The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter., 1960-12-16
LOST COLONY DESERVES SUPPORT
FROM PUBLIC FUNDS.

There many why all citizens should contrib
ute to support The Colony drama Roanoke Island
BY comparison with what has been spent from public funds
other projects in Dare County there are no valid argu
ments that will stand up against this premise
BY and large other single project of local origin in
Dare County since The Lost Colony was begun years
has contributed much to the cultural up the material
development the creation of interest in the area and the n
nancial profit of the citizens in general.
From the first week showed citizens of the community
began realizing income from the rental OF and dor
years. during season. all available rooms nearby were
rented to visitors to The Lost Colony.
The profits from rentals enabled many home owners TO
make worthy improvements and additions to tner homes
and to gradually raise standard of living The money
spent by visitors the show benefited many people as tne
drove and out through the counties of Hyde Iye Cur
rituck etc.
It was the solid encouragement of traffic to The Lost
Colony year after that prompted the continued
rented rooms but the huge investment in larger facilities
brought enormous increase in taxes which spread Gu
through all branches of county government including
schools boat harbors medical care etc. wncn went 10
community.
Yet there are people of vision most of whom
contribute way of taxes who appear to be com
petely Indifferent to the benefits brought by The Lost COL
ony -.
While hundreds of thousands of dollars from public
funds spent during the past quarter century Tor
various projects throughout the county the con
button The Lost Colony has been Tnere was OF
course $4,000 provided several ago to buy and Whch
went into the promotion and development OF tne
Ehzabethan Gardens for 80 years Some oeheve
this transaction inspired more Tor real estate
than for anything else
During this same period hundred thousand dollars
has been spent development of drainage canals
ers and harbors in every of the county Many
thousands have been contributed to financing the cost OF
celebrations and entertainments in various communities OF
the county, Two hundred thousand dollars would be taer
figure The county contributing $1,000 or more an
nualy the Tourist Bureau which channeed 70 per cent
toward the accommodation OF sporshsneren ana tnose
who cater to their desires
Clearly things out of balance when something so
important as The Lost Colony shuned aside merely
overlooked while the other things mentioned taken as
matter of There have been years when housana
dollars annually have been contributed to local ceeoaons
which lasted merely for a day.
Yet The Lost Colony which has done more than any 9th
fesvy to bring about the growth OF income wnen Is e
in two months every year OF nearly S1oOoOo
the running of the show paid to PARTICIPANTS VINO o i've n dna
turned in the county out OF the pockets OF nose VINO
come to see it. whereby it is readily apparent that much of
this sum profit hotels moes restaurants garages and
all others who serve the needs of tourists
More by far than any other thing, The Lost Colony
the highest type of citizens People mbued
with patriotism, love of our countrys history desire TO
understand it to teach it, to feel the inspiration that comes
to all good in heart when visiting nations shr1nes
No other visitors much for No other visitors
will upon being treated WELL return home to tell others eft
friends for what they have seen here encourage them
and experience for themselves what must follow
when stands upon this hallowed ground
For here began the first of several tragic events in the
development of nation which grew out OF pam ana SUI
of sn ep TeG m uen
built the foundation which we have lived so long
It should be our firm conviction that anything worthy
this which has been universally Wncn mas won
the support of the State OF North Caronna wnc mas
ed devoted and unsesh from great people from ata
and without whose would long since have fallen ov
the waysid it should here and be our desire and nrm
conviction there should be some firm steps taken to give it
the solid financial consideration it deserves.
It heartenng thing to many souls when me LOST
aroused new interests devotion to idea and to ideals
brought le energy new opportunities 10
lose # now would be of devotion to great dea TO
countless people would be lost the chief attraction tnat IN
spires them to visit Roanoke Island TO lose woud ne re-
Election on all of us have failed in sense OF appre
alton and of duty the memory of OF those who ng
ed chiefly making this show possible and VINO nave passed
on to their reward. 80 , ~
Should cease to show, would be the losers as well
as the guilty ones.
ming opposed foolish exravagant or doomed TO ran
w 1T is of these characters that todays opectors may
are people who themselves conceive nor or nor