The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-09
THE OFFICES
GO BEGGING.
Nobody Cares to Serve as
Justice Of the Peace.
RESULT OF CONSTITUTION
RESULT OF CONSTITUTION
A Court Of Magistrates TO Meet Every
Saturday Suggested in Lieu Of tho
Passing Monthly County Court
A Rare Coin Found.


YORKTOWN, VA. Aug s.--Tho new
Constitution which is just beginning to
make its influence felt, it's mandates
obeyed and an entirely new order Of
government, is creating quite stir
among the easy going rural Nirginlans.
The late primaries which were held to
nominate candidates for county Offices
lave produced some startling sensa-
lions. The minor offices on tho ticket
were practically ignored, Justices, con-
stables and other small official fry left
blank.
Nobody seems to want to fill the posi-.
ton of Justice of the Peace, and It
seems almost an impossibility TO obtain
men Of any character or mental qualn-
have served for year or moro become
dsgusted and resign Thanklcss, unre
nunerative. the position. though clothed
~ new raiment OF great power and au-
thorlty by the new law, finds few will
ing to accept the ermine, and even the
judge OF the County Court will find it
an uphill business to obtain a man for
the place. Nine times out OF ten under
the old regime, constables were negroes,
and it appears as II none but the colored
brother will accept the position now.
All in all, the old Commonwealth seems
to be undergoing period Of reconstruct
ton similar to that experienced in post
bellum days.
PASSING OF THE COUNTY COURT.
The ever present wall over the disap-
pearance Of the monthly court day has
never ceased to stir the hearts and minds
OF the country folk, and various and
numbered ideas of reform in that line
have been proposed right along the same
idea. 1t has been proposed to establish
a regular weekly court for the magis-
tera district, 70 meet every Saturday,
presided over by q justice OF the peace
and conducted on the order Of the cor
porat!on police courts, making the Of
flee a salaried ono as an inducemcnt to
mon OF capacity to fll the chair.
CLAIMS have been discovered in i'm
mense quantities in deep water Just off
the town. Patent tongs are used alto
gcther- and worked in 60 to 70 feet OF
water These shell fish have been bring
ing extra good prices for the present sea-
son, New York market figures being So
cents per 100. Three negro MEN In a
canoe can catch from 1000 to $500 per
day; which makes quite a decent figure.
Some OF the clammers claim the supply
as practically inexhaustible as numbera
OF dead clans are 1Ounu, c{)Wucu "
death by the younger generation of shell
fish. so rapidly do they grow.
Patent tongs have proved dismal
failure when used on oysters. but from
present Indications there will be plenty
Of clans. while the oyster In deep water
was proven to be a misnomer. not eX-
listing in any depth OF great extent.
TEN MARK PIECE.
An interesting bit OF coin, not often
seen in this generation, and not recoE-
nzed except by those who have neared
tile three score years and ten mark, was
unearthed by accident q few days ago.
STOPPING to pick up chip. the attention
of n we'll known citizen was attracted to
tho shining piece OF silver The half-bit,
portion OF an old Spanish quarter cut
into four parts, bore the date OF 1886 ana
showed the wear and tear of nearly two
centuries. The milling was entirely gone,
and the piece was very INN, haruly MOI
than a fourth as thick as tho quarter OF
to-day. Prices of the commodities of ev-
cry day. existence of that period We're r.
ciculously low, as compared With the
purchasing power of the coin of the realm
of to-day. The half-bit of those times
bought a pint of whiskey. a simon-pnre
article; dozen eggs. yard of domestics
and numerous other household sundrles'
OF which it was the standard price.
Tho corn crop is looking exceptionally
fine. the late rains having been decidedly
advantageous The late crop Is safe and
will now make" good. heavy ear.
Mr.. TT M. Clements, of Lee Hail. started
his new canning factory on thursday last.
Tile plant was put to work on tomatoes,
OF which It Is expected ne VIII hhndie
ESQ, 600 cans The crop Of tomatoes is
reported to be quite good one, and the
new Industry is expected TO prove quite
q success.
The absorbing topic os interest IN this
vicinity is the Democratic primary 10 De
held August 27th TO nominate candi-
date for the House of Delegates IRON
this, the Thirty-s!Xth Senatorial District
Tho race between Hon, z. c, Madison and
Mr.. A. J.. Barnes will be an exciting
one. and as fe. as York county Is con-
corned, tho latter has decidedly the bet
ter Of the fight.
Mr. r. ". Crockett and Floyd A. Hud-
gins, both of Newport News have been
guests during the week OF MT. L. j.
Crockett, of Cation
MI. A @. Manek, of Temple Farm.
who has spent over six months in Chi
cago. Is again at home, and enjoying
much needed rest at the old plantation.
Mr., and Mrs. r. II, Keefe and little
son, of Chicago. are guests at yorktown
Hotel for a short while MI keefe was
the gentleman who represented MS clly
here at the time the masn,,.csht s,' we,
service presented to lhc o'acN pat''e-
ship Illinois was delivered,
Miss Annie Tennis and Miss Clara
Chandler are guests OF relatives in Hamp-
M Mrs. John S. Potter and Miss Nera p,
Rogers are visiting relatives IN Newport
News. .,
Heavy shipments Of waterme.ons s,',a
cantaloupes have been so'hs forward .i's
week.
SERENADE AND FIREWORKS