North Carolina Newspapers

VOLUME XXII NO. 18 / GEESE AND DUCKS BY THOUSANDS IN PEA ID. REFUGE Unusually Large Rocks Swarrri In on Week End, While Report ed Leaving Back Bay The largest flocks of wild geese and ducks ever seen are reported as having come into the Pea Is land Wildlife Refuge during the week end, and some observers won der if the abnormal rains of the the past several days had any thing to do with it At the same time complaint has been voiced from the Back Bay region of Vir ginia that fowl have been steadily disappearing from that area. The Pea Island Refuge consists of about 5,880 acres on the north ern 13 miles of Hatteras Island, is bounded on the North by Ore gon Inlet and the village of Ro danthe is near the south end. It has the only large concentration of gadwall nesting on the Atlantic Seaboard. While its chief habitants are geese, it has many brant snowgeeser and many varieties of dueks during the season. The ref uge* was established 18 years ago. Some 34 species of shore birds have also been recorded on Pea Island. In this area, dikes have been built to impound fresh water, duck foods have been planted, and controlled burnings have provided browse for geese. When feeding areas in northern states are frozen over, many birds come to the Pea Island Refuge. In areas to the south of the refuge, many citizens of the adja cent communities maintain blinds in the nearby waters and accom modate sportsmen who hunt ducks and geese The proximity of this refuge, because of many birds traveling to or from it makes for better sport for many of these blinds. The adjacent Pamlico Sound waters this year are reported by fishermen to contain more salt wa ter grass than has been seen in many years. In the past two year's, the growth had been swept away by hurricane tides from the,north west. The wildfowl season opens next Wednesday, November 7th. and continues through January 14th. Guides are now busy getting their equipment ready, and many reser vations are reported as having been made by non-resident hunters who like to visit Hatteras Island, and Ocracoke. ; At Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hat teras, and Ocracoke Island, a num ber of guides entertain wildfowl hunters. Indications are that this will be a big season. • - ENTHUSIASM ATTENDS THE OPENING OF DARE CIVIL DEFENSE RADIO CLASSES The Dare County Civil Defense Radio Class began Tuesday night, October 30, with a great deal of enthusiasm, under the able and capable direction of Goodrich Wil liams, the Dare County Civil De fense Radio Officer. Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thurdsay nights from 8 to 10 p.m. When the present class is graduated, a new class will be started. Women and youngsters of responsible age will be organized into special classes later on. Those persons throughout the county who are interested in attending future classes are urged to regis ter with Robert K. Gunn, Phone 202-W, Manteo. Registrants of the first Radio Operators Class as as follows: James Cutrell, Darrell Midgett, Ryan Midgett, Ben Shannon, Roger Shannon, Carl Swaim, Mar vin Mann, Willis Wise, Arnold Wright, John Earle Sr., John Earle Jr., Fred Trew, W. H. Bunch and Raymond White 111. Training and assistance is being given by the following licensed operators: Randy Houston, a Man teo high school student and H. O. Bridges. MRS. RUTH KELLY JONES WIFE OF SAM G. JONES OCRACOKE NATIVE, DIES Mrs. Mary Ruth Kelly Jones, 63, wife of Sam G. Jones, and daughter of the late Capt William C. and Mrs. Neva Howard Kelly, died at 12:15 p.m. Monday at Norfolk. Mrs. Jones was a native of Ocracoke Island, and had been a president of Norfolk for 41 years | residing at Diamond Springs in Princess Anne County at the time of her death. Besides her husband she is sur vived by four sons: Sam G. Jones Jr., of Diamond Springs, William C. Jones, of Franklin, Howard E. Jones, and Charles Anderson Jones of Norfolk; one daughter, Mrs. N. I O. Scott Jr., of Monterey, Calif., I eight grandchildren and one broth- I er; E. Carleton Kelly of Ocracoke. THE COASTLAND TIMES PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROUNA ELECTION OFFERING ONE REPUBLICAN ON TICKET IN DARE Few People Desire to Hold County Office While Pros , parity Holds Up The election next Tuesday in Dare will offer a lone Republican candidate seeking county office. Capt. Victor Daniels of Wanchese, a highly regarded citizen, and a grandson of the lite George Charles Daniels, long time ilepUb lican leader and once Represent ative of Dare, is seeking to tie a county commissioner. He is oppos ing Lawrence Swain of Manteo. While not expected to get any where near election, he is counting on considerable Democratic votes in Atlantic Township, where so much antagonism was stirred up during the school fight last year. On the county Democratic ticket next week will be one newcomer he being Capt. Frank H. Newcomb Midget of Waves, who was nomi nated in the primary to succeed J. W. Scarborough of Avon who has had four terms. Hallett Perry of Kitty Hawk, a former Commis sioner is again on the ticket The Democratic County ticket is as follows: For Sheriff: F. M. Cahoon; For Clerk of the Court, C. S. Meekins; for Representative, R. Bruce Etheridge; For Coroner, Marvin Rogers; For Register of Deeds, Melvin R. Daniels; Foi' Recorder’s Judge, W. F. Baum; For Com missioners: Mainland District, C. C. Duvall; Atlantic Township, Hallett F. Perry; Nags Head Township, Lawrence L. Swain; Kennekeet Township, Newcomb Midgett; Hatteras Township, E. P. White. When the Board of Commission ers reorganizes on the first meet ing in December, it will have two new members on the Board, and it is expected that C. C. Duvall will be replaced as Chairman by See ELECTION, Page Eight ENGINEERS TOLD OF NEED TO DEEPEN OCRACOKE INLET Vigorous Support Given Project at Hearing Held Saturday at Oriental By FRED WHITAKER Oriental.—Fishermen of coastal North Carolina, representatives of fishing interests, the inland ports, and the State Government gather ed here Saturday to present their case to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for the deepening and stabilization of Ocracoke Inlet. They emphasized that this im portant key in the economic de velopment of the coastal economy should be made a water gateway, rather than a partially stoppered bottleneck “daring” them to use it. The formal presentations to the engineers, headed by Col. H. C. Rowland, Jr., district engineer, and Col. J. H. Jackson, assistant dis trict engineer, was made by the North Carolina Fisheries Associa tion. Those appearing in the for mal presentation were President Garland Fulcher, Director W. H. Potter, Attorney John Rodman, Fred Whitaker, George Gamer, and R. R. Rivenbark. Stanley Wahab of Ocracoke, President of the All-Seashore Highway Asso ciation attended. Following informal oral present ation, which included a procession of fishing boat captains, the sum ming up was given by Second District Congressman Graham H. Barden of New Bern. In closing the meeting, Col. Rowland com plimented the group and indicated that he was favorably impressed with the presentation. The formal presentation indi cated that the completion of the project would mean a minimum of $10,000,000 annually to the fishing industry of the state. It pointed out also that fleet dam age now ran into thousands of dollars each year, with the pre diction that the damage this com ing winter season would be in creased by 50 per cent above last year. The 65-page NCFA brief indi cated that the $33,750,000 fishing fleet now brought an income of $12,500,000 to North Carolina, and it listed 752 fishing vessels of all types. Cecil Morris of Atlantic, chair man of the Fisheries Committee of the N. C. Board of Conserva tion and Development, stated that nothing else could be done to help the coastal economy more than to stabilize Ocracoke Inlet, giving access to the rich Raleigh Bay fishing grounds just outside it. While the Fisheries Association stressed the economic and dam age loss by the denial of the use of Ocracoke Inlet, Congressman Barden stressed as most import ant the national defense factor. See OCRACOKE, Page Four TAXI DRIVER SAYS BEATEN AND ROBBED OF S9OO BY ROGERS D. A. Rogers, Jr., a young Man teo man in his early 20’s was held under bcfid of $2,500 Tuesday when he waived examination Tuesday in Recorders Court, and his case goes on the Spring term of Super ior Court. He is charged by Mar vin Daniels, taxi driver, party boat operator, and fish dealer, with having entered the place in which he was dozing, Monday evening and robbing him of some S9OO in cash, after first assaulting him with a flash light, beating him severely about the head and face. Daniels reported to Night Offi cer Dan Cannady, and after all officers were alerted, Rogers was arrested later in the night. The Clerk of the Court now holds $l2O in cash which police reported as having been found under the seat in Rogers’ car. Rogers, dsecribed by his. friends as a good fellow at heart, frequent ly has aberations of sorts, or else gets in the wrong company for he is often in court on offenses of various kinds, often having to do with traffic violations. The alleged scene of the assault was in the fish market which Daniels is interested in operating, and where he spends a deal of his time and sometimes sleeps. He is known to carry fairly large sums of money on his person. The as sault took place shortly after dark. Police are inclined to the view there was more than one person involved in the assault. GRAY GIVEN 60 DAYS FOR ASSAULT ON ALTON BEST Stumpy Point Man Appeals Case; Other News of Recorders and Superior Courts. A third episode has taken place in the series of crimes in which Thurston Giay of Stumpy Point is involved. It occurred this week when Gray was sentenced by Re corder W. F. Baum, 60 days on the roads for assaulting Alton Best of Stumpy Point. Gray, along with Buren Twiford of Stumpy Point was sentenced to nine months on the roads last week in Superior Court, after con viction of having maliciously dam aged fish nets belonging to Best. They have appealed to Supreme Court for a new trial. Gray also has to appear in Su perior Court in Currituck County in January to be tried for the malicious burning of woodlands of the West Virginia Company. Judge Bone ordered the case removed from Dare last week, it appearing that no fair trial could take place in Dare County. Buren Twiford, an ex-convict had previously been involved in the burning case, but had gotten clear. In Recorders Court this Week, Judge Baum fined E. B. Midgett Jr. $5 and costs for failing to ob serve a stop sign. He also fined Wm. L. Rogers $lO and costs for traffic violation. Last week in Superior Court a mistrial resulted in the trial of Willis Wilson, a taxi-driver of Manteo, who was charged with possession of whiskey for purpose of sale. On this, the final day of Superior Court, Julian Clark was convicted of driving while drunk, and paid a fine of SIOO and costs. TYRRELL NATIVE NAMED INSTRUCTOR IN AIR SCIENCE i •■LxU CAPT. MYRON MITCHELL EV ERTON, of Ports mouth, Va., has been appointed in structor i n air science at the Uni versity of Cincin nati, Col. William P. Williamson, pro fessor of air sci ence, announced Capt. Everton will also serve at UC as assistant comman dant of cadets. A native of Columbia, Capt Everton served as radio operator with the U. S. Merchant Marine from 1944 to 1947. He was grad uated from Multi-engine Flying School at Reese Air Force Base, Okla., in 1950. He came to UC from a year’s tour of duty in Labrador, where he flew Arctic resupply and special missions. Capt Everton received a bache lor of arts degree in education frmo Sacramento State College, Calif. With his wife and three daughters, he lives at 6792 Golf way drive, Mt Healthy, Ohio. Capt Everton has a grandfather living on Rt 8, Columbia. Mrs. Evertpn is the former Lovestine KsariSW MANTEO, N. d., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1956 SWAIN GIVES VIEWS TO COL SNOW ON MOSQUITO CONTROL Dare Commissioner tbry of Drainage Projects and Economic Benefits. An extremely interesting and informative letter has been for warded by County Commissioner Lawrence Swain of Manteo, to Col. B. C. Snow of the Salt Marsh Mos quito Control Commission in Ra leigh, in response to an inquiry from the State office about con trol of this mosquito in Dare and its economic aspects to the bounty. In his letter to Col. Snow, Mr. Swain offers the following infor mation and comment: “During the early “thirties" Dare County was fortunate in that the Civilian Conservation Corps and other Federal Agencies were making a'practical experiment in Beach Erosion and drainage in the county and produced some very dramatic results. The scope of this experiment was quite large and involved, at times, some 1200 to 1400 men' for a period of seven years. “it was during this time that our barrier dune system was creat ed; grass was planted, not only on the barrier dunes, but on any and all barren stretches of sand at Or near the ocean;' drainage ditches and canals were dug, and the area was generally cleaned up. Engi neering statistics and data was accumulated so that efforts in the wrong direction would not be re peated. “The results of this practical ex periment were as follows: “1. The creation of the barrier dune system was accomplished by the planting of brush fences in such manner as to collect sand from the prevailing winds. As sand collected grass was planted, using native grasses and plants, partic ularly those that were hardy enough to withstand salt spray and that would, at the same time, create a root system. As the dune grew, these plants helped to anchor it and keep it in place. More brush fence was added as that which was already in place became covered. Always the planting of grass was paramount to the suc cess of the system. This barrier dune assumed a natural slope to the ocean and wave action helped, rather than hindered, progressive building. “2. Planting of grasses and other plants on the barren stretch es of beach lands almost immed iately produced a different sort of terrain. In the beginning there was precious little grass available to plant—and that mostly in shel tered places. By careful nurturing ana by transplanting from place to place a sufficient quantity was soon produced to fill requirements. With the exception of a few very large hills and those which had a high degree of movement, our beach land became anchored and stable. Today it would be possible to recreate the forests that long ago abounded in this section in places to the ocean’s very edge. “3. Drainage was attempted al most entirely in deference to the mosquito. It did not seem practi cal to reclaim land due to the gen eral equality of elevation of the marshes to sea level or sound level. Therefore, drainage ditches were intended to drain off lands when flood tides receded after a storm. In this direction drainage served its purpose. In addition, some lands that had hitherto been regarded as low were found to be suitable for development and other lands became changed to the ex tent that, with a little more effort, they could possibly be made use ful. “To point up this accomplish ment the most severe hurricane ever to hit Dare County occurred in September of 1944. This hurri cane caused much damage to prop erty but it was observed that most of the damage was caused by flooding from sound waters which rapidly receded through the fine drainage system then in good re pair. The shoreline along the ocean was not injured. The mos quitos did not increase after the storm. “In the years after the war See SWAIN, Page Five CIVIL DEFENSE PLANS TOLD TO MANTEO PTA Plans fpr civil defense were out lined Tuesday night by Dare County’s civilian defense co-ordi nator Robert K. Gunn, when he spoke to the Manteo PTA, con cerning plans involving this area and the Manteo school. A proposition for sponsoring a Cub Scout organization was dis cussed, the by-laws were read, and it was agreed to postpone the. PTA Hallowe’en carnival from Wednes day afternoon until Friday after noon because of adverse weather conditions. MAY LOSE $700,000 HIGHWAY PROPOSED ON DARE BEACHES Highway Commission Considers Abandoning Project Result of Right of Way Opposition The State Highway Commission has about $700,000 set up for a new road through the Nags Head area, but the money may go else where jf right-of-way difficulties aren’t settled soon. The new road would carry US 158 from Wright Memorial Bridge through Jockey Ridge to Whale bone, and would lie about 1,000 feet west, or inland, of the pres ent road. State Highway Engineer W. H. Rogers Jr. said the change would provide a location less affected by ocean storms and a road which would be able to handle beach season traffic with Itess congestion. The proposed right-of-way would be about 150 feet wide, or wide enough to* allow for a dual lane highway in the future. The existing road would be re tained on the highway system and would continue to be maintained by State forces. Rogers said the proposed 1,000 foot distance between the two roads would allow room for resi dential and business development. The project has been ready for a go-ahead sign for about a year. The $700,000 would cover grading and structures. The paving would come later in a separate contract. “But,” Rogers said, “we’re hav ing trouble getting right-of-way.” If the.troubles are not resolved soon, he said, the money will have to be transferred to other work. W. VA. CO; BUILDING 215 MILES ROADS IN MAINLAND' SWAMPS Woodlands Road and Drainage Project To and Three Fourths MiHroh. By AYCOCK BROWN In a northeastern North Cart>- lina region which many thought was destined to be an everlasting wilderness, the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company is build ing a road system that will cost when completed $1,737,000. Total mileage of the project which em braces the Dare and Tyrrell dis tricts of the Company’s North Carolina Woodlands will be 215 miles and the road building pro gram is scheduled for completion by the end of the fiscal year in 1958. Completed or nearing completion are 95 miles of primary roads, under construction are 120 miles. These roads are in a region where it was difficult at first to get private contractors on the job, first started, shortly after the N. C. Woodlands division of West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company acquired its first acreage in this area of the state in 1952. Today the West Virginia company owns more than 300,000 acres, mostly in Dare and Tyrrell, and some tracts in Washington and Hyde. In the primary system og 95 miles of roads there were 36 bridges to be built and 106 cul verts placed for drainage purposes. The second phase system of 120 miles will include 48 bridges and 240 culverts. Due to the unusual terrain, where it is necessary in building roads to cross jungle-like swamps and lands where for ages water has covered deep layers of soft peat soil, the projects have been tough. It required 13 months, to completed a nine mile segment from U. S. Highway 264 to Whip ping Creek, a tributary of Alli gator River. One dragline operat ing 16 hours daily, five days each week was used in the construc tion of the Whipping Creek road. The best day’s progress on this rugged route was about 200 feet as compared to nearly no progress on other days when ancient stumps of great cypress trees, some eight feet in diameter, were encountered. The network of roads will serve many purposes in the development of N. C. Woodlands, one of the most important being fire protec tion. Fires have been the greatest handicap to developing and con serving the forests of this area. MANTEO METHODIST MEN PLAN FISH FRY NOV. 16 A fish fry is being planned for Friday evening, November 16th by the men of the Men’s Club of Mt Olivet Methodist Church. A meet ing to complete plans for this fish fry has been called for Monday, November Sth at 8 p.m. to be held in the education building of the church. All members are urged to be present. EAST CAROLINA GETS ALMOST 40 NIGHTS, FORTY DAYS OF RAIN Water Standing on Poorly Drain ed Roads Proves a Nuisance; High Tides Prevail Poorly designed roads, and poor drainage of these roads have help ed to create quite a nuisance for people of the Dare Coast during the week, as a result of the heavy rains concluding a series of some 30 days, of rain, and some wind. It now looks as if there will be 40 days and 40 nights of rain, as in old Noah’s day. For many years heavy rains have given trouble on the Dare Beach roads, because there is no adequate drainage provided. Each year, appeals are made for emer gency funds. Each year ditches are cut, pipes are provided for culverts. And when the water is drain ed off the whole thing is ap parently forgotten. The next year, when heavy rains again flood the roads, the same old situation exists. Nothing has been done in preparation. The pipes are fliled with sand. No effort has been made to keep them open. Due to the shifting nature of the sands, it is difficult at best to keep the pipes and ditches open, conse quently such effort needs to be planned ahead of time. Heavy rains this week ran down the highway, and flooded long stretches of it between Kitty Hawk and Nags'‘Head. In some houses floors were covered, they having been built on the ground at road level. High sea tides ran over some lower places of the beach, and filled the low built roadways. The worst example of highway engineering stupidity is on Hat teras Island, where a trench was dug, and a road put in it. Conse quently every torrential rain means a flooded road, for the wa ter' cannot get away. In addition to the trench built for the road, the highway commission has haul ed away most of the right of way on each side, leaving a 100 foot trough for rains and tides to sweep down. Although the rains were heavy this week, they do not compare in damage with many that have oc curred during the years since 1933 when the road was torn, up by storm on Nags Head beach the first time. Because of lack of drainage, certain areas have al ways been flooded and when floor's of houses are poured on the ground in such areas, anyone may expect houses to be flooded also. Relief from heavy rains and high tides that have beseiged this coastal area for more than a week appears in sight. There has been no actual damage, except that it is reported that in some instances soybeans which have not been harvested are nearing the stage where they will begin to rot if not harvested promptly. Farmers in most cases this year harvested their corn early, and on ly a small percentage of the corn still remains in the field. However, few farmers are known to have combined their beans, and contin ued bad weather could deal a hard blow to farmers by damaging the soybeans, which have grown well this year to date. Many low spots have been flood ed by the tide. A low portion of Belhaven’s Main Street in front of the town hall has been completely covered with water several days. During Monday night’s heavy rain, 2.8 inches of rain were reported to have fallen in Belhaven. At New Holland, Fish and Wild life gauges recorded 4.31 inches of rain from 4:30 p.m. Monday to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Measurable amounts of rain also fell every day during the previous week with the exception of Friday. On Wednes- See WEATHER, Page Eight N. C. LILY SOCIETY TO MEET IN MANTEO Liliez To Bo Planted in Elizabethan Gar den; Slides on Lily Development Saturday Night The Lily Society of North Caro line will hold its annual meeting in Manteo on Novmeber 3 and 4. On Saturday, November 3, the flower growers will plant lilies in the Elizabethan Garden on Roa noke Island. The meetings will be held in the Hotel Fort Raleigh, and at eight o’clock Saturday eve ning slides on the development and -growing of the lily will be shown. Anyone who is interested in the subject is invited, to attend. SOCK DANCE SATURDAY • A “Sock Dance", sponsored by the cheer leaders of the Manteo High School, will be held in the school gymnasium Saturday, Nov. 3, at 8 p.m. All are in vited to come along. A small ad mission will be charged and as before, bring your own socks and check shoes at the door. Single Copy 70 SAILOR SLAYS WIFE BRINGS HER TO DARE AND BURIES BODY Finally Confesses Crime and Leads Police to Grave Near Kitty Hawk Hans H. Paasch, Hickory, Va., Sailor, who confessed Friday morn ing to shooting his wife and bury ing her under a tree in Dare County is in Norfolk County, Va. jail unable to post a $50,000 bond. Norfolk County Commonwealth Attorney Peter M. Axson reported that Paasch signed a full confes sion Friday afternoon and was formally charged about 4:40 pan. with feloniously killing and slaying his wife. He was taken from his cell briefly to be fingerprinted and then returned to the lockup to await a preliminary hearing sched uled for 9 a.m. Monday in the Norfolk County Civil and Police Court. All three of the Paasch children were turned over to Norfolk County welfare officials to await court determination. According to police, Paasch shot his wife, Lauretta, on the George Washington Canal bank some two miles south of Deep Creek in Nor folk County on Oct. 16, drove the body to Dare County and hid it in some underbrush. Paasch’s three children, the oldest three years old, were with him at the time. • Police say Paasch admits leaving the youngest child, 11-months old Patricia, in a Catholic Church in Elizabeth City, Oct. 18. The child was taken to Elizabeth City police headquarters. Chief W. C. Owens launched an inquiry to identify the baby’s parents, and turned the baby over to Pasquotank County welfare personnel. Chief Owens was joined by South Norfolk police, SBI agents and other officials—in both North Carolina and Virginia, in a con tinuing investigation until Paasch broke down under the strain Fri day and cleared up the baffling mystery. Previously a lie detector test had failed to aid the police in developing a lead in solving rf the * case. Statements of one of the children that “mommy was shot and buried under a tree,” helped point suspicion to Paasch. Also a 22-calibre pistol was found in his possession. ROADWAY, INLET TO FORT RALEIGH JOB TO COST $307,093 Bridge at Columbia to Cost Over Half-Million; Bids Received This Week The Brown Paving Company of Lexington this week submitted to the State Highway and Public Works Commission the low bid of $307,093.10 for improvement on 27.9 miles of highway between Manns Harbor and Oregon Inlet, known as U. S. 64 and which may indicate that the road will be num bered officially as U. S. 64 all the way to the Inlet. Some in terests have advocated that U. S. 64, which begins on the west coast, be designated all the way to Cape Hatteras. This bid this week is for sand asphalt base surfacing as follows: from Manns Harbor North to Croatan Sound bridge; from Fort Raleigh to Whalebone, and from there to Oregon Inlet. A bid was also received this week for improvements in Tyrrell County connecting with the new proposed bridge over Scuppernong River, at Columbia. The bid was for 0.3 miles of grading, paving and a structure in this relocation; roadway to M. R. Keech, Pinetown, $124,816.25 structures, McGill Con tracting Co., Whitmire , S. C., $433,107.80; moving of buildings, J. W. Watkins, Creedmore, SIO,BBO. CARNIVAL POSTPONED The Manteo PTA Carnival has been postponed to Friday, Novem ber 2 at 5:30 p.m. on the school grounds. Judging of the costumes and crowning of the Junior and Senior Queens will be held in the auditor ium beginning at 8 p.m. TURKEY DINNER NOV. 9 A turkey dinner will be served by members of the Manteo WSCS on Friday evening, November 9, beginning at 5:80 o’clock, in the» church’s educational building. The public is invited to attend. A nom inal charge will be made, proceeds to go toward local church projects. Plates to Mke out can also he se cured orders in &d