The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1959-09-04
HIGHWAY OFFICIALS GIVEN
APPRECIATIVE RECEPTION IN
WASHINGTON ON WEDNESDAY
Warren Scores Critics Of Bridge Projects 10
Eastern Part Of State; Said Charges Made
Against Commission Completely Untrue. Two
Day Meeting Held by Board Member and En-
qineers.

State Sen. Lindsay Warren took
two Of his fellow legislators to task
Wednesday for criticizing the State
Highway Commissions recent de-
cision to build three multi-million
dollar bridges in eastern North
Carolina.
Warren spoke as the Highway
Commission assembled in Washing
ton, N. c., to hear citizens of this
coastal section tell of their road
needs and also to hold its monthly
business meeting.
Warren leveled his sights at
State Sen. John r. Jordan Jr., of
Wake and Rep. Walter Jones of
Pitt.
Jordan has been highly critical
of the Highway Commission in two
recent speeches. In the first one
he pointed to what he called the
political timing" of the Highway
Commissions announcement that it
would build bridges over the Alli-
gator River, Oregon Inlet and the
Cape Fear River at Wilmington.
no Truth
Warren said there was "Not one
iota of truth" in Jordan's charge.
He added that ut is a reflection
on the Highway Commission, on
the governor and on a great many
distinguished eastern North Caro-
lima public officials and citizens"
Warren said Jordan had charged
that bridges were POLITICALLY in
spired and policital slop" for
eastern representatives in the
General Assembly. However, Jordan
said that all he said about them
was TO point to "the political tim
ing" of the commissions announce
ment it would build the bridges
before next years political CAM
paigning. .
Warren said he thought it was
up TO him to "Set the record
straight" because he led group
of eastern Legislators and citizens
who appeared before the Highway
Commission and called on Gov.
Hodges to urge construction of the
bridges.
Jones introduced bill in the
recent legislature to reduce the
Highway Commission membership
from ID to z. 1t was opposed by
Hodges administration supporters
and was defeated.
Recently Jones told newsmen he
felt introduction of his bill had
speeded up the Highway Commits
sion's decision to build the bridges.
Warren said Jones had intimated
that eastern legislators had been
promised the bridges if they would
help defeat the reorganization bill
This is the most ridiculous state
ment / have ever heard a RESPONSE
BILE legislator make" Warren de-
Jared
The Highway Commission heard
two others praise their decision to
build the Alligator River and Ore
gon Inlet bridges. They were Rep.
Herbert C. Bonner and Victor
Meekins of Manteo, chairman Of
the Dare County Board of Com
missions.
This will open up the great Sea-
shore National Park to North Caro-
linians and give us direct contact
between the Aibemarle and Pami-
CO areas and the outer banks with
direct highway connection" said
Bonner.
Meekins told the commission that
the Alligator River and Oregon In
let Bridges twill pay off more thar
any highway improvement you will
build during your administration
He cited the millions of visitors
through the years, attracted to the
area largely because of the Park
and mostly from other states as
being huge contributors of gas
taxes, and the tremendous boost to
the economy of what has formerly
been considered an area of "paupel
countless" but now being able to
stand on their own feet.
Earlier in the day, MeelSins ap-
peared on panel with other news.
papermen and highway officials
at TV station WITH, and on in
quiring about the status of plans
for repairs to the Outer Banks
highway, was told that the work
is expected to begin shortly, ant
the delay has been occasioned wher
held in allegiance pending develop
ment of highway legislation ant
decisions in Washington.