The Wilmington morning star., 1946-07-07
Possible New Industry

Possible New Industry
State Highway Engineer Baise re-
ports many of North Cardinals $4,000
county road bridges have reached a
"critical" condition with little chance
of early repairs because of material,
labor and equipment shortages.
Their physical state, he continues,
is the result of natural deterioration
and heavy traffic loads during the past
four years. Wartime restrictions per-
mitted no new construction and only
make-shift repairs. Of the present acute
shortages of building supplies, lumber,
creosoted pilings and steel top the list.
Importance of these bridges in the
highway system is illustrated by the
fact that they link $4,000 miles of coun-
ty roads. Unless they are repaired, this
large mileage will eventually become
unusuable and the problem of the COM
mission becomes a vicious circle. In his
report, Mr.. Baise is not trying to make
any excuses. He is simply stating there
is a limit to what the commission can
accomplish in the face of these OBJ
stacles.
He sees no immediate solution to the
problem. Neither do we. But considera-
ton of it's eventual solution leads our
thoughts back to the days Immediately
following World War l when a proposal
to deal with the states county bridge
problem was presented but never ma
terialized.
At that time, Wilmington's two war
time shipbuilding yards were closing
down. Among their executives vas a
young man who gave serious ~considera-
ton to salvaging some of the large and
costly installations. He suggested that
a bridge manufacturing plant be estab-
lished in a part of one of the yards.
His proposal was as timely as it was
sound. North Carolina was preparing
to embark on it's famous good roads
program, which eventually meant the
expenditure of millions of dollars for
highway and bridge materials. But
there were no manufacturing facilities
in the state and these contracts went
to o~ut-of-state firms.
Today, if the State Ports authority
can obtain the shipyard from the Mari
time commission, we will find ourselves
IN practically the same position regard
ing possible bridge construction as in
the era following World war I. Two
facts are outstanding. First, the state
is in acute need Of small bridges and
could well lay nor emphasis on steel
and less On lumber. Second, the ship
yard facilities, as we'll as the labor avail
able, are well equipped to engage in this
form of heavy manufacture. Thus this
valuable business would remain within
North Cardinals borders. .
It would be but one of the many in
dustries that could use the shipyard's
facilities. Present plans are for total
reconversion of the large installation to
include modern terminals, ship repair
facilities and industry plant sites that
could be utilized by such companies as
a bridge manufacturing one.
Understand, the proposal for bridge
construction is offered as a companion
industry to take advantage of but a
part of the extensive facilities. Many
others may be suggested and all form a
strong argument in the efforts of the
Ports Authority to acquire the shipyard
and make it's numerous industrial bene-
fits available to the city and state.
Our suggestion is that the next cleo
ton campaign be held in the winter