The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-07
rnn rIsn cOMMIssION

hna1M Ut \ lNlIk + Nfttit'lf 't
Mr.. seth T. Miller Of Mathews. Hon y.
A. Ayrcs OF Scott. Hon. George b. Nce-
zcu. Of Rockingham and Captain John \.
Curtis Of the city Of Richmond. lHt
first two were designated. as required hN
law chairman and secretary respective
ly. Of the board. After monin SER
vice. General Ayrcs found he could moi
give the time necessary 20 tho dischar~'
OF tho duties Of the position. ana resign
ed. ] appointed I'm his place Hon Penn
broke Petit. OF F1uvanna- Whether my
selections were wise, and whether INC
board has done its work well leave tho
results 10 show ] refer with pleasure 10
the report Of this board and 20 the fact
that instead Of being q burden 10 tho
state. the oyster fields yielded the ifs'
wear under this new system Tho mana -ome
sum OF $4,000 more than $4,000 Of which
was clear profit. and for the first eighteen
months. ending the Dist Of September 1897
as will be seen by reference 20 the report
Of the Board Of Fisheries 60 your non
orable body, that the
Total amount collected for the
first eighteen months OF the
laws operation Nas............-.$ t3..sN 80
Total expenses. .................... 3O3q7 "a
Net revenue 70 the State........s A.. 500 DO
Total revenue for the previous
year.. ...-..... .........-.......s -'.'N9 ~
Total expenses. 80. ........... 1853 as
Deficit. ..... ...................s l.sos %
Difference. adding dehcit........ 1851 ~
Total income for four years. 1S94-
9,-96-sl.. ........ ..........-+..+..- th'V ON
Total expenses for the same
tine. ........ ................. 1lGss5 10
Net. .......................$147i AS 2s
Average per annum.... .......... 1855 ~
Average annual expense under
the old law. .....................-. -f--l -
Average annual expense under
new law. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2O.2ni 81
There should be encouragement in such
a showing.
Governor Wise. when he sent 10 to the
Legislature his famous message I'm 1871, On
which this subject among others was
treated. indeibly impressed upon the
minds OF the people of Virginia the
value Of their property i'm public soil suit
able for the cultivation OF oysters. The
State was looking about for new sources
OF revenue. and ne estimated that we had
poo SQUARE miles of oyster grounds, ana
that the yield from them was 100000
To- 3oc00D0J bushels per aunum ana that
a tax Of two cents per bushel would
Yield a yearly net revenue Of $4,000
But for the approach of the war between
Tho States. 10 IS probable there would
have been some decided legislation upon
the subject As it is forty odd years
have passed. and as the elimination of
several experiments. We have just seen
the beginning Of a. system which holds out
The promise OF certain and considerable
revenue. Tho State may hope now for
steady increase in her revenue from oys-
fcr grounds. but long years must pass
and the planting industry must improve
vastly. n ever we can indulge the hope OF
SEEING the sum reach anything like the
amount predicted boy Governor Wise.
The result of the Baylor survey was 10
TO show that We have about $4,000 acres
u natural oyster beds. and about 10000
acres of other ground suitable for the cul-
tvatiOu of oysters. Much of the latter.
however has muddy bottom which must
be improved al more or less cost before 30
can become profitable planting ground
But even ~ fourth of this territory
can Dee utilized ana rented, the State VIII
receive from planting ground alone the
sum of 100000 and with proper protection
To- the natural BEDS and a just revenue
from the same this sum can De greatly
augmented.
The great aim of the state should be 90
preserve the natural beds. whence comes
our supply of seed oysters, and 90 cncour-
age planting.
refer you TO the report of the state
Board of Fisheries for much valuable
Information relating Co the progress of
their work. So far as . avn in "a position
to judge public sentiment is steadily crys-
taliziug iu support of the existing law
and / believe b. will ere long bee found
To- Doe "a satisfactory revenue producer. AS
The planting industry prospers more OF
our lands viii bc taken hy planters. on
tho other hand This law gives 90 the
people interested BOO oyster culture a see
.urify anl tenure they have always long
sd Tor ana have uot had hitherto. \ sur
vcr as suggested hy The board should Dee
made by AN means. ] am of the opinion
fhat snt disturbance of tle basis upon
which the present law rests would be
harmful 300 ine hi-neet degree Oh tAe state
ss Well as to those who are directly in-
icrcstcd lu tlc cultivation and marketing
of oysters Peace and security are what
lAe 0l-.cr interest needs. and with them
viii come. . ann slrc gradual but GER
taiu Increase 900 tAc States revenue. m
~ siua cam be- fortunate enough 90 al
WAYS keep the positions ON such boards
from bcirS the rewards Of partisan poe
uieal iahors. We Will have thc pleasure
.n the future. COS at present in receiving
such gratifying returns
FINANCES.
hes to CAN attention to the very Gat-
ferus financial condition OF the state.
as shown in The report of the Auditor OF
Public Accounts The State will have
to make provision after the FIRST Of jan
uary LN1 To meet the ] per cent addi-
tioa4 interest charges on its bonded debt
This VII impose am increase burden upon
tho STATE of $4,000 per annum Though
the report shows handsome surplus in
the treasury. BE- would bee a risk aud per-
hlps irfcparaDie mistake for the LcEisla-
tufe TO conclude that there Is less need
Tor the exercise of economy than there
has been in past years There have been
unusual causes Tor increase In the revenue
Tor the last two years. especially has tho
collection Of arrcaraees on the delinquent
land tax been potent factor I'm produc-
ing this result We must bear in mind
that the State has collected i'm the two
years much fntt should have been coming
in l0" fns lg.t eight or ten ycar-. and
We should not be- allurcd into eXtrav-
asaulo. or make calculations which viii
not he Justified by normal conditions. BY
ail means We should await the next ass
sesscnt OF lands before We fix upon the
treasury amy permanent increase BOO ex-
pcnditurcs further than Is absolutely nee
essary.
II the assessed value OF property re-
main as 30 is. some other source OF reye-
rne will haks ia lg devised Il ID. hood