The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-07-29


the community, small part of it's available benefits
Like most other things that given Free been
set for 10 years with schemes and plans by individuals and
groups to chsel away its value to derive selfish and per-
bentfts from it, away and make use of it's
buildings without financial return we'll great va
rey of equipment of which loaned out off
premises and left neglected to with pro-
vision for replacement
To get this airport built few people did lot of hard
work as public service Fewer still have continued to be
unseshy interested in it's welfare required the pledge
OF the Board OF Commissioners that would be supported
financially by the county to get it built World War in
tevened and was taken by the Navy and during
the period the investment property and employ
ment occasoned throughout these years brought to Roam
oke Island the greatest outlay of benefits from money
employment brought here When the war ended the
Government investment of hundreds of thous
and IN real property and vast amount of valuable equip
to make the most of the income from rentals this prop
ey actually permitted the county to sell many thous
and OF dollars worth of the property to derive further funds
to maintain and improve this airport In addition the Gov
eminent granted $4,000 in cash the repair and
Improvement OF the runways By this arrangement the
county has been spared any cost whatsoever the tax
payers having the to derive all the funds needed to
MAINTAIN and operate the property.
, The Manteo Airport was never conceived or built for
the purpose OF providing little gold mine any group or
individual The object to give the community mighty
asset to serve the flying public to enable thousands
minded tourists to find this upo-date facilities
expected to be of ncaculable benefit and profit to all
the community and particularly hotels and motes
types of The general effort and spirit of the
mnty has been greatly deficient in protecting safe
guarding this great and producing the benefits the
area should have had.
From the outset when the Government gave the prop
ery to the county at the the war there has been
constant campaign coming from many sources to get
something free out of the airport that had nothing to do
toward beneftng the airport or it's purposes Political
pressres resulted buildings worth $50 month being
rented FOR as low as $50 year, of which
tune of thousands Of dollars Were never
Many valuable buildings have been rented over period
years for no consideration whatsoever while being allow
ed to deprecae and to nothing whereby they are
unworthy of the investment required put them into ser
iceable condition.
Tbo
formed observers believe be worth to fifteen thous
and dollars year to alert operator has been going
asong For long period rented for $50 month";
and this included many buildings and valuable equipment
the rent was not always collected The property grew up
weeds and bushes of the buildings almost fell down.
total expenditure of $4,000 made exclusive of
runway repairs to restore them and in April 1852 large
years. at $500 the first year and ST the second YEAR
new lessee qualified pilot mechanic and instructor The
outward signs indicated that his ability and hard have
De profitable to him but thing great lacking also
TINS airport community cooperation to produce
MOTION essential to attract the flying public to vacations in
quate sense if is only used for the benefit single per-
san %n0 Of IS with rs to 80
an air taxi service and the profits made buying
the airport should alone do to be of greatest worth
For the past six years has continued to be used be-
yond the expiration of the lease which ended April 1854
the county receiving $10O month this valuable con-
cession and returning half this each month the
the guse of remuneration for watching and supervision
With this lease goes the the valuable hangar build
ing with its income from storage for planes other adj
jacen buildings the office and apartment building which
easily worth $50 month alone and while specified
long shed has been allowed be The lessee
has the exclusive right of retailing gasoline which should
itself alone bring sufficient return to pay the He
gets the use Of valuable power tools and equipment many
hand TOOLS all the rents from tie down and storage visit
ing airplanes and some other advantages.
In addition his family is allowed liberal commission
on rooms rented In large roaming house which is
peey furnished and part of which is rented to
poye OF the operator who pays the Airport fund $35
month Another building which is furnished now being
rented for SIS month total of $11O.
Aside from the fixed base operation return, the Air
port Fund has other small income in rents but best
of ALL has been fortunate in having gotten rents which
now total in cash hand $14 900, and which
from contractors using the vast concrete for storing
gravel for building roads and for construction of Croa-
tan and Roanoke Sound bridges This stroke of fortune
and came not by effort on the part of local people
Some months ago, the lessee, discussing renewal Of
the lease offered to $3.50 month rent for facility