The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-09-07

al Park Service and to arouse pre-
JUDGE and opposition among citi-
zens of Hatteras Island has beer
underway for some weeks. The am
ateurish attempt, engineered by
some of the same selfish group
who fought the park proposals
from the beginning, because Of
their desire to mop up on real es.
tate, has made some Roadway ano
aroused a number of well-meanine
people who had some natural fears
against possible encroachment or
the way of life which they have
always known and would preserve
The agitation got so heavy thai
on Tuesday, the County Board OF
Commissioners, which up to now
have merited few high marks fo1
brilliance or foresight and public
spirit, summoned Allyn Hanks, Su-
perintendent of the Cape Halter.
as Seashore project, before them
They demanded to know what the
policies of the National Park Serv-
ice are going to be in future.
Probably no man on the Board
has read the law which defines
how the NPS will establish and ad.
minister the Cape Hatteras Sea-
shore park, but Mr.. Hanks tolG
| them there could be no changes
from the law so far as the Park
Service intended.
The falsehoods got Roadway, and
tales began to be peddled up and
down the coast that among other
things the National Park Service
would begin charging three dol
lars per car from travellers on the
Oregon Inlet ferries, which are
state operated and owned and I'M
der state law must operate free
of toll. Many and numerous re-
strictions were to be put into effect
at once in all villages in the area.
All this was reported as having
been sent out in a letter over the
signature of the Director of Ma
tional Parks. Inquiries were made
of many, and while some said they
had seen such a letter, no one
could produce one, or say where
one could be located.
One would think that established
and prosperous business men, some
of whom are college graduates
would have more incisiveness and
perception than to give even minor
consideration to such reports. But
such is not true. 1t is really amaz-
ing what some people will believe,
or pretend to believe, if they wish
to believe.
But listen: 1t was told also that
a letter had been seen, signed by
Governor Hodges, in which the
Governor had turned his back on
any thought of a bridge over Ore
gon Inlet, and had given the order,
not only for abandonment of free
ferry service, but for the final
abandonment of any road building
on Ocracoke Island. AS before
some said they had seen such a
letter, but no one could produce
such letter.
The Great Mystery Blows Up
Now what did happen, happened
some weeks ago, when a group Of
students from the Graduate School,
of Landscape Architecture of the
University of Pennsylvania, visit.
ed the Hatteras Island area, ir
pursuit of their further studies
Maybe they thought that by writ
ing a thesis on the characteristics
of new territory. viewed during g
hasty visit, they would be awarded
an additional degree or two. De-
grees are often beneficial to eek
perts" in numerous fields of en-
deavor, when they hang out shin
gle, and seek to attract customers
clients, patients, etc.
When the boys got back to Penn.
sylvania, they prepared quite q
long brief covering their observa.
tons. After taking as many pages
to say so, as lawyer would use
in writing up a new lawsuit tc
break an old will, they finally sum!
med up with some IL or 10 recon-.
mendations for the improvement
and benefit of Hatteras National
Seashore, which in their opinion
should be undertaken, by citizens
and local, Federal and State gov
ernments.
The Pa. College boys were SC
| pleased with their handiwork il
behalf of country completely new
to them and its people, that they
sent their masterpiece to Conrad
Wirth, Director of National Parks
/ Mr.. Wirth wrote them the usua
letter Of courtesy thanking then
for their interest, and told then
their brief would receive "due'
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