The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter., 1960-12-23
FERRY
Continued from Page One)

NNVHl4HNSu 4IOAA rage OhCl
to be up to Coast Guard qualifi-
cations for a vessel carrying pas
sengers for hire.
The "Sea Level" would have
been much nicer and much more
seaworthy if she had been larger
and a few wrongs righted that
now exist. That can be done.
What do people think of the
ferry ride?
During my employment there l
never experienced one dissatisfac-
tion over the tolls charged, in
fact, it seemed that the main at
traction was the boat ride and
people were eager to get on
board. They wanted the thrill of
going to sea, as some thought.
All sorts of questions were asked
when told of Teach's Hole, Bea-
con Island, Shell Castle Rock,
Portsmouth with it's mixed popu-
lation, it's crude way of life. All
would acclaim what a wonderful
ride. When they We're told of the
oyster beds (naturaD of where
clans could be found, how crabs
were caught, the distant shrimp
ers or winter hunters, all these
were of interest to riders of the
ferry and it was of great interest
to them. / believe with just a lit
tie white lie, that Harbour Island
club house could have been sold
ten thousand times. Many of
them were heard to exclaim, "My,
what wonderful ride, isn't it
beautiful "I'm coming on this
ride again." isn't the country
beautiful" Many times riders
have expressed themselves as to
how unique and how wonderful
Gods Hand in making a country
so different to the mainland.
Don't let the people down and
discontinue the ferry" is what
people would say when talk Of
discontinuing the service was
brought into the conversation.
Thousands upon thousands are
travelling this highway and they
don't want dead-end. No. they
want to continue down the coast
or up the coast. AS our Seashore
National Park Service becomes
better known, say in a few more
years, millions, not thousands
will be on the move. Let's add
this ferry service to the New
Day" and the "New Frontier" 1
don't know of a better slogan to
be used or a better name for the
additional ferries to come than
"New Day" or "New Frontier"
that will have to be added to the
service between Ocracoke and the
mainland, both to Core Sound
and to Outfall Canal, both will be
needed in due time. Folks every
where remember our population
is on the increase. They will be
looking for new frontiers. They
exist on our coastland, our North
Carolina coastland. This coastland
has the attributes to care for our
travelling public. They will need
a way to go there, not turn back.
Everyone who is interested write
to J. Melville Broughton, Jr. and
the commission for this service
so terribly needed.
When ferry service was inaugu-
rated it was estimated a certain
figure, say a thousand cars would
come over a certain period from
Hatteras to Ocracoke. In one years
time it more than tripled. 1t will
do more than that between Ocra-
coke and the Carteret mainland.
After the first month of opera
ton last summer, enough cars
were parked each night to load
the ferry by 900 pm. Many were
turned back. All these people who
parked their cars spent the night
in Atlantic or nearby.
We need people to come to our
coastland. They will be our source
of income in the near future. We
will need them. But let's not do
as some suggest and get crack
er box ferry for the long ride and
take the chance of getting better.
1t seldom happens that way. Rath-
er, lets try to get the best even
if we have to exact toll, but
under any circumstances and all
circumstances let's get good