The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-20

RtcHMoND, Va, Feb. 19.--lspeoial. J.
Senator Clayton has introduced bill to
authorize the governor to rent out the
natural oyster grounds Of Virginia. The
bill reads as follows:
"Be IL enacted by the general assem-
bly, Of Virginia, That the governor be
and 10 authorized and empowered to re-
ceive bids for and enter into o lease of
oil the natural oyster ROCKS, beds and
shoals in the waters OF Virginia, such
lease to be entered into for period OF
not less than ten nor more than twenty
years, ind the annual rental to be paid
annually in advanoe: Provided, how
ever, That such lease shall not grant
the power to take oysters by dredging
In waters Of q less depth than twenty
feet.
Proposals for lease shall be nd-
vertised once week for eight oonsecu-
tive weeks in the daily papers published
In the cities of Richmond, Norfolk and
Baltimore, such advertisement to be in
serted not later than the 10th day of
May, 1896: Provided, however, That no
bid Offering less THAI two hundred
thousand dollars annually shall be con-
sidered. and no bid shall be considered
unless accompanied by check on some
solvent bank, properly certified and
drawn payable to the treasurer Of Vir-
GINA In the sum Of ten thousand dollars.
The check of the successful bidder shall
be placed to the credit of suoh bidder as
part R8ymeni on the first annual
rental"
Senator Clnytor does not expect to get
his bill enacted. but it la offered with
the hope that it may open the eyes OF
Virginians to the disgraceful state of
sffairs relating to our oyster industry.
The people OF the mountain districts
OF Virginia have not the remotest con-
ceptiol OF the great value and extent
OF our oyster possessions. II the people
OF the central and mountain regions of
Virginia would awake to the fact that
they. and not the people OF Tidewater
Virginia, are the owners Of this vast
mine OF wealth. there would be o huss-
ling along the Old Dominion shore, and
in the camp OF the political powera that
be, such as Virginia has never yet wit.
messed in time of peace.
l1 10 believed by many that this oyster
question iH honeycombed With rottena
meas and az black as hades; that Vir-
ginia has been robbed of millions In or
der that political rings and place hun.
tiers might continue to sway the scepter
OF political power. For merely making
the statement that Virginia possessed o
mine OF wealth in her oyster territory,
Governor Mckinney wac promptly sent
to his political grave. But infamy will
out sooner or later. The beneflclaries
OF this system attic robbery of Virginia
| have qusrreled among themselves and
| their quarrels have been brought to the
| Legislature for adjustment. The oyster
| question In one shape or another has
been before the fish and game oonmit-
tee OF the senate since the Assem- bling
| OF the legislature. The members of the
committee from the mountain dis .ric Is
at hrst gave the matter little attention,
! but occasionally statement startling
In its nature would fall from the lips of
! some disgruntled and excited "par.i-
4 ssn," until the mountain members con-
4 cluded there naust be "a bug Under the
chip"
1 Further developments unfolded some
/ startling conditions, which may be-
charged to politicsl corruption. Vir-
4 gtnia has 204, 060 acres of natural OYSTER
rock, and 100000 acres of planting
ground, or territory capable of producing
oysters by cultivation. Virginia is the
sole and undisputed owner Of these vast
possessions. This tremendous mine of
wealth belongs as much to the man in
| Sno Wounta1f OF virginia as to the man
Swing on Underwater. II this territory
was the property of an individual or of
etcorporattoh OF business menIt would
row be producing q net revenue Of cer-
! tsinly not less than half a million dol.
lars annually. The oyster account on
she books OF Virginia shows that this
property has been q dead lose to the
Stste--thas the State would be better
OF financially II we had never owned an
acre Of oyster territory.
The clashing oystermen are gdesig-
mated as planters" ''toDgers" and
| 'dredgers It is the war between these
thathas uncovered this Chinese stink
pot The tongers are much the more
numerous, numbering about 10000.
They work on the natural oyster rock
and are supposed to psy the large l?)
annuA fee of 50 each for the privilege
| DR.. ALBERT A. GANNADAY,