Peninsula Enterprise, May 18, 1895
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Fields -- Crops - Other fruitFields -- Crops - Strawberries
The strawberry crop in the county will be, it is now said, a short one, not more than half of what was expected a few days ago, but still quite large in some sections if the weather in the future in favorable to their growth and development. Peaches, cherries and other fruits have been so badly injured, that there will be hardly enough of them to meet the home demand.
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Transportation -- Water - Power boatsTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Waterfowl and shorebird
Rev. Thomas Dixon received from New York, last week, two handsome naptha launches, the largest of which is 40 feet long, and is to be used to convey passengers and the United States mail from Morgan's Landing to Cobb's Island. The smaller one he will use for gunning on the seaside marshes.
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Infrastructure -- Utilities - Telegraph
A movement, with Col. William Lamb, of Norfolk, at the head of it, is on foot looking to the restoration of the telegraph cable between Cape Charles and Cape Henry.
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Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Lodges
The regatta of the Accomac Club, a correspondent advises us, "promises to be, in character and magnitude the biggest occasion of the kind yet known to our people."
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Watermen -- Personal injuryAfrican-Americans -- Work - Fisheries
David Dix, colored, of this county, was thrown overboard from vessel when abreast Point No-Point, in Chesapeake Bay, and drowned last Saturday night.
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Moral -- Other violent crime
Andrew Revel, colored, while in attendance at a party of the colored people, near Craddockville, on Friday of last week, was savagely attacked by several of them for a trivial offense and seriously wounded. His nose was nearly cut off and face and throat were so badly gashed by the razors and other weapons with which they attacked him, that it was thought he could only survive for a few hours -- he was not dead according to our past advices. On Tuesday, two of his assailants, Tobe Richardson and another were lodged in our jail. Orris Richardson, John Carpenter and James Bridget, three others who joined in the attack upon Revel, are still at large, and it is likely have left the county.
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Infrastructure -- Public - Government : Postal serviceMoral -- Other violent crime
William T. Selby, colored, of this county, tried in United States court, at Norfolk, last week, for assaulting a mail carrier near Horntown, recently, was convicted of the offense and sentenced to two years in penitentiary at King's county, New York.
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Infrastructure -- Public - Government : Town
The failure of the candidates for mayor and councilmen of the town of Onancock to notify the clerk of the county court of their candidacy within the time prescribed by the Walton law, will, it is thought, prevent any election for municipal officers in that town next week; and in consequence of this the old officers will hold over for another year. This is doubtless a great disappointment to some of the citizens of Onancock who were putting on their war paint and getting ready to go gunning after the present incumbents. Report comes from Onancock that the leader of the forces of the opposition to the present town government on hearing the news that no election could be held this year, called off his forces and is now gunning for birds on the sea side marshes.
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Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - ResortsInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Lighthouse serviceAfrican-Americans -- Work - OtherTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Boat racingInfrastructure -- Commercial - Real estateTransportation -- Water - FreightSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Seaside
Chincoteague.
The Atlantic Hotel has been well filled with northern sportsmen and health seekers of late.
A merry-go-round in front of the Atlantic Hotel, run by steam, is "strictly in it," the receipts being large and amounting to $50 or more one afternoon.
The commercial tourists say, our merchants are in better shape than they have ever known them to be. Of the thirty-five licensed places here, the most of them discount their bills, and those who do not, meet them promptly.
Our building boom continues. A handsome M. E. Parsonage is in course of erection, new dwellings are being built by William Watson and Andrew Tarr, S. B. Dennis is enlarging his storehouse and James Daisey and others will soon begin to build new dwellings.
Chincoteague up to last week had beaten her past oyster shipping record.
Complaints made against William M. Parker, colored, keeper of Killick Shoal light, for neglect of duty, led to an investigation by committee of Lighthouse Board at Atlantic Hotel last Monday.
Several of our fast sailing bateaux will be entered at the regatta at Wachapreague on the 3d of June.
W. J. Matthews has bought the house and lot of Thomas Burch and offers same for sale on most liberal terms.
Schooner Maggie Davis arrived this week with cargo of coal -- schooner R. F. Hastings with cargo of building material.
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Fields -- Crops - StrawberriesInfrastructure -- Public : Camp meetingsTransportation -- Road - Wrecks
New Church.
Farmers of this section are now marketing their berry crop. Prices received to date have been satisfactory.
The members of the M. E. Church, at this place, propose holding a camp-meeting at the Red Hills, to commence about August 4th. They will use every effort to make this Camp a successful one. All parties desiring tents can secure same by applying to Mr. G. R. Terry, at New Church.
A horse owned by Mr. E. N. Collins attached to a cart, frightened by the train, ran through town on Friday last. The cart was badly wrecked, but no other damage was done.
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Infrastructure -- Public : CemeteriesInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionInfrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial constructionInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Bonds
Onancock.
The third annual meeting of stockholders of the Onancock Cemetery Co., was held last week. The Hon. Thomas M. Scott, President of the Board of Directors, read his annual report, in which he gave a most encouraging account of the condition of the corporation. The report shows, that during the past year enough lots have been sold to enable the Directors to declare a dividend of 25 per cent. to the stockholders and leave a balance of $125 in the treasury to make contemplated improvements. The Cemetery Company was organized three years ago and within that time about 75 per cent. of all the money paid by the stockholders has been paid back to them. The old officers were complimented by a unanimous re-election, and some necessary regulations were adopted for the protection of lots and the preservation of flowers, trees and monuments. It is thought, that the cemetery will soon be enlarged by the addition of two or three acres of beautiful land laying on its north side.
Our builders and carpenters have been fully employed during the past few months and the town shows much improvement from their handiwork. Mr. Charles Martin and Mr. William Beecham have erected new dwelling houses on Hill street. Mr. W. Lewis is raising a new house on Kerr street. Capt. Frank Boggs has greatly added to and improved his residence and Hopkins Bros., have refitted and improved their store at the wharf. Mr. S. R. Nelson has completely changed the aspect of his Mount Pleasant property and has converted it into a model farm.
The town council of Onancock have passed a resolution proposing that the corporation shall borrow the sum of $3,000 to be applied to the purchase of fire apparatus, a lock up and for street improvements. This proposal will be submitted to the voters at the election on the 4th, Thursday in this month.
A new and mysterious button bearing scales and cross swords or scales and cross bones and other devices may now frequently be met with on our streets, and it is rumored, that it is an outward and visible sign of the inward and invisible workings of "those A. P. A. men." It is said, that the American Protective Association has a membership of four and a half millions in America, but the number in Onancock seems hard to locate.
The bathing and crabbing season has commenced and our young folks are taking advantage of the pleasant temperature of the water and the absence of the sea nettles to have a good time with Neptune and his spiders.
The town council of Onancock have passed a resolution proposing that he corporation shall borrow the sum of $3,000 to be applied to the purchase of fire apparatus, a lock up and for street improvements. This proposal will be submitted to the voters on the 4th Thursday in this month.
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Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Waterfowl and shorebirdTransportation -- Water - Power boatsTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - LodgesTransportation -- Water - Boat buildingTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Boat racingTransportation -- Water - WrecksInfrastructure -- Public : Schools
Wachapreague.
Co. B. T. Parker, E. E. Miles and G. Fred Kelly left here Wednesday on a gunning expedition for Revel's Island and other points.
Capt. James T. Johnson left for Norfolk on Wednesday to bring over the new Naptha launch for the Accomac Club.
Club men of late have been arriving daily in our town -- and Capt. Ken Harmon is expecting several of the officials next week, whom he will take charge of and chaperon during their visit to our waters.
Capt. John T. Richardson, our celebrated skiff builder, who leads them all, for beauty, speed and workmanship in that line, has just completed for Mr. A. J. McMath a skiff, 16 feet in length which he considers a masterpiece and "a thing of beauty" she is in all respects.
The approaching regatta is the talk of the town.
The yacht Midnight, bound from Newport News to New York with three sportsmen on board, sprung a leak, while off Cedar Island on last Monday, and was run ashore. She soon filled with water and will be a total loss. Her value was from $500 to $800. The men were rescued by Capt. Asa J. Savage and crew of Life Saving force.
The private school of Mr. E. B. Phillips, which was continued with 40 pupils after the public school term had expired, was closed last week.
Good Roads in Virginia.
reprinted from Fredericksburg Free Lance.Transportation -- Road - Better roads movement
Capt. Orris A. Browne, vice-president Virginia State Good Roads Association, sends us, under date of May 6th, from Cape Charles, Va., the following letter addressed to the supervisors throughout the State:
The committee for the Virginia State Good Roads Association, has succeeded in starting the work to improve the State by establishing good roads. It has received enough money from donations to engage a secretary and treasurer, to pay for printing, postage, office rent and lights.
It will, however, require more money to collect information and distribute it to the local authorities and people; that the necessity for the work may be fully understood, and the means to accomplish it, be adopted.
The committee estimates that a subscription of fifty dollars from each county will be sufficient for its purposes, and with that enough work will be done to impress the Legislature, at its next session, with the importance of the undertaking; that it will make road improvements one of the leading works of the State and assign it to a department, so that private and county donations will no longer be needed. The committee proposes to do collectively for the one hundred counties in the State that which each one will have to do; that desires to spend the road fund at its command in the most economical manner, and to obtain the greatest good from it. The road work done by the committee will therefore be at a minimum amount to each county. The county road fund now spent in the State aggregates more than $500,000.00, and one per cent. is all the committee asks to put this expenditure on a more economical basis.
I therefore appeal to you, as a member of the road association, and through you to your Board of Supervisors to make a contribution from your county fund to help this good cause. It will be returned to you ten fold in the general welfare of the State and in the economical measures to be adopted for your constituency.
Fifty dollars is a small sum distributed among the people of your county, and will only be felt in the good it will bring them.
I hope it will be the pleasure of your Board of Supervisors to give this immediate attention, and let me hear from you; also to report your action to Mr. H. W. Anderson, secretary and treasurer, Richmond, Va.; he is the only paid officer in the association; all the others give their time and work and pay their own expenses.
Willing hearts and working hands are now putting measures into force -- that will add greatly to the prosperity of the old State.
Virginia's Oyster Interests.
Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SurveyingSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PlantingSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Seaside
Richmond, Va., May 15.
Capt. J. B. Baylor today submitted to Governor O'Ferrall an exhaustive report of the work of the survey of the natural oyster beds, rocks and shoals of this Commonwealth, in accordance with the act passed at the last session of the Legislature. The survey includes the waters of the Chesapeake bay and its tributaries, and the extensive beds of the Atlantic ocean shores of Virginia. All the records have been published and the charts photo lithographed. Thirty elaborate oyster charts have been issued. The report recommends the employment of a hydrographic engineer by the State to settle from the official records of this survey all questions of boundary. This, the report goes on to say, is absolutely necessary, as the county surveyors with the means at their disposal cannot do this class of work unaided. The cost of the survey to the taxpayers is estimated at 75 cents per acre for every acre of oyster grounds surveyed. The report, dealing with the question of the revenue which be derived from the oyster grounds, recommends that the Commonwealth let in the capital of her sister States for the cultivation of her barren area, and a law containing the following provisions is suggested to bring about such results: That any of the area of the Chesapeake bay proper which is more than two statue miles from mean low-water mark and is not embraced in the survey of the natural beds, rocks and shoals of the Commonwealth may be occupied for the purpose of planting or propagating oysters thereon by any person or persons other than a non-resident of the United States. It shall be lawful two years after the passage of this act for any person to rent oyster-planting ground in the Chesapeake bay proper, and afterward to sub rent or sub-let the same to another person.
In order to have cultivated the salt marshes and mud flats which at present yield nothing either to the State or their owners, the report recommends that a law be enacted granting the right to any person wishing to do so to include these tracts and cultivate oysters, and that the areas so inclosed shall become the property of the person effecting the improvements. To increase the revenue derived from those who gather the oysters from the natural beds, the report recommends that every tongman be required to pay in advance $2 per season on hand-tong tax and $5 per season on patent-tong tax.
It is stated that a small launch of light draught is needed to afford protection along the ocean shores of Northampton and Accomac counties. The police-boat service elsewhere in the Virginia waters in very effective. The report closes with a detail of the survey, which shows that there are 201,216.3 acres of public grounds.