The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-21
Merchants q Mechan. 100 225
INSURANCE COMPANIES
va. Fire and Marine 49,. -.
Virginia State ..... -. -.
MIGCEI L a NE0IfS
BOARD TO CLOSE
DISPUTED ROCKS
Continued from First Page.)

priation can be procured from the
legislature.
The tongcrs have thus far pulled
up the stakes around some three
miles of boundary. These can be
replaced at slight cost, and this work
will be taken up at once.
The Armstrong brothers will first
be disposed Of. II this concern IT
eliminated as a disturbing factor
peaceful settlement will quickly fol-
low. Neither the planters nor ton
gers want more than they SHOULD
have, Commissioner Lee points out.
Both sides are willing to have the
matter settled to the best interests
Of all concerned and are more than
willing 80 abide by the charts plotted
according to the proposed re-adjust-
ment They are willing to do all In
their power to help the commission,
and IL il were not for the Armstrong
pie the commissioner declares that
much of the trouble would have been
averted. and the dispute would have
been settled long ago.
Governor IL Hopeful.
Governor Mann when seen Wednes-
day morning expressed the belief that
the matter would be Settled within
q very short time. He said that he
realized that both sides believed that
an injustice was being done, but at
the same time he was sure that
neither side wished to violate the laws
of the State in order to carry, or at
tempt to carry a point, especially
as everyone knew that the law
would prevail in the end.
II anticipate no violence. State
etF aktxya Az. tn
serve disorder, will hardly be called
out, 1 think. They will not be nee
essary. The leaders of both factions
have realized. | think. that the Fish
Commission will do what liz right, and
/ believe that they realize also that
the laws will be enforced. AS long as
| am Governor of Virginia | propose
to see that the statutes are carried
out to the letter. No violence will
be tolerated for an instant The Fish
Commission will do all In its power to
bring about fair and Just settlement
as quickly as possible. Neither the
tongers nor packers must be too impa-
tent They must wait little while.
BY doing this they will assist the COM
mission, and by assisting the commits
sion they Will be assisting themselves"
Need New Survey.
The new survey proposed by Com
missioner Lee is what many of the
more prominent oyster men have de-
sired for some time. This has moth
ing to do with the old breaking of
the Baylor survey" argument, but
nearly all the practical men in the
Tidewater counties have realized that
the lines needed to be re-ests blished.
While a readjustment of the lines
around the disputed territory can be
ts-t.
ure, q complete survey OF the oyster
beds will cost about $4,000. This
survey should be checked over every
four or FIVE years. Commissioner Lee
thinks. as the buoys placed in deep
water are constantly shifting and thus
disarranging the original lines.
Many of the tengers at fret de-
plored the recent outbreak" the com
missioner said, but as it will serve
to hasten the proposed survey, | do
not think any OF them are now dying
with feelings Of remorse. They are
delighted with the prospects of re-
adjustment. and as they think that
their outbreak will be the direct cause
of the survey, they are far from re-
pentant. g
This is to be deplored. ISthiuR. as IT
seems to place premium upon law
lessness. The reimbursement of lines
would have been made anyway, and
the results would have been the same,
but the tongers seem to think that they
are responsible for the campaign for
the readjustment survey. ard seem TO
think that unless they had made
threats of violence no action leading
TO the readiustment would have been
taken by the commission.
Il will return to the scene OF &C
tivity' Immediately after the board of
fisheries adtourns it's meeting and win
begin to take such steps as the board
may authorize. We expect ne further
trouble. and l believe that within a
day or two all signs OF trouble win
have disappeared"
Denies Charge.
In defense of their acts in pulling
up the boundary stakes the tongers
charge that Armstrong Brothers NOV
ed the stakes so as to include certain
portions OF the rock not authorized In
the State lease.
To this charge Mr.. Armstrong en-
tiers emphatic denial. declaring that
his firm had moved not a single stake.
nor had IL ever had the intention, he
says, of doing SO. inasmuch as 1t had
leased its bottom from the State and
proposed to confine operations TO its
own land.
we puukHt certain rights. Mr.
Armstrong says, known A. the Parker
rights. They were surveyed twenty
three years ago, and antedate the Bay
Tor survey. Under our direction all
the lines were checked two months
ago by competent surveyor
We have soc acres. We have de-
clined 10 recognize the agreement
made by Mr.. Lee with the tongers at
barbecue last week, because we
knew we were within our rights: thar
we violated no law. and should not be
asked to suspend our business Mr.
Lee served another notice on us this
afternoon through Inspector Lawson,
OF Hampton. to quit dredging until the
new survey Is made.
We will ignore the order, as we
can't afford to shut UP shop at this
season OF the year. He has promised
the tongers more than he can deliver.
We have an Injunction prepared IN
the event that any Of our stakes are
removed. We will not stop work with
In our own grounds without court
order. and Mr.. Lee Will have to make
out his case there"