The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-02-20
HATTERAS HEARING MARCH IL
FOR CHANNEL THRU UG | INLET
AROUSES INTEREST in AREA
Engineers to Meet at o am. to Learn Needs Of
Area; A Favorable Report on the Situation
Expected to Lead to Great Benefits for Coast
land; Development of the Area and improve
ment Of Fishing Industry.

be held at Hatteras on Thursday,
March IL when officials of the U. S.
Engineer Corps will receive evil
dence of the need for improve
ments to the channel leading into
Hatteras harbor from Hatteras In
let.
This due to dependency of num-
bers of persons in need, is consid-
cred the most important harbor on
the Outer Banks. serving as it
does the heavy shipping of the en-
tire island and large fishing in
dustry, is in need of improvement
and deepening to conform to the
existing depth in the inland water
way.
A depth of 10 feet for this prof.
ect has been proposed, but evidence
will now be reviewed showing need
for depth of IL feet.
Leading committee of citizens
of the community in preparing in
formation to present to the Engi-
neers are M. L. Burrus, Donald
Oden and others. They will furnish
blanks for the use of all boat own
ers or other interested persons.
A delegation from the Dare
County Waterways Association is
expected to attend this meeting,
A. H. Ward, Jr. said this week.
The project has been worked for
long time. Continued efforts in
Congress by Rep. Herbert Bonner
succeeded in July 1867 with bill
in favor of deepening the channel
to ten feet. In July 1858 he got ap-
proval of survey for the IL foot
depth.
This harbor is one of the most
important on the whole coast, and
of particular value to the economy
of Dare County and Hatteras Is
land. 1t can be instrumental in
great development from the area,
and the encouragement of a ire
mendous seafood industry from
ocean waters.
The outcome of the meeting
planned for March IL can be of
more serious Importance to the
whole area than at this time may
be realized. Considerable effort
is now required to collect suitable
data for this hearing. Here is some
of the information needed:
In order to determine whether
economic justification exists for
possible improvements of Robinson
Channel and of the channel between
Hatteras Inlet and Hatteras Har-
Dor, it is desired to obtain detailed
data on items specified in the No
tice. Information on the project as
whole is desired and also for
specific vessels. Accordingly, each
boat operator is requested to fur
nish the following data on all
boats, if over 5 feet loaded draft,
now using or DESTROYS of using pro-
posed improved channels at or
near Hatteras. Complete the appli-
cable blanks in accordance with use
of vessels. Information desired is
not limited to that requested below.
1. Terminal and Transfer Facili-
ties: a. Brief description of exist
ing wharves and docks. Needs in
way of harbors, slips or basins,
wharf or pier areas, and available
frontages of wharves, docks, or
piers under municipal and other
public control. Same information
for private facilities. b. Informa-
ton on number of boats which use
port for refuge harbor-number
which use port while waiting for
outside weather to clear up, or
prospective number if improvement
is accomplished.
II. Benefits Expected From I'M
provement Of Channels And Basin:
a. Savings in operating costs due
to increased project depths-speci-
fly. b. Value of increased catch due
to availability of more adequate
channels and basins. Edible fish
and shellfish. c. Decrease in spoil
age due to more or better channels
and harbors ESTIMATED in pounds
of fish or shellfish). d. Prevention
of storm damage to vessels be-
cause of access to harbors through
new or improved channels (this
should be given for each class of
vessel, including number of vessels
suffering storm damage and cost
of repairs). e. Reduction in damage
to hulls, rudders, and propellers,
by class of vessel, due to more adj
equate channel furnish informa-
ton on number of vessels dam
aged, type of damage, and cost Of
repairs). f. Statement concerning
increased safety and convenience
to navigation, including possible
saving of lives, resulting from ade-
quate channels and basins. g. Same
information as in "b" above is re-
quested for additional vessel that
would be added to present fleet