THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606140304
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 40 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 148 lines
I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Ronald L. Speer on the profundity exhibited in his column in the June 9 Coast. While he may preach the sermon every year, I fear too few join in carrying the message, and those to whom he preaches are either too ingenuous to appreciate the wisdom or rendered impervious by the purveyors of the ``primrose path'' ethic.
The causal factors are many, but our obsession for making life easier so all could have more leisure time to enjoy the finer things, appears to have been interpreted to mean time to be entertained by others.
Having entered the work force in the early years of the Great Depression, I can well recall when each worker, no matter how menial the occupation, had the objective of being the best in his environ.
The laborer wanted to be known as the one who could shovel more material, more accurately, with the least amount of effort. The grave digger was proud of the precision of the angles and the straightness of the grave walls, done without benefit of instruments other than a spade. The carpenter was proud of his ability to cut hip and jack rafters on the ground, using only a steel square and a hand saw and achieving a perfect fit when hoisted into place. The glass blower bragged of his capability to produce more vessels with more regular shapes and thinner walls, then stayed after the era's long working day to produce the now-famous art glass for his personal edification.
Women routinely produced fine garments and needlework and reveled in the production of unusual comestibles, despite the drudgery of their station and their reprehensible relegation as second class citizens.
Present-day educators and political pundits now see only a small portion of the picture in their search for the single solution to better equip students for acclimation in the workplace. The objective: Acquire more means and time to spend being entertained by others, yet producing nothing that bears the students chop, or exhibits their pride of creation.
The preachers harangue and cajole, basing their entreaties on the fact that ``We are created in His image,'' interpreting the phrase to mean our morphology. The entire genre fails to interpret the situation correctly by realizing that all humans are the only creatures who can and do create things, specifically items that in the eyes of the creator are art forms.
Barton M. Bauers Sr.
Manns Harbor Campaign comments
In a recent letter to the editor, Mr. Donald Reid expressed his opinions about my campaign as well as comments pertaining to my wife as county commissioner.
I want to thank Mr. Reid for his apparent attention to my ``Jeff Foxworthy'' ads; it shows that my investment paid off and these ads did not go unnoticed.
But to clarify for Mr. Reid and others who care enough about our government to keep up with the candidates, I would like to add that it should have been obvious what my campaign represented. I ran for the seat because I believe in the democratic process. My opponent had no opposition, and by my running, the people then had a choice. I also applaud the citizens of Dare County for making a stand for or against candidates by exercising their right to vote.
On the other hand, I attend most of the board meetings; but I do not recall Mr. Reid having been in attendance, so I can't help but wonder where he got some of the information he used to base his comments on.
Mr. Reid stated he has heard ``some very good ideas begin with Commissioner Hassell, but they always turn into attacks on Chairman Owens and Mr. Wheeler.'' Since the minutes are not printed in their entirety and the media do not nor have the space to print ``between the lines'' comments, it seems doubtful that Mr. Reid's source is from these meetings.
This brings to mind his charge to ``go back and review the records to see how many times Chairman Owens turns in travel expense.'' Does Mr. Owens run his travel expenses by Mr. Reid prior to submitting them for payment?
I think it's time for Mr. Reid to wake up and smell the roses! He needs to become more involved in our government so he can form a more accurate opinion, and one of his own.
Joe Hassell
Manns Harbor Appointment concerns
I follow with great interest and ``applaud'' directions indicated by the appointment of Bob Peele to research/liaison this subject so dear to my heart and those of my fellow Outer Bankers. I have an immediate list of concerns:
Mr. Peele's supervision by a ``working group'' sounds too much like a past commission appointed by the governor, which did not ``work.''
Are the so-called weekly ``reports'' going to see ``sunshine'' by being published on a timely basis?
Are the talents of such experts as Capt. Will Etheridge, Eve Trow, and Harry Schiffman going to be used?
- Will this be a non-political office, or will the pervading interest of the one-party system prevail?
Daniel B. Gray
Avon Opposes hog operation
The following is part of a letter I wrote recently to Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.
I am writing to inform you of a matter of deep concern to residents of Camden County, particularly South Mills township. This matter should also be of deep concern to the state of North Carolina and various federal agencies.
Within the past six months, you, Sen. Marc Basnight and Rep. Bill Owens attended a ceremony at the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center to recognize its fifth anniversary. The welcome center is about four miles south of the Virginia/North Carolina state line on U.S. Highway 17.
I hope you had the opportunity to experience and enjoy the idyllic beauty of this area during your visit. The Dismal Swamp Canal, which is a National Historic Landmark (engineered by a company owned by George Washington), runs from South Mills, N.C., to Deep Creek, in Chesapeake, Va.
This area has experienced a marked increase in visitors from out of state. With the construction projects on Highway 168, Highway 17 was designated an alternate route to the Outer Banks. Vehicular traffic on 17 has increased dramatically. Visitors entering the state of North Carolina are presented with an extremely positive image of the state. DOT has planted wildflowers along the highway. Visitors often stop to admire their beauty.
All in all, the stretch of North Carolina from the Virginia state line on Highway 17 and the Dismal Swamp Canal down to the Welcome Center could not present a more positive image of the state of North Carolina than it does today.
This will all end soon.
An industrial sized hog operation is close to becoming operational about half a mile south of the Virginia/North Carolina line and a quarter to one third of a mile east of the Dismal Swamp Canal. This operation is located on land that drains into the Dismal Swamp. It is located within 500 yards of 24 residences.
Future development within a five-mile radius of this site will be non-existent. Visitors to our state will now experience the odor of hog waste instead of wildflowers for several miles. Boat traffic on the Dismal Swamp Canal will dramatically decrease as boaters become aware they have to endure many miles of their journey (at five knots) smelling hog waste. The hog waste will threaten the canal, and the wildlife refuge.
This operation is going to devalue the homes and property of 24 hard-working families; prevent any future development in the area; potentially impact on hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of visitors over the years; and pose a terrible threat to wetlands. And, under the current law, we have no recourse.
It is incomprehensible that an operation such as this, with such a potentially adverse impact on so many, could be allowed without any permit from Camden County other than an electrical permit. No environmental impact study is required.
We will investigate ways to try to get this operation stopped. The state of North Carolina should not allow something like this to happen. This is not a farm. This is a major business. It should not fall under the protection afforded family farms. An operation like this should require a permit from the county.
I appreciate your time. I ask that you keep up your efforts to get some control over the hog industy. I'm afraid that if these kinds of operations with these kinds of potential consequences continue unchecked, there are going to be dire environmental catastrophies. There are going to be dire personal catastrophies as well.
Bob Fraser
South Mills by CNB