The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-10

ton.
Dis
Receipts bursements
lSS).....................-.s 2J3 -
lNSl. .-............-...... Jfz % ~ =
lSs2............ .......... i,2iy ~ ~ .
1 IsSi ....... I2tq e. 300 D
1881. ................... 9l0 % 1897 .
1885 2Gi.6 q3 21025 q
! leno. observation-disclosures. ~',"i3 ~ <-J't :
| fsS1 ....... I33yl II lf,l2 B
NSS....................... lJ,fJJ ~ IS''<< y
1889 .. i24jl Sc I1,lg0 "
lNp. .............-...... l2,.It % l''spi :.
IsgI. ................... if.ll4 50 1853 q
The RESULT"
What has been tho result Of our policy after
a trial of many years There has been q de
cline in production and revenue each year
the number OF per ODs engaged IN the III
| dustry has been reduced isbOut one-half the
value of tho crop has decreased IN the same
| prOpOrtion-sO great has been the destruction
! ocf asiOned by OverwOrking and improperly
working the grounds and carrying away the
! seed-oysters and the shells. IL is said that the
| oysters have decreased two-thrds IN Ianglcr
sound and four hfths IN PocOmoke sound,
| when twenty years ago the depletion OF these
| lands was believed to be impossible. Some Of
! our lest natural beds have been destroyed -
! all Of them greatly impaired. he 5000
| acres which should Uay 90 the cultyatOrs
900, 600, 600 IN or ss and 10 tho State reye-
nue. OF S5.OO0,OO0, cost the State IN 1890 the
sum Of s6,6ii.2l. and in 1891 s6.7S7.42 over
ami above the revenues derived from their
taxation, being under our present system OF
laws positive expense rather than source
Of relief 20 our tax burdened people.
No more conclusive argument can be used
TO show the necessity for a change o. our laws
on this sub ect than 10 give the receipts and
disbursements since 1880
The LAW.
BY the law which propose do not mean
to assert that IN tho space Of year or two all
this y III be changed ami we will reap the rich
reward which the figures have given show
possible. They are meant 30 demonstrate the
possibility oil the oyster u tiyatiOu IN irgnia.
the necessity Tor Its protection and the rev.
enue which may be derived thercfrOm. No
one believes that al the suitable land in Viz
ginia will g cult vated in oysters immediats
Is. any more than that all the land suitable
for corn and wheat will at the same time be
put IN cultivation. but these facts snow what
Is now being done IN other states and what
may be done here Our natural advantages
are greater than theirs. anu II we avail our
selves of them our reward will
be rs rich and as certain. Is il
not worth al the attention and
labor which this General Assembly can give
10 enact such laws a. will protect this mag
nlhcent source OF wealth % the State and
preserve 1t from destruction. our schools
aud colleges are begging for help 10 place
,
Of Otner states our lunatics are SUI erng IN
crowded asylums and horrid jais, IN which
the common felOns are confined piteOusly
appealing for help our brave veterans. Old
andfeeble. from many Uncomfortable home
IN mountain and lOwland. too poor 10 pro-
cure what Is necessary or comfort in their
declining years, need help from the State.
wHrBE IS HELP?
Where else is the help to come FROM Can
the land stand more tax Can personal prop
erty stand nj. re. Where then can you 20
bat 10 this source for tie revenue which Is so
greatly needed; The people learn slOwy-it
Is no new idea. More than thirty years ago
the attention of the Legis lature was called 10
thls subject By Governor Wise during his adj
minIstiatiOn as great source OF wealth and
revenue. and had II not been that the OYSTER
grounds were IN possession OF the enemy du-
ring tho war no doubt his wise advice would
have been needed, and We would now be en-
Toying the fruits OF his wisdom ana states
manship. Let Us see what we can do All |
will admit that something must be done
HE nope tor the o, ster IN Virginia Is IN the |
planter, and he should lie offered every rea- |
sonable lnducement because he produces and |
protects. lie should be made safe in his |
title. A prudent man will not invest money |
and labor where he may be deprived Of both. |
his question should be put ut rest and the |
renter should be protected by the law The |
title TO the lands we oner to rent must be in
yestigated and when it Is made clear they
should be- pla ted and divided into lots OF con
yenlent size 50 that any poor man may have I
an opportunity 70 get what no wants and
then be put up at public auction. after being
advertised, at not less than one dollar per
acre. Everybody should be invited To rent
them. | don't think there should be un
form price. Many diier with me about this:
,Ome fuvOr. q low fixed price Land that
"A n -
'ultlvating, whether 1t IS above or beneath
he water. man who cannot AFFORD T. pay
II al acre cannot afford { cultivate it, 4
Uniformity OF price is wrong be ause we
inown there Is not a uniformity OF value
There are many acres Of Oyster-lands in Viz
'lnla that would be cheap at zoo per acre
ent' VIII ST there are others worth MT more
han - al acre.
TIE VALUE OF IOci1I)N.
Location las a great deal to do with tho
alue; the bottom has much TO do with it
$50 exposure 10 storms and thieves. and
many other considerations enter into the yalue
I the land, and show 1t 90 be clearly wrong
hat there should be any fixed price per acre
.et us have a minimum but no maximum |
rice. II you put all az the same price. how
an you decide who Is 10 have the most valu
bio grounds without giving great dissatisfac-
on 10 the people! Let the highest bidders
IKE them and then none can complain. If
e desire 10 avail ourselves Of the progressive
)lrlt OF the age, We must be liberal. and
ldewater. the first part of Virginia 10
g settled the most accessible to the {
eople and to the capital of the world must |
elcOme those who desire 10 come with CAM '
u and labor 10 develop this, which NAV be &
ade the greatest of Virginia's industries 6
Ut people cannot complain. They have had
he refusal OF the ground at twenty FIVE cents Il
Or acre and have rented tut small! portion !
II. Besides. 1t Is to- late tor us now 10 take /
he position that none but citizens of Vir- =
ma shall get possession of any portion of {
II oyster lands. We are inviting emigrants Ii
oil OF our citiesand towns and TO our farm {
& lands and TO our mineral lands; and why
1t TO our oyster lands alsoy We should re. "
ire one year rent before the assignment il II
ade. and afterwards at the beginning of Il
On year then we shall have no difficulty in u
llecting the rents
/ ne term should be for ten years. so as TO
low the renter to get full returns for his
Dor and his money. lie should not be allowed >,
sui Let two ~ more might rent together .,
they desired. There are Instances where ~
rites have rented from the State at twenty q
70 cents and sub-let for a. much rs ten dol ~
rs per acre. The planters should be al =,
we'd sell and "a oafeb tho ,,,.c..., w