Peninsula Enterprise, December 12, 1891

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcement

Two Irishmen and four negroes, non-residents, were committed to our jail last Thursday, for taking oysters unlawfully in Virginia. The captain escaped.

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Transportation -- Railroad - SteamboatsTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Waterfowl and shorebirdTransportation -- Water - WrecksSea -- WreckingMigration

Chincoteague.

Several railroad officials, accompanied by U. S. Engineer Smith, visited us this week. They came to make inquiries as to the quantity of oysters which will probably be shipped from this place, this season, with the view of "putting on" sail boats to assist steamer Widgeon in carrying the freight to Franklin City and to take soundings, looking to a new steamer, bye and bye, in place of Widgeon.

Ducks, brandt and other wild fowl plentiful in our bays, and now is the time for sportsmen to visit us.

Messrs. G. W. Schultz & Co., Philadelphia, bought the wrecked steamer Dispatch, sold at auction in Washington a few days ago, for the sum of $160, and are negotiating with Capt. C. E. Babbit to work for a share of everything of value, which can be gotten out of the wreck.

Uncle Thomas L. Burch was in luck last week. On his way to the Cove for the purpose of taking up oysters, he found two bolts of Navy blue flannel, worth from $50 to $60.

Robert Hudson and family, of Fenwick Island, have located here and receive a cordial welcome to their new home.

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Forests -- SawmillsInfrastructure -- Public : Sidewalks, etc.Fields -- Crops - Sweet potatoes : PricesInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Life-saving serviceSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Markets

Onancock.

Mr. Thos. W. Taylor, it is stated, contemplates the removal of his mill plant from our town to King & Queen county, Va. The loss of so valuable a citizen will be deeply regretted by all our people.

R. J. Parker, the town bailiff is elevating side walks on Main street, this week.

Shipments of sweets from our wharf to Baltimore have been quite lively during the week. W. B. Pitts topped the market at 91 cents clear for 28 barrels.

Our enterprising townsman, Mr. John W. Duncan, won over all competitors, in bids for furnishing clocks to Life Saving Stations. He supplied them at $4.88 each and at a fair profit -- the next bid to him being $8. He buys at first hands and claims, justly we think, to sell all line of goods as cheaply as they can be bought anywhere.

Our townsman, Capt. Thos. Johnson, eighty-two years old, on last Sunday, "tonged up" seven barrels of oysters, separated them into primes and culls, and had them ready for shipment to Baltimore, by 2 o'clock on Saturday previous. The Captain having ample means to furnish him with all the comforts, the work was done by him simply for recreation and amusement, and no one any longer disputes with him the claim, that he is one of the young men of the town. There is not, we believe, another instance of such remarkable vitality in one of his age in the Commonwealth.

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Transportation -- Road - Maintenance

New Church.

County roads in this section alomst impassible.

Notice to Horsemen.

Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Horse racing

Stake Race For 1892.

The managers of Chesapeake Agricultural Fair Association have decided to have two stake races, to be trotted on their grounds at Cape Charles [City], Va., during their meeting of 1892.

The first race to be for three year olds, owned on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, prior to January 1st, 1892, without records. Entrance $25.00; to be paid as follows: $5 on the second Monday in February, 1891, $5 on the second Monday in May, $5 on the second Monday in July, and the remaining $10 to be paid on the day before the races are to start, by 7 o'clock p.m. The Association adds $100. Race to be mile heats -- best two in three. Purse divided as follows: 50, 25, 15 and 10 per cent.

The second race to be for foals of 1890, owned on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, prior to January 1st 1892. Entrance $25.00, to be paid as follows: $5 on the second Monday in February, $5 on the second Monday in May, $5 on the second Monday in July, when the colt to start must be named and the remaining $10 to be paid on the day before the races start, by 7 o'clock p.m. The Association adds $100. Race to be mile heats -- best two in three. Purse divided as follows: 50, 25, 15 and 10 per cent.

Books are now open for entries and close the second Monday in February by 7 p.m. -- no conditional entries. All entries and inquiries must be addressed to

A. T. Leatherbury, Secretary. Machipongo, Va.

Public Roads.

Transportation -- Road - MaintenanceTransportation -- Road - LegislationTransportation -- Road - Bonds

MR. EDITOR -- If we attempt to change our present road law at all, I hope we shall do away with the enforced, unpaid labor system. The people of Keller seem to wish to continue this, the most odious and unjust part of the law. Their panacea for bad roads is imprisonment of delinquent road hands. This is simply monstrous tyranny. Let us look at the matter and analyze it. The proposition is that every person liable to road duty, that is summoned by the surveyor to pay his road tax in labor, and who fails or neglects to do so, shall at the discretion of the county court be fined or imprisoned. Is this unjust and iniquitous tax more sacred that other just taxes and obligations? If not, why is this extraordinary remedy given? Or is it because they know the law is unjust, unpopular and oppressive and cannot be enforced without extraordinary penalties? It is but a debt due the county by the road hands, and the good people of Keller wish to imprison the unfortunate laborer for the nonpayment of this debt. Why this extreme remedy? Imprisonment for non-payment of honest and just debts, has been abolished in nearly all civilized countries, but here is a deliberate proposition to imprison for a debt that I unhesitatingly pronounce unjust, inequitable and oppressive.

The road law requires the poor man with no horse and no vehicle to go on the road, to pay the same labor tax that his rich neighbor who has many horses, carts and carriages, pays. The poor man does more than half the work in making and repairing the road, the rich man or property holder gets nine-tenths of the benefits. The non-property holder must be taxed -- heavily taxed on his labor -- the only capital he has -- to make good, and keep in repair public roads -- not for his own use, but that his more wealthy neighbor may have nice, smooth, hard roads for the use of their teams and carriages. Is this right? Is it doing as you wish to be done by? Let us be just. An oppressive and inequitable law cannot be successfully enforced, even by the terrors of a dungeon.

"Right crushed to earth will rise again,

God's eternal years are here.

While wrong wounded writhes in pain,

And dies amid her worshipers."

It will require a great deal of labor to make 600 miles of good, smooth, well-drained and well-graded public roads. To do it by enforced labor -- without improved road machinery, would be the refinement of tyranny, which find a fit parallel in the despotic decree of Pharoah requiring the Israelites to make bricks without straw. Just imagine the new task masters -- road overseers -- saying to the poor teamless, cartless, landless laborers, "Go, therefore, now and work; for there shall be no straw (machinery) given to you; yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks." Verily, Pharoah finds imitation in the last decade of the nineteenth century!

Now let me ask who would be chiefly benefited by good public roads? Undoubtedly the property owners, and especially the land owners. I firmly believe if $50,000 were judiciously expended on roads the lands, alone, in Accomac would be enhanced in value to even a greater amount. It is unwise, unjust and tyrannical to tax labor for the benefit of capital. The poor laborer has troubles, sorrows and deprivations enough, without being dragged to prison for the non-payment of an oppressive and odious tax.

If we want good roads, and our properties are greatly enhanced by them, let us meet the emergency bravely and manfully. If there are burdens to be borne, and we are benefited by them, let us bear them like men, and not try to shift them to other shoulders where they will prove oppressive and of but slight benefit.

My plan to make public roads is to borrow the money on long time bonds -- the interest payable annually -- and to create a sinking fund to pay the principal as the bonds mature. Then, when our roads are made good, to levy a capitation tax of 50 cents on each male citizen over 24 years old, and 10 cents on the $100 of property or so much as may be necessary to keep them in good condition. If the roads are made really good, it will cost a large sum, and the benefits will accrue to succeeding ages -- and they should, therefore, bear part of the burdens.

But I am not wedded to any special plan for making our roads. I want the best plan. I favor the meeting of delegates from all parts of the county to confer upon this subject, and think our legislators should meet the people there and submit the best plan they are able to devise. They were elected to help make our laws and should not shirk the responsibility. Let the law makers have the courage of their convictions. The people admire courage -- alike in the statesman and the soldier.

J. D. PARSONS.

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Transportation -- Road - MaintenanceTransportation -- Road - Legislation

The road convention which meets here next Wednesday, it is to be hoped, will be well attended by delegates from every section of the county. It is a question which calls for thoughtful and intelligent consideration, if we would secure a road law adequate to our needs and which will not impose upon us greater burdens than we are able to bear. That a change in our road law is needed no one will question, but it is equally true that it is better that it should remain as it is, rather than the wild and visionary schemes of some should prevail. To frame a road law, which, while not conforming to the narrow minded views of some, will at the same time place restraints upon the visionary schemes of others, is beyond doubt, the duty demanded of us when we shall meet in convention to consider the question. To that end therefore let delegates be selected, who while willing to keep pace with the progress of the times, will not at the same time be unmindful of the burdens to be imposed and let not only regularly appointed delegates be in attendance. The convention will be open to every citizen, and everyone who will, can participate and have an equal part in shaping its proceedings. Our county Judge has signified his willingness to attend and give us the benefit of his experience, and may we not hope that others equally as interested as he is, will be willing to imitate his example, and give us the benefit of their counsel also on the occasion.

Peninsula Enterprise
Accomac Court House
December 12, 1891