The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-02-13

Mote: A. the beginning Of the New Yeur
fceins deficit caused by waste end over.
getting. schools crippled for lack Of funds
the Board Chairman deemed IL OF impor'
sunes TO bring these remarks TO the eonsid.
eruiion Of the Commissioners. They ore
printed here for the consideration of citizens
Interested in fueins the facts and demand'
ing Improvement Of the present stVution
for very liftle progress mcy be made If the
citizens don't oiso face the facts, demond
action. and give the Officials their whole
hearted svpportl
The following remarks for the
minutes of this meeting were di-
rected to the Board by the Chair
man:
Gentleman: AS we begin new
year, / consider it an appropriate
occasion to address some observa-
tions to you which l had intended
to do last month when you made
me chairman, but due to the ur-
gency of other things before us
/ have waited until now. My APP
probation of your Difference to my
age and experience is now duly
and gratefully noted. may say
that I have some knowledge of the
subject before US, some of it hav-
ing come hard during nearly 20
years of experience in this court
house, and nearly 40 years as a
newspaperman where my work
has taken me into most of the
counties of the immediate east
ern part of the state. At various
opportunities | have visited many
courthouses across the state, as
far as, and including that of
Cherokee County. During all these
years l have talked with county,
state and national officials about
governmental problems; have
many times visited both the state
and National capitols on missions
in behalf of this coastland, all of
which is helpful to me now. How
ever, all of my experience is not
more important than other quail
fications, which / am sure all of
you have, such as plain honesty,
commonsense, the desire to be fair
and to keep at all times before us
the best interests of our county
as a whole.
l repeat sincerely, that l con-
slider it an honor and pleasure
to be associated with you four
men in what l consider the most
challenging period that ever faced
our county. We have come here
by the overwhelming choice of the
voters, with our course clearly
marked by their action. The peo-
pie have said "We want things
done differently. We want better
government in Dare County," The
only way we can get things done
differently is to make some
changes. We may expect changes
to be met with resistance; there
will be numerous subterfuges and
stumbling blocks placed in our
way by those who will try to d.
vert US from our course, but we
must not falter neither for fear
nor for favor of any person or
anything. Our responsibility and
our duty too, has been staked out
for US, there is no other course but
to follow it.
Backbone Essential
AS you will soon learn, it will
be necessary to have more than
the usual stamina, intestinal for
titude, or backbone to do this job.
We might find it necessary to
withdraw appropriations now paid
to unessential people on the coun-
ty payroll. 1t may be necessary
to replace some with others more
efficient.
This, as / have said, is a chal-
longing period in Dare County's
history. A review of the past
should reveal to us the possibility
of great things ahead for us if
we prepare now to meet this
greater future. / estimate out of
what I believe to be prophetic
instinct, that 1860 win be the
year of greatest moment this
coastland has ever experienced. l
believe it will be the dawn of an
outstanding new era beyond the
comprehension Of the average
man. But may ! say with all en-
phasis, we must not wait until
1860, to meet this new era. We
cannot wait minute longer. In
order to prepare for the great
needs of this future progress, we
must begin now. Our big job is
this year in 1869. It will take men
of steel and vision who are will
ing to make sacrifices Of time, Of
labor, and Of other things to do
this job. II win take men with