The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-17
OUR NAVfGABLE WATERS
Az INTERESTING PAPER on THAT
SUBJECT By carr. j. b. BAYLOR
Before Immigration Con,ention - Tran.
porta lon Afforded - Agricultural
and O,hrr Resource

Captain J. i. Baylor. OF the United
States Coast Survey, read most vaIua-
bic paper before the immigration Con-
ters and resources OF Virginia. The paper
~ a. follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen:
1t Is my privilege 10 speak TO you this
evening OF some OF the resources OF
the great inland bay and lis ulttdid
tributaries. upon whose shores was estab-
liShcd the first permanent Ago SAXON
settlement on the American CoDtIr ont, "A
settlement which led TO he incdlcula-
be results TO the human :ace, whether
regarded from "a material, a social, or
a political standpoint.
II It's shores we're barren and inhOspi-
table and its waters as desOlate as those
of the Dead Sea all which pertains to
them would be Of interest, nut on the
contrary, as Professor bfOo6B Eas sajd,
THE Chesapeake Bay IS one Of the rich
est agricultural regions OF the earth ana
its fertility can be compared only with
That OF the valleys OF the Nhe' the Can
ges, G'l other great rivers
IL Is the most prolific fishing ground,
OF like proportions, in the world. The to-
tai harvest from these waters OF oysters
alone has been over one hundred and
nifty million bushels during the past
ten years This enormous quantity OF val
liable food has been practically free
Bllt from bOuHleOuS nature.
According to the eleventh census OF the
United States abstract, page iSD, A,8l6,-
rs worth Of oysters and hsn were taken
during the year lHSJ, from the virginia
waters alOns and this on a total capital
invested Of only s.. 424 49,. Can the very
richest lands OF the West compare in
productiyencss TO this on the same
amount Of capital invested?
N1RG MA or-rIR.
Virginia to-day holds i46.7Oj acres Of
natural growth oysters surveyed and du-
ly recorded, and Kept Tor the common
this state. In retVrn for this great priv
ilege she only demands a nominal tax
Of so cents on the hundred dollars worth
OF oysters sold. She still owns thous-
auds Of acres 81 territory suitable IOr
the cultivation OF the oyster, which she
is prepared TO rent Al an annual rental
Of 81 per acre 10 all who become citizens
OF the State. giving for a period of TWEEN
" years title which cannot he dlsputtl.
During the fiscal year lS9l-g from the
very latest statistics carefully coli scteI
by the United states Commissioner or
Fisheries, We find that from yl6 ound
nets alone, which cost on an average
less than $50 each when put in position.
and which are run not lnfTequentty by
two men, SllbIi worth OF fish were taken
from the Virginia waters. SlNtN-tWo
thousand and thirty-nine dollars worth ul
crabs, over thirty thousand dollars Win
6
and ninety-four dollars worth of terra
pin were taken from the same waters.
Exclusive OF oysters over one million dot
lars worth Of fish we're sold not to mem
ton the canvas back duck ana a great
variety OF other water fowl Al, this val
liable food has been furnished 10y The
State Of Virginia to her citizens. flee
of all cost save only q nominal tax on
the assessed value OF the apparatu rs uSeh
in taking II. The poorest immigrant can
have on these shores an abundance ana
variety OF food for the taking which
only the Nrll-tO-dO can obtain IN most
parts Of the world.
TR.~~ OK ALTON FACILITIES.
But Mr.. Chairman, I have as yet said
nothing OF the transportation farIntieS
afforded 10y these waters, nor nave
dwclt upon the agricultural resources u
the shores adjacent TO them.
certain type Of critics decry the use
of statistics but every experienced Zee
turer knows the value Of his blackboard
and chalk.
Virginia alone has lis miles OF coast
line subject 10 tidal acuon. IN mesa
peake Bay proper and in the waters IND
iltary TO il there are owned and register
ed according TO the Eleventh Census OF
the United States. ,4S3 vessels and crit
of various kinaf with a total tonnage OF
l7O.J2O tons valued at $S,tI3,1s5, Transporting
in 1890 l04J3A%I tons of fTISlGht anu gaI ayo
ing i03a, $50 passengers. THESE isu[ts are
significant Of much 10 those VINO liNe on
tn adjaccnt shores.
The prospective immigrant can be sure
that he viii ind here cheap ana reIiaih
transportation for the products or ms
labor T. every market Of the world. 40
great CORPORATION can dictate 10 hiIh
what toll be shall pay
The caItain Of the largest vessel ever
constructed can approach the capes OF
Virginia with safety. lie viii hardly
have 10 think OF the condition Of me
weather. nor will he have To study ms
tidai tables 10 know me s''Er Oh vac
ride lie VIII ind here no dangerous
Lar upon whose improvement thousands
have been expended 10 delay for one SIN
gle hour his entrance ne VIII Iilu :"
great inland bay In WhiCh the haNies VI
In. world could lie at Oh, nor Whlch mas
haau trayersrd by the Great Eastern Tor
more than one hundred ana MY Hlrs'
lie Will not find II necessary 10 eHttL
any great tidal dock TO dlecharke WIN
SO his cargo. at any stage Of the tlue
ana with the wind in any quarter Whht-
liver should his vessel need repairs
mo can now find here the largest HIE
dock on the American continent ana IIe
of the very best equipped snip Dd'HIHH
wards in the whole world
Al Norfolk and Portsmouth he VII ma
two great trunk lines OF railway, one
eXtending to The rrmOteSt cotton I'E''h
~ me south and the other 10 the cen
traI regions Of the great West, not 10
,nrution several minor lines
Al Newport News he viii ina trunk
line OF railway permeatlHg me West ana
- Southwest, with every facility Tor
ne Eandiing of :ia freight, anG for me
min and construction e LIS N"EStl
~ West Point. on one OF the many great
tributaries OF Chesapeake. Bay, ne WH
find system OF railway WHICH peI"'ed''s
Had these facilities existed in the taily
history Of this country, IN All EH"An
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