Peninsula Enterprise, October 19, 1895

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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Real estate

Mr. John W. Corbin has sold his farm on Nandua Creek to Dr. Edward S. Taylor, of New Jersey, for $7,500.

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Watermen -- Personal injury

Capt. William McKown, a prominent oysterman of Cape Charles, was drowned Sunday from a bugeye while crossing the Chesapeake bay from Norfolk to Cape Charles City. When about half way across, on what is known as the Middle Ground, with a heavy gale and high seas running, the tiller slipped out of its socket, and Capt. McKown fell overboard.

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African-Americans -- Work - Business And professional Professionals -- Teachers

The colored Teachers' Association of Accomac meets in St. John's Baptist Church to day, 10 a.m. The chairman, George B. Blair, and secretary S. L. Burton, urge all "progressive teachers" to be in attendance, and to bring ten questions and answers on branches taught in the public schools.

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Moral -- Murder

The grand jury of Northampton indicted Frank Shield, Purvis Bloxom, William Bloxom and John Zembar, charged with shooting the Hudson brothers off Cobb's Island last week and they were released on bail in penalty of $1,000 each. They will show a strong case of self defense, it is stated, when the case comes to trial on the first day of November court.

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Infrastructure -- Commercial - General Stores

Accomac C. H.

The storehouse of Mr. B. T. Melson, of our town, has been enlarged, remodeled and repainted, and the change in the interior has been made in such good taste as to make it one of the best in all its appointments on the Eastern Shore. The improvement has been made with a view to the enlargement of the stock of Melson & Daugherty, occupying its many lines, especially in ladies dress goods. Mr. Melson, who has been in the city this week, for the purpose of buying fall stock, returns to day.

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Fields -- Livestock - Diseases and pestsFields -- Livestock - SwineFields -- Crops - Cover cropsInfrastructure -- Public : SchoolsInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential construction

Assawaman.

Several of our farmers report, that their hogs are sick and dying with a disease supposed to be the red measles. Our neighbor, George Winder, has lost several in the past two weeks with the disease.

Our farmers report, that they have done fairly well on potatoes this season, and that their crop was very good considering the dry season. Scarlet clover seed sown early is a failure.

Miss Anna May Matthews has 39 scholars in attendance at her school.

Capt. Sewell Holland has just completed a fine two story building on his place and the cage is now ready for a bird. Report says first of December is the appointed time.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Bayside

Belinda.

The oystermen of this section are at work in the Potomac. Oysters are so scarce with us, they say, they can make more money there for the next 4 or 5 weeks.

Our new school building is nearing completion, and will be quite a pleasing structure. Occupied by good teachers, it would be soon in the front ranks among the public schools.

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Fields -- Livestock - Horses

Belle Haven.

Lawson's school for girls opened last Monday.

A valuable horse belonging to Mr. Selectman fell on the road just above town last week from kidney trouble. Its owner, finding no means of relief for it, was forced to have it shot a few days later.

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Transportation -- Water - Freight

Chincoteague.

Schooner Susan Jane arrived from Norfolk this week with cargo of building material and Schooner Medora Francis and Sloop John Wesley loaded with oysters for Norfolk and New York, respectively.

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Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Raccoon and opossumInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Police

Onancock.

Coon hunting is the nightly sport of a number of our citizens and youths. They have good dogs and seldom fail to "bag a varment."

It may said in compliment to Sergeant Riley that this town can boast of an good order as any town in the kind of like population. The sergeant has stopped the rowdyism which used to occur nightly near Holly Grove.

Sallie, a faithful old colored servant, died of paralysis at the home of Mr. G. B. Fosque this week.

Margaret Academy has a large number of students this session, the boarding department being much fuller than ever before. The students are said to be working finely and the study-hall is full of students every night, many who live in the town attending the study-hall to get assistance from the teachers, who are always on hand to give instruction.

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Transportation -- Road - Better roads movementTransportation -- Road - Legislation

The Good Roads Convention, which met in the city of Richmond last week, was well attended by delegates from every section of the Commonwealth, the larger proportion of them being farmers of intelligence and ability, who had attained success in their business and who not only seemed to be able to discuss the questions presented, but to do it in such a practical way, as to indicate results from the meeting for the betterment of our highways. The convention held two sessions and decided to present to the Legislature some practical scheme for the improvement of the roads of the State. To that end a committee on legislation was appointed to report a series of resolutions embracing suggestions as to the legislation most desired, and the following are the most important features of the resolutions presented and agreed upon by the convention:

The enactment of a law by which all classes and interests in the State shall bear the burden of taxation for road purposes in proportion to the benefits derived; by which State aid will be extended to the improvement of the main roads under equitable conditions; by which the counties shall be allowed to issue bonds for the permanent improvement of the public roads under proper conditions and restrictions; by which both State and county convicts or convicted prisoners will be employed in improving the public roads; by which the road work will be placed under control of the boards of supervisors, or of special road boards of the respective counties and by which the actual supervision of the road work will be entrusted to county engineers, thus consolidating the authority and responsibility and insuring intelligent supervision.

The enactment of a general law containing the following provisions, urged by the committee, was agreed upon as necessary to secure the end desired:

A State tax of 5 c. on the $100 valuation of all real and personal property subject to taxation by the State, the revenue derived therefrom to be known as a "State Road Fund."

A county tax of 5 c. minimum on the $100 of real and personal property, giving authority to the boards of supervisors of the respective counties to increase this tax at discretion.

Authorizing the boards of supervisors [illegible] counties, at their discretion [illegible] apply revenues derived from taxation on railroads, or any other special revenues, to road improvement.

Authorizing the counties to issue bonds for the permanent improvement of roads upon a vote of three fifths of the free-holders of a county.

Providing for the working of the State and county convicts or criminals in preparing material for the permanent improvement of the public roads; such road material to be supplied to the counties at actual cost.

Allowing a county or city to hire its convicted prisoners to another county, under proper conditions, to be worked on the roads.

Providing for the appointment of a State highway commissioner by the Governor, by and with the consent of the Senate, for a term of four years, whose duty it shall be to supervise the application of the "State Road Fund," distribute road literature and information, collect data to be published in annual reports for the use of those engaged in road work, and for the information of the Legislature and do anything in his power to aid the permanent improvement of the roads.

Placing the roads in charge of the boards of supervisors or of special road boards in the respective counties.

Requiring the board having charge of the highways of each county to employ a county engineer, who shall have direct supervision of all road work in the county, and to be held responsible therefore provided, that where expenditures for road purposes in any county do not exceed $2,500 per annum, such a county may unite with some adjoining county and employ one engineer for the two counties.

Amending the present laws in regard to graduates in engineering, educated at State expense, so that such graduates may serve as county engineers for two years, when employed by the boards of supervisors, instead of teaching two years.

Capt. O. A. Browne attended the convention as delegate from Northampton and was elected president of that body; Accomac was represented by Mr. Spencer F. Rogers and Drs. John W. Bowdoin and George W. LeCato.

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Infrastructure -- Public : Colleges

Mr. S. Upshur Hopkins, of Onancock, who for the past two years has been a student at Harvard University in Massachusetts, has just been appointed assistant instructor in mathematics and engineering in that institution. He is a son of the late Capt. Stephen Hopkins, and was prepared for Harvard at the Margaret Academy in that town, where he greatly distinguished himself as a student. Shortly after entering Harvard he won a valuable scholarship in a competitive examination, and now he has been made a member of the regular faculty of the University. When it is remembered that Harvard is the oldest and wealthiest University in America, the honors won there by our talented young countyman are all the more splendid. There are more than four thousand students at Harvard this session.

Peninsula Enterprise
Accomac Court House
October 19, 1895