Peninsula Enterprise, January 12, 1884

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reprinted from Baltimore SunTransportation -- Railroad - CorporateTransportation -- Railroad - ConstructionTransportation -- Railroad - FreightTransportation -- Water - Freight

It is stated that the Eastern Shore Railroad, 38 miles long, from Delaware to Crisfield, was purchased by John Scott, of Erie, Pa., and A. J. Cassatt, who are engaged in the enterprise of building the peninsular railroad from Delmar, through the two Eastern Shore counties of Virginia to Cherrystone, Northampton county, on deep water, where boats will connect with Norfolk. The new owners date their control of the Eastern Shore Railroad from January 1. They are preparing for active railroad-building, and are said to have purchased the rails. The Pennsylvania Railroad will operate this line. Messrs. Scott and Cassat are identified with the interests of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The price paid, it is said, approximates $450,000.

The Philadelphia Press is much pleased with the purchase of the railroads on the Eastern Shore by the Pennsylvania Company. It says they will end the allegiance which that county has hitherto yielded to Baltimore, and trade and travel will turn toward Philadelphia. The Baltimore steamboat companies which have lines to the Eastern Shore are, however, not behind in improving their facilities, and their service is now more effective and the companies are stronger than before. The Maryland Steamboat Company, the Eastern Shore Steamboat Company and the others are vigorous corporations, and their wharves and piers are at every eligible point on the Chesapeake. Baltimore is and will no doubt continue to be the best market for the grain, fruit and oyster products of the Eastern Shore, which are brought here cheap and quickly by water. This trade the railroads will have difficulty in drawing to Philadelphia. In the matter of passenger-carrying, the railroads have perhaps the best of it for a long time at the interior peninsular points, and Baltimore loses to Philadelphia much of the retail and small-goods jobbing trade of that section.

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Transportation -- Water - Strandings

The Old Dominion [Steamboat Company] steamer from New York reports that a schooner went ashore on Hog Island during the late storm. A tug from Norfolk has gone to her relief.

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Infrastructure -- Public - Government : BondsArchitecture -- Courthouses

A bill has been prepared and forwarded to our representatives in the Legislature by Capt. W. P. M. Kellam, attorney for the Commonwealth, by instructions from the Board of Supervisors, asking that body to authorize the county of Accomac to borrow a sum of money not exceeding $20,000, to be applied in paying expenses to be incurred for the erection of a new court-house in the county.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PlantingMigrationTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Waterfowl and shorebirdInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential construction

Powelton.

Mr. J. S. Nock and family, of Assawoman, have moved to Locustmount, where he will engage in farming and oystering. He purposes planting 4,000 bushels of oysters in the Spring.

Wild fowl are plentiful in our waters; and are being killed in large numbers by our sportsmen.

Mr. G. P. Hargis and family have moved to his lot, purchased in our town some months ago, and Mrs. Rachel Richardson and family to their new and comfortable dwelling just erected.

The steamer E. H. Foote arrived here some days ago, bringing the family of Capt. E. J. Foote, and furniture for their mansion recently completed.

The Oyster Question in Virginia.

reprinted from Baltimore SunSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcementSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : DredgingSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Legislation

The committee of the Virginia Legislature on the Chesapeake and its tributaries held a meeting in Richmond Thursday evening, 3rd inst., for the purpose of conferring with citizens who might be disposed to give their views upon the important question of the oyster interest. Judge Joseph Christian spoke at length, showing the wealth of oysters that lay hidden in the waters of Virginia. He said their value approximated that of the gold mines of California, and yet the State of Virginia allowed pirates to daily take away thousands of dollars' worth of oysters without one cent of tax being paid.

Mr. Orris A. Browne, of Accomac county, in referring to oyster-planting, said that it was necessary to have a shell foundation for the oyster to catch hold of. After an oyster is propagated it remains floating in the water for three days: then it must have something to catch hold of. The dredges tear up and destroy these young oysters. After awhile it is necessary to dredge the beds, in order to prevent the oysters from growing one upon another; but if the dredging now being done is continued, Mr. Browne declared, it would destroy the oyster beds on the Virginia coast. He thought the best plan to procure a suitable steamer and four sailing vessels, and let them patrol the waters of the Chesapeake and keep off the pirates. It would cost about $26,000 to have these vessels built. The steamer ought to carry two guns, and the other vessels one each. For the steamer it would be necessary to have a captain, who should command the whole fleet, a pilot, an engineer, fireman, cook and four deckhands. Each of the sailing crafts would have a crew of four men.

The committee had quite a lengthy session and heard a very full discussion of the merits of the question. It will formulate a bill, and then take this to the Governor and get his views and opinions on it, and with a bill so prepared will come before the Legislature with it for adoption.

The Trial of the Dredgers.

Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcement

Our county court has been engaged since the 1st day of January in the trial of the parties indicted for violating the dredging laws of the Commonwealth, and with the following result: Henry A. Thomas of Tangier Island, tried, and the jury failing to agree will have another trial at the next term of our court. John Thomas, of Tangier Island, Va., Hugh Doyle, George F. Stewart, Charles Barrett and Geo. J. Hamilton, of Baltimore, tried and acquitted. The cases of Ellis Parks and John McCready, of Tangier, Wm. Lewis and John Sherlock, of Baltimore, Henry Cooper and Simon Ruffin, of North Carolina, have been submitted to the juries and no decision has been reached at the time of our writing.

Since the above was put in type, a verdict of not guilty has been brought in as to the six parties last named, and all are acquitted, therefore, except Capt. Henry A. Thomas.

Meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

Infrasturcture -- Public - Government : CountyInfrastructure -- Public - Government : TaxationInfrastructure -- Public - Government : School administrationArchitecture -- Jails

At the meeting of the Board of Supervisors, held at Accomac C. H., on the 27th day of December, the following matters were considered and passed upon:

Sundry accounts were allowed of citizens against the county.

Settlement was made with Mr. A. Annis, Superintendent of the Poor of the county, for the year ending July 1st, 1883. Balance due the county in his hands at that date, $4.77.

Ten cents were levied on every $100 worth of taxable property for county school purposes for the year ending July 1st, 1885.

Ten cents were levied on every $100 worth of taxable property for district school purposes for the year ending July 1st, 1885.

Permission was given Mr. G. Welly Coard to erect a close board fence between his premises and the jail.

Death of Mr. Walter.

Professionals -- Teachers

Mr. Richard B. Walter died of dropsy of the heart after an illness of several months, at his home, near Craddockville, on Friday the 4th inst. The deceased was well known and highly esteemed by a large circle of friends in the lower part of the county. He was for many years a teacher in what is now only referred to as a relic of the past "an old field school" and in that relation especially had endeared himself to many who will for a long time keep a place green in their memory for him. He was the first teacher of the writer and by him always held in affectionate regard.

A Honeymoon on The Tangier.

Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Other

Mr. Geo. S. White and Miss Annie T. Hopkins, of Locustmount, this county, aged respectively 20 and 18 years, were married on the steamer Tangier by Rev. Geo. W. Bradford, on Wednesday the 2nd day of December. The couple were pursued by the irate father of the bride, who reached the wharf at Onancock as the gang plank was pulled in, which had been put out to receive them on board. It was the purpose of the newly married couple to return the next day, but the fog was so dense that the captain was unwilling to risk the attempt to get into Onancock, and carried them to Baltimore. They spent the three first days of their honeymoon on the Tangier, not even being attracted ashore by the beauties of the Monumental City while there.

Real Estate Transfers.

Infrastructure -- Commercial - Real estate

The following transfers of real estate were recorded in the Accomack County Court clerk's office, since January 1st, 1884:

Ambrose S. Taylor and wife to Isaac Horsey, 2 acres at Atlantic; consideration $50.

W. Henry Dennis to James S. Lewis, bill of sale of personal property; $280.

Joseph S. Waterfield to James S. Turner, 82 1-2 acres near Savageville; $2,500.

James S. Turner and wife and Wm. T. Wimbrough and wife, deed of exchange of real estate near Savageville.

John Neely administrator c.t.a. of James, Northam of J., 55 acres near Nelsonia; $1526.

Bettie C. Bell to George T. Garrison, 1 acre in Drummondtown, $400.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcementSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Legislation

BY REFERENCE to another column it will be seen that the oyster question is now receiving the attention of our Legislature. It having been demonstrated to the satisfaction of everyone that oyster laws are worthless unless means are provided to enforce them, an effort will be made to remedy the defects of our laws in that respect at this session of the Legislature. With that object in view, a bill prepared by the committee which has the matter under consideration, and approved by the Governor is soon to be introduced. In the preparation of that bill the committee wisely, we think, are seeking the views of those who have some practical knowledge of the oyster question, and the presumption is that their opinions will influence the committee to some extent. That being the case, it is important that wise counsels prevail. Otherwise the means provided to enforce the laws may fail by reason of the burdens they impose upon the people. In other words, the object of furnishing protection to the oyster interest being to make it a source of revenue to the Commonwealth as well as income to her citizens, all legislation will come to naught which does not accomplish their objects. If we are correct on their views, then it is important that protection should be furnished as economically as possible to be effective. Can the results desired be the better attained by means of sail vessels or steamers, or both? We do not know. The opinion prevailing with many of our oyster men is that sail vessels properly managed will furnish all the protection needed. We do dissent, however, with the views expressed by a citizen of this county, in the article in question, as to the force to be employed. We can see no reason why the captain should not be his own pilot, or the necessity for a larger force, save the engineer, on the steamer than would be required for a sail vessel.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcementSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Legislation

It having been demonstrated to the satisfaction of everyone that oyster laws are worthless unless means are provided to enforce them, an effort will be made to remedy the defects of our laws in that respect at this session of the Legislature.

Peninsula Enterprise
Accomac Court House
January 12, 1884