The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-07-27
SALT AND DAMPNESS
CAUSING INDUSTRY
TO LEAVE BELHiAVEN
Looks As lf Results Of Last Years
Tides May Be Considerable
Loss to Town

list of disappointments that have
garnished the life and stirred the
pride and ambition of the town OF
Belhaven during the past go years
The town has had many ups anC
downs, but the labor and resource.
fulness of its people have always
risen above its disappointments.
Cardboard Products, for which
the town had high hopes when il
began business in Belhaven a year
or so ago, is not likely to ever at
tempt further operations, accord
ing to DIR. G. Hodges Bryant, the
brilliant and able scientist, who
with his wife own the business and
plant. DR.. Bryant finds himself
averse to attempt to cope further
with the adverse forces of nature
He is looking for new home
where prevails climate more fav-
orable for his product. He has
been, while in Belhaven, victim
of three hurricanes, and at the
mercy of the hostile salinity, mist
and moisture that comes in on the
salt-laden humidity of the tideland
region.
Cardboard is a patent secret
process of making the toughest
and handsomest of products, in
Guiding wall-board in particular. 1t
is a product of years of exhaustive
research by the brilliant mind OF
DIR. Bryant. 1t is manufactured un-
der terrific pressure in giant press
es designed and built for DR.. Bry-
ant.
DR.. Bryant came to Belhaven
looking for a pleasant town in
which to live, and work. On the
shady side of middle age, he and
his good wife were received with
delight, and the affection between
town and Bryants is mutual. He
found here an inactive mill and
the couple bought it for 100000
The town was so glad to see him
arrive that the business men and
citizens generally made substan-
tial contribution toward cleaning
up the old mill, just as a gesture
of good will.
DR.. Bryant did not know that
the piles which supported the old
buildings, the old floors, and ma
chinery were of ordinary, untreat-
, ed wood and had been deteriorat-
ing for many years. Although it
had been more than 40 years
1919 since bad tides had harass-
ed the town, destiny decided to
send three bad tides into Belhaven
last August and September dur
ing the unprecedented hurricanes
that swept up the coast. Founda-
tions settled under the boilers.
New floors sagged. There was no
proper support for heavy machines
weighing Is to 10000 pounds each.
1t would cost DR.. Bryant $780,
900 to put his machinery on the
right footing, but this is not the
most grave problem at all. The
earth was saturated with salt; the
wind and mist and fog that swept
from seward, brought a heavy
salt and moisture content into the
plant where Coreboard was manu-
featured. The salt worked havoc
with the resins and the mixes
which went under terrific pressure
to create a product that would
meet DR.. Bryant's exacting stand
ards. And a man of his Christian
impulses cannot be satisfied with
other than the finest and most hon
est product.
Belhaven is losing this plant. 1t
will be located elsewhere in more
favorable climate. But Belhaven
folks will regret the departure of
DR.. and Mrs. Bryant. They came
with faith in Belhaven, hoping to
spend their days here. They built
a big new and delightful home
viewing the river. The home has
been sold to Wash Bateman, the
genial ESQ dealer, and his gifted
artist wife Effie.
Business men of Belhaven hate
to see DIR. Bryant's dream, and
their dream fade. But all of them
will tell you the town is better of
by his having been here. Out Of
their faith and regard for him anC
his product, they hope great thing:
yet for them, and they wish the
Bryants the success that his grea
faith keeps telling him to lool
toward.