Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-02-13
Conn N, znicasfop.

Mn. EDITOR.-1n cnnSonance with
his message to the legislature, COY.
Wm. E.Cameron transmitted Through
tie regular channel; :, report of The
Board on the Chesapeake and its Trihu-
taries 'm the oyster Notwithstanding
the record in its method 'ftle "nystrr
navy Were it not that the Governor
has been relegated to private life-and
the times are toe hard to joke should
show how onr hate Governor and his po-
litcal friends enjoyed the navy--and how
utterly nonsensical is the Toast he, and
his Admiral Foster. made OF the Won
derfnl achievements of the "Cheesa-
peak';. 1t was to be hoped that while
this steamers actual cost was 1855 50
above the entire amount appropriated
by the General Assembly. sufficient
work had been done by the entire force
in the Year to cqualize her cost at least.
But. such is not the fact. To aid her
lit was found necessary. in pursuance
of the ACT" creating the oyster navy ito
hire two schooEers at the rate of $500
each per month, to protect Vlrginia's
interest in Pocomoke and Tangier
sounds.
This is very pretty. On paper it
sounds well. But. ali. the but is here
tile total revenue is only S26. 966 .55
and the aggregate cost of service has
been to October 1st, 1855, Sl2,s6l. 81
Thus leaving the State the small minus
debt of ONLY sl2.724 5l-and we are
gravely told in the report signedby VIM.
z. Cameron, President of the Board on
the Chesapeake and its Tributaries:
This shows that, under the present
system, criticized as it has been, the
oyster beds have been protected. steal
AGE has been prevented, individual in
dustry has been satisfied, and the income
20 the State has been UNNECESSARILY in
creased" We can only say, from such
another year of industry and increase,
good Lord deliver us. To have liter
airy expert to pen reports is all well-but
he Should be also honest enough to Show
shortage.
.sCaptail.-in Chief" Foster adds his
mite of report to that of the President.
! We have every reason to believe that lie
is a humorist of tue first water-and We
are satisfied that in pcnning this report
to the ''President of the Board his jolly
sides shook with laughter. He SAYS,
during the past year have travelled
over q, 900 miles of territory" Herein
he is quail almost, to "Sinbad, the sail
or But lie adds what am sorry |
must deny-not that his report MAY be
invaidated. but that "Sinhad" Foster
may correct his figures of spcech,at least
There are = 10 15creeks on the bav shore
of these counties, and as many on the
sea shore, yet except Pocomoke and
Targler sounds. he has never been il
these waters at all, land in them al
"o,sters grow!.') Have you. sir?
The "Captail-in. Chiof" recommends
certain improvtn ents in the "Cheesa
peak but at the same time declare:
! he is prepared TO tackle on to anything
that floats in the Chesapeake bay, othel
than man-oa-war." Goodl Let thu
, improvements come out of the minus
debt now owing of SO, 7724.51.
"Brag is good dog, but Iloldfast is
better" We had once an oyster navy
1t consisted as tins one of IT, zee vessels
three little steam tugs costing ev
erything told, much less than TIN
"Chesapeake" alone. The first lisca
, year that navy paid into tie trcasur.
S46, los. u7 less S25, s24.04, and this dif
ference paid the investment.
More, when by law, it died it left to it
credit III the treasury over S200.0O0-
clear of expenses. More, when TIN
steamers were sold they added to tit
amount due the State. And yet more
i, not report was made that did not dea
, with the oyster question other than as
scapegoat for junketing and travel
notably the splendid reports of Capt. o
A. Browne to Auditor Taylor.
Our present navy is very good to tall
] about, it's net income is minus bal
, ance, it's steamer nice to go or from
Norfolk TO Matthews, but its applica
1tioa 20 work and revenue, and it