Peninsula Enterprise, April 16, 1892

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Poaching

The case of William Marsh, indicted for felonious dredging, will be tried on Tuesday, the 2d day of the next term of our county court. He will be represented by the Attorney General of Maryland and Hon. John Goode, and the Attorney General of Virginia may be present to assist Mr. Fletcher in the prosecution.

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Transportation -- Road - Legislation

The Board of Supervisors at its meeting last Wednesday, by a vote of three to one, determined that it was inexpedient to approve the road law of Accomac as enacted by our last General Assembly, and without their approval it cannot be put into operation.

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Infrastructure -- Public - Government : Life-saving serviceInfrastructure -- Utilities - TelephoneInfrastructure -- Utilities - Telegraph

The Congressional House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce Monday reported favorably the bill appropriating $16,354 for the construction of a telephone line along the Virginia coast from Cape Charles to Assateague Island. It is further provided that the telegraphic communication shall be maintained with the principal seaports of the Atlantic coast.

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Lumbermen -- Personal injury

Mr. William T. Wimbrough, Onley, had his ankle crushed by a timber wheel some days ago, and has been a great sufferer from the mishap ever since.

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Infrastructure -- Commercial - Commercial constructionArchitecture -- Commercial buildingsInfrastructure -- Commercial - Hotels

The old hotel building at Accomac C. H., is now a thing of the past. In the construction of the new hotel the frame of the main building only will be utilized and it is to be raised a story higher, and to be enlarged with wings on either side.

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Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeedTransportation -- Water - FreightInfrastructure -- Commercial - Residential constructionTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Fraternal orders

Chincoteague.

The following vessels have loaded here with oyster plants in the last ten days: L. B. Leeds and John Wesley for New Jersey; Susan Jane, John B. Price, R. F. Hastings, Elliott and William Sherman, Thomas Thomas, P. J. Hart and others, for Fair Haven, Conn.

Edgar V. Twyford, is erecting a dwelling which will be, when completed, one of the handsomest on the Island.

Schooner John A. Kelsey, John D. Whealton captain, arrived here last week from West Indies, on her way to New York city.

A lodge of Red Men will be organized at Franklin City, next Monday night, by brethren of the Order at Chincoteague, and the initiates will find that their joints will need a vigorous application of Indian medicine next morning, if handled as roughly as they were here.

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Infrastructure -- Public : Cemeteries

Onancock.

A called meeting of the cemetery projectors was held in the town hall Monday night last. A four acre lot of good high land on the Meadville farm will be purchased at once. Onancock will have a long needed cemetery.

The Fish Commissioner.

reprinted from Richmond Times, April 12.Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Surveying

The Board of the Chesapeake and its Tributaries, consisting of the Governor, Commissioner of Public Accounts and the Treasurer, held a meeting at the office of the Executive yesterday. It was decided to request Dr. J. T. Wilkins, Jr., the Fish Commissioner, to attend a meeting of the board as soon as possible. Dr. Wilkins is to supervise the survey to be made of the oyster lands during the coming summer.

Life Saving on our Coast.

reprinted from Norfolk Ledger.Infrastructure -- Public - Government : Life-saving serviceInfrastructure -- Utilities - Telephone

The Treasury is taking much interest in the bill before Congress for the establishment of a communication between seven life saving stations on the Virginia coast, between Cape Charles and Assateague. It will cost $16,000 to erect a telephone line connecting these stations, and making a connection with the nearest telephone station at Cape Charles, Va. The heavy cost is explained by the fact that the numerous inlets along the coast will have to be cabled. The reports show that since August 26th last twenty-six wrecks occurred along this coast, of which five were steamships. Had the telephone line been in operation, so that the life-saving crews could have been concentrated on short notice, much valuable property could have been saved, and sent tugs to assist in saving the property.

Prohibition Meeting.

Moral -- Alcohol

All who favor Prohibition are requested to meet at Tyler's Hall, Onancock, April 16th, 2 p.m., to elect delegates to the State Convention that meets in Lynchburg, April 17th, 1892.

By order of the Chairman of County Committee.

H. L. CROCKETT.

Onancock, Va., April 9th, 1892.

The President's Visit to Accomac.

Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Bird

The President arrived by train at New Church, on Friday morning, of last week, on a snipe shooting expedition to that locality. His coming was unannounced and consequently he was not received with "plumes and banners gay," but Mr. John Brittingham, who happened to be at the depot on his arrival, was equal to the occasion and boarding the train was cordially received by the President and in turn in an impromptu address extended to him the hospitalities of the Eastern Shore. He spent the day in gunning, chaperoned by such skillful sportsmen as Messrs. W. U. Schoolfield and Hiram Brittingham, and bagged quite a number of birds -- taking an old fashioned Eastern Shore dinner with Mr. J. E. Brittingham, a staunch Democrat, near the Virginia line. He expressed himself as pleased with the trip and said that he would make another visit.

Cape Charles Harbor to be Opened to the Public.

Transportation -- Water - Channel and harbor dredging

The following dispatch from Washington, appears in the Baltimore Sun, under date of April 10th:

The river and harbor committee yesterday reported back their bill which had been recommitted, and it was placed on the calendar. The principal amendment was an appropriation of $10,000 for dredging and otherwise improving the harbor at Cape Charles City, Va. The last bill carried an appropriation of $25,000 for this harbor, but when on the original consideration of the bill in committee, this item was reached, Representative Jones, of Virginia, a member of the committee, said he would not ask an appropriation for this harbor for the reason that the harbor and all the surrounding land were private property owned by the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railway and the estate of the late William L. Scott. Other members of the committee who were members of the committee in the last Congress said this fact was not known when the appropriation of $25,000 was made, and it was proposed to take steps to have that amount recovered by suit. After the bill was reported, however, the owners of the harbor offered to cede it to the United States. With this understanding the appropriation of $16,000 is provided for, with the proviso that no part of it shall be expended until the owners of the basin and the channel or canal leading to the Cherrystone inlet shall have executed a deed for the same to the United States, and have provided a public landing of not less than one acre with a water frontage of not less than 300 feet and connected by an approach to the nearest highway.

Pungoteague Farmers' Alliance Demands Reduced Rates.

Farmers -- Farmers' organizationsTransportation -- Water - Steamboats

MR. EDITOR:

At a meeting of the Pungoteague Farmers' Alliance held at Pungoteague, on Saturday, April 8th, it was resolved, that if the Eastern Shore Steamboat Co., did not accede to the demands made upon them by the County Alliance in regard to the reduction of passenger rates, freights &c., that the Pungoteague Farmers' Alliance should employ sailing vessels to carry their products. The following committee were appointed to secure vessels &c: on Occohannock Creek, E. S. Wise, B. F. Bull and J. E. Smith; on Nandua Creek, John B. Warren, J. H. Truitt and John H. Drummond; Pungoteague Creek, William T. Mason, John J. Mister and F. P. Martin.

Respectfully,

L. O. AMES, Secretary.

Pungoteague, Va., April 12th, 1892.

Farmers' Institute.

Farmers -- Innovation

MR. EDITOR:

Will you give notice in your paper that the Farmers' Institute will not be held at Cape Charles, Va., on the 19th inst., as was proposed. The State Board of Agriculture will only allow the expense of an Institute, upon the application of three hundred petitioners, who promise to attend. Up to this time I have not received a sufficient number of names in order to hold the Institute.

If three hundred persons will make application, I propose to hold a Farmers' Institute at Cape Charles, May 31st, Whit-Tuesday. Petitions should be in by May 3d.

Yours respectfully,

ORRIS A. BROWNE.

Cape Charles, Va., April 11th, 1892.

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Transportation -- Water - Channel and harbor dredging

Cape Charles harbor free! It is not, the editorial writers of the Headlight to the contrary notwithstanding, but it is going to be free -- not, however, as they would have it. It is to be free, without being subjected in any way to the whims and caprices of the present owners of the harbor, who, in the language of the Headlight and the deed which the editor thereof was unwise enough to publish, "can impose harbor dues or fees upon vessels going into harbor jointly owned by the said Company (N. Y. P. & N. R. R.) and William L. Scott" in certain contingencies -- "the excess to be divided equally, after keeping the channel and harbor in repair between the said Company and the said William L. Scott" or his heirs. It is to be free, but not merely "as a port of entry for the transaction of Government business" or as a harbor for the entry of foreign merchandise. But as noted elsewhere, it is to be ceded to the United States and free to all her people. The basin and channel are not only to be free to the people, but a public landing also is to be provided for them, and the $3,000 heretofore declined will doubtless be very acceptable for the establishment of said landing at the foot of Mason avenue, despite the "waste of money" in the opinion of the Headlight. A free harbor and free landing, it seems then, will be the outcome of Mr. Jones' labor, if the advices received are correct, and we are willing for the people of Northampton to decide whether by an endorsement of his course in the matter, we have shown any disposition to antagonize their interests. We of course, have approved the appropriations for dredging out Onancock Creek, and we are glad that the Eastern Shore Steamboat Company is benefitted thereby. In no less degree will we approve appropriations of Cape Charles harbor if opened to the public and in no respect certainly, are we disposed to antagonize the interest of the N. Y. P & N. R. R. Co., until and except it encroaches so upon the rights of the people. The expenditure of public money for a free harbor like Onancock Creek, with wharves which if not free can be used by the payment of reasonable wharfage fees, is one thing -- and a like expenditure for a private harbor like Cape Charles, with wharves from which competing lines of boats could be excluded, is quite another. One appropriation would be in the interest of the public -- the other in the interest of private individuals. Our contemporary, perhaps, can see the point.

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Moral -- AlcoholSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Surveying

The County Court of Accomack will, on the first day (Monday) of the April Term next thereof, proceed, in accordance with Sec. 4 of the Act of the General Assembly of Virginia, entitled "An Act to protect the Oyster Industry of the Commonwealth," approved February 29, 1892, to appoint three Commissioners for said County, to sit with the Shell-Fish Commissioner, which said three Commissioners are to determine the question of what bottoms are natural Oyster Beds, Rocks, or Shoals, and the lines defining these limits are to be run by the Shell-Fish Commissioner and the Engineer as said three Commissioners may direct.

On the same day the Court will also appoint seven Oyster-Inspectors for said County, as directed by Sec. 2131 of the Code of 1887 (as amended and re-enacted by the Act of February 25, 1892), and by Sec. 4, Chapt. 363, Session Acts 1891-2, approved February 25, 1892, for the registration of Boats to be used in taking or catching Oysters from the natural Rocks, Beds, or Shoals, and for any other purposes.

On the fourth and fifth days (Thursday and Friday) of said Term, the Court will hear applications for License to keep and Ordinary, or to sell Ardent-Spirits, or Malt-Liquors, in the several modes authorized by the statute-law of the State

By order of the Judge, 1892 April 14th.

Peninsula Enterprise
Accomac Court House
April 16, 1892