The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-01-02
GOVERNOR SCOTT MAKES A
FINAL REPORT THIS WEEK
ON FOUR YEARS PROGRESS
An Administration That Has Built Roads
Where Roads Were Most Needed Is Now
Ending; It Has Brought About Tremendous
Rural Development, Aided Numerous
LOng-FOrgOtten People.


closing his administration this
week, At times it has been
stormy one, but accomplishments
for the State have been many,
particularly in the aid given to
long-forgotten rural areas. The
state has made progress, and
Governor Scott leaves to his sue
cessor a 40 million dollar surplus.
Some q millions more than he
found on entering office.
On Tuesday night, the Cover
nor made the following state
wide radio address which is
comprehensive report to the peo-
pie:
Fellow Citizens of North Caro-
lima:
From time to time during the
past four years have enjoyed
through the magic of radio-the
privilege of many talks with you.
This is my final visit, as your
Governor, into your homes. Ten
days from now, a new admins
t1ation will take over; and l am
confident that it will continue TO
build upon the firm foundation
laid, step bystep, by succeeding
administrations since the days of
Governor Charles B. Aycock.
The political structure that our
forefathers fashioned is flexible
and guarantees to the people the
power to obtain for them selves
and for their children the SER
vices and facilities they desire
and feel they can afford.
The people are sovereign. When
the shouting and tumult is over,
their expressed verdict always
prevails.
Oftentimes the thinking of the
people is far ahead of that of
their political leaders. This has
been demonstrated time and time
again.
My recognition of this fact
came more than thirty years ago.
Some of you have wondered
what forces worked, and what
circumstances operated, to lead
my feet along the path of the
Governorship.
1t was realization, shared by
my HaW River community neigh
bors, of intolerable road and
school attendance conditions that
started my feet along that path.
Political and social leadership
was tagging far behind the needs
of the people and the conscious
longings of the masses of the peo-
pie for better roads, better
schools, adequate hospital and
other health facilities, and access
to electricity and telephone ser
vices.
When l think back upon what
life was like in Alamance Coun-
ty years ago, 1 remember that
my children and my neighbors'
children walked two or three
miles in snow, sleet, rain, and
mud to drafty schoolhouses. At
noontime, they would eat cold
and soggy sandwiches that their
mothers had prepared for them
before daybreak.
Smiling colds flu, sore threats
and pneumonia were the common
lot of all children in those days
leaving the little victims, in
many instances, crippled for life.
Going to Church on Sunday
was a struggle because of the
roads-for days at a time-were
impossible even for buggies and
wagons.
When l became county agent of
Alamance County, and later your
Commissioner of Agriculture, and
my geographic horizons expand
ed, found that the same con-
tiont existed elsewhere through
out the state.
! AS we review the past, let us
not forget that two-thirds of
North Cardinals population is
rural-that one-third live and
work in the cities and towns;
another third live in the country
and work in the cities and towns;
and the other third both live and
work on the farm.
And let us also remember that
what is bad for two-thirds of the
people is bad for allan impov-
erished, mud-tax afflicted, rural
population makes poor customers
for any trading center or metro
politan area.
l became candidate for Gov
ernor because of these two con-
victions-that rural North Caro-
lima was land of forgotten peo-
pie, and that what is bad for two
thirds of the people is bad for
all.
And now am going TO let you
4 in on a little secret. For quar-
See SCOTT, Page Five