The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-09-21
WA4AB
Continued from Page One)

the high rate of taxes. Naturally
capital could not be obtained to
promote buildings and other enter
prise where there were no roads
or other means of accessibility.
Since the North Carolina High
way Department has responded to
the urgent need for highways
along the Outer Banks, subsidized
and extended ferry service across
Oregon Inlet, which is already i'm
adequate to handle the tremen-
dously increased traffic, the sea-
coast of Dare has become a mecca
for tourists from June to Septem-
Der. Hotels. motels, restaurants,
service stations and other business
enterprises do a rushing business
until shortly after Labor Day
and with few exceptions close up
tight as clam until June of the
next year. The reason for closing
is obvious: tourists have stopped
coming to Dare and other parts of
the Outer Banks and therefore we
have seven or eight months to be
dormant.
Mays Head has only one gate
way open for patrons. Ninety-five
per cent of tourists who visit Mays
Head, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil
Hills, Cape Hatteras, and other
places to southwark have ingress
and egress only from one direc-
ton, the north.
1t is unnecessary to elaborate on
the number of tourists from New
York and other northern states
who drive their automobiles to
Florida. Certainly they would pre-
fer driving all coastal, even with
some delay, if there was such a
route available. These tourists to
and from Florida would not miss
an opportunity to drive all the
way coastal through the Cape
Hatteras National Seashore Park.
Fall, winter, and spring traffic
would flow through the area from
Virginia Beach to Mays Head to
Hatteras southwark, and return,
by the coastline.
There are two main barriers to
be removed in order to make this
all-coastal route available. The
major stumbling block is from the
north end of Hatteras Inlet, where
U S 158 terminates to US 20 on
the north end of Cedar Island, a
| distance of about four miles across
Hatteras Inlet to the north end
of Ocracoke Island; thence along
the beach to the Village of Ocra-
coke distance of about twelve
miles; thence by the waters of
Pamlico Sound to Cedar Island on
US 70. The other outstanding
blockade is the need of a highway
between Duck, N. C. to Virginia
Beach.
Thanks to the vision of the good
citizens of Dare County who have
realized the potentialities of their
vast seacoast and have taken ac-
ton toward making this one of
the most attractive summer re-
sorts on the Atlantic seaboard,
they have been successful in get
ting support and response of the
State Highway Department in
building a highway from Duck to
the terminus of route 158 at Hat
teras, N. C. and a free ferry
across Oregon Inlet. This ferry
service is adequate during the
summer months to handle the traf-
fic. 1t is the consensus of opinion
that ferries are not the most eco
nomical and practical means tc
provide for the ever-increasing
travel. A bridge across Oregon In,
let is needed more now than any
other place in Eastern North Car.
DINA. This is evidenced by com.
parison of the number of vehicles
using Oregon Inlet ferries with
other ferries. Now that the Cape
Hatteras National Seashore Parl
is attracting a throng of tourists
which will continue to increase as
the Park progresses and becomes
more widely advertised and bet.
ter known to the travelling public
it is hoped that the deepening OF
| Oregon Inlet will stabilize its
migrant action as soon as the
Federal recommendation of $780,.
900, is made available for the
project.
Highways and ferries have
brought great progress to the Out.
err Banks since Ex-Governor Cher.
ry made his first trip through soft
sand and water from Manteo tt
Ocracoke. Governor Broughton rec.
ognized the need for more new
roads and ferries. The Highway
Department acted .favorably on hi.
recommendations. Then tourist.
started to come to the Outer
Banks. Hotels, motels,, trailer
courts and other facilities were
overcrowded and additional &C
commodations were made availa.
BILE. Increased traffic called fol