The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-04-17
MUST LABOR FOREVER TO
PRESERVE ITS FORESTS
AND BATTLE THE STORMS
It's A Late Hour to Undertake the Overcoming
Of A Century Of Neglect. But Governor
Hodges and Other Leaders Are Setting Up A
Program That Offers The Only Solution
Whereby It May Be Saved.
BY VICTOR MEEKINS

Inc WOODS, beaches and waters
of the Carolina Coastland are it's
most precious treasures, yet each
year the defamation and destruc-
ton of these things completely
essential to the livelihood of all the
people continues at dizzy rate.
More than ever before, all of our
citizens are now faced, in every
county with cruel challenge to
greater effort to go forth to do
battle against the deadly enemy
forest fire, and the deadly enemy,
erosion of our beaches.
Within the weeks, we have witt
messed on the mainland one of the
most destructive fires in recent
years, wiping out the wealth of
10000 acres of land, and the prod
uct of natures bounty for 80 years.
The loss to today's people and to
the citizens of tomorrow is i'm
measurable. All of it result of the
carelessness and responsibility of
mankind.
Within a lifetime, we have wit
messed the destruction of our ocean
shoreline, and the lowering of our
beach elevations until now mil
lions of dollars invested in valua-
BILE property, the means of egress
and to it; the opportunities for
livelihood and for expansion are all
threatened.
1t is tragedy that our citizen
ship has not foreseen the costly
outcome of what has been happen
ing through the years. 1t is a
tragedy, that even with the means
for correction at our disposal, it
must mean many, many years be-
fore appreciate corrective gains
may be noted.
But it is fortunate indeed there
are men and forces ready to help
us begin projects for protection
and restoration if we will only
lend our hands in full support of
those dedicated officials and other
men who are anxious to aid us.
Governor Hodges of North Car
DINA has undertaken a magnifi-
cent task. He would remove from
private ownership these now COM
paratively useless areas which be-
ing unprotected remain a constant
threat to the security of all areas
for which they now serve as
feeble barrier against oceans mad
ness.
His valiant efforts in behalf Of
our beaches which are priceless
for resort value is promised
fruition in the General Assembly.
It would pave the way for sand
fixation project in which millions
in Federal funds would be invested
through immediate years to come
in long range program charged
with the seeds of complete success
only through the wholehearted CO.
operation and service of our citi-
zenship.
Foremost in the campaign to
enact the governors program in
effect has been Hon. Lindsay War
rem, now in the State Senate from
our district. 1t is nothing new or
unexpected when we find Lindsay
Warren leading this fight, since
beginning with his first days in
Congress 35 years ago, he boldly
faced the challenge posed by the
needs of the Outer Banks and has
remained fighting for it's salvation
ever since. In this last great stand,
where he spoke before the commit
tee in Raleigh last week he has
the strong backing of men of influ-
ence from the District: Hon. r.
Bruce Etheridge, the veteran leg
islator from Dare, Hon. Dick
O'Neal, the Hyde County Repre-
sentative, and Hon. Wayland Ser
mons, Representative from Beau
fort County; Hon. Charles Cohoon
of Tyrrell, and many other able
men of the east.
What 1t Can Do For Us
The building up of the long land
barrier constituting North Caro-
lina's Outer Banks presupposes a
list Of many advantages, some Of
which may be beyond the concep-
ton of any persons who have moi
made a thorough study of the
trends of the forces through the
years that have brought us to oul
present precarious situation.
i The program promises continued
benefits also beyond the range Of
the reasoning of those same PEG.
pie who have not had forciblt
proof presented them of the need
for and the value of future posi-.
bic benefits, never having had Il