The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-11-04
GREAT THINGS HAVE COME
BY HELP OF DEMOCRATS
bH, VICTOR MEEkiNS

Monday / came over the Alliga-
tor River ferry, and looked upon
the great multi-million dollar
bridge project that will forever
link the sister counties of Tyrrell
and Dare. / noticed it is already
a third across the river, with deck
ing poured, and many cards stand
ing on it, a half mile from shore.
This project employs some $50 peo-
pie, and is worth much right now
to the local economy.
l thought of the vast sums that
have been spent for roads and
bridges in Dare County, by the
State of North Carolina during the
past 25 years, and which will in
clude the Oregon Inlet Bridge.
Roughly 1 estimated more than Is
million dollars has been spent,
when one counts the Currituck
Sound bridge, the Roanoke Sound
Bridge, the Croatan Sound bridge,
the great improvements on U. S.
264, the highway from Currituck
Sound to Hatteras, the many good
roads in the several communities,
and not even counting the quarter
million dollars a year spent on OPP
Grating ferries and the initial cost
Of these boats.
I meditated that the investment
from all North Carolina to put
Dare County on its feet and to en-
able to develop is, many times over,
certainly five times as much as
the whole county was assessed back
when the program began. 1t is with
a sense of deep humility and graft
tude that l acknowledge our great
indebtedness to all those dedicated
friends of this coastland who have
made this progress possible. It has
been done by people who accepted
our needs as a challenge-men who
held high office, our Congressman
and our state officials who were
touched by the fine courtesy and
hospitality of our great and good
leaders of former days, so many
of whom have passed on.
For the progress of this coast
land has come but little out of
what its people as whole have
done. There has always been a
dedicated and devoted handful who
have spent time, money, and long
hours of study, in devising means
of bringing about improvements. 1t
has been to Democratic leaders, our
great Governors, our Senators, our
Congressman like Lindsay Warren,
the greatest of them all and Her
bert Bonner who carried the ban
er for us. Their accomplishments
in our behalf have brought US I'M
told prosperity; have in many re-
spects made US the best-off part
of the state, material progress be-
ing considered. But so many OF
our homefolks who help them wage
the battle are dead. Requirements
now include too many who think
only of material personal profits,
and who at the drop of the hat
when a single within is thwarted
readily turn upon their benefact-
ors, desert them ungratefully, and
exercise the franchise in behalf OF
some unknown who has nothing to
recommend him more than vain
promises.
l have always felt humble, that
having been one of so many
brought up in this world in low
economic status, it has been neces'
sary for US to appeal to others
too often for things we should
have done for ourselves. For many
years our people have been eager
to beg someone outside, for cash
even to carry on and develop am
bilious local programs. have new
er failed to be thankful for those
friends who have come to our aio
without having to be asked. Had
not been born in the faith, I woulc
consider the Democratic party the
hest friend of this coastland anC