The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-07-04
LETTERS
s;S3IlI1N
HATTERAS RESIDENT
EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS


To the Editor:
The writer of this letter takes
issue with practically every word
presented in one of your featured
articles published June 81. Namely,
MILLION DOLLARS READY TO
BUY LANDS TO FORM HAT
TERAS SEASHORE PARK.
Who should be more opposed to.
the Park, the land owners who
have invested in the future of the
island or handful of individuals
who have no property and there
fore nothing to loose but who hope
to gain by Park without having
ever invested single dollar? The
people whom you claim were anx-
ious for government money in the
depression days are the very ones
who are agitating for a Park and
will expect handout of taxpayers
money for their trouble. Some peo-
pie would dig through pile of
horse manure mountain high to get
a dollar with no string attached,
especially if it came from the tax
payers.
There was not a single persons
present at the meeting with Mr..
Chapman who does not own land
on the banks, with the possible
exception of one. This person ORR
mated from the banks and it is
very probable that he is a land
owner. Whether he is or not, he
does have common sense and feel
ing to know that the people of the
banks are being sold down the
river by the greedy hands of a
few who hope to obtain positions
with the Park. And those few, let
me remind you, are of the minority
group.
Those well meaning people who
oppose the Park for profit to them
selves will create jobs for others
and in a more profitable way than
a park could ever do. Witness Mays
Head area. Were it not for the
beaches Roanoke Island would be
a depression ridden ghost island.
Surely the people of the banks
have the same right to work for
progress and prosperity by way of
private enterprise as do people of
other areas. And without being
burdened with a park. For years
the people of the banks have been
isolated and have been deprived
of conveniences and adequate roads
that people in other areas had for
many, many years.
The much needed road from
Mays Head to Hatteras will be of
no material value to the people if
their land is to be confiscated by
Stains methods. A few people of
this island and few outsiders are
quite willing to sacrifice their birth
rights in order that they may pros
per at the expense of the majority
of the people and without fear of
wholesome competition and free
enterprise.
It's quite likely that a few peo-
pie did object to the road at first.
And its quite likely that few
still object. Nevertheless, it's COM
mon for a human being to change
his mind. Only a fool or person
expecting a handout would hold
to the idea that a National Park
is the salvation for people of the
banks. Only by free and private
enterprise, on which the govern
ment of this country was found
ed, can this area be built up and
prosper without being a burden
to the taxpayers of Dare County,
The proposed confiscation of the
lands would increase the tax bur-
den of every taxpayer in Dare
County.
The land that once belonged to
all people once belonged to many
countries. This land was granted
to prosecuted people so that they
might live, work, worship as they
chose. Being prosecuted people
they were nevertheless freedom
loving people who left their homes
and families that they might be
free. The land that your home and
business stand on is of this same
land. Would you have the state
take it from you?
The million turned loose for the
purchase of lands will be of
raught. Where will the people in
vest their money? Surely they
can not buy back Government
property. Where will future gener-
ations build, on pilings in the
sound like the old time light
houses?
If the proposed Park is estab-
lished against the will of the ma