The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-08-15

bridge over Croatan Sound and
perhaps over Alligator River are
not at all remote and might be
begun next year, a delegation
headed by DR.. w. T. Ralph,
Mayor of Belhaven, learned Mon
day upon a visit to DR.. Henry
Jordan, Highway Chairman In
Raleigh.
The delegation included w. E.
Bateman, Clyde Burgess and Vic
tor Meekins, going from Belhav-
en-, Floyd E. Cohoon, president of
the Alligator-Croatan Bridge AS
ISOLATION and Mrs. Cahoon of Co.
lumbia, and E. o. Arnold of
Washington County.
Belhaven people like the peo-
pie of Washington and Tyrrell
are eager for dependable outlets
to the Dare County seashore. and
nope of the enormous benefits Of
the tourist business their com
munities might expect as a result
of such outlets.
The meeting was a most har-
monlouS one, and met with much
sympathy and interest from DR..
Jordan, who told the group he
would like to see the bridges. but
that no funds are available TO
build free bridges. He said he had
discussed the matter with Cover
nor Scott who was sympathetic
to plan to build toll bridges,
provided the people living in the
area were also favorable, and the
opinion was further advanced
that state-owned bridges charg
ing a reasonable toll would be
worth a lot more to the people
than no bridges at all.
The delegation was unanimous
in the opinion that the people of
the area would favor state-owned
toll bridges in preference to pri-
vately owned bridges. The
thought was expressed that state
owned bridges would be built
better and at less cost, that they
would not be burdened with the
high interest rate to be expected
OF a privately financed enter
prise, not the considerable salary
burden to officers of the operat-
ing company.
Moreover, State-owned bridges.
would remain the property of the
state to be free when the in
debtedness had been paid off,
While company-owned bridge or
bridges would be continuing
burden on the people. And would
be further burdened with the
proposed maintenance of a costly
road along a hazardous beach
between Caffey's Inlet and Vir-
GINA Beach.
While no formal opinion has
been handed down from the At
torney Generals office, it is moi
believed the state can build toll
bridges without a special act OF
the legislature, which could not
be obtained before the spring of
1858.
DR.. Jordan said that he favored
the plan, provided the people in
the area would back the bill, and
/ he would recommend to the Com
emission they give it support.
! Members of the delegation said
they did not see how any objec-
ton could be offered from other
sections of the state. With the
users of the bridge paying for it,
1t would offer no threat of di.
version of state funds from other
projects in which other members
OF the commission might be in
tereSted.
Lack of sufficient ferry ac-
commodations is turning away a
lot of business, DR.. Jordan was
reminded. DR.. Jordan said the
traffic count showed the Alligator
River ferry not being patronized
as much as the Croatan Sound
ferry, and this might indicate far
less need for a bridge than does
Croatan Sound. He was remind.
ed, that the state not only offer.
half as much service over the
river, but failure to make prope,
connections between ferries |,
discouraging the travelling publ,
from using the Alligator ferry
He was told of many instances 8
disappointed motorists missin,
The Lost Colony and other Al
pointments because they arrived
at Manns Harbor too late To be
4 on the boat, after having com,
across the river first.
The chairman promised ID sem
figures on the traffic count on IN
I ferries, and to make further ~
See BRIDGES, Page -Four