Peninsula Enterprise, March 10, 1888
Untitled
Fields -- Crops - Other vegetables
Mr. C. H. Walbridge, the manager of the large trucking farm of the Hon. W. L. Scott at Cape Charles, sold one day this week 1,400 barrels of kale at $2 per barrel. He has planted 200 acres in Irish potatoes and the acreage of them is still to be enlarged.
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Transportation -- Railroad - Barges and floats
The two large barges of the N. Y., P. & N. R.R. Co., with loaded cars on board were blown ashore at the entrance to Cape Charles last Saturday night, and had not been gotten off according to the latest advices.
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Forests -- SawmillsForests -- Forest products - LumberInfrastructure -- Commercial - Grist mills
Mr. H. T. White, Bloomtown station in this issue offers for sale a "Roller Flour Mill," the only one on the Eastern Shore of Va. He also advertises that his saw and planing mill are now in full operation and that he is prepared to furnish on short notice at any point on the N.Y. P. & N. R.R., green and dry lumber at cheap rates -- especially to cash buyers.
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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial construction
A large storehouse is to be built shortly at Tasley station by Messrs. Geo. F. Parker & Co., merchants of our town, which they propose to stock with a line of general merchandise. They will deal largely also in coal, lumber, bricks, &c.
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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Newspapers
The following posted by T. A. Walker, proprietor of the Virginian under date of March 3d, 1888, speaks for itself: "Circumstances has compelled me to discontinue the publication of The Eastern Virginian for a few weeks, after which time I hope to be able to resume the publication. But, if I should not receive financial assistance from relatives in a distant State, the printing office, etc. will be sold by U. B. Quinby, trustee."
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Moral -- Alcohol
The appeals of Duffield Savage, appellant vs. Commonwealth, appellee, were called in the Supreme Court at Richmond, Va., for its decision on Monday last. Mr. Savage was represented by Mr. Geo. F. Parramore and Hon. John S. Wise, Richmond, and the Commonwealth by Edmond Pendleton, Esq., Assistant Attorney General. The cases in question, are known as the "local option cases," Mr. Savage having been tried and convicted by the County Court some months since for violating the local option laws. Since the above was put in type a dispatch to Mr. Parramore from Hon. John S. Wise, says: "Court of Appeals decided first case in our favor. Second case will be decided next week."
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Fields -- Livestock - Cattle
Accomac C. H.
A pair of oxen driven by a "cullud gentleman" passed through our town on Wednesday, en route to Cape Charles from Pocomoke City. The consideration for their delivery at the former place is $85 and expenses of colored escort.
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Fields -- Livestock - Diseases and pestsFields -- Crops - Sweet potatoes : Seed and slips
Atlantic.
Hog cholera and chicken pox are raging in this vicinity.
Sweet potato seed are in demand with our farmers and their market value is $1 per bushel.
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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Fraternal orders
Belle Haven.
An order has been given by Mr. J. W. Ward for lumber for a new dwelling to be erected by him later in the spring. Three or four more dwellings also and a Hall of the A.O.U.W. are to be built this year.
Our Lodge, A. O. U. W., has now 49 members and there are 6 applicants for membership. Rev. Mr. Crawley rode the "goat" at last meeting.
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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideTransportation -- Railroad - FreightInfrastructure -- Public : Churches
Greenbackville.
The present cold "snap" has somewhat retarded shipments of oysters from this point, yet there are a great many barrels of the bivalves being sent to market from this and other points over the D. M. & Va. R.R., for which paying prices are being received.
The steamer Widgeon, Capt. Joseph S. Pruitt, is bringing to Franklin City from Chincoteague Island for shipment by rail, hundreds of barrels of oysters daily, and if the present good paying prices continue until the middle of April, Chincoteague Bay will be scarcer of oysters by that time, than for any period for a number of years past.
Every preparation is being made by the members of the new M. P. Church building at the Sign Post, to have the building completed and ready for dedication on Sunday, 11th inst., as per former announcement.
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Infrastructure -- Commercial - NewspapersFarmers -- Farmers' organizationsFields -- Crops - StrawberriesTransportation -- Railroad - FreightTransportation -- Railroad - Rates and faresTransportation -- Railroad - RegulationInfrastructure -- Commercial - Real estateInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential construction
Onancock.
The suspension of the Eastern Virginian, the oldest newspaper on the E. S. of Virginia leaves Onancock without a local paper. There is some talk of forming a joint-stock company among the businessmen of the town to revive the paper under a new name, but as yet no steps have been taken in this direction.
The Accomac Truckers and Fruit Growers Association held their monthly meeting on Saturday last, at Onancock. The great subject of discussion was transportation. It was charged without disguise that the N.Y., P. & N. R.R., wantonly discriminates in the carriage of trucks and fruits in favor of Norfolk against the Eastern Shore. It is further claimed that not only does this road carry produce from Norfolk to Boston, Philadelphia and New York at half the rates charged here, but earlier and in better condition. A committee consisting of Dr. O. B. Finney, John W. H. Parker, Geo. W. McMath, Frank P. Brent and Jas. G. Weaver, was appointed to confer personally if need be, with the commissioners and ascertain if any, and what steps have been taken by the Inter-State Commerce Commissioners to exempt this road from the operations of the Inter-State Commerce law, and to what extent it has been allowed to discriminate for the same class of freights between this section and Norfolk. -- Strawberries were reported being grown in greater quantities than ever before, and a committee consisting of E. T. East and E. J. Winder were appointed to confer with the railroad officials and secure a "berry train" for the coming season. The meeting adjourned to April 7th.
Miss Margaret Arbuckle has sold two pretty and valuable Main street lots in Onancock, one to John S. Waples the other to Wm. T. Wise, for $600 each. The lots, which at present have no buildings on them, lie on the south side of Main street between the Episcopal church and Dr. Charles Harmanson's handsome new residence. The new owners intend to erect handsome residences on these lots during the year.
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Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Horse racingTransportation -- Road - WrecksMoral -- AlcoholInfrastructure -- Public - Government : PoliceInfrasturcture -- Public - Government : County
Wachapreague.
Messrs. Alf. S. Kellam and James O. Bell left by steamer on 1st inst., with the celebrated trotter "Mohawk," belonging to the latter. They are in pursuit of a purchaser.
A vehicle, conveying two sports of this vicinity overcharged with spirits and gas, was capsized last week in our town and a general "smash up" was the result. Obituary notices of them would now perhaps be in order but for the timely rescue of them by the citizens from their perilous situation.
Petitions, numerously signed by the voters of this town and section, are in circulation, favoring a division of this (Pungoteague) district with the R. R. as the dividing line, in order that eastern half of the present district may have a constable which it has heretofore ever been deprived of.
School Report.
Infrastructure -- Public - Government : School administration
Public school report for the month ending February 24th, 1888. Number of schools open, 96; number of graded schools, 19; number of pupils enrolled, 4,606; number of schools visited by the superintendent, 30; number of warrants issued, 114; amount of warrants issued, $3,319.79.
JOHN E. MAPP, Supt.
Capt. Pruitt and Two Sons of Tangier Drowned.
Transportation -- Water - WrecksTransportation -- Water - Personal injury
Advices received here from Tangier Island are to the effect that Capt. William H. Pruitt and two sons were drowned during the gale on Monday, February 27th, in the Potomac river near Pressly Creek. They were dredging with all sails up when their boat was suddenly struck by the wind and capsized. Such was the fury of the storm at the time that no assistance could be rendered, though several boats were anchored only a short distance from them. Their boat, a bugeye, carrying about 125 bushels of oysters, is a total wreck and is now lying upside down near the place where she was capsized. Neither of the bodies have been recovered. Capt. Pruitt leaves a widow and two children, all that is left of a family of nine, living on Tangier, less than two years ago. Three of his children during the absence of their parents from home in 1886 were horribly burned to death, as reported through our columns at the time. Sympathy with the unfortunate family is universal and their distress is shared by every inhabitant of the island.
Proposed Railroad Down the Eastern Shore.
Transportation -- Railroad - CorporateTransportation -- Railroad - Rates and fares
A special dispatch to The Sun from Elkton, Md., last night says: On Saturday Senators Brown, of Queen Anne's, Burchinal, of Kent, Goldsborough, of Caroline, Johnson, of Dorchester, and Dennis, of Worcester, and Col. Philip W. Daws, of Caroline, acknowledged their signatures in Elkton before Magistrate John Partridge to a paper incorporating the Baltimore and Cape Charles Railroad Company. The Senators were homeward bound, and were not compelled to stop off, as the magistrate was at the depot when the train arrived. Senators McCullough, of Cecil, and Brattan, of Somerset, two others of the incorporators, had acknowledged their signatures the previous evening, leaving Senator Toadvin, of Toadvin, the only incorporator who has not gone through this necessary formality. This company is the outgrowth of a movement started some time since at Denton, it being then proposed to call the new road the Elkton, Denton and Cape Charles City Railroad. The road is being incorporated under the general incorporation law of the State, article 41, Revised Code, which requires that the signatures be acknowledged before a justice of the peace of one of the counties through which it is proposed for the road to pass. The articles of incorporation will be submitted to the judges of the Circuit Court. -- The corporators state that their object in forming the corporation is for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, etc., a railroad or railroads on the Eastern Shore, in the counties of Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester counties, beginning at a point on the Baltimore and Philadelphia Railroad, a branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, near Elkton, running thence in a southerly direction by the most practical route to the line dividing the States of Maryland and Virginia. It is proposed to extend the road to Cape Charles under an act of incorporation in Virginia. The capital stock is named at $200,000 and divided into shares of $50 each. -- The projectors of the road expect to secure legislation at the present session of the Legislature securing over a quarter of the amount. Many years ago a large amount of money was appropriated by the Legislature to the Eastern Shore for internal improvement. Of the amount $53,000 was for Cecil county, and the money has never been used. It was appropriated respectively to the Elkton and Elk Valley Railroad, Elkton and Massey's Railroad and Elkton and Middletown Railroad, provided they were constructed within a certain time. None of these were built. It is now proposed to legislate this amount due Cecil county for internal improvement to the Baltimore and Cape Charles Railroad. -- Balto. Sun, March 5th.
A dispatch of the 5th, from Annapolis, contains the following: -- The Eastern Shore Senators are in earnest with their proposition to recognize the company for building a railroad from the Baltimore and Ohio at Elkton down the peninsula to Cape Charles City. Senator Goldsborough will bring in a bill to enlarge the power of the company, and it is said there are strong parties behind the movement. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, it is said, on March 1 increased its passenger fares to four cents a mile and freight rates one-third on all the Maryland branch roads that connect with the main Delaware road. This action has stirred up the people on these branch roads, who complain that the passenger tariffs now practically cut them off from Baltimore. This advance in tariff has given a new impetus to the movement for a road from Elkton down the peninsula.
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Transportation -- Road - MaintenanceTransportation -- Road - Legislation
Mr. EDITOR -- I can't altogether agree with "Adam." He is too old fogyish. He's called my people "A People Walking Backward," and I don't like it. We are an eminently progressive people. We are looking forward to the future for the settlement of this road question. The legislature has played us a scaly trick in adjourning without giving us due notice. So we progressives intend to postpone this question altogether until 1909 -- that we may fully discuss it on its merits. Not only this, but we intend to wait so long that our people can be as one man on the subject -- entirely unanimous. We intend further that at the Constitutional Convention a special provision shall be made continuing the present members of the General Assembly over to 1909. Everybody, except such as "Adam" who lives in the past, knows the legislature hasn't had time to deal with the matter.
The few short years to 1909 will give abundant time for reflection -- and no man, or set of men, should set about the business of tinkering on our roads without full and abundant time to consider the subject. We must "go slow," We can't afford to have the carriage and cart builders and blacksmiths of the county ruined by precipitate work on the roads. Nor can we afford to crowd Baltimore and Philadelphia to repletion by too rapidly pouring our crops into their markets. They are too good friends of yours to wantonly injure them. No, sir. Nor must we disturb "Modoc" and his friends. Aint "peace and quietness" their due" They shall have it. No, Sir, we are desirous that every thing shall be "done decently and in order." We are content to wait and bide our time. If we are poor we are content. Don't you know that the great poet Shakespeare says, "Poor and content is rich, and rich enough."
Let us alone. Don't bother us. Wait until 1909. In 1909 we intend to open this subject again. In the meantime "let's have peace." It has been well said by a very wise man, "never do to-day what you can put off until to-morrow." We intend to wait until 1909 -- you hear me -- 1909. Besides, the scientists say the sun is yearly becoming hotter. Who will dispute what the scientists say? Well, if that is true, and there is no doubt of it, won't our roads continue more and more to dry up, and thus be by nature's kind act bettered, and we saved from horrid taxation? Of course. Therefore, let us patiently possess our souls -- and roads -- in peace. Its no use to talk about the bad winters -- and give last court day as an example -- they don't count. It is the bright, sunshiny summer we are to look to. Besides we may have an earthquake and all our roads be swept away by old ocean and our taxes with them. Who knows? No, sir, we intend to fix our roads in 1909. We are in no hurry. We are getting along fast enough. So stop all this fuss now. Remember, 1909.
BY AND BY.
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Transportation -- Road - MaintenanceTransportation -- Road - Legislation
MR. EDITOR. -- The author of the Atlantic items in your last issue says our people "don't take much interest in the road question" and adds "they know a few days of sunshine will make our roads all right." This statement is not correct. Our people are progressive and are alive to the necessity of a better road law, as is shown by the fact that they petitioned almost unanimously to the Legislature for a law providing for working our roads by paid labor. This, of course, does not suit your correspondent, as he is a road surveyor, and draws a little annual dividend out of that $4,100 -- now wasted in the awkward unprogressive and antiquated system road-working now in vogue. Oh, yes, perhaps there are other surveyors whose bills against the county, are measured by the elasticity of their consciences, that want to retain the old law and pocket the people's money for nothing. The animus is apparent.
JUSTICE.