Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-12-13


advanced age or impaired health
are compelled TO rely up0n the
charity Of friends for support.
Virginia is in duty bourd to care
for these gallant surviving veter.
ans and the widows OF the no less
brave and loyal men who gave
their lives in her defense and at
ber behest."
PROTECTION OF WATERS.
"The wealth of Virginia in her
waters, says the Governor, "could
hardly be Overestim ated. Ac-
cOrding to the Baylor survey there
are POI 2163 acres of natural oSs-
ter beds, rocks and shoals, and
100000 acres of planting ground
of 'barren area dlspOsable by
the Commonwealth for the prOpaga-
ton of oysters Of course the
natural rocks cannot be rented, but
the immense area outside Is leas-
able, and fit could be let at an
annual rental of one dollar per
acre-the price, fixed by statute-it
would yield as much revenue as is
now realized from real and per
sOnal property of The value of QUE
hundred million dollars, and
nearly as much as from all the
cities in the State. 1t may be that
this vast expanse Of oyster ground
will never, under any circum-
stances or conditions, be leased;
6ut suppose the State can realize
from half of it, how magnificent
VIII be the retnrn. But to preserve
the value of these pronagating
grounds We must guard the seed
ground. How important, then, it
is that we lock well to the protec-
tion of the natural beds from the
dredger at home and abroad.
While we have had some trouble
with resident dredgers, incessant
have been our troubles with non
residents in the Tangler and
PocOmOke sounds until recently.
The Governor thea recites the
steps taken for the protection Of
the States oyster interests, and
says The officers commanding the
State steamer and schoOneTs en-
gagged in patrol duty have been
vigilant and faithful, and are
worthy of the highest commcnda-
ton. lie refers to the troubles
with the Maryland dredgers, but
of late there has been no causa Of
complaint, and he believes that in
the future "the State will be re-
heved Of the conflicts which for
mary years had been occurring in
the Tan2ier and POcOmOke sounds
resulting from the long continued
and persistent depredatiOns upon
our valuable oyster grounds by
residents of Naryland.'
He recommends the prOpriety of
so amending the statute as to re-
Quire all oyster licenses to be
granted by the judge Of the re-
syecnve county OF city courts,
either in term or vacation, instead
of the inspectors, and that record
of all llcepSes so granted be kept
by the clerks Of the respective
cOorls, and that they be reO0ired
to furnish The proper inspector
with a copy of each order granting
a license, and send quarterly a
certified list of SAID licenses TO the
auditor public accounts, to be
used by the auditor in settling
with the inspectors.
THE MILITIA, STATE BANKS, ETC.
The Governor says Virginia has
a volunteer militia force of which
she can be most justly proud and
he recon- ends more liberallty than
heretofore displayed for their
benefit. He also recommends that
an act be passed creating the office
of examiner or commissioner of
State banks, insurance cOmpan les
and building and loan associations,
with such powers as may be deem
ed necessary to protect stOckhold-
els, depO>i.Ors and policy. y.hOlders
thelein, the salary or fees OF said
examiner or com missioner to be
paid by said banks, companies and
associations.
GOOD ROADS.
&c eat interest Is being awaken
ed in the country at large 10 i'm
proved roads, and 1 hope you will
recognize the Importance oil put
ting we'll to the front In the move
ment. That our county roads ar,
generally poor 10 one will deny
We are inviting immigration
aud Cfferng inducements to set
tiers IN the way of low prices fol-
fertile and rich lands, but we have
ID,o ,otHtpr, 10 m ba fbo woVc