The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-03-03
HIGHWAY CHAlRM'N
GOES TO FOLKS TO
HEAR FERRY CASE
Improvement of Harassine Ferry
Service To Be Sought By Com.
mission. Evans Tells Group

sembled in the high school at Bux-
ton Monday night, Merrill Evans,
State Highway Chairman said he
had come to make payment on Gov
ernor Sanford's campaign promises
to bring the highway commission
closer to the people. His decision
had been made following a request
from citizens for hearing from
some 200 people who wanted to
come to Raleigh to ask for improve
ment Of Oregon Inlet ferry service.
Not receiving the desired respon-
Sc from the Board of County Com
rnissioners, a group of some $50
people met Saturday night, to or
ganize an effort to get some atten-
ton to the ferry problem, which
is considered costly indeed, as we'll
as harassing in time lost waiting
for boats. Neither of the Islands
two commissioners attended; the
group organized Hatteras Island
Betterment Association, turning to
a former Commissioner, Woodrow
Edwards for leadership. Mrs. Or
mond w. Fuller was made Secre-
tary.
A telephone call to Mr.. Evans re-
suited in his promise to come to
Hatteras to a meeting at pm.
Monday, at which time 275 people
came out, including several citizens
from Ocracoke who had to stay
overnight, in all about $40 persons
were interested.
Mr.. Edwards presided at the
meeting which lasted nearly 2
hours. He set forth the detectives
sought by the citizens who had as
sembled on Saturday night.
They wanted more dependable
ferry schedules, boat kept over
night on the South side of Oregon
Inlet so that schedules could begin
simultaneously from either side.
a change in the management of the
ferries; the employment of more
competent men to operate the
boats. and service extending from
early morning until midnight. The
ferry has always operated during
daylight hours; the ferry crews
have always contended it is not
safe nor practicable to cross the
inlet at night. Outer Bankers be-
ing mostly boatmen themselves
have contended any boatmen COM
petent to operate during daylight
hours can safely cross at night,
particularly in clear weather, now
that the channel is we'll marked,
and they cain the problem is no
greater than on Croatan Sound and
Alligator River where at both
places night boats have been oper-
ated for several years.
In fact, Chairman Evans saw for
for himself that night boats can
operate, for on his instructions, a
boat was waiting on the South
Side of Oregon Inlet to take him
back Monday night SO he could be
in Raleigh Tuesday morning. This
boat, made the first night trip
without event, the night being
clear, and the beacons flashing. 1t
was piloted by Capt. Pam Gallop,
who has worked on the Oregon In
Yet ferries longer than any other
man. Supt. John Wilson himself,
and Luther D.. Midget one of the
older Pilots was aboard the boat.
Among those who spoke in favor
of the detectives of the Hatteras
Island citizens were Nelson Mid
gett of Waves, who spent 20 years
in the vicinity, operating boats for
the Coast Guard and who stated
that there is no greater problem
attending night service at the Inlet
than at other places where it is
operated; Asa H. Gray merchant OF
Waves; Highway Patrolnnan D. s.
Skiles, who along with others said
more time was consumed waiting
for boats to arrive or depart than
in actual crossing, although the
crossing, is now 40 minutes long;
W. w. Mccoy, Supt. of the Islands
electric light system pointed out
how better service could con-
tribute to the efficiency and eco
Monty of operation for this system
and prevent great hardships; Will
liam Gibson, hotel operator of Hat.
teras also qestioned the manner in
which schedules are being main
tanned. In addition to others from
Hatteras Island, Charlie McWil.
liams, Ocracoke mail carrier and
r. S. Wahab of that Island, spoke
with vigor on the need for improve.
ment in service, in that Ocracokers
having first to cross Hatteras Inlet
when Northbound, are doubly pena.
liked by being delayed at Oregon
5 Inlet.
Mr.. Evans talked frankly to the
group, he pointed out that he had
recently come on the job, and was
trying TO familiarize himself with
these and many other highway
subjects. He said plans are under
consideration to create Division
of Ferries TO supervise all the fer
RES In the state, and pending com.