VOLUME XXII NO. 26
OYSTER SUPPLY IN
DARE ARE TAKEN
AWAY FOR PLANTS
Wholesale Dredging of Shells For
Removal To Lower Sounds
Reported
Dredging of oyster shells from
the waters of Dare County to take
to points on the lower sounds for
planting has 'been going on on a
large scale for some weeks, accord
ing to Wanchese oystermen. Thou
sands of bushels of shells are go
ing to other counties for planting,
some of these counties being heavy
producers of oysters, but many of
their oysters go away in the shell
to distant markets.
This constant shipment of oys
ters to the markets of this and oth
er states, together with the prac
tice of using large quantities of
shells for industrial purposes, has
had an adverse effect on the
growth of oysters. Shells are in
valuable for the seed of oysters,
for here the spat deposits and
forms new, young oysters.
The oystermen themselves as a
rule, do very little, or nothing to
develop the industry. It is a con
stant harvesting, with no sowing.
The State of North Carolina, part
ly from taxes on the industry, and
other sources, spends a great deal
of money plahting shells where the
beds have been scraped clean, and
oystermen pick up a few dollars in
this job.
Wanchese fishermen say that
some of the recently planted
grounds in this county are being
scraped off before the oysters may
start growing, and the same shells
carried to other parts of the state.
It is estimated that 10,000 bushels
were planted in Dare. Inasmuch as
there has been no more than token
enforcement of fishing laws and
regulations in this state, little re
lief is expected. There is always
much talk, and has been for 25
years about building up the indus
try, but nothing has come of it;
it gets poorer each year.
LARGE CROWD ATTENDS
4-H CHRISTMAS PARTY
Approximately 70 young people
attended the 4-H Christmas party
held by Manteo seventh and eighth
grade students December 19 in the
community building in Manteo.
Square dancing and round dancing
were enjoyed, and a be-bop con
test was won by Philip Tillett and
Tony Tillett.
Refreshments of Christmas can
dy, cookies and bottled drinks were
served. The committee on arrange
ments was headed by Nancy Coles
Basnight, who was assisted by
Nancy Lynn Midgett, Carol Harris,
Pattie Long, Delia Basnight, Betty
Ruth Flowers and Isabel Riddick.
County Farm Agent R. S. Smith
was present to help direct activi
ties. He was assisted by Miss Hel
en Mann of the Manteo school fac
ulty and Cary Williams.
VOICE STUDENT GIVES
BENEFIT RECITAL SUNDAY
Miss Patricia Baum of Mantes,
voice major at Greensboro College,
Greensboro, and a member of the
junior class, was presented in re
cital Sunday afternoon by Mount
Olivet Methodist Church. Her pro
gram included a group of Oratorio
arias; a group of wedding songs;
and a group of folk songs, includ
ing as a final number “I Wonder
As I Wander,” Christmas folk song
appropriate to the season.
Miss Pat Pugh of Elizabeth City,
music education major at Greens
boro College, was Miss Baum’s able
accompanist.
A silver offering was taken for
the benefit of the Greensboro Col
lege Glee Club, to assist in their
travel expense to a Town Hall con
cert in New York this season.
APRONS AND RUGS SUBJECT
OF HD DEMONSTRATION
The Wanchese Home Demonstra
tion Club held the last meeting of
1956 at the home of Mrs. Stanley
Newman on December 19.
The meeting opened with the
group singing “Joy to the World”
and' repeating the club collect, fol
lowing which the officers gave
their reports.
Mrs. Jeff Davis headed the club
for most points awarded during
the past year.
The Christmas story was read
’by Mrs. Stanley Newman and Mrs.
Harry Baum.
/ The Subjects of the demonstra
tion were ,‘Aprons” and “Braided
Rugs” the first being given by
Mrs. Lena Pearsall and the second
by Mrs. Guy Lennon.
SOCK DANCE AT MANTEO
A sock dance will be held Sat
urday night this week, beginning
at eight o’clock at the Manteo
High school gymnasium, the pro
ceeds to go to the benefit of the
school athletic fund.
THE COASTLAND TIMES
PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROLINA
NEW OFFICERS WANCHESE LODGE NO. 521, A.F. & A.M.
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At the regular business meeting of Wanchess Lodge No. 521, A.F. & A.M., Thursday, December
20, the above officers were elected for the year of 1957: Front row, left to right: Stephen B. Tillett, Ty
ler; Melvin R. Daniels, Treasurer; Willard O. Daniels, Sr., Senior Warden; H. O. “Mickey” Bridges, Mas
ter; James W. Davis, Secretary; Ward W. Daniels, Junior Warden. Back row, left to right: Alvah H. Ward,
Jr., Junior Deacon; Carlos C. Dowdy, Chaplain; Bernard A. Daniels, Senior Steward; Basil Daniels, Jr.,
Junior Steward; Roy C. McCarter, Senior Warden. ,
Wanchese Lodge is the oldest of the three lodges in Dare County, having received its charter in
1903. It is a most active lodge and is noted for its formal dinners and other activity. It has about 256
members. The outgoing officers are Bob Smith, Master; H. O. Brdiges, Sr. Warden; Bill Twiford, Junior-
Warden; W. O. Daniels, Senior Deacon; Roy McCarter, Junior Deacon.
SAUDI ARABIA NATIVE
VISITS IN NAGS HEAD
Attending School in Texas, John R.
Kessinger Comes To North Carolina
Coast To Spend Holidays
With His Uncle
Mr. and Mrs. R. Roy Kessinger
of Nags Head have as their guest
for the holidays Mr. Kessinger’s
nephew, John R. Kessinger who is
a student at San Marcos Military
Academy, San Marcos, Texas.
Young Kessinger’s home is in
Dhrahran, Saudi Arabia, where he
was born, and where his parents
have been living for about 18
years. His father is connected with
a oil company operating there.
This week* end - Mr. Kessinger and
his nephew plan to visit their sis
ter and aunt, Miss Esther Kessin
ger. in Philadelphia, Pa.
The Kessingers spent Christmas
Day in Elizabeth City with Mr.
and Mrs. Edward O’Briant. On
Sunday they visited Mrs. Kessin
ger’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E.
Patrick, in Washington, N. C.; and
Mr. Kessinger’s brother-in-law and
sister, Mr. and Mrs. Edward F.
Blount, in Plymouth.
BASKETBALL GAMES
AT MANTEO NEXT WEEK
The Manteo Red Skins will play
their first conference game of the
season next Friday, January 4.
For this game they will travel to
Moyock. The first home conference
game is Jan. 11 against Weeks
ville. The teams have not had prac
tice sessions since school let out
Dec. 19, but will continue Monday.
If all plans are completed, the
recently organized Little League
basketball teams will have their
first games on Thursday, Jan. 3.
There are four teams organized,
and for their first games, they will
oppose each other.
FORMER MANTEO GIRL WITH
WAF STATIONED IN WYOMING
Miss Agnes Love, who recently
joined the Woman’s Air Force, is
now stationed at Francis E. Shar
ren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
She recently visited her uncle and.
aunt, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Ferebee,
in Manteo, and her mother, Mrs.
Bessie Love, in Wanchese, while
enroute from Lackland AFB, San
Antonio, Texas, to the Wyoming
base.
MUCH NEWS FAILED TO GET
IN THE PAPER LAST WEEK
We regret that due to the
Christmas rush, news from several
correspondents failed to reach us
last week until after the paper
had been printed. Some of this mail
reached us two days later than us
ual schedule. We know it was a dis
appointment to the several splen
did people who put their time dur
ing a busy period to this task of
service to their people. And we
know our readers throughout the
land were disappointed in not find
ing in the paper, an account of the
doings of old friends in the old
home villages and towns.
WANCHESE WATCH SERVICE
A Watch Night service will be
held at the Wanchese Methodist
Church, Monday evening, Decern*
ber 31, at 11:15 p.m. The public is
cordially invited to attend.
MANTEO PERSONALS
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. McCown
and daughter, Cameron, are visit
ing Mr. McCown’s parents in John
son City, Tenn., during the holi
days.
Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Basnight
left Friday to spend Christmas
with Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Basnight,
Jr., in Annandale, Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Wayland Fry
spent Christmas with Mr. Fry’s
parents in Carthage.
Lt. and Mrs. M. L. Daniels, 111
of Harlingen AFB, Texas, visited
in Manteo and Manns Harbor dur
ing the holidays.
Mr. and Mrs. Theo. S. Meekins
-visited Mr. Meekins’ brother and
sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Percy
Meekins, in Washington, D. C.,
Christmas.
Mr. and Trs. Thomas Daniels
two sons visited Mrs. Daniels’ par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Spies, in
Norfolk, Christmas.
Mrs. R. V. Owens, Mr. and Mrs.
Bobby Owens and Clara Mae Ow
ens spent Christmas in Newport
News, Va., with Mrs. Elsie Wil
liams.
Mr. and Mrs. John D. O’Neal
are spending the holidays in Eliza
beth City with their son-in-law
and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. George
Pearce.
Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Jordan and
children have been visiting in Wil
mington during the holidays.
Mrs. Rennie Williamson spent
Christmas in Norfolk, Va., with
her sister-in-law, Mrs. Cecil Grif
fin.
Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm McDonald
of Norfolk* were the Christmas
guests of Mrs. McDonald’s mother,
Mrs. Claude Williams, who accom
panied them back to Norfolk for a
short visit.
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Long and
daughters visited in Richmond,
Va., during the holidays.
Mrs. Harry Johnson of Raleigh
is spending the holidays with her
sisters, Miss lone Wescott, Mrs.
Lena Pearsall and Mrs. Guy Len
non, who also had as their guests
Sunday Mr. and Mrs., George R.
Wescott and two children of Nor
folk, Va.; George R. Wescott, Jr.,
and Miss Nelda Keeton of Newport
News, Va.; Carlisle Wescott and
daughters, Charlotte, Betty and
Judy, of Norfolk.
as their guests last week end Mr.
as their guests last weekY end Mr.
and Mrs. W. S. Irwin and two chil
dren of Camden, N. J.
Leigh Hassell, Jr., of Baltimore,
Md., spent Christmas with his par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Hassell.
Mrs. O. J. Jones of the Univer
sity of N. C., Chapel Hill, is spend
ing the holidays at her home near
Manteo.
Tommy Biggs of East Carolina
College, Greenville, is home for the
holidays with his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Clyde Biggs.
Mr. and Mrs. Willie Wescott had
as their guests for Christmas Mr.
and Mrs. Winborne Twiford and
two children of Engelhard.
Mr. and Mrs. Chesley Midgett,
Jr., and children. Gene and Don,
are spending the holidays in Bruns
wick. Ga.
Mrs. Jesse White visited in
Windsor during the holidays.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wescott and
daughter, Dale, are visiting in Co
lumbia, S. C.. and Edgefield, S. C.
Roy Wescott. Jr., spent Christ
mas in Gastonia with his mother,
Mrs. R. P. Huffstetler.
Dr. and Mrs. W. W. Harvey, Jr.,
spent Christmas in Portsmouth,
MANTEO, N. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1956
CHRISTMAS CRASH BREAKS
SECOND POWER POLE AT
SAME SPOT; 2 INJURED
The right-angle turn on U. S.
158 at Midway Garage on Roanoke
Island was for the second time
this month the scene of a motor
mishap when a power line pole
was cut off at the same spot, and
electric service interrupted on Ro
anoke Island. Ernest Scarborough,
driver of an old pick-up truck was
seriously injured, and is in the
Elizabeth City hospital as a result
of the wreck Christmas night
which also injured Will White.
Both men, colored, were taken to
the hospital by Twiford’s ambu
lance, but V'hite returned after
treatment. The trtß'k 'Ww- demol
ished, the pole cut in two, and the
crew of the Roanoke Utilities had
their holidays interrupted for sev
eral hours, right at supper time,
but got service restored quickly.
This pole, which has now been re
placed, was one set to replace a
pole cut in two by a Chevrolet
driven by J. B. O’Neal of Manteo
two weeks ago, when Mrs. O’Neal
suffered serious injuries. At that
time the service was interrupted
for four hours and the crews had
to work also in the dark to get
service restored.
Va., with Mrs. Harvey’s parents.
Al Wright visited his parents in
Weaverville during the holidays.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Jones and Mrs.
Jones’ parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. R.
Daniels of Wanchese, spent last
week end in Greenville with Mr.
and Mrs. Ray Jones Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Evans of
Norfolk, Va., spent Christmas day
with Mrs. Evans’ father, W. R.
Knight, and Mrs. Knight.
Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Whitson vis
ited their son-in-law and daughter,
Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Boswood, in
Elizabeth City last week.
Mias Edna Bruce Dowdy of
WCUNC, Greensboro, is the holi
day guest of her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. T. G. Dowdy.
Elmer V. Midgett, who has been
shrimping in Georgia, arrived
home to spend the holidays with
his family.
Mr. and Mrs. Ira Peele of Balti
more, Md., visited their mother,
Mrs. Etta Peele and Mrs. Lotta
Midgett, Christmas.
Mrs. Etta Peele, Mr. and Mrs.
Rosser Nixon and son Wade visited
at Stumpy Point Wednesday.
Miss Carolee O’Neal of WCUNC,
Greensboro, is spending the holi
days with her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Warren O’Neal.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Boyd Parker
and children of Elizabeth City were
Christmas visitors in the home of
Mrs. Parker’s parents, Mr. and
Mrs. H. A. Crees.
Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Basnight
and daughters, Karen and Melva,
of Beachwood, N. J., have been
visiting Mr. Basnight’s mother,
Mrs. Annie Basnight, and other rel
atives in Dare County.
Mr. and Mrs. Andy Griffith have
had as their holiday guests Mrs.
Griffith’s parents, Mr. and Mrs.
J. S. Edwards of Troy; and Mr.
Griffith’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.
L. Griffith of Mount Airy.
Earl Dean arrived home from
Wallace, where-he has been work
ing, to spend Christmas with his
wife.
Mr. and Mrs. W. .M. Jolliff spent
Christmas day in Gatesville with
Mr. Joliff’s mother, Mrs. J. M. Jol
i|T.
"OLD CHRISTMAS" TO
BE OBSERVED NEXT
SATURDAY, JAN. 5
Interesting Program Will Be Pre
sented as Usual in School
Building at Rodanthe
The annual program in observ
ance of the “Old Christmas” festi
val at Rodanthe will be held on
January sth, in the school building,
according to Mrs. Nora Herbert
who is one of the leaders in staging
this affair, which marks an event
that until relatively few years ago,
was observed in most areas of the
Carolina Coastland.
The program, which will be par
ticularly interesting to young folks
and other lovers of fun, will in
clude “Old Buck,” that legendary
monster who roams abroad and
seeks to punish bad children, if
any be found. The stage program
consists of music, minstrelsy, and
short skits which last for nearly
two hours. This, together with
dancing privileges, costs $1 per
person.
An old time oyster roast will be
thrown in for good measure, and
this alone is worth more than the
price of admission.
For the week-end of January
sth, in order to accommodate vis
itors who plan to stay overnight,
the nearby Mirlo Beach Lodge
which is comfortable, will be open
for business.
Inquiries that have come forth
this year with respect to Old
Christmas, indicate more than us
ual interest. The affair continues
to get wide publicity in national
magazines, and proves a valuable
drawing card for the tourist busi
ness of the lower Outer Banks.
The usual meeting of the Ro
danthe Waves Civic Club which
falls on the first Saturday night in
the month has been postponed for
one week, due to the conflict with
the Old Christmas celebration, ac
cording to the president, W. W.
Edwards.
STUMPY POINT PERSONALS
Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Wise spent
Christmas in Norfolk wiht Mr. and
Mrs. Dwight Hooper.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Butler of
Arlington, Va. spent the holidays
with Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Meekins.
Mrs. Florine Hooper is in Nor
folk with her daughters, Mrs.
Hazel Bell and Mrs. John Zachery.
Glenn Twiford of Norfolk spent
the holidays with his family.
Mr. and Mrs. Hollis Quidley of
Norfolk were here Monday and
were accompanied home by Luther
Hooper.
Mrs. Riley Payne, Mrs. Mabel
Shelton and Cindy are visiting Mr.
and Mrs. Roy Midgett of Norfolk.
Artis Payne, Mrs. Lydia Midgett
and son of Norfolk spent the holi
days with Mrs. Judy Payne.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Twiford and
Mr. and Mrs. Alton Best attended
the Christmas dance at the Shrine
Club, Nags Head, given by the
Lion’s Club.
Ivey Hooper of Norfolk spent
the holidays with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. A. C. Hooper.
Mrs. Bob Midgett and children
spent the holidays in Norfolk with
Mr. Midgett.
Mrs. Doris Twiford, Pat and
Brantley returned home Tuesday
night after visiting in Norfolk
Christmas day. Lindsey Midgett of
Norfolk accompanied them home
for a few days visit.
Stanley and Tony Hooper of
Norfolk are visiting their grand
parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. C.
Hooper.
Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Midgett
are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Russell
Nixon, Jr. in Arlington, Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Phil Meekins of
Norfolk visited Mr. and Mrs. G. E.
Meekins.
Mrs. Myrtle Strickland and
daughter Lisa of Raleigh are visit
ing Mr. and Mrs. George Payne.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph O’Neal and
daughter Peggy and Mr. and Mrs.
Leslie Wise were in Manteo Sun
day.
Pat Twiford had as her guests
Tuesday night and Wednesday,
Molly and Estelle Knight, Jo Anne
Hooper, Merlee Tillett and Jean
Toms of Wanchese.
Thurston Midgett, U.S.C.G. spent
the holidays here with his family.
Mr. and Mrs. Billy Hooper and
children of South Mills are visit
ing Mr. and Mrs. A. C.‘ Hooper.
Mr. and Mrs. George Wise, Jr.
and children of Norfolk spent
Christmas with Mrs. George Wise,
Sr.
PARTY FOR TEEN-AGERS
A party at the Manteo teen-age
center Christmas night drew a
large crowd of Dare County teen-,
agers and college students home
for vacation. The entertainment
was informal and refreshments of
cookies and bottled drinks were
served. Mrs. B. J. Baum was offi
cial hostess for the evening.
1956 ENDING WITH PREDICTION
OF HIGH 1957 DEVELOPMENT
RESULT OF YEAR’S PROGRESS
Peak in Tourist Business and Renewed Interest in
Costruction of Facilities, Seasonal Dwellings
and Many Other Activities Predicted to Reach
Peak During Coming Year.
ALL ROADS TO BE PAVED
SOON, WANCHESE ASSURED
Ruritan Club Installs Officer* and Dis
cusses Accomplishment* of the Year
A delay in getting a number of
roads paved in Wanchese caused
some discouragement to be voiced
Friday night, when retiring Presi
dent V. G. Williams in reviewing
the accomplishments of the Ruri
tan Club brought up the subject.
But Melvin R. Daniels former
Club president rose to say that
only that day, Engineer W. N.
Spruill of the State Highway Com
mission had come by his office to
assure him that,all would be paved
shortly, along/with the job now
underway of widening and improv
ing U. S. 158 on Roanoke Island.
Williams pointed out the
club had planted 10,000 bushels of
oysters, got the channel into Mill
Landing deepened and channel
lights and markers installed by the
Coast Guard, and enumerated
many other projects on which the
club had worked. It was brought
out that some action must be taken
to protect the oyster supply, which
is rapidly being taken away to
other parts of the state.
Mr. Williams said he was proud
of the club’s accomplishments dur
ing the past year. Miss Sarah Hal
liburton was present, and intro
duced as a “most beloved lady.”
District Governor Soule Chandler
of Currituck Sound, was there to
make an inspiring address on the
Christmas theme and install the
new officers. James W. Davis, who
was president of the club three
years ago is the new president.
Ai-nold Daniels is Vice-President;
Chesley -flifidgett. Jr., Secretary;
Harry Baum, Treasurer; and Way
land Baum is a new director.
Among several committee re
ports made, Willis Daniels report
ed that a dumping ground for the
community had been established
by the club, which was much need
ed. Report on roads was made by
Reuben Vanderslice, who said two
roads only would be fixed, but a
supplementary report was made by
Mr. Daniels.
The club was greatly pleased by
the address by S. C. Chandler,
Supt. of Currituck Schools, and
the present District Governor.
ADOLPHUS MIDGETT, WAVES,
DIES THURSDAY IN NORFOLK
Gustavus Adolphus Midgett, of
Waves, one of the most highly re
garded citizens of Hatteras Island
died at 6 o’clock Thursday this
week in the Marine Hospital, Nor
folk, after several years of declin
ing health. He was the son of the
late Edward Stanley and Nathan
Ann Douglas Midgett and a life
long resident of Waves; a mem
ber of Fairhaven Methodist Church,
and of Wanchese Lodge, No. 521,
A.F. & A.M. He is survived by his
wife, Camille Midgett and a sister,
Mrs. H. G. Midgett of Waves. He
was a retired Coastguardsman and
veteran of World War I and 11.
Funeral services will be conduct
ed Sunday at Fairhaven Church.
DUCK PERSONALS
Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Evans of
Portsmouth are spending the holi
days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Milburn Evans.
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Hines are
spending the holidays with their
children at Virginia Beach.
Miss Nancy Smith is visiting
friends at Hopewell, Va. along
with Miss Dallas Thompson and
parents of Southern Shores.
On Saturday, December 22, the
Sunday School classes of Grace
Methodist Church gave a Christ
mas program under the direction
of Elmo Whitson. Those, participat
ing \4ere Miss Diana Beals, Ronnie
Beals, Misses Elsie and Darlene
Hines, Billy Hines, Miss Sylvia
Scarborough, Mrs. Callie Scarbor
ough, Ronnie Stephen, Lewis Mil
ford Scarborough, Gerry Scarbor
ough, Miller and Lillie Scarbor
ough, Miss Ophelia Twiford, Kenny
Smith. Elmo Whitson gave the
Statement of Purpose of the pro
gram. The Rev. J. T. Brown of
Greenville led the congregation in
prayer. The local pastor Rev. W.
H. Montgomery gave the scripture
reading ahd made a brief-talk.
Mrs. Montgomery played the piano.
The group joined in the Christmas
carols.
Bags of fruit were presented to
those present.
Single Copy 7#
A review of the achievements of
the year now ending, give rise to
strong predictions that 1957 will
bring to the Walter Raleigh Coast
land renewed interest and encour
agement for development such as
it has never before seen. Biggest
single achievement was the open
ing of the Croatan Sound bridge,
a $3,000,000 job, which went into
service during the Christmas sea
son. The advantages it will give
the region, and the new avenues
for further development it will
make possible are difficult to esti
mate. The bridge will be dedicated
in April, with elaborate ceremonies,
to the late Governor William B.
Umstead who saw to its building.
On the whole 1956 has been a
year of great achievement. The
projects underway are of great
consequence to all the counties of
the Southern Albemarle Region.
Many hundreds of thousands of
dollars are being spent to widen
and improve U. S. 264 through
Beaufort, Hyde and Dare Counties.
Many new bridges have been com
pleted. The rest of the work will
be finished during the coming
months, before the summer sea
son begins.
Work has begun op a new bridge
over Scuppernong at Colum
bia, which means employment for
many people, and stimulus for lo
cal business. U. S. 64 is thereby
being greatly improved and better
ferry service over Alligator River
is promised for this year, all of
which counts up to greater ease
of travel over this short route be
tween the seashore and central
North Carolina.
Contract has been let for three
new ferries, costing about $200,00$
which when added to the present
fleet of seven boats, should insure ’
no handicap in traffic destined to
visit the same Hatteras and Ocra
coke area. These boats are prom
ised to be in service by summer.
Ocracoke Island is receiving a
$600,000 modern highway, now well
I under construction, and leading
from end to end of the island, pro
viding quick and dependable traf
fic byway of the Hatteras Inlet
ferry, which road is expected to
bring about improved free ferry
service at this inlet. .
The Department of the Interior
spent large sums in development
of the Cape Hatteras National Sea
shore, and this program will con
tinue through 1957 on perhaps
larger scale, on Hatteras and Ocra
coke Islands.
On the Dare County mainland,
telephone service will be assured
as the result of construction made
possible by the new sound bridge,
and work on this project was be
gun in 1956 by the Norfolk and
Carolina Telephone and Telegraph
Company of Elizabeth City. The
village of Mashoes on this main
land, is now receiving electricity
as the result of a power line ex
tension made by the Pamlico
Power and Light Company of
Engelhard.
Predictions are. that much de
velopment of cottages and facili
ties for accommodation of tourists
and sportsmen will follow all
through 1957 on U. S. 264 along
all the way from Mashoes to Bel
haven. Businessmen in Hyde and
Beaufort Counties are now making
plans for motels, and other facili
ties as a result of the encourage
ment this assurance of quick, all
weather traffic has given the area.
A consequent growth in real
estate values adjacent to the
roads in this area is expected to
ensue. Particularly on the Dare
County Coastland a development on
a large scale on lands now having
little demand, is predicted as the
result of a million dollar limited
access highway the State Highway
Commission plans to build between
the Wright Memorial Bridge and
Nags Head.
Os importance to fishermen of
Eastern North Carolina is the let
ting of a contract during 1956 for
deepening of Oregon Inlet at a
cost of a half million dollars. The
worth of this project should be
noted throughout a dozen coun
tries. The job will soon get under
way for early completion this
spring.
Along U. S. 264 should be felt
the impetus of a SIOO,OOO job to be’
constructed by the Navy at Stumpy
Point, which consists of barracks
and subsistence building, a con
tract for which was let this month.
One of the largest projects in •
See PROGRESS, Page Two