Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-26
.,,,;v,,ed beds Of Rhode Island
Of sne c1 1sso had gone down to Just
dunns asriers 10 give every man, wo-
enough nd child in the State one pint

iIiAn' vopK AND soRTH CAROLINA.
,,r,. o,eat State Of New York adopted
.bs perpetual franchise system. Those
~, ,rno p were engaged in the cultivation OF
" " when the act passed were per-
oy .s.en 70 retain their lands upon the
mite Of Is cents an acre, whlle those
Paynen into the industry after the
VINO ~eo ~ the act could secure land by
passabo ~ Of 81 en- acre. As this act
.ue P'! ant measure the effect OF it can
10 .s r III, he seen. but it is confidently ex-
pected to restore 70 'ne o'"'o no iofi"ei
abundant yield OF oysters.
"North Carolina, our enterprlslng SIS
,or state, has taken leaf from the his
yer SUI 70 our experience. She is not wait
;o ry f y, the depletion Of the natural rocks,
Jug ~ 20 done. but almost before her
40 t ~ rocks have attracted attention
,%s hos had these surveyed and set apart
sne . .ho nee Of the people in common,
and sbe has thrown open 10 the world
e00 600 acres OF land under water that
o.o NOT natural rocks. These she offers
Cor cole at twenty-five cents an acre, I'M
der perpetual franchise for oyster-cul-
t;u.,;dn An abundance Of seed-oysters
from the natural rocks are offered for
s,Ie of five cents bushel. and the carry
inc of these seed-oysters from the State
is prohibited.
co,,prr1TIoy VIRGINIA DISCREPANCIES
MUST MEET.
at ia the competition of the favored
,1anters of these States that the Virginia
nlapter will have to meet. The Virginia
farmer knows that no allowance ls made
for the expenses he incurs IN raising
a certain crop when that crop Is placed
mon the market. The market price Is
fxed bv the farmer that can raise the
cron at the least expense. If the Da-
kota farmer can raise cheaper wheat than
tbe Virginia farmer the Virginia farmer
has got TO meet Dakota prices or stop
raising wheat. In q like manner II the
VIRGINIA PLANTER cannot raise oysters rs
cheaply as the North Carolina planter
or the New York or Connecticut planter
he must stand aside and let these States
have the trade.
A PERPETUAL FRANCHISE OUR ONLY HOPE.
"What course, then, should the State
pursue ?"
"The proper course for the State Of
virginia to pursue would be to sell her
waste and abandoned lands under water
that is. not natural rock-under per-
petual franchise.
1--WE have reached this conclusion,
and we have reached it none too soon.
With our knowledge of the condition OF
the oyster industry and the difficulties
which surround it, We could advise no
other course.
THE PRESENT TAX AND FRATL TENURE.
"The Virginia planter now pays an
annual rental that is equal to tax upon
A sixty dollars valuation OF each acre (;
he pays tax upon the assessed value OF
his planted oysters as other property
is taxed and he pays an income tax
upon his earnings in excess of $500, II he
ia fortunate enough to earn the excess.
Although it takes him three years to
make one crop from seed oysters and
five years if be attempts TO raise the crop
from the spat, yet so frail IS his tenure
that it NAV be terminated at any time by
the General Assembly, and there is no.
| thing in the law that requires even adGy's
notice of such termination, or that binds
the General Assembly to give him even
time sufficient to remove his hslf-grown
crop.
at is this uncertainty that works q
hardship upon the poor man. The
tongman's occupation will be gone
when the natural rocks are entirely
tonged or dredged up, unless the area
of planted oysters is largely Increased.
1t is proper il the tongman have the in
clination that he be encouraged to be-
come planter. He cannot become a
planter without money. He cannot
have money without borrowing. He
cannot borrow without giving security.
As he is but a tenant at will he can give
no security, and no prudent person
would lend him money to be thrown
overheard at haphazard.
OUR PRESENT LoosELY-DRAwN LAWS.
1.-THE law before mentioned that failed
to receive the Governors approval con-
tanned at least one provision that was a
step forward in the right direction. 1t
gave the planter fifteen-yesrs' tenure.
| The debate over this bill and the pub
lished expressions regarding it showed
our Tidewater people that the con-
dition OF the oyster industry was as a
sealed book to most of our people. We
were well aware of the defects IN the
present law-defects so glazing that If
our revenue-laws were as loosely drawn
the State would have to close
her public institutions for want
of sufficient income TO run them, and
we desired the law amended so that the
State might receive the revenue that
proper enforcement OF that law would
bring. The fiteen-year tenure and tue
remedy for the defects in the present
law, were to US agreeable features OF the
new law. 1t had other provisions that
were not acceptable and were only as
scented to by our Underwater members IN
a spirit of compromise. Its failure, how
ever, enables Us now to place the sltua-
ton squarely before the people. When
they fully understand a public question
their approval will be always given TO
any wise plan that may be proposed for
| lis settlement"