Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-10-19
A HINT FROM MARYLAND.

In his speech at the jamestown Expo
sition grounds, Governor Warfield. of
Maryland, said that Maryland would be
represented in every part of the EXPOSE
ton. Its farmers, fishermen, OYSTER
men, manufacturers and railroads." he
declared, twill show what MARYLAND
has done and is doing, and will exhibit
to the world the fact that the resources
OF this State are as varied as those of
any State in the Union.''
Here is timely hint to Virginia.
Maryland is ''sister State" and very
friendly to Virginia. But Maryland is
also a rival of Virginia in trade and in
dustry. Maryland appreciates the op-
portunity which the exposition will
afford to exploit her advantages. There
fore she will make the best exhibit she
can, and will do her best to eclipse Vir-
glnla, as she has a perfect right to do.
There is no sentiment in trade.
virginia must be up and doing. She
must have no rivals at her exposition
Her exhibit must be beyond compare
Every county, city and town should be
represented. Every natural resource
and every phase of trade and industry
should be exhibited in such way as to
renece the greatest possible credit on
the dear old State. This is our patriotic
duty. The passing remark of Governor
Warheld should be received in its full
signihcance, and should serve as q
stimulus to supreme endeavor. Times
Dispatch.
Inns Is no idle talk, but a good
strike, straight from The shoulder.
90 much for our duty towards James.
town. Now let us see how mucb
deeper portends the Governor of
Maryland's remarks. Our sister
State has for years been without
coherent oyster laws. She has long
been at disadvantage because, like
Virginia once, politics has kept down
intelligent and systematic oyster cul-
ture. Her last Legislature broke the
cnain' and from now on Maryland
wall make rapid strides, and Virginia
Will have to look to her water inter-
ests that have progressed largely
because of the upper-bsy's sloth.
Maryland has broader areas of fats
and bottoms adapted to oyster plant
ing than has Virginia. Up to the
present, Virginia's oyster industry
has equalled, if not excelled, all
things considered, that of Maryland
But it is not solely our opinion but
OF men long years in the business
that In less than five years, granting
no political monkeying, Maryland
Will far outstrip us, and only a tre-
mendous increase in demand will
Keep our oyster markets up to their
present status. We are 10th to admit
this, and do so only for the purpose
OF melting Virginians to keep up
with the pace now set us. We must
learn to trot in faster class.
First, and primarily, our people
must have more regard for our laws.
Only in conforming to them can we
intelligibly decide which are bene-
hciai and which harmful, following
it with the necessary legislative prun-
Ing. Atthe rate We have been going it
would be matter of short while
before our natural-rock growth is a
thing of the past. If the Gull laws
the scraping and dredging laws are
not observed we will the sooner spr.
render the palm to Maryland, and
maybe, too, drop back behind minor
oyster states which We have long been
leading. In our opinion it will be
disastrous for Underwater when the
natural growth disappears and moth
ing but planted oysters is the outout.
Ihere must be the one to support the
other. Ravaging of the rock Is
suicidal, and few planters who are
selfish in the extreme watch it with
glee, unmindful of the fact that
their plants could not so multiply
without the seed and spat from the
rocks. And yet every day there are
hundreds of tongers thoughtlessly
aiding and abettiDg such short
sighted planters; destroying his
heritage and that of his children.
and costing him, with other citizens
OF the State. many thousands of
dollars annually for police purposes
to keep him from destroying his own
living. Proper observance of laws in
the past would have preserved to Vir.
ginia thousands of acres of rock bot
tom that have disappeared altogether
from our subaqueous charts.
1T is only guess work as to Mr..