Peninsula Enterprise, February 22, 1896
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Sea -- Finfish - Catch : Shad and herring
The first shad of the season, a very fine one, was caught by Mr. Aaron Thomas, of Tangier, last week.
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Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Lectures
The lecture on Ghosts, which was announced to be delivered in Atlantic M. P. Church by Rev. G. D. Edmondston on the 25th instant, has been postponed to March 3rd, 7:30 p.m.
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Transportation -- Railroad - Construction
Belle Haven.
The street line in question is giving rise to warm discussions among property owners throughout our town.
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Infrastructure -- Public : Towns
Onancock.
Mr. E. J. Belote has greatly beautified his farm on Main street. He proposes to clear up all the forest on Main street at the entrance of this town.
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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Residential developmentInfrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial construction
Onley.
Messrs. T. M. and C. R. Hutchinson, have been engaged for several days in enclosing with railing the new town lots.
The new office of Savage & Ames is to be built soon. Plans and specifications now being prepared.
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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : LegislationForests -- Forest products - BarrelsTransportation -- Road - MaintenanceInfrastructure -- Public : ChurchesFarmers -- Tenancy
Parksley.
D. F. White is home from Richmond, where he has been in the interests of our oystermen, as against the new oyster bill lately introduced in our Legislature. The prospects now are, that there will be but little change in the present law.
The barrel bill in our Legislature has been very much discussed by our people, pro and con, but the general impression seems to be, that a fair size barrel is the correct thing.
Our newly worked roads are keeping up well, and with a few exceptions are in good repair. The old grumblers are obliged to admit that the road machine is a good thing.
Mr. George P. Parks has rented a farm near Woodberry, of William T. Wright, and moved thereon.
The Baptists of Parksley and vicinity are looking for plans for their new church building, and are endeavoring to select a suitable location.
Capt. Noah Evans and son have rented the two farms near Parksley, belonging to the heirs of J. T. Powell, deceased, lately occupied by Joseph W. Crowson.
Temperance Meetings.
Moral -- Alcohol
Pursuant to a call from F. A. Shield, chairman of Franktown district, a meeting of citizens interested in the local option cause, was held at old Trinity church, Hadlock, on 17th inst. Not less than forty or fifty of the most prominent and influential citizens responded, and the meeting was business from start to finish.
The meeting was organized by electing J. H. Nicholson, secretary, and W. L. Elzey, treasurer.
Many suggestions were made to devise means to secure the most practical working organization during the coming campaign, which resulted in the appointment of the following committees, on finance:
Franktown Precinct -- John T. Rogers, P. B. Tankard, Zoro Willis, W. L. Elzey.
Wardtown Precinct -- James G. Floyd, L. W. Johnson, J. H. Ashby, W. T. Johnson.
Broadwater Precinct -- Rev. G. E. B. Smith, J. A. Smith.
A committee on canvassing, practically a campaign committee with power to appoint sub committees at discretion:
Franktown -- Rev. N. H. Robertson, E. G. Tankard, C. M. Lankford, J. Lee Winder.
Wardtown Precinct -- G. L. Roberts, Irving Ennis, John L. Winder, W. I. James, James Hargis.
Broadwater Precinct -- Rev. G. E. B. Smith, J. H. Nicholson, F. A. Shield, J. L. Ferrell, Eli Doughty.
These two committees were subdivided into precinct committees.
Secretary was instructed to furnish the county and other paper published on the Shore copies of the proceedings with request to publish.
The meeting adjourned to meet again at same place, Monday, March 2d, 1896.
J. H. NICHOLSON, Sec'y.
District Lodge, No. 19, I. O. G. T., met in its regular quarterly convention, at Shady Side, Northampton county, February 6th. Meeting was presided over by W. J. Wilson, D. C. T. A full corps of officers and a large number of visitors and delegates from the various lodges in the district, embracing Accomac, Northampton and Elizabeth City counties, were in attendance. The business was dispatched in true parliamentary style, and debate at times was at a white heat on certain reports from the various committees, but always in a spirit of true fraternity and brotherly love. The secretary reported two new lodges organized and one reorganized, with a net gain over last quarter of 86 members.
The District Lodge endorsed the action of the committee in inaugurating a local option campaign, and pledged the aid and support of its members in voice and votes. The lodge was called from labor to refreshment prepared by members of Johnson lodge -- thence to a public meeting addressed by Messrs. J. W. Guy and J. Lee Winder.
MEMBER.
Dwelling Destroyed by Fire.
Architecture -- Houses
A fire on last Monday, caused by a spark from the chimney, which ignited the roof of front porch, resulted in the entire destruction of the main building of E. E. Dennis' farm, opposite and across Swansea gut from Sinnickson, known as the old Holmes farm. The building being brick and of ancient design was probably over one hundred years old. The tenant, John Dickerson, lost a great portion of his household property, also a lot of seed potatoes that were stored in the cellar for safe keeping. None of the family were injured.
Railroad Bill Dismissed.
Transportation -- Railroad - Legislation
The letter and the bill to which it refers, published below, explain themselves:
EDITOR PENINSULA ENTERPRISE:
I enclose a copy of a bill introduced by request, referring to the blocking of streets and roads by railroad trains, and which has been made the subject of some editorial comment in a late issue of the ENTERPRISE.
I have reason to believe that the rather caustic criticism of the bill has been due to a lack of knowledge of its provisions. The charge that the representatives of the Eastern Shore desire to enact laws abridging the public liberties of our people is a grave one, and should certainly rest upon some better foundation that provided in this bill.
If you will kindly publish the bill together with this letter, the people can judge for themselves whether or not their rights were not carefully considered and protected. The bill has been dismissed.
Respectfully, CHARLES SMITH.
Richmond, Va., Feb. 11, '96.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That section 3858 of the Code of Virginia, be amended so as to read as follows:
It shall not be lawful for any railroad company or any receiver or trustee operating a railroad to obstruct for a longer period than five minutes free passage on any street or road, by standing cars or trains across the same, but a passageway shall be kept open; provided that during such period of five minutes said train shall at any time be broken and a passage way opened at the request of any person wishing to pass along said street or road; and it shall be the duty of any railroad company or any receiver or trustee operating such railroad to require an employee of said train to be conveniently posted at any such street or road, to receive notification from any person desiring to pass, except that a passenger train shall have time to receive and discharge passengers. Nor shall it be lawful to stand any wagon or other vehicle on the track of any railroad which shall hinder of endanger a moving train. Any such railroad company, receiver or trustee, or other persons violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than five, nor more than twenty dollars.
2. This act shall be in force from its passage.
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Transportation -- Railroad - Legislation
The bill introduced in our Legislature by Hon. Charles Smith, published in another column, has been dismissed and no further vindication of our right to criticise it, is needed, perhaps, than that Dr. Smith voted for its dismissal. Nor were we ignorant, as he presumes, of its provisions, when the editorial was penned of which he complains. We knew then as well as we do now, that the bill, if enacted, would give the railroad company the right to obstruct the road unless it was objected to, for five minutes, and with the honest conviction that no privilege ought to be granted, which would give the company an excuse for encroaching upon the rights of the people, we said so. We were, however, ignorant of the fact that Dr. Smith, introduced the bill by request and did not approve of it, and we know that "he does not wish to enact laws abridging the public liberties of the people." But the Doctor might make mistakes, as we feared he had in this instance, and if he should, our duty to the public demands that instead of giving him taffy we should criticise fairly any objectionable measure he might approve. It is possible, perhaps, that its dismissal was hasted by the criticism of which he complains. With the explanation that Dr. Smith has given, our criticism, would not apply to him but to the bill only. We disclaim any intention of treating him unfairly.
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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Legislation
The danger to Virginia from reckless Legislation on the oyster question has, according to the latest advices received by us, been adverted, and now it is believed, that no material change will be made in the present oyster laws at this session of the Legislature. The "Ellinger Bill," the source of that danger, and which at one time so seriously threatened the best interests of the State has not only been abandoned, but Mr. Ellinger, having concluded, perhaps, that he was not authorized to speak for Virginia in matters relating to her oyster interests has, we are advised, shaken the dust of the capital from his feet and left for parts unknown. Other bills equally objectionable might be introduced, but it is not likely that at this time in the session, that any bill however much in revenue to the State it promised, could be seriously entertained by many of our Legislators. Two other oyster bills are now before our Legislature -- one to have all natural oyster rocks omitted in the late geodetic survey included in that survey, which will likely be defeated, through fear, that to pass it, would open up the whole oyster question -- the other, if not intended as a joke, so visionary that it must fall by its own weight, introduced by Mr. Clayton, and as follows: "To authorize the Governor to advertise for bids and to enter into a lease of the natural oyster rocks, beds and shoals, in the waters of Virginia, provided that the lease shall be for not less that ten nor more than twenty years and the rental shall be paid annually in advance; the lease not to grant power to take oysters by dredging in waters of a less depth than twenty feet, and no bid to be considered that offers less than $200,000. A certified check of $10,000 to accompany the bid."