Peninsula Enterprise, November 30, 1882
Untitled
Transportation -- Railroad - Litigation
THE County Court is at present engaged in hearing the contested railroad cases.
Untitled
DiseaseInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Quarantine, local
THE ravages of the small-pox among the colored people at Wagram has been checked to some extent. The inoculated are now confined to one house, and they are convalescent. So far, seven deaths have been reported.
Untitled
Disease
MR. H. R. SMITH, of Belle Haven is now seriously ill with typhoid fever. We join sincerely in the hope of his many friends that by the aid of his strong constitution he may pull safely through the danger that surrounds him.
Untitled
DiseaseInfrastructure -- Utilities - Water
MISS MISSOURI MAPP, a daughter of Mrs. Bettie C. Mapp, and a very interesting young lady died of typhoid fever near Locustmount on Wednesday last. At the time of her death the mother and other daughters were prostrated with the same disease, and grave fears entertained of their recovery. At the time of this writing, however, they are convalescent, and considered out of danger. We extend our sympathy to them in their bereavement. The sickness of the family is attributed to the impurities of a well of water.
Surf Boats for the Government.
Infrastructure -- Public - Government : Life-saving service
Six Surf Boats, modeled by Capt. B. S. Rich, the efficient Superintendent of the life-saving stations in this district, are now being built in Baltimore, under the supervision of Capt. Rich, by the authority of the U. S. Government, for stations at Smith's, Cedar, and Chincoteague Islands, in Virginia, at Green Run, Md., and at Cape Henlopen and Rehoboth, Delaware. The boats will be clinker built, out of white oak and cedar, and copper fastened throughout, and of the following dimensions: 27 feet 5 inches over all; 25 feet 4 inches on keel; 7 feet beam, and 2 feet 4 inches in depth. The model of the boats, is that of the surf and dory combined and will be an improvement on both. The confidence thus imposed in Capt. Rich's ability by the Department at Washington, is another high testimonial of their estimation of his services, well in keeping with his merits as Superintendent of stations and his worth as a citizen.
Untitled
Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : LitigationSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcement
The Court of Appeals has rendered decisions adverse to the Commonwealth in all cases of the confiscated oyster vessels captured in Gov. Cameron's expedition of last spring. The parties claiming the vessels showed title, we suppose, and were not implicated in the breach of the oyster laws of the State, as far as appeared. As to the statute under which the vessels were originally seized and sold, we are inclined to believe that while it shows the intention of the Legislature to confiscate all property employed in the unlawful fishery, this intention was so clumsily expressed that the strict construction in favor of property to which all courts lean justifies the Court of Appeals in its judgment. What is needed is a law which no construction can invalidate, or a new dispensation in jurisprudence which shall not consider property more sacred than all other matters combined.
The above extract, from an editorial in the Whig, relates to the cases of Boggs, &c. vs. the Commonwealth, noticed in another column. In the absence of fuller information on the subject, we infer from the reading of the same that the decision of the Court below was reversed on the ground that the parties owning the vessel property were not implicated in the breach of the oyster laws of the State. We are not prepared to say with the equal facility of the Whig what the intention of the Legislature was that passed the dredging law. It was a subject of so little intelligent thought before its enactment, we doubt if any of those who voted for it had an idea about it above that of an oyster. At least it was so unwise in its provisions, we are glad of the loop-hole of escape furnished by its ambiguity to those of our people who would have been otherwise subjected it its penalties. We agree with the Whig that a law is needed which no construction can invalidate, provided that it does not discriminate so unjustly against our own citizens as the present one does -- "that it is more honored in the breach than the observance." When means have been provided for the punishment of violations of the law by citizens of other States, equally with those of our own, then we shall approve, whoever the violators may be, and whatever property may be subjected to its penalties.
Untitled
Transportation -- Railroad - LitigationForests -- Timber rights
Ten Dollars Reward will be paid for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of any person or persons, who shall unlawfully remove or cause to be removed any timber from the property of the Peninsula Railroad Company, or who shall otherwise trespass upon the premises. PENINSULA R. R. Co., per E. W. Goerke, Chief Engineer.