The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-13

,,c rss, TEN wears the sale OF oysters IN
,hia state had amounted 10 $2o'vN'"". IL
mad never been claimed that the oyster
grounds were private property, OUT tnat
the territory or the oyster INDUSTRY De-
lonoed 10 the whole people or me State,
and II WAS their right 70 eoh''oi 'n's
porpcrty so as TO reap the penent ior
~. citizens of the commonwealth.
THE sneaker emphasized the Importance
OF developing the great wealth ~ inns
state compared the Industry OF Nireinia
with that Of other States, and pointed OUT
the necessity OF equippng INDUSTRIAL
schools IN this state. Ihe necessary
funds Tor this purpose should be raised
by the territory in which every citizen
In the state had share. The oyster CUES
ton was vita! one fer Virginia. where
there we're 30 many natural beds. Ninety
five per cent. OF the oysters OF England
were secured from artificial bens. In
Holland and other foreign countries the
proportion was astonishingly low as com
pared with that OF Virginia. The oyster
area OF Virginia could be divided into
two sections. natural and designated. ana
if the natural beds were developed as
they were In the State OF Connecticut,
the revenue from this source would be
surprisingly larger than at present.
There was in Virginia a great area or
bottom land. which could be utilized for
the cultivation OF the oyster. II the people
OF the districts would only develop the
natural advantages in this manner held
out 10 them.
Barren Territory.
To utilize the C{8.00o acres of barren ter
ritory the State must give n clear title
to the proper persons said the speaker.
1t was needful that the Legislature
should lcgalize the oyster industry, and
make such provisions as would give clear
and undisputed titles to those who would
so develop the territory as TO bring great
benefits 10 the people. In Chesapeake
Bay districts there were vast areas OF
barren bottoms which could be utilized
II the State would allow outsiders TO
come in and develop them TO the best
advantage by selling these lands TO the
highest bidders. The present laws pro-
hbited such measures. These lands could
only be utilized by capitalists who would
develop them.
Captain Baylor then went into COM
prehensive discussion OF the taxes on
dredgers. tongmen. &C., by special act Of
Legislature. A survey should be made
specifying the oyster beds and barren
territory. The State Of Virginia should
| derive a tax from the sale of her barren
/ lands, and should sell TO outsiders for -
per acre for barren bottom territory not
! HiItUNY Ienleut DTON4Utu lftdt Oif-tiiiN
of this bottom land be planted with oys-
| ters within the next five years. The un-
developed grounds along the Chesapeake
| Bay should be utilized so as TO derive
/ benefits to the State
The State of Virginia needed industrial
schools. new enterprises, and means with
which to develop her great natural wealth.
said Mr.. Baylor These revenues could
be TO great extent derived from the pro-
/ al .grff .,ft nraaft Of
barren territory, TO cultivate which no
! efforts. or practically none, were now
being made.
The speaker concluded with a number
| Of valuable suggestions as 10 the best
manner of encouraging this Industry and
/ realizing an Immense amount of revenue
with which to develop the other resources
of the State. and to build up her ecuca-
/ tional and commercial interests.
Captain Baylor's speech was q care
J fully-prepared and comprehensive discus
sion OF the subject. and contained much
statistical information. illustrating the
| importance of using to the best advantage
/ Nirgina's great wealth represented in ner
oyster territory. The speaker was care
fully listened TO by the entire body, and
was literally applauded.
Hen Rowe.
The next speaker was Mr.. Henry c.
! Rowe, who for twenty years has been
| oyster planting in Long Island sound. He
is one Of the largest and most success
| full oyster planters in the world, and under
methods adopted by him the industry
has been brought to "a high degree Of
development in water heretofore thought
entirely too deep for oyster planting, and
| requiring special steam appliances for
securing the harvest.
Mr.. Rowe, in the outstart, paid a neat
compliment TO the Lawmakers and
people of Virginia. Said he, Il have eaten
the Lynhaven oysteIs since l have been
/ in Richmond, and as oysters are con-
sidered a principal brain food. / am
not surprised that your representative
+ men are so famous and successful"
The greater part of his speech was
devoted TO his experience and knowledge
OF the oyster industry in Connecticut.
Said he, 1.-The oyster industry was not
known in Connecticut before 1874.
started there by buying a hundred acres
in the open sound, at 81 an acre, and
continued gradually until / secured 1900
AT first our people called me blank
fool and now they have changed 1t, and
call me a blank monopolist."
He stated that his firm had expended
$500, 900 in experiments. for which they
| secured no results. He then explained,
! with many humorous illusions. the
other enemies of the oyster In his State,
and the manner of securing them from
deep water by steam dredges.
He complimented highly the oyster
message of Governor Mckinney. and out
lined what he called the mistakes OF his
! state.
Connecticut sold her land outright. for
| q 10 ner acre and when all available
Ground was sold the State netted $4OVoO
and it expended $4,000 in surveying and
/ selling IT, and the only revenue received
now is an annual tax of s20oO.
He advised Virginia, If she intended
~ derive a large and certain revenue
from her oyster grounds, TO proht by the
course which had been followed by CON
| necticut. 49,, .,.,,
Mr.. Rowe's speech was listeneu 10 WIN
much interest and attention.
I .t "a a. >veaks.
lieutenant Francis Winslow, formerly
| Of the United States Navy, ana now
president and general manaser oi the
Pamlico oyster Company, or New berhe'
n. C.. was next introduced. Lieutenant
Winslow has for twenty years cohuucteu
close research into the CROWN OF oysters,
and is familiar with the surveys OF
OYSTER beds in Virginia and on the Al
lantic coast. -.
After thanking the convention Tor the
honor ~ The invitation TO address them,
Mr. Winslow said that twenty years ago
he hexan the study of the oyster beds
ana the oyster industry in Virginia. The
,,rhlic was then comparatively ignorant