Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-05
Purchase Of The Steamer kauPy
and Other uNaRl|CIpaled Expenses
Exhaust The Appropriation.
WILL CALL ON TIE LEGISLATURE
Pending Special Appropriation Ar.
ranocmerta Made to Continue Work
as Granddaughter Industry Steadily
Increasing in Side and More Money
is Needed to Protect It.


RICHMOND, VA, sept i-Con-
siderable talk In and on, of official
circles has been heard Of late alonE
the Inc that tie appropriation avail
able for tho stntc oyster navy has
been exhausted thus far in advance
of the end Of the present fiscal year,
and some apprehension as 10 whether
tho board of fishones viii be able toI
continua It's important work pending
the meeting of the Legislature.
1t is fact that for reasons easily
explained the appropriation has been
expended. hut under an arrangement
which is thoroughly satisfactory tot
all parties concerned. ana IL IL be
licvcd by all that the Legislature will
he quick To meet II with special
appropriation early In the coming scs.
sion. Owing TO extraordinary con
ditions the expenses of the hoard for
the present year will exceed those
of 1906 by about $50, 900. This was
not anticipated by the last Legislature
and thus tho fund has been exhausted
before another appropriation has be.
come available.
The Reasons.
The new flagship OF the oyster navy.
the Commodore Maury had been only
partially paid for up To the present
year. when she was completed and
put into commission and operation.
The sum requisite for this PURPOSE
made Il considerable hole in the fund
and where 1t had cost only $3.50 to-
5000 per month to operate the old
hull which the Mnury superscdes. II
costs about $1,000 to run the Maury.
Again. the boat has been at the
DISPOSE Of Governor Swanson rs com
mandcrin-chief of the navy. and Il
was the only craft lie cond use in
connection with various Exposition
functions.
1t was entirely proper for the Gov
lcmor TO use the Maury for convoy
ing parties back and forth to the Elk.
position, and ii is matter of pride
that the State had such n creditable
boat for these purposes. Still. all this
has cost money. and when in use by
the Governor. Of course there was no
charged TO the State by the board.
Have Fast Boats.
- - lP'HA'h phA. wv, iubt tue UYS
ter industry is growing rapidly each
year and that the expenses Of policing
the various waters in which there nrc
valuable rocks has likewise increased
! Watchboats have been stationed mt i'm
portant points, ana have had TO re.
main sometimes for many days at
given points. to prevent the absolute
destruction of these rocks. II Is said
that where n few years ago pirates
used sail and rowboat, they are now
Operating steam and gasoline
launches, making 1t necessary that
they shall be pursued by boats of
equal or greater speed.
1t was reported that the board had
purchased costly launch 40 be used
in conveying state parties to ana from
the larger boats For this there Is
no foundation Not long ago the
board was confronted with n condition
which was difficult to meet The old
James River was about PLAYED oul
ana mad either to be abandoned or re-
paired. To repair her boilers and over
maui her properly would have cost
! Sl.1u0 and this sum was not avail
able. OF rather could not be spared
/ The territory on which the boat was
49, N.iS III nttu Oh projection.
and the board put her cut of com
mission, and purchased In her sieai
.. fastgong little craft called the
| Greyhound
The boat cost $500 or 5000 les than
the sum the repairs of the James
River would have required. II is not
even suggested by those who know
the situation well that the board has
been extravagant, and II is believed
that with he same degree of care and
economy that has been heretofore ey.
ercised. the arrangements recently
made will guarantee the full protec.
lion of the states interests in the in.
terim between now and the asscmb.
ling of tho Legislature
a gentleman who is in close touch
with the work of the board. and who
nanifests deep interest in the fish
and oyster industry. was asked
If il was the custom of the
board to allow private parties to use
the Maury for cruising purposes.
and he promptly and emphltacally de.
CARED that 1t was not
lie said ii was true that on ono &C.
casion ami one only, party of Rich.
mond gentlemen had asked TO be al.
lowed to so upon the boat for few