PAGE FOUR
THE COASTLAND TIMES
Published Continuously at Manteo, N. C., Since July 4, 1935
The Weekly Journal of the Walter Raleigh Coastland of North Carolina,
Foremost Region of Recreation and Sport, Healthful Living and
Historical Interest On The Atlantic Seaboard ,
Entered As Second Class Matter At The Postoffice At Manteo, N. C.
Subscription Rates: 1 Year $2.50; 6 Months $1.50; 3 Months SI.OO
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY BY TIMES PRINTING CO., INC., AT
505 LODGE STREET, MANTEO, NORTH CAROLINA
VICTOR MEEKINS, Editor
CATHERINE D. MEEKINS, Secretary-Treasurer
Vol. XX Manteo, N. G, Friday, April 15, 1955 No. 42
HATTERAS HARBOR AND HARDSHIPS OF PROGRESS.
We note with interest where numerous people are tak
ing notice of the need for improvement at Hatteras Harbor,
among them being Miles Clark of Elizabeth City. Represent
ative Herbert Bonner has long been interested in this proj
ect, and hopes there is enough money in the annual appro
priation for keeping the channel clear, but recognized that
the most critical need now is for a breakwater.
Due to a great increase in commerce in this small har
bor, all the boats that seek to use it cannot find protected
moorings. Many unusual things have happened during the
past two or three years to make urgent the need for a break
water here. The vast development that has been brought
about because of the interest of the Federal and State Gov
ernment has occasioned an influx of commerce beyond the
capacity of local interests to accommodate in the safe area
of this small harbor.
The fame that has come to Hatteras Island, the facility
with which motorists may reach it, the increase of boat
traffic including yachts and sport fishing craft; great grow
th in freight destined to the island, the larger amount of oils
needed, all have combined to bring about a condition which
reminds of the old saying ‘‘busting at the seams?’
The conditions under which the local residents have to
suffer is not of their making. The prevailing occupation of
the citizens, —commercial fishing is handicapped for need of
the subject improvement. The State of North Carolina has
invested a half million dollars or more in roads leading to
this harbor. The Federal Government has made of the whole
area a National park which is intensely promoted and
brought to the attention of tourists in every state of the
union. Traffic has resulted which congests the ferries. From
many directions have come numerous yachts and sportfish
ing craft to add to the congestion while basing for Gulf
Stream and Diamond Shoals fishing grounds. A ferry has
been established to Ocracoke Island, which also is handicap
ped for landing space. The Coast Guard has brought a large
part of its activities across Hatteras Inlet to this vicinity.
It seems that a little organizing of the Federal and
State agencies involved might soon bring about the essential
improvement providing this breakwater. The Coast Guard.
Navy, Park Service, State Highway Department, Board of
Conservation might unite with local interests and soon bring
relief to the situation.
We believe there is no harbor on the entire coast so
much in need of this sort of improvement, nor one which
has so great an opportunity for service and good advertis
ing. Here is the one harbor north of Beaufort where fisher
men may come directly from the waters and load their fish
on trucks for quick transit over direct highway to markets.
The building of the 50 miles of road, and the free state ferry
at Oregon Inlet makes this possible. But without the harbor,
the road is of little avail.
A FERRY SITUATION WITHOUT EXCUSE.
Somebody sure gummed up the works at Oregon Inlet
Saturday when four men, enough to run two boats, were
allowed to spend the day on one boat trying to handle the
traffic destined for a big week-end at Hatteras Island. Now,
there was no excuse for this condition. Another boat was
tied nearby; anyone could remember the situation on Easter
week-end a year ago. The ferry schedules should have been
doubled up on Friday and Saturday.
At 1:45 the writer of these lines went to Oregon Inlet to
take the 2 p. m. ferry across. On arriving, a full load for the
boat was well ahead in line. It was after five o’clock before
he could get on the ferry at all.
Os all times in the week, here on late Saturday after
noon, the State Highway forces were the worst offenders
themselves, and had sent down two transports of road oil, to
be used in repairing roads for work on the following Tues
day, this week. And the ferry crew allowed them to cross,
and thereby keep five automobiles from going to Hatteras.
Some 25 drivers of cars abandoned their intention of
going to Hatteras Island in this short period on Saturday.
Several, who had waited in turn nearly two hours gave up,
got out of line, and went back north. Hundreds of dollars in
business was lost to those whose business it is to cater to
tourists, because of this inexcusable stupidity on the part of
servants paid by the people.
The rudeness and discourtesy inherent in some drivers
here breaks out. No one is there to police the line and make
motorists wait their turn. Two instances were observed of
motorists who came late and pushing in up front, got on the
line ahead of cars that had been waiting as long as two
hours. To enforce a fair deal, it may be necessary to provide
a watchman.
Someone must have raised Cain, for two boats were
operating Sunday and Monday to help folks get away from
Hatteras Island. But the damage had been done. Somebody’s
stupidity or inexcusable neglect had driven many people to
abandon a trip to the island, maybe a trip that had been in
the planning for quite a long while. And in their disappoint
ment and rage as they' returned north, they may have
caused many others to stay above the inlet.
It seems a tragic sort of thing for the State Highway
Commission to allow these things to happen, when there is
no excuse, and after so much has been done by the Park
Service to promote Hatteras Island and bring it business;
and after so many of the people of the Island have gone to
great trouble and expense to provide facilities for the com
fort and enjoyment of these visitors.
One thing may be born in mind. There was no excuse
for the situation Saturday. The men were there, the boat
was there; it could have kept traffic cleared up. Could it be,
as some on the island believe, there wsts a conspiracy to keep
tourists from going to Hatteras ?
If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be
beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character,
there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in
the home, there will be order in the nation. When there is
order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.
—Chinese Proverb via the Sunshine Magazine
A man may have many friends, but he will find none so
steadfast, so constant, so ready to respond to his wants,
so capable of pushing him aheaa, as a little leather covered
book with the name of a bank on its cover. —Selected
SHALL THE SHORT-SIGHTED ALWAYS PREVAIL
AGAINST THE ADVANTAGES OF DARE PEOPLE?
Within a few weeks, the Commissioners of Dare County
will meet and approve a budget calling for the expenditure
of something close to a quarter of a million dollars for oper
ating Dare County during the coming fiscal year. Some of
them will not know what it is all about, but they will sign
approval of what is handed them.
In contrast to the great extravagances to be found in
this budget to be put over by the free spenders of Dare
County, the Commissioners, by the narrow margin of the
Chairman’s vote week voted disapproval of a measure
whereby improvement and enlargement of the medium of
bringing bread and meat to most of the people of Dare
County might be possible.
Mind you, they were not asked to spend any money, or
to make any committment. They were asked to sign approv
al for the Legislature to pass a law, whereby future Boards
of Commissioners would be enabled to spend as much as
$7,500 in a year for advertising and promotion of the tour
ist business in Dare County.
Yet shortly before, this same Board had given eager
approval to a scheme to squirt away SIOO,OOO to build an un
finished jail and some new offices on the back of Dare Coun
ty’s dilapidated old courthouse.
Now how can a Board through such contrary actions,
expect to win the confidence of the people, convince the pub
lic at large of its ability to fulfill the duties of the office, or
contribute to the advancement and progress of an enlight
ened Dare County ?
The excuse that some citizens had opposed giving fi
nancial aid to the promotion of tourist business in Dare
County does not justify any Board member in opposing
something valuable and profitable for the county. A mem
ber is expected to use some discretion and not be swayed
this way and that by every wind that blows. People who op
pose tourist development in Dare County have in the main
been people who opposed everything of value. They are
mostly people who contribute nothing of their time to public
causes, and pay a negligible amount of taxes. Many of them
profit handsomely, either through employment in various
trades or business whose profits result from the develop
ment of Dare County. There are the people who, while their
living depends on the tourist business, dispute and spout al
ways, but whose opinion prevails with your public servants.
Conditions have changed in Dare County until at least
three fourths of the income of its people is the result of its
tourist business and the development of its resort facilities.
Here is a simple bill. It only permits, if considered wise
and necessary the expenditure of not more than $7,500 in
any one year, to promote the business on which we depend
for 75 cents of every dollar we get. No board has to spend
that much. Nor spend any of it for that matter. It only
makes possible the expenditure of some or all of it if needed.
It would cost the average homeowners, the man with a
new modern home, only 80 cents to $1 a year. It would mean
.04 cent tax. The principal cost, three fourths of it would not
be borne by residents of Dare County, but by people who
don’t live here. What could be a better bargain.
There are a few people of course in Dare County who
would object to anything. Some of them if offered a SSO bill
free at the postoffice every Saturday night would raise cain
if transportation were not also provided for them to go col
lect the money. But while those people are few, it is more
unfortunate indeed for us that we have public servants
whose actions in behalf of the .people who had confidence in
them is guided by opinions of such backward folks instead
of the progressive ones.
Seriously now, it is time to give serious thought to get
ting some abler, more conscientious public servants in of
fice. Dare County has been too good to some of its officials
too long.
What I must do, is all that concerns me, not what the
people think. This rue, equally ardous in actual and in intel
lectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between
greatness and meanness. It is harder, because you will al
ways find those who think they know what is your duty bet
ter than you know it. Emerson
I N.C. POPULATION I */i/'I \ '
[~G~OVERHMENT EMPLOYED [
State Government Employment
RATIO is LOW!
If the ratio of public employees to total population is
a measure of efficiency, then North Carolina is among
the most efficiently governed states in the union! A
recent study showed the total number of State and
local government employees equivalent to 241.3 per
10,000 population, making the North Carolina ratio
fourth lowest of any state. The economy and efficiency
with which our State is operated goes far in making
North Carolina a better place in which to work, play
and live.
Another contribution to more pleasant living for
North Carolinians is the brewing industry's self
regulation program where brewers, wholesalers and
retailers—in counties where malt beverages are per
mitted under State control cooperate to maintain
wholesome conditions for the legal sale of beer
and ale.
North Carolina Division
UNITED STATES BREWERS FOUNDATION, INC.
ZKS
snassß&snws
THE COASTLAND TIMES, MANTEO, N. C.
MANTEO PERSONALS
Mr. and Mrs. Fred O. Basnight
have had as their guests Mrs. Bas
night’s brother and sister-in-law,
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Cessna of Nar
rows, Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Dough
and daughter of Raleigh have re
turned home after visiting Mrs.
Dough’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.
A. Krider.
Harry Thomas of Burlington
spent Easter week end with his
wife’s mother and step-father, Mr.
and Mrs. Donovan Twyne.
Billy O’Neal, USCG, of Norfolk,
Va., visited his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. W. B. O’Neal last week end.
Mrs. W. H. Etheridge is serious
ly ill in Norfolk General Hospital,
Norfolk, Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Adams and
children of Portsmouth, Va., spent
Easter with Mrs. Adams’ parents,
Mr. and Mrs. R. E. White.
Policeman M. C. Mitchell re
turned to his home Friday from
Duke Hospital, Durham, where he
recently underwent an operation.
He plans to return soon for fur
ther treatment.
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse White spent
Easter week end in Windsor.
Mr. and Mrs. Wayland Fry
spent Easter week end in Carth
age with Mr. Fry’s parents.
Mr. and Mrs. William Ernst
and children have returned from
Floyd, Va., where they visited
Mrs. Ernst’s parents.
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Long and
children spent. Easter in Richmond
with Mr. Long’s mother.
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Guthrie
had as guests during the holidays,
Lt. Rex Guthrie of Fort Bragg.
Also Corpl. Doug Guthrie of Fort
Jackson, S. C. and his friend, Miss
Cora Myers.
Mrs. Marvin Midgett and
daughter, Susan, of Portsmouth,
Va., are visiting Mrs. Midgette’s
parents, Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair
Midgett.
WAVES PERSONALS
Major and Mrs. B. W. Williams
and children, B. W., Jr., and Allan
C., of Atlanta, Ga., are visiting
Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Midgett.
ON ITS WAY . .
SAVINGS TO YOU!’
PYROTAX GAS
BULK TANKS
Cheaper Installations!
No Charge for Gas Until Used!
NO CHARGE FOR BULK TANKS
REPLACING PREVIOUS PYROFAX
CYLINDER INSTALLATIONS
AVAILABLE NOW
FREE INSTALLATIONS
WITH EACH APPLIANCE PURCHASED
FOR FURTHER DETAILS CALL
Wescott Bros.
Gas Co.
PHONE 51-J MANTEO, N. C.
50-FOOT SNACK BAR
AN UNUSUAL ADDITION
TO NAGS HEAD CASINO
An unusually long snack bar
was being completed this week at
the Nags Head Casino, and the
management planned to have it in
service by Friday night (tonight).
G. T. Westcott stated that so far
as he knew it was the longest any
where in this area, with its 50-
odd feet. The usual refreshments
and knick-knacks will be sold.
Additional tables and chairs have
been arranged, greatly enlarging
the downstairs seating capacity,
where the old bar was located.
This’ week marks the opening
for the season for the popular
amusement stand, when Friday
► GW J
£ seven J
MSTAR j
Proof!
rbwß *240 <
SETENSTar I 4
II 1 <
**** * * *
90 PROOF M A. AAA AA
■ Kino twnuimaoHnw, ran u»n> ■
■ PtMU • ILUBOU
~ ■ BLENDED WHISKEY • 37)4% STRAIGHT
WHISKEY 6 YEARS OR MORE OLD • 62)4%
GRAIN NEUTRAL SPIRITS • GOODERHAM
4 WORTS LIMITED, PEORIA ILLINOr
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1955
night, The Ramblers, a hillbilly
band, will appear for a square
dance. Saturday night’s attraction
will be the 10-piece orchestra led
by inwood Maddrey.
CLUB
(Continued from Page One)
dered in making her year in serv
ice as club president a success. 4
The Club Pin was then graciously "
accepted by the new president.
Mrs. A. L. G. Stephenson and
Mrs. Florine Hooper, program
chairman, presented a delightful
program during which time music
was furnished by Mrs. Flay Kemp,
Mrs. Hubert Ambrose, T. 0. Sut
ton and Hugh Craddock.