Norfolk Virginian, March 14, 1889

Untitled

reprinted from Baltimore American.Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcementInfrastructure -- Public : TownsMoral -- AlcoholInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential development

ONANCOCK, VA., MARCH 8. -- For some time past frequent complaints have been made by the tongmen on the bay side that boats were dredging in forbidden waters. On several occasions the oyster police sloops have chased boats suspected of dredging out of Tangier and Pocomoke sounds. Yesterday Captain Gaskins, a commander of the oyster police sloop that guards these waters, succeeded in capturing the bugeye Cape Charles, Captain George R. Trader, of Onancock.

When captured the bugeye was at the mouth of Hunting Creek, where, according to the statement of Captain Gaskins, she was engaged in dredging for oysters. Dredging implements and about fifty bushels of oysters were found on board the captured boat, which was carried into Hunting Creek, where she now lies under guard. Captain Trader came here last evening to retain Quinby & Quinby as his counsel. He denies that he was dredging when arrested.

The most ambitious town on the line of the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad south of Pocomoke City is Parksley, some twelve miles north of this place. It is scarcely four years old, and yet it has a population second to but one or two towns in Accomac.

It's rapid growth is due largely to the fact that it has absorbed several of the neighboring villages, while the Parksley Land and Improvement Company, at whose head is Elizabeth Chadbourne, a shrewd and accomplished young lady from Boston, has succeeded in attracting a number of wealthy Northern people who were searching for homes in a milder climate. The town is situated on a considerable elevation, and is entirely surrounded by a picturesque pine forest. All the unimproved lots in the town and nearly all the land for some distance around belong to the Parksley Land Company, who, to avoid as far as possible the evils resulting from intemperance, have adopted the novel device of selling lots in the town only on the express condition that no intoxicating liquors shall never be sold on the premises. There are already some very handsome buildings in the town, and contracts for fully fifty new houses to be built this Spring have been let, and work has already begun on some of them. There are several churches, and a handsome and commodious school building is to be erected before the next season begins.

Norfolk Virginian
Norfolk
March 14, 1889