Peninsula Enterprise, February 9, 1884

Untitled

reprinted from Wilmington Morning NewsTransportation -- Railroad - Corporate

The formal transfer of the Eastern Shore railroad to H. L. Scott, the recent purchaser, took place in Philadelphia last Saturday. All the old officers are retained, and William Caris, Jr., is appointed auditor of the road.

Untitled

Infrastructure -- Commercial - Newspapers

Mr. C. W. B. Marshall, the founder of the Eastern Virginian, and recently connected with the Pocomoke Record and Gazette, has purchased an interest in the Salisbury Times. A Mr. Woody, an experienced newspaperman, is associated with him in the enterprise.

Untitled

Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : SeasideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PricesLaborers -- FisheriesLaborers -- StrikesLaborers -- WagesSea -- TerrapinInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Postal serviceInfrastructure -- Commercial - Newspapers

Chincoteague.

The oysterman's strike is the gossip of the day. Heretofore planters have paid the tongers 10 to 12 cents per bushel for tonging and culling. That this is poor pay no one will question, when it is known that a tongman cannot realize over two dollars per day, and that because of a hard winter, he has not been able to work half the time. Hence the strike for an advance to 15 cents per bushel. -- We are glad to announce that the planters as a general thing, have agreed to the demands of the strikers and business moves on as usual. . . . The prices are ranging from 80 cents to $1 per bushel.

Mr. J. T. Kenney informed us that he has a few fresh-caught diamond back terrapins for sale.

It is a frequent occurrence that the Northern dailies are detained somehow en route to Chincoteague, an evidence of gross carelessness or incompetency on the part of some railroad mail messenger. These delays entail quite a loss to our news boys who can't sell old numbers.

Untitled

Transportation -- Railroad - FreightProfessionals -- Seafood dealers

Greenbackville.

The Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Railroad Company, now run a daily train from Franklin City North, and two extra trains during the week, to accommodate shippers via Lewes to New York, and other Northern markets.

Oysters have improved very much here of late, and shippers hope soon to supply the markets with the best quality of this delicious bivalve.

Mr. John F. Powell, one of our worthy citizens is now in Philadelphia, looking after the oyster market.

Untitled

Fields -- FertilizerSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcementMoral -- Alcohol

Mappsville.

Many of our farmers are using a home-made fertilizer this year (as last), composed of fish and Peruvian guanos, North Carolina dissolved bone and kainit, in the following proportions -- 100 lbs. of bone and kainit, each: 200 lbs. fish guano, and 400 lbs. Peruvian guano. It is the cheapest and best fertilizer out, costing about $35 per ton. Anyone can make it.

The boom of Inspector Hinman's cannon is now heard echoing along the flats and fens of Pocomoke, warning the wily denuder of the rocks that the iron avenger is on his track.

The latest nocturnal scene in our village. Saloon keeper, No. 1, in front of opponent's door, with vengeance on his lips, and "brick bat" in his hand. No. 2, in night dress, in his own door, revolver gleaming in his right hand, breathing defiance, and amazonian rear guard hastening to front. Result -- gas and beer!

Untitled

Transportation -- Railroad - Stations and sidingsInfrastructure -- Commercial - Real estate

Oak Hall.

We are really beginning to think that we shall have a railroad after all. If it comes, it will pass in a few hundred yards of our village. On account of the converging of several roads at this point, it is thought there will be a depot here, in prospect of which real estate is advancing in price, and the hopes and prospects of the people are reviving.

The Railroad.

reprinted from Pocomoke TimesTransportation -- Railroad - Construction

The weather has prevented the grading being done as rapidly as desired, but every opportunity has been taken advantage of and the work is being pushed as rapidly as possible. Laborers are arriving on almost every train. The steel rails are expected to arrive daily; the angle fish-plates and spikes are at Peninsula Junction, the intersection of the Crisfield branch. As soon as the rails are received they will commence to rebuild the road from the Junction to this point.

The company wish immediate deliveries of ties at any point on its line from Delmar to Pocomoke river. The contractor has obtained leave to enter woodlands and cut them, arrangements having been made with the owners. The contractor has brought here 100 practical tie-cutters and will if necessary increase the number to 300. This force will turn out over 8,000 ties a day.

The bridge contractors, Messrs. Coffrode & Sellers, of Philadelphia, are in town with their assistants and implements to build it. The draw will not be less than 58 feet in width, and probably 60. Trains are to cross before the 1st of April next.

After the river has been crossed track will be laid on the remainder of the line at the rate of a mile a day, and the distance being about sixty miles the road will probably be completed by the middle of June.

Independent Order of Rechabites.

Moral -- AlcoholTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - Fraternal orders

A Lodge of Independent Order of Rechabites was organized on Saxe's Island, this county, in January, with twenty charter members. The objects of the Order are to promote strict and total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks, to secure to its members sympathy and relief in times of sickness and distress, and in the event of death of the decent observance of the necessary funeral obsequies. The name of the Order is taken from a body of people in the Old Testament, called Rechabites, and was first established in the United States in 1882.

The following officers were elected at their first meeting: John T. Taylor, S.H.R.; Wesley Crandle, P.C.R.; Geo. W. Glenn, C.R.; Wm. V. Rhodes, D.R.; James T. Weaver, R.S.; Wm. Mister, F.S.; R. J. Lewis, Treas.; James Anderton, Levite; Lloyd P. Hill, I.G.; Edward T. Lewis, O.G.

Real Estate Transfers.

Infrastructure -- Commercial - Real estate

The following transfers of real estate were recorded in the Accomack County Court clerk's office, during the week ending February 6, 1884:

Hugh C. Mears and wife, etc., to Margaret F. Mapp, 374 1-2 acres near Belle Haven, $1000.

Margaret F. Mapp to Nettie A. Mapp, 145 acres near Belle Haven; $5 (gift).

Same to Bell Sarah Mears, 103 acres near Belle Haven; $5 (gift).

John D. Parsons and wife to Thomas F. Marshall, 1 3-4 acres near Atlantic Postoffice; $275.

Lambert H. Chesser and wife, &c., to Louis Shreaves, 1 acre near Assawoman; $25.

Henry W. Taylor to Oliver H. Taylor, real estate on road from Oak Hall to Temperanceville; "natural love" (gift).

Levin T. Crowsen and wife to Geo. R. Rew, 1-2 acre at Justiceville; $510.

Nehemiah W. Nock and wife to Wm. Walsh, 3 acres at Mappsville; $1000.

Charles Hinman to James H. Laws, 1-2 acre near Atlantic; $20.

Abel T. Johnson, special commissioner, to Oliver Henderson, 100 acres near Horntown (Dunton land); $840.

Untitled

Infrastructure -- Public - Government : Maryland-Virginia boundary

A JOINT committee of the Legislature of Maryland, is now in the city of Richmond, for the ostensible purpose of securing legislation for the protection of the oyster interests of the two States, but whose real object, if we apprehend rightly, the utterances of the members of the committee, both before and since their arrival in the city of Richmond, is to extort by threats and blandishments, further concessions of rights which belong to Virginia without giving an equivalent in return. If the allegations made by us be not true, then what means the proposition of the Maryland Legislators "to give" Virginia the right to take oysters in the Potomac River and Maryland portion of Pocomoke Sound, under a Maryland license, and Maryland the right to take them in the Virginia portion of the Pocomoke Sound, under a Virginia license.

The right of Virginians to take oysters in the Potomac is absolute and indefeasible, always enjoyed by them, and of which we have no fear of being robbed through the courts, as the Maryland committee threatens. Surely, they cannot claim, therefore, that they are showing generosity in giving what already belongs to us. That other portion of their proposition, though, if possible, is a greater stretch of their covetousness. We are asked to divide with Marylanders our valuable oyster beds in Pocomoke Sound for the poor privilege of dividing with them their comparatively worthless ones. What say you, Virginians, to such an absurd proposition? Are you prepared to sell your birthright for a mere mess of pottage? What say you, Legislators? As guardians of the old Commonwealth, do you propose to surrender all her rights for the mere asking? Shame upon Marylanders, that they should thus wish to despoil her -- still greater shame upon you, if by your votes you become a party to such a proceeding.

Untitled

Sea -- Shellfish - Oystering : BaysideSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Law enforcement

THE dredgers captured a few weeks ago, in Pocomoke Sound, by Geo. W. Hinman, Oyster Inspector of Virginia, have been acquitted. -- The depredators must have been Virginians; otherwise they would have been punished as the law directs. -- Crisfield Leader, Feb. 2.

What a blind and prejudiced Leader of public opinion it is, indeed. The truth is, of the twelve "depredators" but four were Virginians, of these three were acquitted, and one is yet to be tried. The remainder, who were all acquitted were, with one or two exceptions, Marylanders by birth or adoption. We are sorry the blind prejudice of the Leader permits it to misrepresent us so broadly. It is the Maryland ox which is being gored out of our pastures, and our neighbor's bile blinds his sense of justice. "Be just, and fear not" -- that Capt. Hinman will then hurt you.

Peninsula Enterprise
Accomac Court House
February 9, 1884