Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-07
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THEY ARE UP IN ARMS AGAINST
THE JORDAN BILL.
10 HOLD MAN ' MEETINGS.
The Year,as Commercial Record In.
Newport xews-Fac,s Abont the
Unfortunate Mrs. Bruce-Chas. n;
Ruth, a Lawyer, IN Trouble.

III n l1NfCHIaEN0WS,s Va, January b.
E(special:}-The oystermen OF Warwick
county have inaugurated their fight
against the Jordan oyster bill and every
night this week meetings will be held
at different places in the county. for the
purpose OF working up interest in the
movement to defeat the bill In the Legis.
lature. The first meeting was held last
night ct Mench's store. There were ESQ
tongers present. Several speeches were
made. the principal one by Sheriff s. 8.
Curtis, who will head the delegation from
Warwick county to Richmond, in all pro-
liability. Resolutions were adopted CALI
ing upon Senator Tyler and Delegate
Stearnes to do their utmost to defeat the
bill. Tonight another largely-attended
meeting was held at Morgan's store.
Sheriff Curtis leading the discussion. To-
morrow night there will be a rally of
oysternen at Warwick Courthouse and it
is expected that the attendance will reach
1000. Friday meeting will be held at
Mulberry Island and here another large
crowd is looked for. The oystermen of
Elizabeth City county are making pre-
parations for q campaign against the
measure and In York county the move
ment has already been agitated. The
planters, of course, are anxious to have
the bill passed.
THE CATCH UNsATIsFACToRY.
The oyster catch In the James river has
not been the most satisfactory IN the
past few weeks. The oysters have not
been as fat and az healthy in appear
ance as the planters and tongers expect
ed. The present warm spell and the
heavy rainfall Is counted on to fatten
them and to produce choicer catch.
Fifty cents bushel Is now fair price,
but It is anticipated by the planters that
this will be advanced to 70, Is. and even
50 cents bushel If the bivalves improve.
YEARS COMMERCIAL RECORD.
The commercial record for the year
has Just been completed and it shows a
large gain in imports and a slight fall
ing off In exports, due to the recent coal
strike. which diverted some ships from
Newport News and also to the Short
age Of the corn crop. With every other
item except corn and wheat there was q
gratifying increase. The total value of
exports for the year was 3s9, 7S9,s76. The
immediate transportation imports, which
showed the largest Increase, amounted to
S., eo7, 1858 10 and the consumption entry Inn
ports were valued at $4,37S, 511. the total
value Of all imports beng So 1856, S74.10.
The duty collected here during the year
amounted to sl,12S191.34 while the esti-
through directly to their destination
amounted to s1,Sso99 l.32 The total duty,
therefore was ss,ols, 1896. The imports
for December broke all records here.
The exports fell over 1900, 600 below those
OF last December, owing to the Inversion
Of most Of the southwest corn to New
Orleans and Galveston.
FACTS ABOUT MRS. BRUCE.
Mrs. Thomas Bruce, whose hus-
band is charged with bigamy, her daugn-
ter and Mrs. Bruce's sister, Miss Emma
Howard, came here In 1850 and resided
until eighteen months ago. 1t gem
orally understood here that Mrs. bruce's
husband. who deserted her, was dead,
although rumor started several years
ago that he had secured employment
here with the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way.
Mrs. Bruce is brilliant woman and
for long time was a teacher In the
Huntington Industrial school, which was
supported by Coils P. Huntington. and
is now maintained by his estate for the
benefit Of the shipyard employees chill
dren.
Messrs. Van Lieu, Post and Andree.
who will build the large silk mill with
local capital, arrived here to-day and
looked over the ground. They will make
arrangements for the site before leav-
ing.
". c. Hundley, formerly Of RICH
NOND proprietor Of the Grand Central
Hotel left yesterday, it is stated. with
out paying off his establishment, and to-
day the guests had to make other ar
Engagements for their meals. Attach
ment papers were served on some OF the
guests. The Chesapeake Grocery Com
pany has claim Of $3.50
WARRANT FOR CHAS. H RUTH:
A warrant was issued to-day for the
arrest OF Charles H. Ruth, the we'll.
known attorney ana politician, charging
him with grand larceny. It was sworn
out by Mrs. Mary Johnson, who alleges
that he made away. with $500 belonging
to her, being her share OF the cornpro.
mise money In the suit she instituted
against the electric railway system on
account OF alleged injuries. Ruth is
charged with having received 5000 from
the Company. ana: after paying his asso:
ciate, c. G. Mitchell, $3.50. his share Of
the fee, taking his departure withou,
giving the plaintiff one cent Of her
money. Ruth was counsel for the Wash
ington Block Asphalt Company. and has
figured prominently In politics and IN the
MECHANICS FROM RICHMOND.
More mechanics arrived here to-day
from Richmond seeking employment al
the ship-yard. Men are being taken on
all the time, especially shipjoners, pat
ternraakers, and machinists.
For the, first time in five months the
British steamship Rappahannock. Cap:
tain Buckingham, of the chesapeake and