Peninsula Enterprise, January 11, 1890

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Transportation -- Water - Channel and harbor dredging

A report from the chief engineers on the survey of Onancock harbor, made by Major W. F. Smith, has been presented to Congress. The project for improvement contemplates the dredging of a channel 300 feet wide and 8 feet deep at low water across the outer bar, and a channel 200 feet wide and 8 feet deep at the inner bar, involving the removal of 62,555 cubic yards of material, at a cost of $12,511. A resurvey is recommended at a cost of $450.

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Fields -- Livestock - Horses

Messrs. Duffield Savage and Thomas H. Melson left here on Monday for the West to purchase horses and mules. Few men are better judges of stock than Duffield Savage, and when to his ripe judgement is added the business tact of Mr. Melson, our farmers will make no mistake when they go their stables to purchase horses or mules suitable for their work. They may reach home today and we advise our friends to wait for their coming for they expect to beat Baltimore prices. Their motto will be, quickest sales, small profits and stock to suit. They will be found every day at their stables ready to show stock to all who admire fine animals, or wish to buy the best rates within the reach of all.

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Sea -- Finfish - Catch : Spot

Fresh fish -- fat packs, halibuts and spots -- caught in our waters, were sold in Drummondtown during this and last week.

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Infrastructure -- Public - Government : Town

The question of incorporating Drummondtown is again being agitated, and a petition is being circulated for signatures, looking to that object.

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Moral -- Property crime

The parsonage building at Temperanceville, occupied by Rev. W. F. Hayes, was broken into on December 30th ult., by a negro lad and a watch and several other articles stolen therefrom. The watch was sold by him to a party in the neighborhood. The negro has not been arrested but the constable is in pursuit of him.

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Tourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - ResortsFields -- Crops - CornSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PricesSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : MarketsTransportation -- Railroad - FreightTransportation -- Water - Freight

Chincoteague.

Several persons, in pursuit of health from New York are stopping at the Atlantic Hotel.

Corn is being brought here from Chicago and sold cheaper than it can be bought from the farmers on the mainland.

Oysters were sold on Chincoteague, last Wednesday at following prices, per barrel: Primes $1.40 -- culls 70 cents -- 'cullenteens,' such as were never known to be sold before, from 30 to 40 cents. The purchasers were from the Northern and Eastern markets.

A thousand barrels of oysters were shipped form this point last Monday on steamer Widgeon, and her average daily freight is about 600 barrels, the net returns for which being about $3 per barrel. Some choice lots are selling on the wharf at $4.50 per barrel. Mr. Stephens, agent for steamer, says that more oysters are shipped from here than all points along the bay. Besides the oysters sent to market from this place by rail, large boats are being loaded daily for the Eastern markets and the demand for them is much larger than the supply.

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Professionals -- BuildersInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionForests -- SawmillsInfrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial construction

Parksley.

Messrs. Dix & Bowen are erecting a carpenter shop on Adelaide street.

Foundation has been laid for the erection of a dwelling for Mr. Bowen, of Onancock.

Mr. D. F. White went by steamer to Baltimore last Monday for the purpose of buying additional machinery for his steam saw mill. His facilities for accommodating the public will be improved soon by the purchase of a planer.

Dr. Ewell and Messrs. Pate & Mason have erected a large porch supported by iron pillars in front of their handsome stores -- great improvement. The latter gentleman has removed from Leemont and now occupies the Dr. Bayly property near M. E. Church.

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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Residential construction

Pungoteague.

Mr. E. M. Ames of late has improved his dwelling very much by the addition of a handsome portico.

School Notices.

Infrastructure -- Public - Government : School administration

For the month of December. Number of schools open 101, number of graded schools 21, number of pupils enrolled, 4,149, number of pupils in average attendance 3,201, number of schools visited by Superintendent 20, number of warrants issued by Supt. 103, amount of warrants issued by Supt. $2,913.06.

JOHN E. MAPP,

Co. Supt. Schools.

Reply to 'Uno' on Road Question.

Transportation -- Road - MaintenanceTransportation -- Road - Legislation

MR. EDITOR. -- I ask for a small space in your paper to reply to Uno's letter in your last issue, in which he characterizes my suggestion for road improvements as impotent. I wish to say in the beginning that I agree with 'Uno' in his way of improving and keeping in order the public roads, but as I said before, is it practical? The Legislature will do nothing with the roads, and he says, "I do not blame our legislature." Then why should the Legislature do anything? 'Uno' points out a [illegible] reason for their not doing it, when he says 'How can we expect them to devise a law for us, when we cannot agree upon any law ourselves? If the people are to agree upon a law before we get it, we will never have any on roads or any other subject. The enactment of laws is the duty of the Legislature -- it is elected and paid for that purpose, and it is not the duty of the people at all. It is a right of the people to let their wishes be known to the Legislature, it is the duty of the Legislature to obey the wishes of the people. The legislators themselves must take the responsibility of acting or not. Therefore, they have positively declined to act -- though they have been petitioned to do so, and for what reason, I suppose is best known to them, certainly none have been given to the public. The legislature can excuse itself, until doom's day from enacting any road legislation if it wants, until the people agree upon what shall go with the law. If that body fears to do anything, lest they go wrong, they might draft a law, and submit it to the public for approval or rejection -- they must take some step, instead of absolute indifference. The road law is the same practically that it was prior to the war, when slave labor worked them. The legislature has recognized no necessity for a change, though the roads are used five times as much now as prior to the war, and the negroes are all set free. If the legislature thinks the present laws adequate, they are right to do nothing, If on the other hand, they think there is a call for a change, and it is necessary to improve the laws, they are to blame if they do not do it. They acted in this way (do nothing) with the State debt, until the control of the State was handed over by the people to the Readjustors and Republicans; they may make the same mistake as to other material matters and lose the State again. It took time on the debt question for the people to be thoroughly informed, and it may do the same thing on matters now requiring legislation. 'Uno' says my advice is a most lame and impotent suggestion. I do know a farmer who has made his money by hard work on the farm, do just what I suggested. He straightened, widened and ditched the road for nearly a mile, because he said that it was useful to him, and added value to his land -- he is not a college educated man, but possesses a good hard sense, is an advanced thinker in his line, and takes pride in his farm, county and State. I do not see why his example could not be followed by others. There has not been one practical application of 'Uno's' suggestions, and when the legislature adjourns he will find out how important his plan is, but that it is not mine, but his that will come to naught. He is right, his plan is the most economical and effective, but then, the legislature will not adopt it and that is the point I make.

FARMER.

Peninsula Enterprise
Accomac Court House
January 11, 1890