Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-09
ORR OYsTER-BEDs.


We take the following from the ed-
torial columns Of the last issue Of the
Salem Sentinel:
In the last issue of the Sentinel, IN
speaking editorially Of the condition oil
the State of Virginia and how 10 remedy
the same. we spoke of the oyster inous-
Try of the State as follows:
The oyster industry of the state
could be. we believe, 80 managed as 10
raise the bulk of the revenue necessary
TO run the state Government.
To this the Norfolk Pilot replled' ID
astonishment--not stopping to contem-
plate that IL was mistaken wheh II
quoted us as saying constitutional
convention was needed 10 protect the
oyster--as follows:
"Oh. all We oyster people and oyster
regions. harken TO that The bulk OF
the revenue necessary TO run the state
Government is TO BE- squeezed out or
oysters and oystcrmen. If only con-
stitutional convention can be called 10
alter the Constitution TO that end. Ana
this evidence as 10 one OF the principal
objects in view, if a convention assem-
BILE. is from a prominent supporter OF
the constitutional project and the scheme
TO make oysters and oystermen the VIC
tins of outrageous impositions.
And the Richmond Dispatch, while
calling such statement dream, ad-
mits as follows:
''But TO return to the oyster queS-
ton: For forty years it has been con-
tended by many that The oyster-beds OF
Virginia are capable. almost, OF sustain
ing the State Government. This IDEA
has been prolific of chickering's and mis-
understandings. but of nothing more. III
should be dropped now. But we would
saw that. under the system OF leases
recently inaugurated, there is prospect
of the State receiving much more reVe-
nue. from oysters than heretofore ana
so we would better let the system alone
or. at least, do nothing to it except 10
amend it so as 10 bring it as near per-
lection as possible
our esteemed contemporary. the Dis
patch, while treating our statement as
a dream. actually admitted that the
oyster question has not been handled
so as TO produce the most revenue to
the State. but by recent leases the State
will derive much more revenue than Tor
merly. Now, we submit that the oyster
beds of Virginia are as valuable as
gold mine. and should be guarded as
carefully-then. besides, these beds are
continuing. They are a perpetual ana
ever -increasing blessing to the State, ana
the State should awake to the fact that
a proper use of this valuable property
would bring forward revenue to relieve
debt-burdened people nightly.
Those who live off the States bounty
are like useless officials, ready and will
ing to kick at the first sign of molesta-
ton. The principle of getting something
for nothing has so completely taken pos
session of many people in this world
that the question, is IT right? does not
suggest itself. 1t is difficult to state
in dollars and cents the exact amount
of revenue Virginia would receive by en-
forcing her rights on the oyster ques-
ton. and it should be done, even If 1t
creates a howl among those who are
the gamers by the present conditions.
Let us realize what treasure our oys-
ter-beds are. and then the principle of
self-preservation will cause us to protect
them.
The Dispatch can see nothing incon-
sistent in it's statement quoted by the
Sentinel While we maintain that 1t is
an idle dream to expect to raise the
bulk of the revenue necessary to run
the State Government" out Of the oyster
industry, we may indulge the belief that
our revenues from that source will be
larger in the future than in rhe past.
The agitation of the oyster question has
been a great check to enterprise in
that industry. If the industry be let
alone and the present system be allowed
TO stand or altered only where details
should be perfected. we doubt not that
the time will soon come when the State
will realize a considerable revenue from
this source. But, in our Judgment 1t
will never raise 1.-THE bulk" of it's reve-
nue. from oysters. Our oyster product
IS now valued at s25O00O0 per annum,
while Virginia expenditures are more
than sS.OOO.OcO per annum! So we think
that we were not far wrong in character
ling the Sentinel's belief as a dream,
destined never to be realized.
The oyster planters of Virginia are now
more secure in their holdings than they
have been for many years. If let alone,
they will gradually introduce the methods
of planting that have been successful
elsewhere. and capital will come TO their
aid; but If they are TO be threatened with
a new system of leases. etc, they will
labor under great disadvantage, and the
States income from oysters will lessen
instead of increasing.
Again we beg most respectfully 10
assure the Sentinel that it is indulging in
dream which is destined never 10 be
realized