Peninsula Enterprise, May 22, 1886

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Transportation -- Water - Wrecks

Several barrels of linseed oil came ashore on Cedar Island this week and the presumption is, that there is a wreck off the coast.

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Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Fraternal orders

Lodge No. 3 of Ancient Order of United Workmen, will be instituted at Cape Charles City, next Monday night, by Dr. Geo. T. Truitt and other brethren of Pocomoke City, Md.

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Fields -- Other machinery

Elliott's combined cultivator and hiller will be exhibited at Accomac C. H., next county court day. Forty thousand potato hills can be worked with it, it is said, in a day.

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Professionals -- Builders

Our townsman, M. G. Welly Coard, has been awarded the contract for building a large and handsome hotel for Mr. A. Parker at Pocomoke City, Md. Of several competitors for the job his bid was the lowest, thus showing that while Welly is the prince of builders, he can work cheaper than the builders even residing in that city. The citizens of Pocomoke will, we predict, before he has completed the hotel wish to engage his services.

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Moral -- Other violent crime

Mr. Augustus J. Parks on his way home last Tuesday night was shot at near Parksley station by a negro, who afterwards approached him and attempted to take hold of him, but ran when he found Mr. Parks was superior to him in that sort of contest.

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Transportation -- Water - Aids to navigationTransportation -- Railroad - FreightSea -- Finfish - Catch : Shad and herringSea -- Finfish - Catch : TroutFields -- Livestock - SheepTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Waterfowl and shorebirdInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Postal serviceInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Lighthouse service

Chincoteague.

Winter Quarter Light Ship, recently launched, reached this harbor on 16th inst.

The evening train of the Va., Md., and Del. R.R. from Franklin City to Philadelphia, every Monday and Thursday, has been discontinued to the regret of our oyster shippers -- because it did not pay to run it.

Our fishermen say that never in the history of the Island were fish so abundant in our waters. The catch of shad has been larger than ever known before and trouts were so plentiful as to sell at 50 cents per hundred.

The annual sheep penning on Assateague comes off this year on Friday, June 9th, at which time sheep and wool will be sold at public and private sale.

Hamilton Disston and party of friends from Philadelphia arrived here a few days ago in Yacht Magnate, on a gunning tour.

Our sportsmen report that birds are very plentiful, so much so that a man is a poor sportsmen who cannot "bag" a hundred or more a day and this is the time therefore for those fond of gunning to visit the island.

A new postoffice was established at upper end of the island a few days ago, with Charles Collins as postmaster. L. Hudson was awarded the contract to carry the mail to that point.

The reporter from Atlantic postoffice to the Virginian is incorrect in the statement made in the last issue of that paper, that Ambrose B. Miles had received his appointment as keeper of Killick Shoal Light. Wm. Parker, colored, is still the keeper and is likely to continue so. A petition does not mean an appointment by any means, as that reporter seemed to think.

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Fields -- Crops - White potatoes : Diseases and pestsTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Baseball

Mappsburg.

Potato bugs are so scarce this season, as to pass unnoticed. Their absence is attributed to the cool wet weather.

The match game between the Exmore and Mappsburg clubs, last Saturday, resulted in a victory for the latter. They have their second game at this place to-day.

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Fields -- Crops - StrawberriesLaborers -- FarmMoral -- Property crimeTransportation -- Water - WrecksInfrastructure -- Public : SchoolsMoral -- Alcohol

Marsh Market.

Many of the young people of this neighborhood have gone to Maryland to pick strawberries.

Seven pairs of oyster tongs were recently stolen from boats on Pocomoke -- a thing very unusual in this section. The depredators were from Maryland.

The sloop of Covington Corbin was struck by lightning and sunk last week.

Mr. Esau C. Kellam will open a private school at Pocomoke schoolhouse on Monday, May 31st, at $1 per month of 20 days for each pupil.

Sewell, son of James E. Anderton is now known as the Charlie Ross of this section. A few days ago he remarked to some companions he was "going to join the angels" soon and then suddenly disappeared. The way by which he had concluded to pass the pearly portals was next the question and friends of the bereaved father were called out en masse and all night long woods were traversed, marshes traveled thrice over and the creeks dragged to find Sewell's means of exit from this mundane sphere. Sewell's idea of heaven, however, seems to have been a little "larking" expedition to "My Maryland" and on the next day he was found in the woods, seeking by nature's sweet restorer to overcome the effects of too much "revelry and song" the night before. Sewell being found, all is serene in that household again.

Temperance Meeting.

Moral -- Alcohol

The Accomac Temperance Alliance will meet in Masonic Hall, at Drummondtown, on Monday, May 31, (court-day,) at 2 p. m. It is desired that every neighborhood in the county be represented. Temperance men don't fail to be present.

C. A. GRICE,

Chairman.

W. A. STREET,

Secretary.

Local Option Election.

Moral -- Alcohol

The following shows the result in the recent elections, by districts, in the county of Accomac, on the question of license or no license:

For License Against License
Atlantic
Temperanceville 164 119
Sykes" Island 2 65
New Church 150 123
Greenbackville 32 39
Hall's Store 14 128
362 474
Majority 112
Metompkin
Mappsville 123 72
Muddy Creek 71 56
Newstown 43 128
Masonville 44 211
284 467
Majority 183
Pungoteague
Locustmount 149 148
Pungoteague 398 278
Hawk's Nest 106 85
653 511
Majority 142
Lee
Accomac C.H. 242 266
Onancock 150 340
Tangier 1 92
Majority 296
Chincoteague 38 264
Majority 226
Total vote of county
Atlantic 362 474
Metompkin 284 476
Pungoteague 653 511
Lee 402 698
Chincoteague 38 264
1739 2414
Majority 675

To the People of Accomac.

Moral -- Alcohol

At a late election in Pungoteague District 'for or against license,' local option has been defeated. With the four remaining districts of Accomac gone dry, and with a dry majority of nearly seven hundred in the county at large, it is only fair to ask if the late vote in this district has voiced the statement of our people? It is well known that the white and colored vote of Pungoteague District is nearly equal. The latter, as an analysis of the late vote will show, was cast almost solid for license. It was not a vote of sentiment or even of preference, but a political following which, under influence of its party leaders and their manipulations could easily have been turned to either side of these question. Eliminating this vote, the suggestive and rather startling fact remains that of the entire white vote of this district were cast against license!

These facts are submitted without argument or comment. It is only just and fair to Pungoteague District that public attention should be called to their consideration.

By Order of Dist. Com., GEO. W. LECATO, Secretary. F. T. BOGGS, Chairman.

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Moral -- Alcohol

Mr. EDITOR. -- The local option campaign in Atlantic District is ending and prohibition is secured. Your correspondent having made a thorough canvass of the district does not hesitate to say that all the piety, and nine-tenths of all the intelligence and wealth of this district backed up and supported this prohibition movement. But for the vote of the negroes, upon which the saloon men relied, the leaders of whom were bought, the victory would have been as complete as the victory of Chincoteague. The supposed stronghold of the license system, New Church, where the liquor men concentrated their forces, and where the large negro vote was influenced and led by a colored man who is a Methodist, and chairman of the Board of Trustees of his church, gave the insignificant majority of twenty-seven for license, and this would have been wiped out had it not been for the pernicious influence of a white minister of the Gospel, who dared, in opposition to every other minister, and all the christian influence of this county, white and colored, stand up on the day of election and defend, with his voice and his ballot, the liquor traffic. There were a few righteous in the black Sodomite vote, and the name of the colored minister and the few Spartans who dared act and vote contrary to the wishes of the paid hirelings of the saloons, will not soon be forgotten by the christian men and women of this district. Our people are in earnest in the adoption and enforcement of prohibition and warn the criminal who dares violate the law that he will be prosecuted to the bitter end. As a better protection against these evil doers it is suggested, that a meeting of our citizens be called in each voting precinct at an early day and a law and order league formed in whose hands any information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of these desperadoes be placed.

"X."

Horntown, May 17 '86.

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Farmers -- InnovationFarmers -- Farmers' organizationsFields -- Crops - Sweet potatoes : Prices

MR. EDITOR. -- I have read with much interest the articles in your paper by Mr. Elliott on "diversity of crops." I am not willing to accept all the views set forth in those letters -- still I recognize the fact that Mr. E. is doing good work, in his attempts to get the farmers to give more thought to their occupation, and his invitation to them to enter into the discussion of this or any other relating to farming, that will tend to their advancement -- should be accepted, not as a matter of dispute and contention, but that each and all may be benefitted by an exchange of honest ideas.

Diversifying our crops is to be desired but it should be done with much judgment, it will not do to plant a crop for the sole reason that some one made money out of it last year; for this is almost sure to be disastrous -- people thoughtlessly strive to make money, that some one else, has already made, and in this effort the market with that special crop is over-crowded, the price low, and disappointment the result. Nor will it do to plant indiscriminately the various vegetable and fruit crops that our soil and climate are so well suited to, for very many of them require richer land, more manure than we are accustomed to use, and any deficiency here will again result in a failure. On this point our people need advancing, for until they use manure of the same quality and amount as other truck growers, they will fail to produce the crops. -- Again the mere production is not all; it must be put on the market, at a time when it will bring the best price, or loss again will be entailed. In short, trucking requires both thought and action; and any one possessing them can surely make money on the Eastern Shore -- farming. We need to adopt a general system, by which the lean lands can be brought to a point of profit. More feed is needed for our stock -- thus enrich the manure pile, which will give better crops and again more money returns. That there is much labor wasted on our crops there is no question -- and its detail needs looking into. I will give an example of the sweet potato crop, which is within my knowledge, and is to the point in question. One of the large potato growers in this county, grew and sent to market last year 1215 barrels of sweet potatoes that averaged $1.46 per barrel clear. Of this amount 660 were shipped prior to October 1st, and brought the sum of $1,441.64 or $2.18 per barrel. 550 barrels were sold after October 1st and brought $343.14 or 62 cents a barrel. Here was a profit on the 660 barrels and a loss on the 550. The cost of raising the latter was perhaps equal to that of the former but no matter what the cause one of two propositions is evident -- the 550 barrels should have been raised and marketed at the same time the 660 were or they should not have been grown at all, and the time or labor should have been devoted to some other crop, which should have paid a profit, instead of entailing a loss on the 660 barrels of 72 cents per barrel, to go on the 550 to make up the average to $1.46.

I shall not now name crops that seem to me to be desired; will do so here after. I will close this article by making one suggestion -- that is, all farmers who have any desire to improve their condition, write an article on farming for your paper. No matter how short and if it is not in the best English (but few people use grammatical and pure language), give your views, some idea, the result of some experiment or thought. And when the crops are laid by, I suggest that the contributors form themselves in a Farmers Club, for discussing farm subjects and my word for it good results will follow.

Very Respectfully,

ORRIS A BROWNE.

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MigrationDevelopment -- Quality of life

Intermediate between Charleston and New Jersey this Peninsula lies as a fruit and truck growing country. With steamer and rail we are placed in close position to all the great markets of the north. -- We have a soil especially adapted to the purposes of fruits and early trucks -- and the tempering of an otherwise harsh climate by the enwrapping of sea and bay air gives to us advantages we are not yet fully appreciating. Horace Greely gave to the surplus population of the North the advice to "go West, young man, go West," which at the time was peculiarly good. The conditions have changed -- to buy, or preempt, and occupy lands in the West offers no longer the inducements at that period. To "go West" is to occupy lands now held at high valuation because the most of them belong either to people who have by processes known to men of wealth, been absorbed and are held at high rates, or have been stolen, practically, by railroad syndicates and held at higher rates still. There, with all the inconveniences and hard life of the frontier, at prices easily reached here for lands, men must undergo untold hardships. Here, in the Garden of America, we offer all the benefits of civilization, with lands in the reach of poor men, close to rich markets. We offer to men who wish all this the fairest land, with the best facilities, among a people glad to welcome the men who mean to work, and be citizens in the best sense, all they can desire. Accomac and Northampton lie in relation to New York and Boston so close now, that truck and fruit gathered in the morning of one day are on the tables of those cities by breakfast, or at latest by dinner, the next day. Come down here -- see our lands -- learn their worth and become of us, men of the North. -- Our laws are liberal -- our labor abundant and good. We offer you just what the West fails to give -- a settled people -- good laws -- fertile lands at low rates and a close, ready market.

Lighthouse Service.

Infrastructure -- Public - Government : Lighthouse serviceTransportation -- Water - Aids to navigation

Commander Evans, lighthouse inspector, fifth district, has recommended to the lighthouse board at Washington that the contract for provisions for the lighthouse and tenders be awarded to Laupheimer & Sons; coal to John C. Distler, Jr., and wood to Wm. J. Mitchel. The buoyage in this district has now been placed according to law. All the nun buoys are red and the can buoys black. Coming from sea the nun buoys will be on the starboard side and the can buoys on the port side. In case any buoy has lost its paint its nature can be told by shape. The lighted buoy disabled about two months ago off Cape Charles will be relighted Monday or Tuesday of next week, having been repaired. The domes of all the lighthouses in this district are to be painted black instead of red.

TO THE OWNER OR OWNERS OF THE VESSEL "MARTHA E. FREEMAN," AND ALL OTHERS CONCERNED:

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

You are hereby notified that I shall, on the 1st day of May term of the county court of Accomack county, (it being the 31st day of May, next,) move the said court to take up, decide upon, and enter judgment according to law, upon the questions involved in the following petition, which was regularly filed at the last term of the said court. The said petition reads as follows:

"To the Hon. George T. Garrison, Judge of the county court for Accomack county:

Your petitioner, James H. Fletcher, Jr., Commonwealth's attorney of the said county, begs leave to submit to your Honor the following case: That on the 9th day of March, A. D. 1886, the vessel, Martha E. Freeman, was found employed by Gilbert Cottman, Robert Thomas, Henry Smith, Frank Brown, Martin Miller, William Smith and John Druert in dredging for oysters within the waters of this Commonwealth, to wit, on Woman's Marsh Rock, in Tangier sound, they, the said Gilbert Cottman, Robert Thomas, Henry Smith, Frank Brown, Martin Miller, William Smith and John Druert not then being residents of this State; and your petitioner further states that there was on board the said "Martha F. Freeman," at the time of said capture, a cargo of two hundred and twenty-five bushels of oysters, and that the owner of owners of said vessel, tackle, appurtenances, and cargo are to your petitioner unknown. -- Your petitioner therefore prays that the said vessel "Martha E. Freeman," together with her appurtenances, tackle and cargo be forfeited to the Commonwealth of Virginia. And your petitioner will ever pray, &c.

Given under my hand as Commonwealth's attorney for the county of Accomack, this 20th day of April, A. D. 1886.

JAMES H. FLETCHER, JR.

SCHOONER FOR SALE!

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

Pursuant to an order of the county court of Accomac, made May 5th, 1886, I shall sell at public auction, at Hoffman's Wharf, in said county, on

SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1886,

at 11 O'Clock, A. M.,

the schooner "Martha E, Freeman," her tackle and appurtenances.

Terms of Sale -- One half of the purchase money will be required in cash on the day of sale; for the residue the purchaser will execute his bond with good personal security, payable at the expiration of three months and bearing interest from date, but the purchaser may, if he so elects, pay the whole of the purchase money on the day of sale.

JOHN H. WISE,

Sheriff.

May 7th, 1886.

Peninsula Enterprise
Accomac Court House
May 22, 1886