Peninsula Enterprise, April 2, 1887

Untitled

Moral -- Alcohol

MR. EDITOR -- I beg a small space in your columns to reply to Jonidab, who, anxious for notoriety, prefers to ventilate his views through the ENTERPRISE rather than to give his attention to his little 30x40 place in the woods. Now, that Billy Mahone has had to step down and out, he would assume the role of a boss and as such would dictate to our members of the legislature what they should do, instead of leaving it with them, his superiors to decide for themselves as conscientious men, what the interest of Virginia demand at their hands. To influence their actions he tells your readers that a petition has been forwarded to the legislature, but he does not tell them that it was drawn by a leading Republican-Mahoneite and circulated by a squatter here after dark for signatures. Nor does he tell them that the leading Democrats here neither saw nor signed it. He waxes eloquent too at the prospect of the anniversary of the local option victory to be celebrated here, with the hope thereby of deceiving the people, possibly our legislators, but fails to state that the people are being bored to death for funds to defray the expenses of bringing here carpet baggers like J. A. B. Wilson of Maryland, Snyder of Philadelphia and Warner of New Jersey, to dictate to our people -- the same J. A. B. Wilson, who in a speech here charged publicly, that our people had stolen from the M. E. Church many of the altars at which they worshipped -- the same Snyder who says that the Life Saving Stations were a godsend to the unfortunates, who cast upon our shores were plundered and robbed by our people -- the same Warner, whose appearance is such as to teach every man to beware of him. In this connection will it not occur to your readers, that if we are not capable of thinking and acting for ourselves and need someone to do it for us, and sing praises over victories achieved, if it would not have been better to have invited some one of the many distinguished sons of Virginia, rather than those who have done us so much injury in the past and do nothing but revile and abuse us now? In conclusion we have to say to Bro. Jonidab and his followers that we have tried local option and it is a failure. We had four licensed bar rooms before it was adopted and have had ten or more jug bars since -- we had a large revenue for the State then for the sale of liquors, now none and as many drunken men are seen now as ever was in our streets. And a change will come, not this year but soon, adopting discriminate sale of liquors but sold with proper safeguards thrown around it, so as to yield a revenue with less injury to the people than now, that local option prevails. Men of all political parties are growing more and more in favor of license and deprecating a law which encroaches upon the liberties of the people and interferes with many men's business as it does, demand its repeal and that a time not very remote.

A LIFE LONG DEMOCRAT AND TEMPERANCE MAN.

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Transportation -- Road - Maintenance

MR. EDITOR. -- The Road Law now in existence is modified and improved by that proposed in your last issue. At present, our tax for road purposes amounts to $3,800, and in addition every man liable to road duty may be called to work whenever the overseer shall elect. This officer is appointed by the court and forced to serve whether he wishes or not for two years. It is rare one of them is ever found whose practical education fits him for the service. The increase in taxation under the proposed bill will scarcely be more than 5 cents on the $100 of property -- ample with the present tax for all ordinary purposes. This levy is under the care of the Supervisors -- and it is hoped will receive judicious attention. The work is to be done by a contractor -- taking the work on his own bid and becoming voluntarily responsible for its well doing. While the change is slight only it is hoped its different organization -- its assumed responsibility -- will greatly enhance its efficiency. Of course bugbears are ready to be found, the rich objecting to it because their "prophetic vision" conjures up terrible taxes -- while the poor man grumbles at the single days labor. Let us see if this is not better than our present worthless system. We are confident that at least three-fourths of our people will take the conservative view and will be enabled to test whether it be a good or bad system. Let us have good roads by all means.

X.

Since the above was put in type I have been informed on good authority that if the mass of petitions for new roads, bridges &c., are approved the gross expense will reach at least $1,000 more -- or in round numbers $5,000.

Untitled

Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PricesTransportation -- Road - Maintenance

MR. EDITOR -- In a recent issue of your paper your correspondent from Marsh Market incidentally referred to the roads in this vicinity over which wagons, carrying oysters to the stations have passed. It is impossible for any one who did not see them, or attempt to pass over them, to even imagine the condition they were in. The road leading from Jenkins Bridge to the Pocomoke side of this neck of land -- the only one, and I presume, as much used as any cross road in the county, has been absolutely impassible the past two months, for any vehicle lighter than a large wagon with four mules. It has, from necessity, been entirely abandoned by all light vehicles, and of no more use to the community generally than if there were no road. On the opposite side of this little peninsula, what is known as the Messongo side, the road has been equally as bad. Had it not been for a private road passing through woods, and very bad at that, which the owners of the land have kindly allowed the public to use, exclusive of the heavy loads, communication between this peninsula and all other parts of the county would have been entirely cut off. The people of Acomac are surely a patient and forbearing people in regard to public roads. Now is there no remedy for such a state of things? Something certainly must be done. Of course we do not ask or wish that the oyster haulers be prohibited the use of the roads -- instead of that, the industry should be encouraged. I presume that not less than ten or twelve thousand barrels of oysters, will be shipped from this pace when the season closes and with the prices here in the creeks, from $2.50 to $3 per barrel, anyone can estimate the amount of money paid out during the winter. Much labor is also employed in barrelling and handling. The haulers also receive 25 cents for each barrel, which is quite a revenue to the farmer and others who have no other use for their teams during the winter months.

First, I would suggest that under our present road laws, which have long ago proven a failure, so far as the labor is concerned, the county can at least properly drain the roads, and in my judgment it would do more good than all other work that can be given to the roads. What would a few additional thousand dollars be, when we remember the great benefit to all. The wear and tear of horse flesh, vehicles &c., on bad roads, and the additional number of barrels that would have been carried with good roads, would have added several thousand dollars to the inhabitants of this little strip of land. Second, I would suggest as our present road laws have proven a failure and our Board of Supervisors can adopt, if they wish, the Nelson county law, which law may not suit our county in all its details -- would it not be well if our members of the General Assembly, now in session, select several road laws of different counties in the State, and add an amendment to each giving our Board of Supervisors the power to adopt any one they thought best. I offer this suggestion, knowing it can do no harm, and as there are hundreds of county laws in our Acts, a few of the least objectionable could be selected and perhaps one would, if selected, be adopted by the Board.

Respectfully,

POCOMOKE.

Mar. 23, '87.