The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-09-09
some one STARTS DEVILISH RUNOR,
STIRSELIZABETH CITY ALL UP AGAIN
Reported That State Highway Commission VIII
Leave Elizabeth City Clean Out in Pasquotank
River Bridge Link In State Highway
BY w. o. SAUNDERS.

Elizabeth City hot in the collar
The rumor is to the effect that
the State Highway Commission
contemplates ignoring Elizabeth
City altogether in the mattel OF
crossing the Pasquotank river
and will build its bridge, to con
meet Camden and Currituck
counties with the state highway
system, at a point near the old
Shipyard Ferry, five miles North
of Elizabeth City. State High
way Commissioner w. A. Hart
and the Highway COMMISSIONS
engineer, w. G. Upham are ex-
pected here this week and pend
ing their arrival the rumor has
had full swing.
Of course, no one knows what the
State Highway Commission contem-
plates doing. The State Highway Com
mission itself probably will not know
what to do until its own engineer has
fully satisfied himself as to the value
of the various sites suggested for a
bridge across Pasquotank river. But
this newspaper believes that this rumor
is nothing more than malicious hoax
started by enemies of the. Robinson
Ferry interests. Such a rumor might
have the effect of making those who
favor the Robinson Ferry route COM
promise on their position. Rather than
see the state build its bridge five miles
from Elizabeth City, the most ardent
advocate of the Robinson Ferry route
would say build it some other place near
Elizabeth City, Just so it is near Eliza
beth City.
The rumor has gained credence be-
cause of the hostile attitude of Walter
L. Cohoon, General Counsel of the State
Highway Commission, of this city. Six
or eight months ago Mr.. Cohoon was
red hot for the Robinson Ferry route
and used his influence in the General
Assembly for legislation providing
for the purchase of this bridge. But
Cohoon hasah had q change of heart and
swears and be damns with real swears
and real damns. that the State shall not
direct it's highway connecting the coun-
ty seats of Pasquotank, Camden and
Currituck via the Robinson Ferry
bridge.
Mr.. Cohoon has suddenly become an
ally of his ancient enemies p. f. Ayd-
lett, P Fl. Williams, T. B. Wilson, Phil.
Sawyer and Martin Simpson, the group
that seems to have stirred up all this
bridge rumpus in Elizabeth City,
group that is hostile to G. II. Robinson,
the principal owner of the Camden
Ferry Co.
E. F. Ayd1ett used to think the Rob-
inson route was the only route for Eliz-
abeth City. That was when he held
500 stock in the Camden Ferry Co.,
given him by the company for legal
services, and was getting big fees reg
ularly for representing the company.
But Mr.. Aydlett doesn't represent G. II.
Robinson any more. Meekins & Nc
Mullan are attorneys for the Camden
Ferry Co. and E. F. Aydlett represents
other interests.
P. II. Williams used to think the
Robinson Ferry Bridge valuable prop
erty. He thought so in 1919 when as
District Tax Supervisor he had this
property listed On the tax books as OF
a value of $4,000.
And yet, those who are opposing the
purchase of the Camden Ferry Co.
property for the State Highgway to-day
have even gone so far in their venom
and malice as to declare in print that
the property isn't worth 500.
Favorable to Robinson Route.
Now a lot of people feel differently
about the Robinson Ferry property
The Elizabeth City Chamber of Com
merce took poll of its members and
found hardly dozen opposed to it. The
Association took poll with
similar results. There are less than
dozen men in Elizabeth City opposed to
the Robinson Ferry bridge property, in
eIuding J. Kenyon Wilson who is quot
ed as having said that he would not op- |
pose this route if the bridge were torn
away and the old rope and barge ferry |
Old Time FactionaIism
Watching the fight that is being |
Waged here over this bridge question |
discloses the fact that it is Elizabeth |
City's old-time factionalism working |
again. Aydlett and his crowd were for
the Robinson Ferry route years ago |
when they could use it as a club to
hammer the life out of the late 3. f.
Lamb and drive him to financial ruin. |
They are against the same /route now |
because by going about-face they, can
hammer C. II. Robinson and nag man
who doesn't run with them or knuckle
TO them. That's the whole story and
when Messrs. Hart and Upham come to
own they will hear just what Elizabethi
City people think about it all. And hav-
ng heard the people these gentlemen
will proceed to use their own good
judgement as to the location of this par
ocular link in the State Highway ,Sys-
,em and not be Influenced by the bias
If Mr.. Cohoon, or Mr.. Aydlett, or Un-
lie Pat, or any one else.
All this talk about Mr.. Robinson and
MS Camden Ferry Co. trying to hold
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