The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-28
Bill in Legislature to
Rearrange Public
Grounds.
PREAMBLE DEALS
WITH SITUATION
Speaker Byrd, Patron Of Measure
Regards It as Mild in Char
acter-Explains Provisions
and Shows How State
Can Save Great and
Vanishing Industry.

Speaker Richard Evelyn Byrd yes
terday introduced in the House bill
providing for rearranging. curtailing
and policing the lines OF the Baylor
oyster survey in James River. This
measure the Speaker regards as of
very mild character.
In the preamble the bill states that
for years the Baylor survey has been
nothing but an imaginary line. existing
only upon paper. Thousands OF acres
OF once prolific rock are depleted. Il
1t is estimated that by this reare nge-
annually in expenses OF guarding, and
will bring in additional revenue from
leased grounds.
1t Is believed by the Commission OF
Fisheries that X the lines are run as
indicated In the bill. within two Jears
there Will be from 5000 to 10000
acres. where there are now only 5000
acres for the tongers to work upon.
arr. Byrd Speaks of Bill.
In an Interview given to The Times
Dispatch yesterday, Mr. Byrd said OF
his measure:
The bill which offered to-day liz
really a bill, to straighteh the lines
OF the Baylor surrey in the James
River. 1t has the Endorsement of the
Commission of Fisheries Personally.
] would prefer to go much further In
The direction OF renting exhausted and
unproductive boitomk TO planters, The
bill Is OF very mild charsctet and
cannot be hurtful to any Legitimate, in
taresf. In detail IL Is abontyas follows:
Section l. Lines az here proposed
reduce the $1,000 acres within the
5aglor survey to about 1900 .asn.es.
Within the $4,000 acres there are only
about 5000 that the tongers now work
upon, with the prospect of reducing
that 5000 Very materially II the lines
are not straightened sufficiently SO as
to afford good policing. OF the 1000
acres thrown out about l.ooo of II Is
mud: the remainder Is already occu-
pied BY planters having no Lease and
paving no taxes to the State. holding
these In violation OF the law and
against all efforts OF the officials to
keep them back. This is because OF
the irregular and unmarked lines of
the Baylor survey. Practically not a
foot OF these 1000 acres has been OF
service TO the tongers for many years.
VIII Aid Natural Rock.
''If the lines are run as here contem-
plated the Commission of Fisheries is
strongly of the opinion that within two
years time there will be 5000 or 10000
acres where there are now only 5000
acres for the tongers TO work upon.
This will be accomplished by watch
ilouses on the Strengthened lines. en-
abling the police to keep back en-
croachment. which has largely depict
ed the natural bottoms. The rearrange.
Inent OF these lines Will enable the
ca evt,, Low III la ho
grounds thrown out. thereby bringing
in several thousand dollars additional
revenue per annum. In addition to hav-
ing the bottoms cultivated that are
nov kept depleted
"It now costs the state $4,000 a year
in attempting to police the present ir-
regular llnes-one side of which is six
teen miles long with dozen courses
and angles in it--whereas under the
proposed rearrangement 1t will not
cost one-half that sum. and can be
done more effectually.
These statements are based not
only upon the Information offered by
the State Commission OF Fisheries. but
also from theiinformation Of the United
States government officials who have
made a most exhaustive examination
and study of the James River bottoms.
Section Is the policy naturally to
be pursued, IL section 1 should be
adopted by the Legislature.
Section restricts renting bottoms
thrown out to 100 acres to any on.
OF not less than 81, and as much
more as the commission can possibly
get.
Baylor Survey Obsolete.
Section 4. There was great opposi.
tion by the representatives and people
In Tidewater. fifteen years ago wher
the Baylor survey was first proposed
hut 1t was found by Tidewater people
to be a good thing For all practica
purposes 1t is obsolete to-day, and onl,
Imaginary lines in $500 square mile.
Of water 1t being impossible for thu
y constituted authorities to locate 1t with
any degree Of accuracy. owing to thi.
the natural bottoms have been en-,
croached upon. and the State s deriv
Il Ing no revenue In return therefor.
1T Is essential to the States inter.
est, as we'll as to the tongers, thai
these lines should be rerun and per
'lapently marked by watchhouses per.
n1anent bnoys or otherwise. When 81
permanently marked the officials will
probably find 1t to the advantage o
the citizens OF the State to reclaim
some Of the depleted rocks. Undouht
.uiS. =. W tplFt.tS 1u uNoAteISc " VIZ
Etate, as we'll as to the entire oyste
Industry. to let out some OF these bot
toms, which have been SO depredate,
upon that there Is no hope OF thei
z recovery by. natural courses. Th
" United States examiners are very EN-
nhatic on this point, This should be
and doubtless will be. carefully done
and the prolific rocks sacredl ly preserved
defined and permanently marked. III
"Section s. All acts Of the oyste
officials should be made public an
particularly reviewed ny the Genera
Assembly In a number OF instance
lcontinued on Eighth Page,S