Peninsula Enterprise, March 14, 1891
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reprinted from Cape Charles Headlight.Professionals -- Realtors and developersInfrastructure -- Public : TownsInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential developmentInfrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial developmentTransportation -- Water - Channel and harbor dredging
It is rumored that a land improvement company has been formed here, with Capt. O. A. Browne as president for the development of this section, and the town lots will be laid out on the south side of the harbor 50 x 150 and every other lot sold at public auction for factory purposes or business of some kind. The harbor will be dredged out and extended to the side track belonging to Hon. W. L. Scott, for shipping. This will be a great scheme if carried out, and will give a great boom to Cape Charles [City].
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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcement
The pungy J. W. Brooks, forfeited to the Commonwealth, will be sold by John H. Wise, sheriff, at public auction, on Saturday, March 28th, at Hoffman's wharf. She is a valuable boat, being appraised at a cash valuation of $1,250. See advertisement in this issue for full particulars.
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Fields -- Livestock - Horses
The usual display of fine horses at the March term was made at Eastville on last Monday, and among them Old Morrill and Signet. The charges of the latter are $25 and not $50, as stated in advertisement in a previous issue.
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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Other storesInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionMigrationInfrastructure -- Commercial - Hotels
Belle Haven.
A barber shop and photograph gallery are among the recent accessions to the industries of our town.
A dwelling of G. Lloyd Doughty, now nearing completion will be one of the handsomest in the town.
The families of Messrs. Redder and Gordy, and H. Joynes of Northampton, have lately moved to our town
Our large hotel with its superb facilities had not sufficient capacity for the accommodation of all its guests one night last week. G. Lloyd Doughty as a hotel proprietor is a "drawing card."
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Infrastructure -- Public : ChurchesProfessionals -- SurveyorsSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Poaching
Onancock.
The Baptist church is rapidly nearing completion.
George H. Bagwell, is engaged in making a partial survey of Mrs. Lottie Talyor's farm in Jollys Neck.
A case on trial before magistrate Nelson, Thursday, attracted a great deal of attention. Raymond Riley, Sr., the plaintiff, charged Ellis, Chas. and Wm. Evans and Jas. Gray, with the larceny of certain oysters to which he claimed a title. The verdict was given for the defendants.
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Sea -- Fish factoriesDisease
Wachapreague.
The fish factory at Wachapreague inlet will not, according to rumor, be in operation this summer. The fishing boats now undergoing repairs will be sent to New England, until October, when work will probably be resumed here.
"La grippe" is raging here and hardly a household is without a victim -- all the members of several families are confined to their beds with the complaint. So many of the school children were attacked by it, the public school here had to be closed for a week.
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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Planting
MR. EDITOR:
Permit me to call your attention and also that of the numerous readers of your valuable paper to an existing danger to the oyster interest. I believe the law is that natural oyster beds in the Chesapeake bay and contiguous sounds, within the limits of Virginia, shall not be taken for private purposes yet it seems that private parties, not even citizens of the State, are laying claim to all that large section situated between Horse Hammock and the Woman's marsh channel. This portion of the bay is filled with new growth of natural oysters that should be the property of all our people. What caused this natural growth? Some years ago the Boston vessels that then traded here for oysters, come in ballast, from seventy-five to one hundred tons each, composed mainly of city rubbish, such as bricks, bats, stones and other debris; this was thrown over-board for some miles, and the oyster spat catching to them made the present young growth. Is not this growth a natural rock, common property, as much so as the old rocks? yet it seems that the State authorities, unadvisedly, have given sanction to private parties, non-residents, to appropriate these beds to themselves, thus shutting out our oystermen, from the common benefit. Again, I am creditably informed, that these same parties, having been successful in their other grab are now prospecting for the purpose of securing a foothold in Watt's Island harbor and all the space between the harbor and Parker's rock. I understand that there is a fine young growth of oysters in all this ground caused by throwing overboard culls, shells, &c., and it is even hinted that member or members of the Virginia oyster police is or are interested with, non-residents, to take up this land. For the honor of the State and the credit of the police we trust this to be a mistake. Mr. Editor, I am not now engaged in the oyster business, do not expect to be again, but for the good of my neighbors, I wish to call the attention of the oystermen to the above facts, and urge them, that while they are holding meetings to concentrate their forces for future use, to keep a sharp lookout lest their present interests slip from their grasp. Be up and doing, harmonize minor interests, present an unbroken front, and say to the sharks, hands off. The oyster beds, old and new, not made by private enterprise, belong in common to all citizens of the State engaged in the oyster trade and we intend to maintain our rights therein.
CITIZEN.
Chessconnessix, March 10th, 1891.
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Transportation -- Road - MaintenanceTransportation -- Road - Legislation
The cry is going up from all Virginia, of bad roads, and the maledictions pronounced against them would seem to indicate that the average Virginian is being aroused from the "masterly inactivity" which heretofore has controlled him in the matter. The demands coming as they seem to be from every section of the State for better roads, furnish hopeful signs, that the large class of people heretofore content to plunge along in the mud and water as their fathers did, are learning something -- or are at least being borne along in the current, too strong for them to resist, with those who are trying to keep step with the progress of the times. The demands happily too seem to carry along with it the conviction, that there is a necessity for a change in the system of working them -- and only on impediment seems to stand in the way to wit, the financial plan to be properly, and a supervisor competent to perform the work. Thousands of dollars are now being wasted annually in every county of the State, by the surveyors who at stated periods are expected to patch the roads and are piling up embankments to keep the water in the roads instead of turning it off, and a plan at least, it occurs to us, could be adopted to save that money and apply it properly, even if no more could be raised to be expended.