport residents are stag
ing Saturday one of the biggest events
in the history of the town.
The occasion will mark the dedica
tion of the new elementary school and
will be the first Homecoming for for
mer Newport studehts. It is the hope of
the steering committee that the event
will be the beginning of a scholarship
fund to be used for furthering the edu
cation of worthy graduates of the
school.
Persons may, if they wish, contribute
to this fund at the dance Saturday
night.
Newport is rapidly coming into its
own as the third largest incorporated
town in the county. Under a progres
sive town administration, changes are
being made ? to the objection, of
course, of some who always want things
to "stay as they are," but if a place is
to grow, change is inevitable.
Our congratulations go to county
school officials, to Newport school offi
cials and teachers, to the town business
men and all others who have co
operated in planning Saturday's gala
events. Their enthusiasm is indicative
of the town's bright future.
You're probably getting tired of read
ing about how destructive the new type
bombs are. Yet the chances of being
here tomorrow, just as we are today,
have slimmed down considerably. And
because of that, most of us may be shut
ting off our minds to the horrendous
implications of this newly-developed
power. It's a lot easier, isn't it, just to
avoid thinking about disagreeable
things?
But now, if ever, every American
faces the possibility of walking, eating
and breathing deadly radioactive dust.
The H-bomb can now be turned into a
"cobalt bomb." Scientists should not
follow the other pattern of naming
bombs and call this one a C-bomb. It
should be named S-bomb, the S stand
ing for suicide. For with just one of
these bombs, set off thousands of miles
from a target "country," a whole hemis
phere can be laid to waste.
Because of the earth's prevailing
westerly winds, a bomb could be set off
in this country that would carry radio
active dust over most of Europe. Just
ONE BOMB. A like bomb set off in
Europe could cloak Russia and the vast
area surrounding it in a grip of death.
A bomb set off in the Pacific could lay
waste to the United States.
The deadly rays from a Cobalt bomb
would continue to have effect 10 years
after ifr was exploded. And the winds
Wbuld carry those rays to every part of
i&t earth.
It has been suggested that these wea
pons are so terrible that no country
would dare to use them ? that these
weapons may. FORCE the world to live
in peace. That SOUNDS logical. Poison
gas was used in World War I and every
one predicted that it would be used in
World War II. Poison gas was not a
factor in the last war. It was too dan
ferous to ALL soldiers in a given area.
And there was always the fear of re
taliation.
But with poison gas one was usually
able to fix the "blame." In a small area,
too, the destruction was likewise small.
What concerns us at this moment is a
bomb could be detonated in Japan and
two to three days from now we would
Facing the Facts . . .
be breathing air that would in a short
while kill us. Who set off the bomb?
The air would be alive with denials as
well as radioactive dust. And maybe
we'd all be so dead there would be no
one left to ask. "Who set off the
bomb?"
Of course, there would always be the
possibility of the radioactive air cir
cling round and killing those who fired
the bomb. But a handful of maniacs set
on world destruction conceivably could
build themselves shelters, prepare to
live in them a number of years and then
emerge ? in possession of the earth.
Of course, they might be taking a
chance that the earth they would
emerge to would be so desolate that
even they could not survive, but the
point of this speculation is that a hand
ful of people could write the death or
der for civilization.
It is logical to assume that no respon
sible government would jump into mass
destruction. What we've got to watch
out for are the crackpots. True, the de
velopments of atomic research are care
fully guarded in this country and sup
posedly the same is true in other na
tions, but one ruler or one scientist
gone berserk could turn the earth into
a weird graveyard.
In the face of this, we can't help but
wonder ? will we unthinkingly go oji
a spree, like a soldier on leave, and
"Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow
we die?" Or is our faith greater than
fear? Do we believe that in spite of
the possibilities of mass death and deso
lation, the indomitable human spirit
will be able to cope with the weapons
it develops?
Offhand, it seems inconceivable that
the world, as we know it, can be de
stroyed. On the other hand, are we
ABLE to conceive how atomic power
has changed the aspect of things?
Atomic power can bring a prosperity
the like of which the world has never
known. Or it can remove from the uni
verse the planet Earth. We owe it to
ourselves to be well-informed. There's
no use hiding our heads in the sand. At
the risk of dragging out some of the
old bromides: let's be aware, level
headed and hope for the best.
Higher Gas Tax? No!
Representatives of the petroleum in
dustry have been holding a series of
meetings throughout the state and have
gone on record opposing the proposed
increase in the state tax on gasoline.
Agreeing with them that the price of
gasoline per gallon in this state is al
ready sky-high, we go along with the
thinking of the Henderson Daily Dis
patch which editorialized recently as
follows:
When additional taxes are under con
sideration, among the first sources of
new revenue to receive consideration
are tobacco, gasoline and liquor. All
three are now carrying a back-breaking
load and no relief is in sight for either.
Congress and the States refuse to
lighten the burden, with the result that
in each instance the situation is ap
proaching the law of diminishing re
turns .
One frequently hears of federal aid
returned to the states and how much
comes into North Carolina annually
from that source. Actually, the state
paid Uncle Sam over a billion and a
half dollars last year and got back $56
million, or about four per cent . , .
In the state, taxes collected last year
were $287 million, or $275 per family.
That is twice the amount in 1946 and
three times the taxes paid by North
Carolinians in 1942, just 12 years ago.
Sentiutnt is being fanned for an ad
ditional one cent per gallon tax on gas
oline to be levied by the 1955 General
Assembly. If that should be added, it
will tnake the gasoline tax ten and one
quarter cents in this state, including the
federal levy of two cents. In other
words, approximately one-third of the
cost of regular gasoline at your service
station ? in this county at least ? goes
to taxes.
Oil men claim that the present state
gasoline levy is sufficient to carry on
the highway program, including im
provements and expansion of primary
roads. We think that is definitely true,
and if it isn't then we should hold up on
the program until we can do better.
Gasoline is a favorite whipping child
of the tax-eaters. They seem never to
know what is enough and never to be
willing to stop. Nor will they until the
people themselves rise up in rebellion
against increasing levies. Now, when
candidates for the next legislature are
popping out all over the state, citizens
should let them know how they atand
and ought to demand of the would-be
law-makers where they stand on this
question.
If North Carolina cannot get along
on the present gasoline tax,' then it
should draw in its rein* to await a bet
ter day. We do need better roads and
more of them, but this is one of the
many things for which there may be
need that we may have to be content
without for a while.
m
A HAUNTING SPIRIT
Ruth Peeling
Scoffs Visit Tonight
RecallsFamed Comment
The fact that former Gov. Kerr
Scott is going to speak at a Rotary
Club meeting tonight in Beaufort
recalls to mind the report on his
famed "civic club comment."
The story, as reported t>y the
Burlington Times-News reporter,
Howard White, goes like this:
Early in Scott's administration
as governor, he found an opportun
ity to tell civic clubs in the state
that they wervn t doing anything
but eating and, consequently, too
many projects were being over
looked.
That made a lot of civic club
members mad, and some of them
still haven't gotten over it.
But later, as Scott saw how his
comment had brought blasts to
him from all sections of the state,
he told a ([roup of intimate friends:
"That worked just like I hoped
it would. I got some of them mad
now, and I bet a lot of places are
going to see more civic activity
than they've known before These
people who are mad are going to
show me that I'm wrong, which I
am."
Our senate nominee has built a
reputation of doing the unexpected.
Whatever he does, he seems to
create quite a stir.
Trains are getting frisky now
that spring has come. Carl Hatsell
says a car jumped the track at his
shop on Live Oak street and he
thought his side wall was going to
fall in. Friday a week ago I was
driving to Morehead City and was
blocked (along with umpteen other
motorists) by a train across the
highway at the Fry Roofing plant.
A freight car had jumped the track.
The sheriff was behind me and
we thought we could get around
the obstacle by tacking off to the
left through the roofing company
lot. But before we executed that
invasion of private property, the
alert railroad men'did what we felt
Today's Birthday
HAROLD STASSEN, born April
13, 1907 on a Dakota County, Minn.,
they should have done the minute
the car jumped the track ? de
tached the front car blocking the
highway (which was not the one
derailed) and let the engine pull it
away, thus opening the road again.
Anyone who has not driven by
the courthouse square should do so
by all means. The blooming azaleas,
dogwood, jonquils, violets, spirea,
are something to behold. Every
where the green fuzz on trees is
already shaping into leaves. Spring,
the ever awesome miracle, has
come simultaneously with the bur
geoning of a new man-made bomb.
Is this Earth's la?t spring? Will
prophets of doom turn out to be
the true prophets? Man's ever
flowing spring of faith could possi
bly run dry now.
Humanity should believe as does
Louis Bimstock, whcf* in "The
Power of Faith," said, "I believe
in the sun, even when it is not
shining, I believe in love even when
feeling it not, I believe in God,
even when he is silent."
Author of the Week
farm. The Di
rector of For
eign Operations
Administration
is a former gov
ernor of Minne
sota and presi
dent of Univer
sity of Pennsyl
v a n I a. Was
founder and
first chairman
of Young Republican League. Dur
ing World War II he was a cap
tain in Navy and was awarded Le
gion of Merit. One of original dele
gatea to San Franciaco Conference
that foauilated United Natlona
helped nominate Eisenhower as
Republican presidential candidate.
Gerald Canon, author of "The
Old Country Store," haa lived and
worked in both country and city.
Winter time resident of New York,
he has a ISO-acre farm near Miller
ton. N. Y.
From 1940 to 1M7 he waa a Ben
ton A Bowles vice preaident; from
1847 to 1961, vice preaident and
director of Kenyon k. Eckhardt.
Born in Carrollton, III., he haa B.A.
and M.A. degrees from the Unl
veraity of Illinois He has now left
big-city business to give his time to
writing.
Thought for Today
Worry gives little things |>ig
shadows.
Captain Henry
Sou'easter
George Huntley says that as he
and Mrs. Huntley were returning
from their last trip, they were
coining north along the west coast
of Florida through St. Petersburg.
George said his legs were feeling
numb and so he decided to stop in
St. Pete and pay a visit to one of
those doctors there whom he
thought would be right up on ail
ments like that what with all the
retired folks being there who need
medical attention.
So he went to a doctor who ex
amined him thoroughly. Couldn't
find a thing wrong with him. Then
the doctor asked, "Mr. Huntley, do
you drink?" And George replied
that he never touches the stuff.
The doctor's next comment was,
"Well, I advise you to take at least
two drinks a day. That'll be $40
please."
With that, George's right hand
got numb. He had a difficult time
reaching for that wallet.
Have you noticed the smiles of
satisfaction on the faces of all our
dogs?
Since the town fathers have
granted permission to the mer
chants to display their wares out on
the sidewalk the dogs now are hav
ing a field day around the outdoor
vegetable stands and other stuff.
Gray Hassell is somebody I think
deserves a big hand. He's a quiet
chap but he certainly gets things
done. As town engineer he pushed
through the Ann street drainage
job in jig time and calmly goes
about other town engineering jobs
with no fussing. With the splendid
cooperation of the town street de
partment, be gets things done.
Harold Simpson and Crip Jones
are real golf addicts. I never
thought I'd live to see the day.
Stamp News
By SYD KRONISH
STAMP NOTES . . . Switierland
has issued two new stamps show
ing its Alpine Postal Coaches.
This set will replace the previ
ously issued auto post office ad
hesive of 1937, re-issued in
IMS . . . Brazil has paid tribute
to a national hero, Joe do Patri
cinio. by issuing a 60 centavos
stamp commemorating the cente
nary of his birth ... A new set of
five stamps has been Issued by
Ethiopia, dedicated to its "return
to the sea." . . . Somalia (formerly
Italian Somaliland) has isaued two
new regulars and two airmails to
honor the 2nd Somalia Fair.
Carteret County Newt-Times
WINNER or NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION AND NORTH CAROLINA
PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
A Merger of Th? Beaufort New* (Eel. 1B12) and The Twin City Time* (Eat IBM)
Publkbed Tuesday! and Friday* by the Carteret Publtahlng Company, Inc.
B04 Arendell St., Morehead City, N. C.
LOCKWOOD PHILLIPS ? PUBLISHER
< ELEANOR* DEAR PHILLIPS ? ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
? RUTH L. PEELINO ? EDITOR
Hall Ratee: In Carteret County and adjoining countiea, W OO one year. 13.90 aix montha,
$1.28 one mootb; ole where >7.00 one year, (400 six montha, ?1.80 one month.
Member of Aaaociated ProaT- Greater Weekllea ? N. C. Proea Aaeodatioa
National Editorial Aeeociation ? Audit Btmu of Clreulatiom
' The Aaaociated Preee ia entlOed excluaively to ua* for republication a I local newi
printed ia t? pewpaper. aa well aa all AP nam dfcpatchee.
Entered aa Rieml Ctaaa Matter at Morafcead City. N. C, Under Ad at Hank % tm.
? -k ? - ' ^ -
I
In the Good Old Days
THIRTY TWO YEARS AGO
Guion Motor Company of New
Bern was advertising a new Over
land for (550.
The State Board of Education
had appropriated (54,850 to aid in
establishing a four-year standard
high school in rural areas, to in
sure each county in the state hav
ing at least one high school.
Beaufort town <-ommissioners
voted to complete the sewer lines
in the town.
TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
Carl T. Chadwick and L. J. Noe
had filed for the office of Mayor
of Beaufort.
J. P. Belts had opened a new
bakery in Beaufort.
Elizabeth Huntley, Hattie Lee
Humphrey, Laura Eure and Louise
Hildebrand would represent the
Beaufort High School in the final
inter-school debates to be held at
th? University of North Carolina
April 18 and 19.
TEN YEARS AGO
A Marine Corps fighter plane
from Cherry Point crashed in Tar
landing Bay between Bogue Banks
and Morehead City.
Beaufort town commissioners
voted to remove overhanging dead
limbs from the trees.
The Rev W. Y. Stewart, pastor
of the Core Creek Community
Church, narrowly escaped serious
injury when his csr left the cause
way between Atlantic Beach and
Morehead City.
FIVE YEARS AGO
The State Board of Conservation
and Development voted to sell its
Camp Glenn property to the A&EC
railroad.
Mrs. Ralph Eudy was re elected
to the presidency of the Beaufort
PTA and Alfred Cooper was elect
ed president of the Morehead City
PTA.
Citiiens of the Beaufort-More
head City causeway requested a
referendum on the question of be
ing taken inside the corporate
limits of Beaufort.
Wildlife Federation
Protects Green Heron
In much of North America and
some of South America, fishermen
and others who haunt streams and
marshes may frequently see what
looks like a slender, awkward,
long-legged crow spring from the
ground. **pel a long white "chalk
mark' and fly a relatively short
distance only to alight clumsily on
some tree or shrub. In more cases
than not this will be a green heron,
a 17-inch bird with yellow or
orange legs that are too long for a
crow but too short to fit the aver- ^
age concept of a heron.
Green herons have been flying
about this type of country since
Pleistocene times and will probably
continue to exist so long as suit
able habitat may be found for them
in which to find their food, build
their nests and rear their young.
They are common along the North
Carolina coast. Their only value
probably is to serve as a target for
hunters who do not know that they
are protected by law. They are of
no food value themselves, the Na
tional Wildlife Federation points
out, and do comparatively little
damage to forms >of life that are of
food value to man.
These rather dumb - behaving
birds are greenish black on the
crown and when excited can rane
a ragged crest on their heads.
Their necks are brownish, their
bellies ashy, and at a distance their
bodies may appear to be gray. The
young birds have black streaks on
their breasts but these disappear
with the advent of maturity.
Green herons are so well-known
to outdoor folk that they naturally
have many common names. Skeouw
is a common name describing their
excitement call. Fly-up-the-creek
is a common nam* descriptive of
their common reaction to disturb
ance. Chalkline is a common name
descriptive of their habit of evacu
ating when they take flight. Shite
poke presumably refers to the same
characteristic.
Green herons nest from Nova
Scotia to North Dakota and south
Green Heron
to the Gulf Coast. Honduras and
Guatemala. They winter from Flor
ida and southeastern Texas to
northern Colombia. They have been
found in Bermuda. Haiti and Puer
to Rico.
The nest, a clumsily constructed
platform of sticks, is found in low
trees over the water, usually in
colonies and from 3 to 20 feet
above the ground. Sometimes one
nest may be occupied by two fe
males. The pale blue eggs measure
m by 1 1/7 inches and are in
cubated for IT days. The young are
clumsy, homely animals that gain
'.i ounce a day for the first six
days and may climb from their
nest using beak, feet and wings to
help them in the act.
The food of green herons is
largely small marsh animals which
arc caught by a lightning like
plunge of the beak. On occasion
the bird may plunge into the water
from a perch to catch prey. The
food includes snakes, frogs, mice,
insects, worms and similar small
animals. The birds usually feed in
early morning or late afternoon.
? E. Laurence Palmer
in This Modern Age Horse
Power Sense is Needed
Plain old "horse tense" is not
enough these days.
Traffic being what it is. you also
need "horse power sense" or auto
mobile sense ? or just good judg
ment. if you please.
Old timers can remember when
the country doctor, coming home
at dawn after a sleepless night of
calls, could fall asltep at the reins
- and his faithful old nag would
bring him safely home. That was
horse serfse.
But your automobile, miraculous
as H ia these modern days, Just
won't do that kind of a job. That's
why you hare to use your good
judgment ? and stay alert while
driving.
Moat accidents, in some degree,
are caused by lapaes of a driver's
common "horse-power" sense ? ex
ceeding sal* speed Limits, driving
'
on the wrong tide, passing on the
wrong side or on a hill or curve,
and similar chance-taking.
But there's one thing that hasnt
changed much. A horse used to do
some of the work of taking car*
of himself ? grazipg and exercis
ing, for example ? calling for out
side repairs only when in need of
the blacksmith or the veterinary.
A car Will do some of that work,
too ? recharging its own battery
at it operates, keeping itaelf lubri
cated with Its oil pump, and to on.
But when it needs outaide help
?that's the time to make IU re you
take R to the man who handle*
your make of car, the man who
know* it be*t
It's up to your horsepower tent*
to make lore your car gets the kind
of care that will k*?p It In tafe
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