The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-04
DECLINING
INDUSTRY
OyStermen Take a PeSSimiSt-
iC VieWof oyster Planting.
PRICE SEED PRoHlBlTIvE
To Man They Are Opposed to the
Jordan Bill--Canning Factory at
Lee Hall Did Fine Business
the First Season.
(spccial to The T1mes-Dlspatch.)

Especial to The -Dispatch)
YORKTOWN VA, october 3.-Oyster
planters of this vicinity are very much
depressed over the present prospect Of
obtaining fresh stock Of seed from the
great James River beds, the present sea-
son. The supply there even this early
in the season is entirely inadequate to
the demand, and prices have jumped to
25 cents per bushel, as compared with
or 10 cents a few years back. Rumors
have been in constant circulation during
the entire summer Of illegal catching
in the close season. all regard for Gull
law being ignored. the very rocks them
selves being roughly tonged, in.
Tongmen who are now working these
rocks and planters who are only able
to obtain from fifty to seventy-five per
cent of cargo while buying have demon
strated these rumors to be quite near the
truth. These conditions, together with
the natural decline of productiveness OF
the beds themselves, are causing the
planters no end of trouble. These facts
are gathered from the planters direct,
who state they will necessarily have to
abandon good deal Of the bottom which
Iney NOW rent, DelS uiIduiS " PAolit
it. The price is really prohibitive, as 25
cents per bushel, the planters state liz
the limit to the figuse for the planting
stock
Every planter interviewed by The
Times Dispatch man was unequivocally
opposed to the Jordan bill Of the last
Legislature or any kindred measure Of
its kind. Their reasons stated are to the
effect that If the Baylor survey be
broken 1t will lead to a monopoly of the
seed supply by a chosen few and conse-
quently prohibitive prices. These gentle
men also are Of the impression that all
the available bottom which might be
thrown open to the public by any meas
ure Of the Jordan kind, has already been
applied for, to the exclusion Of any, but
a favorable few.
The price Of the bivalve will be great
ly advanced this season and continue to
become moro costly with each recurring
year. Planters and tongmen alike are
positive in their declaration of the rapid
failure of the greatest staple Of Eastern
Virginia, the meek and lowly, but much
abused oyster.
TOMATO CANNING.
The new canning factory built and put
into operation by, Mr.. II. NJ. Clements at
busy season, its initial one. Tomatoes
alone have been handled, of which about
10000 cans have been put up. Mr.. w. h.
Baltimore, has had the plant in charge
and the two brands, Eureka and Pride
Of Warwick. are choice goods. indeed.
The fruit raised has been exceptlG2n,a ani,
Of experience on the farmers part. Grow
ing tomatoes for this PURPOSE Is fairly
one ppnnd n aff Of aore
making yield Of about $40, whereas corn
would have been considerably less. An
inducement to the raising of tomatoes Is
the fact that they recuperate the soil
rather than detract.
The Lee Hall plant has run about fifty
hands during the season, and will en-
large by next year SO as to handle all
In tne w Iaeh't this section a abounds. ~
The Old Dominion Land Company. of
Newport News, are undertaking to build
the Of aa ee Aboat e oe
the southeastern side Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad tracks have been set
aside for the purpose and cut up mo
highway connecting the village with
skipp's Creek: about quarter of mile
distant, has been constructed. and Will
rail and water routes. One thousand dol
lars has been appropriated for the, In
stallation Of sewer pipes and the nucleus
teslan well of the heaviest, calbre will
be sunk by private subscription. The gen
tlemen backing the movement expect. to
make the little village manufacturing
for residences of employees. The station
ut present handles an immense amount
of freight, and Is one OF the best paying
stage route from Lee Hall to Yorktown
, are still being pressed. although as yet
the matter is only in its infancy;
LACK OF TEACHERS.
Numbers of va cancies are still reported
to exist In the public schools by Mr.. ].
| $, Phillips county superintendent. The
| OF the county have had considerable
trouble to supply the necessary teach
| ers. and still find number Of schools
| without instructors. The demand for
teachers has been exceptionally heavy
this year In both the white and colored
schools and other portions Of the State
The tangled situation Of the joint school
at Halstead's Point has been solved by