The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1928-02-10

with the War Department.
To begin with, the promoters of
the proposed bridge took much Of
the winds out of the sails Of the OPP
position by coming to the hearing
with Il petition for bridge located
at least two miles further South
than their original surrey con-
templated, Offering route that is in
effect a compromise with the large
public that wants a bridge direct
from Point Harbor to Kitty Hawk.
The bridge promoters originally
planned to build a bridge from a
point near Hog Quarter Landing in
Currituck. distance of three miles
or more above Point HarbOr. Their
present plans Put the bridge within
4,GG0 feet of Point Harbor.
Everybody wants bridge across
Currituck Sound; the opponents Of
the bridge to I've built by Elizabeth
City capital want Il bridge; but
they want 1t where they want it;
they want it straight from Point
Harb0r to Kitty Hawk. And il it
were put to a vote of everybody in
the AlhemarIe region there wouldn't
he a cOrporals guard to vote for "A
bridge farther north than Kitty
Hawk.
But the thing that some lose sight
of is that if private capital wants to
build bridge to suit itself, then
that is the business of private capt.
tai and the War Departments only
concern is as TO whether the propos-
ed structure will he hindrance 10
navigation. The War Department
doesn't give hOot what the fellows
OH shore think about it. A sad fact
maybe, but it Is all too true.
Cold. practical, hard-headed L. s.
Army engineers will in all probabil
ity hold ,thatif private capital hall
picked an illogical location. that -,
private Capitals own efrer antfhftss
If another bridge is more desirable.
then let other interests build an
other bridge. Z:
Here Is the situation Local In.
terests composed of W. G.!Gaither,
NJ. p. Gali5p. NJ. b.. Sawyer. L. C.
Blades, s., B: Parker and possililyia
few Others, own several thousand
acres of land North of Kitty Hawk,
including Martins Point on Jean
Guitey Creek. 1t is said 70 be the
mCst beautiful piece Of coastal prop
erty in America. Leonard Tufts
Of PinehurSt who visited the prop
erty two years ago raved over it
and wished he had found it before
he put his money in Pinehurst.
The Elizabeth City men who own
the Martins Point property have
great faith in it3 future as rich
mans playground where millions
will he spent on private residences,
hotels club houses, golf links, etc.
But in order to develop their prop
ertT they must have a bridge to 1t.
They realize that If they wait, for n
public bridge across Currituck
Sound that bridge would in all prob
ability be built to some other point
than their own property.
And so. taking advantage CT the
fact that the counties Of Currituck
and Dare are not able to get to-
gether on a bridge project and the
fact that the State Highway Com
mission is not in position to consider
building bridge over Currituck
Sound at this time. the LEGAL men
have organized company and ar
ranged for financing Il bridge of
their own to he operated as a public
toll bridge.
Of course they have expectations
of ultimately selling their bridge Ia
the State Highway Commission and
they will court the Highway Com
mission for approval of its plan and .
specifications. This does not mean Z,
of course that the state Highway Z
Commission will he committed to the
new route and when the State finds (
a way TO bridge Currituck Sound IT.
may ignore the Martins Point bridge /
and follow more Southerly route.
In that event there. would be two
bridges across Currituck Sound and
everybody would be happy.
The State will eventually throw
its highway across Currituck Sound.
Frank Page himself no longer hesi-
tates to say that he will not be salts
fled until there is paved highway
from Manteo to Murphy. Mr. Pages
/ro,k;nuod M yo Uo EnurN