The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-12-28
1856 ENDING WITH PREDICTION
OF HIGH 1857 DEVELOPMENT
RESULT OF YEARS PROGRESS
Peak in Tourist Business and Renewed interest in
obstruction Of Facilities. Seasonal Dwellings
and Many Other Activities Predicted to Reach
Peak During Coming Year.

tne year now endlng, give r1S6 10
strong predictions that 1867 will
bring to the Walter Raleigh Coast
land renewed interest and encour-
agement for development such as
it has never before seen. Biggest
single achievement was the OPEN
ing of the Croatan Sound bridge,
a 100000 job, which went into
service during the Christmas sea-
son. The advantages it will give
the region, and the new avenues
for further development it will
make possible are difficult to esti-
mate. The bridge will be dedicated
in April, with elaborate ceremonies,
to the late Governor William B.
Umstead who saw to its building.
On the whole 1856 has been a
year of great achievement. The
projects underway are of great
consequence to all the counties of
the Southern Albemarle Region.
Many hundreds of thousands of
dollars are being spent to widen
and improve U. S. 264 through
Beaufort, Hyde and Dare Counties.
Many new bridges have been COM
pleted. The rest of the work will
be finished during the coming
months, before the summer sea-
son begins. Y
Work has begun on new bridge
over Scuppernong River at C0ium-
bia, which means employment for
many people, and stimulus for To-
cal business. U. S. Ga is thereby
being greatly improved and better
ferry service over Alligator River
is promised for this year, all of
which counts up to greater ease
of travel over this short route be-
tween the seashore and central
North Carolina.
Contract has been let for three
new ferries, costing about $500, 900
which when added to the present
fleet of seven boats, should insure
no handicap in traffic destined to
visit the same Hatteras and Ocra-
coke area. These boats are prom
ised to be in service by summer.
Ocracoke Island is receiving
100000 modern highway, now well
under construction, and leading
from end to end Of the island, pro-
viding quick and dependable traf-
fic by way of the Hatteras Inlet
ferry, which road is expected to
bring about improved free ferry
service at this inlet.
The Department of the Interior
spent large sums in development
of the Cape Hatteras National Sea-
shore, and this program will con-
tinue through 1857 on perhaps
larger scale, on Hatteras and Ocra-
coke Islands.
On the Dare County mainland,
telephone service will be assured
as the result of construction made
possible by the new sound bridge,
and work on this project was be-
gun in 1856 by the Norfolk and
Carolina Telephone and Telegraph
Company of Elizabeth City. The
village of Mashoes on this main
land, is now receiving electricity
as the result of a power line ex-
tension made by the Pamlico
Power and Light Company of
Engelhard.
Predictions are, that much de-
velopment of cottages and facili-
ties for accommodation of tourists
and sportsmen will follow all
through 1857 on U. S. 264 along
all the way from Mashoes to Bel
haven. Businessmen in Hyde and
Beaufort Counties are now making
plans for motels. and other facili-
ties as a result of the encourage
ment this assurance of quick, all
weather traffic has given the area.
A consequent growth in real
estate values adjacent to the
roads in this area is expected to
ensue. Particularly on the Dare
County Coastland a development on
large scale on lands now having
little demand, is predicted as the
result of a million dollar limited
access highway the State Highway
Commission plans to build between
the Wright Memorial Bridge and
Mays Head.
Of Importance to fishermen Of
Eastern North Carolina is the let
ting of contract during 1866 for
deepening of Oregon Inlet at a
cost of half million dollars. The
worth of this project should be
noted throughout a dozen coun-
tries. The job will soon get under
way for early completion this
spring.
Along U. s. 264 should be felt
the impetus Of a 100000 Job to be
constructed by the Navy at Stumpy
Point, which consists of barracks
and subsistence building, a con-
tract for which was let this month.
One of the largest projects In.
] See PROGRESS, Page Tive