Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-16
Wen and the Oyster-Tax.

To the Editor of the Dispatch
AS 2 daily reader Of your paper I am
very much interested in its contents
particularly in the proceedings Of our So
called Solons in Richmond 1 was much
surprised 20 read I'm your issue Of the
18th instant the following:
He CIr Craig) warned the committee
that the mountain people were aroused
and unless the oyster interest brought in
greater revenue it would be made TO
suffer. The mountain people had 70 in
their power to tax it TO its hurt and he
was afraid they would do so. unless there
was a greater willingness on the part OF
those interested in the oyster industry
to bear their share Of taxation"
l am not a resident of Tidewater, nor
of the mountains. but l know a little OF
both. / do not claim 10 understand the
oyster law, and doubt if any do. but
believe in fair play. It used 10 be that
persons owning water-frOnts claimed and
worked shores out 10 the depth Of eight
or ten feet Of water. The state stepped
in and took that right from them, and
now they who wish 70 control their
fronts have 20 rent from the State. from
high or low q do not know which, water
mark. Tax No. L: If he wishes 10 engage
personally in the business, he must pro-
cure a license. Tax No. 2: Then have his
boat registered and numbered. Tax No. 3;
In taking seed oysters he must conform
to a certain size, and even If a very few
are found to be less than size named
land how hard it is to fully meet that
rule any cutler however careful, knows
an inspector arrests both man and boat
Tax No. 4: When he plants his seed oys-
tiers he has TO wait from two TO three
years, working them over in the mean
time, and i'm that time, from sand and
crabs, loses from one-fourth 10 one-third.
Tax No. 5: Then the State, think, must
have a tax for every bushel shipped. Am
l right? If so, that is tax No. 6. IN
addition to all this. is the exposure and
suffering incident TO such pursuit
Doesn't this look as if the mountain
people have nothing 10 howl over. and
that the oyster interest is already almost
taxed out of existence Now look at the
other side There are sections in the
mountains too steep and rugged for or
binary cultivation, and yet such places are
the best homes Of the much-lauded pip
pins. A man goes up in these hollows
and sets out an orchard. No tax. He
waits a few years, and they bear fruit.
No work I'm the mean time, except 10
prunc and guard the trees. He has capi-
tai there worth more than bank stock.
ana pays 10 AdAf fNNNRA AAAAN Nf'A NttN
land which Is often rated at one-fourth
or one-half It's real value and when he
sells no tax is levied upon him. Now,
why does not the State step in and lease
such land for apple-raising, and put tax
upon every barrel OF apples shipped as
well as upon every bushcl OF oysters sold2
TO my knowledge, a few years since (and
this is only one instance in hundreds),
a resident in that section sold his apple
crop, and didn't do a thing. except haul
them to the shipping point. The pur-
chaser picked and packed the apples
sos barrels-and paid SlOlO for them more
than the average FISHERMAN makes in
three or four years.. Now. why not
tote fair" and put tax on each barrel
Of apples sold--say 10 cents? That won't
equalizo things then. Then. may be. they.
the mountain men. will know how 1t feels
TO have their rights taken from them.
and somebody else. who knows practically
nothing Of their manner OF life. raising
a howl" because they do not pay what
they-the somebody else-think they ought
to in meeting the expenses OF the State.
FAIR PLAY.