The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-24
COASTLAND
(Conrinued from Page One)

joyable peak can afford to lose
no time planning for such.
It's going to take lot of pub
lic-spirit, cooperation and work
ing together to achieve the most
gains, but they will be gains that
will pay off in the long run.
like to take the long view of such
matters, and my observation is
that only a long-range view of
anything will produce best re-
suits.
Thanks to the interest of Gov
ernor Umstead, the cooperation
of various federal agencies, and
the enterprising business heads
of some of the community lead
ers in this area, a great start has
been made this summer. The
Roadway is great, but it will not
continue under its own momen-
tum. Everyone must be on his
toes and constantly striving for
improvement, for the tourist
grows more and more demand
ing each year, and only the best,
in keeping with what may be
provided in other areas will be
good enough, if our people ex
pect to maintain and hold a pro-
fitable business. Now here are
some of the things that impress
tourists.
Courtesy: For many years the
Hatteras Island area has been
famed for the friendliness and
courtesy of its people. In years
gone by, all doors were wide
open to the visitor. Food and
shelter were provided readily,
and it was offensive to offer pay
ment for that which was prefer
red from the goodness of the
heart. When visitors are now
multiplied by the thousands, it
is not expected that such good
ness can be spread to all who are
rank newcomers, but courtesy
can continue, and this goes
! long way to spread goodwill,
and bring new business.
Cleanliness. The people of the
area, all home owners, have long
been noted for the care and
beauty of their premises. Pride
in home ownership caused
houses and yards to be well kept.
But there is now bit of insight
illness evident. Much of this un-
sightliness is due to the new
highway having been built
through what was once the back
wards of the people. Consequent
ly many backwards have been re-
vealed, and these have not been
cleaned up. Public spirit or
community pride must now be
added to pride in the household,
and spirit of cleaning up must
prevail. Trash piles, discarded
autos and junk, along with re-
mains of old buildings should go.
Businesslike Business prem
Uses: Many tourists complain that
owners of new businesses have
allowed soft drink vendors and
lowed soft drink vendors and
other firms to clutter up hand
some new store fronts with
gaudy advertising signs, that
overshadow the name of the
owner, and cheaper the general
appearance of the premises. AS
many as eight or ten cheap soft
drink signs may be seen plaster
ed over the front of a place of
business. An opinion often ex-
pressed by tourists is that they
do not usually stop on the Ma
tons highways at businesses In
which the owner has so little
pride, for they labor under the
preconceived opinion that good
food or good service may not be
expected in such a place So it
appears that many excellent
places have been wondering why
people pass their doors, never
knowing the reason why.
One Day Visits: 1t has been
noted that a large percentage of
tourist travel to Hatteras Island
is of visitors who go down on the
ferry and return on the same
day. Resident business men often
express disappointment at this.
Tourists have money to spend,
and it might as well be spent on
Hatteras Island, where food is
good, and lodging accommoda-
tons are new and of the best.
The answer to this is provided
by the tourists who say, unless
they are planning a long fishing
trip, they can see all there is to
see in one day. Now this is in
correct, for there are many at