The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-06-12
'DIGNIFIED AND UNIFIED PLAN
FOR BRIDGE CAUSES WINNING
INTEREST OF STATE OFFICIALS
Everything is Lovely and the Goose Hangs High,
It No One Rocks the Boat or Throws the Fat in
The Fire; While Nature Takes Its Course; Many
Looking Forward to Some Word From RALEIGH
on June 18th
BY VICTOR MEEKINS

night that he expected to see Or
egon Inlet bridged in the next
five years, words his listeners
wished to hear. A telephone call
by this newspaper to the Cover
nor in Raleigh brought his con-
firmation that he said the words,
and purely without official con-
nection, but out of his hope, and
based on the possibilities of the
area.
The Governor, commenting on
the great growth in traffic in
this area, said the bridge would,
in his opinion, be the greatest
factor, when combined with a land
ing strip at Hatteras toward de-
veloping this area. The Cover
nor's interest in this area over a
period of years is widely known,
and highly appreciated as well as
his awareness of the potentials for
greater economy.
Chairman Mel Broughton, Jr. of
the State Highway Commission
this week told US also that the
bridge is being thoroughly con-
sidered by the entire commission
which visited the site May 18th.
Mr.. Broughton said all factors in
volved are being carefully con-
sidered, not only for this bridge,
but the proposed bridge at Alliga-
tor River, and some half dozen
other major projects proposed in
various sections of the state.
Announcement on June 26.
Mr.. Broughton said the commits
sion expected to issue a statement
June &c, concerning the status of
these several projects and what it
hopes to do about them in the ear
ly future. He said the Commission
had been impressed, after being
on the ground, with the need for
the Alligator and Oregon Inlet
bridges. He commented on the eff
fective spirit of unity that the
Legislators have shown, from
several counties in the northeast
ern area, who have appeared
twice, in body, before the COM
mission, to state the case for
these bridges. 1t is the first time
such combined weight of influence
and commonsense has been
massed in behelf of the project.
The group set Senator Lindsay
Warren at its head, made him
spokesman. Mr.. Broughton said
the entire commission was inn
pressed with the "dignified and
unified manner of the presenta-
ton of the case"
AS will be noted further along,
there is hopeful assurance through
plans of the Corps of Engineers.
Area Watchful and Hopeful.
While no positive comment has
been made by anyone in authority,
those in authority have left the
impression with many people that
they are aware of the wish for
the bridges and that they want to
do something about relieving the
situation. 1t has also been i'm
pressed upon the people that two
bridges cannot be obtained at
one time, and further that any de-
termined stand for two bridges, or
any fight being raised in any
quarter for either bridge over the
other, might easily prove disas-
trous, and make the issue so hot
the authorities would drop it like
a hot spike.
Prospects look to most people
that one of the bridges is coming
out of all this elaboration, and
consideration of all factors indi-
cate when one is begun, the other
will not be far behind. II is well,
to give considered judgement to
some elements involved and which
must of necessity bear weight in
the making of any decision.
Looking at the Alligator River
situation we find here a tremen-
dous weight of sentiment and in
fluence united and exerted from
several counties representing a
population of several hundred
thousand people. We see a project
being sought that had its incep-
ton more than 80 years ago, and
has been continuously advocated
through all these years, and long
before the need for other bridges
was dreamed of.
We see also on this route an
established highway, leading from
coast to coast as it were, with
federal approval over a period Of
years, and eligible for a large
amount Of Federal funds for its
maintenance and improvement
each year. We might view this
bridge as half paid for, If as and
when the Commission decides to
build it.
Yet all the influence in the Inn
mediate area Of the proposed
bridge might be futile, were it not
for the great weight of sentiment
See BRIDGES. Pare Six