The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-06-24
THE COUNTY SEAT-iTS OBLIGATIONS. ITS
BENEFITS, HANDlCAPS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The COUNTY SEAT-lTS OBLIGATIONS. ITS
BENEFITS, HANDlcAPS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
whereby the voters of Norfolk County, Va have approved
removal of their county from Portsmouth
capital of the county Great Bridge which while some
what centrally located only recently became than
roads community Here entirely county
seat will be established and it's going to add great force
to the recently booming community Portsmouth is
important city, capable of running its with
hnued satisfaction and success it with compassion
wish Great Bridge WELL in the surge expansion that
bound to when the of rich county and
all its fiscal activities centered in it, and all the political
largess trckle from it in the years to come.
There is much of advantage for any town which be-
the county seat and such distinction offers many
opportunities for good of the community county seats
worth to itself and its people depends of upon the
allowed to control it. 1t is often the rule that
county seat town is looked upon with dsfavor by the
stem out of pure sesness because by virtue of being the
county seat so good things gravtae to it. Most of
the employees paid out OF the peoples money make their
home and invest in property the county seat
well giving its stores the most of their trade Usually
people of more than average income ability and leadership
they contribute In many to the comunys churches
schools and civic enterprises BY and large everything that
up to benefit the countyseat town gives definite
advantage over any other community in its county.
The fact that county seat derives many bene
fits by virtue of it's distinction the cost of the public
great responsibility on the community to prove
itself worthy of what gets The the community
depend than other community the patronage of
all the people of the county, If selfish interests prevail
control of the county seat they do untold harm every
merchant in it. Instead of expecting lot out of the county,
the county seats people obligated to give
thing in return for the advantage they get
Everywhere you go in North Carolina you will find
some prevailing at large toward the county
seat and particularly counties thak have other
towns of appreciabe size The complaint frequent that the
county seat controls everything to exclusion of the rights
of other towns frequently said that the political powers
viii not give jobs to people who don't live in the county
seat and that most political offices of any Importance
all kept snugy in the hands of small circle at the county
seat These complaints apparently true in places
Some places than Others for all contracts and
all favors of any sort that through politics public
funds distributed only within the close circle of
ty seat devotees.
of tha Of their oh1
on should always be their guard against arousng any
criticism that has justification toward its people its stores
Unfair treatment can drive away valuable trade and good
will valuable While the rest of the county
get along without the county seat the businessmen of the
would have close their doors with the situation
reversed The citizens thereby have something in trust and
that is the business of always being fair and helpful to all
the people of their county The rights of all should be
tected and instead of seshness prevailing administration
should lean toward spirit Of unseshness and good neigh
borlness In the long this spirit will pay off and
tribute to co1tentment and progress
One of the favored of all county seats from the
r Of ne % soI mas cash sSare
the countys ABC profits of about $4,000 year. gets
Chief of police paid from ABC funds The people of the
surrounding contribute much to the support OF the
fire equipment as does the town. although the town, for
tunaely by of having water system is able to
benefit favoraby in efficiency and lower in
rates And indirectly county employees par
tcpate heavily in rentals home ownership the purchase
of food clothing, furniture and maintenance and
on of cars they add to the school enrolment and the
profits of all local stores But the direct benefts which en-
able the town to stable government larger
Manteo from it's county, than for any other town In
northeastern North Carolina That is why the town needs
to be on its guard prevent anything that might
criticism and iwi since it has been Going well for
MANY years. might find itself for better off to let well
enough alone than being successful in grabbing small
temporary gain from time to- time
Every uminary in the constellation Of human great
The r1xv,ncc f Iirox