The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-03-11
IMMEDIATE START ON $500, 900
INITIAL ROAD PROJECT FOR
OCRACOKE ISLAND ASSURED
Governor Hodges Visit Assures Beginning of
Section Of Road To Unite Ocracoke and Hat
teras Islands; Visit Of Official Party Saturday
PIeases islanders and Assures Citizens Of Their
Place in The States Economy
Single Copy 7e
By ALICE X. RoNDTHALER

By ALICE X. RONDTHALER
Ocracoke, March Vent,
Vidit, Welt: he came, he saw, he
conquered! 1t is typical of Ocra-
cookers. They are not talking so
much these first days following
the Governors visit about the
money which Governor Luther H.
Hodges made available to them
for the building of a long-desired
road between Hatteras and Ocra-
coke; they are talking about the
man himself. That's a fine man.
You can tell it by just looking at
him, even before he says anything
at ALL" Further days will bring in
adequate discussion of the money
and the road! The individualism
which marks all Ocracokers will
bring forth hundred and one
ideas which will gradually be
amalgamated with those of high
way officials and engineers into
concrete road! AS the Governor
said, eve must be patient. There
are difficulties. 1t will take time
and money. But the chief thing is
to make a start"
Governor Hodges touched the
innate desires of many Ocracokers
when he hoped that spelling
would not come with progress.
keep the good traits of character
inherent in your background and
history-simple, honest living, in
formal lawful relationships, with
out law. "You deserve to share
in the glories, opportunities, and
the problems of this great State"
.. Invite the world in and show
them the friendliness that exists
here at Ocracoke, but try to main
tain the characteristics that have
made you great and simple, to me
these are synonymous.
| Ocracoke was not fully prepared
for the direct and definite an
nouncement made by A. H. Ora
ham, Chairman of the State High
way Commission. Most people had
expected interest and promise of
support from the visiting main
land officials, but the statement
that the Governor had allocated
| 100000 of the Highway Surplus
Fund and that the Highway De-
partment had added 100000,
making a total of $500, 900,
clinched the matter in a direct
way that appealed to the we'll
known straight-forwardness of all
Ocracokers. This was no beating
around the bush; this was beating
the bush itself.
March 5, 1866 will be a day
long remembered here. Nature
herself provided one of those rare
and perfect June days. An hour
before the Governor and his party
were due to arrive by heGcopter
from Cherry Point, out came the
sun, away rolled the clouds:
beautiful blue sky above, beauti-
full blue water beneath, gentle
breezes stirring the sea oats,
brightly dressed children, men and
women, all walking or riding
gaily to the station to greet the
Governor and his party at eleven
o'clock. mo, not to the railroad
station; Ocracoke's only reminder
of such mainland din is the con-
tinual pounding of the surg on
the Atlantic Ocean beach, which
at times sounds like long, long
freight train going en- sly over
a long long trestle.) L ,Shis was
the U. S. Coast Guard Station
where the helicopters land. Ocra-
coke's Boy Scouts, mounted on
Banker Ponies, added a dash of
color to the event as they gallop-
ed up. Boy-like they were the first
to spot the big black birds coming
out of the southwest horizon to
flutter down before the expectant
crowd. Their scotmaster, Capt.
Marvin Howard, was one of the
first to shake the Governors
hand.
Friends from North, South, and
West had come to enjoy the day
at Ocracoke. From the North they
had come by ferry and jeep over
the rough, sandy "inside" ruts
that will sometime become the
new road. From the South they
had come the previous lay by
three-hour mail trip on the Dol
phin from Atlantic. And from the
vest they had come by boas across
Pamlico Sound, using the means
and the route that Ocracokers
have used for the past GRE hun
dred and ten years to reach their
: County Seat at Swan Quarter.
Many a child's eye was focused
: on Highway Patrolman Bill Will
: liams of Hyde County, who with
! his uniform and "real gum was a
sight not familiar with this peace
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