The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-05-03
I'LL CONSIDERED WORDS

ILL CONSIDERED WORDS
We would not deny anyone one
bit of glory to which they are
rightly due, but we might not help
laughing, were it not sort of tragic,
this characterizing the late Gov
ernor Umstead as "the man who
did more to help Dare County than
any other" 1t is always easy for
thoughtless people to use careless
words in the first burst of ill-con-
sidered enthusiasm, but / fully be-
lieve Governor Umstead himself
would have been the first to- re-
flute such a reckless claim. In fact,
shortly before his death, / heard
him correct statements of this
kind.
In meeting in Manteo, Cover
nor Umstead heard various flat
tering comments about his action
in making the first appropriation
for the Croatan Sound bridge. An
attempt at the same time was
made to disparage Governor Scott
who had neither promised nor
built the bridge, Governor Um-
stead was told "you gave us the
bridge"
81 have given you nothing" was
Governor Umstead's sharp rebuff
tai. "You must get this idea out
of your head. It's your money!
the money of the people of North
Carolina that is being spent. l am
giving you nothing; only spending
your money where l think it ought
to be spent"
The thing Tor which Governor
Umstead deserves credit is that his
administration saw that a measure
of belated justice was done in this
region. Full justice has not been
done, and will not be until other
bridges are built. But Governor
Umstead did see that some justice
was made possible. In doing this,
he was but giving credence to the
claims and efforts of many far
sighted, patriotic and helpful in
dividuals who had long clamored
that justice be done. Had it rot
been for the vigorous efforts and
influence of men like Lindsay War
ren, Governor Umstead might not
have given much weight to de-
mands for the bridge which were
being voiced by our own people. In
fact some of them held the project
SO cheaply that they were begging
him to build us a toll bridge while
Mr.. Warren was vigorously OBJ
jecting to such a bridge, and de-
manding a free one. 1t was to Mr..
Warren, that Mr.. Umstead gave
the first intimation of his intention
to build the Croatan Sound bridge.
There were some more idle
words, uttered at Manns Harbor.
Governor Hodges spoke about what
a great springboard the new
bridge would be for the expansion
of the fish processing industry.
But most of US know the fish
processing industry isn't going to
expand until we get more fish. We
aren't going to get more fish un-
til we get a state agency that will
protect and conserve our seafood
industry, and enforce the laws
against the criminal waste in the
industry now running rampant,
practically unchecked and unprose-
cuted.
The Governor told everybody of
the need for the Alligator River
Bridge. But he said just at present
no means are available for plo-
viding this vital link.
We might ask is any effort be-
ing made to make the means avail
able? It takes a beginning, and
Governor Umstead started with
$750,000. The state continues a
heavy outlay for ferry boats,
which grows enormously from
year to year. They will soon eat
up the cost of bridges. They'll
never convince anyone who gets
around bit, that the state can't
go ahead and build bridges, and
not be the better off.
Better roads and bridges result
in tremendous increased income
from gas and tag taxes. In the
final analysis, the thing pays off;
pays handsome dividends in many
ways. Brings new income to the
people, and makes savings posi-
BILE in many ways.
All glory to the name of the
late Governor Umtead for being a
man OF honor, courage, and fore
sight. But we can think of others
who have been equally great
friends of the coastland, and if
anyone deserves the superlative
title, we'd give it to Mr.. Warren.
He was a friend in the days of